#purest natural oil

[anaayacosmetics]

Transform Your Skin Care Routine with Anaaya Body Shop's Top Products

Achieving flawless, healthy skin is a journey that begins with the right products. At Anaaya Body Shop, we believe in providing our customers with skincare solutions that not only address their concerns but also enhance their natural beauty. Whether you're searching for the best moisturizer for the face, an effective skin cleanser, a soothing aloe vera face wash, or the purest natural oil, we have curated a range of products that cater to every skin type and need. Let's explore how our offerings can transform your skincare routine.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Skin Care Products

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Uncover the Power of the Best Skin Cleanser

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Aloe Vera Face Wash: Nature’s Gift to Your Skin

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Embrace the Benefits of the Purest Natural Oil

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Conclusion: Embrace Healthier Skin with Anaaya Body Shop

Your skin deserves the best care possible, and with the right products, you can achieve the radiant, healthy complexion you’ve always wanted. From the best moisturizer for face to the most effective skin cleanser, soothing aloe vera face wash, and the purest natural oil, Anaaya Body Shop offers everything you need to build a skincare routine that works for you. Explore our collection today and discover how our products can transform your skin. At Anaaya Body Shop, we’re more than just a skincare brand—we’re your partner in achieving the best version of your skin. Shop now and start your journey to healthier, more beautiful skin.

[byzerodigital]

Oil extracted using Wood Press - The traditional method used to extract oil - No Heat Generated hence No Loss of Vitamins & Proteins

Coconuts are hand picked & dried in the Sun & made as Copra which is crushed In Wood Press made of Vagai Tree & this oil is kept in Sunlight for 2 days for the sediments to get settle.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Some Perfumery Vocabulary

Absolute - An extraction from a concrete using alcohol. The essential oil of scented flowers and other aromatic plant parts in its purest and most concentrated form. It is extremely expensive. A few important oils used in an absolute form are: geranium, lavender, lily, and rose.

Accord - A combination of a number of different scents which blend together to produce a new fragrance.

Agrestic - "Of the countryside"; odours of heather, forest depths, and the meadow.

Aldehydes - Aromatic chemicals isolated for the first time in the 19th century, but that also occur naturally. Certain aldehydes provide an increased diffusiveness, sparkle, and lift to perfumes, most famously in Chanel No. 5.

Almondy - Bittersweet, soft, and nutty scent.

Amber - An accord in perfumery that is supposed to recall the qualities of ambergris. It is often constructed with labdanum, Tolu balsam, or Peru balsam. Often an accord in Oriental perfumes.

Ambergris - A highly prized perfume ingredient consisting of the oxidized excretion from a sperm whale. It is rarely used in its natural form in perfumery because of its rarity, exorbitant cost, and concerns about sourcing ambergris from live whales rather than from shore-found ambergris. It’s said to have an earthy, sweet, tobacco, and pleasantly animalic scent. It primarily works to bring out other notes in perfumery rather than to impart a particular scent on its own.

Ambrein - The primary scented molecule in ambergris, isolated and used in perfumery. It’s warm, sweet, vanillic, and ambery, with facets of spice and tobacco.

Animalic - Describes fragrances with animal ingredients in natural or synthetic form, including civet, castoreum, musk, or ambergris. The voluptuous, erotic, and sometimes disturbing quality of animalic perfumes can register in an olfactory way, as something “dirty” or animal-smelling, or as a feeling, a mood, or a quality. Sometimes, it can be both.

Aromatic - Having a strong or distinctive smell.

B—E

Balance - A combination of different fragrance notes so adjusted in proportion to one another that none of the individual notes is more prominent than any of the others.

Balsamic - The resin from the bark of trees and shrubs (Peru, Tolu, styrax) that have a rich vanilla scent. Balsamic is a term used to describe perfumes with the soft, ambery aspects these resins impart.

Benzoin - A sweet, balsamic resin used in incense and as a base note in perfume for its vanillic scent and fixative properties. Also known as styrax because it comes from the bark of the styrax tree.

Bergamot - The essential oil from the peel of the nonedible Citrus aurantium fruit that looks like a small orange. Its sweetish, mellow lemony scent is a crucial top note in perfumery.

Calone - A synthetic “marine” note that is supposed to evoke the freshness of the ocean. It has a slight watermelon facet.

Camphoraceous - Describes a fresh, clean, medical fragrance.

Caramel - Sweet, rich, creamy, buttery scent.

Cardamom - An intensely aromatic, sweet spice from the ginger family, in the form of a pod filled with seeds.

Carnation - A smoky, sweet, and clove-like scent, the latter facet due to Eugenol, the primary component of clove.

Cassis - (or black currant bud) A sharp, fruity, almost cat-urine-like scented perfume note.

Cistus - (or Labdanum) A resin from the rockrose bush, traditionally gathered from goats’ beards as they fed on the plant. Labdanum is said to be the note closest to the scent of ambergris. Creamy, soft, vanillic.

Citrus - Fresh, light fragrance characteristic of citrus fruits, but also imitated synthetically.

Civet - In classical perfumery, the cream harvested from the anal gland of the mongoose-like civet animal, often described as cat like. Fecal-smelling when undiluted, civet “rounds” out other notes when used judiciously. Famous as an overdosed note in Guerlain’s Jicky (1889), it is considered one of the first abstract modern scents. Civet is primarily in synthetic form now.

Clove - An aromatic spice similar to cinnamon, but less sweet. Its primary component is Eugenol.

Coniferous - The fragrance note of pine, spruce, juniper and similar such trees, often used in men's fragrances.

Diffusive - A perfume whose fragrance quickly becomes apparent in the air surrounding the wearer.

Dry - The aromatic effect of perfume ingredients such as woods and mosses in contrast to sweet and warm fragrances.

Earthy - The subtle fragrance impression of earth or earth-mould which is found in certain essential oils such as vetiver and patchouli.

Equine - Notes of hay and leather.

F—M

Floral - The general fragrance of flowers.

Fruity - Citrus, berries, tropical, and other non-citrus fruit scents.

Fungal - Molds, yeast, and mushroom scents.

Green - General fragrance of grasses and green plant parts.

Harmony - A pleasing combination of fragrance notes.

Hayfield notes - Usually based on coumarin, which have an odour of new-mown hay.

Heavy - Denotes a fragrance in which the least volatile ingredients, such as mossy or animalic ones, are dominant, giving a very strong effect. Such fragrances are mostly used in chypre and oriental-type perfumes.

Herbaceous - The characteristic general fragrance of herbs and herbal medicines. Sage, rosemary and lavender are examples.

Honey - Used as an ingredient in early Arab perfumes and appears in later European ones (e.g., Honey Water). In modern perfumery a substance providing the sweet aromatic effect of honey and known as Honey (or Miel) is manufactured synthetically.

