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divine-crows · 5 months ago

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Witches Compass, the Barebones Basic Guide:

What is it, Why would I use it, Is it for me?

Introduction

This is an aspect of my path that I'm currently exploring more deeply, and as I learn to navigate it and reveal more ways it's useful to me I've noticed an increasing passion towards the subject. I'm by no means an expert on the subject, but I hope I can provide a post that helps explain the concept to those who are curious.

Reccomended Sources

The Crooked Path: An Introduction to Traditional Witchcraft by Kelden

Besom, Stang, and Sword: A Guide to Traditional Witchcraft, the Six Fold Path & the Hidden Landscape by Christopher Orapello and Tara-Love Maguire

Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways by Gemma Gary

The Witch Compass by Ian Chambers

I'd like to note that of the books I don't have copies of the first three listed sources, but when I was initially on my journey I had access to them digitally and they opened my eyes to the concepts I'll be speaking on. All of my written information will be paraphrase from my grimoire as a result.

What Is The Witches Compass?

I honestly would divide it into two different answers, there's a long answer and a short answer.

Generally I'd say: The Witches Compass is a means similar to casting a circle that allows you to traverse the Hedge (perform astral work), work with spirits to perform spells, and to harness the powers of the directions to tap into your abilities.

The more 'esoteric', long answer I'd give: The Witches Compass is both a tool and a method comprised of symbolism, story telling, and allegory. These three elements allow the user to tap into their "unconcious mind" so they can better perceive the spirits and world around them. To put it short, the Compass is an inherent part of us-- seeing as it's a part of our perception --and it's up to us to use the tool as we see fit-- whatever symbols and stories we attribute to it is up to us.

How does the Compass differ from casting a Circle?

I have some Key Ideas based on observation and what I've read:

A circle intends to keep out Spirits, the Witches' Compass generally does not

A circle is intended to raise energy, The Compass generally is about focusing and maintaining energy

A circle is usually ritualistic in intent; focused on consecrating a space, a Witches' Compass isn't nessicarily ritual focused.

Similarly, a Circle usually is opened with specific steps and must be closed with a specific set of steps, the Compass (while having steps from others you may want to follow) doesn't always have to follow specific rules and has a lot less to do when closing it.

This one is a little more personal, but I generally relate the Circle to tapping into Higher Powers, and I likewise attribute the Witches' Compass to tapping into Earthly Powers (though it's not mutually exclusive).

I highly reccomend you explore both methods and try them out, Circle Casting is definitely still a very useful skill that you can use.

Why Would I Use It?

I'd highly reccomend giving it a try if you fit into the following categories:

You Like/Want to explore. . .

Hedge Work

Spirit Work

Forms of Folk Magic

Animist forms of Spirituality

Challenging yourself with differing or new concepts

Visual based workings

There's a lot of ways for you to learn to incorporate it into your beliefs. If you're concerned about wanting to adapt it into your practice and you have a baseline understanding on the subject, I highly reccomend looking at the last book in the reccomended list because it gives you a lot of exercises that will help you broaden your understanding of the Witches' Compass.

How Do I Tap Into the Compass?

These are some baseline ideas on how you might begin your journey to tapping into the Compass. These are exercises I do to help me better understand it.

Meditating on each direction was one of the first steps I ever took. I focused on sounds (both imagined and literal), visuals, and feelings as I faced each cardinal direction. I then wrote them down so I could further investigate what it means to me.

Finding out what I correspond with each direction helped me out a lot too. That can include elements, tarot card courts, colors basically anything that you place high importance on. It should be noted that in the reccomended sources they do give ideas on correspondences, but I reccomend you explore your own ideas so you can better understand it.

Creating a story for each direction is an idea I've been planning for a while. I want to basically tap into each element in a meditative state and create a short story inspired by my deities, my practice, etc. as a means to better explore how the Compass fits into my faith. You can also attribute stories already known to the Compass as well.

Tying into the previous idea, you can use stories to apply deities, archetypal figures, etc. to each cardinal direction for guidance. Be careful and mindful if you do so, that way you can be respectful with whatever you work with. As a celtic pagan, I've been finding ways that the deities I worship can represent each direction as a means to better interpret and I've found its helped me develop a better understanding and relationship with the deities I worship as a result. Of course, you don't have to incorproate deities, you can even use nameless beings if you want. What matters is you have a representation of each facet.

Practicing laying the Compass is self explanatory. I will say, there are differing methods out there and as you become comfortable you may build your own method to do it. Generally, I'd reccomend a trying a more well known method first so you can get an understanding of the symbolism, general vibe, etc. After the first couple of times if it really doesn't mesh well with you, then I'd say you can definitely explore more into what you'd like to do. You don't even have to do anything too significant either if you don't want to. Try it for simple spellwork, try it for meditative purposes, whatever you feel will ease you into it.

Try to interact with spirits of the land (if they're willing), especially since a part of the Compass is forming working relationships with the landscape around you I'd recommend it heavily. If you're like me and you can't freely or safely explore at random I recommend going places you know you're safe (even if it's as simple as your backyard!) and find a way to covertly do so. For example: instead of visibly laying a Compass and going into a clear trance-like state you can draw one out in a notebook and pretend to be writing in it while connecting with spirits.

Overall. . .

I covered some basic definitions, differences between casting a circle and using The Compass, and some ideas on how you can start your work. Now it's time for you to do some research given that you have an idea on what the Witches Compass is!

This post is merely skimming the surface and there is much more for you to uncover.

#witchblr #witchcraft #witch #witch community #witchy #traditional witchcraft #folk witchcraft #witchcraft 101 #witchy sources #witch source

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sssammich · 10 months ago

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For supercorp 💗 🥹🥹

💗 slow kiss / gentle kiss / inevitable / soft

thanks for your patience, anon! alas, i have gone overboard once more because i cannot help myself.

ask meme

---

she's been given a mandatory month off from supergirl duties. she's not sick, she hasn't solar flared, and she's not hurting for any freelance work that requires her attention. she had simply been told that she needed to take the time off and to avoid any caped hero work unless absolutely necessary.

so that's why she's here now, without superhero work for the next thirty days. free to do whatever she wants.

after the initial shock washes over her, she places her hands on her hips and nods towards alex and j'onn. she knows exactly what she wants to do with her freedom.

"okay."

"look, before you fight th--okay?" alex stares at her, wide eyes mirroring kara's. "really?"

she shrugs, already heading towards the elevator. no need to fight the inevitable. "really."

as the elevator doors close in front of her, she can't help smirking in amusement at the identical confused expressions on both of their faces.

she has one destination in mind.

she knocks on the massive wooden door, though she knows she doesn't need to. it's a formality at this point considering the unrestricted access that she's been granted to enter the top floor of this condominium highrise.

still, she waits, because the anticipation is half the fun.

her face splits into an easy smile when lena opens the door to her with her own toothy grin.

"heya," she greets, stepping foot into what she calls home: within lena's arms.

"hello to you, too," lena says, swift yet careful in wrapping kara in her arms. her hands are open as they rub circles on kara's back. kara sinks further into lena's embrace, pulling lena further into her. "how are you?"

"i'm great."

lena stares into her eyes. "yeah?"

