#not cognizant of how i may be perceived

[jaker-shit]

Dont trust anybody who says they’re “not a hateful person/don’t hate anybody”. They’ve obviously never worked any retail or service job.

[true-blue-megamind]

I have a question/theory. No one besides Roxanne and Megamind knows that Metro Men is actually still alive. For all everybody else knows Megamind still murdered their hero.

Of course, Megamind saved them from Titan, and made amends by returning everything he stole and fixing the destroyed city but it still was all directly or indirectly his fault.

This brings me to my next point. No one except Megamind, Roxanne, Minion, and Hal himself knows that Titan was ''created'' by our favorite blue alien.

Do you think people might be angry when they somehow find out the truth? Maybe some Metro Man fanboy or fangirl will want to avenge the fallen hero?

Or are we to assume that people are just stupid and shallow and are just happy to have a new hero? Because if that's the case it's kind of sad from Metro Man's perspective. People only liked him because of his powers and looks. What do you think?

MEGAMIND FAN THEORY THURSDAY: Do People Think Megamind is a Murderer?

It’s time again for another Megamind Fan Theory! Special thanks, once again, to our unnamed contributor! Apparently, Anonymous is my biggest fan! LOL!

And now, even though Metroman threatens to frame me next every time I say it: SPOILER WARNING!

If you’ve seen the movie Megamind—and I sincerely hope you have—you already know that one of the biggest ways the film subverts common superhero tropes is by having the Bad Guy apparently win. Of course, we all know that Metroman didn’t really die in the Death Ray blast, but the question is: do people in Metro City know it, too? After all, most or all of the citizenry thought they saw their former hero perish on a live stream. Do they, therefore, still believe their new Defender is guilty of murder? And if so, shouldn’t that affect the way they perceive him? There are entire reams of fan theories examining such questions. Let’s jump into a few of the most popular!

It’s Almost Certain Some People Know Metroman is Alive

The first fan theory centers on the simple fact that Megamind is not locked away in a high-security prison. His ability to take up the mantle of Defender and move about the city freely indicates that he very probably received a full pardon. That brings up the question of whether defeating one supervillain would truly be enough to counteract a first-degree murder charge and eighty-three live sentences. Most fans say no, leading to the supposition that there must have been some sort of trial and subsequent pardon. As a result, many believe that some high-ranking government officials and judges, at least, must be aware that Metroman remains very much alive.

They may not be the only ones. Another popular concept among fans is that Megamind’s reality, like the comics it lampoons, could boast a wide variety of heroes and villains. (It’s not a far fetched assumption; as mentioned in Where Did the Doom Syndicate Come From, we know that there are supposed to be other supervillains in Megamind’s world. It therefore seems probable that there would be other superheroes as well.) In fact, more than a few fans subscribe to the headcanon that a heroic organization exists, offering mutual support and help to caped protectors as needed. Over time, the Megamind fandom has invented several potential titles for this group. One of my personal favorites is the Defenders’ League—a name which plays on DC Comics’ Justice League and thus maintains the original film’s spirit of toying with existing superhero tropes. For the sake of simplicity, that is how I will refer to this association.

Why am I bringing it up? As you may have guessed, many fans theorize that at least some members of the Defenders’ League know their former compatriot didn’t really meet his end. However, there are differing opinions upon exactly how many of them are aware of this fact. Some suggest that Defenders, like their Justice League counterparts, are likely cognizant of a great number of each others’ secrets, up to and including their identities and hideouts. They argue that it therefore seems reasonable to assume most or all of the League would have been apprised of the Metroman situation. As possible evidence, supporters of this theory point to the fact that other heroes aren’t coming out of the proverbial woodwork to avenge their supposedly fallen comrade.

Nonetheless, others disagree. The second—and possibly more popular—supposition is that, while a few leaders within the Defenders’ League know the truth, others may be in the dark. Those who prefer this concept argue that Metroman’s abandonment of his duties would almost certainly have been frowned upon, adding that the former hero would likely have found himself either faced with some sort of disciplinary action or pressured into taking up the role of protector for a new city. After all, such powerful Defenders can hardly be common, and it seems extremely doubtful that Superhero is a job one could easily quit. Indeed, during discussions with other fans such as CrazyDreamer6, the possibility has arisen that other Defenders may initially neither like nor trust Megamind. It’s even been suggested that an especially antagonistic hero or two might attempt to sabotage the blue man’s efforts, believing their action to be either punishment for Metroman’s alleged fate or a means to uncovering Megamind as a presumed fraud.

Whatever the case may be, all of this still does not necessarily mean that the general public would be privy to Metroman’s continued existence. It’s highly unlikely that the Defenders’ League would make that fact widely known even if they were all privy to it. (Imagine the backlash and potential public relations nightmare that might ensue if people realized a Defender had simply walked off the job!) Furthermore, another Megamind fan theory suggests that, as a former supervillain, the blue man’s hearing may have been far more similar to a military tribunal than a civilian court case. This is important because it means the Megamind’s trial may have been far less public and far more secretive. Some argue that this indicates it’s unlikely most ordinary citizens would be aware that Metroman’s supposed murder was proved to be a farce. People would certainly be aware that he had been pardoned, but they might not know all of the reasons why.

Would Metroman Even Want His “Death” to Be Questioned?

This is where another Megamind fan theory comes into play. Some contend that, even if various officials did not choose to disclose it, citizens may have become aware that Metroman was alive because he himself may have told them. In several fictions, the former Defender is portrayed as coming forward, announcing his official retirement, and sometimes even helping his new blue replacement to learn the ropes. Such would definitely be the noble, honest thing to do—and aren’t those two traits superheroes are supposed to personify? Besides, many fans also point out that there appears to be an odd friendship between Megamind and his rival. There seems to have been a “time out” agreement, indicating that their battles may have been more like games and public shows. Additionally, Metroman calls the blue super-genius “Little Buddy.” That hardly seems like a sincerely antagonistic relationship. So it’s conceivable that the former Defender might have come forward to clear his replacement’s name.

Many fans, however, argue that such a thing may not have been possible for the same reasons that the majority of the Defenders’ League may not have been informed. It doesn’t seem particularly likely that people would react well to learning that their trusted and beloved local hero had left them in the hands of a know supervillain so that he go start a music career. Furthermore, it’s possible that the former Defender could have been harassed by rising villains eager to prove their worth as well city governments desperate for a hero of their own. Nonetheless, many suggest that Wayne Scott may have had excellent reasons for hanging up his cape. In the post Why Did Metroman Retire, we examined evidence that Metro City had become too dependent upon having a superpowered Defender around, leading to laxness in law enforcement and constant demands on the white-clad alien. (For example, one unused storyboard shows police refusing to assist in even a small way because they are “on break” as well as an old woman calling for Metroman’s help because she can’t open a jar.) As a result, the former hero may have become not only disenchanted with his role, but also stressed, exhausted, and mentally strained. Some have even proposed that he may have been nearing a breakdown, making his decision to quit a necessary one for his psychological health.

This leads to a supposition which answers one of our anonymous contributor’s questions. Many believe that, if most people still believe Metroman to be dead, it is because the former hero himself wants it that way. Far from being sorrowful about others’ reactions to his supposed demise, he may feel relieved. Imagine the guilt he might experience if people continued to mourn him or harmed Megamind because they believed he was guilty. Keep in mind that, as discussed in previous blog articles, we see the young Wayne Scott being essentially groomed to become a superhero during the school scene. (You can read more about that in the aforementioned post as well as The Warden.) Thus it seems likely that Metroman may not want his faked death to be disbelieved because he feels being supposedly dead is the only way to free himself from the role he was pushed into from childhood.