Indolic - The disquieting, ripe, animalic, and almost excremental facet of scents.

Leather - A perfume accord and category of perfume constructed from various notes, including birch tar, styrax, castoreum, and a variety of synthetic notes.

Light - Delicate, clean, and fresh-laundry scent.

Marine - Iodized scent.

Mellow - Soothing and calming scent.

Metallic - A fragrance reminiscent of metal, providing a clean, cool effect. Metallic notes are used in perfumes to assist in promoting an effect, not as main fragrances.

Minty - A fragrance reminiscent of mint, e.g., peppermint or spearmint. Such fragances are usually used to provide a special, fresh effect in a top note.

Mossy - The general odour of oils obtained from mosses and lichens.

Musk - Produced by the musk deer and excreted by the male during mating season. Musk deer were killed almost to extinction for their valuable musk glands, which were dried, and whose musk “seeds” were removed and steeped in alcohol to create tinctures for perfume. The scent of real musk is warm, with depth and a dark animalic aroma. Many synthetics now can mimic musk scent, but one of the most superior musk synthetics, nitro-musks, which were in Chanel No. 5 and countless other vintages, has been banned due to toxicity concerns. Musk can also be substituted with plant ingredients including ambrette seed and angelica.

Musty - Damp, earthy, or stale odor.

N—W

Narcotic - Exceptionally strong and heavy fragrances obtained from some flowers (e.g. jasmine and tuberose) and animalic ingredients, which need to be used with careful discretion in a perfume.

Ozonic - A perfume accord that attempts to create the smell of fresh air after a thunderstorm.

Peppery - Odour of pepper.

Powdery - Soft and clean scent.

Rich - Fragrances that have numerous layers, notes, and accords in all stages (top, mid, base), creating a multifaceted feel.

Rounded - The overall smoothness and fullness of a fragrance.

Sharp - A strong scent.

Smoky - The slight smell of smoke created in a perfume by certain oils such as Birch Tar Oil. It is used in men's fragrances to provide a leathery effect.

Spicy - Describes in general the distinctive fragrance of essential oils which have been obtained from spices.

Sweet - A sweet and rather sugar-like fragrance such as vanilla.

Tobacco - Fragrances resembling cured tobaccos, which are particularly popular in masculine toiletries.

Wintergreen - Has a very powerful and fresh, medicinal odour.

Woody - Fragrances reminiscent of wood. These fragrances are provided by wood oils, such as cedar, by essential oils from other plants having a wood-like aroma, such as patchouli, and by synthetics.

Sources: Perfume: The Art and Craft of Fragrance by Karen Gilbert ⚜ The Perfume Handbook by Nigel Groom ⚜ Scent & Subversion by Barbara Herman ⚜ Scent: A Natural History of Fragrance by Elise Vernon Pearlstine ⚜ Introduction to Perfumery by Tony Curtis & David G. Williams ⚜ The Big Book of Perfume

More: Word Lists ⚜ References ⚜ Describing Scent ⚜ Fragrance Notes & Levels

[milky-rozen]

[ HoS ] Beauty in Ancient Egypt

In Ancient Egypt, people took great care of their appearance and personal hygiene. Both women and men wore makeup to enhance their beauty and followed skincare routines similar to ours today.

Certain cosmetics, like kohl, were believed to have magical properties and were also used to protect the eyes from dirt, infection, and desert sand. Egyptians cared for their skin using moisturizers and essential oils, which were often made from natural ingredients such as honey, aloe vera, and plant-based oils. These products were particularly effective in protecting the skin from the country’s harsh weather conditions.

The Egyptians typically wore white linen, considered the purest and most hygienic fabric. While they occasionally dyed their clothing, this was a rare practice due to the high cost of the materials. Unlike the ever-changing nature of fashion in many other cultures, Ancient Egyptian fashion remained remarkably consistent over time, much like its art.

Beauty and personal care were so highly valued in Ancient Egypt that specific gods were associated with these practices and even depicted on related tools. For instance, Hathor, the goddess of beauty, had her face frequently carved into mirror handles. Nefertem and Bastet were revered as deities of perfumes, while Horus was often linked to the practice of applying eyeliner, believed to protect one’s eyes from harm.

Sources:

[ "Bellezza nell'Antico Egitto", Alessia Fassone, Federica Facchetti. ]

[amorbidcorvid]

Fibers in Fiction - A Silmarillion Writer’s Guide to Þerindë's Craft

It's the @silmarillionwritersguild's Meta Week, and I wanted to contribute my two special interests -- fiber art and Tolkien -- and my real world degree in Medieval European Women's History. So here's a essay with writing resources for Day 6 - apply real-world disciplines to Middle-earth.

Most of this I had sitting in the back of my head and do not have quality, academic sources for. Links are either to written or video resources, or to picture credits.

Intro

What is fiber art? My personal definition is the manipulation of some sort of fiber into something functional and/or beautiful. There are a few characters in Tolkien’s works that are associated with a fiber craft of some sort – Vairë the Weaver, Míriel Þerindë, and Arwen Undómiel come to mind the easiest. I've seen various fanworks that have Caranthir also be a needle-worker, but that's not canon the way these three women are. There's a lot to be said about the intersection between "women's work" and needlework and feminism, and Tolkien's inclusion of those patriarchal standards, but ... that's not this essay.

There’s a lot of methods and a lot of disciplines that can be put under the umbrella of fiber art. The purpose of this essay is to help fic writers expound on the process of a fiber craft using the correct terminology, gain an understanding of period(ish) appropriate tools/techniques, and the differences between some of the major forms of fiber arts.  

What is a fiber? 

Starting with the basics. A fiber is a material that is longer than it is wide and typically used in textiles or electronics. This is Tolkien’s world, we’re not worrying about electronics, so let’s turn to textile fibers. There are four main types of textile fibers: 

natural fibers - flax, hemp, cotton, jute

animal fibers - silk, wool, catgut (not made from cats), angora rabbit fur, goat hair (mohair, cashmere)

synthetic fibers. - polyester, acrylic, nylon, rayon

Metallic fibers - gold, silver, copper, mithril that have been formed into a very thin wire

Obviously, unless the Valar let Fëanor get into oil extraction, all those synthetic fibers are right out. Leatherwork does not count as a fiber art, since true leather is a processed animal skin. Cords can be cut from leather to act like string, but that’s not a true fiber. And don’t talk to me about pleather or vegan leather. That’s just plastic and it’s bad for the environment. 

Spin a Thread, Draw a Wire

For the three types of fiber that could be used in Arda, there are two methods to turn these materials into thread: drawing and spinning.

