#sacred energy centre

[harmonyhealinghub]

Healing and Balancing Your Solar Plexus Chakra with Meditation

Shaina Tranquilino

August 3, 2023

In the beautiful tapestry of our energetic body, the chakras play a vital role in maintaining harmony and balance. The solar plexus chakra, also known as Manipura in Sanskrit, is located just above the navel and is associated with personal power, self-esteem, confidence, and inner strength. When this energy centre is blocked or imbalanced, it can manifest as low self-worth, lack of motivation, indecisiveness, or even digestive issues. However, through the practice of meditation, we can awaken and restore the flow of energy within our solar plexus chakra.

The Importance of a Balanced Solar Plexus Chakra:

A balanced solar plexus chakra empowers us to embrace life's challenges with clarity and determination. It enables us to set healthy boundaries, trust our gut instincts, and cultivate a strong sense of self-belief. By nurturing this chakra through dedicated meditation practices, we regain control over our lives and tap into our unlimited potential.

Meditation Technique for Solar Plexus Chakra:

1. Find your sacred space: Begin by finding a quiet place where you won't be disturbed. Create an atmosphere that promotes tranquility using soft lighting or candles, soothing music or nature sounds.

2. Comfortable posture: Sit comfortably on a cushion or chair with your spine straight but relaxed. Close your eyes gently and take a few deep breaths to settle into the present moment.

3. Visualize golden light: Imagine a radiant sphere of golden light hovering just above your naval area—the location of your solar plexus chakra. Picture this dazzling light growing brighter with every inhale and expanding outwards on each exhale.

4. Mantra repetition: Silently or aloud repeat affirmations such as "I am confident," "I am worthy," or any other positive statements that resonate with you. Let the vibrations of these words permeate your being, restoring balance and harmony to your solar plexus chakra.

5. Focusing on breath: Bring your attention to the rise and fall of your abdomen as you breathe in and out. Imagine your breath energizing and nourishing the solar plexus region with each inhale while releasing any tension or negativity with every exhale.

6. Embrace inner power: Visualize yourself stepping into a powerful version of yourself - someone who radiates confidence, assurance, and self-assuredness. Feel this energy flowing through you, invigorating every cell of your body.

7. Gratitude practice: End the meditation by expressing gratitude for all that nurtures your personal power, such as accomplishments, relationships, resilience, and lessons learned. This practice helps cultivate a positive mindset while acknowledging the strength within you.

By incorporating this simple yet effective meditation practice into our daily routine, we can awaken and revitalize our solar plexus chakra. As we let go of limiting beliefs and connect with our innate personal power, we invite a renewed sense of purpose and fulfillment into our lives. Remember that consistency is key when working with chakras; regular meditation will help maintain a healthy flow of energy throughout this vital energy centre. With time, patience, and dedication to self-care practices like this one, we can experience profound transformation in both our internal landscape and external manifestations.

[nayatarot777]

the best traits of your future lover 💘💓

• pile one •

your person knows how to let go of endings. they’re not the type to hold onto connections with people and situations that are clearly already dead. they know how to accept death moments, mourn the permanent endings, and keep it pushing. i’m also seeing that they’re not someone who forgets about someone in particular who’ve passed away. they make time to go and visit the gravesite of whoever this person is, putting down flowers, ensuring that their grave is kept up to par, etc. this person has A LOT of self love. they’re one of the few people who can say that they genuinely love themselves and this is shown through how they treat themselves. how they dress themselves, how they take care of themselves, how comfortable and happy they are in their own energy. they also know how to accept and let go of any character traits or behaviours that no longer serve them. they don’t find it difficult to do that at all. they radiate self love and self respect and this is clearly seen by just looking at them. they don’t allow themselves to be trapped or bound by anyone or anything either. this person isn’t someone who listens to other people���s orders if they don’t see the point in them, and this is a great thing because it’s also a sign of their self respect. they go their own way. especially in terms of societal expectations of them. they don’t listen to most of them because it doesn’t serve them - nor does it make much sense to follow these things. they honour themselves the most, so therefore they’re not going to agree to anything that goes against that.

they love the summer too. this is when they’re the happiest. the sun is something that’s vital to their well-being, so this may be the type of person who loves to go on holiday to hot places when the weather gets cold in their home-country. this person is a breath of fresh air. they love to be joyful and happy. even in sad times. and this isn’t denial of their sadness or negative feelings. this is the ability to see both sides of most situations that they find themselves in. they stand out for this too. i don’t think that you would’ve met anyone who radiated such vibrant energy as much as this person does. they’re someone who respects all aspects of life. the perceivably good and bad. they know how to accept anything that comes their way and find the lesson within these situations. they’re someone who’s just highly respectful too. because they know that they’re deserving of respect themselves, so they apply that to everyone else - unless someone does something that makes them feel otherwise. as much as they know how to live life to the fullest and they love to project their energy outwards to make themselves and others happy, they also know when it’s time to go within and hibernate. to do some introspection when they find themselves being bound by a thought process or self-limiting belief within themselves. they know how to allow these blockages to die off, but they still respect the fact that they’re there and they use them as material to project themselves further in life than before.

patreon

• pile two •

the first card that has come out is ‘sexuality’. so this person is very sexual. but i’m hearing responsible. they don’t play about safety, protection - all of that stuff. sexual energy is also creative energy, so they know how to transmute this into energy that they can use to build. their sexual energy is hidden for only those who they allow into it. they’re very picky about who they accept when it comes to anything sexual. as physically attractive as they are, it’s really not easy to get into bed with them. they have specific standards that they abide by. standards that are centred around emotions too. this is someone who needs an emotional connection with someone before they’re even open to sleeping with someone. they know that their body is sacred and they can’t be just mixing their energy with anybody and everybody. their sexuality is very sacred to them. this person could also have a beard. a very thick and full one. maybe even long too. maybe that’s a turn on for some of you? idk 😂 they’re also someone who refuses to feel sorry for themselves. you won’t find them playing a small violin and indulging in self-pity. they use upsetting moments to teach themselves something. they learn a lot from situations that they’re victimised in by taking time out to rest and reflect on them; how they got into that situation in the first place, the part that they played, etc. i’m picking up on some sagittarius energy here. everything is taken as a lesson to learn by them.

