#be the change you want to see in the world especially when opportunities present themselves

[lunacornfan2k24]

A small fandom: Why isn’t there more fics of these characters???

Me: Hi! I’m a prominent writer in the fandom and I know I’m known for writing for one ship/characters but I’m looking to expand to other ships and characters and would like ideas from people to do it!

The same people: *ignores my post and doesn’t submit any fic requests*

The same people: Why aren’t there more fics of these characters???

[teaboot]

Sometimes at work it's not my place to tell people the things I want to say, and I find I often go home at the end of the rougher days to stand blankly in my shower and tell myself over and over what I wish I could pass on.

This accomplishes very little, and mostly just gives me a tension headache, but through it all I think I've narrowed myself down to a few solid things I'd like to tell people the most.

You can't change people. Not permanently, not for anythig. You can support them, encourage them, love them, give them tools and opportunities and resources, but you can't make them change. They can change themselves if they want to, but they have to want to, and they have to want it for themselves, because they're the only one that's certain to be with them forever.

For better or worse, you make your own choices, and blaming bad choices on others doesn't only work to absolve you of responsibility- it also robs you of control. Because if you say you only did something because I did something, then you arent only shifting blame- you're admitting that you cannot control yourself, that you cannot truly make choices for yourself, that other people can control you- and as long as you truly beleive that, you'll keep facing the same problems over and over. You'll keep letting others dictate your choices, because you'll beleive that they can, and you'll never be free.

White knights on horseback are from fairytales. Nobody can help you if ou're not willing to help yourself. To try, to put the dirty work in, to belive you're worth that effort- Act as though nobody is coming to save you. From a struggle, from pain, from bad relationships, from yourself. And when you do save yourself, because you will, because failure here isn't an option if you want to survive, you'll never find another dragon that can keep you prisoner.

Don't say anything to anyone that you wouldn't want them remembering forever.

Doing the right thing in bad circumstances is hard. It's the hardest thing. But if you make the choice to do that hard thing anyways, despite your fear, you'll go on the rest of your like knowing that you're the sort of person who did something.

The present only seems the hardest because the past I over and the future hasn't happened.

There's so much joy ahead of you, the kind you can't possibly understand until you see it yourself.

The responsibility of consequences is often disguised as the power of permission. "I won't do this if you help me", "I'll work on my anger if you do this for me", "I promised you I'd quit, but can I have just one?". The unspoken question is, "Can it be your fault if this goes badly?"

You cant make someone love you the way you need to be loved. Someone can love you very much and still be bad for you, even if you love them very much in return. Two people can love each other very, very much, and try their very best, and still be wrong for each other.

Sometimes being near to someone changes you, even in good ways, and the people you become don't fit together as well as the people you were.

Caring takes work. Even if it's real. Especially if it's real. And the most important gestures aren't the grand, poetic, songs-and-flowers-and-tears moments; they're getting out of bed even though you don't want to. Paying attention to things you don't enjoy. Scrubbing pans, or opening a window, saying "thank-you", or helping carry groceries into the house. The small things fill the big things- without the small, boring, mediocre things, big things feel hollow.

Thrre is honour and dignity in humble work.

If you are a cruel and spiteful person, then you will find every place you visit to be full of the same cruel, spiteful people. This is not because the world is as cruel as you, but because everywhere you are, you will be disliked. This is the curse that comes with being persistently cruel and spiteful.

If you are a kind and ppsitive person, you will repeatedly encounter kind and positive people, because as they grow familiar with you, they will be happier to have you near. This is the reward of being a kind and positive person.

When splitting paths with loved ones, briefly or forever, aim for your last words to always be "I love you".

[mesetacadre]

How can I stop my otherwise well-meaning friends and myself from falling into the trap of Adventurism?

Adventurism is so appealing because it interfaces with (1) an understandable impatience to see change and with (2) the individualism conditioned into people by growing up in and existing within liberal frameworks and common pathways for understanding societal and historical change. If, for the formative years of your life, the dominant ideology of capitalism, that being liberalism in all its branches, is educated into you through all possible channels, especially history, it's to be expected that an individual who decides to participate in some of that change will see themselves as an agent in and of themselves. If your perspective on both history and current events can be boiled down to a simple concatenation of events whose only common motor is the free will of the most remarkable individuals, then you will try to act like one of those remarkable individuals and create one of these events through the only motor of your free will. And, the set of actions and attitudes that fall under the category of adventurism meets those frameworks very neatly for the radical extremes of liberalism. It's both the far left of liberalism and far right of liberalism that find adventurist methods appealing, though for describing the attitudes of that far right, using accelerationism is more common and IMO more accurate, but at their core, adventurism and accelerationism are the same methods modified by the particulars of their corresponding ideologies.

That is an erroneous way to look at the world of course, history is moved by the forces exerted by massified classes, themselves defined by their role in the mode of production, as well as the historical forces that serve as a precedent. It's not remarkable individuals who move history in any direction that they please, it's history and the weight of the context in which they exist that limits and expands the possibility of their action. It's more than the simple sum of all individual parts. Individuals are not agents, they are constituent parts that can only effect change when they act like so, organized as constituent parts, aware of the limitations and possibilities afforded by the past and present context. If you want to avoid the pitfalls of liberalism and individualism, such as adventurism, you should commit to a conscious change in the framework through which you see history, because adventurism is logical in one framework, and isn't in another.

This whole CEO murder business has had people of all stripes (such as myself, even if you think I'm a wet blanket) making fun of the situation. I also don't particularly care for the life of a capitalist. But there is also a smaller group of people who seem to believe this is significant. And within that, I think there is another division. First, the people who think this is significant because they believe that healthcare insurance providers have now been bullied into giving a better service, or because they believe that now all CEOs across the board will be scared themselves and do better things (or even because apparently now everyone will be hunting their nearest CEO). These are all various forms of engagement with adventurism. The second group of people, who I think are being much more reasonable, see the generalized perspective on this being that of celebration, that such a bad person got their comeuppance, and that this is first a proof that it's still very possible to stimulate class consciousness in the US working class, and that it is second a good opportunity to stimulate it.

While this is in some ways true, the class consciousness in display ("even by trump supporters", as if the difference between them and US democrats even existed) is one that's extremely unconscious. People dislike this guy because he's notorious among healthcare insurance providers and even his predecessors for denying a lot of claims. This is individualism again, people dislike him individually and maybe they dislike all individual healthcare insurance providers CEOs, or even all individual CEOs regardless of sector. The vast majority of people celebrating who you wouldn't expect aren't class conscious, they're class unconscious from decades of consequent liberal punches to their liver, heart, and head. Most people dislike him as an individual, and it's not very difficult to hate all CEOs without ever stepping off the wide bounds of liberalism and individualism. In fact, it's the placing that of pointless hate at the center of your ideology that's preventing you from shedding the ideology of capitalism.

And no, I don't mean to say that it's pointless to talk to your lifelong republican uncle about this or whoever, and I would encourage my USamerican followers to use this event to their advantage. But you can't think that just hating CEOs is a good enough base to develop a revolutionary consciousness. You need to begin seeing the world through a class lens, only then can you only really understand the impotence of adventurism, and that it lies in the fact that it does not engage with change through class, but through the individual, who by itself is an insignificant agent of change.

[mikuni14]

I am so inspired by this post from @miss0atae. I completely agree with every word 💖 I don't know if we see more in this series than there is actually in it (it wouldn't be the first time when fans have better thoughts and ideas about productions than the creators themselves ^^), also these are only two episodes, but I want to believe that the series wants to deconstruct "one true love", "fated lovers" tropes, the clinging to the past, idealizing it and idealizing loved ones, living in illusion, and the meaning of painful sacrifice.

The worst thing about all this is that San has a lot of time in which he is stuck and does not change, whereas he did not have this time 100 years ago. He didn't have time to experience love with all the good and the bad, because his romance with Wat was short-lived and all the time San and Wat were on cloud nine, they had no opportunity to create A RELATIONSHIP, live together, get to know each other from other sides, also the not so good ones. SAN ALSO HAD NO TIME TO MOURN WAT'S DEATH. His decision to wait for reincarnated Wat was made under the influence of great emotions, overwhelming pain, even in a frenzy. Would San do the same a month after Wat's death? Maybe, maybe not. In this episode alone, the series touched on mourning the loss of a loved one in the words of Vee's grandmother and Vee himself (whose words come as a shock to San, who never even thought of such a thing).

It seems to me that San did not know Wat fully, that he created an idealized image of her (which is not difficult, because Wat was just a good person, she was nice and loved San sincerely), especially since he said about her several times that "he must repay her for being kind to him", which is not a very good foundation for love.

I also got the impression that his problem with Vee wasn't so much that he was a guy, but that he wasn't exactly Wat. San catches himself repeatedly, finding Wat's smile in Vee's smile, her actions in his actions. But what he is most upset about is that Vee is simply different, that he has wet dreams about him, that Vee is direct and openly flirtatious, that he might be a criminal - meaning, that he is everything that the perfect Wat was not. And the fact that Vee being a guy is not such a big problem (though of course it is to some extent) is proven by the fact that in his dream San is not an nervous, tripping over his own legs, but he is just going to town if you know what I mean 😎 If it was only about Wat, about her reincarnation "awakening" and about San being straight, this dream would be ABOUT HER. And it's not 😆

Even though San is a dick, I honestly feel sorry for him. He was an ordinary young man, who met a beautiful and good girl, who helped him and with whom he fell in love, who, under the influence of unprocessed grief, made a decision that required incredible strength, self-denial and endurance, who "preserved" himself by maintaining himself the same, because he dreamed that he would just survive these 100 years when Wat would simply appear and EVERYTHING WILL BE AS IT WAS. That he and Wat… will simply jump into that happy moment just before the tragedy, that they will somehow, of all the people in the world, manage to step into the same river twice. This is clearly visible in the fact that he is a "grumpy grandpa" and not a "hip and modern grandpa", and this is because he chose to stay in the past, because he did not consciously adapt to the present (to remain the same for Wat), or as Okita Makoto from Oppan says: he didn't update himself 😄 (which raises an important question: would this old, not updated version of him would appeal to contemporary Wat?)

I really feel sorry for him, because San denied himself development, refused to participate among the community, in his city (not just his neighbourhood), in the world, and to establish relationships other than those with his immediate family. HE DENIED HIMSELF A NORMAL LIFE. And now this ordinary life is forcing itself into his preserved life and San is completely unprepared for it and panics. Nothing is as he thought it would be, the scenarios he probably created after every night of pain that kept him hopeful and sane are NOT COMING TRUE. Vee destroys his so carefully built and nurtured world, his illusions and ideas about perfect love, perfect Wat and perfect life, which he was so sure was already waiting for him around the corner. I'm really not surprised that he panics, because for the first time a terrible thought appears in his head: that he may have wasted these 100 years of pain, that for others what he did may seem stupid and unnecessary and that there is no reward at the end. And how is he supposed to reevaluate his entire existence overnight?

[astro-rainbow777]

☀Sun Sign Astrology☀

The Sun represents the ego, where the native wants to succeed in life, motivations, overall attitude & spirit. In which house the sun falls in represents where you put your energy/focus and where you shine like the sun!

☉-Symbol for the Sun in Astrology and Natal Charts Side Note: I am NOT a professional. Please take this with a grain of salt. Take what resonates leave what doesn't. I hope you enjoy.

Aries Sun: Known for their head strong attitude, passion and Independence. This sun sign enjoy and strive to live an active lifestyle. They are authentic and do not struggle to go after what they want in life. Aries Suns know who they are and where they want to be in life. These natives have a fiery will power that guides them to push through anything (or anyone) that presents as a challenge. These people strive to be a leader in all aspects of their life including their family, romantic, platonic and workplace relationships. Sometimes Aries' can come off selfish and impatient this is because they are meant to live from a place of personal power. They are very assertive with their needs so don't ever worry about them being inauthentic with you. If they want to, they will! Known for their anger, which tends to be sudden and powerful, but dissipates quickly. Overall, an extremely brave sign, they may be impulsive, but an Aries knows better than any other sign that with great risk, comes a great reward! Aries is a cardinal, fire sign.