Drawing a wire: a small piece of metal is pulled through a device called a draw plate. A draw plate may have many holes through which the wire is pulled, each getting successively smaller and smaller until you reach the gauge (size) you desire. As you pull the wire through each smaller hole, the wire gets thinner and longer. Rinse and repeat until you have a wire of the desired thickness. If you’re combining a wire with some sort of flexible fiber (couching, weaving, etc, see below) it needs to be extremely thin in order to be flexible enough to bend with the fiber it’s attached to. 

You need a lubricant to ensure the wire doesn’t get stuck in the draw plate. Covering the wire in oil is a good way to go (this is called dry drawing. Wet drawing is when the draw plate and the wire are both submerged in oil as you work). Application of heat can make this process easier, but depending on the metal, you might not need very much. 

Gold, silver, and copper are all very soft metals in their purest form -- alloys will make them stronger, less malleable, and harder to draw. Mithril, given that it’s a fictional metal, I can’t confidently comment on, but it’s said to have been very malleable, so I would imagine that the same process for creating very thin wires would also work in the same way as it would for the other metals listed.

A spun thread is an assortment of individual fibers that have been twisted together to make a stronger unit. Natural, animal, and synthetic fibers can all be spun. 

Usually when we describe something as a thread, we’re talking about a spun fiber that is fine/thin and smooth enough for sewing or weaving applications. Spinning a thread involves taking a pile of washed and combed but loose fibers (a bundle of these is called a roving) and literally twisting it until it forms a thread. This can be done with a drop spindle or a spinning wheel. A drop spindle is the more mobile form of spinning, and simple enough that medieval families would often have children spin. With practice you could even do it while walking. Imagine, for a moment, Míriel Þerindë walking through Beleriand during the Great Journey, drop spindle in hand, making the thread she is known for. That’s some good stuff. I’m begging somebody to write this. 

Here’s some video tutorials on how to use a drop spindle and how to use a spinning wheel. I can’t explain it succinctly, and a visual is always a good tool. 

Plyed Threads Make a Yarn

Yarn is several threads counter-twisted around each other. Counter twisting is what holds the yarn’s structure. If the individual thread is twisted clockwise, the yarn must twist all those clockwise threads counterclockwise. The tension holds the shape of the yarn.

Yarns (usually made from an animal fiber like wool, goat, or angora) and twines (usually made from natural fibers like hemp or jute or cotton) are made the same way because they make the threads stronger and more durable than they would be as individual threads, but their material usually dictates how they’re used. Yarns are softer, better for knitting or crochet or weaving. Twines and cords tend to be rougher, better for securing things to other things, for outdoor use, or … you know. The things they do in Angband.

Weaving a fabric

So you’ve got your thread and/or yarn. Now what? Well, you can dye it now (see next section), you can start knitting a garment (you need good socks on the Helcaraxë), or you can start weaving a fabric. Fabric has two components, both made by individual threads in sequence. The warp is generally static, and the vertical thread in most diagrams, including the ones I’m including here. The weft is the thread that passes back and forth horizontally. You can have the weft go over/under/over/under like this diagram (this is called a plain weave) or you can have the weft skip over a number of warp threads to create a pattern or a texture (satin or twill or denim weaves skip warp threads). The pattern depends on which warp threads get lifted or lowered with each pass of the weft, which is typically attached to a shuttle that glides through the shed. 

Weaving requires a loom, but that loom can come in various form-factors. A backstrap loom maintains tension in the warp by the position of the weaver, who has a strap attached to the loom going around her back while she manipulates the weft in front of her. This was, and still is, commonly used in native South American communities.

Early medieval Europe typically used a warp-weighted loom, where the warp threads were tied to a loom weight that dangled off the back of the loom frame. This was replaced later with the horizontal loom, which included the invention of heddles (loops that lifted warp threads in sequence to make a shed (opening) so as to make a pattern) and treadles (foot pedals that control the heddles). 

Later, the horizontal loom gets mechanized, and somehow we got computer programs out of Jacquard looms. Fascinating, but not relevant here. 

One of my favorite types of weaving is tablet weaving, which instead of heddles or treadles to form the shed, uses square cards. Four threads go through the corners of the cards to form alternating sheds that can form complex patterns. Tablet weaving is great for decorative trim and edges. You can use a backstrap method, a warp weighted method, or an inkle loom to create tablet woven articles. This video is a gorgeous introduction, but a bit long. 

What about Vairë’s tapestries, I hear you cry out into the Void? See below :) 

Add a splash of color, become ungovernable 

Color! The world can create rainbows, and we’ve been trying to make thread to match for ages. Luckily you can make most colors with natural dyes. Purple is the hardest color to get with a natural dye, along with blacks; yellows and reds and browns are easiest.

You have to prepare your dye (usually taking some natural material (onion, cochineal insects, gallnuts, walnuts, marigold flowers, woad, madder, whatever you have) and your thread/yarn/fabric separately before combining them with heat. 

Prepping your dye depends on the material you’re using. Sometimes it’s just an overnight soak in a pot, sometimes it’s crushing beetle carcasses into a fine powder, sometimes it’s boiling. I leave it to you, friend, to research the exact color you’re looking to make with a natural dye and how to get that, but this chart might be a good start. 

Most thread/yarn/fabric needs a mordant. Mordant is a dye fixative. After all that work making the fabric, you don’t want that gorgeous Fëanorian red (madder root) to come out in the wash water, right? Mordants are acids that can be found naturally, either by processing some plant materials to create tannic acid (oak trees and oak galls) or oxalic acid (wood sorrels), or by working a chemical process using alum, chrome alum, or sodium chloride, or ammonia (stale urine was commonly used before modern chemical processes). Mordants stink to Angband and back, so historically dyers would be outside town or in their own district as to not offend everyone elses noses. 

You can get a richer, more saturated color by overdyeing – dying twice or even three times. Dyes are hard to color match; each batch is going to have its own variables (weather, temperature, concentration of the dye, concentration of the mordant, quality of the fiber, etc). 

I’ve found this website that goes into a lot more detail. I’m not affiliated with them, but it’s a good starting point.  

