#book cheap lot polish flights

[artdecosupernova-writing]

WIP Intro

“Sometimes I sit here…and I contemplate. I could’ve been anything else.” “You’re not that forgiving. Not to yourself, not to anyone.” But Mike still grinned around his smoke. “…And you’d be the last person to deserve it, anyway.”

A Box of Sharpened Teeth

A small town in Oklahoma is disrupted by random disappearances seemingly going uninvestigated by a lazy sheriff.

Though Barber Blackburn is the last person anyone would suspect, he can’t explain his urges—his sparks—and the missing remorse factor goes further unchecked with each person brought into his basement. When he catches the attention of Michael McDowell, those sparks are stoked into flames by a handsome, charming, and unmistakably deadly stream of whispering in his ear…and it’s unclear what he wants in return.

WARNING: this WIP contains situations that some may find upsetting. use discretion when consuming ABoST content and blacklist the tag #ABoST if necessary.

EXCERPT:

Caked and drying blood flushed off Barber Blackburn’s knuckles in scalding water and spiraled down the shower drain. Loose dog teeth cut into the palm of his clenched fist, the angry points penetrating the fleshier parts of his hand. The pinch went unnoticed.

He’d found the teeth in a parking lot, on the tarmac outside of the grocery store. Early one morning, before the sun had fully risen, he spotted two canines and three molars scattered near his car tire. A consequence of the heavy rains the town of Single Shell, Oklahoma had to weather over the last few weeks, perhaps, or local fauna being reckless with their detritus.

Hovering nearby had been Michael McDowell, his neighbor from the adjacent cul-de-sac, taking furtive peeks at him from under the trunk door of his SUV as he loaded it with groceries. Mike’s dark eyes narrowed at Barber crouching to scoop up the teeth, and his hand paused on the door when he caught the glint of sunrise off the too-polished enamel piled into the space between Barber’s fingers and his wrist.

Barber caught his gaze under thick lashes, expecting a flinch or a show of disgust that he’d choose to pick up the teeth rather than inspect them from a distance. He’d known Mike at arm’s length for three years, though they weren’t close enough to establish whether or not picking up enigmatic dog teeth in his presence was a move Barber would later regret.

Mike couldn’t be read. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but instead, he deposited his canvas shopping bag and locked up the SUV without a word.

Barber pored over Mike’s utter lack of reaction well into stepping out of the bathroom. He thought about the text he got from him before his shower, forewent a towel and trailed water across the carpet of his bedroom, to the dresser, where he flicked open a small jewelry box he’d gotten from his mother as a child. It sat beside an unassuming book lying flat, a tome of poetry containing a favorite by Robert Burns.

He rolled the dog teeth against the cheap faux velvet lining of the jewelry box, rattling them like dice, and the lid dropped shut after him. He then lifted the cover of the book and peered inside, as some time ago he’d glued the pages together and hollowed them out above a particular stanza of the poem:

But, Mousie, thou art no thy-lane, In proving foresight may be vain; The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft agley, An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy!

Barber ran the tips of his fingers through the other teeth within. All of the human canines filed into points after their extraction.

He exhaled through rounded lips and slid the book against the wall. He dressed and descended two flights of stairs into the basement, a gallon of bleach and an entire roll of paper towels in hand.

[airsparow]

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[friendz-travel]

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[spacetimewraithwrites-archive]

WIP Intro

"Sometimes I sit here...and I contemplate. I could've been anything else." "You're not that forgiving. Not to yourself, not to anyone." But Mike was still grinning around his smoke. "...And you'd be the last person to deserve it, anyway."

A Box of Sharpened Teeth

A small town in Oklahoma is disrupted by random disappearances seemingly going uninvestigated by a lazy sheriff.

Though Barber Blackburn is the last person anyone would suspect, he can't explain his urges—his sparks—and the missing remorse factor goes further unchecked with each person brought into his basement. When he catches the attention of Michael McDowell, those sparks are stoked into flames by a handsome, charming, and unmistakably deadly stream of whispering in his ear...and it's unclear what he wants in return.

WARNING: this WIP contains situations that some may find upsetting. use discretion when consuming ABoST content and blacklist the tag #ABoST if necessary.

EXCERPT:

Caked and drying blood flushed off Barber Blackburn's knuckles in scalding water and spiraled down the shower drain. Loose dog teeth cut into the palm of his clenched fist, the angry points penetrating the fleshier parts of his hand. The pinch went unnoticed.

He'd found the teeth in a parking lot, on the tarmac outside of the grocery store. Early one morning, before the sun had fully risen, he spotted two canines and three molars scattered near his car tire. A consequence of the heavy rains the town of Single Shell, Oklahoma had to weather over the last few weeks, perhaps, or local fauna being reckless with their detritus.

Hovering nearby had been Michael McDowell, his neighbor from the adjacent cul-de-sac, taking furtive peeks at him from under the trunk door of his SUV as he loaded it with groceries. Mike's dark eyes narrowed at Barber crouching to scoop up the teeth, and his hand paused on the door when he caught the glint of sunrise off the too-polished enamel piled into the space between Barber's fingers and his wrist.

Barber caught his gaze under thick lashes, expecting a flinch or a show of disgust that he'd choose to pick up the teeth rather than inspect them from a distance. He'd known Mike at arm's length for three years, though they weren't close enough to establish whether or not picking up enigmatic dog teeth in his presence was a move Barber would later regret.

Mike couldn't be read. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but instead, he deposited his canvas shopping bag and locked up the SUV without a word.

Barber pored over Mike's utter lack of reaction well into stepping out of the bathroom. He thought about the text he got from him before his shower, forewent a towel and trailed water across the carpet of his bedroom, to the dresser, where he flicked open a small jewelry box he'd gotten from his mother as a child. It sat beside an unassuming book lying flat, a tome of poetry containing a favorite by Robert Burns.

He rolled the dog teeth against the cheap faux velvet lining of the jewelry box, rattling them like dice, and the lid dropped shut after him. He then lifted the cover of the book and peered inside, as some time ago he'd glued the pages together and hollowed them out above a particular stanza of the poem:

But, Mousie, thou art no thy-lane, In proving foresight may be vain; The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promis'd joy!

Barber ran the tips of his fingers through the other teeth within. All of the human canines filed into points after their extraction.

He exhaled through rounded lips and slid the book against the wall. He dressed and descended two flights of stairs into the basement, a gallon of bleach and an entire roll of paper towels in hand.

[headspace-hotel]

MORE Sensory Prompts

the sound of morning birdsong beginning when you’ve stayed up too late at night

waking up sweating into your sheets

ripping off a band-aid

the feeling when you suddenly lean too far back in your chair

swallowing a big pill

the coldness of a piece of jewelry you just put on against your skin

styrofoam scraping together

a tv show you don’t usually watch playing completely silently in the background of a strange place

fake flowers

sitting in a too-cold air-conditioned building

grease popping from bacon cooking in a pan

eye strain from too long spent staring at a computer

cinnamon

kneading dough

slurping from a nearly empty cup through a straw

shivering from fever

Christmas lights

the sound of an airplane passing overhead

cicada song

shiny magazine pages

whispering lights and shadows on sidewalk underneath shady trees

cat purrs

sour milk

a hot, empty attic

sticky candy sticking to your teeth

cheap one-ply toilet paper in a public bathroom

something frozen sticking painfully to your skin

hand sanitizer on scratched hands

a static shock from touching someone

walking wrapped in a towel through the cold air after getting out of the pool

big, heavy, slushy snowflakes

orange soda

shoes squeaking on a gym floor

soft, limp white bread

eating the fragments of a fortune cookie

walking on hot, dead grass in bare feet

a cold puddle leaking into your shoes

the sound of your shoes padding through fresh deep snow

drinking from a water hose

metal eaten through with rust

dirty snow scraped in heaps to the edges of a parking lot

trying to chew a really hard, dried-out piece of bubble gum

the sticky milk of a dandelion stem

feeling like you were about to sneeze but losing it

gummy vitamins

the diffuse beeping noises of the checkout aisle of a supermarket

apple cider vinegar

a rope lashing suddenly taut in your hands, scraping the skin of your palms

golden light in bars across the wall, filtered through the blinds

peanut butter sticking inside your mouth

the rush of a huge flock of birds taking flight at once

water trickling through the gutters after the rain has stopped

cuddling with someone and feeling a little too warm but not wanting to let them go

a heavy book thudding down onto a hard surface

peeling apart string cheese

getting crumbs in your bed

flapping your sweater sleeves

every sound you make echoing in a huge, empty, dark room

mylar balloons

the smell of nail polish

dipping food in melted butter

a car door slamming

your gums bleeding when you floss your teeth

blinking of fireflies

standing up after a haircut that leaves your head feeling lighter

a little glimpse of the inside of someone’s living room as you drive past them in the dark

the vaguely dingy off-white of a childhood bedroom’s walls when you first moved in

going to the bathroom during a party and feeling the music suddenly muted through the walls as you leave

large, long shadows in late summer evening

a rainbow in the spray of a sprinkler

the sudden flash of a brightly colored bird in the trees

the rhythm of your feet hitting the pavement as you jog

applause fading from an auditorium

the heavy scent of honeysuckle

those soft, shuddering breaths taken after crying

a dog’s nails clicking on hard floor

fiberglass insulation

a still, gray overcast sky

stepping in something wet in socks

ceiling tiles discolored by leaking water

popping a pimple

yellow residue of pollen on your car

the papery, waxy taste of a cheap ice cream cone

tap water

a rocking chair

Christmas music playing in a store too early

the uncomfortably blinding white of the page of a book you’re trying to read outside

gutting a pumpkin

rubbery leaves

making weird faces as an itch that you can’t scratch at the moment trickles over your face

an exuberant high-five hard enough to sting

hotel hallways

staticky radio

the shadow of a large cloud passing overhead

shouldering your way through a bead curtain

the gazes of taxidermied animals in a natural history museum

dry erase markers

low smoke lingering and diffusing to a smudged haze in humid summer air

a brand new pen in a bright color gliding over paper

a lawn softened by the glitter of dew clinging to the grass

[niallsstainedcoffeecup]

The Right Message

Y/N thinks she messaged her ex-boyfriend for some late night fun, but her best friend’s brother, Harry, shows up instead.  Hope you all enjoy.  Feedback and Requests are welcomed.  Lots of Love! 

