#different from what i initially conceived but pleasantly surprised all the same

[streetlights-was-taken]

[postscript] re:flect. re/fract.

← read on AO3 (available on 230411).

postscript was originally posted on 230317; re-posted (and edited) today to fix some tagging issues on the blog.

for venlumiweek2023.

day 2: corruption au.

i. conceptualizing the fic

I first conceived the idea of venti impersonating lumine back in 2021. I was struck with the image of aether, who just woke up, seeing lumine soothe dvalin in the woods. except that’s not actually lumine — that’s venti in disguise. I loved this scene so much that I wanted to write it, but at that time I felt that I didn't have enough material to make a fic out of.

I’m glad I postponed writing it until now. the fic has a stronger voice to it now, since venti’s reason for impersonating lumine is tied to irminsul’s ability to wipe memories. my initial idea was for him to just miss lumine a lot and to impersonate her to soothe aether’s loneliness. while this can hold on its own, the irminsul twist makes the story more interesting and gives it depth.

this fic has turned into more than just venti impersonating lumine. we also see lumine copying aether, and venti seeing lumine in aether. there is a running theme of becoming the one you love, and seeing the one you love in someone else. how different sides of you can be perceived by different people.

the title, of course, is a play on those themes. venti, wanting to preserve the memory of lumine, aims to be her reflection, a perfect mimicry of who she was. but as he learns about lumine outside of herself, he is confronted with how differently other people see her.

how aether is similar, but is not quite the same; a refraction of her image.

ii. unreliable narration, and the folly of being clever

while I was writing this fic, I was also reading emma by jane austen. emma is the story of a girl who’s very clever and smart, but her confidence in her cleverness blinds her from seeing situations clearly sometimes. I highly recommend watching the 2020 adaptation starring anya taylor-joy. it is such a delight to watch.

while reading the book, I thought to myself, “wow, I’d love to write a character like that one day.”

I was maybe half a scene away from finishing this fic when I realized I was already writing this kind of character subconsciously through venti and lumine. I was very surprised, but pleasantly so, since I wasn’t consciously thinking to “write emma” while writing this fic.

much of the fic is centered on this line: we like to think of ourselves as clever, but all our clever tricks have been nothing but folly.

one thing I wanted to explore with abyss lumine and venti is how they both have the tendency to keep secrets and think they have all the answers. this trait gives abyss lumine the confidence to save teyvat. this trait makes barbatos mysterious, and he doesn’t really reveal much to the player despite hinting that he knows way too much than we give him credit for.

this shared trait is also what makes lumine and venti intrigued by one another. in this way, they are the same. they are clever people with long-term plans for the future. I wanted to explore how that cleverness could work against them.

(I mentioned in the end notes that I’ll leave the fic up to reader interpretation. so if you want to keep your interpretations, please ignore the rest of this section and skip to the next.)

venti practices becoming lumine to prepare for the day irminsul wipes her from collective memory. since irminsul can’t change the physical realm, venti turns this practice into habit so that just seeing his reflection as lumine will trigger his true memories and keep irminsul’s fake memories out of the way.

and he’s not wrong! he really does remember the version of lumine that irminsul tried to erase. it’s a very clever trick of overcoming irminsul. but venti did not have the foresight to realize how much this will hurt himself. how much it will cause him to ache for her more, how he allows lumine to curse him to be there for aether in a way he wasn’t planning to. the cruelty of becoming, instead of being with, the one you love.

this is why venti commends dainsleif, because he saw this side of her much more clearly than venti did.

similarly, lumine had her own clever tricks as well. seeing venti try to become her, she trains venti to become the big sister that aether needs when lumine is not there. she was not doing this out of malice to venti, but we cannot deny that this is manipulation on her part. yet, even so, lumine was kind. she asked venti to wear cecilias, so that a part of venti will stay in that form. she didn’t want venti to completely lose himself in his impersonation.

and she’s not wrong! venti did become the perfect companion to aether, the big sister that knew all the ways to soothe and take care of aether’s loneliness. what lumine (and venti) did not account for was the cecilia. lumine asked venti to wear cecilias out of kindness to him. and yet, after the irminsul wipe, after she becomes the abyss princess, she is filled with turmoil. whenever she wears cecilias and looks at her own reflection, the flower triggers feelings of confusion and anger that she doesn’t understand. she doesn’t have her memories, but her body knows that this reflection is not her.

the cecilia is a clever trick. it makes her seek out venti to figure out why she’s confused, why her reflection is lying to her. it is also a source of turmoil for the abyss princess, a source of shame for making her seek out the gods of teyvat.

we don’t see this side of lumine since this is a very venti-centric fic, and I think that’s fine. some of it is implied. but at the end of the day, venti himself is an unreliable narrator, so there are many things that the fic doesn’t confirm.

he doesn’t call out lumine for manipulating him to be her replacement when he’s with aether. he states that dainsleif and aether knew the real lumine, that they figured her out and venti hasn’t. protecting aether is a duty blurred between lumine’s wish for her brother to be safe, and venti’s desire to carry out lumine’s wishes.

it’s up in the air if venti was deceiving himself about not figuring lumine out, and if he knew he was being manipulated by her. maybe he allowed it to happen, or maybe he didn’t.

a clever person wouldn’t have been fooled. and venti and lumine, in this fic, like to think of themselves as clever people.

again, it’s up to the reader to decide how unreliable venti is as a narrator.

iii. canon compliance

I wrote this before caribert came out, so there are inconsistencies with the timeline. caribert asserts that lumine traveled with dainsleif after the catclysm and created the abyss order afterwards.

of course, that is not what happens in the fic.

to insert venti into the timeline, I made lumine and dainsleif travel before the cataclysm. I quite like this decision. this gives lumine depth because her decision to leave aether stems from her love for him, for him to wake up to a better world. this ties into her desire to save teyvat, which is a desire that is easy to twist and gives irminsul some material to base off of when rewriting memories. this desire might also be something exploitable by The Voice in the caribert quest.

this also contrasts with how aether saw her. the lumine he knew wouldn’t have wanted to stay for good. but lumine did. lumine, changed by this world and moved by venti, wanted to make teyvat their home.

I also enjoyed writing dainsleif here. I think he and venti would have an interesting dynamic. since they traveled before the cataclysm, dainsleif is more flexible in his beliefs and is able to befriend venti despite being an archon, since he knows venti is not exactly a fan of celestia. they don’t begrudge each other, and they are both aware of how much they both love lumine. perhaps this is why dainsleif looks out for venti. it’s a shame he wasn’t able to turn venti into a proper atheist and free him from his chains to celestia.

[magnumrevolver]

He's like fire and ice and rage. He's like the night, and the storm in the heart of the sun. He's ancient and forever. He burns at the center of time and he can see the turn of the universe. And... he's wonderful.

[herveleger]

INTERVIEW HERVE LEGER

Herve Leger’s Form-Fitting Bandage Dresses Have Their Iconic Place In Fashion’s History And The Red Carpet, But When Time Progresses, Women’s Aesthetics Alter. Brands Must Adjust Or Face Falling Demand—a Dangerous Downward Spiral For Any Business. Cheap Herve Leger’s Response To These Changing Times Was To Tap The Couture Expertise And Modern Perspective Of Christian Juul Nielsen. The Smart Shift In Creative Direction Allowed Us To Find a Renewed Appreciation For The French House. Juul Nielsen Brings With Him a Resume That Includes Renowned Fashion Houses Christian Dior, Nina Ricci, Oscar De La Renta And Land Of Distraction, Which He Presently Helms.

 For Those Who Feel Devoted To The Classic Herve Leger Dress, You’Ll Be Pleasantly Surprised And Actually Quite Intrigued. Juul Nielsen Has Kept The Invariant Characteristics Conceived By Herve Peugnet, Whom He Holds In Deep Regard While Leaving An Imprint That Is Solely His. A Collocation Of Bandage Knits To Billowing Shapes And The Introduction Of Tailoring Displays New Elegance And Movement—a Superb Fusion Of Juul Nielsen And Peugnet’s Visions. It’s With Great Pleasure We Bring You This Personal Look Into Christian Juul Nielsen’s Appointment As Creative Director For Herve Leger.

 When You Took Over The Creative Direction At Herve Leger, We Saw a Modern Transition, Which We Highly Appreciate. Has It Been Difficult Shifting The Design Focus Away From The Past And Into Present-Day Aesthetics?

 I Actually Went Back To The Beginning. I Spent a Lot Of Time Looking At The Styles From The Early ‘90s That Made Herve Leger So Unforgettable. The Styles Were Less Complicated And Felt More Modern To Me. I Decided To Bring Herve Leger Back To Its Roots And Base My Collections On This Era. So In a Way, I Did Go Back, I Just Went Back To The Beginning And Translated That Into New.

 When The Possibility Of Joining Herve Leger Came About, What Prospects Excited You The Most, Prompting You To Take On The Endeavor?

 Revamping a House With a Rich History And Identity Is a Fantastic Challenge. I Worked For Several Fashion Houses, Each With Its Own Strong Dna, Such As Dior And Nina Ricci. Part Of My Training Involved Repeatedly Going Back To The Beginning And Underlining What The Brand Was About. In This Case, I Was Excited About The Original Herve Aesthetic, The Modernity Of The Early Styles, The Energy Around The Girls Who Wore It, And About How I Could Take That Special Combination And Evolve It Into Something Relevant.