Sun in 1st: What you see is what you get with Sun in the first. When you walk into a room these people will be the first one you notice. It is important to these people to be a bold, creative and bright personality. They make a strong first impression on everyone they meet and are generally charming and warm. Leadership finds them easily in life, they do not go unnoticed by managers and coworkers. Sun in the first makes friends quickly as well because of their authenticity and popularity. They have a lot of opportunities to succeed in life because people notice their talents and skills immediately. Other individuals view these natives as independent, self aware, and confident. Generally speaking sun in the first house individuals posses a strong presence, put a large focus on themselves, their physicality and their own interests.

Taurus Sun: A stable personality that gravitates towards the creature comforts the world has to offer. Taurus Suns are known for the ability to connect with their five senses; They enjoy comfortable materials, quality food, beautiful music, pleasing aesthetics, and a stable environment surrounding them. These natives are not a fan of change in their lives, chances are they have a consistent group of people in their life, have lived in their home for awhile, and don't change jobs frequently. If it's safe they are loyal and in it for the long haul. Taurus' would rather invest a large amount of energy into something that would last than waste their money, energy, or time on something that won't last. Once they set their minds on something it could take an army to change their direction! They are Stubborn- with a capital S. Taurus Suns high standards and self worth so the chances are that they will value someone else's opinion over theirs is slim to none. However, Taurus' make great lovers and friends because of their reliability, loyalty, and sweet qualities. Taurus is a fixed, earth sign.

Sun in 2nd: This position of the sun can indicate a generous nature, the ability to create stability for yourself, and high self esteem. Sun in the 2nd can make money effortlessly and enjoys living a lavish lifestyle. Just because they enjoy the finer things does not guarantee materialism, however it can manifest that way. They can be financially blessed, especially later in life. Others take note of what they have, their material possessions, and stability. Sun in 2nd shines because of their secure, reliable and loyal nature. Anyone who knows them is aware of their generous and loving nature unless poorly aspected. If there is any malefic aspects to the Sun their can be a tendency towards greed and gluttony. These natives can also be known for their work ethic, cooking, or their voice/singing. They can also just have a high quality and wealthy attitude about them. Sun in second can also manifest as good and moral values.

Gemini Sun: Multifaceted and curious, these individuals know just a little bit about everything. They move through the world as if it's an all you can eat buffet of knowledge, people, places, and opportunities. Gemini's are they messengers of the zodiac, so they might be known for their gossiping habits and talkative qualities. They are brilliant and creative minds with a large variety of interests and hobbies. Gemini's can have a lot of acquaintances because of their playful sense of humor, quick wit and charming nature. Can be great multi taskers and often jump from one thing to the next. They are always mentally active and strive to know everything about everything. Gemini sun's can be deceiving and mischievous about their intentions or to avoid responsibility. Most are aware that they can lack depth and be superficial in their actions. With how many people they talk to it would be odd if they weren't inauthentic with a few of them, although they still are very versatile. They don't like being bored so they'll take a strong liking to you if you are just as funny, entertaining and mentally stimulating as they are. Gemini is a mutable, air sign.

Sun in 3rd: Indicative of a forever student, someone who spent a majority of their time socializing and learning as a kid. There might of been popularity amongst peers in early childhood education or a possibility of being the teacher's pet. Friends and siblings hold a high priority for Sun in the 3rd, as well as going to social events. There is a probability of having a number of hobbies, interests and talents, as well as being the most successful amongst your siblings. They can get noticed easily for their car, sense of humor, intelligence or have a high following on social media. Sun in the 3rd could talk a lot about themselves and their particular interests in communications with others. There is something very captivating about the way that they talk and communicate. These people are great story tellers so writing could be a useful talent or public speaking.

Cancer Sun: Empathetic, caring and sweet; the cancer sun thrives in any emotional interaction. Family has had a big influence on where and what they are doing in life today, even if they don't talk to their family much. Cancer's may have fluctuating mood swings, but they care a lot for the people they love. Family is very important to them, even if they don't talk to their biological family- one of their biggest goals is to initiate a group of people of which they belong to. They are very nostalgic and sentimental, so just know if you ever did something sweet for a cancer, they remember, trust me. Emotions can cloud their judgement at times and if they feel threatened they can lash out unexpectedly. Cancers' are known to have a strong and long memory because they reflect back to the past often. It is also so important for a Cancer to have a safe and comfortable home where they can express their sensitivity openly and freely. A lot of them end up being the matriarch of their families. Cancer is a cardinal, water sign.

Sun in the 4th: The golden child! Family is super important with Sun in the 4th. Everything they do is for their family and home. They might put a lot of time and effort into making their parents proud- even as a grown adult. If there's no family- creating one is of high importance. This placement is indicative of spending a lot of time in their own inner world, feeling comes naturally to these people. They have a genuine care for the wellbeing of others, especially their loved ones. Sun in the 4th is a wonderful host-entertaining their guests, cooking for them, make sure that they a comfortable and have everything they need in their home. They take great pride in their home and are very protective of their loved ones. These individuals will make great parents and will be everything to their children.

Leo Sun: A bright, warm, ray of sunshine to be around! Leo Sun's are known for their joyful and radiant presence. They are generally very creative and fun people to be around. If they are serious about you, and trust me they have options, they will be loyal until the end. Leo's love being in the spotlight and the spotlight love's to shine on them! The sun is at home here after all! The way Leo's express themselves confidently and authentically. Although this sign is naturally the center of attention, they may require a lot of reassurance and validation. They are actually quite sensitive to the criticism of others, especially the their loved ones. Leo's laughter is quite contagious and bountiful, everyone wants to be around a happy Leo sun. It can be hard to have a constructive argument with a Leo because of their pride in arguments; there are times where they genuinely can't get enough of themselves. They are hard workers, self disciplined, and motivated to do anything they want to do. They are brave and generally succeed in whatever areas of life they put their energy.

Sun in 5th: This is a very dramatic and exciting personality! With this Sun placement, the native lives to have fun and be in the limelight. Sun in the 5th makes a charming, flirtatious, and playful personality. They are in touch with their inner child and get along well with children because of it. Their own children will be the center of their universe. There might be a need for attention nd validation from others with Sun in the 5th, or egoism and arrogance if the sun is poorly aspected. Sun in the 5th can also have a lot of talents, be into theatre or any kind of performing arts. They can be very athletic, have great physicality and vitality, or just live everyday like it's their last. These people despise being exploited or humiliated, more so than most. Happiest whenever they are doing anything expressing their creative side, participating in their hobbies, and having fun. They are the life of the party, but may struggle to balance work and play. Overall, very charming, passionate, stylish and expressive placement.

Virgo Sun: These natives are analytical, detail oriented and organized. Virgo's are critical of themselves and others but it always comes from a place of wanting to make something better. They shine the brightest when they are using their intelligence to be of service to others. They are very observant and never miss if you got a new hair cut or spilt coffee on your shirt. They are grounded and realistic in going after their goals and dreams. Virgo suns are not the best about asking for help when they need it because they tend to nitpick themselves. Their humor is self deprecating and sarcastic- but generally they are a very funny sign. Virgos strive for perfection and are willing to strip away anything that does not meet their high standards. They can come off judgmental but they are just trying to help. They can take on a lot of responsibility and be very hard working. Virgo suns tend to be introverted although they communicate well and enjoy conversing with others. They can also enjoy a good intellectual debate, and are great listeners. Virgo is a mutable, earth sign.

Sun in 6th: Individuals with sun in 6th are healers and need work that gives them purpose. In their work environment, they can bring a lot of joy to others and make whatever job they do more bearable for others. They can have a strong interest in wellness activities such as yoga, eating healthy, meditation, etc.- these people are dedicated to their routines. A lot of these natives work in the medical field, service and hospitality. Sun in the 6th can take on a lot of responsibility at work, they are leaders in the work place. These individuals love pets and animals of all kind. They could struggle with anxiety or mental illness in some way. Their diet could be very important to them as some are known to struggle with IBS or other food sensitivities. This placement is generally concerned with their overall wellbeing- and through healing themselves is where they learn how to heal others. These people are also funny, witty and good humored individuals.

Libra Suns: Likeable and charismatic, Libra suns shine because of their social skills and diplomacy. They are very bubbly and fun to be around. Libras care about their appearance, are very sweet, and avoid the uglier aspects of life. May struggle with being indecisive and may take awhile to come to a conclusion of what they want. This is usually due to the fact that they are trying to be as fair and just as possible. Libras are avoidant of confrontation or conflict of any kind because they struggle with people pleasing. They really care about what other people think of them. At times they can live for other people instead of going after what they want. They thrive in partnerships and may struggle with codependency. Libra suns are generally the best friend type. They can get along with just about anyone because of their peaceful nature. They have a lot of compassion for others and find it easy to see the beauty in others. These natives are very beautiful inside and out. They are the happiest and shine the brightest in a relationship or surrounded by people they love. Libra is a cardinal, air sign.

Sun in 7th: Well known and popular amongst peers, coworkers and family. They put a lot of energy into perfecting their partnerships. Sun in the 7th is a harmonious placement and care about other peoples opinions of them. They are very romantic and sweet individuals and they learn about themselves through other people and their relationships. Can struggle with codependency in their relationships, its super important for them to balance their personal time and time spent with their loved ones. They spend quite a bit of time thinking about others and how their actions will affect others. Sun in the 7th is a good position for a prosperous marriage and success after marriage. They take commitments of all kind very seriously. Can also attract a partner with strong will power, creativity, and passion. This position of the sun is not the best for going after their own wants and needs, although they are known for being a harmonious and pleasing personality to be around.

Scorpio Sun: Intense and mysterious, Scorpios are known for their alluring and deep nature. They don't reveal everything about themselves upon first meeting which makes them very intriguing to others. These people are very attractive and s*xual in nature. They have a striking physicality, strong and intense presence. They command respect and do not let others cross their boundaries. Out of any other sign, this sun sign fears betrayal the most, which makes them skeptical and secretive. This doesn't necessarily mean they are liars, but it takes awhile to develop trusting bond with them. Scorpios are the master of transformation- they aren't the same person they were yesterday. A healthy Scorpio sun is always trying to be a better version of themselves. They love deeply and passionately. If you betray them, they will never forget what you did to them, they hold grudges forever. They can forgive but for them it will never be same as it was. Do not lie to them, they are extremely intuitive and will find out. They suspect the unexpected. Scorpio is a fixed, water sign.

Sun in 8th: Driven to understand the depths of the nature of themselves and others, this placement is not satisfied with service level conversation. Topics of psychology, astrology, the occult, s*x, and other taboo subjects peak their interest. They are magnetic and powerful. Sun in the 8th shines in the unknown and is fascinated with mysterious topics. They have a powerful intuition and deep connection to the universe. People may want to give them things or money all the time. They can be assertive and controlling in conflicts with others, they know how to manipulate the situation in their favor, this is definitely part of their appeal. Striving for deep connections that help them to grow and evolve, Sun in 8th goes through many intense and powerful transformations throughout life. It is possible that they have had a number of traumatic and life altering experiences forcing them to change and adapt ubruptly.

Sagittarius Sun: The average Sagittarius is a carefree spirit always on the hunt to experience something knew. Where they go, what they do and what they learn about life becomes their philosophy. A Sagittarius suns ultimate goal in life is to explore the entire earth, talk to many different people and take on all the opportunities presented their way. They love to debate and experience different belief systems, many of them have a higher understanding of life itself. Truly a pleasure to be around, Sagittarians have a wonderful sense of humor and a larger than life demeanor. Generous, philosophical, and joyful are just few of the abundant qualities they have. Behind the scenes, Sagittarius can be very diligent and passionate workers. They love the chase, so accomplishing that next goal is quite exciting for them! These natives behave similarly in love, it can be hard for them to stay committed to one person for too long. There is a restless energy about them and a lot of Sagittarius’ suffer from FOMO. Although they can be pretty open minded, some are very dogmatic in their beliefs. Sagittarius are very optimistic and bright- they are great at cheering up their loved ones and are inspiring when they give speeches. They are extremely convincing in what they say, but they may not always follow through on their promises. Overall, this is an extremely lucky, honest and confident personality. It’s often hard not to like a Sagittarius Sun. Sagittarius is a mutable, fire sign.

