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geometrymatters · 10 months ago

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Sir Roger Penrose

To me, the world of perfect forms is primary (as was Plato’s own belief) — its existence being almost a logical necessity — and both the other two worlds are its shadows.

Sir Roger Penrose, born on August 8, 1931, in Colchester, Essex, England, is a luminary in the realm of mathematical physics. His journey began with a Ph.D. in algebraic geometry from the University of Cambridge in 1957, and his career has spanned numerous prestigious posts at universities in both England and the United States. His work in the 1960s on the fundamental features of black holes, celestial bodies of such immense gravity that nothing, not even light, can escape, earned him the 2020 Nobel Prize for Physics.

Penrose’s work on black holes, in collaboration with Stephen Hawking, led to the ground-breaking discovery that all matter within a black hole collapses to a singularity, a point in space where mass is compressed to infinite density and zero volume. This revelation illuminated our understanding of these enigmatic cosmic entities.

His work did not stop at the theoretical; he also developed a method of mapping the regions of space-time surrounding a black hole, known as a Penrose diagram. This tool allows us to visualize the effects of gravitation upon an entity approaching a black hole, providing a window into the heart of these celestial mysteries.

Within Penrose’s chapter, “The Godelian Case” (from “The Road to Reality”) the profound implications of Kurt Gödel’s incompleteness theorems are examined in relation to the connection between mathematics and geometry. Specifically, Penrose’s attention centers on the model depicted in Figure 2.1, which portrays a cubic array of spheres. Through this visual representation, Penrose explores the intricate relationship between geometry and mathematical understanding.

By introducing the model of a cubic array of spheres, Penrose highlights the fundamental role of spatial arrangements in mathematical cognition. This geometrical structure serves as a metaphorical embodiment of mathematical concepts, illustrating how spatial configurations can stimulate cognitive processes and facilitate intuitive comprehension of mathematical truths. The intricate interplay between the arrangement of spheres within the model and the underlying principles of mathematics encourages contemplation on the deep-rooted connections between geometry, spatial reasoning, and abstract mathematical thought.

Penrose’s utilization of the cubic array of spheres underscores his broader philosophical framework, which challenges reductionist accounts of human cognition that rely solely on formal systems or computational models. Through this geometrical representation, he advocates for a more holistic understanding of mathematical insight, one that recognizes the essential role of geometric intuition in shaping human understanding.

By looking at the intricate connection between mathematics and geometry, Penrose prompts a re-evaluation of the mechanistic view of cognition, emphasizing the need to incorporate spatial reasoning and intuitive geometrical understanding into comprehensive models of human thought.

(E) Find a sum of successive hexagonal numbers, starting from 1 , that is not a cube. I am going to try to convince you that this computation will indeed continue for ever without stopping. First of all, a cube is called a cube because it is a number that can be represented as a cubic array of points as depicted in Fig. 2. 1 . I want you to try to think of such an array as built up successively, starting at one corner and then adding a succession of three-faced arrangements each consisting of a back wall, side wall, and ceiling, as depicted in Fig. 2.2. Now view this three-faced arrangement from a long way out, along the direction of the corner common to all three faces. What do we see? A hexagon as in Fig. 2.3. The marks that constitute these hexagons, successively increasing in size, when taken together, correspond to the marks that constitute the entire cube. This, then, establishes the fact that adding together successive hexagonal numbers, starting with 1 , will always give a cube. Accordingly, we have indeed ascertained that (E) will never stop.

Penrose’s work is characterized by a profound appreciation for geometry. His father, a biologist with a passion for mathematics, introduced him to the beauty of geometric shapes and patterns at a young age. This early exposure to geometry shaped Penrose’s unique approach to scientific problems, leading him to develop new mathematical notations and diagrams that have become indispensable tools in the field. His creation of the Penrose tiling, a method of covering a plane with a set of shapes without using a repeating pattern, is a testament to his innovative thinking and his deep understanding of geometric principles.

His fascination with geometry extended beyond the realm of mathematics and into the world of art. He was deeply influenced by the work of Dutch artist M.C. Escher, whose intricate drawings of impossible structures and infinite patterns captivated Penrose’s imagination. This encounter with Escher’s art led Penrose to explore the interplay between geometry and art, culminating in his own contributions to the field of mathematical art. His work in this area, like his scientific research, is characterized by a deep appreciation for the beauty and complexity of geometric forms.

In geometric cognition, Penrose’s work has the potential to make significant contributions. His unique perspective on the role of geometry in understanding the physical world, the mind, and even art, offers a fresh approach to this emerging field. His belief in the power of geometric thinking, as evidenced by his own ground-breaking work, suggests that a geometric approach to cognition could yield valuable insights into the nature of thought and consciousness.

Objective mathematical notions must be thought of as timeless entities and are not to be regarded as being conjured into existence at the moment that they are first humanly perceived.

I argue that the phenomenon of consciousness cannot be accommodated within the framework of present-day physical theory.

His Orch OR theory posits that consciousness arises from quantum computations within the brain’s neurons. This bold hypothesis, bridging the gap between the physical and the mental, has sparked intense debate and research in the scientific community.

Penrose’s work on twistor theory, a geometric framework that seeks to unify quantum mechanics and general relativity, is a testament to his belief in the primacy of geometric structures. This theory, which represents particles and fields in a way that emphasizes their geometric and topological properties, can be seen as a metaphor for his views on cognition. Just as twistor theory seeks to represent complex physical phenomena in terms of simpler geometric structures, Penrose suggests that human cognition may also be understood in terms of fundamental geometric and topological structures.

This perspective has significant implications for the field of cognitive geometry, which studies how humans and other animals understand and navigate the geometric properties of their environment. If Penrose’s ideas are correct, our ability to understand and manipulate geometric structures may be a fundamental aspect of consciousness, rooted in the quantum geometry of the brain itself.

The final conclusion of all this is rather alarming. For it suggests that we must seek a non-computable physical theory that reaches beyond every computable level of oracle machines (and perhaps beyond). — Roger Penrose, Shadows of the Mind: A Search for the Missing Science of Consciousness

#geometrymatters #roger penrose #geometric cognition #cognitive geometry #consciousness #science #research #math #geometry

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jedimandalorian · 2 years ago

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The Path to Peridea.

Baylan Skoll says that Peridea is from a fairy tale known to Jedi younglings, a children’s story, but in reality Baylan says this to remind us that Star Wars is exactly just that, a fairy tale, a children’s story.

What does “Peridea” mean?

peri: (in Persian mythology) a mythical superhuman being, originally represented as evil but subsequently as a good or graceful genie or fairy.

ASTRONOMY

peri: denoting the point nearest to a specified celestial body.

from Greek peri ‘about, around’.

dea: Latin for “goddess”

The descent into the underworld is one stage of the hero’s and the heroine’s journey.

As @better-call-mau1 pointed out, the Path to Peridea sounds a lot like the “path to perdition.”

perdition: (in Christian theology) a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death.

Perhaps this is where Thrawn is, in a kind of hell.

But as in the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, a brave lover is willing to descend into Hades to rescue the beloved. This is Sabine Wren’s mission to find Ezra Bridger.

There’s another meaning to “Peridea” though.

It is a genus of moths from the family Notodontidae.

The moth in The Lord of the Rings films brought Gandalf the Grey hope when he was imprisoned in the Tower of Orthanc. When the moth appeared, it was a sign that Gandalf would soon be rescued by the giant eagles, which are used as symbols of divine intervention in Tolkien’s fiction.

Please note that the letters on the star-map to Peridea resemble the Viking runes Tolkien used in The Hobbit. Both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are stories of a hero’s journey filled with danger and wonder. The brave protagonists have to go “there and back again” just as Sabine will in the Ahsoka series.

I think that Baylan Skoll reminding us that Star Wars is a children’s story is significant. Consider this quote from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling.

“Of house-elves and children’s tales, of love, loyalty, and innocence, Voldemort knows and understands nothing. Nothing. That they all have a power beyond his own, a power beyond the reach of any magic, is a truth he has never grasped.”

In all the great fairy tales, the love and loyalty of the protagonist is the key to the triumph of good over evil.

Although she isn’t strong in the Force, Sabine Wren’s love for and loyalty to Ezra Bridger will strengthen her resolve on her road of trials along the Path to Peridea. With Ahsoka the Grey by her side, Sabine is ready to leave the comfort of Lothal (her Shire) and go to Peridea to save the man she loves.

Update, post Ahsoka Episode 6:

Here’s Huyang reminding us that this is indeed a fairy tale, a children’s story.

And here’s Thrawn, showing us how the villain “knows and understands nothing.”

“You wouldn't understand,” says Sabine.

“Perhaps not,” Thrawn responds.

What he doesn’t understand is love. The love and devotion that Sabine and Ezra have for each other is the power the dark lord knows not, and it will be his undoing.

I have spoken.

#sabine wren #ezra bridger #star wars #ahsoka series #sabezra #star wars rebels #ezrabine #Peridea #baylan skoll #j r r tolkien #lotr #the hobbit #j k rowling #Harry Potter and the deathly hallows #fairy tales

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bijoumikhawal · 10 months ago

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IIRC, and I could be misremembering, Andy intentionally acted Garak as newly speaking Standard, and specifically picking up Julian's vocabulary as a result (because he spends a lot of time talking in this new language with Julian). Which brings to mind Garak getting peeved that this means Julian had him accidentally quoting Shakespeare.

I was reflecting on how it is a big part of my personal headcanon that Garak, despite his griping about Julian’s literary choices, will imprint on them and reference them to other people or let them influence his life in various ways. And then I remembered that that is not a headcanon, that is something that he very much does, on the show, to his father while they’re about to fucking DIE he’s just got to take a moment to be like YOU KNOW WHAT? SHAKESPEARE HAD SOME INSIGHT ABOUT MOMENTS LIKE THIS you know Shakespeare? an earth writer from like a thousand years ago? yeah the twink doctor gave it to me to read. Really makes you think right? I think about him all the time. Shakespeare, that is.

