#four powers of the sphinx

[therhetoricofmagic]

The Four Powers of the Sphinx: Know, Will, Dare & Keep Silent

Eliphas Levi, born as Alphonse Louis Constant in 1810, was a 19th-century French occultist and influential figure in the development of Western esotericism. Levi is renowned for his works on magic, the Kabbalah, and ceremonial traditions. Widely considered his most important work, “Dogma and Ritual of High Magic”, explored the synthesis of various mystical traditions.  Eliphas Levi also wrote…

[drazillion]

Drawfee Tarot Analysis with Draz

Nathan Past - The Sun / Present - Strength

The Sun is a card of unbridled positivity and optimism. When you see it upright in a reading, it is always a good sign. But it's also a card that's often unrealistic and naive. Other cards come with warnings, but the Sun does not.

Strength reminds us that physical force is one manifestation of power. Emotional strength is equally as important. The maiden has tamed the lion with her kindness and compassion, not by besting it in a fight. Still, it is important to remember that on this card, both maiden and lion share the mantle of Strength. It is both of them, not one or the other.

Both largely positive cards, the Sun and Strength embolden each other.

In regards to Nathan in particular, I have to point out the similarities of Nathan's 2024 avatar and the duality of the maiden and the lion. Nathan is perhaps best known for his kindness and warmth, qualities exemplified by the sun, but ignoring the wide spectrum of his feelings is like ignoring the lion. Personally, I admire him for his ability to keep his optimism and his bitterness and rage in balance.

Therefore, in a sense, Nathan's cards represent his increasing willingness to share his more negative frustrations, while never losing sight of the light of the sun.

Jacob Past - The Fool / Present - The Chariot

The Fool is unique in that it is the 0th Major Arcana. The Fool is unbound by numbers, by order. The Fool is potential incarnate, inviting us to leap towards the future and seize the day. The Fool does not care about plans, preferring to deal with each new situation as they arise.

In comparison, the Chariot is a focused force with a goal in mind and with the confidence to see it through. The two sphinxes that drive the chariot represent opposing desires, but upright the charioteer is able to get the sphinxes to move forward together through sheer willpower alone.

Together, they are a confident duo encouraging forward momentum. The Chariot reins in the Fool's more reckless aspects while the Fool reminds the Chariot to still have fun along the journey and that keeping plans flexible is important.

These two cards clearly represent Jacob's journey since Drawfee became independent. While his role as episode and stream host (in particular trying to get everyone through the intro) is the most obvious, this also includes his role as content strategist. His analytical side is where his Chariot aspects shine brightest. In addition, the Fool and the Chariot combine when he makes music. When Jacob's well crafted plans fall apart, it is the Fool that comes to his rescue.

Karina Past - The Empress / Present - The Magician

Representing Mother Nature, the Empress is all about beauty and creativity. The Empress asks us to embrace qualities traditionally seen as feminine, regardless of gender. You are not weak or lesser for taking care of yourself or expressing yourself. The Empress encourages us to get in touch with our emotions, as well as the natural world.

The Magician is numbered 1 in the Major Arcana, and represents the transformation of the raw potential of the Fool into something actionable. The Magician has all the tools needed to fulfill their desires, but those tools might not necessarily look usable in their current state. The Magician must recognize this and realize the true nature of these tools.

The Empress and the Magician are both creative cards and support each other in this endeavor, provided that the querent (person the card reading is about) takes initiative.

Though both cards symbolize Karina's journey these past four years, it is no surprise that the Magician is one of them, with the creation of Sonny Mama and other mixed media creations in the past year. Nothing exemplifies the Magician more than literally using things like a log and a brick as part of a sculpture. The Empress's presence is subtler though the numerous plants that live in Karina's apartment give it away.

Julia Past - The Tower / Present - The Emperor

Due to its name, Death is often seen as the "worst" Major Arcana card. It's not. That distinction goes to the Tower (though the "worst" tarot card overall goes to the Ten of Swords). The Tower is sudden upheaval, is destruction, is disaster. Yet even so, the Tower is not an unredeemable card. Far from it. Sometimes a situation is so bad the only way to end it is to obliterate it. Sometimes the old must be destroyed to give way for the new. The Tower does not give us the tools to rebuild, that is something we have to do on our own, but it does show us that it is possible to build something better from the rubble.

The Emperor represents an authoritative figure who enforces structure in an otherwise chaotic world. Equally, the Emperor is a strategist who keeps in mind the needs of others when making decisions. The Emperor is also a protector, shouldering burdens so that others don't have to.

It can be easy to think of these two cards as complete opposites. In reality, this means they are both sides of the same coin. If the Tower is destruction of the old paradigm, then the Emperor is the establishment of the new.

The Collegehumor Layoffs exemplify the idea of the Tower. An established workplace that came crashing down. And Julia, the Emperor, rose up to the challenge of dealing with all the paperwork that would eventually lead to Drawfee's independence. Four years later, Drawfee still benefits from the work Julia did, not to mention the fact that she continues to deal with everything finance related in regards to the company. Not to mention all of the other tasks Julia takes on. While all five members of Drawfee are essential, it would be safe to say Drawfee would be unable to exist in its current form without Julia.

[astra-ravana]

The Four Powers Of The Magus

The Four Powers of the Magus are the personal attributes traditionally necessary for the successful practice of magick. These four attributes combined are required for the success of the individual. The reasoning is quite simple: none of the attributes mentioned are enough in themselves, as they all must be present to balance each other out.

• To Know: Knowledge is no good without the will and audacity to see magick done.

• To Dare: Audacity is no good without the knowledge and will to see magick done.

• To Will: Will power is no good without the knowledge and audacity to see magick done.

• To Be Silent: What good are the above without the discretion to remain silent until the magick is done? To reveal your magick before it is done dissipates its power and effectiveness.

So, anyone aspiring to use magick needs a knowledge of what they are doing, the audacity to use it, the will power to control it, and the discretion to remain silent until the work is done.