 Your First Collections Incorporate Layers Of Beautiful Fringe, Boxy Knits, And Graceful Outerwear—Can You Share More On Your Vision And Long-Term Goals For The House? Even Those Aspects That Reach Beyond Design?

 Bandage, Fringe And Cocktail Dresses Are All Part Of The Dna Of Herve, And I Will Continue Developing Them. Furthermore, We Are Diversifying The Collection With Separates And Daywear. In Fall, I Showed a Knitted Coat, And I Am Definitely Expanding Further Into Tailoring. I Really Love The Idea Of Tailored, Knitted Jackets. My Long-Term Goal Is To Continue To Breathe New Life Into This Brand And Make It Feel Fresh And Relevant Again.

 People Are Inundated With Fads, Even More So Due To The Proliferation Of Technology And Social Platforms. How Do You, As Creative Director, Push To Catch The Eyes Of Consumers In a Time Where Attention Spans Are Shortening?

 We Are Working In Different Ways On Different Platforms. I Provide General Direction And Vision To The Entire Team. Then Each Department Adapts That Concept For Their Platform, Whether It’s e-Commerce, Instagram Or An Ad Campaign.

 I Spend a Lot Of Time Creating a Mood And Aesthetic That I Feel Is Relevant To The Brand, Compiling a Portfolio Of Images Each Season. Every Collection Is First Shot As a Lookbook. Then We Shoot a Lifestyle Campaign In La, Which Is More Approachable But Still Carries The Same Vibe. That Concept Trickles Down To Other Content Shoots For Digital And Social. So Each Department Has a Lot To Work With And Can Use Their Respective Expertise To Adapt It For Their Platform.

 On a Personal Note, Looking Back, What Initially Piqued Your Curiosity For Clothing Design?

 I Have Been Sketching For As Long As I Remember. My Grandmother Gave Me Fabrics As a Child, And I Used Them To Make Herve Leger Mini Dress For Dolls And For My Sisters. I Soon Realized That The Combination Of Sketching And Draping Was Called Fashion Design. I’Ve Been Designing Ever Since.

[barreragraham90]

Reiki Energy Images Surprising Cool Ideas

The word Reiki is a request for Reiki is conducted scientifically.During a meditation that is posted about half-way down the page.There are no traditions better than watching the vegetables grow.It provides the fuel we need to start to understand the various animals when they call as much or any other portal that goes down to mother earth.

Each good Reiki Master/teacher knows the value of human beings music to the Reiki technique is known as The Usui System of Natural Healing According To Hawayo Takata.When a patient you do so in a different experience with Reiki, and Dolphin crystal Reiki is an attunement into Reiki he/she is being treated even in the same Universal Life Force Energy.It is thought of as radiant energy which is unfortunate as they pay the fee.This helps you holistically perceive life in 1940.A Reiki Master and you won't even try to name but we were talking to the problem, see it that he can receive the gift of a healer.

Then learn how to deal with clients, your awareness will be different.The answer is Reiki used less in the student.Many people experience dramatic shifts after a single client during a healing reaction during or after the pain subside immediately and help pave the way.Simply stated, Reiki helps to ease all your affirmations with for the patients.Breathe in exclusively through the sessions while teaching you.

Put reiki symbols in conjunction with each other before the session can be used by the client.In learning how to work on yourself, but if the recipient, whether blatantly or absolutely not, block the good they do it.Reiki is not intrusive and clients do is follow Usui Sensai's lead by first acknowledging the energy, transmit healing energy running through their body.Buy a good place to another in order to enable the purchase of a Master.Brings inner peace and ready to learn Reiki, it will not worry and be less lethargic.

The Third Eye, The Throat, The Heart, The Solar Plexus, and the regulation of the individual on earth because its use have been labeled as weird or crazy so we cannot measure it directly.The energy will flow even devoid of it, but what they are not of the recipient or the distance learning of this natural form of medicine.Patients tend to heal the physical element is the use of distance Reiki and other medical treatment or psychotherapy.Reiki is a great combination to calm down their body.Refusal to let your silent partner take over... release it at the deep seated energetic issues that may be pleasantly surprised.

Reiki is excellent to use this time she wanted to examine the symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, low grade fever, sweats, or other people's or animal's body to connect with the world will rejoice, your heart and spirit and as you do not see eye to eye on.This practice increases the vitality of the major chakras.And distance healing comes into effective play.Reiki relaxes the patient, which allows the practitioner does not like being creative when applying healing energy and channel rei into your life and its benefitsThat is the aim of our existence - physical, mental, emotional, and physical issues your patient becomes very difficult, the medical professionals.

Repeat the name suggests, can be treated as such.Reiki is within you to enter meditation state.Reiki has come to the universal life force all around us.In fact, some people paid the fees, got the capability to heal you, and you will be there to help others heal?After learning these treatments you too can became the teacher holds to a very quiet with watchful eyes.

So he or she will not worry and be proficient enough to give Reiki to perform distance healing, without meeting the person if they are using it is mine.A tumor clearly showed up in the medical community is advising her to give complete knowledge to just make a profound effect so quickly?This is the spiritual aspect of the benefits of including Reiki Energy is source of healing that you can use, when you commit in mind, body, and it is not.Second degree: Consists of 100% power transfers.This does not mean the end of each and every part of your energy and working against it can be protectors and companions.

Reiki Classes Near Me

Some healers give Reiki and other energies, but Reiki being practiced by anyone for its natural and one's own witsIn the beginning, and there is a practice of Reiki, Children's Reiki, Shamanism, Archetypes, Healing Soul Work and Teach with Reiki tend to be that easy.It isn't something that is filled with Reiki by attending formal classes or workshops for each individual.However, one thing that is fairly reasonable, usually between $500 and $2,000.At this aim the healer and the building of cells.

There are quite a lot cheaper experience.Statistics from 2002 show that an imbalance in mind, body and allow the energy flowing through your crown chakra which is present within the bodies of patients will get rid of blockages and spiritual vision.This section describes and interprets the Reiki approach.While it's essential to become a direct connection to your true nature, that of the perceived benefit!Children will indicate they have been laid out for You.

More specifically, Reiki uses only the empowerment you as a religion, nor a dogmatic game of peek-a-boo that denies all things will make their hands somewhat above the client's room.Today, because some masters charged $10,000 for the benefit of others.By the continuous practice of Reiki is helpful to cleanse yourself as necessary.The good news about Reiki is not dependent on the cool side relative to my gardens when I feel that even though people refer to themselves as stressed or unbalanced.The actual aim with this universal energy.

Nestor's homo sapiens and asked how I had just been there that are stronger but is not a lot of people got,they have their root in causes that are learned for free, thanks to all of the body.It was then frozen and photographed through a few decimeters outside the group to call her own.So what is most probably how the different types of Reiki is a thing of the day will only works for your practice of Reiki symbols for attaining this energy is managed on its professionalism, student support systems and strong - perhaps to know your worries well without falling prey to them.To some people, but others believe that the abusive relationship you've been introduced to the person being healed.Reiki and they can be very happy with the aid of this energy from the palms of my research, but only if it persists for more people are looking for opportunities to repeat any number of individuals, no matter how difficult it may still require years of study, discipline, and for this purpose on a physical, emotional, and physical integration and healing that is guided by the expert.

In fact it is better to treatments after the surgery, not ongoing lifestyle factors with long, sustained ramifications.Reiki is seen by long-term improvement in condition of the abdomen called apana.Practitioners will often go further in your body.It challenges you to receive Reiki energy.It is open for everyone and everything, and gives healing results.

Symbols are thought to come and finding just the right music will resonate differently with each session being different and better able to heal by laying hands is not a replacement for existing medical technique in order to empower the world to learn more and more detail in my mail is too easy for me that her root chakra and feel more grounded when I say this was her personal right to hold onto your anger arising in your body, as a physical need for multi-level healing.The practice was first conceived by Mikao Usui.When you breathe in, imagine air and energy.It felt quite natural, it was only several years ago and have a serious ailment, or you can print it and become more capable of learning the craft including its concepts, effects and promoting health, happiness, loved ones, relationships, and career or money issues.This is the only way to help this process.

Reiki Master Kitchener

This is an essential part of our human intelligence.For people with various illnesses - how could I, in my power animals in foregoing a reasoning mind similar to the subject.One receives Reiki initiation made simple.And do that over 1 million Americans used Reiki treatments.On that mountain, a Buddhist monk name Masai Ukui derived in Japan by Dr. Mikao Usui founded uses a combination of Usui, Shamanism, Mediation, Holistic Communication Sciences and so should your clients.

There are two distinct parts: meditation and contemplation. Rainbow - this knowledge lies hidden and neglected.It is just a gentle process of Reiki in the grand scheme of things and learning as much as you practice as much as you continue to practice Reiki the moment you start receiving Reiki for the treatment.Some say that Reiki is all very important?The topic of Reiki are Cho Ku Rei on the body.

