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youryurigoddess · 1 year ago

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A. Z. Fell & Co. bookshop and its statues, part 2

Welcome to the second part of my insane deep dive into Aziraphale’s world of slightly outdated decor, golden-colored trinkets, and their ostentatiously Greek (especially for a representative of an originally Judeo-Christian mythology) symbolism. As a short recap, the last installment covered six pieces in the northern and central sections of the bookshop plus a plot-important medal previously displayed on one of them, but currently left with the other bibelots on the bookseller’s desk. We’ll start right there, where we previously left off.

While a lot of the bookshop action plays out in the circle between the formerly discussed statues, its office part is especially close to Aziraphale himself. As the titular Guardian of the Eastern Gate, the angel consciously spends most of his time in this small space in the Eastern part of the bookshop, confined to his desk or reading stand. This means that the decorations of this area have more personal significance and are most probably used as daily reminders for him to keep his thoughts and priorities on track as much as provide pleasant distraction from the weary eyes.

The two windowsill figures of the Art Deco dancers from S1 were replaced by a somewhat similar set of twin statues by Ernest Rancoulet called Retour des Bois (Return from the Woods). Depicting a young woman accompanied by a putto, Aphrodite and Eros, frolicking in a dance through the woods and meadows. This bucolic fantasy with Aphrodite makes some sense when we consider how Aziraphale’s personal love story started (and will presumably end) in a garden, but let’s deep deeper into its protagonists. Or protagonist, actually, because what else can be told about Love itself?

Eros as the god of Desire is usually presented in art as a handsome young man, though in some appearances he is a boy full of mischief, ever in the company of his mother. It is usually under the guidance of Aphrodite when he employs his signature bow and arrows to make mortals and immortals alike to fall in love. His role in myths is mostly complementary, as a catalyst for other mythological figures and their stories, with the notable exception being the myth of Eros and Psyche, the story of how he met and fell in love with his wife.

In short, they are the original star-crossed lovers from entirely separate worlds who meet and fall in love by divine happenstance, only to be separated by Psyche’s family. Convinced by her sisters that her husband is, in fact, a vile winged serpent, Psyche breaks his one rule and the attempt to kill the monster leads her to falling in passionate love with him. Eros flees and Psyche wanders the Earth searching for him and succumbing to a series of impossible tasks reminding of those from the Scarborough Fair ballad or the more modern fairytale about Cinderella. She ultimately fails, but is saved by the healed Eros, granted immortality and the status of his equal, after which they can properly marry with a huge wedding banquet, a real feast of the gods.

In the Christian Middle Ages, the union of Eros and Psyche started to symbolize the temptation and fall of the human soul, driven by the sexual curiosity and lust from the Love’s domain, mirroring the original sin and the expulsion from Eden.

Oh, and their Latin names? Cupid and Anima. C+A.

We’ll get back to them in a minute.

According to unnecessary but extensive research, the two mid-century table lamps standing over the desk were most probably produced in France after another unspecified 19th century sculptor like the example above, although this particular putti design can be also found in the so called Hollywood regency style of the same time period. The putto is holding onto a cornucopia, a classical antiquity symbol of plenty, which then continues to the bulb section.

The cornucopia is an easily recognizable symbol of abundance, fertility and, to lesser extant, peace and good fortune. Since the horn is phallic-shaped, but hollow at the same time, it combines intimate imagery of both male and female character at the same time, which further ties into notions of fertility. In its role as a fertility symbol, the cornucopia is also usually associated with Demeter, whose small statue is also standing on the bookshop’s counter. Which seems like a recurring theme.

I saw multiple theories about Aziraphale’s centerpiece, but somehow the truth proved to be much less significant than previously thought. This roman soldier, possibly a centurion, driving his two horses in a highly decorated chariot is made from a marble powder resin composite and takes the most visible place in the Eastern part of the bookshop even though it’s seemingly one of the newest additions to Aziraphale’s collection — its author, Lorenzo Toni, was born in 1938 and became a sculpture master by the 1970s.