           The red envelope floated down from the overflowing mailbox.  Gemma’s neat handwriting scribbled Y/N’s name across the front in glittery black ink. Y/N slipped her finger under the envelope’s lip.  The glossy card showed Gemma, Michal, and the cat’s smiling faces.  One night after multiple glasses of wine,  Y/N suggested Gemma take family portraits with her cats. She never expected Gemma to book an expensive photographer and spend hours bribing her cats with treats for a few adorable shots.  The worldwide magnets Harry gifted her after his first world tour hung Gemma’s family photos against the stainless steel.  Y/N adored the Styles family.   During math class, Y/N partnered up with the shy but intelligent Gemma Styles.  The two sixteen-year-olds bonded over boybands and affordable fashion.  Y/N recalled multiple encounters with Gemma’s little brother, Harry.  Harry allowed Gemma and Y/N to paint pink polish on his wiggling toes while listening to them gush about boys.  Now, she felt as though she belonged in the Styles family. *  *  *  *  *  *            Rain rolled down the fogged windows, creating narrow paths where one might glance outside.  Sketches and crumbled paper covered the small dining room table.  Gemma’s fake glasses slid down her freckled nose while her eyes scanned the different lens colors.  Y/N dragged the pencil against the smooth paper.  She sketched whatever Gemma imagined for the next sunglasses line she prepared on releasing.  Gemma kicked her feet up onto the nearby chair while Y/N’s knees hugged her chest. “You look comfortable,” Gemma joked. Y/N nodded, keeping her eyes focused on the dark lead, “I’m working.” “What if we tried black sunglasses with a red lens?” Gemma wondered. Y/N cringed, “Red lens?  Won’t that be too abrasive?” Gemma shrugged, glancing at Y/N from across her steaming mug.  The peppermint tea warmed her frozen insides.   “Are you still with James?” Gemma asked, scrolling down James’s Instagram. Y/N huffed, refusing to answer the question.  Y/N hated herself for calling her lousy ex-boyfriend some nights for a quick fuck.  She despised her aching heart for dialing his number at three a.m.  She hated when her hands clung desperately to his sturdy arms while his eyes focused on anything but her.  She hated that she cried whenever he abandoned her in their cold bed.  “Well, Harry invited us to his concert in L.A.”  Y/N grinned, setting the heavy sketchbook onto Gemma’s table.  She checked that she hadn’t crinkled any useful sketches.  Y/N missed Harry, and she thought about calling him daily, but she worried about bothering him.  Instead, she waited until Harry returned home and bugged him then.  “Do you want to fly with mom, Michal, and me?” Gemma asked, beaming with joy.  Y/N nodded eagerly, “You know I hate flying alone.”  “What are you going to tell James?” Gemma joked.  Y/N rolled her eyes, chunking a crumpled paper toward Gemma’s head.   *  *  *  *  *  *  *

