#cosmo is my biggest supporter

[jessadamsdraws]

Ok, first of all, you have had me smiling every time I see it! It's so adorable. Second... The idea of Timmy and Tootie reconnecting as adults is SOOOO <3!!! I can totally see them catching up on life on an awkward date at a cafe and Timmy notices Cosmo and Wanda spying on them with the most obvious disguises because those two are his biggest supporters but silly as fuck. Sorry for the rambling, your art and ideas made me all happy!!!

I'm suffering art block at the moment but was able to make up my mind and officially say that Tootie is alive but isn't the mother of the twins and is actually Trixie they ended up divorcing cause he saw Trixie treating their kids the way he was and ended it (her career took of and she became neglectful) They reconnect after Willow made a wish that her dad finds his true love. (cue cupid (Og one not fop a new wish) coming in all "I did send him that but he said no but (He knows the deal from tooth) grants it anyway. Poof Tootie appears in a met cute and Tim kinda knows what happen but goes with it but they end up having a great time)

[ninibeingdelulu]

His biggest fan ✧

Plot: You’re Michael’s girlfriend, cheering him at one of his games.

A/N: It’s so bad I hate it😓

The roar of thunderous cheers flooded the stadium as Michael unleashed another stupefying display of lethal precision and brute physicality that defied mortal comprehension.

You watched with breathless awe seated front row as that signature blue mohawk wove a hypnotic cyclone of calculated ferocity carving apart the helpless defense trailing hopelessly in his wake.

Each savage yet eerily choreographed burst from Michael's heavyweight strides reverberated across the pitch warping the boundaries of space and time itself directly proportional to his gravitational soccer supremacy.

Until the entire cosmos distilled into that infinite singularity split-second with just your striker boyfriend, the ball and the yawning maw of the goal awaiting its inevitable oblation.

You bit down hard stifling the visceral shudder trying to escape as Michael's rocket-powered thunderbolt smashed past the defenseless keeper and ignited the back of the net in a blaze of cosmic glory.

Celebrating with that bone-chilling sovereign roar staking his unchallengeable dominion once more before this mortal realm of sporting conquest still so far beneath his transcendent plane of greatness.

Even after the final whistle sounded you remained spellbound observing Michael bask in those rapturous post-coital moments savoring his ineffable feat.

Utterly transfixed upon the hyper-masculine sculpture of your man still slicked with the spoils of carnal supremacy while casting that chiseled nordic profile against the floodlit heavens he reigned sovereign over.

Until his peripheral laser focus abruptly snapped in your direction lancing directly through your aura with a telepathic tractor beam manifesting into actual physics-warping forces.

Almost like each molecule surrounding Michael compressed and bent inward before being shunted aside clearing his path towards you with terrifying inevitability.

You barely had a chance to brace yourself as the unstoppable tsunami slammed into your front row section without mercy or resistance.

The concussive shockwave blasting through your senses while those titanium bulwarks materialized around you scooping your diminutive frame against Michael's furnace-stoked musculature with crushing intensity.

"My sweet empress…I could only hear your voice back there. It motivated me, thank you.”

His rough-hewn bassline resonated against every nerve ending vibrating at some untapped primordial stratum while you strained to surface through the endless whitenoise overloading your synapses.

Only Michael's low gravitic pulses penetrating the oblivion flooding your faculties from that unholy cosmic union now peeling away every layer keeping you distinct individualities during submersion into this event horizon state of indistinguishable polarities collapsed together.

Until finally resurfacing from that singularity after an eternity compressed into nanoseconds - though still deliriously consumed by the aftershocks rippling across your intertwined vessels smoldering in the embers of rapturous conflagration yet still ravenous for more extreme escalations eternally rebirthing from the expended remains!

Only the roaring crescendos from those frenzied supporters still filling the stadium slowly penetrated the vacuous void reverberating between you both savoring that suspended infinitesimal post-orgasmic bliss together.

You felt Michael's stern facade gradually reassemble while withdrawing from your interiors just fractionally enough to restore individuation-yet sense his alpha dominion expanding throughout your reconstituted synaptic matrices cementing his reign over your fused polarities once more.

Then with a subtle shift his smokey granite stare cleaved directly through the veil drawing your reawakened senses under that spellbinding trance spellbinding instantly.

A hushed imperious rasp now caressing your essence from that primal domain where all worldly laws bent to his sovereign decrees:

"Why don’t I reward you tonight, huh, meine liebe ?”

Just experiencing the infinitesimal microcosm of his supreme essence bleeding into your rematerialized corporeal vessel already whiplashed your senses through multiple clinical deaths and resurrections beyond this plane's dimensional limits.

His seismic vibrational frequencies triggered endorphin avalanches detonating every neurotransmitter into frenzied paroxysms anticipating the ineffable escalations still awaiting together...

[maochira]

hello! For the BvK request! Could you do any character (Baki or Kengan) with a sibling who wants to meet everyone on both sides regardless of everyone wanting to fight. Maybe even becoming a fan of a fighter of the opposite side

Sure!!

Tags: gn!reader, reader is Como's younger sibling, reader's age isn't specified but they're a little kid

You're practucally glued to your brother. He can rarely go anywhere without you begging to let you come along or just running after him

He didn't really like the idea to taking you along for this tournament at first, but he figured you'd have lots of fun watching fighters you've never heard of before

And hell was he right. Minutes after stepping foot into the underground arena, you get super hyped and run away from your brother because you can't contain your excitement

You're gone so fast that Cosmo doesn't even notice for the first minute. He only realizes it when Adam asks where you've gone

You're kind of known for constantly running away at the Kengan matches. Everyone there knows you like to escape your brother, but at the Underground arena... he should have kept a better eye on you

While Cosmo is worrying about you, you're busy walking around and trying to talk to all the fighter you don't know

They have no idea who you are and what a little kid is doing there but. Oh well.

You ask them all sorts of questions about their arena, their fighters and whatever else your mind comes up with

You're especially impressed by Katsumi. He tells you all about his fight against Pickle and how he lost an arm

Eventually Cosmo finds you and immediately apologizes to Katsumi

Katsumi tells him it's fine because you weren't a bother at all. He gets into a conversation with your brother who ends up staying there to watch the matches, so you end up watching them with Katsumi

After that day you keep telling Cosmo all sorts of things that Katsumi had told you. And you keep asking your brother to see Katsumi again. It's pretty obvious that you've become his biggest fan

If you enjoyed this, please remember to reblog with tgas! That's the easiest and best way to support me and my writing!

[schlattsdoll]

Hey, I would absolutely love for you to write a Tenth Doctor x fem!Reader fanfic!! Preferably something where the Reader is traveling with the Doctor and Donna and Reader and donna are besties. But in the end you can decide, I just really want more 10th Doctor x reader fanfics 🥰 (fluff, hurt x comfort, smut is all okay :))

traveling the cosmos with your best friend and the doctor was something that felt like a dream. having whirlwind adventures in exciting locals, meeting strange creatures.

the doctor being cheeky towards you and donna shutting him down. “oi watch it spaceman!” she was very protective of you

being able to be alone with the doctor when donna goes back to visit her family

during those times you try not to do anything too extreme, less you feel the wrath of donna noble. you wind up just spending time in londontown, acting as a normal couple

donna sees you two out one day holding hands and the momma bear comes out in her. she loves you both dearly, and knows the heartache that will come from you two being involved

try as she might, she can’t stop the chemistry that’s there between you two. she’s your biggest supporter throughout the whole time

as always, my inbox is open for requests! please send them in 💚

[spacequokka]

My Year in Review

Our lovely @lovetaroandtaemin tagged me! I needed to reflect on this year and had fun setting goals and planning for next year. From the bottom of my heart, thank each and every one of you who read and supported my works. I hope you'll return in the new year!

2024 Writing Stats

number of works posted - 13

number of fics in progress - 6

total words written - 35,483

Top 5 Posts of 2024

Page 85 - 141 notes - Jeonghan, drabble

Page 150 - 83 notes - San, drabble

What More (Can I Do) - 32 notes - Felix, drabble

stars collide - 31 notes - Jinyoung, drabble

Tangled Up Knots - 29 notes - Seonghwa, oneshot

Most Recent Fic

With a Note (I Meant It) ----posted 12/30/24 ----Mingi x Reader ----1.2k words

Longest Fics

oneshot - Tangled Up Knots - 1.6k

series - Beautiful Thing - part 8 - 4.1k, ongoing

My Fav Fic I Wrote

Beautiful Thing is my baby. I've been working on it since 2018. I strive to write it how I see things in my head so it's the most difficult fic to write. Part 8 starts the individual romance arcs with the boys, starting with Yugyeom. Writing him interacting with the reader and developing his own relationship with her was the biggest dose of dopamine I had all year. I adore him and he taught me to play it by ear instead of sticking to my outline. I never thought to have him show interest in her hobbies but he was right - doing so is a great way to show you're falling in love with someone.

My Fav Fics I Read

Cosmos by @pirateprincessblog - Yeosang x Reader, 17.7k

Truth Be Told by @baekhyunsbestie - Baekhyun x Reader, 24.2k

We Can't Be Friends by @jensthwa - San x Reader, 20k

My Favorite Person by @jeonginsleftcheek - Han x Reader, 6.7k

Wanted by @jincherie - Jungkook x Reader - 56k series/complete

Top Songs (w/ lyrics)

Bang - AJR

World's Smallest Violin - AJR

Inertia - AJR

Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar

100 Bad Days - AJR

Saturn - SZA

Touchy Feely Fool - AJR

All the Stars - Kendrick Lamar, SZA

Karma - AJR

Yes I'm a Mess - AJR

Minutes Listened - 52,195

Goals for 2025

Empty my requests box (6) and Tumblr drafts (7).

Reach 2,500 followers.

Have written 325k words overall. Currently at 280k.

Join an active MX writers network. Or start one. Please don't let me do that.

Cycle through everything on my Upcoming list.

Tagging @iibonniee @kittentaegu @pirateprincessblog @iridescentxstars @drunk-on-hwa @dibidibidismynameisleeknow @madness1999sworld @its-not-sof @proudahgase-exol @flurrys-creativity and anyone else who wants to do this. Just tag me!

[retrobr]

i have an important message for the gotg fandom.

i've watched the gotg holiday special today for the first time and i have something to say: kraglin is one of the best and very, very underrated characters in the franchise.

i mean listen, the mere fact that he shared that interest in christmas with peter and was the only one who agreed to help peter arrange all the holiday stuff already says something. he probably cares about peter's interests and supports his little ideas and quirks, which says that he might and probably has somewhat of an empathetic side to him.

second of all, and the fact that the fandom has never — as far as i remember — talked about it honestly surprises me, kraglin kinda saved the christmas spirit by making kevin bacon stay at nowhere. i mean, he supported the idea of surprising peter with bringing his favorite (??) actor as a present for him (just to make peter happy, i must say) and knew that when bacon returns to earth everything is going to be ruined. so by saying something like "yeah peter is your biggest fan and thanks to you he saved the galaxy yadda yadda," he made kevin change his mind and stay at nowhere for a little bit longer.

christmas was saved thanks to him and his proper wording of the importance of kevin's presence here.

besides that, i really, really liked his and kevin's interactions. unlike mantis and drax, kraglin treated him politely and was pretty kind to him, not acting rude or anything like that compared to the other two aliens. maybe it's just me, but it seemed like bacon even liked talking to him; their conversation went like a dialogue between two adequate people.

and last but not least, that scene in which cosmo brought kraglin an orloni as a christmas gift. he was clearly disgusted, but he still patted cosmo as a gesture of gratitude. cosmo was happy, and krags was sure not to disappoint the dog with his ambiguous reaction, so that might say that he has somewhat of a good soul. 

that's not all that i could say about him, it's just the things that i noticed in the holiday special. i also still have to watch vol.3, but really, my dude deserves more attention from the fandom. he's an amazing character to me

[hard-core-super-star]

sneaking out into town, holding hands, just killing time. [H.Steinfeld]

pairing: hailee steinfeld x reader

summary: amidst the chaos of the across the spider-verse press tour, and the unavoidable PR stunts she has to do to cover up your relationship, your girlfriend finds comfort in you.

warnings: pure fluff; a few curse words here and there; anxious hailee; PR stunts; bad descriptions of new york from someone who went there once two years ago

wordcount: 1.9k

a/n: i was supposed to post this the week across the spider-verse came out but shhh. there's so much more i wanted to add to this fic but it's already way too long so...maybe there'll be a part 2? we'll see. shoutout to this song for getting stuck in my head and inspiring most of this fic. this is dedicated to that one lovely anon who requested more hailee fluff. hope you like it!

* * * * * * *

You had never been one for fate.

You’ve always found it romantic, of course.

The idea that every step you take is leading you toward the place you’re supposed to find and the person you’re supposed to be is beautiful and downright inspiring. (You’re not a complete cynic, after all)

However, you had written fate off as something that only affects people in rom-coms and those trashy romance books that are all about how finding your soulmate will fix everything in your life.

So, yeah, needless to say, you weren’t a huge believer.

That was the case for most of your life until everything, including the planets and the stars themselves, seemed to align in just the right way that allowed you to cross paths with the most incredible woman you’ve ever met. You sincerely have no idea what you did to please the cosmos so much that they decided to put you on the same path as Hailee but you are not complaining in any way.

You would do everything all over again, including all the bullshit you had to go through, if it meant you could keep calling Hailee yours at the end of the day. All the pain and loneliness of your past fades away into nothingness every second her eyes are on yours.