"oh yeah. i'm on vacation." she emphatically nods.

lena beams at that. "funny you say that. me too."

she quirks a brow at that, though she shouldn't be surprised. a month vacation doesn't just fall into people's laps without explanation. "yeah?"

"oh yeah," lena mimics her.

kara, still holding lena in her arms, pulls the other woman back in, the two of them swinging in place. "what a coincidence, right?"

lena throws her head back in laughter.

they arrive in a private villa off the coast of naples.

it's a modest hillside two bedroom house that overlooks the gulf below. when the local guide roll their suitcases for them, he unknowingly wheels lena's to one room and hers to the other. she smirks and lena tips him handsomely--enough that his olive skin tinges in embarrassment at just how much is in his hands. when their eyes meet after he leaves, they break into a giggle.

because they know the truth, despite not uttering a word of it: why bother taking up more room when right by each other's side is all the space they'll want to take.

despite the destination of her luggage, her body follows after lena to the other room, the one with the better view of the water. just as well, lena's body follows after her when they busy themselves in the kitchen to make themselves a quick dinner. when they finish, they share the hammock sitting out on the back deck, lena's head on her chest and her arms around her waist, while kara's arms wind their way in holding lena against her, their limbs tangled.

when lena yawns a few too many times, they call it a night. lena leads, their hands entwined, and they end up on lena's bed, drawing back the thin covers enough to stave off the inevitable cool night air.

they walk everywhere, always touching. a hand on the arm the elbow the bicep the small of her back. an arm slung over a shoulder or hooked together.

it's when they reach a destination that kara's courage grows, that lena's bravery broadens.

when they travel to the town square market as they shop for groceries that lips find their way on one another's skin; the temple the cheek the forehead.

when they treat themselves to a picnic right by a vineyard and lena is leaning back on her between her legs, lips chance on a bare and pale shoulder.

when they lounge in the hammock and lena is resting on her chest, lips chance on collarbones and behind the ears.

when they tire themselves out from full days, fuller stomachs, and fullest hearts that they are in bed and lena is facing her and their legs are tangled with one another, lips chance on entwined hands and fingers.

each one given freely, each one received gracefully.

soon, kara thinks, this will all change. especially when they cross the final threshold between them. though that's a formality at this point, all things considered.

still, she will wait until that happens, more than happy to be exactly where she is.

thirty days is long and short and is plenty and is not enough.

on their last day while they wait for their local guide to collect them, they stand on the corner edge of the back deck, lena in her arms as they overlook the gulf for the last time.

"i don't want to go back to work," she murmurs into lena's ear. lena twists in kara's arms until they're facing one another.

"you don't have to, if you really don't want to."

"we can move into this villa. i'll learn to fish. you can sell them at the market."

lena laughs in her arms and kara holds her tighter, like trying to capture lightning in a bottle.

"you're no good as a fisherman, sweetheart."

kara pouts because it's probably true. but she'll learn for lena.

"well, next time we're on vacation, we ought to come back."

"anything you want," lena says, her eyes dipping down to where kara's lips are.

"anything?"

lena nods, assuring, her eyes darkening. kara's smile widens and she leans forward just enough, their noses brushing.

kara is ready for what's to come. she's ready for lena.

still, she waits, because the anticipation is half the fun.

#supercorp #replies #fic ask meme #lmao sorry i have more of these to go through i realize yall might be sick of them hahah #considering the last one i did i lulled you all into a false sense of security please accept this as a peace offering #even if it's mm idk it's fine #but i did try #samficlet

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incognitopolls · 10 months ago

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Received a question "Any tips for starting up a poll blog?". The question was off anon, but for reasons related to my final point, I've chosen not to include the asker's identity.

Keep it as simple for yourself as you can. Some general things…

If you want lots of traction, avoid putting yourself in too small of a niche. If you don't care about reach and just want to post some fun polls, go as niche as you like. There just won't be as much buy-in for a blog with an extremely narrow focus like "Do you like this food from the 1870s?", but that's fine if that's what you're passionate about.

Tags are your friends and will be one of the primary ways your polls reach people until you have a large following. Tag appropriately (don't spam tags that aren't relevant), but tag liberally.

I use xkit rewritten to add all the basic tags that get added to every poll, so I only have to add content-related tags to each one as needed.

Keep extra media, links, etc to a minimum. I don't think it's generally necessary for every post to include a photo banner* or links to submit questions, etc; the more things you add to your "template," the more work you have to do for each poll, and it adds up! Also– there was a time where posts with links wouldn't show up in searches. I don't believe that's still the case, but I tend to avoid including links anyway unless they're necessary support for the topic.

*Re: photo banners/photos in general, it is a good rule of thumb to add descriptions to all images. Accessibility is important in and of itself; it also broadens your blog's reach by enabling more people to engage with your posts. To repeat the last point, the fewer images and banners you include, the less work you have to do specifically on adding descriptions.

If it ever becomes not-fun, you don't have to keep doing it.

I would only ever recommend running a poll blog to people who plan to run it from desktop. The poll editor on desktop is much, much easier to use than the mobile one.

And finally– it may not be every poll blogger's preference, but I highly recommend maintaining some level of anonymity. You don't owe anyone any details about who you are, and it helps give you some space at the end of the day to disconnect from public perception and pressure.

#not polls

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dertaglichedan · 2 months ago

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The Trump Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a massive overhaul of its practice allowing journalists to work from inside the building is beginning a program to remove four establishment media news outlets from their workspaces for one year to replace them with new media outlets, including Breitbart News.

Acting Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot issued a memo on Friday to the Pentagon Press Association announcing that the NBC News, the New York Times, National Public Radio, and Politico must give up their physical workspaces in the Pentagon for one year to the New York Post, Breitbart News, and the Huffington Post.

“Each year, one outlet from each press medium — print, online, television and radio — that has enjoyed working from a physical office in the Pentagon will rotate out of the building to allow a new outlet from the same medium that has not had the unique opportunity to report as a resident member of the Pentagon Press Corps,” the memo said.

The Pentagon is giving those outlets two weeks to vacate their offices, effective Friday, February 15, 2025.

Ullyot added:

For over a half-century, the Pentagon Press Corps has benefited from working out of individual office spaces that provide coveted and open access to some of the Department’s top military and civilian leaders.

Known as the Correspondents’ Corridor, this office space loaned to media outlets by the Secretary of Defense stands as a tribute to the importance the Department has long placed on informing the public about the U.S. military and all it does to project peace through strength. It also honors the many correspondents who put their lives on the line, and in many cases died, while covering our finest in battle.

He added the move was to broaden access to the limited space of the Correspondents Corridor to “outlets that have not previously enjoyed the privilege and journalistic value of working from physical office space in the Pentagon.”

The changes follow the White House announcing they would open up the press briefings to new media outlets who can apply for access and reverse the revocation of about 400 White House press passes under the Biden administration.

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talenlee · 4 months ago

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Decemberween 2024 — Youtube Academia

Hey, I’m in academia, here are some people I look to for ‘how to communicate and make a point in academia and what you can use it to do.’

