#i must feed the young-ins

[azucar-skull]

Me tryna cook up some art for you guys--

[hoodreader]

i think u should get a cat.

adopt don’t shop

LINKS — menu. forms.

these are my natal astrological theories for someone who would enjoy having a pet. this isn’t reserved to cats, it’s for any domestic animal. but this morning, i woke up and saw my cat’s face and said… hm… i need to dedicate something to u.

there’s gon be a lot of text. like a lot. so buckle in! click the Keep Reading button below to unlock the rest of the text. and i hope u enjoy.

History of Animals & Pets in Astrology

in astrology, the house indicator for pets is the sixth house.

the reason why the sixth house is seen for pets is due to the sixth house ruling hierarchy and providing of care. when the domestication of different animals began, it was always rooted in some sort of service. and in my opinion… it was usually some sort of labor or brutality. after all, we must consider mars rejoices in this house.

many animals unconsensually exchanged survivalism for service — with the promise of their physical needs being met, such as shelter/food/water/protection, they provide some sort of task to the humans. but like i said… mars rejoices here. and things being done unconsensually or with force is a martian quality.

so the domestication processes for many animals — if not all — were violent. for horses… they had barbed spikes in their bits and whips on their flanks. they were used for war. on chariots and then horseback. for dogs, they were given companionship given that they murder their own brothers and sisters. for cats, they were kept around if they hunted the pests that came with our young species’ booming agriculture. other animals were domesticated for the purpose of a controlled hunt, or for the purpose of carrying heavy things for us for long periods of time. the sixth house is speciesm — the belief that there is an order of command in the animal kingdom that places humans on top.

then that doesn’t include the breeding for sport. and that also is violent. whether it’s a contest of ability or contest of pedigree. horses get their legs sored — a violent process in which their legs are damaged in order to alter their gate. or animals are purposefully bred to have predispositions to health issues (and illness is ruled by the 6H). dogfights, cockfights, horse nose slitting, and so on. while indigenous peoples globally had much of a better relationship with animals, the dominant culture has brutalized animals since they were able to contain them. there’s a reason why the 6H is the house of both domestication and slavery. and they are two sides of the same coin. but i won’t get into that now.

i also even want to add in the 12H representing large animals and large animals often being used as beasts of burden. burden in the 12H! or pedigrees… which is like animal eugenics. it shows “wealth of bloodline” thus jupiter, but there’s still that saturnian/12H aspect about ancestry. and that martian aspect about how u have to essentially ‘compete’ (through merely existing) to be considered a ‘purebred’ of ur respective breed.

now… as a species, we did eventually come to a consensus on what is an appropriate way to interact with animals. though… many people do not get the memo. people still walk their dogs in 90°F weather when they’re not supposed to. people still neglect to get their pets flea medication routinely. people still hit their pets. and this isn’t a judgement to the ignorant, but a point about how when u base a relationship with another being on ownership (mars rules possession)… it’s easier to leverage their livelihood over them.

that’s why pets are ruled by the malefic sixth house.

for that reason, i don’t recommend getting a pet without educating urself. u should know the ins and outs of the animal u seek because they lose dominion when they live with u. they eat what u choose to feed them, they live where u tell them to, and so on. even just the comfort they give u from being cute or cuddly is a service. so be wise.

Animal Rulership (cont.)

animals in general — 6H, virgo, jupiter, pisces

large animals; outdoors animals — 12H, jupiter, pisces, sagittarius, sun, 9H?

small animals — mercury, virgo, 6H (this includes pests, such as roaches, rats, and bedbugs)

house animals — 4H, 5H, 6H, cancer, moon, mercury, 6H, virgo

insects, arachnids, herpitiles — mercury, scorpio, saturn, aquarius

mammals — moon, cancer, 6H, mercury

aquatic animals — cancer, moon, pisces

beasts of burden — saturn, 12H

burrowing animals — 4H, saturn, scorpio

carnivorous — mars. maybe saturn? i mean he ate his own kids ion think he picky

omnivorous — jupiter? my theory. just because jupiter shows openness.

herbivore — venus, taurus, moon, pisces

Animal Connections

cancer / lunar energy shows fondness for animals. especially cancer ascendants, moons, sixth houses. moon influencing the ascendant or sixth house.

sixth house lord in the fourth house or twelfth house can show familiars. a familiar is a spirit, demon, or alter ego that is closely linked to the person it familiars. it’s often thought that they take the form of animals.

how to determine whether ur pet is a soul mate or familiar will obviously be in the synastry and composite charts. but it’s tricky because most people only have an approximate date of their pets’ astrology charts, especially those who adopt their pets and don’t shop them.

sixth house containing neptune, moon, in cancer, in pisces, having jovial influence shows sensitivity to animals. these people are also very in tune with animal wellness, which is why i recommend veganism, vegetarianism, or ethical meat consumption for them.

jovial influence in the sixth can also show u have a bunch of pets, lol. and jovial plus aquarius energy can show u have strange or relatively uncommon pets, such as an octopus or a madagascan hissing cockroach.

sixth house can show how u get ur pets: lord in the eleventh, maybe it was an organized community event. lord in the third, maybe u was just walking around and saw it. lord in the fourth, maybe it was a childhood pet or family pet that u just took responsibility for. lord aspecting mercury…. maybe u saw them online.

Types of Pets

lastly, i’m going to type in what i think different 6H energies might gravitate towards for pets. read for house lord, planets present, sign, and major aspects made to house lord.

this won’t account for all the nuances (example: a 6H in sag would indicate an adventurous pet but if saturn is there it could show this quality is subdued). just written for fun.

solar — something a bit bougie that stands out. attention needy ass pets. might be talkative pets but then randomly get phases of introversion. enjoys being pet and pampered. could have a golden or bright hue to fur/skin/scales/exoskeleton.

lunar — shy, sensitive, protective, and loyal pets. could see them being a real cuddly though. i really see cats for this. either a silvery / grey type of coloring or something dark and mysterious. might prefer only “their people” but get a bit territorial otherwise. could see aquatic pets here. big watery eyes.

mercurial — chatty, active. a bit of anxiousness. lovesss to play. could love learning tricks too. loves going outside and exploring their immediate environment. i imagine a warm undertone on their coloring. i could see birds here.

venutian — very pretty. maybe food motivated or play motivated. enjoys grooming, might groom themselves rather often. could see someone having a rabbit lol, or another dainty sort of pet. i could see it having many colors! possibly patterns as well.

martian — might be a predatory animal. so for example, a cat. or a scorpion. etc. lurking in the shadows. i could see them also not wanting to be bothered much lol. type to hiss or growl or puff up. irritable. if the mars influence is scorpio, i can see dark coloring, like a black cat. also i could see arthropods and herpitiles, also rats. they’re kinda shamed

jovial — biggg personality. piscean will give sweet watery eyes. emotional. loud… talkative. they themselves can be a bit large for their breed or species, or put on weight easily. they might love freedom or window time. very curious and love to explore. nosy. i can see them also having a large array of coloring. bright and expressive eyes. aquatic pets!

saturnian — dark in color. quiet or simply incapable of making a verbal sound. i could see them loving to sleep or be in solitude a lot. could be on the less cuddly side but still less irritable. might like being under things, like burrowing. might only really have one fave person, but past that… not really tryna interact much. i could see pets that are shamed here too… esp b/c saturn rules shame & exile

that’s all. i hope this was a bit interesting. :P

now… about adopt don’t shop. this is a slogan warning about the dangers of kitten mills and puppy mills from unethical/backyard breeders. there are already millions of houseless animals right now. we don’t need people breeding even more who will end up dumped at overfilled shelters.

and this isn’t limited to dogs or cats. birds, fish, reptiles, insects, and arachnids (and more) are all animals impacted by unethical breeding practices. now personally… i feel like there’s an ethical concern to be raised about all animal breeding (lol). however, if u have to get a pet from a breeding facility, make sure they’re a reputable breeder who ensures a great quality life for their animals. do not get pets from pet stores. i worked at one and had to quit from just how many of their animals died, got sick, or were mishandled.

instead, locate a reputable breeder. check out petfinder, adopt-a-pet, or ur local shelter. and if u have the ability to, maybe give senior, disabled, or shy animals a chance. they have a higher mortality rate in kill shelters because nobody thinks they’re worth the energy.

lastly, i recommend against ‘exotic pets’ or ‘exotic hybrids’ because this just further commodifies animals. not only that but the average person does not have the resources to care for them. which is why so many wolf dogs and bengal or savannah cats end up surrendered!

okay. that’s my political vegan psa. the end.

[bettercostume]

difang fic bit:

difang post canon, li lianhua has gone into seclusion and the two of them figure out what happens next

Di Feisheng chose a long route back to his enclave, one that would take them up through high ridges and plummeting valleys that he had never dared visit. Now free of compulsion, he could travel as close to Di Fortress’s territory as he wanted.   Fang Duobing, unaware of the meaning behind this route, bitched tirelessly about it.

“There’s a trade route that follows the coast, you know. It’s funded by the transportation bureau and everything, so the road is smooth and there are checkpoints with whole taverns attached.”

Di Feisheng said nothing.

“That means there are inns! And breweries! And people!”

“I don’t care for any of those things,” Di Feisheng said, stomping up through a drift of red pine needles. 

“That’s a lie,” Fang Doubing said. “A’Fei! I know you like to travel well! I met you in that hot springs town just months ago!” 

He had. In the time spent without Li Lianhua, when they split to follow their own leads, Di Feisheng had expected a clean severing of ties only ever to be rebuilt by the reappearance of their one connection. This had not been what happened.

He himself had intended to measure out his time in between scraps of sightings, whispers of Li Lianhua, in venting his anger by smothering the remnants of disobedience amongst his followers. Traveling alone would be simple enough. But after about a week he had realized he slept poorly and lacked patience in his dealings; that he was, unbeknownst even to him, waiting for something. Wuyan began to volunteer information about his erstwhile companion during his check-ins: Fang Doubing meant to topple the indentured servant tradition of Xuanfeng Mansion. Fang Doubing had succeeded, after two days undercover as a traveling musician.  Fang Doubing now had to rehome twelve children. Fang Doubing wanted to know, did Di Feisheng have any ideas? 

“Give them to an abbey,” Di Feisheng immediately wrote him. “Otherwise you will have twelve more mouths to feed at Tianji Hall, and your mother will lash you to the front gate with leg irons.”

“Wonderful news! I have accepted twelve promising souls into our care at Tianji Hall,” came the cheerful reply.  

And so on. It finally came to be that Di Feisheng had the choice, after an evening spent strangling members of the Iron Fang sect in a drippy town that smelled like squid, to either ride on to an inn further up the coast or camp in the nearby woods and wait for any stragglers to appear, and strangle them as well. Di Feisheng stood under the overhang of a dismally appointed, and now vacant, shack and whistled.

“Have you seen any movement?”

“None, my lord,” Wuyan said.

Di Feisheng looked off in the distance, towards the town.

“Young master Fang is in residence in the Mountain Spring Inn,” Wuyan offered, casually. 

“Really,” Di Feisheng said.

The hot springs were sulphurous but the inn was sublime. Di Feisheng entered through the window to Fang Doubing’s sumptuous rooms, which he must have blown through all of his allowance to rent. 

“A’Fei! Use the door!”

Di Feisheng sat at his table. 

“Congratulations on your twelve children,” he said. Fang Doubing, who would need to be beaten into a stupor to erase his etiquette muscle memory, was already pouring him tea.

[bygracealonegirly]

The anniversary of my brother's death is coming up, and 3 years later I'm shocked at how the grief can creep up and swallow me still. If I think about him more than in passing I still weep. I'm still overwhelmed by the absence of his belly laugh and mischievous grin. I still feel rage creep up when I think about how unfair it all is; his 3 young children were too small to have personal memories of him, and must subsist on what we show and tell them. His beloved wife only got 5 years with him total - some people get 60. Our view into God's plan is so narrow, I know, I really do, but still, why him?

CJ was something else. A real gen-u-ine cowboy. Tough hands, crinkly eyes, and an ever present grin. Quite the dancer. A heck of a card player. An even better choir singer. He was never short on jokes or belly laughs. The best darn bow hunting partner I'll ever have. And gosh he loved his wife; the sun rose and set on her from the moment they memorably met (she slapped his rear end on a dare during a rodeo and told him to quote "giddy up cowboy"; they were wed 18 months later). He was an incredibly doting father who insisted on doing the late night feedings because work kept him so busy in the daytime. And most of all he was a true Christian who shared God's Word with most anyone who would listen and loved his neighbors.

Every year I approach being older than he ever was. 24 years and 18 days, 6 hours and 32 minutes (I'm sure Mama knows the seconds.) It's unnatural to grow older than your big brother, and each of us younger siblings marches toward it; my sister surpassed him recently and fell into hysterics once she realized. The clock now looms over me like the shadow of death itself.

It was a farm accident. A freak thing. Everyone tried their best to save him; first his wife, then the neighbors, then local EMTs, a flight nurse and a paramedic, countless nurses and doctors and specialists from The Big City. They all wept with us as he took his final breaths, surrounded by more people than the hospital was technically supposed to let in. It took him an excruciatingly long time to pass on once support was pulled, and his heart only finally slowed and stopped when his wife assured him "I've got this CJ, don't worry, I've got the kids and the cows, you go on home now".

I can't even type that without shaking.

I hardly knew her before they wed, and not much more before he passed away. She became much more than the mother of my nieces in the wake of his death; she's well and truly one of the strongest people I know, and a true sister to me. I'll never be able to thank her enough for giving him peace enough to let go in his final moments. She's not much of a dancer or a card player, and she can't so much as hit the side of a broad barn with a bow, but I like singing with her in church, and she's helping me learn to quilt now.

I read somewhere that grief is just love with no place to go. So tonight as my throat aches with thoughts of CJ, I'll pour out some of this love. Into my dogs, my horses, my plants, my nieces, my sister-in-law, my sister-in-law's new boyfriend, and God, who I know is in control and has a Plan, who has overcome the grave, and whose will I submit to even if at this moment it's painful. Because I know He keeps His promises.

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."

Ride on Cowboy, see you on the other side 💙

[disasterbijamietartt]

Since currently AI writing apps are making lots of fiction writers nervous, I, part-time fiction writer myself, thought I'd try out what they're capable of and got a subscription.

Thanks to a certain TV show I didn't really get around to experiment much during the past month and since I have like 50k AI words left, that I have to use until Wednesday or they're gone, I thought I'd just feed it various random ideas to see what the plot engine comes up with.

And since I'm bad at coming up with names, I just used Roy and Jamie as stand-ins for a mm-romantic comedy in the vein of 90's romantic comedy "Addicted to Love" and this is the first beat it came up with …

"Roy, 38, an aging business executive, and Jamie, 24, an ambitious and rebellious young photographer, had a rivalry going on since high school. Roy was a popular guy who had it all: the looks, the money, the confidence. Jamie was his academic rival, determined to overcome the odds and make something of himself."

Like, how fucking bad was Roy in high school that Jamie could be his academic rival when he was like 4 years old? 🤣🤣🤣 And what an ambitious and hardworking little bebe Jamie must have been to be in high school at such a young age! (We just want to assume Roy didn't stay in high school until he was … 32)

(I mean, it is extra hilarious, since the app full well understood that there was an age gap, and still …)

[jdgo51]

The Platform of Love

Today's inspiration comes from:

The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger

by Lynsi Snyder

Editor's note: If you've ever had an In-N-Out burger, you know their dedication to serving really delicious fast food. This year is the 75th anniversary — 75 years of Double Doubles, shakes, and fries... Mmmm! Lynsi Snyder, the owner and President of In-N-Out shares their story in her new book The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger. Enjoy this excerpt!

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” — Mark 16:15

"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive." — Acts 20:35

"'Customers often notice Bible verses printed on In-N-Out products, and that practice has a history tied to my good memories about Uncle Rich.

Both Dad and Uncle Rich grew up with some faith in their home. As boys, my grandmother told them about God and taught them how to pray. When they were teens and young men, they wandered from their faith. But in the early 1980s, Rich reconnected with God in a much bigger way. He became an active member of Costa Mesa’s Calvary Chapel, led by Pastor Chuck Smith, and dedicated his life to Jesus. Rich didn’t claim to be perfect. But he finally found that the deep need in his heart could only be satisfied by Jesus and by finding his own identity in Him. I remember my uncle telling me once,

“I’m not always a good Christian, but I’m a Christian.”