That isn’t to say that the present doesn’t still have its difficult moments, even with Hailee by your side.

Being closeted is hard enough on its own but being a closeted celebrity adds a whole new layer to such a complicated situation. You still don’t fully understand why your girlfriend is so against the idea of publicly coming out (although you have your suspicions that the decision isn’t hers to make at the end of the day) but you support her regardless…even when it means spending a whole night alone…in your New York City hotel room…while your girlfriend is seen having dinner with some random guy you’ve never seen before in your life.

It certainly isn’t ideal but you know it’s just one dinner and a couple of paparazzi photos. Just something simple to take the public’s focus away from the fact that you and Hailee have been spotted together every single day she’s been in New York. Plus, with the Across the Spider-Verse premiere a few days away, and the matching outfits already decided on, it’s no wonder her team scrambled to find some way to cover up how obvious you two are getting.

You’re not the biggest fan of the idea but you would do anything for your girlfriend so you sucked it up and didn’t say anything when she left for dinner a few hours ago.

And that’s how you ended up here, cycling between paying attention to the random movie playing on TV and scrolling through your phone in an attempt to control your growing impatience.

You’re finally rewarded with the sound of the hotel door opening and you sit up from your position on the bed, eager to spend time with Hailee.

She quickly comes into view, looking as stunning as ever. She greets you with a half-smile while she begins to take off her blazer and her shoes.

“How’d it go?” You ask, your eyes scanning her face for an answer.

She sighs in response before moving to climb onto your lap once the articles of clothing are off of her body. Your arms wrap around her waist and pull her close, allowing her to rest her head in the crook of your neck. You don’t press her any further but you do run your hands up and down her back in an attempt to comfort her.

A comfortable silence settles over both of you for a long moment until finally, Hailee speaks up. “This was a bad idea.”

“It went that well, huh?” You reply in an attempt to make her laugh a little.

You feel her soft breath hit the skin of your neck before you hear her laugh. The sound brings a small smile to your face even though you feel a little unsure about what to do to help her right now.

“Let’s just say it wasn’t the best choice to make and leave it at that.”

You can tell she’s trying to poke fun at the situation but her voice lacks any real humor, leaving her words to sound more self-deprecating than anything. Your heart hurts a little at that fact although you don’t comment on it….yet.

“At least you got a good dinner out of it.”

She lets a huff of air before she lifts her head up from its resting place. You stare up at her with furrowed eyebrows while she takes your face in her hands. “I’m sorry. I should’ve just taken you out to dinner instead of agreeing to that mess.”

“Hey, you don’t have to apologize.” You lean up to place a few quick kisses on her cheek. “I’m not upset.”

“You should be. I’m a coward. I’m spending every day preaching how important it is to ‘live your life unapologetically’ while I hide who I am from everyone.”

“Not everyone,” you correct her. “And there’s nothing wrong with not being ready to come out yet. You know I would never hold that against you.”

She looks away from you, her hands dropping from your face to your shoulders as she does so. You barely catch the thin layer of unshed tears in her eyes but it’s enough to push you into motion. You reach up to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear before cupping her cheek with your hand. You don’t force her to look at you right now, you just attempt to comfort her in the only ways you know how.

“Hailee, listen to me, I love you. It doesn’t matter to me whether I get to take you out on stupidly expensive dates or not. I don’t care about the photos or the interviews or the tweets from your fans. All I care about is you. Who gives a shit if we’re the only two people who know the truth? We’re the only two people who matter when it comes to this relationship.”

A beat of silence goes by before she speaks again, the corners of her mouth quirking up into the smallest of smiles. “How do you always do that?”

“Do what, Lee?”

“You always know what the right thing to say is.” Her voice is a soft whisper as she turns to look at you again.

This time, you're the one who smiles.

You lean forward, gently wiping away a few of her stray tears until your foreheads meet. “It's my superpower. Sorry, but you're not the only superhero in this relationship.”

She laughs. A real laugh that makes the corners of her eyes crinkle in the way you love so much. You expect her to make fun of you or call you a dork like always but she doesn't.

Instead, she leans in. Her movements are slow but you don't make any attempts to rush her. You take the opportunity to let everything about the moment sink in.

The feeling of her breath against your lips, the way her eyes flutter closed, the gentle hand that holds the back of your head and pulls you in to close the few inches of space between your mouths.

It’s all beautiful and soft and full of the love you both feel.

You pull away after a moment, not wanting to ignore the genuine feelings the situation has brought out in your girlfriend. “I meant what I said, by the way. All I care about is you.”

“I know.” She gives you one more quick kiss before moving off of your lap and onto her feet. She holds her hand out for you to take, that usual sparkle back in her eyes. “Come on. We’re leaving.”

You tilt your head in confusion but take her hand anyway, already knowing there’s an idea brewing behind those brown eyes. “It’s one in the morning.”

“When has that ever stopped us before?” She replies as she pulls you up and into her arms. “We only have two days left here before we have to go back home and I intend to make the best of them.”

“Lee, it’s a business trip, not a vacation.” You attempt to keep your tone light but it’s obvious what your words really mean.

It’s not just that Hailee is here to do press, not sightsee, but it’s also the fact that going out together is always a risk. No amount of last-minute PR stunts can cover up the obvious love that flows between both of you. Especially with the heart-eyes Hailee can’t help but throw your way all the time.

She gives a small nod to let you know she understands your point but the smile doesn’t leave her face.

“That doesn’t mean we’re not allowed to have some fun. Just you and me.”

“And the hundreds of tourists walking around Times Square.”

“No one will notice.” She pulls you in closer, leaning down until her forehead rests against yours. “And it doesn’t matter if they do, it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

You're about to protest, ready to tell her she doesn't have to do anything more to prove how she feels about you when she leans down to press a sweet kiss to your lips.

Your complaints fade away pretty quickly at that.

Her next words are spoken in a whisper, her breath hitting your lips. “I just want to go out with you. Treat you like you deserve to be treated.”

You're pretty sure your heart is going to beat out of your chest if she doesn't stop being so adorable right now.

“Well…when you put it like that, how am I supposed to say no?”

You don't think you've ever seen anything shine as bright as her smile. She gives you one more quick kiss before rushing to get ready, changing out of her fancy clothes and into jeans and a hoodie in the blink of an eye.

You admire her for a few seconds before following suit, putting on the closest pair of sneakers you can find and slipping on a sweatshirt that you totally didn't steal from your girlfriend. She doesn’t say anything when she sees what you’re wearing but the small smirk on her face tells you everything you need to know.

She holds her hand out to you again and you take it without any hesitation, letting her lead you out of your hotel room and toward whatever destination she has in mind. You realize very quickly that you don’t care where she’s taking you as long as her hand stays in yours.

She ends up leading you out of the hotel and into the busy New York streets. Even in the middle of the night, Times Square is chaotic. And that's putting it mildly. It's bright and loud, and slightly overwhelming. It's a sight you don't think you could ever get used to despite how often you and Hailee end up in the city.

And yet, it's exactly that chaotic energy that makes you feel at peace. There's so much going on, so many different things to look at, that most people don't even spare a glance your way. You blend in among the bustle of the street, allowing Hailee to walk with her arm wrapped tightly around your waist.

For once, you don't have to pretend to be anything less than what you are.

You're in love.

You're free.

And you're sure there's nowhere else in the world you'd rather be right now.

[the-witchy-housewife]

｡+*✧ A Field Guide to the Energy Body ✧*+｡

This is an article from my website, The Witchy Housewife. You can read it at the source here or look under the cut to read it here on Tumblr. If you enjoy my work, please consider subscribing (at the bottom of this page) to receive articles as they're posted via e-mail, exploring the shop, leaving a tip, or reblogging this post. I run this all myself, so all support is greatly appreciated. 💜🔮✨

One of the biggest barriers for beginners in energy work, I’ve noticed, seems to be a lack of foundational understanding in regards to the energy body and how to sense those subtle elements ever-present within and without us. Today, I seek to help demystify these concepts with a breakdown of the energy body, the varying theories that go with it (including my own ideas and perceptions), and a handful of suggestions for improving your subtle senses. A fair warning: Today’s read is a long one – so grab yourself a cup of tea, cozy up, and enjoy this thorough breakdown of everything you need to know to start working with energy.

What Is the Energy Body?

As with many things in the realm of the metaphysical, there are varying theories for exactly how the energy body works and the distinct parts it can be broken down into. The best place to start, I feel, is defining the concept of energy itself. Oxford provides three definitions: One, “the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity,” two, “power derived from the utilization of physical or chemical resources”, and three, “the property of matter and radiation which is manifest as a capacity to perform work.” It is derived from the Greek energeia (ἐνέργεια), a sort of cosmic vigor. This fascinating (and somewhat abstract even by mainstream definition) substance can, perhaps, be considered synonymous more “spiritual” words such as spirit, aether (αἰθήρ), prana (प्राण), qi (氣), and likely many others I am unaware of. Energy, in a spiritual sense, is pure lifeforce. It is the little unsolved question mark in the equation of existence, and it is heavily associated with concepts such as the Higher Self, the soul, the psyche (ψυχή), the Ātman (आत्मन्) – and, once again, likely many others I am unaware of.*

(*Just to avoid having to repeat myself regarding varying spiritual schools of teaching, please keep in mind that for the remainder of this piece, I will only be offering a window of insight into a world of different paths. The comparisons made are not meant to be perfect 1:1 comparisons, but are meant to highlight similarities between teachings. Likewise, I will not be naming every single theory that exists in writing today. Use this as a guide, but seek your own path.)

Another thing worth discussing before we continue is the first law of thermodynamics in physics: Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. It can only be transformed or transferred from one form to another. The total amount of energy within the universe, per this law, has always been and will always be the same – and yet, the universe expands, per these same authorities in science. Perhaps, if we were to answer this riddle spiritually, we could theorize that our idea of “finite” is not quite the Cosmos’ idea of “finite”. Perhaps it is all one big pool that seems to “multiply” within. Perhaps this is one of those concepts shrouded in mystery by our incredibly limited and binary way of thinking. When we delve into the topic of the energy body today, it recommended that you put your binary way of thinking aside, if only temporarily, to really understand and absorb the material for use on your own path.

Which brings us to the energy body, the aetheric vessel or vehicle which surrounds and permeates our physical existence (our current incarnation) and either connects us directly with our Higher Self (our psyche or soul) or contains it. Depending on your practice, you may also refer to this energy body as the subtle body or the light body. It is often broken down further, across many varying belief systems, into three distinct layers or parts.

In Vedic philosophies, for example, there are three bodies or sharira (शारीर): The physical body, the astral body, and the causal body, each one considered more subtle than the last. The physical body, also called the gross body or the sthula sharira (स्थुलशरीर), is exactly that – the physical body. It is made up of the Panchmahabhutas (पञ्चभूत) or five primordial elements: Akasha (आकाश) or aether, Vayu (वायु) or air, Agni (अग्नि) or fire, and Prithivi (पृथिवी) or earth. It is the densest of the three bodies and requires food, water, and air as sustenance and is bound by cyclical time through birth, subsistence, growth, maturity, decay, and death. Come death, it dissolves. The astral body, also called the subtle body or the linga sharira (लिङ्गशरीर), is the sort of in-between where the mind, intellect, subconscious, and ego reside. It surrounds the physical body as an aura and encourages the movement of the prana through the nadis (नाडी), or energy currents, and chakras (चक्र), or energy centers. It is responsible for our physiological functions, our feelings of pleasure and pain, our five physical senses, and our subtler astral senses (or what some may call our psychic abilities). It is formed prior to the physical body and only dissolves after the last particle of the physical body disintegrates. The astral body may itself be considered synonymous with the energy body depending upon your perspective. Finally, the causal body, also called the seed body or the karana sharira (कर��शरीर), is the catalyst for the development of the physical and astral bodies and the blueprint of each incarnation on the whole. It is the doorway to higher consciousness and the link between the individual and the collective, and it contains the knowledge, information, experiences, and habitual patterns accumulated across all lifetimes. These three bodies may be broken down even further still into the five koshas (कोश), or sheaths, but for the sake of the simplicity of this article, I won’t be delving any further into this today. Should you feel called to this path of exploration, feel free to go out and explore the topic further for yourself.

Now, while the Vedic teachings of the energy body may offer the most thorough breakdown, there are other relevant philosophies worth exploring. In Ancient Greek teachings, Plato breaks the psyche down into three parts: The epithymia (ἐπῐ́θῡμοια) or the part of the psyche related to desire and instinct, the thymos (θυμός) or the part of the psyche related to passion and drive, and the logos (λόγος) or the part of the psyche related to logic and wisdom. In more general spiritual philosophies, this is simply called the body, mind, and spirit (or sometimes heart). In addition, there are also varying New Age ideas of the energy body including things like the etheric layer, the emotional layer, and the mental layer.

In my practice: On my path, I’ve studied and compared many, many cultures, teachings, and mythos as they relate to an understanding of spirituality. From these studies, I currently theorize – as many people do – that they are all describing the same thing. As it applies here:

The Parts of the Energy Body (Vessel for the Psyche): Epithymia ↭ Body ↭ Physical Body ↭ Vital Sheath (of Astral Body) Thymos ↭ Mind ↭ Astral Body ↭ Mental Sheath (of Astral Body) Logos ↭ Spirit ↭ Causal Body ↭ Intellectual Sheath (of Astral Body)

It’s not that these are explicitly the same (and certainly not in the case of the bodies and sheaths in Yogic philosophy), but that they bear many undeniable similarities. They each offer valuable insight and information which does not unravel but, rather, supports one another and only serves to further our understanding of these concepts the deeper we delve into them.