Sun in 9th: Happiness comes from Travel, meeting people of a different culture, and learning something new! Sun in 9th individuals shine when they are teaching others about their personal philosophies or topics they are passionate about. They may be well educated and successful in pursuit of higher learning. These natives are often interested in writing and public speaking. Speaking their mind is extremely important to them. Their focus tends to be on the big picture and known for their optimistic, bold worldly views. A big focus for Sun in the 9th house is to chase adventure or the next big thing. They shine the brightest whenever they are being open minded to other peoples perspective and sharing their abstract views on life. Generally, the Sun loves to be in the 9th house because it represents spiritual growth and is also at one of the highest points in the chart. It’s important to them to always be learning, always trying something new or exploring different areas. It’s possible that they take awhile to settle down and life or end up moving abroad. These people life is all about the journey, their purpose is to travel and educate others about their experiences. Although their truth may be objective, it is still valid and worth giving a listen. Sun in 9th is a wise, lucky and optimistic placement to have. If you love these individuals, you must learn how to let them be free.

Capricorn Sun: Responsible, diligent, and powerful, Capricorn suns are a force to be reckoned with. They are often mature for their age and find happiness in working their way to the top and accomplishing their goals. Their attitude is sarcastic and serious- it is possible they come off a cold to others who are more on the emotional side. Often times, these people had to grow up very quickly and had a lot of pressure put on them from a young age. They achieve a lot throughout their lifetime and shine in those areas of life. But don’t get them wrong, they have a fun side, it’s just expressed more with people they are comfortable and close with. The Capricorn Sun motto is slow and steady win the race. You will not see these people half a*sing their projects- they give 100% effort 100% of the time. This is something that Capricorn Suns are and should be proud of. Although they are slow and methodical, they are far from lazy. They are protective of their loved ones and would much rather show their love by actions than tell you how much they love you. With this Sun sign, you want to look at their actions, not their words. Although they are private, they make great friends and are in it for the long haul. They take their relationship’s seriously. Their purpose is to persevere and succeed! Capricorns thrive and in structure and bring order to a chaotic world. Capricorn is a cardinal, earth sign.

Sun in 10th: These individuals are meant to succeed and get a lot of recognition in their professional life. Sun in the 10th individuals gain a lot of power through hard work. They are known for being in the public eye in someway and have a strong reputation. In the work place, they are the leaders, managers and CEO of the company. A lot of celebrities have this placement. Who ever and whatever you do, you are known for it. Beware of seeking outside validation too much. The father may have played a big role in these peoples lives or motivated them to be where they are now. Sun in the 10th want to surround themselves with people who are of high status so that they can embody that energy as well. They shine whenever they are able to show off success and take great pride in their accomplishments. Sun in the 10th will spend a lot of time climbing the career ladder. These people are goal oriented, ambitious and dedicated to their success. They are the happiest when they have a pursuit and have a lot going on them professionally. They care a lot about making money and being powerful. A lot of their priorities revolve around being independent and self sufficient. They are destined for success.

Aquarius Sun: Innovative and unique, no two Aquarius’ are the same! This Sun sign is a natural humanitarian and genuinely wants to make the world a better place. They have a reputation for having an awkward, quirky and out of this world personality. It’s harder for them to relate to others because they see the world much differently than main stream society. Aquarius may come off aloof and detached in social settings, although once others understand them- you will find that they are genius! They are very independent and like to do their own thing, although they can suffer from loneliness at times. A lot of Aquarius feel out of place if they don’t have a higher purpose that they are serving or community to fall back on. Often times they feel misunderstood for their uniqueness and out casted for their differences. There is no one else that can define an Aquarius Sun accurately besides themselves, even their Sun sign is hard to understand and explain to outsiders looking in. They shine whenever they embrace their unique interests and embrace their quirky ideas. The right people will support these aliens and see that they are not a dud- they are special! Aquarius Suns are intelligent, future oriented and will make great discoveries throughout this lifetime! Aquarius is a fixed, air sign.

Sun in 11th: These individuals love belonging to a group of friends or a certain community with similar interests to them. Sun in the 11th have a lot of ideas on how to better society at large and make the world a better place. They may be interested in technology, engineering or other tools that they can use to help humanity. They are progressive and innovative for their time. They highly value their friendships and gain a lot of confidence through their supportive relationships. Sun in 11th is a popularity placement as well, they may be well known from your social media or groups that they belong to. Equality and being non judgmental is important to these individuals. They also might be known for their independent views and detached way of moving about the world. Sun in the 11th are trend setters and very influential people in society. These individuals may have a rare, strong and interesting aesthetic that sets them apart from the rest. Sun in the 11th can stand out for the way that they speak, communicate or their genius intelligence. Others have a hard time understanding them, never knowing what they are going to do next, keeping people on their toes!

Pisces Sun: Compassionate, self sacrificing and magical, Pisces are known for their unconditional, soft, spiritual love. They are imaginative, day dreamers who enjoy art, poetry or anything that pulls them into a different reality. Their an extremely intuitive sign that may pick up on the mood of those around them. They may have a difficult time differentiating their own feeling from others. They genuinely enjoy helping others and they take great pride in the level of love they are able to give. Being empathetic is not an option for them, it is hard for them not to care about everyone and everything. They are very sensitive, which can be overwhelming for them at times. Escapism can be fun for them but if they are not careful they can become to detached from their reality. It is important that they temperament their romanticism for life and relationships so they don’t get taken advantage of. They want to see the good in others and they find it easy to, but if they aren’t careful they could be victim to falling in love with the idea of someone instead of the culprit themselves. Pisces are connected to the universal collective and benefit from a connection to a higher power. They shine when they have a servitude attitude, manipulation does not serve them well. It is important for them to give out of a place of want and not to get something in return. Pisces Suns are great lovers, sweet and spiritual souls.

Sun in 12th: Here, an individual with Sun in the 12th house will dedicate a lot of time to understanding the hidden mysteries of the universe. They understand the spiritual realm better than anybody else. This is a powerful but confusing position for the Sun. The Sun represents what is seen and clear and the 12th represents the unseen and is very mystical in nature. So here the native will have access to a lot of secrets of the universe. Their spirituality may be very important to them. It’s is important that they do not over indulge in dr*gs, alc*hol, or escapist tendencies, for this can be very harmful to the 12th houser and their loved ones. Life can be very dreamy and magical for these people use their power for good. However, they have bad intentions it will be illuminated very quickly and their manipulation will take them down the wrong path. This is how people with this placement do end up isolated, in mental hospitals and and prisons. Although, they can work in mental hospitals, prisons, and find a lot of success in these hidden areas of life. 12th house suns may need a lot of sleep and time to recharge alone to be their happiest. They are known for their low social battery and isolating tendencies. They shine and are their happiest whenever they are using their creative talents and taking great care of their inner world. Sun in 12th is very intuitive, compassionate, selfless individuals; they may be psychic and receive messages through dreams and meditation.

Thank you so much!

Let me know if you relate, disagree or want to add in the comments! I love to hear your feedback. If there is anything you want me to teach or share let me know :)

Have a wonderful rest of your and thanks so much for reading ❤️ I spent a lot time on this one so I really hope y’all like it hehehe

[thegambitgazette]

Fear: Using Stoicism to Shape Characters

WC: 2,730

Introduction

Like many people, I suffer from severe panic and anxiety attacks. My heart races at what feels like a thousand beats per minute, I get a cold sweat, and my thoughts do not have a filter. The latter of which, I find the most dangerous and disturbing, especially when said attacks get triggered by something so small or nothing at all.

A lot of the time, they boil down to not feeling safe. I feel like I’m vulnerable, that the worst things that happened to me will happen again tenfold, or I’ve become the worst person in existence. Fear, as a lot of us know, can have us assume the worst.

I’m still working on managing my fear, if it can be managed at all, but a lot of what I’ve been practicing is essentially Stoicism. Epictetus, a Greek Stoic philosopher, often highlighted that it is not events themselves that disturb people, but rather their judgments about those events. One famous quote attributed to Epictetus that reflects this idea is: “People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them.”

This sentiment suggests that fear and other negative emotions stem not from objective reality but from our interpretations and perceptions of reality.

I thought, “What a wonderful way to get to know our characters!” Not only do we have to have a grasp on the world around them, we have to understand the extent of how they perceive said reality and how it leads to their own fears as well as their ambitions, passions, hate, love, etc.

Amor Fati

One of my favorite phrases is “amor fati.” It’s what helped me most in navigating my own fears and, as a result, writing some ways in which my characters handle theirs.

The idea of “amor fati” is closely associated with philosophers like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, even though they didn't use those exact words. However, it was Nietzsche who made it a key part of his philosophy. He believed that true greatness comes from embracing fate and wanting nothing to change, not in the past, present, or future. In simple terms, it means loving and accepting everything that happens, rather than just enduring it.

When considering the relationship between “amor fati” and fear, several key points emerge:

Acceptance of the Uncontrollable: Fear often arises from the unknown or from circumstances beyond our control. “Amor fati” encourages individuals to relinquish their resistance to such uncertainties and to accept that life is inherently unpredictable. By embracing fate, individuals can find solace in the realization that some things are simply beyond their power to change or influence.

Facing Adversity with Resilience: Rather than viewing challenges as threats to be avoided or overcome, individuals can approach them with a sense of equanimity and resilience. Instead of succumbing to fear or anxiety in the face of challenges, one can choose to see them as opportunities for growth and self-discovery. By embracing adversity as an integral part of life’s journey, individuals can cultivate the strength and fortitude necessary to navigate difficult times with grace and composure.

Gratitude for All Experiences: Fear often stems from a sense of insecurity or dissatisfaction with one’s circumstances. “Amor fati” cultivates gratitude for all experiences, both positive and negative, recognizing that each contributes to the richness and depth of life. By embracing fate with gratitude and appreciation, individuals can mitigate the fear of the unknown and find peace and contentment in the present moment.

This idea is what helps form a “baseline” for my way of thinking and perceiving fear, which is what many people, fictional characters included, tend to mix up.

You don’t need to adopt the same mantra, of course, but I believe that having this Ground 0 in your own personal philosophy will add further depth and characterization in writing. It provides a deeper perspective on why your characters think the same or why they may deviate.

Distinction Between Events and Perceptions

Let’s go back to what Epictetus said: “People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them.” Stoicism teaches that events themselves are neutral; it is our interpretation of those events that shapes our emotional responses. This concept is often referred to as “cognitive appraisal” or “judgment” in Stoic philosophy.

In practical terms, this means that two individuals may encounter the same external circumstance, yet react to it in vastly different ways based on their subjective interpretations. For example, consider a person who loses their job unexpectedly. While one individual may perceive this event as a devastating blow to their self-worth and security, another may view it as an opportunity for growth and new possibilities. The event itself—the loss of a job—remains the same, but the emotional response varies depending on the individual's perception of the situation.

Epictetus’s insight invites us to reflect on the role of our perceptions in shaping our emotional experiences. It suggests that our judgments, beliefs, and attitudes about the events we encounter play a crucial role in determining how we feel and behave in response to those events. By recognizing this distinction between events and perceptions, individuals can gain greater agency over their emotional lives.

Moreover, understanding this distinction empowers individuals to practice what Epictetus called the “dichotomy of control”—the Stoic principle of focusing only on what is within our power to control, namely our thoughts, attitudes, and responses, rather than becoming consumed by external circumstances beyond our control. By directing our attention inward and cultivating a mindset of resilience and rationality, we can navigate life's challenges with greater equanimity and inner peace.

Applying this to character development, particularly in relation to crafting a character’s fears, can add depth and complexity to the character.