Tools

A non-exhaustive list of standard tools a fiber artist may use and material it could be/typically is made of: 

Thread, yarn, or fabric (described above)

Scissors/shears (metal)

Sharp sewing needle in various sizes (bone or metal)

Blunt needle in various sizes (sometimes called a tapestry needle, bone or metal)

Spindle (wood)

Loom in various sizes (wood, wire, thread)

Shuttle (wood)

Knitting needles (bone, wood, or metal)

Nalbinding needle (bone, metal) (nalbinding is a cousin of knitting and crochet, good for hats and socks)

Crochet hook (bone, metal, wood)

Bobbin (wood, bone)

Lace pins (metal)

Lace pillow (fabric)

Embroidery hoop (wood)

Embroidery frame (scroll frame, slate frame, wood)

Embroidery stand (wood, metal)

Thimble (leather, metal)

Fiber Crafts seen in the Legendarium 

Tapestry Weaving

Tapestry weaving is different than standard weaving, because the weft does not go across the entire length of the working area in a shuttle. Tapestry weaving typically uses many, many bobbins or needles of colored thread worked in a plain weave in small areas to make an image. In medieval Europe, tapestries would be used as a form of insulation, to keep the cold out, and as a status symbol. (All I’m saying is, give Himring more tapestries, and maybe the Ever-Cold fortress would be a bit more homey). Here’s this article from the Metropolitan Museum of Art about tapestries, and here’s a video about the making of large scale tapestries, which is the technique I imagine Vairë and Míriel use for the Halls.

Embroidery

Embroidery is the practice of taking individual colored threads (usually cotton, wool, or silk) and sewing them into a ground fabric to decorate that fabric with a design of some sort. There’s SO MANY ways to embroider things. Cross stitch, which is what your author started out doing, uses stitched squares on a grid to effectively make pixel art with thread. You can do blackwork (which doesn’t necessarily need a black thread) which makes a repeating pattern on a grid but doesn’t make squares. Or there’s more freeform embroidery which lots of people use for natural scenes (flowers especially) but can be used for portraits, landscapes, silly sayings – the world is your oyster. The Royal School of Needlework in the UK has a Stitch Bank which documents how to accomplish many, many, many kinds of stitches. 

I’m going to highlight a few stitches that absolutely should be in your writing toolkit if you are working with a character doing embroidery. I’m not going to describe every stitch, but knowing what a stitch is called is half the battle. Okay, maybe a quarter of it, you still have to either do it, or write a good description of doing it, which may be the other 3/4ths of the battle.

Satin Stitch - a good, all purpose filler. Made by stitching parallel lines of thread. Uses a lot of thread, since you should be bringing your needle up through the ground on the same side of the thing you’re trying to fill every time. 

Couching - another good, all purpose filler. Made by laying thread or wire flat on the ground fabric, then taking another thread (close in color or not, depends on the vibe) and stitching it down in place securely. This is the main filling stitch in the Bayeux Tapestry (not a true tapestry, it’s just a really big embroidery) and undoubtedly how Arwen made part of Aragorn’s banner with mithril wire. 

Straight stitch - makes a dashed line

Back stitch - makes a solid straight line

Stem stitch - makes a solid straight line that can easily curve

Chain stitch - good filler, makes interlocking loops

Daisy stitch - a chain stitch that doesn’t interlock the loops, but stitches down the loop so it doesn’t move. Makes good simple flowers

French knots - tiny filler, lots of good texture. Tiny knots made by wrapping the thread around your needle.

Stump work - 3D effects for ages. Want flowers or leaves to literally jump off the ground fabric? Stump work is your friend, and my personal nemesis. 

Conclusion

Knowing the terminology of a craft is integral to learning more about it, and writing it accurately. My hope with this resource is that you might have learned a new term or two, or gotten a few new resources to use in your writing. Even better if this is something you don’t know a lot about, or have never given much thought to, then I hope you’ve learned something valuable here. 

[artful-aries]

Can I please have How they flirt headcanons for zhongli scaramoche and Childe? Thank you in advance 🤗

Hello hello!!! I have no excuse for taking so long to put out content other than my job killing me and getting distracted with oil painting

How They Flirt With You (Zhongli, Scaramouche, Childe)

Zhongli:

His flirting is as refined as osmanthus wine

He is very gentlemanly when he flirts; chaste, grazing touches, deep, meaningful looks, and his willingness to jump at your beck and call are very prevalent as he seeks to woo you

Zhongli wouldn’t overload you with compliments, that would make it seem like he only cares for your physical appearance or that he is too obsessive. When he does compliment you, it is pure poetry that falls from his lips

“Your eyes shine like the purest noctilucous jade. For all of the wonders of Teyvat, you are certainly the most captivating.”

He knows his compliments can come off pretty strong in their own right, which is why he keeps them to a minimum unless he is absolutely sure that you are okay with it

None of his flirtations would come across as needy or desperate, he is calm, cool, and collected as he effortlessly but respectfully flirts with you

Being as old as he is, he does not clam up when it comes to things of this nature, nor is he afraid of the possibility of rejection. It’s all part of the mortal experience that he wishes to see more of

The unfortunate part of Zhongli’s flirting is that he can be incredibly long winded and wind up telling you the whole history of processing silk flowers into usable fabric before he can think to stop himself

He tries to pay attention to what you’re interested in, but if a topic comes up that he’s knowledgeable about, he can’t help himself but to delve deep into the topic with you

It’s not that he’s trying to show off in a conceited way, but Zhongli does like showing you that he is knowledgeable and capable in a wide variety of subjects. He just has a hard time reigning himself in once he gets started.

If you decide to flirt back with him, his demeanor isn’t going to change much other than he’s going to have a soft smile permanently plastered to his face

The way you flirt amuses him, but it makes a warmth seep deep into his heart, and his hands tingle slightly as he practically eats up your flirtations

He wants nothing more than to kiss you in these moments, but Zhongli is going to bide his time and wait. Like stone, he knows his feelings are not subject to change for a long, long time, but mortals can be fickle with their affections. He wants to wait and see how serious you are about him before trying to take things to the next step

Scaramouche:

Chant “tsundere” in the mirror three times and Scaramouche will appear

When he starts developing a crush, he’s going to deny it to himself for a while. What use is a crush to him?

As the feelings only continue to grow as he’s around you, he has two options; avoid you, or bully you (these are clearly the only two rational options for when you have a crush on someone)

Scaramouche will attempt to avoid you first, going weeks meticulously avoiding you before he finally just gives up. It’s clearly not working for him, if anything, it’s making his thoughts of you worse

So, dropping back into your life like he never left in the first place, he starts bullying you

He never gets physical and doesn’t say absolutely horrendous things, but he will frequently imply that he thinks you’re an idiot or a weakling

You might genuinely think he just hates you, and rightfully so. Yet if you ever actually get genuinely upset with him, especially to the point of storming off or giving him the silent treatment, Scaramouche will internally panic

He won’t apologize, at least not outright, but it is very easy to see the shift in his demeanor. He makes sure that you’re in earshot to hear him say nice things about you to others, or he just sort of hangs around you as though he’s silently begging you to forgive him

When you do finally start talking to him again, he can’t help but feel a little giddy even though it makes him feel weak and pathetic

