#is this what people talk about when they mention retrograde

[xinganhao]

♍️ svt reacts to your interest in astrology.

@flipflopscrop -> "what do you think of ot13 reacting to readers’ interest in astrology?"

✩ astrology and horoscopes, mostly crack/humor, cussing and good-natured bickering. short headcanons under the cut.

♍️ headcanons .ᐟ

— lives for it ✩ seungcheol, soonyoung, seokmin, chan.

to absolutely no one's surprise, seokmin is the most likely to revel in astrology. he likes the little daily horoscopes and reminders that he feels are 'curated' to him. you may have to warn him every so often that these are mere suggestions, and not in fact something that should be taken to heart. on the flipside, chan's interest in astrology may come as a bit of a surprise! really, though, he seems to just enjoy the memes attached to his sign. expect to be on the receiving end of a lot of aquarius-related jokes or jabs. seungcheol is 100% the type to say "it's because i'm a leo" without really understanding what being a leo entails. he feels like it excuses a lot of his behavior, so he'll probably lean into it for the hell of it. soonyoung is similar, though he takes it more to the extremes. he might wreak havoc and then proceed to justify it by reasoning that he's a gemini.

— begrudging acceptance ✩ jeonghan, mingyu, seungkwan.

the vibes in this line is very "what the hell, sure." mingyu is admittedly bordering on 'lives for it' and 'general confusion', which just means there are times where he might deign to act on his horoscope of the day. as it is, though, he doesn't really understand what being an aries means in the grand scheme of things. jeonghan openly judges you for this, but he also knows there's no stopping you. he'll listen to his horoscope with mild interest; he's not about to do anything with it, and he may even make some snide comments here and there about you being gullible. seungkwan will subscribe to astrology when it benefits him. is his horoscope good for the week? alright, then he's happy to be a capricorn! is mercury in retrograde? eh, astrology doesn't mean that much, anyway.

— general confusion ✩ joshua, junhui, jihoon.

these boys have no idea what you're talking about. jihoon is the most confused out of everyone, admittedly, because what does being a sagittarius have to do with anything? he no longer tries to hide the fact that he's completely clued out on anything astrology-related, though he'll let you say anything if it makes you happy. joshua is confused but also pleasantly surprised every time you relate his behavior to being a capricorn. he'll look things up as necessary and debunk them, even, if he thinks it's not relevant. junhui gets frustrated, more often than not, and so you can expect some overreactions when you clock him for being a gemini. he will want in-depth reads as to how you related his actions to his sign; be warned, he'll be rolling his eyes and scoffing quite a bit.

— vehement denial of anything & everything astrology ✩ wonwoo, minghao, vernon.

this feels relatively self-explanatory. these three aren't accepting or confused. they are bona fide disbelievers and haters of astrology, and any/all mentions of it will only serve to irk them. wonwoo? narrowing his eyes at you, as if anticipating that you'll chalk up his behavior to being a cancer. ready with a quip and a groan for when, inevitably, you fall right into the stereotype. minghao? launching into a whole tirade about the death of free thinking. his side eye is absolutely lethal as he mumbles about the cons of astrology. and vernon? he hates being perceived, but he hates it even more when he's lumped in with a whole group of people solely because of his sign. expect his grumblings of "be for fucking real" as he mopes about your predictions.

› scroll through all my work ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧ ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ my masterlist | @xinganhao

[i-hate-peas]

The Old Guard Fic Recs

So I've been a long time lurker within the fandom without ever getting particularly involved, but I wanted to show some appreciation for some of the super talented people who go here, because I have read a lot of incredible TOG fic.

Most (probably all) of these authors have loads of other amazing fics, but I've tried to just chose one from each, to keep the list a vaguely reasonable length. Although then I cheated and did some honourable mentions.

** just a note to say I started this list year (s) ago and forgot about it until literally today when I saw fic recs going round. Any of these fics I haven’t put a description for it’s because I didn’t do it at the time, and if I go back to reread them all this would never be posted, not through any lack of affection or enjoyment **

If any writers want tagging/ untagging etc please let me know! (i knew/ could find some blogs more easily than others lol)

Within Canon

Old Olives by aeli_kindara

Garden of Gethsemane mention = instant tears

Death in Her Hands by superblackmarket

Nile's growing relationship with Joe and Nicky. All of their fics are so beautifully written, but I especially love Nile's relationship with the boys and her facing her own immortality.

Honourable mention: Station to Station

Between the Hour and the Age by hauntedjaeger (@hauntedfalcon)

Andy! Nile!

Ouroboros by CypressSunn (@cypresssunns)

Set after the film, literally just read it.

compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience by Jack_R

A pair of early days Joe Nicky fics that reminds me of 'my wife is a bitch and i love her so much'

let's give them something to talk about by lacecat

When The Cherries White With Blossoms, Be Ready & Be Brave by chapstickaddict

Unearthed by merle_p

I think this is one of the most kudosed fics in the AO3 tag, but it deserves the hype!

Kidnapping for Dummies by Amiril

Similar to above, already very popular, but great and very funny!

The Last Man on Earth by Survivah (@optimismology)

I will admit I don't normally go for Booker/Nile, but this fic sold it to me. Looking at them and their developing relationship as the newer immortals.

Canon Divergent

Retrograde by Pinkninja

I mean this fic is the Big Bitch of the fandom for me, if you haven't already read this, where have you been? But also if you haven't already read this I am so jealous, read it and take your time with it and bawl your eyes out over it and appreciate the joy of reading it for the first time. The level of detail and planning in this fic is indescribable. It follows Nicky trapped in a Time Travellers Wife style life where he jumps back and forth throughout his own timeline, whilst Joe lives his life in chronological order. Exquisitely written.

If Never Again, If Every Day by gallifreyburning and takiki16 (@gallifreyburning, @takiki16)

Another absolute Titan of the genre. I know you’ve already been recommended this 500 times, what more can I say.

though I'm dying to (fall in love with you) by yusufsmoon (@babygirlyusuf)

Travellers from an Antique Land by kaydeefalls (@kaydeefalls)

Andy, not Quỳnh, trapped under the sea. I love all their fics.

AUs

Makes Me Want You More by Sixthlight (@sixth-light)

Perhaps not the typical favourite choice from Sixthlight, one of my absolute favourite TOG authors, but one that is funny and lovely and sweet that I keep coming back to. Shorter than many of theirs but perfectly formed.

pumpkin gnocci verse (series) by Liadan14 (@bewires)

I mean it's got estranged family, suspenseful chronological structure, cooking, spies, intimate and honest sex scenes, hilarious misunderstandings involving keeping halal, lovely found family moments, and the actual recipes used. What more do you want.

The Reality of Everything by Marbletopempire

One of the fics I desperately waited for each instalment for. Very funny, lots of sexual tension, plenty of Cate Blanchette spotting opportunities.

sine qua non by mellyflori (@werebearbearbar)

One of the first of their fics I read, with a very sweet build up of misunderstanding to friends to lovers, involving growing up, discovering sexuality, trying to be nice about your best friend's bad boyfriend, and a long suffering sofa.

The Brooklyn Verse (series) by GayLittleEarring, yusufsmoon, nicelytousled (@marwankenzarisgaylittleearring @babygirlyusuf @nicelytousled)

I saw the creation of this on Tumblr before it was a fic, and it lived up to every expectation. Very sweet and sincere, with lots of great discussions about art, whilst also very funny (Lamp the free loader, Joe sending thirst traps out of irritation) and hot. ItalianAmericanNickyfromBrooklyn and Joe my beloveds.

a good (eighth) impression by deaniker

I love a good hook-up to 'oh shit I have feelings' fic, and this is even more entertaining because Nicky is Lykon's ex, and Joe has very much seen him at his worst.

You do not have to be good by emjee (MerryHeart) (@emjee)

At one point a tumblr post about Joe the Professor and Nicky the Priest got very popular, and I'm not sure if this fic was inspired by that, but is one of the great fics with similar concepts. Such a lovely, gentle fic about love and also identity, featuring also Nile and a very sweet snail.

it's such an almighty sound (series) by raedear (@raedear)

A secret service AU that goes full enemies to lovers, with lots of tension, plotting, betrayal, frustration, and tenderness.

Honourable mention: take my hand (you got me rockin' and rollin')

fight 'til the day that i die 'verse by incurableromancer

Suspenseful, noir, super hero AU that has such a great writing style and is very atmospheric.

if you do take a thief by knoepfchen (@knoepfchen)

Cluedo style AU with lots of fun twists and slow building of backstories, with the whole gang.

Honourable mention: life is not the things that we do (it's who we're doing them with)

[midheavenastrology]

🎉🧁Super rando 🎉🧁Astro Observations 🎉🧁

🍥I do not recommend dating someone who has ur chiron sign- in one way or another they will hurt you unconsciously and trigger you 😔😔😭😓🫣of course this is good in a way because all trauma is meant to be healed ❤️‍🩹🩺🩻but you have to be with someone who is conscious of the hurt they are causing. The chiron person is only really meant to surface these hurts not heal them. Think about it: ur chiron sign is literally embodying the wound that u have so to date that sign is like dating a walking red flag 🚩

🍥People with prominent Jupiter aspects to their ascendant, sun, midheaven will naturally just emit light ! ✨🌞🌻 u shine ! U so sparkle ! Jupiter expands anything it touches, so imagine having sun 🌞 aspecting Jupiter: big energy, big beam of light !!! They also have the loudest, biggest laughs lmao- this is me and everyone always tells me they love how much I laugh at everything/have the biggest guffaw- sound like a dang donkey🐴 sometimes srry not srry 🥲🥲🥲

🍥Someone with a lot of mutable placements absolutely needs fixed energy to ground and stabilize them 😇🥺when it comes to synastry. Especially when it comes to moon sign compatibility. Mutable moons are legit the most moody 🌝😩🌚Cardinal can work too but sometimes feelings will burn out quickly 🐒🔥🌪️💦

🍥However with that said: have y’all ever dated ur opposite moon sign ??? Because that sh*ts fire 🔥

🍥Be careful who you meet romantically during mars or Venus retrograde ⏪⏮️these are past lovers that come back to try sumthin, sumthin out again. Like I went on a dating app 🤪during mars ☄️retrograde and had a super casual fling that burned out super quickly💥💥💥but not with some big lessons. The seggs will be ahmazing because youve fucked around before lol 🍌✨ are the lessons worth it tho, who knos 🥲

🍥Libra and Taurus placements will always be attractive ! trust ! Venus blesses them in some way or another 🌸💅🧖‍♀️ pretty privilege y’all ✨Scorpio and Aries placements will always be sessy, trust ! mars gives them sexy privilege 🍌🍆🌶️ if u got both in ur big three, boy r u trouble 😈