In 1985, Rich began printing tiny references to Bible verses on In-N-Out paper goods. It was a way for him to express his faith, and he wanted to put that little touch of faith on our brand. In a 1990 episode of BTV, Rich explained, “I quietly did it a few years ago. I’m a Christian. For those who know me, they definitely know that I’m not perfect and neither is In-N-Out. We are trying to serve our communities and do a good job the best we can. I guess the reason [for the verses] is it’s my way of thanking God for helping In-N-Out so much. I took over In-N-Out when I was twenty-four years old, and for me it was kind of tough. I thank God that He helped me.”

Love God and love other people.

To this day, Revelation 3:20 is discreetly printed on hamburger and cheeseburger bags. Nahum 1:7 is on the Double-Double wrappers. Proverbs 3:5 sits underneath milkshake cups, Isaiah 53 is on certain holiday cups, Isaiah 9:6 is on Christmas cups, and John 3:16 is underneath soda cups. That tradition continues to this day. After I became president, I added Proverbs 24:16 to our fry boats, Luke 6:35 to coffee cups, and John 13:34 to the hot cocoa cups... We never try to force our beliefs on anyone, and customers with any faith tradition, or none, are certainly welcome through our doors. We hire and promote associates and managers who don’t share our faith.

God loves all people, and so do we! My family simply wants our faith to take a meaningful place in everything our company does. The verses act as encouragements.

Always, the goal is to love God and to love other people, and we’ve learned the platform of love is huge.

The feedback we get about the Bible verses is almost always positive. Customers don’t always share our faith, but they appreciate that we’re honest about our own faith journey, and that we want it to be part of the integrity of our company. Many commend our efforts to reach out, care for people, and lead with love.

An awareness of the blessings God has given inspires generosity. I think that was Rich’s intention in 1991, when he began sending In-N-Out Cookout Trailers to the missions around Los Angeles to prepare meals for the unhoused. That’s how the In-N-Out Feed the Homeless Program began, as a quiet way of providing delicious meals for the less fortunate.

We currently serve people involved with the Los Angeles Mission, Ventura Rescue Mission, San Diego Rescue Mission, and Long Beach Mission. These initiatives fit beautifully with part three of our mission statement, which states our purpose to help “communities in our marketplace [become] stronger, safer, and better places to live.” We invite other people to serve alongside us too.

It’s better to give than to receive."'

Rich Snyder on BTV, In-N-Out Archives.

Excerpted with permission from The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger by Lynsi Snyder, copyright Lynsi Snyder.

[islucyferal]

My sisters insist that I am not feral. That I was always domesticated, if not always trained.

“You were a demon child, but that’s just how kids are sometimes.” They roll their eyes and move on from the topic, but I cannot shake the feeling.

I watch videos, of people feeding strays. Dogs, and their trust in gentle people who swath them in blankets and take them to the vet. The shaken, confused look on the face of domesticated snakes and rabbits whose owners had overestimated the work and underestimated the effect of “releasing them back to their natural habitat”. It’s the cats that I am drawn to.

Cats are independent creatures, I think that’s why people assume they’ll be alright on their own. And sometimes they are, there’s a part of cats that never forget the hunt. That adapt too easily to being feral. That’s why you have to find kittens when they’re young, so it doesn’t stick and they can be accustomed to humans.

I see a lot of videos of flea baths in bathroom sinks, the kitten is pretty much dunked in water up to their head and they’re almost never happy about it. I think of the years, yes years, and dozens of methods it took to get rid of lice on a squirming child’s head and run my fingers along my scalp out of habit. I remember waking up once to my grandmother cutting my hair on the porch and bolting to the other end of the lawn as I watch someone snip a particularly bad mat out of fur.

Someone points out the nooks and crannies, odds and ends that their feral colony likes to sleep in. A mother hiding her kittens below a deck, a pair that shelter in an old shed, the tom that’s taken over an old lawn chair. I’m reminded of my family’s reprimands and frantic cries after once again sleeping somewhere I shouldn’t- a boat, a cupboard, just underneath a pillow when I was particularly small.

My hissing and growling was met with weird looks rather than the patience of the “owners” of colonies. My silent footsteps and staring eyes were much less endearing than a feline’s. My scratching and biting was (rightly, admittedly) met with anger instead of a “We’ll try again later”.

I think of nights spent wide awake, waiting for the first rays of dawn so I can sneak outside again and sit in the trees. Of afternoons spent hiding in a cluttered room with a blanket blocking any sun from peeking through the window. Of days playing pretend, alone in a yard full of scraps, wondering when I’d have one of those friendships you see on TV where the kids hang out after school and don’t dig in the mud while they chew holes in their shirts.

I believe that I am simply feral, because that is all that makes sense. Feral like the strays that aren’t used to companionship, who observe these aliens from a distance and wonder how they make domestication look easy. What secret they know that helps them hide their fangs and claws. I must believe I am feral, because if my sisters are right and that’s just how kids are sometimes, then I don’t know what else I am.

A feral cat can warm up to humans sometimes. They’ll get used to a routine, they’ll come inside, they’ll seek affection. Just as part of them remembers the hunt, another part remembers the hearth. They’ll never be fully domestic again, though. They simply didn’t get the chance to be, they didn’t have the time to be properly socialized and learn the ins and outs of domesticity.

There’s part of me that wonders if I could be considered feral as a child. There’s part of me that wonders, as I crawl on the roof of the garage to watch the stars, if I can be considered domesticated.

[tlatd]

Invocation

A witch’s first invocation traditionally occurs as they reach the age of majority in their culture. For the purposes of a place such as Carthage, a witch’s first invocation will be during their 18th year. There may be smaller family invocations on said witch’s 18th birthday, but it is most commonly done on their first Imbolc (February 2nd) that they are 18. Before their invocation, young witches may have dabbled in some precursor of their full abilities using the energies provided by older witches in their circle. This would have given them a chance to learn the ins and outs before being given the reins of a greater power source they could tap into after their invocation.

While there are different variations on invocations depending on various cultural interpretations, the initial invocation still features three main parts: the Call, the Offering, and the Acceptance.

The Call For the Call, the witch is either appealing to the power of the natural world, their own ancestral lines, or a member of the unseen world. The Call is an appeal to an audience and a declaration of the witch’s allegiances both by the literal audience watching the witch during the invocation and to the powers they are calling out towards. The words of the call, again, vary with each invocation and should be the crafting of the witch in question, but the points that all examples of the Call must cover are the naming of the intended, the declaration of loyalty, and what the witch intends with their life of magic. Here is an example of a witch making the Call toward nature.

As the earth feeds the root And the root pierces through the earth To the sky grows the tree And the tree bears fruit I take and am sustained by you. Grant me strength Beyond simple existence Let what runs through all around us Course twice through me So that I might provide A guiding hand of Protection For the creation you feed With what you grant me.

Similar things are asked for in the other two invocations, although invocations involving ancestral lines often involve a Naming of Names that can, at times, grow quite tedious both to the speaker and the listeners. As a part of a prepared altar, the witch will have a family book to read aloud from, naming each generation of parents that led to their own existence, making pleas similar to that of the call to nature to be favoured by these ancestors or any others that may hear and know them.

Given their connections to their deceased family members, it is common for the magic of the witches who use this method of first invocation to feel their magic is connected to these people and to feel some guidance from beyond the living world. While this can be a valuable connection and a great source of strength, caution is also advised. The dead are not necessarily who they claim to be, and even if they are, they can still harbour secrets those living may not even fathom.

While both would deny the similarity, this bears a passing resemblance to those that call upon demonic forces. There is no guarantee these forces are who they claim to be, and they also have their own agendas that may want more influence over the magic they grant.

Families in the left path attempt their first invocation by creating a summons for a force already familiar to the family. A circle is formed with symbols and names representing the entity they are calling. While the entity will hear this call if performed correctly, they, if strong enough, may choose to ignore the call. This opens up the possibility of other demons assuming a suitable appearance and answering the call for power.

The Offering The second item all invocations share is the Offering. It is the primary object on the altar created for the invocation. For the natural call, the offering is a symbolic collection of objects representing a cycle of life (for example, an eggshell, pin feathers, a fully formed feather, and bones from a deceased bird). The ancestral witch’s altar features the cup of the blood. Despite unsavoury rumours, the cup is never drunk. All of the familial witches present pricks a finger upon arrival, milking a drop of blood into the cup with the invoking witch adding their own drop last. Witches invoking by calling demonic forces can have a variety of offerings as the offering is tied to whichever force the call is aimed towards. Different things, after all, will appease different demons. These can range from symbols of devotion, material objects to please, or spilled blood of an actual sacrifice, although the latter would denote a Deal also being struck, not something that is typically done during an invocation.

The Acceptance The last aspect of invocation is the proof of acceptance. This can be a simple spell cast at the end of the ceremony to prove that the power of casting separate from the borrowed power of family is now possible. There are some traditional spells commonly used depending on style. Nature witches will often summon a natural occurrence, i.e. isolated rain, wind, or plant growth. Ancestral ceremonies may have a chosen spell each generation has passed down through their family. Left path witches' proof of answer comes in the form of the summoned entity accepting the offer, taking it with them as they vanish from the circle. It is the witch’s duty then to magically break and clear any evidence of the circle.

[tarotlogy]

THE KNIGHT OF WANDS – THE FREE & WANDERLUST SPIRIT

FIRE SIGNS – ARIES, LEO, SAGITTARIUS

Now explore the personality of The Knight of Wands below. If he has turned up in your Reading it means his energies have special meaning for you at this time.

You must ask yourself:  Who is he?  Who does he remind me of?  Is he having a positive or negative influence in my life?  How can I embrace or avoid his energy?  What is he trying to tell me?  Is this how I am behaving?  Is this how others perceive me?  Do I like him or not? Do I want to be more like him? How can I be more like him? If he is not a person then what is his energy trying to tell me? How would this Knight handle my situation? Which part of this Knight am I trying to deny? Am I Over-Active or Under-Active?

CARD IMAGERY DESCRIPTION AND PERSONALITY PROFILE

FIRE ON FIRE

The Knight of Wands is of The Fire Element, but is also additionally influenced by Fire, just like all the other Knights.  This makes the Elemental Energies of Fire double within him. Therefore there is the potential for excess. Fire rules the Zodiac Signs of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. The Knight of Wands is strongly associated with the Sun Sign Sagittarius, especially if found with Temperance of The Major Arcana.

Knights represent the Fiery Part of the Court Cards regardless of their Suit Element. Therefore The Knight of Wands represents the fiery part of Fire. Therefore in The Knight of Wands we have Fire influencing Fire, actions influencing actions. With Double Fire we certainly will get a lot of movement, a lot of excitement, a lot of energy and a lot of activity. Fire multiplied by Two will present extreme heat, passion and intensity. However, Double Fire can also cause Double Trouble, and wreak havoc in its wake. Multiples of Fire can be explosive and aggressive.

Being the bearer of Double Fire, The Knight of Wands must work hard to keep his Fire in balance and in check. Fire can be infectious and all consuming, so this may be easier said than done. Fire influencing Fire within will leave little room for cool logic, calm reasoning or paced behaviour. Fire feeds Off Fire and we must always remember this when dealing with the dashing and dynamic Knight of Wands. Encounters with The Knight of Wands may leave you feeling warmed or scorched.  It is for certain, this Knight will leave a long lasting impression on you, be it in a positive or negative manner. If you have been burnt by this Knight, it may take some time for the blisters to calm down and heal.

The Knight of Wands is by far the bravest of all The Knights for he fears nothing, will have a go at anything, and is willing to risk all as he gallops through life at a hectic and heated pace. In his Upright Aspect his Fire warms, enthuses and excites us, but when Reversed his Fires can burn, scorch and overwhelm us.

The Knight of Wands represents the Fiery part of the Element of Fire, Fire in its extreme.

The Knight of Wands gallops onto the scene in a cloud of hot desert dust, brimming over with enthusiasm and excitement. Note his deliberate and determined stare as this young Knight looks out and away to his right.

He has dazzling visions of the bright and brilliant future he is actively working towards.  He is bold, daring and forward thinking. At times, he may be too forward thinking for his own good. This happens when he suddenly has a brain wave or discovers something of immense interest to him, his incredible creative imagination takes flight and before he has time to work out the ins and outs of it all, the pros and cons, how it is all going to happen or what he might need to do or put in place, he is off and tearing down the road after it, flying by the seat of his pants, winging it as he goes. He is carried away on a sea of enthusiasm, excitement and motivation, making it up as he goes along and his positivity always has him believing it will all work out in the end. Because of his strong sense of self-belief, self-confidence and highly polished ego, The Knight of Wands can sometimes get away with it and pull off major victories, that really should have been a total flop or failure due to lack of planning, patience and pacing. In general though, this can be one of his major flaws or challenges. He is known for his impatience, frustration and restlessness. He doesn’t want to wait for anything. He despises queues and appointments. What he wants he wants now, who he wants to talk to can’t be put off, where he wants to be is already taking too long to get there. He wants everything yesterday.

The Knight of Wands is the proud bearer of his much beloved Element, Fire. Over his shiny Suit of Armour, The Knight of Wands wears a bright yellow, gold tunic. The edge of its hemline and sleeve appear to move and play like flames that have just been ignited, suggesting the spark and awakening of passion within. From his helmet sprouts deep orange feathers that once more take on the appearance of fiery flames. Flames also trail out of his left arm like those of a high-powered engine. This Knight has been propelled forward by the intensity of the Fire within him.  He has so much of it, it is impossible to restrain it as it bursts out of him for all of us to see. Like a rocket he is blazing a trail across the hot, arid landscape and through life.

His tunic carries the Symbolic Emblem of his Element Fire as Salamanders with their long bodies and tails climb and circle, leaving us in no doubt as to which Suit this Knight rides out for. The predominance of Salamanders suggests that this Knight carries the strongest, purest characteristics and traits of Fire.  This Knight is on Fire

If this is not enough already, he rides a big strong, bold Horse that looks like a coiled spring ready to explode into action and a gallop at any moment. The Knight may very well be feeding him on a diet of pure rocket fuel.  His deep chestnut colouring also resembles the colour of burning embers, and like The Knight, has a mane that dances and moves as if a riot of flame. The Horse rears up, but The Knight is not unnerved or unseated by the ferocity and strength of the movement. Instead he sits proud and tall. He holds the reins in his left gloved hand while he carries his Wand high in his right. The Wand held in the right hand suggests his conscious and extrovert activity. He consciously seeks action, progress and growth. Both The Knight and Horse are Ready to Go!

The reins being held in his left hand suggest that he does not exert conscious control over his mount, but rather takes his abilities for granted. He was born for this Mount and so riding this Fiery Beast comes naturally to him. He has a deep understanding and rapport with his Horse for they share the same needs. Both are restless and both are ready to explode into action.  His Horse is just waiting for the signal from his Knight that will permit him to plunge forward and take off at terrific speed to wherever The Knight chooses to go. Like The Knight, this Horse is highly spirited and bursting with pent-up energy. If we look very close, we can see his muscles twitch with excitement and anticipation. He is alert, poised and ready to pounce at the very first available opportunity. Few would be able to keep up, or match him in a race as he is always first out of the stalls leaving the rest of the runners trailing behind in frustration and exasperation.

The Knight’s Horse is fearless. He rears up to demonstrate his ability and willingness to jump any obstacles that may come in his way. He is ready for anything along the journey and can travel at terrific speed. He is young, and like The Knight who sits upon his back, still a bit green. They both have a lot to learn.  At their present stage of development they have yet to comprehend the concept of pacing oneself. Impatience and fiery outbursts of frustration are often seen when this Knight is restricted or curtailed. He has a fierce temper when things don’t go his way. He may want to get up and at it but there is a tendency with The Knight of Wands to not think things properly through in advance. Consequences are the result of actions taken and many a mistake will be made by rushing headlong into things without giving enough thought to the outcome. He can act hastily and make rash or impulsive decisions which often leave a mess for others to clean up. As well as jumping feet first into situations and dramas, with or without being invited to, he also can jump to hasty conclusions. This can make him say or do things he shouldn’t and get involved in issues that are none of his business. He just won’t listen to good advice for he believes he knows best. Even if he does agree to listen to sound advice it does not mean that he will heed it for he is headstrong and belligerent. He is used to getting his own way. His behaviour and actions can be excessive at times.

