#overcoming depression through faith

[alandemoss]

Come As You Are: Embracing Grace in a Judgmental World

Are You Tired of Feeling Unworthy? In a world where the weight of judgment often feels unbearable, many of us long for a place to belong. What if I told you that Jesus invites us to come just as we are? This invitation to authenticity resonates deeply with the angst expressed in the grunge music I grew up on. As a fan of Pearl Jam and Nirvana, I understand the struggle against societal…

[writing-with-sophia]

Common misfortunes for characters

Death of a loved one: This can be a profound and devastating experience for a character, leading to grief, guilt, and a sense of loss. It can also serve as a catalyst for character development and exploration of themes such as mortality, coping with loss, and the fragility of life.

Serious illness or injury: Physical or mental health challenges can test a character's resilience and force them to confront their limitations. It can also provide opportunities for exploring themes of perseverance, the importance of support systems, and the fragility of the human body.

Loss of a job or financial ruin: Financial struggles can lead to desperation, uncertainty, and a loss of identity for a character. It can also present opportunities for growth, reinvention, and exploring themes of resilience, resourcefulness, and the true value of material possessions.

Betrayal by a trusted friend or ally: Betrayal can shatter trust and lead to feelings of anger, betrayal, and a loss of faith in others. It can create complex moral dilemmas for the character and explore themes of loyalty, forgiveness, and the dark side of human nature.

Imprisonment or wrongful accusation: Being imprisoned or falsely accused can lead to feelings of powerlessness, injustice, and a struggle for redemption. It provides opportunities for exploring themes of justice, personal agency, and the lengths one will go to prove their innocence.

Natural disasters: Natural disasters can be catastrophic events that disrupt lives, challenge survival instincts, and test a character's resilience. They can explore themes of human vulnerability, the power of nature, and the strength of community in times of crisis.

War or conflict: War and conflict can have profound impacts on characters, leading to physical and emotional trauma, loss of loved ones, and moral dilemmas. They provide opportunities for exploring themes of heroism, sacrifice, the futility of violence, and the long-lasting effects of war.

Addiction or substance abuse: Characters grappling with addiction or substance abuse can experience a downward spiral, strained relationships, and a loss of control. It allows for exploration of themes such as self-destructive behavior, the road to recovery, and the impact of addiction on oneself and others.

Mental health issues: Characters dealing with mental health issues like depression or anxiety can face internal struggles, isolation, and difficulties in functioning. It provides an opportunity to delve into themes of stigma, self-discovery, and the importance of mental health support.

Loss of a child or miscarriage: The loss of a child or experiencing a miscarriage can be emotionally devastating for characters, leading to grief, guilt, and questioning of one's purpose or identity. It allows for exploration of themes of parental love, coping with loss, and the complexities of grief.

Failed relationships or divorce: Characters going through failed relationships or divorce can experience heartbreak, loneliness, and a sense of failure. It presents an opportunity to explore themes of love, forgiveness, personal growth, and the complexities of human relationships.

Alienation or social isolation: Characters who feel alienated or socially isolated can grapple with feelings of loneliness, rejection, and a sense of not belonging. It allows for exploration of themes of identity, acceptance, and the importance of human connection.

Identity theft or fraud: Characters who fall victim to identity theft or fraud can face financial ruin, loss of reputation, and a struggle to reclaim their identity. It provides opportunities to delve into themes of trust, deception, and the lengths one goes to protect their identity.

Accidental injury or disability: Characters experiencing accidental injury or acquiring a disability can face physical and emotional challenges, adjusting to a new way of life, and overcoming societal barriers. It allows for exploration of themes such as resilience, self-acceptance, and the meaning of true strength.

Loss of a treasured possession or heirloom: Losing a treasured possession or heirloom can evoke feelings of loss, nostalgia, and a connection to the past. It provides an opportunity to explore themes of materialism, attachment, and the value of intangible memories.

Being stranded or lost in a remote or dangerous location: Characters finding themselves stranded or lost in a remote or dangerous location can face survival challenges, fear, and the need to rely on their instincts. It allows for exploration of themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the inherent strength of the human spirit.

Struggling with poverty or homelessness: Characters experiencing poverty or homelessness can encounter hardships, discrimination, and a constant struggle for basic needs. It provides an opportunity to explore themes of social inequality, resilience, and the power of compassion and empathy.

Encounter with a dangerous or malicious antagonist: Characters facing a dangerous or malicious antagonist can be subjected to physical and psychological harm, manipulation, and a fight for their lives. It allows for exploration of themes of good versus evil, moral choices, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Political or social persecution: Characters experiencing political or social persecution can face oppression, injustice, and the fight for their rights and freedom. It provides an opportunity to explore themes of social change, courage, and the power of collective action.

Being framed for a crime they didn't commit: Characters who are framed for a crime they didn't commit can face wrongful accusation, a loss of trust, and the pursuit of justice. It allows for exploration of themes of innocence, perseverance, and the search for truth.

These misfortunes can be used individually or combined to create layered and complex narratives where characters face adversity, overcome challenges, and ultimately find strength and growth through their experiences. Remember to balance the misfortunes with moments of resilience, hope, and eventual triumph to create a compelling narrative.

If you want to read more posts about writing, please click here and give me a follow!

[owlhousetarot]

The Star: Luz Realizing Her Deepest Wish in For the Future

Upright: Faith, renewal, healing, hope, rejuvenation, positivity, healing, inspiration

Reversed: Hopelessness, despair, negativity, lack of faith, despondent, disconnection

The Star represents the renewal of hope and faith after a time of despair as described by the Star reversed. You’ve gone through a period of life where it feels like everything has turned against you. What used to bring you joy has lost that spark, and the challenges you’ve faced seem overwhelming and impossible to overcome. You’ve lost faith; faith in yourself, faith in the world, and faith that things will get better. This is exactly the mindset Luz is in at the beginning of season 3. Being cut off from the family and world she’d come to love so much, being uncertain that Eda and King and the rest had even survived, and believing that all of it was her fault left her the most depressed we’d ever seen her. She grew despondent, lacking all the positivity and enthusiasm she had at the beginning of the series. She distanced herself from her friends in preparation to separate from them entirely when and if they found a way to get back home. She even started to lose hope that her palisman would ever hatch, wondering whether she’d already ruined its life in carving it as an egg instead of a fully formed creature.

The Star upright signals that while you have suffered, you made it through to the other side stronger and more resilient. It comes as a message to have faith, because you are blessed by things both around and within you that will empower you to move toward a better future; it’s just a matter of being courageous enough to take the first step forward. The Star represents a moment of self-actualization where you realize your core essence and claim it with your whole being. You know exactly who you are, and you know that no matter what challenges you may face, you always have the power to make things better. When Camila finally talks to Luz and empathizes with her struggles and shortcomings, when she admits to her own part in making Luz feel like an outcast, Luz realizes that she’s always only ever wanted to feel understood. Furthermore, she realizes that she’s found that understanding in her friends and family, and that if they can move past their own mistakes, if they can forgive her for her mistakes—then she has the power to do the same. This moment of understanding causes Stringbean to finally hatch, granting her new power and rekindling her hope that she and her loved ones will prevail.