🍥I read somewhere that when you’re embodying your true soul essence you take on ur vedic/sidereal placements: literally have been feelin my triple fire 🔥 placement in vedic ! 😬🌶️🔥

🍥Neptune+mercury placements ….you literally manifest when you speak so be careful what u wish for 🫶 it’s because Neptune: higher spiritual plane, angels 👼, ancestors and then mercury: communication: u are literally speaking to angels mmkay 🥲✨🫶

🍥If you lack fire 🔥 in ur chart, u tend to run V cold 🥶 like ur probs the friend who has cold hands and feet constantly ! Me 🙋‍♀️

🍥Too much mercury in ur chart or air placements can make u constantly in ur head: like u can’t detach ur mind from ur body and soul. It’s gonna be hard 4 u to meditate 🧘‍♀️ tbh. I recommend breath work 4 y’all, so u can get more in tune with ur body/or working out, running, moving ur body 🕺💃🏃‍♀️🏋️‍♀️🤹‍♀️

🍥biggest flirt placements of the zodiac goes to Aries, Gemini, Libra and Sagittarius- if u have all four shidddd…I hope ur significant other is ok 🥲 honorable mention: Pisces (but it’s cus we fall in love like 5 times a day…doesn’t mean we actually know how to flirt tho..we’re just sweet lovers by nature) Aries, Gemini, libra and Sag are the ultimate smooth talkers of the zodiac 🥵

🍥biggest non flirts of the zodiac goes to Capricorn, Virgo, Scorpio, Taurus. Ur flirting style is basically being mean, uninterested or cold. Earth+ Scorpio is very self contained, they like to keep it together and flirting feels stupid and petty. When in a mood, they don’t want to talk to anyone unless there’s a reason for it..like what do u want ? Tell me what u want, set a date and make a plan. Also lez be real: their main love is cash money 🤑

That’s all y’all 🍭🎨🤹‍♀️🤹‍♀️🤹‍♀️🤹‍♀️💅💅💅💅💅☎️☎️☎️☎️☎️☎️🧋🧋🧋🧋🧋🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

Hope y’all have a magical day 🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶

Thanks for reading+scoping !! 🥰

[danger-bird]

Touchstarved Astrology Headcanons🌠

Mostly based on my own irl observations over the years, as well as my bookworm era a few years ago . Also taking into account my own impressions & feelings for the LIs, so sufficiently biased and I'm not sorry. In the words of Danny DeVito: "I'm right, you're wrong, and there's nothing you can do about it!" /lovingly❤️

Ais

Venus in Virgo. Period. I'm dying on this hill. Fight me. No but fr, first he's a diehard animal lover and will jump into a dog fight to save a puppy. Second, he's giving "mother hen" behavior - says "watch your step", then grabs you when you trip and scolds you "told you to watch your step"(Virgo 101); sends you off with an ESCORT, jumps in fists first when the roughneck tries fighting you then hides you from the purple gang later and escorts you back himself - need I say more? Not to mention he VERY likely helped Kuras save us (his scent lingers in the clinic when MC wakes up), and helps in the clinic regularly (so a part-time nurse, most likely helped save Mhin too). Also, he was definitely watching over us even before the Seaspring (the scarred woman knew our name from somewhere, also the Unnamed can feel Ocudeus' presence outside the clinic). He craves taking care of someone - people, animals, soulless, poor unfortunate souls - you name it. And it's not for show - that's just how he is. That's how he shows love - by being attentive. All my favorite people have this placement, they're all like him in this regard - best Venus placement imo (yes, I'm a biased Venus in Taurus, BUT I'm also right, lol)

Scorpio Ascendant I mean... come on. Come on. He's LITERALLY a gang leader! Not that anybody needs convincing, but aside from the sharp, intense eyes and the fact he oozes sex appeal, this would place his Sun in 10th House- he is known publicly as a leader, his presence demands respect and attracts attention. BDE for sure. Also he's very smart, intuitive and observant. Very aware of his surroundings, can pick up on people's moods & intentions like it's nothing. I'm convinced he can literally read our mind. A smart, sexy and caring bastard, lord help me...

Kuras

Virgo Signature sign Kuras is very service-oriented, focused on helping the community and always looking for ways to assist others. Very mindful of people’s problems and what they’re in need of - and ready to provide it, no matter what it may cost him. He’s also very polite, but comes off rigid, like he’s read “Social Etiquette for Humans 101” and is following it to the letter lol. Also kinda nerdy – has his special interests, and if you let him he’ll talk about reductions and concoctions all day, every day. I don't think it's a specific placement that influences this behavior, it's the whole picture, thus - a signature sign!

Saturn Dominant This man is a Capricorn already, sure, but there’s a difference. Capricorn placements have an inner spark, a fire about them – they’re ambitious and driven while being practical and disciplined. Saturn, however, is a dry and dark, malefic - almost apocalyptic planet. It’s the last visible planet – the gatekeeper of the divine knowledge (depicted by the outer planets). It represents time, boundaries, a sense of duty and responsibility, guilt and the consequences of one's actions. A symbol of Kronos and the Devil, it represents the falling of God, the grotesque expression of divinity. Kuras has a curious mind, fascinated by science and humanity, and in light of the Kuras character lore (and his not-too-subtle mischievousness) he def has strong Uranus & Jupiter influence as well. But the Saturnian themes in particular parallel the themes and main conflict in his story most strongly.

Mercury Retrograde I had to. The way he's so precise and eloquent, but roundabout when he talks? How he's so tight-lipped and takes his sweet time before answering a question? Mercury retrograde, 100 percent. I don't make the rules.

Mhin

Moon in 1st House. How do I know? I have it. The color of printer paper (the sun hates us), emotions written all over their entire existence and impossible to hide, as well as rather intense emotional outbursts? Yes, yes and yes. Big-time tsundere? Yes. Big softy, too? Yes. We could be twins, honestly. I stg they have a crush on Ais, but unlike with Kuras they're not happy about it. I dunno, call it twin telepathy. The Christmas photo doesn't help either.

Water moon, most likely in Cancer. Not Scorpio, because their emotions fluctuate rapidly, and are overtly moody. The difference between big waves and a rip current, for example. But more so, this makes for a Sun-Moon square - the dissonance and lack of harmony between their outer persona and their inner needs and desires is clear. They have difficulty expressing their emotions, not difficulty as in showing them, but in a way where they come off wrong and get interpreted the wrong way. Very protective, like a smol soft crabbie shielding themselves with their shell. Pushes people away consciously, but hoping for someone to have enough of a "spine" to handle them and protect them, giving them a safe space to finally relax. Most of all they need love, reassurance and acceptance (my poor little meow meow💙)

Mars square Mercury That Mercury is in Aries, you can't tell me otherwise. The extra 'angry' coming from Mars in Capricorn is helping, too. But not only that, it also makes a square to their Sun AND an opposition to their Moon - a T-square, a highly difficult & stressful configuration. The Mars is in Capricorn because they like a partner with authority and attitude (Cap in 7th), and it makes for good synastry with Kuras (my cutie patooties). Also for how small they are, they're very agile and skilled with knifes (ruled by Mars).

Leander

Venus conjunct Pluto. Sexy. Magnetic. He pulls you in with the gravitational force of his tits. These people are the definition of an intense lover. Obsessive and hungry for love - and pain, equally, very big on extreme and overwhelming sensations. You have a terrible curse? Oooh, danger - gimme! You can never give them too much attention - they want it all, and they're not sharing. Possessive, wants to draw you into their little world and keep you for themselves.

Leo Ascendant, for a few reasons. I was initially thinking Libra, but after looking at everything, I decided on Leo. He has a noble presence - not surprising considering his upbringing. He's a very charismatic talker, well-spoken, lovely voice, can charm anyone into trusting him (Libra in 3rd coming through). To his credit, he takes his work seriously and comes off as a reliable boss (Cap in 6th, also Taurus in 10th). He wants to take care of people... or rather, wants to be seen as a savior. I really see him as a Gemini-Cancer cusp, but technically he's a Cancer so his sun will be in 12th house. It’s a house of self-undoing, the afterlife, illusions - ego and reality go to disintegrate here. All that connects into the life-and-death theme surrounding him and his design. The sun here becomes a fantasy, a goal rather than reality – a dream of being a leader, a hero, someone who people look up to for help and answers. He’s really giving Jesus-wannabe, with the resurrection and savior complex he has going on, as well as the over-the-top generosity. A big red crab, with a big red flag... and the tits to match (Cancer rules the booba).

Vere

Venus conjunct Midheaven, Midheaven being in Scorpio. With Sun in Scorpio. Lots of Scorpio. He’s so pretty! Pretty in an elegant, sensual, effortless yet manicured to perfection way. Apparently, the BBC (Big Bulky Collar) on him does not signal “DANGER!” to the rascals who take him for an easy target, because all they see is the approachable, delicate face and inviting voice. He knows the effect he has on people, and he’s using it to his advantage – to get a free drink, or to make people trust him juuust enough to get what he wants. He is attracted to power, powerful people, and wants power for himself – and he’s ruthless about achieving his goals, too (Scorpio in 10th); there’s a lot of gossip surrounding this man’s public image, his reputation. Venus conjunct Midheaven places a focus on art – he is an artist, appreciates art as well as creating it himself. He IS the art, or that’s the perception of him anyway.

Venus in Scorpio As Venusian as he appears, Venus is in detriment here – there’s conflicting emotions regarding his looks, and the perception of him – or rather, the expectations placed on him because of it. He'll break rules on purpose, act outrageous, play coy, use his beaty for all its worth – he’ll purposefully play the ‘bad guy’ as a form of rebellion, a defense mechanism. He can’t find comfort in a traditional relationship dynamic and has a hard time liking someone who likes them back - he’s afraid of commitment. I believe his confidence is a façade; there’s an underlying fear of betrayal and rejection, and a paranoia that any good thing that comes his way is a trick, a trap, or a lie. That he doesn’t deserve love or care, really. Buuut… if you’re like Ais and see him for all his ‘ugly’, and accept him anyway… then you’re really something💜.

1525 words. Yikes. I tried keeping the word count down.

Unsuccessful. Obviously.

If you’ve read this far, go have some water, a snack, a stretch – you deserve it! Doctor’s orders!!!

.

.

P.S. : Ais' side profile sprite is giving me "ex-punk mom wearing a cozy cardigan", is it just me? Anyone? Are you seeing it? Am I crazy? Do I need help?...

...I'll see myself out.

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.