"To know, to dare, to will, to keep silent, are, as we have said elsewhere, the four qabalistic words, which correspond to the four letters of the tetragram and the four hieroglyphic forms of the Sphinx. To know is the human head; to dare, the claws of the lion; to will, the mighty flanks of the bull; to keep silent, the metaphysical wings of the eagle. He only maintains his position above other men who does not prostitute the secrets of his intelligence to their commentary and laughter. "

-Aleister Crowley

[corpsecomplex]

VARRON

If you're a newbie getting into Demonolatry, it may be tempting to work with more well-known spirits. However, many of the most famous demons got that way because they are extremely powerful, and would therefore be dangerous and unsuitable for a beginner to work with. So, for anyone who was considering working with Asmodeus, why not start out with one of his lesser-known consorts, Varron?

Basic Info:

Appearance: Varron appears most typically as a sphinx-like being with features like those of both a human and a leopard. He is most typically quadrupedal, with four paws and no hands, but can sometimes appear upright, in which case he will be about 8 feet tall and have humanoid hands. He most typically appears with long hair, yellow eyes, and tan skin.

Personality: Depending on one's relationship with Varron, he will behave differently. He will likely seem withdrawn and quiet at first, but is very curious and can easily be won over. He is known to be a playful and even mischievous spirit who greatly enjoys the company of his devotees. He can, however, be a bit demanding and difficult to placate with regards to offerings.

Origin: Presumably Babylonian

Symbols:

Crystals: black obsidian, black onyx, bloodstone, pyrite, red jasper, garnet, labradorite, opal or opalite, smoky quartz

Animals: Leopards or panthers

Plants: Palms, monstera, pomegranate trees, grape vines, tiger lilies, orchids, dead-nettle

Associated Colors: Black, gold, red, violet

Number: 16

Zodiac: Taurus

Tarot: Six of Cups, The Lovers

Suggested Offerings: Crystals, cinnamon, cardamon, clove, incense (especially sweet scents), bones, animal pelts, leopard print items, palm leaves, barley, honey, fruit (especially grapes, apples, or pomegranates), sweet liquors, smoke or cigarettes, jewelry, blood (only to be given once a strong relationship is formed!)

Domains:

Literature

Medicine

The element of Earth

Sexuality

Performing and Visual Arts

Signs Varron is Calling To You

Repeated dreams or visions involving his symbols, especially leopards

Sweet smells

Unexplained or otherworldly sounds, such as whispering or purring

A sudden pull towards him or his domains

Hope this could be of help! Safe and successful summonings to you all <3

[relleytrots]

Hiya! I'm looking to be Storyteller for the first time, and am trying to psych myself up.

Do you have any playlist/album recs to get myself in the right headspace?

All right. In my experience, this goes as deep as you're willing to let it.

V5 may be leaning into "gothic not goth" (and to be honest, leaning away from gothic on the face of things), but it's still Vampire: the Masquerade: a game that has at least one of its roots in the goth scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. This first playlist isn't even mine, but it does a neat slice through that whole moment.

When V5 came out, I made a conscious effort to update my vibe, get away from the goth night floor-fillers that I was into when I started Vampiring, about 25 years ago, but keep a connection to that original sound. This one has a couple of covers, a couple of big names, a timely "the past is dead" opener, and some very on-the-nose lyrical choices, but nothing that's actually in the Revised edition recommended listens list. Some of these regularly pop up on my individual chronicle playlists 'cause I think they resonate that well with being a vampire.

However! Vampire ain't just about the vibe in the book. You bring something to your chronicle: choices that reshape and filter what's going on. It helps to locate your chronicle, decide where and when your story is happening, and then pull some era-appropriate tunes that tie to moments/vibes you want to curate.

This is one I did for a chronicle that started in 1954, moved to 1969, and was planned to roll on until the start of Vampire's original moment-in-time. There's a mix here of "banger, y'all know this" and "the algorithm threw this up, it fitted, the date was about right" and something I always like to throw in: the mildly anachronistic title track.

This is probably the best one I've done. I put a lot of thought into the soundtrack for my first V5 game, because I was overthinking everything at the time, coming back to the seat of power after a few years away and not really knowing the new system yet. I knew these characters were all going to be Toreador Anarchs; I knew they were sharing a house near their art school, which had recently burned down; and I had an idea of who the major players in the city were going to be, I'd put together their names and clans and agendas.

I'm gonna break this one down in detail, actually, and hopefully that'll show what I think peak performance looks like. I started out with the first eight tracks and added the rest either as the coterie met particular characters, or in response to the coterie's choices. Listening to this before a session was an emotional recap, and emotional continuity is very important to me, more so than exact factual adherence to what may or may not have happened four weeks ago. In track order:

Vibe for the first session - our Kindred have technically graduated, but they've also been Embraced, and they're staying in their student house in the weeks after the ceremony they couldn't show up for, and summer isn't a great time to be a vampire anyway.

This is the political vibe the characters are starting out with: they want things to be better, but they're not super riled up about it yet.

This is the threat: the aggressive, unseen, unknown agenda behind the destruction of the art college and the sudden intrusion of Alistair Fucking Dunsirn into their world.

This is the player characters activated: twenty-first century spin on a classic of young outrage.

This is player character Callum's song, suggested by @stained-glass-sphinx.

This is player character Cali's song, suggested by @pathogenic.

This is player character Frankie's song, and I don't recall if I suggested it or @mxviatrix did.

There was one other Kindred active on the coterie's patch: Jamie, the Tremere who ran the Third Eye arthouse nearby. Jamie existed because I wanted to give them an early rival or ally, and have access to someone with an Intelligence + Investigation pool that existed and could succeed at things. He had a crush on Frankie, everyone else thought he was a pillock. This is his song.

Baroness Kilkennie! Malkavian, anachronism, gunrunner, ran the north side of town. Ally? Threat? Loose cannon? This track was perfect for her, and also set up the idea that she'd killed the previous Prince.

The split between run-down East and gentrified, collegial West Ends was part of the theming in this game. As well as being the theme song for Prince-in-name-only Alexandra, this song riffs off that tension and gives some late twentieth century energy reminiscent of prior conflicts.