The Knight of Wands always believes he knows best, is the best man for the job and has the best approach, plan or solution for every for every scenario. He is just so full of himself and his abilities that he would never doubt himself for a moment. He has a knack for making others fall into line behind him with his disarming smile and ‘believe me, It is all in your best interests’ and ‘ I know what I am doing’ attitude. Forget trying to over-rule his proposals for you stand little chance of getting the better of this guy. He will also quickly bare his flashing white teeth at you if he gets a sniff of opposition or competition.

With so much Fire between Horse and Rider, they will push and push and keep pushing forward.  At present they have the energy to keep going at a relentless speed. They approach their journey with an ‘over, under or through’ attitude to any obstacles, set-backs, delays, objections or obstructions they may encounter on their way to capture the glorious prize. There will be no backing off, no refusals or taking the easy option. If Horse and Rider fail to clear their fence the first time, they will keep coming back at it until it happens. At the end of the day, smashing through the fence is preferable to avoiding or side-tracking it altogether. It would not be fitting for The Knight of Wands to display any sign of cowardliness or fear for he is such a competitive creature and is not happy unless he is a success at everything he aims for.

This Knight of Wands is a rebel and has no time for stodgy out-dated ways of dealing with things. He flies in the face of convention. He is a wild fan of all modern technology and innovative thinking and is eager to be a part of the new and changing world we live in. He may even entertain dreams or have plans to change the world. This does not mean he will ever get around to actually doing it though.  A visionary, future-oriented and innovative, he may be obsessed with new inventions or the creation of them. Here is ‘Gadget Man’. He is bound to have the latest smart phone, computer, television and gaming system.

The Knight of Wands is often seen as a revolutionary, his bravado and courage in the face of danger or opposition will have him fighting against and tearing down corrupt systems or policies.  He is involved in the overthrowing of tyrants and dictators worldwide. He makes a good friend and ally who will be there to protect and passionately defend your honour should the need arise.

In The Knight of Wands we find the Archetypal Hero. He will be the first to volunteer for a dangerous mission and will risk life and limb for what he believes in. He will ride day and night to save your skin should you find yourself in trouble and in need of his Knightly qualities. We all need a dose of this Knight’s energy from time to time to get us through difficult or scary situations. We must ask ‘what would The Knight of Wands do in this situation?’He loves to feel needed and admired, if not hero-worshipped by all. He is never humble when it comes to being singled out for praise and acknowledgement. He likes to let others know how wonderful he is and can be prone to exaggeration when it comes to telling stories where he has had some dramatic involvement, such as turning up just at the right time and saving the day for everyone. Yes, he can brag and boast about his achievements and abilities a tad too often, which can intensely annoy those in his company.

Action, travel, movement and change are suggested with The Knight of Wands and together with the Temperance Card in the Major Arcana, he can suggest a Sagittarian person. Sagittarians love freedom and travel. They also make excellent students and teachers, once they are interested in their subjects.

The Knight of Wands loves to learn and study but the subjects must be varied and of his own choosing. He is not a fan of theory only, so will want to get his hands dirty and stuck in to what he would consider the ‘real action’. He will learn all he needs to know through direct experience, while his books may gather dust in the corner. Because he is such a fan of learning, The Knight of Wands can, again once the subjects capture his imagination and attention, be an excellent teacher.  If he does decide to go down that line of career, then his students will never forget their fascinating teacher who used the most unconventional methods of teaching, who flaunted the rules and rebelled against the fuddy-duddy system. The Knight of Wands as a teacher would prefer field trips to classroom sessions and would spend much time motivating his students through telling hair-raising tales of his own adventures. His students will see him as wild and young in comparison to the other teachers. The Knight of Wands as a teacher will know and like his student’s interest in music, and may often bump into them at rock concerts and festivals. His students will see him as cool.  Make no mistake though, The Knight of Wands as a teacher never loses control of his class. He may appear carefree and fun-loving  to most of his students but whereas he believes school should be a time of enjoyment and not duress, he can get very annoyed, and come down on them like a ton of bricks should they show any signs of being disrespectful, disorderly or lazy.

The Knight of Wands is a very charming and friendly chappie but when he comes up against persistent resistance or people who seem hell-bent on thwarting his plans, he can become quiet fiery and hot-headed. He likes to get his own way and will typically ride rough shod over anyone who tries to control or over-rule him. If he is told or ordered not to do something then he generally makes a point of doing it just to spite everyone.  He is famous for getting quite boorish and overbearing at meetings when his point or ideas are challenged or his ego takes a hit. When his temper breaks out, his face will turn deep red and he will literally spit flames. God help whoever is on the receiving end of this for it can be quite intimidating. Tantrum style outbursts, shouting, stomping behaviour, slamming of fists on the desk and slamming of doors are quite common.

The Knight of Wands for all his camaraderie and playfulness, doesn’t suffer fools easily. He has no time for those whom he would deem dim or dull. Usually these so-called ‘fools’ are those who have opposed his plans. These are usually the people who have called him a Fool for attempting many of the things he gets involved in. They see him as mad and totally insane. They view his ideas as unworkable, ridiculous, reckless and impossible to achieve. However, The Knight of Wands is the young Entrepreneur, The Maverick, The Trail Blazer. He may lack the experience, and his plans may be somewhat scattered or flawed, but it is his vision or idea that is pure genius. He has the energy to give everything a go, and while others stand back shaking their heads, thinking him mad and hoping to be there in the end to tell him ‘I told you so’, The Knight of Wands can often come through, possibly after several failed or aborted attempts, because he is a fighter and a brilliant warrior. If the gauntlet is thrown down, then he shall with great delight and glee, pounce upon it and pick it up.

I must remind you here that he does have a bad track record when it comes to sticking with anything. He approaches life with a Cavalier attitude to everything and can suddenly become quite dismissive, adopting a care-less attitude to something that aroused his passions only days earlier.  It can all be a flash in the pan and after the initial madness and outburst of activity has died down, so too can his interest and involvement. He can find it very hard to finish what he starts. He is brilliant, a genius, a visionary, a leader, a trailblazer, a Whiz Kid, but at the end of the day, he does need others around to take up the slack and successfully finish that which the Bold Knight has started, for he can be very disorganized. If he acknowledges this, and he usually does as he matures, then he will learn to delegate and admit that he is not Superman, but rather needs the genius of others, along with his own, to guarantee his success and the attainment his goals. It is important he catches hold of his Fire before it totally consumes him.

If The Knight of Wands energy surrounds you, then it is best to harness it as soon as possible so that some really good use can come out of it. Otherwise, like The Knight himself, it will vanish rapidly off into the distance, taking all the wonderful opportunities with it. It is The Knight of Wand’s energy we need when we are stuck in a rut, listless, lethargic, going nowhere and lacking in self-belief and self-confidence. When we believe we don’t have what it takes, that we would surely fail, or that others will think us fools, The Knight of Wands blows hot Fire into our face and gives us a good kick up the backside.  When we haven’t moved our bodies or done anything spontaneous in a long time, he rears up in front of us to show us how much fun we could, and should be having. He tells us to act like him in this instance, to take a leaf out his book and get a life.

What he doesn’t supply us with though is a follow through plan on how, or what we are going to do when we decide to motivate our dreary bodies into life again. The Knight of Wands is the facilitator only. He will give us the jolt we need to waken up, but he needs to keep moving and doesn’t want the weight of us dragging around after him. Instead his arrival is often out of the blue and can take us all by incredible surprise. He whips ups a frenzy of activity in us, and once he sees that the flames have caught hold, he quickly turns his Horse and heads for the hills.

Life is for living and The Knight of Wands would rather die than live like us. He has no time to listen to our protests about why we can’t do this or that, or worse still, that we are nervous or scared of trying something different. When he asks us what we have done with our lives or seen of the world, and we embarrassingly look away, he laughs scornfully at us and demands ‘so this is it for you then until you die’? The scent of exotic lands and fascinating cultures waft in waves around The Knight of Wands and he has tales from far and wide. He gets excited when he talks to us or shows us the new things he has learned on his travels. Everything seems to animate and electrify him, of course that is once he is interested.

The Knight of Wands has a fascination with everything and many interests. He can get wildly enthusiastic about them all and equally try to get involved with all. He has a tendency to take too much on board in the belief that he will be able to manage. He finds it hard to prioritise and can end up having his fingers in too many pies. With his multi-level interests but short attention span and reputation for boring too easily, The Knight of Wands is famous for starting many projects with great gusto only to run out of steam before they are half-finished. His house may end up a mish-mash of rush DIY jobs that have taken longer to complete than expected. Power tools are bought with great anticipation and determination but he rarely takes the time to read the operating instructions before plugging them in and switching them on. That is the exciting bit after all.

Like Fire when the wind turns direction, The Knight of Wands can be quite unpredictable in nature. Just when we think we have sussed him out, or think we know what he is going to do next, he can catch us all by surprise. He is generally the life and soul of any party, usually  the centre of attention too, and keeps everyone entertained with his funny antics and pranks. However, he can also be difficult, awkward and will be determined to make his presence felt for all the negative reasons if he finds himself in a situation where his ego is under attack or in the company of people he dislikes. The Knight of Wands in this scenario can become loud, mouthy and full of himself. The atmosphere can become very tense and strained. He will not let an issue drop, back off or even leave. Instead he can become confrontational, aggressive and foul-mouthed. He may go out of his way to provoke a row by stirring up things and making a hot situation reaching boiling point. Then it becomes all about him, and to hell with whomever he may be upsetting. No one is going to get the better of him and that is it.  The Knight of Wands rather enjoys these skirmishes or worse, and when life gets too boring, he often gets it going again by instigating a good row just for the sake of it. He isn’t afraid to use his fists too and is often seen sporting bruises and cuts, which he proudly displays as his ‘war wounds’ while reassuring us that ‘you should see the other guys face if you think this is bad!’ Yes, he does seem to have the ability to draw conflict to himself.

With his fiercely competitive nature, The Knight of Wands has a more than healthy sense of self. With an extremely healthy ego (too healthy at times) he is super confident and holds himself in high regard. He can be quite arrogant at times and dismissive of those around him. His self-belief and self-confidence will carry him to the winner’s podium many, many times for he believes that he is the best, and better than all the rest. He goes forth into battle and competition with an assurance that he will prevail and that he will succeed. This Knight expects to win each time and he usually does. But then again, it depends on what one considers a victory at the end of the day.  He has no doubt of his abilities, but regardless of how many victories he claims, will still constantly be looking forward to the next challenge.

The Knight of Wands is the champion of champions and will be very hard to beat should you encounter him on the battle field or in competition. He has amazing energy and strength and is physically fit and athletic. Relentless and determined, he sets no limits to what he can achieve. He is well-built, a natural athlete, a sportsman,  super fit and has boundless energy. He does have a preference for the more extreme kind of sport where risk is involved, or a sport that involves a lot of rough and tumble, like rugby. He works well in a team, but only as captain, for he prefers to give orders rather than follow them. With his infectious enthusiasm and abundant confidence he can rally his team and boost their morale. As a Captain, nothing but a win is acceptable so he can be a bit of a hard task master, or boot camp bully when it comes to training.

The Knight of Wands considers life to be an adventure. He puts personal freedom ahead of everything else. Nothing should be boring or stale and he is especially drawn to novelty and new ways. He despises tradition and convention and sometimes goes out of his way to deliberately break rules he considers old-fashioned or fuddy-duddy. He flies in the face of convention. What he likes is change and movement. Therefore this Knight has a very strong passion for travel, and with such red-hot Fire burning deep inside, he seeks unusual and exotic locations.  This is nicely depicted in the imagery of the Card where we see three pyramids in the background. You will not find this Knight on the tried and tested routes for he will want to follow his own path and go his own way. Telling him the terrain is too tough or too dangerous only makes him more determined to go there. Everything is viewed as a challenge or competition, and when he isn’t competing with others, then he will often compete with himself. He likes to set records, but only to break them once more.

With his love of movement and travel it is hard to pin The Knight of Wands down to one location or to expect him to stay still and content for any length of time. It is his need for personal freedom once more.  He has a wander-lust spirit which will refuse to be tamed or broken. He barely arrives at one spot before already preparing to leave it. He moves fast and if any should want to follow this Knight, they best be prepared to keep up, for The Knight of Wands sets the pace in his life and also takes control. He naturally assumes the role of leader in a group and usually others are quite happy to follow his lead for he has a friendly, positive and enthusiastic disposition.  Nothing fazes this Knight for he does not sweat the small stuff. While all around are worried about this that and the other, The Knight of Wands keeps his attention focused on the big picture. Detail and especially fine detail bores him. He knows what he is good at, and so is happy to leave all the tedious and boring stuff for others to sort. To be honest, he actually takes it for granted that others will tidy up after him as he goes. He can be quite messy.

The Knight of Wands is a visionary and has big ideas and plans. Creative, dynamic and innovative he sees opportunities where others see blank walls. He thinks big and elaborately. Why take one piece of land when you could take the whole country? Why open one shop when you could build a whole retail centre? Why settle for just local business when you can go global? The Knight of Wands thrives on big projects and elaborate schemes. He is not afraid to take a chance or expose himself to risk. He doesn’t understand the word no, won’t or can’t for these are negative, and viewed as blocks in his path and line of vision. He deals only with yes, can and will. He believes in success.

The Knight of Wands only works with projects and schemes that he considers interesting, exciting and different. He will only take on missions that offer some sort of challenge or risk. He thrives on the early stages, the launching process and the brainstorming sessions. He will be seen hard at it 24/7 in the midst of a flurry of activity. His energy goes into overdrive as he flies from task to task, meeting to meeting, phones ringing non-stop and emails bouncing off the walls as plans and ideas begin to take off. This is his time and no one can take it from him. He is here there and everywhere during this time. Those around feel more secure and confident when The Knight of Wands is close by for he carries everyone forward on a wave of infectious enthusiasm. Everything is possible and problems become mere challenges. If The Knight of Wands believes it will work then no one is going to doubt him for he oozes success and achievement.

Alas, once the initial launching stage is over or has settled down, it is often then that the tedious business of detail and finishing touches has to be deliberated over and addressed. Things have to be put in place or order, and some form of routine has to be established. This is where The Knight of Wands usually bows out for he loses interest quite easily once the initial exciting stage has passed. It is no longer new or adventurous. He has lived the experience, done the job and now seeks something new that will capture his attention and imagination so that the whole process can start once more.  The Knight of Wands is a superb salesman but is probably better at selling his ideas rather than becoming involved in their implementation. The Knight of Wands travels light. He may not ever bother fully unpacking wherever he goes for he never really intends staying around too long. Remember, life is an adventure and before he has to settle down and become King, he wants to experience as much as he can in as many places as he can.

The Knight of Wands follows the law of ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’ and may often feel that he is missing out on something elsewhere by being where he is presently is. He has an inability to sit and be still and never stays around long enough to smell the roses. He gets restless and impatient to be off and in search of the greener territory. He will cover much ground and experience the greener grass during his Knighthood but it is only when he becomes King that he will understand it is a craving that will never be satisfied until he realises it is how one journeys that is important and not the destination after all.

The Knight of Wands may never find that which he seeks no matter how far he is prepared to travel, but he will certainly have many adventures and experiences along the way, some amazing stories to tell and fantastic memories to treasure.  He will certainly have lived. Very few of the other Knights will be able to match his stories or equal his track record.  The Knight of Wands lives his life on the move and nothing much is going to change that. The thought of staying in one place all his life, or only getting to travel occasionally, would see him implode or self-combust with pent-up energy and outraged unexpressed Fire. He sees the world as his oyster and as his playground. Life is for living and he is determined to do as much as that as he can.

The Knight of Wands has an equally fast-paced and hectic social life. Full of charisma and commanding a striking presence wherever he goes, he is much sought after. He will be seen at every major event, occasion, party or concert that is deemed worthwhile and exciting. The Knight of Wands is extremely friendly and generous spirited. Charming, amusing and witty he is a natural entertainer and is usually the centre of attention at any party or occasion.  He can be loud though as he likes to draw attention to himself.

