#empowering people to know their learning techniques

[valent1neg0d]

THINGS I WISH I KNEW WHEN I WAS GETTING STARTED WITH THE LAW OF ASSUMPTION (AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN MANIFESTING FOR 5 YEARS)

1. the law of assumption is personal. considering how we have different sets of experiences, different environments, different upbringings, and even different languages, we have different assumptions.

because of this, we are affected by teachings and success stories differently. it's important to note this since a lot of manifestation coaches will teach you about the law in a way that worked for them (and the others they may have taught) but it's possible that their advice (even my own) may not be the best for you. even abdullah and neville goddard, two of the people who are known to start this discipline, may have ancient or varied belief systems and techniques. this is normal considering the world they lived in before is different from the world we live in now.

although, you should still read on abdullah and neville because they will teach you the basics and they will help you understand the foundations of the law.

as an example, you might manifest your dream career faster with simple affirmation techniques but a coach may have taught you to focus on visualization techniques.

even the idea that "dominant THOUGHTS manifest" or "what you BELIEVE in manifests" is entirely up to you.

note: notice how i said "may not be the best for you" instead of "may not work for you". any technique can, does, and will work.

how i learned this: when i was learning about the law, i mainly focused on neville's teachings because he was one of the most prominent figures in the practice. and though i liked his practical techniques (especially mental diet and inner conversations), there were some beliefs that i do not agree with e.g. divine timing, appointed hour, avoiding "does not" "is not" "will not".

when i was going through sammy ingrams' takes, she said that it's better to have concise affirmations/short list (non-verbatim) than a long list of 25+ affirmations. but going through affirmations without being specific about them doesn't personally resonate with me and that's just because i'm a detail-oriented person (also a writer).

what i can advise:

learn about different approaches

a. through scientific concepts. e.g. quantum physics, reticular activating system, cognitive reframing, cognitive behavioral therapy, the psychology of placebo effect, the psychology of affirmations, Baader-Meinhof phenomenon (a.k.a. the psychology of self-fulfilling prophecy)

b. through religious and/or spiritual concepts. e.g. passages from the Bible, passages from the Quran, deity work, spells and rituals

c. through self-development. e.g. identity-based habit

start the practice with an identity you like in the present or an identity that you resonate with (learning style, talents, interests, etc.)

examples:

-visual learner = vision boards

-loves writing = scripting

-words of affection love language = affirmations

take teachings with a grain of salt. do not limit yourself and do not allow other people to limit you. experiment with concepts, ideas, and techniques, and have fun with them.

2. techniques are only reminders. you are manifesting either by thinking, feeling, or acting out your desires. you are manifesting every second of the day either with your thoughts, emotions, or by embodying a state. you are only being intentional when you anchor techniques.

note: it is true that your dominant thoughts manifest. it is also true that what you believe in manifests, the same way that your inner knowing manifests. BUT these ideas are meant to empower you. they are meant to remind you that manifestation is as easy as thinking, feeling, acting, believing, understanding, deciding, etc. if an idea doesn't feel good to you, it doesn't have to be an ultimate truth you embrace and carry on with. this is the same with techniques.

what i can advise:

choose one technique and practice it for 7 to 21 days. it can be mental diet, affirmation tapes, sats, mind movies, etc. as long as you can persist with it. give it time. give it time. give it time. in other aspects of the world, you give change some time. when you're calcium deficient and you decide to drink calcium supplements, you realize that it's counterproductive to ask "why am i still calcium deficient?" as soon as you start your regimen because you know your body is changing with the supplement and you put your trust into it. after all, why would you choose a supplement you have no faith on? you just give it time.

note: you can still manifest changes to be instant. you can affirm "i am seeing results now", "results come immediately", "my manifestation is quick". the amount of time you're using a technique does not equate to the amount of time your results will come.

the reason why i encourage you to practice for maximum 21 days is so you can fully explore and master the technique you chose. with the abundance of topics and methods discussed in social media, switching and trying new things is tempting. now, there is nothing wrong with this. it's just that, you wouldn't be able to take a step back and reflect on what worked and what takes more effort when you change techniques every so often.

try a technique that is popularized in the media. a lot of the times, the reason why this technique gained traction is either because it's simple or because it has worked for a lot of people. now, here's the thing: if said technique wasn't for you, at least you can say "oh this is a tiktok/twitter/youtube/old/beginner technique, there are other techniques out there" and you can try another technique with less resistance. but, if it did work, then it did. congratulations.

you can invent your own. here are some techniques that i invented throughout the years.

a. "name is set and solid with the fact that..." - works amazing for sp, getting people to commit, getting people to pursue you

b. "okay! manifestation powers go brrr!" - funny but i do this when I'm spiraling; it also helps me surrender doubts and i think it's because it's so simple and unserious lmao

you can combine them. for example, you want to do sats but you cannot hold a vision for long, what you can do is montage photos or videos that is similar to the vision you want to manifest. you can also have affirmation tapes running in the background.

3. "concept" work can be such a banger. assumptions are basically the conception about the world, about yourself, about the people around you. hence, when you manifest and apply the law of assumption, you change or reinforce a conception.

these can be done through:

self-concept

what it is: your awareness about yourself; the way you perceive yourself.

how you can apply it: there are multiple ways to establish your self-concept but the best way, is to start reinforcing the universal truth: that you are inherently worthy. you deserve money and resources because you are worthy. you deserve love because you are worthy. you deserve ease because you are worthy.

other ways to grow your self-concept is celebrating the identities you have within yourself that you like e.g. that you are strong, you are disciplined, you are beautiful. be careful about strongly tying yourself into these identities though because these are not the reasons why you shall receive. again, you shall receive because you are inherently worthy.

why it works: by having a strong self-concept, you develop ease. you are less likely to rationalize or question the law or why you deserve the things you're asking for. and as you may think, rationalizing may be a form of resistance. questioning may be a form of resistance.

one of the ways i have seen this is when people receive incentives from work, instead of just receiving or saying "thank you", they say things like "what have i done to receive this?", sometimes completely rejecting this gift because of fear that they might lose something when they receive. this can be an example of a weak self-concept. consequently, the company starts questioning "did my employer really do enough to receive this?".

on the other hand, someone with a strong self-concept can take this incentive and buy the things they like because they know they deserve it. they can also take this incentive and say to themselves "oh it's because i worked hard these past few days". it's the knowing and confidence they have within themselves that everything around them has no other option but to recognize.

conception of other things (e.g. of love, of money, of a specific person)

you can work on your conception of other things the same way you work on your self-concept: choosing a narrative that is uplifting to you.

in case you have resistance to a specific object, you can also listen to people's success stories to start shifting to a more positive and desirable perception. one of the ways i do this is by going back to abdullah and neville's story. these two men lived at difficult times, through difficult eras, yet they manifested their desires. they managed to let go of the 3D.

4. practice some distance as you're starting. you were exposed to a different life before the law, it's only normal and human to have doubts or spiral once in a while. however, when you set distance on things that do not help you embody the state, you set distance on things that will feed your doubts and spiraling.

for example, if you're shifting to a state of wealth and you're affirming "i have 1,000 dollars". it's unhelpful and opposing to be constantly surrounded by someone else saying "you only have 10 dollars".

now, i do understand that not everyone can do this right away because of circumstances. but PLEASE do whatever you can to set this distance. find a voice to reinstate your truth.

a personal story, i am an asian girl living with a grandmother who was pessimistic about love because her two children (my mom and my aunt) struggled with it. because of this, she used to constantly remind me of how love is difficult. i didn't know this at the time, but this created a set of beliefs in my head. consequently, as a teenager, i only seeked and allowed love which was difficult because that was all i've ever known. that was all my assumption.

but around the pandemic, i went back to the countryside with my dad where i had a lot of time on my own. this was when i got deep into new-age spirituality and did shadow work. from here, i realized: this is not my assumption about love. before my parents broke up, my assumption was that love is easy. you only have to make the other person laugh. when i was busy in school and would spend most of the time at my friend's house, my assumption was that love is support and light. i started to get these epiphanies that a lot of my pessimistic perception was because of someone i was constantly surrounded with and that i have to build new assumptions.