Another Nineties banger, suggesting that prior hostilities are about to bubble over again, and this whole art school thing is both a continuation and only the beginning. By this time the coterie were lining up the Nosferatu primogen Barry Ross as the guilty party, and he was starting to flex in their direction too.

Enter @sorchamidnite! I needed a couple of weeks' vamping to prepare the finale of the first act, so Sorcha came along with a guest player and a theme tune. This was the start of the obsessive "new playlist for Sorcha" tendency that haunts me to this day - this one is just a clubland riff on her terrible pun username that sort of conveys her drug dealer/pays for everything energy. She's got you covered, babe.

Frankie hooked up with the detective constable who'd been investigating the coterie. DC Flynn, under the influence of Lingering Kiss, would turn out to be a real slow burn of a threat, and also a slightly pathetic figure who was passed from Kindred to Kindred, fed on and controlled, before the end. Under Your Spell indeed.

Cali stole a revolver belonging to Baroness Kilkennie, which he was going to hand over to the Camarilla to set her up as the BBEG, trying to create a power vacuum into which the coterie had decided to propel Alistair Fucking Dunsirn - and Cali was going to ride that old man's coattails to the top. All about personal responsibility, personal responsibility, that riff just going and going.

Frankie and Jamie hooked up for dinner. She brought him a police detective, he brought her a beautiful drugged-out-of-her-wits girl, there was a warehouse apartment, it was very tentatively sweet and schemey. I'd end up using this song as a leitmotif for this couple.

The first act ended with the coterie hosting an open-air rant in their domain. Everyone who was everyone in the Anarch Movement showed up with their bro up. This was the moment of articulacy - why were the Roses doing what they did? Because it's artful. Because they're beautiful. Because they owe it to themselves.

Title track. I just looked up "Wild Roses" once we'd named the coterie that, and the lyrics here - in the month of May, I think I wrote my own pain - fit really well, while the tune itself is a palate cleanser for the end of each session.

I hope all that provides... some sort of insight into how I use music in and around my chronicles? You don't have to go this hard, straight out of the gate, but I can say it was really rewarding to do in the first place, and to revisit now. Even if my notes make next to no sense five years down the line.

[santoschristos]

The Great Magic Arc, the unique and incommunicable arch, aims to somehow put the divine power at the service of man's will. To reach the realization of this arcano you need to “know” what you have to do, “want” what you do, “dare” what you need to do, “be silent” with discernment. They are the "four verbs" of the Cabala, equivalent to the four mysterious animals of the Sphinx, the elements and all the symbolism of the "quaternary" that is connected to the four letters of the Holy Name, synthesis of the Great Arcane and the key to all magical and alchemical mysteries. - Eliphas Levi, The Great Arcane

"Direction Guardian" by Lily Moses Thanks to: La Via Iniziatica

[studentinpursuitofclouds]

we got a continuation of the pet ask for the vanilla bachelors, but may we also get a continuation of the pet ask for the SVE bachelors?

Sure thing! :D Enjoy! 🫰💕

_________________________________________

The hands on the clock are about to strike midnight, but Lance seems determined to devote some more time to his report on the monsters in the Highlands. He wants to give all the information to Jolyne as early as tomorrow morning, but his eyes are already starting to droop with fatigue, and the words are already blurring before his eyes. Just when it seemed to the gallant adventurer that he was about to fall asleep right on his desk, he felt something rubbing against his leg, demanding attention. "Ah, Penelope. Thanks for checking up on me." The cat that Lance and Farmer had adopted six months ago, hearing her owner's voice, meowed back. "I think we should finish this report tomorrow." The pink-haired man rose from his chair and walked with the purrin cat towards the bedroom, where Farmer and their other cat were already sleeping.

Dragons have long been considered a symbol of wisdom and strength, wealth and fertility. Mighty, noble creatures that are still honoured and respected, the designs of which can still be seen on the coats of arms of some Guilds and clans. One of those symbols of power, by the way, had just burned Magnus's favorite hat again. Sigh... He and Farmer realised the responsibility of caring for a magical beast, but the nature of this particular dragon was quite grumpy. ("Just like you, Razzy, hehe!" "Hush, love.") But the scaly creature loves and obeys Farmer. They assured their wizard husband that the dragon needs time, and the reptile will love him. Or at least stop spewing fire. Though Magnus grumbles, he loves the new member of their family, and the dragon will soon respond with affection.

Sophia, who had come to visit Victor and Farmer, squealed with joy at the sight of the adorable and affectionate sphinx that had joined Jenkins-Farmer family a couple of weeks ago. The bald cat, dressed in a cute kitty sweater, lay by the fireplace next to two other shorthaired cats, enjoying the warmth of the fire and the fluffy bodies of his cat buddies. Victor proudly showed a whole collection of jumpers, jackets and hats that the Farmer has made for their four-legged friends. Sophia was determined to make more jumpers for her friends' cats, and with Farmer's and Victor's permission she rushed to her home. More cat clothes!

[tallnbitter]

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welcome to tallnbitter!

a place for writing when uni allows me to

ABOUT ME: TJ, 2004, Capricorn

Masterlist

History of Man | Percy Jackson Retelling

New Parts Most Mondays (NZT)

SUMMARY: Helen Snow has spent ten years at Camp Half-Blood, ignored by the gods and unclaimed. Despite her bitterness, she would never betray them—until she's blamed for a betrayal she never intended. Caught in the web of fate, Helen's life mirrors the tragic story of her namesake, Helen of Troy. With a prophecy hanging over her, she wonders: can she escape the cycle of history, or is she doomed to repeat it? In a world where gods pull the strings and mortals bear the consequences, Helen must choose—fight fate or surrender to it. The men start wars, yet Troy still hates Helen. Can Helen break free from the patterns of the past, or will she be trapped in the same cycle of heartbreak and betrayal that defines the history of man?

