#rebirth of an ill-fated consort

[toomuchwist]

qian shan cha ke writing a scheming, vengeful and bloodthirsty fl:

qian shan cha ke's morally grey mls: she's the one

[smittenskitten]

Can someone confirm if A Dream Within a Dream is the adaptation of Ill Fated Consort or not!!!!

[blue-lotus333]

💀Goddesses of death💀

Ereshkigal: Mesopotamian goddess of death, the dead, and the underworld.

Ereshkigal is the queen of the underworld, the keeper of balance, the punisher of evil & maintains order against chaos. She may have also been associated with the earth & the waters of life in Mesopotamian legend. She was associated with the city of Kutha and featured in the myth of Inanna's Descent to the Underworld. She was also connected to other deities such as Nergal, Ninazu, and Ningishzida. Ereshkigal was said to be the sister of Inanna.

Oya: African Goddess/orisha of death, storms, winds & thunder.

Oya is a powerful goddess/orisha in Nigeria who controls storms and death and is married to the thunder god, Shango. She is a shape-shifter who often appears as a mortal woman or animal while overseeing justice and bringing sudden change. She is also a guardian of women and the dead, able to call forth death or delay it. Oya is associated with rebirth and magic, and her favorite colors are maroon and copper.

The Keres: Greek goddesses of Death, bloodshed & violence.

The Keres were female death spirits and goddesses who personified violent death. They were drawn to bloody, intense deaths on battlefields and were daughters of Nyx, Goddess of Night. They did not have the power to kill but would wait and then feast on the dead. They were described as dark beings with gnashing teeth & claws, with a thirst for human blood. They would hover over the battlefield and search for dying/ wounded men.

The Morrigan: Irish Goddess of death, fate, war & sovereignty.

The Morrígan, also called the Phantom Queen, is a bewitching goddess associated with war and fate, often appearing as a crow, encouraging bravery and strength in battle, & foretells doom or victory. The Morrígan is often described as a trio of sisters, representing the goddess's role as a guardian and warrior. She can appear in many forms like an old woman, a crow, a beautiful sorceress, or a fearsome creature.

Mictecacihuatl: Aztec Goddess of death & the underworld.

Also known as the Lady of the Dead, Alongside Mictlantecuhtli, her consort, she rules over Mictlán, the lowest Aztec underworld realm. She guides the departed souls on their transformative journey from life to the afterlife and embodies the profound duality of existence. The Dia de los Muertos is a vibrant festival that allows families to honor deceased loved ones with ofrendas and calavera imagery, inspired by Mictecacihuatl, who is now called Santa La muerte.

Kali-ma: Hindu Goddess of destruction, death, change & time.

Kali-ma is the wrathful & protective force of Shakti (energy), She's a caring mother to her devotees/innocent people and the destroyer of evil, she expresses the dual nature of the destruction that must come before new beginnings. Kali ma embodies the power of all, transcending good & evil to protect her people against negativity. Kali ma is Mother Nature, primordial, nurturing, and devouring, She is vested in freeing beings, granting salvation.

Hel: Norse Goddess of death, the underworld & decay.

Hel, the half living and half dead goddess, is one of Loki's children, and rules over the realm of the dead, she mostly receives those who died of illness or old age in her realm. Hel is often depicted as a fearsome figure, and in Her realm, Helheim, is considered one of the nine worlds in Norse cosmology and is located in the lowest part of the universe. In the events of Ragnarok, Hel plays a crucial role. It is foretold that she will lead an army of the dead to fight against the gods.

Morana: Slavic Goddess of death, winter, magic & dreams.

Morana is a Slavic goddess associated with seasonal agrarian rites based on the idea of death and rebirth of nature. the death of Morana at the end of winter becomes the rebirth of Spring of the Goddess Vesna, representing the coming of Spring, joy & life. She is still worshipped to this day and is often described as a vengeful, powerful goddess. She is married to the spring/love God Yarilo but their relationship is not seen as healthy.

Izanami: Japanese Goddess of Death, darkness & creation.

Izanami is a Shintō creation mother goddess who became the Japanese goddess of death after she died while giving birth. Her name, Izanami, means ''the female who invites.''. She can create many lands and other divine beings, has the power of death and could command gods/spirits of the underworld. Izanami & Izanagi are the creators of the Japanese archipelago and the creators of the powerful deities Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo.

[silviakundera]

continuing the discourse on Fateful Love being spiritually a QSCK webnovel, walking in the grand tradition of rebirth of ill fated consort, rebirth of malicious empress, marriage of di daughter:

✔ 90% of introduced female characters are jealous of FL and viciously hate her

✔ rants from her haters frequently include complaints that she has seduced some man (despite her not making out w a single person yet in canon)

✔ relatedly, 90% of all non-blood related men are shown as being attracted to FL

✔ ML the plot has selected for the FL has financial & political power, high social status, and has multiple high-status women obsessed with obtaining him

✔ At least 1 active SA, kidnapping, blackmail, or murder plot against FL ongoing at any given time (it does not stop, just continuous revolving door of low-brow scheming & assaults)

✔ instead of Bechdel Test, call it the QSCK Test - how many conversations do characters have without ever mentioning the FL?

And hey, sometimes some frothy fun is just what we feel like! Just vibing with the tropey excess! excesssssssssssssss 🎉 🎉 🎉

[mamamoon92]

List of Mesopotamian deities✨

Mesopotamian legendary beasts ✨

☆Battle Bison beast - one of the creatures slain by Ninurta

☆The eleven mythical monsters created by Tiāmat in the Epic of Creation, Enûma Eliš:

☆Bašmu, “Venomous Snake”

☆Ušumgallu, “Great Dragon”

☆Mušmaḫḫū, “Exalted Serpent”

☆Mušḫuššu, “Furious Snake”

☆Laḫmu, the “Hairy One”

☆Ugallu, the “Big Weather-Beast”

☆Uridimmu, “Mad Lion”

☆Girtablullû, “Scorpion-Man”

☆Umū dabrūtu, “Violent Storms”

☆Kulullû, “Fish-Man”

☆Kusarikku, “Bull-Man”