From there, his flirting actually begins, but he’s certainly no charmer. Scaramouche is still as abrasive and hard to get along with as ever, but he does random acts of kindness for you now. He’ll call you an idiot, but give you bundles of your favorite snack. He’ll scoff at you cooing over a cute cat, but will sneak a cat plush he made himself that looks just like the kitten you were cooing over the other day into your belongings

If you decide to flirt back, he’ll laugh and ask if you’re serious. When you confirm that you are in fact serious with your words, a blush will develop on his cheeks, and he will finally be rendered speechless instead of running his smart mouth

Childe:

This man is quite the tease, and it’s hard to tell when he’s just looking to get a reaction out of you or when he’s being genuine in his flirtations

He’s touchy to a fault. He sees no problem with hoisting you up randomly over his shoulder and carrying you off somewhere. The way you fluster and struggle against his hold his just so cute to him, you can’t expect him to behave when you give him such nice reactions

If you gave indication that you would genuinely start hating him for being so handsy, Childe would reign it in. As much fun as it is to push your buttons, he doesn’t want you to hate him

His touchiness doesn’t completely die, but it’s a lot more gentle and sweet, more like proper flirtation rather than borderline manhandling you

With his connections to Northland Bank, he likes to spoil you just a little bit with gifts. Nothing extravagant since you’re not dating yet, but just nice little sentimental things to show that he’s thinking of you even when he can’t pry himself away from his work

Childe also flirts by showing off, especially when it comes to fighting. He makes sure that the fight is never too dangerous or scary, but he wants you to see him absolutely decimate his enemies

It’s like he’s showing you how strong he is, that you can rely on him if you wanted to

That being said, he definitely gets a little cocky and gets himself hurt a time or two, but that just gives him an excuse to play up the injury a little so he can get you to tend to him

He will totally give you flirtatious winks and teasing remarks as you help him apply bandages to his bare torso, saying that surely you must have been dreaming of the day he got hurt so you could do this

This would be your chance to turn the tables on him and get him flustered. Shoot him a teasing remark back or let your hand ghost over the curves of his muscles and the man will turn as red as his hair

Childe loves a competition though, and will ramp up the flirty comments and gestures until you give up and walk out a blushing mess or you give in and finally kiss his stupid lips already

He knows that no matter which way things will turn out, it’ll be all the more thrilling for him

The Harbinger totally doesn’t mind staying in the flirting stage for a while; he almost likes the chase more than the reward. Almost.

[blackblooms]

Irredeamable developpement retrospective Part 3: The fountain So just as presented in the last part, this was my attempt at creating a single complex and interconnected setting for all of my games. I even had a bunch of games planned for this, including one some of you may have seen before.

This game was made on a whole other engine, so i won`t linger too much on it, but the planned story was about a small elf huntress, ascending the great titan (giant tree) to find increasingly imposing preys to hunt, such as troglodytes (giant frog people), drakes, wyrms, other sentient bugs and concluding on a battle with the nevermore, a black crow/dragon that served as the god of the tree.

Anyway, back to our actual game. The fountain took place in a nexus between several worlds, where several species from all over the multiverse lived, including humans, lizardfolk, goblins, elves, trolls, and several races of fae. At the heart of this world, was the coveted fountain, a well of pure magic that was the source of all reality and could remake it to the whims of any who were bold enough to find and use it.

From this premise, a main game was planned, an epic journey through the crossroads of lands, where a group from different races would meet and unite in their common quest to find the fountain and achieve their deepest wishes.

So the journey starts on human lands, a continent consisting of mostly deserts. The fountain is where i finally settled on an aesthetic for humans, making them mechanical, and fire-themed. They usually wield guns and use the metal, oil, and coal of their land to build fiery machines and factories. Other stories also give them the ability to nearly fully mechanize their bodies, turning themselves into metal demons. the second area would have been the lizardfolks/mermaid archipelago (don't ask why they are the second to last area in the plans, i dont know either) These would be themed around water and serve as an artificial/life amphibious force, working under the centaurians from the last few settings. The mermaids specifically were centaurians-humans hybrid, hence why they have features of both. Then the group arrives upon the mainland, where they are met with an overgrown swamp, infested with demi-fae, a group of several races mixed with fae blood, giving them the ability to use magic. This is followed by a series of urbanized forests controlled by the tiny, but industrious elves who are able to build dozens of man-sized war machines. The last obstacle on the journey is the shadowlands, a dark, cold, and desolated region, guarded by a race of ancient stone creatures. These old traditionalists and users of mystical shadow arts despise change and will do anything to prevent the fountain from being tampered with. ( i remember hearing the line "dwarves are incorruptible as stone" in shadow of mordor and it stuck in my head ever since, becoming a defining aspect of the trolls in my own stories.") And finally, the fountain, a place of infinite potential and home of the Fae, creatures that have been encountered during the whole journey, avatars of magic, nature and change. The fountain is a fantastical realm, a city of candy, floating over an ever-flowing lake of golden honey. The purest of faes reside in this realm, but they are far from the nature-loving beings met in the outside world. These Faes are cruel and ravenous, eager to consume the world and make a new one that will one day also be ruthlessly consumed.

Anyway, as you can tell from all the lore, i ended up putting a whole lot of effort into that setting. There was even supposed to be a whole second half of the game where the characters made their wish and the world would be twisted by the Fae magic into nightmares that would have to be fought and repelled before they replaced the region. We are slowly, but surely getting close to the end of this retrospective. Next we will go into the game that ended up giving irredeamable much of its mechanics. A small, self-contained story that ended up bridging the gap between the fountain and the current setting i have been building. See you in part 4: The city of dolls.

[art8demo]

The original painting entitled 'Idyll by the River' is an oil painting on canvas measuring 100 x 80 cm. I made it.

The oil painting, which is based on an outdoor sketch, reveals the beauty and splendor of the original nature on the banks of the old Oder in the Oderbruch ( Germany - 50 miles east of Berlin) The artistic process began with a sketch created outdoors using charcoal on paper. This sketch served as the basis for the later oil painting in the studio.

The scene captured in the painting shows the calm water surface of the Oder, lined with lush riverside vegetation. The trees and bushes on the shore are beautifully reflected in the calm water, creating a harmonious connection between the sky and the earth. It`s summer, and the vibrant green tones of the trees and leaves create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The water of the river exudes calm and reflects the cloudy sky. The pale surface of the body of water adds an extra dimension to the painting and enhances the feeling of calm and peace.

The artist has captured nature in its purest form and the scene appears almost timeless. It is a place of silence and contemplation where the beauty of the natural world can be enjoyed in all its glory.

Overall, this painting showcases the artist`s masterful ability to capture the essence of nature and transform it into a stunning work of art. It reminds the viewer to appreciate and preserve the beauty and peace of nature.