Handsome, in a rugged and devilish kind of way, he has a way with the ladies who all love him and vie for his attention. Sparks fly when he walks into a room and he is quick to take advantage of it. He is damned sexy and boy does he know it. He is super-aware of his effect on women and is quick to take advantage of it. He likes women, and it amuses him to see them all fighting over him. His magnetic sexiness and strong masculinity leave women swooning and desperate to win his affection. He certainly plays into their hands, and is not behind in delivering on passion and excitement when he singles one out from the crowd. He can then embark on a mad and wild relationship full of excitement and frenetic socialising. He has a strong and highly charged sex drive so will need a partner who is equally as eager and energetic as he. During his time of frenzied courting, he will appear wildly romantic and can get carried away with elaborate, extravagant and flamboyant displays of love. He will also be full of outrageous surprises which he will expect rounds of applause for.

It is certainly true that The Knight of Wands appears to be the answer to every woman’s ‘dream man’. Those who did not catch him may become jealous and envious of the chosen one, passing bitchy comments and snide remarks. However, as in every other aspect of his personality The Knight of Wands best performance is always at the beginning when everything is new and different. Unless his partner is just like him and only looking for a casual relationship and some fun, then they will want the relationship to settle into something more traditional and secure. Instead of running wild around the party scene every Saturday night, they might seek to stay in and watch a DVD together all cosied up on the couch. Ouch, the fatal mistake. The Knight of Wands is not a fool and will generally have seen the writing on the wall even if his partner hasn’t. He will already have his rucksack packed and preparations in place to take flight. Just as The Knight of Wands galloped into the scene and swept his partner of their feet, he will just as easily mount his steed and gallop away at high-speed in the opposite direction. He may not even stay around long enough to say goodbye. Once the intensity of the Fire has died down or diminished altogether he rarely sees the point in trying to reignite the flames.

The Knight of Wands makes an ardent and passionate lover but he has a problem when it comes to committing and may very well leave a trail of broken hearts behind in his wake. The Knight of Wands often approaches romance as if it was a sport, where he has to knock up points, scores and conquests. He likes to ‘play the field’. He can quickly move onto another relationship overnight and will not be short of available and willing partners, who even though they are well aware of his reputation for ‘loving them and leaving them’ will be prepared to take the risk anyway, just for the experience or the sheer thrill of it. He may even have a few relationships going at the same time. He is seen by all as a good catch, but that is the problem, he can be as slippery as a rugby ball on a rain-soaked pitch, hard to hold onto. As he makes to get away on his Horse, many will call out after him ‘wait take me with you’ but we all know that this Knight travels light.

It will take one equally strong and determined personality to snare this Knight. He certainly is a flirt and has no problem chatting up one at the bar while scanning the room to see what else is available. Remember, the grass is always greener on the other side and who knows what he may be missing out on by stopping to chat to you?   This is the guy our mothers warn us about, and when we don’t listen, they have to stand by and watch our hearts get broken. Unless we are very self-disciplined, there will be no talking any sense into us when The Knight of Wands rides into town.

The Knight of Wands for all his commitment issues and mad erratic behaviour offers us a healthy dose of fun living. He will brighten the darkest and gloomiest of days, drag us from our beds, force us to get dressed and out the door. If our flame inside has diminished or blown out altogether he will breathe new life into our weary bones and ignite a spark that will have the potential to explode into flame should we allow it life.

We shall leave The Knight of Wands to come and go as he pleases, and excuse any incidents of bad behaviour on the waywardness of youth. We shall count ourselves lucky if we encounter him on our path, for he is likely to leave a lasting impression on us. As we get older, we will certainly remember this dashing Knight when all others have faded into the distant realms of the past. The young Knight of Wands plays his Role and Rank well as he rides the trails and journeys through The Tarot.

In the real world however, this young Knight will be expected to become more mature and settle down into some kind of routine as he gets older. Then again, maybe not. Can he remain The Knight of Wands forever and never become The King of Wands? And if he does decide to relent, climb down off his Horse, ascend the throne and become The King, will we still recognise his character, will he change that much? Could he? Will he be able to adapt to the stationary aspect of a throne instead of his lively and speedy Horse? Will he be able to think of others for a change, instead of just himself? Will he lose his sense of fun if he becomes King? Will it all be about stately duty, obligation and dreary formal occasions? We shall have to see.

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The Knight of Wands represents the young male adult of The Wands Court Family.  His role is extrovert and action oriented.  He must go out into the world and mature by experiencing and dealing with life first-hand. He must prove his courage and stamina. The Knight of Wands is given a lot of freedom to find himself and to stake a claim over his own territory. He must also make a name for himself in the world. Like The Page, he will be expected to learn from his mistakes. Self-Control and Self-Discipline will be a challenge for him, but he must work hard to find an acceptable balance in his personality and to master his Element Fire. Only then can he hope to mature into The King of Wands.

Traditionally The Knight of Wands was described as a young male adult from approximately 22  to 30 years of age.  In modern times, Knights also can represent women if their energies and personality descriptions fit. If the person depicted by The Knight of Wands is older than 30 years of age, he or she may be displaying signs of immaturity and finding it hard to grow up.  Description wise, The Knight of Wand’s hair was fiery red, auburn or brown, with eyes of emerald green. Skin was ruddy and his features rugged.  He had an athletic and muscular physique with strong determined chin. Remember, these are the old traditional descriptions and bear no resemblance at all to the majority of people in the world. It is his personality description that should be concentrated on and not his looks when interpreting The Knight of Wands.

THE KNIGHT OF WANDS – THE FEARLESS WARRIOR & REBEL

KEYWORDS

Sudden Arrival, Great at Beginnings, No Follow Through, Unfinished Projects, Personal Freedom, Hates Restrictions and Boundaries, Excessive Behaviour and Lifestyle, Hectic Life, Extremely Busy, Unconventional, Daring, Bold, Brave, Warrior, Champion, Volunteer, Revolutionary, Rebel, Protector, Defender, Rescuer, Hero, Fearless, Risk Taker, Thrill-Seeker, Action Man, Dynamic, Extrovert, Healthy Ego, Seeks The Limelight, Centre of Attention, Self-Confident, Self-Belief, Self- Esteem, Direct, Forthright, Assertive, Thinks and Feels Success, Show-Off, Bragging and Boasting, Seeks Praise and Admiration, Dramatic, Adventurous, Fiery, Feisty, Temper, Prone to Aggressive Outbursts, Mouthy, Loud, Rowdy, Bores Easily, Hates Detail, Unpredictable, Seeks constant Action/Novelty, Impulsiveness, Hasty, Impatience, Frustration, Pent-Up Energy, Restlessness, Wants it All Now, Can’t Wait, Ready to Go, Moving Fast, Speed, Acting before Thinking, Presumptuous, Hasty Conclusions, Know-All, Passionate, Fun, Active, Drive, Energetic, Intense, Consuming, Motivation, Enthusiasm, Determined, Headstrong, Infectious, Competitive, Rise to Any Challenges, Seeks Challenge/Competition, Sporty, Physical, Extreme Sport, Spontaneous, Independent, Leader, Entrepreneur, Visionary, Future Oriented, Creative Imagination, Inspirational, Maverick, Inventor, Gadget Man, Whiz-Kid,Trail-Blazer, Friendly Generous, Helpful, Entertaining, Charming, Prankster, Fun, Playful, Party Animal, Attractive, Rugged, Sexy, High Sex Drive, Dashing, Ladies Man, Flirt, Playing The Field, Sowing his Wild Oats, Commitment Issues, Heart Breaker, Movement, Love of Travel, Wander-lust Spirit, Student/Teacher

SAMPLE MESSAGES (PLEASE ADD YOUR OWN)

Time to Take Action but think first and form a plan, don’t just charge in half-cocked and expect it all to work out.  Gets the Facts straight before doing or saying anything, Try not to be so fiery all the time. Calm down and stop being confrontational with everyone. Stop jumping to conclusions all the time, you may be wrong. Pay attention to detail. Your enthusiasm and excitement are admirable but there is a chance you are on the verge of acting impulsively or making a hasty decision. Remember that actions result in consequences, so try not to rush things or take short cuts. You must learn to exercise patience in this instance. Try to finish what you start.  Are you taking on too much? Do you have a habit of saying yes to everyone? Finish what you are working on before moving on to the next project otherwise you will end up overwhelmed. Face your Fears with Courage, Rise to Any Challenge that comes your way, Think success and you will prevail. Be Brave and Daring. Be Adventurous. Use your Imagination and think Creatively. Be Inspirational. Live while you have the Chance. Kick up your Heels and have some Fun. Don’t let your life slip by. Get a Life. Find something that interests you. Do Something Bold, Explore, Be Adventurous. Be Entrepreneurial, Take a Risk for a Change, Enthuse Others, Motivate those around you, Inspire Others, Fight a Good Cause. Protect or Defend those who are in need to help. Rebel against Unfair or Corrupt Policies or Situations. Take action and be proactive. Competitive for what you want. Travel and Explore. Discover what you are good at. Develop your Potential. Be Passionate about What You Do. Get some Exercise, Take up a Sport, Get Healthy. Be Truthful at the outset of Relationships, Admit you have no intentions of committing or settling down,  Explain your need for Personal Freedom, You certainly have a hectic social life but you need to make sure you are getting adequate rest or you will burn yourself out. Try to pace yourself.

MEANING

Double Fire

When The Knight of Wands appears in a Reading, his energy is having an influence on the Querant’s issue or it can suggest that his energy is badly needed in this instance. He can represent a person, an atmosphere, an event, a message, advice or a way of life/behaviour/attitude that needs to be taken on board. With all Tarot Cards, The Knight of Wands can have several interpretations. Because of the nature of Knights and the influence by Fire, their energy can be excessive or extreme at times. When The Knight of Wands is drawn, one must look at the surrounding Cards, The Querant’s issue and the Question, to determine if this Knight is having a healthy influence on the situation or not. In his Upright Aspect, he may be helping the situation rather than hurting it, but we must tread carefully. The Knight of Wands is double Fire so even if he is helpful, he might be a bit too overwhelming at times or could possibly be trying to take control of the situation under the impression that he knows what is best for The Querant. He may be too enthusiastic, too eager, too energetic and too outrageous.

If The Querant recognises this aspect in The Knight of Wands then they must be careful not to relinquish full control even if his nature is pleasing and friendly. Because of his impatient and restless nature, he may want to rush things or make a hasty move before you are ready. Don’t get lured into acting impulsively just because you feel under pressure to move or think fast.  When The Knight of Wands appears, it is essential to pace yourself and think things through before making any decisions. He will be pacing up and down the room in front of you, so it is important to block him out and calm your thoughts.

Busy Fire

When The Knight of Wands appears in your Reading he may simply be acknowledging that you are extremely busy at present. You may have several places to be all at the same time, phones may be constantly ringing and emails flying in and out. This buzz of activity surrounding you will give you a false high. You may be forgetting to eat and cutting down on sleep in order to fit your work load and obligations in. If this is just for a short period of time, then all is well and you can relax when everything is done. However, if this is a lifestyle you are beginning to adopt, then you will not be able to keep up this level of intense activity indefinitely without it having a negative impact on your health. You need to refuel your body with food and adequate rest.  Try to pace yourself and find balance in the middle of all the madness before it all gets out of hand.

Excessive Fire

The Knight of Wands turning up in a Financial Reading can act as a warning that you are living beyond your means. There may be excessive spending or a Cavalier Attitude to mounting bills and debt. If this is the case, you must take the necessary steps to rein in your spending and get the situation under control. You could easily be making impulsive buys, spending without thinking and believing that the money will be there. You may be riding high at present and living in the moment but your actions may have far-reaching consequences.

Depending on the circumstances, The Knight of Wands can be a great guy to have in your Reading as his energies are so warming and exciting, but we must remember the excess nature of him and the need to keep things in balance. Therefore be careful about overextending yourself when he makes an appearance. You may be running on high energy at the moment and saying yes to everything that comes your way. You run the danger of taking on too much or committing to things that really you do not have the time for. Your high level of energy cannot be constantly sustained so you must think carefully about what now appears to be golden opportunities not to be missed because before you know it they may easily become burdens and obligations that you cannot so easily get out of. Understand that you can only take on a certain amount of things at the one time. You must aim to complete all you have undertaken. Finish the tasks that are already on your plate before takings on any others. If not you may risk being surrounded by a pile of unfinished business with not an ounce of energy or interest to motivate you into action. I know you only like to look at the big picture, but for once stop to think of what all these tasks entail right down to the nitty-gritty of things. You like to give your best and for others to see that too so make sure you have the time and energy to do just that.

Igniting Your Fire

However, all said and done, If The Knight of Wands appears in your Reading when you are in a rut, listless, depressed and lacking in energy, his boundless and exuberant energy is just what the doctor ordered. Should you feel there are too many obstacles or problems blocking the way to you realising your goals, then he is eager to impress on you his way of dealing with challenges, opposition or restrictions. As his powerful horse rears up in front of you, he asks you to take a risk on life and hop on board for the ride. His appearance can be a sign that you need to be more confident in yourself and develop a healthy self-esteem if you want to get where you are going. When you draw The Knight of Wands in a spread he may be enticing you to take action and get moving on that which you are seeking. The time has passed for being passive, inactive and indecisive. The fence-sitting is over. It is now time to move, get motivated and shake yourself up. In fact, wake up to your situation and take a good look around. Is this where you want to be? If not then do something about it. Think of fresh and novel ways of approaching the situation and changing your life. Perhaps act spontaneously and unpredictably for a change. Shock yourself and others.

The Knight of Wands can represent that time when we feel buoyed up and ready to explode into action. You desire personal freedom, or you may be experiencing a sudden desperate need for change or to do something you have always wanted to do. You may feel spurred into action on your own behalf or for others. There might be a cause to fight that you feel strongly about. You might be trying to encourage and motivate others to join you in your quest. You have strong skills of persuasion so don’t give up and don’t be afraid to put yourself forward, to volunteer or speak out. Be the one to make a difference and open the door to change in areas that have been closed, barred and locked in the past. Don’t be put off by the naysayers or retreat because of veiled threats. Come out fighting and determined. Be prepared to go into battle with the belief that you are fighting for a good cause.  There is a strong desire to move forward. This move may be into uncharted territory or the unknown but you are prepared to take the risk to see where it might take you. You may also be preparing to change address.

Fearless Fire

Nervous, doubtful or lacking in self-belief about your ability to change your life or fulfil your ambitions, then The Knight of Wands will persuade and convince you to feel the fear and do it anyway. Life is short, so you have no time to lose. So what if it doesn’t turn out exactly as you intended? What is the worst thing that can happen if you get it wrong or make a mistake? The Knight puts his hand on your back and nudges you forward ‘you will never find out unless you try’.  He confides in you that even though he looks a big brave, and fearless Knight, he has fallen off his horse on many occasions and landed face down in the dirt. ‘Does it scare me off, do I regret ever starting? On the contrary, it just makes me impatient to climb back on my horse and try again. Each time I fall off my horse, I learn something from it. I just dust myself down and am ready to go again.

It is true, many enjoy the spectacle of me falling on my face, but the thing about me is that I don’t really care what other people think or say about me. Obviously I do not like bad press but boy is it a wonderful sight to see their shocked faces when I make a comeback or worse still become successful in my endeavours or life. You are never going to get everything right all the time but it will never happen for you if you do not try. Prove to yourself that you can do it. Rise to the challenges, whether self-imposed or forced on you by others and overcome them. You will discover a lot about yourself and others in the process. Look at me, I am very versatile and like to think that I have many other aspects of myself to explore. That is why I am always on the move, discovering new things all the time. Once you begin to let go and take the first step forward out of the tiny of confines of the limited space you exist in, who knows what you will find when you enter the uncharted territory of your full potential. Think success and it will happen.