there’s also a lot of patience that this person has. they understand that it’s a virtue that’s extremely valuable if they want to manifest something in stable ground. this applies to their goals and aspirations, friendships and relationships, self development. this isn’t someone who’s just willing to rush into milestones in any area of their life. they take things one step at a time to get a well-rounded view of people + situations. this is how they learn as much as they can about the person or thing that they’re getting involved with. they’re not reckless. this person is very prosperous thanks to this. they know how to move in life for the best results. they know how to plant seeds, take the time to nurture them, and leave them to do their thing so that they can yield the best crops for them. this person is also financially prosperous too, but this has taken a lot of time and determination to achieve. side note: this person could love carbs. i feel like that’s their weakness in terms of food 😂 same tbh. they’re also extremely protective of what and who they value. they act like some type of guardian for the people they care about. always on the look out for toads who shouldn’t be around their loved ones lmao. they always keep a watchful eye of the people closest to them - not in a smothering way, but in a ‘i’ll let you do your thing, but i’m still going to overwatch to make sure that i notice anything to keep you safe from’ type of way. this person is very respectful. respectful of people and their time. of their boundaries. but they’re still gonna be watching over you lmao. coming through like a protective parent 😂😂😂

patreon

• pile three •

this person knows how to let their demons go. anything that haunts them from their past is something that they lay to rest. when situations are dead and buried, they accept it, deal with it, and let it go. especially anything related to their values, priorities, and beliefs that cause them to self-sabotage. i feel like this person has a history of extremely self-sabotaging behaviour but they know how to release the demons that haunt them. the same ones that cause them to hate themselves at times. they’re adamant on working on their self esteem. they realise when they’re thriving on sabotaging themselves and cut that shit out. they know exactly how to heal themselves once their consciousness makes them aware of fragmented aspects of themselves. they’re very big on healing. they know how to transmute their mindset and their perspective. they know how to choose what they allow to enter and rest in their mind. the rest is what they let go of. they find a lot of self empowerment in healing themselves. and they heal through constantly trying to expand their consciousness of themselves. especially the dark parts of their mind and their ego. this means that this person is extremely persistent at doing shadow work. i feel like this person has a very troubled past. a tortured soul in this lifetime. but they don’t allow themselves to succumb to it. they transmute all of that pain and heal it. they could even heal others who’ve experienced the same or similar things as them. they’re driven by this.

the ‘dedication’ card has literally come out. this person is so dedicated at transforming themselves from who they were in the past. they’re a fighter and they don’t give up. at all. they’re aware that they have all of the tools that they need in order to do this. and anything that they realise isn’t a tool for the betterment of themselves is something that they dispose of. for some of you, this person could use spirituality or occultism as a way of doing this. and if so, they’re very dedicated to up keeping their altar and giving offerings to the gods + goddesses that they worship. i’m hearing that they use their own demons in their energy work a lot of the time. instead of allowing these energies to control them, they ensure that they’re the ones in control of them. they have extremely strong boundaries - especially with substances. so, for example, this person could either not drink at all and be very strict with that, or they drink but they’re strict with the amount of alcohol that they consume. these boundaries could apply to anything. but these boundaries allow them to keep a very clear mind. again, they’re focused and dedicated to what serves them only. they’re also quite direct in vocalising their boundaries. they’re not afraid to speak up for themselves as a way of protecting themselves and their well-being. this person could definitely use divination as a form of guidance for their healing. but even if they don’t, they know how to find symbolism in their daily life to guide them to the right path. this person is highly connected to spirit because they’re very connected to their higher self. this person is also a healer through their own guidance that they give to others because they’ve been through a lot of shit. they know exactly what people need to hear to get them closer to being on the right track. they’re able to see higher perspectives of themselves and their life as a way of navigating it as best as possible.

patreon

• pile four •

one of their best traits is their ability to alchemise. the power and knowledge that they hold regarding how energy works and what type of energy to mix together for amazing outcomes. they know how to see value in the smallest of things and how to flip that into something of higher value for themselves. just like pile three, they know how to alchemise their self sabotage into something that they can use for better. they can see value even in their self-sabotaging behaviour, as odd as that may sound. this pile is so similar to pile three. one of this person’s best traits is their ability to heal. it’s like even in the middle of self sabotage, they heal. everything is part of their healing journey - both positively and negatively. i was feeling scorpio/prominent pluto energy in pile three but in this pile it’s even stronger. this person is the definition of tearing yourself down to build yourself back up again. they alchemise in the middle of negativity (which is plutonic energy through and through). they know how to see the light in the darkest of moments. and that light is what they use to create in the middle of chaos. it’s almost like this person practices the strongest type of chaos magick - whether this is consciously or not.

they create a whole new energy out of negativity. they find a way to a new path in the middle of the darkest environment possible. and their mind is being highlighted as the dark environment that they often find themselves in. they don’t see this as a negative though. they see this as a challenge. darkness that they have to sift through to find valuable treasure to add value to their life. despite all of this, this person is extremely emotionally fulfilled. they find a lot of fulfilment in connections and in improving themselves for the sake of the people who they’re connected to. they know that if they’re not stable, they can’t build anything stable with anyone else. they use their connections to find their best source of energy, and i feel like they find a lot of enlightenment from others too. they low-key love negative energy. but not in the sense of causing it for the sake of feeding off of it. if they find themselves in a negative situation or a negative headspace, they take it as a sign that they’re going to come across a breakthrough if they’re able to find it. and that just means more self empowerment and a higher vibration, from their perspective. they’ve befriended their shadow. their shadow is like their best friend. and they work alongside it everyday so that their shadow doesn’t take over and destroy everything. their self-sabotage is almost controlled. they allow their shadow to be present in a very controlled way because they learn so much from it. they figure themselves out best through this part of themselves while simultaneously bringing healing to it.

patreon

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - November 15-21

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles! (sorry it's slightly late, the links didn't wanna work and I couldn't figure it out all day)

1. Wyoming's abortion ban has been overturned, including its ban on abortion medication

“Wyoming is the second state to have its near-total abortion ban overturned this month[…. Seven other states] also approved amendments protecting the right to an abortion. A lawsuit seeking to challenge the [FDA]’s approval of abortion medication recently failed when the Supreme Court refused to hear it[….]”

2. Patches of wildflowers in cities can be just as good for insects as natural meadows – study

“This study confirmed that small areas of urban wildflowers have a high concentration of pollinating insects, and are as valuable to many pollinators as larger areas of natural meadow that you would typically find rurally.”

3. Paris could offer new parents anti-pollution baby 'gift bags' to combat 'forever chemicals'

“The bag includes a stainless steel baby cup, a wooden toy, reusable cotton wipes, and non-toxic cleaning supplies as part of a "green prescription". […] The city will also have 44 centres for protecting mothers and infants that will be without any pollutants[….]”