[art-monsters]

it's me, here to tell you my definition of art. to me art is the purest form of human emotion. it's the quintessential act of humanity. we've been creating art since the first neanderthal or whatever the fuck. and sure, nature makes things that we can see as art, because they're beautiful, but it takes a person to see it as art. however, art is the purest form of human emotion. that means undiluted, straight from the most primitive areas. art is the feeling of being prey, or even being predator. art is the act of ripping something apart with your teeth, the hot scent of blood. art is the body's automatic response to cold water on the face (lowing heartbeat and calming you down) to prepare to drown. purest doesn't necessarily mean most peaceful.

art as emotion

art is unfiltered. it is raw humanity that bleeds through the canvas. the feelings that decide the colors and the shadows and the blotchy dark corners of oil paint. frida kahlo's monkeys, van gogh's yellows, the figures of francis bacon. it's the drive that chained monet to his garden despite the drums of war on his doorstep, the force that runs through Abramović's mind on a daily basis.

art is destructive and makes you destructive. art is regenerative and therefore you regenerate. art is art because the way we feel says it is when we look at it.

i would place you in the pollock's group with marlene and barty. action paintings, the way art is unafraid to get messy and gritty. but it's not just the emotions of the creator that come into play, but the emotions of the viewer as well.

[xiaonyc]

🌿🪻🪷 Natural healing (Oils, remedies, and herbs for health and beauty)

i am making this list to help me keep track of natural remedies ive learned and have experience with. EVERYTHING LISTED I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED unless otherwise noted. feel free to comment any you have experience with. i hope we can collectively combine our knowledge and become healthy, healed, and beautiful through nature's love and built in healing knowledge. i will focus on physical healing for now, and maybe in the future get into more mental, emotional, and spiritual. *LIST TO BE UPDATED FREQUENTLY*

Hair

Castor oil: very thick and earthy oil, great for growing eyelashes and hair in general

Facial/body

Almond oil: a light gentle oil great for skin

Jojoba oil: multi-use oil that great for skin too and mixed with essential oils, neutral scent

Vitamin E oil: pure vitamin oil is super thick and great for tightening up skin and healing scars/blemishes

Witch hazel: for face, cleans pores and evens out complexion

Mouth

Coconut oil: ive use this to oil pull (swish) and its coats my teeth in a lovely scent and protective film

Sesame oil: ive also used this to oil pull, its more potent imo

Olive oil: oil pull worthy as well

Myrrh oil: girgle with other oil or water, for healing gums

Gut

tbc...

Essential oils

Ylang ylang: very floral and feminine, light airy sweetness

Geranium: a deeper floral, potent and calming

Forms

Raw, dried/powdered: purest form

Oil: distilled, can be more concentrated

Tincture*: mixed with alcohol or veg. Glycerin

*i notice "alcohol-free versions" are usually mixed with a preservative (ie witch hazel) So dyor and know that if its suspended in liquid it usually needs alcohol or preservative

Advice: If you are new to this, it can be a bit overwhelming, i know it was for me. I would say just to pick 1-2 oils to try (some you may have already!) and see how it goes. No need to use everything at once. Also dyor, this is based on my own observations and may not be the same for you. ITS YOUR EXPERIENCE AND NATURE WILL GUIDE YOU.

[swordluck]

⚘ @confessthysiins // cont.

Truly, she had never given much thought to the shrine-keeper’s age, but now, as her fingers brushed the fabric of his cowl, she saw it more clearly – the shadowed eyes, the wisdom steeped in melancholy.  Still, there was a grace to him, a dignity weathered but enduring.  To grow old was a privilege, albeit one laced with pain.

Curiosity and fondness climbed the ivory bars of Anri’s chest, holding her breath in her throat.  His feathers carried a sheen she had seen in the wings of magpies, dark-eyed and cackling, gleaming with the iridescence of oil upon water.  His hair, long and sleek, was the purest white, a stark contrast against darker plumage.  

With a care that felt instinctive, she combed her fingers through his tresses, gently working through the occasional tangle.  Pale fingertips smoothed the ruffled feathers along his face, her touch delicate and deliberate, preening him as though it were the most natural thing in the world.  Anri hoped she was careful enough, that her touch soothed rather than tugged at the roots of his feathers.  A low, rumbling sound resonated in his chest, an avian purr that reassured and emboldened her.

To see him so unguarded crushed the velvet of Anri’s heart in its fist.  How many seasons had passed – how many years, how many cycles – since Oswald had last been touched with care?  However long it had been, he honoured her with his trust.  Her gaze softened as she studied him, seeing not the old crow he described but, instead, the memory of youth that clung to him, like the lilac scent of spring on winter’s wind.  In her mind’s eye, she conjured an image of him as he must have once been: hair black as a raven’s belly, his features sharp and bold, his voice rich with the vigour of life.  And yet, even now, there was beauty in him – a beauty that time could not erase, written indelibly into the depths of his dark eyes and the softened lines of his sharp-featured, corvid-like face.

Anri let her actions speak for her, tracing a pronounced cheekbone with her thumb, her expression soft but resolute.  She did not see him as diminished, as less than what he once was.  To her, he was whole.  Touched by time, but no less worthy of affection.

“What could that young man provide that you cannot?”  Fingers still at work, she tucked a stray snow-coloured lock behind his ear, her touch lingering to map the curve of its helix.  “I would sooner have you as you are now, and not any version that came before.”

Her words carried the weight of truth, and her garnet-blue gaze met his.  For all the horrors she had witnessed, she continued to defy darkness.  It was not solely naivety, nor was it blind faith.  Rather, it sprang from something gentler, quieter – a stubborn belief in the beauty of what remained.  Anri saw it now, in him.

“It is not the passing of years that shapes a man,” she continued softly, fondly.  “But how he carries their weight.  And you, dear Oswald, have borne it with such grace.”

[purelyaustraalianskincare]

Embrace the Power of Indigenous Australian Plant-Based Skincare

As I woke up to the golden rays of the Australian sun filtering through my window, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the land I call home. Recently I had the privilege of being able to produce my own line of skincare based on the wonderful plants of Australia

Unveiling Nature's Secrets

Imagine skincare products crafted from the purest botanical ingredients that have thrived on this ancient land for centuries. These age-old remedies are now meticulously blended into luxurious creams, serums, and oils that nourish your skin and soul. The synergy between nature and tradition is palpable in every drop of these elixirs.

Exploring the world of Indigenous Australian plant-based skincare is like embarking on a sensory journey. From the earthy scent of eucalyptus to the sweet notes of kakadu plum, each product tells a story of resilience, sustainability, and respect for Mother Earth.