Understanding the Character’s Perception of Fearful Events:

Explore how the character interprets and perceives the events or situations that evoke fear. What underlying beliefs, past experiences, or personal values shape their perception of these events?

Consider whether the character’s fear is rooted in the objective reality of the situation or in their subjective interpretation of it. For example, is their fear based on genuine physical danger, or is it driven by irrational beliefs or past traumas?

Revealing Character Traits and Beliefs:

A character’s response to fear can provide insight into their personality, values, and beliefs. For instance, do they confront their fears head-on with courage and resilience, or do they succumb to anxiety and avoidance?

Consider how the character’s fear reflects broader themes or conflicts in the story. For example, does their fear stem from a desire for control, a fear of vulnerability, or a struggle with existential questions?

External Manifestations of Fear:

Consider how the character’s perception of fear manifests in their actions, behaviors, and interactions with others. Do they exhibit outward signs of fear, such as trembling or avoidance, or do they mask their fears behind a facade of bravado?

Pay attention to how the character’s response to fear influences their relationships with other characters. For example, do they push others away in an attempt to protect themselves, or do they seek support and connection during times of fear and uncertainty?

Symbolism and Subtext:

Use the character’s fears as a vehicle for exploring deeper themes and subtext within the story. What do their fears symbolize in terms of larger narrative themes or character arcs?

Consider how the character’s perception of fear parallels or contrasts with other characters in the story, providing opportunities for reflection and exploration of different perspectives.

“Personal Truths” Are Not Necessarily Lawful

No matter how much a character is afraid of something, there is a line to be drawn on how valid that fear is when justifying a character’s actions and self-proclaimed motives. A person can say that they are afraid of someone else and that they are acting to protect others, but does that truly evade them from the law? In other words, a Villain can be completely convinced that what they are doing is noble and right, or that it stems from their own trauma, but, at the end of the day, they’re a murderous liar.

For example, in George Orwell's allegorical novel Animal Farm, Napoleon is a Berkshire boar who emerges as one of the leaders of the animal revolution against the human farmer, Mr. Jones. Initially, Napoleon is portrayed as a strategic thinker and persuasive speaker, working alongside Snowball, another pig, to rally the other animals and establish the principles of Animalism, which advocate for equality and freedom from human oppression.

As the story progresses, Napoleon’s character undergoes a transformation fueled by his ambitions for power and control.

Napoleon’s fear of losing control over the farm drives many of his actions. He becomes increasingly paranoid about potential threats to his authority, particularly from Snowball, whom he views as a rival. This fear prompts him to manipulate and eliminate anyone who opposes him, including orchestrating the expulsion of Snowball from the farm and later falsely accusing him of being a traitor.

He also utilizes propaganda and manipulation to maintain his grip on power. He gradually assumes control over the farm’s decision-making processes, consolidating power in his own hands and using fear tactics to suppress dissent among the other animals. For example, he employs the threat of the mysterious “Jones” returning to instill fear and obedience among the animals.

Napoleon’s lust for power leads him to betray the principles of Animalism that he once espoused. He progressively becomes more authoritarian and exploitative, engaging in corrupt practices such as trading with humans and altering the Seven Commandments to justify his actions. Despite initially advocating for equality, Napoleon begins to live a life of luxury while the other animals toil and suffer.

As his regime becomes more entrenched, he resorts to violence and oppression to maintain control. He establishes a reign of terror, using his loyal enforcers, the ferocious dogs he raised since they were puppies, to suppress dissent and punish any animal perceived as disloyal. Under his rule, the farm descends into a state of fear and tyranny, with Napoleon ruling with an iron fist.

Napoleon’s character serves as a symbol of totalitarianism and the corrupting influence of power. His transformation from a revolutionary leader to a despotic dictator mirrors the rise of real-life totalitarian rulers who exploit fear and propaganda to consolidate power and suppress dissent. There is not one moment of self-reflection, of him questioning that, perhaps, his fears are unfounded or his “personal truths” are not true at all.

Playing With Reality

Now, how can you utilize fear in order to create a character with as much depth and reflection (or lack thereof) like Napoleon?

Exaggerating a character’s fear involves manipulating elements of reality within the narrative to heighten the character’s sense of paranoia, insecurity, and authoritarianism.

Distorted Perceptions: Employ literary devices such as unreliable narration or distorted perspectives to amplify the character’s fears. By presenting events through the lens of the character’s paranoia, the narrative can create a sense of heightened tension and uncertainty. For example, descriptions of seemingly innocuous occurrences may be exaggerated or imbued with sinister undertones to reflect the character’s heightened state of fear.

Symbolism and Imagery: Symbolic imagery can be used to represent the character’s fears in a heightened and exaggerated manner. For instance, recurring symbols of oppression, surveillance, or impending doom can serve as visual metaphors for the character’s anxieties and insecurities. These symbols can be woven throughout the narrative to reinforce the character’s sense of paranoia and isolation.

Surreal Elements: Introducing surreal or fantastical elements into the narrative can create a sense of disorientation and unease, effectively amplifying the character's fear. By blurring the boundaries between reality and fantasy, the author can evoke a sense of psychological instability and existential dread. Surreal imagery, dream sequences, or hallucinatory experiences can all contribute to the character’s sense of dislocation and terror.

Manipulation of Time and Space: Playing with the conventions of time and space can further exaggerate the character’s fear and disorientation. Flashbacks, flash-forwards, or nonlinear storytelling techniques can create a sense of temporal dislocation, mirroring the character’s fractured mental state. Similarly, disorienting shifts in perspective or setting can contribute to the character's sense of being trapped or pursued by unseen forces.

Atmospheric Detailing: Careful attention to atmospheric detail can help to create a sense of oppressive dread and foreboding. Descriptions of the environment—such as gloomy weather, claustrophobic settings, or unsettling ambient sounds—can evoke a palpable sense of unease, intensifying the character's fear and paranoia.

Character Interaction and Dialogue: Dialogue and interaction with other characters can be used to reinforce the character’s fears and insecurities. Conversations may be laced with veiled threats, double entendres, or gaslighting tactics, leaving the character uncertain of whom to trust. Manipulative or menacing exchanges can heighten the character's sense of isolation and vulnerability.

Did anyone else get a little uneasy imagining all of that? I’d go rather mad if I had all of that happening to me, too. Now, what about the good guys? They are afraid of things, too, right?

Of course they are, and you can utilize the above methods for your heroes, as well! There might just be a little bit of extra work involved in ensuring that they don’t spiral into the villain role.

Establish Strong Moral Compass: From the outset, establish the hero’s core values and moral compass. Make it clear what principles guide their actions and decisions. This foundation will serve as a guiding light, helping to anchor the character and prevent them from straying into villainous territory.

Empathy and Compassion: Ensure that the hero retains their empathy and compassion towards others, even in the face of fear and adversity. By prioritizing the well-being of others and demonstrating empathy towards those in need, the hero reaffirms their commitment to noble ideals and reinforces their heroic identity.

Positive Support Systems: Surround the hero with positive support systems, including allies, mentors, and friends who can offer guidance, encouragement, and moral support. These relationships serve as anchors, providing the hero with strength and stability during moments of doubt and fear.

Consequences of Actions: Highlight the consequences of the hero’s actions and choices, emphasizing the impact they have on others and the world around them. By holding the hero accountable for their decisions and their effects, the narrative reinforces the importance of ethical behavior and reinforces their heroic identity.

Redemption and Forgiveness: If the hero does succumb to fear or makes mistakes along the way, provide opportunities for redemption and forgiveness. Allow the hero to acknowledge their faults, learn from their experiences, and strive to make amends. This narrative arc reinforces the hero’s humanity and resilience, emphasizing the possibility of growth and redemption.

Thematic Resonance: Ensure that the hero’s journey is thematically consistent and resonant, emphasizing themes of hope, courage, and resilience. By grounding the narrative in these overarching themes, the hero’s actions remain aligned with their fundamental nature, reinforcing their heroic identity and preventing them from veering into villainous territory.

Conclusion

Fear is a powerful and universal human experience that can shape both individuals and characters in profound ways. Drawing upon Stoic philosophy, particularly the concepts of “amor fati” and the distinction between events and perceptions, can provide valuable insights into understanding and managing fear. By exploring how characters perceive and respond to fear, writers can create nuanced and compelling portrayals that add depth and complexity to their stories.

“Amor fati,” or love of fate, encourages individuals to embrace and accept all aspects of their lives, including the uncertainties and challenges that provoke fear. By adopting an attitude of gratitude and acceptance towards fate, characters can navigate fear with resilience and courage, transforming adversity into opportunities for growth and self-discovery.

Furthermore, understanding the distinction between events and perceptions allows writers to delve into the subjective nature of fear, exploring how characters’ interpretations and judgments shape their emotional experiences. By depicting characters’ fears as rooted in their perceptions of reality, writers can add layers of complexity to their motivations and behaviors, enhancing the depth and authenticity of their characterization.

While fear can drive characters to make choices that lead them down dark paths, it is ultimately their moral compass, empathy, and support systems that determine whether they remain heroes or succumb to villainy. By emphasizing themes of redemption, forgiveness, and growth, writers can ensure that even in the face of fear, their characters' journeys ultimately lead to strength, resilience, and self-discovery.

[vivmaek]

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TIME LORDS

If you haven't already, check this post out first: ANNUAL PROFECTION YEARS

When looking at a Profection Chart, you’ll notice that a new planetary ruler is activated each year. These Time Lords provide themes and insights for the year ahead. 

Aries - Like the 1st House, this is all about embracing new beginnings. The year will move fast, and you’ll feel more decisive about the direction you want to move towards. In years past you may have felt unmotivated and aimless, the energy of Mars will bring with it a welcomed spark of ambition. You will feel more in touch with the present moment and with your body. A boost of confidence will make you feel more attractive and this would be an excellent time to make any physical changes to your appearance. A sense of newfound anger may arise, use this as motivation. 

Taurus - A year where you can slow down and relax. A sense of stability was built up within the prior year, and now you can rely upon that. Steady income is to be expected, and rather than focusing on moving up, you should focus on persevering. Save your energy and pay attention to what you have. If any relationships and connections need tending to, now is the time. You will start to establish your roots in what makes you the most comfortable. Your sense of security will be highlighted this year. Relying on a steady course of action will bring the best results. 

Gemini - You will find yourself chasing after many new interests and experiences. In a way, you might feel like a child again and will have the ability to see the world with fresh eyes. You’ll do anything you can to avoid boredom, and this will throw you into interesting situations. A spike in anxiety is to be expected, your body may feel on edge. You will face a lot of duality and contradictions throughout the year. Your perspective is beginning to shift and fracture. Laughter and mischief will be a constant. Rumors and communications will take on great significance.

Cancer - Connections will deepen this year. An attachment to home and family will grow. Domestic endeavors will be of importance, time spent alone will be valued. You may feel especially moody and connected to your emotions. You will seek nourishment and seek to provide nourishment to others. Your understanding on whatever discoveries made in recent years will strengthen and go more in depth. Massive shifts will occur this year turning your focus towards the internal world. You will learn more about what trust means to you and where you can find it. Your vulnerabilities will be exposed and instincts will be heightened. Lots of tears will be shed over the course of this year. 

Leo - Aspects of your identity are going to become loud during this year. You're putting focus on gaining the recognition that you deserve. You want your efforts to be appreciated and valued. Some drama and fun is to be expected. Life will begin to feel theatrical. Your sense of creativity will be heightened. Healing your inner-child will be important this year, give yourself the treatment you wished to receive as a kid. You might feel as though you are putting on performance when expressing yourself even if you are being genuine. You will break out of your shell and receive a mix of both love and hate, testing your authenticity. 

Virgo - This year is all about practicality. You are putting lots of thought into establishing a routine and are taking personal development incredibly seriously; on both a physical and mental level. Focus will be put on productivity and health. You are trying to be your best self. Establishing boundaries and keeping your peace will be important. You’ll find yourself paying attention to all the little things, details are impossible not to notice. You will gather resources and develop skills in organization. Your sense of judgment will sharpen and critical thought will override your mind. 