           Y/N lugged the leather suitcase down the green carpeted halls. Cheap paintings lined the stained navy blue walls, and wooden desks created limit walking space throughout the hotel. Gemma and Michal hurried toward their hotel room, which caused Y/N to gag.  Anne decided to freshen up after the long flight.  Y/N slid the plastic card against the black device, grinning once the light flashed green.  She dropped the suitcase near the door, admiring the large white bed.  She lunged onto the bed, slamming her face against the feathery hotel pillows.  A sigh wheezed out from Y/N’s lips.  She couldn’t wait to see Harry, but her eyes couldn’t wait to sleep. *  *  *  *  *  *  *              Crew darted around the empty arena shouting orders into crackling walkie-talkies.  A wrinkled paper with Harry’s name swayed with each breeze against the white door. Gemma rapped her knuckles against the wooden door.  The door swung open revealing Harry’s dimpled grin.  He opened his arms, embracing his mother and Gemma.  Y/N giggled, watching Harry’s green eyes light up once they landed on her. “You made it,” Harry cheered, swinging Y/N back and forth in his arms. “I couldn’t miss my friend’s last concert. How are you?” Y/N asked, pressing her tiptoes against the harsh concrete so her fingers could ruffle his short curls. Harry chuckled, poking Y/N’s side, “I’m well. How are you?” “I’m well.  Gem and I have been working on her new sunglasses line,” Y/N smiled, glancing at a smirking Gemma. Harry’s smile widened, as his hands cupped his hips, “That’s cool.  Do you want to tour the arena?  I think I have a few minutes alone,” Harry mumbled, glancing down at his white shirt and flowy cream Gucci pants. Gemma shook her head, “I think I might find Clare.  Mom, do you want a tour?” Anne shook her head.  Harry frowned, scratching at the stubble growing on his sharp jawline.  Y/N elbowed Harry’s side, shooting him a hopeful smile. “I’d like a tour,” Y/N admitted, ignoring the eye rolls from Gemma and Michal. Harry nodded eagerly, “Okay, we have exactly thirty minutes until I need to change into my suit.” “Will there be glitter?” Michal asked. Harry snorted, “Oh, there will always be glitter.” Harry grabbed Y/N’s hand, leading her down the concrete hallways.  Harry began listing important facts about the arena that he most definitely made up to make Y/N giggle. *  *  *  *  *  *  *             Y/N kicked her feet onto the red foldable chair in front of her. Harry watched the crew hook up microphones and test the lights.  Y/N laid her head against Harry’s shoulder, admiring the pink lights floating around the large stage. “That’s where I’ll be tonight,” Harry mumbled in awe. Y/N smiled, staring into Harry’s starry eyes, “That’s amazing.  You’ll sing Kiwi and prance around like a princess.” Harry chuckled, “Yeah, and there will be millions of people here to see me.  Isn’t that weird?” Y/N shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t think it’s weird.  I always knew you’d become someone amazing.  I remember the countless hours you forced Gemma and me to sit and watch you perform the same Elvis Presley songs.” Harry rolled his eyes, pinching Y/N’s elbow, “You loved hanging out with me.” Y/N nodded, “I have to admit that I did like hanging out with you.  Now, I barely get to see my popstar friend.” Harry frowned, staring down at his thumbs, “I’m sorry about that.” Y/N chuckled, patting Harry’s knee, “It’s okay. I’ll forgive you once you introduce me to Tom Holland.” Harry nodded, enjoying the comfortable silence surrounding the couple.  Harry wrapped an arm around Y/N’s shoulders, pressing a kiss to her head.  The crew continued testing stage equipment while Harry prepared his nervous heart for tonight’s concert.  After spending thirty minutes alone with Y/N, she dropped Harry off at his room.  Harry leaned against the doorframe, ignoring Adam and Mitch’s protests about Harry’s tardiness. “I’ll see you out there,” Harry grinned, staring down at Y/N’s beautiful eyes. Y/N nodded, smiling wider once Harry’s eyes met hers, “You’ll do amazing.” Y/N pressed her lips against Harry’s flushed cheeks, following Gemma and Michal down the hall.  Harry dipped into his room, slipping into tonight’s sparkly suit while ignoring the fluttering of his lovesick heart.   *  *  *  *  *  *  *            The band and Harry’s friend gathered inside Harry’s tiny dressing room. People clinked the glasses bubbling with expensive champagne.  Gemma discussed her recent projects with Clare while Adam and Michal joked about tonight’s concert.  Y/N leaned against the white concrete wall sipping on the sweet alcohol.  She grinned, watching Harry’s green eyes light up with each congratulation.  Her stomach tumbled once Harry’s beautiful starry eyes found hers.  He casually walked across the room never taking his eyes off hers. “Hey, did you like the concert?” Harry asked. She nodded eagerly, sipping her drink, “You were amazing.  I think I might lose my voice.  I screamed every lyric until you continued to sing Kiwi.” “I know.  My guitar strings nearly snapped,” Mitch shouted from across the room. Harry rolled his eyes, flipping off his smirking bandmate.  Harry’s phone buzzed with Helene’s reminder about the last photos of the tour. “Hey, do you want to help Helene with the photos?” Harry asked, hoping he might spend more time with his friend. Y/N frowned, shaking her head, “Gemma and Michal want to leave early.  They have a lovely room to themselves, but we also leave early tomorrow.  Can we grab breakfast?” Harry shook his head, “Jeff and his family invited me over for breakfast.  I guess we’ll catch up at home?” Y/N nodded, swallowing the swelling lump in her throat.  Her eyes blinked back sorrowful tears.  She didn’t want Harry and her night to end because she realized he’d still be busy with the new album.  Harry nodded, gnawing on his bottom lip.  His heart cracked when she pressed her warm lips against his chin. “I’ll see you,” She whispered. Harry closed his eyes, pressing his lips against her forehead, “I’ll miss you.” Harry exited the room, wiping away the tear trailing down his cheeks.  Y/N sighed, faking a smile when Sarah asked what happened. *  *  *  *  *  *  *            The beef and broccoli steamed under the microwave’s intense heat. Fleetwood Mac drowned out the vacuum buzzing around the floor.  Y/N leaned against the marble counter, rubbing her aching shoulders.  The microwave beeped, interrupting Y/N’s thoughts about tonight’s movie.  Her fluffy socks slid against the floor as she decided upon which film might distract her mind from work.  The cold leather couched kissed Y/N’s skin, shooting chills down her spine.  The beautiful actress kissed the handsome man, reminding Y/N about her lonely love life.  Y/N rolled her eyes, scoffing through her mouthful of broccoli.  During the movie, Harry messaged Y/N a photo of Anne’s new adorable cat.  Y/N clicked the message but decided to respond after the movie.  After the movie, Y/N chunked her trash into the bin and grabbed her phone.  She ignored Gemma’s voice nagging her against texting James, but her heart desired someone’s loving touch.   Hey, I know we haven’t spoken since my trip.  Can you come over tonight?  I want you. She pressed send, tossing the phone onto the couch cushion.  She shuffled into her room, gathering the dirty clothes littering her carpet.  She shimmied down her shorts, swapping her comfortable underwear to one that might impress James.  The doorbell rang as Y/N tugged the shorts up her legs.  She grinned, skipping toward her front door. Her hand twisted the cold knob, opening her front door. “Hey, what are you…Harry?” Y/N yelped. Harry smirked, leaning against Y/N’s doorframe, “I got your message.” *  *  *  *  *  *            Y/N stumbled backward, creating space for Harry to slip through. The front door creaked shut while Y/N’s mind panicked.  Harry’s smile dropped, tugging the phone from his pocket to reread her message. “I messaged you?” Y/N asked, rubbing her temple. Harry nodded, furrowing his brows, “Did you mean to message me?” Y/N frowned, shuffling toward her living room. Harry followed, joining her on the couch. “I meant to message James, and I must’ve sent you the message.  Wait, why did you come?” Harry sighed, dragging a palm down his face, “I thought you noticed that I have feelings for you.” Y/N gasped, clutching her fluttering heart, “You have feelings for me?” “Yes, I don’t know when it started,” Harry mumbled, glancing down at his trembling knees. Y/N sniffled, blinking back her tears, “Harry, this is so fucked up.  I’m your sister’s best friend.  I’ve known you since you were an annoying kid.  I’m four years older than…” “I don’t care about any of that because I love you,” Harry admitted, staring into Y/N’s eyes. Y/N sniffled, cupping Harry’s cheeks, “Harry, I don’t think this is a good idea.” Harry shook his head, pressing a thumb against her lips.  His lashes fluttered against his cheeks while he leaned in closer to Y/N.  Y/N held her breath, gripping Harry’s sweaty hands.  Her heart begged her to test this out, but her mind reminded her about the consequences.  If she kissed Harry back, she might lose her best friend.  If she didn’t kiss him back, she might lose her best friend.  Harry’s musky cologne wrapped around her mind, dulling the consequences haunting her. Her eyes fluttered shut, while her lip brushed against Harry’s rosy lips.  Harry dove in, intoxicating Y/N with his warm, minty mouth.  Harry moaned into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Y/N’s waist.  Y/N sighed, relaxing in Harry’s hold.  Some nights she awoke from dreams where Harry’s pink lips pressed against her own, but her dreams didn’t match the reality.  Y/N’s body felt as though she were floating through clouds.  Harry pulled away, leaning his forehead against Y/N’s head.  A spit string connected the heavy-breathing couple as they continued staring into each other’s eyes. “Should we give this a try?” Harry asked. Y/N nodded, “I think I messaged the right person.” Harry chuckled, following Y/N to her bedroom. Harry pressed his lips against hers again, leaning her body against the fluffy mattress.  Y/N and Harry explored each other’s bodies while taking their friendship to new levels.   *  *  *  *  *  *              Harry’s snores startled Y/N awake.  Her droopy eyes landed on her handsome friend.  Snores and drool escaped from Harry’s parted lips.  Y/N smiled, glancing down at Harry’s arm wrapped around her bare waist.  She cuddled against Harry’s warm chest, inhaling the sweat and cologne on his neck. Y/N’s heart fluttered when Harry’s grip tightened upon feeling Y/N cuddle against him.  Her mind recalled last night’s activities.  Harry focused on Y/N and reassured her that he loved her. Harry wasn’t like James.  He didn’t leave after finishing the job.  After they finished, Harry checked on Y/N and how she felt after everything.  Last night she couldn’t decide whether she loved Harry or loved fucking him, but she made her decision.  She traced shapes onto Harry’s chest, admiring his tattoos.  She imagined spending every morning in Harry’s arms. She pictured visiting him on tour to watch her adorable boyfriend prance around the stage.  She knew she belonged with Harry. *  *  *  *  *  *              The doorbell echoed throughout the small house.  Y/N clutched the wrinkled sheet against her chest.  She grabbed her phone, checking the glowing numbers.  Harry groaned, wrapping his arms around Y/N’s waist. “Who is it?” Harry whined, squeezing his eyes shut. Y/N gasped, reading Gemma’s messages about coming over to work on her sunglasses.  Harry peeked an eye open, wondering who might be visiting Y/N at this time of day. “It’s your sister,” Y/N hissed, slipping away from Harry’s grasp. Harry’s eyes widened, “My sister?” He stood up, clutching the sheet against his waist.  Y/N nodded, slipping her shorts up her legs.  Harry grabbed his discarded clothing from around Y/N’s bedroom.   “You need to stay here, I can tell her to come back, but she can’t see you,” Y/N whispered. Harry frowned, buttoning his shirt, “Why can’t she see me?  Don’t you want to be together?” Y/N sighed, “I want to be together, but I don’t know when we should tell everyone.  How would your sister feel about her best friend dating her little brother?” Harry nodded, cupping Y/N’s cheeks, “I love you.” Y/N smiled, pecking Harry’s lips, “I love you too.” Y/N darted down the hall, opening the door to a grumbling Gemma, “Hey Gem, how are you?” Gemma raised an eyebrow, taking in Y/N’s messy hair and disheveled clothes, “Do you have someone over?” Y/N blushed, glancing behind her, “Yeah, I do have someone over.  Do you want to come back?” Gemma smirked, “Sure, who’s the lucky guy? Please tell me it isn’t James.” Y/N chuckled nervously, “No, it isn’t James.” “Well, he must be amazing.  You look as though someone fucked you properly,” Gemma joked. Y/N nodded, waving goodbye to Gemma as she crossed Y/N’s yard.  Y/N shut the door, sighing with relief.  Harry chuckled, walking into the living room. “I think your sister complimented you. She said it looks like someone fucked me properly.  If only she knew it was her little brother,” Y/N gagged. Harry laughed, tugging Y/N into his arms, “Well, we did have an amazing night.” Y/N giggled, placing her hands on Harry’s sturdy chest, “I did have an amazing night.  I’m glad I messaged you.” Harry leaned down, fluttering his eyes shut. Y/N smiled, leaning up to press her lips against Harry’s lips.  A knock interrupted the couple’s kiss followed by Gemma’s shouts. “What’s my brother’s car doing here?” Harry groaned, tossing his head back while Y/N gulped down her nerves.  The new couple had a lot of explaining to do.

[flyingthehedge]

5 Crystals for Hedge Riding

If you haven't noticed yet, I kind of have a thing for crystals, with that background in paleontology and all, so it should come as no surprise that there are some crystals I love to use during hedge riding. I mentioned during my Hedge Riding Series that I have a hedge riding sachet, a small bag that contains a series of items that helps me during my hedge riding journeys. I mentioned some of the crystals I keep in that sachet, and I would like to expand on that topic today. My hedge riding sachet is ever changing; I add and remove items frequently based on what I am trying to do, but it always contains crystals.

Usually, I preface articles like this with a statement that you don't need any items but yourself to hedge ride or perform magic. This is the one time where I am not going to say that because crystals are an important aspect of hedge riding. Not only can they help you reach an altered state of consciousness, but they also help ground your body and soul to our plane before, during, and after hedge riding. Now, you don't have to have every crystal on this list, nor do the crystals you choose have to be limited to this list. There are dozens of crystals that can help you on your flights, and you should always pick crystals that speak to you, even if a book doesn't mention they can be used for traveling between the realms. Correspondences should partly be based off your intuition, not just what some book or online article says. This list contains the five crystals I work with the most during hedge riding, in no particular order.

1. Labradorite: Until polished, labradorite is a fairly dull, unsuspecting crystal, but once polished it takes on a rainbow of colors. Labradorite was once believed to be frozen fire that fell from Aurora Borealis, thus associating it with the heavens and astral travel. It acts similarly to amethyst in that it can open you to psychic visions, but unlike amethyst, it can be used as a gateway to past lives as well. In Norse mythology, the rainbow bridge, Bifrost, was the gateway to Valhalla, which is sometimes symbolized by this crystal with rainbow hue, thus allowing you to travel between lives while hedge riding. I use this crystal when I am seeking answers from my past to gain insights into my future.