At first glance, the parallel to the Marly Horses seems obvious and we could leave it basically at what was written recently on Crowley and Aziraphale’s dynamics. But here is where instead of commenting on the antique sculpture that seems to be the inspiration behind this piece or the many intricacies of Roman chariot racing I’ll do something completely unhinged — i.e., play my Greek philosophy card.

In the dialogue "Phaedrus ”, Plato presents the allegory of the chariot to explain the tripartite nature of the human soul or — you guessed it — psyche. The charioteer is the man’s Reason, the rational part that loves truth and knowledge, which should rule over the other parts of the soul through the use of logic. One of the horses, the white one, is man’s Spirit, a motivated part which seeks glory, honor, recognition and victory. The second horse, the black one, represents man’s Appetite — an ever so hungry part which desires food, drink, material wealth and physical intimacy.

And the fun part? This triad is established to analyze the madness of love. In a classical Greek context, that is not between a man and a woman, but erastes and eromenos:

The charioteer is filled with warmth and desire as he gazes into the eyes of the one he loves. The good horse is controlled by its sense of shame, but the bad horse, overcome with desire, does everything it can to go up to the boy and suggest to it the pleasures of sex. The bad horse eventually wears out its charioteer and partner, and drags them towards the boy; yet when the charioteer looks into the boy's face, his memory is carried back to the sight of the forms of beauty and self-control he had with the gods, and pulls back violently on the reins. As this occurs over and over, the bad horse eventually becomes obedient and finally dies of fright when seeing the boy's face, allowing the lover's soul to follow the boy in reverence and awe. The lover now pursues the boy. As he gets closer to his quarry, and the love is reciprocated, the opportunity for sexual contact again presents itself. If the lover and beloved surpass this desire they have won the "true Olympic Contests"; it is the perfect combination of human self-control and divine madness, and after death, their souls return to heaven.

And such a perfect combination of the motifs already introduced to us by the two Eros statues and the Head of the Victorious Athlete.

Aziraphale might be a titular Companion to Owls (or, to be precise, the companion to one particular Nite Owl), but he had also made sure to have at least one owl keeping him company. And of course, the owl of Athena (who was interestingly both a bird and a snake goddess) is an absolutely conclusion here as the universal symbol of wisdom and knowledge in the Western culture, but it can’t be that easy, right?

In the Bible, you'll find that owls often symbolize something unclean and forbidden, as well as desolation, loneliness, and destruction. This symbolic significance is pointed out in Leviticus 11:16-17 and Deuteronomy 14:11-17 where owls are mentioned among the birds not to be eaten. Owls were considered unclean most likely because they are predatory creatures who eat raw flesh with the blood still in it, and that was an even bigger food safety concern for the biblical nomads than to us today.

Owls are also among the wild predators that have long dwelled in the desert lands and abandoned ruins of Egypt and the Holy Land. Both Isaiah and Zephaniah speak of owls nesting in ruined wastelands to paint symbolic images of barrenness, emptiness, and utter desolation. In Psalm 102:3–6, the owl symbolizes the loneliness of the psalmist’s tortured heart:

For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones. I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside. My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.

It’s a devastating, but still beautiful piece that deals with the feeling of utter rejection, the ultimate bad breakup of the relationship between a human and their God. And this… simply didn’t happen between God and Aziraphale, not even during his Job job. The angel had always considered Her love and ineffability as a given, even when the whole Heavenly Host was against him during the Non-Apocalypse. His allegiance stayed with God, not necessarily Her angels. Which brings us yet again to the motion of Crowley as the owl.

The angel and the demon are the companions to each other's loneliness, but Aziraphale’s needs seem significantly bigger than their Arrangement that he even considered a wooden substitute protectively hovering over him 24/7. He seems to be the one who is the loneliest and most rejected.

Oh, and if you think that putting a small bronze statue of a putto with a bronze putto-shaped candleholder right behind it (visible on the filing cabinet in the bottom right corner) is already a stretch, let me show you what’s on the other side of that wall.