Libra - Social possibilities and opportunities will make themselves known during this year. Connections with others will be important, especially partnerships. Friends and lovers will be greatly significant. You are learning how much you should give to others, and learning how much you should take. Equality and gaining a sense of justice are important themes. You’re going to strike a balance within your life and will be able to handle conflicts with diplomatic tact. You might meet someone who will serve as a mirror, reflecting qualities that need to be changed or recognized back to you. Laws, legalities, and what it means to follow the rules will be important this year. 

Scorpio - A transformative year for sure. Everything you know is starting to change. It is time to confront deep problems and issues that are informing and affecting current behaviors and actions. You are connecting to what really makes you passionate and being asked to commit to it. Separations or a severing of sorts is to be expected. You are coming face to face with your shadow side. Traumas and wounds from the past will resurface. There is a focus on sex and intimacy during this year. Pushing boundaries while also keeping some intact is important. Secrets and situations that occur behind the scenes will be of great significance. 

Sagittarius - This year marks the start of an adventure. You might begin the pursuit of higher education, travel extensively, or simply begin to start thinking more broadly about the world around you. You will start to recognize how collective forces affect you and will turn away from individualized experiences. Your personal philosophy is being redefined and shaped. Your belief system is being called into question. You will feel very outgoing and exuberant, it will be hard to not chase after fun. You are being pushed towards your purpose with gusto and are developing a sense of optimism for the future. 

Capricorn - This is a tough year that will require patience, endurance, and humility. You may feel as though you are being punished for past wrongdoings, and this is exactly what is happening. But, these are lessons rather than punishments. This is the time to own up to past actions and endeavors. You have the foresight to see what could possibly go wrong, and it's up to you to fix these issues rather than simply ignoring them in the hopes that it will get better. You will have to work hard in order to prove yourself. This year will feel quite heavy and restrictive. 

Aquarius - A need for freedom and personal space will be of importance this year. You want to be independent and break away from what was formerly known. New ideas are emerging and you are going to explore new ways of thinking. Societal issues will take center stage and you’ll see how they affect your personal life. You will also break away from the definitions society has placed upon you and start to establish yourself independently. You might feel an urge to disconnect from what is old and no longer serving you. A need for community will be present over the course of this year. 

Pisces - This will be a year full of confusion and one may feel disconnected from reality. A sense of exhaustion may take over, rest is needed. You will lack direction and instead focus on more spiritual matters. It seems as though you’ve reached the end of a long journey and now you have to make sense of what it all means. Sacrifices and inconsistency are to be expected, this may leave you on edge. The possibilities that lay ahead seem endless, and it will be hard trying to come to a conclusion or to make decisive action. You are being asked to surrender, it's time to face the unknown. 

[hwnglx]

Hiiii👉🏾👉🏾 can you do a reading abt how members see Jay? like the same one you did for Sunoo . Thanks in advance🫣❤️

some of these are long.. hopefully you still enjoy the read and think it's worthwhile ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡

what do enhypen think about jay?

based on tarot. i do not know these idols personally. energies are always changing. what i say is NOT straight fact. pls take it with a grain of salt!

heeseung

10ofp, 3ofw, tower+pagofsw 5ofsw, 6ofw, queofw+4ofsw&char

+ heeseung sees jay as a very stable and family-oriented guy. someone who has clear values, principles and opinions. in his eyes, jay knows exactly what he wants, not just for his present but also for his future. heeseung recognizes that jay is someone open-minded, especially when it comes to other cultures. he thinks that his bandmate also has this great ability to observe shaky and unstable situations with a firm mindset, and act responsibly according to his judgement.

- he's aware of jay having the tendency to get too greedy for the spotlight sometimes, which can result in his disappointment and frustration rather quickly. heeseung thinks that his bandmate needs to just take it slower sometimes. he has this certain confident persona he desperately wants to display to people, that can lead to him getting overly ambitious and inconsiderate of other people's interests. it's giving "you're already cool enough just on your own, stop trying so hard to put on an act all the time".

jake

7ofsw+hieroph, aceofp&aceofw+world, 4ofc strength, 4ofp&knofc, star

+ jake admires jay's rational and calculated approach to life. since jake himself can get very emotional, he seems to almost be envious of how jay is able to put his emotions to the side, logically dissect situations and act in a very reasonable manner. he also thinks that jay is very good at making the best of his opportunities, especially career-wise. someone who not only has a lot of creativity and motivation in this regard, but is also very good at acting on it and realizing his ideas. he pretty much seems to respect the aspects jay has, that he himself can lack in sometimes. practicality, rationality, his clear and logical mindset.. (being water-dominant, jake can get lost in his head extremely easily)

- he thinks that jay can be way too afraid of seeming weak. kinda similarly to heeseung, jake recognizes how jay constantly wants to appear as this strong, confident and stable character and can easily get way too obsessed with that. especially in romantic connections, he thinks that jay tends to get way too attached to his crushes or flings, and obsess over them, in a way where he'll always be in his head like.. "what do they think of me? should i not have said that, do i seem like a fool now?" he also thinks that jay is the type to have way too unattainable hopes and wishes but still act like they're realistic. a bit like this melodramatic "nothing is impossible for me" type of character

sunghoon

3ofsw, queofsw, 3ofc, 9ofc, death, empr aceofp, 3ofw, 10ofc, 10ofp, 4ofc

+ sunghoon sees jay as someone with a surprisingly soft heart. someone who's a good listener. great at letting you talk about your worries and giving you sensible advice. he sees him as someone who's a lot of fun, easy to get along with. the type of person who not only displays a lot of confidence himself, but also makes the people around him feel good about themselves. he thinks that jay has this duality of being this cheerful and fun, but also very nurturing and caring guy, who'd worry about you all the time. kinda like a mother figure.

- in sunghoon's eyes, jay likes to pretend he's a lot more mature than he is in reality. although he has all the foundations to get there, he believes that jay likes thinking he already experienced it all, already knows all about life. sunghoon thinks that he just needs to ground himself a little more, realize he still has a long way to go, and how that is absolutely okay. "be more patient and take it slow, don't obsess over being on the top right from the beginning" type of thing. jay might not enjoy hearing that harsh truth as well, judging from how i got the 4 of cups for him several times now

sunoo

pagofp, 10ofw, moon&queofw 7ofw, 2ofc, 2ofp+6ofp, pagofsw

+ interestingly, sunoo actually seems to view jay as a pretty humble guy. someone who's aware of the things he lacks, willing to work hard and take on many responsibilites in order to improve himself. the type of person who'll probably not admit that he's exhausted, despite his deep eyebags. he also thinks that jay is very good at being the one to take the initiative in moments of insecurity and uncertainty. the guy who'll step up and say "let's go, it's okay. we can do this 👏🏻" in moments where the entire team seems down and low-spirited. someone assertive and confident, who brings a lot of life and fire to the group.

- sunoo thinks jay can get way too defensive and constantly feel the need to justify himself. he views him as someone whose ego can get hurt pretty easily. he just cares way too much about what people think of him. he also believes that jay can sometimes suck up to people a little too much. someone who'll help you out and be overly nice, just to make himself look good in others eyes. also, sunoo might think that jay's gaze can get too strong and intimidating sometimes. like, he just stares too much, sunoo might think it's lowkey creepy lol

jungwon

justice, herm&fool+kingofp, 10ofp 10ofw, empr+moon&devil+5ofc&6ofw, 4ofc

+ jungwon thinks that jay is a very fair-minded guy. someone with a strong moral code, who puts a lot of importance into doing the right thing. he also thinks that jay is someone very good at adapting to the various personalities within the group. the type of person to not be swayed by others. he holds his ground, stands strong and manages himself in a responsible manner. jungwon thinks that a mature and stable person like jay is very essential to the group dynamic. someone who balances all their differences out and acts like the glue of the group. he's good at listening to everyone's side of the story and approaches conflicts in a fair manner.

- jay can quickly overburden himself, in jungwon's eyes. he immediately feels the responsibility to step up and tends to put that pressure on himself a lot. also, my god, jungwon must have seen a lot of dark moments in jay's life. he thinks that his bandmate can just care way too much. not just about himself and his reputation, but also about the group. if a problem arises, he'll be quick to blame it on himself, question his own actions, wonder if he did anything wrong. rather than recognizing other people's flaws, he'll reflect all the negativity on himself. he'll get worried if he looks like an incapable and flawed person very quickly. jungwon definitely recognizes it as a toxic and bad habit of jay's. he can get way too inconsiderate of his own emotions in his eyes.

niki

4ofc wheel, kingofp, kingofc, dev&moon pagofp&queofw, queofp, 8ofw, sun

+ interesting, since i got the 4 of cups as a negative aspect for nearly everyone, but niki seems to view it as a strength of jay's. he thinks that jay's sense of judgement and ability to ignore things that aren't beneficial to him is a very admirable trait. he also views him as someone strong who's very good at handling finances, a great and stable business man. niki believes that jay is good at reflecting on himself and sorting out his bad habits, which as a result made him a very emotionally mature man. someone who understands life, and therefore is very compassionate. a dependable member he can go to with his problems, without having to worry about being judged or looked at weirdly.

- he believes that jay can be way too dismissive of the things he lacks, especially in a professional aspect. he can easily become a little too preachy and pretend he knows everything. he also might see him as someone who's just too smothering. he can become too much and get overbearing, in niki's eyes. like.. he'll feel comfortable approaching him with his worries, but in return, he'll probably get jay preaching about life and its lessons for like three hours. being a person who's sensitive to other people's energies, this can drain niki pretty quickly.

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Thanksgiving Reruns 2024--Chapter 3: Black Friday (pt. 1/3)

It’s that time again; the holidays!  I would like to wish all my followers who celebrate it a very happy Thanksgiving.  As a thank you to you (as well as my followers who DON’T celebrate), I present you with 3 Thanksgiving related stories I’ve written in the past.  Enjoy!

Title: Black Friday—Chapter 1 of 3

Rating: G

Words: 1442

Summary: CS as single parents AU. As the holidays approach, Emma’s son Henry and Killian’s daughter Alice ask for a specific storybook which will ONLY be available for purchase on Black Friday.

 Other Chapters: 1 2 4 5

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Black Friday—Chapter 1

One week before Thanksgiving

“Do you really think it’ll work?” she asked, leaning forward, eyes bright and delighted.

“It’s perfect!” he answered. “Trust me!  Our plan will work like a charm.  Just make sure you give him Miss French’s flier and make him see how much you want it.  I’ll do the same with her.  By Christmas, we’ll be celebrating our success.”

She grinned.  “Oh, I hope you’re right!  Can you imagine?  If we pull this off, everything will change forever!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The morning after Thanksgiving

The alarm clock roared to life as a way, way too enthusiastic version of Jingle Bell Rock blared from the speakers of her clock radio. Emma groaned, reaching blindly over to slam the button on the top of the alarm and make the noise stop.

3 am.  It was entirely too early for any sane person to be awake.  Even the early birds were still peacefully snoozing in their nests.  It was only the crazy humans, intent on getting the best deals on the best Christmas gifts who would submit themselves to this kind of torture.

She hoped the payout was worth it.

Her bed was so warm, so comfortable, that for a split second, Emma considered just forgetting about the whole thing and going back to sleep, but then she thought about Henry.

It had been a difficult year for him, for both of them really.  They’d had a great life in New York.  Her bail bonds gig had paid well enough that they could afford a wonderful apartment. Henry had lots of friends at school.  She’d had a guy she loved, a guy she really thought was the one.  He’d seemed great with Henry, and Henry had really liked him.  

Walsh had proposed a week before Halloween, and Emma had really considered saying yes.  Granted, she didn’t feel the epic, sweeping, melt-into-a-pile-of-goo passion you see in movies, but she did love Walsh, and he could be a wonderful addition to the little family circle she and Henry had put together.

At least that’s what she thought.