2. Amethyst: So I talk about amethyst a lot too...I know, but this stone is so versatile, plentiful, and cheap! I'm all for saving money when it comes to witchcraft. Amethyst is a great stone for hedge riding and has been regarded for hundreds of years as the crystal of psychics. I place amethyst on my forehead during hedge riding to help open my mind to psychic visions during my journeys. This crystal is commonly found in my hedge riding sachet, especially on days where I am finding it difficult to concentrate enough to hedge ride.

3. Selenite: I'm sure many of you have this crystal laying around, as it's commonly used to make crystal wands. Selenite is clear, striated gypsum named after Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon. Due to this connection to the moon, selenite can be used during hedge riding to "reach the stars," particularly when traveling to the Upper Realm of the Otherworld. Furthermore, selenite is known for its calming properties, allowing you to reach an altered state of consciousness by quieting the mind. Even better, selenite filters messages, due to its striated nature, thus allowing you to connect to your higher self and the spirit realm, especially angels. I use selenite when I am traveling to the Upper Realms or when I am having trouble hearing the messages the spirits are trying to send me. Sometimes I even use selenite after hedge riding to help me make sense of the messages I received. This isn't found in my hedge riding sachet too often, but it is almost always on my altar waiting for me to get back from a journey to aid in my understanding of the things I saw and heard while away.

4. Iolite: This deep violet crystal was commonly used by the Vikings as a navigational tool because it could be used to filter sunlight, allowing them to look at the sun without damaging their eyes. Because of this and its brilliant color, Iolite is a great stone for hedge riding. You can use it as a navigational tool on your spiritual journeys and facilitate spiritual visions. Depending on how it is cut, Iolite can appear yellow or clear as well, so don't worry if you find it in colors other than blue-violet. I use Iolite when I am seeking to travel to new places during a journey. I tend to stick close to "home," but there are times I wish to explore deeper into the Otherworld so I make sure to take this crystal with me to help me navigate uncharted territories.

5. Black Tourmaline: I talk about this crystal the most, probably because it is my favorite crystal of all time. I really should modify my 10 Crystals Every Witch Should Have post to include black tourmaline instead of obsidian. When I first got this crystal, the moment I touched it I felt an instant connection. The love and protection that radiated from it were overwhelming. I often find myself looking for it in times of stress because it's so calming. While I know it sounds strange to some, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this crystal loves me deeply. But I digress. My black tourmaline is the one thing in my hedge riding sachet that never changes; it is always in my bag. Before I ride I take it out and ask it to keep me safe while I hedge ride. I place it on my chest during my journeys and when I come back its the first thing I touch to ground myself. Black tourmaline is known for keeping you safe physically, emotionally, and spiritually, making it an amazing hedge riding companion crystal. There are other crystals that you can use for protection and grounding during hedge riding, so if black tourmaline doesn't speak to you like it speaks to me, find one that does. Other great options include jet, onyx, obsidian, and hematite.

As I mentioned before, this is by no means a complete list, just my five favorites for hedge riding. For those of you who hedge ride, what crystals do you like to bring with you? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below so we can grow this list to help other witches on their journeys!

[tipsycad147]

5 CRYSTALS FOR HEDGE RIDING

By Willow

If you haven't noticed yet, I kind of have a thing for crystals, with that background in paleontology and all, so it should come as no surprise that there are some crystals I love to use during hedge riding. I mentioned during my Hedge Riding Series that I have a hedge riding sachet, a small bag that contains a series of items that helps me during my hedge riding journeys. I mentioned some of the crystals I keep in that sachet, and I would like to expand on that topic today. My hedge riding sachet is ever changing; I add and remove items frequently based on what I am trying to do, but it always contains crystals.

Usually, I preface articles like this with a statement that you don't need any items but yourself to hedge ride or perform magic. This is the one time where I am not going to say that because crystals are an important aspect of hedge riding. Not only can they help you reach an altered state of consciousness, but they also help ground your body and soul to our plane before, during, and after hedge riding. Now, you don't have to have every crystal on this list, nor do the crystals you choose have to be limited to this list. There are dozens of crystals that can help you on your flights, and you should always pick crystals that speak to you, even if a book doesn't mention they can be used for traveling between the realms. Correspondences should partly be based off your intuition, not just what some book or online article says. This list contains the five crystals I work with the most during hedge riding, in no particular order. 1. Labradorite: Until polished, labradorite is a fairly dull, unsuspecting crystal, but once polished it takes on a rainbow of colors. Labradorite was once believed to be frozen fire that fell from Aurora Borealis, thus associating it with the heavens and astral travel. It acts similarly to amethyst in that it can open you to psychic visions, but unlike amethyst, it can be used as a gateway to past lives as well. In Norse mythology, the rainbow bridge, Bifrost, was the gateway to Valhalla, which is sometimes symbolized by this crystal with rainbow hue, thus allowing you to travel between lives while hedge riding. I use this crystal when I am seeking answers from my past to gain insights into my future. 2. Amethyst: So I talk about amethyst a lot too...I know, but this stone is so versatile, plentiful, and cheap! I'm all for saving money when it comes to witchcraft. Amethyst is a great stone for hedge riding and has been regarded for hundreds of years as the crystal of psychics. I place amethyst on my forehead during hedge riding to help open my mind to psychic visions during my journeys. This crystal is commonly found in my hedge riding sachet, especially on days where I am finding it difficult to concentrate enough to hedge ride. 3. Selenite: I'm sure many of you have this crystal laying around, as it's commonly used to make crystal wands. Selenite is clear, striated gypsum named after Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon. Due to this connection to the moon, selenite can be used during hedge riding to "reach the stars," particularly when traveling to the Upper Realm of the Otherworld. Furthermore, selenite is known for its calming properties, allowing you to reach an altered state of consciousness by quieting the mind. Even better, selenite filters messages, due to its striated nature, thus allowing you to connect to your higher self and the spirit realm, especially angels. I use selenite when I am traveling to the Upper Realms or when I am having trouble hearing the messages the spirits are trying to send me. Sometimes I even use selenite after hedge riding to help me make sense of the messages I received. This isn't found in my hedge riding sachet too often, but it is almost always on my altar waiting for me to get back from a journey to aid in my understanding of the things I saw and heard while away. 4. Iolite: This deep violet crystal was commonly used by the Vikings as a navigational tool because it could be used to filter sunlight, allowing them to look at the sun without damaging their eyes. Because of this and its brilliant color, Iolite is a great stone for hedge riding. You can use it as a navigational tool on your spiritual journeys and facilitate spiritual visions. Depending on how it is cut, Iolite can appear yellow or clear as well, so don't worry if you find it in colors other than blue-violet. I use Iolite when I am seeking to travel to new places during a journey. I tend to stick close to "home," but there are times I wish to explore deeper into the Otherworld so I make sure to take this crystal with me to help me navigate uncharted territories. 5. Black Tourmaline: I talk about this crystal the most, probably because it is my favorite crystal of all time. I really should modify my 10 Crystals Every Witch Should Have post to include black tourmaline instead of obsidian. When I first got this crystal, the moment I touched it I felt an instant connection. The love and protection that radiated from it were overwhelming. I often find myself looking for it in times of stress because it's so calming. While I know it sounds strange to some, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this crystal loves me deeply. But I digress. My black tourmaline is the one thing in my hedge riding sachet that never changes; it is always in my bag. Before I ride I take it out and ask it to keep me safe while I hedge ride. I place it on my chest during my journeys and when I come back its the first thing I touch to ground myself. Black tourmaline is known for keeping you safe physically, emotionally, and spiritually, making it an amazing hedge riding companion crystal. There are other crystals that you can use for protection and grounding during hedge riding, so if black tourmaline doesn't speak to you like it speaks to me, find one that does. Other great options include jet, onyx, obsidian, and hematite. As I mentioned before, this is by no means a complete list, just my five favorites for hedge riding. For those of you who hedge ride, what crystals do you like to bring with you?

https://www.flyingthehedge.com/2019/01/5-crystals-for-hedge-riding.html

[fareosky]

Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Are you traveling to or from the Chicago O'Hare International Airport? It is the main gateway to the American Midwest and most of the world. It is the sixth busiest airport globally and operates with over 2000 flights daily. American Airlines and United Airlines use Chicago Airport as transport hubs. The airport handles 85 million passengers annually.

This guide will help you out with your Chicago flights and help you spot your airline, and make you feel right at home. Acquire information regarding the right airport hotel for you, whether you are looking for a lounge where you can relax, grab something to eat, or a place to stay overnight. This comprehensive guide will make your navigation at Chicago Airport easy.

Chicago Airport – five small handy tips

It doesn’t cost much to reach the city center from Chicago O'Hare or the airport to catch your flight. Book a reliable car service to Chicago O'Hare Airport and keep your vacation or business trip calm and focused. Check out the list below for top airport tips:

Avoid paying $20 on parking — Use offsite parking to save time and money.

Get food at your gate — If you are seated near the gate with charging points and excellent Wi-Fi, do not lose your seat by getting up. Order food where you are with the 'B4 You Board' app. Eat & Surf!

Don't pay for Wi-Fi — The airport does not offer free Wi-Fi. Instead, you can use Wi-Fi at one of the airline lounges.

Find cheap tickets — Chicago Airport is a hub for budget airlines — Frontier and Spirit. Hence, you'll find endless deals on cheap flights to any US city. You'll find the best deals on FareOsky. Call, book, and save huge!