Mesopotamian Spirits and demons ✨

☆Alû, demon of night

☆Asag - monstrous demon whose presence makes fish boil alive in the rivers

☆Asakku, evil demon(s)

☆The edimmu - ghosts of those who were not buried properly

☆Gallû, underworld demon

☆Hanbi or Hanpa - father of Pazuzu

☆Humbaba - guardian of the Cedar Forest

☆Lamashtu - a malevolent being who menaced women during childbirth

☆Lilû, wandering demon

☆Mukīl rēš lemutti demon of headaches

☆Pazuzu - king of the demons of the wind; he also represented the southwestern wind, the bearer of storms and drought

☆Rabisu - an evil vampiric spirit

☆Šulak the bathroom demon, “lurker” in the bathroom

☆Zu - divine storm-bird and the personification of the southern wind and the thunder clouds

Mesopotamian Demigods and Heroes ✨

☆Adapa - a hero who unknowingly refused the gift of immortality

☆The Apkallu - seven demigods created by the god Enki to give civilization to mankind ☆Gilgamesh - hero and king of Uruk; central character in the Epic of Gilgamesh

☆Enkidu - hero and companion of Gilgamesh

☆Enmerkar - the legendary builder of the city of Uruk

☆Lugalbanda - second king of Uruk, who ruled for 1,200 years

☆Utnapishtim - hero who survived a great flood and was granted immortality; character in the Epic of Gilgamesh

Mesopotamian Primordial beings✨

☆Abzu - the Ocean Below, the name for fresh water from underground aquifers; depicted as a deity only in the Babylonian creation epic Enûma Eliš

☆Anshar - god of the sky and male principle

☆Kishar - goddess of the earth and female principle

☆Kur - the first dragon, born of Abzu and Ma. Also Kur-gal, or Ki-gal the underworld

☆Lahamu - first-born daughter of Abzu and Tiamat

☆Lahmu - first-born son of Abzu and Tiamat; a protective and beneficent deity

☆Ma -primordial goddess of the earth

☆Mummu - god of crafts and technical skill

☆Tiamat - primordial goddess of the ocean

Mesopotamian Minor deities✨

This is only some of them. There are thousands.

Abu - a minor god of vegetation

Ama-arhus - Akkadian fertility goddess; later merged into Ninhursag

Amasagnul - Akkadian fertility goddess

Amurru - god of the Amorite people

An - a goddess, possibly the female principle of Anu

Arah - the goddess of fate.

Asaruludu or Namshub - a protective deity

Ashnan - goddess of grain

Aya - a mother goddess and consort of Shamash

Azimua - a minor Sumerian goddess

Bau - dog-headed patron goddess of Lagash

Belet-Seri - recorder of the dead entering the underworld

Birdu - an underworld god; consort of Manungal and later syncretized with Nergal

Bunene - divine charioteer of Shamash

Damgalnuna - mother of Marduk

Damu - god of vegetation and rebirth; possibly a local offshoot of Dumuzi

Emesh - god of vegetation, created to take responsibility on earth for woods, fields, sheep folds, and stables

Enbilulu - god of rivers, canals, irrigation and farming

Endursaga - a herald god

Enkimdu - god of farming, canals and ditches

Enmesarra - an underworld god of the law, equated with Nergal

Ennugi - attendant and throne-bearer of Enlil

Enshag - a minor deity born to relieve the illness of Enki

Enten - god of vegetation, created to take responsibility on earth for the fertility of ewes, goats, cows, donkeys, birds

Erra - Akkadian god of mayhem and pestilence

Gaga - a minor deity featured in the Enûma Eliš

Gatumdag - a fertility goddess and tutelary mother goddess of Lagash

Geshtinanna - Sumerian goddess of wine and cold seasons, sister to Dumuzid

Geshtu-E - minor god of intelligence

Gibil or Gerra - god of fire

Gugalanna - the Great Bull of Heaven, the constellation Taurus and the first husband of Ereshkigal

Gunara - a minor god of uncertain status

Hahanu - a minor god of uncertain status

Hani - an attendant of the storm god Adad

Hayasum - a minor god of uncertain status

Hegir-Nuna - a daughter of the goddess Bau

Hendursaga - god of law

Ilabrat - attendant and minister of state to Anu

Ishum - brother of Shamash and attendant of Erra

Isimud - two-faced messenger of Enki

Ištaran - god of the city of Der (Sumer)

Kabta - obscure god “Lofty one of heaven”

Kakka - attendant and minister of state to both Anu and Anshar

Kingu - consort of Tiamat; killed by Marduk, who used his blood to create mankind

Kubaba - tutelary goddess of the city of Carchemish

Kulla - god of bricks and building

Kus (god) - god of herdsmen

Lahar - god of cattle

Lugal-Irra - possibly a minor variation of Erra

Lulal - the younger son of Inanna; patron god of Bad-tibira

Mamitu - Sumerian goddess of fate

Manungal - an underworld goddess; consort of Birdu

Mandanu -god of divine judgment

Muati - obscure Sumerian god who became syncretized with Nabu

Mushdamma - god of buildings and foundations

Nammu - a creation goddess

Nanaya - goddess personifying voluptuousness and sensuality

Nazi - a minor deity born to relieve the illness of Enki

Negun - a minor goddess of uncertain status

Neti - a minor underworld god; the chief gatekeeper of the netherworld and the servant of Ereshkigal

Nibhaz - god of the Avim

Nidaba - goddess of writing, learning and the harvest

Namtar - minister of Ereshkigal

Nin-Ildu - god of carpenters

Nin-imma - goddess of the female sex organs

Ninazu - god of the underworld and healing

Nindub - god associated with the city Lagash

Ningal - goddess of reeds and consort of Nanna (Sin)

Ningikuga - goddess of reeds and marshes

Ningirama - god of magic and protector against snakes

Ningishzida - god of the vegetation and underworld

Ninkarnunna - god of barbers

Ninkasi - goddess of beer

Ninkilim - "Lord Rodent" god of vermin

Ninkurra - minor mother goddess

Ninmena - Sumerian mother goddess who became syncretized with Ninhursag

Ninsar - goddess of plants

Ninshubur - Sumerian messenger goddess and second-in-command to Inanna, later adapted by the Akkadians as the male god Papsukkal