< Previous Card: The Tower

> Next Card: The Moon

[dreamyyesenia]

Always Keep Simming - Welcome to Selvadorada!

When the Blackburn‘s, accompanied by Aileen‘s mother Evangeline (in the pink dress) and her grandfather Alexander, arrived in Selvadorada, it was late in the afternoon. The kids were exhausted and took their naps. As it had been some time since Aileen went on a vacation with her mum and grandfather, they decided to celebrate by playing their favorite family game - Don’t Wake the Llama!

Aileen cooked dinner together with Alexander and they took the opportunity to chat. Her grandfather assured her he was fine. However, while eating dinner, Aileen had a feeling her grandfather was troubled by something. He wasn’t his usual self, always trying to solve hard problems and philosophizing. He seemed sad and lost in his thoughts.

TW: Talk about grief, depression, addiction and loss of a loved one.

Only if you’re untroubled by these topics continue reading below 🫶🏻

In fact, as soon as Aileen asked him what was on his mind after dinner, he couldn’t hold back his tears. Aileen had seen her grandfather cry only once- at the funeral of his wife, Aileen‘s grandmother (Gen 2), Delilah O‘Neil. Alexander had never gotten over her death. He had struggled with depression right after her passing but with therapy, meditation, self-care and lots of time spent with his grandchildren, he had gotten better. Turned out that since he moved back to Strangerville, he had felt lonely again. Luke was a YA now and Evangeline and Rhys were always busy with work. On top of that, Strangerville was so far away from Forgotten Hollow (the graveyard). He was left alone with his thoughts and missed talking to his wife - even if it was only her ghost. Delilah and him had gone through hell together- mainly because of Alexander’s former life as a famous criminal (Oracle in the criminal career) and drug addict. Delilah had never lost faith in him, even when he’d been in prison… she had been his rock, the one person he could count on, who’d believe he could become a better version of himself. And he’d succeeded, thanks to her. Aileen herself was also still grieving her grandmother. She had passed away right after she had aged up to an elderly sim. It seemed like their time together had been stolen from them… But Aileen had an idea💡… Ever since her grandmother’s passing, Aileen had been researching if it was possible to revive a sim. It was the reason she became a scientist. A task impossible to achieve? Something no one had ever dared to do? Not for her, she liked being faced with seemingly impossible challenges, overcoming them would be that much greater. She was fearless and for her family, she’d give her all. 🪄

Alexander was first surprised and then very hopeful about Aileen‘s idea. 🥹🫶🏻

[apiswitchcraft]

tarot and their divinatory meanings (major arcana)

this is part one, with the major arcana. for the suit of pentacles click here, for the suit of wands click here, for the suit of swords click here, and for the suit of cups click here.

0 - The Fool

UPRIGHT: new beginnings, optimism and freedom (sometimes foolhardy), lightheartedness, infinite potential, lack of discipline, you are advised to take some risks

REVERSED: lack of caution/control, you need to be planning more, carelessness, apathy, even vanity/self-centeredness

I - The Magician

UPRIGHT: willpower, self-reliance, a chance to use your skill(s), creativity/diplomacy, creating things for/by yourself

REVERSED: deception, trickery, insecurity that you may hide, poor judgement, someone may be using you/lying

II - The High Priestess

UPRIGHT: wisdom, mystery, don't get so caught up in yourself that you lose your way, listen to your gut, a cloudy future, secrets

REVERSED: confusion, you may have been ignoring your intuition, ignorance, passion that may distract you

III - The Empress

UPRIGHT: a parent/nurturer, femininity/a feminine person, the divine feminine, hidden actions (that benefit you), safety, good fortune, building a future

REVERSED: uncertainty, too concerned with others, lack of satisfaction, infidelity, letting others decide for you too often

IV - The Emperor

UPRIGHT: masculinity/a masculine person, honor, discipline, authoritative, reason, pursue your goals with strategy and logic, you may take on a leadership role

REVERSED: a tyrannical/weak person or leader, immaturity, lack of self-control, confusion, someone making you feel poweless

V - The Hierophant

UPRIGHT: tradition, ritual, servitude, follow the grain, religion, mercy/goodness, timidity

REVERSED: feeling controlled, go against the grain OR overgenerosity, weakness of institution, eccentricity

VI - The Lovers

UPRIGHT: love, trust, unity, a couple that has overcome trials, romance, harmony between two people while still maintaining individuality

REVERSED: contrarieties, imbalance, lack of communication, avoiding taking responsibility, failure to overcome

VII - The Chariot

UPRIGHT: triumph, feeling vengeance/anger (not in a bad way), maintain focus and determination, control over a situation, create a plan or follow through with an existing one

REVERSED: defeat, lack of willpower OR obsession with goals, quarreling, unfavorable legal proceedings

VIII - Strength

UPRIGHT: power, energy, strength despite circumstances, capability to speak your mind, a compassionate person who others rely on

REVERSED: abuse of power, loneliness or jealousy, weakness, lack of conviction/faith, self-esteem issues

IX - The Hermit

UPRIGHT: search for inner truth, take a chance to be alone and do some introspection, potentially a mentor enters your life, meditation

REVERSED: seclusion would only be harmful, hastiness, unreasonable fear/caution, trapped in your own world

X - The Wheel of Fortune

UPRIGHT: fate, the tides will change (whether for better or worse), external forces are at work, live in the moment (if things are going well) OR have faith (if things are going poorly)

REVERSED: bad luck has plagued you, do not cling to a sense of control--learn to accept your situation

XI - Justice

UPRIGHT: judgement will come (good/bad), equity, truth, being treated fairly, negotiations, legal matters

REVERSED: bigotry, bias, living in denial, cruel punishment, bad legal judgements

XII - The Hanged Man

UPRIGHT: spiritual wisdom, life put on pause, stall if you can so that you may reconsider, sacrifice

REVERSED: selfishness, feeling of wasted effort, over-exertion OR not enough effort

XIII - Death

UPRIGHT: end of an era and beginning of a new one, change, transformation, reminder of mortality, let go of unhealthy attachments

REVERSED: resisting change, depression, fear of the unknown is holding you back, lethargy, inertia

XIV - Temperance

UPRIGHT: economy, do all things in moderation, patience, a level-headed person, re-evaluate your priorities, seek balance, connection with others

REVERSED: imbalance (the source of which is indicated by surrounding cards), misunderstanding, competition, too much of something

XV - The Devil

UPRIGHT: greed, overindulgence, entrapment to an ideal, bad external influence(s), dissolution/vehemence

REVERSED: breaking from bondage, rest, a new life direction--but not without some effort

XVI - The Tower

UPRIGHT: groundbreaking change, turbulent relationship--keep a level head, can indicate a disaster or just a sudden restructuring