Take a shower or hit the gym – Do you have a long layover? Take out a $20 bill and enjoy your preference — showers, gym, lap pool, or sauna.

Chicago O'Hare Airport - spot your airline

Chicago O'Hare International Airport is home to four passenger terminals. The numbers 1, 2, 3, and 5 are the former Terminal 4. It is now a bus depot. You may have to change airlines and need to move between terminals. O'Hare has multiple terminals. This is a departure from other airports. The following list should provide some insight into which major airlines use the different terminals.

Terminal 1

Air Canada

Air India (departures)

EVA Air

Lufthansa

LOT Polish Airlines

TAP Portugal

Turkish Airlines

United Airlines

Terminal 2

Air Canada

Air France

Delta Airlines

Jet Airways

LOT Polish Airlines

Lufthansa

United Airlines

Virgin Atlantic

Terminal 3

Alaska Airlines

American Airlines

Cape Air

Iberia

Japan Airlines

Spirit Airlines

Terminal 5

Air Canada (arrivals only)

Air France

Air India

American Airlines (arrivals only)

British Airways

Delta Airlines

Emirates

Frontier Airlines

JetBlue Airways

Flights from Chicago - busiest domestic routes

Los Angeles, California - American, Alaska, Spirit, United

Denver, Colorado - American, Southwest, Spirit, United

Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona - American, Southwest, Spirit, United

Orlando, Florida - American, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, United

Las Vegas, Nevada - American, Southwest, Spirit, United

Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas - American, Spirit, United

San Francisco, California - Alaska, American, United

Seattle/Tacoma, Washington - Alaska, American, Delta, Spirit, United

Atlanta, Georgia - American, Delta, Spirit, United

New York–LaGuardia, New York - American, Delta, Spirit, United

Busiest International Routes to and from ORD

London–Heathrow - American, British Airways, United

Toronto–Pearson - Air Canada, American, United

Cancún - American, Frontier, Spirit, United

Frankfurt - Lufthansa, United

Mexico City - Aeroméxico, Interjet, United, Volaris

Tokyo–Narita - All Nippon, JAL, United

Dublin - Aer Lingus, American, United

Munich - Lufthansa, United

Istanbul - Turkish

Vancouver - Air Canada, American, United

Flights from Chicago - lounge guide

Chicago O'Hare International Airport offers 18 lounges. The Delta Sky Club Lounge at Terminal 2. However, the largest airline lounge presence is American and United. There are many American lounges in Terminals 1 & 2 and American lounges throughout Terminal 3. There are several lounges in Terminal 5, including Air France/KLM and Korean Air, British Airways (First and Terraces Lounge), SAS, and Swissport. FareOsky users have easy access to information about LAX's airport lounges by speaking with one of our airline experts. Each terminal offers several security points, and most of them open at 3:15 am and close at 8 pm. ORD also has rapid TSA PreCheck lanes at each terminal. Global Entry kiosks are located for quick checks for travelers arriving in the US.

Chicago Airport Parking

There are several parking options at ORD. Short-term parking is located near Terminals 1-3. It is hourly parking. Daily parking is available at Garages A and C. This is economical and gets cheaper after 4 hours. Long-term parking is available at cheaper rates. Plus, there is Valet Parking, Reserved Parking, Pick-Up or Drop Parking, Kiss ‘N’ Fly parking, hotel parking, parking for passengers with disabilities, and offsite parking.

Car Rental, Shuttles, and Ride Share

When reaching Chicago O'Hare International Airport or leaving the airport to go towards the city, it's wise to be aware of transfer options. Find everything from traditional taxis and hired cars to public transport and more. Use one of these for a hassle-free ride:

Taxis will cost about $30-$40 per one way.

Rideshare - Uber, and Lyft are available from T2 and T5.

Rental Cars - Reach rental car stores via free shuttle or bus.

Public Transportation - The CTA Blue Line is the most affordable.

ORD Airport Hotels

ORD offers exclusive 2-star to 4-star hotels between 1-3 miles from the airport. Want to be close to the airport as possible? The Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport is located just outside of the domestic terminals.

[book-error]

Tag Game: Get to Know Me

tagged by @a-fangirluniverse thanks!

Nicknames: None

Gender: Female

Sign: Libra

Height: 1.72m

Time: 8:28pm

Favourite bands: Mumford and Sons, Florence + The Machine, Queen

Favourite solo artist: Lorde, Jessie Ware, Ed Sheeran

Song stuck in my head: Hunger by Florence + the Machine

Last movie I saw: Disobedience

Last show I watched: The Handmaid’s Tale

When did I create my blog: couple months ago, don’t know exactly

What do I post: books

Last thing I googled: cheap flights to Amsterdam 

Do I have any other blogs: yup, follow me over at @delphinescarol for some aesthetic, tv shows and lots of gayness, and at @crimestudies for some studyblr inspo

Why did I choose my URL?: book because I love books and my blog is about books, error because I love Sherlock and it’s connected to what he said in season 3 about human error

Following: 276

Followed by: 7733

Average hours of sleep: 8hrs

Lucky number: 6

Instruments: used to be able to play some songs on harmonica and I can play riptide on ukulele lol 

What am I wearing: grey sweats and black tshirt

Dream trip: Barcelona, Tokyo, Australia, Canada and New York

Favourite food: Pizza, pasta, ice cream

Nationality: Polish

Favourite song: I will wait by Mumford and Sons

Last book I read: Moxie

Top 3 fictional universes I want to join: Harry Potter, Narnia, the world from Daughter of Smoke and Bone which name I can't remember lol 

tagging @cloverbooks @dreamless-thief @diverse-reads @kaleidoscopeheart

[timotdams]

Visit Auschwitz

24/03/2016 was the day myself and a few friends left England and flew to Krakow airport via Ryanair. The flight itself was just over 2 hours (Stansted - Krakow) and cost about £160 for a return trip. From Krakow airport we then booked a taxi to central Krakow where my hotel (Maksymilian Hotel) was located, the taxi took about 20 minutes and cost 89 Zl (£16). My planned travel to Auschwitz was on 25/03/2016, from my hotel I got a taxi to the bus station which took about 10 minutes and cost about 20 Zl (£4). A single bus (minivan in my case) ticket to Auschwitz cost 12 Zl (£2.20) each way (very cheap!), the journey took about 90 minutes as you are travelling to Oswiecim which is 66 Km away from Krakow. One thing to be careful of, the bus driver may ask you to book a return ticket before you leave, my advice is don't as they leave at certain times and you can sometimes wait hours for the same driver to arrive. There are loads of different bus drivers (different companies) coming back and forth from Auschwitz and you will not struggle to find one back to Krakow, again they all charge pretty much the same price.

Our time in Poland, we never struggled to find a taxi or bus and their prices are generally very cheap. Polish taxi's charge by distance only, not time. Taxi drivers are generally very friendly and informative assuming you get a well-spoken driver who speaks English. We always Visit Auschwitz  requested our hotel receptionist to book our taxi for us, as we knew they were legitimate cabs.

Arriving at Auschwitz

When our taxi driver dropped us off, we had a short walk (2-3 minutes) to the camp entrance. We arrived just after 09:00 am and the place was packed, there were queues which mainly consisted of tour groups and there is a different queue line for individual tourists. Auschwitz is visited by over 1 million tourists a year so expect it to be busy. Despite the queue lines we got in fairly quick, you will be checked by security guards and have to walk through a metal detector (do not walk your camera through the metal detector, give it to the security guard). Auschwitz is free to get in, however, I did book my tickets online and booked my entrance time, which helps speed up the process, I advise you do this before your trip and make sure you print your tickets out. Outside of Auschwitz entrance there are huts where you can buy tea, coffee and a sandwich, so don't worry about taking lunch as you cannot eat or drink on the premises anyway.

There is also a small book store located inside the entrance, the prices are expensive and the books they sell you can pick up online a lot cheaper. There are also plenty of toilets on the premises and lockers to store your possessions if required (we didn't use the lockers).

Auschwitz

I am not going to tell you a great deal about Auschwitz as you need to experience it yourself, but trust me the experience will stay with you for a lifetime. One thing to be aware of Auschwitz is not easy to travel around the paths are cobbled, bumpy and uneven. If your mobility is not great just take your time and use a walking stick if required, it is very easy to trip over so be observant. Auschwitz has pretty much been left as it was found, and rightfully so. One thing that entered my mind regarding the cobbled paths, was how difficult and painful it must have been for the prisoners to walk around the camp in their bare feet or rugged shoes. Auschwitz is smaller than I thought it would be and 3 hours is enough time to navigate around and visit the blocks. Despite it being smaller than I initially expected, it is as harrowing and horrific as I expected and Auschwitz does not disappoint in engaging your thoughts and emotions. I tried to place myself in the prisoner's shoes everywhere I went, it was extremely difficult to do because it's very hard to imagine the intense cruelty the Nazi's bestowed upon these people. The atmosphere at Auschwitz is actually very busy and quite noisy due to the amount of people attending, however, you will walk into certain blocks and experience an eerie silence especially block 11 which is known as the block of death, which is rather ironic as every block is the block of death in some way.

One thing that will surprise you and is also very difficult to observe is the amount of photos taken and displayed in the museum, the Nazi's were very good book keepers (when they wanted to) and documented prisoners in great detail. You will see thousands of photos of the victims who perished there, the expressions on their faces highlights the brutality they faced on a daily basis.