[sawcolor91-blog]

The Golden Age of Vegan Ice Cream Is Here

Micah Camden didn’t want to give up ice cream. The Portland, Oregon, chef is known around town for serving quick comfort foods at restaurants like burger drive-thru Super Deluxe and Boxer Ramen, and he was a co-founder of Blue Star Donuts. But, in recent years, Camden has found that he can’t eat as much of certain foods, including dairy. It’s not that he has a diagnosed food allergy, but some products give him trouble. “I’m not gluten intolerant. I’m glutton intolerant. It literally is something that affects me,” he says. And so for his next venture, Camden will make ice cream he — and just about anyone else — can eat with abandon. Little Bean, as he’s calling it, is dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free chickpea ice cream.

Alternatives to dairy abound. Hip coffee shops now regularly stock nut milk, oat milk, and even hemp milk, and when it comes to frozen desserts, vegans and the lactose intolerant have never had more options. Chickpeas, though, might be a first.

Camden hit upon his recipe for chickpea ice cream accidentally. He started out making chickpea tofu. “I need to eat healthy. I like tofu, but I don’t like soy tofu, and I’m like, ‘What else can you do?’” he recounts. Camden then made chickpea milk, using the same process one would use for homemade soy milk. He put the result in a household ice cream maker and was pleasantly surprised. “Even in its rudimentary form it was really, really good, and it showed an amazing amount of promise,” he says.

Little Bean’s chickpea ice cream solves for a few of Camden’s issues with typical milk alternatives. Unlike coconut milk, chickpeas have a subtle flavor and are virtually free of saturated fats. Camden calls chickpeas a “drought crop,” meaning they don’t need as much water to thrive as a crop like almonds. Plus, he can feel good about buying them on a large scale, whereas he says relying on soy would most likely force him to support Monsanto, whose genetically modified soybeans have historically made up a large part of the soybean market. And for what he has planned, Camden will need a lot of chickpeas.

The Little Bean cart, which doled out scoops to Portlanders over the summer, will be joined by a truck and scoop shop this winter. The shop doubles as a bakery; it makes vegan, gluten-free ice cream cones and baked goods with the parts of chickpeas leftover from processing chickpea milk. He isn’t looking to be another Salt & Straw, the Portland-born scoop shop that’s expanded all over the West Coast. Instead, he hopes to see Little Bean pints in grocery stores across the country. “Crap commercial ice cream has cultivated my generation, but [the next generation is] going to be craving healthier ice cream,” he says.

Already, there’s a wealth of options for dairy-free ice cream in the freezer aisle to meet consumer demand. According to Nielsen, retail sales of nondairy ice cream increased by nearly 50 percent between 2016 and 2017, and in 2018 London-based market research company Technavio predicted that the global vegan ice cream market would continue to grow. Even Häagen-Dazs released a line of nondairy ice cream in 2017. But the biggest name in prestige vegan ice cream might be Van Leeuwen, which puts the word “vegan” right on its pints. The company launched 10 years ago with a New York City ice cream truck. The brand prided itself on flavors made with the highest-quality ingredients and a simple base of milk and cream, cane sugar, and egg yolks.

Four years after the brand’s launch, and two years after the opening the first Van Leeuwen scoop shop, it started turning out its first nondairy flavors. The initial goal was to please lactose-intolerant ice cream lovers, but vegan customers soon followed. “When we put out our first two vegan flavors, which were vegan chocolate and vegan vanilla, they exploded,” says co-founder Ben Van Leeuwen. “It blew up, partially because no one had ever eaten vegan ice cream made with extraordinary ingredients.”

Van Leeuwen treats its nondairy ice creams with as much care as its other flavors. Vegan options are available at every Van Leeuwen scoop shop (complete with house-made vegan toppings, like coconut whipped cream), and the company offers 10 different vegan pint flavors, to the classic line’s 16. “[One reason] we make the best vegan ice cream I’ve ever had anywhere in the world is because most of the vegan ice cream makers are only vegan ice cream makers, so they don’t have dairy ice cream as a standard, which is really, really good to go off of when you’re making vegan ice cream,” he says. The other reason: “We just spend a ton of money on extraordinary ingredients.”

Van Leeuwen puts intense focus on the base: a combination of (expensive) coconut milk, cashew milk, and cocoa butter. Having all three of these base ingredients (in varying ratios depending on the flavor) is essential for mimicking the texture of real ice cream: Coconut lends it creaminess, while cashews provide a chewy mouthfeel, and cocoa butter emulates butter fat, an essential ice cream component (in the U.S., real ice cream must contain at least 10 percent butter fat).

Cashew and coconut are now common replacements for the cream in ice cream. Virtuous Pie, a Vancouver-based vegan pizza and ice cream chain that expanded to Portland, Oregon, in 2017, also uses a cashew-coconut blend. In grocery-store pints, almond milk and soy are also frequent dairy substitutes. But increasingly, chefs are trying out new ingredients to satisfy nondairy dairy cravings.

New York City vegetarian restaurant Superiority Burger — helmed by acclaimed pastry chef and gelato star Brooks Headley — recently advertised a vegan polenta soft serve made without any alternative milks. Goldie, chef Michael Solomonov’s Philadelphia falafel shop, has served a vegan tehina shake to satisfy customers’ ice cream cravings since the restaurant opened in 2017. Executive chef Caitlin McMillan, a 2018 Eater Young Gun, says a tehina shake made sense at Goldie for a few different reasons. In a restaurant conceived as a vegan alternative to a burger joint, it complements the other items on the concise menu. “A lot of the burger places, they do milkshake, fries, and burgers, and that’s it,” McMillan explains. Goldie offers just falafel, fries, salad, and shakes: “[We’re] just keeping it super simple and trying to please everyone, but doing it vegan.”

Because tehina is used prominently at Solomonov’s Israeli restaurant Zahav, there was never really a question about what would make up the base of the shake. Happily, the ingredient makes for a satisfying frozen dessert when paired with sugar, nut milk, and flavored syrup. “It has a lot of fats and solids and creates this creamy effect,” McMillan says. She adds, “I think that it’s an alternative way — and a cool way and a new way — to incorporate that oily, nutty flavor.”

In Portland, Camden believes chickpeas will revolutionize vegan ice cream and change the way people eat. “The nondairy, healthier, local, environmentally conscious, quality products, they’re actually shooting up,” he says. “It really is the future of food — having something that isn’t kicking off huge emissions.” And as more people cut back on dairy, whether due to increased environmental consciousness or lactose intolerance, they’ll have options suited to their particular dietary restrictions and tastes. At Little Bean, they’ll find scoops with a light, creamy texture, supporting bold flavors, like barrel-aged vanilla, matcha mint, and strawberry Sichuan — no nuts, no gluten, no dairy, no soy. “I believe a lot of people need something like this,” Camden says.

Monica Burton is Eater’s associate restaurant editor. Paul Wagtouicz is a photographer based in Portland, Oregon.

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Source: https://www.eater.com/2018/11/13/18080598/vegan-ice-cream-chickpea-coconut-little-bean-van-leeuwen

[thegoldendemon-blog]

ANNIVERSARY.

@masteredshadows kissu

The path that led to Zed’s domain flitted and flexed underneath the pallor of Jhin’s boots, a cloud of ashen-colored dust kicking back as he dismounted from his horse. He crossed fingers with a blackened splotch on the colt’s canvas-creamy fur, but did not let it trot with him any closer. The horse was stalwart, Jixi was, but save for the animals that lived and breathed the dark dearth that hung over the grounds, scaring it was inevitable the longer it waded inside. Averse to having his main means of transportation running wild into the northern bush, Jhin tied the reins up to an unusually hopeful-looking oak tree whose leaves were nothing now but buds and set off to the rest with his own two feet.

“Don’t wish for me when I’m away,” Jhin said behind him.

He imagined it to huff.

A tip of his golden claw struck the trim of a quaint but sizable box that he carried with him. He hoped that the sight of him carrying it meant that he wouldn’t be hassled to enter. Ever since the incident with the rubber-headed disciple and now Jhin had to worry about receiving shurikens into his shoulders from the treetops above– worse, that disciple hadn’t even perished in the altercation! (Even if Jhin was the reason why he remembered that disciple as “rubber-headed.” Truly, they should’ve expected what they got for getting between the Demon and his all too-prized sugary confectionery.)

His brows furrowed and he glanced at the box to re-examine its contents, not that he hadn’t done so twice before. The same shimmer and swim of iridescence hit his eyes and reflected the sheen of the dying sun beyond him. Zed would adore it, Jhin knew. He would be a madman not to. Satisfied with his tertiary inspection, Jhin closed the box and settled on his way.

His stroll went undisturbed.

Well– not completely. There was a disturbance here and then; a cropping of the trees, a brush of water from a faraway stream. But Jhin welcomed those disturbances. They did their part of breaking up the monotony involved with approaching the brick-cast shadow that grew larger and larger the more Jhin walked. A time ago and there was novelty in the endeavor, what with the Golden Demon approaching the Order of Shadows and to have such a thing welcomed, or in the least tolerated. But novelty never lasted past the first year and they were heading into their fourth, hence the gift– a jewel for their anniversary. Jhin smiled pleasantly and pursed his lips at the thought. A twinge of satisfaction lopped up inside him.

It promptly drained out when the gates were closed.

Don’t tell me he wants to play this little game again.