REVERSED: tyranny, lack of or resistant to change, crisis looming on the horizon--let it happen

XVII - The Star

UPRIGHT: hope, recovering from a loss, a blend of past and future, bright prospects, faith, occult/spiritual power

REVERSED: arrogance, feeling of defeat/loss of faith, delays, indifference, lack of self-esteem

XVIII - The Moon

UPRIGHT: a warning, danger in the dark, stay focused on your path, secrets, your fear will only hinder you

REVERSED: silence, confusion, negativity beginning to fade, instability, deception--but not severe

XIX - The Sun

UPRIGHT: success, happiness, pleasure, a good relationship, contentment, share your gifts with others

REVERSED: joy--but less so than the upright meaning, perhaps you are unable to see the good things, over-optimism, uncertainty

XX - Judgement

UPRIGHT: change of position, renewal, self-reflection, past may come to give consequence, acquiring a purpose

REVERSED: weakness, indecision due to self-consciousness, separation, denial, take time for yourself

XXI - The World

UPRIGHT: completion, wholeness, travel, fulfillment/success, generosity, love for others

REVERSED: disappointment, you're missing something in your life, stagnation or an impending change that you're dreading

[fuck-you-upmusicbracket]

Half-Life (Trocadero)

And I wonder where you are/And I wonder what you wore/And I'm lost inside a bar/And I'm drunk inside a war/And I wonder where you are...

"There are so many stories where some brave hero decides to give their life to save the day and because of their sacrifice, the good guys win, the survivors all cheer, and everybody lives happily ever after. But the hero never gets to see that ending. They’ll never know if their sacrifice actually made any difference. They’ll never know if the day was really saved. In the end, they just have to have faith. Ain't that a bitch?"

The Foundations of Decay (My Chemical Romance)

The guiltiness is yours/You must fix your heart/And you must build an altar where it swells/When the storm decays/And the sky it rains/Let it flood, let it flood, let it wash away/And as we stumble through our last crusade

And if by his own hand his spirit flies/take his body as a relic to be canonised/and so he gets to die a saint /while she will always be the whore

Let our bodies lay where our hearts will stay/Let our blood on vacation, you'll find God in pain/And if by his own hand his spirit flies/Take his body as a relic to be canonized/And so he gets to die a saint but she will always be the whore

"Every single lyric is so fucking powerful. the instrumentals hit every time. it’s such a powerful and moving and motivational song like yeah, everything is fucked up and ruined and will never be the same again. but keep moving. get up (coward). fix your heart. god it’s so good."

“Aside from being MCRs return song after 10 years. There's so much pain, and rage, and just deeply felt emotion. When I saw them live, screaming GET UP COWARD at the end is the single loudest sound I have ever made in my life."

"It's just... a spiritual feeling that washes over me whenever I listen to this song. I feel like I die and am reborn thousands of times throughout its six minute duration. The lyrics are poetry. A battle between giving up and letting the decay take over you or overcoming it and getting up no matter the consequences. But it's not like a gym song to work out to. It's a battle song to make it though the dark cave that is depression and suicidal thoughts and trauma. It's a song that brings you back from the dead."

[enid-rhees]

Greetings and salutations! How are you, dear? I hope you're getting through with your depression! It truly is a horrible thing but I have faith that you'll overcome it. I too, can relate with having ADHD and depression and it's such a negative factor on my life.

If I could borrow a minute of your time, I was hoping that I could ask for a fic about Michionne paired with a Female Reader?

In this request, Michionne is having a really bad day and her girlfriend, Reader, is trying to cheer her up. She makes many foiled attempted at trying to get Michionne to even crack a smile, so as a result, she relies on one last idea: pretending to be drunk.

Reader feigns intoxication and to her surprise, Michionne revels in watching her girlfriend behave drunkenly towards others and her. In the end, the two lie in bed and cuddle, reminiscing about situations that put their group in danger.

Cheers love! I hope you overcome your depression!

cheer up! || michonne x fem!reader

warnings: angst if u squint

a/n: tysm for your request, anon! and thank you so much for your kind words :] they mean a lot! hope you’re doing well <3

Michonne was having a bad day. everyone could see it on her face.

you tried everything you could from the moment you noticed how upset she was. whatever you did, her straight face never turned upwards. you didn’t know what to do.

you attempted everything. making jokes about people in the group, poking her sides, kissing her neck (that usually tickled her, so she would always laugh) but nothing was working.

it upset you that you couldn’t help her cheer up. you didn’t know what she needed, and you just wanted her to be happy and laughing again.

“baaaaby,” you dragged out, pouting up at her. you grabbed her cheeks and squished them together. when you let go of her, her lips still stayed in a straight line. you huffed and turned your head away, trying to think of what else you could do.

you stood up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. you leaned against the counter and watched her from afar. Michonne just sat on the couch in complete silence, staring down at her hands, and occasionally looking over at the wall.

what else made Michonne laugh? or smile? these questions swarmed your head, you knew there had to be something. you weren’t going to let Michonne be upset all day long.

suddenly, it felt like a light bulb flickered on above your head. there was one thing that made Michonne laugh no matter what, and it cracked her up beyond belief.

when you’re drunk.

you could easily admit that you were a lightweight when it came to alcohol, and you could get drunk off of 3 drinks. Michonne has told you the many horror stories of what you have done while drunk, things that you still can’t remember happening. but one thing you could remember, how hard she would laugh when you were in your drunken state.

there was no alcohol in the house at the moment, which stumped you a bit. but then decided you could just fake it. in hopes that you would finally get Michonne to smile.

Michonne stood up from the couch and began to walk towards you room. you walked over to her, and then processed to stumble into her arms and putting all your weight on her. “wha- Y/N?! what the hell?” she lifted you up, but you fell into her once more. “Michonneeee!” you shouted in a drunken voice, just like how you would when you were actually drunk.

a small laugh elicited from Michonne. it was working. you let out a giggle and held onto her face. “you’re so pretty. do you have a girlfriend?”

“you-“ Michonne huffed and laughed. you broke out into a huge smile, trying to keep up your act. “yes, i have a girlfriend.” Michonne finished, unable to hide her smile now. “yeah? what is she like?”

“annoying.” Michonne emphasized, and you knew she was joking. she knew what you were doing all together. “really? wow, sounds like you gotta keep her forever.”

“stop!” Michonne laughed, unable to hold it any longer. “it worked!” you shouted, ending your whole act. “i got you to smile and laugh! that’s all i needed!” Michonne pouted and you laughed, holding her face in your hands. “i couldn’t have you be upset all day. i needed to cheer you up.” you explained softly, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “and i know how much you find it funny when i’m drunk. that was my last solution.”

“to fake being drunk?” Michonne asked, and you nodded. “yep.” she sighed and shook her head. “you are so…” she trailed off. “so…?” you continued, a smug smile your face. “silly. you’re silly.” she deadpanned.

“at least i made you smile.” you shrugged. you began to pull her towards your bedroom and fell back on your bed. Michonne got into bed with you, fitting herself right next to you. she hung her arm over your stomach and laid her head on your chest.