[phyrestartr]

Simple Things [2] - Miguel O'hara x Male!Reader

# SFW, fluff, comfort, flirting, light angst, male!reader, dad!reader, spider!reader, implied depression, mentions of trauma, mentions of past relationships, mentions of manipulation, old men just doing their best, miguel is a sweetheart and a nerd, multi-part drabble collection

[ 1 ] Smoke Break | [ 2 ] We Change Like the Seasons | [ 3 ] Meet The Kids

Notes: WOW I DID IT?? AN UPDATE AYO!! No promises, but I might try to update this drabble collection every Saturday or smth 🤔 The thought for this was to make it a sorta prelude to establish the reader's relationship with Miguel, and to cement him into the universe a little bit before closing up this sequential collection and delving into shite that's more random and based off rando prompts or smth. Dunno, but we'll see!

--We Change Like the Seasons--

After your candid smoke break with Miguel, the universe apparently thought it'd be funny to throw Mercury into retrograde and absolutely wreak havoc within HQ.

Miguel, the man deciding he was responsible for all,  got affected the most: on bad days, comms exploded with barked commands and a plethora of scoffs; on worse days, a twisted frustration would fray his voice and heat his stare; on the worst days, he grit his teeth and flexed his claws whenever anyone so much as thought to come near him. Miguel didn't scare you, though. His temperament paled in comparison to what you'd faced in the military.

But you would hear the whispers sometimes, discussions about your leader going unhinged or feral. You knew how bad people moved, though, and you'd decided too long ago that Miguel was anything but a bad person. Prickly, sure, hot-headed and temperamental at times, too, but he cared. If he didn’t, then he never would have thought of funding and organizing an entire HQ and society for spider-people. He wouldn’t work towards saving everyone’s everything, either. You couldn’t help but appreciate his strong leadership, even if he did lose his temper every now and then. 

But still, you ended up keeping your distance for a time. Life had gotten busier, and you couldn’t bring yourself around HQ as often suddenly. You weren’t part of the “elite strike force” that Miguel had going, so it didn’t really matter in the end; you weren’t one of the best, you weren’t special. All you wanted was to help where you could, as much as you could. The important shit could be left to those more ingrained in all of this.

–--

Miguel felt your absence around HQ. It was like noticing the sun setting a little earlier on its way to autumn, the realization that the world would have a little less time in the light each day. A small thing. A simple pleasure one didn’t realize they basked in until too much time had passed since it disappeared. 

His mind wandered to the times he saw you before the small talk, the way you always gave little nods in greeting, whether you were passing by or coming for a meeting, and the way you sought out the younger spiders to check on them. And how could he forget about that pie you brought him? He wasn’t used to someone doing something thoughtful for him just because they wanted to. He told people where to go, what anomaly to fetch, but he never expected anyone to be so…you. 

"Heeey, Miguel? Head stuck in the clouds?" Lyla asked. 

"I–what?" Miguel blinked, suddenly feeling how dry and tired his eyes were from staring blankly at orange screens. "Santa Muerte. How long was I–" 

"Liiike ten minutes?" She smiled as Miguel sighed and rubbed at his face, willing the fatigue away. "But you got a special delivery." 

Miguel squinted over his shoulder. His expression relaxed when he saw it–a familiar, lone tupperware container. It sat near the very back, where the elevator doors were, hidden somewhere in the shadows. Last time it'd appeared on his centre console. Why so far away this time? 

"Thanks, Lyla," Miguel mumbled. He padded to the box and popped the lid open, indulging in the sweet scent of sugar cookies. A pleased purr rumbled in his chest as he peered inside, first spying an incredibly misshapen, large cookie that sat on top. Words in red scrawled across the creamy white layer of frosting, reading something to the effect of, "for Pa's frend Meegull." 

Meegull.

His hand rubbed over his mouth. Warmth bloomed in his chest, curling into an emptiness he’d long acknowledged, but refused to fill. Did he have a right to? After everything he’s done–

But those thoughts could be set aside for a moment, carefully and tenderly, acknowledging the state of his own fragility. This moment, this little thing, was a gift from someone else. Time and care spent into forging that spark in his chest for just a moment.

He could see ripples of the past: the messy chaos of the kitchen, smiles shared between father and daughter, a little girl refusing her father’s help and wanting to write the message all on her own. 

Miguel had been there too, once. In the sun and the rain, playing goalie for a little sports star, teaching her to dribble and pass and play nice with the other girls on her team. His little one was so like him–competitive, snarky, bright. She burned so bright she turned his heart to ash.

“You okay?” Lyla peeped, peering over Miguel’s shoulder. 

Miguel took a deep breath. He nodded. “Yeah. I’m–I’m fine. Just…yeah.” 

His confidant nodded. “Yeah. I get it.” Lyla adjusted her sunnies before flickering down to the box and reading the garbled message. “Awe, that’s cute.” 

Miguel huffed a laugh and nodded. “Yeah. It is.” 

“You think he’ll bring his daughters around?” Was that hope he heard in his little AI’s voice?

“Well, if he does,” Miguel started as he snapped the container closed, “I’ll have to make sure I thank them.”

–-

You laid on your back, one leg crossed over the other. Your wakefulness ebbed and flowed to the rhythm of whatever song buzzed through those old headphones of yours. They were beaten up things, artifacts that should have been replaced three times over already, but you couldn't bring yourself to do it; your girl loaned them to you on base all those years ago, and whenever you picked them up and felt the soft, crackled leather against your fingers, you'd be reminded of easier times, simpler days–a past where you were blissfully unaware. 

The memories hurt, sure, but the little bit of peace she brought you soothed your heart, while at the same time breaking it into two jagged parts. You wished she still stood by you, that you might find yourself whole again if she were still there. Maybe your serenity would have lasted, turned into marriage, evolved into something unreal, but that's not what happened.

Sometimes, you'd feel the icy prick of needles when you reached for the decrepit Sonys. They'd pierce all over, from your temples down to your ankles, and they hurt. God, did it ever hurt. Just like whatever they injected you with–whatever she injected you with–that bonded to your DNA, that made you more than human, and less than human. 

God. It hurt.

You remembered her so vividly. Behind the veil of black obscuring the vision of closed eyes, you saw her standing there, the spitting image of what your little Isabella would look like when she grew up. Only, you hoped she'd have the good parts of Liliana, leaving behind the frigid woman who lured you into an experiment. 

"You're gonna be fine, honey, just trust me. Your DNA's a perfect match. You're the only suitor for the test--you'll be the next Captain America."

Honeyed words, simple lies, sweet nothings–she did everything to trap you, but you would have bent a knee at "please."

"I trust you." 

But you really shouldn't have. 

Your hand curled tightly around the phone on your chest as you recalled the pain: the acidity eating your eyes, the boiling in your veins, the snapping of rearranging bones. It wasn't normal, not in the grand scheme of Spiderman and how his powers felt when they manifested. But you weren't exactly normal, either, considering you once coexisted with another in your body. 

Heat washed up your face. Your eyes slid open slowly, and you stared up at a perfectly clear, azure expanse of sky, blurred through molten, crystalline grief. Christ, why was this happening now? You'd done so well for so long, kept it all together. Why–

The door to the balcony hissed open. You rubbed your face, willing the pear-cut diamonds away, not letting them rest on haggard skin. Losing it in front of somebody wasn’t allowed. You weren’t sure if you could come back from it. 

“Good to know I'm not the only one who sleeps on the job," Miguel remarked, voice warm and latent with snark. 

You couldn’t help a huff of amusement yourself. "Great minds think alike, hey?"  You yawned and sat up, letting your headphones slip down to your neck while you messed with your nest of fluffy hair. "This is the only place I–uh, I��" 

You blinked dumbly in the face of a to-go cup held out to you. The roasted scent of fresh coffee wholly distracted you from whatever the hell you were trying to say, but you didn't reach for it. Was it even for you? You wanted it, but–

"This is the part where you take it," Miguel teased, reaching it slightly closer to you.

You grasped it with both hands, feeling a weird, pleasant, happy boom pulse through your chest and down your arms, rushing a dusting of rose to your nose and cheeks while your mind flailed helplessly. What the fuck was this? The hell were you supposed to do with this? Well, drink it, duh, but…

"I, uh…yeah, thanks." You held the drink close and let it warm your cold hands. It felt nice. "But, uh, why–?" 

"That's a stupid question." Miguel didn't even look your way. He leaned against the wall, though, and sipped from his own cup.

You were the one left fidgeting this time. You picked at the cardboard sleeve, tearing tiny rips into it before finally letting yourself indulge and take a sip. It was sweet, slightly too sweet, but in a very…well, Miguel kind of way: expected to be bitter, but decidedly the opposite.

"Didn't know how you take it," Miguel grumbled, hints of (oh?) embarrassment in his voice. Hah. Cute. 

"Hey, tastes fine to me. Better sweet than bitter, yeah?" You hummed as the tiniest of smiles fought its way to the surface. "'Ppreciate it, Boss. Seriously." 

Miguel's shoulders lost their tense edge. "Well. Least I could do, since you keep feeding me." 

"That's just my fatherly instinct kicking in; I got a mighty strong urge to take care of any reckless kiddos that run amok. Y’know, the ones who leap before they think, the ones who forget to eat, yadda yadda." You sipped your coffee again and intentionally ignored the indignant look sent your way. 

"Good to know you see me as a reckless punk," Miguel huffed. 

"Mh. Feel free to call me 'daddy.'" 

That got a laugh out of him, just a few breathy beats. "Oh, wow, I think I'll forget you just said that, actually." 

"Your loss." You smiled slightly against the rim of your cup as you stared out at Nueva York. "Can’t say daddy is much of a turn-on in bed these days, though. Not when you have little ones," you mumbled to yourself more than to Miguel. But the man had enhanced hearing, so of course he heard. 

"You're joking," Miguel said, exasperated. 

Your gaze met his and you quirked a brow. "Hm?" 

"You really had people call you that in bed?" The distasteful sour expression Miguel wore reminded you so much of your littlest one when she ate something she hated. You had to rush to swallow your coffee before you laughed.

"Yeah. Not my favourite thing, but it happens. Besides, I'm not about to tell them to knock it off in the middle of things." You shrugged and picked at the plastic lid. "Men 'n women 'n everyone in-between think it's sexy to call a guy that these days, y'know?" You shook your head and sighed softly, but still amused.

"These days," Miguel repeated. "How often are you–?" 

"A man's gotta eat, Boss." You smiled at him, letting that atrocious playboy slip out to say hello with the sort of smirk you gave him. You almost thought Miguel's ears turned a bit red, but it was probably just from the cold. 

"You can't tell me you're not getting any," you half-asked, half-remarked. “A guy like you?”

Miguel cleared his throat and sipped from his cup. "Guess I just haven't found anyone in a while." 