Birkenau

To get to Birkenau there is a free shuttle service outside the entrance of Auschwitz, the shuttle only takes about 5 minutes for which you will then see the infamous gatehouse of Birkenau. When I said Auschwitz was smaller than I thought, Birkenau was much larger than I thought, the reason for this was purely to exterminate as many people as possible. Observing the railway track and carriage was emotional, knowing this was the final journey for millions of people. Upon arriving at Birkenau you will notice how massive the camp is, the sheer size of it is daunting. It took myself and a two friends about 60-90 minutes to walk the perimeter of the camp. You will come across many barracks and most of them were closed, however, you can walk in a few of them and observe the horrific conditions people had to endure. There are a lot of buildings that were destroyed by the Nazi's themselves and also the prisoners during uprisings. At the back of the camp you will come across the pond where human ash was dumped and fields where piles of bodies weren't burnt. I recommend if you can, to walk the entire camp and witness as much as you can as you will read and observe many different stories and experiences these poor people went through. Birkenau is very different to Auschwitz, there is less to read and less museum like, however, the atmosphere and nature of the place tells a different story and is home to the 'so called' doctor Dr Mengele.

[mariaawilliams]

Quality Customer Services at Cheap Sydney Airport Parking

Looking for the cheapest possible price for a product or service is part of human nature. The same goes for Sydney airport parking. Every individual should strive to search and accept the cheapest price for parking, which also offers many benefits to him.

Many travellers nowadays prefer cheap parking services because they can save a lot, and at the same time to enjoy the benefits these offsite airport parking companies offer. Companies offer short-term and long-term secure parking, transport services and car care services. This whole system is designed to offer quality customer service. Providing quality services at a low cost creates a returning customer, who will again use the services of the company. If the customer's first impression is positive and he received the safety of his vehicle while travelling, the chances are 100% that he will come back when needed.

To stand out from the competition, airport parking companies build innovative ideas that benefit the customer. One way to add value to the customer is offering weekly and monthly parking packages. For example, if the customer needs to park his car for one week, he will pay $120. Monthly parking package would cost $365. Good advice worth considering is to book a spot at the cheap Sydney airport parking a few days or weeks before your trip. That way you will be sure to get a safe place, instead of shifting through the parking lots looking for a free space.

Sydney airport parking offers free transportation services to ensure you don't miss your scheduled flight. Upon arriving at the parking lot, the customer leaves the keys so the employee can park the car at the reserved space. Once the car is parked, the employee transports the customer and his family to the airport terminal. Besides passengers, the employee transports the luggage to all passengers. It is a burden that goes off the shoulders of the customer to be able to enjoy the planned journey. It may not sound like a big deal, but a clean and ready car waiting for you at the parking lot is a relief. The customer can enjoy on the way home in a washed, vacuumed and polished car, inside and out.

To save money and time and to enjoy your trip next time, reserve a spot for your car on a cheap parking lot only 400m away from the Sydney airport. In addition to cheaper service, you will also get quality services.

All you have to do is call (02) 9700 77 78 or 0435 050 470 and book your Sydney airport parking.

[stacylaughs]

July 25 - August 8, 2019

I struggled leaving Kraków, missing my 5:30am flight on Ukraine International Airlines ($184.24, $64.24 refunded), so I booked the next flight out on LOT Polish Airlines ($438.52) to Istanbul, Turkey. The mistake cost me, but after a video chat with Nick, and knowing I’d see my friend, Marcus, when I arrived, I resolved to move forward.

I did need to apply beforehand for an e-visa ($20.55), which was immediately approved and very flexible within the 90 days. It costs 110₺ to taxi from the Istanbul airport, or 24₺ by bus.

Here are a few of my favorite things to do in Istanbul:

I love to stay in the Beyoğlu district, so I can have breakfast each morning at Doğacıyız Gourmet or Van Kahvalti Evi. It’s easy to get around by walking, Metrosu (assisted by the Google Maps app), or the BiTaksi app to call a taxi.

Watch the movie, Kedi, to learn more about the many cats in the area.

There’s so much amazing food. If you’re nervous about going to a random restaurant, find one online that is recommended. Then, go there and ask them what to order. 

It’s a huge metropolis with lots of history, so we started with a free walking tour with Tolga, which walks through so many places, like Grand Bazaar, Sultanahmet Square, etc., and then additionally saw Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia and Sultanahmet Camii (“the blue mosque”) separately.

Marcus and I both booked last minute flights to Kayseri ($117.89), roundtrip on Turkish Airlines to check out Cappadocia (Göreme). We stayed at Panoramic Cave Hotel ($82.45/night). It’s 50₺ a person, one-way to or from the airport, set up by the hotel. 

Cappadocia, a semi-arid region in central Turkey, is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, Göreme. Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by troglodytes (cave dwellers) and later used as refuges by early Christians. The 100m-deep Ihlara Canyon houses numerous rock-face churches.

We booked everything through Shah Mat Travel, including:

A one-hour balloon ride for $160, which would be a shame to not do in this area. It was my first hot air balloon ride, since bad weather canceled my last one in Bagan, Myanmar. Even on days when we didn’t have a ride scheduled, we woke up at 5:30am to watch the balloons float in the sky, it was so magical.

I enjoyed a few hours at the Turkish bath, Elis Kapadokya Hamami (€20/157.50₺). You can pay extra for the massage (€14), swim in the pool (women) or steam in the jacuzzi (men), and linger with an apple tea.

The North (”Red”) tour (157.50₺), which was a bit too long for me, as it included taking you to shops where I didn’t want to buy anything and the sales tactic was cringey. But, it’s cheap and easy to see many things in one day.

Goreme Panorama is a panoramic point over Goreme town with its cave houses.

Goreme Open Air Museum is the first and biggest monastary where religious education was started. Churches, chapels, and monasteries carved into the fairy chimneys with frescoes painted on the walls from the 10th to the 13th centuries.

Devrent Valley and Pasabaglari (Monks Valley) have several types of fairy chimneys.

We watched a belly dancing show with dinner (280₺), which I don’t necessary recommend, but it’s unlimited drinks so you can make your own fun.

Go out to the Ihlara Valley. It's beautiful and only about 1-1/2 hours by car. Be sure to give yourself some time to walk through the valley.

[tripstations]

5 beautiful destinations Pakistanis can travel to on a budget

From island escape­s, Easter­n Europe­an marvel­s and South-East Asian deligh­ts, inspir­e your inner wander­lust on a budget­

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/GIRL WITH THE GREEN PASSPORT/ESLIMAH/AYESHA OMAR

KARACHI: The global travel industry is growing and it’s growing fast. Not only that, more people are travelling now than ever before, thanks to cheaper flights and the ease of planning and booking a trip.

Add to this the new batch of travel bloggers on Instagram and you’ve got hundreds of people jetting off to places they had never heard of before. After all, it’s a most human thing to explore new horizons.

And statistics don’t lie. The travel and tourism sector grew more in 2018 than all other economic sectors, adding a record $8.8 trillion to the world’s combined Gross Domestic Product – up from $8.3 trillion in 2017. It created some 319 million new jobs as well, according to Forbes.

While Pakistan is expected get higher numbers of tourists thanks to the government’s support, what about Pakistanis wanting to go abroad? Everyone is surely feeling the rupee’s present standing against the dollar and this can make travel for Pakistanis at home very expensive.

But don’t worry, we have you covered. Here are our recommendations for some pretty lust-worthy destinations across the globe that will allow you to indulge your wanderlust without draining your pockets. Bon voyage!

Istanbul, the transcontinental escape

Turkey really offers the best of both worlds. Straddling Europe and Asia, its capital Istanbul is hailed as one of the greatest cities in the world with lots of history, heritage, culture and beauty to offer. Not to mention, the Turkish and Pakistanis love each other!

A single entry visa will cost you around Rs8,500 and flight tickets will be roughly Rs80,000 return during peak holiday seasons. Decent 3-star hotels are abundant, right next to the exquisite Sultan Ahmet Mosque. And then, there is the AirBnB option.

Best places to go: Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square…need we go on?

Maldives – the water wonderland 

This island nation is the picture of paradise. Think bungalows hovering over turquoise waters, golden beaches and lots of scuba diving. Oh, and seriously Insta-worthy sunsets! How could you not want to travel to the Maldives?

The best thing is that this dream can be a reality because it’s surprisingly reasonable and also Muslim-friendly.

Located in the Arabian Sea, the capital Malé has a busy fish market, restaurants and shops on the main road, Majeedhee Magu, and 17th-century Hukuru Miskiy (also known as Friday Mosque) made of carved white coral. No wonder it’s a honeymoon staple.

Cheapest flight: Around Rs60,000.

Eastern Europe – the new it place 

You may not think Eastern Europe is cheap area but it actually is! If you want a unique travel experience that truly captivates, this entire region is the place for you.

Take Romania for example. Whatever you think this country is, it probably isn’t. The Transylvanian region, in particular, defies expectations with its quaint medieval towns and spectacular Carpathian mountain range. Many travel bloggers reiterate that it’s a beautiful country with great food and friendly people. The cheapest flight is around Rs60,000 (not to mention once you’re there, eating and sleeping is great value!), making it one of the most inexpensive countries to travel to for Pakistanis.