Ninsun - "Lady Wild Cow"; mother of Gilgamesh

Ninsutu - a minor deity born to relieve the illness of Enki

Nintinugga - Babylonian goddess of healing

Nintulla - a minor deity born to relieve the illness of Enki

Nu Mus Da - patron god of the lost city of Kazallu

Nunbarsegunu - goddess of barley

Nusku - god of light and fire

Pabilsaĝ - tutelary god of the city of Isin

Pap-nigin-gara - Akkadian and Babylonian god of war, syncretized with Ninurta

Pazuzu - son of Hanbi, and king of the demons of the wind

Sarpanit - mother goddess and consort of Marduk

The Sebitti - a group of minor war gods

Shakka - patron god of herdsmen

Shala - goddess of war and grain

Shara - minor god of war and a son of Inanna

Sharra Itu - Sumerian fertility goddess

Shul-pa-e - astral and fertility god associated with the planet Jupiter

Shul-utula - personal deity to Entemena, king of the city of Eninnu

Shullat - minor god and attendant of Shamash

Shulmanu - god of the underworld, fertility and war

Shulsaga - astral goddess

Sirara - goddess of the Persian Gulf

Siris - goddess of beer

Sirsir - god of mariners and boatmen

Sirtir - goddess of sheep

Sumugan - god of the river plains

Tashmetum - consort of Nabu

Tishpak - tutelary god of the city of Eshnunna

Tutu - tutelary god of the city of Borsippa

Ua-Ildak - goddess responsible for pastures and poplar trees

Ukur - a god of the underworld

Uttu - goddess of weaving and clothing

Wer - a storm god linked to Adad

Zaqar - messenger of Sin who relays communication through dreams and nightmares

Mesopotamian Major Deities✨

Hadad (or Adad) - storm and rain god

Enlil (or Ashur) - god of air, head of the Assyrian and Sumerian pantheon

Anu (or An) - god of heaven and the sky, lord of constellations, and father of the gods

Dagon (or Dagan) - god of fertility

Enki (or Ea) - god of the Abzu, crafts, water, intelligence, mischief and creation and divine ruler of the Earth and its humans

Ereshkigal - goddess of Irkalla, the Underworld

Inanna (later known as Ishtar) - goddess of fertility, love, and war

Marduk - patron deity of Babylon who eventually became regarded as the head of the Babylonian pantheon

Nabu - god of wisdom and writing

Nanshe - goddess of prophecy, fertility and fish

Nergal - god of plague, war, and the sun in its destructive capacity; later husband of Ereshkigal

Ninhursag (or Mami, Belet-Ili, Ki, Ninmah, Nintu, or Aruru) - earth and mother goddess

Ninlil - goddess of the air; consort of Enlil

Ninurta - champion of the gods, the epitome of youthful vigor, and god of agriculture

Shamash (or Utu) - god of the sun, arbiter of justice and patron of travelers

Sin (or Nanna) - god of the moon

Tammuz (or Dumuzid) - god of food and vegetation

[ragewrites]

hello💗 love your writing and your blog, you’re so so talented

AND I just wanted to ask if you have any good court drama recs lmao

💕

Thank you! And oh yes 👀

At the time of those tags I was knee-deep in the waters of Chinese web novels (recs from that journey are The Rebirth of an Ill-Fated Consort, Eight Treasures Trousseau, Like Pearl and Jade; Your Mileage May Vary, however, since I like slow-paced things) but I also have some drama-proper recs, namely:

Magnificent Century (Turkish production, follows the ascent of Suleyman the Magnificent’s wife in the harem; liberties are taken, but it’s actually not that unfaithful to the truth, and Meryem Uzerli is...honestly a revelation)

Nirvana in Fire. Honestly I cannot recommend this one enough. It’s just so—so!!

Bossam: Steal the Fate is partly this. Other Korean recs include The Crowned Clown and Mr. Queen, and I heartily recommend watching them in that order, actually, because you will need the levity Mr. Queen has, particularly early on, to cope.

From the web novels (additional rec: The Remarried Empress. This is a Korean work, and is currently being serialized as a webtoon, also, with very pretty art) I went on to reading Katie Quinn’s series of books set in Rome, which were...sadly only decent, so not a particularly strong rec, just a mention. Instead I’ll rec Megan Whalen Turner’s sequels to The Thief, which turn into this: they are The Queen of Attolia; The King of Attolia; A Conspiracy of Kings & Thick as Thieves.

Also, last year Jacqueline Carey utterly rewired my brain, particularly with Phedre’s trilogy (Kushiel’s Dart, Kushiel’s Chosen, Kushiel’s Avatar) but while court drama features in these, it’s not the point, exactly.

Hopefully this is a wide enough net of things for you to find something you enjoy within it ^^

[readseavpov]

Favorites GB Novels

- Smash all pots and pans to go to school (5/5)

- The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage (5/5)

- 100,00/hour professional stand in. (Fun read, 4.9/5.)

- Guide to raising sick villain (5/5)

- Real missy relied on food to counterattack (5/5)

- WMMP (5/5)

- Common sense of a duke's daughter (4.8/5)

- Ascending, do not disturb. (5/5)

- This girl is a little wild/the sword and the dress. (5/5)

- Rebirth of a star general (4.8/5)

- absolutely spoiled. (4.8/5)

- Reborn as my love rival's wife (4.5/5)

Onhold

- Miss Appraiser and The Gallery Demon

- isn't being a wicked woman much better?

- Bai Fumei in the '70

- Rebirth plan to save leader

- Thousand Miles of bright moonlight

- Eight Treasure Trousseau

- I was admitted to the villain school

- Rebirth of an ill-fated consort

- I'm only a stepmother, but my daughter is just so cute!