However, the choice may not have been up to him. There are some competing Megamind fan theories concerning whether or not the general public would believe Metroman was truly gone. Interestingly, both are based upon the character’s inspirations.

The first supposition points to the fact that Metroman is a clear parody of Superman. Clark Kent, as many of you likely know, hides his alternate identity by donning ordinary clothes and a pair of glasses. Some fans contend that, if Megamind’s reality functions similarly to the DC universe, then it’s unlikely Music Man would ever be recognized as being a former Defender. After all, if eyewear is enough to make Superman unrecognizable, then growing a beard would certainly do the trick. Others, however, dispute this, saying that while Clark Kent puts a great deal of effort into maintaining his persona as a quiet newspaper journalist, purposefully fading into the background as much as possible, Wayne Scott’s choice of career—rock star—puts him squarely in the public eye. Making himself the center of attention significantly increases his chances of being recognized.

The second fan theory draws on the other major influence of Metroman: Elvis Presley. As covered in Why Does Megamind Wear Black, the King of Rock and Roll inspired everything from Metroman’s look to the song he plays at his museum opening. Some have expanded upon this to suggest that people may have reacted similarly to the former hero’s supposed demise as they did to that of Elvis. For decades following Presley’s funeral, many of his fans insisted that he was not really dead and Elvis sightings popped up all over the place. Could Metroman’s dedicated aficionados have done the same, claiming to catch glimpses of their icon? If so, some of them were probably right. In short, it’s quite plausible that many citizens may not have believed Metroman was really deceased no matter what they had been told.

Psychology and Superheroes

What about those who actually do believe the former Defender to be gone? Given what we’ve discussed so far, it seems reasonable to suppose that there may be more than a few who fall into this category. If so, wouldn’t they be furious that Megamind could, apparently, commit murder on live TV and still not only get away with it but also be hailed as a hero? To answer that, let’s delve into a little psychology.

According to an article by Dr. Charlie Ebersole on Psychology Today, hero worship can be complicated and potentially problematic. When we look up to someone, we have a tendency to view them differently. “Heroes can be great,” Ebersole explains. “They can inspire us to be better versions of ourselves. However, they can also blind us to their faults.” Just as people were happy to overlook Metroman’s frankly braggartly behavior—just look at the museum opening scene near the beginning of the movie and you’ll see what I mean—they may be willing to forget about Megamind’s shaded past. Some might even make peace with the supposed blood on his hands if they looked up to him enough, and given that he literally saved the entire city from death and destruction, that’s not beyond the realm of possibility. To quote novelist Terry Pratchett, “You can be excused for just about anything if you are a hero because no one asks inconvenient questions.”

It doesn’t stop there, however, because Megamind isn’t only a hero, he’s also a celebrity. Another article, this one from Long Island Psychology, addresses how fame affects the way we perceive people. Society sometimes makes greater allowances for those who are well-known icons. For example, celebrities sometimes receive less severe punishments for infractions than an average citizen might. Of course, people can also judge those they admire very harshly, feeling a sense of betrayal any time that individual doesn’t live up to the nearly perfect standards they have created for them. However, if that same public feels they are getting enough out of their perceived parasocial relationship with a celebrity, they may entirely overlook any bad behavior. The article states that “even if their actions have run counter to their public persona or were illegal in some way, some celebrities are still able to overcome the backlash they may face.”

This really comes down to three things: the aforementioned parasocial relationship, charisma, and marketing. (Yes, I said marketing. We’ll get to that in just a moment.) Firstly, as I’ve said, Megamind saved Metro City, and it’s frankly doubtful whether most of its citizens know that Titan was the result of a misjudgment on the blue man’s part to begin with. (I think it’s also important to mention here that Megamind certainly didn’t want to create a dangerously superpowered man-child and seemed sincerely distraught when Titan turned evil. He truly thought the human was destined for heroism. You can read more about that in Why Did Megamind Choose Hal.) Regardless, the fact is that many citizens of Metro City owe the blue man their lives and presumably enjoy his continued protection. Thus it’s obvious that they are definitely getting a lot out of the parasocial relationship.

Secondly, it can’t be denied that Megamind is charismatic. He knows how to put on a good show and play to a crowd. (Just look at the scene where he finally becomes the new Defender if you want proof.) Furthermore, as seen throughout the movie, Megamind can be charming, funny, and kind. It’s hard not to like the alien genius, and that has likely helped him to win over the masses. The fact that he sincerely cares about the city and all its people, as evinced by the fact that he chose to overcome Titan rather than fleeing, probably helps as well. People often instinctively know when someone legitimately has their best interests at heart.

Finally, there is the marketing aspect to consider. That may sound a little odd, but hear me out. The aforementioned article states: “some celebrities are forgiven by the media, and the media’s reaction to the event shapes the future. If the celebrity is still placed in front of you on a daily basis and placed in a positive light, it becomes easier to forget about their past.” Essentially, it is possible to market a person, rebranding them in a more favorable light. This is important for two reasons. Firstly, as I said before, Megamind clearly cares about the people around him. That doubtlessly makes him a dedicated and earnest Defender, and people are likely to recognize that. Additionally, if they also see him performing acts of heroism in the media over and over again, that will have a natural effect on the way they perceive him.

Speaking of media, the second aspect of this is the simple fact that Megamind is clearly romantically involved with Roxanne Ritchi, and she happens to be a well-known television news journalist. She’s also one of the very few people whom we know for certain is aware that Megamind didn’t really murder Metroman. (In fact, according to the DVD commentary, he always went out of his way not to physically harm anyone even while he was a supervillain. The creators describe him engaging in no worse than theft and vandalism during his brief tenure as “Evil Overlord,” as well as staging his plots in unpopulated areas. Even his preferred setting on his De-Gun, Dehydrate, is nonlethal.) One popular fan theory suggests that, because Roxanne knows all of this and because she loves Megamind, she may have helped to sway public opinion in his favor. Furthermore, it’s plausible that, as a reporter, she may not have been able to pass up a juicy scoop like Metroman faking his own death. However, many fans believe that, if her lover and his former nemesis asked her to keep it quiet, she would. Either way, she would certainly have the skills and opportunities necessary to help Megamind “market” his new image. Of course, this doesn’t mean that it’s not possible some people would still dislike and distrust the Blue Defender, but it would certainly help him to be better accepted.

So, are there people in Metro City who still believe Megamind is guilty of murder? It’s possible, though that may depend on whether Metroman or government officials were willing to let the truth come out. Could such an assumption color the way he is viewed? It most certainly could. However, it’s also likely that even some of those who did believe in the blue man’s guilt may have gradually come to forgive him, especially since he was likely pardoned. Still, most agree that the answer is probably a combination of all of the above ideas, and suppose that the former villain may have to work through some complicated public relations issues in his early days as Defender. Perhaps the upcoming series, Megamind’s Guide to Defending Your City, will shed new light on that. Until then, we have plenty of fan theories to choose from! That ends this post! Thank you for reading this week’s Megamind Fan Theory Thursday!

[betty-bourgeoisie]

I've said before that I think Emil is an incredibly talented diplomat but I don't see that interpretation of his character get a lot of airplay in the fandom so I want to talk about it a little more. Because I think at the end of the day Emil is much more aware of power and power dynamics than almost any of the other nations.

Nations like Alfred and Ivan may understand power in that they know they have a lot of it, but they don't really understand the full extent to which their power impacts the people around them (which is probably for the better tbh). Emil on the other hand represents a country with no military, a small population, and very limited natural resources. Iceland's greatest capital on the world stage is that it's an important strategic point between the U.S. and Europe, so understanding power, how it works, and his proximity to it is in many ways Emil's only saving grace.