And, can we please talk about Ukraine. It’s on every traveller’s bucket list as of late and there are raving reviews about it. With flights starting from around Rs50,000, Ukraine is possibly one of the cheapest options for Pakistanis wanting to go beyond the Middle East.

Hotspots: The coastal city of Odessa on the Black Sea is a favourite, while the beautiful city of Lviv (close to the Polish border) is widely tipped as offering some of the best values for money in Europe.

5 Muslim countries that are trending holiday destinations this summer

Azerbaijan and Georgia – easy on the eyes and the wallets

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I burnt my hand in Georgia. . I was rushing to catch the 10 am Mashrukta (intercity mini-bus) from Tbilisi to Signagi. When I reached the bus stop, there was a 10-minute window. I bought some bananas for breakfast & coffee in a flimsy, small cup from a tiny window in a kiosk. I got into the minibus with low roof, my back bent, backpack on, bananas, wallet & phone in one hand and coffee cup in another. As I sat amongst two strangers, and tried to adjust my butt, I shook the coffee cup, it spilled a bit on my hand, it was so hot that in within a second, my instincts had me drop the entire thing, and then it spilled it on my right palm all the way to my right thigh, splashes on left hand; and couple splashes on the stranger sitting next to me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I was first embarrassed on my clumsiness, then guilty for being late & rushing in the first place and then in pain. I had burnt my right palm and it was BURNING. The bus had started. It was a 2-hour ride to this small city, Signagni, reputed to be the city of love. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And in burning pain I thought, holy mother of shits I need to see a doctor and finding a doctor in a small city I’m heading to for the first time! I was sure I’m gonna get huge blisters all over my palm and then I won’t be able to touch or hold anything and then the rest of the trip will be a waste. All thoughts crossed my head in the next 15 minutes. I felt like crying. The only thing that comforted me was the reminder that I was medically insured for such accidents, courtesy @jgi.pk (not an ad). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Anyway, I kept a bundle of tissue paper soaked in water, between the palm of my hands, the entire journey. Suggested by the stranger next to me. And that did relieve me to some extent. I reached Signagi, the burning had calmed & I didnt feel the need to see a doctor. I looked at my coffee-stained dress, felt sad; but then I looked at the terra cotta roofs, amidst lush green hills and cobblestone streets of Signagi and I forgot the incident. I headed ahead to explore this tiny quaint town & make the most of my day! Ever spilled coffee & burnt yourself? Outfit courtesy: @qnhstore #Signagi #Georgia

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Travel Lifestyle (@girlwithgreenpassport) on Jun 11, 2019 at 8:52am PDT

Speaking of Eastern Europe, take Georgia for example. Where is it? Right next to the latest Pakistani travellers favourite, Azerbaijan. So  consider going to both countries together and explore this stunning region.

Georgia small country in the Caucasus – one you’ll probably be hearing more about it in the years to come. It all starts in the eccentric capital of Tbilisi. From there, be sure to explore the stunning Caucasian Mountain range, dip your feet in the Black Sea, and visit ancient hilltop monasteries (a few of them are inside caves!) all over the country.

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Welcome to Georgia. Sitting at the crossroads of Asia & Europe, but unfairly, the less talked about country, compared to its neighbouring Turkey. It swept me off my feet with its expansive sights, sounds, experiences and tastes. All of which, I had a heart full of in my 10 days. Tbilisi, the beating heart of the country sits in the lap of lush green hills. It is dotted with old Eurasian architecture on the slopes and decorated with modern and artistic glass shaped buildings and bridges in the centre. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Three hours north of the capital & I was in the midst of the Caucasus mountain. The tapestry changed. The little town of Kazbegi welcomed me first with its chilly mountain air & then warmed me with the hospitality. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When I drove 2 hours east of Tbilisi, I was in Kaheti, the wine region of the country. Ask a local and they show you with pride, their traditional winemaking methods. With a curious set of eyes and ears, I learnt all I could about 8000-year-old Georgian winemaking tradition. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Three hours west of Tbilisi, I reached one of the oldest cities in Europe, Kutaisi. The highlight was the locals I met; they were even more friendly and had all the time in the world for conversations. They enjoyed learning about Pakistan from me as I did about Georgia from them. Nature swayed me even more, as I visited the canyons nearby Kutaisi. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The only thought I had throughout my visit, is that this country deserves more limelight than it has! There is so much I want to pour out, but I gotta save some for upcoming posts. Are you guys with me? Pls let me know what do you want me to tell about the country? . : Old town Tbilisi (picture taken via self timer & remote)

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Travel Lifestyle (@girlwithgreenpassport) on May 28, 2019 at 5:10am PDT

As for Azerbaijan, the capital Baku is an obvious must.  There’s so much you can pack in a few days, including the ultra-modern Heydar Aliyev Center.

Flights: Cheapest air-tickets to either or of these countries are around Rs45,000, usually with one stop somewhere in the Middle East.

Vietnam – a different kind of South East Asia

Forget Thailand and Sri Lanka right now because Vietnam is all that it’s about these days. And for good reason too. From the beautiful chaos of Hanoi’s Old Quarter to the serene Hoi An riverfront adorned with coloured lanterns, this is truly a country full of contrasts.

But Vietnam is not for the faint-hearted. If adventure is what you’re about, be prepared for crazy weather cycles and off-beat exotic scenery. Alas, it’s also among the cheapest places in Asia: eat local and you’ll struggle to spend more than a few hundred rupees per meal. A round trip ticket is around Rs87,000.

What to do: There are a myriad of pristine beaches, such as Mango Bay and Halong Bay. Don’t forget to explore rice-farming mountains where you can go caving. Adventure sports on the beaches are also a must.

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[shannrussell-blog1]

I’ve just returned from my first trip to Europe and the United Kingdom. It was a whirlwind adventure that took me through 9 cities and 7 countries, on 10 planes, 13 trains, 6 taxies, and 4 bike hiring schemes.

I enjoyed the cosy pubs of London, saw the très grand monuments of Paris, experienced the superior bicycle infrastructure of Berlin and Copenhagen, and was moved by the sad history of Kraków in Poland. It was a trip filled with hundreds of memories I’ll keep for the rest of my life. It was also a trip that brought many practicalities to the fore.

Things I wish I had known beforehand and hadn’t stumbled upon in my research. Stuff I think others would benefit from before embarking on their own Europe adventure, whether it’s part of an organised group like a Contiki tour, or self-guided. Here are my top 17 tips for having a hassle-free and amazing time in Europe:

Gear

1. Wear hard-wearing, quick-dry travel clothing

The sort of clothing you’d find at an outdoors shop, as it’s just plain practical. We didn’t exclusively carry this sort of clothing on our trip – we had jeans, cotton t-shirts, and so on.

These garments needed washing after a time and a go in the tumble drier. About 6 hours of the whole trip was spent sitting in laundromats waiting for waschmaschinen and kleider trockner (German for washing machine and clothes dryer ). Don’t say you don’t learn anything here!

Synthetic and merino wool outdoorsy clothes can be washed in the shower or hotel basin and dry very quickly. The best thing about merino is it takes a lot to get smelly, so you can wear it over and over.

2. Choose a backpack rather than suitcase

You can always tell the suitcase totters when you disembark onto a busy train station platform. They’re the ones struggling along, trying to make their case stable on two wheels, while you try and push in front of them. With a backpack, you’ll be much more agile and stairs and escalators will be fair game.

The Pacsafe Coversafe X100 Waist Wallet protects against your cards or passports being hacked, or physically stolen. 

4. Invest in a good neck pillow

We flew Etihad. They supplied very basic neck pillows in economy. Very basic. I’m sure a quality neck pillow would have added a few more hours of sleep to our cumulative 48 hours in the air.

Money

5. Always have cash on you

Cash is becoming less commonly used in Australia. What, with our obsession with plastic, PayPass, and now Apple Pay and so on? That doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in the same place. I asked one shop assistant in Germany why people don’t use their cards as much. She responded, ‘They’re Germans. They like to see their money’. Fair enough. Always have some notes and coins on you*.

* When you’re carrying Kroners, you’ll feel extra rich as everything is in 100s and 1000s. Until you calculate the exchange rate and then you’ll feel really poor.

No matter where you go you’ll soon come across a peculiar sign. This one was on a train in Poland. It was meant to convey, ‘Do not throw rubbish out the window’. Or so it seemed.  

6. Be careful with airport ATMs

Shop around for currency conversion and don’t use the first ATM you find. The machines conveniently located in airports usually charge high fees or commissions.

Transport

7. Get to the airport early

It’s easy to think that because you’ve been to a few airports you’ve been to them all. Wrong. Until I experienced the security queue in Københavns Lufthavn (Copenhagen Airport, Denmark) I had this impression that most airports are efficient beasts. An hour and a half of waiting, very strict rules when it comes to liquids, and the way one shuffles through the scanner, and being almost the last one to board my flight had me reconsider this.

Do your research and don’t take things for granted – just because Coolangatta is easy peasy doesn’t mean Charles de Gaulle will be.

8. Hire a bike

We found the best way to get around Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen and Warsaw was by bike. The bicycle infrastructure in each of these cities varied a lot but one thing was for sure, cycling is part of life and is a quick and fun way of exploring. Our favourite hiring scheme was ‘Vélib’ in Paris. You pay a small fee to access the system (1,70€ at the time of writing) and can use a bike for 30 minutes for free.

