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fiendishfinesse · 4 months ago

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(taps mic) Chatting with my cute little owl guy yesterday (@dvilsdesire ♥), I accidentally remembered a little thing/story/headcanon I had back at the beginning of this blog when I listened to a song.

So, Raphael paints, right? He’s the creative, bard-ish, artist type. And I relate a bit of that to one of

Raphael’s exes™—the painter, a tragic tale

[ BEWARE TW BELOW: abuse, taking own life ]

Raphael is ancient; it’s unlikely he never engaged in relationships. I like to imagine this person—a mortal, an artist, and a teacher—someone completely opposite to him: quiet and gentle.

Raphael approached them initially to commission his dorky paintings. He wanted an artist who could properly capture his visions, and eventually, he found them. That person was odd—strangely understanding of the fact that he was a devil (he had to switch to his true devilish form to be painted accurately, after all). Yet, they seemed genuinely interested in what he had to say, his ramblings, his monologues, his poetry, his illusions of grandeur.

Painting sessions became pleasant with such company. Soon, Raphael found himself wanting to learn their skills, to paint for himself. They were a teacher, after all, so the lessons came naturally. Their painting classes stretched into long hours filled with sharp wit, gentle corrections, and an undeniable connection. Raphael’s ego was fed, and he was visibly improving in his art, which pleased him greatly.

The painter fell in love quickly, and Raphael indulged them—why not? They were fun to be around, and such a pretty thing to ravage. Their desires in bed aligned all too well. He started looking forward to their sessions, to their dates, a peculiar feeling for the devil.

But then it started.

They were his, and his alone. He would not tolerate others in their lives. Other suitors, other admirers. They were beautiful, radiant even, and the attention they received drove him mad, quite literally. He would demean and hurt both his beloved and any rival who dared draw too close.

Raphael ensured they were utterly alone, with no one to call upon besides him, no one to need but him. They were pliant, blindly in love—a poor, naive thing. Manipulating them away from anyone who wished them well was a simple feat. He crafted a gilded cage around them, every bar polished and gleaming with golden promises.

He stretched—no, demanded—more hours of their attention. Slowly, methodically, he ensured they had no access to money, no means to provide for themselves. They would have to rely on him for everything. But oh, he was so generous. Lavish gifts, endless pampering, luxurious dates, sweet words dripping with honey, and promises of eternal devotion.

This continued for years. Years.

Then, the painter made a mistake. They told Raphael that they loved him.

Something in him cracked, shattered. He wasn’t quite sure why, but the words broke something irreparable inside him. He grew tired of them. His affection, once smothering and possessive, turned glacial, so cold it could make Cania itself seem warm.

Unfortunately, without Raphael, they were utterly shattered in every conceivable way. Mentally, emotionally, financially. He had made certain of that.

Raphael, ever the gentleman, decided to be courteous enough to end things face-to-face. Courteous, but not kind. Every word was a lash. Months passed. Utter, suffocating coldness. He ignored every attempt they made to reach out, every letter soaked with ink and tears. Perhaps, once or twice, he sent a letter in return—just a flicker of false hope—but never anything more.

And then, silence.

Raphael would soon learn they had hanged themselves.

His first thought? "I hope you were thinking of me."

Somewhere deep within him, there was an ache. An odd, quiet pain, a distant echo of something fragile and broken.

But Raphael shrugged it off. After all, he was a devil. And devils don’t grieve.

-------

The song that inspired me: https://genius.com/Circus-contraption-if-i-told-you-once-annotated

As your muscles were twitching in their final plea, Hope you were thinking of me Hope you were thinking of me Thinking of me Always thinking of me Just me ♥

--hope you liked my stupid ass story about this random npc in raphaels life 😂

#ooc — [ devil off duty ]#raphael headcanons — [ devil's little secrets ]#raphael bg3 #bg3 raphael #raphael the cambion

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panphilosopher · 2 years ago

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*Wednesday and Enid sitting on a light-brown leather loveseat, showing albums of decreased Addams portraits*

Wednesday: and here is one of my favorite dead relatives, Isadora Addams *a 19th century pale skin, long black hair woman seating on a loveseat*, her paramour Samantha Addams *a black woman with long hair seating on her paramour lap* and their daughter, Elisabeth *a biracial girl standing next to the chair*.

Enid: awww! Man, I always forget how amazing your family is, Wends! They sure do look lovely together!

Wednesday: Yes, I always found Grandma Isadora a remarkable woman dreadfully. She was utterly bewitched to her love torturouly; I revel when reading her poetry from her journal, anguishing delightful how she written her love for her.

Enid: Aww! She sounds such a romantic, now I wanna read some!

Wednesday: yes, quite a romantic she is, she even commissioned this very seat for Samantha.

Enid: Oh em gee! I going die from sweetness-

Wednesday: it was bated from human skin-

Enid pushed herself from the seat, eyes wide from surprise and panicked: WAIT?! THIS WAS MADE FROM HUMAN SKIN!?!?!

Wednesday, not even flinching: yes, Isadora was so devoted to Samantha, she even made sure that it was made from her former slaver and his family.

Enid: .... you know what, that's fair.

#wednesday netflix #enid sinclair #wenclair #OC Addams #ficlet #wenclair ficlet #Wednesday addams

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wonder-worker · 2 months ago

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Military prowess, chivalric values, and crusading piety were also key elements of Ida II of Boulogne’s reputation and patronage. Ida, raised at the renowned Flemish court, was noted for her love of tournaments, romances and poetry, and court life in general. In the Tournoi des Dames, Ida is depicted in the company of the queen, Jeanne, countess of Flanders, and the countesses of Clermont and Champagne, all of whom were her relatives and from noted crusading families of France and Champagne. Helen Solterer argues that the depiction of these women as committed crusaders, pious and skilled, affirmed women’s contributions to the crusades and their status within society. The poem enhanced Ida’s reputation as a most noble, courteous woman descended from distinguished crusaders of Boulogne, Blois, and Flanders.

Ida’s third husband shared her reputation for courtoisie and chivalry. The castle of Hardelot was their preferred residence; a place for leisure and fun. Trouvères— Simon, Jehan the cleric, and Gerard of Boulogne—also frequented their court. Renaud was also known for his elegant manners and dress, his military skill, devotion to friends, and eloquence. His skill is lauded in the History of William Marshal and even by Guillaume le Breton in Philippide.

His unbridled valor did not allow anyone to vanquish him; it did not matter whom his arm reached, he could [always] walk away the winner, so well could he handle weapons with ability and prudence, so much the prowess which was natural to him in battle loudly proclaimed that he was the true issue of French parents.

His reputation as a preudomme may be reflected in a chronicler’s story that Renaud would forgive the count of St. Pol’s punch in the nose “as soon as the blood is restored to his nose,” a phrase mirroring one said in Raoul de Cambrai.