Challenged Fire

When The Knight of Wands appears in your Reading he may be acknowledging that in some way or area of your life, you are being challenged. Perhaps you are even setting yourself a personal challenge. If so then he asks you to accept the challenge and go for it. You have what it takes to overcome and prevail. Just get some motivation and enthusiasm going, and then let the momentum build. Don’t give into fear or self-doubt. You can be victorious in your endeavours. Remember energy be-gets energy so once you start the process; you will be surprised how much easier it gets. This challenge may come in the form of competition, where you will have to prove you are the best be it a job, personal matter or relationship. There will be stiff opposition but you are able for it. If you have personally challenged yourself then you must push yourself to new heights once thought impossible. Remember, whatever arena you must compete in, do not go in half-cocked and unprepared. Turning up with gritted teeth is not enough; you must have some plan of action.

Active Fire

Sport, exercise and physical activity are also suggested by The Knight of Wands who finds it impossible to sit still for a moment. If you haven’t been getting out in the fresh air or moving your body sufficiently to break a sweat then he is here to give you a kick up the backside and get your moving again. The Knight of Wands in his Upright Aspect never falls into depression or the doldrums. This is because he keeps himself active and busy all the time. He has a regular exercise regime that naturally burns off excess calorie and fat. Get moving.

The Fire Person

The Knight of Wands appearing in a Reading can obviously suggest a person. If so, this is a high energy person who is impulsive, spontaneous, exciting and high-spirited. The person depicted by this Knight is very active and busy all the time.  Constantly on the move and hard to pin down they seem to have a lot going on in their lives. They may be quite hard to keep up with as their interests are varied and they find it hard to relax and stay still for very long. They can bore easily and unless you make an impression on them the first time round, it is unlikely they will make any further effort.

However, he is a charming character and very friendly. Full of smiles and big booming laughter, this person is very sociable and likes to be out and about. He is the life and soul of any gathering and great for getting a party off the ground. He can play the ‘funny guy’ whenever he wants providing great entertainment for all around with his flamboyant and outrageous behaviour. He is known for playing the best pranks and no one will ever get even with him on this score. He can get a little hot-headed and loud at times when he gets into an argument or discussion with someone. He can even fly of the handle if he is provoked enough. In his Upright Aspect, he usually keeps this under control and can be persuaded to calm down if things are getting too heated. He is his own worst enemy when it comes to drawing conflict to himself. It can appear to others as if he deliberately antagonises a situation just to get a reaction. He has a very strong ego which creates a tendency to brag and boast about his successes, abilities and achievements. This can intensely annoy those in his company, who may see him as a know-all and too big for his boots.

Even though he has a tendency to be unreliable and lacks commitment and staying power, the Person represented by The Knight of Wands makes a great friend and ally, who will protect and defend you should you find yourself under attack on any level. He likes to see himself as The Hero in these situations, the guy who sorted out the bad guys or the one who saved the day for you.

This person will be very athletic, fit and sporty. In fact, sport may play a huge part in their life and if you are involved with this person then it is best you have an obvious interest too as much time will be spent engaging in it or watching it. They also are blessed with a healthy constitution and never seem to get ill or catch any bugs that are flying around.

Relationship and Romantic Fire

Now if you are romantically linked to this person, then you may need to take a step back and a good look at the nature of your relationship. You may have your rose-tinted glasses on after being passionately swept off your feet by this dashing Knight. His appearance in a Relationship Reading can suggest a Sagittarian if Temperance appears alongside or possibly one of the other Fire Signs such as Leo or Aries. If The Knight of Wands is not depicting an Astrological Sign, then he is representing his traditionally known energies or possibly has a lot of Fire in his birth chart even if he is not of that Element.

If depicting the typical Knight of Wands energy then the good news is that once he is in his Upright Aspect, your relationship is bound to be wildly passionate and exciting. It will be full of drama and action. With never a dull moment, this relationship is full on and moving at a frenetic pace. You might be caught up in a whirlwind romance where your feet barely get time to touch the floor or your head to catch up with your thoughts. It is possible that you have fallen head over heels in love with this Knight and can’t believe your luck for he is everything you have dreamed of. He is ruggedly handsome and fit. He is also mega sexy and very hot to trot.  He is also very popular and seems to have a wide circle of friends who can become very loud when they all get together.

If this sounds like your relationship then it may be a sign that it is still in the early stages.  You may be getting very little sleep at the moment trying to keep up with your Knight’s hectic and demanding life. He has a high sex drive so it’s likely you are going around with a big smile on your face all day and annoying the hell out of all your friends and work colleagues. You are having the time of your life and have never felt so alive and beautiful. He is mesmerising, darned attractive and scarily addictive.

However, he is also elusive and unless you have landed one of the more tamed Knight of Wands, it is quite likely you are doing all the running while he enjoys lapping up all the attention. He probably sees a lot of his friends and doesn’t always tell you where he is going or who he has been with, while you sit around waiting for his calls, ready to divulge every second of your day and whereabouts to him.

Now it all depends what you want out of this relationship. If you just want to have fun and are not looking for anything too serious or long-term well, you certainly are lucky and we are all envious of you. However, if you want to hold onto this guy and hoping for something deeper to develop, then you will have to understand a few very important things about him.

He is usually better at the beginning of relationships than anywhere else. It is his best time and you will get the most out of him. Unfortunately, the traditional energies associated with this Knight make him value personal freedom ahead of anything else. That means he doesn’t like to be tied down or restricted in any way. He may view an evolving relationship as a restriction rather than enrichment. Therefore, there can easily be a cooling of his ardour and passion if he thinks the relationship is becoming ‘normal’. He likes to be able to come and go as he pleases without questions or harassment. He doesn’t like people checking up on him or wanting to tag along all the time. He doesn’t want to be bound to times and locations. He prefers to go where he wants when he wants. A big No, No, are ultimatums regarding commitment to you or telling him that he now has a responsibility to you.

You may be setting yourself up for massive disappointment and heartbreak, if you are expecting this guy to settle down and fall into some kind of routine with you. It is unlikely that is going to happen. He may tell you he loves you and that you are the best thing that has happened to him in a long time but he may not be able to look you in the eye if you mention the ‘commit’ word. This Knight is known for his dramatic arrivals but is equally known for his rapid departures. If he feels there is an attempt to tie him down or restrict his movement, then his interest can wane very easily along with the flames of passion. He can end a relationship rather abruptly but also in a dramatic and hurtful manner.

This Knight likes to flirt and is aware of his sexual magnetism. Women swarm around him, even if they do know he is in a relationship. This can cause terrible tension within the relationship which sometimes evolves into suspicion and paranoia.  The Knight does like to play the field and even if he does remain faithful, his partner will feel under constant threat from other women, for he will do little to discourage their interest in him. Sometimes when he wants to end a relationship he will deliberately cause a show-down by very obviously coming on to another under the nose of his current partner. All’s fair in love and sport for this Knight and the end justifies the means. He generally does not end his relationships in a caring and subtle manner. There will be massive rows and screaming matches before he slams the door after making his exit. Jealous outbursts and tears are wasted on him and he just wants to put as much distance between himself and his partner when the relationship reaches this stage.

This Knight can have a successful relationship once his partner understands him. He can happily settle for someone who is very like him in nature. He likes his partners to remain independent and active in their own life. Someone who has their own circle of friends, a busy work life and hobbies that do not encroach upon his. He prefers sporty and fit partners who are often too busy to see him. A partner who is not needy, but has a healthy self-esteem and self-confidence. A partner who does not always need reassurance. A partner who despises co-dependency just as much as he does. Of course a partner who loves to travel is essential.  If they can get this right, this couple have the makings of an exciting and dynamic relationship that stays fresh and exciting. Neither gets the opportunity to bore each other and neither stands in the way of each other’s plans or ambitions. A couple who value their own personal freedom and are secure enough within themselves to allow unquestioned and unrestricted freedom for each other.

The Knight of Wands can also represent a partner met while travelling or on holidays. He sometimes suggests a foreigner from distant lands.

Careers and Business Fire

The presence of The Knight of Wands in a career reading can suggest that a change of job or travel related to career may be on the Cards. This may even include moving house or country too. Check for other travel related Cards such as the Ace, Three or Eight of Wands to confirm this. Whatever job the Querant is after you can be sure it is challenging and exciting. It is a very positive card when it appears in a Career Reading because it suggests that the Querant is really up to it, and has sufficient energy and interest to go places.

On the work front, depending on surrounding Cards, this Knight may be highlighting your impatience and frustration with the job you are in. It may be boring or the challenge has gone out of it. You could be working in a company that are too conventional and traditional. You may be up against tough opposition and hit a brick wall every time you try to instigate new ways or approaches.

Then again, if you are moving to a new job or entering a new career, The Knight of Wands can represent the nature and atmosphere surrounding the new position. If so then you are going to be a very busy person, possibly working in a sales related job where you will be up against stiff competition. Jobs that require you to come up with brilliant ideas could have you engaging in brainstorming sessions and having to think on your feet or on the move. This could be in the world of advertising.

Being a Wand and a Knight, you are certainly going to be thinking big when it comes to your career and you may even be considering starting your own business. You may have come up with an amazing idea or possibly a golden opportunity has presented itself to you. You have natural Entrepreneurial Skills so this should terrible excite and enthuse you. Being the boss and having full control is what you are after. It is possible that you are at the early stages of launching a business, possibly just post the idea stage and are eager to get going with your plans. You want to throw yourself into this new project without a moment’s delay and are just Fired up with energy. You have visions of the finished project and desperately want to steam ahead with getting there as fast as possible but this Knight’s presence in your Reading, although wonderful to see especially if you are going out on your own, it does act as an advance warning to the potential pitfalls you may experience should you move too fast on your idea before it is ready. You must resist the urge to make hasty moves or impulsive decisions before you have had time to think things through and possibly have others check them over too. I know it all sounds like unnecessary delays to you but certain things must be in place and small detail attended to before you take your first step forward. There must be a plan of action and not just action. Otherwise you may be heading for trouble. Look to surrounding Cards to see if your rush to get going may be harmful in the long run.

It is certain that you have the necessary energy and motivation for what you want to embark on but you have to pace yourself. You will be no good to anyone if you run out of steam before all the work has been done. Also try to be very honest with yourself before taking on whatever this exciting project is. Firstly, do you have the time for it? You do have a tendency to take on too much because you are such a willing soul. Secondly, why are you so excited about it? Are you excited about all of it or just a small part? Thirdly, is there a workable plan or strategy in place? Fourthly, are there others involved? If so, do they share your enthusiasm? Do you act alone before consulting them? Is everyone in agreement with what has to be done? Fifthly, have you a contingency plan in place? And sixthly, how much of a risk is involved. Is it a personal risk you are taking or are you taking risks for others too?

If you are the typical Knight of Wands, you will just dismiss all the questions I have just asked as silly and unnecessary. You know what you are doing and have a strong belief it will all work out. Well good for you and I wish I had your steely nerve and Devil-may-care-attitude. You have the potential to be hugely successful if you can get this right. The sky is the limit for you and maybe those around you are just worrying too much about everything. Without the likes of you taking wild chances every now and then, where would the world be today? You are blessed with good luck but do try to stick with it, even when it gets boring and tedious. Everyone hits that wall but you must finish what you start.

The Knight of Wands appearing in a Career Reading may be highlighting your teaching abilities. You may be considering teaching as a career for many reasons.  If Temperance is also in your Reading, then it can even more so suggest learning or teaching. Teachers do get a lot of school breaks which would give you the freedom to travel and pursue your other interests, hobbies and sport.

A job that involves travelling would suit you down to the ground but it would still need to be challenging otherwise it can all become stale. The Knight of Wands thrives in a career that is challenging and unpredictable, a job where he might have to get packed and moving after a rushed telephone call. A career as an on the ground reporter in war-torn countries would suit your desire for risk and also your need to defend and protect those who are under attack, while exposing corrupt governments and regimes. You will have no problem volunteering to accompany and record troops on their most dangerous missions. Besides your strongly principled and moral attitudes, you will also be determined to get the best photo or video coverage of all the action. With flak jacket and hard hat you will face open gun fire and risk capture if you strongly belief in a cause.

Fire likes to move so an office job or the predictable 9 to 5 would not be suitable for you. Airports are probably one of your favourite places as you love the hustle and bustle of new countries, people and experiences. You have in an in-built sense of adventure, so will be quite open to any job that comes your way, especially if it is novel or different. Because you don’t like to be contained, a job outdoors is preferable for you. Engineering and construction are also favourites.  With your sense of drama and courageous spirit, you might also be drawn to Fire fighting as a career or mountain rescue.

You are also a natural entertainer with a strong ego who loves to be centre of attention and in under the spotlight, so a career on stage; acting or singing can be a popular choice.

The Knight of Wands suggests journey over land in hot dry weather.

[futurebird]

The Queen is Dead!

There is this tiresome old trope in any science fiction that deals with ants, (or aliens that are stand-ins for ants or termites or bees or any other eusocial insect,) where the queen dies and then, suddenly none of the workers can function anymore. The workers in this theory of what a "hive mind" is are all just automata that extend the body of the queen. This is, of course, totally backwards. It's the death of human queens that leaves their subjects disoriented. We misperceive the order and smooth functioning of eusocial colonies for authoritarianism. No society could function so well without a tyrant, a single central mind, we assume. A great man or woman who drives their history must exist. This is all human mythology applied to the alien world of ants. What happens when the queen dies? Well let me tell you, because I've seen it happen... sadly. Queens are the longest lived members of ant colonies. So, naturally if you keep ants, you grow attached to the queen. And it's true that without her the colony has no future in the long run for most species of ants (there are exceptions, who can gain new queens, or who have multiple queens... but most ant colony have but one) So, when the queen dies it's sad. But, when she dies the workers ... keep going. You see the advantage of a "hive mind" isn't that there is one central node doing all the thinking, no, the colony is a distributed organism. And when the queen dies it's like menopause for a human body. There will be no new children. (though all eggs and larvae alive when the queen dies will be raised fully.) The ants without a queen continue to care for each other, continue to grow their fungus gardens, or heard aphids, they keep storing seeds and feeding the young. With time, the last of the eggs and brood are raised to be adults. The nest is cleaned and tidy, everyone is fed, with all these tasks done the ants huddle together to conserve energy. They will keep tending the nest and eating when they need to... possibly for years. Menopause isn't the end of an individual life, it's just the closing of a particular door.

I do think ant colonies like this, like my own queen-less colony can seem a little sad. Eggs and larvae and pupae are such joys for ants. They lavish food and attention on their little sisters. No more little sisters means a less active colony, it's like winter has set in permanently. But ants live through winters. Sometimes many winters. If you give a colony in this state brood from another queen they will raise them with great excitement. But there is no peaceful way to move the workers to a colony with a living queen.

This situation happens rarely in the wild. There are so many other things that can kill a colony long before a queen lives so long that she dies of old age. In the wild there are also parasitic species of ants that look for colonies without a queen, or with a queen that is weak and easy to kill. These sneaky queen ants will "steal" a colony. Though, from the perspective of ants without a queen, this is almost a mercy. But, there is none of this... everyone falling over and dying or everyone going crazy you see in stories about hives. The queen is just one part of the colony... a critical part... but still only a part. And each individual ant still has her own life to live.

[tobiotetsu]

strays

chapter two: roll over

pairing: Tojixf!reader, ft Naoya

genre: angst, 18+, NSFW, age gap, cheating, a teaspoon of fluff

Summary: In the jujutsu world, they hate to see a woman thrive. They’d do anything to tie her down to marriage to make her incapable of succeeding. So when the Zen’in clan sees a woman associated with their rival clan, the Gojos, who’s a young successful jujutsu sorcerer capable of creating change in their wicked society, they try to break her down. Unfortunately for the Zen’in’s, their very own stray has his sights set on her.

word count: 3.9k

chapter warnings: grammar errors, naoya being his misogynistic self, mentions of alcohol 

a/n: this chapter is a tad bit short but the next one will be a good one!! also thank you guys for 100 followers. I’m really excited for this fic! as always, feed back is always appreciated. (art used is from @ jj59u on twitter!)

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You admit you may not be the best teacher. You were way too lenient at times and stubborn to the core. The only reason you got into teaching in the first place was because of Satoru. He was the one person in the Gojo clan who seemed to care about your well-being and believed that you could succeed. It took you a while but, you eventually learned the ins and outs of teaching but this.

Making out with your student’s father and wanting more

This, you were sure was the worst thing a teacher could do.