"Yeah?" You tilted your head back against the wall as you stared up at the clouds. "Huh. Not even any of the spiders?" 

"It's just–what's the point?" He burst. "At the end of this shitshow, all of us are going back to our dimensions, back to our lives and we won't get to–" his breath hitched, "we don't always get what we want." 

You dragged yourself up from the ground, being careful not to drop your drink, headphones or phone as you stood by your fellow Spiderman. You ditched your phone in your pocket before clasping a warm, heavy hand on Miguel's unyielding shoulder. 

"Miguel," you started, looking at him earnestly while he stared forward, eyes hard, but softening with the murmur of his name, "you can't think like that. Everything ends. It has to." 

"Not comforting." 

"Hey, hey, I'm not done." You gave him a small, friendly shake and felt his muscles almost relax under your touch. "Listen, if everything lasted forever, nothing would be special, yeah? Life would be meaningless, love wouldn't matter. But you get a chance to have that happiness–" 

Memories of roses in her hair came with a gentle gust of peculiar warm wind, so out of place in the playful nip of autumn. If you took a moment, if you closed your eyes and breathed deep, you might've caught the whisper of white jasmine riding the coattails of summer nights long since passed. That was your happy place. Somewhere you wished you could have stayed longer. Somewhere you were glad you could wander back to moments of quiet loneliness.

"--and it'd be a real shame to give up on that." 

Maybe it was the vibrato in your voice, or maybe it was the words you spoke resonating with him, but something sparked in whirling carmine irises, painting them a colour so like Dahlia's favourite red roses. You couldn't help but stare. You couldn't stop the thorned buds blooming in your chest, either. 

Miguel smiled, then. Light and sweet, with a sweep of those eyes, half-lidded and thoughtful, gazing back to the city. More flowers bloomed. 

"And here I thought you were a soldier. Where'd all that come from?" He asked quietly. His brows furrowed, though, worrying over something. 

"Eh. Lots of therapy." You pat his shoulder a few gentle times. "But I'm serious, y'know? Good things come to an end. And, y'know, if it really hurts ya, you can just use your fancy gizmo to go visit, yeah? Or, I mean, you can just find someone to fuck." 

Miguel gave you a look and the mood shifted away from genuinity back into clownery (thank God). "To fuck?" He balked. You nodded wisely. "You-- I'm too old to be sleeping around."

"Hey, hey, I sleep around. You're never too old." You almost managed a glare at him. "Sometimes I just wanna mess around, get laid, maybe accidentally find The One–" 

"Oh, you’re hoping to find 'the one,' huh?" Miguel remarked, definitely believing you. “How’s that going for you?”

You sighed dramatically and leaned into him like your will to live was running out. "Oh, It’s brutal. Lots of trial and error. Such a shame." 

"Mmh, I'm sure." 

[tomorrowusa]

It's the media, stupid!

No, I'm not talking about specifics of various news media outlets or nitpicking about particular stories or attitudes. The problem is the vast overall state of the media environment in the United States.

Kate Riga is on target with her blog entry at TMP. (emphasis added)

Democrats Just Can’t Compete In This Media Environment

[T]here’s one leading factor that Democrats absolutely need to respond to as quickly as possible to avert this kind of electoral disaster in the future: the media environment unequivocally favors Republicans. We don’t have a ton of data yet, and much of it is partial. But we can already tell that Harris performed best — that is, underperformed least — in the battleground states. In the places where her campaign flooded the airwaves with her messaging, put her on TV shows and radio stations and in local newspapers, scattered driveways with information flyers, positioned her beside local celebrities, she improved on the repudiation of Democrats that infected nearly every other state. In other words: In the states where she set up a temporary but pervasive media apparatus, she negated some of the nationwide drag. That speaks to the reality that most of the country is awash in right-wing propaganda all the time. For the olds, it’s Fox News and conservative radio; for the youths, it’s the right-wing manosphere podcasts and streams that Trump so assiduously courted all campaign long (plus soothing TikToks promoting retrograde gender roles, evangelical values and distrust of government regulation — think the trad wives and crunchy so-far-left-they’ve-looped-around-to-the-right content — aimed specifically at women). It helps explain Biden’s prodigious unpopularity, despite passing a ton of legislation that not only polls well, but has meaningfully improved people’s lives. It helps elucidate the consistent claims that people don’t know what Harris stood for, before and after she released her policy proposals. It’s a playing field that Republicans not only dominate; Democrats don’t even compete. They still depend heavily on traditional media sources that simply don’t operate the same way these right-wing PR arms do. And we know that these forms of media are powerful; they reach tons of people, and are seen as useful enough pawns that Russia has invested in some of them. This isn’t a novel observation. The Obama alums who started Pod Save America and the greater Crooked Media family did so after Trump won in 2016 specifically to try to build up a Fox News of the left. There are structural problems with mimicking this right-wing content beat-for-beat. The Pod Save guys, while open about their political allegiances, often criticize the party and its politicians. It would be much more difficult to recreate the fawning adoration of Donald Trump Fox News and those podcasts produce for, say, Joe Biden on the left. It requires creativity and investment, but I think Democrats and those aligned with them could do it. Voters say over and over that they prefer Democratic policies — even Republicans often vote for them when they’re standalone ballot initiatives. It’ll require a cultivation of talent, a saturation of these spaces, finagling how to wrest back the counter-cultural bad boy persona from those who are espousing a way of life most people consider retrograde, confining, divisive and exhausting, not to mention solely in service of the plutocratic elites that run the party. Obama was such a revelation because he hijacked technology in a way that was new and exciting for people, and it helped him micro-target low propensity voters. Trump has since taken that mantle. In the two and then four years ahead, Democrats have to find a way to get in people’s eyes and ears, to figure out how to make an affirmative case in these spaces that people would likely respond to if they were exposed to it.

It's not just Fox News – which is bad enough by itself. There are the rightwing talk radio stations dating back to the 1980s. They joined Christian fundamentalist stations which had been pushing social conservative positions since the 1930s. And now there are countless bro types who talk rightwing shit for hours at a time on their podcasts.

Apart from Obama's skillful use of social media when it was still new, Democrats have fallen behind with digital media. Most recently, Elon Musk bought Twitter simply to use it as a propaganda machine. Facebook and its sister sites like Instagram use algorithms which promote rightwing talking points.

There had been attempts to set up liberal talk radio. But they have been sporadic and met with mixed success. Al Franken set up a liberal radio network called Air America Radio in 2004. But it had only modest reach on mostly medium powered stations and ultimately filed for bankruptcy during the Great Recession.

We need to increase our news and information footprint in a major way and on multiple media platforms – and fast. Obviously that takes money and business talent. So if you find yourself next to Mark Cuban, Bill Gates, or Michael Bloomberg on a flight or in an elevator, have your pitch ready. If that doesn't happen, we need to start raising money on our own. Nobody said that freedom is free.

[omghallucinations]

I was late to the poll but I also like Hongjoong and Soyeon (tho my ult is Hongjoong and I don't stan Gidle but like their music and her too!) so when I saw you on the past mention the two I hoped you could talk more about bc always seen it as well and now got excited seeing you will do a comparison chart! :D

yES :) :) niche interests UNITE!!!!

like a) i'm interested in commonalities between leaders in general and b) soyeon and hongjoong have ALWAYS reminded me of each other in some ways--like they are both capricorn risings, neptune and uranus in 1st, chart ruler saturn in the 3rd, scorpio MC--physically they look similar (tiny with a BIG presence, shape shifters, performance geniuses) and their personalties have that same funny like... people think they're intense and scary unless they know what a little weirdo cutie they are. but also they truly can be intense and scary! then be a loser three minutes later. they can be geniuses and they can be dummies. duality !!

i also find it such a great way to go really deep into a placement and tease out the subtle differences and how that can manifest?

like they are both ruled by retrograde saturn in the 3rd (work communication and bucking the norm = key themes) but

hongjoong is ruled by 29° aries saturn -- he is gonna be tested much more on issues of authority, judgment, work than soyeon is. he also has more of a natural talent for leadership but also a hot and cold potential to be a tyrant lol (temper). his saturn is in the jupiter decan, so education philosophy idealism Open Mindedness are all important too soyeon is ruled by 3° taurus saturn-- more of a workhorse, methodical and like... she's not gonna get mad as easily she's like "lol ok let's see who blinks first bc it's not gonna be me honey" (stubborn as hell) and it's in the venus decan so #aesthetic also she is about that creative control + control freak vibes rather than her needing to be in charge for its own sake

so for example

-> if soyeon hates something she's written (superlady lol) she's gonna accept the L (loudly, 3rd house) and move on, but -> hongjoong might be internally irritated but also refuse to admit he was wrong (aries energy 🤪) and maybe just talk his way around something like that (3rd house)

hongjoong's saturn is ruled by his 8th house virgo mars

his chart ruler energy is more... uh... depression potential? 8th house and virgo both um... can be a little negative or depressive at times. however also precise, rational, reliable, service-oriented, transformative, deep, committed, i'm a survivor i'm not gonna give in i'm not gonna stop, i'm gonna work harder, u know the tune. hongjoong's saturn is motivated not only by his own desire to assert himself but also his care for others or his want to like... be of service? very tsundere, you aries saturn you. plus there's an 8th house sex and death vibe to hongjoong's saturn which feels... truly so right. like who else is gonna lead a sexy cyberpunk anarchist revolutionary performance demon power of friendship concept other than a uranus-neptune-capricorn rising ruled by 3rd house aries saturn rx ruled by 8th house virgo mars. like. all the key words are there down to the aquarius uranus cyberpunk energy, like. also jupiter decan... more successful overseas, gets lucky overseas???? idk??

soyeon's saturn is ruled by her exact leo venus-mercury conjunction in the 7th house

her chart ruler energy NEEDS to create and perform like almost pathologically, has an ego but also there's an impulse to compromise or make nice that super disagrees with other parts of her chart. however her saturn is also generous, creative, fair, artistic, team-orientated. mercury adds to the 3rd house gemini energy--youthful, playful, loves to learn, switches lanes like crazy. it makes sense that idle's concepts bounce around very a lot, and that soyeon does all the creative direction herself down to hair and makeup, and that she usually starts with a very clear message to communicate when designing a comeback (even if sometimes the message is super specific and profound and sometimes the message is "idk fuck it we ball"--like tbh if i had been responsible for quite literally pretty much everything for my group since debut while constantly having to fight the public and even the company despite having kept the lights on pretty much single-handedly for the past ??? years, i too would want to fuck it and ball after a while)

(hongjoong also has a prominent venus but his is conjunct his mc--very visible, very key to what he offers the world, what he wants the world to perceive him like--soyeon's venus is much more about creative vision communication and work and hongjoong's venus is more expression and expansion and growth)

ANYWAY. oops that was long and i even have a long draft for this already. well i love to have fun, so. stay tuned lmao.