First up, hand over heart, this is going to have a real sampling bias. I’m going to point to three diferent academics who make stuff in spaces I can participate in and all three of them are dudes, and white enough that my dad would mostly consider them white. He’d probably be on the fence about Daniel Immerwahr. This is a problem in academia in general and it’s a problem with me in the specific: The stuff that I’ve gotten attention to, even the stuff that is explicitly about broadening my access to and understanding of nonwhite cultures and the nonwhite parts of the world is coming to me through white guys from academia. I’m not wild about it but it’s better in my mind to acknowledge it and present the sources then pretend this isn’t where I’m coming from.

Anyway, hey, here’s an essay titled Why Hip-Hop is the Most Important Artistic Movement In Human History.

Why Hip-Hop is the Most Important Artistic Movement in Human History: A Professor Skye Video Essay

Watch this video on YouTube

I think this is a good starting point for Professor Skye’s work.

Professor Skye presents three kinds of work. One is album reviews, where he breaks down and analyses components in how albums work and what they present in their messages, in a way that explicitly is not seeking to centre his interpretation but rather academically recognise a useful generalised language bridge for people like me who use the term ‘generalised language bridge.’

Second to that there are kind of larger, high-concept comparisons, where he provides a meaningful explanation to people outside of hiphop interest as to what’s going on. This led to him going extremely viral thanks to explaining the Kendrick/Drake beef this year which, god that was a thing, wasn’t it. The third thing that Professor Skye does is historical and academic contextualisation of music media. That can be things like ‘here’s iconic stuff from the 1980s,’ and it can be ‘behold as I use Proust to discuss this album.’

In each case I think there’s a sort of meaningful value to ‘doing the readings.’ Listening to the albums he talks about or the songs he talks about as and when he starts to talk about them means that each video is a sort of expository piece to accompany the text. I watch media analysis all the time of stuff I have not and never will watch, like Victorious, but in that case, the analysis is explicitly trying to present the text so you don’t need it. That’s not what Professor Skye is doing. This is not a channel trying to convince you to enjoy a thing or to enjoy the thing without the thing. It is a textual engagement with the album, and that is a really cool thing to do. You might not even have the mental muscles practiced for that at this point.

I'm What the Culture Feeling

Watch this video on YouTube

By the way, if you listen to Skye and go ‘oh hey, this is interesting and I’d like to know more,’ here’s a video essay from FD Signifier which is long, yes, but also extraordinarily good, about the same kind of topic and coming from inside the culture. If Skye makes you think ‘hey, I could be interested in this,’ then you should probably then check out FD Signifier.

Your Grammar Is Basic Compared to Black English

Watch this video on YouTube

But hey while I’m talking about language bridges (I was, honest), what about a language expert to talk about distinct grammatical differences between English (as I am used to calling it) and Black English. Language Jones is an interesting guy with a specific skillset, which is expertise in linguistics at an academic level, specifically the way your brain picks up and relates to linguistics. When you do that, you stop having to focus on formal and proper structures and instead get a lot more inclined to seeing the way language slops into the grooves in human brains and social spaces. Sometimes that means explaining to you and me what a wug is, and that’s interesting, but I find it much more interesting when he does dives like this one.

In this video, what Jones is doing is picking apart Black English into the toolkit I have in my head for understanding proper English, with terms like subjunctive and participle, and then demonstrate that the way Black English works is entirely a coherent grammatical structure, it’s not vibes or habits or attenuating with a specific person, it’s a whole other form of English and it’s really fucking nuanced. There’s a degree of fineness in Black English that is simple absent from Proper, Formal English. Formal English that I was taught is structured such that there are a host of unintuitive, hard to maintain stiff forms for completely correct conveyance of intent (“can I” vs “may I”), while Black English instead has a coherent grammatical structure that gives more fine control for intention, tense and position and the listener is there to interpret it rather than to enforce it.

This is not totally surprising, and if you talk to uh, any Black people, you probably already know this. What this gave me is a useful toolkit for reconstructing the grammar form. Really interesting stuff!

Daniel Immerwahr How to Hide an Empire

Watch this video on YouTube

Look, I’m sure I’ve talked about Daniel Immerwahr’s work in the past. I share this video from him every time I want to get people to think about American colonialism in the ways that make them uncomfortable. It’s a good talk, it uses its time well, and it also highlights a topic and the relationship of ourselves to the way things communicate their identity through their names and symbols of themselves.

Oh and if you don’t like that, check out Daniel Immerwarh’s podcast talking about the real world histories of Dune. Talks during the pandemic were restricted, but dang some of them were on wonderfully untypical topics.

There’s more. There’s always more. Dr Kipp Davis shows up when I look for academics I follow, but his interest is in Biblical studies. He’s part of the Diablocritics, which means Dr Jennifer Bird is on there, and it’s a way I can check out her work in a way that I find very accessible and interesting, and the other members of the Diablocritics are there, too.

Still, sometimes something academic is just something interesting. I don’t think Josh Worth is a doctor or professor or something. I think technically, he’s just a designer, as in a User Experience designer, that kind of specific discipline of having a clear, meaningful purpose for a visual expression. I share to you this graph Josh Worth made of the solar system if the moon, our moon, was a single pixel.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

#Academia #Media

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mistresslynndramione · 3 months ago

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Antisemitism in the Dramione fandom

This is the first of two posts I’ve written on antisemitism.

Antisemitism in the Dramione fandom

How antisemitism manifests in a broad sense, including how to deconvolute Palestinian activism from Jew hate, and personal accounts of Antisemitism that me, my family and my community have experienced over the past year ranging from bomb threats to harassment and vandalism to people screaming from a car at my friend’s kids that they’re baby killers (still working on this one, it’ll appear soon)

And now onto fandom.

One of the nice surprises I found when entering the Dramione fandom, was being exposed to a wide variety of people with experiences I didn’t have, where I could understand hardships others faced which I had no exposure to. To name a few: fatphobia, ableism, transphobia, racism, struggles with mental health and being neurodivergent, and living with debilitating and chronic diseases.

I was able to learn because marginalized communities felt empowered to discuss their struggles online under relative anonymity and with the support of others. It was an opportunity for those willing to listen to be educated. And I’m thankful because since joining fandom, I’ve truly broadened my horizons.

Being able to access people and their very personal, intimate experiences in a way one wouldn’t be exposed to IRL reflects the very best of the internet and demonstrates its potential. The internet, like books, is an excellent tool for bridging differences, empathizing with and understanding others.

And that’s something we should all strive for.

However, there is one marginalized minority that is not empowered to discuss their struggles and experiences in fandom. Not only are we shut down, deplatformed, disempowered and ostracized, but those that support or associate with us are too.

The Jews.

You will hear how every single oppressed minority experiences bigotry in fandom and in their lives. How the LGTBQ+ community experiences homophobia and transphobia, how POCs experience racism, how women experience misogyny, how Muslims experience Islamophobia, how people with disabilities experience ableism, how heavier people experience fatphobia – but you won’t hear how Jews experience antisemitism.

Rather, Jews are told by everyone else what our experiences with bigotry are. Goysplaining, if you will. We are told what is and isn’t antisemitism, as if people that aren’t Jewish know better. We’re told that we’re weaponizing antisemitism for political gain. And fringe, minority Jewish opinions are elevated and Jews are tokenized to justify bigotry and shield those who spread it.

These tactics aren’t new. Feminists and other minority rights activists describe facing the same obstacles. It’s only Jews that are treated differently by those who claim they listen to minorities – and should know better.