It’s been about 9 hours since your formal introduction with Megumi’s father and you dreaded every minute that passed since. When Gojo revealed your position as Megumi’s teacher the only indication of shock in his face was the slight raise of his eyebrow. As if he wasn’t shoving his tongue down his son’s teacher’s throat just minutes earlier. Your face on the other hand, looked pale as a ghost. Gojo could clearly see the distraught look on your face when introducing yourself so he allowed you to escape after using your obvious fake excuse of feeling under the weather. You knew he would pester you with a million questions the next day but you wanted to get out of that situation as fast as possible.

9:15 am

Bright red numbers lit the clockface that stared at you from your night stan. It’s not like you got any sleep last night but you didn’t want to get out of bed. You knew what awaited you beyond your dorm door. Gojo’s nonstop questioning, Megumi and Maki’s confusion on why you fled the Zen’in estate in a rush, your apparent arranged marriage and Toji Fushiguro.  

You immerse yourself in your blanket as if it was an escape from all the problems laid in front of you. As a knock came from the door, you wrap the blanket tighter around yourself in hopes they’d go away. It must be Gojo ready to bombard you with questions. Once more knocking echoed your room, this one louder and more urgent than the previous. Groggily, you get out of your bed and get reading to yell at Gojo for waking you up.

“Gojo nothing was the matter yesterday, I just wasn’t feeling-” before you could finish your sentence, your met with dark golden eyes, which did not belong to Satoru.

“Sorry, it’s just me,” Maki said flatly. It appeared as if she was doing some morning training, her face was painted a light shade of pink with sweat beads forming beside her brows. “I didn’t mean to wake you, I just can't find my glasses anywhere, have you seen them by any chance?”

Whatever drowsiness you were feeling earlier shot out of your system as those words left her mouth. “The glasses that let you see cursed spirits? The ones that Gojo got for you?” Maki cringed at the tone of your voice and replied with a nod.

“I swear I had them last night, but they vanished when I woke up. I’ve been running around all morning trying to find them.” her voice was intertwined with sheer panic. You knew Maki, She was always on top of her game and had her shit together.

“Hey, it’s okay ill help you look for them and if we can’t find then I'll handle Gojo” you purposely relax your voice because you didn’t want her to feel worse than she already did. You lightly grabbed her shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze accompanied by a smile, which she returned back. It was then you noticed that her arm was wrapped in cloth with a crimson red dot in the center.

“What happened?” you instinctively move your hand from her shoulder to her arm to examine the wound.

“It’s nothing I must have forgotten to put one of my blades away before bed so it scratched me during the night. No big deal”. She put up a brave front, she always did but, you knew she was still a child. A child who strayed from her family. You were once a 16-year-old stray too, begging for someone to take you in. That feeling didn’t go away even after you met Gojo. Therefore you did everything in your power to make your presence known in her life.

“Why don’t you go visit Shoko to check it out just in case?. Let me change and I’ll meet you there.” She nods at your request and runs in the direction of Shoko’s office.

Your hands rummaged through the closet drawers to find something to suitable change into. A simple pair of joggers and a sweater would suffice for the cool weather. As you turn your head to look outside the window you were reminded of last night. Raindrops decorated the window separating the damp outdoors from yourself.

You hated the rain. All it brought was headaches and gloomy skies. It looked as if a child mixed all their colours on a pallet and smeared them across the sky. Your eyes lingered down a black box with a bow attached to the top that was placed on your window sill. With a frown, you quickly opened your window and looked around for the owner of the mysterious box.

Letting your temptations take over, you grab the box and pried it open. Its contents were of three items. A pair of glasses with one lens shattered, paper smeared with blood and a note which read: “Meet me outside by the back exit of jujutsu tech when you wake up, comply or I’ll cut deeper next time”

You didn’t need any other information. You knew who it was from and who he was referring to.

Naoya was threatening to hurt Maki.

“You look cute when you sleep, it’s nice to know you got something under that kimono” before you could reach him he was already spewing his usual stupidity.

“You hurt her! What the fuck is wrong with you? ” rage taking over your body.

“And if you don’t be a good girl and go through with this marriage, I’ll do worse. Her family doesn’t care about her and you sure aren’t gonna stop me” The venom in his words stung as he believed you couldn’t protect her.

“Fuck you” the pressure from squeezing your fists in your hands created crescent-shaped markings in your palms. You weren’t sure what to do next but you knew that Maki was the priority. “Whatever you do, don’t hurt her again”

“And I won’t, if you agree to the marriage and you behave yourself.” He walked up to you and took your chin in his hand and forcefully pulled your head to look him “If she gets hurt, you’ll only have yourself to blame”

You jerk your head to the side, ridding your face from his grip but he still towered over you.

“We have our engagement accountment tonight at 7, wear a white kimono and behave,” He instructed as if you were his dog, but you suppose that’s what you were to him. “Also, let’s keep this between us, husband to wife”

He left before he could see the disgust on your face. Just the sound of those words was enough to make you sick to your stomach. You rub your temples as you contemplate what to do next.

What could you even do? You got Maki involved in your problems and now her safety is in jeopardy. You could tell Gojo but then what does that make you? You refuse to manifest Naoya’s words. You figure you could get yourself out of this situation but until then you must play the part.

The Zen’in estate was always mesmerizing from the outside. It was almost as large as the school and was littered with beautiful ponds. Whenever you were to drop of Megumi and Maki, you’d always take a minute to admire the grand architecture of such a sorrowful place. It was truly tragic how there was such beauty in the saddest of things, but maybe that was what made it so beautiful in the first place.

You arrived earlier than instructed to show your compliance with the situation. It was better not to anger them in any way, but you were too late to fulfil your wishes when you walked through the door. Naoya’s face was enveloped with disgust as he saw you approach him.

“What are you wearing? I told you to look nice” he said losing the patience he never had.

“I’m sorry it got crumpled, I can’t drive with this thing on” Noaya walked up to you to examine your face.

“And would it kill you to wear some makeup?” A sarcastic smile tugs at your lips wishing you could bite back.

“I am wearing makeup”

A loud scoff escaped Naoya accompanied by a stupid grin on his face as he called for servants to escort you to get ready. “You clearly aren’t wearing enough” were the last words he said as he walked away shaking his head to attend to other affairs.

You were led to a private room by two women to fix your appearance for the evening. One of the women who dressed you seemed to be maybe a few years younger than you and the other being at least 10 years older. They tied your previous let-down hair up into a low bun and decorated it with white flowers and pearls. Your usually bare face was now dusted with a dark rose-toned powder and your lips were painted with a deep red shade. You stared in the mirror as the ladies fix your clothing, foreign to what you see in front of you. This seemingly normal act felt dehumanizing. You never wanted to be someone’s bride, you didn’t want to belong to anyone.

The young lady must have seen your face harden as you scrutinized yourself in the mirror. “You look beautiful y/n san” she sweetly smiled as she fixed your kimono. You nod and thank her for the compliment and continue to watch her. She’s beautiful, maybe 18 or 19 years of age. Your mind wanders to who they would marry her off to if she stays here. If you ran away would another kind young girl be forced into an unwanted marriage for the sake of the Zen’in name? Your thoughts plague your mind deep enough to stop you from forming your forceful smile when the older lady and Naoya’s eyes meet yours through the mirror.

“Would it kill you to smile?” his harsh voice rattles your thoughts.

Yes, it would. I would simply perish if someone believed I actually enjoyed this one bit.

That is what you wanted to say, but with Maki in mind, you held your tongue between your teeth and plastered a fake smile.

The night went on without a hitch, Noaya spoke to his clan and you stood beside him the whole night. Maybe it was the fact that you had been drinking sake on an empty stomach because you were too anxious to eat or this disturbing situation as a whole but you definitely felt sick to your stomach.

“I feel ill, I’m gonna get some air” you whispered to him but he mindlessly nodded in agreement as he was too busy with another conversation.  

Not a single person in the crowded room noticed your absence. They continued on talking and drinking as if there wasn’t a problem in the world. As you walked out of the entrance of the estate you weren’t met with the feeling you were expecting. You thought you’d feel a sense of freedom like you did yesterday, but instead, you felt worse.

Above your head shined stars brighter than you saw in a while. The one good thing about a storm was the calm that accompanied it. Right in front of your feet laid a small pond, its perimeter lined with coral stones. You crouched down to peer at the fishes varying from different sizes and breeds that were swimming in the water. Believe it or not, this is the first thing that caught your eye this entire night. It did not take long for your short-lived silence to come to an end, as a stone was thrown into the previously still water, causing a splash of water to drench your kimono.

Your eyebrows furrowed as you saw who the poorly aimed throw belonged to. Wearing similar apparel as yesterday, Toji appeared on the opposite side of the pond with a small frown tugging at his lips.

Toji Fushiguro was a prime example of how the saddest of things were the most beautiful. You hadn’t believed that he had genuinely smiled in his life but there he was in front of you with looks compared to a god. His face was honest, always painted with sorrow but it was far more beautiful than anyones’ in the estate.

“What are you doing?” you say as you get up trying to pat the damped area of your outfit dry. It seemed like this man had a niche for finding in the worst places.

“Catchin dinner” Toji slid his hands in his pockets as he walked around the pond to meet you. You hadn’t a clue if he joking or not but a small stress-relieving laugh escaped your lungs.

The frown on his face deepened as he got closer to you. You raised an eyebrow at his change of expression, wanting an explanation.

“You look like shit” You were expecting some type of jab, but not that. Before you could open your mouth to respond he continued “You sick or something?”

You spent hours in a room full of people and not one had noticed your state, but here you were not even a minute with Toji.

“Yeah I'm fine, just drinking on an empty stomach.” it was better to blame your lack of nourishment than to openly show your weakness. He pondered on your response for a minute then traded glances between the entrance doors then back to you.

“Come” he commanded as he took a few steps backwards readying to leave the zen’in estate.

“Uh, I can't leave” you blatantly respond as you look if anyone is around to see you.

“don't worry sweetheart, I’ll return you after. M’just making sure my kid’s teacher doesn’t kick the bucket. It's just food.” And with that, he started to walk expecting you to follow.

It felt as if you were at a crossroads and if you waited too long you’d miss your train. No one even noticed you were gone, you could make it back without them knowing you ever left in the first place.

Toji didn’t look back once, he was confident you were following him and as he turned the corner to leave the estate you were right behind him, face flushed and out of breath as you huff out “You’re buying”

“This damned kimono” you mumbled to yourself as you sit on a bench on the rooftop of a small apartment complex. Toji told you to wait there because you were tipsier than you thought. Knowing your own discomfort with formal clothing you always wore something underneath. You annoyingly pull the white gown off your body and tossed it behind you. You were now clothed with black tights and a tank top. It was quite chilly on the roof but you rather freeze than torture yourself any longer.

Unbeknownst to you, Toji appeared with a small box of takoyaki in one hand and two cups of coffee in the other. He stopped in his tracks as he saw you rip the flowers from your head and shake your hair loose from its bun. You flipped your head upside down to rake your fingers through the tangled mess and as you sat back up your eyes met with Tojis slightly amused green ones.

“It was uncomfortable” your voice comes out suddenly shy as the feeling of embarrassment fills you whole. He nods in acknowledgement as he set down the contents and hands you the lighter cup of coffee. You murmur a thank you and sip on the warm liquid, but instantly regret it. You loved coffee but despised it without any sweetener, the bland drink left a bitter taste on your tongue.

“Oh, here” He deposits 3 yellow sugar packets in your hand. Toji never thought sweetener could make a woman so happy until he saw your excited hands tear open the packets and pour their contents into your paper cup one by one. The poor man gave you a look as if you kicked his puppy.

“God woman, how much sugar do you take?” As those words left his mouth you knew exactly what it meant. “Please do not tell me you drink your coffee black.”

“Well compared you, I care about my blood sugar” he snapped the disposable chopsticks and stuck them in between the fried balls, eyeing you to use them.

“Oh yes, of course, the elderly should take care of their health.” A low chuckle came from the normally daunting man beside you. It was the first time you heard him genuinely laugh. An oddly comforting feeling slowly spread through your body.

“I had Megumi young, so I'm not that old” hearing Megumi's name triggered your brain to bring you back to your reality.

“About that, I wouldn’t have kissed you if I knew you were Megumi's father”

Lie

“I wouldn't want to do that to him as his teacher”

Truth

“It's probably best if we forget that even happened” your hands fumbled with the paper cup laid in your lap. You cared about Megumi more than yourself and it would kill you if you hurt him.

Looking straight ahead into the dark sky, Toji hummed in agreement. The silence between you two seemed deafening as you both stared at the edge of the roof's skyline. You remembered in yesterday's encounter that Toji was not one for small talk. You had to be the one to spark up a conversation.

“I’ve known Megumi for years, why am I only meeting you now?” you tilt your head in his direction waiting for his response.

“He’s better off without me, six eyes took him in when he was a runt and now he’s got you too apparently.” His eyes lazily met yours. His face showed no indication of any feeling toward his son but his hard green eyes told you a different story.

You knew the topic of his father was never Megumi's favourite. He never spoke of his name. The only interaction he had with Toji that you heard of was 2 years ago to settle a dispute between him and the Zen’in clan. Other than that, it was only postcards with bills attached to them or messages relayed to Megumi through Gojo.

“So, you marryin Naoya?” His words unpleasantly cut through your thoughts and made you cringe. “Until I can find a way out of it, yeah” you sighed at the thought of actually going through with the wedding. Your stomach twisted at the thought of being Naoya’s housewife.

“Hey marriage ain't all that bad” you scoffed at his words not caring if he was being sincere or sarcastic.

“Well, were you in love with Megumi's mother?” An honest and innocent question turned the man stone-cold, you seemed to hit a never by mentioning his previous partner. You took his silence as a hint to move on from the topic.

“I hate the idea of marriage. I never imagined myself marrying someone that I loved, let alone being forced to marry a jackass who wants a submissive wife who sits and looks pretty. It’s not me.” Toji let out a small chuckle at your words as he slides his hands out of his pockets.

“So you’re not submissive?” He turned to you, hooking the one arm over the back of the bench “I was convinced you were” His usual cold words were now laced with sultry.

His words caught you off guard causing your cheeks to grow hotter by the second. You let out a sarcastic laugh and faced away to hide the spreading blush on your face. “I bet you would like to know”

This is exactly the opposite of what you should be doing. Just minutes ago, you agreed not to go down this route. You cared about Megumi too much, and unfortunately, at the moment you were engaged. If you messed that up Maki could get hurt.

The back of Toji's index finger on your cheek grabbed your attention and made you turn back to face him. “You cold?” He gathered the hair framing your face and tucked it behind your ear.

“You gonna give me your jacket?”

“Fuck no, it's cold” a small laugh comes out of you. What did you expect from him? “And I almost believed you were a gentleman” you said shaking your head softly.

His hand returned on your face, now his thumb rubbing your cheek as the rest of his fingers rested in the crook of your neck. His touch was intoxicating. You weren’t sober at the moment but if his touches continued you knew you’d be drunk off lust. “You know, if you’re cold you can come warm up in my place.”

��Toji, we cant-” your words died in your throat as his thumb moved from your cheek to your bottom lip. He wiped your smeared lipstick in the corner of your mouth and continued to run his thumb over your lips.

“Come on y/n” He could feel you give into his touch as he said your name for the first time. “We’ll forget it happened, it won't hurt anyone” The composure you held for the last hour had tumbled down fast.

Maybe you were more submissive than you thought. At that moment if he told you to roll over like a dog you would do it without question. You’d do anything he asked if it meant that his hands remained on you.  

The second you nod in agreement, Toji's other hand flew to grab the other side of your face and pulled you into him. Before you knew it, you were sitting on top of him, your legs straddling either side of his him. His lips met yours with neediness. You didn't think it was possible but his kisses kept getting better each time.

One of his hands held your hip and the other travelled up your back to hold the nape of your neck. He gently pulled your hair downwards causing your lips to separate from his. Before you could voice your sudden frustration of the lack of warmth on your lips, Toji planted wet kisses on your neck.