Helen's Handbook of People to Help Mr D Remember Them

ACT ONE: LETHAL WOMAN 00. My Brother & I Almost Die in a Car Crash 01. I Should Apparently Not Fear Accidental Incest 02. My Two Best Friends Trick Me Into Making a Deal with the Devil 03. How I (Almost) Met My Mother 04. My Best Friends & I Throw a Rager in the Woods 05. I Get Dragged into Babysitting Two 12-Year-Olds & A 24-Year-Old 06. My Existence Even Confuses a Gorgon 07. I Lose Children in St. Louis & Find My Brother 08. I Call in a Favour From an Ex 09. My First Time in Vegas & I'm Sober 10. Los Angeles, More Like Los Demonios 11. My Mother Finds Me 12. I Watch a Child Almost Die 13. I Get Summoned to Mount Olympus 14. I Watch a Child Almost Die, For a Second Time 15. I Make a Choice (Against My Will)

Glory & Gore | Percy Jackson Universe

Coming Soon

SUMMARY: In the world of Percy Jackson, four demigods are called to save the gods—by collecting powerful relics hidden across the globe. Cordelia Blake, the responsible leader, teams up with her best friend Margot, wine-loving Charlie, and sarcastic Sean. From jungles to deserts, they race against time, battling monsters, curses, and their own issues. With a shape-shifting van and the weight of the prophecy on their shoulders, they’ll discover that glory and gore go hand in hand. They may be demigods, but survival requires more than just divine blood—it takes heart, and a lot of fight.

The Characters

01. Cordelia: The Gods Ruin My Day (And Probably My Life) 02. Margot: So Apparently, We’re Saving the World? Gross. 03. Charlie: We Get a Van, and It Immediately Develops an Attitude 04. Sean: New York is Expensive, So We Steal Everything and Leave 05. Cordelia: Florida: Where the Wildlife is Just as Dangerous as the Gods 06. Margot: A Ghostly Sea Monster Tries to Drown Me, But Jokes on It—I Can’t Swim 07. Charlie: Mexico City Almost Kills Us Before Breakfast (Rude) 08. Sean: Bat Gods, Ancient Curses, and My Declining Will to Live 09. Cordelia: The Jungle is Full of Bugs, Monsters, and Bad Decisions 10. Margot: I Accidentally Make a River God Cry, and It’s Not My Fault (This Time) 11. Charlie The Amazon Has Fire Ants, Angry Spirits, and No Wine 12. Sean: Sweden Has a Very Judgmental Tree, and I Take It Personally 13. Cordelia We Meet a Goat, and It’s Smarter Than All of Us Combined 14. Margot: Greek Ruins? Cool. Fire Traps? Less Cool. 15. Charlie: My First Time in Egypt, and I Already Have a Curse (New Record!) 16. Sean: The Sphinx Does Not Appreciate My Trivia Skills 17. Cordelia: Beijing is Cool, But the Forbidden City is a Bit Too Literal 18. Margot: Japan Has Beautiful Shrines and Water Demons Who Hate Me 19. Charlie: The Van Gets Seasick, and So Do I 20. Sean I Accidentally Gamble with a Volcano Goddess (And Lose) 21. Cordelia: Australia: Where the Spiders, Snakes, and Gods Want Me Dead 22. Margot: We Recruit an Aussie, and He’s Disturbingly Chill About It 23. Charlie: The Hangvan Decides We Deserve to Suffer 24. Sean: The Final Piece is in a Place That Shouldn’t Exist, So Naturally, We Go There 25. Cordelia: The Gods Want a Fight, and I Was Not Given a Weapon or a Choice 26. Margot: I Become the Ocean’s Problem (Again) 27. Charlie: The Hangvan Goes Out in a Blaze of Glory, and I’m Taking Credit for It 28. Sean: A Lost City, an Old God, and the Worst Field Trip Ever 29. Cordelia: Nine Demigods Walk Into a War, and None of Us Are Laughing 30. Margot: Glory, Gore, and Charlie's Stupidest Victory Speech in History

The Prophecy | The Hunger Games

Coming Soon

SUMMARY: Welcome to the 25th Hunger Games! In The Prophecy, the 25th Hunger Games take an unexpected turn when the districts vote for their tributes. Kassandra Caducus, an 18-year-old girl who feels like a lesser woman in a world that keeps throwing bad things her way, is thrown into the arena with the Covey twins, Livia and Icarus Clade. Struggling to survive, she feels like she’s just on her knees begging the world to change her fate. With each betrayal, each loss, she wonders if she’s doomed to play out her life like fools in a fable. But in a world built on broken promises, Kassie starts to question: Who do I have to speak to to change the prophecy?

Meet the Tributes & Mentors

PART ONE: The People Have Spoken 01. The Vote is In, and I Am Unfortunate 02. My Boss Chose Me Over the Girl Who Steals Thread 03. Valeria Panza Has No Faith in Me (Neither Do I) 04. The Capitol Prefers Their Victims Well-Dressed 05. A Stylist’s Job is to Make Me Look Less Doomed 06. I Am Paraded Before the Masses Like a Prize Lamb 07. I Shake Hands With My Executioners 08. The Only Girl Who Likes Me is Watching Me Die 09. The Others Train for Battle, I Watch and Learn 10. I Hold a Knife for the First Time, and It Feels Wrong

PART TWO: A Cage of Our Own Making 11. The Zoo Gates Open, and We Are the Exhibit 12. The First Rule of the Games: Do Not Be Seen 13. A Panther Stalks the Cornucopia, and So Do the Careers 14. The District 12 Tributes Are Unlucky in Every Way 15. A Tiger Watches Me from the Dark—Then Walks Away 16. Hiding is Easy When You’ve Spent Your Life Doing It 17. A Monkey Brings Me Berries, and I Trust Him More Than People 18. The Gamemakers Are Growing Impatient, and So Are the Wolves 19. A Stampede Reminds Us That We Are Not the True Predators Here 20. It Ends the Way It Began—With a Choice

PART THREE: Welcome to Your New Nightmare 21. I Have Won, But I Do Not Feel Like a Victor 22. They Dress Me in Gold and Expect Me to Smile 23. District 8 Calls Me a Survivor. They Mean It as an Insult 24. I Tell the Families I Am Sorry, Though It Means Nothing 25. Venus Hadriana Shows Me How to Live With Blood on My Hands 26. President Snow’s Kindness is a Warning 27. I Am the Capitol’s Latest Creation, and I Must Play My Role 28. A Victor Belongs to the Games Forever 29. The Quarter Quell Was a Test, and We All Failed 30. I Leave the Arena, But It Follows Me Home