The hypocrisy is that those who profess to be advocates of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion simply will not include Jews or listen to Jewish experiences when it’s not politically convenient. They silence and exclude us when we protest bigotry stemming from the progressive wing of politics. And that’s despite the skyrocketing antisemitism across the world (and in fandom) since Oct 7, 2023, precisely when listening to Jews should be of paramount importance.

Do a quick google search ‘antisemitism + your country/closest major city and/or university’ to get a taste of what we’re dealing with. The US, Canada, France, Sweden – no country is immune. It’s everywhere. Everywhere. And it’s been all over the news. We have been speaking up about antisemitism on the far left for years and are screaming about it now that it’s being mainstreamed. So, if you’re only aware of Jew hate when it stems from right wing politics (tiki torches, space lasers and the great replacement theory), that should tell you something about the media you consume.

It’s a problem which has worsened over the years because progressives – the very people who claim to be anti-bigotry – only oppose antisemitism when it comes from the right wing and refuse to listen when Jews speak about it on the left.

The result is that most self-identifying liberals, Democrats, progressives, etc. are only able to identify anti-Jew bias when it comes from white supremacists. A common sentiment I’ve heard is “I’m not antisemitic, I learned about the Holocaust.” Which is akin to saying the US isn’t racist because they emancipated the slaves.

Just like racism, sexism, etc, antisemitism is the sea you swim in. It wasn’t solved with school field trips to Holocaust Museums because it’s much subtler than that. If you want to be anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-Islamophobic, anti-transphobic/homophobic, then you need to work hard to understand how those forms of bigotry are expressed and examine your subconscious biases. Most people simply don’t know how latent antisemitism lingers in their prejudices because society has never addressed them in the way they’ve (tried to) addressed latent sexism and racism.

The bigotry was always there, waiting to be harnessed. And those underlying prejudices fed the mass explosion of Jew hate across the world.

What does that have to do with antisemitism in the Dramione fandom?

Before the unprecedented increase in Jew hate, I’d seen the occasional bigoted comment and avoided the people that made them, preferring to stay apolitical in fandom anyway. But after Hamas invaded Israel on Oct 7, 2023, a loud portion of fandom started spreading hate speech and advocating for violence against Jews. It got worse as the war continued, and still continues even though it’s been over a year.

As conflicts elsewhere often do, this war has exposed the bigotry we have in our privileged society. Hate crimes against Jews (and Muslims) have since skyrocketed around the world. Most people are unable to separate their Palestinian activism from Jew hate due to lack of knowledge about the conflict and how antisemitism manifests. Some purposely muddy the waters, intentionally leveraging societal prejudice.

Like many Jews in fandom, I didn’t want to be exposed to hate speech and curated like hell. The rhetoric that describes Jews in progressive spaces is dishonest, demonizing and used to threaten, harass, ostracize, and call for violence.

Fandom, being loudly progressive in its politics, is no different. And because no one in fandom listens to Jews when we speak up, we are dehumanized and ostracized in fandom spaces, while violence against us is glorified. Fandom twitter and Bluesky quickly became cesspits. I’ve left chats, Facebook groups, and discord servers where antisemitic views were shared and allowed to stand uncontested despite those very spaces claiming to be against bigotry.

Fandom will pride itself on being against antisemitism, despite having no idea what it is. I’ve seen righteous indignation over depictions of hooked-nosed goblins and piles of gold in the recent Harry Potter game but posts demonizing Jews and glorifying violence against us are enthusiastically supported. The former is virtue signaling with no impact on our lives. The latter directly impacts our safety and how we interact with society.

I understand that a lot of this is ignorance. Most people have good intentions. They by and large don’t think about the accuracy of their words, the consequences of their actions, and don’t know that they’re hurting their local Jewish communities. However, many do understand and are intentionally hurting their Jewish communities, leveraging the platform and legitimacy Progressives give them.

Until the recent antisemitic cybermob (I’ll get to the cybermob in a bit), I hadn’t seen anyone in fandom stand up to Jew hatred on the left. Not a single person. Not a peep from those professing that black lives matter and trans rights are human rights.

Posts glorifying resistance are glorifying Hamas and legitimizing the rape, torture and murder of Jews. When hundreds of people like and share those posts, they’re supporting the rape, torture and murder of Jews. Ironically, they’re also supporting the rape, torture and murder of Palestinians as well, because Hamas doesn’t just terrorize Jews.

Posts condemning the existence of Israel are calling for the erasure of an entire country, calling for the persecution and oppression of Jews and non-Jews alike. People cry “Free Palestine!” in one sentence and call for the destruction of Israel in the next. As if wanting two free, independent countries isn’t advocating for freedom? People can’t claim to be against oppression if they want to take away the freedom and independence of Israelis. And why would anyone want to do that? Israel is a free, multi-ethnic secular democracy home to 10 million people: Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and Bahai.

You said something about a cybermob?

Last year, I was inspired by a group of several hundred Jewish students at Columbia University which has been something of an epicenter for Jew hate. They wrote and signed an open letter entitled: “We would like to speak in our name.” Those brave souls stood up, described the threats, harassment and ostracization they’d been subjected to at a place which was supposed to safe and inclusive for all, and declared themselves proud Zionists. They stood tall and corrected the misinformation spread about Jewish identity both by those who hate us, and those who are thoughtless and don’t know any better. My friend’s kid was one of them. And I’m proud of him for speaking up. That is bravery.

(If you want to know what the Jewish experience has been like after Hamas invaded Israel, their letter is an excellent read. My experience in fandom has been the same, just virtually.)

So, taking inspiration from those students who would face real life consequences instead of merely virtual ones in a fandom of wizard porn, I stood up for myself, my children and my people, and joined those courageous kids by posting on my Instagram bio: “Proud Zionist: two states for two peoples.”

I knew most people have no idea what ‘Zionist’ means. I know it’s currently used as a slur to threaten, harass, bully, boycott, ostracize and call for violence against Jews. And I know that since the war started, the Wikipedia entry for Zionism has been modified by those that hate us, in a way few Zionists would agree with, no longer reflecting what Zionism is. So I clarified my declaration in a way that would leave no room for argument by writing directly afterwards “two states for two peoples.”

“Two states for two peoples” is a statement that advocates for an independent, safe and secure Palestinian state where Palestinians have self-determination. It is also a statement advocating for an independent, safe and secure Israel - where Jews have the right of self-determination. The right of Jews to self-determine in our ancestral homeland (Israel) is the most basic definition of Zionism and from which all versions of Zionism derive, no matter how they differ in implementation and belief.

Two separate states: Israel and Palestine; for two peoples: Israelis and Palestinians.

A bit of history: The two-state solution has been the cornerstone of peace talks supported by both left and right political leaders in Israel and across the world for 30 years to bring peace, coexistence and end the Palestinian portion of the larger Israeli-Arab conflict. Starting with the staged progression outlined in the Oslo Accords back in 1993, two states was the goal that spanned Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, Binyamin Netanyahu (yup, he was the PM back then, too) and finally Ehud Barak with Yasser Arafat serving as leader of the PLO and Bill Clinton mediating. Two states were the goal of the Camp David Summit in 2000 with Clinton, Arafat and Barak. It was the goal of the Taba talks in 2001. It was the goal of the Road Map – constructed between Ariel Sharon, Mahmoud Abbas, Russia, the UN, the EU and George Bush Jr. It was the goal of the direct peace talks catalyzed by the Arab League between Ehud Olmert and Abbas in 2007-2008. A two-state solution was central to the Obama administration’s Middle East policy with the still current leaders Netanyahu and Abbas. It was the goal of the Trump administration; it is the goal of the Biden administration. Kamala Harris declared it as her goal in the recent presidential debate.

