#perhaps a bit ambitious arent we.....

[northern-passage]

tnp housekeeping update last night but it was just me doing things i meant to do before but forgot aka finally removing all mentions of "hell" and officially biting the bullet and inventing in-world swears. mainly so i can get Lea as close to saying "jesus christ" as possible without actually saying it. also i added notifs that will let you know when your relationship with a character branches.

[lucindarobinsonvevo]

Andrew's thoughts on Rebecca are a bit interesting, arent they? Telling Paul in episode 5000 that he doesn't need her, just him because they are Robinsons to being upset when she leaves because she 'said they would be a family'? Who's the real Andrew? Or, perhaps, does Andrew just gravitate to whichever parental figure is showing him affection at the time, when it's Paul he wants to be with Paul, when it's Rebecca (when he thought Tash was pregnant) he tells Paul to suck the big one he's with Declan now only to STILL get left behind even though Oliver offered to take all three of the hangers on with him when they left.

He's obviously very upset when the truth about Rebecca comes out, and about how Kate lied about it. Because they're family. but he's not above using his family (sophie) to get what he wants in life. I wish the show had dove a little more into his background so that we could find the root cause of this, if it is anything greater than 'he's a Robinson'.

Andrew never strikes me as troubled in the same way Elle (understandably) is, more like...Ambitious above his intelligence. So, perhaps his desperation for paternal affection is rooted in Christina's absence. Which, I suppose makes sense. She was prepared to leave him with Paul for God Only Knows how long while she went to Italy to confront Caroline in the 90s. Whatever their relationship is, or is not, it seems so cold for a mother to not want her son to come back to her when he's literally begging, asking where else he has to go. when he's 16. Why? What's going on with her? Has she always been a distant mother, too preoccupied with Paul's absence to parent properly? Such is the implication in 2019? Cutting him off from Caroline, I understand but why did she cut him off from the rest of his Alessi family? At least, that's what I'm picturing when he says he has nowhere else to go.

So many questions that Neighbours doesn't care to answer.

[astrologytingzz]

Describing Every Zodiac Sign: From An Aquarius

Aries - Now we all know our Aries.They are a fire sign and they are passionate, motivated, and highly confident leaders who build big communities of friends and family. They like to surround themselves around people that love them for them and if you cant find the good in that then you have to go. They are direct in their approach and are not afraid to say what is on their minds. If you like what they said then good for you, and if you dont like what they said then oh well deal with it. Their weaknesses are a lack of patience, and will sometimes force things to go fast a little bit too much.

Taurus - Taurus are known to be intelligent, dependable, hardworking, dedicated, and stubborn. For the Taurus, it is all or nothing, there is no such thing as in between or halfway there. They are sometimes descripted as being a mean and heartless person but on the inside, they care a lot about other people they need to get their goals together too.

Gemini - Geminis are very intelligent, outgoing, and adaptable in my opinion. But sometimes they can be unreliable, sometimes they are nosy too, wanting to know everything about everyone and can be boastfull at times. Geminis are also impulsive being able to change their minds in a heartbeat. But apart from that, they are easy going and adjustable and they are willing to try anything at once.

Cancer - Cancers are like the homeboy of the zodiac signs. Easily one of the most emotional zodiac signs ever, but only because see themselves as greatness. They are nurturing, compassionate, Cancers are very loyal, they are arguably one of the most noteworthy trait. Cancers are also highly protective, in addition to being loyal, Cancers are extrodinary protective of their loved ones, sometimes even to a fault. They deeply charish and family and close friends and will often go out of their way to protect their loved ones. But they can be moody, and sometimes vindictive.

Leo - Leos are the star of the zodiac, their traits include being confident, comfortable being the center of attention, loyal, fiercely protective of their nearest and dearest, generous, luxury-loving, sunny, and big hearted. Their characteristics reflect themes covered by the Fifth House Of Romance and Self-Expression, which Leo rules. The Fifth House oversees leisurely fun, creativity, children, pleasure, and the most spirited, effervescent expression of love and sex, like flirting and dating. But the downside to the great Leos is that they are posesive, impatient, an self centered. Sometimes they feel like they can dominate other people. 

Virgo - Virgos are very hardworking, they understand that hard work pays off. They arent afraid to throw themselves into a project and do one damn good job on it. No matter what it takes, they may even have sleepless nights because they try to do their best on the things they do. Virgos are also humble and affectionate, along with their desire to see the best in people, they are unfailingly kind and are always willing to help somebody in need, Virgos are more patient then others. But the downside to them is that they are critical, stubborn, and they overthink too much.

Libra - Libras are natural peacemakers at heart. and they are experts at being tactical and diplomatic in their relationships and groups. They choose their words carefully and aim to find common ground with as many people as possible. Libras have a strong sense of justice. They want to make sure everyone gets heart, and are passionate about making sure that things stay balanced, Libras are witty, smart, and excellent conversationalist. They have active imaginations and are quick to think on their feet, which makes them great company and great problem solvers, but some bad traits about Libras is that they are indecisive, controlling and they are easily one of the most vindictive signs. 