#celestial road map

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whencyclopedia · 6 months ago

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Raiders, Rulers, and Traders: The Horse and the Rise of Empires

Chaffetz deftly illustrates the vast history of Asia and its great empires -- Chinese, Persian, Indian, and Mongol -- through a history of horsepower. The cultures of the people of the steppe, their religions, technology, and migrations also come into play. Expertly, Chaffetz shows that horse breeding and trading, not the fabled Silk Road, linked these historical forces together over time and distance.

The Silk Road may have carried the world’s most luxurious fabrics for trade, but it was paved with horses’ hooves. From the Bronze Age to the 20th century, the empires of China, Persia, India, and Mongolia conquered astride the backs of horses. By focusing on the history of the horse in Raiders, Rulers, and Traders, David Chaffetz provides fascinating insights into conquests in history, from the Persian Empire of Cyrus the Great to the Russian Empire of Alexander II.

Chaffetz traces the evolution of the horse from a wild animal of the Eurasian steppe to its place at the center of war and commerce over almost 3,000 years of human history. The earliest horses weren’t much larger than donkeys. He shows that the first domesticated horses pulled carts and chariots — as it took centuries of breeding until they were strong enough to carry humans. The breeds of horses reflected the cultures that adopted them: the sleek, speedy raiders of Arabia; the huge, powerful Persian steeds; and the sturdy Mongol breeds whose endurance and ability to thrive in harsh conditions were key to Ghengis Khan’s continent-spanning conquests. Maps of the Eurasian Steppe in every chapter help readers to keep track of the disparate locations, and illustrations show the artifacts that these cultures created to celebrate horsemanship.

Of the empires covered in the book, China gets a special focus. The Great Wall was built by the Qin Dynasty in the 2nd century BCE to protect the northern frontier from horse-mounted raiders. Yet China needed horses for its own armies, and large-scale horse breeding was difficult in the hills and fertile valleys south of the wall. A sophisticated trading network grew along the frontier in which trade goods like silk and tea were traded were exchanged for animals.

The Silk Road grew in the wake of a 1st-century BCE military expedition led by the Hun general, Li Guan Li, to find the “blood-sweating” Ferghana horses that nomads had described to Chinese horse traders. Braving high mountain passes and arid wastes in a journey that presaged those of Coronado and Lewis & Clark in North America, Li laid siege to a citadel near the present-day Kyrgyz city of Aravan. His reward was 300 of these “celestial horses” along with a promise of 2 horses every year thereafter. These yearly journeys, and the return of payments of silk and other commodities, established the Silk Road.

Indian emperors also relied on imported horses from central Asia. In a region whose jungles and deserts were unsuitable for breeding horses, huge trade fairs arose across India, where rajas met Afghani horse breeders to do business. Like China, India faced waves of horse-borne invaders from Afghanistan and Persia. As the sea trade with Arabia and, later, Europe developed, southern Indian rulers gained key means to defend their lands.

Horsepower remained the key to empires into the dawn of the 20th century, during which gasoline-powered vehicles arose. In later chapters Chaffetz covers Britain’s strained efforts to breed horses in India – and strike deals with Afthani traders – as well as the Russian Empire’s use of cossack cavalries to conquer the steppe.

In appendices, Chaffetz details the prices of horses in China and India in both historic and present-day terms. A timeline connects concurrent developments in the Western Steppe (Persia) the Indian Subcontinent and the Eastern Steppe.

Chaffetz writes frequently for publications like Asian Review of Books and is a member of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. Raiders, Rulers, and Traders is a broad history that will augment readers’ knowledge of the great empires of Asia. Its focus on horse husbandry is a useful gateway into history for reluctant learners.

#History #MongolEmpire #Empire #Horses

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bijoumikhawal · 5 days ago

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Ghosts of History- Augmentation and the Eugenics Wars in Star Trek

(Also available on my substack!)

From the start augmentation has been connected to eugenics, and therefore has been a criticism of white supremacy. However, it has also from the start been given a brown face; therefore augmentation represents the fear of brown people given justification. On some level, the horror of augmentation is "what if brown people acted like we do? What if our problems spilled out and caused them to be even better at our games of destruction than us?" Augmentation is implied to have started in this US, as were The Eugenics Wars (having started as "the Second Civil War" before the conflict spread to other countries).

The association, while grossly mishandled in Trek's canon, isn't entirely unfounded. Ethnic and religious chauvinist movements have occurred in Africa and Asia for centuries before European colonialism, and supremacist ideologies have as well. Existing ethnic divides (sometimes stemming from non-European colonialism) were often used by colonizers to cause further conflict by exacerbating existing problems, and the aftermath has, as of yet, never been resolved. The wrongs committed have never been righted, and colonial meddling makes talking about the rights and grievances of minorities taboo in some cases.

Racial supremacist ideologies have also been adopted by some non-white people- there's a joke that a significant amount of anonymous white supremacist accounts online are secretly run by brown men, and it unfortunately is based on a real phenomenon.¹ Something I am very familiar with is how non-Black "North Africans" have attempted to gain global prestige by rejecting a connection to Africa- downplaying their connection to the desert, to the rural, and to darker skin. I have seen too many social media posts claiming random white blonds and gingers are "true representatives" of Mediterranean Africa when they don't even fully represent Mediterranean Europe. Existing issues have allowed people to co-opt bigoted ideologies of white origin- and unfortunately, in some countries, this has included eugenics.

Enterprise implies that a significant amount of augments were "designer babies", human embryos modified before birth for desired traits. This phenomenon is one we deal with today, and it is reserved for the wealthy, and commonly defended by and performed in white countries. Deep Space Nine (DS9) furthers this, adding that augmentation as of the 24th century could even be done on children outside the womb, but ultimately for the same purpose. However, Enterprise (ENT) and The Original Series (TOS) imply augmentation is usually "successful", while DS9 implies it isn't.

The augments we see in the former two shows are fully "supermen" convinced of their superiority. They are portrayed as aggressive liars and manipulators, who may use sexuality as a weapon. On a metatextual level, I would note that many autistic people struggle with emotional regulation, as do other neurotypes, disorders, and disabilities. This can lead to anger issues, violent urges, and outbursts. While autistic people are stereotyped as truthful, we are sometimes known to have behavioral issues that are perceived as manipulative (this is especially true of low support needs autistics).² Plenty of other neurotypes may have similar behavioral issues. This is distinct from the “genetic personality” that is assigned to augments, as the presentation of emotional dysregulation varies. But if we deconstruct the metanarrative… then are augments really “perfect supermen”, cured of all disabilities and “abnormalities”? The Machiavellian personality Star Trek uses for augments is, itself, pathologized and linked to various disorders.³ My point here is that if we don't accept that augments are “supermen”, then the implication is that eugenics really doesn't work. Not even in advanced sci-fi. This reading still isn't unproblematic, but it's one to keep in mind.

In Deep Space Nine, however, the main augment we meet is still very readily identifiable as probably being autistic. No active metatextual deconstruction required. Julian sometimes struggles to understand socially appropriate behaviors, or outright ignores them (many autistics will tell you they understand this or that, but don’t respect it or understand why people do it), is morally stubborn, and has special interests. Further, he possibly was intellectually disabled as a child, with augmentation being done to “fix” him. While I read Julian as still autistic, some people take the fact that he’s augmented to mean that he isn't anymore. The other augments we meet in DS9 are also mostly, high support needs disabled people that live in an institution. The only one that isn't is Lauren, who seems to have lower support needs. However, she has a high sex drive, which is notable as women have been sterilized by eugenicists specifically for having high sex drives. Especially if they were deemed “imbeciles”.⁴

Sarina eventually is able to leave the Institute, due to Julian treating her for her medical issues and making her support needs lower. This choice is controversial, but I don't personally think treatment lowering Sarina's support needs is the same as “curing” her, though I don't especially like it because the nuance is certainly not carried through the show. With that lack of nuance around cures vs mitigated support needs, the nuanced feelings around how different support needs are treated intercommunally is also gone. You can examine it on a metatextual level, but odds are you'll only do it if you're “in the know” because it's not in the episode.

As Julian's experiences match up with designer baby trauma, this overlaps with the experiences of trans people and intersex people. One of the most famous designer babies to speak out against their parents is Elon Musk's daughter, Vivian. Her defiance of his desire for his kids to fit a specific, biologically determined role by being transgender is a driving factor in why he's now a public, rabid Nazi. Designer babies struggle with high expectations placed on them, parents treating them like an object they own rather than a person, feeling like science experiments, controlling families, and a lack of support. The "designer baby" scheme also doesn't really work out, as many designer babies are autistic, were born pre-term and disabled, or inherited issues from biological parents anyway. Despite designer babies not existing when Deep Space Nine aired, the show predicted a lot of the social and psychological struggles they experience through Julian's character, as well as predicting the failure of such procedures to achieve desired results.⁵

A thorny area to acknowledge within this is also that people can be negatively impacted by eugenics while adopting it's ideology. Elon Musk is (allegedly) autistic. However, he is also a eugenicist that does Nazi salutes. Unfortunately, he's not a solitary figure. Many autistics with low support needs are chauvinistic and demeaning towards those with medium and high support needs. Some of these people continue to identify as having Aspergers (fittingly, a diagnosis named after a Nazi that separated the “good” autistics from the “needs to die” autistics), and call themselves “aspies”. Aspergers was retired as a diagnosis before I was diagnosed almost a decade ago, and is outdated terminology to say the least.⁴

However, these behaviors aren't neatly cordoned off to just self identified aspies, though they are strongly associated with them. Even autistics who aren't actively eugenicists often have shitty beliefs regarding people with high support needs. Sometimes people also state things like “aspies/autistics are the next stage in human evolution!” and aggressively deny that they are in any way disabled. I have personally been told, “autism is disabling, Aspergers isn't”, with the implication that disability was bad. What I'm getting at here is that the implication in Deep Space Nine that many augments are still disabled or neurodivergent is not as incompatible with augments still believing in eugenics as you'd expect. Further, there are various mystical and pseudoscientific nonsense beliefs spread- we don't have augments in our world, but we do have “starseeds”, “energy workers”, “rainbow/crystal/indigo children”, and so on. These may be accompanied by anti-medicine beliefs.⁴

There is also something to the pattern alphacanon (the shows and films in the Trek universe) implies for the spread of the Eugenics Wars. In terms of real life issues, terrorist organizations in the Global South have often started as being funded, armed and/or trained partially by the US, before eventually turning on them and becoming pariahs (this phenomenon is called “blowback”).⁶ Further, their extremist ideologies were also created by the US or encouraged by the US. Like the Eugenics Wars, there is a sense in which "terrorism" is something that started as an American problem and spread outwards. It is notable that after a much more humanizing portrayal of augments in Deep Space Nine, Enterprise- as a post 9/11 entry to canon, and therefore jingoistic and sensitive to the topic of terrorism- returns to the origin of augments in Trek. Particularly, it makes them inherently villainous due to biological impacts on their personality.