The trick is to ride for half hour or less and return the bike to one of the plentiful stands, have a look around, grab another bike, and enjoy another half hour for free. Merci, Paris.

We hired bikes in Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, and Warsaw. The Vélib’ system in Paris was without a doubt the most comprehensive and value-for-money. 

9. Use public transport

Most European cities have robust networks of public transport. Intercity and intercountry high-speed trains, underground metro rail, light-rail, buses – I was quite taken by Düsseldorf, Germany. For a city smaller than Adelaide it had trams galore, an underground rail system and linked neatly with the rest of Europe with high-speed rail.

The best bit was that public transport across Europe is relatively cheap and will take you where you want to go.

10. Low-cost airlines are often very basic (and crafty)

Like with airports, not all low-cost airlines are the same. You think Jetstar is basic? Try flying some of the European low-cost carriers. I didn’t read an email from one unnamed carrier as carefully as I should have and got stung 419 złoty ($140 AUD) at the gate to check in!

Yep, some will make you check in online (no less than 2 hours before departure) and print your own boarding pass.

Safety

11. Be vigilant of swindlers and street sellers

I’ll admit it, I found it quite entertaining watching tourist after tourist get duped by three cup shuffle in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. But those guys before kept winning? Isn’t it uncanny they look like brothers? Have your wits about you, don’t sign things or buy things from people in odd places and don’t ride with strangers.

Isn’t this what travel is all about? Experiencing things you could never imagine or see at home?

12. Use your hotel safe

To avoid huge transaction fees it is a good idea to withdraw more cash, less often. Keep it in your hotel safe, if they have one, to keep it well – safe. Likewise cameras, watches, and other valuables. As a further precaution, I read it somewhere recently, ‘If it would ruin your afternoon if it were stolen, don’t take it with you.’

General

13. Do a free walking tour

Many cities run free walking tours. The best we found was by the Free Walking Tour Foundation in Kraków. You can join when you want, leave when you want, and leave a tip if you want. A guided tour of a city or particular attraction will always give you a better understanding of it. And when it’s free, what have you got to lose?

Nyhavn, Copenhagen.

14. When in doubt, ask

After getting lost many handfuls of occasions, especially in the straße of Berlin, we soon realised it was better to ask for help than think of yourself as a master of navigation. Everyone we asked for directions or recommendations was only too happy to assist.

Either in our limited grasp of the local language or in English, everywhere we travelled, including Poland, most people we met spoke good English.

Accommodation

15. Check if your hotel has air conditioning

Many European and British hotels don’t. We learned this the hard way, suffering through many nights where the inside temperature didn’t dip below 30! Modern accommodation usually had effective systems.

Food

16. Carry a refillable bottle

Tap water in most European cities is perfectly safe to drink. Interestingly, and as much as this is the case, you’ll be hard-pressed to be served it in Polish cities. Hotel rooms usually boast free bottles of water and at restaurants, when asked, they’ll bring you bottled still or sparkling for a fee – though, in złoty, the cost is negligible. When out for the day, fill up your own water bottle.

17. Eat local, drink local 

Whatever you do, do not pass up the opportunity to try local food and drinks. We had the best bangers and mash with flat beer in London, beautiful bistro meals with carafes of red wine in the laneways of Paris, schnitzels as big as your head, served traditionally with a lemon wedge rather than lashings of sauce, in Dusseldorf and beautiful little pillow-like pierogi and half-litre glasses of Polish beer in the milk bars of Kraków.

I think you learn a lot about a place by sampling their food, wine, and beer. So, ignore those pizza and burger joints and immerse yourself.

When in Paris, sip black coffee and eat a plain croissant for breakfast. Seriously, the perfect start to the day.

18. Be careful when catching a cab, especially in Poland

No dig at Poland, it was a lovely country to visit. But be careful when catching a cab as the drivers are notorious for ripping people off. Rather than hailing a cab on the street or out the front of the airport, book ahead. That way you can agree on a fee beforehand.

If you do hail a taxi, ask the driver how much the fare will be before accepting it. Some hotels will allow you to book with them and their preferred taxi company at a fixed rate, especially if you’re travelling to common places like the airport.

19. Pack a small set of scales

Being slugged excess baggage is the worst. Weigh your bags beforehand to see if you meet your allowance. That way you can redistribute the weight, remove items, or book more weight online for a cheaper fee.

This post was updated for 2017.

  Got any handy tips for enjoying Europe? Share them with us below. 

  The post What You Need to Know Before Going to Europe appeared first on Snowys Blog.

[tipsycad147]

5 CRYSTALS FOR HEDGE RIDING

By Willow

If you haven't noticed yet, I kind of have a thing for crystals, with that background in paleontology and all, so it should come as no surprise that there are some crystals I love to use during hedge riding. I mentioned during my Hedge Riding Series that I have a hedge riding sachet, a small bag that contains a series of items that helps me during my hedge riding journeys. I mentioned some of the crystals I keep in that sachet, and I would like to expand on that topic today. My hedge riding sachet is ever changing; I add and remove items frequently based on what I am trying to do, but it always contains crystals. Usually, I preface articles like this with a statement that you don't need any items but yourself to hedge ride or perform magic. This is the one time where I am not going to say that because crystals are an important aspect of hedge riding. Not only can they help you reach an altered state of consciousness, but they also help ground your body and soul to our plane before, during, and after hedge riding. Now, you don't have to have every crystal on this list, nor do the crystals you choose have to be limited to this list. There are dozens of crystals that can help you on your flights, and you should always pick crystals that speak to you, even if a book doesn't mention they can be used for traveling between the realms. Correspondences should partly be based off your intuition, not just what some book or online article says. This list contains the five crystals I work with the most during hedge riding, in no particular order. 1. Labradorite: Until polished, labradorite is a fairly dull, unsuspecting crystal, but once polished it takes on a rainbow of colors. Labradorite was once believed to be frozen fire that fell from Aurora Borealis, thus associating it with the heavens and astral travel. It acts similarly to amethyst in that it can open you to psychic visions, but unlike amethyst, it can be used as a gateway to past lives as well. In Norse mythology, the rainbow bridge, Bifrost, was the gateway to Valhalla, which is sometimes symbolized by this crystal with rainbow hue, thus allowing you to travel between lives while hedge riding. I use this crystal when I am seeking answers from my past to gain insights into my future. 2. Amethyst: So I talk about amethyst a lot too...I know, but this stone is so versatile, plentiful, and cheap! I'm all for saving money when it comes to witchcraft. Amethyst is a great stone for hedge riding and has been regarded for hundreds of years as the crystal of psychics. I place amethyst on my forehead during hedge riding to help open my mind to psychic visions during my journeys. This crystal is commonly found in my hedge riding sachet, especially on days where I am finding it difficult to concentrate enough to hedge ride. 3. Selenite: I'm sure many of you have this crystal laying around, as it's commonly used to make crystal wands. Selenite is clear, striated gypsum named after Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon. Due to this connection to the moon, selenite can be used during hedge riding to "reach the stars," particularly when traveling to the Upper Realm of the Otherworld. Furthermore, selenite is known for its calming properties, allowing you to reach an altered state of consciousness by quieting the mind. Even better, selenite filters messages, due to its striated nature, thus allowing you to connect to your higher self and the spirit realm, especially angels. I use selenite when I am traveling to the Upper Realms or when I am having trouble hearing the messages the spirits are trying to send me. Sometimes I even use selenite after hedge riding to help me make sense of the messages I received. This isn't found in my hedge riding sachet too often, but it is almost always on my altar waiting for me to get back from a journey to aid in my understanding of the things I saw and heard while away. 4. Iolite: This deep violet crystal was commonly used by the Vikings as a navigational tool because it could be used to filter sunlight, allowing them to look at the sun without damaging their eyes. Because of this and its brilliant color, Iolite is a great stone for hedge riding. You can use it as a navigational tool on your spiritual journeys and facilitate spiritual visions. Depending on how it is cut, Iolite can appear yellow or clear as well, so don't worry if you find it in colors other than blue-violet. I use Iolite when I am seeking to travel to new places during a journey. I tend to stick close to "home," but there are times I wish to explore deeper into the Otherworld so I make sure to take this crystal with me to help me navigate uncharted territories. 5. Black Tourmaline: I talk about this crystal the most, probably because it is my favorite crystal of all time. I really should modify my 10 Crystals Every Witch Should Have post to include black tourmaline instead of obsidian. When I first got this crystal, the moment I touched it I felt an instant connection. The love and protection that radiated from it were overwhelming. I often find myself looking for it in times of stress because it's so calming. While I know it sounds strange to some, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this crystal loves me deeply. But I digress. My black tourmaline is the one thing in my hedge riding sachet that never changes; it is always in my bag. Before I ride I take it out and ask it to keep me safe while I hedge ride. I place it on my chest during my journeys and when I come back its the first thing I touch to ground myself. Black tourmaline is known for keeping you safe physically, emotionally, and spiritually, making it an amazing hedge riding companion crystal. There are other crystals that you can use for protection and grounding during hedge riding, so if black tourmaline doesn't speak to you like it speaks to me, find one that does. Other great options include jet, onyx, obsidian, and hematite. As I mentioned before, this is by no means a complete list, just my five favorites for hedge riding. For those of you who hedge ride, what crystals do you like to bring with you? Please leave your suggestions in the comments below so we can grow this list to help other witches on their journeys!

https://www.flyingthehedge.com/2019/01/5-crystals-for-hedge-riding.html