- Scheme of official descendant

- Kusuriya no Hitorigoto

- to be a virtuous wife

[forursmiles]

my favorite thing about rebirth of the malicious empress of military lineage, Rebirth of the Ill-Fated Consort and Marriage of the Di Daughter is that the female leads are so blood thirsty and just here to wreak havoc and avenge their families with no desire for romance while the male leads are head over heels in love with them and want to do anything they can to help which usually including a lot of murder. like chef’s kisses for this pairing/trope

[chasing-ephemera]

Douluo dalu / Soul Land / 鬥羅大陸 By 唐家三少

I read this some years back so my memory is somewhat hazy but it’s about Tang San (from the infamous and mysterious Tang sect) who died due to reasons, and reincarnated into Tang San of a different world and time, but with intact memories from his previous life, including secret weapons and special skills.

I’m a fan of the Tang sect ‘idea’ which you will find in quite a lot of Chinese MMORPGs. I remember really enjoying this novel and binged read until half way (or a two thirds) when I got tired of waiting for translated chapters (didn't like this enough to read it in Chinese), and not to mention the events were getting a bit ridiculous. Plus it probably didn’t help that I wasn’t too fond of the female love interest Xiao Wu. Still, this is a good read for those who enjoy levelling up, teamwork, action and adventure.

Rating: read if idle | ★★★

P.s as much as I love Xiao Zhan, I wasn’t that impressed with the live action drama version of Douluo. I guess it was always going to be difficult to recreate such a world using real people, and I know they did the best they could to make a decent adaptation but yeah, not for me. The donghua on the other hand, I’ve really enjoyed! If you can overlook the the western fantasy fusion setting thing going on (which I’m not too keen on, btw) then this is undoubtly something to get your teeth into!

The Rebirth of an Ill-fated Consort / 重生之嫡女禍妃 By 千山茶客

Similar to the author’s other works, but not her best. It’s your typical rebirth story where the MC gets a second chance at life and she spends it on revenge. I enjoyed the first part but I must admit my interest did wane towards the latter half because nothing stood out (I can’t remember how the story ended nor anything about the ML, oops). It generally reminded me of Malicious Empress but not as fleshy so I’m guessing it was probably the Malicious Epress Mark 1. Despite this, if you like this author and like this type of story then you’d probably be alright with it, just....read it before you read her later works.

Rating: read if idle | ★★

[dangermousie]

All right I totally just finished binging Rebirth of the Ill Fated Consort of which I read the majority of it via MTL which I hate to do but I wanted to know what happened that much. It’s by the same author of Malicious Empress and has the same set up only bloodier and the MC is colder in part because she doesn’t have the familial support that Shen Miao had I think you would enjoy it if you haven’t already read it. Also I’m gonna recommend again Devious First Daughter by Lian Shuang it’s 648 chapters of rebirth revenge goodness. I’m waiting for the last 3 chapters of Reborn: Femme Fatale First Daughter to be translated to finish that one but it’s by the same author as devious and the first couple of chapters I read were pretty good.

Oooooh thank you for the recs, adding them to my list! Sounds mega fun!

Though the one with 650 chapters is probably too much for me since I will die of old age before I finish :)

[smittenskitten]

When you play a role too well and the styling is perfect to a tee!!! Now everytime I read about a male lead clad in black, good in martial arts, so good looking that the author writes the same paragraphs over and over whenever he makes an appearance, doesn't care about anything might even seem a little cruel but in reality cares deeply..... I picture him playing that role 🤭🤭🤭🤭

[vajranam]

Five Dakinis Families

All dakinis have extraordinary powers -- the worldly ones and those referred to as wisdom dakinis -- but only the motivation of the latter is completely pure.  The life story of the Mahasiddha, Tilopa (988 - 1069) tells how after he met the dakinis who could manipulate appearances, he encountered the ones embodying the five activities, and then at last, in the heart of the mandala, The Wisdom Dakini, herself.  The Life of Padmasambhava According to Yeshe Tsogyal describes a similar progression. 

Tilopa Meets the Dakinis  

The 4th Chetsang Rinpoche (1770-1862) of the Drikung Kagyu tells how the Bengali brahmin boy, Salyeu, out minding water buffalo, was visited by a "fearsome, ugly woman" who told him to ". . . herd buffalo And read scriptures. There you will find the prophecies of the Dakinis."

With this, she disappeared.

Some time later, while he was reading under a shapa [hat-shaped?] tree, she returned, and asked him to identify himself to her. He gave the appropriate, ordinary information, but she corrected him, saying: 

"Your country is Oddiyana in the North; your father is Chakrasamvara; your mother is Vajrayogini: your brother is Pantsapana [Hind: Panchpana], and I am your sister, Bliss-giver.  If you want to find the true buffalo go to the forest of the bodhi tree.  There the stainless Dakinis hold the ear-whispered teachings."   

He said, "If I go there, the Dakinis will pose obstacles and prevent me from succeeding." She said: "Yogi, you can get the teachings. You have received the predictions And kept the samaya vows."

Realizing she was a Dakini, he said: "The path is dangerous and I do not know how to traverse it." In reply she gave him a crystal ladder, a jeweled bridge, and a coral-handled key, saying: "I give you my blessings; depart without hesitation."

The young man, who would become known as Mahasiddha Tilopa, then crosses the country to reach Oddiyana where, using the magical tools, he negotiates  a poison lake and the "iron wall of Ghandola."   Then, he chooses the correct one of the three gates to the Temple of Ghandola and, using his coral key, he enters.    

First, he meets nirmanakaya "stainless Dakinis Who desire flesh and blood." in their many fearsome forms that make terrible noises and threatening gestures, but he is not afraid.  Frustrated, they fell into a faint, and when they regained their composure, they begged his forgiveness and admitted:

    "We are to you as the butterfly to the lamp; The butterfly hopes to extinguish the lamp, But instead dies in the light. ... , ... ." 

One among them continued:  "I am just an ordinary being, without authority.  If I do not ask our leader's permission to let you in, She will eat my flesh and drink my blood.  Therefore, precious one, do not think unkindly of me."

Then, samboghakaya Loka Karma Dakinis appear, but by making the three threatening ritual gestures, Tilopa overpowers their faculties of body, speech and mind. They suffer the same as the previous group, and their leader, "a  Minister," goes to announce him to the Queen.   When she permits him to enter, he does not even bow but rather assumes a state of meditation, so the host of attending Dakinis get angry, saying:

"She is the blessed one, The mother of the Buddhas of the Three Times.  Let us beat him Who shows no respect."