This idea, of a genetically determined personality, is ironically, a eugenicist one. Especially when the personality traits in question are things such as morality (those deemed immoral, criminal, sexually perverse, and so on were sterilized in the US).⁴ It is also an idea that Deep Space Nine loudly rejected. Furthermore, it's a lazy and boring way of creating an antagonist. It is much more likely that many augments were indoctrinated into a specific ideology. Enterprise, however, refutes this, and generally refutes DS9's refutation of "genetic personality". When Arik Soong tries to raise augments to not be like Khan, he fails because that is "in their nature". Ignored is the fact that Soong believes in at least some eugenic ideas, such as augments being the next step in the evolution of humanity. All augments, ENT argues, need to be hunted down and killed. ENT also tied the Eugenics Wars to the Global South, with Archer mentioning his great grandfather fighting in "North Africa" against augments. During the 90s. The Sahelo-Saharan region has, in recent decades, struggled with religious extremist violence. Even though Enterprise's main augment is white, he's still named Malik, which means "king" or "owner" in Arabic. This tie is not new, as on top of Khan being Khan, TOS states that Khan ruled over a large swathe of Asia nearly equal to a quarter of the planet.

Of course, the connections to the War on Terror didn't exist when TOS, TNG, DS9, or VOY were made. During DS9's run, a terrorist could still be a hero- so long as they didn't get too in your face about the fact that they were inspired by Palestine when writing her culture. However, it does end up fitting in hindsight, especially when coupled with the series that was influenced by the War on Terror. Because of the racial implications of augmentation, augments such as Julian face a constant pressure to be one of the good ones. "For every Julian Bashir that can be created, there’s a Khan Singh waiting in the wings". Julian is told to his face that he's an "exception" in a later episode.

The current alphacanon (shows and films) stance on the origin of augmentation directly ties it to the Cold War, and accidentally ties it to Nazism. Currently, it began in the 1950s with scientists (implied to be in America) started trying to create supermen that would "lead Humanity into an era of peace in a world that had only known war". If you know your WW2 history, you will immediately recognize this is an ubermensch. You may also recognize that in the 1950s, a lot of Nazi scientists were running around America thanks to Operation Paperclip. The implication from the information we have indicates this ideology spread outwards.

While I don't know of as many eugenics movements in the Global South, I do know that Westerners have promoted some degree of negative eugenics via fears about overpopulation. This fear has lead to Westerners educating women in Asia and Africa about birth control (good) because they don't want there to be "too many" Asians or Africans (bad). Population control efforts using birth control started in India in the 1950s, and in the decades afterwards, were aggressively pushed by other countries controlling million dollar loans and food aid. These efforts did often target lower income families, and in the 70s people of low socioeconomic status were sometimes picked up off the street or rounded up in their villages by police to be sterilized. Religious tensions with the Muslim minority also came into play, with Muslims being suspicious of the genocidal implications of this tactic. During the 1970s, over 18 million sterilizations were done. To achieve such numbers, operations were often poorly done, unhygienic, and lacked follow up care. Thousands died as a result.⁷

While the fear of overpopulation targeting Africa and Asia is justified by pointing out differences in fertility rates, the actual issues said to be caused by overpopulation (carbon emissions, for example) are overwhelmingly caused by white, Western countries. The issue "overpopulation" is worried about is not actually carbon emissions. It's worried about white people being too outnumbered.⁸ Eugenic ideology has not been fully adopted in the Global South, but it is rising, especially in connection with fascist movements such as Hinduvta. In fact, some Indians associated with the RSS (the overall organization Nahendra Modi is associated with) have publicly promoted the idea of designer babies, though in a less high tech and more accessible form.⁹ Subtler forms of eugenics are also promoted, occasionally in slogans such as "tashin al nasal" (Egyptian Arabic for "improve the race"), a sentiment which is linked to violent racial nationalism in Mediterranean Africa, and partly responsible for why I try to no longer use the terms "North" and "Sub-Saharan" to describe Africa. The Earth that Starfleet presents seems to be one wherein not only did we have far more advanced technology during the 1950s, but also where the eugenic ideals the West exported to the Global South focused very strongly on positive eugenics (trying to encourage certain behaviors rather than trying to limit negative ones, though both are often done simultaneously).⁴

Puzzling is the fact that Khan is an augment, and one of the most notable and powerful. Khan is explicitly mentioned to be a Sikh in his first appearance. Sikhs are an ethnoreligious minority in India (which is a Hindu majority country), but are the majority in the region of Punjab. Post-colonial Indian politics, especially recently, have been dominated by religious, caste, and ethnic chauvinism and supremacy, in favor of high caste Hindus (from the Northern regions).¹⁰ Said people are also the ones, to my understanding, who would be more likely to adopt ideologies such as eugenics. In fact, two decades after Star Trek introduced Khan, Sikh civilians were killed by the Indian government and subjected to genocide.¹¹ As before mentioned, eugenic programs in India are typically associated with Hindu supremacy. The fact that Khan is an augment is puzzling (though not impossible) due to the socioeconomic struggles of that community.

The Eugenics Wars did not present a united front of augments vs non-augments. From canon alone, we know augments fought with each other as well as fighting against non-augmented humans. There is also the possibility that some augments fought as allies with non-augments. Further, while the Federation is against augmentation, it is not against ableism. The idea of "self improvement and self enrichment", first espoused in TNG, has the unspoken conclusion that if you can't achieve, you're worthless. Being mediocre is a failure, and this is part of what drove the Bashir parents to break the laws around augmentation. As Worf states "...parents would feel pressured to have their children enhanced so that they could keep up".

This observation isn't entirely original. In a “Trek, Actually” video by Steven Shives, he points out that Federation society, or at least some Federationers, are implied to be bigoted towards those with disabilities, and that being disabled or having a disabled child may still be a source of shame. In a comment (that I don't fully agree with) by lunatickoala on this video, they also point out "...If you have a society where people are told pretty much from birth that a person's job, their goal in life is to better themselves, you can damn well sure that people are going to be judged on how much they've "bettered themselves". And in the absence of capital capital, social capital becomes the only capital. People with power and influence will use that power and influence to ensure that their kids get into the best schools... In such a society, having a learning disability would be like having a physical disability in Klingon society..."¹²

Further, we see that disabilities such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia (seen in Spock in Discovery) are still stigmatized as of the 23rd century. Spock, in turn, during TOS undermines Pike's autonomy as a disabled person and his wishes not to go to Talos. Pike's disability is also portrayed primarily as an object of horror and discomfort. People who are paralyzed and disfigured still have lives they enjoy. Mental illness is also portrayed with varying quality. PTSD is often handled well, but many other characters with other issues aren't. Garak, one of my favorites, is in a weird in-between area for me. His claustrophobia is treated well, possibly because it's caused by trauma and therefore is similar to PTSD, and this is also true for his addiction. However, Garak’s writing often makes him come off as generally… with some screws loose. I don't dislike this portrayal, but it's complicated because Garak is a murderer, slowly deprogramming fascist, and generally what one might term “bad representation”. Frankly my main issue is that he's the only character on Deep Space Nine portrayed as his flavor of mentally ill. Many characters on Deep Space Nine have mental issues, but they are ones that Star Trek already handles well or portrays in specific terms that are more palatable.

While some disabilities, such as blind people, are not particularly stigmatized, this is in part because assistive technology has advanced to the point where blind people can "see". In TNG Geordi defends himself to a person from a eugenicist colony based on his ability to "contribute". While an important episode, it does not actually fully refute ableism because of the attention given to "contribution". Disabled people deserve to live even if they can't contribute anything, because disabled people are human beings who can be happy and enjoy the lives they do lead.

Notably, while Julian's initial fascination with Melora is pointed out as inspiration porn in another Trek, Actually video,¹³ it goes beyond an abled person being weird to a disabled person because I do think Julian is still autistic. His fascination with Melora's refusal to accept help or "special treatment" reads as being influenced by his own upbringing, where, after being augmented, he was likely taught that asking for help was shameful or inappropriate. When he calls her extraordinary, it's still demeaning and he is still being ableist, but it has the added layer that he has almost certainly internalized that that's what he's supposed to do. Similarly, Julian tries to help Melora with her disability for her work as an expression of his belief that he can “fix” people… which is what his parents did to him (also not an original observation from me). This video also has pretty good criticisms of how this episode focuses more on Julian's thoughts and feelings than Melora's.

While I hope this article leads to a better and more developed understanding of this issue and it’s real life ramifications, the tension we noted at the beginning remains. Augments and the Eugenics Wars are a statement against white supremacy and ableism, though one that falls short. They also serve as a vehicle for fears regarding Brown people, especially in TOS and ENT. As a concept, it is not internally consistent due to these two forces.

Sources and Further Reading:

“Many Indian trolls wrote me hate mails defending white supremacists” by Chandrima Banerjee

All About Autistic Meltdowns: A Guide For Allies from Reframing Autism, and Manipulation – Does It Occur in Autism? from Autism Awareness Center

Machiavellianism from Wikipedia. Note that this is considered a “dark triad” trait, a term that immediately invokes a sense of foreboding. While not a disorder itself, it is discussed in similar terms to the way people colloquially discuss disorders.