Scorpio - Determination is one of the most well known Scorpio characteristics. There is nothing better to have somebody when your in trouble by your side then a brave and determined scorpio. They will run into danger without a second thought and are always the first to volunteer themselves for difficult tasks. Scorpios are also loyal and highly honest and ambitious. But there are some downside to Scorpios is that they are jealous, secretive, controlling, and resentful. A Scorpio is the mastermind behind every mischief. Their cunning ways are hard to deal with and impossible to comprehend. So the next time you think of challenging a Scorpio, well, good luck! Their ruthlessness is often accompanied by the urge to take revenge. A Scorpio will never let you get away with something. They will take revenge and will go to any extreme for it. So if you angered one, try and make-up before it is too late!

Sagittarius - Sagittarians are optimistic, lovers of freedom, hilarious, fair-minded, honest and intellectual. They are spontaneous and fun, usually with a lot of friends, and are perhaps the best conversationalists in the zodiac (maybe tied with Gemini). Due to their knack for contemplation and critical thought, a Sagittarius is prone to overestimating his or her intellect and, as a result, can come across as egotistical. Narcissism has a tendency to lead to self-indulgence, and Sagittarians can get carried away with it. While it rarely gets in the way of their work, it certainly poses the risk of driving away friends and family.

Capricorn - Capricorn is a sign that represents time and responsibility, and its representatives are traditional and often very serious by nature. These individuals possess an inner state of independence that enables significant progress both in their personal and professional lives. They are masters of self-control and have the ability to lead the way, make solid and realistic plans, and manage many people who work for them at any time. They will learn from their mistakes and get to the top based solely on their experience and expertise. If you manage to anger a Capricorn and really push their limits, brace yourselves for the impact! When angered, this zodiac can be quite brutal and will cut you down with their words. So better watch out before you argue with them!

Aquarius - Not one for "going with the flow", Aquarians make their own mind up and then stick to it. You can not cajole or persuade them from their viewpoint, unless you've got *evidence* i.e. data, facts, peer-reviewed analysis. Aquarians live (quite happily thank you) largely in their own head. Dissecting knowledge, deconstructing conventions, dreaming up dreams, thinking about outer space (seriously). You could be telling them your dog is dead, and they are looking at you but their face is blank. *SPOILER* they're not listening, they're thinking about the cosmos. Though their natural intelligence, fair mindedness and (great) wit often wins them a wide circle of eclectic friends, ultimately Aquarius stands alone. They will not compromise their ideals, morals or need for freedom and independence for anyone. Though their natural intelligence, fair mindedness and (great) wit often wins them a wide circle of eclectic friends, ultimately Aquarius stands alone. They will not compromise their ideals, morals or need for freedom and independence for anyone. If an Aquarius isn't responding to what you say, chances are they have wandered off to their 'La La Land'. They are known to be absent-minded. This trait doesn't go well at situations which demand active participation. If the Water Bearer wants something, it is now or never! They won't wait around for things to happen and often lack patience. Aquarius is not the zodiac to wait for something.

Pisces - Pisces are known as the most artistic of all zodiac signs, and they frequently express their creativity in everyday life. They have strong imaginations, and their reputation as dreamers can help them when they pursue hobbies such as art, music, and writing. They aren't as bound by logic as many other signs, and their openness to new ideas allows them to explore creative avenues others may overlook or dismiss as impractical. If you need a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear, there's no one better than a Pisces. Pisces are incredibly empathetic and in tune with the emotions of others. If they see someone crying, they will immediately want to know how they can help, and they may even begin crying themselves out of sympathy. Pisces are extremely generous and known for putting others' needs before their own. It's important to them that the people they care about are happy, so they'll go out of their way to do something kind or help you with a problem you're having, even if it sometimes comes at the expense of their own happiness. Pisces are the most sensitive of all zodiacs. They will get hurt on the smallest of things and expect you to apologise for it. Their extremely sensitive nature is the reason they are not able to handle the challenges of life in an efficient manner. Pisces has the flaw of thinking about negative outcomes of every situation. It is seldom that they think positive and when they do, something or the other blows their mind in the opposite direction. It is very hard to keep a Pisces on the right track when it comes to thinking.  

[chal-lelerc]

ok so like. here’s my harry potter house thing. i’m ngl i tried to do this but then i deleted it bc it was getting too long and i didn’t have the attention span but. it kept sticking in my brain so i decided to pick it back up and as such, i’ve lost the original post but it was a quarantine activity (sort drivers into houses, assign quidditch positions, explain) posted by @verstappened​. houses done first, then positions, then explanations for both. i tried to make feasible teams, i.e making sure there arent too many of a single position per house, so this really screwed some of the sorting but oh well.

i did the houses first, then positions, then explanations in that order for the most part.

5/13/20: the sorting was mostly done before i heard all the differing opinions (of which there were many!)