In short: regardless of who is in charge of Israel and what their goals are, being a Zionist and advocating for peace alongside a Palestinian state are not mutually exclusive.

If you are an advocate of the two-state solution, for the right and freedom of both Jews and Palestinians to self-determine in their homelands, if you think both Israel and Palestine have a right to exist, you are de-facto, a Zionist. Just like if you think men and women deserve social, legal and economic equality, you are de-facto, a feminist.

I know many people who would balk at being called a feminist because they have negative associations with the label, despite holding feminist beliefs. Similar to how some might balk at being called a Zionist because of the negative associations created by those that hate and/or don’t understand Jewish culture and history.

And yet, everyone should be a feminist – it’s a human rights movement.

Everyone should be a Zionist – it’s an indigenous people’s rights movement. It’s the Jewish liberation movement.

I’m proud to call myself both.

I didn’t expect anyone to know the history, but I did assume most people knew what ‘two states for two peoples’ meant. Naively, I thought that for those who didn’t know the definition of Zionism – stating ‘two states for two peoples’ would provide critical context.

One would think that if someone didn’t understand because they’re uninformed on Jewish culture, identity and Middle East history, that they’d take a moment to question their assumptions, do some research or (here’s a wild suggestion) ask me for clarification on words and phrases they don’t know the definition of before diving headfirst into a bigoted cybermob hellbent on hurting people.

The change in my bio was noticed on Instagram and had some negative reactions, but it didn’t spiral. And that’s pretty much what I expected the fallout to be because I’m not very active on social media – by choice. If people want to block/unfollow/mute me, they’re welcome to do so. I’m a big fan of curating and have no desire to interact with people contributing towards the skyrocketing Jew hate that my kids are growing up with.

The twitter fallout.

The contents of the tweet that started the cyber mob was a glib:

“hi hello, MistressLynn is, apparently, a proud zionist.”

Accompanied by a picture of my Instagram bio (where you can clearly see ‘two states for two peoples’) alongside a picture of the AO3 profile for a fest I was co-hosting with others at the time.

My bio had been changed for a few weeks, why wait until the fest reveals to incite a twitter mob? My guess (and this is purely speculation) about the timing, is that waiting for the fest reveals would maximize the drama, inflict the most harm and cause the most hurt because what happened on Instagram didn’t go anywhere.

I don’t really participate in social media, so I rarely know or care what’s happening in fandom. No feelings would be hurt, no tears would be shed, it would be a waste of a good dumpster fire if it were only me that was targeted. But the fest reveals would broaden the targets of the cybermob, via association.

Multiple targets. Maximum drama. And that’s exactly how it played out. You can see the tweet had 87.1K views. If you’re a fandom creator and like attention – bullying people is a surefire way to get it. Instigating drama almost always results in more interaction than fic and art creation. And those that latch onto it often seek the same.

Twitter exploded into a foaming-at-the-mouth frenzy over several days and spread to other platforms demonizing me, demonizing Jews and anyone who dared associate with me. Lots of dopamine for those that enjoy being cruel to others, or watching people get bullied by cybermobs.

Schadenfreude.

I’m not on Twitter. I had no idea anything was happening until a friend told me. Some of the fest participants joined the mob, turning on those they’d not too long ago been joking around with.

So many lurkers were justifiably shocked and horrified at what ensued on twitter, Instagram, the Dramione Writing Society discord and other servers, and tumblr, including the usually nuanced Dramione-Asks/Dramione-Discussions tumblr accounts.

To sum up the fallout:

Me: I’m a Proud Zionist who advocates for peace and coexistence in the form of a Palestinian state alongside an Israeli state.

Fandom: Lynn is a white colonialist oppressor of brown people, a Jewish supremacist, a white supremacist, a racist Islamophobic imperialist, an apartheid supporter, a baby killer, a child killer, and of course, pro-genocide. Ergo, Lynn should be run out of fandom, cancelled, boycotted, ostracized – the worst that any of us can to a person in cyberspace. And anyone who participates in her fest should immediately withdraw their participation because if they don’t, that means they are also pro-genocide, pro-Apartheid, pro-Colonialism, pro-Imperialism, pro-white supremacy, pro-baby killing and should similarly be boycotted and ostracized.

It's cartoonish. Many dystopian novels were written about this kind of rabid, hateful, mob behavior.

To be sure, the only political position the fest had was that Draco wanted to get reamed by Hermione.

And as if that wasn’t enough…

Also fandom: Everyone who associates with Lynn should immediately STOP associating with her because if they don’t, then they are pro-genocide, pro-Apartheid, pro-Colonialism, pro-Imperialism, pro-white supremacy, pro-baby killing and should be boycotted and ostracized, too. All Dramione spaces should stop promoting her work. All readers should stop reading and promoting her work. If they don’t, that means they are pro-genocide, pro-Apartheid, pro-Colonialism, pro-Imperialism, pro-white supremacy, pro-baby killing and should be boycotted and ostracized.

Do you see how this works? It’s not very subtle.

The mob went after everyone and didn’t ask questions. Participants were attacked out of nowhere as were those that associated with me.

Maybe I missed something, I only saw a few screen shots, but I’m very familiar with how hatred of Jews is expressed by progressives. It’s predictable.

The @dramioneasks/@dramionediscussion tumblr did the same thing, albeit more politely. But polite antisemitism is still antisemitism. I didn’t see how the Facebook groups handled it. Dramione reddit, to their credit, had enough of a moral compass not to allow the cybermob spread to their platform.

Many of my friends are still reeling and want nothing to do with fandom anymore. Even though I’d talked with them about my experiences with antisemitism IRL, until they’d experienced it directly in a community they frequent, with mutuals, I don’t think they really understood how bad it’s been.

To be clear: I don’t hold the instigators any more responsible than those who participated or just silently shun. In my eyes, they are all equally responsible, with some being more vicious than others. A mob is not one person, it is many. If it wasn’t this tweet by this person, it would have been someone else. Unfortunately, the Dramione fandom has a culture of inciting cybermobs. Because it’s the internet, and sane, educated, rational voices are not the ones that prevail.

Despite it being over a year later, I have friends who will only interact with me privately for fear of being bullied via association. A valid fear considering how crazy fandom is. We told fest artists and writers who didn’t know what to do yet had the strength of character not to engage in a bigoted cybermob, that they should prioritize their mental health, no hard feelings.

You probably figured it out, but this is exactly what bigotry towards Jews looks like. A misinformed, ignorant mob full of people that don’t know anything about Jewish religion, culture or history – who refuse to ask and learn – viciously stripping Jews of an integral part of our identity and redefining us by the most heinous, most appalling things society is capable of, and using their power to attempt to drive us out of the places they frequent.