but around august 2020, i have to go back to the city with my grandmom. i was afraid of the toll i might get into when i got back. however, because i already practiced distance and understood what are the assumptions that serve me, what are the assumptions that i want, i was more at peace. i listed down affirmations about myself, about love, about money, about being "deserving".

after this, every time she told me what love was, i can stop her and say no. i can tell her that it's not the universal truth, and certainly not mine. along the way, i started manifesting that she believes love is easy and supportive. i started manifesting that she believes i deserve love that is soft and tender.

then, when i got into my relationship, she was nothing but happy and supportive.

other ways i have practiced distance while manifesting:

unfollowing content creators who normalized hating men.

unfollowing content creators who were shady and negative about relationships.

unfriending highschool guy friends who do not make me feel safe about men.

unfriending relatives who make unnecessary comments about my looks, my studies, my relationship, and my earnings.

unfollowing girls who made me feel bad about also liking girls.

unfollowing manifestation gurus who romanticize struggles because "the more you struggle, the more you get blessed"

unfollowing manifestation gurus who say stuff like "if you want money, you have to take action to deserve it. not just manifesting"

now, you can totally manifest these people to change and be better, as long as it will make you feel good.

that's all i can share today (since this post is already getting long). i hope you learned a thing or two. thank you so much for reading. i love you and i appreciate you !

xo

[theambitiouswoman]

Creating stronger emotional boundaries

1. Identify Your Emotional Triggers 🧠

• What to do: Reflect on past experiences and relationships to identify what makes you feel overwhelmed, drained, or anxious.

• How it helps: Understanding your triggers helps you anticipate situations where boundaries are needed, allowing you to protect your emotional well-being.

2. Acknowledge Your Right to Set Boundaries 💪

• What to do: Remind yourself that it’s okay to prioritize your emotional health. You have a right to say no and protect your mental space.

• How it helps: Embracing this mindset empowers you to establish boundaries without guilt or fear of rejection.

3. Define Your Personal Limits ✍️

• What to do: Determine what behaviors, conversations, or interactions make you uncomfortable. Write them down if necessary.

• Examples: “I don’t engage in gossip,” or “I need time alone after social gatherings.”

• How it helps: Knowing your limits makes it easier to communicate them to others and recognize when they’re being crossed.

4. Communicate Boundaries Clearly and Calmly 🗣️

• What to do: Use assertive yet respectful language when setting boundaries.

• Example: “I’m not comfortable discussing this topic right now. Let’s talk about something else.”

• How it helps: Clear communication prevents misunderstandings and shows others that you are serious about your limits.

5. Use “I” Statements ��️

• What to do: Frame your boundaries using “I” statements to express your feelings without sounding accusatory.

• Example: “I need some time alone to recharge,” instead of “You’re too demanding.”

• How it helps: This approach reduces defensiveness in others and focuses on your needs rather than their behavior.

6. Practice Saying No Without Explaining 🚫

• What to do: Learn to decline requests or invitations without feeling obligated to give a detailed explanation.

• Simple responses like, “No, I’m not available,” or “I’d rather not,” are sufficient.

• How it helps: Saying no without over-explaining reinforces your boundaries and reduces feelings of guilt.

7. Prioritize Self-Care 🛁

• What to do: Incorporate self-care routines that help you recharge emotionally, such as journaling, meditation, or spending time in nature.

• How it helps: Regular self-care strengthens your emotional resilience, making it easier to maintain boundaries.

8. Limit Exposure to Toxic People 🔴

• What to do: Distance yourself from individuals who consistently drain your energy, manipulate, or disrespect your boundaries.

• How it helps: Reducing time with toxic people preserves your emotional energy and protects your mental health.

9. Set Boundaries with Technology 📱

• What to do: Create rules around your use of technology, such as turning off notifications during meals, avoiding social media before bed, or not responding to texts immediately.

• How it helps: Digital boundaries help prevent burnout and reduce stress, allowing you to maintain a healthier balance between online and offline life.

10. Use Visualizations to Protect Your Energy 🛡️

• What to do: Imagine a protective bubble or shield around you that filters out negativity and keeps you grounded.

• How it helps: Visualization techniques can help you stay emotionally centered, especially in challenging environments.

11. Practice Emotional Detachment 🌊

• What to do: Focus on detaching from the emotional reactions of others. Practice observing rather than absorbing their feelings.

• How it helps: This allows you to remain empathetic without becoming emotionally drained or taking on their problems as your own.

12. Reinforce Boundaries with Consequences ⚖️

• What to do: If someone repeatedly crosses your boundaries, let them know the consequences (e.g., limiting contact, stepping away from the situation).

• Example: “If this topic comes up again, I will need to leave the conversation.”

• How it helps: Enforcing consequences shows others that you are serious about your limits and helps prevent future boundary violations.

13. Reflect and Adjust Boundaries as Needed 🔄

• What to do: Regularly assess how your boundaries are serving you. Adjust them if certain boundaries feel too rigid or too loose.

• How it helps: Life is dynamic, so being flexible with your boundaries ensures they continue to protect your well-being effectively.

14. Surround Yourself with Supportive People 👥

• What to do: Build a circle of friends and loved ones who respect your boundaries and encourage your growth.

• How it helps: Positive relationships reinforce your sense of self-worth and make it easier to uphold your boundaries.

15. Practice Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques 🌱

• What to do: Engage in mindfulness practices like deep breathing, yoga, or grounding exercises to stay connected to the present moment.

• How it helps: These techniques help you stay calm and centered, making it easier to recognize and enforce boundaries without being swayed by emotions.

[fujowebdev]

This April 1st, @bobaboard proudly presents our first ever Kickstarter:

✨The Fujoshi Guide to Web Development✨

Join us for a fun and educational adventure sure to hold the interest of even the most "no studying, only studs" fans.

The secret? Hot fictional men, of course!

If you're new to @bobaboard's April 1st traditions, you might wonder: Is this just an elaborate joke?

As long-term fans know, it’s elaborate, it’s a joke, BUT it’s also a 100% real, high-quality product you can buy. Check out the full pitch and back us at the #FujoGuide Kickstarter page! Keep reading for more!

Since the very beginning, we have championed the weirdness of fans as the best antidote to the blandness of the corporate-driven web. But pointing out this weirdness is not enough: we must nurture and empower it.

But how do we hold fans' attention in a world full of distractions? Well—

But jokes aside, there's no joke: with your help we will make #FujoGuide an amazing teaching tool that will (cough) "fill the gaping holes" in current educational materials for web development.

To fix the web, what we have now is not even close to "good enough." Here's why.

While teaching fannish "baby coders," we noticed existing materials fall into two categories:

jargon-heavy, complex guides designed for professional developers

oversimplified, nostalgia-driven tutorials filled with outdated approaches

…and not ONE hot man in sight!

Instead, #FujoGuide aims to put modern web development techniques into the hands of a fannish public, speaking directly to their needs WITHOUT talking down to them.

We love web development, we love fandom, and we believe that, with the right tools, they'll also love each other.

But words can only do so much. To support #FujoGuide and learn more about Version Control, our first—bold!—choice of topic, head down to Kickstarter and (cue YouTuber voice) smash that "back this project" button!

This whole project was created by a small team of fannish people over the course of just two months (yes, really)! The amazing quality of what you see is testament to their infinite talent, passion, and patience. Applause pls (on the credits doc).

And with this… our 30 days countdown begins! As the month progresses, we'll teach you more and more about our new beloved self-shipped blorbos. We know you'll come to love us as much as we do.

Also if you aren’t already, follow our mothership and main project @bobaboard.

[leportraitducadavre]

“Sarada is the first Uchiha that awoke her MS out of a sense of pure love, unlike the rest of them that were rooted in hatred –she’s the first one to break the “Hatred Cycle” of the clan.”

*sighs* Listen, there’s nothing I’d like more than to leave Boruto and all of its byproducts behind for good, yet over and over again the rabid anti-Sasuke fandom comes back to trash on the original characters of the show for the sole purpose of chanting “old Uchiha bad, new Uchiha good” around a barely lit pit fire.