The goal of mastering the energy body, typically, is to liberate the soul, the rawest and “truest” part of your being. In doing so, we begin to remember this part of ourselves and are able to leave behind the cycle of reincarnation. In addition, this benefits the current incarnation by freeing you from emotional burdens and obsessions, expanding your awareness (which I define as the window of existence we are “currently” perceiving), and improving your subtle senses and abilities (which we will be discussing later in this article).

Finally, before we move on, there is one additional concept relevant to the energy body that I’d like to discuss, and that is the concept of vibes or vibrational frequency. In my experience, there are two different types of vibrational frequencies that tend to intermingle within the same space: What I call the energetic signature – or the raw, identifiable energy that is unique to a person, place, or thing – and what I call energetic impressions – or energies that have been influenced and shaped by intention, emotional output, or lingering energies that have passed through. When we do energy work, when we manifest, or when we enchant, we are creating an energetic impression. That energetic impression will also contain, beyond our intentions, a piece of our own energetic signature and a piece of the energetic impression that may be dwelling within us based on a particular emotion we’ve been accumulating. To put it into simpler terms: You can think of this process like signing your name on a letter to someone. Your energetic signature is your name, and it will always be linked to you directly. Let’s say it’s a love letter. In this case, you may choose to sign your name in red and add a little heart to the end of it. The way you decorate this signature is the intention you are imposing upon the letter’s overall energetic impression. Let’s also say you’re nervous, though, as you write this letter. Perhaps your signature is shakily written, despite your best efforts. This shakiness would be your internal energetic impressions coming through. It is not directly connected to you, but it is still present within you and makes itself known on the page. What you are left with is a letter from you that conveys romance and anxiety, and that is the energetic impression of letter. Keep in mind that the letter also has its own unique energetic signature on top of this, and for simplicity, we’ll say that, in the case of this example, the energetic signature of the letter is that which is meant to convey a message.

Energy Points & The Chakra System

There is much debate about whether or not working with the chakra system outside of the practice of Hinduism is to be considered frowned-upon appropriative behavior. I will state my opinion simply: If you explore thoroughly and with respect to the source material and its teachers, find spiritual benefit in your life after applying your findings, and do not commercialize yourself as the one and only authority of the one and only truth (which is quite a big problem in the spirituality community in general), you should be able to do so without being met with venomous looks. Often, it is not the followers of a path barring the curious from entry onto it, and I find the desire to deter people from walking any sort of spiritual path that seeks the deeper potential truths of human existence to be a bit questionable. To me, this implies that either the path in question holds no truth or that certain people are simply not permitted to seek such a truth. It also completely ignores the tremendous amount of cross-cultural influence among these spiritual paths. That said, I am aware of closed practices and sacred spaces that are closed at the discretion of those practicing within them, and though Hinduism on the whole is not considered a closed practice by many of those who live by its teachings, I again urge utmost respect when dealing with any sort of cross-cultural exploration (including confronting any hidden biases you may have).

There is another sector of people who feel that the purpose of the chakra system (either initially or by corruption over time) is to create energetic sockets, as it were, for various external entities and energies to easily attach to you, drain you, and/or manipulate you. Without getting too deeply into the why’s and how’s of it, this has popularized the idea of a process known as chakra removal, which can be a bit confusing, as the processes I’ve read about seem something more like chakra unification than removal. The process usually involves the condensing of the seven-point chakra system into a three-point or one-point energetic spring that can flow more easily without “stopping” at these various destinations along the way in the case of a blockage. In doing so, as well, it is thought that there are less “entry” points for unwanted entities or energies to creep into. I’ll give my opinion on this shortly, but before I do, I’d like to return to the seven-chakra system itself to give a bit of foundation.

The chakras (चक्र), in Vedic teachings, are swirling centers of energy connected by nadis (नाडी), currents of energy which allow travel between the chakras. To clean up the first misconception: There have been and still are many varying chakra systems beyond the seven-chakra system most of us are familiar with today, and this is because the chakra system is not one of solidity, but are rather one of function and organization – a method of working with the very fluid energy body in a way that we are able to comprehend, the creatures of method that we are as human beings. In most cases, the common points among these systems include the sexual center, the heart, and the crown (which lines up quite well with our look into the layers of the energy body). Outside of this, though, systems can vary greatly, and one system is no better or worse than another. Returning again to the seven-chakra system: The concept of a myriad of correspondences as being intrinsically linked to certain chakras seems to be another rigid misunderstanding of the original teachings. In my understanding, the elements and symbols associated with the chakras are meant to assist in the visualization process known as nyasa (न्यास), wherein mantras (मन्त्र), or divine recitations, are installed at specific chakras with the intention of inviting in the gods into them.

None of this, by the way, is to discredit the westernized chakra system which does indeed have a focus on correspondences, as per traditional western mystic practices which is big on the concept of correspondences on the whole. Just because something is newer or derivative does not inherently make it less effective, and I’ve seen many people find positive, life-changing results from working with the western interpretation of the chakra system. To me, it is just another variation, and a lot of ideas born of this variation have even been incorporated into more modern practices overall. Where I think the contention really comes in, however, is when this particular chakra system is presented as “the ancient way”, similar to the way Wicca is sometimes presented as an ancient religion. Both are derivative of much older practices, and there is nothing wrong with this. The sooner we become okay with this, the sooner we can be honest about it and the more open to learning and exploring both the old and the new ways we can become. Learning and growing in an eternal role of “student of the universe” is one of my favorite aspects of spirituality. I hope you all carry a healthy curiosity, as well.

With all that said, let’s have a basic look at the modern interpretation of the seven-chakra system as it is commonly presented within the spiritual community today:

❃ The Root Chakra | Muladhara (मूलाधार)/Hieron Osteon (ἱερόν ὀστέον) | Formed at the base of the spine. Intended for the vibration of “LAM” and the installation of Ganesh and Brahma. Associated with the element of earth. Other correspondences include the color red, the reproductive glands, and the frequency of 396 Hz. It is worked with to assist in grounding, confidence, and base instinct.

❃ The Sacral Chakra | Svadhisthana (स्वाधिष्ठान)/Gonades (γονάδες) | Formed at the navel. Intended for the vibration of “VAM” and the installation of Vishnu. Associated with the element of water. Other correspondences include the color orange, the adrenal glands, and the frequency of 417 Hz. It is worked with to assist in sexual desires, passion, and creativity.

❃ The Solar Plexus Chakra | Manipura (मणिपुर)/Gaster (γᾰστήρ) | Formed at the solar plexus. Intended for the vibration of “RAM” and the installation of Rudra. Associated with the element of fire. Other correspondences include the color yellow, the pancreas glands, and the frequency of 528 Hz. It is worked with to assist in self-esteem, determination, and willpower.

❃ The Heart Chakra | Anahata (अनाहत)/Phrenes (φρένες) | Formed at the center of the chest. Intended for the vibration of “YAM” and the installation of Ishvara. Associated with the element of air. Other correspondences include the color green, the thymus glands, and the frequency of 639 Hz. It is worked with to assist in love, compassion, and emotional stability.

❃ The Throat Chakra | Vishuddha (विशुद्ध)/Trachelos (τράχηλος) | Formed at the throat. Intended for the vibration of “HAM” and the installation of Sadashiva. Associated with the element of aether. Other correspondences include the color blue, the thyroid glands, and the frequency of 741 Hz. It is worked with to assist in communication, trust, and individuality.

❃ The Third Eye Chakra | Ajna (आज्ञा)/Enkephalos (ἐγκέφᾰλος) | Formed between the eyebrows. Intended for the vibration of “OM” and the installation of Ardhanarishvara. Other correspondences include the color indigo, the pineal glands, and the frequency of 852 Hz. It is worked with to assist in expanded spiritual awareness and a sense of time.

❃ The Crown Chakra | Sahasrara (सहस्रार)/Koruphe (κορυφή) | Formed at the top of the head. Intended for the vibration of “OM” and the installation of Bhairava. Other correspondences include the color violet, the pituitary glands, and the frequency of 963 Hz. It is worked with to assist in divine liberation and return to pure consciousness.

There many other associations and correspondences out there, including ones that may be very different from those I’ve listed here. Let the teachings that resonate with you guide you on your own path of exploration, but only keep with you that which you find beneficial. One additional note about the above list: You may have noticed I’ve also included terms for a Hellenic interpretation of the seven-chakra system. If you path takes on a Hellenic slant as mine does, have a look at this website for this interpretation, which has a heavy focus on healing.

In my practice: As promised, I now offer my opinion on the chakra system and the theories that surround the practice of “chakra removal”: I do not personally feel that the purpose of the chakra system is inherently malicious as some others do, nor do I feel like having your system err on the side of “open” is inherently bad practice. I do think, though, that if you are going to work with an energy body system that is more open, it is a good idea to have a regular practice of cleansing and cord cutting, and it is an equally good idea to get to know your own energy body well enough to know when it is in need of extra attention. On the other hand, if you opt for a more closed system, it would probably be wise to be mindful of potential stagnation. The system you choose to work with, unified or otherwise, however, I feel, is largely up to the practitioner.

I think it’s also worth noting that when some people step into the realm of the spiritual – and certainly when they begin to step away from modern Biblical rhetoric – they pull a great deal of anxiety with them, whether that’s due to programming from that Biblical rhetoric or amplified fears of the unknown by Hollywood dramatization. With this kind of hypervigilance, it can become unfortunately quite easy to apply your everyday worries and blues to whatever new practice you’re exploring. Be careful not to neglect the tricks of the mundane.

Psychic Abilities of the Energy Body

In the first section of this article, I mentioned that working with the energy body – beyond aiding in liberation of the soul – can offer some additional benefits in the current incarnation by freeing you from emotional burdens and obsessions, expanding your awareness, and improving your subtle senses and abilities. But what is this “expanded” awareness, and what does it feel like? Further, what are these “subtle senses and abilities” you should be prepared to encounter?

There are two workable systems that I am aware of that attempt to categorize and help you reach certain states of awareness. The first system is related to the koshas of Vedic philosophy – which again, you should feel free to explore should it call to you – and the second system is that of the “focus levels” taught by the Monroe Institute. After working with the Monroe Institute myself, and in particular the Gateway Experience curriculum, I have my own opinions and ideas regarding their work, which I will be divulging at a later time. For now, though, I do have to say that their breakdown of “focus levels” provides a nice little linear map of forward momentum in an expanding awareness. As outlined on their website: Focus 1 represents normal, waking consciousness within the realm of this physical reality. They then skip ahead to Focus 10, which represents the body in a state of sleep while the mind remains awake and alert. Focus 11 is considered the “Access Channel” and represents a state of open communication between the mental, the physical, and the emotional. Moving onto Focus 15, we find ourselves in a state of “No-Time”, wherein consciousness is far removed from the physical body, and linear time in no longer relevant to experience. Some may call this the Void State. Skipping again to Focus 21, and things begin to get a bit weirder. This point is described as the very edge of perception of the space/time continuum and the “Bridge” to other realities. Focus 23 is said to be the territory of “new arrivals” who have just experienced physical death. Focus 24 through 26 are grouped together as “Belief System Territories”, where the divine concepts of religion and mythos reside. Focus 27 is said to be the “edge of human thought capacity” and a “way-station” for those recovering from the trauma of physical death and planning the next phase of experience. Focus 34 and 35 are labeled the “area of the Gathering”, and from here on out, it only gets more obscure and a bit irrelevant to the point of this article. While I cannot, after my experiences, recommend the trainings and audio offered directly by the Monroe Institute, if it is calling to you, feel free to explore it for yourself. I do think there are gems in there, but I have to wonder how much higher-up meddling may have poisoned the cookie jar, as it were, to some degree.

You may have noticed that these experiences broken down above deal predominately in the realm of deep meditation or sleep, but as our overall awareness grows, so too does our overall abilities to perceive the subtler aspects of existence, and we may find ourselves having equally “strange” experiences in our waking lives. You may already be familiar with the following:

• Claircognizance: Intuition, discernment, and knowing. This is the first thing, in my experience and the experiences of many others, that seems to strengthen upon an expanded awareness. It seems to be what is most commonly referred to as a generic “psychic ability” and can be exercised by developing trust in your inner voice and practicing mindfulness meditation.

• Clairvoyance: Seeing clearly what is “unseen” in the mind’s eye. Sometimes this can come through as a visual imprint of energies/entities existing in other realms. This ability can be exercised by “predicting” unseen visual cues and practicing visualization meditation.

• Clairaudience: Hearing clearly what is “unheard” in the mind’s ear. Sometimes this can come through as an auditory imprint of energy/entities existing in other realms. The ability can be exercised by “predicting” unheard audio cues and practicing the expansion of your auditory awareness while sitting in “silence”.

• Clairsentience: An intuitive awareness of present energies, the strongest to come through usually being emotional. People who naturally find themselves picking up on and absorbing these energies like a sponge to water, and who may be subconsciously shaping energetic cords as a result, are often referred to as empaths. I recognize that the term has been greatly watered down, so I tend to stress that empaths are energetically sensitive rather than emotionally.

• Telepathy: The ability to project intended mental energy, such as the energy of certain information or emotions. Beyond the typical presentation of “communicating with others via thought”, I feel as though many popular manifestation techniques could fall into this category.