5/19/20: alright so this is literally like 2 months old but i’ve just finished it lolol

Lewis Hamilton:

Slytherin: THE GLORY MAN. the aloof kind of superiority, confidence, is top dog, he’s simply the pinnacle of it all. kind of lethal and doesn’t do the whole ‘looking up to others’ things (outwardly, but he seems very soft on the inside tbh). very majestic and is almost a gryffindor, the kind of slytherin that Merlin is. hard-working, got here from incredibly humble beginnings, which kind of stands out from the rest, but he’s clearly now at the top level of society. still very protective of Others. scarily ambitious. Was originally a gryffindor but I wanted the brits to be in different houses for their quidditch positions to work. Could honestly go either way though.

Seeker: more glory. periodt. he stays winning and scoring the most points. clutch-man. Speedy boy, kind of in a different world than everyone else when competing (he’s always at the front lifetimes away from everyone else lmao. playing a diff game.)

Valtteri Bottas:

Hufflepuff: HE SEEMS. LIKE. A. BIG. CHILD. always relegated and brushed off but is literally God-Tier and no one can convince me otherwise. i consider him to be rather reliable (reflecting only the 2019 season at least lmao). a bit of a vindictive streak bc he knows what he’s Capable Of even when others underestimate him. has a very bright smile.

Beater: have u seen him. he’s a big boy even though he’s 5′8 and only an inch taller than lando norris he seems bigger than he is ok

Charles Leclerc:

Slytherin: this bitch. what a snake. hiss hiss.

Chaser: he wants what lewis hamilton has but chose the wrong position. still a star in his own right. pride and joy of his house, will be at the lead of every formation play unless told otherwise by his head of house, to which he will brood and complain ab but comply in the end bc he wants Team Success and loyalty to his Family. scores the most points on the team and people act like he carries even though he literally has a partner(s).

ok but fr my gut said charles is a slytherin (do i really need to explain why? very critical, doesn’t accept inferiority, somehow succeeds. just a feeling his brain seems to fit motorsport politics well), but i was seriously contemplating whether he’d be a gryffindor to max’s slytherin instead. but then i saw someone mention the whole lion schtick and i was like for all of max’s brattiness he is Gryffindor so sharl is snake. sorry don’t make the rules just follow them.

further edit: this was written before he started streaming (this is how old this draft is) and can u believe him he’s the epitome of the “not all slytherins r evil wenches” idea

Sebastian Vettel:

Ravenclaw: idk for all of Seb’s goofiness he just seems cerebral to me. Seems to know mildly irrelevant facts and is really quite smart however is hopeless in the modern age. Kind of that wise old(er he’s not that old) man knowledge. I’d trust him to give me all the life advice I need but also to write a 10 page essay on the nuances of the effect of emotion on verbal language (which we all know he is very experienced with).

Keeper: it’s the protective Dad Power.

Max Verstappen:

Gryffindor: WAS REALLY GONNA PUT HIM IN SLYTHERIN BC HE’S A NASTY LIL SHIT. TOTAL BRAT. GIVES FUCK ALL WHAT OTHERS SAY. BUT HE IS LION AND LION IS HE SO GRYFFINDOR IT IS. also just bc he needs to oppose sharl in every way possible it’s called Poetic Cinema. also his driving style is clearly the bravery and confidence to the point of recklessness that is prevalent among gryffindors.

Chaser: again, he must oppose Charles. so, not a seeker although he’s clearly singularly the most prized competitor. just like Charles, pride and joy of house, their star chaser. the comparisons never end. the competition never ends. the fighting never ends. one of the most interesting and dynamic performers to watch, is predictable in that he’s not predictable except that he will always be aggro to the max. will always be in trouble for getting rough bc that’s Not His Job but that’s just the gryffindor disregard for rules. master point scorer.

Alex Albon:

Gryffindor: was really a toss up btwn this and Hufflepuff but the ultimate deciding factor was the fact that I wanted all the British Boys to be seekers. he really just sticks it out as max’s teammate like a real one (nothing against max, everything against Helmet Merco) for the good of the team, still is sweet with max anyway. fitting that they’re in the same house too.

Seeker: he’s not the small boy that lando and lewis are but he is (thai/)British. very special boy (big ups on the promotion even tho it was Sad Times for Pear) deserves very special job. also he has a hot girlfriend (alex albon who i only know lily he’s boy toy) idk how that’s relevant but it seems fitting.

Carlos Sainz:

Ravenclaw: bc he’s a spaniard but is still better at english than Lando (i think everyone is tbh). Seems to be a quiet type of smart, sensible, but perhaps this is just the consequence of being compared to Lanno at all times LMAO (no hate all love bby Lannd). would be the type of ravenclaw to follow his friends on absolutely idiotic ventures but would step in to prevent near death or likely-legal-problem causing actions (and only then; otherwise it’s every man for themselves and everyone is free to make a fool of themselves and break some laws. carlos may dabble in such practices.)

Chaser: seems to be a go-getter, not going for points doesn’t even cross his mind. will always be the one driving up the pitch, the strategist of sorts bc he seems big(ger) brain (than lando lololol).