[sweet-chimera]

Character Dossier

Basics

Full name: H-0434

Known aliases:Honey Suckle Reject, Mead florere rejecto

Age: 3,219

Gender: Female presenting or Demi-Female (uses she/her pronouns)

Birthcreationdate: April 1st

Heritage: Gladen

Religion: Polytheistic considering gods and deities are real

Sexual and Romantic orientation: Demi/pan sexual and panromantic

Status: Currently a free monster, court officer, in the Miracle territory

Residencies: In the Reject Estate located in Kevin the forever forest

Highest level of education: Greek Gymn school, monster quality assurance training, The Nursery, Godly and royal etiquette training, Greek monster and spartan training

Occupation: Public servant, court officer (she's their lie detector for sentencing)

Physical examination

Facial features: Round eyebrows. Rounded goat nose, tusks protruding from mouth, four sets of eyes (White pupils, usually red and green), 6 distinctive facial stripes

Face-claim: Herself. I draw all my own stuff

Voice: She has a (more mild now) scottish accent and a deep, feminine voice

Voice claim: Bronagh; Sound of the Sea

Eyes: She can have up to 8. All looking like colored rings, in the following colors:

Hair: Old burgandy, dark brown hair with a slightly redish-purple hue

Body type: She is a curvier, larger women with wider hips, and fat deposits on her body (shes had many kids)

Distinguishable Marks: double stripes on her shoulders, a serial number fur pattern in her fur, and 6 stripe markings on her face

weight: 285 lbs give or take

Height: Fluctuates, but remains around 5'7" for the sake of being approachable to most species

Mental Evaluation

Mental illness: PTSD, Hypervigilance around others, Not technically DID but she is a single body housing many creatures mentally, emotional affluency

Psychological profile: ESFJ

Positive traits: Empathetic, perceives needs, practical, caring

Negative traits: Detached, self deprecating, Assigns values based on usefulness

Alignment type: She can not perceive morality but based on action alone, True neutrual or lawful neutrual

Meyer-Briggs Personality type: (S/N)

Phobias: Afraid of technology, Frogs

Mannerisms: One set of eyes will avoid eye contact, one set will stare. Finger taps. Tail buzzing. Frog blinking.

Hobbies and Interests: Horticulture, Potion craft, baking, weaving, national parks, child rearing (yes), Tailoring.

Strategic analysis

Combat style: She avoids fighting at most costs, and if she does get into one (Not relating to damage mitigation or calming down a rampaging friend). Her motto is destroy them, everything they hold dear, and 5 generations of their blood line. Or pawn the problem off on someone else (still usually resulting in death) Since fighting is looked unfavorably upon. But other wise, mid to long ranged attacks with close range hand to hand being for when you want to get messy

Weapon of choice: She personally is a pole arms user, spears and pole axes when its not her magic or body as a weapon

Hand to hand Combat efficiency: Extremely competent considering she spent actual decades in a spartan military against other monsters

Tactical strength: Reconnaissance and small precise strike teams (herself and her parts). Honorable mention being honey potting or espionage

Tactical weakness: Lack of external leader ship, the cold, salt water, lead (lead is the only thing that works on the whole body and not an individual part

Signature technique: Plant, fungus, and moss roots forming spell circles underground and releasing a powerful (long set up) attack without the enemy ever knowing it was being set up.

Pain tolerance: Extremely high to everything but ice and lead. And even then she's willing to turn pain receptors off. (And risk not even registering when her body is beyond the point of no return)

Defensive skills: Classical shield training, turning big, using more hard wood and fiber plants. Running away

Relationships and affiliations

Family: She has 31 siblings. But the most notable are Nectar (the sphinx), Pollen (eastern loong), Heat (Chimera), Rika (Daughter. 100% honey's, but biologically black dragon)

Allies and associates: I haven't discussed relationships with muns that much. I know that shes on familial standing with some muses, but as far as allies or associates. No one really has her loyalty nor do I really have mains like that or overlapping canons with other muns. But from story canon there Persephone, and Queen Mab.

Rivalries: Honey has no one she's in competition with

Enemies: Honey has no one she despises or is on sight with

Romantic histories: Honey has no explicit ships or romantic history with any muses with active blogs. (Like puppy crushes are different from a bonafide ship). But from her Story canon, theres Cerberus, Rika's father, and a few other monsters from history (at least sexually. Romance is stretching it)

Notable friends: Alex, Hax & Eath, Gritt, Hook & terrance, Olgan, Frost, Crowley & Mack, Rachel, Kairi, Heiron, The fizz bots, and I'm sure others I can't think of.

Habits and life style

Daily routine: Honey Wakes up at sunrise regardless of when she went to bed, especially because Rika is Nocturnal and Is going to bed at that time. She makes herself tea and breakfast by 6:00 am or at least an hour after she's woken up which ever is earlier. She'll check on all of her Nymphs and forest creatures. Then she'll go into town to check on her neighbors. Then she'll go into work doing essentially odd jobs for the colony because they haven't had need for the court in ages. Then its the daily shenanigan with what ever muse she's seeing that day, and usually shes back home in time to wake up Rika, feed her, help her with homework and send her off to her training.

Diet and nutrition: She's Vegetarian. And won't eat meat. being part plant. She consumes alot of sugar and needs access to sunlight to feel okay

Exercise habits: most of her exercise comes from Sparring woth some of her coworkers and physical labor.

Grooming habits: She tries to bath no less then once a day. But considering how often shes running for her life or in someones shenanigan it's at a different time each day. Every day her horns and fangs grow to a point so she'll file them down back to being round and non threatening. As well as pluck any flowers Alluria sprouted out of her skin.

Substance use: She doesn't. Unless she's at like a party. But 9 times out of 10. Straight edge.

Sleep patterns: She doesn't unless something puts her to sleep.