Allow me to quickly break this notion, as it doesn’t need much more inspection than a faint passing of our eyes through the original series to debunk it.

After hearing Naruto is sealed away alongside Hinata and everyone blames Boruto, Sarada starts crying and, in desperation, asks her dad to “help Boruto”, awakening her Mangekyou Sharingan.

[Contrary to what I initially believed as I thought she might be asking for help as she couldn’t move, she’s not injured, she appears to be (at most) in shock due to everything that Boruto has to face, so, in case you’re one of those Naruto fans that are used to have pretty plot-relevant, emotional moments after the initial awakening of an Uchiha’s MS, let me tell you: That’s not happening, at all.]

Regardless of the minuscule and for real, for real, not sarcastic at all, very-well thought and constructed attempt to empower a character whose relevance to the main plot lies in the fact that she is the only daughter of Boruto's mentor, many stans of the child saw this opportunity to trash on Sasuke’s power as an Uchiha (you know, the reincarnation of Indra itself), and to justify such an awakening of one of the most powerful forms of the Sharingan under the premise that “it’s a different type of awakening because it’s linked to love, not hatred.”

So, in order to fact-check such affirmation, let’s see how other characters achieved the Mangekyou:

Sasuke:

Sasuke awakes his MS originally from learning the truth behind his family’s genocide; before this (and I mean, chapters before this, as his MS is dedicated a total of three chapters) Obito explained that the Uchiha were planning a coup and that Itachi, to protect Konoha and his brother, committed the annihilation of his entire kin following the government’s orders. We see him crying before a new resolution is reached: destroy Konoha. His MS awakes due to his pain which turns to complete anger.

However, you wouldn’t believe how Sasuke has conscious access to both Mangekyou:

That’s right folks, he has conscious access over his right MS by thinking of those he wants to protect, Team Taka and Team 7. So this “hatred” cycle that powers up his Sharingan is fuelled by one thing and one thing only: love.

Furthermore,

Sasuke got conscious access over his left MS technique when trying to save Karin, as she’s a very dear comrade of his. Something similar happened when he awakened his Sharingan versus when he got conscious access to it when trying to save Naruto.

[Sasuke awoke the Sharingan when he was eight years old, so the idea that “haha, Sarada awoke her MS when she was younger than him so she’s better!” is stupid as he awoke it when he was at least four years younger when facing the genocide of his people, unlike her that got it from daddy issues. In fact, awakening MS or the Sharingan before or after has nothing to do with the person's capacity as a ninja as it solely depends on the traumatic events that said person experiences. It's safer to say that her emotional threshold is significantly lower than her father's given the "peaceful" times in which she grew up than to claim a "superiority" based upon the age they both experienced traumatically enough events to influence their chakra and develop or evolve their doujutsu.]

Obito:

Obito, somewhat similar to Sasuke (and this is due to their feelings, as they’re heartbroken and such pain triggers their raw hate), awakes his MS when he sees the girl he loves get killed by the boy he started to consider a friend when he was twelve/thirteen years old. His feelings are so strongly connected to his Sharingan that they also evolve the doujutsu that Kakashi possesses.

However, there’s a striking difference between how Obito awakened his Sharingan (basic form) and how Sasuke or even Sarada did as he achieved such power when trying to save his comrades.

[Sasuke awoke the Sharingan due to the pain he felt when seeing his parents get killed by his brother, which turned into hatred when Itachi "explained" his reasons. Meanwhile, Sarada got her Sharingans due to the pain she felt when her father didn't recognize her, which turned into fear when he threatened to kill her.]

Obito’s Sharingan was completely awakened by a sense of protectiveness over those dear to him, in other words, love. 

Every single Sharingan or evolution of the same doujutsu is driven by the same emotion. From there, it either derivates to different states (pain, hate, grief, and so on), or it doesn’t, but no Uchiha can access either form without feeling a strong positive connection with someone or something they are trying to protect.

P.S: Unrelated, but look how pretty Kishimoto's art is compared to Ikemoto's (who also sexualizes minors constantly, as this is the cover of the newest volume), Sasuke looks so ugly and Sarada's MS is the most awful thing I've ever seen. No wonder the manga is flopping. Yikes.

Edit to add: It’s devastatingly hilarious how the whole point of Sarada’s Mangekyou wasn’t even about her; nor her power, nor the relevance of her bonds, it was about making a powerful enough moment for Sasuke to believe her and help Boruto! Everything becomes, yet again, about Sasuke.

[windvexer]

Chickens Have a Prey Drive: the tiny velociraptor's peckables for protecting the coop

A list of stuff I believe about protections and all such, written in the style of the evil overlord list, which I have been fond of for two decades. Take what you like, leave the rest behind.

|. The best time to make protections is before you need them. The second best time is when you need them.

You can make a wide variety of protections ahead of time, whether or not you think you'll ever actually need them, and then learn to "pause" or "lay down to bed" the magic until you ever need it. This provides ample practice in not only spellcasting, but also in magical validation, and learning to pause and restart ongoing spellwork.

2. If your general protections fail, make specific ones.

3. Unless you have specific information that a failed ward was already out of energy when its boundaries were tested, recharging it is probably not going to fix your problem.

4. Protections change things. If you create a protection and it changes nothing about your life, it probably was not cast well.

If you created a protection against advertisements, something about your life should change. The wifi goes down and you can't go on the internet. Someone reblogs a post explaining how to install adblockers. Something happens every single time an ad comes up on screen, thereby distracting you. Where once you slavered with rage at advertisements, now you barely notice them and feel emotionally numb when you do. Etc.

A corollary to the above rule: if you need a way to verify preventative protections against things that are already not happening, use your same spellcasting techniques to make protections against things that are already happening, and see if you can get them to stop.

5. Protections using only "visualization" without energy work, spellwork, prayers, petitions, magical sacrifice, or other forms of metaphysical empowerment, are often ineffective/inert. This is because imagining things really hard is not automatically an act of magic.

Conceptualize visualized energies as being empty shells that then need to be filled up with some kind of metaphysical power. They hold a little energy on their own, but without being solidified, they will fade away over time.

6. It's possible to empower protections only with your personal belief or faith that they will work. But this is a bad idea for most people.

Willpower is not infinite. At a certain point, it runs out. Willpower runs out faster if you use a lot of it. The "batteries" of any spell drain faster when that spell is actively being used, I.E., protections run out of energy faster when they are being tested. Building a spell that relies on your personal willpower to protect you means that you are betting you will have enough willpower during a time of high personal stress to keep the protection going. Not only that, but metaphysically speaking, it is completely possible for the strength of your personal willpower to simply be weaker than whatever it is you want to protect against. (Shout out to the energy suns who have no idea what I'm talking about)

7. Ask for help when you need it.

Please note: this does not say engage in a formal petition ritual, or pay spirits for services, or whatever. It says what it means: ask for help. Ask your gods, spirits, and ancestors. Ask the house and the trees. Ask the sky and the grass. Ask your stuffed animals and your old spell vessels. Ask grace itself. You do not need to know their names. You do not need to have an ongoing, perfect, healthy relationship beforehand. Just ask.

8. Depending on how you're doing it, cleansing and banishing are not the same thing.

9. Powerful and effective protection spells can be performed with one (1) correspondence.

There is a time and place to make elaborate oils using 13 consecrated ingredients, and that time and place is after you've dealt with this current spiritual emergency. You can spend those new XP points earned in combat on leveling up your badass premade potions. Addendum to the above rule: the one (1) powerful correspondence will be found in your kitchen.

10. If you performed a cleansing/banishing/protection/whatever and the Symptom was not resolved, then the whatever failed and you need to try again.

11. Wards can and do trap unwanted presences inside.

If you do not have protections up, only place them after you've banished. If you already have wards, temporarily pause them or "open them up" so that things can get through. Or be very clever and construct wards in such a way that things can get out, but not in.

12. Don't wait before you begin taking care of hauntings or malefica.

Don't wait to research and order arcane little herb packets you read off correspondence lists. Don't wait for powerful magical timings. Begin acting. If you actually are dealing with a serious problem that needs special circumstances to be resolved, you probably won't have the data you need until you start trying to solve the problem, and see first hand what works and what doesn't work.