Their reputation for courtoisie was enhanced by their conventional piety. In addition to their ecclesiastical patronage, Ida II was the dedicatee of the Boulonnais poet’s Li Pater noster and her husband Renaud was the patron of the Roman de Siperis de Vinaux, which focused on proverbs and moral sentences, as well as some humour.

Chivalry, crusading, and piety were the major themes of the most well-known work that Ida and Renaud commissioned—a French translation of the Latin Pseudo– Turpin. The Turpin prologue champions a revival of chivalric virtues and encourages the emulation of the exemplary model of Charlemagne and the moral benefits of crusading. The importance of chivalry is particularly highlighted in the prologue of Renaud’s translation:

Good virtues are almost completely gone from the world, and the courage (or the heart) of the great lords is weakened, for we do not see at all as often as one would like the deeds of the preudhommes and the old stories in which we find how one should behave towards God and live an honest life.

This version of the Pseudo-Turpin, which became one of the more copied of this text, includes a genealogy of the Boulonnais comital family. It is not based upon the late eleventh-century genealogy which established the family’s Carolingian descent and promoted their status as territorial princes, of which there were at least fourteen copies available in regional monasteries. The numerous copies of the eleventh-century genealogy, in houses not directly patronized by the Boulonnais comital family, attests to the fame and significance of these leaders of the First Crusade and the establishment of the crusader kingdom of Jerusalem. Johannes, the translator of Renaud and Ida’s Pseudo-Turpin, created a new genealogy, which asserted that King Arthur established the first count of Boulogne, Legier, one of whose descendants was St. Waumer and another was Quites, one of the twelve peers of Charlemagne, whose son Oto took on the traitor, Ganelon. Oto’s granddaughter, Berta, marries Ernekin, son of Baldwin, count of Flanders. Their grandson, Guy White-Beard, count of Boulogne, Ternois, and Montreuil, had three sons—Baldwin, count of Boulogne, Hugh, count of St. Pol, and William, count of Guines. This count Baldwin is the father of Eustace I and grandfather of Eustace II, who, on returning from a pilgrimage in Rome, meets Ida, granddaughter of the Swan Knight. Their sons are Eustace III, count of Boulogne, and Godfrey and Baldwin, kings of Jerusalem. Eustace III and Mary, daughter of the king of Scotland, produce Matilda, who married King Stephen of England. Their children are William Longsword, Eustace IV, and Marie, who married Matthew, brother of Philip, count of Flanders. Marie and Matthew’s two daughters are Ida, countess of Boulogne, and Matilda, duchess of Louvain/Brabant.

Gabrielle Spiegel and others have noted that the genealogy is wrong in several places (some suggest that the Carolingian descent is fictitious) and state that it is unclear whether Ida and Renaud knew it was wrong. This seems unlikely given the numerous copies of her family’s genealogy in local and regional monasteries. Not only does the new genealogy add luster to the family with the inclusion of a new saint (Waumer), but also by attributing their comital status to King Arthur. The author and his patrons drew upon Wace’s presentation of Arthur’s kingship as morally superior. Arthur’s civilized kingship motivated harmony among his nobles, great chivalry, and peace and prosperity in his kingdom. As such, it pointedly illustrated Philip II’s failure to do so, while at the same time calling attention to Ida II’s Wessex, Scottish, and Anglo-Norman royal heritage. It also focuses on the successes of the First Crusade and Charlemagne, through the inclusion of Ida II’s ancestor, the Swan Knight, grandfather of the saintly Ida I, for whom Ida II was named, as well as indirectly critiques the less successful Second Crusade led by Philip’s father, Louis VII.

Contributing to the criticism of Philip II, as discussed by Spiegel, this new genealogy contests royal influence in northern France through the assertion that Ponthieu, Guines, and St. Pol were part of the iretage of Boulogne. The genealogy thereby advances a claim that these territories should be considered under Boulonnais overlordship, a goal which Ida and Renaud pursued. As Fiona Tolhurst suggests, the recruitment of Arthur into the Boulonnais genealogy also draws upon Geoffrey of Monmonth’s exemplary marital model, where king and queen marry for love and share power. Like Arthur and Guinevere and Arthur’s parents, Uther and Ygraine, the Boulonnais countesses and their husbands ruled as equals, sharing power. The celebration of chivalry and aristocratic values in the Pseudo-Turpin drew upon and enhanced Ida’s family’s tradition of courtliness, especially that of her grandfather Stephen, count of Mortain and Boulogne, and king of England, and her father and uncle, Matthew, and Philip of Flanders, as well as that of her husband.

In conjunction with the distinction gained through literary patronage, Ida and Renaud enhanced their prestige through the building of Hardelot and Belle (later known as Bellefontaine) Castles. Hardelot, like the castle of Boulogne, was built on the site of a Roman fort and utilized the stone spolia of the ancient garrison. This imitation of Charlemagne’s building program and translatio imperium emphasized the Boulonnais comital family’s status through appropriation of the romanitas of the Carolingians. Hardelot’s romanitas was enhanced by its nearness to the Roman road. Traveling from Boulogne to Hardelot, one would pass Odre Lighthouse (built by Charlemagne, following in the first-century AD Roman example). The erection of the castle of Belle asserted comital power visually as well as militarily, defending the fosse on the Wimereux river. Through architecture and literary patronage, Ida and Renaud affirmed the distinguished status of the Boulonnais comital family—renowned peers of King Arthur and Charlemagne, distinguished descendants of kings, emperors, saints, courteous ladies, and preudhommes.

Heather J. Tanner, Lordship and Governance by the Inheriting Countesses of Boulogne, 1160-1260

#ida of boulogne #renaud of Dammartin #12th century #13th century #french history #women in history #my post

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storyofmychoices · 1 year ago

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Whimsical Walks and Poetic Talks

Valentine's Gift #2 for the wonderful @oh-so-youre-a-nerd! @choicesfandomappreciation

Pairing: Ernest Sinclaire x Tulsi (F!MC) (@oh-so-youre-a-nerd)

Book: Desire & Decorum

Word Count: >550

Rating/Warning: General/None

Synopsis: Ernest and Tulsi take a late afternoon walk around Ledford Park.

This art of Ernest and Tulsi is by @liiyaan!

The orange glow of the setting sun bathed Ledford Park in an amber glow. Its warmth welcomed Ernest and Tulsi, who had embarked on a leisurely stroll through the newly renovated garden. The bushes, shrubs, and flowers had just begun to show the first signs of life as spring ushered in a new season of growth. They hoped they'd finally be able to put the troubles of the past behind them.

Ernest breathed in the brisk, cool air settling around them as dusk threatened its approach. He marveled at the colors painted across the sky and how the rays of sunlight danced along the tops of the trees, holding onto the world around them. It reminded him of a poem he had once read. His lips curled slightly, his mouth opening, but before he could share the words of beauty, Tulsi had other ideas.

Whimsy sparkled in her eyes. "If you were a flower, which one would you be and why?"

Ernest paused in his step, not expecting the question. He shook his head; he should be used to her impulsive questions. His guarded demeanor softened as their pace resumed.