Personal aesthetic: Cottage core, little house on the prairie, dark academia

Favorite book: Before the law by Franz Kafka, Frankenstein by Mary shelly

Favorite music genre: Blue grass folk

Favorite Art/Architecture: neo-classical

tagged by: @feelinsheepish and technically @xxlordalexanderxx

Tagging: anyone

[thedarkat]

Oedipus and the Sphinx, Gustave Moreau, 1864

Edipo y la Esfinge, Gustave Moreau, 1864

(English / Español)

Gustave Moreau's "Oedipus and the Sphinx" (1864) captures one of the most iconic moments in Greek mythology: the tense confrontation between Oedipus and the enigmatic Sphinx. This encounter, famously recounted in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, takes place on Oedipus' journey to Thebes, where the Sphinx blocks his path, posing a deadly riddle: "What walks on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon and three at night?" Oedipus answers correctly: "Man", who crawls as a baby, walks upright as an adult and uses a cane in old age. The Sphinx, shocked by his answer, takes her own life, leaving Oedipus to continue on his tragic path to becoming the king of Thebes-and, unbeknownst to him, his mother's husband.

Unlike earlier versions by artists such as Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Moreau's interpretation emphasises the power dynamic between the two figures, presenting the Sphinx as a more aggressive and sensual creature that is already grabbing Oedipus, clawing at his chest. The intense gaze between the two figures adds an unsettling tension to the scene. Moreau's Sphinx, part woman, part lion and part bird, embodies the menacing power of the mythological femme fatale, a theme commonly explored in 19th-century Symbolist art.

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"Edipo y la Esfinge" (1864) de Gustave Moreau captura uno de los momentos más icónicos de la mitología griega: la tensa confrontación entre Edipo y la enigmática Esfinge. Este encuentro, famoso por ser relatado en Edipo Rey de Sófocles, tiene lugar en el viaje de Edipo a Tebas, donde la Esfinge bloquea su camino, planteando un enigma mortal: "¿Qué camina sobre cuatro patas por la mañana, dos por la tarde y tres por la noche?" Edipo responde correctamente: "El hombre", quien gatea de bebé, camina erguido de adulto y usa un bastón en la vejez. La Esfinge, asombrada por su respuesta, se quita la vida, dejando a Edipo continuar su trágico camino hacia convertirse en el rey de Tebas—y, sin saberlo, en el esposo de su madre.

A diferencia de versiones anteriores de artistas como Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, la interpretación de Moreau enfatiza la dinámica de poder entre las dos figuras, presentando a la Esfinge como una criatura más agresiva y sensual que ya está agarrando a Edipo, arañando su pecho. La intensa mirada entre los dos personajes añade una tensión inquietante a la escena. La Esfinge de Moreau, parte mujer, parte león y parte ave, encarna el poder amenazante de la femme fatale mitológica, un tema comúnmente explorado en el arte simbolista del siglo XIX.

Fuente: Los Secretos del Arte

[nigerianprince888]

Goliad is insane.

Heya Void,

So, I rewatched Goliad and i just realized how impactful it is for the main casts character development.

Quick summary, So, in this episode Princess bubblegum, soon after realizing she will die one day after being taken over by the lich, chooses to create a Candy sphinx, Goliad, with her DNA. She's too tired to take care of her so Finn and Jake do, and she starts getting the wrong idea and hijinks ensues.

I'm gonna address four things Goliad, Princess bubblegum, Jake and Finn.

-Goliad

Goliad is a creature known as a "Candy Sphinx", created by princess bubblegum as an heir, Her mind, having just been created, is not aware of the world around her and needs assistance much like a child. But after reading Princess bubblegums mind and being threatened with "dismantling" looses her mind a little bit.

However, I think Goliad would have turned out this way no matter what.

When Stormo was created at the end of the episode He immediately knew right from wrong, so it's literally in Goliad's DNA, Bubblegum's DNA, to use her power in a more chaotic way.

-Princess Bubblegum

In this episode we see an extremely fragile princess bubblegum who is trying to manipulate her rulership after she passes by creating a sphinx. Now, I think it's extremely important to realize what sphinx represents "The sphinx has no history of real living existence, but exists only in art and literature, representing human desire for that which is greater than themselves, both in terms of the body and the mind." New world encyclopedia, She Created something that very literally symbolizes her desires and what she wishes she could be.

-Jake

Jake in this episode is pretty standard iwl he gets excited about teaching about good v. Evil and how to be a proper leader but gets RIGHTFULLY mad at the candy children after they attempt to CRAWL INTO HIS BRAIN and says some of the funniest lines in adventure time. But then Goliad repeats these phrases, because Goliad had never been introduced to patience before anger.

-Finn

Finn gets pretty messed in this episode, not really on a surface level but mostly mentally.

Goliad throws Finn around an obstacle course without his consent, Goliad tries to pry into Finn's mind (which she fails at because finne has one of the most repressed minds in ooo) and then he has a SON, Stormo, which he has to immediately come to terms with the fact that he never actually talk to or hang out with or anything.

P.S However, I like to believe that sometimes Finn sits with Stormo and Goliad and just kinda listens to the little wavelength noises that they make in their eternal struggle.

Great episode, I love it alot.

[gladstones-corner]

The Four Tenets of Magic

You have likely seen at least one list of magical tenets--you probably have a couple written down somewhere already. However, none are so brief, yet so comprehensive and clear, as Éliphas Lévi’s four tenets from Transcendental Magic:

"To attain the SANCTUM REGNUM, in other words, the knowledge and power of the Magi, there are four indispensable conditions - an intelligence illuminated by study, an intrepidity which nothing can check, a will which cannot be broken, and a prudence which nothing can corrupt and nothing intoxicate. TO KNOW, TO DARE, TO WILL, TO KEEP SILENCE - such are the four words of the Magus, inscribed upon the four symbolical forms of the sphinx" (Lévi, 1896, 3).

Despite the opinions of some, we need not add extras. We need not alter the wording or order of any tenet. Lévi explains them well in the quote above, summarized in that immortal maxim. These tenets underlie any level of magical practice. As such, we will visit the practical application of each tenet here.