Emma had made up her mind to accept the proposal when it all went south.  Turns out Walsh wasn’t at all who he said he was.  He’d been playing a long con on her, doing his level best to steal her money and assets right from under her nose, and she felt like a fool for buying into it his b.s.  She was smarter than this!  She ran the honey trap on bail jumpers; she knew the playbook.  How did she fall for it?

She’d just so badly wanted that perfect, white-picket-fence life for herself, and especially for her ten-year-old son, that’s how.

After everything had so epically crashed and burned with Walsh, Emma had just wanted to get away.  She’d wanted–needed–a new start, and so when her brother David had mentioned the opening for a deputy in the tiny town of Storybrooke, Maine, where he lived with his wife Mary Margaret, Emma had jumped at the opportunity.

Within a week, she’d uprooted her whole life–and her son’s whole life–and moved to Storybrooke.  For the moment, she and Henry were crashing with David and Mary Margaret in their tiny loft apartment until Emma could find them their own place.

The move had been the most difficult on Henry.  All he’d ever known was back in New York–friends, school, entire lifestyle.  Small town Storybrooke was like a totally different world than the booming metropolis he was used to.  Her normally happy, vivacious kid had been quiet, almost withdrawn since they’d arrived in Storybrooke.

Emma knew kids were resilient, that Henry would bounce back, but she felt so damn guilty for causing him stress.

And so, naturally when Henry had come home a week ago, excitement bumped up to a level ten, talking a mile a minute and waving a flier in her face, Emma had taken notice.  Turns out the school librarian Belle French–who was also the owner and proprietor of “A Tale as Old as Time”, Storybrooke’s best (and only) bookstore–was holding a special Black Friday sale on a very special storybook, entitled Once Upon a Time.  She had one copy, and one copy only, and the rare book would normally sell for an exorbitant price–somewhere between an arm and a leg.  On Black Friday, however, she was offering the book for dirt cheap, but there was a catch.  The price was only good during the special, Black Friday early bird sale.  Doors opened at 4 am.   First person to touch the book had the opportunity to purchase it.

Henry had always loved stories, and he’d been particularly fascinated with fairy tales.  Naturally, a book chalk full of them would be right up Henry’s alley.  Faced with the prospect of getting Henry the perfect gift, the gift that would finally bring him some joy after the difficult last few weeks, it was a no brainer.

Waking up a few hours before the crack of dawn was a small price to pay for her kid’s happiness.

Emma pushed aside the covers and got up, throwing on the first pair of clean clothes she could find, twisting her hair into a messy bun, and then downing the strong coffee her sister-in-law had set to brew for her.  By the end of her second cup, she was feeling almost human, and she was ready to brave the hordes of Black Friday shoppers to attain her prize.

It was a quick, five minute walk to the center of town where “A Tale as Old as Time” was located, and Emma made it just as the cheerful brunette proprietor was unlocking the doors and letting her first customers in.  Emma knew just where her target was.  She’d scoped out the bookstore over the weekend, getting the lay of the land and mapping out her plan of attack.  She knew just where to go, and within sixty seconds of the store opening, she’d reached her target.  It was right there, in sight.

Emma reached for the book, her hand made contact–just as another hand did as well.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Killian Jones had lived a difficult life.  He’d seen more heartache and tragedy in his thirty-five years of existence than most people did in a lifetime.  Aye, it had been an incredibly difficult life, but it did have one bright, shining spot.

His daughter Alice.

His one-night-stand with Alice’s mom, Eloise, had been a mistake of epic proportions, but Killian would never regret it, because it gave him the greatest blessing of his life, his precious little starfish.

Nine months after their dalliance, Eloise had suddenly showed up on his doorstep, placed their newborn daughter in his arms, and then walked out of their lives forever.  For himself, Killian couldn’t have cared less.  He felt nothing but revulsion for the woman who’d gotten him blind drunk and then taken advantage of him that night nine months ago.  In the bright morning light, he’d been disgusted with her, with himself, and with the entire sordid affair.  He’d have been more than happy if he never saw her noisome face again.

No, he didn’t care if she walked away from him, but his heart had broken at the fact that his tiny, perfect daughter had been abandoned by her mother.  Killian knew from first hand the agony of being abandoned by a parent, and it tore him up inside that his beloved daughter had to deal with it as well.

Though having a child was the farthest thing from his mind at the time, there’d never been any doubt what he would do.  Alice was his daughter, his precious child, and he would do right by her no matter what.

Ten years later, he thanked his lucky stars every single day that he’d made the choice to raise her.  Alice was the most important person in the world to him, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her.

So naturally, when she came home from school all excited about the book Miss French was selling, Killian knew exactly how he would be spending his very early Black Friday morning.

He’d arrived at “Tale as Old as Time” just as Miss French opened the doors.  He rushed to the back of the store, his prize in sight.

He grabbed the book just as a gorgeous blonde made contact.  

“Um excuse me,” she said with a frown.  “This book is mine.”

It appeared this shopping expedition was going to be more difficult–although possibly more intriguing–the blonde truly was breathtaking–than he’d expected.

Killian grinned.  He’d never backed down from a challenge, and he didn’t intend to begin now.

Next Chapter–>

[sheltershock]

Sashamilla version of Rewrite the Stars.

This is my thought today. (Actually not really I’ve had it for months, today is the day I finally write it down.)

However, Milla is in Zac Efron’s role and Sasha’s is in Zendaya’s. It just fits their personalities and worldviews way better. Milla is the idealistic dreamer who’s accomplished and overcome so much she’s convinced she can do pretty much everything. Because she can but that’s besides the point. She’s also in tune with her own and other’s emotions to be able to actually call out the present feelings(“you know I want you / it’s not a secret I try to hide / I know you want me”).

Meanwhile Sasha is the more negative centered side of the argument voiced by Zendaya. Both the negativity charged powers and literally being down to earth compared to Milla play into it. Also crucially is that this is the side of the argument that fate is real and cannot be changed(“no one can rewrite the stars / how can you say that you’ll be mine?”). While there’s no definitive proof in the games that Sasha thinks fate is absolute, he does have a line in RoR that might believe in destiny, but also would not actively attempt to change it, “Who am I to stand in the way of our destiny, even if that destiny is our destruction?” Plus there’s the stars/galaxy/space/aliens special interest so yeah Stars. Sasha stands pretty firmly on the side of order to the point that chaos is hard to function for him so the idea of rewriting the stars/constellations, even if possible, could also get some derision from him.

And then there’s the idea of the song to begin with, that our leads are separated by something insurmountable. The in text scenario from the musical can apply to sashamilla since they’re also an interracial couple. But racism is depressing, so there’s some alternative factors that can be used. There’s the idea that because they’re opposites that they’re simply too different from each other. They’re “doomed to break” if you will. Or a more psychological reason could be played that the reason they can’t be together is because their past trauma of suddenly losing a loved one prevents them from truly loving another person again. Of course with this context, it would mean that Milla is ready to try to love someone else again, and Sasha isn’t, which is believable. I personally think that although romantic relationships shouldn’t really define characters, I do think that Sasha/Milla is the other’s happy ending by being able to love another person again especially when they’re both in such a dangerous field. They’re both likely to die suddenly, but they both decide that love/being loved is worth the possible reoccurring pain and that’s their happy ending by choosing to be happy with each other.

Additionally the verses “because we’re able to be / just you and me within these walls / but when we go outside / you’re gonna wake up and see / that it was hopeless after all” can be whatever you interpreted above. “Within these walls” can refer to their own minds/privacy where they can be fine by themselves but not in public aka “outside.” Or it can refer to the Psychonauts as a sanctuary that they can be psychics or basically share parts that can’t be comfortably shown to the rest of the world “outside.” I really like these verses in relation to the ship, good opportunity for storytelling.

Now if this was an animatic, I’d suggest that the visuals take place inside their minds. With Milla’s levitation a similar thing can be done with the trapeze art(?) from the original musical. But the entire time it’s abundantly clear visually how the other sticks out in the opposing mind. I think it would be cool if they were chasing each other. So it starts out in Milla’s mind, and she’s just singing her heart out but she’s just too good at levitating and Sasha cannot keep up with her. They both have points of just barely being close enough but momentum is just a bit stronger, fate’s just a little bit stronger.

And then during the transition where it would be Sasha’s turn to sing, he’s given up on trying to keep up and just leaves back to his own mind. Milla obviously follows after, she’s chasing now. But despite his mind being a large cube with tons of empty space the entire time it’s unfolding and refolding back as both for Sasha to move around and Milla to stumble over her own obstacles. I also want the idea of the appearing/disappearing trapdoor from PN1 to be an element during where Sasha keeps suddenly disappearing through spaces that you wouldn’t immediately identify as doors. It would also coincide with the verse “and there are some doors that we can’t walk through” emphasis on the we specifically(because I like literalism). Milla’s good with levitation but with what’s effectively teleportation she’s struggling to keep up.

Of course the repeated line of “(what if we/no one can) rewrite the stars” is accompanied but different but similar visuals depending on the mind. Milla’s has spinning lights from the disco balls, and the geometric/math like designs in the sky in Sasha’s that I interpreted as constellations is of course, the stars.

Also the line “I want to fly with you / I want to fall with you.” I have no thoughts. It’s just them, I don’t really have to explain that. I’m just pointing it out.

The final part of the song where both voices come in for an overlapping duet would be cool if the aesthetics of both of their minds somehow combined. I don’t know how. It might even be a nightmare to design, but it would be interesting and like a blending of their ideas and persons into this new destiny they’ve created. But nonetheless it should look beautiful. They’re finally in sync, being able to fly and fall together.

I just think the song fits them and their personalities. And there’s the irony that I’m pretty sure they were, in reality, designed for each other. That they “were the one they were might to find” so, cute, obviously. So, yeah, my thoughts on a song and a ship.

[sky-is-the-limit]

Eddie was raised with the toxic masculine ideal that he had to suppress his emotions, and it’s only been through his relationships at the 118 that he has begun to feel more comfortable with expressing his feelings. How do you think Eddie’s upbringing has influenced the kind of person he is in the present day? And as someone who has drawn plenty of parallels between yourself and Eddie, what parts of your own lived experiences have you drawn from?

I pull from a lot of my own personal history. I always had emotions when I was younger. Growing up in Sacramento, it was always frowned upon to have these emotions and even trying to understand them. Actually, I was told that it was homosexual to feel these feelings, and I’m like, “Wait, so having feelings makes me be this kind of person? I don’t understand this.” So it was always something that I never could understand in the setting that I was growing up in.

Now I use that as a conduit to Eddie, because the setting he was growing up in was similar. Coming into this new family of seeing Hen and now Buck being versions of themselves who are living in their truth, it now allows Eddie to live in his truth and see there is new life and new opportunity. He’s allowing himself to be vulnerable and realize, “No, [being vulnerable] doesn’t make me less of a man, and it’s not an indication that my sexuality has to completely change because I feel these emotions. I’m still the same man. I just now have a greater awareness and greater depth of who I am because of these emotions.” This has always been something that I’ve wanted to portray on camera, and having Eddie be the conduit for that has been an incredible opportunity for myself as an actor and as a person. I love the fact that I’m able to show to the world, through Eddie, that having this vulnerability with your brothers or your sisters doesn’t make you anything that the world might throw at you as a title. It just makes you more aware of who you are and gives you an opportunity for some emotional intelligence. 

---- this is from his interview with the hollywood reporter [‘9-1-1’ Star Ryan Guzman Breaks Down That Emotional Finale Goodbye]. where he compares eddie and his upbringing to his own. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/911-season-7-finale-ryan-guzman-interview-1235912170/

I love every single thing he said and I agree 100%

Being in touch with your emotions/learning to express them, does NOT determine your sexuality.

Nor does a close friendship instantly mean that they are in love, obviously. Especially breaking through thousands of years of toxic masculinity and believing that showing any type of emotion, other than anger and lust, are something that only women and queer men do.

That doesn't mean that Eddie cannot be queer though nor does it mean that he is.