In the real world, the Icelandic government has actively used their country's strategic importance as a bargaining chip multiple times. They've managed to obtain a shocking amount of soft power through a combination of trade negotiations, tourism, and U.N-related schmoozing. They've taken what should, by any reasonable economic measurement, be a fairly impoverished and little-known island in the North Atlantic and turned it into a top tourist destination with some of the highest quality of life and wealth per capita in the world. It's actually pretty nuts if you think about it.

So in terms of Emil as a person I think this would have to translate into him being an incredibly talented diplomat. He's always very aware of who's on his side. Of who actually does the work vs. who sits around and takes credit for it. He's hyper-cognizant of his appearance and the way that others perceive him. He spends a lot of time trying to find out what makes the people around him tick and he uses that information to his advantage whenever possible.

And yet it's for this reason that he often comes across as very laid back and even unambitious to the people around him. He doesn't have the manpower for a war or even a fistfight, so unlike a lot of other nations, constant hustle and competition is a losing game for Emil and he actively avoids it. Flying under the radar and waiting to strike while the iron is hot is his only strategy, and he has to really understand both power dynamics and the people around him for that strategy to work.

[somniumfae]

please talk me about gevie I wanna hear about your oc (thunder sfx) NOW

peepoShy... thank you... you are very sweet

i'm slowly working up the courage to post her main doc on here (i am not emotionally prepared yet, but perhaps eventually) but i can talk about some basic + structural stuff that i haven't really mentioned on here ever

i know that the reasons allogenes get their visions aren't necessarily related to what their element actually represents, but a lot of g!evie's writing is about her eternity

basically... to make a long and kinda edgy story short, she gets her vision after making a resolve to embrace what she perceives her eternity as (to be alone) by transforming herself into a 'character' of sorts, a gentle and powerful wanderer who longs not for the company of others

it's a bit more complicated though. she's wrong about her eternity (lol), though the actions she takes are indeed attempts to embrace her (real) eternity, which is eternity with oneself (similar to an eternity of loneliness, but focusing on what you're with instead of what you're without: friends and lands and homes may come and go, but you will always be you, and you will always have yourself)

that's her first arc. (it's kind of dank sorry). basically it's about her finding peace within herself. her second arc is about her relationship to the world around her. she grows more comfortable with herself (and a bit with the people around her) to the point that she starts to long for a feeling of belonging, particularly for the concept of having a 'home' (which, in her case, is versus mondstadt and inazuma). tldr she decides it's mondstadt. to put another long story short.

i'm not sure how all of this is communicated/developed in-game: since two versions of g!evie technically exist (the one that exists with the confines of genshin the game, and the one that exists within the confines of teyvat the universe [so, one where all of her major development has to be within the audience of the traveler, and one where she's less shackled by that])

my current idea is that her first story quest is, in part, a love letter to the recurring NPC mondstadt daily commissions and the cyclical nature of them: g!evie is a fellow "adventurer" of sorts like the traveler and does the same tasks as the traveler does. g!evie notices and is cognizant of the miscommunications that drive all of these quests (guy refuses to tell his father that he guards a gate and isn't going on grandiose adventures, glory's boyfriend that i forgot the name of doesn't want to tell her he got left behind in varka's expedition, whatever the hell is going on with beatrice and the fruit guy, etc) but she's loath to interfere with others because she fears judgement yadda yadda yadda. basically the quest would be about how she doesn't have to isolate herself and can be more than an annoyance to others if she just put herself out there more. ideally, this quest would affect a permanent change to some NPCs in mondstadt or a change in dailies (but it would have to be ones not linked to achievements obviously)

her second quest might be an event storyline instead of a SQ, but either way, she goes to inazuma to learn more about her eternity. i don't have as solid an idea for this one but the eventual conclusion she comes to is that inazuma is a beautiful place but it kind of encourages some of her worst tendencies [overthinking and contemplation to the point of isolation], and altogether she feels a lot more free in mondstadt, the city of misfits

[reginrokkr]

𖧷 @caemthe asked: 🕯️ / for jiyan!

◜General Jiyan?◞ Porcelain-like features narrow in pensiveness, her fragile hand rises to prop her chin in silent consideration and to put in order her thoughts about him. It takes Jīnhsī a couple of minutes to organize them before her eyes meet her interlocutor's. ◜Deceiving as his short age may be, it shouldn't fool anyone. For he counts with an ample experience in fields others would not, even less when they were in their early teens. He puts his heart and soul into the protection of his soldiers and the people of Jinzhou, always keeping in mind to take the most adequate course of action to provoke the least amount of losses possible.◞

A conflicted expression makes its way thereafter, argent eyes dropping in quiescent thought. Being exposed to danger in a daily basis is bound to bring losses, she knows this well. However... how acceptant is the General on this matter, and how much does he blame himself whenever it happens? Jīnhsī inhales deeply as albescent lashes flutter close, the field of emortia flowers present in her mind.

◜But this... means that he is carrying a great burden on his shoulders, too.◞ Fair brows knit in a frown, her dainty hand close to her chest in a weak fist. ◜Because of Jinzhou's origins and nature of surviving disaster after disaster, its population has great expectations to those who lead various aspects of the province, one way or another. General Jiyan fills this criteria, there is no doubt about it. Nevertheless... he, too, is a man. There is sadness, sorrow and fear that I perceive in him that I cannot help but resonate with. Just because it manifests silently doesn't mean it doesn't exist.◞ If only I could reach out to him someday, somehow— to assuage these feelings so he may rest peacefully even for one night.

◜He's a strong man... Jiyan. For him to be able to push forward with everything he must shoulder, that deserves recognition, too. I trust his judgement and support every decision he makes, as I'm cognizant that he does it with the best interest of Jinzhou in mind.◞ Her fist tightens a tad as she looks at Jué, roseate lips curling in a smile. ◜One day I will build the courage to address these topics with him in a heart-to-heart conversation.◞ To penetrate his dreams even if to bring a small spark of light... just like you have always done with me since I was young. This time, subtle crinkles emerge at the corners of her eyes as her smile widens. ◜There is time, after all.◞

Because we share the same dream... you and I.

[a-bit-too-much-of-a-zelda-fan]

For autism awareness month, I’ll be talking about my autism. I have a complicated relationship with it. I’ll readily admit that it’s my autism that makes me a bit too much of a Zelda fan, a bit too much of a Pokémon fan, etc.. Whenever I get into a new thing, I go in neck deep and it consumes my thoughts. On the one hand, I get to micro analyze the thing and appreciate it for all its worth. On the other, I sometimes wish I could just like multiple things at once and give me other things to talk about when I’m with my friends, instead of turning to the internet and ranting into the void. I created this blog almost six years ago because at the time I only had one friend who also liked Zelda, and I knew it would be cruel to unload all my autistic Zelda ramblings on him. Same reason I made the Pokémon side blog.

Effective communication does not come easily for me. I’m sometimes unaware of the tone I’m speaking in, and I have very poor control over my facial expressions. Basically I can’t hide my emotions for shit, which can be bad in some scenarios. I miss some nonverbal cues. On the flip side, this has made me work incredibly hard to become an effective communicator. I know that if things are left unsaid, they may go uncommunicated. I know to say what I mean and clarify everything that needs to be. I hate that I over analyze everything I say and hear said to me, but oh well.

As a white, cishet man, I need to be aware of the power dynamics in my relationships. I need to be cognizant of the ways my words and actions can be perceived differently by women, minorities, and other people with whom there is some imbalance of power. I think this is how all people in my position should approach things, but for me and my autism, this is especially difficult. So I verbally acknowledge it with the person so they know I’m trying.