4. Indigenous guardians embark on a sacred pact to protect the lowland tapir in Colombia

“The tapir is now the focus of an Indigenous-led conservation project[… A proposed “biocultural corridor”] will protect not only the populations and movements of wildlife such as tapirs, but also the cultural traditions and spirituality of the Inga and other neighboring Indigenous peoples[….]”

5. Denmark will plant 1 billion trees and convert 10% of farmland into forest

“[…] 43 billion kroner ($6.1 billion) have been earmarked to acquire land from farmers over the next two decades[.… In addition,] livestock farmers will be taxed for the greenhouse gases emitted by their cows, sheep and pigs from 2030, the first country to do so[….]”

6. The biggest grid storage project using old batteries is online in Texas

“[Element operates “used EV battery packs” with software that can] fine-tune commands at the cell level, instead of treating all the batteries as a monolithic whole. This enables the system to get more use out of each cell without stressing any so much that they break down[….]””

7. Durable supramolecular plastic is fully ocean-degradable and doesn't generate microplastics

“The new material is as strong as conventional plastics and biodegradable, [… and] is therefore expected to help reduce harmful microplastic pollution that accumulates in oceans and soil and eventually enters the food chain.”

8. Big Oil Tax Could Boost Global Loss and Damage Fund by 2000%

“[… A] tax on fossil fuel extraction, which would increase each year, combined with additional taxes on excess profits would […] generate hundreds of billions of dollars by the end of the decade to assist poor and vulnerable communities with the impact of the climate crisis[….]”

9. Rooftop solar meets 107.5 pct of South Australia’s demand, no emergency measures needed

“[T]he state was able to export around 658 MW of capacity to Victoria at the time[….] The export capacity is expected to increase significantly as the new transmission link to NSW[…] should be able to allow an extra 150 MW to be transferred in either direction by Christmas.”

10. Light-altering paint for greenhouses could help lengthen the fruit growing season in less sunny countries

“[Scientists] have developed a spray coating for greenhouses that could help UK farmers to produce more crops in the future using the same or less energy[… by optimising] the wavelength of light shining onto the plants, improving their growth and yield.”

November 8-14 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[societyfolklore]

Mess is Best

Title: Mess is Best (Prompt- baking together but neither know what you're doing) Pairing: Dad!Bucky Barnes x Kids x Female Reader

Summary: Bucky gets talked into Christmas baking with the kids and things turn to chaos while Mom naps.

Word Count:  2.1k

Warnings:  This ones just Fluff! All Fluff.. (No Beta Read)

A/N: Another entry for @the-slumberparty December daze challenge) -  Day 20 just went for something a little softer this time. Domestic and cute. The house was anything but quiet that morning. The holiday season had brought with it a whirlwind of preparations- decorations were finally all up (though the boxes were yet to be returned to the attic and had just been stacked in the corner of the living room) the dining table covered in gifts and paper waiting for wrapping to be completed, and the faint hum of Christmas carols playing from the kitchen radio. The smell of pine and cinnamon lingered in the air, mingling with the faint trace of snow that had clung to Bucky’s boots when he brought in the tree earlier.

You had spent the entire morning orchestrating the chaos, directing the kids to hang ornaments (even if most ended up clustered in one spot), wrapping presents, and trying to keep the sugar-fuelled excitement from reaching a fever pitch. By the time midafternoon rolled around, your energy was spent. After some gentle but persistent nudging, Bucky finally relented, letting you retreat to the bedroom for a well-deserved nap.

Now, the house was suspiciously quiet. Too quiet.

Bucky stood in the kitchen, his arms crossed as he eyed the two culprits in matching Christmas jumpers. Laura and Jack, their faces glowing with the kind of mischief only children could muster, stood before him like tiny conspirators. Their hands were clasped in front of them, and their wide, hopeful eyes made Bucky instantly wary.

“Alright,” Bucky said slowly, narrowing his eyes. “What are you two up to?”

“Nothing bad!” Laura chirped, her voice an octave too high to be convincing.

“We just wanna make cookies,” Jack added, tugging on Bucky’s vibranium hand. His small fingers left smudges of glittery red paint from earlier craft projects. “Please, Dad? It’ll be fun!”

“You sure about this?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “Do we even know how to make cookies?”

Laura puffed up her chest. “How hard can it be? We have the box mix!” She held up the box like it was a sacred text, her enthusiasm unwavering. Bucky’s eyes flicked to the counter, the bowl sat waiting, surrounded by a chaotic assortment of sprinkles, chocolate chips, and food colouring. The kids must have raided the pantry while he wasn’t looking.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. Mom’s going to kill me.

Fifteen minutes later, the kitchen looked like a Christmas tornado had blown through. Flour clung to every surface, creating a fine white dusting on the counters and the floor. The air smelled faintly of vanilla and chaos as sprinkles formed a rainbow mosaic across the tile. A suspicious puddle of milk was pooling near the sink, with a tiny trail leading to where Jack had ‘helpfully’ tried to clean up by tossing a damp paper towel onto it.

Bucky stood in the centre of the mess, his hands on his hips, surveying the damage. Laura and Jack beamed at him, their faces dusted with flour like a pair of pint-sized chefs who had just survived a battle.

“Alright,” Bucky said, holding up his hands as though calling a truce. “Let’s try this again, taking it one step at a time, reading the box this time. What’s first Gumdrop?”

“The box says mix the powder with eggs and butter!” Laura announced triumphantly, waving the instructions like a battle flag. Bucky had to admit her enthusiasm was contagious, even if it set off alarm bells in Bucky’s mind.

“Easy enough,” Bucky muttered, grabbing another mixing bowl from the pile of clean dishes. He grabbed an egg from the carton and cracked it against the rim of the bowl using his vibranium hand. The crack was… overzealous. Eggshell fragments rained into the bowl, some pieces sinking into the shiny white powder like tiny shipwrecks.

“Ew, Dad!” Jack squealed, pointing at the bowl with a mixture of horror and delight. “There’s crunchy bits in there!”

“Not anymore,” Bucky said, fishing out the pieces with exaggerated precision, his tongue sticking out slightly in concentration. He held up the last piece with a flourish, as though presenting a trophy. “See? Problem solved.”

Laura and Jack erupted into giggles, their earlier exasperation forgotten. The sight of their laughter made Bucky’s heart lighten, even as he felt the weight of impending doom over the state of the kitchen.

“Alright, next ingredient,” Bucky said, his tone determined. “Butter. Where’s the butter?”

Jack pointed to a stick of butter that had somehow ended up on the far end of the counter. It was half-unwrapped, a small dent where someone had poked it with their finger. Bucky sighed, grabbing the butter and tossing it into the bowl with the mix.