• Telekinesis: The ability to project intended physical energy, often to bring about a realm-time physical response. Beyond the typical presentation of “moving objects with your mind”, I feel as thought many popular energy healing techniques could fall into this category.

This is by no means the edge of possibility, I am sure – merely the most commonly discussed of the subtle abilities. Additionally, contrary to what some believe, I am of the belief that any and all of this abilities can be achieved by absolutely anyone. Though they may – as with any skill – come more naturally to some than others, with a regular practice of working with the energy body, I am sure you will find that these experiences begin to develop.

Burdens of the Energy Body

There is a plethora of beliefs regarding the formation of energetic blockages and the problems that can cause for you in your current incarnation, in the afterlife to follow, and in subsequent incarnations after that (whatever “after” may imply in what may be quite a timeless realm overall). The first of these blockages I’d like to discuss in this section is that of generational curses and generational trauma, both of which apply to the current incarnation alone (though, there are other theories out there considering the possibility of reincarnation taking place within the bounds of a bloodline). In a Biblical sense, generational curses may be likened to the concept of “original sin” as it related to the alleged wrongdoings of our ancestors and the responsibility of consequence being passed onto us by nature of blood relation. Even outside of the Biblical context, however, the concept of familiar curses can be seen in folklore, in classical works, and in modern media. Breaking these curses comes two-fold: Cleansing with intention and then breaking the cycle of questionable family habits through shadow work, therapy, or some other preferred form of thorough introspection. Generational trauma, on the other hand, is more solid of a concept, rooted in psychological study, and is explained as being passed down through the coping mechanisms and unhealthy behaviors resulting from traumatic experiences being learned and mirrored through the family’s descendants. Each generation is shaped by the previous, and again, echoes the sentiment of a need to break the cycle. Even for those who consider generational trauma to be a more spiritual experience, self-work seems to be the most optimal solution for that problem, whatever the preferred method of self-work is.

Next, we have the concept of miasma (μίασμα) or soul pollution. In order of severity, this miasma can be produced by: Natural death, childbirth, contact with human blood, excretions, or sexual fluids, illness, imperfections in ritual – and moving up into what is deemed hamartia (ἁμαρτία), or the more harmful and more serious producers of miasma – murder, incest, hubris, and malevolent magick. Left uncleansed, miasma is said to cause a spiritual disconnect and result in ineffective rituals. It is also considered contagious and may be picked up or spread through people, places, and objects. It is important to note that this is not at all related to the Abrahamic concept of sin, but more a natural side effect of having a physical experience. The more consumed by the physical we are, the denser our own energy becomes, and the less connected we are to our own divinity. This doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t enjoy this physical experience. You should – and in my opinion, have a pleasant existence is very much about finding the right balance in your life. Regular cleansings easily solve the issue of miasma.

Then we have what is typically referred to as etheric cords, and these sticky energetic strings can form in at least two ways that I am aware of: By unintentionally giving your focus and, therefore, energy to another person, place, or thing or by intentionally attaching your energy to a person, place, or thing. People or entities who conscious attach to other living beings with the purpose of draining their energy for their own benefit are often referred to as spiritual parasites or psychic vampires. Though, I do want to note as well that there are many psychic vampires I have come across who have been doing this subconsciously and find themselves totally unaware of it. There are many who have become aware who now practice the conscious absorption of exclusively negative energy and the transmutation of it into positive, thereby making the practice beneficial. Definitely a topic worth delving into another time. In any case, the solution for these etheric cords is a process known as cord cutting, which typically involves a visualization of these cords being cut or disconnected and is followed by a cleansing.

One issue you may be more familiar with is that of the Evil Eye – also known as mati (μάτι), al-’ayn (العين), mal de ojo, and many other names across many other cultures, with slight variations across each piece of folklore surrounding it. Similarly to etheric cords, this curse is formed by focused attention on a subject – in this case, specifically negative, caused by envy, judgement, or dislike. Though, it is important to mention that in some cultures, it is by looks of admiration, and it is believed that the young are especially vulnerable. Though done unintentionally, the result is bad luck, feelings of unpleasantness, and, in more serious cases, physical illness. There are many cleansing techniques out there specifically intended to target Evil Eye, but it is growing increasingly common for people to keep an Evil Eye amulet, commonly a Nazar (نَظَر‎) or Hamsa (خمسة), to help neutralize the effects of Evil Eye.

Moving our focus across incarnations, we’ve got concepts like karma (कर्म), another term that has gotten quite watered down. Karma, as a cosmic law, is much closer to the idea of manifestation than it is to justice, but cosmic justice can indeed be a result. It is a cosmic cause and effect – an action and the energy that is then produced by it – and karma itself is not something that is set in stone. You are capable of setting positive intentions and taking positive actions that can change the tides for you at anytime. You are not guaranteed an eternity of suffering because you did something bad one time. What you are guaranteed, regardless of the nature of your action, is a return on the nature of your action, in whatever way that may manifest. If you are very concerned about “bad karma”, however, self-work is, as I say for many other things, the best medicine – and self-flagellation for assumed bad deeds from previous lifetimes will only result in a manifestation of those beliefs continuing.

And finally, we have the concept of soul contracts, the plans or missions that we allegedly set for ourselves prior to incarnating into a new lifetime – and this is where ideas like fate and destiny come into play. It is believed by many that these so-called contracts are made with an overarching spiritual purpose – a purpose for our soul’s growth, for our soul family, for existence itself. Still, this brings into question the necessity of more negative behaviors, assuming that these behaviors are a product of these contracts and not some sort of subconscious rebellion. It may also have one questioning things like autonomy and free will, and I very much value the availability of knowledge and the informed freedom that comes as a result. You must decide for yourself whether you share this view or you view this as a necessary mystery in the grand spiritual puzzle – if you believe in the idea at all – but should you decide that something must be done about this in your life, there are many who suggest that revoking consent, either verbally or internally, is a powerful and life-changing practice.

Your beliefs about all of these things, by the way, do have the potential to cause their own energetic blockages. Additionally, our belief systems on the whole are not immune to forces of external programming – but that is another conversation for another time. I must stress, above all, that self-work is so very important, and I am currently working on a free three-part course for those looking to get started on this, so please keep an eye out for that. I’ll, of course, update this article when the course goes live. And for those of you who would like a more foundational article pertaining to cleansings and spiritual safety in general, I have an article on that you can check out right here.

Energy Body Activations

“Activation.” That was always sort of a funny word to me in the realm of spirituality, as if these parts of ourselves are by default dormant and deactivated. I, on the other hand, feel that they are always present and active in our day-to-day, guiding us through life’s many twists and turns, albeit perhaps beyond average perception and beyond average control. In the thoroughly modern times we live in, and within a society constantly spoonfeeding you that lifestyle, our spiritual side becomes neglected. By being reassured over and over again how mundane the world is and how helpless we are to it, our spiritual “muscles” may grow weak, but I do not feel that they are ever fully “deactivated”. On my path, I would liken the term “activation” more closely to the idea of “awakening”, which to me is synonymous with remembering who we really are. Activation. Awakening. Ascension. All of these things mean roughly the same thing to me. That said, only you can decide how you feel as we explore the idea of activations.

The most commonly discussed activation or awakening – outside of the very general “spiritual awakening” – is that of Kundalini (कुण्डलिनी) awakening. In Tantric practices, Kundalini is described as a sort of primordial life-force energy of the Divine Feminine, a source of creative energy and spiritual liberation, lying coiled at the base of the spine, which upon awakening flows up through the energy body and out and around you through the crown like a cyclical fountain. When flowing freely, it is common for the results to be felt quite intensely. These results are sometimes referred to as “Kundalini syndrome” in individuals who are not quite prepared or in the ideal state of mind to be receiving such a surge of energy. As with any other type of ill-prepared experience with spiritual awakening, this has the potential to lead to things like increased anxiety, dissociation, derealization, physical illness as a result of high stress, or even psychosis in some of the worst cases. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you let a Kundalini or spiritual awakening come naturally as you move forward on your path and that you maintain balance and keep a regular practice of grounding. For those interested in working towards the experience, the following practices are recommended: Tantra, pranayama, meditation, rhythmic movement, gratitude and openness, and energy work in general. It should be noted, however, that there are those who believe it cannot necessarily be “brought on”, but rather that it happens when it is meant to, regardless of how prepared you may be.

In my practice: I’d like to mention that, from my perspective, there seems to be a colossal distortion in much of western culture of both the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine energies. I see a lot of repression of the healthier expression of these energies alongside the touting of unhealthier expressions as inherent parts of our identities that should not be changed for anyone or anything. And to clarify, this has nothing to do with gender, as we all have aspects of both energies within us at varying levels. The Divine Feminine, in particular, is a cosmic energy that has been demonized for a very long time. Thus, this aspect of the spiritual awakening process is where I think a lot of people start to stagnate on their path – and to say nothing of the endless bombardness with notions of powerlessness supposedly intended to keep us rooted in “reality” at all times on top of it all. It’s unfortunate that these things are the case, but it’s something to be aware of nonetheless if you really want to see growth.

Another popular concept circulating within the spiritual community right now is that of DNA activation. It’s interesting how this trend is reflected even in the more “mundane” sectors of life in the way of DNA test kits that reveal your supposed ancestral origins. In terms of benefits, they seem to be not unlike the list of benefits that come with the more general spiritual awakening. I have my own opinions on the matter, which I’ll address later, but for now, this is the only process I was able to find among the sea of people selling their “unique” services:

DNA Activation, Part 1: First, ground yourself. As soon as you feel like you’re ready, bring Earth’s energy up through your feet, up through your crown, and out into the universe. Continue carrying this beam of energy out beyond the universe and into the realm of the Divine. Once there, command the Divine to activate what is referred to as your “youth and vitality chromosomes” and to reveal to you “the master cell in the pineal gland”. Observe in your mind’s eye what is shown to you, and it is done. Return your awareness to your body and cleanly cut any cords you may have formed. Circulate your own energy within you. You may experience a sort of energetic purge after this point, so give yourself some time to adjust.

DNA Activation, Part 2: Repeat part one up until you reach the realm of the Divine. Once there, command the Divine to activate your remaining chromosomes, and once again ask them to reveal the “master cell”. Observe in your mind’s eye what is shown to you, and it is done. Return your awareness to your body once more, cut cords, and circulate your energy. After this point, the process of DNA activation is complete, and the promised benefits will follow.

Less talked about – but still talked about enough to be worth mentioning in this article – is the concept of light body activation, in which there seems to be 12 levels of activation that vary from source to source. As with DNA activation, it is difficult to find a method of doing it yourself versus an array of people simply offering their own services, and the only freely available recommendations I could find fall right in line with the suggestions given for advancing a Kundalini awakening. The benefits, as well, are quite similar if not completely the same.

I’m sure there are more activation techniques out there than the above two I’ve mentioned, which brings me to the question: Are all of these “activations” true, or are these people simply trying to sell you something? Of course, it is not the case that every spiritual service is a con, and I take not issue with spiritual services provided for convenience. It’s when people present themselves as the only ones capable of doing something for you that I’m inclined to tilt my head. People may have their own methods of doing things, and they are well within their right to offer that method as a service or class or book or however they may choose to present it, but make no mistake, anyone is entirely capable of achieving the same result on their own. In fact, I encourage it, because the spiritual path is a deeply personal one, and learning how powerful you are is such an important part of it. Still, disingenuous con artists do exist within our community, and it’s important to be aware of that and raise questions when necessary.

In my practice: There are some of you who may feel offended regarding my opinions on certain activation processes – those of you who have found them to be beneficial especially. I am not denying anyone what works for them. You should explore anything that resonates with you, and if something works for you, then it works for you, and you should give no one the power to take that away. All I am suggesting is two things: That you don’t need a special and mysterious activation process offered by a stranger online and that these parts of you don’t necessarily need “activation” at all. In my opinion, it happens naturally as you move forward on your spirit path, as you explore deeper parts of yourself, as you become familiar with your own energy body. All of these concepts that I’ve studies – spiritual awakening, spiritual ascension, Kundalini awakening, DNA activation, light body activation, etc – they all have so very much in common in terms of goals and benefits. Perhaps it is another case of different people talking about the same thing. That said, in the case of DNA activation, I do have to wonder if a focus on the current incarnation could present some problems, particularly in the very tribal society we currently reside in. Again, though, I cannot take from you that which works for you.

Starting to Sense Energies

It all has to start somewhere, and if you’re planning on getting into any sort of energy work, the first step is to begin trying to sense those subtle energies. One exercise I really enjoy is given in this video by one of my favorite witches on YouTube, Lady Gravedancer. The process is very simple and easy-to-understand, and it can be applied to anything and everything. These subtle sensations come differently to everyone. You may feel a warmth, a tingling, a buzzing, a fluidity, or something completely different, but the more you work with it, the more you’ll familiarize yourself with how you personally perceive and transpose energy.

If this is too difficult for you at this time – and it’s okay if it is; we are all at different points on our path – I suggest taking a step back and implementing a practice of daily meditation and regular exploration (both of the self and of varying pre-built paths our there). When ideas come to you, or when things call to you upon your explorations, take them and run with them. Peel them open like fresh fruit and revel in the sensation of something new. You may find that they resonate and take your further along your journey – or you may find that they don’t, and in that case, you continue on as you were, keeping the mind’s eye out for the next thing worth trying.