A Harmony of Tradition and Science

What sets these products apart is not just their natural ingredients but also the deep-rooted cultural significance they hold. The synergy between Indigenous knowledge and modern science is evident in the formulations that strike a delicate balance between tradition and innovation.

[clovernaturemills]

Discover the Finest Organic and Cold Pressed Products at Clover Nature Mills in Abu Dhabi, UAE

At Clover Nature Mills, we believe that true health and wellness begin with the food you consume. As a brand committed to offering the finest natural and organic products, we are excited to bring our philosophy of purity and tradition to Tumblr. Whether you're a seasoned organic enthusiast or someone just beginning their journey towards healthier living, we invite you to discover the Clover difference.

Who We Are

Clover Nature Mills is a proudly UAE-based company dedicated to delivering top-quality, organic, and cold-pressed products to our valued customers. Our product range is as diverse as it is wholesome, offering everything from cold-pressed oils and freshly milled flours to pure spices, organic ghee, and natural sweeteners. Each item in our collection is carefully crafted using traditional methods that preserve the nutrients and natural goodness inherent in each ingredient.

Our Commitment to Quality

At the heart of Clover Nature Mills is our unwavering commitment to quality. We use only the purest ingredients, sourced from authentic origins, ensuring that each product meets the highest standards of excellence. Our cold-pressed oils, for instance, are produced using traditional wooden-press machines that extract oil at low temperatures, preserving their rich nutritional content and flavor. Similarly, our flours are stone-milled to maintain their natural fibers and nutrients, providing a superior alternative to commercially processed options.

Why Choose Clover Nature Mills?

Choosing Clover Nature Mills means choosing health, authenticity, and sustainability. We take pride in our eco-friendly practices, from using natural stones and wood in our production processes to minimizing our carbon footprint. Our products are free from preservatives, additives, and synthetic ingredients, making them a perfect choice for those who value natural living.

But it's not just about the products; it's about the experience. We aim to create a connection between you and the food you eat, bringing the essence of nature to your kitchen. Our offerings are not just ingredients; they are the building blocks of a healthy, vibrant life.

Our Product Range

Explore our extensive range of products, which includes:

Cold-Pressed Oils: Coconut oil, sesame oil, almond oil, black cumin oil, and more.

Milled Flours: Wheat flour, rice flour, multigrain flour, and other wholesome flours.

Pure Spices: Turmeric powder, cumin powder, cinnamon powder, and a variety of other spices.

Special Products: A2 cow ghee, forest honey, herbal hair oil, and natural sugars.

Each product is designed to support a balanced and nutritious diet, helping you achieve your health goals naturally.

Join the Clover Nature Mills Community

Start your wellness journey with Clover Nature Mills today, and experience the difference that pure, natural, and organic products can make. Visit our online store or drop by our shop in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to explore our offerings and make the switch to a healthier you.

[mysticconnoisseurpeace]

Why Is Everyone Talking About Natural Essential Oils?

If you've been noticing a buzz around essential oils lately, you're not alone! These highly concentrated plant extracts have been making waves and for good reason. More people are noticing the difference these oils make to your skin and mood. 

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are volatile compounds extracted from plants, capturing their scent and beneficial properties. These oils are typically obtained through chemical-free and environmentally-friendly processes like steam distillation or cold pressing. Natural essential oils, as the name suggests, are derived from organic, unadulterated plant sources without any synthetic additives. This ensures that the oils retain their purest form, offering maximum benefits for both the body and mind.

Essential oils can be used in various ways to enhance both physical and mental well-being. Aromatherapy is one of the most popular uses, where the oils are diffused into the air to promote relaxation and improve your mood. It's also used for easing muscle tension in massages and added to baths for a soothing soak. Additionally, these nourishing essential oils can be used in skincare and selfcare products to provide your skin with all the nourishment and protection it needs.

The Dr. Natural Difference

At Dr. Natural, we pride ourselves on extracting essential oils from pure natural ingredients, ensuring that you get the purest and most effective plant-based products. Our commitment to using only natural sources means you can trust our oils to be free from harmful chemicals and artificial fragrances. The benefits of using natural essential oil extracts are numerous: they are gentler on the skin, less likely to cause allergic reactions, and more environmentally friendly.

But what makes our essential oils truly special are the key ingredients we extract them from. These ingredients have their own unique benefits and when infused with the scented essential oils like lavender, almond or citrus our products become irresistible

Benefits of some of our Key Ingredients:

Coconut Oil

A moisturizing marvel known for its incredible hydrating properties. It penetrates deep into the skin, providing long-lasting moisture and leaving your skin feeling soft and supple. Additionally, its natural antimicrobial properties help protect the skin from harmful bacteria, promoting overall skin health.

Shea Butter

Shea Butter is a skin soother, renowned for its hydrating properties, making it ideal for dry, irritated skin. It helps reduce inflammation and redness, providing much-needed soothing relief and softer skin. Packed with vitamins A and E, shea butter supports skin health by offering antioxidant protection.

Olive Oil

An antioxidant powerhouse, rich in nutrients that help combat the effects of free radicals and prevent premature aging. This oil is excellent for maintaining the skin's natural moisture barrier, keeping it hydrated and nourished, ensuring your skin stays healthy and radiant.

Rosemary Extract

Rosemary extract is known for its stimulating sensation, which can help improve circulation and invigorate the skin. Additionally, rosemary is packed with nutrients that are gentle on the skin and leave it smoother and healthier

Natural essential oils have captured the hearts of many because they offer a holistic approach to skincare. By choosing products like those from Dr. Natural, pamper your skin with the best nature has to offer and support sustainable and ethical practices. Ready to start your natural skincare journey? Explore our natural bath and body products to feel the difference!

[esotericfaery]