“You’re supposed to cut it up first,” Laura pointed out, crossing her arms like a tiny authority on baking, pulling a face that reminded Bucky how much she looked like her mother.

“Details,” Bucky replied with a shrug, grabbing a wooden spoon. He began mixing the ingredients together with an awkward vigor that sent a small cloud of flour puffing into the air.

The kids giggled again, and Bucky found himself grinning despite the mess.

By the time the dough was mixed, it resembled something out of a science experiment. The thick batter clung stubbornly to the wooden spoon, dotted with an outrageous amount of chocolate chips and sprinkles that the kids had insisted on adding (‘for maximum Christmas vibes!’ Laura had proclaimed, dumping the entire bag of sprinkles into the bowl without hesitation). The mixture sparkled in the light, an unholy concoction of sugar and chaos.

Bucky scraped some of the dough onto a baking sheet, attempting to shape it into a neat circle. The result was… underwhelming. The dough spread unevenly, forming an amorphous blob that barely resembled a cookie.

“Alright, your turn,” Bucky said, stepping back to let the kids take over.

Jack immediately grabbed a handful of dough, plopping it onto the sheet and mashing it with his fingers. “I’m making a snowman!” he declared, though the result looked more like a melting pile of snow. Laura took a more artistic approach, carefully shaping a star that ended up with one overly long point.

“Dad, look!” Jack exclaimed, holding up his hands, which were now completely coated in sticky dough. “I’m the Cookie Monster!” He made exaggerated chomping noises, pretending to eat his dough-covered fingers.

“You’re definitely something kiddo,” Bucky replied, shaking his head with a laugh. “Alright, let’s get these in the oven before you two eat the entire batch.”

He slid the tray into the oven, brushing stray sprinkles off the counter as he closed the door.

“Perfection is overrated,” Bucky muttered, wiping his hands on a dish towel.

“Exactly!” Laura said, grinning as she high-fived him with a hand still sticky with dough. Damn her smile lit up the room, Bucky couldn’t help but smile as he looked at their mismatched creations. The cookies might not win any awards, but they were unmistakably theirs.

While the cookies baked, the chaos continued to escalate. Laura’s eyes lit up when she spotted the small box of food colouring on the counter. “Let’s make frosting!” she declared, grabbing the box with all the authority of a professional chef. Jack clapped his hands in excitement, already imagining the colourful chaos.

Bucky raised an eyebrow. “Frosting, huh? You know how to make that Princess?”

“How hard can it be?” Laura shot back, echoing her earlier mantra.

They found a bowl and dumped powdered sugar into it with reckless abandon. Laura squeezed half the bottle of red dye into the mix, and Bucky watched in mild horror as the powder transformed into a neon pink mess that could probably be seen from space.

“Uh, maybe we should tone it down a bit,” Bucky suggested, but his kids were on a roll. Jack added a splash of milk—more than necessary—creating a runny, vibrant concoction that sloshed precariously as they stirred.

By the time they were done, the frosting bowls looked like a rainbow had exploded. There was bright green, electric blue, and a suspicious shade of orange that none of them remembered mixing.

When the timer dinged, signalling that the cookies were ready, Bucky opened the oven with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. The cookies, had personality. Some were lumpy, others were oddly shaped, and one snowman had mysteriously developed three arms during baking.

“They’re beautiful,” Jack said proudly, holding up the three-armed snowman with a grin that could melt the coldest heart.

Bucky laughed, shaking his head. “Beautiful might be a stretch kiddo, but they’re definitely unique.”

The decorating phase was pure, unfiltered chaos. Frosting ended up everywhere: on the table, on the kids, even in Bucky’s hair, where Jack had accidentally swiped him during an enthusiastic frosting application. Laura took her time, meticulously painting each cookie with an alarming amount of detail, while Jack adopted a more freestyle approach, dumping entire containers of sprinkles over the cookies until they resembled glittery mountains.

“Are those… abs?” Bucky asked, squinting at a gingerbread man Laura had decorated.

“Yep! It’s Uncle Steve in is uniform!” Laura replied, grinning as she added a tiny shield made of frosting.

Bucky groaned, covering his face with his hand. “Steve can never see this.”

Jack held up another gingerbread man, proudly announcing, “This one’s the Hulk!” The cookie was covered in green frosting and looked more like a blob than a superhero, but Jack’s enthusiasm was infectious.

“Sure is Buddy..But aren’t these suppose to be Christmas cookies”

“He had a Santa hat!” Bucky had to squint to work out where the hat was suppose to be.  

By the time the last cookie was decorated, the kitchen was a disaster zone. The counters were sticky with frosting, the floor was a minefield of sprinkles, and the kids were covered head to toe in sugary chaos. And yet, as Bucky looked at their creations—imperfect, colorful, and uniquely theirs—he couldn’t help but smile. These were the moments that made the mess worth it.

Just as the last cookie was finished, you walked into the kitchen, rubbing your eyes and stifling a yawn. You froze in the doorway, your gaze sweeping across the scene. It was a masterpiece of chaos: the counters were caked with frosting and dusted with flour, sprinkles sparkled like confetti on the floor, and a faint aroma of slightly burnt sugar lingered in the air. The kids stood proudly in the middle of it all, their faces streaked with frosting, holding up their creations like trophies.

Bucky, standing amidst the chaos, was a sight to behold. His dark hair had streaks of bright red frosting smeared through it, and his shirt bore the evidence of the day’s adventures: flour handprints, a sprinkle trail, and a suspicious smear of neon pink. He held up a cookie shaped like a lopsided Christmas tree, his expression both sheepish and amused.

“Mommy!” the kids squealed in unison, abandoning their cookies to rush toward you. They tugged at your hands, eager to show off their masterpieces. “Look what we made!”

You raised an eyebrow, your gaze shifting from the grinning kids to Bucky, who gave you a lopsided smile. “It’s not as bad as it looks,” he said quickly, holding up the misshapen tree cookie as if it were a peace offering.

You stepped further into the kitchen, carefully avoiding a rogue puddle of frosting, and picked up one of the cookies. It was a snowman with three arms and a slightly charred bottom. Holding it up to the light, you examined it with a critical eye, the kids watching with bated breath. Then, to their surprise, you took a bite.

“Well,” you said, chewing thoughtfully as their anticipation grew. “It’s… edible. Mostly.”

The kids erupted into cheers, their laughter echoing through the kitchen. Bucky let out a relieved chuckle, running a hand through his hair and wincing as he encountered the sticky frosting streaks.