For example, a good friend of mine used to only know me as the author of Oops! All Links. He looked up to me as a writer and put me on a pedestal, which I understand and is completely natural as a parasocial relationship. He is also seven whole years younger than me. At the time, I was 21 and he was 14. When we started to DM and actually become friends, I told him explicitly that I recognized the power imbalance in our friendship, and he should feel absolutely no obligation to do anything that I say or ask of him, and to also tell me immediately if something I say or do makes him uncomfortable. I never had and still never do have any ill intent in this friendship, but the last thing I want is to unintentionally take advantage of him.

Sometimes, I wish things could be different. Compounded with my bipolar disorder and ADHD, my autism makes my life harder. My brain is crosswired and I need to work harder to achieve the things that I want than do neurotypical people. Getting through college has been an ordeal and it’s honestly a miracle that I’m almost finished with it. If I could do away with just the ways my autism my life worse, I would in a heartbeat.

My autism also makes me who I am, though. It defines my personality and the way I interact with the world. I wouldn’t be such an effective verbal communicator, I wouldn’t have the same passions, and I wouldn’t have the same relationships. It’s part of what makes me,,, me. And ya know what? I like me.

I still hate some things about myself. I hate the ways that my disabilities and disorders make my life harder. I sometimes wish I could just whisk it all away so I don’t have to struggle like I do. But there are some good things that come along with it. If I got to choose whether to get rid of the autism and everything it entails… I don’t know. I just don’t know if I would. But I don’t have that choice. For better or for worse, reality has already made the decision for me.

[the-eye-of-big-brother]

Hey, I'd like to be very clear that this is not a hate anon and I actually agree with your take. However, I know a lot of the criticism Jared has received has been for some misogynistic comments and attitudes, and while I hope he'll grow beyond that, it was definitely a bit disappointing to see on the feeds. Additionally, his usage of the R slur (which at this point, I believe is generally recognised to be a slur, though I could understand him being unaware as I'm in circles far more cognizant of that sort of stuff than he may be) and a comment to Matt about misunderstanding that some have interprited (including, seemingly, Matt himself) as sort of using Matt's deafness to get away with a lie. I agree that hate of any form is counterintuitive and harmful, but I am a bit curious of how you'd ideally like the audience to react? (Please note; this isn't passive aggressive, I agree with your points and am genuinely curious how you believe this information above and your points can sort of find the middle ground of not ignoring misogyny while not harassing a dude.)

First of all I will say that yes as fans you do have the right to be upset with Jared's actions inside the house. His views about women is gross that is something that cant be denied. In a better show the producer would have set him down in the dairy room and told him his actions are not acceptable and give him warming same for the R-slur.

All I really want out of the fans is just remember that we hold all the information about the game and the actions of the players. We have time stamps and log of almost everything that goes on in that house. The players don't have the luxury. Since we hold the power of information we shouldn't try use that power to actively ruin the lives of real people for something they said on cheesy reality tv show. At the end of the day sending hate to Jared isn't going to end misogyny or ableism.

The best we can do is just hope it does get to him that his word hurt some people outside of the game and that he learns from his experience

To be honest as a black man myself. I just felt bad for him. Black people historically on reality tv all ready have a up hill battle compared to there white peers. So seeing a guy that looked like me ( even if I didn't agree with him) getting shit on for weeks on end was rough. Then seeing him having a truly touching moment on stage spoke to me. Its speaks to how black men never are allowed this chance to show emotions or vulnerability at the level. Since we are raised to bottle it in. (Manly because of perceived racism and internalized masculinity.). It helped to humanize the guy. He was not this character on a tv show. He is a real person that just wanted to play the game with his mom and I wanted other people to see that side of him.

Thank you for your ask.

[ladyknightskye]

Okay, look. Look.

I just saw that "who is morally worst poll" that John Winchester won, and I - (rant beneath the cut)

Look. John Winchester is not a good parent. But the problem of John Winchester is not that he is on the Evil spectrum of the alignment chart y'all. Does he become the target of fans' own parental issues and traumas? Yes. Is he objectively a neglectful parent? Yes.

Is he ACTUALLY more morally reprehensible than Crowley? No.

I would argue that John Winchester's problem is not that he has too few morals but that he has too many. John Winchester is the bad kind of Lawful Good. He's the kind of Lawful Good that has a code (not necessarily one that jives with the laws of the land) but that code is not something he's going to give up for anyone including his children.

"But Skye, his whole deal was vengeance!"

And? That doesn't negate the fact that he took it upon himself to become a hunter of anything supernatural and not just Ole Yeller Eyes!

"But Skye, the dude lied, cheated, and stole all the time!"

Yes, in service to his ultimate goal of wiping anything supernatural off the face of the planet. And let's be real my lil leftist buddies - a lot of the people he was hurting with those crimes you would cheer about in any other context. Large banks, cops - those are not people most of us are fans of.

"Skye, that was a joke poll on Tumblr dot Hell."

Yes, and I made the mistake of looking in the comments. There are people out here on this very webbed site that think that "morals = being an actual good person" and don't seem to know what morals actually are.

Morals are a set of standards and beliefs that people have that tell them what they may and may not do in society.

Everyone has different morals, y'all.

Crowley is the definition of Neutral Evil. He will do whatever it takes to get what he wants, and yeah, maybe that shifts a bit as the story goes on, but for the vast majority of it, my dude doesn't give two shits what is right or wrong, just what is good for him at that given moment.

John, on the other hand, has morals. They're fucked up and not in line with the rest of society but he has them. Just because you don't like him doesn't mean they aren't there.

"Skye, you're just a John Winchester apologist."

No, I'm a person that really dislikes how the larger part of this fandom choses which characters can have nuance and which ones can't, usually based on which character they project on the most, and also refuse to engage with how their personal biases might color how they perceive these characters. I am well a-fucking-ware that I project a LOT of things on Dean because I see an awful lot of my own life's story in his, and this is not a bad thing, but I also know that this can color how I view other characters like Sam.

I am not a fan of Sam, and I'm aware that my dislike has little to do with the character himself and more to do with how I transpose my own feelings and memories on Dean. I am fully cognizant of this, and that's why I make caveats whenever I examine Sam as a character. Because I have biases! We all have biases! And that's okay!

I just want people to be aware of this and acknowledge it!!!

[mahayanapilgrim]

DZONGSAR JAMYANG KHYENTSE RINPOCHE

SLEEP PRACTICE

Whatever your belief or spiritual practice, always aspire to recognize that your dreams are just dreams. Know as you dream that you are dreaming. The big mistake we all make in every one of our many lives is to imagine that everything we experience is real. Stop making that mistake! As you fall asleep, simulate the moment of death by forcing yourself to believe that you are about to die. If you wish, try the following method, which is based on the practice of aspiration.

For Non-Buddhists

As you lie down to go to sleep, think to yourself:

Tonight I may die. This may be it. I may never wake up again. Forgive those you need to forgive. Forget everything that should be forgotten. Bring to mind anything that calms and relaxes you - it could be a falling leaf or a quacking duck.

More importantly, make the wish that you and every other sentient being will have and experience all that is good. In fact, if you can focus on caring for others more than yourself, not only will it bring you great joy, it will simultaneously ensure that you yourself are well looked after.

As you fall asleep, your awareness of your body - what your eyes see, what your nose smells, what your tongue tastes, and so on - will be detached by sleep.

When you next wake up, imagine you have been reborn and that a new life has just begun. Observe how you reconnect with your senses and sense objects. Notice the song of the blackbird, smell your stale morning breath, taste your night-time mouth taste.

Think to yourself: The world I have awoken into will not last forever. Look at your new table and that packet of exquisite, unopened Japanese stationery. Use them both and appreciate them now - it may be your last chance.