To Know

As a novice, your primary goal with this tenet is to learn the basics of your tradition, whether that be via teacher or literature. The idea is to build a strong foundation upon which you can grow. However, this type of knowing is one-dimensional. It is primarily book-learning--critical, but incomplete.

As an intermediate, you have the requisite knowledge and experience to begin tailoring your practice. Here, you begin the advanced coursework in your tradition. Your field of research will expand as you study other traditions' methods of performing similar magics. Here, your knowledge becomes a hybrid of theoretical and experiential learning.

Adepts and beyond are well into the advanced coursework of their traditions. At this stage, you have successfully adapted or invented rituals and practices that fit your philosophy. At this stage, you are ready to seriously study other traditions of magic.

To Dare

At the novice level, daring is simple: you have not yet attempted a consistent magical practice, and now you are going to do so. In this stage, the act of daring is more of an act of trust--trust in yourself and in the greater whole.

At the intermediate level, this tenet means having the strength to stretch yourself beyond the basics of magic. In this stage, you have a regular practice that is likely by-the-book. Now it's time to trust yourself to make the first alterations to your rituals. It's also time to flesh out why you personally believe in your tradition's philosophy.

Once you reach adepthood and beyond, daring becomes another trust exercise. Here, you begin writing rituals whole cloth, naming holy days beyond your tradition's standards, and so on. Generally, you strike out on your own.

To Will

This is one of the most misunderstood tenets of magic, and part of that is because of Lévi himself. Magicians tend to conflate this tenet with having lots of sheer willpower, which overrides other wills and subjects the universe to its bidding. That is not the case.

Across levels, the general application of this tenet is the same: resonate your will with others in the Aethers by using correspondences and auspicious timings so that your request is carried further and with more power.

John Michael Greer sums it up best in his Druid Magic Handbook. To use his example, say you desire to reach the center of a lake. To use raw willpower is to simply swim out there unaided. You might make it, but chances are you'll be exhausted and might not make it back. You can use a boat and oars, which are akin to correspondences; you can also add a rudder and sails, which are akin to preparing for auspicious timing. Altogether, you hook your will to greater wills, putting in your own part of the work to achieve your goal. This is successful magic.

To Keep Silence

I'll be honest. I'm not great at this one; I don't think many are. That isn't necessarily a bad thing when you're among other magicians. It's when you're out in the greater world that you must be most careful. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

As a novice, keeping silent about your coursework is paramount. You are not ready at this stage for the wills of others to interfere with yours. As such, discussing theory and practice is fine with other magicians. However, from non-magicians your work must be kept secret.

As an intermediate, you have a more complete understanding of the full experience of the novice and can better share your experiences with them. This is critical to your growth, as you know the material best when you are ready to teach it to others. But remember: you are not ready to teach anything beyond the basics, and only to novices. They do not need to be taught personalizations just yet.

Beyond this, at the intermediate level you should still not discuss your coursework with non-magicians. At this stage of your magical learning, you are strong but not yet ready to be public facing with your path. You must solidify your philosophy and practice first.

In adepthood and beyond, you are ready to teach others. But this does not mean you need to share everything with them. Your experience is valid, not absolute. And remember that you yourself are always learning--especially as you dive into other traditions.

You are also ready to be fully public-facing with your tradition. Your confidence and experience allow you to be a strong voice and advocate for magicians everywhere.

Conclusion

Those are the four tenets at a surface-level scratch. I know my opinions here can be a little stuffy--especially regarding my belief that you should stick to one tradition throughout your novice studies, dip into traditions as needed during the intermediate studies, and only branch out seriously once you've reached adepthood. I'll write another post on why I think that's the case, but that's less relevant to the main thread here.

Please feel free to reach out with your own thoughts and opinions regarding these tenets--magic is an ever-evolving tradition and it's only by sharing our knowledge and experience that we advance the field of magical study.

Thank you for reading. As always, stay safe and stay tuned. Blessings~

[relleytrots]

On Why We Keep Doing This

Reposted from a Reddit thread that asked some quality open questions.

… what brought you to this game or WoD in general? What are reasons that you keep playing VTM, despite its flaws?

It would be trite to say it was always going to happen, but - it sort of was. I was mainlining Fighting Fantasy books as a little 'un, I was a goth teen and a theatre kid - the confluence of influences was always there. Some lads at my secondary school played Werewolf at lunchtimes, one of them branched out into running some weird Kevin Smith fanfic game using Vampire's mechanics, and while that was terrible and ran for one session I had the Revised core book by then and thought I could do better. Also, this was a game that girls wanted to play. Girls who wore corsets. That was important too.

I think I keep playing because of the flaws. Media that's actually good, solid, nothing in particular to complain about, doesn't inspire me. Flawed gems make me want to turn them over and examine them and figure out how they work, how I'd do things differently and (in an ideal world, by my own standards, with the resources I now have at my disposal) better. Also, the girls are still here. We're all aged-out goths with bad knees, but by god, we can still pretend to be vampires together.

… how do you "reconcile" with the 90s core of VTM, and the general themes of the gothic punk from that era, which is by and large no longer part of the modern zeitgeist?

There are a few answers to that.

The 1990s are just another historical setting, and I've always liked historical Vampire. Cut my teeth on Victorian Age, my most successful and long running games are mainly Dark Ages. The 1990s are a bit like now, but people still smoke and use phone boxes and have to look things up in books most of the time. It's the world I grew up in, and sometimes I miss it.

Also, I don't think millenarianism is quite played out yet. History isn't a straight line, it's a series of expanding cycles, more things happening in them but patterns tending to repeat themselves. Before the dust was settled on Tremere's corpse, @stained-glass-sphinx was running a VtM game with the pretext of "Gehenna's been and gone, not with a bang but with a whimper, the elders have vanished, what do you of the double-figure generations do now?" Doesn't that sound familiar?

Also also, what is a vampire if not a creature stuck in time? I've had it brought home to me with the experience of playing Santino, who's badass in a very specifically mid-1990s sense and cringe as fuck to anyone born this century. Trying to make him work on this platform showed me how quickly being an anachronism can set in.

… what do you think about the attempt to, for a lack of a better term, "modernize" VTM with it's 5th edition? Did it fail, succeed, or do a bit of both?