You reached out, swiping a bit of frosting from his cheek with your finger. “Next time,” you said with a smirk, “maybe wait until I’m awake.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” he replied, pulling you in for a quick kiss. His lips tasted faintly of sugar, a sweet reminder of the chaos you’d walked into.

The kids clamoured for you to try more cookies, each one presenting their favourite creation with the kind of pride usually reserved for art gallery openings. As you laughed and indulged their enthusiasm, you couldn’t help but take in the scene. The kitchen was a disaster, the cookies were questionably edible, and Bucky looked like he’d been through a war zone. And yet, in that moment, surrounded by laughter, love, and the sticky sweetness of family, everything felt absolutely perfect.

[the-mortuary-witch]

EVERYDAY WITCHCRAFT

DAILY AFFIRMATIONS: start your day with positive affirmations or spells to set your intention.

MORNING RITUAL: incorporate meditation or a grounding exercise into your morning routine.

HERBAL TEA: brew herbal teas with magical correspondences for specific needs (e.g. chamomile for calm).

CRYSTAL CARRY: keep a small crystal in your pocket or bag for daily energy boosts.

INCENSE AND SMUDGING: light incense or smudge your space to cleanse and energize it.

MOON WATER: use moon water for washing, drinking, or watering plants.

SIGILS: draw or carry sigils for protection, luck, or other intentions.

ALTAR SPACE: create a small altar or sacred space in your home.

CANDLES: light candles with intention, choosing colours that correspond to your needs.

TAROT OR ORACLE CARDS: pull a daily card for guidance.

JOURNALING: keep a magical journal for spells, dreams, and reflections.

NATURE WALKS: spend time in nature, collecting items like stones, leaves, or feathers for your practice.

KITCHEN WITCHERY: infuse your cooking with intention and use magical herbs and spices.

CHARMED JEWELRY: wear jewelry that has been enchanted or charged with specific intentions.

LUNAR PHASES: plan activities and spells according to the lunar phases.

WEATHER MAGIC: use the energy of different weather conditions in your spells and rituals.

MINDFUL CLEANING: clean your space with intention, using magical cleaning solutions.

BATH RITUALS: take ritual baths with herbs, salts, and oils for cleansing and manifestation.

GRATITUDE PRACTICE: end your day with a gratitude practice or prayer.

SACRED MUSIC: listen to music that uplifts your spirit or has magical significance.

WRITING SPELLS: incorporate spell work into your daily writing, such as emails or notes.

DAILY OFFERINGS: make small offerings to your deities or spirit guides.

VISUALIZATION: use visualization techniques throughout the day to manifest your desires.

PLANT MAGIC: care for plants and infuse them with your magical intentions.

ENGERY SHIELDING: practice energy shielding techniques to protect your aura.

CREATIVE ART: use art and creativity as a form of magic and expression.

SPIRITUAL READING: read books, articles, or blogs on witchcraft to expand your knowledge.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION: connect with other witches online or in-person for support and inspiration.

CRAFTING: make your own magical tools, such as wands, sachets, or charms.

RITUAL DRESS: wear clothing or accessories that have been enchanted for specific purposes.

DAILY DEVOTIONS: spend time each day in devotion or meditation with your chosen deities.

INTENTIONAL BREATHING: use breathing exercises to centre and ground yourself.

ASTROLOGY: incorporate astrology into your daily planning and decision-making.

DIGITAL MAGIC: use apps or digital tools designed for witches to keep track of moon phases, spells, and more.

RUNE WORK: draw a daily rune for guidance and reflection.

HARMONIZE WITH ELEMENTS: incorporate the four elements (earth, air, fire, water) into your daily life.

AFFIRMATIVE SPEAKING: speak with intention and awareness, using positive and empowering language.

GARDENING: create a magical garden with plants that have specific correspondences.

MINDFUL EATING: bless and infuse your food with positive energy before eating. 

DREAM WORK: keep a dream journal and work with your dreams for insight and guidance.

[oh-saints]

okay but .... something cute and domestic with ruben where you're cooking or he's cooking anf you're listening to music (whenever I think of this I think of him listening to this portuguese song called princesa (beija-me outra vez) by boss ac and idk I just think it fits him so well) and just holding each other and making out in the kitchen ... him singing the song to you 😫

anon, just so you know, you got me into the song so much since the first time i saw this on my askbox (which has been a while) that i got carried away

princess

rúben dias x you

word count: 1.3k

tw: mention of sex and suggestive words 👀

notes: happy birthday to our favourite centre-back! gotta celebrate it with a homebody ruben because domestic ruben always sends me... 😫😫 but as usual, i always write at dawn so this is not yet beta-read.

the amazing song's here!

your alarm vibrated your phone against the wooden bedside table and you had never dragged your body up faster than that moment.

for the purpose you were planning today, you had to wake up earlier than your boyfriend. which, ironically had never happened before during your entire 1-year stint with him so far. that was because the giant piece of delicious boyfriend beside you was a morning person and a man of routine—wake up at 7, wash up, wake you up, drink some energy drinks of his own recipe as he waits you to finish dressing up.

funny how you were the one with ordinary 9-5 job yet he always woke up before you and always managed—and so far, without avail—to drive you to work before heading out to his.

so to appreciate all the effortless effort he exerted of being a flawless boyfriend the past year, you intended to celebrate the most important day of his life with something you’d never done before. not with him, and not you’re your exes too, because rúben was worth something else than a mundane, expected gift.

you sneaked out of rúben’s humongous bed, tiptoeing your way out of the room because the centre-back was apparently sensitive to sound as well. multitasking lady as you are, you managed to pick up your boyfriend’s large black shirt he shed carelessly last night from the floor and wore them as you passed by the living room because there’s no way I’m doing this in a Herve Leger dress.

as soon as you reached the kitchen, you ransacked the place, searching for the ingredients you’d scattered all over the place beforehand so rúben wouldn’t get suspicious about the plan you were pulling today. you could swear his ability to read the game reached off the pitch too sometimes and it drove you crazy most of the time.

it might be simple, your plan. it was only putting together his favourite cake, with recipes you got from his mother as well as approval from the club’s nutritionist, but you knew it’d mean the world to rúben because he’d been deprived of the earthly pleasure since he committed himself to the athlete life.

you went on to colonise rúben’s kitchen with your work of art, fully immersed with task at hand and humming along the right lyrics to whatever song was playing.

“minha vida,” shivers ran down your back because he used the combination of his bed voice with the nickname he pulled out only when he was being seriously romantic. “what are you doing?”

damn it, he’s not supposed to wake up in another 30 minutes! you groaned inside but outside, you gave him a sheepish smile, embarrassed to get caught red on action. with flours and eggs and whiskers everywhere, you couldn’t escape him anymore.