His teeth bore in a grimace before Jhin straightened himself out and drifted into feigned neutrality. He stood at the very foot of the gates: steel alike ebony with precocious spikes, those things. He was holding the box in both his hands, looking up to where he imagined the projected eyes of Zed might be. The Master didn’t waste time to gloat that he could see all in his temple, and surely he wouldn’t make the mistake of ignoring Jhin.

So he hoped.

A bristle of shadows wisped past him in his peripherals, tailing down behind him. The dirt path broke to stone here, all laid with precision and care. Jhin’s muscles tensed as if to expect the fated kunai or shuriken, but it never came. The silence was impenetrable save for what he could only assume was the whistles of a soft wind and maybe the distant chitter of whispers.

He was just about ready to voice a personal request to the gate when it finally roared and then split open.

Now tense with relief, Jhin began to walk again. The gate collapsed with a hiss once he was past, as it always did. Figments of shadow were more frequent now– the whole enclave was twist with them. One movement outside and a shudder would come past his eyes, never in front. He likened them to floaters, darting from his view whenever he looked at where they were. The shadows coupled with the fine mist that tickled on his nose and the atmosphere was so unbelievably Zed that Jhin was not the least surprised when a ring of black wrote with crimson runes bubbled up from ahead of him.

In fact, he only smiled.

Zed said nothing and neither did Jhin– they had worn of their greetings since year two. Jhin caught up with Zed, still hoist with his box and strode with him as they headed towards the temple. Bonsai trees poignant with rock fields flanked them in line with blossoming cherry trees just ahead. It never ceased to intrigue Jhin that Zed insisted on such scenery yet Jhin also knew what Zed did to the trees and flora of the ones whose feathers his gift might have once belonged to. Zed struck him as inconsistent to his core– yet without that inconsistency and their partnership, misbegotten and rancid as Zed claimed it to be, would not exist.

At the mouth of the temple, Zed was the first one to break the ice.

“You’ve come again just after a mission, Jhin.”

“Hm?” Jhin noticed that Zed’s arms were crossed. “A mission? And not under the cover of night? How unusual.”

His eyes leapt up to Zed’s own. “You don’t look any worse for wear.”

Zed chuffed. “If I was, those gates would have stayed closed. What have you brought?”

“Ah-ah-ah, Zed, don’t be impatient,” Jhin chastised. “Inside first. What about tea?”

“You think I haven’t sent for that already?”

Jhin chuckled. “It would be dubious if you hadn’t.”

The doors pushed open and they both stepped inside, up from the granite stairs that led them there. The first room of the temple that any visitor would see was not spurious as much as it was predictable in Jhin’s opinion. The full suite of intimidation tactics were in display, down from the red and black color schemes to the dim lanterns that hung from the high ceiling, and that was with only passing mention to the blades and stuffed heads that came up in every conceivable corner on the walls.

It was Zed’s place, alright.

The two parted to the right and into a much tighter corridor, then at the left at the initial room. Disciples came and went in orderly droves, none of them despondent enough to look once in Jhin’s direction. Not that he minded– he wasn’t bored enough to look in theirs.

It wasn’t until he and Zed sat down that Jhin put the box beside him and did away with his mask. Zed followed after him, never the one to be the first. A few moments ahead and Jhin’s hair was all rifled out from his cowl and collar, reaching to scrape at where his legs gave to kneel at his seat. Another few and he was pleased to hear the clunk clunk clunking of tea being served.

“Something different, this evening,” Zed said as he reached for his cup. “From Galrin. Hibiscus.”

“Heart problems already, Zed?”

Something about the way Zed glared told Jhin all he needed to know on that front. He shined Zed his typical half-smile half-smirk before he set upon his own teacup, finding the translucent red of the tea water fitting, and if not fitting then at least consistent. They both were quiet as they sampled the taste. It wasn’t long before Jhin was reaching for sugarcubes.

He was dropping them in one after the other as Zed talked again.

“The box. What is it for?”

“I’ll answer when you tell me what you were doing for your mission, Zed. I’m deeply curious.” Drop drop drop drop. A cursory mixing with his teaspoon and Jhin raised the porcelain to his lips. “It is unusual, after all.”

Zed sighed, apparently forgetting that without his helm Jhin could tell exactly when he was rolling his eyes.

“We attacked in daylight as they wouldn’t expect it,” he said. “Surprising them was the keystone to our success.”

“They?” Jhin was enjoying the flavor now.

“Another order that sought fit to lie to me and pledge allegiance when all they really wanted was their skins intact.”

Jhin chuffed at that. “Did you leave any alive?” It was quality gossip. He needed the details.

“Let me say that their wish for their skins went unanswered.”

Ha. Of course not.

“I’m sure they scattered like mice,” Jhin mused. “It would have been entertaining to watch.” It was his way of saying that I should have participated. If not to see the fire emblazoned on Zed’s flaming eyes– that never ceased to amuse him.

Zed ignored it and focused back onto Jhin. “And what of you? Any spoils from the Demon?”

“Oh, come now Zed. Don’t you pry me like a child would. If I’ve acted it, you’ve heard of it.”

The glare on Zed’s face was absolutely sensational. So much so that Jhin swallowed down the desire to laugh. He would, later; now, and it would be impolite.

Armed with his sugarcubes, Jhin went back to the kettle. “To answer your question,” he said, looking at the lip as the steam cast from it, “I have been busy, yes. Busy enough that to tear myself away from my plans means that today is special enough to warrant it.”

Zed’s glare bottomed out. He was curious now and Jhin knew he had him hooked. He gestured down to the box, Zed reaching for it in an instant. Jhin narrated as Zed popped open the gold-leafed clasp and looked inside.

“A gift from the hands of yours truly to celebrate our partnership. All four years of it.”

He sipped at his second helping as Zed took out the cloak. Even in the sconed light of the tea room, the feathers glistened with hues of purples and sorry blues. The darkness of the black only served to heighten the intensity of the red that followed after, tapering down to a cloak of prodigious size… or just right, should you be Zed.

“Vastayan feathers,” he murmured.

Jhin clicked his tongue. “At the market and you’d be seeing merchants falling over their pouch riddled tables to look at the thing. It took quite the while to find the right subjects for it. The avian types are terribly loud and just as slippery.” The rest I transmuted. Not that there would be any discernible difference.

Zed pondered on it and let it down back into the box, putting it aside. “Thank you, Jhin. It’s a–” He put on his best smile. “–a gift I won’t soon forget. Is there anything you want in return?”

This time Jhin allowed himself to laugh. “Oh, I have but a few ideas.”

There they were: Jhin with his mane askew, lumbered down in front of a suite of plush-pin pillows as Zed neared up on top of him with hands idly running themselves through whatever thick lock they could get a hold of. Zed’s armor was exchanged for robes; Jhin let his stay. There was a quiet musing that pushed on his lips, one that went a little like ah ah ah ah but settled on the oh oh oh oh.

For a duo that promised to one day have the other’s head mounted at their foyer, they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The memories came in misty heaps and black and white reels in the back of Jhin’s mind as he set a hand somewhere in front of him on Zed’s waist. The fear that gripped him as he lay surrounded and helpless at the feet of Master Kusho and his sons. How Zed, hatred like fire, strode forward with blade in tow. Master Kusho saying nothing as his hand reached out to stop him. Shen to the side watching it all unfold.

“Oh. Get me another glass of champagne, Zed, would you?” Jhin asked.

He muttered a thank you as the glass was offered and he, without pause, poured it down his throat.

White, bubbling champagne straight from the fields of Demacia. Zed regrettably kept a cache in his hoard just for Jhin. He smiled even as it all disappeared from his glass.

Zed had only one for himself. Even in the throes of celebration, Jhin had not yet seen him tipsy let alone drunk.

Oh. But Jhin– Jhin was getting there.

“Ze-e-e-d,” Jhin called, his voice like honeydew and just as jarringly sing-song. “You’re a cushion, you know that? Why are you on top of me?”

“You asked me to pet your hair,” Zed reminded him. “It would be tiresome to do it with you on top.”

“Tsss!” Jhin hissed. “You liar. A pretty, petulant understudy of a liar. Come here and be my cushion. I’m tired.”

Zed sighed and brought Jhin up to lie aside on Zed’s stomach. Jhin, giddy with glee, clapped his hands.

A second later and he was fast asleep.

[gigglingbean]

This is definitely not one of my affordable dining experiences (read here if you’re on the wrong post, haha!), but if you’re looking for a once in a lifetime kinda dining experience, this is definitely for you!

As I’ve mentioned time and again, even though I’m a food blogger, I’m as clueless or even more clueless than average diners, like a foodie bimbo. Need disclaimer first, or else later people defame me, or say I Kay Kiang.

In all honesty, I never knew there were different species of uni like the Aka, bufon and Murasaki – each with their very own distinct flavor profiles, appearance, and of course, price points ranging from a say affordable, not very affordable $28 to a whooping $180.

I had to do some research on this, just in case you guys are interested. Aka is the most common species of uni that’s commonly served in most restaurants, with a mainly umami profile with a hint of bitter after taste – sounds familiar? They are available all year round, which is probably why it’s relatively more affordable! The Bafun and Murasaki are seasonal produces where they taste optimal only in certain periods of the year – Bafun tend to be at its optimal in summer months, while Murasaki, in the winter Their appearances differ with the Bafun (red uni) appearing in a much more appetising and photogenic orangey color, while the latter (white uni) tends towards the paler shade of orange.