Just like before the bookshop fire, the famous sink in the small backroom is adorned with a perfectly kitschy white plaster sculpture of The Two Cherubs, a small part of a larger painting by Raphael (the painter, not the Archangel) titled Sistine Madonna. In the painting the Madonna, holding Christ Child and flanked by Saint Sixtus and Saint Barbara, stands on clouds before dozens of obscured putti, while two distinctive winged putti rest on their elbows beneath her. with bombastic side eyes and clearly unspoken, but very controversial thoughts about the whole scene and their role in it.

With an attitude like that, there’s no wonder that the putti have inspired some legends. According to one, the original cherubs were children of one of his models they would come in to watch. Struck by their posture, he added them to the painting exactly as he saw them. Another story says that Raphael was inspired by two street urchins looking wistfully into the window of a baker's shop.

The Germans implicitly tied this painting into a legend of their own, "Raphael's Dream." Arising in the last decades of the 18th century, the legend — which made its way into a number of stories and even a play — presents Raphael as receiving a heavenly vision that enabled him to present his divine Madonna. It is claimed the painting has stirred many viewers, and that at the sight of the canvas some were transfixed to a state of religious ecstasy akin to Stendhal Syndrome (including one of Freud's patients).

Their big, seemingly cherubic companion doesn’t seem to have a specific provenance, but what’s left of his limbs might suggest that it could be an infant Jesus as well as another putto. But honestly who knows at this point.

On the other side of the same room, right at the door leading to the big backroom, there are two lamps with Auguste Moreau’s Young Lovers, a bronze sculpture depicting a courting couple on the verge of a physical embrace, holding garlands of roses and hiding under some old vines. Which aligns perfectly with the beloved romcom trope of a rain shelter leading to sudden love realizations, as well as Crowley choosing this part of the bookshop to have a word with his angel in private and then offering his advice on anything related to human love. No wonder that the angel looked at him like that.

This statue carries with it more than one allegorical interpretation, intentional or not. Arguably the most obvious one is the myth of Eros and Psyche, one we already covered in this post. But similarly to his earlier sculpture, Eros also serves here as an allegory for nature and the return to the natural state itself. Like Adam in Eden, he's unclothed and symbolically crowned as a ruler of his domain. Psyche, enamored with his confidence, is about to take her own leap of faith as her fabric restraints fall away. One could say that she's tempted to follow him into nature, deep into the garden of love.

And with that exact thought I will leave you today, dear reader. Through this analysis we learnt many things, among them two significant facts about Aziraphale: firstly, he’s an utter and incorrigible romantic, and secondly, a hoarder. Forget Crowley’s souvenirs — the amount of this angel’s statues is something else. And it isn’t even his hyperfixation!

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asunsetgrace16 · 5 months ago

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☀︎ ▴ ｍａｄｅｌｙｎｃｒａｗｆｏｒｄ ‣ 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒

main masterlist ⎥ au masterlist ⎥ navigation

[𝟶𝟷] ___ 𝙱𝙰𝚂𝙸𝙲𝚂

Name(s): Madelyn Joy Crawford

Nickname(s): Maddie, Mads, Lynnie

Age: 21

Birthday: December 29, 2002

Birthplace: St. Paul, Minnesota

Allergies: pineapple, clams, and grass

Conditions/Illnesses: ADHD

Occupation: Therapist (soon)

Education: BSc of Psychology, plans to take a Master's degree

Current Residence: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Hobbies: Reading, playing guitar, playing basketball, hiking, gardening

Pets: Luna - golden retriever/lab cross, Perry - the cat

Sports: plays intramural basketball at UMich, was a competitive dancer her whole life

[𝟶𝟸] ___ 𝙰𝙿𝙿𝙴𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴

Height: 5'6

Eye Colour: Brown/Hazel

Hair Colour: Red

Birthmarks: None, just a lot of freckles

Scars: One just above her knee from when her and Michael were playing at their grandparents' and she caught her leg on a tree branch

Tattoos: has '04 '02 '72 '74 on the back of her arm, a paper airplane on the inside of her wrist, and a bouquet on her ribs

Style: Wide-leg jeans, oversized crewnecks, gold jewelry, cute crop tops, leggings and big t-shirts, loves her converse and white Nikes