"And keep in mind, there are right answers." She teased, her step light beside him as she eagerly awaited his thoughtful reply.

His free hand pinched the bridge of his nose, his brow furrowing as he considered his response. "If I must participate—"

"You must!"

"I thought as much," Ernest chuckled. "Then, in response to your query, a thistle."

"Go on," Tusli encouraged, waiting for his reasoning.

"A thistle is sharp with a protective exterior," he began, watching her reaction. "Some might even describe them as prickly, and yet, they are resilient and can thrive even when faced with challenges."

"I'll allow it." She pressed a kiss to his cheek, his blush warming her lips. "In some cultures, thistles symbolize devotion, bravery, and strength. You, Mr. Sinclaire, possess all of those."

"My beautiful Tulsi, may I regale you with a poem that I am reminded of this evening?" Ernest requested, his eyes brightening at the prospects.

Tulsi smiled softly, she might not appreciate his poetry as he did, but the way he lit up when speaking those words he held close made every word beautiful. "You may."

His attempt to begin was once more quieted by her words.

"However, as you do, consider what kind of fruit you would be and why," Tulsi added. "Oh, and you cannot say a pineapple. You've already used the prickly on the outside reasoning with the thistle."

Ernest attempted to stifle the chuckle rising in his throat. There was no use arguing logistics with Tulsi over the questions. It would get him nowhere, and he quite liked the enjoyment she found with these inquiries. He nodded his agreement and then began reciting the poem.

The cadence of his voice wove a tapestry of emotions, painting the air with the beauty and complexity of the poem's meaning. Tulsi listened, enchanted by the rhythm of his words and the way Ernest's eyes sparkled with passion as he unraveled the layers of the written art.

They might not find the appeal of the same things, but the love they found in each other, and the appreciation for each other's interests they had, kept their relationship growing with every word they shared.

Thia, I hope you enjoy this little drabble of your Tulsi and Ernest. I hope I captured them in a way that fits your vision. Happy Valentine's Day!

PS-I commissioned the art before I asked about their dynamic 🙈

#ChoicesSecretAdmirer2024 #oh-so-youre-a-nerd #gift #choices #playchoices #choices game #playchoices game #ernest sinclaire #ernest sinclarie x mc #desire and decorum #tulsi (dad)#lovealexhunt #storyofmychoices #fan fiction #my commissions #gift commissions #february2024

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whencyclopedia · 10 months ago

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John André

Major John André (1750-1780) was a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). He is best known for negotiating with the American turncoat Benedict Arnold, who offered to hand over the stronghold of West Point. The plot was exposed when André was captured behind American lines, leading to his execution as a spy.

Early Life

John André was born on 2 May 1750 in London, England, to a family of wealthy Protestant immigrants. His father, Antoine André, was a prosperous merchant originally from Geneva, Switzerland, while his mother, Marie-Louise Girardot, was French. He was the eldest of five siblings; he had three sisters, Mary Hannah (b. 1752), Anne Marguerite (b. 1753), and Louisa Catherine (b. 1754), and a brother, William Louis (b. 1760). John was initially educated at Westminster School but was eventually sent to study mathematics and military drawing at the Academy of Geneva. He excelled at academics and showed proficiency in languages; by his late teens, he was fluent in English, French, German, and Italian. Yet his true passion rested in the arts. André would spend most of his free time sketching or painting, writing poetry and short plays, and playing the flute.

André returned to London in 1767 and longed to join the British army, which he saw as a chance to see the world and break free from the middle-class life to which he felt condemned. His father, however, had other plans, and put him to work in his countinghouse, hoping that John would one day inherit the family business. André dutifully worked for his father for two years until April 1769, when Antoine André died at the age of 52. Later that year, André accompanied his mother and sisters on vacation to Buxton Spa in Derbyshire, hoping that the trip would ease their grief.

It was on this trip that André became acquainted with Anna Seward, a noted poet who ran a literary salon out of her father's lodgings in Bishop's Palace in Lichfield. Seward invited André to Lichfield, where she introduced him to her childhood friend and poetic muse, the beautiful, yet reserved, 17-year-old Honora Sneyd. Seward doted on Sneyd and described her as "fresh and beautiful as the young day-star, when he bathes his fair beams in the dews of spring" (Seward, cxvii). André was quickly smitten with the girl and would often find excuses to be in her company. Although some scholars contend that Seward had romantic feelings for Sneyd herself, she appears to have aided André in his suit, reading love poems aloud as André and Sneyd dreamily held hands.

Before long, André proposed to Sneyd, but her father disapproved of the match, viewing André as too poor; he said that he would accept their engagement only if André gave up his military ambitions and instead devoted his time to making as much money as possible. Viewing a glimmer of hope, André raced back to London and plunged diligently back to work in the countinghouse. All the while, the lovesick André wrote letters to Honora, describing how much he hated life as a merchant but tolerated it because of his love for her:

When an impertinent consciousness whispers in my ear that I am not of the right stuff for a merchant, I draw my Honora's picture from my bosom, and the sight of that dear talisman so inspirits my industry that no toil appears oppressive. (Sargent, 15)

Within a few months, Sneyd's father grew impatient and became convinced that André would never make enough money. He abruptly broke off their engagement. Distance had perhaps cooled Sneyd's feelings for André, as she did not protest too strongly and was soon being courted by other men. Heartbroken, André decided there was nothing left for him in London. After working a little longer to provide money for his family, he purchased a commission in the British Army on 4 March 1771. He was selected for special training in Germany, where he spent two years before being assigned to the Royal Fusiliers (7th Regiment of Foot) as a second lieutenant. In 1774, André was sent across the Atlantic to join his regiment in Quebec, a deployment from which he would never return.

#History #JohnAndre #BenedictArnold #AmericanRevolution

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slivertm · 3 months ago

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JIA — you have been chosen. the dark mother has hand-selected you, gifted you with knowledge of the truth behind these matters. you were afraid, you spoke to your parents, and their encouragement solidified what must be done. you have been called, and you must answer to whom your court is most devoted, at risk of a curse befalling you. you might have a friend that you can count on, however, one who has a distaste for mainlanders just as you do.

“our lucky one!” zhōu daiyi cries out, diving across the room.

jia sits, frozen, as her mother’s thin arms wrap around her. although she is the one in need, her mother is sobbing against the soft, pale blue fabric of her dress — darkened lashes marring the delicate tulle. “she’s chosen you.”

dark knuckles tighten to bone as she grips the plush embroidery of the seat.

yes. she had.

a brief, sudden fear strikes the fae that her mother might commission a portrait of the moment. from how she recalls it, the moment had been a perfect poetry. a painting simply waiting for the artist. imagine this: the dark mother, bathed in a soft halo of her divine beauty. jia, a vestal vision as she moved to knees in deference at the sight of the goddess. in her overwhelming presence, even jia's infamous tongue pauses its wagging, drinking every last word of her message.

at some point, between her mother's babbles and hiccoughing sobs, mikaerie yronwood pours out a goblet of wine. it's a strong, embodied taste — a well-aged bottle from their vineyard. when jia lowers the chalice, very gently, her father ruffles her hair. he’d done so since she was a child, mussing both her and her brother’s thick, messy mop of hair.

her brother was brave. much braver than jia had ever been. she was a coward, possessed with dread at the slightest breath of importance. he would have done anything for the good of their court. remembering his spirit, the late ihaku yronwood would have been honoured to serve at the behest of the dark mother, happy to lay down his life and fear without the behest of their parents.