[marengogo]

The Thing Is - 4: Guilty Because Wanted Guilty.

Listening to the playlist WHO IS A HAEGUM.

[Music is a very big part of my life and I’m MOSTLY INCAPABLE of writing without music, so I just thought I'd share what I am listening to while writing this]

–🐺–🐺–🐺–

⚠️TW - Imma be unnecessarily honest. I’ll curse A LOT. I’ll mention human depraved actions while still censuring them, but yeah. I need to put my heart in peace, so I can advance in this “war” feeling less angry/frustrated/aggraved and hopefully a bit more savvy. ⚠️

My dear Gurls, Bois and Enbys,

Hope you are handling life with better wits about yourself than I am. I’ve tried to look at all sides in this "SK-Media Sich" we are in, I’ve been crying, ranting and yelling during Mercury Retrograde and I’ve been silently nodding my way through the past couple of days, but surprise-surprise, I’m done with alla dat, so I’m here to bitch and let bygones be bygones. I just gotta do it loudly if not my brain will not register, cause you know I’m getting old an all.. And by bygones I mean, the hope that SK Media will, somehow, see the light and rectify their ways.

SK-MEDIA 👏🏾 DOESN’T 👏🏾 LIKE 👏🏾BTS.

The quicker we get that engraved in our skulls the easier EVERYTHING will get.

They absolutely never had, they presently definitely don’t, and most likely never will. Media is a profession, and like every profession they need money, to make a living you know, like I do, and you do. However, there are certain jobs which have a moral code that should be higher than others. Such as doctors, lawyers, law enforcement officers, to name a few, as they are directly involved with the safety of citizens/civilians. Media, in the big year of 2024, should also be considered directly involved with the safety of citizens/civilians. 

Media is supposed to be the eyes and ears of the citizens, so that, among the many things, we can be properly informed, in order to make the rightful judgement and/or be warned of dangerous situations we might encounter, so that we can be properly prepared. All the while, presenting themselves with integrity, by always upholding good ethics and abiding by a wish of reporting truthful news. Well, my people, SK MEDIA HAS MANAGED TO DO NOT A SINGLE THING OF THE AFOREMENTIONED.

NOT ONE.

To begin with: They are fucking bullies. 

Honestly you need to look no further, no k-drama, no old-school urban legend, just figure out who they hate and you’ll have A-Team Bully Squad What?! You thought all those years of bullying, or being bullied, at school would have gone wasted once you graduated from the education system? Child … . Once they’ve found their target, complete annihilation is the goal. Did you drink a few? Caused no physical harm to anybody, damaged no property, but fell at the entrance of your property, mainly because of a sharp turn, took full accountability, and immediately apologised? 

AYTE, BET.

Fuck all the women in my country that have been finding it excruciatingly hard to live in their own country. Fuck the young girls who are being contantly s3xuall1 h4rassed. Fuck the upcoming generation suffering from so much collective generational trauma that they may not even make it past elementary school age alive. Fuck the fact that my own country is, for the most part, raising entitled male brats, who don’t fundamentally understand the value of life. Fuck the fact that when S-M Entertainment was created, they unfortunately ended up also creating the foulest and most flawed system for success, aka the Idol Sytem. FUCK ALLA DAT. You don’t go through SK Media to guarantee your success? You don’t pay us to keep your darkest secrets? You offended us in some kinda way? You are not part of the Elite? … You are a woman? … We will end you, bro! Illegally or illegally, cause, who’s gonna stop us?

… And you wonder why K-ARMY has been acting like they have? 

And I am not talking about the ones who became anti, FUCK THEM TOO, they are the type of people, who would kick out their own children if they were caught doing the same thing, instead of figuring out causes, teaching accountability and figuring out punishments and future prevention. I’m talking about the K-ARMY who presently are so paralysed by fear that they are scared of even breathing in the fear that perhaps their government/police/media will create some inexistent crime and pin it on 🐱cause we all know how fact checking is paramount and still alive nowadays … 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡. Even as we speak, K-ARMY fear that Samsung might decide to drop 🐱, which hey, it’s your country, do what you gotta do, I can almost guarantee you that Apple is probably literally outside the door waiting for their opportunity, cause here in the West we have our 99 big issues, but an inebriated kickboard, ain’t 1. 

They are living this Black Mirroresque kinda reality everyday. You know who else is? 🐱. He is also very aware of how things work in his country UGH! does after all have a reason for existing, can’t stress this enough … and though he definitely would have the right to contest unnecessary mistreatment, he knows he will definitely “die” before he even “attempts to get to the top of that hill”, which is why after he’s done all he needed to do, he’s handeed himself to the A-Team Bully Squad for their Exclusive + Deluxe Treatment reserved to the likes of 875. 

Y’all want an extreme example? Here we go:

Picture Germany, 1943 yes I’m going there , their Media at the time was completely controlled by their government, hence allowing them to report lie after lie after blasted lie to their citizens, in addition, from the testimony of many a citizen citizens swore up and down to not know what was going on the concentration camps, just “people would go in, and never come back out …”. So it was that many German Jews because lets not forget that they were all German, just not “aryan” , decided to either find ways to fight which will almost certainly ended in them being k1lled, or just directly un4live themselves rather than being subjugated to that hell, the majority as we all know, had no other choice but to comply. 

Yet we do have the likes of Schindler, who managed to save hundreds of German Jews. How did he do that? He most certainly did not try to go against the Media or the government in power, I can guarantee you that. He found other trusted non-Jew Germans, who had contacts with Allies, who had other contacts and so on and so forth. But it was all covert. After all the Allies existed, they were fighting the war, they all knew what was going on in Germany and eventually they found their way to get in and help put an end to it all. 

In this horrendous scenario, I-Army are the Allies and K-Army is Schindler, but unfortunately, I have no idea how we can help them, because it has to come from them to us, not the other way round, as we know nothing about how to deal with things over there, BUT, if they need help they all know where to find us and how to get the help they need without attracting unwanted gazes, I’m sure of that. So we must let them be and we will be here for them if/when they need. 

While the rest of the world slowly keeps finding out about the SK Media Clown Show, we’ll keep doing our “storming”. We won’t be silent, we’ll keep reporting injustice, we’ll keep fact-checking and make sure that people also do the same, we’ll keep reporting fake/anti accounts, we’ll keep sending fan letters even if it is just 3 per month now we’ll keep buying merch, we’ll keep streaming songs, we’ll keep doing projects in their name, etc etc etc. 

I will never surrender.

Because they are worth fighting for.

Good. I've let it all out. Now it's time to go report some k-anti accounts!

Always respectfully yours 🫰🏾💜,

Marengo.

FUTURE IS GONNA BE OKAY, LET'S HANG IN THERE Y'ALL!

[stardustprompts]

the texas chain saw massacre ( 1974 ) sentence starters change tenses/pronouns as needed !!  some lines have been edited for clarity / length / ease of roleplaying tw ;  death , murder , blood mention

'it just means that saturn's a bad influence. it's just particularly a bad influence now because it's in retrograde.'

'people shouldn't kill animals for food.'

'it is possible we could talk about something else?'

'put the knife away.'

'there are moments when we cannot believe that what is happening is really true. pinch yourself and you may find out that it is.'

'you're liable to get hurt.'

'you don't want to go fooling around other folks property. some folks don't like it and they don't mind showing you.'

'you think that's blood?'

'you think that guy's just trying to scare us?'

'it looks like the birth place of bela lugosi.'

'hey, I'm scared.'

'if I have any more fun today, I don't think I'm going to be able to take it.'

'he's gonna kill you.'

'are you mad at me?'

'I'm just tired. it's been a long day.'

'everything means something, I guess.'

'quit goofing on me.'

'I'm not leaving here without (name).'

'I think we ought to go.'

'I don't think that's a good idea.'

'I thought I heard something.'

'what are you doing?'

'I told ya to stay away from that graveyard.'

'you can make them stop.'

'you can't let them kill me.'

'you're crazy!'

'I understand you ain't nothing.'

'I just can't take no pleasure in killin'.'

'there's just some things you gotta do. don't mean you have to like it.'

'it won't hurt a bit.'

[neptunedivine]

astro observations pt. i

✧ neptune in aquarius generation ✧

(tw: possible conversational topics)

Hi everyone! I wanted to first say thank you so much to everyone who liked, reblogged, and/or followed me after my recent post. I wasn’t expecting that response at all and it really made my week!! I also wanted to mention that I am not an astrologer, I’m a computer science student (whose semester starts in a week) so consistency isn’t a strong suit rn. Regardless, I appreciate the support. 🥰

Here are a few observations I’ve noticed with the Aquarius Neptune Generation (as someone with this placement) - I do relay my points back to astrology but these are just my opinions. It’s okay to disagree! :)

✧ for context, Neptune rules over the zodiac sign Pisces and themes of dreams, illusions, mystics, intuition, imagination, etc. Aquarius and those who carry placements in this sign (more obviously if the placement is prominent) express characteristics of intelligence, invention, humanitarianism, friendliness, altruism, and reformation.

fake activism ✧ I feel like a lot of people in this generation are only activists online, or the power they either choose to or believe that they have is digital. Like they will repost an infographic about a human rights issue but won’t make any physical permanent change (i.e. a donation or bringing it up in conversations with their friends to spread more awareness). That activism and reformation being talked about is the Aquarius feature, but the lack of permanence is the Neptunian feature.

✧ I could go deeper into this but I feel like the discussion could be seen as controversial, so I’ll spare the details.

fake wealth ✧ There are a lot of influencers and people on the internet that flex their wealth online. Presenting this false persona of themselves. In reality, this isn’t true. I feel like a lot of the time we’re told this but without knowing how many people are doing this. Traditionally the 11H is governed by Aquarius and one of the themes of the 11H is community, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a lot of people. I feel like when Saturn transits Taurus in the future, this could come to light?

(Saturn will transit through Taurus until fall 2029, go retrograde in Aries until spring 2030, and will remain in Taurus until spring 2032)

✧ The only reason I infer this is that Saturn returns are like check-ins to make sure you’re putting in the work to take care of yourself, your life, and your decisions relating to your Saturn placement. If you have, you will be rewarded by Saturn, and if not you will be disciplined. And something about lying to people about your wealth seems valid of that discipline.

being chronically online ✧ This one annoys me because I swear the world would be a much better place with common sense and critical thinking skills…anyway. A lot of people try to be a voice for what they view as an underrepresented community, without questioning the validity of their statement.

today someone in a comment section on my fyp said that “being chronically online is an insult to chronically ill people” 😐😑😐

that’s all for now. see you later!