13. Many protections are best conceptualized as treatments, not cures.

A fence will rot if it is not maintained. Permanency in spellwork is a lofty goal that is difficult to achieve. If you are not tending to your protections and re-upping them as needed, they are going to burn out and over time, eventually degrade and fail. One solution is to intentionally put to bed various protections you don't need in the moment, and waking them up as desired. Beginner-level energy work protections, like shields, often only last 24h or even much less.

14. Ask yourself what may be going on with "advanced" practitioners who say they don't use and don't need protections.

Have they cultivated personal power that deters spiritual intrusions? Are they spirit workers or worshipers who receive spiritual protection outside of spellwork? Do they have a powerful natural talent for personal protection that they don't realize they're using? Do they have an ongoing routine of personal cleansing and empowerments that stop problems before they arise? Do they walk a personal path that simply never intersects with dangerous spiritual situations? When you see someone say, "I don't protect and I've never needed to," this should not be taken to mean that if you need to protect, something is wrong with you.

15. While it may be useful to have a heavy-handed protection amulet around in case you need it, cloaking yourself, your property, or your life in powerful protections may cause problems.

16. If you need protection, you need it.

17. It's wise to keep track of what protections you've cast, especially for the prolific spellcaster. Protections can have long-lasting and unexpected implications.

18. It's wise to construct protections with the foresight that you may need to pause their effects or modify their exact focus.

19. Putting things around the four corners of the property really does work great.

20. "Protection" may be best conceptualized as an umbrella term that contains many aspects: building walls, hiding from prying eyes, forming good relationships, preemptively resolving conflict, removing aggressors, and diplomacy.

It's better to have a stick than not have a stick, but a stick is still a poor tool when only talking things out will do.

21. "No, fuck off" might be a powerful act of magic, but it's not like practitioners are out here developing whole-ass spells and rituals for protections just for funsies.

22. You do not need to confirm that something is Going On before engaging in a course of self-cleansing, banishment, and protections - just in case.

23. The best protection spell is one which you are able to cast when you need it.

24. Shielding is a useful trick, and is a good introduction to energy work.

On-demand energy work protections may be draining to many, especially to those who aren't really energy workers and who don't actively develop that muscle or battery. If you find yourself needing daily protection but are becoming fatigued by relying on energy work, try switching to a protective amulet empowered by evoking correspondences or through prayers - anything that draws on external energy. These tend to hold their charge for much longer.

25. Protection won't shield you from symptoms of your disorder or illness, but they may be able to assist with limiting stressors and triggers.

26. For those finding that the regular upkeep of necessary protections has become too draining, experiment with enchanting batches of oils, waters, incense, etc., to easily feed spell vessels.

27. The astute witch will note that protections can and will block the ability of ancestors, guides, guardians, and other forms of desired spirit contact.

28. The practitioner who desires to fucketh about with their dreams does well to first protect their dreams.

[hermitw]

I caved and read ch. 271.... This is my jjk ending reaction post

SO WHO WAS THAT WITH TAKABA????

Yesterday I reread the last chapters, and the latest translation makes them sound less out of character. More based in reality. As well as other moments that can easily be explained within grounded reality (like Hiromi's arm not being fully healed - that makes sense. It was cut off with Sukuna's CT, and Higuruma JUST learned RCT in that moment. Even if he's on par with Gojo, who was up against Toji's cursed tool as the only curse... Sukuna's CE is so dense that Todo's technique couldn't even reach Choso - who is half curse, and within range - or Yuuji (which would make sense bc he and Sukuna are basically twins and Yuuji's been steeped in his CE). So maybe Hiromi could grow an arm back, but it isn't perfect, and it wasn't life-threatening. If Shoko had to prioritize her RCT, which is likely bc Rika was needed to heal Yuuta's body, then Hiromi's arm was on the back burner). And regarding the RikaBus - originally I imagined her insides, zipped open like her weapon storage we saw in the culling games, but to supply electricity to the TVs. Now, I think she might have eaten a part of Hajime Kashimo in order to do this. Idk man

But there are continuity errors and idiosyncraties. I still think the dream theory was valid - just like Yuuta/Gojo's domain's barrier was left floating around, I think Yuuji's shifted them into the curse rift between dreams and reality, but it wore off with time. His domain's focus on sightseeing and Sukuna's muscle memory of a barrierless domain (as well as Yuuji's in experience with domains, and barriers in general until his replacement training) make this more likely to project further.

This dreamlike effect could also be caused by the merger. A condition of it seems to be having absorbed Tengen - which Sukuna had to do, after Kenjaku. They were using Tengen to create / empower the merger, and this control was officially given to Megumi, as he was the vessel. Something interesting could have happened if Tengen had clung onto him as the most stable host, but their remains were found in Sukuna's. So... (depending on the language used, maybe some of Tengen is still in him and he has some power from it) it seems the merger is not going to be completed. But we don't know what the merger would really look like - even kenjaku with his thousand years of jujutsu knowledge and experience couldn't guess. So I think it's only fair to play into the dream stuff that he mentioned to Sasaki while working toward that.

So whether it was residue from Yuuji's domain (let's not forget that Kenjaku was actually pregnant with him, and he ate all those death painting wombs that had kenjaku's blood from another body, and blood connections are a thing especially when blood manipulation CT is involved), the merger, or a combination, the dream state is fading back to reality (but what does this mean for Takaba's partner??).

Actually - hear me out - during the time Tengen was out. Between the time when Sukuna left Megumi, and when Tengen's remains were placed at the barrier - were the dreamlike qualities limited to this era? I can read again and look for things but I'm not the most observant when it comes to those details. It might also take a short time to shift things back into place once Tengen is back to restore the barriers. So any input here is appreciated.

We did get enough closure on the merger (as much as I wish Sukuna got to fight it). while some people were already becoming cursed spirits, they're gathering in Tokyo. The katana and sumo otakus are there. And since cursed energy is directed at Tokyo to such an extent, it seems that our sorcerers get to have some fun, low-risk missions. Which is so sweet, I'm glad to see it.

And while we don't know whether the reincarnated sorcerers can be stripped from their vessels, it seems like they're going to try - I imagine this is in Gakuganji's hands, and not certain that it will work or even be attempted.

I'm interpreting the big eyes to mean that the sorcerers are still a bit like momotetsu characters, playing into jujutsu headquarters' game - but it's fleeting, it's going away. (for context, my momotaro folktale vs game analysis is here)

Ultimately I feel like. Insane and gaslighted that my theories which had a lot of foreshadowing (I thought anyway) haven't happened. (Gojo returning and the last panel shows him as sukuna's vessel) But they still could. Well, to some extent at least (rip sukuna idk if that one injured fingie could bring you back but you got your peace and I'm happy for you).

.... I still think that Geto and Gojo could come back. Geto might be back, idk. Maybe takaba just found someone who looked like him.... Maybe it was a temporary effect of the dream scatter.

I'm not desperate for them to, I'm not insisting that they would (I've always been in denial that Geto would stay dead lmao). But the TIMING of when we saw the sugar-creating CT, along w the fsct that GOJO was the one always eating sugar for his brain, had me convinced that he was going to return. I... Honestly suspect that he could be back, but taking a much-needed rest. Faking his death until he's ready to reveal himself. Not to mention the clock theories on Gojo and Sukuna returning.

But I don't need them to come back. I really did like the last chapter (though I rly thought takaba & Geto were behind the momotaro eyes smh).

Sukuna's afterlife scene - though we didn't see him visit the airport (I wish Gojo got to see true form sukuna, that's his wife). Sukuna had Uraume with him, and they were able to face Mahito in passing, and leave him behind. We see Sukuna engage in physical contact for the first time, outside of violence (the only consensual form he seemed to be granted in life).

The chapter still feels short like something is missing but, whatever. We got the first years' chaos, we got post-prison realm Gojo, also the curse victim's character design is so?? I love her.

So my unresolved questions are - who is with takaba?

And

Who is on the left behind sukuna?