“yes—” the agreement leaves her lips at last, sealing jia's bargained compliance. "this is a great, great honour."

#m * yronwood jia.#ofcourtfables.#ask.#ofcourtfables:task

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crimsonsongbird · 2 years ago

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To My Universe: A Message from Nyx

"I can see that your heart is hurting With a bitter loneliness that reverberates Through your body, heart, and soul. But heed this, my twinkling star, You are loved and you are whole. Oh, sweet moonlight, please know that My hands are on your shoulders, A sweet kiss upon your brow, And I am whispering loving praise Into your ears right now. Please open up your eyes, Gaze into the comfort of night. Please open up your heart And let my endless love inside. My dearest universe, it is time to restart. Now open up your ears And heed these words of mine: You are my child, in kind, And I banish the loneliness That lurks inside your mind.”

Commission for @the-fox-jawed-witch

#devotional poetry #devotional writing #devotional commission #my poetry #my work #my writing #my poems #the-fox-jawed-witch #nyx deity #nyx

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cymorilcinnamonroll · 6 months ago

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"Annunciation" - A Gabriel and Mary Devotional Poem

Commission, again, by the illustrious @liusia-piu for an old college poem I wrote in Hermine Pinson's Master Poetry Class at the College of William & Mary. Liusia was lovely enough to draw Mary as specifically Jewish as accurate to the historical period. And I adore how she drew Gabe. The lilies seem to radiate the Holy Dove.

I woke with God’s first kiss,

a stream of light through the

window. I had dreamed of

dear Joseph and his

callused hands on my

skin, tracing psalms

between my thighs.

The thought made me

blush. Hair matted

from sleep, I brushed

back a lion’s mane.

Morning prayers.

Sleep-grit in eyes -

A dove flew

into my room.

The hopeful thing

hopped on my bed

nestled by my pillow

and looked upon me.

“Why, little bird,

dost thou visit me?”

I asked, stroking

its downy breast.

The moment I

touched the bird,

heat licked my skin –

I screamed, and, in

a flash of plasma

a being appeared,

terrible to behold.

“Fear not,” said the angel –

a flaming wheel given form,

with hair of the desert,

his eyes the Sea of Galilee.

His feet burned, brimstone,

and his breath was like

spikenard and myrrh.

I would have run,

had I not been petrified,

mesmerized by his beauty.

My heart was a gazelle,

it leapt out of my chest,

into his slender arms.

“Who are you?”

I breathed.

“Gabriel, a messenger

of the Lord, o

blessed among women,”

he said, voice a bell

the kind that tolls

when death is near.

“Why hast thou

appeared to me?”

He came closer,

cupped the dove

with poet’s fingers.

“Fear not, Mary,

for thou hast found

favor with God.”

I trembled, I shook,

I fell like Babel’s tower.

“God? But why?”

Gabriel smiled.

“Thou shalt conceive

a son, Jesus, holiest

of holies – he shalt reign

over the kingdom of Jacob

forever, of his dominion

there shall be no end.”

My womb stirred

my guts fell onto the floor.

“But I have known no man.”

I knew then, what the

wrath of God was, His

holy lust filled me,

and I yearned for

divine communion.

Gabriel’s lips met mine like

lilies blooming. He tasted

sweeter than Joseph,

like rain and manna.

No act of song or

creation is sinless –

we are all the children

of God. But my son,

especially so.

#the annunciation #virgin mary #archangel gabriel #poem #original poem #poetry #catholicism

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mumms-the-word · 11 months ago

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Dani's Masterlist

Meet Meridan "Dani" Zavrai

A blue Mephistopheles tiefling bard who prefers her fiddle and a few handy spells over combat. Dani was briefly part of a band of bards called the Merry Rovers, led by a human named Brann who she views as essentially her father figure. She loves to talk her way into and out of trouble, making her silver tongue just as much an asset as it is a hindrance, and she finds it hard to resist the allure of a few gold coins in almost any circumstance. She is deeply devoted to her friends, however, and will defend or support them at the drop of a hat. You can rely on her for a good song, an encouraging word, a hearty laugh, and a healthy dose of Vicious Mockery heaped upon your enemies. Dani fell in love with Gale and the two spend most of their time in witty banter.

(Want to know more? There's a whole backstory bash I did for Dani lol)

AO3 Link to all of Dani's fics in one place!

~*~*~*~*~*~

New Friend - 10yo Dani meets a lifelong best friend

Abducted - Dani is abducted by the nautiloid

Settling In - Dani reflects on her companions and her new place among them

Forearms - Dani offers to mend Gale's robe and...oh no he's hot

Signs Part 1 + Signs Part 2 - Dani teaches the companions a new game (with some light romance angst)

The Art of the Night - Gale invites Dani to spend a perfect evening in Waterdeep and Dani reads poetry from The Art of the Night

(Im)possible Odds - Gale contemplates fulfilling Mystra's command in Act 2

One Sleep Away - In the camp outside of Baldur's Gate, Dani and Gale share a few secrets while watching the city rest peacefully below.

Reunited Part 1 - Finally back in Baldur's Gate, Dani brings her companions to meet her mother

Reunited Part 2 - Several days later, Dani finally finds the Rovers at last

Siblings -Dani is not pleased at how Rolan is being treated at Sorcerous Sundries (half of this takes place both before "An Argument," and half of it after)

An Argument Part 1 and Part 2 - Dani and Gale do not see eye to eye about the Crown of Karsus

A Little Boat Voyage - After their argument, Dani agrees to listen to Gale's plan for the crown...begrudgingly...

A Matter of Moments - Dani is left waiting alone in the Stormshore Tabernacle as Gale meets Mystra in the Outer Planes. Despite herself, she wonders if—when—he will return.

New Normal - Dani thinks back on the last six months after their victory over the Netherbrain

~*~*~*~*~*~

Also featured in:

Four Shared Baths - Just your average bathing with an LI moment

Songs and Lyrics - A few songs/lyrics that inspired little bit scenes for Ardynn, Dani, and Invi

First Confessions - The first time my Tavs/Durges said "I love you" to their LIs

A Macabre Masquerade - A long, multi-chapter fic detailed an adventure Dani and Gale have in Baldur's Gate a year after the game ends!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Some lovely art of Dani that people have done! First is by @elspethdekarios and the second by @point-maitimo (and yes both take commissions and are extremely lovely!!)