[phoenixashvibes]

Mercury in Aries ♈️

TRANSITS (RX is 4/1)

March 9, 2024 at 11:03pm EST Mercury will transit to Aries starting to steadily approach its retrograde on APRIL FOOLS DAY on April 1st. These times will be marked with a transit from out of the creative, dreamy and watery Pisces into quick expression, highly enthusiastic, quick and decisive Aries. We will see people being more alert and assured of what is going on with themselves. It would be an ideal time to put some of those ideas you dreamed up in Pisces season to fiery action in a practical manner. This is a favorable energetic for kicking off literally anything new for you!

As Mercury gets comfortable in Aries it is go time because On Sunday The Moon is NEW MOON in PISCES at 5:00AM EST and then later the Moon will also join Mercury in Aries at 8:19PM EST Not to mention that the sextile with Mercury and Pluto in Aquarius at 6:20pm EST & Moon & Pluto Sextile at 10:38pm EST There are huge improvements in communication coming in with this astrological transit. Aries is the sign where the vibe is "it's all about me" and with Mercury the sign of (thinking/communication) this will initiate a period of time with bright and passionate sparks of creative endeavors taking off with lightning speed whether that be romantic (or platonic) outings, communication can get a bit spicy. There will be no filter on and offline!! Sarcasm will reign. Communication can easily lead to argument or conflict if we aren’t careful since it can be aggressively assertive in nature. People will be way more blunt and say what’s on their mind before it’s fully processed smh on a more positive side difficult conversations will be easier to have and it won’t be hard to speak up or put yourself or ideas out to others :)

People will also be driving fast on these roads. Be safe and buckle up. This is ideal for race car driving for those who are Aries Mercury it's a Need For Speed. Trust me I know. These people drive really fast and recklessly but they usually do not hit people they are normally the ones who get struck in traffic accident wrecks so be safe during these times because now EVERYONE will be on this.

When Aries is in Mercury people really don't have much patience for b/s and things can get violent super quick with speedy Mercury in this Martian territory. This will be a time to think before speaking, driving crazy, and/or doing anything too risky based off impulse. Know when to cut out or remove yourself from any hostile or chaotic situations with haste it would be good for you and all involved under this astrological transit w/ Mercury in Aries

Embody the evolved side of Aries where you are strategic about your next move. Well thought out planning while executing without much delay. Do what you feel most passionate about. Do not let any trivial matters and concerns overwhelm you. Be truthful about everything to yourself and others unapologetically but also as respectfully as you are able to be. Do not let anyone provoke you into any situation where it can undermine your position, success, self worth, etc. Do not be too selfish or a pushover during these times.

MARCH 18th PRE-RETROGRADE shadow begins MARCH 19th is the FIRST DAY OF SPRING it is also the same day the Sun goes into Aries later at 11:06PM EST. Earlier in the day, Mercury will go conjunct with the North Node in Aries spiraling us to adapt to embracing brand new perspectives and plans for elevating our lives for the near and far out future in the new zodiac year.

APRIL 1st Mercury goes RX at 6:15PM EST This will be a good time to start setting more alarms and alerts/ Practice more self exploration and introspection. stay loyal to your friends and spouses. Make efforts to do more positive self talk. Practice patience while communicating. Avoiding heavy traffic areas if at all possible while traveling unless you want to be around those who drive like it’s the Autobahn or NASCAR. Journal and meditate. Clear the headspace since Aries rules the head! Also, don’t be afraid to take the lead. Aries is all about leadership and doing being that it is a Cardinal fire sign. Take action to have your life run the way you want, you’re the main character 🥰

APRIL 11th- Mercury conjunction with the Sun at 5:06PM EST An ideal day for anything that requires a quick response. Social interactions will be at an all time high. Ironically the day is 4/11 which is also a number that stands for information, you know the 411 lol 😂 so there will be a lot of information being exchanged. Chatterbox city on and off line. You won’t be able to avoid communicating with yourself or others about new ideas and plans for what’s to come!

APRIL 25th 8:55AM EST Mercury goes Direct Everything comes to a culmination. Of course the shadow period will be for two more weeks but the hard part is out the way. Now is a time to reflect and directly apply everything you learned through this transit. There will be a lot of work to build a solid foundation for whatever it is you initiated under this Mercury in Aries transit. There may be some making up to do for those that let the fiesty, fiery side come out through arguments and conflict. It will be easier to start hard conversations in order to gain understanding from whatever got misunderstood when things got chaotic. You will have the courage to speak up regarding whatever it is you initiated and focused your attention on. Some will be playing catch up and others will be moving at faster rates. Results and progress can be made quicker now so use this wisely to push ahead 🫶🏽

May 13th Mercury’s Post Retrograde (RX) ends

On May 15th Mercury enters Taurus

HISTORICAL EVENTS DURING ARIES IN MERCURY Sinking of the Titanic - April 16, 1912

Battle(s) of Lexington & Concord- April 19, 1775 (start of American Revolutionary War)

American Pony Express First Run- April 3, 1860

Former US Pres. Donald Trump plead not guilty to NY court on 34 felony counts of falsifying documents related to 2016 "hush money" payments to a woman alleging they had an extramarital affair- April 4, 2023

Former Pres. Barack Obama endorses his former Vice P. Joe Biden for pres.- April 15, 2020

My Predictions for This Year in 2024:

More Coverage/Talks of Multiple Countries at War

Beef between Stans or Musicians

New Laws Being Proposed & Others Being Implemented into Law

Pre-Election Talk

Zodiac Signs Most Effected?

Aries, Gemini, Libra, Taurus

[sophieinwonderland]

Imitated DID 2 - Hysterical Boogaloo

We're diving back in from where we left off last time. Now with the "hysterical" group.

There is actually a certain level of logic to part of this.

I don't diagnose people with disorders. But when talking about plurality with questioning systems, I find it much more useful to ask about their internal experiences and hear them described in their own words.

Especially because a lot of medical jargon and even plural community terms kind of suck for describing these type of experiences. If someone isn't describing things in their own words, I can understand feeling like they might be faking. But that doesn't mean they are.

Comorbid Mental Illnesses can affect communication: We have ASD. If you've noticed, we tend to use jargon and big words a lot. I often make up my own jargon too because much of what I see from psychiatry is inadequate. (I could go on long rants about how meaningless the word "dissociation" is.)

The issue is that a lot of people with ASD or other disorders might behave like this. We might use clinical words if we've studied them. I'd like to think We would have the presence of mind to not reply to a psychiatrist asking "what do you mean by amnesia" by explaining whether our amnesia is retrograde or anterograde, but I could easily imagine someone else doing that.

Some people also have personality types where they might be seeking respect, and trying to impress a psychiatrist with their knowledge of academic terms.

Perhaps what appears to not be genuine is just another condition that makes people communicate in ways a neurotypical wouldn't be expected to.

This also goes for other behavior that appears non-genuine. Maybe someone presenting more overt presentation just doesn't have a filter or social awareness.

(Also, amnesia isn't even professional jargon. It's used all the time by lay people.)

Again, most people with DID stated they would miss the voices of their alters: Like I said in the last post, 69% of DID voice hearers said they would miss their alters' voices if they were gone.

The feeling of "I won't let anybody take them away from me!" isn't uncommon. They're in the MAJORITY. Maybe expressing these feelings aloud is uncommon. But that just makes me further suspect influence from comorbid disorders that make it difficult to tell what's socially acceptable.

Another possibility is someone mentions their full trauma history and talks about their conditions as a test of sorts. They've learned to expect rejection, and want to be upfront about everything so that if they scare someone away, it will be right at the beginning of the relationship.

It's so important to account for different behaviors in different people, and different illnesses and conditions that can influence those behaviors.

WHAT?!

She couldn't handle Lucille, who always got her own way. Lucille is convinced that her mother physically and sexually abused her.

There are many ways to write this that wouldn't involve portraying the mother as a victim of a little girl.

It's stated as an objective fact that Lucille's mother "couldn't handle Lucille," suggesting Lucille was always the problem. Meanwhile, "Lucille is convinced" her mother abused her. It's not even neutral language, like she "reported" or "described" it. She's "convinced."

I'm absolutely appalled.

Also, it feels a little gross for the doctors to describe their patient as "attractive" and with a "seductive presentation." I'm not the only one feeling that, right?

So she essentially did report amnesia. It just sounds like she didn't understand what amnesia was or was in denial, and clinicians should have questioned further.

Surely, if she were trying to manipulate the clinicians, she'd have claimed to amnesia, right? Since amnesia is part of the criteria?

Like with the "borderline" group from before, she had DPDR.

So she recognized similarity in her own experiences with DID systems AND an independent clinician confirmed her DID.

But this is what they're using as evidence against her. That she heard about it first and then identified with it. But that's often how people learn about their disorders. Sure, sometimes it can be wrong. But it shouldn't be treated as evidence against somebody as it is here.

Quick reminder that she started to hurt herself in group treatment.

Why would you suggest she go without therapy? Supposedly it worked out if we trust the clinicians' report. But I'm not so certain I do. I doubt they'd say "we told her to take a hike and then she was worse off than when we left her."

Now, the actual section focused on Lucille isn't the last time we'll hear about her, so let's skip ahead a bit.

This adds a bit more context to the earlier wording of her being "convinced" her mother abused her.

But the implications are a bit more terrifying to me. What was left out of this case study?

Lucille comes in experiencing chronic symptoms of DP/DR. She believes her mother abused her. The clinicians here seem to take the side of the mother in a peculiar way, describing Lucille's mother as "being unable to handle" the little girl.

After leaving therapy and coming back for a follow up, Lucille is saying, uncertainly, that the abuse she endured might not have happened.

Did the clinicians, as authority figures, also try to convince Lucille that her memories of abuse were false?

This feels extremely gaslighty to me.

This is actually a good practice. And is a huge problem I have with the anti-endo ideology is that it often encourages people to look for trauma to confirm systemhood. If you tell someone who is a system they need trauma to be a system, there is a real concern of them trying to fit themselves into that box.

But is the implication that Lucille fabricated her trauma after seeking treatment for DID, and never believed it prior? If so, that feels like an incredibly relevant detail to omit from your case study.

So their opinion, ultimately, is that these cases of "imitated DID" are fabricating trauma memories.

Essentially, this paper is advocating for False Memory Syndrome.

And worse, they admit there's no way to reliably assess suggestibility in these patients, since the authors claim the suggestibility is selective and the scale useless.

It comes down to the individual clinicians with their individual biases to determine who is or isn't an actual trauma survivor.

What is all of this REALLY about?

Now we get to the real point

While other parts of the paper pay lip service to helping patients, a large amount of it is focused on addressing malpractice complaints.