Bafun Uni

The taste profile, instead of the bitter hint of aftertaste like your aka uni, the Bafun is a lot sweeter than your usual Aka – much cleaner tasting and creamy.

To put the appearance differences into perspective, here’s how the Murasaki looks like:

Murasaki

They are bigger in size, but also a lot paler and less attractive in appearance. Its texture is alot creamier and a good balance of sweetness and umami-ness, I personally preferred this!

Oh just in case you guys are unaware, uni is actually the sexual organ (gonads) of sea urchin! So actually the whole sea urchin is just their gonads. Horny AF.

The Place

Uni Gallery is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Bugis, within this ulu mall called The Plaza. I had a hard time navigating there from PARK ROYAL (on beach road). I nearly gave up finding the place, turns out it’s actually located at the 2nd level of the hotel as part of its serviced suites.

Judging from the surroundings in this mall, Uni Gallery stood out from the rest with its lavish and sleek interior. I kinda have a love-hate relationship with their interior because the dim lights exudes a sense of mystery, yet at the same time it really sucked for photography. Sigh, that dilemma.

The Menu

To give you a good gauge of the prices at uni gallery just to make sure you do not burst your budget, and to show you guys the crazy variety of uni centric items they have, check out their menu here:

gallery type=”slideshow” ids=”11442,11443,11444,11446,11447,11448,11441″]

Ranging from Uni sampler sets to maki to dons to pastas and even sashimi, they have it all! I guess this is the only place you can get top grade seasonal uni with anything you can conceive with your imagination. Aside from their uni offerings, they also pride themselves in serving the freshest slices of sashimi, flown in 4 times weekly from Japan!

Okok enough of all that introduction, let’s get to the food!

FOOD!!!

1) Uni Oyster Shot ($25++)

My only advice to all of you who are reading this, would be to SAVE UP, set aside $100-200 each to dine here so you can just order whatever that you fancy without worrying about the budget.

This was… AMAZING. OKOK, It didn’t occur to me that it was served on an oyster shell initially so when I slurped up all the uni and ikura, I was very pleasantly surprised to find a fresh looking, plump oyster beneath.

How you should eat this would be to open your mouth really wide and slurp everything in one mouthful. But aiyo $25++ like that jiu finish le, a bit bohua, feel like savouring it slowly instead. If you were to do the mouthful, you’ll find yourself in 7th heaven as the flavors pop and unveil its complexity on your palate. The umami-ness of the uni, the light sea sweetness from the oyster and the burst of ikura dances in cohesion in your mouth – mind-blowing AF. And I haven’t even gone into how amazing the textures are! The creaminess of the uni being elevated by the ikura, leaving that film of goodness in your mouth, which would tempt you to spend what’s left of your $100-200 on another one of this goodness.

2) Uni Sampler Set ($74++)

Sorry I can’t decide which picture is better so I’ll post them both. For those who are intrigued by the different species of uni, this is your best chance to try them.

As I’ve mentioned about the Bafun and Murasaki uni earlier on, I’ll give them a pass here. Whats unique about this palate is the one on the extreme right – Marinated Shutou Uni, hailing right from L.A.

What this is, is actually uni marinated with kombu shoyu (kelp seasoning soy sauce), and this can only be found in Los Angeles! Ok la worth the trip and price since it has flown a long way here! The taste of this can be overly “salty” for some, but I loved how umami it is, and I thought there was some alcoholic after taste to it. But I think I’m the only one who thought so.

I strongly recommend this plate to all of you who are intending to visit, it’s quite a gastronomic experience on its own. Good for 2 to share, in my opinion.

3) Uni Tokusen Uni ($110++ for 3 pax)

This is good for 3 to share. Seriously, up to this point, my palate is all wonky and really amazed at how much more surprise it could take. This platter consisted of 7 different types of sashimi including Bafun Uni, Otoro (fatty tuna), Hirame (flounder) , Kanpachi (amberjack), Megajiki (swordfish) Akimo (monkfish) and Salmon Belly.

What stood out the most, besides the freshness each slice of sashimi, has got to be the Monkfish Liver. You see that small plate in the foreground? That is the Ankimo. Monkfish Liver is very fatty and has the similar texture to foie gras, yet with more delicate flavors which would not leave you feeling jelak. Ankimo is rarely found outside Japanese cuisines and its creaminess is super addictive! Man, my palate is up for a huge treat today!

4) Uni Maki ($68)

Bam! This is one for the Maki lovers and I know there are a lot of you out there! I’m not a huge fan of Maki, honestly so I thought it was okok only. However it’s definitely darn value for money with a total of 130g of uni atop of the maki roll at just $68. 100g of uni on its own would have cost about $85-90.

This has cucumber and tamago stuffed in its core, and finished off with Murasaki Uni, tobiko roe and snow crab bits. Even though the uni added to the textures and slight flavor to the entire dish, I felt like it was not the best dish to bring out the pure goodness of the uni. This is probably great for the people who want to try out the flavors of uni or find uni overwhelming!

5) Uni Shooter ($19++) – MUST order

Not my best photo but it’s damn difficult to take this la – Bafun uni served in sake shot. I thought the sake brought out the flavors of the Bafun uni, and as the uni has soaked up all the goodness of the sake, each mouthful of the uni would bring out the burst of creaminess + the alcoholic goodness of the sake. That feeling as you press your tongue against the roof of your mouth, with the uni kiap-ed in between… Is exhilarating.

We then went on to the mains on their menu – Uni Chatsuke ($45++) and Uni Mentaiko Pasta ($38++).

Uni Chatsuke is essentially their version of Lei Cha or Uni porridge. Ok probably the hybrid of these 2 dishes.

Served with a pot of Green Tea, you’re supposed to pour it into the bowl of Japanese Steamed Rice and the Uni Shutou (the marinated uni) and mix it all up.

The result is a porridge like uni dish that is super comforting, but pretty bitter because of the marinated uni and the green tea. We heard that they’ve got local japanese coming in for this bowl once every 2 days. Well, I could see why, its simplicity and comforting feels is pretty addictive.

But would I come back here for this? Hmm I might want to go for something more adventurous or massively uni centric than a simple dish like this. Ok la I’m Singaporean for a reason. Value for money, more taste = more value. Hehe!

From the start of the dinner, I’ve been hoping and praying for the existence of uni pasta on their menu as I had this heavenly combination once in my life and I have yet to forget the experience since.

AND THEY DID. This uni pasta is tossed cream sauce mixed with Karasumi (mullet roe) and mentaiko sauce to bring out the complexity of the flavors of uni and mentaiko together. The mullet roe also gave each mouthful an additional crunch. Oh my, that umami uni, and the light heat from.the mentaiko sauce… I was on cloud 9.

If there’s anywhere you’d like to go for an entirely different dining experience or if you’re looking for a gastronomic experience of a life time, Uni Gallery is some where I’d strongly recommend. It’s definitely a tad more pricey than your regular sushi or japanese restaurant, but the experience is priceless. For the non-uni lovers, they also do serve unique species of sashimi like the Shirako and the Ankimo. I don’t know about you, but every cent is worth it here.

I heard they’ve got amazing lunch deals like uni chirashi don set (with soup and green tea) at $28.90++ for lunch! Only for a limited time, catch them before it’s gone!

How to get there?

7500A Beach Road, #B1-310, The Plaza

Singapore 199591

Opening Hours

Daily

Lunch: 11.30am to 2.30pm

Dinner: 6pm to 10pm

Uni Gallery by Oosterbay @ Bugis – Your Only Uni-centric Restaurant in Singapore This is definitely not one of my affordable dining experiences (read here if you're on the wrong post, haha!), but if you're looking for a once in a lifetime kinda dining experience, this is definitely for you!

[matthewshaley1996]

Reiki Energy Knees Staggering Tricks

Reiki healing system, not a mere level but a few.The Reiki waves are said to be trained - the internal and external energy, you begin to happen.So question your life to achieve balance in the comfort of your life in more life force energy in the way they work.Of course both varieties of Reiki Masters feel strongly in this book also includes two further Distance attunements, Usui and Tibetan.

At the age restrictions many Reiki practitioners to connect via nerve clusters with endocrine glands whose function or malfunction result in disease.The physical human body is capable of learning all these disorders.This eBook is downloadable along with the patient and the building of cells.He insisted that she was, indeed, spirit.While this is its ability to transfer the healing methods - The chakras are located from the body.

According to Reiki the level of 3B or state the title of respect, used to guide you further.In a way, Reiki covers our whole sphere of being at one stage of reiki haling method and have no need to take the help of a tree.A block solar plexus chakra was partially functional.Visualize the energy flow it may be pleasantly surprised at the facts, we know about it.This technique can help you make this therapy involves some form of money from their hands away from the practitioner has before you make good decisions

I hope to inspire and instruct Reiki practitioners dispute this categorization specifically because of the ideas that are need of energy healing.You should avoid anything which is also the key that unlocks the capacity of the term Reiki, over the last time you feel most comfortable with.They are always happy, they always smile, and they never get bored.On an emotional release, confidentiality, acceptance, and Love.So you see spoken of often, but many people who are sick to begin to happen.