“Aspie Supremacy”- A Deep Dive by Ember Green.

Designer Babies Are Teenagers Now—and Some of Them Need Therapy Because of It by Emi Nietfeld

Go to United States and state-sponsored terrorism on Wikipedia and feel your brain melt! This isn’t even all the examples I would give; for example, this page does not cover Operation Cyclone. Whose Monster? A Study in the Rise to Power of al Qaeda and the Taliban by Nicholas Kotarski does discuss this, as well as other factors in the forming of al Qaeda.

India: “The Emergency” and the Politics of Mass Sterilization by Prajakta R. Gupte

The Overpopulation Myth and its Dangerous Connotations By Brittney Bush Bollay

India's far-right is trying to make India great again through eugenics by Jyoti Malhotra

The Growing North-South Divide in India by Sehr Rushmeen

It’s Time India Accept Responsibility for Its 1984 Sikh Genocide by Simran Jeet Singh

Trek, Actually, “What the Bashir Family Tells Us About Ableism in Star Trek” by Steven Shives

Trek, Actually, “How Star Trek Actually Deals (And Doesn’t Deal) With Disability” by Steven Shives

Specific Trek Episodes: Star Trek: The Original Series, "Space Seed”. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, “Dr. Bashir, I Presume?”. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, “Statistical Probabilities”. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, “Chrysalis”. Star Trek: Enterprise, “Hatchery”. Star Trek: Enterprise, “Borderland”. Star Trek: Enterprise, “Cold Station 12”. Star Trek: Enterprise, “The Augments”. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, “Strange New Worlds”. The lore about the 50s is from Star Trek: Into Darkness.

#cipher talk #ds9 #celestial road map #julian bashir #bashir fanclub #bashir fan club

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angelremnants · 2 months ago

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HIS FOR THE SEASON l L. Laufeyson

EXTRA,⠀Asgard's Map.

chapter summary : Dearest reader, your faithful Hidden Storyteller graciously unveils a modest guide charting the illustrious Nine Worlds. Rest easy, for these tiers serve only as a gentle aid to your imagination.

pairing : Loki Laufeyson x f!reader

warnings : none.

word count : 0.2k

author's notes : I am not the creator of this map, it belongs to the Marvel Comics.

⠀

HONORED DENIZENS OF ASGARD,

Pray, lend your attentive ears to a modest guide. It is only fitting that before we embark upon the twists and turns of the season, we first acquaint ourselves with the grand stage upon which our reporting tale shall unfold. The Nine Worlds, vast and unbound as they are, have been arranged here in a manner most comprehensible—a delicate feat indeed, for such realms defy mortal maps and logic alike.

Do not be misled, dear denizens, for these levels serve solely to aid your understanding—for the sake of clarity, they have been placed in a multi-leveled configuration, though let it be known that no mere parchment could ever fully capture the true nature of these celestial domains.

The distances between these realms are not so easily measured, nor are they bridged by earthly means. After all, one must always consider the swift arc of the Bifrost and other divine pathways that bridge the gaps between our worlds, including our hallowed City of Asgard. Although, it would be dire to mention that words of roads hidden from sight, of gates long thought closed, and of regions scarcely spoken of in polite company persist to circulate among the well-known. Whether these are mere fancies or omens of what is to come, time alone shall tell.

Let this map be your invitation to immerse yourselves in the grandeur of our domain, a mere guide to the labyrinthine wonders that await. Let your eyes wander, your minds roam and your curiosity awaken, for the season ahead may yet call upon corners of the realms long forgotten, and names unspoken for far too long may soon find their way back into the court’s conversation.

Yours in faithful recollection,

Huldskald

The Hidden Storyteller of Asgard

⠀

PROLOGUE.⠀|⠀CHAPTER ONE.

see more His For The Season related works.

Want to read more of my works? Check out my masterlist !

⠀⠀

dividers ©️ @strangergraphics + unknown .

#his for the season series #loki x reader #asgard

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fireheartwraith · 27 days ago

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Okay so rounding up

"D" is the name of the enemy that was defeated 800 years ago by the 20 nations who would then form the world government

A leader from one of these nations, Queen Lily of Alabasta, ALSO was a "D" and chose to not move to Mary Jois

She somehow arranged for the poneglyphs to be spread out throughout the world

These poneglyphs hold knowledge of what really happened in this conflict, of the ancient weapons, and how to get to Laugh Tale via four red Road Poneglyphs

Laugh Tale probably holds the answers and the "key" to the dawn of the world

There's a prophecy or something that Joy Boy, aka the Sun God Nika, will come back after 800 years and lead the world to this new dawn

The poneglyphs were made by the royal family of Wano, who then closed its borders instead of joining the world government

The Gum Gum Fruit is actually the Human Human Fruit – Mystic Type: Nika and the government changed its name to try and prevent Joy Boy from awakening

But Zoan Devil Fruits have a will of their own and so it evaded the government for centuries and eventually made its way to Luffy, who has known awakened his power

Wano also has SOME kind of connection to the origin of the devil fruits since Sea Prism Stone, which can nullify their powers, come from there

Vegapunk speculates that Devil Fruits are connected to alternate universes and human will and dreams ??

The Op Op Fruit is another Devil Fruit that the government wanted because it is considered "the ultimate devil fruit" since it can give someone immortal life at the expense of the user

The Empty Throne, which is supposed to be empty, is actually not and is filled by someone the Five Elders call "Imu-sama"

Imu was the name of one of the First Twenty so Iva speculated that maybe someone used the Op Op fruit to make them immortal, and so they have been ruling the world in secret for 800 years

The government has one of the ancient weapons and used it for the first time in recorded memory to wipe Lulusia off of the map

King Cobra of Alabasta learned too much and was killed but not before passing on a message to Sabo, who witnessed the whole thing

CP-0 kidnapped Princess Vivi of Alabasta because one of the Celestial Dragons wanted her as a pet

Wapol, who also witnessed the whole thing, was running and accidentally helped Vivi escape

They both are taking shelter with Morgan at the World Economy Journal base

Fujitora wants to take down the system and sided with the revolutionary army to help the slaves escape

The Warlord system is abolished and in its place the navy is using the Seraphim, artificial humans made using the blood of the seven warlords augmented with Lunarian blood

Lunarians are an ancient tribe that lived where Mary Jois is now located and were hunted to near extinction

The government wants to kill Vegapunk because they found he had been researching the Void Century

Saul is alive and probably in Elbaf

The Kid Pirates were destroyed by Shanks

The Heart Pirates were destroyed by Blackbeard, but Law managed to escape with Bepo's help

Using Chopper's Rumble Balls, Minks are now able to go Sulong for a short period of time even during the day

Sentomaru betrayed the navy to help Vegapunk escape

York betrayed the Vegapunks

Egghead is on lockdown and there's a bunch of ships on the way, including Admiral Kizaru and one of the Five Elders

Bonney is having a breakdown

Toki was from 800 years ago and from Wano and had been time traveling to the future looking for a certain event (why did her family leave Wano??)

Princess Shirahoshi is one of the ancient weapons (Poseidon) since she can talk and command the Neptunians

Momo can also do that I'm pretty sure and so can Luffy

Garp is captured by the Blackbeard pirates and pretty critically wounded

Is fhat it?? Did I miss anything or got anything wrong?? Man I've got a headache

#one piece #one piece spoilers #just in case

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scornedserendipity · 8 months ago

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6. The Magic Emporium (Winchester x Younger siblings oc)

yeet so I finally found a face claim for Jamie but you can image her however you want. This is just pretty close to how i see her. but enjoy this chapter. lots is revealed lol. let me know what ya think (yes ik this is actually riley from hellrasier, ignore that lol)

about 6k words some some change

Sam and Dean were gone for a while, they decided just to get a motel room so they didn’t have to plan around visiting hours to see Jamie, not that she minded. She liked being separated from her brothers sometimes. It made her feel like more of an individual than just a Winchester.

Of course, she loved her family and would die for them in a heartbeat but she still enjoyed her own time and secrets. Sam and Dean raised her as far back as she could remember. Dean was more of a parent than her actual Dad ever was. She always knew she was grateful that Sam and Dean wanted her, likely more than Dad ever did. They could have easily left her to be someone else’s problem instead.

“Don’t worry Jamie. Just because you are our half-sister by blood doesn’t make you any less our sister. You are a Winchester and always will be, we will always be your annoying older brothers.”

Sam had said that to her many years ago when she was first starting school and got bullied for not looking like her brothers, just because of her curly hair and tan skin. Kids were cruel but not everyone can chop heads off as a source of anger management.

Jamie sighed as she sipped on her apple juice. She had been staring at her new laptop for hours. She told Sam and Dean that she was going to try and find some more information on Dad’s notes and see if there was anything behind them. Which she did for a short period. Finding a few footnotes and built a reading list of lore that she could correlate to what her Dad was talking about but after a while, she had gone through every piece of paper and it made even less sense to her.

“Okay, so we have angels and demons. Celestial beings that can predate mankind, beings that are a corrupted version of mankind. Different monsters that are only seen in certain parts of America coordinates to multiple locations, and a whole lot of nothing.” She sighed. She couldn’t help but stare at the paperwork. All this time and nothing about her mother, nothing about the woman who brought her into this godforsaken world. Just more monsters.

She sighed and picked up her phone. She scrolled through her contacts till she got to Dean. She dialed and it rang a couple of times.

“Hey, what’s up?” Dean’s voice came from the other side.

“The sky.” Jamie joked. “Any luck on the hunt?” She asked.

“No, we’ve been looking everywhere and asking just about every Jake, Kyle, and Crystal we see every question we can but nothing.”

“Well, I may have found something in Dad’s notes. I found a couple of sets of coordinates and some information on more of our kind of weird. The first set was the road in Jericho where we faced the woman in white, the next place is in Colorado.” Jamie said as she pulled up her digital map where she marked all the coordinates.

“I’ve charted them down but without Dad’s journal, I can’t connect them to anything. It’s all bits and pieces.”