Edit: I wrote this part ab him long ago but this entire section of this post is now irrelevant and canceled.

Lando Norris:

Hufflepuff: you all know why. zero explanation needed. like, none.

also has a bit of an aggressive streak which tends to catch ppl off guard. is not afraid to confront u (hello pageNO) and at times defies the hufflepuff stereotype of being perpetually happy go-lucky (he has his bad days!). but when with His True Crew he is absolutely a hufflepuff ball of energy.

Seeker: small and speedy. energetic to the max. small. quirky and different from the rest, so he gets the special job. small. everyone would kill to protect him. small.

Daniel Ricciardo:

Gryffindor: AW I DIDN’T EVEN REALIZE THAT I PUT HIM AND MAX TOGETHER. LOOK I EVEN MADE THEM BOTH CHASERS. AH HOW BIGBRAIN MY MIND IS. everything ab dan is gold. golden skin, the colors in redbull and renault, his smile, just the vibes. he’s just got the enthusiasm and charisma and this intensity of a gryffindor. super aggressive, his late breaking (from his rbr at least) is legendary and maddening with how he pulls it off. is almost a hufflepuff but the gut said no.

Chaser: is Max’s teammate. so yeah. was obviously the star until younger max came to the show. a bit lost in limbo bc of it but they still work well together.

literally want to make him a hufflepuff so. bad. but i couldn’t split up maxiel. also his vibe is just different from other ‘puffs like stroll so.

Esteban Ocon:

Slytherin: ask max.

Chaser: being characterized off of their relationship with max seems to be a theme here. will go head to head with max w/ absolutely zero shits given. talented, but the rivalry with max is entirely secondary to charles imho. still yet to show his full potential but is still quietly a thorn in max’s side. many are interested to see what he is able to do in the immediate future.

Pierre Gasly:

Hufflepuff: GUYS HE WANTS TO OWN A PANDA

Chaser: constantly trying to prove himself and score big boy points. had a stint as seeker until lando came along. did not do as well as ppl had hoped, returned to chaser and proceeded to crush it from there. praticed a lot with charles as children (the friendship dynamic w/ their houses was definitely unforseen but is amazing).

Daniil Kvyat:

Hufflepuff: really wanted to make him a slytherin but the quidditch positions didn’t work out. firmly believe this works though. more of the rough and tumble type, definitely the kind that will sock u in the nose if u write off hufflepuffs as a joke. could honestly probably be a gryffindor too with how unapologetically aggressive he can be in the name of His Beliefs. gives me big dumb himbo vibes now that i think ab it tbh which is mostly the justification here. also he has a child omg.

Chaser: but the one that’s always headbutting bludgers out of the air (torpedo bitches). also had a stint as seeker before but it Was Not His Thing. he’d much rather be chasing and throwing things than seeking things. also he’s pierre’s mate :,) would’ve been a beater but romain and valtteri will not be anything else so daniil took the boot whoops.

Sergio Perez:

Slytherin: it’s just the vibe. knows his weaknesses and is able to make up for it with his confidence and talent in his strengths. very ambitious, plays the right cards at the right times to get the right results. something ab him puts me on edge, but like in a good way; i feel like there’s always a trump card up his sleeve, like when he gets to q3 out of fucking nowhere in a racing point.

Keeper: he gives me the same vibes as seb idk what it is. very dependable, backbone of his team.

Lance Stroll:

Hufflepuff: guys have u seen the guy. he’s just here to have a good time. may seem a bit airheaded at times but he means well 99% of the time. untapped potential. seems like a no thoughts head empty canadian hockey boy (and every one of these types is a hufflepuff don’t fight it); may or may not be the only accurate description of him.

Chaser: he’s just trying his best out here. i

KEEPER?: SO I DID A QUICK GOOGLE AND HE USED TO BE A HOCKEY

GOALIE?????

so scratch my initial thoughts (tbh i didn’t really know where to put him and i originally had romain as keeper but that’s an issue to fix later on now) BECAUSE LANCE STROLL IS A keeper GOALIE AND NO ONE CAN REFUTE THIS. ABSOLUTELY NO HUMAN OF THIS EARTH. WHAT GLORIOUS INFORMATION TO STUMBLE ACROSS.

Kimi Raikkonen:

Slytherin: guys i really don’t have an in depth analysis of this but i don’t think iceman needs one.

Beater: see above^. y’all must get the vibe.

tbh could also be a keeper tho similar energies to seb and checo, but honestly his no fucks given attitude is ultimately what swayed me

Antonio Giovinazzi:

Gryffindor: he just has that majestic quality (that could also fit a slytherin but i only see red when i see antonio). look at that lion’s mane. also he’s one of kimi’s to paddock friends? seems fitting that he’s a gryffindor to kimi’s slytherin.

Chaser: plays second fiddle to the duo that is max and daniel, often regulated to vibing on the side. but he’s there and he’s important and he has potential (i’ve been seeing ppl talking ab a ferrari move and i’m positively shaken). [edit: again, this post is old.]

im sorry its glaringly obvious idk much about him asdfjasldkd

Kevin Magnussen:

Slytherin: guys lots of these are just self explanatory sorry if i seem like im taking the cheap way out but it’s fact. brundle and crofty call him a great white shark for crying out loud.