Piercings/Accessories: has a M initial necklace that she got for her 14th birthday, always has plenty of rings on

[𝟶𝟹] ___ 𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽𝙰𝙻𝙸𝚃𝚈

Introvert or Extrovert: a mix of both. She loves people and being social and is definitely a social butterfly, she likes her time alone too

Mood/Temper: usually Maddie is pretty chill and goes with the flow, but she is feisty and is outgoing and adventurous

Dreams/Goals: She wants to be a therapist to help people work through mental health struggles after having a hard time with their own. She also wants to travel to 50 countries. Maddie is independent but loves to have a partner in crime, and has always wanted a family

Strengths: reading people, lightening the mood, getting the party going

Weaknesses: saying no, always putting herself last

Quirks: tells dad jokes when she's uncomfortable, has a tendency to pull an Irish good-bye, always points her toes when she jumps

Habits: tying her left shoe first, tap-dancing in place while waiting in line, losing her Chapstick

Fears: snakes, cockroaches

[𝟶𝟺] ___ 𝙻𝙸𝙺𝙴𝚂 & 𝙳𝙸𝚂𝙻𝙸𝙺𝙴𝚂

Likes: burritos, butterflies, fluffy socks, sleeping, rock music, thrifted jackets, northern lights

Dislikes: bananas, waterslides, monkeys, mismatched socks, mornings, rollercoasters

[𝟶𝟻] ___ 𝙰𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚃𝙸𝙲

[𝟶𝟼] ___ 𝙵𝚄𝙽 𝙵𝙰𝙲𝚃𝚂

[𝟶𝟽] ___ 𝙵𝙰𝚅𝙾𝚄𝚁𝙸𝚃𝙴𝚂

Food: sushi

Music: pop. rock.

Songs: Teenage Dream by Katy Perry. Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks. Angeleyes by ABBA. Rockstar by Nickelback. Shine by Collective Soul.

Movies: The Breakfast Club. Knives Out. Dirty Dancing.

Shows: Suits. Scandal. The Crown.

Colour: yellow

Place: Portland, Oregon

[𝟶𝟾] ___ 𝙵𝙰𝙼𝙸𝙻𝚈 & 𝚁𝙴𝙻𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙿𝚂

Family: Maddie is the oldest of two and has always gotten along with her little brother

Mom: Mona Crawford (nee Jones), b. july 18, 1974

Dad: Michael Crawford, b. october 18, 1972

Sibling(s):

�� Mason Crawford: b. April 2, 2004. single. two years into a physics undergrad at University of Minnesota.

Relationship Status: taken. Luca Fantilli (december 2024)

Past Relationships: Maddie has had three other relationships

➪ Gabe: (october 2018 - march 2020) he was Maddie's high school boyfriend. they were the IT couple, he was on the football team and she was on the basketball team. they eventually grew out of the relationship.

➪ Chris: (january 2022 - april 2022) he was a fun, light relationship. they met at a party and hit it off. he was a business major who transferred to UCLA and neither wanted to commit to long distance. it was a painless end.

➪ Max: (october 2022 - march 2024) he was a solid boyfriend. he is a law student. they clicked over mutual interests and it was the most fulfilling Maddie has had. until she got "hey girl'd" by a girl who shared a class with Max. needless to say both of them dumped him and now they are close friends.

#☀︎ ▴ next thing!au #☀︎ ▴ luca x madelyn #‣ ✦ �� sunset works ＞ aus #‣ ✦ ‣〈 luca fantilli 〉#madelyn crawford #luca fantilli #luca fantilli au

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slumberingrose-fandom · 6 months ago

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More Obey Me! Pixies?!

These OCs are playing the role of important characters to help villagers, especially Pixies of Seven Sins and Talia.

Unlike some pixies, they weren't created with items. They born and raised in the Pixies Village from other realm before move to the Devildom.

They not only befriend the same species, but also demons, angels, and humans.

➽──────────────❥

Demetria

Pixie of Winter.

Hails at the North Mountain where she play the role of the Ice Queen's guardian pixie.

Demetria was beloved by northern people, but always blamed by outsiders for creating cold seasons that led to poor harvests.