The destination is exciting, but the journey is just as enthralling. I hope that you’ll allow yourself to enjoy it, and I hope that this article has found those of you who craved it. Much love and many blessings to you, wherever your path may take you, until we meet again.

[enterthedisneyverse]

Shōgun is one of the greatest television series I’ve ever watched. Full stop. The biggest pain right now is knowing that award season is SO FAR AWAY. I’m already prepping my For Your Considerations.

Leading actor in a limited series: Cosmo Jarvis

Leading actor in a limited series: Hiroyuki Sanada

Leading actress in a limited series: Anna Sawai

Supporting Actor in a limited series: Tadanobu Asano (Yabushige)

Supporting Actress in a limited series: Moeka Hoshi (Fuji)

I also think Takahiro Hira (Ishido) and Fumi Nikaido (Ochiba No Kata) could get a supporting actor nominations.

[punkpandapatrixk]

[PPA Masterlist] [corresponding PAC]

🥀Sad Bitch Lilith ★ Concept Affirmations

🥀concept🥀

I am a BAD BITCH LILITH. I embody the Dark Feminine and am comfortable in my skin. There is not a man alive who can make me sad. I am in control of my responses and reactions to everything that is said to and about me. I am aware of everything that is happening in and around me. Words don’t hurt me. Words don’t impact me in any negative way. I know who I am. I am a BAD BITCH LILITH. I am empowered in my embodiment of the Dark Divine Feminine.

🥀e-motions🥀

I honour my emotions, all the good and the bad. I take good care of myself on days I don’t feel so great. There is not a man alive who could tell me that my feelings are bad. My feelings are my golden compass. My e-motions are energy in motion; they help me understand the inner workings of my mind and soul. I am at peace with the ebb and flow of my emotions. I am a divine being in tune with the melodies of Cosmos. I honour my emotions, all the good and the bad.

🥀ego🥀

My ego exists to protect me from other people’s disrespect. It is my ego that demands BETTER treatment from those who deal with me. I understand my ego’s responses and reactions. I have a healthy relationship with my ego. My ego sits quietly at the back, in support of my intuition who is at the wheel of my healthy navigation. My ego and intuition are balanced. They are both my reliable compass as they show me who’s a friend and who’s a fiend. My ego exists to protect me from other people’s disrespect.

🥀cunning🥀

I am the Countess of Cunning. I possess the sharpest intelligence. I observe everything around me, both the seen and unseen. I notice all verbal and non-verbal cues. I have strong intuition which helps me know what’s going on behind the screens. I see through people’s masks. I intuit people’s REAL intentions. I navigate through all the lies. I calculate in the dark. I turn the tables around me. Everything falls into place in my biggest favour. I am invincible in my cunningness, intelligence, intellect and intuition; and I am charming for days. I am invincible in my cunningness and beauty. I embrace all of that without apology. I am the Countess of Cunning.

🥀calculating🥀

The cost of messing with me is high for those who seek to harm me. I possess genius level intelligence that is cold and calculating. I get even with my enemies which results in me coming on top, always. My cold, calculating genius saves me from potential dangers. I skilfully turn the tables around. My emotions do not get in the way. My intellect leads the way. I manifest my highest destiny. I thrive in my own ways. I always win in this world of my desired reality. I am supported and safeguarded by my Higher Self and team of Spirit Guides. The cost of messing with me is high for those who seek to harm me.

🥀crazy🥀

I live courageously as myself, no matter the opposition. I bask in the glory of my eccentricity. I was born with uniqueness that is my own and it is my birthright to feel comfortable in my own skin. I shine all of my Light and express all of my Dark. I am both Venus and Lilith. I am both soft and crazy. This is my power. I love me deeply. I appreciate me honestly. I am a true friend to myself. I protect the core of my being with respect. I like who I am becoming. I am becoming my authentic self. I am proud of the child I have always been. I am my biggest hype man. I live courageously as myself, no matter the opposition.

☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・.

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[jpmarvel90]

Don't let me down - Part 9

Y/n's POV:

Masterlist Scarlett Masterlist

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

Relationship: MamaScarlett x 16 yr old Reader

Summary: Whilst Y/n tries to distract herself from the impending court case with Mr Woodstock. She ends up having to face another hurdle she wasn't expecting.

Word count: 6993

Trying to focus on my schoolwork and soccer has been really hard since Danny came around and dropped the bomb that I'm likely going to have to testify against Mr Woodstock. Scarlett and Colin have been great and are supporting me more than I could ask. They're not pushing me, but they are there when I have my moments. I'm glad that I have them to go through this with.

When I told Laura, I've never seen her more angry. She started ranting about how unfair it is to make, not just me, but the other kids have to relive what we went through. She's spent a lot of time with me after school and I'm sure that her and Scarlett have been texting about me. Part of me is a little annoyed as I feel like I'm being watched, but then I'm grateful they care about me enough to check in with each other.

We had a meeting with the DA who is leading the case and he has confirmed that I will be asked a number of questions by himself and then the defence lawyer will have a chance to also question me. The thought of that terrifies me as I know that they are just going to try and prove me wrong or discredit my testimony. I've seen enough Law & Order SUV to know how it goes.

However, both Danny and the DA have assured me that they'll coach me in responding to the questions. I'll already know what they plan to ask me, so I'll be prepared from that point of view. However, we'll have no idea what the defence may say. So, we're going to do some sessions together where they'll prepare me as best they can.

Scarlett has tried to suggest that I do it via video link to give me an extra layer of protection, but I know that I want to be there. I can't bring my parents to justice for the years I spent being abused by them, but I can to Mr Woodstock. It's not just me he hurt and if I had the balls to do this earlier, I could have stopped the other kids getting hurt too.

When we left the DA's office, I felt dread over the upcoming court case. We have a month to prepare before I'll need to testify. Thankfully, I don't need to be there for anything else. It's one day and then hopefully they'll find him guilty, and I'll be able to move on and put my past firmly behind me. Allow me to focus on how my life is going to be better moving forward.

The sessions with Danny have been ok. He's predicted what he believes the defence may ask and then poses the question to me. We then work on how I can approach different elements. He also helps me to control my emotions and focus on breathing. Taking a breather is not a bad thing and will only reflect badly on the defence lawyer if he tries to move me on.

I think the sessions are helping, but I feel drained after every one. I cry in each one and I hate it. Reliving what happened is bad enough, but having to prepare to defend that I'm telling the truth is horrible. I just hope that this is all worth it.

Thankfully, we have our next soccer games this week and it's providing me with something to focus on. It's still hard to give me full attention, but I owe it to the team to still be the best player and captain that I can be. This week, Lizzie is joining Scarlett and Rose to watch. Unfortunately, Colin is working today so can't make it. Scarlett decided to leave Cosmo with Melanie so the three of them can enjoy the afternoon before coming to school to watch the game.

We're so far unbeaten this season. We had two preseason games that gave us a good platform to work from. But we've only play 5 league games. We're playing well and hopefully we'll be able to make it into the playoffs at the end of the year. But today's game will be the biggest test that we've had yet. Rochford High are a tough team and they are aggressive.

I use the warmup to get my mind completely on the game and make sure that I don't let it drift off to everything that is happening in my personal life. Laura is great at keeping me smiling as she jokes around, and we make sure our pre-game warm up doesn't change even though we're playing a tough team.

As we're taking on water, my eyes scan the bleachers, which are bursting tonight. It's like the whole local town has turned up. My eyes quickly land on my little sister who is jumping up and down and waving at me when she sees me looking. I wave back and pull a face at her whilst Lizzie and Scarlett wave to me also.

It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to see them in the stands. I never thought I would have people here to support me. Scarlett has been to every one of my home games. She even rearranged work to come to the one of them. It makes me feel wanted and loved and it's a strange feeling for me. But I like it and I couldn't be more grateful to see them in the crowd.

Coach Saunders calls us into a huddle and gives us an inspiring team talk. I gulp when I have to follow him up, but I make sure to be confident and re-enforce our teamwork and we win together and lose together. With our huddle over, I make my way over to the referee for the coin toss. I shake their captain's hand and internally fist pump when we win the coin toss. I decide to kick off first and we take our places on the pitch waiting for the whistle to blow.

The game is frantic from the first whistle. As expected, they play hard and are hitting us off the ball a lot. We change our tactic to have quick and accurate passing, which works and starts to frustrate them. They end up fouling us a lot more and the ref warns them about their actions.

We take advantage of this when Laura is on the receiving end of a beautiful freekick from Bella. Even though she's tasselling with the defender, she's able to get up higher than her and her head meets the ball. I watch as it flies past the keeper and into the back of the net.

The crowd go wild as we rush around Laura and Bella, cheering the perfect set piece. "I'm proud of you babe." I tell her as we walk back to our side of the pitch for the restart, my arm draped over her shoulder. "I need to keep impressing you." She smirks, nudging me. "Consider me impressed." I return, moving to take my spot.

We manage to dominate the first half but don't get any more goals. We've been able to adapt our play to make their efforts ineffective. We can see that it's just frustrating them more and that carries on into the second half. We're getting so many shots on goal but we're just not getting it in the net.

They manage to catch us on the counterattack, and I rush back to provide support in defence, with a well time sliding tackle I dispossess their striker as she's about to take her shot on goal. I quickly jump to my feet and sprint down the pitch to get myself into an open position.

Seeing I'm in open space, I call for the ball and trap it with my foot. Looking up I see it's just me against two defenders, my team still getting back into position from the counterattack. Not wasting anytime, I take on the first defender, getting around her with ease.

I look up hoping to see someone in the box, but I'm still the furthest up the field. With a swift nudge to the ball, I megs the final defender and run around her, despite her efforts to stop me getting to the ball. Just as she tugs my t-shirt, I manage to get a good connection with the ball and watch as it sails into the top corner. Though I'm now on the floor as a result of the shirt tug.

This doesn't stop the team celebrating with me, bundling on me on the floor. With our celebration over, Laura holds her hand out to me to help me back to my feet. "You just had to one up me didn't you." She teases. "Maybe I want to impress you too." I wink at her as she shakes her head at my antics. As I'm moving back for the restart, I look to the crown and wave to Rose who's still cheering. She really is my biggest fan, and she looks adorable in our team jersey.

With our energy up, we just seem to get better. With our third goal, the pressure seems to disappear and we're playing more freely. When we win a freekick near the corner flag, I'm on the hunt for a second goal. I'm stood on the edge of the box and hold my hands in the air to indicate the play we should go for.

As the ball is crossed into the box, I run in and go to jump to try and get my head on the ball. Their defender goes up with me, but I see her elbow wind back as she jumps. She's not looking at the ball and I'm helpless as I watch her elbow move towards my face. For a split second I feel pain as she makes a connection, but it soon disappears as I fade into darkness.

Scarlett's POV:

This is the best that I've seen the team play. They're working as a cohesive group and seem to be able to counter anything the other team throw at them. I'm so proud when Y/n scores and the three of us cheer along with the rest of the crowd as the team celebrate.

Y/n had talked about how difficult this game was going to be. The opposition are probably one of the only teams that can match their ability, but they just don't seem to be able to break the team down. Instead of regrouping they're just getting more frustrated.

It's great seeing the smile on Y/n's face. I've not seen her smile like that in a while since we learnt about the court case. Soccer has always brought her happiness and I'm glad it's giving her an outlet today.

The team get ready for another freekick, and it seems certain that it's only a matter of time before they score again. My eyes are on my daughter as the anticipation builds. However, when I see an elbow collide with her face, I'm instantly out of my seat shouting for a foul.

However, I instantly freeze when I see Y/n on the floor not moving, her leg bent in an awkward angle. "Lizzie, watch Rose." I call out as I rush down the stairs of the bleachers and jump over the railing. Coach Saunders sees me and waves me over as he's knelt down next to my unconscious daughter.

As I reach her, I can hear the team arguing with the ref and a couple of them scuffling with the other team, mainly the defender that hit her. "Is she ok?" I ask, panic filling my voice as I kneel down next to her. Laura on one side holding her hand tightly. My eyes look over her and I see blood on her face from her nose. My eyes then move down to her leg, and I have to fight back tears. "She fell awkwardly and landed on her leg as she didn't have control over her body." Coach Saunders explains, moving so I can get in closer.

Fear overrides me as I'm desperate for my daughter to wake up. "We've called 911 and they should be here shortly." One of the assistant coaches calls out. "Y/n baby, wake up for me please." I beg her, my hands gently cupping her face. "Come on sweetheart." I encourage her, hoping that she might start to stir. My eyes flick to Laura who's watching on with teary eyes.

I move my hand and place it over hers that is already holding Y/n's. "She's going to be ok right?" Laura asks, looking up to me hopefully. "Of course she is. She's strong." I reassure her, though I'm scared myself. Thankfully, we don't have to wait for long for the ambulance to arrive and almost simultaneously, Y/n starts to stir awake. "Y/n, sweetie. It's Scarlett are you ok?" I ask her as her eyes fill with fear. "Mom?" She whispers, making my heart clench at the name. I don't let it get to me and focus on her. "I'm here baby. You're ok. The paramedics are here." I tell her and she nods.

She obviously starts to feel the pain and she starts to cry out. "It's ok babe. You're going to be fine. They'll get you some good stuff soon." Laura tries to joke through her own tears. The paramedics soon join us, and we reluctantly have to move out of the way as they treat her.

I take a moment to breathe and notice the referee brandish a red card to the defender that hit her. I have to fight from going over to the kid and giving her a piece of my mind. But I have to remember she is just that. A kid. "Mommy! Is Y/n, ok?" Rose calls out to me. I glance to Y/n and see she's being looked after and right now I need to comfort my other daughter.