For Buddhists

If you wish, follow an old Buddhist tradition and imagine that all the buddhas and bodhisattvas have gathered on your pillow. Then, just before you lie down, offer them a prostration. If you would like to emulate the Buddha's famous reclining position, lie on your right side as you go to sleep.

Think: I want to make good use of this night's sleep. I surrender to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. I want this night's sleep to be beneficial and meaningful for both myself and others.

As you fall asleep, think: I am dying; My consciousness of my senses is dissolving.

As you wake up, think: I have been reborn. I long to make good use of this fleeting life for the benefit of myself and others.

For Tantrikas

Aspire to perceive and experience the luminosity of simple cognisance. As the process of falling asleep offers an excellent opportunity for recognizing this luminosity, make strong aspirations to simply 'cognize'. At death, all your sensory mechanisms will dissolve, which means this 'simple cognisance' will be entirely unbothered by your senses or your reaction to sense objects. All that will be left is your mind. So, bearing in mind the sleep practice that has already been described, visualize a lotus at the centre of your heart on which sits your guru, who is the embodiment of all the Buddhas. Then, as you fall asleep, just think about your guru.

From the book: "Living is dying "

[absylphe]

eavesdrop (feel free to include dirk or dont im not a cop)

I Feel Like I Take More Liberties Than I Should And Make More Assumptions Than I Should And I Feel Like I Should Be Reprimanded For It Rather Than Rewarded With Friendship

Each And Every Time That Tiny Kernel Of Insight I Intend To Provide Ends Up Rolling Up Dense Inches Of Conjecture And Observation Until The Tiny Snowball I Had Meant To Playfully Pelt A New Friend With In The Park With Becomes The Size Of An Oversized Snow Man's Disembodied Ass Crushing Him Under The Weight Of My Invasive Dissertations

(Pardon The Sudden Crass Language But I Think Dave Would Get A Kick Out Of That Metaphor For The Record)

And There I Go Making Assumptions Again Because I Have A Single Mode And It Is Overthinking Everything Until My Sponge Dries Out Or My Pusher Stops Beating

Whichever Happens First

Doubt Spiral Aside I Am Relieved That He Is Beginning To Relax And Feel A Bit More Comfortable

I Always Worry That I Am Perhaps Too Familiar

And That If I Am Too Familiar It Is For The Wrong Reasons

"A Fondness For Striders" Feels Like Such A Dismissive Over Generalization But The Shared Characteristics Of Our Collective Upbringings Always Make Striders Feel More Real To Me Initially Than Other Humans Do Somehow And I Think That Alone Is Enough To Put Me At Ease Early On When I Am Normally More On Guard

Seeing The Fierce Devotion He Has For His Brother Makes Me Wonder If Porrim And I Could Have Been Close If Time Had Permitted It

I Wonder If I Had Been Made Human If Anyone Could Have Mustered Such A Selfless Love For Me And I Find Myself Dissatisfied With The Conclusion

--------

I Don't Know

Of Course I Have Heard All Of The Things He Has Said About Himself And All Of The Things That Dave Has Mentioned But It All Seems Rather Excessive

And I Know That We Have A Lot In Common And I Think It Would Be Condescending To Assume That He Has Not Noticed

I Anticipated It Even Before We Really Spoke Just Given How Dave Talked About Him

The Thought I Keep Going Over In My Mind Is That It Is Not Really The Monstrosity Part Of His Possible Tyrannical Future That Terrifies Him

But The Maintained Integrity Of His Current Level Of Cognizance That Rings Throughout That Future

That Is To Say

It Is Not The Idea So Much That He Could Be Corruptible So Much As It Is That He Already Is Or He Already Believes That He Is

It Is Not The Dread That In The Future He Will Become A Monster So Much As The Dread That In The Future He Will Still Be Himself

Which In The Context Of This Hypothetical Is The Same Thing

(And As Always I Have To Make It About Myself)

Because Of Course I Resonate With That

I Am A Literal Physical Biological Parasite

I Have No Choice In That Matter Anymore And I Have Not For Nearly Half Of My Life Now

The More I Give In To It The More Those Urges And Thoughts And Mannerisms Consume Me

The More I Feel I Am Correct And That My Guidance Is Objectively For The Best

But How Much Of That Is A Mutation That Influences Me Toward Behavior That Prioritizes Resource Hoarding And How Much Of That Is Just Me

The Real Me That Sleeps Under Pangs Of Hunger And Purposeful Deprivation Too Weak To Exert Itself

Whenever He Alludes To The Perceived Inevitability Of That Future For Himself I Just Can Not Help But Think Of The Times I Have Overindulged And Become A Creature I Still Cannot Bear To See Glimpses Of In My Own Reflection

I Think He Must Think Me Terribly Naive Or A Terrible Busybody To Involve Myself So Much In His Business But My Heart Aches To Think How Much His Mind Must Race Given How Much He Observes And How Little He Speaks

The Echo Chamber Of One's Own Mind Is An Inhumane Place To Flog Oneself

Over Perceived Flaws And Actions Considered But Not Taken No Less

As Hypocritical As It Is To Say For Someone Like Me

Selfish Though It May Be I Hope He Will Be Free To Travel One Day

I Would Like To See The Kind Of Pottery He Would Make

[continuations]

Artificial Intelligence Existential Risk Dilemmas

A few week backs I wrote a series of blog posts about the risks from progress in Artificial Intelligence (AI). I specifically addressed that I believe that we are facing not just structural risks, such as algorithmic bias, but also existential ones. There are three dilemmas in pushing the existential risk point at this moment.

First, there is the potential for a "boy who cried wolf" effect. The more we push right now, if (hopefully) nothing terrible happens, then the harder existential risk from artificial intelligence will be dismissed for years to come. This of course has been the fate of the climate community going back to the 1980s. With most of the heat to-date from global warming having been absorbed by the oceans, it has felt like nothing much is happening, which had made it easier to disregard subsequent attempts to warn of the ongoing climate crisis.

Second, the discussion of existential risk is seen by some as a distraction from focusing on structural risks, such as algorithmic bias and increasing inequality. Existential risk should be the high order bit, since we want to have the opportunity to take care of structural risk. But if you believe that existential risk doesn't exist at all or can be ignored, then you will see any mention of it as a potentially intentional distraction from the issues you care about. This unfortunately has the effect that some AI experts who should be natural allies on existential risk wind up dismissing that threat vigorously.

Third, there is a legitimate concern that some of the leading companies, such as OpenAI, may be attempting to use existential risk in a classic "pulling up the ladder" move. How better to protect your perceived commercial advantage than to get governments to slow down potential competitors through regulation? This is of course a well-rehearsed strategy in tech. For example, Facebook famously didn't object to much of the privacy regulation because they realized that compliance would be much harder and more costly for smaller companies.

What is one to do in light of these dilemmas? We cannot simply be silent about existential risk. It is far too important for that. Being cognizant of the dilemmas should, however, inform our approach. We need to be measured, so that we can be steadfast, more like a marathon runner than a sprinter. This requires pro-actively acknowledging other risks and being mindful of anti-competitive moves. In this context I believe it is good to have some people, such as Eliezer Yudkowsky, take a vocally uncompromising position because that helps stretch the Overton window to where it needs to be for addressing existential AI risk to be seen as sensible.