Here is some interesting wording. Shouldn't the interests of the patients be the priority of therapy?

I understand the intent behind this. But the wording presents an adversarial relationship between clinicians and hostile patients where clinicians are meant to act as judges and authority figures, and acting in the interests of the patients is "collusion."

Ideally, even if a patient were faking DID, giving them a more correct diagnosis would still be working in the best interests of the patients, right? At no point should acting in the patient's interest be presented as a bad thing as it is here.

Patients suing therapists over believed-malpractice are presented as seeking "attention and gratification."

I'd agree that it would be interesting to know what groups the suing patients fall into. But there would need to be a better way to make such an assessment.

Because if you're going to have cases like Sandra's, mentioned in the last post, where clinicians are forming biases based on her life history of self-medication with drugs and having an older boyfriend before they even observe her, this method isn't effective.

What would be really interesting to me is, if Sandra or Lucille had gone to another clinic, would the other clinics have judged their DID as being imitated? Or is this solely a result of the biases of these clinicians?

In contrast, would those clinics have judged other patients that this clinic said had "genuine" DID of having imitated DID.

Is there even the slightest bit of credence to this concept? Can it be consistently applied or is this just the opinions of one clinic being treated as gospel?

The goal of the whole paper is pushing False Memory Syndrome in a way that pushes responsibility from clinicians onto patients.

Over 20 years later, and this hypothesis is still groundless. Not just the hypothesis that those responsible for lawsuits are imitated DID cases, but even that second opinions could confirm their own case studies as being imitated DID.

This paper that started the "imitated DID" myth, the paper that led to the controversial McLean video, is based on nothing.

It was motivated not with the goal of helping patients with DID nor helping the patients they accuse of imitating DID, but by the self-interest of clinicians trying to protect themselves from malpractice complaints of patients they treat as hostile and adversarial.

[dreamanduality]

July 2024: highlights on Neptune and Pluto

*horoscopes for the impacted below

When I listen to most discussions about the outer planets, they are interpreted similarly to the personal planets. They are not and I think a lot of how this notion can be dissolved for them to get the credit that they deserve. The language of them having signs that they rule modernly helped but is still wrong. This is why delineations are often half right when it comes to them—they are generationally social or involve a group rather than the person.

Every month this year has brought a different flavor of change and will continue to do so. This year challenges the social concept of free will and how it has been propagated by politics, religion, and modern psychological thought. How are you coping with today's reality? How are you holding onto hope?

How Neptune will manifest for you in lived experience is the culmination of almost the last decade and the dissolution of constitution that Neptune brings. The melting of the acid trip when hitting retrograde reveals the reality of what is left. Neptune stationed retrograde on July 2nd, 2024, at the last possible moment of 29 degree and 55 minutes, marking a critical point. …joining Saturn’s (Rx) co-presence to make a lulling siren's song lighting a crescendo into a rude awakening of brittle reality.

As Saturn and Neptune meet the glass of the hour glass will dissolve, there is no reason to try to separate the pieces during the next Mercury Rx, they are all made of the same material.

July is embedded in this stormy symphony with the addition of pressure from Pluto(Rx) and Mars meeting with a square around the 11th to 16th adding the undertone of petty paranoia to the realism we are witnessing around. Before you jump into the deep end end make the consideration that illusions are just that and urgency will not bring you the escape route you are wanting. Not to mention the Mars Uranus conjunction—which I really don't want to talk about, because I’m doomy and gloomy enough…Algol ooooffffffffffff, in another post, maybe.

I consider this Neptune movement the highlight of the year, ushering in what is to come in the things that make so much of humanity human and also, unfortunately, inhuman.

Key points of interest revolving around the organization of belief.

On a personal level, Neptune's influence reaches the core, highlighting the parts of you that contribute imaginative qualities to the ticking of the social lens. When retrograde, it catapults you out of escapism and grandeur, making you more lucid. To read more on a loose picture of what is to come you can find that here

Why do I presume that these 4 rising sign will be experiences this transit in the most prolific ways? Because Neptune has been in one of your angular houses. Angular house hold the space for prominent areas of life; the peaks.

Pisces; you sense of self, mind and body. Your reality check formulates byway of you, darling! Who are you?

Gemini; public image, the worlds stage, and life’s legacy. What ethical pillar is surviving the winter storm? What is left is what can grow. You just have to start taking action and stop overthinking it—the simplest form will grow into the greatest function.

Virgo; other people, relationships, contractual agreements. Oooeee, I’m sorry? I know you tried, you really have. But all the lists and excel sheets and planning in the world couldn't have held onto what you have been trying to make real. Now, see what is left, sometimes it is as cliche as “it was to make room”

Sagittarius; ancestors, home, parents. Is your home feeling crowded or your location feeling like it hasn't been of service to you? Are you leaning further into tradition to get a foot hold? The next foundation won’t shatter, if you can let this one go—the wayward way will serve you, don't try to wield it.

Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius; you have other things on the main table, the things in your forefront will make sense in a glimmer—just stop questioning how backwards they seem and keep collecting inspiration.

Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn; you are at transitional points. The decrescendo of your social presence in the world is shifting. It is time to let go as the sands of time have been pulled with them to dissolve. You can see what is gone and with this the denial in grief can be rectified to ease your transition into the next great plain.

For more you can reach out for a reading or if you would like your sign didn't get the attention comment and let me know!

Continued thoughts: July 22 post Full Moon Cap x2 conj Pluto Rx et al... I was going to continue my ongoing conversation on the fall of modern spiritualism, but this is more pressing... The US Empire’s actions in urgency are a continued joke as the empire crumbles. This is the direction and stance: consumption over people. The cozier you have been, the slower you are, and then there are those who want destruction for their white Jesus (circling back to Neptune and Modern Belief movements).

I have my own perspective and opinions, but I want to note what I've been seeing north of the border—a reflection of privilege set back a decade or more. You know, Canada allegedly got its independence in the 1980s, yet they're stuck in the US 90s? It's actually quite curious. And I don't mean in the way the US has had a 90s resurgence into recession core (cough cough Saturn cycles). It's like Narcissus seeing his reflection. In a broad overview of course without chattel slavery as well as a very different legal and social lens of indigenous presence and rights.

Pluto’s Final Squeeze

What gem will we receive from the hands of Pluto in the coming days? For some, blood diamonds pouring out of rifted skylines.

What gem did you receive from Pluto in Capricorn? What areas of life were impacted by the siege of tradition? (The house that just went through an overhaul). What themes were presented back into 2008 or major events struck in your life and how have they transformed for you?

[geographerdose]

Celestial Screenshots Destined For Fame, Pt. 14:

Natasha Lyonne

Natasha Lyonne is hands down one of my favorite actresses. I love her authenticity, directness and straightforward, non-bullshit demeanor but like coming from a good place— like you can tell she’s a good person despite the challenges she’s faced or maybe even because of the challenges she’s faced?

She’s been open about her struggles with addiction, childhood trauma/neglect and self-loathing— I AM HERE FOR IT. 🙌🏻

At least partly because I genuinely feel people that have been through the most shit are the most humble, authentic and compassionate people of all time— obviously this can go the other way too and people can become entitled, angry and hostile—

but when these people accept+heal what they’ve been through and take responsibly for their actions, live with humility and forgive others+themselves— you get a compassionate, awesome and self-aware human being like Natasha Lyonne.

Check out the YouTube WTF with Marc Maron-Natasha Lyonne interview, Tumblr won’t let me copy the link and I’m not restarting another post to share but it is SO good. I love Marc Maron— he’s hilarious.

I was actually super surprised to see all the water in her chart because she comes off so fiery/airy

No publicized birth time but I strongly suspect she’s probably a Sag rising or an Aries rising (possibly Libra too)

Aries rising argument

She’s legit so entertaining and such a joy to listen to which leads me to believe Aries rising with Sun in the first. She isn’t afraid to let her true self shine or to admit her mistakes, which would make sense because the Sun isn’t really being maltreated, which to me is less likelihood of a big ego and more aptness toward humility. She does kind of have a Pluto-type vibe though but it’s more in your face than the subtler influence of Sun-Pluto/Mars aspects . She’s hilarious with her dry humor and wit while maintaining an authentic kindness that isn’t sugary sweet.

Natasha’s Sun is unafflicted and exalted in Aries, in addition to having that square from Jupiter and the Moon. Jupiter is a benefic so this is good and the Moon is neutral. But not only that, Jupiter is also exalted in Cancer and she has 29 degrees on it— ⭐️ the Leo/fame degree

I would venture to say she has a day chart because of this. Also Aries rising would make sense because she’d then have a 12th house stellium and that’s a common fame indicator

Also, though, having those planets there can help to explain potentially her struggles with addiction, as the 12th house is considered a less than great house due to its non-aspecting nature to the 1st house.

I don’t think she’s an Aries rising because then her 10th house would be ruled by Saturn, which is placed in the 6th house. Another house that doesn’t aspect the 1st. I just can’t see her having as successful as a career as she has with this placement.

Libra Rising argument

10th house would be in Cancer, with exalted Jupiter still in a day chart and would explain her success as a child actress. Not to mention her IMBD credits, talk about PROLIFIC.

Also though with it being exalted in Cancer and at 29 degrees, this would point to her massive fame and success. Cancer is also at its domicile in the Moon. Very very fortunate tenth house matters. And these are entirely unafflicted by malefics.

The Sun is making a square to Jupiter/Moon (which rule her tenth house of career) so this is where the fame sneaks in, as if the 29 degrees wasn’t enough.

Yeah, she’s a Libra rising. Day chart.

3rd house Sag— she’s pretty brutal actually lol but she’s hilarious. It’s interesting to see how Cancer placements play out for everyone. With a fire degree like 29, she’s def going to be more outgoing than a 28 degree Jupiter Cancer— more likely to say what’s on her mind.

4th house Cap with ruler retrograde Saturn in the 12th would explain her difficult childhood/narcissistic parents. Especially with the opposition from Mars but Venus and Mercury are here to help. She talks about it, and helps others feel not so alone, and has made her own family through friends and I think that’s really beautiful.

A lot of people with Pisces stelliums seem to struggle with addiction— not everyone but a lot do. Escapism is a huge theme with Pisces and to have a true stellium (with 3 personal planets in the same sign) would mean that 3/7 of the traditional planets are in one sign. Nearly half so yeah— they’re gonna tend toward escapism in whichever flavor they prefer.

Verdict: Yeah, she’s 100% a Libra rising.

Also I said it up in Aries rising argument: “Pluto is is more in your face” and Libra rising would put it in her first house. Her overall demeanor would make sense as an air rising too.