And of course, it doesn't mean that he can't have/develop romantic feelings for his best friend. It's the most relatable trope and there's nothing wrong with it happening.

But if that doesn't happen and he keeps on being a straight supportive, loving friend, that's also okay. (obviously sad for the fans)

Unfortunately, fans don't always get what they want *betraying in which fandom I belong with that* but it would be nice to see a popular ship within the fandom become canon.

I mean, at the end of the day, it's up to the writers and the actor to decide and they can always change their minds on the plot lines as the story progresses, so I guess we'll see where that goes.

[rooviebae]

Akaza and his child again <3

But with the mugen train arc- I wonder a lot how it will go down 🤔 (I doubt Kyojuro would attack a child but demon is demon to hashiras so¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯)

╭ Akaza's Demon Child at the Mugen Train ♡‧₊˚ ┆Wordcount: 997 words ┆Wardnings: n/a ╰ ➤ Request here

️

Akaza didn't want his child to accompany him to the Mugen Train, but he knew he couldn't defy Muzan when he suddenly heard the order to kill the hashira there, and he also knew he was unable to put it off and drop you off at home before returning. The hashira and the weaker slayers could be gone by the time he returns, thus he had no choice but to bring his child with him.

He appeared in a panic, his kid's arms securely wrapped around his neck, their hold firmly kept in place on his back. Still, the Upper Moon's expression was determined to win, as if he wasn't terrified on the inside, worrying for the life of his kid.

He twists his head only slightly, but his golden gaze remains fixed on the flame hashira ahead of him. "Y/N" He draws his arms back, releasing your grasp from around his neck. "Go to the trees, and stay there." He pays little attention to the young demon's growing pout, him maintaining the same expression while turning back to the slayers. "I'm not having them hurt you, especially the hashira."

There wasn't much you could do but listen to him talk. Yes, you were a demon much like Akaza, but instead of teaching you how to protect yourself, he spent the most of his time with you showing off his affection and enjoying your company.

That was Akaza's fault; he should have at least taught you self-defense, but the memories and scenarios that kept flooding back stopped him, and he wishes it hadn't. He wished he had more control over himself as he stood in front of Kyojuro, scanning his serious face as he gripped his blade hard as Akaza stood there, bracing himself for what was to follow.

He changed his mind; his main goal was no longer to win. It wasn't to kill the Hashira so he could get stronger. It was to protect his child, to protect you. His strength would be lost if something happened to you. His entire world would be destroyed.

Akaza sees you out of the corner of his eye, and as you hide behind a tree, peeking your head out to watch your father, he instantly lunges at Tanjiro, resulting in Akaza getting his arm cut and you yelping at the unexpected event.

Surprisingly, you had never seen him fight with humans before. He is frequently challenged by demons for the position of Upper Moon 3, which occurs multiple times every week. It was becoming old, but now that you were here, witnessing him attack other people, you were terrified. You weren't the kind to socialize with them much, but you like the gifts they offered you and Akaza, such as fireworks. Each year on the day of your birthday, you get the opportunity to view the fireworks that people themselves designed. If humans weren't present, they wouldn't exist.

"Say, why don't you become a demon?" Akaza asks the hashira, his arm lifted, a smile on his face. Kyojuro doesn't even flinch, only maintains a stationary gaze on the demon with no change in his behavior. "Not a chance." You could feel your fingers clutching the tree tighter as you watched the exchange, yet something didn't feel right. It was there, building inside of you, but you weren't sure where it had come from. Then you saw something: the other slayer on the floor was gone.

Akaza maintained his combat stance no matter what was going on just in case. "Your battle spirit is very polished. You're moving closer to supremacy." You were now on the ground, watching while seated on your knees, seemingly waiting for this to all end. You didn't want this conflict to continue, you wanted them to go their separate ways, but even you knew that doesn't happen. "I am the flame hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku."

Kyojuro's brows furrow slightly, and you can see the veins on his hands as he clutches his sword. His posture straightens, and he fixes his attention intently on Akaza. "You don't intend to engage in combat, correct?" The Upper Moon stops, almost losing his sense of balance as he maintains his attention in the face of the sudden question. "After all," he says, lowering his sword to his side and relaxing his arm. "You wouldn't consider it an appropriate decision to bring a child to a fight to the death, would you?"

"Death?" You unintentionally utter that one word, drawing the other man's attention with his crimson and gold eyes, which infuriates Akaza. "I'd encourage you to turn your attention away from my child. You'd only be inviting death to come to your door."

The words that the Upper Moon was tossing at Kyojuro had little effect on him, but he understood precisely where this was headed. He knew what to do because he realized that his loyalty to that child was considerably greater than his loyalty to Muzan. "We're giving you an opportunity here, Upper Moon 3."

"We're?" The immediate shriek from your hiding spot caused Akaza to glance at you, entirely forgetting about the flame pillar, but the man had no intention of killing the demon, either of them. You were quick to spot Tanjiro's disappearance previously, but not quick enough to catch his presence coming up behind you. Don't misunderstand him; he wasn't trying to harm you! He was only keeping you in place so you didn't run away, since Tanjiro knew what Kyojuro was up to.

His arms were securely wrapped around you to keep you from moving around too much, yet he appeared to be hugging you from behind.

"It's evident your child doesn't wish for anyone to die." Akaza sends Kyojuro an intimidating glare, but he doesn't seem to care much. "And it's plain to see that you hold more care for them than Muzan Kibutsuji."

"You hold two choices: stay with Kibutsuji, or give your child the happiness that they rightfully deserves."

[queerprayers]

Not quite sure how to be delicate about this but is sexual activity okay during Lent, solo or partnered? I always feel weird not knowing if it’s rude or not respectful to do anything sexual during Lent.

Great question, beloved! I'm (only kind of) sorry this is eight paragraphs and not a yes/no response.

The easy (and perhaps frustrating) answer is, there are no (specific) rules for Lent! Denominations definitely have guidelines--for instance, Catholics have fasting rules. Besides the couple community-specific rules like these, Lent usually has much more general guidelines, such as centering prayer or being generous. It looks like there were traditions, especially in the Middle Ages, that included celibacy during Lent, and the Greek Orthodox Church still requires it. But generally, it's a personal choice that people seek out for themselves.

The other easy answer is no, I don't think being sexually active during Lent is rude or disrespectful. Your sexual ethic and personal habits are your own, and between you and God (and any sexual partners). Lent is a season humans created that some people honor, not a magical time when the rules of the world are different. God is no less or more present during Lent, and Jesus is no more or less crucified. God commands us to pray and give and love every day. We have examples of fasting/seasons of changed habits in the Bible, and we especially remember Jesus's time in the wilderness, but ultimately Lent is of our own creation, to honor those examples.

I included sex in my list of things people might give up during Lent not because I think it's bad, but because for many people, going temporarily without it and/or rethinking their relationship with it is a holy practice. Someone might choose to be celibate during Lent to strengthen self-discipline, or to seek out other ways of connection with others/themselves, or to replace that time/energy with prayer, or to simply see what their life is like without it and reflect on their relationship with it. Sex, like food, is a physical experience and has many benefits, and celibacy, like fasting, can be spiritually fulfilling for many. (Obviously there are also many differences. The analogy only goes so far. You get me though.)

There are also reasons why someone might specifically not give up sexual activity during Lent! Sex is an area of guilt and repression for so many, and someone healing from that mindset might be triggered/set back by depriving themselves of it. And especially if only one person is religious, i imagine a relationship could be strained by abstaining from a form of connection that might be very important to them.

Ultimately, this is a personal decision (with God's help, and perhaps a partner's input). I'm sorry if you wanted me to tell you what to do, but maybe since you're thinking about it, take this opportunity to reflect on what sex means to you and how it relates to your spirituality/morality!

Some questions you (and many of us) could ask, this Lent and always: Do you usually associate sex with rudeness/disrespect? Do you carry guilt or repression with you? Is talking about it/thinking about it uncomfortable? Is sex genuinely fulfilling or meaningful to you? Has it ever been a mindless distraction for you? a form of self-harm? a giving in to pressure? What does it mean to you that God created us and our ability to be sexually active? What would your life look like without sex?

And ultimately: Would it be spiritually fulfilling to have a season in which you weren't sexually active? What time/energy would that give you (or take away)? What relationships (including with yourself) might you have to reframe?

May you have a blessed Lent, however you choose to honor it (or not). You can personally, willingly, and genuinely make sacrifices/practices in this season, but apart from those intentional choices, continue living your life. Don't change it out of guilt or pressure, especially if Lent isn't particularly meaningful to you. I hereby give you permission to not feel guilty if you're (consensually respectfully healthily etc.) sexually active during Lent or any other season.

<3 Johanna

[fishyviolet]

(no worries about a fast response! it's also late for me lol, and this'll be kinda long. +kinda comes with the hc territory, but tw for discussions of trauma, death, and suicide) i want to start this by saying i'm not trying to like demonize you or be argumentative! hc is a special interest of mine and i love analyzing the themes of it. and i definitely agree that vincent and charles have a deeply toxic and unhealthy relationship in canon, and personally i think it's really weird for people to just portray them as uwu soft gay boys in love because it really just romanticizes a dynamic that isn't good for either character

however, i do also think that boiling it down to "toxic scary horrible for each other forever" kinda doesn't fit with the themes of the series, and i don't think charles and vincent are always destined to be toxic and horrible. one of the main themes of hc to me is how circumstance impacts the healing of trauma and mental illness, and how that goes on to impact relationships. almost all the characters in hc are deeply mentally ill & traumatized and prevented from coping with this as they're retraumatized again and again, with no access to help, a big part of the true realm which translates to the largely metaphorical false realm - charlotte is destined to be the abused heroine, anri lashes out at everyone in self defense, charles dies and tortures himself in his own afterlife, vincent dies feeling deeply alone, etc. the characters deeply yearn for connection - vincent asks charles to be present for his last moments, charles and anri enter a relationship, etc - but this is distorted by their circumstance. charles' mental health restrains him from opening up, anri is too guarded to truly be vulnerable, vincent's view of life is heavily distorted by his delusions, etc

and while ep 3 does end on a more optimistic note (it isn't happy, but charles acknowledges a lot of his own flaws and moves on from the house, with etherane's commentary especially implying that it's the start of a healing journey) the main hc series is still largely deeply tragic and depressing. i'd like to add some text from near the end of hc3, when charles is discarding a vincent vessel and discussing him, as i feel it speaks to his self awareness with vincent in particular:

q84: Weren't you supposed to keep him safe?

charles: ...Yeah. I really messed up. In the end, all I did was postpone the inevitable. No matter what, there's no way I could've helped him. There was no way of "fixing" him, either.

q84: Well, duh, you can't go around trying to "fix" people. There's no way of doing that, anyway.

charles: I knew that somewhere on a subconscious level, didn't I? That's why the House is the way it is. Were I convinced I could change him, or anyone... They would've ended up being the brainwashed, unnaturally happy versions of themselves. Never once have I wished for that. However, the images of people I knew still became distorted in this place. Especially Vincent's. I was so fascinated with the idea of him that I failed to see him as a real person. That's why in the House, he's all but an empty shell. An imaginary construct.

before laying him to rest. it took putting himself through horrible cycle after horrible cycle to acknowledge the flaws in his own life, because he clung so hard to every coping mechanism he could.

but heaven's gate is noted to be a much quieter (and in my opinion, softer) visual novel - it examines a world where the most harsh aspects of hc aren't present (scarlett isn't there, nobody dies) and while the characters are still in bad circumstances, they're allowed to connect much more, especially with vincent and charles meeting earlier

but this doesn't mean hg is happy, just less intense. the characters are still in bad circumstances and still have deep amounts of trauma. but hg presents the characters an opportunity to heal from that trauma, even if by the end of the game, they're still in bad places mentally - it isn't a happy ending, it's a world where they someday have the hope of one. vincent is alive and interacts more heavily with charles, charles has less stress, and anri doesn't move away. even before the end, charles and vincent get more direct opportunities to bond, especially in sharing their works - in particular, i think of the scene where vincent says he has something to show charles, and when charles asks if it's a love confession, vincent says "almost" and shares aether, a work about how isolated he feels. he may not connect to charles, but he's willing to expose a vulnerable part of himself - a deeply personal act that he isn't shown to take with any other character, even ones he makes an effort to be friendly with.

the main point where i disagree with you is that the ending scene is representative of why they're so bad for each other - because while i agree it calls out how toxic both sides of the relationship are, i also think it's less a moment of "oh, we're bad for each other, we can't be friends/together" and more a moment that can start their healing journey. it's a scene that explicitly parallels other moments in hc, but it ends on an undoubtedly optimistic note.

the ending scene is one where charles and vincent truly open up and recognize the flaws in their relationship - charles accepts that he highly idealizes vincent and has trouble seeing him as his own person, and vincent admits that no matter how much he wants to, he's never been able to connect with other people and craves a sense of control. they have extremely different reactions to their trauma - charles desires to become one with another person, to lose his own individuality, and vincent is so walled off from other people he isn't even sure who he's supposed to be outside of an idealized view of himself that he projects to other people.

the difference from the main series is that nobody dies, and there's hope in the future. vincent admits to charles he tried to kill himself, and that he wants to connect to others but finds it nearly impossible; charles admits he hasn't been treating vincent fairly and hasn't been trying to get to know the real him. the ending text in particular i feel is poignant. an excerpt:

Neither of us can find comfort in each other's words. Neither of us know what to do.