He smiled as the noises of pleasure spewed from above him. He slowly made his way down your neck to your collar bones and the top of your breasts. He switched between small kisses and soft bites as he explored your skin. A cool breeze brushed past the both of you that caused you to shiver. Toji must have sensed it and pulled away from you to look you in your eyes.

“You didn’t answer my question sweetheart, you cold?” you nodded your head faster than he expected you to. With your actions solidifying his desires, a mischievous smirk teased his lips.

“I’ll warm you up”

[taglist: @v3iaris @meepmoop12w ]

[wtfgaylittlezooid]

LETS START WITB THE LORE!!!!!!!!!! I WANNA KNOW I WANNA KNOW I W

AIGHT KEEP IN MIND THIS IS STILL ALL CONCEPT SO.

Basically this world is just. Imagine fantasy. Theres humans and a bunch of nonhuman races. It’s like that. There’s a specific species that can use whatever’s around them to their advantage, like change the state of things. Like water to air. There’s this ONE specific member of that species, one who can change the emotions of humans to a physical state, and that opens the gate for SO much.

A bunch of the other non human races start following this dude. The emotions can be used almost like medicine and can even be used to feed some nonhumans if mixed properly. It’s batshit, and the dude starts to realize that he can USE this following.

So he starts an empire with them. There’s a human empire, and all of them are struggling with scraps while humans flourish, so why not? Empire grows and humans are extremely wary. Extracting emotions if done to an extent leaves them with nothing. Too much of it can break and destroy the brain of a person.

Thankfully, the Emperor doesn’t want war. He reached out to the humans, and they form a truce. No harm on eachother, no extreme emotion theft. They use the physical emotions for research and share what they find with the humans. The humans (who are a MUCH stronger and bigger empire) will offer peace and technology for research. Things go well. The emperor even finds a empress and has a son, and it seems like they can finally thrive.

The Nether Empire even gets special people! The 5 Nobles: The Knight, who defends the empire and the people inside and commands offense, the Preserver, who writes the history of this empire and handles the storage (like the emotions) and conservation of objects of interest, the Alchemist, who leads the research of physical emotion and tests the limits of what can be done with it, the Watcher, who observes the ins and out of the city for anything dangerous or suspicious (the snitch job/hj), and the Collector, who leaves the empire in search of anything of interest and distributes supply and is the head in trade.

However, despite this truce, neither sides feel safe. Both are terrified of the other. Both do not trust the other. Things are tense.

So the Alchemist starts their finest work: the Failsafe. The Failsafe is a formula of potions, one that can transport stuff into what he believes is a dimension hidden between dimensions. It puts the area into a sort of stasis, and with things as tense as they are, it could mean the safety of the empire. The emperor agrees. A vault of the Failsafe is built. One massive enough to take the entire kingdom if it activates. It’s simple to set off: a special pattern known only by the emperor’s family and the nobles must be pressed on the Throne and then a random hidden lever will shown and must be pulled. It takes down the edge, knowing that the empire will be safe if war starts.

Then things sky rocket.

Something happens. Do I know what? Nope! Not yet. Let’s just lie and say it was lost to time for now. The tensions snap, and it escalates into a confrontation into the Nether Emperor’s throne room. The human emperor and a few knights and a general are there. The 5 nobles, the emperor’s son, and the Empress are there. Things escalate. It gets intense. What starts as a tense conversation laced with passive aggression soon teeters on the edge to one wrong word and it’s war.

The son, VERY young at this time, starts freaking out. The Empress leaves him, going to the Emperor in an attempt to get things to cool off. The son panics. He’s not oblivious, he knows what this is going to mean. He doesn’t want war, he doesn’t want to die. So he goes to the throne, and while everyone is distracted by the heat of the argument he inputs the pattern.

The Alchemist notices too late. The way the Failsafe is designed, is not out of convenience or speed. It’s about unpredictability, in the case of a spy or an emperor who isn’t thinking straight.

The lever reveals itself right behind the human king, who is trying to keep his distance from an increasingly agitated Nether Emperor.

He trips.

The Failsafe activates.

However it doesn’t cooperate. The Empire was MUCH bigger than what they had tested on. It doesn’t get sent to paradise, it gets sent to a dimension twisted that seems to be holding on by a tether and could collapse at any moment.

The human emperor panics, and attacks. Their guards follow. However this is in a tiny world now vastly populated by Netherfolk. It isn’t what they’ll know as the Aether anymore, this is the Netherworld. The humans are slain, and now the Empire is dying in a world that isn’t habitable.

The Alchemist is given one last chance as the Empress and the Emperor try to desperately fix this. They end up discovering that emotions can stain objects, and can act almost as tears to the Aether if mixed with strong enough emotion. They find this out with the human emperor’s lantern.

It is given to the Collector, whose role is to go out and collect food and humans for the empire, bringing back people for the Emperor to drain.

Time passes.

The Emperor and the Empress pass. The Empress gets a simple burial, and the Emperor gets his remains grinded up and constructed into 5 badges that allow the wearer to use his ability on human emotions. The son becomes a recluse, never leaving the top room of the castle, never becoming the new Emperor they need.

Things change.

The Collector becomes the Ferryman, the Knight becomes the Ringmaster. All 5 roles begin to become dedicated to keeping a steady inflow of human emotions, as it’s the only thing that this dying world can rely on. The Ringmaster leads the Harvest Carnival, a carnival that is celebrated in the Aetherworld that has the goal of harvesting as many emotions and bodies as possible without leaving a trace nor memory. The Watcher observes, alerting to any Netherfolk who may have tried to sneak to a better world or a human whose gone too wise. The Watcher alerts the Ferryman, who takes care of it and brings the traitors “home.” The preserver preserves the emotions, and the Alchemist works to make the same potions.

The nobles become the 5 Holders, each holding an artifact that allows a connection with the Aetherworld and the support beams of this entire world.

As generations pass, the nonhuman races evolve into something more grotesque as they’re forced to adapt to a world harsher than any other.

And that’s. Basically the whole lore of the Netherworld so far lmao again this is only a concept so it can change

[girlhomosonly]

Nobody’s Fault But Mine [ Original!Percival Graves one-shot ]

I had originally written this back four years ago when the FBAWTFT fandom was in full swing. This one, however, is a rewritten version that was published on a few other sites four months ago. I decided to post it here.

So, with that said. This is the rewritten version of “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” the last moments of Percival Graves.

The room was dark, lacking any source of natural light. Only a dim light was hanging from the ceiling. The prisoner was chained to the wall and was locked in a magic-built cage. The cage itself was not made with typical metal rods but invisible rods that taunted the man. If he somehow escaped his chains, he would not have been able to escape regardless. The magic was specifically constructed to keep him in. One touch could be fatal to his already fragile state.

 It felt like forever ago since he last felt the warmth of the sun. The room itself was damp and cold, his clothes of what was left did not help retain any heat. He wishes he did not take the simple pleasures in life for granted. Percival dearly missed the feeling of the sun enveloping him that almost felt like a loving embrace.

 Percival does not know how long he was imprisoned by the Dark Lord but it truly felt like an eternity.

 The night he was bested by that bastard keeps replaying in his mind. He wishes he can go back to that night. Word got around saying that Gellert Grindelwald was on the prowl and what did the Director of Magical Security, head of MACUSA's Department of Magical Law Enforcement do? He simply walked back home after a long shift at the office with his Elite Aurors. He did not think much of anything out of the ordinary - his home had protective wards after all. Yet, the cunning bastard must have been watching him for months, dare he say years? He was caught off guard and woke up to see a pair of mismatched eyes staring him down.

 Percival thinks of the different ways he should have defended himself. He can say with confidence though, he put up a good fight against the bastard. Until he was shot with an intense cursed spell that should have cost Percival his arm.

 Alas, no matter how he should have gone about the intrusion, he is still here. In this cold, damp room. Where he slumps against the wall, farthest from where Grindelwald would be outside the cage.

 With a wheezy sigh, Percival slumped even more and he decided to just lay down. He winced as his body's wounds and infections screamed in protest at the movement. His eyelids grew heavier, and since there was nothing else to do besides sleep, wait for the Dark Lord to arrive to feed and water him.

 He had been losing hope of getting rescued anyways...

 What?

 Lost hope?

 Percival, if he had the energy, would have cursed himself. His father up above would surely get his wand in a knot if he found out his son was thinking like this. That thought alone made the corner of his lip twitch up in an attempt of a smile.

 Graves worked with wizards and witches that trained and studied vigorously to become Aurors. He personally trained most of the ones on his Elite team back in the day. He was known to be one of the greatest Aurors, incredibly skilled with an honourable sense of justice. His team respected him, as well as his long-time dear friend and boss Madame President.

 Considering they were up against a madman, he understood that his people would need time to figure out the Grindelwald imposter.

 Surely, Miss Porpentina Goldstein unravelled this dilemma. She was headstrong and a valiant Auror. There was no doubt she would have suspected something out of the ordinary by now.

 The young woman reminded him so much of himself. The main focal point of taking Goldstein under his wing. At the beginning of her training days, she already had a strong desire to stand up for what is right, sought justice with her people, her community just like he had. Percival knew she would one day be an excellent addition to his team, not to say he already saw a huge amount of potential in her. Which is why he pushed her harder than anyone else. He is certain Goldstein will surpass him and succeed in this career far more than he could.

 Restoring his dwindling faith, his eyes finally shut and he fell into a dreamless slumber.

 Days passed him by.

 And he wondered why Grindelwald did not show.

 Eventually, he stopped feeling the hunger pangs. However, every movement jostled Percival's already disgruntled body, driving needles and pins throughout his body, his back, his skull... everywhere. It even felt like his bones were aching.

 Wallowing in his seemingly never-ending pain, he did not hear shuffling in the darker part of the room. It was only when a sound coming from the cage did the man put his guards up. The sudden sound of the invisible cage zapping something. There were no sounds of distress or pain following.

 "W-Why did you lie to me?" The voice was soft yet held betrayal and hurt within its tone.

 Turning his head to the source, he instantly froze.

 Credence.

 Struggling to get up, he saw the same pale young boy but this time there was black smoke surrounding him, flecks that strayed too far from the boy descended to the floor. His eyes were white, dark circles hung below his more sculpted face.

 The boy's voice cracked. "You hurt me. They are gone because of me." 

 "I know, my boy. I know. I apologize, I-I promised to teach you." Percival's words were hushed, having needed more energy to speak. His face scrunched up, tears stinging at his eyes.

 Was it his time already? He has never had hallucinations before.

 "You are a coward. Who is weak and useless." Credence hissed venomously.

 "I failed you-"

 "You promised me, Mr. Graves!" roared Credence.

 Percival shut his eyes tightly, emotional and physical pain washing over him, overwhelming him. He uttered to himself, apologizing for being such an incompetent wizard, for letting this young boy down...

 He did not know when the hallucination of Credence subsided but the words still echoed through his mind.

 Coward.

 Weak.

 Useless.

 Was he truly what Credence said? Possibly. He would not be here if he wasn't. However, the words cut harder than he thought. He wondered what his Aurors would think of him when he was found.

 Would he ever be trusted again to be their Director?

 Madam President Seraphina, one of his oldest and dearest friends. She must be so disappointed. His underling, Tina Goldstein must be mortified with the fact the "greatest" wizard in her department was so easily defeated. Credence must have been so hurt when Percival stopped showing up on Tina's behalf.

 His pain was steadily going away.

 It brought him some comfort, he will only be dealing with his emotional turmoil.

 Or...

 Nothing at all...

 He realized he found it difficult to keep himself conscious.

 "I suppose... no... Nobody's fault. Bu- but mmm...ine."

 And just as Percival Graves exhaled his last breath, a loud rumbling noise and lights came flooding into the room. Voices of people talking in ushered tones as magic spelled around him...

 Rescuers.

[eugenesmorphine]

Hey ,could you do some Ronald Speirs with a girl in the town the company had liberated or something like that please💕💕💕

Eternal Gratitude // Ronald Speirs Imagine

AN: I am back with this imagine for the first one! I hope you enjoy!

Taglist: @alienoresimagines @punkgeekcryptid @ricksmorty @hellitwasyoufirstsergeant @valterras @adamantiumdragonfly

Word Count:  2,114

Ronald marched through the small town. His boots crunching over shattered glass from broken windows and pottery that came from the ruins of houses. German artillery fire was not kind to places within France. And this little city was not apart from it. He looked around as he lifted his helmet slightly to wipe the sweat from his brow. It was quiet. But the city was liberated. People of the French city were outside hugging each other, handing beers to one another, even hanging the French flag and pulling down the Nazi flags. Kids dancing all over them. Some of the women tear them up with scissors and kitchen knives. Tossing the scraps into piles while many others through them into even bigger piles and lit them aflame. Ronald chuckled as he made his rounds. Snagging a few silver spoons he found around the ground. Even snagging a Nazi flag for a souvenier from one the little kids. Patting them roughly on the head as he walked on.

Captain Speirs watched around as the paratroopers seemed to be praised and worshipped the ground that seemed to walk on, as they saved them from the horrible Nazis. Older women kissing their cheeks and handing them  food and drinks. Even some warm blankets. While many of the younger women threw themselves at them. Ronald scoffed as he saw some of them, one of which being Floyd Talbert, full on making out with one French girl. A few had even walked up and kissed Ronald on his lips like they did to every other man they had kissed. He would never admit it but it would make him blush no doubt. 

The officer couldn’t say he was complaining. He was making a killing with all the silber he was snatching and even many just handed to him. His stomach was full with all this nice food. He couldn’t remember the last time he had a nice warm, proper meal. And half the food he never even heard of. Yet again, Ronald Speirs wasn’t complaining. 

He walked through the crowded streets to the aid station they had temporarily set up. Humming as he did so. Pacing his steps as he peered above the heads of the crowd. He saw Eugene, yet he saw a female there with him he never saw before. Not even when they first set it up. Raising his eyebrow he quickened his steps. And soon Ronald reached the aid station. Seeing the female now closer. She was young, and definitely pretty. Even with dust from the ruined buildings around her. A small scarf pulled her hair back out of her face, wholsts a blue dress she wore with an apron around. The familiar crimson  color stained it. Seeming to be a nurse. Or just some woman helping the soldiers. A rifle stayed hung to her shoulder. Which made Ronald a bit uneasy, but he thought back. She was probably just worried. 

“Doc, who is this?” he asked the medic. Who looked up at him, and so did the nurse. Ronald eyed the woman. Eugene stood and looked at the officer in front of him.

“Sir this is, miss Y/N L/N. She speaks English pretty well and she gave me some medical supplies and has been helping me with the casualties and wounded, sir,” he said to him. Standing up straight. Speirs nodded and slowly approached the woman. Taking his helmet off in respect. Looking down at her slightly.

“How are you?” he asked. Starting off nice. Ronald was a difficult man to understand. Anyone knew that. And this girl would be no different. She tilted her head to the side slightly as she gave a small nod. 

She smiled softly. “I am more than happy, sir. You’ve liberated us, we are finally free!” she exclaimed. Grabbing his hands. Her hands were cold and calloused. Clear that she hadn’t been sitting and staying this entire time. Her eyes had bags that were dark purple. Clear of sleepless nights that many of his own men suffered from. Though her smile was wide and her eyes filled with happiness and hope. “I see you are one of the leading officers, please let me make you some dinner and give you a bed to lay in. Many of my people are opening the Ins and our homes to you soldiers. I have given many medical supplies and patched up some of your men. But there is so much more I can do!” she began to shake his hands. Her accent was thick, but her words were still understandable. Though, before he could protest, she was already pulling him along. Leaving a few other officers laughing.

“Lady, you really don’t have to do this. Truly, I can go bunk with the others,” he tried to resist. He was kind of excited for a nice meal. And even his own warm bed. But it also seemed wrong to be in the same situation. Yet he was already being pushed into her home. He sighed and looked around. He was thankful, and he wasn’t a total terrifying man when it came to the citizens he protected. Plus, they worshiped the paratroopers, and they would be moving out in a few days anyways.