Tldr: I've settled into the belief that Uraume transitioned during the Heian era, so that's who is behind Sukuna. (Gege confirmed they were amab, and part of their deal w kenjaku was to incarnate as a woman) I believe that Uraume discovered they'd still be nonbinary, in any body. Sukuna's trans but was out of touch with emotions and didn't rly explore it. I'll keep what I said earlier up, anyway.

But for how, I'm going with that being Uraume, showing their two paths. Afaik we only see Uraume with white hair during the Heian era - but on my 4th read, I'll be looking for this person.

It makes more sense to show one person's potential outcomes here than for it to be about Sukuna choosing one person or another. I can say with certainty that is not Yorozu (I doubt she ever wore clothing so properly).

The posture, hair etc. resembles Uraume more than anyone, I think. This is about their possible paths. The left one might be the role they took after Sukuna mummified, or maybe they could have grown taller if they didn't trade it for something in a pact, like seeing Sukuna again in the future.

Uraume might have had an older sibling. Choso's speech about little brothers benefiting from the older brother's path, either to follow the right path or to avoid the wrong one he takes, comes to mind. I always felt like that was out of place, the same way "Yuuta Okkotsu can't become the next Satoru Gojo" became relevant later.

Alternate take on this mystery panel in ch. 271 is that Sukuna could have transitioned. This post gave me the courage to actually post about it and ngl!! I think this is the answer.

Edit to add: this post points out the shinto connection to the left clothing.

The changes in art style, I realize now, were very intentional as well and I've been hoping they translate into the anime. It's all to evoke certain emotional, mental states in the reader, to match that of the story.

Damn I forgot to react to the colored page.... Tldr, it gave us closure on Ui Ui / Mei Mei, and Higuruma Hiromi could be my favorite surviving character. He's the next Geto and the next Gojo.

[deepalilohia]

Inside the Mind of Addiction: Understanding How We Can Heal

Addiction is an incredibly complicated problem. It originates from something which makes us happy or helps to avoid all of our problems probably. The bottom is the chaos rose from various elements- feelings, thoughts and the environment around. It takes place that occasionally, the unpleasant past experiences as bad moments or feeling bombarded leads us to resort to substances for relief.

But there's hope! Through the help of these techniques, we will be able to unweave these feelings and thoughts. Conversing with someone who can empathize (like a therapist) or discovering means of dealing with our negative thoughts (like confronting those thoughts) can be very empowering.

Apart from this, it is important be aware that it is okay to fail sometimes. It is always the part of improving.What matters is to learn from your mistakes and try again. We can derive support from people who have been subjected to the same situation as us - friends or relatives.

Therefore, once we get to know the root of our feelings and we get help when we needed it, we can begin to feel better. It is as though we are fumbling our way into the light at the end of a long tunnel. With advice and a few intelligent approaches we can manage to break this rule and live up a better life.

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

For someone who praise bloodbending so much, some zutara shippers… don’t seem to know what bloodbending is? And, specifically, what it is for Katara.

More than once did I find episodes in zutara fanfiction where Katara uses “bloodbending” for healing, and almost every time it is just… just regular healing or even plain waterbending on blood. Literally, one time it was a hemotransfusion performed with waterbending. And THAT was called bloodbending in the fic, by several different characters!

Is it this difficult?

Making other’s body move against the owner’s will – that IS bloodbending, that’s the definition Hama gave, that’s literally the purpose of the technique.

Making blood continue its natural flow while the blood vessel is damaged – that is NOT bloodbending.

Performing a hemotransfusion – that is NOT bloodbending.

And, don’t get me wrong, maybe, just MAYBE, there could be some positive aspects of bloodbending – hypothetically; the canon just showed us a pretty new technique invented by someone who suffered very much and is full of hate, so, who knows? someday someone else may find a non-evil way to use it – but it’s highly unlikely that KATARA will ever explore this. She was abused and traumatized by this technique, she’s terrified by it! I doubt that’s a good start for thinking anything nice about bloodbending. It’s not that she will avoid the thoughts about bloodbending, it’s that she will have troubles thinking about bloodbending in a positive light.

I don't mind it when fans try to incorporate bloodbending as being part of healing through waterbending, I really don't, even when it isn't exactly the most medically accurate thing ever - it's fiction about a world where people bend the elements. Bloodbending itself would technically have to be musclebending since just moving the bloodstream doesn't make the body part as a whole move, but that just doesn't sound as cool/ominous as fuck.

The problem is, like you mentioned, Katara's experience with bloodbending is literally through abuse and trauma. She learned it the time an adult she thought she could trust violeted said trust by, quite literally, luring her to the woods to do things to her body against her will, where nobody could hear her scream for help. Said adult then forced her to fight her best friend and brother, then watch the two of them nearly kill each other.

Finding out "bloodbending can be used for good" doesn't change shit - she HAD to use it against Hama, and it saved herself, Sokka and Aang. Katara was still crying and feeling helpless because doing something you strongly believe is wrong will make you feel bad, no matter how important the thing that forced your hand was.

Let's imagine a different scenario here. Lets imagine Zuko is desperately trying to save someone's life, and to do so, he'll have to cauterize a wound on the person. Zuko, the character that was once disfigured by his abusive father, will now have to hold someone down and burn them, even though he doesn't want to, even though he can hear the other person crying in pain and begging him to stop.

Does that sound "empowering" and like it'd make him see the act of literally burning people in a different light, or would it just be yet another traumatic event he'd have nightmares about, even if it literally helped save someone?

The same logic applies to Katara having to use bloodbending. It does not matter how inevitable and morally justiable it was, Katara didn't want to use bloodbending on Hama because she KNOWS it is both painful and terrifying, and she's disgusted by the moral implications of removing someone's ability to have any control over their own body.

Would she use it again if she absolutely had to? Of course, and maybe it could be in the context of healing instead of in battle. She'd still feel like shit and like she did something terrible, not be "empowered."

[miss-tilney-tarot]

Hello :) can I ask what G feels for me? I'm J and thank you so much! 🫶🏼

Before we dive into this, anon I'm so sorry but I won't be answering your question. Instead, we're going to talk about why I wont be answering these kinds of questions. If you are engaging with me or any tarot reader for free readings, please read this! I don't speak for every reader but "no third party readings" is a common ground rule and I might address why some other readers don't do them too.

This is a perfect and super common example of a third party reading! The first party here I guess is me, the reader, and the second party is you, the querant. Asking about how a third party feels or what they're doing or how they're doing becomes a third party reading. Why don't I do these? Great question! Firstly professional ethics. Diving into someone elses thoughts for a paid, professional reading is violating this persons privacy without their consent or knowledge, and the way I answer most likely will have real life consequences for them in how you might treat them going forwards. Beyond that, "Fortune telling" is technically illegal, and therefore answering questions like this where I couldnt possibly know the answer naturally is kind of legally sketchy. Thats not the main reason though. Third party readings are disempowering.

What? Ok. Let's break this down a bit. You are asking "how does so and so feel about me?" because you desperately want to know, because you're anxious, because you NEED to know. So lets say I answered it. Let's say I answer they have feelings for you. You got the answer you wanted. Now what? You feel a little better for a second. But what do you DO? Same goes if I answer they don't like you at all. Ok. Heartbreaking. Now what?

What I like to do with tarot readings is get to the root of what you actually want, help you set an intention, and read for that intention. When people come to me with these kinds of questions I like to encourage them explore what they actually want to know. You just met this person, maybe you've been single for a while or just went through a breakup but either way you want to know when you'll find love again, when you'll feel that fulfilled, safe, loved that you did before. So its not about this specific person at all. Sure, maybe you really like them, maybe they have everything you want. But in the end its not about them, its about you wanting to feel loved. Its about YOU.

So we got there, what its really about. If we're doing a free reading, I'd encourage you to change your question to something like "how can I nurture the love I already have in my life?" or maybe "how can I bring more love into my life?" If its a bigger reading I might encourage you to look at a few different questions like "what is it about this person that attracts me, are those things truly what I value?" and then examine how you can bring more people with qualities you do value into your life and how to nurture your relationships into love. The important thing about these kinds of questions is that theyre empowering. They give you back the control. Its not about how some person feels about you anymore and if that will ever move forward, which beyond the step of asking them is completely up to them. It becomes about you, about figuring out whats important to you and giving you specific action steps to move forward. Hopefully leaving you feeling in control and hopeful that you can get exactly what you truly want instead of stuck on what to do with basically a yes or no answer

Tarot is just a tool. You can use it any way you want to. But different techniques, different experience levels, different styles, and different ability levels will get you different results. I honestly highly encourage you to learn how to read tarot, download an ap, and answer this question for yourself!