Beater: unapologetically chaotic. lurking around the edges making people feel hunted. spends more time playing baseball in the middle of the matches than quidditch and sometimes it backfires but it’s good fun and it sometimes works.

Romain Grosjean:

Hufflepuff: y’all he’s such dad energy and he likes to cook. gets written off a lot but he actually cares (he’s a part of the grand prix drivers assoc.!). he seems so wholesome and he spends time with his kids and their school work when he can do u feel those water drops yeah those r my tears.

Beater: i really wanted to make him a slytherin beater to make him teammates with k-mag but he’s just. not a slytherin. but i kept the beater part. spends the majority of the hufflepuff v. slytherin matches sending bludgers kevin’s way even when he doesn’t mean to. it’s always reciprocated.

George Russell:

Ravenclaw: I’VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I’LL SAY IT AGAIN THIS KID. is so marvelously well spoken and he just has such a simple yet effective way with words. he knows what’s reasonable to expect but never fails to expect the most that he can given his circumstances. again, mentioned this before but a lot of it is his accent. the glottal stop is a historically stereotypically rural (i.e. “uneducated”) thing but I’m American and I Don’t Listen to the Rules, so the accent just makes him seem so sophisticated to me especially when he’s saying things like “horriiiiiiiific” and presenting his hefty powerpoints.

Seeker: my British Boys Are Seekers headcanon continues. definitely a Golden Boy of the team kind of guy (hello tragic dumpsterfire that is williams :/ ).

Nicholas Latifi:

Hufflepuff: same boat as lance. his twitch streams are so wholesome he’s just chilling man. twitter made me write him off as daft and unnecessary at first but like fuck twitter i’m all here for ninky latvia now.

Chaser: lowkey gives me keeper vibes as well? the sensible, level-headedness. but obvs that’s lance so chaser it is. still the level-headedness that helps him hold down the fort btwn pierre and daniil who can tend to get a bit imaginative, and also the energies of them + lando.

5/19/20: so it’s quite clear to me that i grew tired of brain functions the more time i took on this and the later ones are a bit lacking and for that i’m very sorry. that being said i’m still happy to see this finished bc the idea was VERY exciting for me.

[illfoandillfie]

Hello!!

Just wondering if I could get a romance/ love reading? My initials are RCU and his are MS, thank you!! ❤️❤️

sure thing darling!

tarot: king of wands/the magician, 6 of pentacles, 8 of pentacles, 4 of pentacles, 7 of pentacles, 2 of cups, queen of pentacles, 8 of swords/justice

A couple of things worth noting before we get into the meanings of the cards. Firstly there are only 2 court cards which may indicate that one of them represents you and one represents MS. The king of wands is related to the fire signs so if one of you is an aries, leo or sagittarius it could be a connection there and the queen of pentacles is linked to the earth signs - taurus, virgo and capricorn. If that doesn’t fit though it may be more with the temprements of each card and we’ll get into those in depth in a minute. 

The other thing worth noting is how many pentacles cards are here. Usually you look for cups cards in romance/love readings since they’re more tied to emotion but thats not to say lots of pentacles is bad. Pentacles are related to earth so they’re very grounded. Often pentacles are associated with nature, and things in the material realm which could indicate that this relationship isn’t held together by just emotions but something more tangible too. Due to the material connection of pentacles they’re also strongly linked to work situations and finances so if you know MS through work or school that could also be a reason a lot of pentacles are appearing. 

Anyway, onto the cards themselves. 

Firstly that King. In this deck some of the minor arcana cards double as major arcana as well and the king of wands is one of them. He doubles up as The Magician, so i will take both meanings into account but they’ve got similar energies anyway. Both the king of wands and the magician are related to control. The king is linked to fire which is wild and hard to control but he’s more than capable. He’s a natural leader and symbolises overcoming challenges. Fire can represent passion and love and creation but it can also represent destruction and this king definitely has that duality within him. He’s passionate and action focused and often an artistic or creative thinker but he’s also capable of holding a grudge and being narcissistic or aggressive. Similarly, The Magician is an action card too. He controls the elements to create his magic and harnesses the energy to make things happen. The Magician is a good sign for romantic connections too. It shows a desire there, not just physical desire but also a drive to be a good partner. If this card represents you, it’s likely about trying to manifest this relationship and to make it a strong one. If however, the king of wands seems to better fit MS it may be a sign that there is an interest on his end too. 

The Seven of Pentacles is clarifying the king card and it represents hard work, perseverance and diligence. To me this says the king card is representing you but it could still go either way. Basically these cards together are saying that you can draw this relationship to you and you can create a connection but it will take time and effort. Manifestation is half thinking about what you want and visualising it and all of them mental work but it’s also half about taking steps to build it in the 3D physical world. Wanting it is half the battle and the seven of pentacles is a reminder to take actions where you can to make it a reality. 