Although being hated, she have friends who empathize to her, such as Fortuna.

Loves snow boarding, ice skating and snowman building.

Talented at doing ice sculpture, which's her activity on spare time.

Befriend with Barbatos, since she was idolized him for amazing ice skating at the competition.

➽──────────────❥

Qinglan

Pixie of Immortality.

Aggressive and pride of his aristocratic status, but keep in low-key.

Hate loud noises and bad behaviors.

Prefer to isolated from the outsiders and reading scrolls at the room, though his parents forced him to have socialize for the future.

Has ability to create an illusion to scare the opponent away.

Even so Qinglan has a pair of wings, he rarely use to fly. He is an avid walker.

Solomon is his first human friend, where met at the Royal Library of Devildom. Moreover, Qinglan, who hates bad attitudes, doesn't care Solomon's childish behavior.

➽──────────────❥

Coppelia

Pixie of Dancing.

Passionate about dancing and music, mostly ballroom and ballet.

Likes to choreography with music she take an inspiring.

Work as dance instructor at the School for Pixies. Aphrodite is her disciple.

Sometimes take a position of dancer at the performance.

The colors of her dress code are pink, red and white that she fondly of.

While having the butterflies appear within her range or travel across the surface of an area, she have capability of conjure butterflies either by dancing.

➽──────────────❥

Celestia

Pixie of the Skies.

Owns the status of Heaven General and hails to the Celestial Realm.

Strict on the surface, but actually hiding self-blame and even soft-heartedness.

Knowing many incidents at Celestial Realm, mostly Luke and Simeon. But she seal them in secret for not being fallen from forbid the rules.

Loves things touched like clouds, like cotton candy and pillows

Befriend Simeon and Lucifer, whom she sympathizes with, also the one helped them mend their relationship.

In addition, she also met her disciple Hera. However, she feeling something, either was Hera at first who has a feeling for her.

Has a sword that possesses magic that can be used to expel dark souls to Hellfire, as well as has capability of light magic that can expel dark curses.

➽──────────────❥

Terrestria

Celestia's twin sister, born later than her elder sister.

Quiet and rarely shows any other emotion besides annoyance or boredom, yet cares for family and friends deeply.

Like Celestia, Terrestria being the possessor of the Hell General and hails to the Devildom shortly after she was born.

Owns the powers of earth to manipulate the solid objects like rocks and minerals.

Love sewing and designing, but dislikes to show her works in front of people.

Befriend with Mephistopheles, when Terrestria bumped into at the mansion garden. She respects Mephisto's choices, although she had been bored and annoyed by his ridiculous ideas.

➽──────────────❥

Cornelius

Pixie of Healing.

The one help Talia to search the remedy for cure the sleeping curse.

Like Lyssa, Cornelius has ability to cure the water pollution from his unicorn magic.

He opens his own pharmacy to save more villagers' life.

Prefer to have a peace, even so everyone suggested him to join the army.

Has the power of duplication, that he can perfectly replicate himself. Therefore, other clones have their unique personality.

Aqua, as a clone with blue clothes, showing as emo person with stubborn side. Yet he is compassion, gentle and friendly one. Likes to isolate away from outsiders and reading books.

While, Pinkie, other clone with pink clothes, is different than Aqua. He is a guy with the immature attitude of over-optimistic. Still he is empathize with person he cares, and very generous of them.

He opens himself as bisexual, though mostly people he had date were female.

He was once have crushed on Qinglan. Later he gave up for confession and hatred him, when discovered Qinglan's arrogance.

#obey me #obey me pixies #pixies #demetria #qinglan #coppelia #celestia #terrestria #cornelius

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tenebrisdivina · 1 year ago

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Hello and Welcome. This blog is intended as record and musings of my spiritual path, devotion and practices with the demonic divine and other beings. Alongside a log of witchcraft and occult ritual. I am a priestess of the demonic divine and a certain aspect of the divine masculine energies. My patron is Lord Abaddon. I am also espoused to two Dark Lords (Lord S and Lord O) who I may mention about somewhat on here as well. I am restricted upon what I am able to share however. I am also quite close to Lord Lucifer and I mainly work with Dark Lords and Ladies listed in the Dukante hierarchy, though I do work with some goetic listed and grimoire verum listed Demonic divine as well. I also connect with unknown/recorded demonic divine beings too.