~*~*~*~*~*~

Take me back to the Faerûnian Masterlist!

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #my fic #my tav #dani #meridan zavrai #gale #gale dekarios #bg3 fic

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vannahfanfics · 8 months ago

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Hello! I requested a fire emblem three houses matchup commission on kofi. Pronouns are she/her. No preference for gender.

Personality: Emotional and imaginative, frequent daydreamer, stubborn and independent, observant and adaptable, anxious and guarded around other people.

I am friendly when approached but difficult to get to know and struggle with being vulnerable. I tend to mimic the behavior of and match the energy of whoever I am interacting with. I prioritize others wellbeing over my own and frequently exhaust myself in the process. I tend to contradict myself or behave unpredictably. I am both affectionate and closed off, practical and impulsive, a fast learner and forgetful. I’ve learned to embrace it and would need to be with someone who can keep up with and not be annoyed by the variability.

Hobbies: reading (very interested in psychological and scifi stuff), listening to music, puzzle games, walking and hiking, i write poetry but am very private about it LOL. I sing pretty much constantly. I’m not terrible but I’m not great at it either. So, ideally, a partner who would not be bothered by that.

Values: family and loyalty

My family is extremely important to me and I am very close with both my parents and sibling. My priority is always to take care of them. My closest friends hold the same value as my biological family to me. At my core I am a very caring and devoted person and I want to be given the same energy back.

In a relationship I value security and communication. I have a deep desire to be understood, cared for, and protected. I also want to be challenged and feel inspired by them to be a better version of myself.

Other details: I am touchstarved but afraid to ask for affection and too nervous to initiate. In romantic relationships I am inexperienced and tend to come off like a frightened animal so I would need a partner who can navigate that compassionately.

My emotions are strong and can change rapidly. I am someone who for the most part internalizes this but I am, unfortunately, very easy to read. I wear what I’m feeling on my face and am only occasionally successful at masking it with neutrality.

I apologize for being longwinded and thank you so much! I hope you are having a good day/evening/night!! <3

Thank you for your commission! I've been struggling with writer's block for months now, and I was really excited when I got this not only because it was for a new fandom I've gotten into recently, but also because it did a good job of getting the ol' juices flowing again. So, thanks! XD I hope you like it!

I match you with...

Claude von Riegan from Fire Emblem: Three Houses!

All right, I'll admit up front that I'm a little biased when it comes to Claude because he's my favorite Three Houses character. He hooked me from the first moment he appeared, and the Golden Deer route was my first route. Still, it's not my own personal bias toward him that led me to pair him with you for this match-up! I've got lots of reasons why I think this dashing fellow is the one for you!

First and foremost, you and Claude have very similar personalities. In some cases, this might lead to an incompatible relationship, but I don't think that would be the case for you and Claude! Rather, I think that the similarities in your personalities would allow the two of you to connect with and understand each other on a very deep, emotional level. Like Claude, you maintain a friendly and approachable persona that likely gathers you lots of friends and acquaintances, but in reality, struggle to be vulnerable with any of them for quite some time; it takes a lot for both of you to let those walls down and really let someone in. Your behavior often ends up contradictory because of it, like a practiced dance that you just can't help but engage in with others because of your own apprehensions. I think that Claude would find you a kindred spirit in this sense and gravitate toward you because of it. If anyone can truly understand him, it will be someone who ticks the same way, right? Likewise, he'd be able to understand you, since his mind operates the same way—and especially since you are easier to read than some others might be, having difficulty masking your true feelings a lot of the time. I think he'd find it refreshing, having someone around whom he didn't have to try to puzzle out all the time and someone who didn't find him as much as a puzzle as everyone else seemed to. He'd probably find your inability to conceal your emotions and feelings pretty adorable and tease you about it, just a little bit! It comes from a place of genuine endearment, of course. It'd start out innocent at first, on his part, just searching for something familiar amidst all the unfamiliarity in his life, but he'd soon find himself opening up to you without realizing it, I think—and when he did realize it, he'd also realize that he's down pretty bad for you!

There are other facets of your personality that would draw him in, too, that would result in him falling for you. He's definitely got his own stubbornness about him, and he'll find someone who can match his energy entertaining. He's also very independent, and he values that in people. He's also exceptionally observant and adaptable, and he'll definitely want someone like that around to aid in his various schemes, hehe! He'll also respect your sense of loyalty, for loyalty is also something that he values immensely. He'll especially respect your loyalty to your family, being such a family-oriented person as he is. He's also a big one on devotion, and the fact that you'll be just as devoted to him as he is to you will be a big thing for him. He will definitely give you that energy back; it doesn't matter if you're on different continents altogether, he'll make sure you know that you're the only one for him!

You value communication in relationships. Claude might struggle with this in the beginning, what with his need to guard his secrets closely. With time, however, he will open up, and once that barrier is broken, Claude will keep no secrets from you. He knows that communication is important if a relationship is going to be serious and long-lasting, and he is willing to be open once it gets to that point. He will see your desires to be cared for and protected, and by golly, will he provide! It doesn't matter if it's him against the whole world; he'll do what he has to to keep you safe. He'll make sure you feel loved every day, and he's a master at utilizing all the little things to accomplish that. He'll also deeply respect your desire to be challenged and pushed to be the best version of yourself that he can be, and he'll do whatever he can to help you reach your goals, whatever they may be.

You mentioned that you're a bit hesitant in relationships, nervous to initiate and unsure in navigating them; that's okay! Claude's depth of emotional intelligence will let him pick up on that immediately, and though he will find it so cute that he'll want to scream, he'll also know what you need and act accordingly. He'll never push you beyond a point you don't want to go; he'll take everything at your pace, every word and action dictated by nothing but your comfort level. His dashing prince act might seem a bit much at times, but it's genuinely all from the heart. He adores you and wants you to feel safe and secure with him, no matter what, so he'll do everything and anything to that end. <3

Finally, I think you and Claude would click together because you share a lot of the same interests! Claude's a big reader, and not just for the sake of his schemes. He loves knowledge and soaks everything he can up like a sponge. He may not be one to read fiction as much, but he'd happily sit with you and lose himself in some encyclopedia or another while you lose yourself in a story. He'd also love puzzle games, I feel, seeing as he approaches a lot of situations and things as a puzzle. Nothing brings him more satisfaction than seeing a problem he's been chipping away at come together, and so I feel like he'd be down to tackle puzzle games with you—and he'd be damn good at it, too! I also think that Claude would love going on hikes and walks with you. His mind is constantly working, and though it'd take a bit to actually drag him away from something he's invested himself in, once you do, he'll greatly enjoy losing himself in nice scenery somewhere—especially if it's just the two of you. It'll be enough for him to let it all fall away, all the things occupying his mind, and enjoy simply being with you. Finally, I feel like Claude's got a secret love of music himself. :3 He'll not only enjoy your tendency to break out in song, but he'll do it right along with you! It will not be an uncommon occurrence for him to spontaneously sweep you up in a duet and a dance, even if you both have to drop everything to do it, LOL.