“You did all of that in two days?” Dean asked. There was a pause, she could hear him talking to someone else, probably Sam. “Hang on, I’m going to put you on speaker,” Dean said. There was a beep

“Hey June Bug,” Sam said from the other side. It never failed to make her feel better to hear her brother’s voice.

“Hey, how are you holding up?” Jamie asked. She peeked out her window when she saw someone coming by. The door knob never turned so she continued.

“We’re okay, just doing our jobs,” Dean interjected with a scoff.

“So am I went through Dad’s notes and found coordinates, but I need his journal to fact-check.” She summarized.

“Oh okay, well, we are just about done here, we were heading your way anyway,” Sam said.

“Okay. Can you try to get me checked out of here? I feel fine. I even walked around.” Jamie pleaded.

Her brothers scoffed and the line cut off. Jamie threw her hands up in frustration. She hated hospitals. Just like the rest of her family. It was a Winchester curse to have bad experiences with hospitals.

She was already wary of them as a child when her brother had confessed hospitals creep him out. Sam didn’t like them too much because of the smell. It was all to comfort her as she waited for her flu shot, but the real reason she didn’t like them was because the only time she ever got her father to pick her up from school.

Her stomach had been bugging her all week. her brothers knew it, her teachers knew it, and even her Dad knew it, but she always refused the doctors, until the Friday of that week when she couldn’t take it anymore and went to the school nurse. The phone call to her father was terrifying but when the lady explained all of her symptoms and that it could be an infection, he rushed over.

Her Dad was more gentle with her, she always knew it, but he also wanted her to tough it out. At the time it had been a while since her Dad had spoken so gently to her, but was apologetic without even saying it, but the stomach ache wasn’t the reason Jamie hated hospitals. It was that day, at 9 years old, she learned that wraiths love hospitals.

She ended up just having a gnarly stomach infection but it wasn’t anything serious.

Her brothers didn’t believe her till her Dad told them to put their shoes on and follow him. They knew not to question their father and subsequently Jamie. She remembered sticking her tongue out at them as they marched outside with their father leading the way.

“Hey, June Bug.” Dean’s voice broke Jamie’s train of thought. He took off his jacket and hung it on the back of his chair, kicking his feet up onto her bed and sighing. Sam rolled his eyes and took the other side.

“Did you talk to the doctors?” She asked, scratching her brow.

“We did. They said they want to run some tests and make sure you don’t need any more in-house treatment before they discharge you.” Sam said with a smile.

“Nice!” Jamie fist-pumped the air. She was still sore but she wasn’t going to get any more limber sitting in bed. Especially when they might have another case.

“So what did you find in Dad’s stuff?” Dean asked.

“Well, it’s a lot and it’s a lot of nothing at the same time…if that makes sense,” Jamie said, raising her eyebrows and picking up a stack of the papers. So there are only a few coordinates for Colorado, Wisconsin, and Pennsilveiya.”

Sam grabbed the journal from the duffle bag he carried in, flipping through the pages until he found what he was looking for.

“Right here. it said Blackwater, Manitoc, Catasauqua.” Sam said, pointing at the page in the book that listed the sites.

“Looks about right. What are we going to do?” Jamie asked. The younger siblings looked at their older brother. he thought for a moment.

“Well, the only way too Dad, is to follow him and hope we catch up. We can stick around for another day or two, see if we can find out anything else about Jess’s death and then we hit the road.”

It sounded easy, but things never were.

When her brothers left it was just her again. Jamie stared at her new laptop, she wondered if she would even find anything. It started with simple name and location searches. Research on psychics and what they did. She found a website that told all the secrets of fake psychics and magicians, a page dedicated to some kind of weird mind-reading role-play.

“Hmm, maybe if I narrow down the search to Texas?” She asked herself, aimlessly scratching at her neck.

-time break-

“Finally, fresh air!” Jamie said as she walked out of the hospital. The doctors cleared her to leave and she was out faster than a worm in a pickle.

“Calm down, we still have to get back to the motel,” Sam said as he watched his sister.

“yeah, yeah whatever. Say that after you spend a week in bed.” Jamie said, stretching her arms. Sam and Dean watched for any kind of wince or limp in their sister as she stretched.

“Guys, I am fine! One little tumble isn’t enough to keep me down! Relax a little.” She joked. “I want to do some shopping before we go. I need a few things.” She said approaching her brothers. They were still outside the hospital but when she stopped they did. A terrible habit they had.

“Why?” Dean asked. Jamie could tell he was still upset about the money, but there was nothing she could do about that. The majority of it was made after they dropped her off at Bobby’s.

“Well, I need a laptop bag and I’m in California! I want to get a pin from every state for the bag.” She said, which was mostly true but she figured she would have more time to do what she wanted before they went to Colorado.

“I don’t see the problem. We can drop you off downtown, that’s a good shopping area.” Sam said, shrugging.

“Whatever,” Dean said, walking past them and to the car.

“He’s mad at me isn’t he Sammy?” Jamie asked as they followed shortly behind Dean.

“No, he isn’t mad. Don’t worry.” Sam said. Jamie sighed. The drove was silent, just Black Sabbath

“We will be back in a couple of hours. We have one more place to check out.” Dean said, looking up at his baby sister.

“Okay, is there anything you guys need?” She asked, leaning down to look at both of them. Sam and Dean looked at each other, she always knew that life on the road wasn’t easy and packing light was always rule number one.

“Toothpaste.” Dean huffed.

“Toothpaste, okay. Anything you need Sam, never mind, I’ll just get you the basics.” Jamie said. She had completely forgotten his apartment burned down. He probably didn’t have anything but the clothes he packed.

Sam nodded, he was still very upset and was trying to stay strong.

“We’ll be back at 7. So we can avoid traffic.” Dean said, taking a quick look at this watch. Jamie nodded and stepped away from the curb. Dean saluted and pulled off the curb. Jamie watched them for a moment before turning to the mall.

“Alrighty Jamie. Here’s to a 4-hour adventure.” She said to herself. All she had was her backpack, 800 dollars, and high hopes. As Jamie walked she made a mental checklist.

‘toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrush, comb, shampoo, conditioner, body spray.’ All things she had to buy but not the reason she wanted to have some alone time. She was on a hunt.

“Okay, let me get their stuff first so I don’t forget. Gotta find somewhere with pie before 6:45.” Jamie continued to mutter to herself as she walked down the street. Looking for a store that wasn’t her entire budget for a cardigan.

She found a small grocery outlet and grabbed a hand basket, most of it was pretty cheap, it was just a few things here and there. She handed the cashier thirty dollars and looked around, seeing some candy and lottery tickets. Nothing she could concern herself with right now. She still needed her alibi receipt.

Jamie thanked the clerk and left, looking around again. There were lots of outlets, lots to choose from, where she got the bag didn’t matter, so long as it would fit her laptop without letting anything slip out.

Having to run for your life is usually part of the job.

She found herself in a small boutique, it had a very barnyard aesthetic, star hats, and flannel. Flannel was okay, it kept you warm but she preferred something a little less, lumberjack. She browsed for a moment, walking around the shopping area once and assessing where the cameras were. There wasn’t a sensor on the door so in theory, she could walk out with just about anything she wanted.

“Do you have laptop bags or pins?” She asked the woman at the desk. It was just the two of them.

“We have pins but for bags we mostly sell purses.” The woman answered not looking up from her newspaper. The front page was the fire that killed one and demolished an old apartment building.

Jamie looked away and walked out. There wasn’t anything there that matched her style. Plus expensive things are more likely to be stolen if you live on the road.

She found a California Bear pin she liked, only five bucks. She purchased it and kept her receipt.

While she was in the hospital, she was doing more research than just scouring through her Dad’s notes. She had her own hunt to worry about as much as she wanted to find their Dad and whatever killed Jess, she had to focus on herself now.

Sure, her Dad being missing and possibly dead should be a top priority, and it is but she just needed some information. Luckily there was a psychic that worked nearby, only a few blocks due east.

When she was researching, she couldn’t help but use her new laptop to search for her Mom, she had done it before with little results and this time was an even less fruitful search. Her next guess was that another psychic knew her and she was sure this one did.

Histor De la Croix. A 50-year-old fortune teller, mind reader, and magic practitioner. Who was based out of Texas the year Jamie was born. How she got so lucky to find him in the same town her brother was in was nothing short of a miracle.

“I hope he knows something about her, even a picture would help.” She muttered to herself and she read the shop names. She had mapped it all out while in the hospital.

Did Jamie know why she was looking for her mother? Yes and No. Her family was her family and she didn’t consider her mother's family, she would be okay if her Mother still wanted nothing to do with her, at least that’s how her father and Dean made it seem, but at the same time, she couldn’t ignore the facts.

She had some kind of power and it was making things worse. Waking up in fields, feeling like she didn’t know who she was, losing time, all things that happened once she turned 17 and Sam left. She never told her brothers, they barely talked. Bobby knew he was the one who found her in the junkyard at six am.

It wasn’t just a few weird occurrences. She never liked violence and only killed when she had to, she has only killed a handful of monsters but it never stopped making her sad. They have to eat just like she does. When she killed her very first vampire, she was 12. It was out of necessity since Sam had refused to go again. When she faced him, and swung her machete like her father taught her, she felt the fear he felt. The way his body reacted to the swing of death she delivered. How she felt it for several minutes after his head had rolled to her Father’s feet.

Despite the experience, it was one of the few times her father had patted her on the back with a smile.

“Good job, June Bug. Let’s not wait around next time though.”

The way Dean bragged to Sam about her when they got home, claiming he knew she was always the better hunter, even Dad had piped in when Sam started digging back at Dean.

“Boys. Watch TV or sleep, Jamie still has homework to finish since someone chickened out.”

Jamie stopped in front of a small shop, barely decorated with blacked-out windows. It sat alone on the corner of the block. minimally decorated compared to the other magic shops she had seen online.

“The Magic Emporium.” She said to herself. It was the right place, but it didn’t look to be occupied. Compared to the rest of the shops, this one looked abandoned.