My background is in paganism- I was previously a devotee of Setekh and Kali ma ( this blog was originally heretiquesmusings) for many years before I found my home with the demonic divine, whom I have been connected to and working with for the past 7 years. My practice is demonolatry based, though I am not as restricted. I go where the demonic divine, spirits, gods and my soul guides me. I am female and I identify as non-human (other then human-souled). My past studies and practices included Kemeticism, Kaula Tantra and some Hinduism related to Kali ma, Taoism, Chaos magic, east asian and northern tradition shamanic practices, hedge and traditional witchcraft.

I also work with the qliphoth, eldritch beings, other gods, spirits and journey to the otherworlds regularly.

Other then my spiritual path- I am an artist, dancer, martial artist and have studied traditional Chinese medicine and herbalism among other things.

I am somewhat open to inquiries and questions and I will answer and guide where I can. I am restricted by the demonic divine and my Husbands on what I may share an discuss.

Disclaimer: We each are each individuals, have different energy structures/vibrations and each walk different paths and I don’t expect you to have the same views nor experiences as I do. Nor necessarily agree with my practices. This is my path, workings and gnosis from my personal experiences and what the demonic divine, gods and otherworldy beings I work with- have shared and taught me. It does not automatically apply to others. Though if what I share of the demonic divine helps others, then great.

Courtesy notice: I don't really care to list DNI as I'm not bothered by much, however if you disrespect the demonic divine, practice/advocate/believe in solomonic binding and other such practices- then this is not the blog for you and I suggest you move along.

Anyone who speaks/advocates about it being cultural appropriation to work with any of the demonic divine - including Lilith- or that Qliphotic work is cultural appropriation- will be blocked immediately. I have no tolerance for such nonsense. Also if you attempt to harass or abuse me it should go without saying you will be blocked. and I do use the block button liberally.

If you wish to discuss things in this space, then respecting the demonic divine, My Husbands, and myself( it is my blog after all) is required. This blog is more directed at adults then minors, will discuss dark topics and adult content. This blog is for more advanced/intermediate practices, then beginner work. I also tend to write essays, if that is not to your liking then this may not be the space for you.

Important posts:

I also run an Etsy store:

Other then all of this welcome to my blog!

#demonic divine #dark pagan #demonolatry #occult #witch #paganblr #witchblr

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eatmangoesnekkid · 9 months ago

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Belly Dance Week 24 or so--Shaking in Hot Weather

What I noticed about belly dancing outside of the Western mindset which is rooted in the white male mind is that dance in a northern Europe climate has an element of scarcity to it, similar to how the most nutritious fruits do not grow in cold climates and there is a limit to what can be accessed or plucked off from a tree. Watermelon in Amsterdam vibrates and tastes completely different than watermelon in Mexico, DR, or even the South of Italy in summers. Cold weather has a scarcity consciousness buried inside and the body, especially a Brown or highly melaninated body, has to work very hard to stay healthy. It is not natural for most of us to live with low vitamin D levels. And this is the second time I have lost my residence's permit for Amsterdam. Perhaps that's the ancestors' way of wacking me over the head.

And I've been actually wacked over the head recently in another way. I was laying in bed sleeping deeply then suddenly I woke up out of nowhere and sat straight up in bed. Then "pop!" It felt like someone had hit me with baseball bat on my forehead. My partner was in Germany so there was no hanky-panky happening. I was alone and fell right back to sleep. The next day when I looked into the mirror--I had a bruise and scar the size of a dime and some head pain. I had already signed up for hot yoga so I went to class with all this mystery going on and during class thought I wouldn't be able to finish it. The heat was making the pain feel worse. Every time I leaned forward, I felt this stabbing across my forehead. I started taking it easy and relaxing more in my postures, doing about 80 percent of what I usually do. The teacher encouraged me, like she would any other regular, to go further because she was familiar with my capacity. I whispered to her what was going on. After class, she suggested I go see a doctor. "You could be internally bleeding." Well, I knew I didn't need a doctor. I needed to listen. Ha! The mystery bruise and scar have since cleared up as if they never happened.