[cosmicanger]

Peter Bradley, Scrapple From The Apple, 2021, acrylic and glass on canvas, 85 × 84 inches; 215.9 × 213.4 cm

I wish to revisit and elaborate further on the assertion that refraining from confronting anti-Blackness would have undeniably facilitated a more amenable existence. The notion that my past proclivity for critiquing the arts was merely an act of self-indulgence is not only fallacious but also symptomatic of a broader tendency towards anti-Black denial. Opting to be a perennially agreeable token would indeed have afforded me an easier path. This phenomenon resonates with the poignant words of James Baldwin, underscoring how Black criticality is often criminalized to an extent where concerted efforts converge to make an exemplar of those who dare to voice dissent, thus deterring others from following suit. The arts community, it seems, is intent on making such an example of me, unequivocally signaling a desire to dissuade any future Black artist from addressing anti-Blackness as forthrightly as I have in the past. Effectively, the implicit message is that should I dare to confront anti-Blackness—whether in the past, present, or future—most within the arts establishment will ensure that I encounter insurmountable obstacles. These barriers include difficulties in finding gallery representation, the impediment of dedicating myself to art full time, thereby diminishing my capacity for self-care, healthcare, and the sustained sale of my artworks.

In critiquing the white artists and the broader art world, a recurrent theme emerges—discomfort and ire arise when confronted with the assertion that their support is extended primarily to Black individuals lacking a coherent analysis of anti-Blackness. The predilection for endorsing Black artists who refrain from denouncing blatant or subtle acts of anti-Blackness becomes glaringly evident. Averse to having their biases dissected, especially by white artists, individuals are either oblivious to the extent of their bigotry or, if cognizant, disinclined to pay the price for grace, even if it had a tangible value. Moreover, the arts community exhibits a propensity to react with hostility when confronted with their bigotry, preferring to bask in the shame of their intentions rather than engaging in a constructive dialogue to address the impact of their actions. The pattern extends to shooting the proverbial messenger, typically a Black individual courageous enough to point out systemic issues. Regrettably, it appears that the majority of artists under the age of 40 harbor anti-Black sentiments that echo the biases of their predecessors, a disheartening revelation, particularly as these individuals may perceive themselves as progressive. Ironically, there are individuals in the Midwest and the South, residing outside the art world's insular enclaves, who demonstrate less anti-Black sentiment than the majority of white artists who believe the contrary.

While not absolving non-Black individuals under the American poverty line, particularly white individuals in that category, the arts sector emerges as an anti-Black conservative playground, adorned with the trappings of neoliberalism. Conversing with the average white artist in 2023, transitioning into 2024, reveals a disheartening lack of growth since the uprisings in Ferguson in 2014. Their purported activism often proves to be performative, marked by fetishization or tokenization, without genuine concern for anyone beyond themselves.

As I enter the new year, my focus shifts toward reconciliation with some figures in the art world, I have no ill towards any Black art person moving into 2024. I intend to reserve my critical commentary for a posthumous memoir, directing my energies towards engaging in art or curatorial pursuits full time. This strategic redirection aims to afford me the necessary resources, time, and stamina for self-care in a pandemic that persists unabated. My reputation precedes me; evidently, individuals within the art community believe they can act with impunity in private conversations but refrain from such conduct in the presence of witnesses. Steadfast adherence to principles centered on the most marginalized Black individuals and the active combatting of anti-Blackness within the neoliberal art world appears to be deemed a transgression. Strikingly, overt anti-Black sentiments, as well as coded and passive manifestations, receive tacit approval and, in most cases, encouragement and reward. The discrepancy is particularly glaring when considering the material and spiritual support accorded to those who have contributed significantly less to the arts than I have since the pandemic began.

Moving forward into 2024, my fervent hope is that all Black artists and art workers receive the material support they require, irrespective of their stance on coddling whiteness or their willingness to accept criticism, whether paid or otherwise. Sadly, given the prevailing conditions, this aspiration may prove elusive. The observable trend suggests that Black individuals barred from prestigious galleries that fund production costs or omitted from biennials prior to Oct 7th will likely encounter further marginalization. The 'vocal' presence in the arts will, regrettably, veer even closer to resembling white individuals virtue signaling more than ever before. The pervasive backlash and prejudice witnessed after the Black art market boom of 2014-2020, compounded by the current white backlash endorsing occupiers in various interconnected genocides, present a devastating reality. Nevertheless, my enduring faith in Black people and Black art remains unwavering.

In 2024, 'Ancient Clay' will exclusively feature posts highlighting art that resonates with my aesthetic sensibilities and those I personally engage with during in-person visits.

[tosin-talks]

Tosin Talks about residual symptoms of BPD

I haven’t really directly talked about symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder on my blog because I haven’t felt ready to discuss the real horrors of the disorder; I wasn’t even sure where to start and how to talk about my story. Additionally, I just haven’t been as affected by my symptoms as I used to be. For years, I have been working hard to recover from the diagnosis that I received in 2018 and undiagnosed symptoms that I experienced before then. Recovery is possible and I believe I’ve survived some of the worst parts of the disorder but BPD is a mental illness that greatly impacts one’s thought processes and perception of the world so I still experience the long-term effects of it.

I haven’t had a typical “BPD episode” in about 3-4 months. I don’t think I’ve self-harmed in about 6-7 months and I don't have constant urges to do so either. My reactions and responses are a lot less intense these days which probably means that my mental health has improved. Now that the life-threatening and extremely destructive symptoms aren’t a main issue, I am working on my issues with emotional impermanence, interpersonal relationships, splitting, and chronic emptiness.

I still struggle with the well known BPD concept of a “favorite person”, especially since a long-term relationship recently ended. I try to be cognizant of when I may unconsciously make someone else my new favorite person but it can be difficult to notice since my symptoms aren’t that intense anymore. Now that I process and evaluate my feelings towards someone, it’s not as easy to realize if I just really like and admire them or I’m idealizing them. The downside to when I realize that I might have idealized someone that I’m close to is the devaluation and emptiness that follows. The shift isn’t as grandiose as it used to be and rather than switching from black to white, I move between dark grey and light grey. I’ve been working really hard on not letting others’ thoughts, opinions, and worldviews become my own or heavily impact the way I perceive myself. I used to shapeshift to become whoever I assumed my favorite person wanted me to be. Now, I’m discovering my true self and learning to love her and choose her every time.

I definitely still experience mood swings but the highs and lows aren’t very high or low and they mostly occur on or around my period. Something that’s frustrating to still experience is emotional impermanence. I wish I had a better hold on an emotion and did a better job of remembering that a certain emotion will return. Another symptom that I still occasionally experience is chronic emptiness. I feel what Charles Baudelaire called “ennui”. I feel extremely detached and like I’m watching myself live this silly game of mundanity. I feel disconnected from the city I live in and some of the people I interact with and have little hope of this issue improving. I haven’t yet discovered what triggers my feelings of numbness and emptiness, it’s almost like I’m splitting on life itself. However, I’ve been combatting the emptiness by creating and stimulating my mind. I’ve been reading, learning new things, and writing a lot more.

Sometimes I get disappointed in myself for still experiencing minor symptoms. I understand that BPD can be a lifelong journey even if/when I no longer meet diagnosing criteria but I am fearful that I may never have a healthy, happy, long-term partnership or have my emotions completely in check or feel at home anywhere that I move to. I’m learning to give myself the same grace that I would give a future client or my younger self. I’ve come so far, my progress is definitely observable and I can acknowledge my effort and the results of that hard work. I’m not expected to completely rid myself of over a decade of mental health challenges in just a day. If I’m being honest, I didn’t expect myself to even live this long so I’m simply proud to be alive and sharing my story with you all. 

If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, dial 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or text “HELLO” to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line. For more education, advocacy, and support about BPD, visit the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (neabpd.org) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (nami.org).