If you'd like a free reading, send me an ask! If you'd like a guaranteed reading you can check out my most recent post for pricing.

[bloom-sanctuary]

7 Mind-Blowing Law of Attraction Techniques That Will Skyrocket Your Wealth (Starting Today!)

Are you ready to unlock the secrets of abundance and transform your financial reality? The Law of Attraction isn't just a buzzword – it's a powerful tool that can help you manifest the wealth you've always dreamed of. In this eye-opening guide, we'll explore 7 game-changing techniques that will supercharge your wealth attraction powers. Get ready to revolutionize your mindset and watch your bank account grow!

Introduction Imagine waking up every day feeling financially secure, with abundance flowing effortlessly into your life. It's not a far-fetched dream – it's entirely possible with the right mindset and techniques. The Law of Attraction has helped countless individuals manifest their desires, and wealth is no exception. By aligning your thoughts, emotions, and actions with abundance, you can create a magnetic force that draws prosperity to you.

Visualization: Your Mental Money Magnet

One of the most potent Law of Attraction techniques is visualization. Close your eyes and vividly imagine your ideal financial situation. What does it look like? How does it feel? Engage all your senses in this mental movie.

Pro tip: Create a vision board filled with images representing your financial goals. Place it somewhere you'll see it daily to reinforce your visualization practice.

2. Affirmations: Reprogram Your Wealth Mindset

Positive affirmations can rewire your subconscious mind for success. Repeat empowering statements like:

"I am a money magnet, attracting wealth effortlessly."

"Abundance flows to me in expected and unexpected ways."

"I deserve financial prosperity, and I welcome it with open arms."

Remember, consistency is key. Repeat your affirmations daily, especially when you wake up and before bed.

3. Gratitude: The Secret Ingredient to Abundance

Cultivating gratitude amplifies your attraction power. Start a daily gratitude journal, focusing on the wealth you already have – no matter how small. Appreciate every dollar, opportunity, and resource in your life.

Did you know? Studies show that practicing gratitude can increase your overall well-being and attract more positive experiences, including financial ones.

4. Energy Clearing: Remove Wealth Blocks

Identify and release limiting beliefs about money. Common blocks include:

"Money is the root of all evil."

"Rich people are greedy."

"I'll never be wealthy."

Replace these negative thoughts with empowering ones. Consider working with a coach or therapist to dig deep into your money mindset.

5. Inspired Action: Align Your Efforts with Your Desires

While the Law of Attraction is powerful, it's not magic. Take inspired action towards your financial goals. This could mean:

Learning new skills to increase your earning potential

Starting a side hustle

Investing wisely

Networking with successful individuals

Listen to your intuition and act on opportunities that align with your wealth vision.

6. Abundance Mindset: Think Big, Attract Big

Shift from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset. Instead of focusing on lack, concentrate on the infinite possibilities for wealth creation. Believe that there's more than enough to go around.

Challenge: For one week, catch yourself whenever you have a scarcity thought and immediately replace it with an abundant one.

7. Emotional Alignment: Feel Wealthy Now

Emotions are the fuel of manifestation. Generate the feelings of already being wealthy. How would you feel if you had all the money you desire? Embody those emotions in your daily life.

Conclusion

By implementing these 7 powerful Law of Attraction techniques, you're setting the stage for incredible wealth manifestation. Remember, consistency and belief are crucial. Stay committed to your practice, and watch as the universe conspires to bring you the financial abundance you deserve.

Are you ready to revolutionize your relationship with wealth? Start applying these techniques today, and prepare for a thrilling journey towards financial freedom and abundance! Get ready to revolutionize your mindset and watch your bank account grow!

[l-1-z-a]

Emergent Storytelling Techniques in The Sims - Matt Brown, GDC 2018

In this 2018 GDC session, Maxis EA's Matt Brown examines the various techniques employed across all four generations of The Sims to empower player-driven and emergent storytelling.

Table of Contents

Intro

1:40 Key Design Philosophies

3:40 Ai of the Sims

7:02 Self-evident Dependencies

8:09 Projection and Assumption

12:34 Ambiguity ( thought bubbles, speech )

16:01 Going 'too far'

17:16 On Randomness... ( urinals )

19:30 Yes and...

21:02 Autonomous Feedback Loops

24:51 Wants & Fears & Wishes

26:36 Story Trees

31:26 How Story Trees work

- 33:45 ...vs Player Expectations

35:58 Meta-Storytelling ( story progression; higher level )

39:51 Prototype Story Progression Tool

- 40:55 Bubba's life story

42:09 Inverse Autonomy ( populating the world )

43:19 N of M and Moving the Goalpost

47:13 Summary

48:54 Questions

This is a very informative presentation from Matt Brown. He was Technical Direction and Desing during the development of The Sims 2.

The presentation reveals how the systems of wants, fears and whims works in all games of the series. How the system of story progression and promotion in Sims 3 works. Shows the prototype system of story progression in Sims 3. This presentation have info about all main games in The Sims.

And a few other things to pay attention to:

1. Previously unseen screenshot of The Sims 2 Beta, or rather a screenshot from the alpha version of The Sims 2 v.0.14.0.765 on 23:30:

2. The answer to the question of why each part of the series is very different from each other. What process is responsible for this. On 53:35:

Hi. I've played all of The Sims and they all change a lot between each of the iterations and I'm curious what the process is from going the first Sim all the way to the newest Sim because there's a lot of changes between all of those.

And the answer of Matt Brown:

The first Sims was Will Wright makes games. I don't know if he still does, but the way he did make games was he made games that were fundamentally fascinating to him. They actually tended to be pretty geeky because he's pretty geeky.

The first Sims was really more of a psychological study originally. It turned out to be way more fun than that. Well, that's fun for some people. It's way bigger than that.

I used to joke that with Sims 2 our goal was don't screw it up. It's a little more colorful than that, but don't screw it up because we didn't know exactly why Sims 1 was successful. We just knew that it was crazy successful, so just don't mess it up.

With Sims 2, we didn't make that many changes. It was what I call a more, more, more design or 3M design. We mostly just took everything in Sims 1 and we added more to it. The wants and fears that I mentioned was the one big thing that we introduced there.

And then in Sims 3, it was slightly different because we hadn't screwed it up. We had a chance to screw it up, so we basically went all the way back down to the core motivations of players and the core systems and said what systems, what were they trying to achieve and could we achieve more or if the system wasn't really didn't have any purpose in the end we got rid of it.

Sims 4 was a little more complicated. Its development was pretty storied. It went through several different stages.

3. Some players think that wants and fears in Sims 2 are given to Sims at random. The developers of The Sims 2 discovered that some players thought so, and were little disappointed by this. And so the system of wants in The Sims 3 has become more clear. You can learn about this at 58:24. This is one more question:

Are there any game mechanics introduced that did not have the outcome you expected?

And the answer of Matt Brown:

That's a really good question. I'm trying to think. I'm absolutely certain there are. But I honestly don't know any right off the top of my head. Part of that is that a lot of the mechanics that we introduce...

No, I really can't think of anything off the top of my head. No, sorry.

I was going to say, a lot of the mechanics that we introduce, in and of themselves, this is going to sound maybe pretentious or dodgy, but in and of themselves, we don't necessarily expect a specific outcome from one system. We expect a lot of the times when we're designing systems, we design them to be interesting, to bounce off of each other. We just try to make sure that there's enough touch points between them that interesting stuff can happen.

Oh, I do have one, and it was a subtle thing. Sorry, it was back in this Wants and Fears. Maybe it's just a little cautionary tale. These Wants and Fears in the original version, they're very thoughtfully presented. If you do it right, your sims will sound like they're just paying attention. Oh my god. They get something. They're deep. There's a lot going on in there.