The Mother intervenes saying that he is ". . .  . The father of the Buddhas of the Three Times.  Even a rain of vajras . . . Could not destroy him. Therefore I will give him the teachings."

She instructs him in prana [breath/energy] and other unrecorded things, but he insists on more, and Tilopa says that he wants " . . . the perfect teaching.  The stainless bliss, the great secret Of the ordinary and the extraordinary."

She then agrees to confer the three wish-fulfilling gems including the self-arising body of co-emergent Wisdom and Means united; the speech that is the 7-syllable self-arising emerald in the Dharmakara, and the 5-pointed vajra jewel of self-arising mind, but only if he can understand the signs.  The host of Dakinis express their doubt that he will be able to understand the signs, but Tilopa responds directly to the Mother, that he has 3 special keys, and that they are:   

1.  The self-liberation key of samaya that grants access to "the light of wisdom which dispels the darkness of ignorance, And to self-awareness, self-arising, ad self-clarity." 

2.  "the key of experience Which opens the door to the mind-as-such, Self-appearing clarity which is ever unborn, . . .  ." and

3. "the key of experience of the realized yogi" that opens the door to "Mind-as-such, Dharma-as-such, and Dharmakaya."

At that the Dakinis rejoice and hold a Ganachakra feast in which they prepare the sindhura (vermillion powder) mandala and further empower him by means of both oral and mental transmissions.  They give him 13 distinct tantras for the future benefit of beings including Tantra of Vajra Dakini, Tantra of Sangwai Zo and Tantra of Vajradhara Self-appearance.  Then they liken him to a bird and, having addressed him as Chakrasamvara and as Prajnabadra, they beg him to remain with them.  

Knowing the future, Tilopa explains that he must return to Tsukgi Norbu (Crest Jewel) Monastery "For the spiritual sons Naropa, Ririkasori and others."  

As he was leaving, a formless Dakini bestowed 9 special objects with instructions to:

1. "loosen the knot of the mind"

2. "act like a sword striking water"

3. "chase the sun of realization" [a lasso?]4. "see samaya in the mirror of your mind" 5. "see that the light of awareness is wisdom"6. "turn the wheel of the channel and wind net" 7. "see the outer mirror equalizing taste" 8. "see the mahamudra [a seal?] of self-liberation" 9. hold "the jewel of great-bliss speech"

And that, according to the Drikung Kagyu, is "how Tilopa as a human being over- powered the Dakinis, and how he received the teachings. "

Consorts of Transcendent Buddhas

Tibetan Buddhism acknowledges, besides the historical Buddha Siddhartha Gautama Shakyamuni (532-486 BCE) other buddhas (awakened ones/fully aware ones) of the past and the future. At the ultimate level of reality there are transcendental buddhas.  These are thought of as five families or categories of buddhas.  

Their female consorts are regarded as "enlightened wisdom" which, paired with the male aspect or "skillful means," give rise to the enlightened compassionate activity of the universe(s).  Hence there are 5 major corresponding dakinis: Padma-Dakini, Buddha-Dakini, Ratna-Dakini, Karma-Dakini, and Vajra-Dakini or Vishva-Dakini (vajra-cross dakini.)

Dakinis of the Five Families

The Padma or lotus dakini is stocky with oily, pink skin.  

She is talkative and lusty. 

She controls gods, demons and men.

With her, the doors to rebirth in lower realms are closed.

Buddha (Sangye) dakini is bluish white.

She is smiling, placid and long-lived.

She confers longevity and rebirth in the dakini paradise.

Ratna or jewel dakini is tall, slim, golden- skinned with white hair.

She sings and dances.

She grants wealth and success in life.

With her the hell realms will be closed. 

The Karma or activity dakini is white and radiant.

She is smiling, respectful, 

trustworthy, and generous.

She grants worldly success and rebirth as a human.

Vajra (Dorje) or thunderbolt dakini is fair, flushed and radiant.

She has special marks such as 5 white moles at her brow.

Compassionate, pure, virtuous and devout, with her there is no falling into any lower realm.

[From John Stevens' Lust for Enlightenment (Shambala 1990)  citing Dowman's Divine Madman.]

or Four  Orders 

The Sanglingma or Life of Padmasambhava According to Yeshe Tsogyal repeatedly makes reference to four orders.

The lowest order of dakini consists of beings who have not fully divorced themselves from the world of existence, samsara.  This worldly kind of dakini is the sort that may behave like Tricksters -- sometimes helpful; at other times, mischief-making. These  dakinis can appear as beautiful fairies or angels, but also as ghouls and demons. 

or Five Sisters

In the life story of Padmasambhava, The 5 Tsering-ma were transformed from evil-doers who could manipulate beings by means of visual and auditory illusions into sworn and bound protectors of the dharma by the Guru.

 From Thinley Norbu's Magic Dance: The Display of the Self-Nature of

the Five Wisdom Dakinis. (Shambhala, 1999):

Five Wisdom Sisters,

If we do not complement you,

You become five witches,

Making us ill and bringing us suffering.

Because we cannot banish you,

Always our fate depends on you.

Five Wisdom Sisters,

If we do complement you,

You become five angels,

Making us healthy and bringing us happiness.

Because we cannot separate from you,

Always our fate depends on you.

Five Wisdom Sisters,

Nothing can be done without depending on your mood.

Farmers cannot grow their crops,

Politicians cannot rule their countries,

Engineers cannot work their machines,

Doctors cannot heal their patients,

Scientists cannot do their research,

Philosophers cannot make their logic,

Artists cannot create their art,

Without depending on your mood.

Five Wisdom Sisters,

Nothing can be known without depending on your grace.

Tibetan lamas cannot chant with cool highland habit,

Indian gurus cannot sing with warm lowland habit,

Japanese roshis cannot sit with dark cushion habit,

Muslim sheikhs cannot dance with bright robed habit,

Jewish rabbis cannot pray with soft-voiced habit

Without depending on your grace.

Five Wisdom Sisters,

Even the most mysterious miracles cannot occur without complementing your purity.