“remember when i fell in the dirt hole with the one-arm walker?” you suddenly asked, and Michonne bursted out laughing. you couldn’t help but smile, you actually made her feel a bit better. “oh my god, how can i forget? i was crying hysterically.”

it was your turn to laugh. “you were! i don’t know why you were so scared, he had one arm! he couldn’t do shit to me.” you said between laughs. both of you couldn’t stop laughing, trying to take breaths in between. “we had just started dating.” Michonne reminded you. “i was terrified of something happening to you.”

“i killed him instantly, i was just stuck in the hole.” you said, and Michonne laughed harder. “how did we even get you out?”

“Rick had to run all the way fucking back to Alexandria for a ladder. i was stuck in there for an hour and you just sat at the edge literally panicking the entire time.” Michonne hid her face in your neck while both of you continued to laugh.

you looked down at her, unable to control the lovesick smile on your face. “are you feeling better?” you asked softly. Michonne nodded and kissed the area of your neck that was in front of her lips. “good, and you know you can talk to me when you’re feeling down? you don’t have to, but if you ever need to talk. i’m here.”

“thank you.” Michonne whispered. you pressed a long kiss to her head. “i love you, Michonne.” she snuggled deeper into your touch and you wrapped your arms around her tightly. “i love you too.”

[nrilliree]

https://www.tumblr.com/3leni/748347318900801536/piggybacking-off-of-this-its-insane-that-the?source=share

Yet another person who uses the words groomer abuser and pedophile in a vacuum without understanding the words for Daemon Targaryen. Daemon did not groom Rhaenyra and he is not a pedophile, either in HOTD or Fire and Blood. On the other hand, the madness of calling the rape of Aegon II in episode 8 a pathetic attempt by the writers to make him bad... uh... this person is aware that Aegon II is really violent in Fire and Blood or not ? What if, Aegon II is an asshole with one narrative goal since he is... well the antagonist ? Welcome to the reality of this story ? Moreover, Aegon, unlike Daemon, actually slept with a woman who according to the laws of Westeros is clearly seen as a child in the book. So thank you for proving that you don't know what you're talking about...

Then I would really love to understand TG's delusion that Rhaenyra doesn't deserve the throne ? In what ? Whether in HOTD or Fire and Blood, she has been prepared to be queen since she was named heir, including joining council meetings. Then she went to Dragonstone, the seat of the heir, to learn how to rule, as any male heir would. In addition, in episode 6 of HOTD we clearly see during the meeting that Rhaenyra is good, unlike Alicent, in politics. Ah but yes, it's true, according to the TG Rhaenyra is not in fact fulfilling her responsibilities as heir by going to Dragonstone... because ??? I don't know. But why expect logic from them ? And from what we know of Fire and Blood Rhaenyra managed Dragonstone perfectly and nothing in the show suggests otherwise ! Should she have found more alloy ? Um... clear my doubts, but doesn't Rhaenyra have more than the majority of the great houses on her side while the Greens barely have 24/25 ? Didn't Rhaenyra betroth her sons and therefore seal alliances unlike the TG ? Rhaenyra sent her sons as a messenger (book and show) so that would also be proof that she doesn't deserve to rule ? In what ? There's nothing strange about what she did. On the contrary, because she placed her sons in the least dangerous position since I remind you that according to the laws of Westeros, messengers must NOT be injured and killed ?! But after all the TG doesn't care about real laws... Rhaenyra, in addition, show or book, did not immediately want to make war with the dragons but through words. It’s bad too I guess because she don't acccept the usurpation by the greens ? Rhaenyra raise taxes ? It wasn't even her idea and what other choice did she have, since the Greens stole all the crown's money ?!

Did she end up not managing her reign well ? Maybe it's simply because she was fighting a war at the same time, had no more money in the crown coffers and her sons were dying one after the other ?! Leading her into a huge depression ?! Since I remind you that Rhaenyra had no problem ruling over basic Dragonstone ! So why would she suddenly have one once she was queen ?! Maybe because of everything I mentioned ?! But no ! Only Helaena has the right to be overcome by grief !

Frankly, you have to stop with this guy's excuses after a while, especially since from the TG's point of view, Rhaenyra, before her depression, is already unworthy of being queen except that as we have seen... there is no reason for that. She was educated and taught to be the future ruler of Westeros and has been designated as such for a long time, so why exactly wouldn't she be worthy of it ? She even ruled Dragonstone very well for years, so again, why wouldn't she be worthy ? She hasn't done anything that would suggest she's be a bad queen, quite the contrary. The excuse of asking for Aemond to be severely interrogated doesn't even count since in the book Alicent first asks for Lucerys to have one eye gouged out, and then Rhaenyra talks about severely interrogating Aemond, but even in the series she says that severely questioned = torture it's pure bad faith. As if Rhaenyra didn't know her father... And then what else ? That she had the sex she wanted ? This is a purely misogynistic argument which has nothing to do with his capacity as sovereign, so fuck them. Note that I didn't even address the case of the Velaryon children, which should be an obligation, since we have known for a long time thanks to GRRM drafts that even if Rhaenyra's children had been born from her marriage, she would also have made herself usurped.

I'm so tired of TG no sense...

Yeah, I've blocked this person for some time because I don't like seeing people using words they don't know the meaning of. It's exactly the same thing over and over again.

Aegon II is a sex offender - that's canon. In F&B it is a fact that he molested maids. In HotD it is a fact that he molested and raped maids. If the rumor about sex with a 12-year-old girl is true, then Aegon may have pedophilic tendencies.

These are the facts. And the rumors? According to speculations, Aemond may be a rapist because he took Alys as a "war prize". If we accept that Rhaenyra wanted to "torture" him in Driftmark, we also assume that Aemond wanted to "rape" Alys. Because we won't recognize the "true meaning" of one word and not another, right? However, the TGs are so desperate to show how evil Daemon is that they recently say that he… slept with his own daughter. Because they take the rumors that Nettles was Daemon's lover and his bastard and combine them into one :D If someone has to make up something like that to make him a perverse sexual torturer, then he has no real arguments.

As for Rhaenyra, it's simple. If you think that Rhaenyra doing exactly what every heir before her has done (and more!) is not enough and should do more… then you are a sexist. Because you think that more should be expected of women in the same position than of men in order to deserve it.

[thehighpriestexx420]

What do they think/feel about you?

Pick A Card - General Collective Tarot Reading

Take a moment to consider each picture/pile number and see which one calls out to you. One may pop out more than the others immediately. This indicates this pile will significantly resonate with you and you're meant to see this.

You may feel drawn to more than one pile and that works too. Take what resonates and leave the rest. This is a general reading for whoever sees this and every detail may not be for you as an individual.