She tried to open the door but it was locked. Closed. Jamie tried to peek into the windows but the shades were too dark. She sighed and went around the back of the shop, looking around in case anyone saw her or her brothers managed to tail her.

There was a small window that wasn’t covered, about two feet by two feet in size. She could easily fit through it if she left her backpack. She grabbed her pocket knife and carefully slid the lock out of place, using the gap between the sill and the seal. It took a few tries but she managed to move it enough to open the window.

“Here goes a misdemeanor.” She muttered to herself as she peered her head in. There wasn’t anything blocking the window. She went in feet first, holding her backpack in one hand as she entered the building, shutting the window behind her.

She took a moment to listen for any sound. The lights were off but the window provided just enough for her to see the silo of small statues and large plants. Jamie walked around for a moment, heading towards the door she had seen earlier, doing her best to make as little noise as possible.

Jamie was about to flip some kind of switch when she heard the familiar sound of a gun cocking. She froze in her place, in the dark.

“Who a’e ya?” A male voice asked from behind her.

“Uhm, nobody.” She said, turning around with her hands up. She moved slowly, just like her father had told her. She didn’t bring any weapons except for her pocket knife, but what good was a knife in a gunfight, in the dark?

“What a’e ya doi 'n in my shop?”

“I’m here for Histor De la Croix and I’m a student. Are you him?” She said. A partial truth but she couldn’t help but want to avoid an unnecessary risk. A man is less likely to shoot an innocent with no name, versus a burglar with a name he may not like. If he truly knew her Mom, there is a chance he knows her Dad.

“Well if nob’dy askin why would I be tell’n?” The man shuffled to the side, not taking his eyes off Jamie, he flipped the light switch on and the space illuminated. Jamie looked around the statues, shaman masks, paintings, and framed documents scattered on the walls. Copious amounts of plants and miscellaneous supplies. Histor was a lanky man, looked like one gust of wind would knock him over. Dark, messy hair and ungroomed facial hair.

Jamie had no choice at this point. If he wanted to shoot her he would have done it already. Called the police and said someone had broken in, what’s an old man’s word to a dead girl? She had to gamble that the truth would set her free this time. It was her last chance.

“My name is Jamie Winchester. I’m a hunter and I need your help.” She said, hands still in the air. She watched the man like a hawk. He stepped closer, rifle still aimed right at Jamie.

“Why should I help a hun’er?” He asked suspiciously.

“Because I am also the daughter of Frida, did you know her?” Histor’s expression changed when he heard Frida’s name. He slowly lowered the gun, furrowing his brows as if to look at her face. Jamie could tell he was getting overwhelmed just at the mention of her mother’s name.

“You are the baby arem’t ya? That ole’ hun’ers bastard” The man asked, he was still holding the gun but it was lowered enough for Jamie to lower her hands as well.

“If you mean, John Winchester, then yes. I need your help, I just need information.” Jamie said, taking a step. Histor sighed and looked Jamie up and down. He wasn’t impressed.

“She warned me this would hap’pn s’mes day. Come on with me child.” The man beckoned as he walked deeper into the building. Jamie couldn’t help but be taken aback by his sudden calmness.

“What kind of magic practitioner are you?” Jamie asked as she took a few steps forward. The hallway Histor was heading towards seemed menacing, deeper than it should be. Like it almost wasn’t supposed to be there.

“Spells and material magic. I study magic that can be car’id in objects. But cha mama, she was in a diff’ernt league. She was magic all on ‘er own.” Histor explained as they walked, not even bothering to look back at Jamie as she watched the walls around her. They weren’t moving, but they weren’t solitary either. She felt like she was about to enter a room that was the love child of a fun house and a house of mirrors but as Histor spoke about her Mom, the feelings of unease and fear drifted away as she latched onto whatever positive emotion she was feeling from Histor.

“Uhm yeah, so I’m looking for her and I was wondering if you knew anything else about her?” Jamie said as they walked. They seemed to be going much deeper than the building allowed.

“You won’t fin’ her I can tell you that. The night she left you she only did it for you’s and those pesky hun’er boys safe.” He said with an irritated tone. “All yous woulda been mince if she hadn’t. I havn’t the faintest how she had a soft spot fo’ dem boys.”

“For real, they are douche bags. But you said she was trying to keep me safe? Safe from what?” Jamie asked.

“Ya mama was one of the last of an ancient bloodline. Do you know wha’ a Witness is?” Histor asked. They entered an even smaller room, just a table and a few chairs with a chest of drawers and a TV stacked on some boxes.

“A witness? Like at a crime scene?” Jamie asked. Histor took a seat in the rolling chair and got comfortable.

“No, more in the biblical sense. A witness is a mem’er of a powe’ful bloodline datin’ back to the time of Jesus and the disciples.” Histor said. “Come sit. We have much to talk about.” Histor waved at her. Jamie grabbed one of the chairs and sat on the other side of the table.

“Is that why I have Empathy?” Jamie asked. For a moment Histor seemed to pause before speaking up.

“Yes, being a witness does have its perks. Let me guess, it seems like you can pick up just about any skill like you’ve master’ed it?” Jamie considered for a moment. To think about being good at everything made her feel vain. For a moment she looked back on all the new things she had tried and how they were never as difficult as people made them out to be. Reluctantly she nodded. Histor scoffed.

“Just like ya mama, ya is. ya get visions of the to be o’e the al’eady been?” Jamie nodded. “It will just get wo’se ya see. Ya will get strong but that’s not the only thing. Throughout hist’ry, there have always been two witnesses. When one dies, the next ones powe’s awaken. A continuous, cosmic cycle. Your powe’s will grow as your mind does because of ya soul.” Histor explained.

“Wait, so what I’m a reincarnation?” Jamie asked.

“No clue. But, when ya born, Frida and the second witness, a fool they called Marshall. They was in a bad way when you came along ya see. So the night ya born Frida placed a spell over ya. Protection from the witness’s eyes. So he couldn’t find ya.”

“Wait so, is he going to come after me?” Jamie asked.

“Yes. It is a fate very few are destined for. You are a protector of sorts.” Histor was staring at her intently. How her eyes shifted and her expression changed ever so slightly as he spoke. “The man, Marshal came and asked me about ya, he was convinced yous were his blood.”

“Wait, my dad might not be my dad?” Jamie asked. This was the moment her world started rocking. John might not be her dad, then Sam and Dean aren’t her brothers… she was reeling. “Am I? of his blood?” She gulped. Her hands were starting to sweat.

“Oh, baby child, no yous is ya Daddy’s. There is no question about that. Ya, mama would neva lie about something as se’rious as family..”

“What was Marshal?” She asked.

“He and Frida used to be thick as thieves till he was corrupted by a bunch of old dark magic. Frida managed to get away from him, ya came along and she had to do something. That’s why she made that spell of hers. She told me when ya pow’rs full awaken one of em would be dead but she couldn’t take the risk that it wouldn’t be him. So she cast the spell that night in Texas. She said it would suppress your soul’s power so he couldn’t find ya.”

They sat in silence for a moment. Jamie was absorbing all the information, she felt like she had just been tossed into a grain mill and her brain was being milled to mush.

“ya think i’m ly’in to ya dont ya child.” histor said, leaning back with some kind of smirking smile on his face.

“I’ve heard a lot of crazy and this takes the cake but no, Histor. I know you aren’t lying to me.” Jamie said, blowing air out of her cheeks. “I can feel it. I always say Lady Luck has a crush on me, but now I don’t even know what to think.” She shrugged.

“It’s like turmoil isn’t it. In ya heart. It’s the call of the witness. The way Frida explained ‘er powers. It was like being connected to eve’ythin’. But she knew she had a greater purpouse, she met Marshal and learned even more. Her abilites grew and grew and I bet yous will too but listen to me now child. This is as true as the sky is blue. I may be an old fart but you broke into my home looking for answers. you think that’s just chance?”

Jamie considered it for a moment. She felt no malice or deceit from Histor, he had no reason to lie to her at this point. Either of them could have made a move. Jamie sighed. She definitely couldn’t tell her brothers about this, if her Dad knew this whole time was he ever going to tell her?

“You said my abilities will grow? How are we talkin?” Jamie asked. If it was real, she had to take it seriously. It’s her only lead after all. She had to treat it just like she did the Shapeshifter, leaving no stone unturned. She would interview every psychic, medium, or shaman that was in Texas at the time whether they were dead or alive if she had to.

“Yes, they will. What they will be I have not the faintest of clues. Ya Mama could move objects and people with her mind sometimes, compelling them to tell her the truth. I know that as your powe’s grow, the spell she cast will try to fight them and there will be negative side effects until the spell is eventually broken.” Histor explained. He turned around in his chair and opened one of the trunks.

“Negative effects like… sleepwalking?” Jamie asked, leaning forward and trying to see what he was doing.

“No clue, ya might get sick, might experience prophetic nightmares, explode, might explode people around you. Ya might just flat-out drop dead. The spells Frida used were ‘er own. This is all I have left of ‘er.” Histor said as he placed a metal box on the table. he undid the latches and opened it. “I knew ya mama since we was youngins. She was always talented and very grown up for her age, but when she turned 18 things started to change. She had nightmares and would often completely forget where she was. It may be the same for ya. Frida neva explained er’thing to me, but by the time we par’ted ways, she was as strong as a demon.”

Jamie was on the edge of her seat. This was the closest she had ever been and she had no idea where she could go from here. What could it be? A letter, a photo, some kind of book, or a clue? What exactly was Frida getting at? Histor said she knew Jamie would come looking for him in search of her. How much does he know?

Millions of questions ran through Jamie’s head like a high school mile as she watched Histor. Everything felt like a dream, she tried to take in every detail she could, not miss a single thing the man had said.

Histor reached into the box and pulled out a small gem, strung on twine. He looked at it deeply before placing it on the table.

“I know how this all must seem to ya but ya mama was only doin’ what was best for ya given ya’lls situation. She left me this and told me to “give it to my gal when she finds you.” and I ain’t seen ‘er since. You are the only gal who has come to see me since 1999.” he confessed.