Buddha Shakyamuni cannot rest with tranquil gaze of his lotus eyes underneath the Bodhi tree,

Guru Padmasambhava cannot play magically with countless sky-walking dakinis,

Lord Jesus cannot walk weightlessly across the water,

Prophet Moses cannot see the radiantly burning bush,

Brahmin Saraha-pa cannot straighten arrows, singing wisdom hymns with his arrow-maker girl,

Crazy saint Tilopa cannot eat fish and torture Naropa,

Greatest yogi Milarepa cannot remain in his cave, singing and accepting hardships

Without complementing your purity.

You are so patient.

Whoever wants to stay,

If you don't exist,

Cannot stay.

Whoever wants to go,

If you don't exist,

Cannot go.

Whoever wants to taste or touch,

If you don't exist,

Cannot taste or touch.

Whatever our actions,

You are always supporting

Patiently without complaining.

But we ignorant beings

Are always ungrateful,

Stepping on you,

Calling you Earth.

You are so constant.

Whoever wants to be purified,

If you don't exist,

Cannot be purified.

Whoever wants to quench their thirst,

If you don't exist,

Cannot quench their thirst.

Whoever wants to hear,

If you don't exist,

Cannot hear

Whatever our actions,

You are always flowing

Ceaselessly without complaining.

But we desiring beings

Are always ungrateful,

Splashing you,

Calling you Water.

You are so clear.

Whoever wants to fight,

If you don't exist,

Cannot fight.

Whoever wants to love,

If you don't exist,

Cannot love.

Whoever wants to see,

If you don't exist,

Cannot see.

Whatever our actions,

You are always glowing

Un-obscuredly without complaining.

But we proud beings

Are always ungrateful

Smothering you,

Calling you Fire.

You are so light.

Whoever wants to rise,

If you don't exist,

Cannot rise.

Whoever wants to move,

If you don't exist,

Cannot move.

Whoever wants to smell,

If you don't exist,

Cannot smell.

Whatever our actions,

You are always moving

Weightlessly without complaining.

But we envious beings

Are always ungrateful,

Fanning you,

Calling you Air.

You are so open.

Whoever wants to exist,

If you don't exist,

Cannot exist.

Whoever doesn't want to exist,

If you don't exist,

Cannot cease to exist.

Whoever wants to know phenomena,

If you don't exist,

Cannot know phenomena.

Whatever our actions,

You are always welcoming

Spaciously without complaining.

But we ignorant beings

Are always ungrateful,

Emptying you,

Calling you Space.

You are our undemanding slave,

Tirelessly serving us,

From ordinary beings to sublime beings

To fulfill our worldly wishes.

You are our powerful queen,

Seductively conquering us,

From ordinary beings to sublime beings,

Into desirable qualities.

You are our Wisdom Dakini,

Effortlessly guiding us with your magic dance,

From ordinary beings to sublime beings,

Into desireless qualities.

[higuchimon]

7, 18 for the end-of-the-year ask meme please?

07: longest completed fic you wrote this year: For fics I started & finished this year, it's Embrace of Fate, clocking in at 24,724. For fics I finished this year but started in 2018, it's Rebirth of Kaiser, clocking in at 61,940.

18: current number of wips: you asked for all my fandoms, so here we go! Like yesterday, I divided into fics I have actual words written on and fics that I will be rewriting, regardless of if I've ever posted them or not.

I've divided them according to fandom, for easier listing. First up, fics with actual words written.

Digimon Adventure 02 tri

Chains of the Past: Ken, Death Rosemon (OC): 12,377/75,000

Chaos In The Family: Jun, Momoe, Daisuke, Ken: 1,136/15,833

Far From The Tree: Devil's Daughter: Sora, Devimon, Hoshimon (OC): 15,179/79,372

Illness: Ken x Daisuke: 1,264/10,000

Key To A Bad Bargain: Ken x Daisuke, Piemon, Hikari: 1,063/90,000

Monochromon Never Forgets: Digimon Kaiser, Daisuke: 1,347/18,000

Nowhere Like Home: Chosen Children, Digimon Kaiser: 1,016/93,000

Only One Answer: Digimon Kaiser, Daisuke: 3,597/45,000

Path Less Travelled: Digimon Kaiser, Daisuke: 8,212/177,620

Services Rendered: Paying The Price: Digimon Kaiser Ken x Daisuke: 1,324/18,000

Memories and Meaning: Perils of Being Early: Digimon Kaiser, Daisuke: 4,284/45,000

Shadowfall: Let The Darkness In: Dark Masters, Chosen Children: 1,301/200,000

Thicker Than Water: Dark Masters, Chosen Children: 3,607/237,600

Heart of Demon, Soul of Angel: To Fall & To Fly: Taichi x Yamato: 785/42,484

What's Mine Is Mine: Digimon Kaiser Ken x Daisuke: 10,800/18,000

Digimon Tamers

Iceheart: Ruki, Takato, OC: 9,444/56,840

Risk of Death: Ryou, Ruki, Osamu: 8,125/42,484

Digimon Frontier

Shadow Sorrow: Kouji, Kouichi: 5,262/38,274

Storm Spirit: Junpei x Izumi: 1,277/42,484

Thunderstruck: Junpei, Kouichi: 6,387/32,589

Digimon Xros Wars

Hunting The Great Game: Tamed Flames: Kiriha, DarkKnightmon: 3,359/90,000

YGO DM

Attraction To Blonds: Jounouchi x Malik: 2,033/50,000

Smoothing The Road: Seto x Yuugi: 1,584/22,500

YGO Zexal

Bad Company: Vector x Mizael: 7,867/45,000

Beyond All Beauty: Mizael, Kaito: 3,501/45,000

Gifts That Give Themselves: Mizael x Kaito x Chris: 5,084/54,321

In A Tower Room: Vector, Yuuma: 10,888/125,000

Inappropriate Places: Vector x Mizael: 2,529/9,539

Sweet: Durbe x Chris: 1,148/45,000

YGO Arc-V

Another Swing of the Pendelum: Yuuya, Yuuto, Yuugo, Yuuri, Yuzu, Ruri, Rin, Selena: 2,090/32,589