Do you claim to be anti-bigotry? To speak up and fight it where you see it? Well, this was it. This was your opportunity. Antisemitism in a space you frequent. With people you interact with. It might be worth thinking about what you said and how you acted during that cybermob. Because that cybermob was an example of the language and tactics currently being used to silence Jews, ostracize us, threaten us, and incite violence against us everywhere around the world.

It takes a lot of courage to stand up to people caught in a mob frenzy. Some people supported me privately. And some did so publicly. Those who spoke out were shouted down with heinous accusations. Brave souls, I appreciate every single one of you.

It’s important to stand up to Jew hate, as it is important to stand up to all forms of bigotry. We’re forever indebted to those who stand beside us against those that wish to cause us harm.

At some point I was shown a tweet, one of the few sane, informed comments amongst fandom’s hysteria:

“I know jack about this community, but what’s wrong with her bio. She wants two states, that’s the most milquetoast, safe, non-offensive take one could have on the conflict”

Yup.

Sadly, only 44 views. Cybermobs aren't interested in rational analysis.

At any time during the weeks my bio had changed, anyone could have reached out and asked: What do you mean when you say you’re a proud Zionist? (I wrongly assumed that ‘two states for two peoples’ answered that question). Those who were that unfamiliar with the conflict could’ve asked: What do you mean by “two states for two peoples”?

I’m friendly, I’m open. I don’t engage with fandom drama and actively avoid those that cause it. Unlike many other popular writers, artists and their groupies, I’ve never participated in cybermobs or used my platform to bully. On contentious issues in fandom, my approach has always been civil, polite discussion. While the cyber mob was still going, I explicitly stated that people could reach out and DM me, that I’m happy to answer questions. Anyone could have asked for clarification, at any time.

A few people did. It’s not hard.

But that’s not how mob mentality works. Folks caught up in hysteria don’t want to educate themselves.

Does this story sound crazy? It was crazy. I wish I could say the Jew hate was limited to on-line fandom spaces, but it’s not. And that’s why I’m speaking up.

For those of you whose knowledge of antisemitism is limited to media coverage of white supremacists, you now have an example of antisemitism from progressives in the community you frequent, among the people you associate with. If you followed fandom twitter, bluesky or the @dramioneasks/@dramionediscussion tumblr or were a member of the Dramione Writers Society and other Dramione spaces at the time fandom went batshit, you now have firsthand experience observing an ignorant, antisemitic cybermob in action.

How people behave during times of conflict tells you a lot about their character. And I’m happy to say my friends are wonderful, kind, ethical people who have good heads on their shoulders. I knew all that before this happened, but it’s still amazing that I was lucky enough to meet them.

Not only that, but during the cybermob frenzy, dozens of people reached out to tell me they were shocked at the fallout and didn’t agree with what was going on. Some who I hadn’t spoken to in a while. Others reached out who I’d never really spoken to before. Several Jews told me they still can’t believe how we’re vilified in fandom and that it’s become acceptable to glorify violence against us.

All this to say, the circle of those I can trust is a lot larger than I previously thought. I’ve found the absolute best of fandom and I’m thrilled.

So, what happens next? What was the purpose of this screed?

A good rule for fandom drama (and the internet in general) is: if I don’t see it, it doesn��t exist. However, as a Jew and a parent, it’s not good enough to curate. Just because I’ve isolated myself from fandom’s anti-Jewish prejudice, doesn’t mean there aren’t real life consequences for others. Online anti-Jewish rhetoric is a major cause of the hate crimes we’re suffering from right now. It’s impossible to decouple online behavior from real life consequences when it’s this pervasive. My daughters are growing up in a world which is increasingly hostile towards Jews, and they’ve already experienced bigotry in our (progressive) schools and community. Both from their peers and from those responsible for educating them. It’ll get worse when they go to college.

And so, I feel a responsibility to speak up for what is right and educate in the places I frequent. That means speaking up in fandom. I think most people who parrot antisemitic hate speech don’t quite understand what they’re doing and need to see the effects of their rhetoric on the people they have othered – whether intentional or not.

I’ve seen some people observing the hysteria around my declaration that I’m a Proud Zionist saying that they want to ‘do the right thing.’ But they don’t have the knowledge or the experience to know that the person that screams the loudest isn’t necessarily the arbiter of what is ethnical. And certainly, our leaders failed to provide moral clarity on the rising Jew hatred, which was and is still a huge failing.

But as I stated earlier – fandom, like most progressive spaces – isn’t a place where Jews are empowered to discuss the bigotry they face. So how will people learn if we’re shut down by whoever screams the loudest?

Do you consider yourself to be anti-racist? Anti-bigotry? I would hope so. But it that’s true, then you need to listen to our experiences with bigotry and – unlike our leaders - speak up when you see it. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Even if and especially when it comes from people on your side of the political aisle because that’s precisely where it will make a difference.

Silence in the face of such bigoted rhetoric allows violent forms of antisemitism to grow and spread. And we’ve been seeing that violence in my community, reflecting what Jews across the world are similarly experiencing. If people don’t speak up, it gets worse.

Is this the kind of world you want to live in?

If anyone is interested in learning, I’m happy to help. I don’t care what you did in the cybermob. Forgiven, forgotten, I probably didn’t see it anyway. Participating in the cybermob can be a good thing if it’s used to learn and make yourself a better person.

Socmed platforms are not good places for nuanced discourse. It’s common to exaggerate, remove context, lie by omission or outright lie when discussing this topic. The simplistic sloganeering, tik tok videos and memes prevalent in fandom are not a substitute for the informed discourse necessary to cover such a complex topic. So, I’m not going to publicly discuss the content of my posts.

However, if you’re approaching this topic in good faith, I’m willing to DM you for as long as you want. These are worthy discussions to have, and I’ll do it for my children. In fact, these posts are a work of love for my daughters, so they’ll have the strength to be proud of who they are, and the knowledge to defend themselves when they’re attacked for their identity, as I was. Because in this world that is increasingly dangerous for Jews, they will be.

Thank you for listening.

#dramione #fandom #cyberbullying #antisemitism #anti zionisim #leftist antisemitism #fandom drama #dramione fandom

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mariacallous · 4 months ago

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The glow of the tech bros’ halo is dimming and, in 2025, the computing industry’s sheen of glamor will continue to fade too. While other STEM fields are making strides in broadening participation in their workforces, year after year, computing, a supposedly innovative field, fails to recruit, retain, and respect women and nonbinary workers. For example, precision questioning, abstraction, aggression, sexism, and a disdain for altruism—serving the social good—are a few of the core values driving culture in computing worksites. These values and the ways they are policed via bias, discrimination, and harassment in high-tech companies form the “Bro Code.”

The Bro Code perpetuates high tolerance of sexual harassment. It also contributes to the field’s failure to rectify its stark segregation. Only 21 percent of computer programming positions are held by women. Of that 21 percent, only 2 percent are African American, and only 1 percent are Latina. While sorely underrepresented in the field overall, women are disproportionately affected during industry’s downsizing. For example, nearly 70 percent of those laid off in the 2022 tech layoffs were women. This tracks with my experience in Big Tech. As soon as the company went public, stockholders demanded annual layoffs. For the first two years, the only people terminated in my department were women.