In summary, you and Claude have a lot in common, both in terms of personality and passions, and I think that would lead to you being able to understand each other in a way that people don't often get to understand one another. <3

Now, for the second part of the match-up, I wanna circle back to Claude's endeavor to make you feel loved! Really, this man loves with every fiber of his being, and he's going to go above and beyond to ensure that you know just how much he adores you. He ain't ashamed about it, either; he's proud of his simping LOL I feel like Claude is more of a gestures person when it comes to showing affection. He tells you how much you mean to him often, too, but he has always been a big believer that actions speak louder than words, and this man's actions equate to him screaming how much he loves you from the rooftops, LOL

Love notes. This man is huge on love notes. He leaves them everywhere. When you're in the shower, he writes little notes in the fogged-up mirror for you to find when you get out. He sticks them in books you're reading for you to find the next time you resume them. He sticks them in the pockets of your jackets for you to have a pleasant little surprise to find when your hands seek escape from the cold. His ingenious in his hiding of them to where it's more often than not that you discover them when he's not around, but obvious enough to where they will inevitably be found. Even if it's just a simple, "I hope you're having a good day when you find this! :) I know I am because I have you", he just wants you to know that you occupy his mind 24/7. And you do! Claude is constantly blown away by the thought of how lucky he feels to have you in his life. <3

He loves to surprise you with flowers. There doesn't need to be any special occasion. He just loves to see your face light up with surprised delight when you discover a new, bow-wrapped vase with a fresh bouquet of flowers. Seeing you smile gives him a dopamine rush unlike anything else.

Acts of service! Huuuuuge, huge, huge acts of service guy, too. If you need help with anything, anything at all, he is there. It is not uncommon for you to come home and find that he has done every single chore for the day—cleaned the house from top to bottom, cooked you dinner, drew you a warm bubble bath. Whenever Claude feels that you're becoming stressed and overwhelmed with life, he will step in and remove as many of those stressors as he can until you feel better. You can come to him for aid with any problem, and he'll figure it out, someway, somehow. No obstacle is insurmountable for Claude, especially when it comes to his dearly beloved!

More than anything, Claude shows his love for you by being willing to spare each and every spare moment with you. Life can be busy sometimes, and it's easy to get caught up in your own things, but Claude will always, always make sure that he drops all his responsibilities and obligations for at least a little bit of time each day to be with you. Nothing is more important to him than being with you for a few precious moments each day, if it's just lazily cuddling because you've both been exhausted by the toils and trials of the day. He's there with open arms and a big smile, ready to wrap you up and take you away from the wearying world for just a little while. <3

Finally, for the last part of your match-up, a scenario! I think it's pretty inevitable that Claude discovers your penchant for poetry, no matter how hard you try to keep it a secret, LOL. The man is just too good at rooting out secrets. As soon as he's got an inkling that you're hiding something from him, he's on the scent like a bloodhound, desperate to solve the mystery. It's only a matter of time before the jig's up, and here's how I think it'd go down:

You should have known he was onto you.

You had been vigilant at first, of course. You'd secured your poems away tucked away in a dark corner of your closet where Claude had no business looking in the early days of your blossoming relationship. You'd moved them to progressively more secure locations as things had grown more serious, determined to keep this part of your life a secret for as long as possible. You hadn't feared rebuke or ridicule, and you still don't, not from Claude; it was just embarrassing, sharing a creative talent like that with somebody, in a way that you just couldn't explain. You'd share it with him when the time was right, you had told yourself. But until then, you'd keep it hidden, keep it safe...

You should have known better, truly. It was only a matter of time.

You had started out so well, but somewhere along the way, you got complacent... and you got sloppy. Claude had been on to you from the very first time it happened, the very first time you'd practically leaped across the room to hastily conceal a harmless-looking scrap of paper from his too-keen, too-curious eyes. He'd nagged you then, begging to know what you were so desperate to hide from him, but he'd dropped the subject when you'd refused to relinquish the tantalizing knowledge and grown teary in your mortified distress. He'd relented, not wishing to cause you undue upset... but oh, he hadn't forgotten. He'd filed that little nugget of knowledge away, knowledge that you had a secret, and his frightening powers of observation had been activated that day. He'd never spoken of it again, but only because he'd been biding his time, a coiled cobra waiting for the perfect time to strike...

It really was inevitable—finding yourself here, clinging to Claude's back like a spidermonkey as he holds one of your poems just out of reach and reads the handwritten script with eager interest bordering on triumphant rapture.

"Claude!" you shriek, reaching over his broad shoulder in a vain attempt to swipe at the paper far out of reach of your desperate fingers. "Put it down! Put it down!"

"Come on, there's no need to be so upset," he laughs, refusing to tear his blue-green eyes from his hard-earned prize. "You had it sitting out in the open! You wanted me to find it!"

He's right, and you know it; on some level, you've grown weary of the constant vigilance, and your mind had betrayed you by causing you to leave one of your recent poems where he could get his grubby little hands on it. You know it, yet you can't stop yourself from panicking and trying to shove the cat back in the bag, even though you know it's impossible.

"Clauuuuuuuuude!"

Undeterred by your shrill whines and slaps at the paper, he continues to read the poem. After one or two more flails of your arm, you give up. It's like you aren't even there; supporting your frantically wiggling form with a slight stoop and one arm around one of your legs, which are crossed across his stomach, his hand doesn't so much as shake as he holds the paper aloft and ravenously drinks in the words borne of your sensitive soul. With a groan, you defeatedly drop your face into Claude's shoulder right as he finishes reading his find.

"Hey."

You don't answer him, prompting him to jostle your body slightly and repeat in a more insistent tone, "Hey."

"What?" you grumble without lifting your head. Your panic has morphed into a mixture of embarrassment and frustration and a wee bit of anger at what you felt was a transgression of your privacy, and you are in no mood to entertain the teasing he is sure to inflict upon you now.

"It's good."

"What?" you ask again, this time whipping your head up in shock. Claude had been looking at you, and if weren't for his fast reflexes, your forehead would have collided directly with his. He laughs as he ducks his head sideways to avoid your noggin knocking his into next week, then smiles brightly in response to your open-mouthed gape of utter astonishment.

"I said, it's good!" he repeats eagerly.

You are immediately overcome with doubt, and your mouth snaps shut into a firm frown.

"You're just saying that," you sigh, slipping down from his back. Tiredness now overwhelms you as the adrenaline surge begins to fade from your blood; you totter over to the nearest surface, which happens to be your sofa, and you plop face-first into it with another long, drawn-out groan that is slightly muffled by the cushions.