My Tarot Services:

My Reviews:

Pile 1

The Hanged Man clarified by The Star, The Devil clarified by 3 of Swords, 2 of Wands clarified by The Tower, 7 of Pentacles clarified by The Magician, Page of Swords clarified by 10 of Wands, & The World clarified by Ace of Swords

This is an ex. They're being faced with a decision as to whether or not they should pursue you. They want to but the heartbreak and grief from the breakup is holding them back and clouding their mind. They were unfairly critical towards you only due to the stress of the breakup. They don't truly think that of you and need to work on managing their emotions.

I saw 444 when I was doing your reading. The meaning of this number further clarifies some things. They're currently thinking about you too. You're mirroring eachother and may be twin flames, a member of the same soul family, and/or have soul-ties.

You both have deep love for each other and are meant to teach each other what it means to be whole, complete, balanced, and in harmony. You're the whole world to them and you're everything they could ever want. A main message for you is to trust in your intuition and the guidance you've been recieving from your guides/angels. You're right to have faith/hope for this relationship. Change is coming soon.

They're of 2 minds about this connection but their faith and trust in what they're seeing is growing. It's currently the dominant perspective, even if slightly. They know what you are to eachother, that the difficult times you've gone through served as lessons, and that you're meant to continue on eachother's path. However, they still have to gather their courage and determination in order to fully test that theory. Overcoming the pain and loss of confidence they're experiencing isn't easy.

They're thinking and contemplating a lot about this connection. Their mind feels really scattered and it's like they're fighting themselves and for clarity. They're obsessing, stressed, and guarded.

They're going to reach out when they can't take it anymore just to find relief and get out of their head. At this point, knowing your response is worth whatever rejection may occur. I'm feeling that they're actually going to explode and reach out within days - around 5 for alot of you.

Their mind reminds me of ADHD, anxiety, and depression so if they have these it largely contributes to their scattered mind and what they have to overcome in order to reach out to you.

They find you very attractive and like to watch & admire you. They want to have rough, even harsh, sex with you.

Pile 2

Judgement clarified by The Devil, 5 of Swords clarified by Temperance, The Moon clarified by Ace of Pentacles, The Hanged Man clarified by The Hierophant, 9 of Swords clarified by Death, & The Devil clarified by 7 of Wands

It's interesting that you choose the picture with fire and your reading contains a lot of firey energy along with fire imagery. There's a lot of anger and conflict here. For the large majority of you, you're the one who needs to learn how to manage your emotions and they're the passive one and/or the one who walks away during arguments.

You've been arguing and yelling alot and this is endangering your relationship if they haven't broken up with you already. They've been seeking advice from their friends/family and this has made it harder for them to figure out their own thoughts and use their best judgement.

They don't want to walk away from *you*, they want to walk away from the screaming. They want a new beginning with you that's healed and harmonious. They see the value of this relationship and want to work on it with you. But that means you have to be willing because they won't stay around for the mistreatment.

This is a deep seeded issue you have and you have to consistently show the change you want with your actions in order to ease their concerns and worries. They need some space to themself and to find the courage and inner strength to communicate their desire to you.

Pile 3

King of Wands clarified by Ace of Wands, 8 of Chalices clarified by 2 of Swords, Ace of Swords clarified by 3 of Pentacles, 8 of Swords clarified by 10 of Wands, 7 of Pentacles clarified by 3 of Swords, & The Hanged Man clarified by The Devil

Your person is currently in a relationship with someone else. Deep down they know they have to leave the relationship but they feel trapped and confused. They pride themselves on being loyal and supportive with whoever their current partner is so they may even be suppressing and denying their passionate feelings towards you.

They need to change their perspective about this situation in order to see the way out of it. You can try to deny reality but at the end of the day, in order to truly live, you have to have the courage and determination to go after what you want. You're being asked to trust in their ability to do this. They'll come to you, just have patience.

They need to get past their guilt and anguish to see that they can't help how they feel and the only reason to feel guilty is if they stayed in a relationship where they're not honest about having feelings for someone else. The extremely high passion they feel towards you will push them to rise above this.

Pile 4

The Hanged Man clarified by Death, Page of Wands clarified by 8 of Wands, The World clarified by Daughter of Wands, Judgement clarified by Temperance, 5 of Pentacles clarified by 7 of Wands, & 7 of Pentacles clarified by Ace of Swords

Your person is someone from your past - likely an ex. You had a falling out and they want forgiveness, healing, harmony, and renewal in your relationship.

They're done hanging in limbo. They want to work on your relationship, learn from the obstacles that caused you to fall out, and rise above them. The clarity they've gained about this after taking some time to reflect on this situation will have them reaching out to you very soon. They'll express their romantic love for you and their desire to heal the relationship.

They see you as their whole world, attractive, and vibrant. They want to have a home with you and see you as their home. Although it's important to not get on your bad side, they see the love and care you have for them. You make them feel safe, protected, loved, and comforted.

You may be overly protective of yourself & misinterpret things due to needing to heal your inner child and work through trauma.

Although they're afraid of rejection and things going wrong, they have the passion, courage, and strength to reach out to you. Losing you has caused them to hit rock bottom and go through a difficult grieving period. It's made it hard for them to have motivation for alot of things, including reaching out to you because of the hopelessness that depression brings.

[tbookblurbs]

The Sunlit Man - Brandon Sanderson

4.25/5 - Classic hero epic, Sanderson manages his ambition, fun but with a sizeable amount of depression sprinkled in

SPOILERS BELOW!

I'll admit, I was shocked to read this book and not have it end in the usual pace-disaster. But that's a plus in my book! I also felt that this was a step up from Sanderson's earlier standalones, in that he is far less ambitious (positive) and is thus able to deliver a solid plotline with meaningful characters beats and interesting worldbuilding without overextending himself on any of the aforementioned. In my opinion, both Elantris and Warbreaker suffer in some degree because they're standalones. To me, Sanderson is meant to write epics. He's one of the few authors that make me go "pick the pen back up, we're not done here." Too frequently, authors overwrite and I feel the need to ask them to put the pen down. Close the laptop, if you will.

I liked the return of the Threnodites and their fun names (Adonalsium-Will-Remember-Our Plight-Eventually is just hilarious to me), and their sense of faith is something that stands out in this book. As always, I think that Sanderson's plays on religion, devotion, and being the object of devotion is something that's just so fun to read because he has slightly different takes on it every time.

The detractor for this book is that I spent the entire time slightly distracted from the actual plot trying to figure out when everything happened. I knew Nomad/Zellion had to be someone from Bridge Four early on, but then figuring out how he had the time for this extensive backstory stuck in the back of my mind and piped up every time Zellion reflected on his past (which was frequent).

That said, Zellion has a delightfully realistic character journey. He's gone through a lot at this point and it made more sense for him to be unable to fully overcome his trauma (though he tried his hardest!) in just a few days with these people. Some very healing scenes, hoping and praying for Kaladin to please also be less depressed in the future.