Then we have the 6 of pentacles which is about charity, generosity and sharing clarified by the 2 of cups which is about unity, partnership and connection. To me, this says that once the relationship is manifested it’ll prove to be one full of kindness and care. You’ll find in each other supportive partners who will encourage and help one another. Also, it has to be said, he’s likely a generous lover, if that’s your jam lmao. It’s definitely a positive sign for the relationship though. 

Next is the 8 of pentacles and queen of pentacles. The 8 is usually a card that appears in relation to people who have started a new job or apprenticeship of some sort since it’s related to ambition, passion and high standards. But these still aply to a relationship, particularly something only just starting out. It shows that at least one of you (but likely both considering that 2 of cups from before) will be driven to keep working on making the relationship good. Loving someone is as much of a skill as anything else and relationships take work to stay strong and this card shows that even through conflict or uncertainty you’ll be working at the relationship and learning from your mistakes rather than giving up. 

The Queen of Pentacles enjoys her creature comforts but is also practical in how she managers her household. She’s warm hearted but also ambitious and hard working. She’ll do what it takes to keep those she loves safe and happy. Sometimes she gets refered to as the “wife card” so it makes sense for her to appear under the 8 of pentacles. She does what she can with what she has and she tries to make the best of every situation. While the relationship may be new, whichever one of you is represent by the queen (or perhaps both of you) will have the drive of the 8 of pentacles as well as the hopeful mindset of the queen. 

And finally, the 4 of pentacles and 8 of swords/justice. I think that, while the other sets of cards were about creating the relationship and it’s beginning, these cards are a bit of a warning. The 4 of pentacles is about security and protecting what is yours but often it can be a sign of hoarding or becoming too selfish. In regards to a relationship it may be a sign of becoming too clingy or demanding. And the 8 of swords is related to feeling trapped by your own anxieties and fears. It’s a card of self-victimisation. In this deck it doubles as the Justice card which is about clarity and truth. I think these cards are warning you not to let the desire to create a strong relationship drag you into a spiral of worry that then influences the relationship, if that makes sense. It’s saying not to let worries about not being good enough or anxieties about how the relationship should be developing effect your behaviour too much. You run the risk of becoming overbearing or manipulative if you listen to the negative thoughts. The Justice card is a reminder that balance is essential - a balance between time together and time apart, a balance between working on the relationship and keeping up with hobbies. Don’t let yourself fall too deep into caring about the relationship so that you loose yourself in it. Be truthful to yourself and encourage your partner to do the same.  

Okay so for your oracles i pulled 4 romance angel cards and 3 of the lovers oracles. And you got:

Worth Waiting For - Divine timing is at work in your love life / Separation - Time apart from your partner is on the horizon / Calling In Your Soul Mate - Your prayers, affirmations, and visualisations help bring you together / Very Soon - Clearly decide what you want so that it comes to you now 

I think all of these resonate with the tarot messages we got. Worth waiting for says to me that the relationship won’t materialise immediately and I think that what the magician and 7 of pentacles was talking about. It will take some time and effort but it will be worth it in the long run. Separation is an interesting one. Obviously the card’s description indicates you may be separated from one another sometime in the near future (or you already have been recently) but my first thought when i saw it was related to that justice card and the reminder that time apart can be healthy for a relationship. Calling in your soul mate ties into that 2 of cups card, regardless of how you interpret the concept of soul mates. if you arent into the whole “one true love” thing it could just symbolise a deep connection. And very soon indicates that the ball will start rolling soon. Keep looking for opportunities to get closer as well as mentally focusing on what you want to happen and you’ll soon find that things will move forward. 

Your 3 heart cards say:

My Beloved - Though we may be physically apart, spiritually we are always united, for love transcends space and time. Nothing is missing. / Passion - a magnetic and seductive quality surrounds you at present. Enjoy it! / Healing - imagine yourself and your beloved surrounded by light. Feel your relationship being healed this very moment. 

we have another reference to being apart/separated here in that first card. This could be referring to physically separated by distance or just not being together as a couple yet. But again, there are also signs that this connection has the potential to be deep and heartfelt. Passion ties in with the king of wands card. The suit of wands is linked to that fiery passionate energy so it makes sense for you to get cards about it, but also passion is felt in that 8 of pentacles as well, so it’s passion beyond a physical attraction or sexual chemistry. 

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Forget Dystopias, These Sci-Fi Writers Opt For Optimism Instead

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Forget Dystopias, These Sci-Fi Writers Opt For Optimism Instead

Its hot, and youre walking. Shuffling, actually. Youve spanned a seemingly endless chalk-dry plane, and youre thirsty, run-down, exhausted. You think about your flaking, parched lips and aching muscles, and about how your arduous journey will be worth it if you ever reach your destination. An immigrant, youre searching for a new place to live, because the place you call home has become barely livable. Youre thinking about the hot dirt sweat-caked on your skin when youre interrupted by an even greater pain — your tooth, recently implanted with a geo-location chip, is practically vibrating. This means youre close.