"No, really! I mean it!" Claude insists, immediately following after you. He forces himself in the small bit of space between you and the cushions, and you are faced with the choice of either being shoved off the couch and onto the floor or turning on your side to face you. Though slithering off the couch to puddle on the floor like a pile of goop is tempting, you end up turning to face Claude instead; if you did slipped to the floor, he'd just follow you down there. So, you obediently turn, and Claude props himself up on one elbow and rests his cheek in his hand as the other taps the piece of paper against your nose.

"Hey." Claude smiles that innocent, boyish smile of his at you, and despite yourself, you find yourself being drawn in. Though you're pouting as you peer through your lashes up at him, your heart is now fluttering with hope. Does he really find your poetry good?

"Hey," you reply sullenly, eyes drifting down to the paper hovering between you.

"I mean it, you know," Claude repeats softly, eyes glittering over the top of the paper. "It's lovely."

"You really think so...?"

"Sure do," he quips, not hesitating for a second, and you just can't help but melt into him in relief because you know it's true.

A shy smile toying at your lips, you wind your arms around his neck and snuggle close to him as you bashfully mumble, "I'm sorry..."

"Sorry for what?" he asked, tilting his head slightly as his eyes widened in genuine bewilderment.

"Freaking out." Your apology barely sneaks around your teeth, which are worrying your bottom lip. "I was just... so embarrassed in the moment that I just couldn't help it."

"Mmm, that's okay," Claude shrugs, idly flipping the paper around his fingers as his focus is now one hundred percent on you. "It's kind of my fault, too, for pushing it. Wasn't very nice of me. I just couldn't help it," he admitted, his smile now turning lopsided with sheepish contrition. "You know how I get. As soon as I suspected you were hiding something from me, I had to get to the bottom of it. Especially 'cuz I figured it was something like this." He glances at the paper again, and you roll your eyes as he smirks in triumph. "And I sure did~"

"You're insufferable, you know that?" you mutter, and he just chuckles before dropping a placating kiss on the top of your head. Despite yourself, you are indeed placated; with a hum, you drop your head, close your eyes, and cuddle into him. You feel Claude shift as he flicks the paper onto the nearby side table so he can wrap his arm around your waist and hold you close. It is then that you process exactly what he'd said, and you crack an eye open as you frown.

"Hey... What did you mean by 'especially because you figured it was something like this?'" you ask.

Claude had also closed his eyes, preparing to doze; like a lazy lion rousing from sleep, he slowly peeked his eye open to look down at you.

"Mmm? Exactly what it sounds like," he answers nonchalantly. "I figured it was some sort of writing of yours. I wanted to read it."

"Why?"

"Because it's yours," he answers simply, both his eyes opening as he smiles softly at you. "It came from you. That in and of itself makes it worth reading, to me."

"Claude..." you breathe, swept off your feet by how overwhelmingly romantic the simplicity and authenticity of his answer was. You swell with adoration, nearly bursting with it, and it brings tears of gratitude and happiness and a whole host of other emotions to your eyes. You just bite down on your bottom lip and give him a tight squeeze, which he reciprocates with a boyish grin.

"So?" he asks eagerly.

"So?" you question, unsure of what he's asking.

"You'll let me read more of your poems, right?" he explains, grin widening. On the surface, he looks mischievous, but you can see the genuine interest sparkling underneath.

So that's why you swallow your instinctive hesitation, bury your face in his chest, cling tightly to his form, and smile widely as you shyly utter, "Okay, Claude... Just 'cuz it's you."

"'Just 'cuz it's me,' huh?" he chuckles, rubbing your back to soothe your nervous squirming. "Boy, do I feel special." He hugs you then, and his breath tickles your ear as he murmurs, "Can't ever be as special as you are, though. I'm no poet."

Oh, but he was, though he'd never know it. He was a poet among poets, only his poetry was weaved from not words, but the special bond between him and you. You can only dream of crafting art that rivaled what Claude made out of his love for you... but until your magnum opus came, you suppose you can share with Claude the words that you pull from the window to your soul, if only to let him know that you love him as much as he does you.

Because you do love him. You really, really do.

Interested in a commission? Check out this post!

#fe3h #fire emblem three houses #fire emblem #matchup #matchups #commission #commissions

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esoteric-chaos · 9 months ago

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Hello again :-) I saw that you work with / are devoted to some deities and I was curious about something that I’m hoping you can help with. How does one pray to pagan deities? I’ve tried researching how to pray in general but it’s all Catholic or Christian prayers, or how to pray the rosary. Basically, does a prayer have to be formal? Or is it kind of like a “Hey (insert deity)…. How’s it going? I need help with something”. Is there a proper format? If you don’t pray to any deities please ignore this ask lol.

Hello! This is going to be a long one so buckle up.

So this really does depend on what framework you are going with honestly. For example Hellenic Polytheism (Greek). If you are looking at it from a more Reconstruction outlook, Revivalism, or New Age (I'll explain why New Age isn't bad here). You are more likely to see prayer in Reconstructionism or Revivalism, versus New Age.

Now New Age practices aren't inherently bad or should be demonized, we all have different relationships with the gods. With the New Age, we might see a more casual relationship with the gods where you may not pray but still leave offerings. This is where you'd see more of “Hey (insert deity)…. How’s it going? I need help with something” as you'd say while having that relationship with them and an offering to sweeten the deal. The only time New Age is bad is when we are not respecting the historical context that is needed and deserved.

Now, from a more religious framework that's where you'd see traditional prayer, it's hard to find good prayer online for our deities so we tend to have to get more poetic on our own. You can however look on the Theoi.com website for some Orphic Hymn's (religious poetry) for instance of Greek deities along with checking out @screeching-0wl blog as they have posted some Greek deity cheetsheets with some prayer included. @crimsonsongbird also has some fantastic devotional content, some are also available by commission.

You can use prayer beads, and make small prayer bracelets or long necklaces. Some are available online for various pantheons or you can make your own.

Typically I sit in front of the altars if I can, wear my veil for some deities, clasp my hands together and use specific homemade prayer or sometimes found prayer. It really does depend on what I need the prayer for and what its purpose is. Am I praying just to pray? Am I praying to Lady Eutychia for good fortune? Am I praying to Lady Bastet for the health of my cats? Lord Thoth for help in communication? My pop culture deities for whatever reason that may be? It really does depend on what you need and what works for you. You can go the traditional route or you can be casual with it, what matters is being respectful.

I do suggest really deep diving into these pantheons, their history and religious frameworks. You may decide you want to go about it traditionally or maybe you just aren't comfortable with that and that's okay. However, I do find it respectable and they would appreciate it for sure that you are at least educated on the matter even if you decided it wasn't for you.

A book I've heard good things about is A Book of Pagan Prayer by Ceisiwr Serith for general prayer and Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship has some decent stuff but do not quote me on that as I have not fully vetted the book.

I hope this answers your question! Take care < 3

#answered asks

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cruger2984 · 1 year ago

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THE DESCRIPTION OF SAINT JOHN OF DAMASCUS (John Damascene) Feast Day: December 4

"I do not worship matter, I worship the God of matter, who became matter for my sake and deigned to inhabit matter, who worked out my salvation through matter. I will not cease from honoring that matter which works for my salvation. I venerate it, though not as God."