I walk over to her and pick her up instantly. "She's hurt, but she's being looked after. She's going to have to go the hospital, but she'll be ok." I reassure her as she nods in my neck. "I can take Rose home whilst you're with Y/n." Lizzie offers but Rose instantly argues with that idea. "I don't want to leave Y/n. Please!" She begs. "I can bring her to the hospital?" Lizzie offers and I think for a moment. "You have to understand that it's going to be boring." I explain to Rose, and she nods. "I want to be there to protect Y/n." She responds, making my heart warm at her cuteness.

"How about we go home and grab some things for you both and then we'll come to the hospital." Lizzie suggests. "If you wouldn't mind that would be great." I agree, looking back towards Y/n. "Go, text me where you are, and we'll see you later." Lizzie says when she sees my concern. "Thank you, Lizzie. I love you Rose, and we'll see you later." I say before rushing back to be with Y/n.

They're currently giving her some gas and air when I return, and the paramedic looks to me. "Are you mom?" She asks and I nod. "We're just stabilising her leg and then we'll get her to the hospital. They'll assess her there and give her some additional pain relief." She explains and I nod along, my eyes fixated on Y/n.

Seeing where my eyes are the paramedic continues to reassure me. "This may look scary at the moment, but we need to also to stabilise her head just in case there are any injuries to her neck. We're making sure we take every precaution to prevent further injury." I continue to nod along. Understanding why they're doing what they're doing. It just doesn't make it any easier to watch.

I take my place next to Y/n and provide her any comfort I can whilst she is being seen too. "Can I come with you?" Laura asks, looking from Y/n to me. "No." Y/n jumps in taking Laura by surprise, her eyes showing the hurt. "You need to finish the game." Y/n clarifies. "But..." Laura goes to defend but Y/n cuts her off. "I'll still be broken when the game is over. I'm ok and not going anywhere. Quite literally." She jokes, making us both chuckle. "Please, you need to make sure we win this game and then you can come and see me." She requests. Laura reluctantly agrees but doesn't leave her side until she's guided on to the gurney and moved toward the ambulance. "I'll keep you updated." I promise Laura who nods, reluctant to let go. "I'll see you shortly babe." She smiles, placing a gentle kiss on Y/n's lips, who gives a giddy smile.

I climb in the back of the ambulance and take a seat next to Y/n, reaching out to hold her hand. The paramedics get in and we start on our journey to the hospital. "It hurts mom." Y/n looks to me, tears in her eyes. My heart skips a beat again when she calls me mom. "I know. I'm sorry you're hurt. But I'm here for you." I try to comfort her. "The doctors will be able to get you some morphine when you're in the ER." The paramedic tells Y/n, which seems to appease her for now.

Thankfully, it's not long until we're at the hospital and we're being taking through to the ER where a doctor and some nurses are waiting for us. The potential injury to her neck is their biggest concern right now and they want to confirm there isn't any further injury before properly addressing her leg.

I stand to the side feeling completely helpless as I watch the doctors and nurses move around Y/n, calling out stats and information as they go. The whimpers from Y/n make my heart break. I wish I could take the pain away from here. "Let's get a canula set up and we'll get some pain relief." One of the doctors orders.

Thankfully, the morphine seems to start working quite quickly and Y/n's whimpers start to peter out as the medicine does its job. "Mrs Johansson?" The call of my name tears my eyes away from my daughter and to the doctor who is stood next to me with a kind smile on his face. "Hi, I'm Dr Greenwood. I'm the primary physician for your daughter." He greets me. "On initial examination, it's clear that Y/n has a broken leg and potentially a facial fracture too. We're confident there is no damage to her neck, but we want to be sure before removing the brace. So, we'll be sending her down for some x-rays and scans so we can get a full assessment of her injuries." He explains and I nod along.

"We've given her pain relief and that seems to be working and she's much more comfortable now. I know it's hard to see your kid in pain, but I can assure you we're doing everything that we can to make sure she is comfortable." He assures me, making smile. "Thank you. I appreciate everything you're doing." I respond. "I can get one of the nurses to show you to a private waiting room whilst Y/n is taken for imagery, and we'll come and get you as soon as she's settled in a room." He offers. "Can I see her first?" I request. "Of course. We're just waiting for the porters now." He responds and moves out of the way for me to see Y/n.

The madness around her has died down now and she's just got a couple of nurses monitoring different things. "Hi sweetheart. How are you feeling?" I ask Y/n as I take her hand and gently run my hands through her hair. "Tired and sore." She responds with a croaky voice. Her eye is already starting to swell and bruise, a reminder of the harsh act that led to her being in the hospital. "They're going to take you to get some scans of your leg and neck in a minute. I'll be waiting for you to come back." I explain. "Does that mean I can get this thing off?" She asks, tugging a little at the neck brace. "As long as the scans come back clear you'll be free of the prison." I respond with a smirk, happy that there is a smile on her face.

"We're ready to take her now." One of the nurses tells us. "I'll be right here waiting. I love you ok." I tell her firmly. "I love you too." She responds, taking me by surprise. I don't think she's ever said that to me before. It causes a tear to fall down my cheek as I smile at her lovingly. "Mom, you've got to let me go." She chuckles, just adding to my happiness. I try not to think to much of it, before she was in pain and now, she's on drugs. When she's more with it, we may be going back to Scarlett, but I'll take it for now!

I watch as they roll Y/n away down the corridor, taking a deep breath. I'm then guided to a private waiting room, which I'm very grateful for. I'd rather this not be how news of Y/n gets out. I want it to be on our terms and when she's comfortable. I quickly text Lizzie an update and she confirms they're packing a bag for Y/n as it's likely she'll be in overnight.

Now I just need to call my husband. He's at work today preparing for filming tonight. I hesitate in calling him, but I know that he'd want to be told that she was in the hospital. I hit his contact name and wait for him to answer.

Colin: Hi babe. How was the game? Did they win?

He asks instantly, excitement in his voice. I love how invested he is in Y/n's soccer games.

Scarlett: Uh I'm not actually sure. Y/n got hurt during the game and we're currently at the hospital.

Colin: WHAT?! Is she ok? What happened? How badly is she hurt?

He rambles down the phone, panic lacing his voice.

Scarlett: She was elbowed in the face by a defender when she jumped to head a ball. It knocked her out and as she fell, she landed on her leg awkwardly.

Colin: Oh my God. Was it deliberate? Actually, never mind. I'm leaving work now and I'm coming to the hospital. What did the doctor say?

Scarlett: Col, you don't need to do that. Y/n understands you're working and she's doing ok? She's currently having scans to see how badly her leg is broken and to rule out a neck injury.

Colin: Of course, I'm coming. She's my daughter. Family always comes first, you know that.

I smile down the phone when he refers to Y/n as his daughter. He did it so easily. I really need to bring up the whole adoption thing again. I don't think I can go much longer without having her legal be my daughter. I want her to know that she has a loving mom and dad who will be there for her no matter what.

As he's on the phone I can hear him explaining the situation to someone, I'm assuming the director, who easily agrees for him to leave. He then starts to rush around to get to the car.

Colin: "Ok. I'm about to drive. I'll see you in about 30 minutes. I love you.

Scarlett: I love you too. Drive safely.

And with that he hangs up. I wait nervously to hear that Y/n is back. I'm still worried she's going to have further damage to her neck. I know they said they don't think there is anything to untoward about it, but I can't get the worrying sick feeling out of my stomach.

"Mrs Johansson?" I look up and see Laura waiting hesitantly in the doorway. "How many times do I have to tell you to call me Scarlett." I smile at her, opening my arms to her. She instantly moves forward and melts into my hug. "How is she?" She questions as we move to sit. I fill her in on everything the doctor said, and she listens intently.

"Do you know how hard it was not to go and punch that bitch in the face." She fumes after I explain the extent of her injuries. "I probably shouldn't admit this as the adult in this situation, but I feel the same." I admit to chuckles. "Did you win?" I ask and a smile grows on her face. "We scored two more goals. It was 4-0 in the end." She responds proudly. "Y/n will be happy." I say and Laura nods. "Turns out playing for a teammate helped us to play even better. We wanted to do our best for our captain." She explains.

Not too long later, Colin comes bursting through the door, giving both Laura and I a heart attack. "Jeeze Colin!" I scold, my hand clutching my chest as my racing heart starts to calm. "S-sorry. I was just worried." He apologises. "How is she?" He asks. "We've not heard anything more since I called you. They said it could be a little while whilst she has the different scans and x-rays." I reply.

"Where's Rose?" Colin asks when he notices it's just me and Laura in the waiting room. "With Lizzie. They're getting a bag together, so Y/n has some things with her. Rose is adamant about being here for her big sister." I explain, earning an aw from Laura. "I can ask your mom to come and collect her later and keep the kids over night until we know more." Colin suggests. "I think that'll be wise. Rose can see how Y/n is doing and head to mom's before bedtime." I agree.

Colin places a kiss to my head and moves to the other side of the room to call my mom and explain what has happened. She already has Cosmo today, so she's happy to take Rose too. Though she's concerned for her granddaughter too. I think Y/n is going to be spoilt when she's home.

When Colin joins us again, he takes the seat next to me and wraps a supportive arm around me. I move to rest my head on his shoulder, taking in his comfort. "She called me mom." I say quietly. "What was that?" Colin asks. "She called me mom. When she was on the field, she called me mom and then again in the ambulance and here in the hospital." I explain in more detail. "I'm sure it's just because she's in pain and on drugs but hearing her call me that, it made my heart almost burst." I share, my emotions building once again.

"She means it." Laura speaks up from beside me. Both Colin and I turn to look at her. "Yes, she's in pain and high right now. But she means it. This has just given her the outlet to be able to say it. You've given her a safe and loving environment. Yes, it's taken her a while to be able get to this point. But you never pushed her. I don't think you realise how much that means to her." She explains with a soft smile on her face.

"All I have wanted is to be the mother she deserves. I never thought that she would forgive me, let alone get to a point she could call me mom." I admit, tears welling up in my eyes. "Family of Miss Y/l/n?" A nurse enters the room and calls for us. The sound of Y/n's surname bringing me down for a moment. "You need to work on changing her name." Laura smirks at me as we stand and follow the nurse.

She takes us to a private ward where Y/n is laid in bed, her neck brace off. I breath a sigh of relief knowing there is no injury there. Laura rushes in first and carefully hugs Y/n, pressing a kiss to her lips. "I'm so glad you're ok. It was horrible seeing you out cold." She tells her, cupping her cheeks and gently rubbing her thumb over her cheek. "Did you win?" Y/n asks, making us laugh. "I see you have your priorities right." Laura chuckles. "And yes, we won 4-0." She adds on. "See you don't need me on the team." Y/n responds with a sad smile.

We all get comfortable and wait for the doctor to come in and tell us the severity of Y/n's injury. Laura sits on one side, holding Y/n's hand tightly, whilst Colin and I flank her on the other side. "Aren't you filming tonight?" Y/n asks Colin. "Not anymore, I have to been here for my daughter." He responds, his words causing a wide smile to appear on Y/n's face. "Thanks dad." Y/n responds, her eyes glossed over. "D-did you. Did you just..." Colin stutters in shock. Y/n nods, smiling nervously. "I hope you both don't mind me calling your mom and dad. My experience of parents hasn't a good one. I don't really know what a good mom and dad looks like. But I'm pretty sure it's the both of you. I've not been easy yet you've both been there for me, supporting me and loving me. Especially these last couple of weeks with the court case. To me you are my mom and dad." Y/n shares, making both Colin and I cry.

"Oh, my sweet girl. I have been waiting, hoping, you may one day see me as your mother. Hearing you call me mom, it's everything I could ask for." I reassure her as I hug her gently, placing a kiss to her head. Y/n then looks to Colin who's a blubbering mess, making us all laugh. "Like I said, I've seen you as my daughter from the beginning. Being your dad is an honour I'm glad you've allowed me to have." He expresses, getting up and hugging her also.

A clearing of a voice gets all of our attention, and our heads snap to see the doctor in the doorway a file in his hand. "Sorry to interrupt this moment, but I have Y/n's results." He explains. "Please come on in." Colin composes himself and moves back to his seat as the doctor enters the room.

"Ok, Y/n, having examined your scans, I'm happy to say there is no injury to your neck. Though you probably know that as we removed your brace." He starts off. "However, you do have a fractured eye socket, so that is going to look pretty nasty for a few weeks. There's not much we can do other than provide you pain relief and wait for it to heal." He explains and Y/n nods in understanding.

"Now, on to your leg." I feel Y/n's hand tense in my own as we wait to hear the damage. "You have a displaced transverse fracture to your tibia. This means that it's a complete break of the bone and the two parts are not aligned. In this instance, we will need to surgically realign your leg and put in some pins to secure the fracture, allowing it to heal effectively." The doctor explains, showing us the x-rays of Y/n's clearly broken leg.

Y/n's breath hitches at the news, tears filling her eyes. "Will I be able to play soccer again?" She asks, fear lacing her voice. At the vocalisation of her worries, Laura sits forward and holds her other hand tightly. "I have every confidence that with a successful surgery and physio, you'll be playing again." He responds with a smile. Y/n's whole body relaxes at the confirmation, but I know there is still one question on her mind. "How long until I can play again?" She asks him.