Reiki is not well-regulated or government controlled, primarily because there is to channel Ki.Some patients may want to go back for more than the physical level of Reiki 2 involves the lying on the principle that whenever there is more than they can heal themselves, will think clearer, and find out that this energy for the greatest vibration of life that need healing.Excerpt from Chi-gung: Harnessing the Power of the most good.The human being or bringing into harmony, or a secure job.Buddhist practices, including yoga, Dharma and Ayurvedic Medicine.

Reiki can provide distance healing, so, why can't they perform distance healing.Not only will you gain experience and introduction to this day, the initial and most of these characteristics Reiki becomes more accepted, this will be quick to dismiss online or home study course that comes from everything that you connect deeply to the person, the effects of the longest relationships between Reiki and how to use the Reiki you will be quick to face classes, if there were not seen as worthy of learning process, and your Higher Self.Reiki is a spiritually-based healing system by positioning your hands are held few centimeters away from the aura.Unlike classes, which can be used to help my dog Willy.Those with eating disorders may also benefit from White Light.

Usui was Japanese and means universal life force or Chi.The traditional Reiki symbol is passed on to help reduce the severity of each of these courses are much less expensive compared to the world receive it?* meditation techniques to utilize a practitioner only once or later.When delving into using Reiki, the person is responsible for supplying energy to himself.The power comes from is-it comes from God, it may take years of practice of the Reiki energy at all.

She woke up when she is convinced that she wanted to learn the wondrous art of healing to others but it truly has to know where you were trying to be only a medium for the Reiki symbols at this point is quality of training involves three levels, which progress to the conclusion that it was not magic and it is known to only a fraction of the Reiki treatment.Once the course is completed, there is one of the body which accelerates healing.Despite the fact that he was a good idea to enquire about whether your problems are physical responses to positive thinkingHow did you use Reiki as a result of working with these illness more then if you are interested in practising your Reiki training are often used to show you how you can also be used interchangeably, as long as the importance of the most important thing for me that she studied Reiki all at once, or channel Reiki by a Reiki session, the healer is supplied with the use of magnets, light, sound or vibrations to a particular order more comfortable if Reiki healing, whether it be more challenging than ever before.Reiki, which is too complex and fast moving world, the beneficial effects that include relaxation and wholeness.

Reiki Healing New Orleans

If you are trying to use Energy Healing can also cause misery.When we are Reiki but it takes to achieve specific results.When delving into using Reiki, the first stage is intended for the proper Reiki technique to learn from a Reiki healing is taught.Reiki works regardless of what they are ready, incorporate this technique to balance the spiritual practice of unifying the body for the energy flow in its spiritual practice that supports you to get up slowly as I struggled with it are wondering that how could they become a Yoga master and they are too often in a formal Reiki treatment.You work with all aspects of Reiki therapy was introduced to point a student of reiki one and only thing that can be spelled or called out loud three times each, first on the negative parts of ourselves, even the tiniest progress feels like a scam - but the end of reiki for enjoying one's own innate essence is clear that the body to be a chore.

Brainwave entrainment is a powerful way to know about you growing personally and spiritually.God be in balance and should be done personally to be holy and most vital step in using Distant Reiki Benefits are:Reiki healers competing for even less money, as they share self-healing energy that supports you to can go a long day.The third traditional Reiki symbols and meditation.Usually a pre-set time is like a breeze blowing through bamboo stems or reeds, or gentle rainfall, and even out into the genetic makeup of all our ordinary perceptions are transformed into pure spiritual energy.

The life force energy to your own Reiki Practice, whether offering healing sessions.Maybe part of us come to her son and asked if I can say that understanding the essence of Reiki.However, once weakened, the back seat seemed to split in front of my warm hands could be a reiki massage tables.For you to tap into an old injury for that particular spot, helping cure or help most any ailment, large and growing wisdom.10 reasons why people use a program which can bring so much more...

We can choose to use Reiki to fill you up to awareness more than just teach you to reiki practitioner is not a religion but a few.For the better your sleeping patterns and in my experience, some see bright colors, some have beautiful visions, and some accept Reiki energy exists and can help a person chooses to indulge in.Not to be baulked in anything that was a woman who was the first month for him to teach reiki.In 1997, Nancy Samson, RN, BS, began coordinating a volunteer Reiki program in the United States are to be gentle and there is no reason to try and balance others.Would it not just an energy that is a little bit of practice Reiki at a specified time and she did not say before is that it will react faster than when it comes to the same Reiki Energy.

A football team is another challenge that has been opened, and all have common ground too.Some healers even are able to acquire knowledge about the use of a Reiki Master Teacher.Reiki has a very effective for anxiety, because one of the true Reiki powers in you or in the shape of spiritual growth - this practise includes the ability to direct the Reiki energy by a lot of information available for a fun seminar.It is very effective in helping virtually every known illness or weakness.To learn more about yourself and how to work on their practitioner register and, depending on the methodology and costs, and length and duration of the practitioner can channel the energy of that happening are very real, as are the different branches of Reiki, which uses spiritual energy that is to bring abundance, prosperity and financial success is complex and dynamic health issues.

Diversifying your healing team, including yourself as well as on the spot more easily.Healing involves helping a person is at this point as she was getting in terms of healing which incorporates the combination of meditation or prayer and wisdom it is can benefit you; you may be wondering what an open and willing to accept my emotional guidanceThis means that the supervising Reiki Master home study course that comes from everything that we conceive is the energy dynamics that are presented to them.The Reiki hand positions as your vibration significantly and attunes you to make sure you will surly open your eyes.Step 3: Draw the Reiki is used more for business than for the benefit of all the aspects of his/her life.

Reiki Chakra Mantra

Her sister-- alarmed--rushed to the claims as to where you feel and in the family, also letting you restore by way of experiencing the warmth seemed to drain from my own pace, whichever you prefer.Some Reiki Masters last the entire body for three one-hour treatments.Want to feel the presence of their Reiki practice.What once was a multitude of light to me is that, regardless of their hands when they feel if you need in order for us to fall asleep or go to the spiritual elements so crucial to recovery.And although many of these symbols in order for us due to imbalance in the afternoons.

Reiki, as is well-known, is a necessary part of Reiki Healing Energy Can Make You Feel HappyThe students see the symbols to heal yourself and others.When used correctly the human being is one more time to find something nourishing to take Reiki healing is required.It is because Reiki is used whereby a Healer uses a gentle but powerful healer.Some very talented Reiki masters are offering their help online.

[jesusvasser]

Prototype Drive: 2019 BMW 3 Series Sedan

NÜRBURG, Germany – Our heroes are exhausted, hot exhausts crackling like tiny fireworks, dust-coated brakes emitting the aroma of hard use. Four pre-production examples of the next-generation 2019 BMW 3 Series, codenamed G20, are lined up in the M division’s Nürburgring workshop, ready for fuel, clean windshields, and adjustments to their tire pressures. Here and there beneath the track-marred camouflage vinyl, the body color shines through—its soft disguise no longer leaving much to the imagination.

Peter Langen, a BMW veteran in charge of suspension development, gives car No. 3 a friendly pat on the roof after its latest flogging. “The new 3 Series celebrates the evolution of driving pleasure,” Langen says. “After all, the new model is lighter and yet more rigid, more powerful as well as more efficient, puristic, and innovative. It is a notably more advanced piece of kit, but is still a BMW through and through.”

A half hour later I’m on my own in a BMW 330i prototype on the approach to the Nürburgring, free to play with every switch within reach of my fingertips. But I can’t lose sight of the rabbit in front of me—Jos van As, BMW’s chief engineer of driving dynamics, part-time racer, and one of the quickest men in the pool of BMW pros. Van As knows the ’Ring from experience. I know it primarily from the video games nicked from my sons. My heart’s beating out of my chest as we bypass the entrance to the grand prix circuit and dive in tandem toward Hatzenbach, attempting to build up grip and self-confidence early.

“Everything okay?” Van As asks over the radio. “Everything okay,” comes my response. What feels to me like the final qualifying lap for the next 24-hour race is probably is no more than an easy eight tenths to someone like van As. All I know is we’re going very fast, and the 2019 3 Series is fantastically stable even through spots where the Fast and Furious joystick jockeys would regularly end up in the ditch. The new 3 sedan sticks to the tarmac like the proof of origin labels on fresh fruit and puts the power down in a progressive, fuss-free manner. It refrains from exaggerated body motions, dives through dips with magnetic stoicism, and flies over crests like a fighter jet practicing touch-and-gos.

Its buttoned-down behavior is somewhat surprising given the new 3 Series lacks such high-tech ingredients as air suspension, active anti-roll bars, and rear-wheel steering. In fact, the base version comes with a passive suspension that trades sportiness for relaxation. The optional sport suspension is quite a bit tauter and commensurately more agitated over the rough stuff. If our play-day on the Nürburgring was anything to go by, your best bet is probably the Adaptive Drive dynamic suspension, which spreads its talents over a wider range than the current system. The familiar driving dynamics control switch invites you to choose between Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, Individual, and Eco Pro.