Pretty good. Revised still does some things better in how it teaches you to play and outlines the sects, but I reach back and check in and draw forward what I need and that's enough.

Mechanically, I'm very happy with V5: Hunger dice, Bane Severity, Discipline restructuring, Predator and Coterie Types, that's all good stuff. It feels like every player at my table is playing the same game now. Doing vampirism, i.e. eating blood while all your friends are dead, is an unskippable core loop of play. Characters are built together as part of coteries and they have a reason to be colleagues, if not friends. Clan curses are codified around a scaling system that ensures they're all relevant. Disciplines (mostly) work the same way and the unique powers are singular flourishes without padding.

It's not perfect. It's very obvious that four different development styles are at work, the game as a whole is not very clear about what a chronicle looks like, and the new core political conflict doesn't function because the Anarchs are a pitiful pastiche of a sect written by people who wouldn't know a successful revolution if it bit their throat out and spat down the hole. Some of the rules are overcooked - I'm looking at Domain Merits with their pretentious names and abstract applications, and the middle bits of Blood Potency like Rouse rerolls and bonus Discipline dice that just disappear because breaking a number down into five numbers and a statement ain't elegant.

It's been getting consistently better, though. Renegade's rules aren't perfect but at least they're focused and directed at actually playing a game. The Second Inquisition and the Sabbat give you antagonists with actual teeth. I'm liking the new trend of supplements that change up the game's genre rather than bloat it with "lore": Blood Sigils, Gehenna War and Blood Stained Love are all optional but transformative and I really appreciate them existing. I think V5's had its growing pains, but has finally figured itself out and is going to endure.

[maeviuslynn]

Dr. Lauren Gardner and I dive into Four Powers of the Sphinx, Golden Dawn, and the kind of advice we wish we’d known at the start of our magical journeys. We explore the wisdom behind the ancient adage "To Know, To Will, To Dare, and To Keep Silent" and offer personal insight and reflection on how to practically apply this to both your mundane and magical life.

[mushroomnoodles]

Hello. I noticed that your version of Betty is taller than Simon, whereas in canon (if I remember correctly) it was the other way around. Or did you make Betty taller because she is now, say, "more powerful" than him, or is it rather your desire to make her so?

i just thought itd be cute! my simon is 5'6 (6'6 as ice king) and betty is 5'10 (although i never was super great at consistent heights). plus it gives me a little chuckle since Betty's the clingy/cuddlier one of the two- her trying to rest on his shoulder/little spoon while being taller gets me.

also, side note, candy simon and candy witch are shorter than their genetic templates and sphinx simon is only 5'6 on all fours! since he primarily is bipedal that bitch is TALL

[flightlessribbons]

SABINE: MINI MENACE ERA:

ML AU PT.2

Tikki was passed down to Sabine from her grandfather who raised her, entrusting her with the earrings when she was 17. Tikki became a constant companion to her, and Sabine took up the mantle of Ladybug after her grandfather was killed in a robbery in his shop. Her late father’s best friend, Wang Fu, served as her mentor as he was the holder of Wayzz. Fu was also a student and close friend of her grandfather and took over his shop after his passing.

Fighting crime around the city, Sabine’s ladybug became known as “Mini Menace” and was seen as the city’s unseen protector- working mainly at night. She was joined soon after by the Chat Noir called “Stray”, and later the Fox holder “Vulpus”, and occasionally the Bee and Butterfly holders, “Hive” and “Adonis”.

Stray: Amelie Sphinx

Vulpus: Otis Cesaire

Hive: Andre Bourgeois

Adonis: Gabriel Agreste

The group became best known for dealing with a rising crime lord named Richard Sphinx who had been behind the attack on Sabine’s grandfather’s shop as well as the influx of organized attacks the miraculous holders worked to stop. They fought Richard’s right hand men the most, Mr. Pigeon and Mime who did most of his dirty work, but worked together to take down Richard Sphinx once and for all.

What the heroes didn’t know was that the faerie Null had been behind Sphinx’s successes as well as allowing him and his right hand men powers beyond normal humans. After seeing what the holders were capable of though, Null had kept his eyes on them.

As the years went on, Adonis and Hive were rarely seen around the city anymore, though Mini Menace, Stray, and Vulpus were still quite active. The three friends had decided to finally reveal their identities to each other, though were interrupted by an attack on Paris unlike one they’ve ever known.

Facing what looked like Adonis, the enemy seemed disoriented and reckless- as well as talking phrases that didn’t make sense, and crying. After talking him down didn’t work, the four fought until his miraculous brooch had cracked, forcing him to flee.

In the battle, Sabine had gotten badly injured. Even after her physical recovery, she had tremors and panic attacks, forcing her to retire from being ladybug. The trio disbanded without ever revealing their identities to each other. Though Stray could still be seen in the following years on occasion.

In truth, Null had partially fused himself with Nooroo and forced Gabriel to transform after the man had heard how his wife's health was declining. Null tested using Nooroo’s powers, though was not coordinated as Gabriel fought against Null’s control even as Null offered him Emilie’s good health if he managed to defeat the other holders and take the ladybug and black cat miraculous.

Gabriel forced Null to stop, saying he wouldn’t hurt innocents for Null’s gain. That he didn’t want Null’s “help” and that he just wanted to spend time with his family. Null unfused with Nooroo, but told Gabriel that he’ll be there when he decides to accept his offer.

It’s not until years later when Emilie falls into a coma that Nooroo, hating to see his holder so broken and hurt, asks Gabriel if he remembers Null’s offer and the possibility of accepting it. Gabriel brings up the points of the broken miraculous, the facts that Null has ulterior motives, hurting innocents etc; but Nooroo says that they can use Null instead of the other way around. Play the part of getting the miraculous, but as soon as they learn how to cure Emilie, they’ll figure a way to trap him just like Null trapped them all those years ago.

After planning, the two called for Null to tell him they accepted his proposal. The fae then fused together, and Hawkmoth was reluctantly created.

Previous: BEFORE CANON

Next: BRIDGETTE: SCARLET DANCER ERA