Further, due to their massive wealth and masterful branding, Bro Code bosses believe themselves to be wizards or priests. They lean into authoritarianism, prompted to repress complaints and resistance. Some programmers imitate this behavior. For example, in 2023, tech bros mobbed the Grace Hopper Celebration, the world’s largest conference for women and nonbinary tech workers. Women attendees I spoke with described men at the career expo simply barging in front of them in lines, and some said they were verbally harassed and assaulted.

In 2025, the march toward a future dictated by algorithmic lords will falter. Coalitions between feminist movements and labor activism will increase public scrutiny of tech culture. These efforts will start to crack the Bro Code. Bro Code bosses talk a big game about its socially revolutionary impact, but participants in my research felt thwarted when trying to use their technical skills to serve others. For instance, Lynn reported that the eye-tracking device she developed to help people with disabilities was repurposed for marketing analysis; Shauna’s lab mates nicknamed her “accessibility bitch” when she worked on projects to help those disenfranchised in computing.

As Big Tech continues to deliver empty promises instead of solutions to social ills—while dodging taxes, quashing regulations and fueling a yawning pay inequality gap—the public will continue to grow disenchanted with the industry. In 2025, thwarted altruistic efforts like Shauna’s and Lynn’s will accelerate growing skepticism about computing’s service to humanity.

Disenfranchised tech workers will continue to help us hold Bro Code bosses accountable for not only failing to live up to its widely publicized altruism, but also for their efforts to conceal the social harms of their products. As recent organizing activities by tech workers show, strong coalitions across workers are what scare these reigning elites the most. For example, in 2018, more than 20,000 Google employees across the globe staged a walkout against sexual harassment and systemic racism in the company. In 2025, activism against the militarization, racism, sexism and economic exploitation in the tech industry will skyrocket higher than Bro Code bosses' space jets.

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eretzyisrael · 13 days ago

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The report indicates that, unlike the bare minimum that has been done on other campuses, Northwestern has taken the problem seriously. It expanded its police force, disciplined 11 students for breaking protest policies and fired a staff member “for violations of the staff policies.”

The Student Code of Conduct policies have been strengthened significantly:

The new Intimidation Standard explicitly prohibits subjecting another person or group to abusive, demeaning, harassing, humiliating, intimidating, threatening or violent behavior that substantially affects the ability of the person or group to learn, work or live in the University environment. Examples of violations to this new policy include physical threats, verbal or written communication to threaten violence, the use of symbols, words or graphics to threaten violence, acts of doxing, and abusive behavior toward a University official or agent acting in performance of their duties, among others. It also prohibits engaging in abusive, demeaning, harassing, humiliating, intimidating or threatening behavior that excludes a student from joining or participating in a student organization. The Failure to Comply Standard has been updated with specific examples and to make clear that students are required to comply with the requests, directives and instructions of University officials acting in performance of their duties. Under this policy, students must identify themselves, including removing face masks or coverings for purposes of identification when asked by an authorized University official who is addressing law or policy violations and health or safety concerns. The updated and renamed Misuse of University Properties policy more clearly defines misuse, including unauthorized access to athletics fields and construction sites and attending or participating in an event in University spaces that violates the policies governing that space.

The Destruction of Property Standard has been updated to broaden the definition of what applies under this policy to include tampering with University property.

All of these are common sense. None of them violate freedom of speech. It appears that Northwestern has not buckled under to threats by the haters.

Notice also that adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism is a major part of their successful program. The people who claim that somehow the IHRA definition endangers Jewish students have no data to back them up - Northwestern has data showing that it works.

#northwestern university #antisemitism #student code of conduct

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kaiyves-backup · 2 months ago

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In a first, a European astronaut with a physical disability has been medically cleared for missions to the International Space Station.

The European Space Agency announced Feb. 14 that John McFall, a reserve member of the agency’s astronaut corps, had been certified by a multinational medical board for long-duration missions to the ISS.

The certification is noteworthy because McFall lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident at the age of 19 and wears a prosthesis. He is the first person with such a disability to be medically approved to train for missions to the station.

“John is today certified as an astronaut who can fly on a long-duration mission on the International Space Station, and I think this is an incredible step ahead in our ambition to broaden the access to society to space,” Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s director of human and robotic exploration, said at a briefing to announce the certification.

#link #news #space station #good news

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bsenvs3000w25 · 28 days ago

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Embracing Nature Interpretation: A Journey of Growth and Discovery

Hi everyone,

I can't believe we've already reached the final week of our blog posts this semester! This course has been more than just an academic experience; it has transformed how I perceive, appreciate, and engage with nature. Throughout this journey, I have developed a deeper connection to the natural world and discovered new ways to share its wonders with others.

Discovering My Relationship with Nature

When I first enrolled in this course, I wasn't sure what to expect regarding my relationship with nature or how it might change over time. Growing up, my connection to nature was limited. With busy working parents, I had few meaningful opportunities to explore the outdoors. However, that began to change as I got older. Friends introduced me to activities like hiking and camping, and environmental science courses helped broaden my perspective on the natural world. These experiences have been pivotal in shaping my environmental ethics, and I now realize how important interpretation can be in helping others develop their connections to nature.

Reflecting on my journey, I realize that nature's interpretation goes beyond facts and figures; it's about emotion, experience, and connection. I now view nature through a different lens, allowing me to appreciate its scientific significance and profound beauty. By engaging with nature on a deeper level, I have become more aware of its intricacies, from the smallest insects to the vast landscapes surrounding us.

Photo of me enjoying a beautiful sunset in my home town Responsibilities of a Nature Interpreter

As a nature interpreter, I see my role as more than just sharing information; I want to inspire others. Nature is an incredible gift, yet it is often overlooked in the rush of daily life. I aim to raise awareness of its beauty and significance, making it accessible and engaging for all audiences.

One of the most important aspects of interpretation is understanding your audience (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 4). Engaging with children requires a different approach than speaking with adults. For younger audiences, I plan to use hands-on activities and games to make learning more fun. When interacting with adults, I will take a more detailed and analytical approach, offering historical and scientific insights. Regardless of age, storytelling will be a key element in my interpretations. Personal stories make nature more relatable and engaging, helping audiences form meaningful connections to the environment (Beck et al., 2018, Chapters 6 & 10).

It’s also important to recognize that not everyone has the same access to nature. Economic and social barriers can make it difficult for some individuals and communities to engage in outdoor experiences (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 21). I firmly believe that nature should be accessible to everyone. Our responsibility as nature interpreters is to ensure that all individuals can enjoy the benefits of nature, regardless of their background or circumstances. This means actively working to remove barriers by providing affordable programs, ensuring accessibility in outdoor spaces, and creating inclusive experiences that welcome diverse communities.

A key responsibility of a nature interpreter is to act as a peacemaker (Beck et al., 2018, Chapter 20). A peacemaker promotes harmony not only among people but also between people and the environment. It is essential for individuals to respect one another and to extend that same level of respect toward nature. Part of my role will involve guiding others to recognize the importance of treating the natural world with the same care and consideration they would show another person.

Future of Nature Interpretation

As generations progress, people are becoming increasingly disconnected from nature. The rise of technology, urbanization, and a fast-paced lifestyle has led many individuals, especially younger generations, to have limited interactions with the outdoors. This disconnection affects their ability to form meaningful relationships with their environment.