“Nonsense! You saved us from the Germans! Your men will have a nice place to stay until you must leave!” she told him. Pushing the stalky soldier through a door of a small building. “Mr. Army man, welcome to my home. These are my mother and father!” she said softly. Holding her arms out to an older couple that sat at a small chair. “Mère père. C'est l'un des soldats qui nous a sauvés,” (Mother, father. This is one of the soldiers that saved us.) The older woman clapped her hands together and stood. Waddling over and grabbing Ronald’s hands. Kissing his dirt and blood covered hands. Mumbling “thank you” over and over again, looking nearly in tears. The older man had a small paddy cap on and walked over to shake his hand and pat him on the back. And before he even knew it, Ronald was sitting down with a plate of steaming food in front of him. The young girl he thought remembered to be named ‘Y/N’ was taking her rifle off her shoulder and setting it to the side on a small table. Ronald kept glancing over at her as she communicated with her mother from time to time.

Food kept being placed in front of him. Fresh food that was hot and not just some slop or some half frozen and rotten food within the meal packs the government. Y/N stood and was speaking to her parents and being a translator for her two parents as they asked him question after question. Praise after praise. That went on until long after dark. The two parents soon went to bed, leaving Ronald and Y/N alone as she cleaned up dishes. Her weapon lay flat on the table. But the ammunition stayed in her trouser pockets. Something Ronald noticed. It made her seem smart. Which she definitely was. 

“So.. After hearing your parents talk my ear off all night long. How about you tell me about yourself?” Ronald asked. Setting his helmet down on the old wooden table. Y/N turned around and leaned against the marble counter she had. A small smile on her face. 

“There isn’t much to know about me. Just a simple French girl that was so happily liberated by the Americans. I’ve lived her all my life with my parents, and when you came and saved our city. All I wanted to do was repay my thankfulness back to you Americans,” she responded. Her accent was thick. Yet her words are clear. You could just see the pureness radiating off of her. Ronald chuckled slightly and nodded his head. Standing up to stretch his legs. 

“Can you show me where I am sleeping? It is past midnight by now,” he sighed. Scratching the back of his neck lightly. Y/N smiled softly as nodded. Beginning to make her way up the stairs in her home, Ronald trailed behind her. She hummed a soft lullaby as she walked. Her and Ronald’s footstep against the old hardwood flooring echoing throughout the quiet house. The two stayed silent. Until they reached the room.

“Here, it has a bed, a dresser. And the bathroom is just across the hall,” she whispered with a soft smile. Ronald smiled and went to place her stuff onto the floor besides the bed. Dropping his bag, his weapon sitting on the bed where he could see and reach. His helmet going on the small nightstand besides the bed. Looking over to the women who stood in the doorway. 

“Is there.. Uh- anything I can help you with?” Ronald asked, a little confused at why she was staring at him. The same soft expression on her face. Y/N took a few steps into the room and approached him. Ronald stiffened, a little confused on what was actually going on. Y/N took a few steps forward, now standing in front of him. 

“Hold your hand out,” she said. Ronald stared at her questioningly. Definitely hesitating. Kyra laughed softly as she rolled her eyes. “Just do it, I’m not some Nazi,” she huffed. Eonald then chuckled himself and nodded. Extending his palm out towards the young women and watching her closely. 

Kyra’s hand went into his. Dropping in a hand an old pocket watch. Still shining and ticking. She had gotten it passed down from her grandfather. “This is for you. You saved my family and friends. My parents and I are very grateful for you leading your men here to save us from the Germans,” she told him. She stumbled every so often to search for correct words/ But her voice was a whisper. And the Captain in front of her was almost in shock. A family heirloom just given to him. Usually he stole these kinds of things from the German soldiers, or abandoned places. But this, the watch was just given to him. Y/N just smiled and let out a quiet laugh.

“You can sell it, or keep it to remember our eternal gratitude. Whatever you would like to do with it. It isn’t much, we wish we could feed more of your men and give more supplies. But maybe you could get some money for that watch,” she shrugged. Ronald gave a slight nod as he stared at the silver and gold pocket watch within his dirty and calloused hands. He was just in awe. Like he felt unworthy to take it. Even with his own morals, it was just.. So nice. 

“Oh and also,” Ronald snapped his head up at the sound of her voice. The H/C haired women took a few steps forward. A small smile curling on her lips as she walked over to him. Bending down slightly and Ronald froze slightly. She leaned and pressed her lips to the corner of his lips. “And that is a personal thank you from me. I find you quite handsome,” Y/N laughed, standing up straight and turning around. Ronald slowly raised a hand to the corner of his lips that hers touched gently. Watching her, almost awestruck or in shock. He never really got this way. He, himself, was usually the womanizer it seemed.

“I’ll let you get some sleep, Captain Speirs. Breakfast will be made in the morning,” she told him while walking out of the bedroom. Turning with a smile as she began to close the door. A small wave she shot him before shutting the door completely. Her footsteps being heard within the quiet home as they pressed against the old, creaky floorboards.The room falling dark besides the moonlight shining through the sheer curtains within the room. 

Ronald just went to lay on the bed. He couldn’t remember the last time he slept on an actually comfortable mattress. Not some old, shitty cots, a foxhole, or god knows what else he used to sleep on. But settling himself down on the bed, he stared up at the ceiling. The corner of his mouth slightly tingled at the sensation of where her lips had been. His cheeks reddening as he thought about the brief moment they had just shared. Was it even a moment? Could it be called that? He had know idea, he shouldn’t have even been thinking of her like that. Running his fingers over the cool material of the pocket watch. Shutting his eyes after taking a long deep breath. Making the quick decision. He would never be getting rid of that watch.

[bumpscosity]

I could remake my meebas and make them a hit.

The little screen comes off and can go on a wristband thing and when you walk it’s like playing with them but you can still feed them and play minigames and stuff but at the end of the day you put the screen back onto the pod and essentially all the points get tallied and that’s when the meeba evolves if it’s gained enough points and then once it’s max level the my meeba thing happens where the pod opens up and the plush comes out the top.

You can connect the pods either via Bluetooth or cord to eachother and your meebas can play together. After they’ve max evolved you can connect your meeba to an app via a QR code it has on its tag or something to keep playing games with it. Also if you put the plush back in the pod there’s a chance it’ll have a baby who’s like a different species kinda and it’s max state is still little and in the screen, maybe it connects to the app too and the app lets the parent and the child interact.

The idea of the old character designs worked but they ended up looking cheap, the different kinds of pods should have more clear themes, maybe one looks like amebas and sciencey and another is very techy and robotic and another is more animalistic, maybe even one that looks like plants/flowers or abstract shapes. A dinosaur line is a must have because dinosaurs are awesome and also always sell.

The downfall of the OG is that it was pretty much exclusively marketing for young girls, who definitely didn’t have the money to spend on a ton of them nor did they care abt them for long enough to save up, they need to market to everyone from little girls to toy collections to adults who are nostalgic for digital pets. Something that could help with that is the introduction of chase variant pets that aren’t on any of the official lists or marketing, make them collectible! Tie-ins with other brands can extend it even further! A shopkins line perhaps? Maybe even sanrio or Nintendo if they got popular enough?

[nightwingmyboi]

I'll always remember Devin Grayson as the woman who wrote Nightwing getting raped by a supervillain and then tried to pass it off as "wasn't rape, just nonconsensual"...which is LITERALLY THE DEFINITION OF RAPE, YOU HACK!

MSL: Male rape is a topic rarely touched on in comics. Why is it suited to bring it into Nightwing?

DEVIN GRAYSON: For the record, I’ve never used the word “rape,” I just said it was nonconsensual (I know, aren’t writers frustrating? *smiles*) [x] 

Yeah there is no other word for what happened in Nightwing #93 other than rape...I can’t imagine why she would say otherwise. She did technically apologize, but that was ten or so years later. So she eventually, finally did come out and just admit what everyone already knew, but she was still way too late to actually fix any of the damage she caused with how she completely mishandled things. I also don’t think her little apology begins to cover all the issues I have with her. 

Devin’s characterization of Dick is just so, so freaking twisted to me. Really, I don’t think there is a Nightwing writer I despise more than Devin Grayson. The interviews I’ve read from her give me the creeps:

DG: The way I think about him [Dick], he likes everyone, he’s sort of a contact junkie - just this incredibly physical (and attractive) person who lives wholly in the corporeal plane and responds with - processes things in - his body before his head or heart. I imagine that he can be hypnotized by a touch the way other people can be stopped dead in their tracks by the sight of money or the promise of true love. I think he likes kicking and kissing in almost equal measure - except kissing edges out ahead because you can do it for longer and it leads to nicer things. [x]

Yeah that’s fucking unsettling. This is Devin being gross and projecting her sexual fantasy’s onto Dick. And she very much invented this extreme view of Dick as obsessively physical. Pre-52 Dick was always written as a master strategist, an unparalleled leader, one of the best detectives in the world, outside of Devin’s writing. Her fantasy version of Dick doesn’t mesh with that...Dick wouldn’t be capable leader if he’s “thinking with his body” (whatever that means) all the time. He’s survived this long because he’s intelligent and logical. Frankly, Devin’s take on things doesn’t even make any freaking sense. But it gets worse: 

DDG: I’m writing a novel for WB right now that he’s in and I have one scene where Batman has to stop a fight before it gets out of control, and most of the people he can just yell or glare at, but with Dick, he just stands really close behind him and Dick freezes. That’s not supposed to be a sexual thing (though it is kinda hot! ::laughs::), it’s an understanding on Bruce’s part that his physical proximity will speak just as quickly and loudly to Dick as his voice, maybe even be processed faster.

What the actual fuck. You’ve probably guessed it based on how that little scenario played out. Devin ships Dick with Bruce. 

DG: And now think about being a very physical and naturally gregarious and loving person and growing up with someone like Bruce. Then add in the confusion about his status - a “ward” is something you stop being the minute you turn eighteen. Having already lost his parents and then hurling into adolescence at the speed he did...in my personal version of the story, he develops sexual desire and social anxiety about the future at the same time, and this leads to tremendous confusion, on his part, about his role in Bruce’s life. He can’t be a ward forever, in the back of his head he knows he won’t be Robin forever...what is he to this man who is at once his best friend and personal savior, personal god? “Son” is what they eventually settle on, but I think when Dick was in his late teens, the idea of “lover” must have run through his mind (which means, really, as we’ve already discussed, it ran through his body).

Wild that Dick is usually written as incredibly intelligent and emotionally cognizant (was able to puzzle out Damian’s complex motivations and needs when no one else in Damian’s life could for example) and yet Devin thinks he’s not able to sort out that he’s not supposed to make sexual advances towards his father. And by wild I mean stupid as fuck. And, just fyi, Devin goes with the version of events where Bruce took Dick in when he was eight years old! So he’s pretty fucking young when this is all happening! Just when you thought it couldn’t get more disgusting. 

Eventually, much later, Dick gets distracted by other relationships and is able to ease up enough on Bruce for Bruce to relax into his own comfort-level of kindness and affection again (once the threat of sexuality has been removed) and they carry on more or less unharmed. But the relationship remains incredibly powerful and intense for Dick, who ends up feeling apologetic, rejected, and confused on top of all the other issues we already know exist between the two of them. Dick responds to Bruce - or really I should say Batman, since that’s who his relationship is with - on every single level.

So, according to Devin, Dick views Bruce as his “personal god” and is incredibly submissive to and possessive of him. That’s why Devin’s writing is littered with scenes like this: 

Gotham Knights #17

Where Dick acts incredibly awkward and “apologetic” about dating Barbara, because of how he previously made sexual advances towards Bruce in Devin’s fantasy world. Also with Devin, Dick spends a lot of his time stuttering every time Bruce is in the room, even though he’s usually a smooth talker, very chatty, and that’s because of the supposed “intensity” of Bruce and Dick’s relationship. And then there are scenes like this: 

Gotham Knights #18

Where Dick uncharacteristically and disproportionately loses his cool at the slightest insinuation against Bruce and is reduced to an angry hot head. Dick has been noted to be incredibly level headed; he’s also famous for being a mediator among the hero community...this behavior is a complete departure from the way he would normally act under other writers. Dick’s also been one to level plenty of criticisms towards Bruce himself. This sudden personality change where Dick thinks Bruce can do no wrong, where no one can criticize Bruce in Dick’s presence without him absolutely blowing up, where he suddenly can’t control his emotions over the littlest things...it really exists primarily in Devin’s writing. It’s incredibly OOC behavior and it’s rooted in Devin’s sexual fantasies frankly. 

Devin’s writing is also where Dick, despite being incredibly dedicated and monogamous in all of his previous relationships, suddenly became a womanizer. Literally, everyone was written as wanting to get into Dick’s pants: Rose Wilson was reduced to a giddy teenager because of Dick, random women in the streets would comment on how cute Nightwing was, a mob boss’s daughter who was only 15 years old was obsessed with Dick and made advances, Dick had a one night stand with Huntress because she reminded him of Bruce, Bruce called Dick “Hunk Wonder,” Dick undressed in front of fucking Deathstroke (and there was a newspaper with “Richard Wilson” on it as a sly little wink towards the audience), psycho vigilante Tarantula is obsessed with Dick to the point of raping him, the list goes on. If you want more samplings of how freaking disgusting and sex-obsessed Devin was when it came to Dick, look no further than her gross Inheritance book, where she ships Dick with everyone from Green Arrow to Aquaman (here are some quotes if you’re a masochist). And since Dick “thinks with his body” or whatever, Devin’d write him as receptive (or very oblivious) when it comes to this attention. 

Gotham Knights #10

Nightwing (1996) #107

Another thing that made me extremely uncomfortable is how Devin would always have strangers and villains, especially older men--people who Dick very much did not know and wouldn’t appreciate being in his personal space--be all grabby with him. Please leave him alone. 

Nightwing and Huntress #2

There Dick is, “hypnotized” in place by Huntress’s touch. Kill me. It is also especially messed up that Devin suddenly turned Dick into some sexual, warm-blooded hot head at the same time as she decided to introduce him as Romani. 

Q: How could him being Romani be used to inform his characterization?

It reinforces his “otherness” where Bruce is concerned in what I think is a useful, interesting way...It also presents the opportunity for there to be a slight chip on his shoulder, which maybe speaks to his scrappiness. It also maybe gives him a slightly deeper way to relate to someone like Helena--someone who is white but other--and gives the people who love (or lust after) him a potential cultural excuse for feeling as bewitched as they sometimes do. I also just love the idea of Bruce occasionally calling him “hot blooded” just to mess with him, because Dick would of course deny being so in an extremely hot-blooded manner. [x]

Her feeding into the fetishizing of biracial individuals is just disgusting and wrong. If there’s a racist stereotype available Devin really goes out of her way to make sure she includes it in her writing huh. 

Gotham Knights #20

And Bruce being a racist jerk is not charming Devin, it’s terrible. Barbara used slurs also, and was very dismissive of Dick’s reaction to Bruce’s actions...that was also horrible. It’s awful that Dick’s own family would apparently treat him this way. Obviously, Dick isn’t the only one that Devin would write out of character. 

It’s all just so messed up to me, I can’t stand it. When I first read her comics, even when it wasn’t blatant like above, I would feel something subtly off...and once I read her interviews I can’t help but notice these horrible underlying insinuations in all of her work, in so many seemingly “innocent” scenes. There are a lot of big things she’s known for (her horrible treatment of Dick’s Romani heritage and his rape for example) but all these subtle, insidious little details that people don’t even really register...they are equally frustrating to me. Seeing sects of the fandom pick up these details (like, the idea that Dick doesn’t understand personal boundaries, the idea that he’s a hot head, the idea that he’s a womanizer, etc.) when I know a lot of it stems nearly solely from Devin’s crappy characterization and writing of Dick...it’s hard. 

Q: Further to that, if Dick is gay, what kind of guy is his type?

DG: ...Type isn’t as important as passion and opportunity. Because of his psycho-sexual makeup, the other key factor would be a sense that he means something to that other man, that his “surrender” is making that man happy, allowing him to bring pleasure to someone (as he was never allowed to do for Bruce). There’s also a sense, if I may be so bold, of needing to be “caught” and “held down” - this going back to the trauma of losing his parents...being strong and passionate and heroic and virile and loving with a woman is fantastic, he lives for that. But he lost both parents. There is also a part of him that longs to be pinned down and loved a little bit savagely and hurt just enough to reassure him that he’s alive. Man, I’m totally gonna get fired when this comes out....

Literally makes me want to barf. That is supposed to be a professional, official writer at DC. Could go on forever.