Bloodfire: Shun, Yuuri: 2,082/45,000

Daughter of the Sea: Rin x Ruri: 2,192/45,000

Introduction To Danger: Kaito x Shun: 1,420/90,000

Kept In Shadows: Shun, Yuuri: 18,246/120,000

Kinblood: Asuka x Selena: 1,734/45,000

Brothers & Boyfriends: Not Anything But Everything: Yuuya x Yuuto: 2,687/38,274

Plant Problems: Yuuri x Yuugo: 2,056/18,000

Shirt For A Bird: Yuuri, Shun: 7,822/45,000

Warrior, Prey, Prisoner: Yuuri, Shun: 314/45,000

Wounded Wings: Asuka x Akane: 1,528/18,000

YGO VRAINS

Hugs of Yuusaku: Yuusaki x Ai: 2,361/18,000

Intrafandom Crossovers: YGO

Love Lessons: Fubuki x Otogi: 10,177/45,000

Winter's Cold Kiss: Vector x Mizael: 2,007/18,000

Interfandom Crossovers

Alliance of Fear: Ken x Daisuke, Yubel x Juudai x Johan: 8,224/60,000

What You See Is What You Get: Taiju x Nanao: 2,422/43,200

Love Is Out Of This Digital World: A Digital Mess: Digimon Kaiser, Daisuke, Caerula Adamas, Battle Lovers: 4,705/45,000

Vanity's Risks: Akoya, Ranamon: 613/52,000

BKCBL BKCHK

Love Is A Melody: Kinshiro x Atsushi: 351/45,000

No Price Too High: Ryuu x Akoya: 1,029/18,000

Power Rangers

Azure Aquamarine: Tommy x Billy: 2,216/90,000

Melodyweaver: Divatox, Scorpina, Rangers: 3,640/45,000

Unexpected Tales: Hot: Emily x Jason: 1,023/30,000

Unexpected Tales: Sound of Waves: Tanya x Adam: 1,546/30,000

Yellow & Blue: Nature of Fear: Trini x Billy: 2,809/45,000

And now, rewrites:

Digimon Adventure 02 tri

Adulthood Issues: Ken x Daisuke, Sora: 0/200,000

All The World's a Stage: Chosen Children, Dark Masters: 0/200,000

Blossoms of Death: Change: Miyako, Daisuke: 0/18,000

Broken Wings: Ken x Daisuke: 0/400,000

Colors of the Heart: Mimi x Miyako: 0/90,000

Consort: Ken x Daisuke: 0/45,000

Crestfallen: Taichi, Daisuke: 0/90,000

Cure For The Common Cold: Taichi, Takeru: 0/18,000

Etemon's Envy: Mimi, Yamato, Etemon: 0/60,000

Fist of Velvet, Glove of Steel: Taichi x Yamato, Ken x Dasiuke: 150,000

God Granted: Piemon x Takeru: 0/45,000

Heart's Desire: Jun, Wizarmon, Ken, Daisuke: 0/90,000

Just A Suggestion: Ken x Daisuke: 0/45,000

Last Dark Master: Not His Word: Yamato, Piemon: 0/90,000

Layers of Deception: Vamdemon, Daisuke: 0/150,000

Leader Loss: Taichi, Yamato, Vamdemon: 0/90,000

Moonwhispers: Sora x Hikari: 0/100,000

Price of Triumph: Sidesteps: Digimon Kaiser, Daisuke: 0/180,000

Price To Be Paid: Jun x Osamu: 0/9,000

Soulcall: Correct Mistakes: Ken x Daisuke: 0/120,000

Soulcall: Giving Chase: Hikari x Miyako: 0/80,000

Soulcall: Seven Strange Days: Jun x Momoe: 0/50,000

Summons of the Dark Side: Taichi x Yamato, Digimon Kaiser x Daisuke: 120,000

Tangled Emotions: Mimi x Sora: 300,000

To True Love: Moments Without You: Taichi x Yamato: 120,000

To True Love: Subtle Clues: Taichi x Yamato: 120,000

To True Love: Fragile Kisses: Taichi x Yamato: 120,000

Two Days Off: Ken x Daisuke: 0/45,000

Two Made One: Sora x Miyako: 0/45,000

Digimon Tamers

Crystal of Nightmares: Tamers, OCs: 0/120,000

Hunting The Hunter: Ruki x Renamon: 0/120,000

Digimon Frontier

Assistance Needed: Kouji, Izumi: 0/18,000

Eyes of Light: Kouji, Kouichi: 0/200,000

Tales of wind & Water: Sealing The Beast: Izumi, Ranamon: 0/90,000

Godslave: Lucemon x Kouji: 0/150,000

Treasure Hunt of Terror: Takuya, Kouji: 0/90,000

YGO DM

Of The Heart: Mai x Isis: 0/150,000

YGO Zexal

Keys To The Tower: Durbe x Chris: 0/200,000

Long Lost Friends: Alit, Mizael: 0/45,000

Offering: Durbe x Chris: 0/90,000

YGO Arc-V

Payment: Yuuri x Shun: 0/90,000

Torments of Kurosaki Shun: Prey & Hunters: 0/50,000

Soul of the Gem: Masumi x Yuzu: 0/90,000

Way Too Easy: Yuuya x Yuuto x Yuugo x Yuuri: 0/400,000

YGO VRAINS

Son of Trees: Spectre, Earth, Go: 0/56,840

Intrafandom Crossovers: YGO

Shards and Sunlight: Asuka x Mizuchi: 0/90,000

Interfandom Crossovers

Rage, Revenge, & Reprisals: Lucemon, Black Mist, Chosen Children: 0/240,000

Ties to Magic: Dragon Wings & Demon Hearts: Yubel x Juudai, Ruki x Renamon: 0/90,000

Ties To Magic: Bond To Angel, Bond To Demon: Piemon x Yuusuke, Taichi x Yamato, Ken x Daisuke: 0/180,000

Touched By The Moon: Kat Hillard, Selena: 0/240,000

BKCBL BKCHK

Targeting A Cold Heart: Io x Ryuu x Akoya: 0/90,000

Power Rangers

Emotional Damage: Kat x Tommy: 0/75,000

[kyogre-blue]

C novel list, v2

I’m almost done reading through everything in my queue, so here is a (somewhat cleaned up) look at my reading list at NU. 