Background music by Mist3r

[art-of-manliness]

The 15 Most Sobering Quotes About Getting Old

Over the life course, people’s happiness tends to follow a U-shaped curve; it begins to decline around the age of 18 and hits its lowest point around age 47 or 48, at which point it starts to go back up again. Researchers aren’t sure why happiness follows this trajectory. Our personal hypothesis is that after young adulthood, and especially in one’s thirties and forties, an individual can viscerally feel his vitality, his life juices, slowly draining away, and he grieves this loss. By the time he nears 50, he’s forgotten what the buoyancy of youth felt like, so he no longer mourns its memory. A depressing theory, I know. But it’s not a bad thing to view the aging process through a sobering lens. There are upsides of aging, and plenty of quotes out there that affirm its advantages. But around here, we find that reciting bleaker mantras to each other is actually a rather life-affirming thing to do.  A lot of people are fixated on how they plan to stay healthy and active into old age, and this is a great goal to which to aspire. But no matter how much stretching and green smoothie drinking you do, you’re never going to feel the same at 70 as you do at 30. Thinking about how vital you’re going to stay in elderhood, about how much good time you have left, after all, is a way of denying the inevitabilities of mortality — of escaping the responsibility of making the very most of the present moment.  The key to cultivating that carpe diem attitude is staying ever cognizant of the fact that old age comes for everyone, and always involves some loss. The following quotes can be a help in that.  This kind of reflection is worth regularly engaging in regardless of your age; after all, no matter how far advanced you are in years, you’ll never be as young as you are right now.  “After thirty a man wakes up sad every morning.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson “No snow falls lighter than the snow of age; but none lies heavier, for it never melts.” —L.N. Child “When we are young, we are slavishly employed in procuring something whereby we may live comfortably when we grow old; and when we are old, we perceive it is too late to live as we proposed.” —Alexander Pope “Every one desires to live long, but no one would be old.” —Jonathan Swift “Nothing is more disgraceful than that an old man should have nothing to show to prove that he has lived long, except his years.” —Seneca “A person is always startled when he hears himself seriously called old for the first time.” —O. W. Holmes “Age that lessens the enjoyment of life, increases our desire of living.” —Oliver Goldsmith “Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.” —Francis Bacon “Without fullness of experience, length of days is nothing. When fullness of life has been achieved, shortness of days is nothing. That is perhaps why the young . . . have usually so little fear of death; they live by intensities that the elderly have forgotten.” —Lewis Mumford “As we advance in life, the circle of our pains enlarges, while that of our pleasures contracts.” —Sophie Swetchine “Old age adds to the respect due to virtue, but it takes nothing from the contempt inspired by vice; it whitens only the hair.” —J. P. Senn “Old age is a tyrant, which forbids the pleasures of youth on pain of death.” —François de La Rochefoucauld “Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age.” —Victor Hugo “How many fancy they have experience simply because they have grown old.” —Stanislaus “Childhood sometimes does pay a second visit to a man; youth never.” —Anna Jameson The post The 15 Most Sobering Quotes About Getting Old appeared first on The Art of Manliness. http://dlvr.it/Swkb38

[reginrokkr]

"are you okay ? you look worried ... or ... sad ?"

four-year-old kaeya tugs softly on the bough keeper's cloak, his brow furrowed with an adorable look of concern; a moment later, he's offering up the stuffed animal he's been carrying about ( his favorite, a kitten, soft and well-loved. )

"whenever i hug him, it makes it better. do you wanna try ?"

Passing by unnoticed by many despite what people may think of his looks has its benefits, such as not being sought after or being left alone when spotted. Spending time in the wilderness is more effective for that matter, as there are few and far in between whom are not allogenes that dare to traverse the open fields at the detriment of being attacked by some creature, lest they have been purposefully trained for their job as a defendant of their nation.

Dáinsleif was stationed in the vicinities of the Dawn Winery in Mondstadt this time, where he had noticed an increase of the Abyss Order activity around these areas. It also became a point of interest to him to visit if time isn't pressing enough to let him when he discovered that Kaeya Alberich, descendant of Chlothar Alberich and the founder of the Abyss Order was adopted by the current Ragnvindr aristocrat at the helm of the family.

Whether there exists a relation betwixt the founder's descendant location and the Abyss Order's place of choice to proceed with their operations or not remains to be seen.

To say that Dáinsleif was taken by surprise at the initial tug of his cloak is an understatement, sending his cyan eyes to open wide in shock for a brief moment before his attention is focused on the little boy. His eyes soften at the sight that it's just a child, albeit he is well cognizant of who this child is. He looks briefly to the right and to the left in search of anyone that must've been strolling with him around this cliff to no avail, deciding thereafter that perhaps they are nearby and the fact that it's daylight makes his presence so far home less dangerous.

Was he worried or sad? Only now the fallen seraph takes time to register Kaeya's question. He wouldn't say so necessarily, but perhaps it's his demeanor or his lonely presence here what might give away that. Though they have yet to mature their logical cognition and emotional intelligence, children are natural perceivers and speak the truth, he knows.

Before he has time to respond Dáinsleif is presented with a stuffed feline to him. His guard is let down in a situation that does not require his acute perception and vigil and so his body acts before his brain processes that he's reaching out to take the offered plushie in his hands. Curious sapphires inspect the stuffed animal as he holds it gently in his hands. How long has it been since the last time he held one like this? Did he hold a stuffed animal to begin with? He doesn't know, but he appreciates its soft texture for some moments before he places it on his lap.

❝Sometimes adults have more on their mind than they can allow themselves to let on.❞ Icy sapphires harbor a paradoxical warmth within them, a hand reaches out to pat the little boy's head. ❝You would offer something precious to you to a stranger you just met... hold on to that kindness. Its value is worth all the mora Liyue can mint.❞ His eyes smile what the wear and tear of centuries have caused roseate lips to forget, then he retreats his hand.

The call of the blue haired boy's name sparks Dáinsleif's attention to a red haired man, then back to him. ❝Here.❞ He extends his hands to give Kaeya his stuffed animal back and he rouses onto his feet thereafter, patting off the dust of his pants. ❝You should go to him, lest you worry him.❞ An encouraging nod is given to him to go, then he turns towards a different direction. A few steps are given forward, only to stop and look back at him. ❝Thank you, little one.❞ His hand rises to rest on his left pectoral. ❝May your heart remain warm as it is.❞

Thus he leaves and fades with the wind in the distance, his presence meant to be akin to that of a ghost's apparition: inconsequential, albeit lingering in those hearts who want to give it the importance it lacks.

@aalberich ✦

[atrayo]

Channeled Angelic Wisdom of the Jewels of Truth Series on Conduct, Being, and Personal Character

Hello All,

Finally, I've set aside some time to blog some freshly minted for this month of May a trio of Jewels of Truth statements as channeled content from the Angels. For the last year or so I requested from the angels to receive this content usually as a theme of topics. So randomly without forethought on my part, the 3 topics of Conduct, Being, and Personal Character have been set aside for now. 

The topics and/or attributes are self-explanatory so not much background information is necessary. For those that are new readers of Atrayo's Oracle blog site of 18+ years online originally at Google's Blogger portal, and now at various satellite locations online such as LinkedIn, Tumblr, and Temple Illuminatus. 

I have been channeling the heavenly angelic host and assorted holy ones for now over 28+ plus years. Utilizing a writing technique that is considered as psychic Inspirational automatic writing. Not unlike the author of The Conversations With God book series of Neale Donald Walsch. I may actually have channeled more Inspired content than Mr. Walsch but not all of it is published publically. Lol, but who's counting? 

Without further adieu may you be blessedly informed and expand your spiritual horizons of grace. Amen.

Conduct:

3316) Many wonders occur without the cognizant realization of people in their common ordinary midst. Each to experience a solemn loving Omni-Presence of God universally. One must exude reverence for the great and small of this world simultaneously. In order to garner a situational or circumstantial awareness as a living blessing when what is perceived is well-meaning indeed by faith. 