Somewhere along the line, what we did is every morning when the sim wakes up, they roll new Once and Fears. They reevaluate. Somewhere in there, we decided that the way we should do that so you didn't miss it was we should make them spin like slot machine wheels, which honestly made me really angry in the end. Not angry, but was because the effect it had was that players then saw them, and because they look like slot machines, a lot of players assumed they were random, which, given that we put all this effort into the system that made them extra not random and very intentional, was a little disappointing that some players thought that they were random just because of the way we ended up treating them in the UI.

Transcription (notes) of presentation:

На русском языке:

[shamandrummer]

How Brainwaves Affect Our Well-being

All of our thoughts, emotions and behaviors are rooted in the communication between neurons. Each of the millions of neurological synapses in our brain operate on electrical impulses which create an overall frequency. The frequency (wavelength) can be fast or slow, harmonious or discordant, but whatever it happens to be will affect our consciousness dramatically. Our brainwave state affects our ability to focus and many other important functions in our lives. Knowing how to identify your brainwave state is the first step in empowering you to consciously shift these patterns as needed throughout the day.

There are four brainwave states:

Delta brainwave activity (1-4 HZ or beats per second) is associated with deep sleep. This state is crucial for restoration of the body and healing. Delta has to do with the subconscious, the place where intuition arises.

Theta wave activity (4-8 HZ) reflects the dreamlike state between wakefulness and sleep. Theta rhythms are associated with meditation and shamanic states of consciousness. Theta increases creativity, enhances learning, reduces stress, and awakens intuition.

Alpha brain waves (8-12 HZ) are associated with relaxation, imagination, visualization and integrative modes of consciousness. This state of mind is considered a gateway to deeper realms of consciousness and is essential to well-being.

Beta brainwave activity (13-30 HZ) is associated with concentration, cognition, alertness, and focus. This state of consciousness allows you to make connections quickly and come up with solutions and ideas.

Consciously altering brainwave activity

People have meditated, used music, dance, and art for millennia to alter consciousness. Neuroscience research has demonstrated that certain external rhythms can cause entrainment of brainwaves. This idea has been applied with biofeedback, binaural beats, and other advanced forms of technology but it is basically rooted in the ancient rhythm of the shaman's drum. Indigenous shamanic cultures have been using rhythm to alter consciousness for thousands of years.

Rhythmic drumming induces altered states of consciousness, which have a wide range of therapeutic applications. A groundbreaking study by Barry Quinn, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist specializing in neuro-biofeedback therapy for stress management, demonstrated that even a brief drumming session can double alpha brain wave activity, dramatically reducing stress. The brain changes from Beta waves (focused concentration and activity) to Alpha waves (calm and relaxed), producing feelings of euphoria and well-being. This ease of induction contrasts significantly with the long periods of isolation and practice required by most meditative disciplines before inducing significant effects. Rhythmic stimulation is a simple yet effective technique for affecting states of mind.

The reason rhythm is such a powerful tool is that it permeates the entire brain. Vision for example is in one part of the brain, speech another, but drumming accesses the whole brain. The sound of drumming generates dynamic neuronal connections in all parts of the brain even where there is significant damage or impairment such as in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). According to Michael Thaut, director of Colorado State University's Center for Biomedical Research in Music, "Rhythmic cues can help retrain the brain after a stroke or other neurological impairment, as with Parkinson’s patients..." The more connections that can be made within the brain, the more integrated our experiences become.

[theambitiouswoman]

Hi, saw this come across my dash and thought I'd ask for advice like others have. You don't have to answer if you don't want to <3

Do you have any advice for getting over an abusive/toxic relationship? I'm going to do therapy but appointments are few and far between

Hi angel,

Getting over a toxic relationship can be extremely difficult. I am sorry you are dealing with this <3 It is important you give yourself time and patience to go through the healing process. It will not be linear, and the timing is different for everyone. It is not uncommon to experience a range of emotions, like as sadness, anger, confusion, and even moments of doubt or longing, as you navigate through the healing process.

Toxic relationships often involve emotional manipulation, control, and sometimes abuse, which can have a profound impact on your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

People often lose themselves to these relationships and at the end, they question themselves, if they were wrong or what they could have done differently.

They may have an emotional attachment to their partner and have a hard time letting go even though they know its harmful. Toxic partners often use manipulation tactics and guilt to keep you engaged. They may make you feel guilty, responsible for their behavior, or doubt your own worth. Over time, this erodes your self-esteem and make it harder to break free or move on.

In some cases, toxic relationships create a trauma bond. This occurs when intense emotional experiences, including both positive and negative ones, create a strong bond with the abusive partner.

You may also have a hard time leaving the relationship for fear of the unknown. You may worry about being alone, starting over, or facing the judgment of others.

Toxic relationships often involve a cycle of hope and disappointment. There may be moments of kindness or improvement, which lead you to believe that things would change. However, these positive moments are often followed by a return to the toxic behavior, creating a pattern that can be difficult to break.

Understanding these patterns can help you make sense of your experiences and validate some of the feelings you are probably having. Take the time to reflect on the dynamics of the relationship and identify any patterns or red flags that you may have missed. This self-reflection can help you learn and grow from the experience, and empower you to make healthier choices in the future. These self-actualizations are important because we do not want to fall into a repeated cycle of this situation with another person in the future.

Healing and moving on often involves a combination of self-care, therapy, support from loved ones, and a commitment to your own well-being. A loss is not a loss, but a chance to learn and become better. It is very important to prioritize yourself, rediscover yourself, forgive yourself for the experience and focus on things that give you a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

I can not stress enough how important it is to focus on yourself and working on becoming your ideal self. Engage in activities that promote self-care and help you regain your sense of self-worth. This can include exercise, hobbies, mindfulness techniques, journaling, or any other activities that bring you joy and peace.

I don't know if you are still in communication with this person but it is time to end contact no matter how painful it feels. Please remember that toxicity is not love and those who hurt us do not deserve us. You did absolutely nothing wrong. Pick yourself back up. Remember who you are. What you are capable of doing/becoming. And give yourself all of the love you were looking for in this person. You have the power and you deserve the world!

[dailycharacteroption]

Feral Striker (Brawler Archetype)

(art by Mariusz Grochalak on Artstation)

 A common trope of fantasy martial artists is to take the theme of animal-themed styles to the extreme and give them powers based on those animals.

Somewhat blurring the line between brawler and shifter, today’s subject can draw upon the minor aspects of various animals to enhance their own abilities.

Since they are not monks, it can be assumed that they learned these techniques for practical reasons rather than any sort of spiritual enlightenment, though their power is undeniable.

Such martial artists might physically transform to resemble those animals, or they might manifest a psychic echo of that animal around or near themselves when they tap into the aspect.

Remember, however, that animal spirit stuff comes unfortunately close to terms and concepts from closed cultures that people have abused and appropriated, namely “spirit animals”, so please keep that in mind.

In any case, this brawler has some fun aspects that give them some unique ways to handle foes.

 As suggested above, these warriors have access to the same animal aspects as shifters, gaining them at the same rate. However, they only ever get the minor forms, and they draw upon a much more limited list, improving anything from various ability scores to movements speed, armor class, and so on. Eventually they gain the ability to take on multiple aspects at once, but doing so takes more focus to do and drains their reserves faster, though they increase their reserves later. At the true zenith of their power, however, they can quickly take on all their aspects at once with minimal power drain.

This archetype has only one change, but it’s a doozy since it replaces martial flexibility, i.e., the ability that makes brawlers truly unique, so it truly does change everything about the assumptions you make when building a character. The shifter aspects lasting minutes per day, and the fact that using multiple accelerates the time lost means that you need to carefully manage your remaining minutes, whether to use them only when needed, or saving them for a big fight and burning them up all at once. The aspects are much more straightforward than picking and choosing temporary feats, so there is that, but you also miss out on more dramatic abilities. Beyond that, you definitely have to have a specific build in mind with this archetype, so keep that in mind.

 Exactly how your brawler came by these powers can be interesting to explore as well. Perhaps they stumbled upon a secret druidic martial arts. Perhaps they tried to become a shifter but could never progress beyond the basics. Or maybe they were imbued with these powers by divine will or an accident of fate.