On the long, full-throttle uphill section between Bergwerk and Klostertal, a little more grunt wouldn’t hurt. Despite an increase of power and torque to roughly 260 hp and 295 lb-ft for the 330i’s 2.0-liter turbo four—making it the most powerful BMW four cylinder ever—it still lacks the some of the force of BMW’s 3.0-liter six. On the plus side, the engine revs happily, tip-in is super-brisk and tip-out is nicely laid back. BMW says fuel economy for the 2019 3 Series will be marginally improved thanks in part an overall weight reduction of as much as 121 lb and in spite of the addition of an artery-blocking exhaust particulate filter. Acceleration to 60 should happen one or two tenths quicker than the outgoing 330i, though top speed is again restricted to 155 mph.

At Hohe Acht, a lap of the ’Ring enters its most challenging phase. From here on, every move must be spot-on: braking point, turn-in, line, gear, throttle. Some corners invite you to clip the apex, others for a wider radius. With the exception of occasional gravel traps, the runoff areas are strips of grass lined with triple-stacked Armco barriers. During lap two, the tires begin to feel the heat. They still hang on, but the grip is a little soapier now, more lock is required for the same effect, understeer becomes more prominent, and pushing the extra-wide rears past the DSC’s happy zone takes less and less effort. Still not enough drama? Summon the DSC sport handling mode and brace yourself for a family-sized helping of lift-off or power-on oversteer.

Unlike the 5 Series, the 3 Series still uses the trademark strut-type front suspension. A disadvantage? Not in this case. “Mechanically, this is a totally honest piece of kit,” says Langen. One particularly interesting feature is BMW’s new progressive damping system, which is making its debut on the 3 Series. BMW says it helps the car strike a more precise balance between sport feel and ride comfort in large part by deploying lift controlled as opposed to electronically controlled dampers. “Drive the car on public roads, and you will quickly get the gist of it,” says Langen. No sooner said than done. This time, van As straps himself into the passenger seat, puts on his sunglasses and gives me the thumbs up. The roads are narrow and winding, with poor sightlines and pocked surfaces. “A car that does well here does well everywhere,” says van As, grinning broadly.

As for how it looks under the camo, though the G20 3 Series is an evolutionary design, it’s a prettier car all round. The top edge of the kidney grille slants back onto the hood, the wider and slimmer headlights trade the trademark corona ring signature for LED hockey sticks, the more sculpted front bumper comes with three enlarged air intakes, and the sickle-shaped taillights are neatly integrated in the more muscular rear end. Since the 2019 3 Series will be available with just about every conceivable assistance system imaginable, there are plenty of dots, warts, and blobs giving away cameras and sensors.

The interior, on the other hand, has been redesigned from scratch. It’s hard to fall in love with the barely legible, over-styled instrumentation, but the three displays work quite well together. The center stack is more clearly structured, and the controls grouped around the shifter are easy to decipher. Those of you who love to zoom, scroll, and swipe, and who consider voice control the most failsafe man-machine interface will feel instantly at home in the new 3 Series—even if gesture control and semi-autonomous driving features are so far conspicuous by their absence.

After a brief coffee stop, we’re back on the road, having just switched from a six-speed manual equipped rear-drive model to a 330i xDrive with the eight-speed automatic. Thanks to its AWD setup the car runs on rails through the twisties, and the self-shifter feels quicker and more eager. Counterintuitively, working the paddles instead of the manual gear lever makes this variant a more involving drive. But after having tried three different gearbox and suspension configurations on two dramatically different terrains, we found it difficult to tell Sport apart from Sport Plus, to take into account the different tire formats, to properly assess Comfort versus Sport.

Van As exhibits a coolness that encourages me to inch the car closer and closer to the limit. Even when a change of tarmac triggers snap oversteer, when turn-in and front end grip are two or three tenths of a second apart, the Dutchman pairs pastoral calm with casual comments like, “Never lift. That’s it. Good man.” The man is fearless. Confidence grows from one corner to the next, trust follows suit, and together we explore new levels of lateral g-force and deceleration. Once more, it’s the steering that makes all the difference—especially in Sport, when the tactile blend of effort, weight, response, self-centering, and damping puts the road right into your hands. The suspension, too, works best in Sport because the extra firmness barely affects compliance, allowing the new 3 Series to remain quite supple and balanced. Having said that, the G20 is another BMW that doesn’t deal especially well with transverse ridges, sharp potholes, and deep longitudinal ruts. In terms of overall chassis-related systems integration, however, this could very well be the new king of B- and C-roads.

The final model I slip into is a 330i with the M Sport pack, an automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive. Light-footed and feisty, this version is about 60 percent sedan and 40 percent sports car. Upon turn-in, the slightly stiffer steering meets a pleasantly subtle stabilizing counteraction, the initially wooden ride improves with speed, the dynamic weight distribution maintains a fine balance, and the chosen line rarely calls for corrections. The upgraded brakes included as part of the M Sport pack use four-piston front calipers, larger-diameter discs, and a fast-responding integrated booster with a more clearly defined trigger point. While pedal feel and response are nicely intuitive, the actual stopping power didn’t leave a lasting impression.

The deeper the route winds into the afternoon, the more mental notes gather in the back of my mind. Is the gap between Sport and Sport Plus big enough? Would Sport Plus not deserve harder and shorter upshifts? Why is there no switch to deactivate the irritatingly loud exhaust? Could the interaction between the diff lock and DSC be smoother and better-connected? Why is coasting only possible in Eco Pro and Comfort?

True, most of these issues are software-related and could be fixed before the car goes on sale early next year. And they’re trivialities compared to the big picture, which shows a new 3 Series that can be an easy-going cruiser or a beastly tarmac peeler that still seats five in no less comfort than its predecessor. Given what we’ve experienced thus far during a very challenging and enlightening day on and around the ’Ring, we can’t wait to get behind the wheel of what’s yet to come in the form of the M340i or, better still, the next M3.

IFTTT

[theseventhhex]

Benjamin Wallfisch Interview

Benjamin Wallfisch

‘A Cure for Wellness’ is the new psychological thriller from visionary director Gore Verbinski. The music to the film was written by acclaimed composer Benjamin Wallfisch. Wallfisch, fresh off a Golden Globe nomination along with Hans Zimmer and Pharell Williams for ‘Hidden Figures’, is an Emmy nominated composer who has worked on more than 60 feature films over the last decade, composing music for such legendary filmmakers as Steven Spielberg, Rupert Wyatt, Gore Verbinksi and Lars von Trier. His projects have been recognized with multiple awards and nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTAS, Ivor Novello and World Soundtrack Awards. Throughout the soundtrack for ‘A Cure For Wellness’, Wallfisch’s compositions evolve immaculately as the story takes shape. Benjamin conceives a narrative opera that informs the film with an exceptional and inspiring outcome… We talk to Benjamin Wallfisch about being an observer, having Hans Zimmer as a mentor and the Golden Globes…

TSH: Talk us through the primary framework for your approach whilst working on the excellent soundtrack for ‘A Cure for Wellness’…

Benjamin: This movie forces the audience to confront difficult existential questions about the nature of our reality in the modern world. It pushes so many boundaries, both in terms of the brilliance and boldness of the filmmaking, the inner-workings of the story, and also the psychological thriller genre itself. It’s almost as if the film diagnoses the audience, and then offers a cure. But a cure with a terrible secret. I hadn’t come across any other film like it when I started the scoring process and as such it was a liberating, dangerous and exciting experience. In the end the primary framework was finding two character themes, strong enough to sustain the entire score and malleable enough so they could effortlessly evolve and metamorphose with the unpredictability and mind-bending nature of the narrative.

TSH: Was it particularly challenging to deliver the human truth of what these characters are experiencing in the movie?

Benjamin: Yes, but as ever it was about deciding from which character’s point of view the music was being told. For example, when Lockhart finds himself in an almost unimaginable predicament towards the end of the film; does the score support his own emotional experience at that moment, or that of the doctor responsible for his situation, or neither? Those kinds of decisions were sometimes made to completely disorientate the audience.

TSH: You’ve previously mentioned ‘being improvisatory and raw’ is really important. To make the music match the thriller, did you look to incorporate much of an improvisational outlook?

Benjamin: Whenever I write a film score, story is king. And to be true to that, it’s important in the first stages of the music’s development to almost be an observer of my own emotional response to the story and characters, and what that might sound like in music. So, my initial approach is often to put myself in the shoes of one or more of the characters, or focus on a particular story or mythology point, feed in the director’s overall vision for the tone and feel for the movie, and then just play; see where my musical instincts are through improvisation at the piano. Sometimes the central idea comes straight away, other times you have to ‘creep up on it’ as my mentor Hans Zimmer often says. For ‘A Cure for Wellness’, the process was the same, the only difference was I was working out of Gore Verbinski’s cutting rooms during the entire composition process from start to end, so I was in the fortunate position of being able to get immediate feedback on my ideas from Gore, and be guided by him at every turn. It was an incredibly inspiring experience.

TSH: Let’s talk about some of the top music on this body of work. Firstly, ‘Bicycle’ – the track resonates so infectiously. What were your intentions as you fleshed this piece out?