Not all perceptions are equal, nor robust in the continuity of an honorable conduct. Thus it takes much practice and genuine sincere curiosity to experience the holiness of the divine in your everyday common midst. 

What do you notice spiritually? It depends usually on your cultural faith tradition in this world by devotional expectations. Is it an angel, a holy ghost, a natural fairy, a nature spirit, an ancestor, and so forth? Will you can you notice what is perpetually there spiritually noticing you by a beloved esteem? Intention follows adoration when the pure heart is stirred from within for what is holy is everlasting only through God(dess) alone. 

Shining as a spirit reborn upon the world permits you many graces as both wonders and responsibilities to hold a higher standard of conduct both humanely and spiritually. First, do no harm. Meaning do not condemn the foreigner or your neighbor for how they commune or not with the celestial divine upon the world. Paradise is an Inclusive metaphysical reality of the afterlife for all faiths. Each one is a sacred trust as religions, spiritual traditions, and philosophies of ancient bygone civilizations, contemporary ones, and ones yet to be invented. Not just by humanity on earth but by intelligent semi-sentient species out beyond in the cosmos. 

Like-kind spiritually as pulses or energetically will always attract each other where space and time aren't real to the metaphysical afterlife. A spiritual holy enshrined magnetism occurs by a person whose devout is akin to Being calibered or harmonized to the divine like a tuning fork at a specific frequency beyond what is audible alone dimensionally. 

So vibrating with benevolence in your heart, mind, and soul of God in you welcomes like kind of the holy ones. A circular loop of constant grace is enshrined through you as if you are a bead being strung on a loop of great affection to be adorned by God as if wearing you like a necklace of precious diamond-like jewels. 

However, if you hate with anger with toxic vibrations as pulses of ill-will both as a person and a spirit reborn you will stir up metaphysically not just poor conduct but Hell on Earth as well. Such disruptive outbursts that are sustained are the worst kind of danger wherever possible on a spiritual basis. 

Your world is awash with a Contrast of goodness, neutrality, and evil each with a native spectrum of metaphysical frequencies all its own kind. Humanity often calls them the Virtues and Vices each expression is an intonation much like the aforementioned tuning fork at a marked dedicated frequency. How you balance your decorum signifies your stature not just on earth with the maturity of personal character but also in the afterlife simultaneously. 

The divine is enmeshed with your mundane common ordinary world it is a layered stratified existence of the extraordinary wonders unto the plain and benign phenomena of all circular dynamical realities. What you pour of yourself personally out of you and into you from other sources spells the difference of health or disease upon you physically and spiritually in tandem. 

There are many avenues to commune with the benevolent spiritual realities whether by prayer, meditation, and contemplations as forms of worship. There are also devout songs, dances, and solitary exercises of the Intuitive mystical arts just to name a few. Do you have a pure open heart and mind without being jaded of what is divine and what is clearly not? 

Do you succumb easily to hardship complaining that your life is stressful without practicing self-improvement? What maladies of the human condition are beyond your control and which ones can you influence privately or with the help of other trusted souls? Do you practice Mercy and Forgiveness upon yourself and extend it to all others be they human, creature, and ecological? 

Heaven on Earth and Hell on Earth are two sides of the identical reality each sharing a spectrum of dimensional constants that can distinguish the weak from the strong in the world. Your attributes as your personal conduct signify this treatise between you and God personally and privately that no other person be they well-meaning or not should have any authority to interfere with truly. Please know which master you obey predominantly in the world and act accordingly by faith in God(dess) always and forever more. Amen. ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo.

Being:

3317) The Soft Stillness of Being Within feeds the doing moreso profoundly. The Deeper the Being, the Deeper the Mindfulness of your cherished wholeness which fulfills true Being. Amen. ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo.

Personal Character:

3318) To the one who feels much for his/her own behavior as an outlet of justified actions. Be not afraid to live a finely righteous demeanor given if the circumstances are in your favor or not. Sometimes difficult choices must be made with careful analysis as to the ramifications of the highest and best good that is possible for all concerned. Regardless, if the highest good is yours or not given the potential array of outcomes. 

There are moments where a personal sacrifice is called for as a form of practical character building for the upliftment of the spiritual self upon this world in terms of karma. This isn't to say to suffer needlessly at every possible turn as a martyr, masochist, and so forth. No tend to what is rational and behave with honour as to what is expected from you in that moment of time wherever possible. 

Then follow the trail of the sensible claim of following decisions based on reason, common sense, logic, and if necessary by sheer Intuition as required. Always moving at your pace and if not at what the moment dictates in an orderly fashion even if the pace can seem hectic at first blush. Do not be bullied into making rash decisions by peer pressure with an incomplete assessment of the facts at hand. 

Moreover please trust your Intuitive heart foremost when the decisions are serious. Silence the racing thoughts, take a deep breath or two, and release the anxiety. Listen emotionally to the Stillness within feel for the moments between moments and there you will have found your Intuitive Heart alive with your Guardian Spiritual Angel present in your Divine midst. 

Give yourself leeway to make mistakes without crucifying yourself too harshly to be a fallible person in the world. Humanity was never meant to be perfection, that is an irrational glitch of the human ego. Do celebrate your minor with larger successes in your life personally. Since so few well-meaning people will do so on your legitimate behalf as friends, loved ones, and even strangers. 

Sincerely welcome the plights that will challenge your mettle in order to rise to the occasion by living your convictions as best as you can even if you falter repeatedly. Courage requires stamina to continue despite the odds. Compassion spells the difference between the holy ones and the brutal animals of the world. Be dignified in a manner that best suits your personality, not the generic canned responses your elders may demand from you earnestly. 

Cherish responsibility in order to hold yourself to a better standard of living. Society will have expectations of you and not all of them are considerate. Sometimes being the misfit is better company than the dogma of the era that is politically and culturally hysterical and flawed in humane esteem. To know this difference takes personal Inner humility to truly understand your motivations and that of the illness of psychology of the societal masses. 

Not every aggressor is wrong so discern accordingly and not every victim is innocent either. Comprehension beyond the situational facts on the ground but truly the untold truth takes a practical understanding of the human condition. With a spiritual fortitude to do your best always without being lazy and cheating at another person's expense. 

Predicaments will occur that are chaotic as accidents and emergencies beyond the ordinary of the commoners day. Allow your Inner Stillness to guide your steps with sensible approaches that allow for minor confusion to be later clarified with reason and logic from trusted authority figures. Even if their personable values differ from your own in life and dogma. It is not the place to adjudicate the peace at that very instant of chaos that can come later when disaster strikes profusely. 

Do live with the strength of personal character and compassion for the stranger, foreigner, and your kinsfolk as your neighbors. This includes for yourself foremost and all other persons known and unknown in the world. For your thoughts, words, actions, and even your inactions do matter spiritually and moreover upon this reality of the Earth.

Whether there is earnest allowance of what must be earned, shared by privilege, and gifted as charity. The original sin is withholding your grace from the world when it is dearly needed and otherwise wanted by mutual fellows and the masses in question. To serve another sincerely with virtue is to serve God silently in the constant eternal stillness of what matters most can be unspoken with a cherished internal embrace by the divine. Amen. ---Ivan Pozo-Illas / Atrayo.

Ivan "Atrayo" Pozo-Illas, has devoted 28 plus years of his life to the pursuit of clairaudient-inspired automatic writing channeling the Angelic Heavenly host. Ivan is the author of the spiritual wisdom series "Jewels of Truth" consisting of 3 volumes published to date. He also utilizes a unique channeled angelic divination method called the Multi-Deck Divination System. Numerous examples of his work are available at "Atrayo's Oracle" blog site of 18 years plus online. You're welcome to visit his website "Jewelsoftruth.us" for further information or to contact Atrayo directly.