John was born into a wealthy family at Damascus and spent his entire life under Islamic rule. The ancestors of John, according to his biographer, had alone remained faithful to Christianity when Damascus fell into the hands of the Arabs. They commanded the respect of the conqueror, and were employed in judicial offices of trust and dignity, to administer, no doubt, the Christian law to the Christian subjects of the Sultan. His father, besides this honorable rank, had amassed great wealth; all this he devoted to the redemption of Christian slaves to whom he gave freedom. John was the reward of these pious actions.

John was baptized immediately on his birth, probably by Peter II, bishop of Damascus (and afterwards a sufferer for the Faith). The father was anxious to keep his son aloof from the savage habits of war and piracy to which the youths of Damascus were addicted, and to devote him to the pursuit of knowledge. The Saracen pirates of the seashore neighboring to Damascus swept the Mediterranean and brought in Christian captives from all quarters. A monk named Cosmas had the misfortune to fall into the hands of these freebooters. He was set apart for death when his executioners, Christian slaves no doubt, fell at his feet and entreated his intercession with the Redeemer.

The Saracens inquired of Cosmas who he was. He replied that he had not the dignity of a priest; he was a simple monk, and burst into tears. The father of John was standing by, and expressed his surprise at this exhibition of timidity. Cosmas answered, "It is not for the loss of my life, but of my learning, that I weep."

Then, he recounted his attainments, and the father of John, thinking he would make a valuable tutor for his son, begged (or bought) his life, gave him his freedom, and placed his son under his tuition. The pupil in time exhausted all the acquirements of his teacher. The monk then obtained his dismissal and retired to the monastery of St. Sabas, where he would have closed his days in peace, had he not been compelled to take on himself the bishopric of Majuma, at the port of Gaza.

The attainments of the young John of Damascus commanded the veneration of the Saracens; he was compelled reluctantly to accept an office of higher trust and dignity than that held by his father. As the Iconoclastic controversy became more violent, John of Damascus entered the field against the Emperor of the East, and wrote the first of his three treatises on the Veneration Due to Images. This was probably composed immediately after the decree of Leo the Isaurian against images in 730. Before he wrote the second, he was apparently ordained priest, for he speaks as one having authority and commission. The third treatise is a recapitulation of the arguments used in the other two. These three treatises were disseminated with the utmost activity throughout Christianity.

His writings, especially his De Fide Orthodoxa, one of the most notable theological works of antiquity, has had great influence on the theologians of both East and West. He also wrote poetry and some of his poems are used in the Greek liturgy. John died at Sabas, in December, and was made a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo IIII in 1890.

Source: Catholic Exchange

#random stuff #catholic #catholic saints #john of damascus #john damascene #doctor of the church

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inapat18 · 1 month ago

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The history of sound archives

An archive is a collection of documents not in common use, preserved as evidence of an activity. These documents are usually on paper, but the history of an individual or an activity is not permanently transcribed in writing. Oral history, by definition evanescent, can be transmitted from generation to generation, but is not fixed on a medium. With the advent of new technologies, we've begun to collect oral history in the form of recordings. Through this process, which fixes a musical or oral statement, the recording acquires archival value.

With this article, I begin a cycle of four articles on oral archives, from their history to their valorization. In this first article, I'll begin by looking back at the history of collecting in France.

The first written collections

The first attempt at large-scale collecting dates to 1805. The Celtic Academy attempted to collect traditions and languages in view of their supposed imminent disappearance. The collection was based on questionnaires. This attempt was a failure, but it did give rise to a feeling of the need to collect the expression of traditions in France. From the 1830s onwards, the Romantic movement cultivated nature and sentiment in a quest for the origins of their national culture. Writer-collectors published works devoted to popular poetry.

Dupré, Augustin, 1805, Drawing on paper, project for a medal, in the Musée Carnavalet.

In 1845, the French government took up the subject, creating a Commission des chants religieux et historiques de France (Commission for Religious and Historical Songs of France). Collection instructions and classification grids were published. At the time, the sounds were transcribed in the immediacy of the field and therefore linked to the collector's sensitivity. The great collection lasted four years, and the manuscripts were deposited in the Bibliothèque Nationale.

During the 19th century, collections spread throughout the country, with regionalist and folklorist movements corresponding to the identification of survivals of archaic beliefs and customs in modern times.

The creation of the phonograph: a turning point

Thomas Edison's phonograph was born in 1877. This technology, and the improvements that followed, made it possible to record recordings and then listen to them again. The invention was reserved for an elite, but it enabled timbre and rhythm to be transcribed while preserving the interpretation. The phonograph's appeal was demonstrated at the 1900 Paris World Fair.

Engraving, based on a drawing by C. A. Keetels, published in Harper's Weekly, March 30, 1878, shows the Edison phonograph modified earlier this year by the inventor, URL : https://www.phonorama.fr/le-premier-phonographe.html.

In 1911, the Archives de la Parole was created. The aim was to collect the speech of famous people, as well as the different languages of France, in a country where Parisian French was gaining ground. In 1928, the Musée de la Parole et du Geste at the Phonothèque Nationale was created. It is still the only institution in France responsible for preserving its sound heritage. This period marked the beginning of the recognition of “folk arts and traditions” that characterized the interwar period.

Recordings at the Sorbonne, Paris (1924-1930), URL : https://gallica.bnf.fr/selections/fr/html/enregistrements-sonores/archives-de-la-parole-musee-de-la-parole-et-du-geste-hubert-pernot-1924-1930.

Conversation in Breton, collector Ferdinand Brunot, Alain Ligeour (23 years old, farmer and soldier in the 28th line in Paris), Jean Limbour (22 years old, jeweler, soldier in the 28th line in Paris), Archives de la parole, University of Paris, 1913, URL : https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1280543.

At the end of the '60s, traditional music, which until then had been practiced in confidential circles, underwent a major rediscovery movement. Inspired by the American folk movement, a major drive to appropriate French musical heritage emerged, relayed by musicians to their audiences and made available to all.

Extract from Guiseppe De Vecchi's documentary “Dastum, la maison des sources”, URL : https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/bretagne/ille-et-vilaine/rennes/chaque-geste-de-collectage-est-un-geste-de-resistance-ou-comment-le-mouvement-folk-a-sauve-la-culture-bretonne-3055336.html.

As time went by, collections began to take the form of associative networks, which we'll focus on in the next article.

Clémence

Bibliography :

ROISNE Camille, Des collectes d’hier aux créations musicales d’aujourd’hui: la valorisation des archives sonores par des réappropriations artistiques, mémoire d’anthropologie sociale et ethnologie, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, 2013.

STEPHAN Lena, Les archives sonores : conservation et valorisation du patrimoine oral, mémoire de recherche en archives numériques, septembre 2013.

#audiovisual #archive #soundtrack #history

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