Good, wholesome: 

Ascending, Do Not Disturb - The sweetest, most chill cultivation novel I’ve read so far. I recommend it to basically everyone. 

Picking Up a General to Plow the Fields - When you transmigrate but end up in a rural village, so you gotta use your agricultural degree instead of backstabbing family intrigue. 

The Lady’s Sickly Husband - When you transmigrate, have no idea who you ended up as, and yet still get married off to some dude. Fortunately, he just hides in his room, so you’re free to start your own business instead. 

Cultivation Chat Group - Only male MC here. It’s somewhat less wholesome because people do get killed, but it’s quite lighthearted and there are no ridiculous abuse backstories (for the first 150 chapters). 

Mary Sue fem MC wish fulfillment: 

Let me just say that I feel no shame and greatly enjoy these OP ladies fake lolis doing as they please. 

Genius Doctor: Black Belly Miss - The first poison genius assassin MC I read, and it still has a warm place in my heart. I enjoyed the MC having a loving family and then later supportive comrades. That made the difference for me. 

Bewitching Prince Spoils His Wife: Genius Doctor Unscrupulous Consort

Major General Spoils his Soul-guiding Wife - It’s Sentinel AU sci-fi but also with cultivation. I’m just amused by the entire mishmash premise. 

Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard - Actually, I would say this one almost qualifies for “chill and wholesome” except that the MC is indeed a genius assassin in her past life. This is a less important skill set than being able to farm and cook tho. 

Queen of the Scalpel - This one actually doesn’t quite fit here, but I liked the set up, with her being reborn into her past after living in the modern world. 

Rebirth of the Strongest Female Emperor  

Unprecedented Pill Refiner: Entitled Ninth Young Lady - I like that the MC was a cultivator in her original modern life, but there’s no cultivation in the fantasy setting she ends up in. Also, the manhua is fun because you see what “playboy rogue” she acts like. 

Male MC power trips: 

Sage Monarch

The Human Emperor

Danmei novels (mostly cultivation setting): 

Encountering a Snake  

Every Day the Protagonist Wants to Capture Me - This is “brain off” reading, but the side characters are quite endearing, and I like the running jokes. It’s very enjoyable to skim on rereads, very light. 

Exile - Very low-key. The way they sidestep the mpreg aspect is hilarious. 

Fox Demon Cultivation Manual

Number One Lazy Merchant of the Beast World - Scifi but with animal transformations. 

Palace Full of Delicacies - Also low-key, and the ML is a cat at the moment. 

Pulling Together a Villain Reformation Strategy

Rebirth of the Supreme Celestial Being - This is exceptionally fanfic, but I really enjoyed it because of that. 

So What If You’ve Been Reborn?

The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

The Rebirth Waste Strikes Back

The Villain Has Something to Say

The Villain’s White Lotus Halo - Please give this a tryyyyy

The Wife is First - I can’t explain why, but I really like both the MC and ML. I also like that they both get pov sections. 

Who Dares Slander My Senior Brother

“This woman is out to commit murder. A lot of murder. But without magic powers.”

Pampered Poisonous Royal Wife - “but slowly, first we gotta earn money” 

Return of the Female Knight - “with a sword” 

The Cry of the Phoenix Which Reached the Ninth Heaven - “with sex”

The Rebirth of an Ill-Fated Consort - “version 0.5 of below” 

The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage - Jokes aside, I found this one to be the best of these kinds of “betrayed and murdered fem MC ends up in the past and gets scheming revenge on all who made her suffer” type novels (a lot of the transmigrator instead of time travel versions too). If you don’t like this one, you probably won’t like any of them by nature. 

[psychokangaroo]

List of webnovels I re-read and cry every time because they did a really good job portraying the concept of living with trauma while creating well done and complex characters, in no particular order

Mdzs/grandmaster of demonic cultivation

Tgcf/heavens official blessing

2ha/dumb husky and his white cat shizun

The abandoned daughter/嫡女弃后

Rebirth of the ill-fated consort/重生之嫡女祸妃

Not gonna discuss the first 3 because I've already written so many posts about why I love those novels so just gonna touch on these last 2 hetero revenge fantasy novels featuring wonderfully written female protagonists

The last 2 aren't particularly Uber famous novels, and they aren't fully translated into English yet. But both have this moment of the juxtaposition of strength/resilience and vulnerability that just speaks volumes about the idea of being strong while simultaneously suffering that touched me deeply. At the same time, the authors were magical in the way they balanced the women's confidence with their shame, regrets, and sense of worthlessness. It comes through the very introspective prose. Neither of those 2 last stories are grand tales of love and romance, but they are calm and steadfast.

One more word of praise for the writer of the rebirth of ill-fated consort. She wrote at least 3 novels with very similar concepts (rebirth of ill fated consort, rebirth of malicious empress of military heritage, marriage of di daughter), but all 3 books feel incredibly distinct from each other, and all 3 female protagonists feel different from each other despite all 3 are insanely similar (powerful women who died tragically and now back foe revenge). The author really did a masterful job in describing how 3 distinct women react to similarly tragic circumstances, and the 3 novels felt like 3 companion novels rather than re-writing the same novel 3 times (cough, the author Yue xia die Ying who wrote 8 treasure trousseou, to be a good wife, like pear and jade, and a woman like me).

Lastly, honorable mentions to Tian Ya Ke (aka, word of honor) and Remnants of Filth (same universe as 2ha, kind of like prequel. But not really). They are really well written. Tian ya ke didn't make me cry, but I love the inherent self hatred and the concept of being flawed and morally gray yet still finding love. And Remnants of filth made me cry more than tgcf and I looooove the way gu mang and mo Xi are absolute the epitome of soldiers who sacrifice all for the sake of their country. Feels like something that should be written for memorial day or veterans day or something. Very touching and good story, but gu mng felt waaaaaay too perfect.

[smittenskitten]

I approve of Qian Shan Cha Ke's obsession with male lead's waist

And letting those waist be grabbed