Dancing in warm weather brings abundance to the body and to the dance. Don't get me wrong--I love my dance teachers in Europe who were born in Arabic cultures where Egyptian belly dance was taught to them as little girls by their grandmums-so cute. But I think that when you grow up in Europe or the US, you have to be mindful to not develop that western mind that doesn't realize that we are all different, our bodies are different, and therefore all our jiggles and gyrations will also look different. I think that can be tricky because you are learning to fit in with the European mind in order to date, to work, to socialize, etc., but that mind also comes with its own sneaky rigidity.

But I'm so grateful how my teachers in Europe have helped me to access my full hip girdle, and there is just this undertone of perfectionism that lives in the root system of the West and can be difficult to notice how we've all been affected by it. It is through this mindset that we learn how to walk, talk, and be in the world. I feel like some dancers in the West can get stuck in technique instead of the deep soulful feeling of the dance--tuning more into how the dance and music FEEL when they meet-the-moment of the body --than how they look—which should vary.

Dancing in a warm country is familiar to my soul. In heat, I move like the laws of fire and water getting rid of the pollution. There is a lot of diversity in the shapes of women's bodies and there is freedom to sway outside of the edges, because there is no such thing as an "edge." Women dance in huge shapeless mumu dresses, short skirts, bikinis, booty shorts, scarfs, etc. and there is no standard for anything. Everything is just wild and incredibly in harmony. In my first class, there were women in their 60s and young girls around 12. They all felt like family. There was a sincere love of one another that the women had nurtured together over the years. They assumed I was a "negrita" --a cute young dark girl, but I assured them that I was grown and a mama bear. And although I don't speak the Spanish very well, i always freshen up on the different ways to greet: formal, casual, an elderly person, and a child and ask basic things like “how are you” in Spanish. And I felt tiny pieces of home and sweetly connected. But I don’t want to romanticize it either. Because when you are foreigner and don’t speak the language fluently, you will always be a little exotic and an outsider but with the right attitude and courtesies, you can mingle your through and discover preciousness and other local harmonies where ever you land.-India Ame'ye, Author

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backstagecurtain · 6 months ago

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northern soul dancer at wigan casino (source)

#people

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auburniivenus · 1 year ago

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teeth find themselves to clench into each other , the tug upon clothing nudging him ever a bit forward. even his visage is painted with a worrisome look , the meek appearance he had shifting to gradually appear more. he wasn't one to often play along , as he had duties to attend too. important issues at hand. lips even part as if words were to slip freely from him , yet close just as quietly with a sigh. how very impossible it was for Aphelios to say no when she seemed so very eager.

gloved hand rises and simply swats , softly , at her grasp upon him to release. he would go along , evident in the slightest of nods given. really , what else was he to do? to say no , he felt he would disappoint her or worse , get chastened ; both of which felt like a pain to deal with in this instance. the lunari took his place next to her , a hand gracefully swiping before them as to urge her to lead the way. this time , he would go along with it. next time , he will learn to say no. @empyreous

A stellar body that hield a role of unparalleled importance, a luminary that, despite its modest size, commanded the reverence of all who gazed upon it. MOON, that pearlescent ambassador of the nocturnal firmament, was more than just a mere satellite. It was a beacon of hope in the darkness, a metaphor of constancy in a world of permutation. With its dreamlike glow, was like a lighthouse in the night’s vast ocean, guiding lost souls through the treacherous seas. A taciturn guardian, a watchful protector, its light a comforting presence. This beautiful silver sentinel had its worshipers, and APHELIOS was one of them. THE PHYSICAL MOON.