As a nature interpreter, my goal is to bridge this gap by providing experiences that allow individuals to rediscover the beauty and importance of the natural world.

Final Notes This class has been such a unique experience, allowing me to develop a more meaningful connection with nature. I often find myself reminiscing about its beauty and feeling a strong desire to share it with others. Now that the weather has warmed and the days are getting longer, I find myself spending more time outdoors, appreciating the little things in life. Thanks for reading!

-Biona🌸🌅

References: Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 6: How People Learn. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world (pp. 3-16). Urbana, Illinois; Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 10: Arts in Interpretation. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world (pp. 127-161). Urbana, Illinois; Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 20: Global Interpretation. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world (pp. 457-478). Urbana, Illinois; Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Chapter 21: The Bright Future of Interpretation. In Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For a better world (pp. 457-478). Urbana, Illinois; Sagamore-Venture Publishing.

#envs3000

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gatheredfates · 9 months ago

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Hello everyone! This is going to be a bit of a big update this weekend, and probably not the only one you'll see over the course of a few days, but it's twelve thirty in the morning and I need to sleep. I have gone insane again. ✨This is nothing new.

I think the first and most important thing I want to iterate in this update is that I have broadened the scope of who can submit and what Communities I will be accepting for the Compendium going forward. Though consent and owner-approval is still at the forefront of my mind, I have to be conscientious of my own work-load and the health of the project (but mostly the former) when it comes to sourcing Communities. To that end, I want to note the following update on the Compendium itself.

UPDATE 7/26/24: After a bit of introspection regarding my own time commitments, limitations around submissions and the Compendium in general, I have changed my stance around server/community-owner requirements in regards to categorisation and consent. While owner/moderation-approval is still at the forefront of my considerations, it is far better for my limited time (and the Compendium’s health) to operate under the assumption that a publicly accessible site/discord/carrd etc. indicates endorsement for it to feature here. To that end, I am broadening the scope of who can submit and what I include. If you know of a community, regardless of if you are the owner or moderator, I encourage you to submit it.

Or, putting it even more succinctly:

You can always submit via the attached google form, via dms or on The SEAFLOOR Discord. I've made some other changes to the Compendium, but I'll note them further down.

I'm hoping this change, while creating a larger workload for me now, will assist in cutting down my overall stressors later down the line.

But, without further adieu, the following communities have been added to Sea's Community Compendium for XIV Creatives. ⛵

COMMUNITY FOCUSED / EVENT SPACES

Aethercon — An in-game convention for Final Fantasy XIV! Created by fans, for fans.

Where the Sun Guides — A new community of writers, artists and roleplayers interested in open-world RP in the region of Shaaloani!

Tuliyollal Community Server — A community focused on facilitating RP in the new world, with an emphasis on the cultures found there!

Xaela Community Discord — Do you like roleplaying? Do you like lizards? Do you like the Azim Steppe? Do you like roleplaying lizards on the Azim Steppe? Then look no further! ᕙ XAELA ᕗ is a Steppe RP community based in Crystal & Dynamis that has been around since Shadowbringers.

Far Eastern Festivals — A Community created around Far Eastern Festivals; events with a focus on Doma, Kugane, Yanxia and more!

Kugane Night Market — A spiritual market where the supernatural and mortal may meet for trade.

Leynode Nine — A community focused around stories and roleplay within Solution Nine.

The Fury's Hallow — Within the High House districts of Ishgard lies a respite for weary adventurers, as well as those who wish to test each other in combat. Regardless of your endeavour, may the Fury bless your every step.

Honey Bee Venues — A nightclub. A lounge. A cafe. A cabaret. Honey Bee is all of those things and more but most of all, we're roleplayers looking to meet people as much as our guests are! We pride ourselves on interaction with a policy of never letting anyone be ignored, regardless of who they are or the character they play.

The Tipping Scales — An immersive role-playing fight club on FFXIV that welcomes all levels of experience. Kick ass, take names, make allies.

Mun-Tuy Beans — A hub for Shroud RP! What began quite a while ago as a Duskwight-focused community has grown to encompass any and all creative souls who love the Shroud — for its juicy lore and picturesque settings. Our members (and others!) regularly meet at Buscarron's Druthers every Tuesday evening, and sporadically during the week!

FFXIV Writers — A place for FFXIV fanfiction writers to share their work.

Steppe Ramen — Located on Mateus in Shirogane, Ward 6, Plot 7, Steppe Ramen serves up ramen dishes that fuse Hingan and Steppe flavors.

The New Morgue — Tavern & Fight Night RP venue.

I have tried to isolate communities and events I can see are active, but I have not personally vetted each and every one. Please let me know if you run into any issues.

MISC

Aetheryte Avoidance — Are you determined to never use an aetheryte a day in your life? Are you asking yourself “No, I like my aetherytes, but how would that work?” @snow-system-wol's guide will show you how!

Halcyonalkimos' Gpose Tutorial — Written by @halcyonalkimos, this guide shows you how you can use a friend or a minion to enhance your vanilla gposing!

Teleport Fee Chart — Compiled by DocTabasco on Reddit, this spreadsheet documents all the teleportation fees in the game up to Dawntrail. (Will contain zone spoilers)

CHANGELOG

To facilitate the change with events / community servers, I have placed Free Company servers into the same category as Friends/Casual. My reasoning behind this is that Free Companies have the capacity to be much smaller / intimate than events and communities, and likely will still require consent from their owners before being displayed on the Compendium. This may change if I find something that works better.

Added clarification around personal / single-character ads; namely, while they won't be shown on the Compendium, they are likely to be posted either on the Tumblr Community or Discord.

More information has been added re. the changes to submission and acceptance. Namely that resource / server / community owners can contact me for amendments or removal. Also clarification around some public communities requiring application processes.

The submission guidelines have been changed to reflect the above updates.

The google form has been updated.

SEAFLOOR has the addition of #community-drop to allow members to submit communities as well.

Removed disclaimers around Tumblr Communities due to updates with the beta. It is now up to community leaders to ensure their join links are correct.

SEAFLOOR

We're a Tumblr Community now! For people unfamiliar with the concept of Communities, I encourage you to check out the tumblr post by staff made about them here. However, copy/pasting what I have written in the Compendium, the Community functions as so:

SEAFLOOR (A FFXIV Community) is a Tumblr community whose duel-purpose focuses on my projects — the Compendium, question drives and screenshot events — whilst also reblogging member created works, resources (including events, commissions and looking for content/roleplay/free company posts), affirmations and other xiv-related content. If you are interested in supporting my projects without the social aspect of a Discord, I highly encourage you to join the Community. Everything hosted on the Discord will be cross-posted there; you will not miss out on anything. You can find the link to join the community here.

I'm hoping the Community will function as a member-curated dash, resource hub and visual diary for my projects and member created works. There are no hard feelings if you want to leave the Discord and only join the Community. Please do what makes you comfortable!

Want to submit? You can either fill out the google form here or send me an ask with the relevant information!

Still To Do:

Update Compendium suitability read more (will be done by the next changelog)

Create a new advertisement / submission drive.

Think about my life (and my choices).

#final fantasy xiv #ffxiv #ffxiv community #final fantasy xiv roleplay #ffxiv roleplay #｡･ﾟﾟ･ — sea speaks #｡･ﾟﾟ･ — sea's community compendium

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