[b-lessings]

On a super serious note, I know in modern day psychology it is advised not to bring up " faith " to a depressed person or someone struggling with their mental health because it might backfire, and it might cause them to feel guilty, feel like a not good enough Muslim for example, worse still, they could risk to denounce the whole concept altogether in a moment of anger or despair. However, reflecting on my personal experience. A couple of years ago I was on SSRIs and I suffered strong side effects and decided to go off of them all by myself (I totally do not recommend that). And now I am thinking how did I manage to wire my brain in a way it reabsorbs little miss Sarah Tonin on its own after that? What was the " agent " that helped my brain to function properly if I went off of my SSRIs ? Only to find that the answer was Eman. Faith. And learning to have tawakkul on Allah swt, learning how to shape your life around Allah swt, learning how to make Allah swt the center of your life and the essence of your existence, relate everything to Him swt, understand everything through Him swt. That's what got me afloat and then brought me back to shore. Sübhanallah. But, not to romanticize the struggle , I am well aware that writing comments like " you should read Quran" or " go make prayer " to someone who's opening up about their depression or any similar draining mental illnesses can sound very insensitive. You have to understand that this person may not be able to lift their head off of their pillow or leave their bed for days. The role Eman plays here starts in the heart. The light needs to sneak through the cracks of their heart, and that is something only Allah swt is capable of doing. They just have to be open to let that light enter. I think what I wanted with this is for it to be a little message of hope, a sign if you're looking for one, whatever you're going through, you'll overcome it, I promise. We all did. We are all still here, with hearts beating, loving, and worshipping their Creator. Alhamdullillah. Turn toward Him and rely on Him, because that's the only way out.

May Allah swt mend all broken hearts, tired hearts, sinking hearts. May Allah swt revive the dead hearts,make them flourish with the beauty of Eman, brigng them closer to Him and show them His straight path. Ameen.

- A.Z. 🤍🍃

[awfullybigwardrobe44]

I came across your posts about OCD today and I felt called to reach out as someone who used to go through this so deeply that I hit rock bottom a few years ago.

What you're going through was painful to read because it hits so close to home. This was one of the harshest struggles of my life, and Jesus was the only One who brought me out. So, so graciously and lovingly, so I feel like I came across your posts for a reason, God had me come across them for a reason. I feel that I'm called to reach out and share some of my testimony, I truly believe that after He's helped me so incredibly it is now my calling to let Him use me to help you. Because He loves you. So, so much. And He will carry you through this even if it seems unbelievable.

That's one of the things I want to say- that with God there is hope, there is hope, with Him there is always hope and I've witnessed this. I wish I could tell the younger me just how much the Lord would heal and restore her and that life would be clearly completely worth living in the end, worth journeying through with Him. But I'm grateful I can tell you. Back then I wouldn't have believed I'd ever see the peace and happiness that I have now, and yet I'm deeper in my faith than ever before and completely restored to life and light. After being so deep in depression that I never thought I'd feel peace again, I'm now in a beautiful place in life by God's Grace, and you will get there too. Or rather, He will get you there.

I also want to say that just because I'm here now and you're probably feeling closer to where I used to be in this struggle, this does NOT mean that you're failing or certainly that God loves you any less. You are walking through the valley right now. But you don't have to fear any evil because the Good Shepherd is with you! He protects you with His rod and staff. While we walk through the valleys, our Shepherd LOVES us with the EXACT SAME LOVE as when we're on the highest hilltop. He loved me then, and He loves you now.

One of my favorite Bible Verses ever is James 1:17. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." There is no variation or shadow of turning with our Father- that's such a beautiful reminder that God does not change with the shifting circumstances around us or in our mental state. These things can shift like shadows but Jesus stays the same. Yesterday, today, and forever.

So we can do this which often helps me: while you're in this low point think back on one of the mountain peaks, one of the high points in your life when you really felt God's Love more clearly, perhaps a time He blessed you immensely. A happy time in your testimony (because our testimonies -consisting of God's Grace through the good and the bad points in our lives- are God's gift to us by which we can overcome!). And remember that He is the same God now as He was then. The same God who chose you, the same God who blessed you. And any mistakes that bother you now- during your good times, God KNEW you would commit that sin. And yet He loved you just the same then and loves you just the same now. He knew every sin you'd ever commit, and chose to die to Save you of each one, and lovingly created you, and called you into a Relationship with Him.

I feel called by the Holy Spirit to share some of the things God told me when I was struggling. So I'm going to do that now.

OCD thoughts are awful. I know that much, and they can feel inescapable. That's exactly what I was thinking, "there is no escape," when God suddenly led me to realize, to remember: that He is my Fortress. And all I have to do is run to Him and be safe. I just really needed to hear that, and since the Holy Spirit brought me that reminder my whole outlook was changed. I realized there is security to be found, and it's in my Father who is always with me.

He will never leave you nor forsake you.

He's with us in the trials and the pain, sometimes we're just too numbed by pain to feel Him but that doesn't change the truth. That's when we have to walk by faith and not by sight. And He is loving and holding you still, for He cares for you.

I'm most definitely praying for the Lord to draw you close. I saw that post and that's a beautiful prayer for times like these. Even more so because He will. I've actually often hummed the hymn called Draw me Close to You, during the scary times, and been comforted.

I will for sure be praying that you will be drawn close to the One who cares for you infinitely. That you'll feel Him holding you. Remember this Promise: "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand."

NOTHING can snatch you from God's Hands. And nothing in all creation can separate you from His Love.

The devil is powerless to take you away from your Father. All he can do is throw lies, thoughts, and temptations your way, but he can't actually do anything. And I've realized that's what OCD was, at least in my case.

By God's guidance, I watched a video where a Christian described intrusive thoughts as the flaming darts of the evil one. The ones quenched by the Shield of Faith! And when I heard that, that's when things suddenly came together for me. I cried at the realization. I'd spent so long trying to figure out if these are my thoughts or maybe I'm just broken or why am I even thinking them.. and suddenly realized these are thoughts the enemy throws at me in an attempt of making me feel like I'm unforgivable for thinking them. You see, the devil has no power to snatch us from God's Hand, so the only attempt he has is to try to make us too afraid to trust God. Lying to us that we're no longer loved. Knowing these schemes behind my OCD has personally helped me a lot, the lies are exposed and I know I don't have to listen. Rebuke those thoughts in Jesus' Name. Ultimately, these thoughts have no power over you and neither does the enemy. It's just a matter of continuing to trust God and leaning on Him, and running back to our Fortress.

As for assurance of Salvation, I believe it's ultimately a matter of embracing the fact that assurance is found in Christ alone and His Work on the Cross. It doesn't depend on ourselves but on Him. That's something I'm still learning and God is guiding me through one step at a time.

John speaks of assurance in his Epistle: "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." John mentions knowing you have eternal life, because of the fact that everyone who has the Son has life.

Remember Jesus also promised that of all those who come to Him He casts no one out. That's always been reassuring to me, remembering that the Lord said that.

As I'm writing this message, my eyes fell on this souvenir a sister in Christ gave me with the word "confidence" as a reference to faith in God. I'm feeling the Holy Spirit may be guiding me that you can and will have confidence in Salvation, that there is a way there, so I'm going to share another Scripture.