"I want you to live," I croak out, not to a corpse, not to an imaginary construct, not to a vacant shell, but to Vincent Fennell himself.

History repeats. I can't see his face.

"I see," Vincent says simply. No tears, no surprises. That's how Vincent Fennell is. Yet, his words sound almost thankful. Vincent gets up and extends his hand to me.

"Congratulations on graduating, Charles." I reach out and accept his hand.

The future still remains uncertain. Yet, I feel like I'll be able to fall asleep tonight. The sun rises. A new day has come.

this parallels old scenes in multiple ways - the entire scene, charles keeps repeating that he has a sense of deja vu, that he's been here before, mirroring vincent's suicide scene (also on a high location where he has his first true heart to heart with vincent). charles outright echoes frei's line on love and individuality - he wants to lose his own sense of self to connect to vincent due to his own self loathing. and most vitally, he echoes the scene of charlotte and c in hc2 where c asks charlotte to kill herself with him - both of them beg vincent/c not to die, not because they can convince the other to live, but because they want the other person to be in their life. "i want you to live." it's a selfish wish, but a wish born out of some form of care and connection.

at this point, their relationship isn't healthy. charles is just admitting that he really doesn't know vincent at all, and vincent is just admitting how distant he feels from everyone. but with the ending of hc3 being so heavily focused on moving on and healing (with etherane explicitly talking about how it was related to their own mental health journey), and with the ending lines of "yet, i feel like i'll be able to fall asleep tonight. the sun rises. a new day has come," i can't see this scene as just a pessimistic confirmation that the two are bad for each other.

to me at least, this scene signifies that though they've had a very rough and toxic relationship, vincent and charles are willing to acknowledge that, want to change, and in opening up to each other and confronting their flaws, their relationship can evolve. charles is accepting that vincent isn't the idealized person in his mind. vincent is accepting that he can't project a perfect image to everyone forever. they can never forget their past, but they can help each other heal from it

in conclusion because i know this is long as hell, i don't disagree that vincharles is a deeply flawed and often toxic relationship, but i also don't necessarily think it's inherently a cannibalistic and self-destructive one - i think hc tackles a lot of themes of uncontrollable circumstance hindering healing from trauma and mental health, and those things impacting interpersonal relationships, and the end of the series is largely about confronting those issues and trying to heal. and i think another big part of the series is that relationships that may be unhealthy due to unresolved trauma and mental health issues may not always be that way - and that hurt people, even if they aren't in a good state now, can help each other heal, even if the journey is hard.

// anonymous submission

Everything below is my thoughts/comments

Oh i absolutely agree w your points! I never really meant to imply that the ending scene of HG was meant to be purely pessimistic or that i was viewing it as such; obviously, admitting one's faults (Charles acknowledging that he wasn't seeing Vincent as a person) is the first step to healing them, and in this case specifically he goes a step further and makes an effort to amend that fault (indeed speaking to Vincent Fennel himself). I was more trying to reinforce how insane it is to me that some people see their relationship as being way more genuine than it actually is Despite context like this. like I personally completely forgot the dialog of the exchange you cited between charles and q84 just because my memory is shit (and i probably need to reread hc at some point soonish). im sure plenty of others are also just as forgetful as I am in this regard. but the ending scene in heavens gate is literally the climax of the story so it's a lot easier to internalize and remember and factor into interpretation and such. thats why i brought it up in specific: when this is the climax of the story, how can one forget that charles is completely deluding himself in regards to how he sees Vincent?!?

i agree that the climax of heaven's gate is very optimistic. I think if vincent and charles worked hard and had the desire to do so, they could theoretically enter a deeper relationship, whether that be a true friendship or a romance or whatever. i liek heavens gate

also re: the Daydream rpf bit that was mainly a joke LMAO i absolutely agree that what vincent represents in The House is far deeper than that! i just thought the connection was funny :] your thoughts are super awsome i will be rereading it if i ever wanna think abt hc agai yayyy

[screamsviakeyboard]

There's something weird about the DC movies. Specifically WW 1984 and The Flash. Both movies have pretty clear morals to their climaxes, and those morals are basically "don't hope too much or try to change things." Which are weird ones to have in anything, but especially mind boggling to have in superhero media.

Wonder Woman 1984

So, for those who don't know, WW1984's villain is a dude who fuses with a magical wishgranting rock, but, when you make a wish on the rock, you have to give up the thing you value most in exchange (the rock doesn't tell you this ahead of time). So the dude goes around granting wishes until he gets access to every screen on the planet and gets everyone to make a wish on him so he can take their most valued things. In order for Wonder Woman to beat him, she shows him that this is hurting his son (by destroying the world) and he convinces everyone to renounce their wishes. The day is saved, and WW can go try and move on from her dead boyfriend or whatever.

Now, the thing is, the guy who was granting the wishes wasn't actually doing anything. He was absorbing power from the people who were making wishes, but he wasn't using that for any purpose. What was destroying the world was the wishes themselves. Every single person who makes a wish on screen wishes for bad shit. Like there's a lady who wishes for someone to die and then the dude just drops dead. Shit's fucked up.

What this means is that the thing causing the danger isn't an evil villain; he's only creating the opportunity. What's to blame for the oncoming end of the world are the wishes of humanity. It is, in effect, bad to wish for things, not because you might get your shit sucked out by an evil rock, but because your wish might come true. It is only by not wishing for things that you can help Wonder Woman save the world.

The Flash (spoilers, if you care)

This one's about Flash trying to change the past. Time travel, woo. He goes back in time to save his mom from being murdered, and he actually succeeds, but he gets knocked out of the time travel and realizes that as a result of his actions all the super heroes are MIA and Zod (evil general superman) is about to invade.

Flash meets up with himself from this time and gets the band back together, with Batman and Supergirl because Superman didn't arrive in this timeline. Then they go to fight Zod. Montage, music plays, big battle scene, until, they lose. Supergirl and Batman die, so the Flashes need to go back to the past to try and save the day.

Then they fail. And it's kind of interesting, I guess, because we're trained to expect the heroes to succeed at this sort of thing. Then they go back in time again to try and save the day, only to fail again, and again, and again.

Our flash explains to the new flash that this is because this is fated to happen. Zod wins and the planet is destroyed, there's nothing they can do about it. The other flash refuses to listen and keeps trying to save the day until he threatens the fabric of time and space and an evil monster appears.

The twist is that the monster is the other flash, after countless attempts to change the outcome, he's become unrecognizable and now he's here to stop our Flash from stopping him from saving the day. He tries to kill our Flash, but the other Flash takes the hit, dying in the process and erasing his future self from existence.

Our Flash realizes what he has to do, he goes to unchange the past, and then he returns to the present, where his mom's still dead, but at least his dad isn't in prison anymore.

Once again, the Big Problem, isn't the villain. Zod's an obstacle, sure, but the thing threatening to destroy all of existence isn't him, it's the fact that Other Flash wants to save the day. If he just gave up, then all solvable problems would be solved. And it's by giving up on, uh, having a living mother, that our Flash does save the day in the end.

So you can see my problem with this

The moral of the story is that some things can't be changed, and if you try to fix them, you'll only hurt yourself and others. The moral of the story is that if you wish for things, you'll wish for something wrong and selfish, so you need to not wish. These are morals, kinda, if you squint at them, but they suck. They're depressing and hopeless.

And they're especially bad in a Superhero Movie.

The whole point is to reach for what's impossible. We're here to watch larger than life figures prevail against impossible odds and save the world. We're here to change the things that can't be changed, and to wish for a brighter world. These morals are practically antithetical to the genre they're presented in. And if you're, like, writing fucking Watchmen, then sure, that's fine, but when you're writing blockbuster bright and colorful superhero movies—when Watchmen's already come out, when we've got more evil supermen than we have fingers and one of them's already appeared in your own universe—what're you even doing?

These are for kids, man. And the kids in us if we're lucky. Let 'em hope.

[thecpdiary]

The CP Diary: Keeping Up With Change

Change is inevitable. Change remains a constant in our lives. Forced change is something you bring on yourself and that's not always good change, particularly if the decisions you make, put you in a worse place. We're very much seeing that in politics. For me any form of change is unsettling. Change can disrupt the familiar, challenge our routines, it demands us to adapt. But perhaps there’s more to change than just adjustment. Change, at its core, is about growth not everyone is comfortable with that.

Keeping up with Change In today’s world, keeping up with change isn’t just about surviving the upheavals – it’s about thriving in the new reality that change brings. It is especially true for those living with challenges, where change can take on unique, often more complex forms. When the mind already navigates obstacles, adding more unknowns into the mix, can feel overwhelming.

Yet, in the world, as many people have found, change isn't easy. Acknowledging and accepting change can help us to focus on what matters: our wellbeing, our personal and spiritual growth, and the life that nurtures us. The Emotional and Mental Impact of Change Change doesn’t just affect our external circumstances; it triggers emotional and mental responses that shape how we perceive the world around us. But these emotions, when approached with patience, understanding and mindfulness, can also teach us about resilience and even hope. The CP Diary is about change. As I continue to write about different topics, I navigate different landscapes focusing on change. When anyone reflects on their personal experiences, whether positive, negative, or challenging, they allow for a deeper understanding of themselves and how change affects them. Through this lens, we allow ourselves to see change as an opportunity to explore new perspectives, and to realign our priorities. Practical Adjustments to Change Everyone, at some point, will need to find new ways to move forward. Whether it’s learning to manage stress, deal with a career shift, or navigate personal relationships, we will all be required to recalibrate our actions and expectations. While change is met with resistance, there are ways to turn it into a more positive experience. My blog, The CP Diary can help you to embrace change positively by: Focus on What You Can Control Whether it's creating new routines or setting small goals, control what you can, and let go of the rest. The CP Diary Teaches You About Mindfulness Staying present can help you to manage stress and stay grounded during times of upheaval. It allows you to focus on the current moment instead of getting lost in what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. The CP Diary is about A New Relationship with Change

The CP Diary is the journey of change – in 14+ years, there's a lot to absorb – if continued my blogs invite reflection, growth, positivity, hope. So why not make The CP Diary part of 'your' every day routine and soak up all it has to offer.

Finally, change is not something to fear, but something to embrace. It may not always look how you may expect or want, but it can bring unexpected gifts as I have found through my writing, but most of all better mental health when you learn to deal with and work through change. In learning to adapt to change –in learning about change, you will learn about yourself, your strengths and vulnerabilities.

For more inspirational and lifestyle blogs, please check out my site https://www.thecpdiary.com