So begins Madeleine Ashbys short story, By the Time We Get to Arizona, published last year in Hieroglyph, a collection of science-fiction stories meant to inspire readers about the possibilities the future holds, rather than invoke fear about impending societal doom. Solutions to climate change catastrophes abound in the series; so do suggestions for jumping forward in our approach to space exploration technologies. Ashbys story — a spinoff of her Masters thesis on making border security more humane — explores a world where guns and guards are replaced by sensors and facial recognition technology.

Conceived of by Neal Stephenson — a celebrated writer whose most recent novel ventures a guess at what post-Earth diplomacy might look like — Hieroglyph showcases a growing crew of writers who, by commission or by choice, present sunnier alternatives to the now-prevalent, Hunger Games-fueled dystopia trend. These arent the stifling factions of Divergent or the heart-pounding twists and turns of The Maze Runner; they arent the bleak worlds crafted by Margaret Atwood or even the fable-like, anti-technology morals embedded in movies like Wall-E. Although many of the stories in Hieroglyph highlight societal problems, they have technological solutions to those problems embedded within them.

The anthology, along with the few others like it, was divisive in the science-fiction community. One camp, headed up by Stephenson, holds the belief that scientists and engineers could use a positive push from the writers whose job it is to imagine what the future will look like. Writers, Stephenson asserts, have a responsibility not only to confront social problems, but to provide potential solutions, too. So, a socially disheveled community like The Hunger Games Panem might feature a technology that allows citizens to communicate with each other, and fight back. Because these writers are using their fiction to provide solutions to contemporary problems, many necessarily couch their stories in grim scenarios the characters must escape from. Sexism, racism and classism are addressed, if subtly.

This doesnt sit well with the other school of readers and writers, who lament the days when an interstellar story was a joyride, whizzing quickly past social justice issues towards thrilling plot twists. One particularly rabid breed of decriers are the writers who make up a group called the Sad Puppies, who banded together during The Hugo Awards to stack the vote against minority and women writers. The problem, they claim, is that the science-fiction community has prioritized social justice and diversity, ignoring superior prose and more inventive stories as a result. Science-fiction, they say, is about fun. Its about escaping the problems of the real world through otherworldly scenarios — including dystopias — in which a central hero implausibly conquers evil alone, rather than with the aid of collective thinking and the useful technologies that arise from it.

The future of science-fiction — which, if George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four or Aldous Huxleys Brave New World are indicators, runs parallel with the future of science and technology on our own planet — probably lies somewhere on the vast, auroral spectrum between these two approaches. So, its worth examining both, and the groups of writers propelling them.

***

Now is not a time for realism, Margaret Atwood said in a recent interview with NPR, succinctly summarizing why so many literary writers flock to fantasy, to dystopia, to amplifying the threat of impending problems — environmental and political — that arent yet a reality.

Though the genre has seen a spike in popularity within teen-centric reading communities, its seeped into the realm of grown-up storytelling more than ever. Which isnt to say its unfamiliar territory for writers of adult literary fiction. In fact, dystopian stories began, arguably, with a weird, little book written by Mary Shelley in 1826 thats since become a beloved classic: The Last Man. The story centers on a plague-addled Europe, where a man named Lionel struggles to survive alongside various extant communities. Theres a false messiah, political turmoil, and all the other makings of a present-day dystopia. Though Shelleys book wasnt recognized until the 1960s, others like it by Jules Verne and H.G. Wells surfaced shortly thereafter, spawning a sub-genre of writing that asks timeless questions about human nature, and how it responds to dire, life-threatening scenarios.

But today, with a few notable exceptions (Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins), popular dystopian stories have lost a bit of their original complexity. They tend to be thinly cloistered morality lessons, better suited for young readers. Rather than highlighting the nuances of human interactions, they tend to generalize, and draw hard lines between good and evil.

Why are more and more adult literary writers, and adult literary fiction readers, opting into the rather nihilistic and juvenile genre? Its a quandary posed again and again by columnists, providing more questions than answers — perhaps because the answer is hazy. It could be that the genre distracts readers from present realities, or provides a puzzle-like, limited scenario for a protagonist to work through, so different from the more fractured plot of real life. Or, it could be that our present realities seem increasingly fantastical, due to the quick proliferation of disastrous events filling our Twitter feeds alongside our friends quotidian musings.

Madeline Ashby believes its the latter.

There are elements of dystopia in everybodys lives, she said in an interview with The Huffington Post. Remember the Christmas protests in Ferguson? Theres this image of riot police under this big electrified, Seasons Greetings banner. If you search for Ferguson plus Seasons plus Greetings, youll find the picture. I found it, and I tweeted in all caps, WHY DO SO MANY KIDS LOVE DYSTOPIA? HM, I WONDER.

Ashby cites her own dystopia-like governmental interactions as inspiration for many of her sci-fi stories, including By the Time We Got to Arizona. In 2006, she immigrated to Canada, and says the process, for her, was dehumanizing.