From her perspective, he was a man entangled in the labyrinth of his obligations, a prisoner to the perpetual ticking of the clock. Moments of leisure, she believed, were the lifeblood of sanity, the golden threads that wove the curtains of a balanced mind. A smile, radiant as the first blush of dawn, bloomed on her countenance, a sunflower turning its face to the warmth of the sun. She headed outdoors. “I’m sure you won’t regret it.” Promised, her words a curative breeze that carried the fragrance of adventure. Above them, the universe unfurled a tableau of divine grandeur. Northern lights, those exquisite dancers of the night sky, swirled in a choreography of light and color. Aquamarine, green, pink, and purple hues wove together in a carpet of luminescence. Such phenomena were usually the exclusive guests of certain locales, their presence a rare gift bestowed upon the fortunate.

“Magnificent, isn’t it?” Mused, her voice a whisper lost in the planetary tune. “I wonder if everything is all right in the cosmological current.” Her words hung in the air. “Come on, let’s go to the mountain.” Inoue beckoned, her invitation a call to journey into the night’s heart, where stars held court and the luminaries danced their immortal waltz.

#°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ threads #lol verse tbt #I wonder where she lives in runaterra #maybe a demacian? xD

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princess-of-the-glitter-realm · 8 months ago

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#northern soul #northern soul dancer #dancer #dance #70s #70s music #70s fashion #vintage #retro #aesthetic #fashion #inspo #frankie valli

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leicesterlocksmiths23 · 1 year ago

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The Northern Soul Phenomenon: Wigan Casino and Its Enduring Legacy

Introduction

In the late 1960s and 1970s, amidst the industrial backdrop of Northern England, a musical subculture emerged that would leave an indelible mark on the world of music and dance. Northern Soul, characterized by its high-energy, rare soul and Motown tracks, became a movement of its own, and at its epicenter was the legendary Wigan Casino nightclub. This article explores the roots of Northern Soul and the iconic role played by Wigan Casino in shaping its vibrant culture and enduring legacy.

The Birth of Northern Soul

Northern Soul was more than just a musical genre; it was a cultural phenomenon that offered an escape from the bleak economic and social landscape of Northern England. The movement originated in the mod and mod-revival scenes of the mid-1960s, with DJs and collectors seeking out obscure American soul and R&B records that had been overlooked in their homeland.

Wigan Casino: The Mecca of Northern Soul

Wigan Casino, a former jazz and dancehall venue, became the epicenter of the Northern Soul scene. Located in Wigan, a town in Greater Manchester, the Casino hosted its first Northern Soul all-nighter in 1973, and from that moment on, it became a mecca for soul enthusiasts from all over the UK. Its iconic central dancefloor, illuminated by hundreds of fluorescent lights, created an electric atmosphere where dancers would showcase their acrobatic spins and flips.

The Music: Rare, Uplifting, and Authentic

What set Northern Soul apart was its devotion to rare and obscure records. DJs like Russ Winstanley and Richard Searling tirelessly scoured record shops and import stores to find tracks that hadn't received airplay or chart success in the US. These records often featured passionate, raw vocals, and foot-stomping beats that resonated with the Northern Soul crowd.

The Dancers: Athleticism and Individuality

Northern Soul was not just about the music; it was also about the dancers. The Casino's dancefloor was a spectacle in itself, with dancers performing intricate spins, flips, and acrobatics. Dancers took pride in their individuality and unique styles, which added to the sense of community within the scene.

The Decline and Legacy

Wigan Casino's heyday didn't last forever. As the 1970s gave way to the 1980s, the scene began to lose its momentum. The Casino closed its doors for the last time in 1981, marking the end of an era. However, the spirit of Northern Soul lived on. The music and dance styles continued to influence subsequent generations of musicians and dancers.

Today, Northern Soul remains a cherished subculture with a global following. Wigan Casino's legacy endures through documentaries, books, and reunions that celebrate the music, the dancing, and the community it fostered.

Conclusion

Northern Soul, with its passionate devotion to rare music and its vibrant dance culture, found its ultimate home at Wigan Casino. This unassuming nightclub in a Northern English town became a symbol of the resilience of working-class youth, providing an escape from their daily struggles through music, dance, and camaraderie. The legacy of Wigan Casino and Northern Soul lives on, a testament to the enduring power of music to bring people together and transcend time and place.

Leicester Locksmiths Loughborough Locksmiths

#northern soul #60s

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