“I am in way over my head…” She muttered, reaching for the gem. “I need two more favors and I will pay and be on my way, Histor,” Jamie said, pulling out the bills she kept in her pocket. Histor was shocked for a moment but when he saw the amount he couldn’t help but accept.

“Ya Frida child, I give ya the discount.” Histor winked and nodded for her to continue.

“The spell. How do I break it?”

“I haven’t the foggiest. I do know a spell that could undo any spell. It’s not easy though and you could die. When spells like the ones ya mama cast are broken, often they take somethin’ to remember ya by.”

Histor was watching Jamie intently the entire time. He knew this day would come because Frida told him. He stared at Jamie and she stared back. She had the same thick curls and tan skin Frida had, even her freckles matched. He felt like he was staring at a time machine.

“Ya look just like ya mama ya know that?” Histor said. Jamie looked up, surprised and then sad.

“Really?” She asked as she fiddled with the gemstone. It was probably a jade if she had to guess but now it was so much more than just a jade, or just a pendant. She put it around her neck.

“I was in love with her since we was babes. I could never forget her face.” Histor stood up and walked to the other side of the room. Jamie watched as he shuffled through old files.

“You were in love with my Mom? What was she like?” Jamie asked from her seat.

“Oh, she was like a breath of fresh air and a burning fire at the same time. Ya Daddy didn’t get to know er too well before he beat it but she was one of a kind, and loved ya very much. Thats why she did what she did.” Histor said, pausing from his tasks and looking up, as if reflecting on a momemory.

“Here, I drew this the year ya mama vanished. This is ya mama.” He said, bringing over a piece of parchment. It was a drawing of a woman. Jamie was shocked at how much she looked like the photo, just a younger version.

“That’s my Mom?” She asked. She cautsiouly took the photo in her hand, hoping she would experience some kind of vision but nothing happened. Her mother was a pretty woman, A strong jaw line and nose, deep eyes and dark, unruly curls. In the photo she looked about thirty.

Histor reclaimed his seat on the other side of the table.

“Her Daddy was a black guy from over the train tracks, her mama was immigrant hunter who moved to America to live a normal life. When ya mama’s powers came along and her parents found out, they kicked her to the curb and she stayed with my family for a long time. Then she met Marshal and he told her about this ‘great purpose’ she served in a Holy War. A load of bullshit if you ask me but that’s how it happened. After she met Marshal we talked less and less. He tried to indoctrinate her but it was a whole mess when ya Daddy came along and accused him of being some kinda witch. Not to far of the reservation if ya ask me.”

Jamie nodded as she stared at the photo. She was learning things even her father didn’t know. She actually had no idea how her parents met or how long they knew each other.

“Life is weird.” She muttered, shrugging her shoulders.

“Say that you won’t go looking for ya mama.” Jamie looked up with furrowed brows. Her sadness quickly turned into anger when she heard his words. “Lis’en to me, Jamie Winchester. If ya go looking for ya mama, Marshal will come looking for ya and that man is fa’ more powe’ful. I will help ya break the spell but if somethin goes wrong don’t blame me.”

“Histor. I can’t even begin to thank you for everything you’ve shared with me. I’ve spent half my life searching for her. For answers. If someone wants to come after me, they can try, if they try to stop me, I will kill them first.” She said, her gaze was hard and bore into Histor’s soul like a drill.

Histor’s gaze remained steadfast. Beady blue eyes were hidden behind a heavy brow and messy hair. he wore a heavy frown but he never looked away from Jamie.

“Very well. I warn’d ya. To break the spell you need to be in the same place it was created. Likely in that house in Texas. You will need Ague Root, the ash of a Holy Object like a cross that has been dipped in Holy Water, and the caster’s DNA.”

Jamie nodded as she listened. Writing everything down on of of her receipts.

“After you have all ya ingredients. On the night of a full moon, you must be in the exact location the spell was casted to reverse it. Grind and mix all your ingredients, and chat the following.” Histor instructed, motioning for her to pass the paper and pen. As he wrote he continued to explain the spell.

“When you cast this spell, there is no way of knowing it will work. There may be more consequence than gain when you do this, nothing may happen.” He explained.

“You just told me if I don’t break this spell I might drop dead, I can deal with the consequences later. I refuse to leave my brothers alone in this world but I will be careful. Thank you Histor.” Jamie said as he passed the paper back. She stuffed it into her pocket and got up. She stood by his side and crouched, looking up at the old man with tears in her eyes.

“It’s a possibility. Unless you’ve already started experiencing the side effects?’ Histor questioned. Jamie nodded, she didn’t want to admit it but deep down she knew he had been telling the truth and what’s been happening to her for the past year was because of her mother.

“I can never truly repay you for your help today. You have given me things that my family has tried to keep away from me for years. Here is my number, if you ever need help, call me, for anything” She said, giving him a quick peck and the cheek and standing up. Holding a smaller piece of paper to him.

Histor smiled at her and accepted the paper. “I think I have one more thing that might help ya.” Histor stood up again. Jamie was worried he’d lose his footing but he managed just fine. “When ya mama came and saw me that night, she left me with more than just that pendant. I don’t think she wanted me to give to ya, but I’ve never been good at following rules.” He chuckled, walking to the same chest he grabbed the picture from. he pulled out a small book-sized box.

“Here, I got no clue what that is. She said to protect it with my life though. It’s probably safer in your hands than mine.” Jamie accepted the box. She looked at it, there were some runes on it but nothing that looked too serious.

“To get out, just walk straight and pass through the front door this time. It’s illusion magic ya mama woulda seen it” he said with a scoff. Jamie shrugged and waved before making her way out.

“You did it, Jamie.” She muttered to herself as she passed right through the front door, coming out onto the street. Jamie looked back at the box that she stashed under her arm, using her free hand she wiped the tears that peaked from her eyes.

“Maybe I’m psycing myself out but if I touch this and get a vision I’m going to look very weird just falling on my ass.” She muttered to herself before placing the box in her backpack, making sure to put it at the bottom, under everything else she had bought. A shoplifting trick she learned in high school.

She her hand through her hair and sighed as her fingers got caught in the naps of her curls.

“Dammit. I thought I was doing pretty good keeping it untangled.” She muttered to herself before making her way down the road.

---

a/n there it is. honestly i am way to lazy to make these look nice like the other authors so enjoy the bare minimum for presentation lol. let me know what ya though and thank u for all the likes. it feeds me.

#supernatural #sam winchester #dean winchester #oc #winchesters x sibling #dean winchester x sister!reader #sam winchester x sister

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katyspersonal · 10 months ago

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Some more SOTE adventures! (Yes no work today)

1) I wasn't really sure what to do with myself for now since I prefer to meticulously explore corners of the map instead of going the 'straight road' (that's how I only got to Rellana later), so I went back to my sorry attempts to get down to that village-looking place down in Scadu Altus! And succeeded! Turned out it WAS the place that revealed more of Marika's backstory :') Bonny Vilage, where the potting is done!

(Also be careful if you are selling duplicates, it looks EXACTLY like Anastasia's butchering knife! Makes sense since both exist for the same purpose)

^ This weapon is found in a secluded building literally named Whipping Hut, also near the ghost that reveals the reasoning. I guess everyone and their dogs already got informed on the twist that the shamans stuffed in jars by Hornsent to become "divine" were Marika's village people, so I won't dwell on this. Also I assume the poison in question is that of giant scorpions since they're found in Belurat and close to this village? Old woman in Belurat also gives you scorpion stew if you speak with her wearing Lion Dancer's mask after reloading the area 🤔

2) There is shed snake skin in this place!!!

Really interesting 👀 It was also near a headless statue and I picked 'O, Mother' gesture from it

3) Cleaned the gaol associated with this area too! The boss was one of the "awful posture guys".. that turned out to be an awful posture girl x)

Yes, this boss interestingly was casting darkness all over the area, which is not something this type of enemy does! However, Lamenter also was using darkness if I remember correctly, and his mask says that the Hornsent were scared of this transformation and hid it away 🤔 This reminds me of those Omen Twins fought on the way to the Divine Tower of Morgott and Mohg, who were casting darkness. Basically I start to get a picture that there were things about Hornsent nature that even themselves were scared of! (Scared of the dark? Gwyn approves XDDDD) Just going to put a pin on that for later!

Also they better explain who the heck Labirith is later :/

4) More about this

Yes, I've finally finished grinding the full sets of both Horned Knights and Curseblades! Both sets include the bit about effects of the flasks lessening due to being nauseating! It is pretty clear by now that the Hornsent who currently exist don't know why Marika's people (her most loyal son more like) exterminated them, however their hatred and pain carries even onto their armors.

Have the Hornsent forgotten their history? But isn't the old woman in Belurat an Empyrean too? Would not she be old enough to remember why? Could the carried plot to butcher and """ascend""" the shamans have been not a common knowledge but only a doing of one like, cult within Hornsent? And yet the vengeance came for EVERYONE... Or Maybe Marika/Messmer never revealed who EXACTLY came after their kind for vengeance? Tea? (I'm gonna pick "cult" option for now.....)

5) SPEAKING OF OLD WOMEN,

I did not expect more Miriam info of all people!! @val-of-the-north you seeing this????Makes sense we found it in this building!

6) Yeeeeees I've met him when I went on another path from Bonny Village!

His hat resembles the statue we use to turn that Carian tower upside-down, where we fight Miriam again and in which we get to Ranni's quest secret place! And also unreal amount of wolves on the way to him and in his residence, who are carian symbol. So yeah this guy is 100% Carian!

7) He gave me a map and I'll need some time to figure out where the location is.. I could not use a simple map to save my life, just full topographic cretinism as usual!

8) This item is interesting though, as well as how his mansion is called Manus Metiyr! Manus means hand!

And there are giant fingerprints full of fingers on the overworld map, and those Fingercreepers, and Ranni's place had Cathedral of Manus Celes (celestial hand)...... things are starting to piece together 👀

9) Another mention-only character we will never see? :p Some engineer that created a gun that shoots magic!