“I’m cooking?”

“I see that,” oh fuck, not that sly smirk on his sleepy face. you could feel your resolve dissolving slowly but surely because who could resist this sexy motherfucker in the morning? “why are you cooking then?”

you tried to collect yourself altogether while rúben eliminated the distance between you and him in three strides. “for your birthday, of course.”

in rúben’s standard (his words last night), you both had commemorated the sacred day (your words last night) with an early birthday dinner that followed up with an explosive love-making. so passionate you both could barely contain your desires towards one another right after you both stepped out of the elevator. so passionate it lasted till the wee hours.

which was a record because in between yours and rúben’s hectic schedule, it was nearly impossible to have both of your saturdays and sundays off in the same weekend.

but rúben could see you through the thick veil you were trying to wear, and his smirk only grew at your futile attempt to compose yourself before he pulled your chin closer to his gently, despite his rough hands due to countless harsh contacts with the grass. the sensation left you further breathless, and the sensation of you breathless under his touch was what fueled him to cut off the breaths altogether by clasping his lips to yours without mercy.

you gave in without a fight, of course. you gave him away yourself a long while ago, anyway.

it was always satisfying to hear the click that went off whenever your lips got separated, mostly on rúben's account, but it was more gratifying for rúben to see your cheeks red and lips swollen only for him. “go on then,”

he turned you around, back to face the messy kitchen island, while he settled himself on your back. your senses grew hypersensitive with the way his hands rested lightly on your waist and the way he stood ghostingly behind you. so close, that you could feel him breathing down on you, yet so far with how featherly his touches were, so unlike his usual manner of protective hold.

“don’t stop on my account, gatinha,” and you had to hold back an audible gasp at his timbre rumbling against your spine. “if you stop, I’m going to punish you for making an unfinished mess in my kitchen.”

rúben had the audacity to let out a deep chuckle when you squirmed against his hold, as he murmured the word punish directly at the shell of your ear, as if he didn’t know any better of the effects he had upon you. “I’m serious, meu anjo. don’t test me.”

you had to bite back your response of I’m squirming because I know you’re serious. besides, you weren’t one to back down from a challenge—rúben knew that by now. it was one of the reasons he dated you in the first place, your competitiveness reminded him there was still another layer of clouds above the sky.

so you poured every last ounce of your concentration to working on rúben’s cake to the point you didn’t notice he was already moving away from you, towards the conjoined living room to change your playlist of liked songs into his dedicated playlist for you.

it was only when you’d inserted the baking pan into the oven that you realised rúben was singing—half rapping too because we stan a multitasking king—the song he serenaded you with the night he asked you to be his girlfriend, as he slid his feet against the floor with a bit of dancing groove towards you.

enfeitiçaste-me no dia em que te conheci, fico fulo da vida quando eles olham p'ra ti

you bewitched me the day that I met you, I get mad when they look at you

you laughed at his “stage act” as you washed your hands, a bit faster than your usual thorough routine because in all honesty, you couldn’t help yourself for wanting to join him. the song was long forgotten and your goofy boyfriend was reminding you all the reasons why you fell in love with him, and why you were doing all these surprises in the first place.

“princesa,”

rúben stretched his arms towards you as soon as he saw you were done drying your hands, and before long he’d had you spun around towards him. he caught you at the right moment, engulfing you in a tight back hug despite his twisted arms on your front. but the awkward position was the last thing in his mind when he had you reaching up to kiss him one more whenever the lyrics said beija-me outra vez (kiss me again one more time) before laughing and smiling in his arms as he swayed you left and right gently.

so bright and blinding and happy like it was your birthday instead of his—and he didn’t mind if it felt like that because you’d brought him more mirth in his life in the past year than his long list of exes had ever done.

he didn’t mind because you’d given him more than enough of reasons to live to love you.

“princesa,” rúben drew his hands down the line of your body, feeling every inch and curve hidden beneath his linen shirt. he thought his teenage dream of having his lover wearing white was insane but in reality, wearing black and nothing else but skin underneath his palms was a whole new different game. “you feel so good,”

and it, indeed, felt so damn good as his hands traced the outline of your outer thighs that you didn't feel ashamed for letting out the most disgusting mewl in between broken gasps.

but the oven got to turn off in that moment.

you broke off from your trance as the ting! sound rang off your ears like a siren blaring but rúben held you prisoner under the ministrations of his hands, you remained puny in his arms as his hands travelled closer to the most pulsating, aching part of yourself right now.

“i want you in my birthday suit, princesa,” rúben growled in your ear as he gently bit off the soft bone, the beast not taking a no for an answer. “now.”

[talonabraxas]

Sun Talon Abraxas

Let us adore the supremacy of that divine sun who illuminates all, from whom all proceed, to whom all must return, whom we invoke to direct our understandings aright in our progress towards his holy seat. -The Gayatri

Where is the birthplace of the radiant sun that the Greeks rose to meet at dawn with a kiss upon their upraised hands? From whence came Helios, son of Hyperion "The High Going" and Euryphaëssa "The Far Shining"? What is the source of the light that shines from Loka Chakshuh, the Vedic "Eye of the World"?

The Egyptians symbolized the birth of the sun through descriptions of the infant sun-god Horus, who arose from within the petals of a sacred blue lotus floating upon an endless sea. This sun was the "Eye of Ra," the "good eye of heaven" as the Samoyeds say. The idea of the eye of god was and is very widespread in the world. The fact that many people have conceived of the sun as both a youthful hero and an aged father merely suggests the cyclic rebirth of the orb's penetrating gaze.

Loka Chakshuh or Surya is depicted in the Vedas as the Godhead. of Supreme Truth and Knowledge, the Lord of Light. His two functions are luminous vision and luminous creation, suggesting that the vision of Truth and Knowledge is followed by the creation of Light. The medieval alchemists spoke of the sol niger, the black or invisible sun which they related to prime matter and the unconscious. The visible sun is at the nadir, out of which depths it must ascend toward its zenith, the invisible apex that oversees the creation of light.