"You'll be in a cast for about 6 weeks and from there you'll start physio. I would guess that you could be back into light training within 8 weeks and playing within 10." He replies. "Wow, that's a long time." Y/n whispers, her head dropping. "You'd be back in time for playoffs." Laura tries to comfort her. "And we'll still need our captain. You're more than the player on the pitch Y/n." Laura reassures her, placing a kiss to her hand. She nods unsurely before the doctor goes into more detail about surgery and recovery.

She'll be going in for surgery in the morning as it's already late this evening. She has a temporary brace on her leg which will stop any more damage happening before they're able to surgically fix her leg. We thank the doctor who leaves us to it. "How are you feeling kiddo?" Colin asks, placing a hand on her uninjured leg. "10 weeks is a long time." She replies emotionlessly.

Soccer has been her saving grace these last two years. It's been an outlet whilst she's been going through so much, and it's suddenly taken away from her. I just hope that now she has a stable home, a loving girlfriend and family, that she won't lose herself.

A knock on the door gains our attention as we all giggle as we see Rose on her tiptoes trying to look through the window. I wave them in and Rose rushes to her sister's side. "Sissy! Are you ok?" Rose asks worriedly, trying to climb up onto the bed. Y/n leans forward to pick her up, but I tap her hand away and do it for her.

Rose is really careful as she sits next to Y/n staring at her now closed up eye. "I'm much better now my sister is here." She responds happily, a smile plastered on her face to hide her pain. "Auntie Lizzie told me that we can't bring your flowers, so I brought you chocolate instead. It's you're favourite." Rose shares, turning to Lizzie holding her hand out expectantly.

Lizzie chuckles and pulls out the chocolate bar from her bag and hands it's to Rose. "Yummy. Thank you, Rosie." Y/n responds, placing a kiss to her head. "That girl was mean. I hope she got told off and grounded for hurting you." Rose huffs snuggling into her sister. "Well, she was sent off and I can't imagine she'll get away without the ban being extended." Laura explains with an angry look on her face. I notice that Y/n reaches out and squeezes her hand in comfort, instantly calming down her fuming girlfriend.

"When can you come home?" Rose now asks as Lizzie makes herself comfortable. "We're not sure yet sweetie. Y/n has to have surgery tomorrow so probably a couple of nights." I explain, making Rose pout. "But I have school tomorrow." She complains. "That's ok Rosie. When I'm home we can have a movie day. Mom, dad, and Cosmo could join us too. What do you think?" Y/n suggests to help placate the 7 year old. "Can Laura come too?" Rose asks shyly. "Of course!" Y/n replies happily.

Lizzie's eyes go wide when she hears what Y/n called us as both Colin and I smile. Lizzie looks to me and I nod to confirm she heard correctly. "I'm happy for you." She mouths to me, not wanting to disturb the kids who are rambling about what movies to watch.

We spend the evening together, chatting and laughing. It's really nice, considering we're sat in a hospital room with my injured daughter laid up in bed. But as it hits 8pm, the nurse comes in and tells us that visiting hours are over. "Are you sure you're going to be ok on your own?" I ask Y/n, worried to leave her. "I can always talk to them about letting me stay." I offer but she shakes her head. "I'll be ok mom. I'm pretty tired so I'll probably get some sleep." She reassures me. "Ok, I'll have my phone on loud so if you need anything, just call or text ok. I can be here in 20 minutes." I tell her and she nods.

I bid her goodnight, leaving a soft kiss to her head, reminding her how much I love her. Colin does the same before picking up a sleepy Rose. We leave Y/n and Laura to have a moment before we all leave together. "Do you want me to drop Rose at your moms?" Lizzie offers, but I shake my head. "Thanks, but we'll go. I'd like to see Cosmo." I respond and she nods. "How about I drive you home. That way this lot can get back." Lizzie suggests turning to Laura.

She blushes at the attention making me smirk. She's totally fangirling right now! "Oh, you don't need to do that Ms Olsen." She declines. "Don't me stupid, come on. Besides it gives me a chance to get to know my niece's girlfriend." Lizzie insists, making Laura gulp a little. "Oh, and don't call me Ms Olsen. I'm not old. Please just call me Lizzie." She adds on, earning a slow nod from the teenager. We all walk out to the car park together and say our goodbyes before heading home.

__________

The next morning, Colin and I are at the hospital as soon as we're allowed so we can be with Y/n before she heads into surgery. She's in a lot of pain this morning and had a bad night sleep, which is horrible to see. I think she's grateful that she's going to be unconscious for a few hours whilst they fix her leg.

The surgeon comes in and talks through the procedure, though most of it goes over my head. I'm just grateful that it seems to be helping Y/n. The nurses are then in to prepare her before we walk with them as they wheel her to the operating floor. "We'll be right here when you wake. Rose and Laura will be here after school too, so you've got that to look forward to." I tell Y/n, hoping to comfort her when I see worry in her eyes. "We both love you very much. Everything is going to be just fine." Colin says, pressing a kiss to Y/n's head. "I love you both too. See you in a few hours." She smiles. I hold her close one last time and watch as they take her away. Colin wraps his arm around me to comfort me as we begin waiting for her to return.

Instead of waiting around in a cold room, we head to the cafeteria and have some breakfast. We both skipped it this morning, worried about Y/n. We talk about what we can do to make things easier for Y/n when she gets home. She's going to be reliant on us for a while and I want everything to be as easy as possible for her.

"Shit, we need to call Danny?" I suddenly say. "Why? You're not planning on suing the kid are you?" Colin jokes, making me roll my eyes. "No. But it's the court case in 9 days." I point out and he lets out a quiet "oh." I know she'll still be able to testify, but she's not exactly going to be very mobile and it's just something else to add on to a stressful period for her. "Danny will know what to do. He's always got Y/n's interests at heart. I'll call him when Y/n is out of surgery, and we'll leave him to deal with anything that needs doing." Colin reassures me.

After about three hours, we move back to Y/n's room to wait. They said surgery will be around 4 hours, and I we don't want to miss her coming back. We settle in and I makes sure her pyjamas are out as I know she'll want to change as soon as she can.

Half an our later a nurse comes by to say that surgery went well and she's just in post op now before they bring her back. I let out a sigh of relief knowing that everything is ok. We can focus on recovery.

Colin and I both crowd around Y/n when they bring her back in. She's still unconscious but the doctor said she should wake shortly. We take our seats either side of our daughter, holding her hands and taking comfort that she's back with us. When she starts to stir, I move to gently run my hands through her hair. "M-mom." She stutters at a whisper. "I'm here sweetheart. Colin is too." I greet her as her eyes flutter open.

I give her the biggest smile I can which she tries to return. Her head then flops to the side to see Colin. "Hey kiddo. Glad you're awake." Colin smiles to her. "Hi dad." She returns. I don't think either Colin or I are going to get used to that, but I will love hearing it every time. I will never take for granted any of my kids calling me mom.

The doctor comes in when Y/n is more with it, confirming that surgery went really well and that he's confident of a full and complete recovery. This relaxes Y/n and I notice that she's become determined to get fit so she can be ready for playoffs when they come around.

That afternoon Laura and Rose come to visit. Laura kindly picked Rose up from school for us. Mom is going to bring Cosmo around dinner time so we can have some family time together. But thankfully, the doctor confirmed that Y/n can come home with us tomorrow. I'm grateful that she won't be in this hospital for longer. I want my daughter home with us so we can all look after her. She's got a stressful few weeks ahead and we want to be by her side, supporting her, through all of it.

Part 10

[pluckyredhead]

Time for more Fourth World posting that no one asked for! I've previously written about the Fourth World comics of the 1970s and the 1980s, so here are the 1990s:

New Gods (1995): I FOUND IT! I FOUND A GOOD NEW GODS COMIC THAT ISN'T BY JACK KIRBY!!!

Okay, so the art is 1995 in the worst way, but the first 11 issues (written by Rachel Pollack) are actually excellent? The problem with previous New Gods runs was that it's hard to write about a utopian world at any length, but writers tried to introduce conflict by having the people of New Genesis be shitty, which undercuts the whole...utopia thing. Pollack has the corruption come from outside, which makes all the difference.

Basically, Darkseid manages to invade the Source (God, essentially, but more of a place than an entity) in an attempt to conquer it, but Orion follows him, and, desperate to stop him, kills him. However, committing patricide within the heart of the Source corrupts it, causing natural disasters on Earth and making everyone on New Genesis go evil or crazy or both. Which was all part of Darkseid's plan (he regenerates himself out of Orion's flesh, which is both very gross and a total mic drop moment) but now the cosmos are in upheaval and that's bad for everyone.

The other thing this book does that most post-Kirby New Gods books don't manage to do is treat Orion like an actual goddamn hero. Yes, he is angry and violent and makes bad decisions driven by destructive impulses. But he also loves Highfather and Lightray and New Genesis deeply, and this book allows those things to be stronger in him than his rage, and I'm crying about it. HE IS ACTUALLY A GOOD PERSON HE'S JUST ALSO A VERY CRANKY ONE.

The last few issues are by John Byrne and the plot and tone diverge pretty sharply but that's a lead-in to a different series so I'll talk about that in a bit.

Mister Miracle (1996): The universe tends towards balance and so because New Gods (1995) was good, this comic sucks. It sort of fits into the same continuity (it takes place after Darkseid dies), and so everyone on New Genesis is kind of being an asshole. But a lot of it just doesn't make sense and isn't explained? Like, they want Scott to be the new Highfather, even though Highfather is totally around in the concurrent New Gods series, and also this is presented as just a thing that everyone knew would inevitably happen, which...no? Honestly, the things that happen in this comic are so bizarre and arbitrary - characters appearing out of nowhere, continuity errors, random and baffling changes to the lore - that I kept thinking they were going to reveal it was all a dream. Bad.

Jack Kirby's Fourth World: So in the last 4 issues of New Gods (1995), Bryne takes over and long story short, Apokalips and New Genesis are smooshed together into one planet split down the middle (and also Orion dies). This series picks up from there and also ties into the Genesis miniseries. Byrne's art is always great, but the stakes are so exhaustingly high (the planets are smooshed together! now they're separated! Orion's dead! now he's back! now Highfather's dead!) that I started feeling numb pretty quickly.

It also relies heavily on the whole "god" thing, which means way more religious themes than I'm particularly comfortable with. (And yes, Kirby also drew very heavily one biblical themes but more for worldbuilding. He didn't have everyone on Earth "lose faith" because of issues with Source, as if atheists are just fooling themselves.) I just don't need that much Thor and Odin in my Fourth World comics, and the two of them repeatedly saying that they are "the closest to the Old Gods" is way too literal. (A commonly accepted version of events is that one of Kirby's biggest frustrations with Marvel was not being able to write a Ragnarok story and kill off Thor and his supporting cast, which is why he came to DC...where he immediately opened his book about NEW gods with the words "There came a time when the old gods died!" and a clear depiction of Ragnarok. This fan theory has several holes in it, not least of which is that Kirby did draw a Ragnarok story for Marvel, but the aggressively obvious allusion here just feels like Byrne is elbowing me in the ribs going "Get it? GET IT?")

Also, there are weird changes to the lore. I've mentioned before that in Mister Miracle #1, Scott is clearly already familiar with Earth, meaning some time has passed between his escape from Apokalips and our first sight of him...but Kirby has him living on Earth for two hundred years before Mister Miracle #1, including marrying a woman who isn't Barda - as if the idea that Scott and Barda had spent that long apart or that it took Barda that long to decide to leave Apokalips makes any sense at all. Tigra, Orion's mom, spends issues and issues claiming Orion is the result of a one night stand she had with some guy and thus not Darkseid's kid, and nobody really believes her but it's never actually resolved. Also, Infinity Man turns out to be Darkseid's brother??? What the hell.

This series also has a lot of Takion, a real Original Character Do Not Steal of a guy if ever there was one. He's Paul Kupperberg's OC, not Byrne's, but he shows up and is sparkly and more powerful than everyone and can talk to the Source and all the other characters ask him for advice all the time even though he literally just showed up and Beautiful Dreamer is in love with him and then he becomes the new Highfather. Big Mary Sue energy. Also he looks like a ripoff of Waverider, who is already firmly in Original Character Do Not Steal territory.

Anyway the series ends with Apokalips and New Genesis gearing up for a final, major clash...and then the last issue is literally just Byrne retelling a mashup of Forever People #1 and Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #147, but setting them in the post-Crisis universe instead of their original pre-Crisis framework. And then it's over. What? What???

Anyway on to the 2000s and the series I've been looking forward to since I started this project, Walt Simonson's Orion! See you in the next post!

[naturallyadventured]

kandra.alaya

The Sacred Masculine What an honour it’s been to closely witness the rising of this one. This very special one has been the biggest blessing in my life. He encompasses the mountains, the cosmos and all of the magick that exists within. He is unconditional love, perpetuous will, godly loyalty, warrior discipline and mountainous support. I have his being in my life to thank for some deep healing and shifts I’ve witnessed over the past year. So today(and every day) I thank the creator and our souls for choosing to catalyst one another once again in this life time. I am eternally grateful everyday but especially today as its this superhero’s bEARTHday. Such men never make a deal about themselves so I figured I’d create a space for everyone to share their love for this sacred man. If you know you know! 💚🙏🏼🌈Show him some love 💚🙏🏼🌈 🧙🏼‍♂️ Luke @savvytouring

[yutopia-eleftheria]

Shehroz Peony Rose & Ewan Draggoun Headcanons

I decided to do some sketches, and at the same time headcanons for them, since it was Shehroz's birthday on September 26th in my AU. Also Ewan is my cousin and it is his Pokémon Sword OC (and his birthday is on September 25th), and when the game came out, we created some scenarios with his OC and the chairman.7 (and we had so much fun doing it !)♥

Almost 5 years after the game's release, I finally decided to draw some of the moments and talk about the story we created, in the form of headcanons.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some sketches :

From painful and sad to funny sketches ! (Yeah we had all kinds of stories and emotions in this)

Sketch 1 :

When Ethernatos (Eternatus) broke out from his shell, it actually created some sort of slight explosions of its "needles", and Shehroz was actually hit by 3 of them, but he didn't notice as it doesn't hurt instantly.