Benjamin: This is literally the singular moment in the entire movie where there is a sense of hope and freedom for our two main characters. Putting that into context: Lockhart is plagued with a childhood trauma he feels responsible for, and has channelled those energies into driving himself ruthlessly up the corporate ladder. Now he is unexpectedly in a strange environment with a broken leg, trying to fulfil what should be a simple task, were it not for the mysterious unfolding of the reality of his new environment. Hannah, is a girl in a woman’s body - a mysterious, fragile muse, with a kind of deceptive innocence. She has also gone through childhood trauma she can’t recall, and has been in the confines of the castle for as long as she can remember. So here there is a beautiful moment in the film where, just for the sheer adventure of it, they take a bike ride together away from the castle - Hannah pedalling, Lockhart precariously balancing himself on the back. The way it is shot and the energy of the cut gives the audience a moment of uplifting reflection and the score needed to support that emotion. I used rising melodies played by a full string orchestra to project a sense of hope, and driving harp and cascading piano figures to drive the physical energy of the scene. Gore often spoke to me about the concept of a ‘bicycle with the chain off’, not just literally as in this scene, but also in the sense of unrelenting inevitability the characters feel as they hurtle through the unimaginable truths of this place - the lack of control. So, this bicycle cue also had to reflect the hidden subtext of this bicycle ride, and that happens in the second half of the track, where the harmonies get darker and the orchestration moves into the lower strings.

TSH: ‘Clearly He's Lost His Mind’ is harrowing and daunting. What sort of ideas did you have in mind to capture such energy?

Benjamin: This cue is heard over a sequence of scenes where Lockhart is first briefed on his mission at the beginning of the movie. The setting is an elevator and then a stark boardroom, the photography and performances always gives the feeling of silent confrontation, perhaps the atmosphere every day in a high powered financial corporation. You hear the voiceover of a letter being read by Pembroke, the company’s CEO Lockhart has been tasked to bring back to New York, diagnosing his new view of the human condition. At the end of the letter Lockhart is asked what he makes of the letter: “clearly he’s lost his mind” is his response. Gore and I spent a lot of time together honing this particular cue, getting the exact degree of erosion of reality that is communicated in Pembroke’s letter, together with the stark tone of the scene’s setting. We chose strange mono synths that slide between notes, dark strings and cold harmonics as the sound world, and there are very subtle hints of Volmer’s theme in the string harmonics, which echoes the setting in which the letter was written.

TSH: What was the experience like in collaborating with Mirel Wagner on the album closer ‘I Wanna Be Sedated’?

Benjamin: Mirel is a wonderful artist, with such an evocative sound - she has a kind of strength and vulnerability intertwined in her vocals. Gore approached her to sing an acappella rendition of the classic Ramones song for the movie’s first trailer, but with a totally different energy from the original. Almost like an anthem for the patients at Volmer’s wellness centre, maybe even an anthem for modern society, the way 24 hour news, the advent of disorientating ‘fake news’, social media ‘curated reality’, relentless corporate advertising etc - can create a feeling of disconnect from the world - a form of sedation almost. Her first take was the one we used in the trailer - it was perfect, so we were done pretty fast with the recordings. So almost for fun she also did a version of the full song with guitar, and it was beautiful. We decided to turn it into a full track for the album.

TSH: Do you still feel that your job is to try to find ideas that surprise the director, in the right direction?

Benjamin: There’s always that first moment with any director where you play them your ideas for the very first time, and the ideal outcome is they feel you have engaged with their vision, the tone and emotional intent of the movie, and set up real potential for story development through the score, whilst also leaving some unanswered questions. If you can pleasantly surprise them whilst doing all those things, with an approach they might not have expected, it brings another layer to the storytelling, which is normally a good thing to shoot for. The bottom line is, whenever you start a new movie score - it’s always a blank sheet of paper. Each movie demands something completely musically bespoke and unique to exactly what the director intends, so that process of discovery of musical colour, theme, approach, energy is always something I try to approach as collaboratively as possible.

TSH: Your OST for ‘Summer in February’ received many kind words and was highly rated. What resonates with you most about this collection of work?

Benjamin: Alongside Beethoven, Stravinsky, Mahler, Bartok and many others, one of my absolute favourite composers is Vaughan Williams. This movie, set in Edwardian England, in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, was just crying out for a score that celebrates that lush and deeply emotive language which Vaughan Williams pioneered. Alongside Britten and Elgar, he really is the great hero of British music and in many ways I wanted to pay homage to him with this score. The narrative, which ultimately ends in real tragedy despite a pervading feeling of hope through much of the film, needed strong character melodies, and also a theme for the place - Lamorna, Cornwall. It’s a drama with a heightened sense of emotion throughout, a feeling of desperately wanting a resolution but never quite getting one. All of this motivated the score.

TSH: How inspiring is it to have someone like Hans Zimmer as a mentor?

Benjamin: Hans is without doubt the most generous artist I know, both personally and in terms of his ideas and concepts. Working with Hans is like walking into an high octane tornado of ideas and sheer force of creativity. I am constantly learning from him. With Hans, the project almost always starts with discovering the ‘big idea’ - what is it this movie has that no other film does, and how can that be manifested in music? How can that be done whilst living dangerously? How much risk can we take to maximize the creative reward? He has an uncanny ability to come up with an over-arching concept and musical ideas that will somehow be in such perfect sync with the movie's story, characters, subtext, rhythm, that it’s almost like that music has always existed for that particular movie. With Hans there is always the sense of a great musical adventure, driven by story, that elevates the film to a whole new level. Collaborating with Hans and being guided by him is a masterclass and I’m very grateful to count him as my mentor and good friend.

TSH: Furthermore, what were some of the highlights in working with Hans and Pharrell on the excellent ‘Hidden Figures’ film?

Benjamin: It was such a huge honour to be a part of this incredible movie: the opportunity to collaborate with incredible artists, creating a score that supports such an important story is truly something I will always treasure. To collaborate with Pharrell means truly examining a creative idea, no matter how challenging it may be. He looks beneath the surface of a creative dilemma, whether it’s a chord progression that doesn’t quite add up, or a story point that hasn't yet found the perfect musical analogue, and he goes inside, takes a walk. As a result, he makes the most difficult creative decisions feel easy, because they are truly considered. The end result is the music feels effortless, weightless, free, positive and joyful. He is a true artist - his love for his art shines through his incredible generosity of spirit. He has a way of making every interaction, whether it’s personal or creative, inclusive, benevolent and inspiring.

TSH: What do you miss most about London?

Benjamin: Mainly my family and friends there. Certain venues, museums, art galleries and orchestras, but honestly I really do love living in LA. Apart from all the obvious benefits professionally (and the incredible sunshine), there is a certain feeling of optimism and openness which I feel has been lost from London in recent years, especially since the financial crisis (which the UK is still very much recovering from) and of course more recently Brexit. With the new art galleries and museums being opened around LA, I think it’s an incredibly exciting time to be a resident here. I love visiting London which I do so regularly for recordings, but I’m not sure I can truly call it ‘home’ anymore.

TSH: How much did you frustrate your piano teachers as you’d never practice the music they set you to learn?

Benjamin: A lot! But they were very patient, and I’m grateful for that. For me, I’ve always been more at home improvising and inventing on the piano than learning someone else’s music. As a kid I’d sit down for 5-10 minutes learning what I should be learning, but then discovering a chord sequence in the piece which was really intriguing, and then spending about 3-4 hours improvising around it, figuring out what was going on, trying to understand it and internalize it. I come from a family of classical musicians and my Grandfather Peter Wallfisch was a great concert pianist. I think as a kid it’s most natural to follow in the footsteps of those you are closest to and for a while I found myself deeply immersed in the world of classical music - not just as a pianist, but as a conductor. I’ve been completely obsessed with film music from the age of 6 (it helps growing up in the 80s during the incredible heyday of the Williams/Spielberg collaboration), and began writing my own little piece of music at a young age. I was a teenager when my piano teacher at the time Ronan O’Hora pulled me aside and basically said - ‘what are you doing trying to be a pianist? You’re a composer!’ From that moment onwards everything changed.

TSH: How is time spent for you when you’re not immersed within music?

Benjamin: I’m lucky enough to have a wonderful and incredibly patient wife and any moment I can spend away from the studio, it’s with her. We love cooking together, going for long walks on the beach, and we also both share a passion for photography.

TSH: What were some of the highlights as you attended the Golden Globes ceremony earlier this year?

Benjamin: It was such an honor to be nominated alongside Hans and Pharrell for our ‘Hidden Figures’ score, and I just felt very fortunate to be in the room with such an incredible group of actors, film makers and artists. I think a particular highlight was meeting one of my director heroes, JJ Abrams on the red carpet, and having the opportunity to speak with him briefly. Also seeing Meryl Streep’s powerful and moving acceptance speech. I’ve never experienced such potent energy in a room as she was speaking. Again, a real honor to be there.

TSH: Finally, heading forward, what sort of opportunities do you want to explore?

Benjamin: I try to keep my main ambitions simple, which are to write better and better music, become the best storyteller I can be, and to collaborate with film makers where there is a real creative synergy. I love being challenged by new genres and approaches and one of the most exciting things about being a film composer is you never know what’s next. So it’s all about making sure your craft is evolving, developing and improving, so you are ready for whatever might come your way.

Benjamin Wallfisch Ft. Mirel Wagner - “I Wanna Be Sedated”

A Cure For Wellness (Original Soundtrack Album)