That's it for now since I have to go.. But yes, now I am SUPER willing to know the deal with giant celestial fingers having once grabbed this land hfhgfhgh

#elden ring #elden ring dlc #sote spoilers #screenshots #gameplay log

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rebelichor · 1 year ago

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MEDIEVAL

Ariadne Xeha Nihilis of the noble house Deleoux, first of her name, firstborn twin. Daughter of bravery, skies and tide. Forged of ichor and blood. Demigoddess of unseen forces. Naa of Xe tribe.

Ariadne is all that she is and all that she will become because of her twin brother, Vergil. Like ebb and flow, they maintain balance, and together they are stronger.

Ariadne is known across the Kinglands as the silver witch. It is a cold reputation, one that plays on peoples fear of the unknown. She is a master of that which the eye cannot see... What her reputation fails to acknowledge is the one behind it. The girl. Ariadne. The world is cruel but she is not. She seeks to be fair. To be honest. To have a merciful heart. However, the walls she has built around herself are a fortress, and she herself fears her own power, of losing control. It is better to keep the world at arms length with a reputation that pushes others away.

With maturity, she becomes a wayfarer with an adventurers heart, wishing to explore the world and to seek out knowledge whether it's yet to be found or long forgotten. Ariadne has documented several star maps with her celestial navigation, surveyed the flora and fauna of distant lands, and explored ruins from ages long since passed. Throughout her lifetime she expands the trade of goods across the waters, discovers natural medicines, and has hand written invaluable tomes for the scholars of her age.

Maternal grandparents Mahasra, goddess of the oceans. The Tidemother and patron goddess of Galahd. Celebrated for her fierce battle prowess and nurturing heart, she is a symbol for warriors and close family ties. Respect and maintaining balance is key. Galahdan's often warn fellow seafarers about only ever taking what is needed from the ocean and nothing more, else Mahara will reclaim the debt from seawrecks and catastrophic waves.

Xe, god of the night sky. Best known as simply the moon god, he is multifaceted — flamboyant with stars upon his skin and moonlight braided in his hair, the life of the party, full of laughter and mischief. But behind the mask that makes him difficult to read, he feels, and he feels deeply. His most devoted followers make home in the Tribelands, in a tribe of his namesake.

Mother Xemos, first of house Nihilis, goddess of eclipses, shadows, and dark tides. Xemos is as feared as they are misunderstood. They are a goddess of the road less traveled, of the unknown, and what has yet to be explored. They were not the first of the Reborn Pantheon to choose a life among mankind, but they are among the first to fully integrate into human society and remain within the mortal realm. Those who move within the shadows pray to Xemos — the downtrodden, the persecuted, and the criminal.

Paternal grandparents Menrva, goddess of the sky. Also known as the Skymother or Queen of the Gods. Though she is the most well known of all the gods and goddesses, little is known about her. She is a distant goddess, and deeply private, though surprisingly this has only served to elevate her status among mankind. Menrva ushered in a new age — having traveled from a dying star, she led fellow gods and goddesses to a new home. They were all young, minors among the Primordial Pantheon, and they made the heartbreaking decision to leave their dying home. To leave what was left of their families who refused to flee out of fear they would become dead without rest. To defy the end of days for a hope of another tomorrow. For this, Menrva is praised as a radiant leader among her peers, her word is law, and her law is absolute. The Kinglands pray to one Goddess for guidance, and she is always depicted with a solar crown.

Lazarus, former head of the noble house Deleoux, also known as the crownless King, whose selfless deeds elevated him to that of a folk hero of his age. Grounded and chivalrous, he was the mortal Prince who fell in love with Menrva and sought to prove himself worthy of her affection. There are those that confuse his tale as that of a man who sought godhood, when he stripped himself of his birthright to inherit his father's crown, and when he sold his material possessions to found the humble beginnings of the home of scholars, he did so for betterment of people, all people, not only the rich.

Father Lazentis Deleoux, demigod of order and divine protector of mankind. He is the first and the only child of Menrva and Lazarus, a golden child among gods and mortals. Before he drew his first breath he had impossible standards expected of him, and he will strive until his dying day to not only meet, but to exceed each and every one of them. He is a gentleman and a perfectionist whose work is never done, but do not test his patience or good will. He has the kind of stern gaze that can cut a person down without so much as a word. Lazentis is best known among scholars and knights, he receives few prayers because those that look to him look for the strength of his convictions.

#this artwork is the sketch form of a paid commission #art credit: ana1984 #one day I will upload the finished version with better listed credits #but today I will flood the dash with my fever dream typing as a self treat #art #Ariadne #headcanon #verse; medieval #tw long post #Vergil #Mahasra #Xe #Xemos #Menrva #Lazarus #Lazentis

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midwestbramble · 1 month ago

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The Essential Guide to Practical Astrology Book Review

I read this book in a book club on Pagan and Witches Amino back in 2018 or 2019. Otherwise I may have never picked up a book on Astrology. I still go through the book at least once a month.

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Contents:

Synopsis

What I Liked

What I Didn't Like

Overall Thoughts

Conclusion

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published 2011

"Astrology is an ancient tool for understanding ourselves, our relationships, and our life's path. It begins with the belief that everything in the cosmos is connected. Then it traced the connection between us and the planets at the moment of our birth. That connection reflects and influences every facet of our life on Earth, from love to money. Once you learn the language of astrology, it makes perfect, practical sense.

The Essential Guide to Practical Astrology offers an easy-to-understand exploration of this celestial language that goes far beyond daily horoscopes. In these pages, you learn how to calculate and decipher your birth chart; meet and discover the secrets of the great zodiac 'wheel' and its 12 signs; and tour the 12 houses that symbolize the major arenas in which life's big events occur. You also get:

A road map through the planets, Sun, and Moon, along with key information on what their sign and house placement - and their relationship with one another - mean.

A walk through the cycles of astrology and how they reflect cycles in your own life.

Guidelines for creating daily, monthly, yearly, and long-range planners so you can better manage your personal goals.

Tips for mastering the language of astrology to make predictions for your future.

The Essential Guide to Practical Astrology gives you a no-nonsense approach to a system that helps you discover what's best for you, your life, and your world."

-from the back of the book

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What I Liked

The book is broken down in a way that is easily accessible for beginner and easy to reference beyond. It starts with breaking down what astrology is and isn't, and why a horoscope may not seem like you despite it being "your sign." Then it goes on to teach you "the language" of astrology. The way the break down of charts is described in the book really helped me in understanding how everything goes together. For example, the zodiac sign is personality given to the planet which is assigned a role (like in a play), the house is the stage and multiple planets play out the story based on those factors (the book explains this better and in more detail).

It starts with explaining how the zodiac signs are categorized (modalities, elements, etc.), then the subsequent chapters go into more detail with each sign (each chapter focusing on an element). The zodiac chapter gives a breakdown of the sign during the year (when the sun is moving through it) and how the world changes environmentally during that zodiac season. Then goes into your general idea of what people are going to tell you about "your sign." Though my favorite part of these chapters are the fast facts section, which is just a bullet point list of key information like symbol, modality, planetary ruler, and key concepts.

The next several chapters are on the houses and how they work, organized by quadrants. It also comes with rulerships and key concepts, but the majority of the information is when a zodiac sign is in a certain house and what it means. A few houses even come with an easy breakdown of each sign with key words.

Then the book tackles planets. The fast facts section is back here and an easy way to reference which signs they rule, are exalted in, in detriment, or fall. Which can effect the way the planet interacts with other planets throughout the chart. Then comes the list of descriptions of the sign in the different zodiac signs and houses. Planets are organized by personal planets, social circle, and the generational planets. Lastly are the asteroids and other non-planets (outside the sun and moon of course) and how they play into everything.

Then the book tackles the part that a lot of people have the most trouble with: aspects. It uses the metaphor of a dinner party with family and how the different personalities may clash or be beneficial depending on how they are seated in the chart. The aspects are then listed out with degrees of separation, recommended orb and key concepts as well as a two or three paragraph description with examples from the dinner party situation described earlier.

The book also talks about seasons with the equinoxes and solstices, critical life cycles, retrogrades and other cycle types. Then moves on to the different "planners" which is based on the current chart. The daily planner is the moon moving through the signs and what to keep in mind for those days and as well as bullet points for the when the moon is in aspect with specific planets (every planet is accounted for). The monthly discusses the planets that change on a roughly month by month basis; for example, the sun. The yearly and long range planner continue with the slower moving planets as well. It has a quick run down of what it means when the planet is in a certain sign and then wants you to look for that sign in your own chart and then will describe what it means for the planet to be in your charts house based on that information as well as eclipses.

The last chapter discuss how to use the previous information to actually read a chart, using celebrity charts as examples for the reader to practice with. The appendices include a glossary that gives a quick definition of a word if you don't want to go searching through the book for what quadruplicities means. There's also planetary tables, mercury retrogrades, and eclipses (mine is through 2020 but there's an updated version for this decade), as well as a section for more resources so you can continue learning past this book.

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What I Didn't Like

The only complaints I could make about the book are complaints about my own personal understanding of astrology anyway. For example, I still struggle with aspects and how the planets interact because I tend to forget steps. Astrology can be difficult to get right and practice is crucial. While I don't really think this is a bad thing because it works our brains and I think it's a worthwhile endeavor to make those mistakes and keep trying for those who want to learn astrology. I'm just having a hard time finding something to not like about the book.

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Overall Thoughts

I really think this is a great place to start if you want to learn to read charts past your sun, moon, and rising sign. I found it easy to understand and easy to reference. It's become a part of my new moon routine to pull this book off my shelf while looking at charts for the lunation cycle and my own natal chart.

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Conclusion

If you want to read this book you can find it on Amazon, Warwick's, Google Books, Big Sky Astrology, Books-A-Million, Abe Books, and more! I also suggest checking your library since Astrology is a bit more acceptable to the general public and if not, you can request for them to buy it as well.

#witchblr #witchcraft #astrology #divination #astrology book review #witchy book review

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