Plus, helloooo gorgeous wtf why wouldn’t she have her first house ruled by Venus?! Not to mention Venus being exalted in Pisces on top of it!!!

[moonsoulastrology]

Pallas in Sagittarius ♐️ Rx

Pallas in Sagittarius ♐️ went retrograde today through July 9th.

For those that are unfamiliar, Pallas Athene, she is technically a dwarf planet, not an asteroid, so don't under estimate her energy! She is associated with and governs the signs of Libra, Aquarius, and Leo.

She's a warrior queen; the virgin goddess of wisdom; a strategist, and was invincible in battle!

The mythology behind Pallas Athene starts with her birth from the head of Zeus, or otherwise known as Jupiter! Named after Athens in Greece, she is the goddess of wisdom and justice, and is a protector.

She has creative intelligence, she is sexual through the utilization of Venus. Her essence brings together mental qualities from the air elements( Libra & Aquarius) while her creativity attributes hail from the fire sign of Leo. These 3 signs form an aspect pattern that combines the opposition, trine, and sextile. This aspect configuration in the kite family stabilizes the inherent power of Libra- Aquarius trine, while the Leo- Aquarius opposition provides a focal point for the release of creative tension.

Pallas has an amazing story and she is most definitely a goddess that is undeniably fascinating. If you're interested in learning about her mythology more &/or what she represents and values astrologically, please lmk in the comments, I'd be happy to do a full write up on her.

For now here's some basic info on her rulerships and what Pallas going retrograde can mean to the collective.

As I've mentioned she's a goddess of wisdom, so she can indicate intelligence, genius, learning problems, perception of patterns and skills, foresight, artistic abilities ranging from the visual arts to pottery & domestic crafts like weaving or knitting, to musical instruments.(& oh so much more!!!)

She signifies healing powers, both mental and physical, homeopathy, psychological healing to cellular regeneration.

She is a goddess of justice and rules over political activism,a champion of the people, and a warrior for feminism. Having a well placed Pallas and Eris in your chart can certainly point to a champion and defender of the people, but most importantly for women! She brings in so much strength, it's seriously a shame that her (Eris, Ceres, Psyche & Vesta for starters) aren't talked about more and used more in chart readings being that they're dwarf planets, not asteroids...

♐️🪬Pallas Retrograde✨️🧿

As with any retrograde planet this period is about introspection. Pallas symbolizes our capacity for wisdom, strategy, and the warrior spirit within us. She urges us to fight for our beliefs and truths. However, when in retrograde, especially being in the expansive and truth-seeking sign of Sagittarius, the invitation is not external conquests. It's a deep, introspective pilgrimage into the realms of our innermost thoughts and beliefs. This retrograde period becomes a sacred pause, allowing us to sift through the sediment of our convictions, to question what we have accepted as truth, and to confront the philosophies that guide our minds and lives. It is a call for you to start an inbound journey that's just as significant as any outward exploration.

Pallas retrograde in Sagittarius magnifies & intensifies our search for truth and justice. Daring us to dream and think bigger, to question boundaries, ideologies, and outdated beliefs. She's asking us to let go of what no longer serves our highest good and to make room for new spiritual, mental, and authentic philosophies & ideologies & become more authentic with ourselves and with others. Asking you to become more braver than you ever have before in your life. This isn't always an easy retrograde but the results give you the potential to live to your most highest and most profound achievements. To balance all that inner wisdom, strength, creativity, and perception to not only heal yourself physically but mentally and emotionally as well.

This may be uncomfortable to start with especially with Mercury Retrograde around the corner(& North Node- Chiron conjuct), but by embracing it and working through it, the end results will be out of this world! I mean who doesn't want to live with a balanced inner warrior soul? Open yourself up to receive this wisdom, insight, power, and energy! It will not be easy, but the best things are never easy.

Adding in the Mercury Rx-Chiron- North Node conjunction & the solar eclipse(all in Aries mind you) this is no coincidence that she is going retrograde at this moment in time!

We are living in a karmic number 8 year; ruled by Saturn; the year of the 🐉 dragon! The dragon just happens to represent the nodes of destiny and karma -

with all these energies lining up before and after the solar eclipse I truly believe the universe has something magical and maybe even a but intense lined up for us.

So embrace all this energy positively and harness it not only for you on a personal level, but for humanity, as well!

#Pallas #PallasAthene #Sagittarius #retrograde #AstrologyCommunity #astrologyobservations #innerwarrior #innerhealing

[alyjojo]

Advice to Work on Yourself 💳 in May 2023: Capricorn

6 Cups - Strength - 8 Pentacles rev

Regarding: Death

So…some of you might be kinda pissed at me, and that’s fine. I don’t pick what comes out. Well, I do, but I don’t know what’s going on until it’s all out here. So. Death, 10 Wands, Page of Cups rev is…stop acting burdened, it’s immature. Stop acting like you’re not good enough, you can’t handle things, you can’t communicate properly. I’m getting a “dishes it but can’t take it” vibe from this row. It’s messing up friendships or relationships. A common theme I’ve seen this month is Jeff Koons and his message of being happy, celebrate, cheer up & enjoy it. Many signs are feeling down in the dumps or restricted & repressed, it’s not just you. But it’s also you. The problem is part of this is a show, and I don’t get emotional manipulation, but something like that with this Page rev. Guilt trips. Silent treatments. Pouting. Knock it off. In the most loving way 😬🙏 Own your part and fix it, change it, confront it and/or end it, but the ending mentioned here IS this behavior ❤️

Spirit wants you to be nostalgic for a second. 6 Cups, and Mercury is in retrograde the first half of May, something could have triggered this outside of your control. You’ll remember a time when everyone worked together happily, it’s when there was open communication, there was movement, fun, The Sun ☀️ Or you need to. It could be something reminding you of “the good old days” during this period, if so that’s your Spirit guides trying to get this message across to you in their/your personal way.

What’s happened since them is Strength. You hold back, maybe don’t communicate at all, or at least not anything that’s actually important. When you hold back your feelings, it leaves others to guess what they are…chances are they’re gonna guess wrong. Or assuming the worst case scenario based on what they see, based on some xyz experience, it’s a guessing game no one can win. You’ve lost friends & close people over this whole dynamic, and you’re still not understanding it. With Tortoise being fragmented, it’s like you’re surrounded by mirrors, and when people try to talk to you about anything serious, you just hold up a mirror and bounce it back in their direction. Which is great for insults. But when you are part of something that’s falling apart or needs work, and you just blame everyone else and redirect any accountability, you can’t learn, and you can’t change, so people don’t come back. Especially if it’s not their fault? Or they own their side but you’re living in fantasy land with this 7 Cups.

Getting grounded calls for getting real with yourself. Decluttering your space would help, clear space = clear mind. It’s true ❤️ You hold back everything. Feelings, clarity, communication, and with that is also love, cooperation, vulnerability, true friendship. You can’t hold back the bad and not the good, it all gets trapped together. And nothing is working, and people aren’t cooperating with you, and you’re feeling the weight of all of this pressure…but none of the ownership. That’s your advice. Go back to a time when this wasn’t an issue for you. What changed, and how can that be fixed? In you, just your side, you can’t control other people. 555 on the clock at the end of this read is for you, 5’s are feeling conflicted or being in conflict or competition with others. There is a ton of Scorpio energy in your reading, you could be dealing with one or have it in your chart. They got a similar message but one of having more fun and being less rigid. Yours is about accountability, communication, and behavior, but both having similar outcomes. If you two are interacting with each other, it’s both sides, and more lighthearted fun and open (safe) communication is needed.

Animal Oracle: Tortoise 🐢

“You’re too fragmented, so do whatever it takes to get grounded.”

When you’re feeling pressure from any number of fronts - pulled this way and that by the demands of modern life - it’s very easy to succumb to a false sense of urgency, feel out of balance and fragmented, and be in a constant state of tension. You can become forgetful and have difficulty sleeping. You may even attempt to stabilize and center yourself by resorting to the use of addictive substances or activities, hoping that they’ll help you feel more at home in your own skin. Meanwhile, your mind rushes ahead from one thing to the next, while your body tries to play catch-up. The technological web consisting of computers, the Internet, cell phones, television - plus the noises all around - creates a constant assault on your senses. Exhausting, isn’t it?

First, recognize that most things that you treat as emergencies or crises are merely inconveniences. Then, slow down! Move slower than you’re accustomed to, practice breathing slower and deeper every opportunity you get. This in itself helps you align with your internal rhythms, rather than being in a state of continuous reactivity to outside forces. Putting your bare feet on the ground allows you to truly experience your solid connection to the Earth. When you do, notice the difference in how you feel, and see if your mind isn’t at least a bit calmer. It may be challenging at times to do any of this, but it can be done. It just takes your clear intention & willingness.

Artist Oracle: JEFF KOONS

- The future is big, bright, and shiny.

- Your balloon can’t pop, but your Pop can balloon.

- Learn the difference between Camp and Kitsch.

Advice:

- Avoid Sedentary Health Risks

- Become Foolproof

- Declutter Your Space

Charms:

Dancer 💃 on Jeff nods towards Sedentary Health Risks too. Get active! Get the endorphins going, get some Vitamin D 😁 go for a run, walk, dance jump bump bounce lift shake idc. Go outside & find an active hobby you like. It can’t “fix” anything, it’s just enjoyable and makes you feel good 🙏

Black Cross ✝️ on Strength is you losing faith. You may not believe in anything, that you can fix things, that opportunities are waiting, anything “destiny” or faith related leaves you feeling empty and not inspired. So don’t read about it from me, go live it. Ask for signs but then also pay attention. If you disregard them all, Spirit won’t send them, because why bother? This relates to people you’ve lost too, you think they don’t like you or there’s no chance to fix things. That’s up to them, but if you assume no, it’s no. If there’s no communication, it’s no. You have a role in this too, and how things move forward.

Snowflake ❄️ on 7 Cups seems to show several people you’ve been cold to, maybe have lost. You thought the first one was crazy, and the second one was crazy, and the third one must be crazy but…seven people later you’re like shit, what if it’s me? And seem lost as to how you even got here, which is why Spirit is asking you to walk back your steps to a time you can remember The Sun, just pure happiness and cooperating with everyone. How were you different?

Heartbreak 💔 on 3 Cups is the loss of friendships, any number of types of people. You may have lost a job and that caused this. People may not have been willing to keep working with you through your issues you wouldn’t and couldn’t see, so couldn’t change. It’s a maturity thing you’re waking up to, and there’s no reason to feel any shame because most people are pretty naive and unaware before they’re not, everyone makes mistakes, in 50 million different ways. I don’t see any results or outcomes this month, bc it’s a process Spirit is asking you to start. This may have already unconsciously started, for some of you, with the retrograde.