  Malgorn the Bear is not called such purely for his prodigious size, though that is part of it. The famed wrestler practices a rare technique for imbuing himself with the stamina of his namesake, but when he really needs to get serious, he can invoke other aspects as well.

 Not every kitsune is suited for magic or trickery. Instead, some seek the path of the martial warrior, and a rarer few make use of limited shapeshifting powers to temporarily enhance their martial arts. Such is the case with the House of Hidden Strikes, where many kitsune hone their arts far from the eyes of other peoples.

 Creatures of foul magic, the qallupilluk are notorious for turning others into monsters with their touch. Most in the icy regions of the north know to avoid them whenever possible. However, Lukkuaz cannot do that. A mighty warrior empowered by animal totems, she knows she is still not strong enough to hunt the one that took her brother. She will need help to find a way to get him back, not just from the monster, but to his original form and mind.

[unwelcome-ozian]

Any tips on staying calm and grounded when talking to people about something they do that makes you uncomfortable? Every time I get into a conflict of “I need this person to change x behaviour bc it makes me feel unwell” I choke and my heart absolutely pounds and I almost cry. It’s really hard in a conflict to know if what I’m asking for is ok or if I’m being a horrible person. For example it’s things like “I don’t want this person to be touchy with me” or “I can’t sleep bc my flatmate is really loud at night”. When I try to approach people I completely dry out and immediately feel ridiculous and rude for ever asking them to make accommodations in my favour. Growing up I learned that my mere existence is painfully annoying to my parents and telling them I felt uncomfortable with something or that I didn’t want to do something I’d be ignored or punished. Now I can’t tell anymore wether I’m being reasonable or a complete arsehole. Also I feel that because of my DID and the trauma I’m already a very easily triggered person , so I might freak out about things others wouldn’t bat an eye at.

It is normal for trauma survivors to have difficulty stating their needs or making requests for things to happen, in such a way that aligns with their desires, because these actions might be tied to times of not having any power regarding having one’s needs met or protecting one’s boundaries in the past.  To help with remaining calm, it may be helpful to work both on grounding techniques to remain present, and also on preparing yourself for such discussions in other ways.

Using grounding techniques during a difficult discussion or when experiencing conflict can help to prevent an outburst, dissociation. and keep you in control of your emotions. A good way to do this is to stand up and walk around; this activates the thinking part of your brain. If you are seated, you can place your feet firmly on the floor and notice what it feels like. Other things that focus on your physical senses like drinking something cold or warm or holding/touching something cold, hot, hard, soft may also help keep you present.

Preparing for these kinds of conversations. by gaining understanding of what is within your boundaries and why your requests are valid. is also very helpful when anticipating having to make requests regarding your needs.  This may also be helpful in understanding which needs in which you have the sole say (like not being touched without permission) and which needs may involve the making a request and being prepared to negotiate and compromise (like when you are occupying a shared space).  Having appropriate expectations of how others may respond to your requests can also decrease the anxiety attached to the conversation.  Brene’ Brown is a good author and speaker regarding boundaries.  Some of her stuff is available online. Having a good. understanding of boundaries will decrease questions and anxieties about whether you are "bad" or your requests are "unreasonable", allowing the conversation to focus away from your self-worth and toward your goal of meeting your needs.  You are worth it. 

Also, assessing all of the ways you have power in the situation may also help decrease your anxiety and keep you out of hypervigilance when having the conversation.  For instance, in some cases, can you move away from or avoid people who are touchy?- not that you should always have to, but do you have the power to do it?  Or if a roommate is loud at night, are there any other ways you have power to improve your situation?- taking naps, noise canceling earphones, aiming toward getting a different roommate, taking advantage of times they aren't around to rest, etc.?  Again, these plan B choices may not be ideal, but considering them or activating them now, even before the conversation can help you feel empowered and increase your confidence in meeting your own needs.  If you can think of some ways that you still have power, then when you are making your requests to other people, you don’t have to feel like you are giving all of your power away and are just at  their mercy.  This can reduce hypervigilance during a conversation.

Finally, preparing to use assertive language during your discussion may also increase your sense of calm.  Two ways of addressing a situation that you would like to change would be as follows:

In the case of shared space:  Can we talk about ____________?  I need ______________.  (The thing you are doing) is preventing that.  Would it be possible for us to come up with some changes that will help us both get what we want sometimes?

In the case of personal space or physical space:  Can we talk about _____________?  When you do _________________ it makes me feel uncomfortable.  Instead, can you ______________________?  

It may help if you can write these statements out and have them with you during a conversation, even having the paper in your hand to help with grounding.  

Because taking steps of asking for your needs to be met is new, it may feel uncomfortable and may not go perfectly, especially at first.  Even failed attempts count as your taking your power back because you are trying rather than remaining powerless.  I hope some of this will help in your being able to stay more calm and grounded as you move forward.  

~Josha

[paragonrobits]

so one thing i’ve been thinking a lot about lately is characters from Avatar the Last Airbender as Exalted from the tabletop RPG Exalted, a fantasy setting where (to simplify it to the point of it being kind of embarassing) mortals are given power by autonomous shards of divine power that give them great power without much regard for what they USE that power for, being heroes in the classical sense (doing GREAT things, not specifically GOOD things, though the latter is an option of course)

and while most of my thoughts have outwardly been Azula as a Green Sun Prince, an Infernal Exalted, the question comes to the central character, the title character, the one person whom all of Avatar revolves around; the Avatar himself, Aang.

Now, Exalted DOES have elemental super soldiers, in the Dragon-Bloods, people with a genetic tie to five elemental dragons, and gaining great power should the bloood ignite in them. However while Avatar WAS explicitly a bit influence in them, I feel that Aang maps poorly to them at least in the sense of being the Avatar, with the bagge his role carries, the specific purpose he has to the world, and his characterization doesn’t particularly mesh with the Dragon-Blooded, who are super-soldiers built for war. While you could make a great character by using Aang as a basis and making him a sort of cultural rebel by the setting’s standards, its not the neat translation that makes the idea alarms go AWOOGA

but you know what does?

Let us discuss my personal favorite Exalted, quite possibly the single WEIRDEST among them (and that’s saying something); the Alchemical Exalted.

Unlike the other Exalt types, these are not exactly mortals given great power. They were made for their purpose, and that’s not a metaphor. They are literally crafted and given life. The Alchemicals have the souls of mortals; countless reincarnations of a single mortal who has proven heroic and done great service for other people, laboring for the good of others and dying for causes they thought were noble, across many lifetimes. This soul is infused into a human-like body of clay, treated with magical metals, and this soul carries the divine power of their patron, the Great Maker (who is also a giant world of living machinery, mad genius and a terrible sickness that empowers him by drive of motivating him to work around his weaknesses, but that’s a whole other story).

Alchemical Exalted, in short, do not learn magical techniques as most of their kin do. instead their powers are actual magitech devices attached into their bodies, altering their forms and empowering them with magical technology that often acts as their bond to the communities they protect and help, for it is that community that creates these artifacts. Without their people, an Alchemical is no hero, and they are DEFINED by their community, to the extent that the epithet of the Alchemicals is ‘Champion’. Champion of the people, their nations, homelands, or simple groups of people with whom they feel a kinship.

So imagine a heavily AU variation of Aang as an Alchemical Exalt; perhaps one of the first, a great creation to prove that champions could be wrought from the human spirit. There is some similarity to his canonical nature as the world spirit, for though Autochthon is a world unto himself, he is still a part of the world, a mighty and sickly titan whose champions protect his people even as he slowly succumbs to his disease and torment. Aang with the scattered memories of many lifetimes among a nation near and dear to his heart, but one that vanished into the mists of history so long ago no one knows who they were, what they sung, the languages they spoke, or that he bears faces like people who ceased to meaningfully exist so long ago the modern world doesn’t have a word for how long ago that was.

Yet, he endures. Yet, he exists as a champion for people now, forging communities across nations, endeavoring to bring harmony and peaceful accord to all, with ingenuity, charisma, wit and the magical might of a Champion of the Great Maker.