"Chaos ceases at the effulgence of the Ray of Primordial Light helped on by the Word of the Central Sun." During the active periods of being, this central, invisible source gives rise to a stream of ceaseless energy whose vibrating currents become more active at each descending rung of the sevenfold ladder of being. The equinoxes and various other cyclic phases and periods of the visible solar course are only symbols of the singular truth which remains hidden. The activity of this energy, increasingly involuting into gross matter, can be seen as a demonstration of numerical patterns which are arcane hieroglyphs containing the keys that yield an ever greater abstract knowledge of solar reality. The Secret Doctrine describes the Central Sun as an unseen point in sidereal space which constantly attracts our solar system. It is the Centre of Rest to which all motion is ultimately referable. It is the "reservoir within which divine radiance, already differentiated at the beginning of every creation, is focused." This focal point is everywhere and yet – like the logos – it is somewhere. As the earth is attracted to the sun in our solar system (though obviously the centripetal forces in the system are counterbalanced by the centrifugal), so our sun is a servant to a more remote centre around which it revolves. One may imagine increasingly expanded systems ultimately resolving themselves within a solar centre which encompasses all but which exists on an inconceivably homogeneous plane of matter. One may analogically imagine all systems resolving themselves into an essential, primordial point in endless space. In our cogitations, we are wise to remember the admonition that not even the Dhyan Chohans can penetrate the mysteries of the boundaries separating the milliards of solar systems from the Central Invisible Sun.

In The Book of Dzyan the Central Sun is portrayed as causing the mysterious force called Fohat to collect primordial matter into globules and impel them to converge together as aggregates. This recommencement of spiralling motion, brought on by the heat of the Great Breath, creates the conditions necessary for the birth of the first 'primitive family,' the differentiation of matter into elements and sub-elements or what Occultism calls "temporary appearances." Such heterogeneous and temporary appearances are the prototypes of the visible suns and systems of planets as well as all the various combinations of life that they sustain. The principle activating and extending this process is the centrifugal energy of the universe – Lucifer, Lux, the light made visible in our solar system. It conveys the radiant energy flowing from the Central Sun which thus called into being and electrified the visible sun and earth and created the tension responsible for the revolution of the latter around the former. The activating principle of the earth can be traced through the physical sun to an energy that rises on a less mundane plane of existence.

In this vast and multifarious universe, there are grades of solar bodies which are like 'organs' acting in the whole process of creation in conjunction with electrical channels that convey their collective influence to the earth. The Fiery Breath which resides beyond manifested nature emanates the Central Spiritual Sun, parent of electricity, the fire of life and the manifested universe. Through seven planes of being, like the many-storied universe envisioned by Siberian people, the suns beget sons which become solar centres of life energy at progressively more concretized levels. The Dhyan Chohans, the Seven Divine Sons of the One Light, are luminous suns existing in an incorporeal condition like divine parents of subsequent septenate life. These Holy Ones embody the emerging primal elements in their most pristine essence and harmonious balance. Like rays from a virginal fire, they give of their essence, instilling divine intelligence into the progeny of their sovereign lineage.

It was the descendants of these Lords of Light who took on increasingly material garb and eventually walked upon the earth among men of many races and conditions. These great Heroes, like the rising sun, always came from the East. As Divine Races among men, they gave out sacred teachings and provided the foundations for the development of all the great civilizations that have existed in human history. These were the Solar Races around whom religious cults developed in every inhabited part of the world. These cults reached great heights in India, Egypt, Africa and the Americas, including the complex form which developed in Peru. There the Ynca, the first children of the sun, were placed by their Father in Lake Titicaca, one of the highest lakes in the world. From this solar brother and sister issued a lineage of royal descendants who were all known as children of the sun and called ynca. They ruled as Divine Kings and through elaborate ritual maintained a living link between the Sun as Godhead and the people of the mountainsides. In India the Surya Vansa or 'race of the sun' laid down its dynasty in Ayodhya. The Rig Veda speaks of them as solar kings. Later these kings became deified and their worship was the earliest anthropomorphization of the great primeval faith which considered the sun as Master of Life and Death. From this early and inspired devotion eventually arose ancestor worship which, wherever it exists in the world, is usually associated with a cult of the sun. As the sun is eternally reborn, so men are inspired to seek the source of their own rebirth and immortality. In allegorical fashion they achieve a sort of lineal immortality by keeping alive the psychic link with ancestors who are reborn again in the children of devout worshippers.

The sun is sometimes symbolically described as the 'heart' and 'brain' of the solar system. From it sensations radiate into "every nerve center of the great body." But it is only a "window cut into the real Solar Presence" which reflects the interior work. From within there is a circulation of vital fluid that passes through our solar system like the circulation of blood within an organism. The sun contracts and expands like the human heart, its systolic and diastolic phases marking the eleven-year sun-spot cycles which are intimately connected with solar eruptions affecting the earth and other planets. Each year the solar 'blood' passes through its 'auricles' and 'ventricles' before washing out the lungs' and passing into the 'veins' and 'arteries' of the system to complete the eleven-year cycle.

Through a telescope, the appearance of the physical sun is that of a disk with sharply defined edges, its brightest area being at its centre. During a solar eclipse, the corona may be seen to radiate out from this edge like a luminous halo, its shape varying with the phases of the sun-spot cycle. Spectroscopic findings reveal that sun-spots are merely indicators of activity going on within the sun. Like tubes, they penetrate through the convection zones toward the central zone. Here atomic radiations, which are largely reabsorbed due to tremendous gravitational pressures, counterbalance the centripetal force by a steady radiation pressure. One could say that the work of the centre is 'pushing out,' which is significantly reflected in the Sanskrit word Surya, whose root su means 'to press out' and is compounded in the term asu meaning 'to breathe.'

During solar storms great streams of highly ionized particles spiral in colossal arcs out from the sun's surface. These predominantly hydrogenate particles rush through space and impinge upon the earth's atmosphere, vastly affecting its climate, stirring up its atmosphere and affecting rates of change and growth around the globe. These currents run along the 'nerves' described in occult doctrine and recharge the system, breaking down and refining material with their fiery sharpness. The hidden 'heart' of the sun expands with this ionized 'blood' and washes clean the lungs' of space within the solar system. With electrifying power it fills the 'veins' and 'arteries,' revitalizing all aggregates of life within its system. Despite their enormous effect upon the earth, these 'storms' are really minor aspects of the sun's own colossal cyclic scale. Given the amazingly balanced reserve of energy that the sun continually maintains, it is, relative to this larger perspective, almost calm and unchanging, as the poets and mathematicians say. At the solar centre, mass is extremely concentrated and, due to enormously high temperatures, only the most 'elemental' forms of matter could exist there. Chemical modification occurs as energy is convected out towards the surface of the sun where conversion to light energy takes place. The 'heat' in the dense solar centre is quite different from that which is produced by the radiating rays at its surface where the density of matter is less than that of air. This central heat, which continually maintains itself, involves a concentration of matter that suggests activities of incalculable power, controlled by an arcane principle of complete equilibrium at a primal level. To put it in terms of the solar 'heart' and 'brain,' the massive and thunderous beating of that 'organ' is contained by an autonomic system, as it were, which reflects the dictates of a highly synthesized and anterior light. This is directly analogous with the function of the pineal gland within the human brain which synthesizes light and regulates the performance of all the bodily rhythms. It is also the basis, intuitively or cognitively, of the frequent reference made by classical writers to man as a sun.