Hebrews 6:19 says "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil." The Hope that is spoken of is God's Promise in Christ. And something I recently learned about hope is that the Hebrew word for Hope is not about a vague longing or something that "might" happen but it's actually a word for a secure rope that can be held onto! That's the Hope Christ brings us, and Romans 5 states that Hope does not disappoint because the Love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given us. I will be praying for hope in your life.

True and peaceful assurance is found in Jesus, and back to what I said before, He never changes. Our mood, our behavior, and simply our perception of ourselves, is constantly fluctuating so it can be stressful to figure out our salvation based on that, but that's the Good News- we're not the ones who save ourselves. It's always been Jesus, who never ever changes, whose Love never changes. He's the Solid Rock!

You don't have to worry about works in order to find assurance because Salvation really doesn't depend on your works, it depends on His. You cannot deserve His Love, you cannot lose His Love- you can simply accept His Love. And as Christians that's all we have to do. (The song Simple by Leanna Crawford really expresses these truths.) I've found what leads to peace is a deeper acceptance of that fact- that it's about Him, He already chose to Save you and by His Grace and Guidance you already chose to accept that Salvation.

An important step is believing these three words:

It is Finished.

He used His final breath to tell us this.

So you can tell your thoughts that there's no need to obsess over Salvation because Jesus FINISHED it. He Saved you, it's perfectly done by Him.

Remember how Paul said he doesn't profess to know anything except for the one fact of Christ Crucified? That's all you have to know: Christ died for you.

This is another message from the Holy Spirit that I wanted to share. I remember one time as I was repenting, I was crying as I asked God.. what can I do to make up for my sin? And when I closed my eyes I saw the crown of thorns on Jesus' head. He already made up for every single mistake, each one of our sins. We're washed clean by His Blood and the Grace of His Salvation really is a beautiful thing.

I remember one time.. I really came to the acceptance that I'm not worthy or deserving of being Saved. And at first it was a cold and scary conclusion, but then God filled me with the peace of knowing my security is not in me, but in Him. Salvation is not about whether you deserve to be Saved according to your actions or even thoughts- it's simply about the fact that you ARE Saved. By Jesus, by His Love.

Just lean on the Lord. Lean on His Will. You don't need to trust yourself to be saved, you just need to trust Him to Save you. Because it really is all through Him and of Him, and realizing that is so comforting.

We can't make God love us any more and we can't make Him love us any less- He loves us unconditionally already and it really is all about embracing that Love.

I'm praying that God may help you through this. I truly hope I've written this message as the Holy Spirit intended me to.

Oh, and you don't have to post these if you don't want to. Feel free to answer privately or even just read, and if you ever need or want to talk further my messages are always open.

As I said, I just want to let the Holy Spirit move through me and let God use me to help others the way He miraculously helped me.

thank you so, so much for this beautiful testimony and encouragement 😭 it’s so beautiful that you want to use your story to help others 🥺

I was just talking to a friend last night about how John Bunyan calls his struggles with OCD “the valley of the shadow of death,” and you mentioned that too. I’ve been wondering where God is in all of this, because, as you said, our Shepherd is with us in the “valley of the shadow of death.” I don’t see God with me now, but I’m hoping that someday, I will. I think that was an encouragement from God ❤️

thank you for blessing me with your testimony!

[haniiluvsyou]

Overcoming Guilt and Self Pity

When we sin, guilt often consumes us because we've wronged God or someone we love. We dwell on these thoughts and regret our actions, feeling immense pain and believing we deserve to suffer.

However, this way of thinking is very exhausting. We fall into self-pity and negative thinking that affects our work, relationships, and overall well-being. Despite wanting to move on and learn from our mistakes, we struggle. We convince ourselves that dwelling in self-pity and suffering is the best response instead of moving forward.

The truth is, the devil wants us trapped in this state of despair. He wants us to remain depressed, hopeless, afraid to try again, and do nothing. This contrasts sharply with God's intentions for us. God wants us to seek forgiveness, let go of guilt, and continue progressing in our lives.

While we feel the urge to punish ourselves or doubt that God can forgive us, we should pause and remember that we are already forgiven by God through the blood of Christ. We must remind ourselves that when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). After seeking forgiveness, we should strive to avoid intentional sinning. We must be cautious in our actions and steadfast against temptations.

In summary, rather than punishing ourselves, we should seek forgiveness, release our guilt, and move forward in faith. God has already forgiven us. The enemy seeks to keep us enslaved to sin and suffering, but God's grace and mercy set us free. This allows us to cultivate a healthy relationship with Him and embrace a life guided by His love and forgiveness.

Inspired by Sacred Words https://youtu.be/c2dQuWBBjOc?si=qBtzDU6i3FCPwtrh

[lunion]

There's something that's been hurting me for the longest time that I want to vent about, though it can be lenghty. Also, spoilers for Mother 3.

The mother series have been for the longest time my favorite videogame franchise of all time. However, this last year I realized it was no longer the case. That wouldn't be a problem if iy weren't for the reason behind it: My best friend and the discussion we had.

Context time:

I had a sheltered, but otherwise unpleasant childhood. Bullied at school, difficulties on social circles, depressed mother and absent father getting a divorce, a complicated relationship with organized religion... life for kid-me was unfulfilling, underwhelming and gave me nothing to look forward for the future.

However, one of the things that kept me going was indeed, the Mother series. It stroke the perfect and necessary balance to give me hope. It's not a perfect comfort game where nothing goes wrong because it'd feel cheap like "of course these people are happy. These problems were conveniently removed from game", but neither it was a tragedy fest where every problem is real and we can never get a break from the suffering ever. The Mother series acknowledged a lot of problems like police corruption, parental abuse, loss and so forth, but in a palatable manner that made me believe that we could overcome these things.

Eventually, childhood and adolencence have passed and I found myself breaking away from organized religion to find my own faith. I stumbled here and there, but I was moving forward.

And then comes in my best friend.

He's still one of the most caring people i've ever met, but unfortunately, he has a flaw that can make it hard to deal with sometimes. A poorly repressed, yet never acknowledged contempt for spirituality and religion.

We've had some discussions about it before, but the gist of it is that he would try to say something like "you're free to follow whatever religion you want", but always with the undertone of "but you're fucking stupid AND coping for doing so"

Then comes these last 5 years.

These last god forsaken 5 years of my life were filled to the brim with struggle, solitude and pushing through a pervading feeling of aimlessness as I tell myself my goals are not for naught.

My friend group withered, I moved away back to the hometown I hate, had no one that shared my beliefs with me, I started dealing with family problems so bad I had to go back to therapy and the pandemic did not help.

Practicing one's faith alone during this time was also much harder, especially when I started questioning my own beliefs.

Last year, I visited my friend just to hang out. I don't even remember how we got to the topic of spirituality, but I know we did and he asked me to explain my faith to him again. TL;DR, I share many buddhist principles, believe in past lives and higher planes of existance.