My immigration took over a year, she said, adding that she feels fortunate — for other people immigrating to Canada, two years is the average wait-time.

During that process youre essentially a number and a sheet of paper. You feel it every time they ask you progressively more invasive questions, Ashby added, sharing an anecdote about how immigration questions reduce complex romantic relationships to statistics-based judgement calls. [Theyd ask] things like, Can you describe to us the number and monetary value of gifts exchanged between the two of you. And then you start to think, oh, OK, the quality of my relationship is already interpreted through capital. I have a monetary value.

In her short story, Ashby acknowledges these issues, but also offers solutions to the problem. She notes that by working change-inspiring technologies into her plots, she’s at the very least offering readers a sense of hope. 

Dystopia is very useful in grappling with the world as it exists, Ashby said. Its a really stylized, formalized way of talking about things that are already happening in practice. But utopia, or more optimistic stories, can also be useful, because you can imagine a future that you actually want.

Ashbys fiction is informed by her other, more technical approach to writing. After studying Strategic Foresight and Innovation at the Ontario College of Art and Design, she started getting gigs drafting potential future scenarios for organizations such as Intel Labs and Nesta. Envisioning the future on behalf of corporations and research labs isnt exactly an established career path — actually, it sounds a little like something out of a sci-fi novel. But Ashby isnt the only writer who moonlights as a narrative scenario practitioner. Theres a host of organizations dedicated to allowing sci-fi writers to draft potential outcomes for specific companies or entire industries. Sci Futures, a sort of think tank dedicated to providing these services to clients such as Crayola, Ford, and Lowes, has a pithy tagline encapsulating their mission: “Where sci-fi gets real. A comparable organization, 2020 Media Futures, describes its mission as, an ambitious, multi-industry strategic foresight project designed to understand and envision what media may look like in the year 2020.

So, the research interests are vast. Of her work with Intel Labs and beyond, Ashby said, They often tell me, we want the future of intelligent systems, or the future of warfare in smart cities, the future of a world without antibiotics, the future of programmable matter, or the Internet of things.

Because Ashby spends considerable time dreaming up innovative solutions to social problems, she cant help but imbue her stories with similar gizmos and features. Her stories dont always involve positive situations for her characters, but they do often incorporate technologies that could solve said characters problems.

This is the central tenet of techno-optimism, the breed of science-fiction writing thats working to counter the rough terrain of dystopia, barren and desolate as it is; thirsty, it sometimes seems, for a solution thats bigger than a big-hearted narrator.

Writer and anthology editor Kathryn Cramer was a reluctant adopter of the genre. When aforementioned writer Stephenson, author of Seveneves, approached her to edit a collection of stories united under the banner of positive change, she worried the stories themselves would suffer from lack of plot, and lack of diversity. But, as she commissioned works of techno-optimism, she realized the genre promotes diverse voices rather than suppressing them. Her fears were quelled.

When we contemplate dark scenarios or disasters for the future, it is perhaps an ethically and morally good thing to do to figure out what the solutions might be, especially technological solutions, Cramer said in an interview with HuffPost. If we look at the 20th century, there are a whole lot of things that changed our lives in good ways, and solved a lot of problems, ranging from vaccines and refrigerated food transportation to frozen food. Some of them are sexy, like space travel, but a lot of them are things that improved everybodys lives in ways we might notve expected. Preservatives, things like that.

Cramers altruistic outlook hints at her thoughts on what a book can, and should, accomplish. While she believes writers have a responsibility to push innovation in a positive direction, some readers and writers think that mindset interferes with the quality of a story. So addressing societal problems, be it via extended, post-apocalyptic metaphors, or via similarly bleak settings peppered with hope, doesnt sit well with all sci-fi readers. Most notably, there are those — cue the Sad Puppies — who are nostalgic for the days of so-called Golden Age sci-fi: Star Trek-like space-travel adventures that offer a means of briefly escaping the restrictions of the real world. Nimble writing and world-building is supposedly the aim for such stories; political opinions, solutions-oriented and otherwise, are actively eschewed.

But the Puppies agenda — which resulted in No Award being given at the Hugo Awards this year in categories for which only white men were nominated — extends beyond particular tastes in writing styles. Claiming science-fiction has opted for affirmative action-guided decisions rather than supporting story-centric writing, they lobbied to place white, male writers — including themselves — on the award ballots.

Ashby spoke passionately against the Puppies movement: Thats part of their battle cry: Why do we have to think about social issues in our science fiction? Why do we have to think about other genders, or sexualities, or economic circumstances? Why cant it just be fun like it used to be? Well, yeah, Im sure it was really fun when you werent thinking about it. Everythings a lot more fun when youre not thinking about it.

Thinking about it, according to Ashby, involves confronting the dire state of life for some social groups. It involves constructing a narrative that encourages the reader to consider the lives of others, rather than just getting lost in his own fantasy world, in which he alone is the hero and the solution. It involves hope not in the form of a triumphant narrator, but in the technologies we can create when we do something really miraculous: work together.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/