Intimate Spiritual Diaries, 13: Tapping Into Ones Pure, Cosmic Alchemical Power

~~~

TLDR; I’m a “snob”, scholars & addicts, criminal fixed stars & more, why I get tired of people in general, the 6th, 8th & 12th Houses, everyone relates sometimes, hope of avoiding misunderstandings, & this is the core of each life-forms connection with the Divine.

If only more people would live naturally & consciously to be more like the Ascendant sign, this would contribute to causing the resolution and future lessening of many Sun (ego) mirroring off the Moon (emotions) patterns, which further complicate themselves as illustrated throughout the chart.

This is how working with Astrology promotes free will, not strict prognostication.

The Ascendant is the purest spark of Who creates each being, as we incarnate.

Uncovering the mysteries of the Ascendant causes recognition of the Divinity spark of the self, and that which is or had been buried in others.

The Ascendant is the spirit. The body drives the ego part of the human. This is why it's so important to not only regularly meditate, but ground, centre, and shield our energies from the chaotic emotion forms and thought forms of the masses.

But no, we often can't have that, because we get stuck in laziness (“thanks” trines). So then we ignore the lessons of Mars which are wise strategic actions, and react harshly towards ourselves & others. We allow ourselves to be distracted by the overly-luxurious Venus. We could work with other things, including specifically Venus for creative solutions.

The 6th House (and by association the 12th) in Astrology, form the axis where the everyday meets the esoteric.

This means, when in unawareness, constant subconscious-only attempts to process the forms of energy people expel in unawareness.

This functions as an un-oiled machine; a toroid which slows its spinning. Poor health in some form is a result, through the etheric layers of the body & thrown around dangerously also, inside the physical part of the body.

Everyone experiences what I described above at times in life, through transits involving either one of those houses, and transits involving their associated signs (Virgo & Pisces’) ruling planets, Chiron & Neptune.

Those of us who have developed and continue to develop the innate human ability for psychic skills, know this very well through our experiences, and have tools to protect ourselves, and transmute.

It’s constantly fatiguing though, to people like me, who have stuff like Sun, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury, Juno, plus more asteroids and fixed stars than I want to lengthen this post with, conjunct in the 6th. I also have my Ascendent at the anaretic degree (the 12th House), which indicates presentation of lesson completion energy. Each house has lessons for us all to learn in life.

In recent years, I’ve been congratulated by my Ancestors for having completed the lessons of the 1st house. We all have lessons in each house. I have others to learn, and am determined to. Gratitude to my Ancestors and to my earth angel (incarnated people) friends and family for all of your help.

Those of us with prominent emphasis on both of those houses are often misunderstood as snobby, when we're naturally either scholarly, or become addicts. Many of us, including me, are as friendly as anyone else, if people aren’t impatient & overly judgemental. Both houses, for various reasons, are partly to deal with, and heal, how very real it is that we have to both resolve our own shadow work, and the shadows of everyone else around us who is in unawareness.

We don’t get tired and isolate because we think we’re better than the rest of you. We do it because we require such healing retreats.

One final note on me being misunderstood, & how there’s hope: The fixed star Unukalhai. It is known as the star which compels those with already-criminally-configured natal charts, to act on their dark desires. As with everything else in Astrology, as it’s in the skies, we all have it somewhere in our charts. My birth chart has it in the 8th House (Scorpio), conjunct Uranus (shock, unusual innovation).

They’re also in a stellium with these fixed stars: Alphecca (“lord of death”, indicates gifted Astrology access), Zubenelgenubi (wrongful accusations, obstructions, lack of forgiveness), & Zubeneschamali (high ambition, good fortune, loss through enemies leading to influential friends).

The Arabic Lot of Courage is also in that stellium.

As that’s all in the heavily transformative-pushing 8th House, people instinctively think that when I’m casually giving good advice they seem to be asking for, because it’s something that’s worked for me, I’m trying to “lord of death”, them, and they think that I have hidden (criminal) intentions. Multiple times, people in unawareness have said to me, even after years of friendship, stuff like, “I just feel a darkness in you. I can’t continue this friendship.” I used to try and understand why, but they couldn’t or wouldn’t ever explain it further. This has happened through dating, as I’m always the one getting ghosted. This situations don’t involve anything even resembling what anyone could consider an altercation.

It’s mind control, and people give in to it.

Aside from shoplifting as a kid, to distract myself from being bullied by most of the kids at my school, I don’t have criminal behaviours. I felt guilty for the shoplifting because as my parents correctly lectured me about why it was wrong, I stopped.

I’m tired of lazy, sometimes even perverted people dumping their 6th / 12th / 8th trash on me, and avoiding their own karmic responsibilities for their own shadow work. Even those who have somewhat aware lifestyles do this.

May everyone learn personal responsibility, the tools to do their own shadow work, and thrive.

[ahenvs3000w24]

09: Something Pretty Amazing

Hey all!

After a week-long break, I am back with another blog post. This week we were all asked to reflect upon the most amazing thing we know about nature. Having experienced the two extremes of hours basking under the hot sun in the Greek Islands and being bundled in layers in strong windstorms up north, I recognize the great amount of diversity we have in natural landscapes across the world. Not only did the species and climate differ in each location I have travelled to, but the people did as well.

What has inspired me about the natural world throughout my travels and experiences is how through the evolution of humanity, our relationship with the natural world has changed. 

The Western world is motivated by production. Developers compete with other companies and expand their businesses via surface area or internal connections. Large oil companies in western Canada extract thousands of litres of oil daily and plant a few trees in efforts to reconcile the damage they have done. Our ancestors recognized the natural world has some of the purest remedies and resources one could need and readily foraged for them (Geniusz & Geniusz, 2015). It has been noted that Sphagnum moss (peat moss) was regularly used by the Annishabee peoples are diaper lining for the incredible absorbent quality of the moss species (Geniusz & Geniusz, 2015). Our Arboretum has several berry species and weed species such as Dandelions that can be sourced as a pasta alternative (Ontario Nature, 2017). Some of the greatest teachings from our ancestors describe how fulfilled their life is when they become one with nature. 

While travelling Europe, I appreciated the value of nature that several countries still hold. Italy is industrialized, without doubt, but even through industry, I was astonished by how many home gardens I saw. People see the value in producing their own food, spending time outdoors, and have the appreciation that much of the Western world is lacking. 

As someone who lives in the Ontarian consumer driven society like many of you, we often look for efficiency, regardless of the impact it has on our environment. I have noticed our society is growing increasingly impatient with far shorter attention spans as time goes on. This transfers into the lack of acknowledgement and respect of our natural world. Nature interpretation is the bridge to providing the knowledge and exposure to the natural world and the value it holds (Hooykaas, 2024). 

I am extremely passionate about sourcing from local markets and sourcing my food from nature. I have the utmost respect for our ancestors and the teachings they have provided us. Rather than seeing my walk to the grocery store as simply moving from point A to B, I appreciate the time spent in the outdoors. To summarize, the ability for humans to connect with the natural world both physically and emotionally is what has always amazed me most. This is a connection I will continue to cherish as I continue to learn about nature interpretation.

References

Geniusz, M. S., & Geniusz, A. (2015). Four traditional plants in the Anishinaabeg culture. In W. M. Geniusz (Ed.), Plants have so much to give us, all we have to do is ask: Anishinaabe botanical teachings (pp. 139–174). University of Minnesota Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5749/j.ctt189tth4.11

Hooykaas, A. (2024). Unit 1: Launching into Nature interpretation. University of Guelph. https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/858004/viewContent/3640015/View

Ontario Nature. (2017, October). Northern Forest Foraging Guide.                                                            https://ontarionature.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Ontario_Nature_Forest_

Foraging_Guide_official.pdf