The real challenge was trying to explain it to him in a way he wouldn't dismiss as an hallucination, delirium or otherwise.

I could not.

I left that conversation feeling absolutely stupid of ever believing in any semblance of religion or any faith.

Fast forward for a couple months later and I am playing Mother 3.

I've cleared the mother series about 6 times at this point and every couple of years I'd play them all over again because I always come out differently from the experience, given how I've changed and my different lens let me appreciate the games more and in differnt ways.

This time, something very different happened.

I was at the end of the game, during the Masked Man fight. As any Mother fan can tell, the most emotional point in the series. But here is the thing. Unlike every other time I played the game, when Hinawa appeared in that scene, I was not overcome with emotion, relief or even moved.

Instead, my only thought was "what the fuck is this doing here?"

This scene, which brought me to tears many times before and made me cherish the love shared between these characters and even between people in real life, was now making me cringe and feel disgusted.

At that moment. It felt cheap. It felt like it was 'coping', as thoughts swimmed through my head:

"Talk about wish fulfilment. Kid's so traumatized he's making up in his mind his mother is still alive."

"Why tf can't people accept that hinawa is fucking dead? She and everything she brought is GONE. No amount of wishing will ever change that in any meaningful way."

"This is stupid"

All of these things came to me during what was supposed to be one of the most beautiful scenes I've seen in fiction. One of the moments that gave me the most pain, but also the most strenght.

At that moment, I was also crying, but not because the usual reasons.

I was crying because I saw myself, couldn't recognize myself and I didn't like what I saw.

The next months were rough. A good therapist helped, though.

I learned I can't have everyone, especially those who are set in their own beliefs, to validate mine, even if they are family or best friends.

I know I was sensitive at the time for all the problems that I mentioned ealier in this post.

But I also realized that my diminished affection towards the mother games were not to do with me growing up, but due to a bad memory staining my feelings for the games. A memory that has nothing to do with the games themselves and more to do with how hurt and stupid I felt because of that discussion that I had.

I no longer feel like that, but the feeling of hurt still remains. I want to start healing from it. Putting all this experience in words is the first step.

[alicent-vi-britannia]

One of the many reasons why I prefer Kalulu and consider it the best ship for Lelouch is because of the positive influence that both exert on the other and that the opposite willingly accepts. Something that is fundamental in relationships.

On Lelouch's side, it's several things. Through Zero, he gives her beliefs based on justice, equality and freedom, he gives her a purpose to fight (I won't say objective so as not to confuse it with the other narrative concept), and he gives her hope for a better world and determination to keep forward. Kallen said that if it weren't for Zero she would still be a terrorist until the day she died.

On Kallen's side, we have that moment in episode 7 of R2 where she urges him to go back to being Zero. Fanboys criticized Kallen, calling her selfish and only looking out for her own interests. The truth is that Kallen tried to do what Lelouch at the end of the episode did: give him new motivation to keep going and that motivation was to discover a motivation bigger than himself. Kallen is a selfless person. Therefore, she alludes to the Black Knights and the Japanese who placed their faith in Zero to remind Lelouch of the responsibility he has to them and ask them not to fail them. It doesn't quite work out, but her concern for him brings Lelouch out of his depression and he takes him to Ashford Academy where he finds that motivation that transcends him. Also, Kallen saves Lelouch from the drug trail. More points for her.

I find it pertinent and significant that Kallen is the first person to ask Lelouch to make his lies true (only Suzaku has credit for this and it's not fair). Why? Because on Kaminejima Island was where Kallen found out that Zero's entire cause was a farce by Lelouch to cover up his true intentions and reasons, and instead of breaking down, Kallen turned those lies into her own truth. She chooses to be an ally of justice, a believer in equality, and a defender of freedom. I find it admirable that, despite Lelouch's lies and him using her, Kallen isn't affected. She has enough strength to overcome her pain and the damage caused by her. That's what I call resilience.

I can't say the same about the other girls.

It is true that Lelouch's love, kindness, gentleness, and compassion undermine C.C.'s cynicism, renew her optimism, and bring out her kindness. The problem is that C.C. repays him with dishonesty, disloyalty, abandonment and terrible advices. Don't be fooled. The advices she gives him in the first season are functional for the story, but if you review the human aspect you will see that it is harmful. Recommending that a person with trauma related to loss, who is insanely distrustful of everyone, and who protects themselves behind a mask, be isolated is not exactly a healthy idea. Nor is it appropriate to recommend that a person with post-traumatic stress disorder continue with the war, even at the great risk of developing Complex PTSD. Needless to say, she agreed to his suicidal plan to atone for his sins and that she used him for almost the entire series and never expressed regret. (Seriously, it's better to just see C.C. and Lelouch's relationship as partners in crime before it gets murkier.)

Shirley's case is quite the opposite. She brings kindness, warmth, compassion, support, and humanity to Lelouch. She even offered him a good lesson about love. In narrative terms, Shirley increased Lelouch's likability towards us, the viewers. Except for that time when Lelouch decided to decimate the Order of Geass for Shirley, she was one of Lelouch's most positive incentives. He, on the other hand, brought her suffering, lies, some brain damage, a mental breakdown and death. I know that he didn't do it deliberately and that Lelouch suffered that pain that brought him to Shirley, however, it doesn't take away that he did it anyway. Shirley would have still been alive, if not for Lelouch. Before you attack Rolo, I remind you that Lelouch manipulated him so that he could more easily use his skills and knowledge to his advantage. Shirley's death was the consequence of using a young man who was a victim of child abuse and without awareness of right and wrong.

I'm not going to go into detail about Suzaku and Lelouch's entire complicated relationship. I'll just say that I think it could have become a beautiful bromance, if that relationship had grown under better circumstances. I love their dynamic and the treatment and development of their relationship, but I'm not going to ignore the toxic parts and this friendship is.

Conclusion: although Lelouch and Kallen's relationship has its little problems that need to be worked on, the damage is not serious (it could well be worse). They still have genuinely healthy and valuable moments. The two are a positive presence in each other's lives.

[hotpinkstaples]

one of the saddest things about max and bart's relationship is that we, the audience, see bart socializing and learning about day-to-day life in the 20th century, but the WAY bart processes things and how he reacts to change and crisis is absolutely NOT how the rest of the speedsters behave in moments of uncertainty. the fact that they ended up in the devonian age does nothing to strike real fear in bart bc that's fucking life at this point, they'll figure it out bc he has faith in himself, max, and the universe to get them to the finish line. max on the other hand will harp on bart for not being careful, but then turn around and snap at him when he makes a VERY valid point about their predicament. like he's not wally-level nasty when it comes to dealing with a neurodivergent teen, but he is still VERY cruel, even though we know in this case he's mean bc he's stressed and already has depression. one of those things where there's no winning for bart, because unfortunately no one in his life can even begin to understand why it's so easy for him to accept violent change and still be able to mentally persevere through it and physically overcome it eventually.