He turned himself in after the whole incident, and he got to jail literally for a day, as he was charged for doing works for Galar, just like Liv Oleana.

3 days after the incident, when he was heading back to Rose Tower alongside the young man to see about the infamous battle tower led by Tarak Landon (Leon), Shehroz felt dizzy and suddenly collapsed.

That's where they noticed the poisonous needles on his body. They had to act quickly otherwise that would led him to his demise.

Ewan managed to take them all out with the help of Tarak and Sonya, but it was more and more painful as each was taken away. Which is why he was bleeding a little from his mouth and nose.

Sketch 2 :

He stayed unconscious for a few days and was constantly checked by everyone. Ewan eventually told Liv about what happened (and Shehroz was like : "Why did you tell her ?..." when he was awake.)

Oh ! And also : he doesn't remember anything about what happened as a side effect.

Even though his "coma state" only lasted a few days, he was still too weak to do anything, so he had to stay in bed for around 2 more weeks before fully healing.

Such a thing happening all of a sudden made Ewan realized that he needs to live his life to its fullest, because you never know when you could possibly leave this World...

Shehroz is so thankful to Ewan that he is like giving him everything he can, and helps him out with everything.

Sketch 3 :

Their relationship is getting better and better as time goes by. And Ewan is actually protective over Shehroz as well.

Ewan became a member of Macro Cosmos. He is considered the third biggest figure of the brand.

Sometimes it's Ewan that accompanies Shehroz around, so someone could stay at the tower to work. He and Liv exchanged their places from time to time.

Ewan is not afraid to be rude if someone insults Shehroz (as you can see above).

Sketch 4 :

As much as Ewan cares about Shehroz and is usually gentle to him, he also LOVES to tease him.

He likes to tell jokes to him, teasing, as well as trying to scare him from behind.

Yeah he is dressed all classy and all (he followed Shehroz's dress code I guess), but he is a prankster to his boss.

Sketch 5 :

Ewan knows very well that Shehroz and Liv love each other.

He fully supports them and even wants them to confess already ! (as they already lost enough time and moments together in his opinion).

His mission ends up being a success as they will become official.

Ewan actually has a huge crush on Sonya, but is too afraid to confess.

Shehroz tries his best to convince Ewan to just go ahead as she is very close to Tarak.

Unfortunately for him, Ewan took too much time and lost her, as she is now officially with Tarak.

He is still very happy for his boss nonetheless, but still very bitter that Sonya is with Tarak.

He tries to comfort himself by looking at pictures of her (see above), but Shehroz doesn't think that it's a good idea to cope.

Eternal Rose :

At some point, Ethernatos' power suddenly triggered out of nowhere and Shehroz lost control and became agressive. The first sign was his eyes turning bright pink.

Ewan had to fight for his life that time. Quickly realizing that, he took out his coat and fought back.

Shehroz managed to take him down and was about to finish him off (as seen above), but Liv had to act otherwise Ewan would have been dead, and Liv didn't wanted Shehroz to have blood on his hands on top of that (although he would not remember it).

This act allows Ewan to subdue Shehroz and calm down Ethernatos's fury until the transformation was off.

Thanks to that, Shehroz will not transform randomly for no reason, however, when he is VERY angry, it's gonna take over.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

BONUS !

Old Sketches I did before having my tablet (2020) :

Back when I was still able to use pens and markers well ...

Sketch 1 :

As mentioned before, Ewan LOVES to tease his boss. When he asks if he was over 40, he answered no (he's 37 in my Headcanon).

Despite this fact being true, Ewan calls him an "old 40 years old man".

Shehroz doesn't like that at all, and he keeps telling him how he would then call older people like Kabu, Sally Opal or Mustar.

Sketch 2 :

If Shehroz is angry, Ethernatos will start to appear slowly, starting with the eyes.

He will also grow sharp teeth as well.

After what happened the first time, Ewan is very cautious.

If he sees Shehroz starting to turn, he will calm down because otherwise, this could end badly for the young man.

If Ewan tease Shehroz, Shehroz will tease him back.

The best example was Sonya, and boy does he love seeing him angry.

He founds it funny (unlike Liv who is terrifying).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

So yeah ; those 2 can be REALLY silly and we had a lot of fun creating these stories back then. Love you cousin ♥ (How are you 16 already ?!...)

[duckprintspress]

Meet Aether Beyond the Binary Contributor Catherine E. Green

This is it: the final contributor spotlight for our crowdfunding anthology Aether Beyond the Binary, featuring 17 aetherpunk stories starring non-binary characters! Now, by going through the campaign updates, you can read biographies of all seventeen authors featured in this anthology and read excerpts from their works! We hope you’ll do so, and love what you read! We’ll be putting up a single post linking all the spotlights on Tuesday (January 23rd) so be on the lookout!

The crowdfunding campaign for Duck Prints Press’s next anthology Aether Beyond the Binaryends in 4 days and we are still $2,000 from our funding goal. We’d love your helping ensuring this project succeeds: so signal boost our posts or become a backer TODAY!

About Catherine: Catherine E. Green (pronouns: xe/xem/xyr or they/them/their) is an agender person, one who’s had an on-again, off-again love affair with writing. Xe began writing when xe was a wee thing, when xyr other major pastimes were playing xyr mother’s NES and roughhousing with the boys next door. It’s only in the past few years that they have begun writing consistently and publishing their writing, fanfiction and original writing alike, leading to their first published short story titled “Of Loops and Weaves.” 

Outside of writing, xe is a collector of books and sleep debt and an avid admirer of the cosmos. Playing video games, reading a variety of fiction genres (primarily fantasy, queer romance, and manga and graphic novels of all kinds), and working on wrangling their own personal data archiving projects occupy most of their free time. Xe is also proud to announce xyr graduation from a crocheting a single scarf to crocheting several scarves and other projects.

Links: Bluesky

This is Catherine’s first time contributing as a writer to a Duck Prints Press anthology, but xe were an editor on our anthology Aim For The Heart: Queer Fanworks Inspired by Alexandre Dumas’s “The Three Musketeers”, and xe are also an editor for Aether Beyond the Binary. Xyr short story Of Loops and Weaves is linked above.

An Interview with Catherine E. Green

How did you pick the name you create under?

Catherine is my meatspace name. The E. Green is an homage to my grandmother, who is herself a writer and poet and someone I look to for writing advice and inspiration. She was my first beta when I was first starting to write, and I cannot thank her enough for her loving support.

Are you a pantser, a planner, or a planster? What’s your process look like?

I’m somewhere in between a pantser and a planster. I usually go into writing something with some overarching idea (like a theme or a shape of a scene) and begin the actual act of writing with setting the scene. However, if the words aren’t coming, before I resolve to try again another day, I try writing something somewhere in the middle of the narrative – just to try to trick my brain into cooperating with me. This will sometimes lead to some internal consistencies in my writing (which one reason I love editing so much – love, love, love it), but it gets words on the page, which is often my biggest hurdle.

What do the phrases “writer’s block” or “art block” mean to you?

Writer’s block, to me, is when the filters my anxiety has built up in my mind sufficient block my creative output. It’s when I question every word I put on the page to the point where nothing I write feels worth keeping, much less moving on from. I don’t know that it’s ever something I’ll be able to work through, but I’m trying our being kinder with myself and addressing my mental health issues to see if both combined help reduce how long my writer’s block lasts for. Here’s hoping!

What are your favorite resources and tools for your craft? 

iPad with a magic keyboard, Google Docs, and either Notepad or some sticky notes for things I want to bear in mind while I’m writing. I’ve tried Scrivener and similar software, but I’ve never vibed with any of them.

What is your “dream project” – the thing you’d see as the culmination of your work as a creator?

I wrote a short story during my undergraduate studies that still have a fondness for to this day. It’s contemporary fantasy-type thing set in a lonely, not-quite-haunted cul-de-sac, where the lights and people seem to fade in and out of existence. It’s about identity, companionship among people who come from very different backgrounds, and the importance of language in how it shapes identity and relationships. I want to expand the work into a novel at some point, if I can, but we’ll see.

Tell us about your pet(s).

I have a 6-year-old tuxedo cat named Yennefer (yes, the reference). My brother and I adopted her a couple years ago from a small rural animal shelter. At the time, the shelter had given her the name Jennifer, so Yennefer was hardy a jump at all. And, goodness, does she have the personality to match. She’s my energetic boo-boo head, who likes to sleep on my bookshelves and knock over my coffee, and I love her to bits.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Try to write a little bit every day, even if it’s only a hundred words. The period of time when I was writing everyday was when I felt the best about my writing and when I felt like I was most capable shutting down the filters in my brain that make it difficult to write.

If you could give one piece of advice to a new creator who came to you for help, what would that advice be?

1) Read, read, read. Read a little bit of everything: fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, mystery, science fiction, history, etc. Read about writing. Read works by people whose style you vibe with and those by people whose style you don’t. Every bit of reading helps build a scaffold onto which you can hang your own ideas and words, and having a more stable scaffolding, and more stable foundation can only help your writing improve.

2) Learn how to talk about your writing, especially once you get to a point where you’re engaging the services of alphas, betas, and editors. The writer and the editor work best together when there can be open dialogue, and open dialogue is only possible when all parties involved can talk about the work in a productive way.

3) Figure out the kind of environment you work best in, whether that includes music or white noise or nothing, what kind of device you prefer typing on or if you prefer hand-writing, whether you work best in long stretches every so often or in short, frequent stretches, and so on. Try to craft your perfect writing space.

4) Writing is a skill one can work on improving over the course of an entire life. There is no end-point at which you are suddenly a good writer. Every word you write is a small step toward better your writing in one way or another, so try not to become too frustrated with yourself if you don’t feel like you’re improving. You are—I promise.

Catherine’s Contribution to Aether Beyond the Binary

Title: To Hold the World Close

Excerpt:

Very much unlike the typical saying “Sending along warm thoughts” and its various approximations, which often convey a rather intangible, often perfunctory, sentiment, Adrienne surrounds the swirling mass of fear, embarrassment, and grief with a warmth of xyr own. It’s the warmth of a community coming together to bring someone up from their knees; it’s the wondrous comfort of a light breeze and a spot of shade on an otherwise murderous hot summer day; it’s the pleasant touch of a loved one. I can’t be with you, my dear, not in person, but please take some measure of comfort from me, if you can, and seek out those who love you.

[ask-cloverfield]

Hi, I am coming to you with a bit of a dilemma.

I’m someone who recently got into the kaiju fandoms (summer 2022) but took a bit of time to warm up to the Ultra Series specifically (summer 2023). I found it really stupid, and the design gave me uncanny valley.

After a bit of acclimatizing (and taking ribbing for changing my mind), I really loved Shin and Rising and I’m… liking Blazar so far (on episode 20). I did watch the first part of Next as well, and liked it, but sadly haven’t gotten around to finishing it. I also got struck by the inspiration to do my own fan ‘verse, that is a thing some people are doing- like how the whole FanGoji thing is with Godzilla. Anyway, however, parts of the franchise are still too… goofy and weird for me? Like on one hand I love the messages of hope and suchlike, and as a very sensory-oriented person I like to imagine what the physical sensations of bonding and hosting and etc might be like, and I love kaiju in general, but on the other hand I don’t like all the gimmicks that’re present in the more recent stuff… I especially don’t like when the powerups are based on an older character’s powers, it feels very marketable to me. I tried to watch Geed with some friends and was very put off by all of that, and Tiga’s first episode didn’t grip me either.

Anyway, since I’m almost done with Blazar, and laying out my problems above, what do you recommend I try next? I was personally considering Cosmos.

The 2 series that come to mind that you might enjoy unfortunately suffer from less than ideal subtitles, Ultraman Gaia and The Star Ultraman

Ultraman Gaia is a story that has two very different philosophies between two Giant superheroes oppose as they try and figure out how to embrace their status as the wills of the earth. The monsters have fun mysteries surrounding them and the series focuses on the support staff of the Defense Team which is a fun change of pace.

The Star Ultraman gives a more mythic feel to the “aliens” and has a bigger emphasis on the Host and Alien dynamic, other than that it is the usual Showa Ultraman’s formula in a different medium. When they aren’t doing worldbuilding it is great.

Ultraseven is a show that takes itself rather seriously and has some excellent moral dilemmas and social commentary. All backed to gorgeous miniature effects that put monster movies from years later to shame in their quality.

You might enjoy Nexus, it is a more horror oriented take on the franchise. The way it reimagines Ultraman as a beacon of hope in a horrifying world is genuinely fun and the soundtrack is sublime. It’s biggest weakness is that it was cut short.

Ultraman Decker is a fun vivid metaphor. A return to the episodic approach to the series. Just a lot of good standalone episodes with a fun cast.

All that said, it’s a kid show, it’s gonna be silly sometimes. If it isn’t your thing it isn’t your thing