The Puranas tell how the Devas asked the Rishis to bring the Sun into Satya Loka. The Sun-God warned them that if he left his place the world would be destroyed. One of the Rishis offered to put his 'red cloth' in the place of the Sun's disk and thus originated the visible shell of the sun. In fact, the sun is thickly surrounded by a red shell of matter, and it is only during a solar eclipse that we can gain the "indisputable evidence" of the real sun. This 'robe' of the sun, as the ancients called it, is made up of all the chemical elements to be found on earth and on every other planet but they exist in a more 'developed' state of matter, and our globe must necessarily become far more 'refined' before its elements could match the condition of those within that chromosphere. The whole magnificent process, involving the replacement of our earthly molecules with the 'giant atoms' from the Infinitude 'above,' is a grand symbol of what takes place microcosmically along the Guruparampara chain between teacher and disciple. Like the magnetic sun, the teacher attracts the chela, but the very centrifugal force of his luminous power forces the disciple to discover his own orbit, that he may eventually become a source of light himself. And just as the 'storms' upon the sun's surface seem to almost overwhelm the humble planet, so the forces surrounding the Guru must be slowly approached and assimilated by the disciple. An infinite process of exchange and refinement must take place.

We are advised that in order to acquire an understanding of the refined condition of the solar photosphere and chromosphere we must possess a knowledge of the sixth state of matter. In man this would correlate with the lighting up of buddhi. To achieve this one must work backward from the kama rupic vehicle to the awakening of manas which, The Secret Doctrine states, is endowed by the "spirit of our Visible Sun." In wedding manas to buddhi, man approaches the "Equatorial Sun" at the third level of manifestation. Beyond this radiates the "Polar Sun" which gives to man the spark of Atman from the Central Spiritual Sun. In pursuing upward along this vital channel within his being, man gradually realizes the Kshetrajna within, "The Soul's Spiritual Sun."

At all levels the sun is the most perfect symbol for this divine process. It not only points to the source of all process itself but commands the central position of omniscience in the universe. As the Vedas teach, all the gods attain to vastness by following Surya. Being exalted, He sees all and therefore knows all and, as one who takes in the whole world at a glance, He was invoked by the ancient Greeks in taking oaths. Not only does He make clear the path of goodness and purity to those who seek to walk in it, but He is pure Himself. As Kepler understood, He is physically at the spatial centre of the solar system and is symbolically representative of abstract Oneness. He is Sol, Solar, the absolute 'Good' overbrooding Plato's Divided Line. Like the seed of the arcane ancestor, the sun never dies but is always reborn. The transformation of a mere one percent of its mass from hydrogen to helium supplies enough energy to insure radiation and life-breath for at least a billion years. The extinction of our sun lies so far in the future that countless stages of refinement shall have affected all life within the entire solar system, producing forms and levels of consciousness few men have dreamed of on this earth. "Before the hour of the 'Solar Pralaya' strikes on the Watchtower of Eternity, all the other worlds of our system will be gliding in their spectral shells along the silent paths of Infinite Space." All the compassionate and stormy exchanges between spirit and matter that will have produced the perfected harvest of this solar system will be completed and their refined essence will have moved on to other arenas of universal evolution.

The Tarot relates the sun to purification and tribulation, "the sole purpose of which is to render transparent the opaque crust of the senses so that they may perceive the higher truths." Man, in his efforts to purify himself, unites himself by degrees to his prototype in heaven. As he does, he is drawn higher and higher, into successive rays, each of which supersedes the one lower, causing it to break away, until he is at last drawn into the highest beam of the Parent-Sun. It is taught that upon the death of one who has attained moksha, the soul goes from the heart of the body to the crown of the head, traversing the sushumna nerve. Thence it goes to the region of Surya Mandala along the solar rays and, entering into the Sun, is released into Paramapadha, the realm of the essence of the body of Ishwara. Tat tvam asi – THAT THOU ART. Surya Gayatri Mantra: “Om Bhaskaray Vidmahe Martanday Dheemahi Tanah Surya Prachodayat”

[cheesemonky]

Chapter 5: Deeper Into the Forest

pairing: fairy!felix x fairy!reader

Series Masterlist

Word count: 1.5k

summary: A fairy gets their wings once they're 13. A normal one at least. You're 23, and still without any. This leaves you without a mate, because who would love a wingless fairy? So when you decide to leave, it's quite the surprise to find a fairy with a wing missing…

warnings: i dont think theres anything other than it being absolute word vomit and garbage, NOT PROOFREAD

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows of the holiday house, casting a warm glow over the room. You and Felix stirred from your makeshift beds, the events of the previous night still vivid in your minds. As you stretched and rubbed the sleep from your eyes, you couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. The mysterious clue in your pocket seemed to pulse with an unseen energy, urging you forward on your quest.

Heeseung and the other vampires were already awake, gathered around the ornate table in the centre of the room. The atmosphere was markedly different from the night before, filled with a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Heeseung greeted you with a warm smile. "Did you sleep well?"

"Well enough," you replied, glancing at Felix, who nodded in agreement. "Thanks for helping us last night. That clue we found… it feels important."

"It is," Heeseung agreed, his expression serious. "The journey you're on is not an easy one, but it's clear you have the strength and determination to see it through."

Felix looked down at the glowing rock still clutched in his hand, its light now a soft, steady pulse. "So, what's our next step?" he asked, looking around at the group of vampires.

Jay, the responsible one, spoke up. "The clue mentions 'those of green.' It could be referring to a group or an entity associated with the colour green. There are many possibilities, but one stands out: the forest guardians."

"Forest guardians?" you echoed, intrigued.

"Yes," Sunoo chimed in, his sweet voice filled with excitement. "They're ancient beings who protect the forests and all its creatures. They're said to have a deep connection to nature and are known for their green attire and abilities."

Felix's eyes lit up. "That makes sense! But how do we find them?"

Riki, the youngest vampire, grinned mischievously. "Leave that to me. I know a guy who knows a guy. We'll get you in touch with the forest guardians in no time."

As Riki set off to make the necessary arrangements, Heeseung turned to you and Felix. "While Riki handles that, we need to prepare you both for what's to come. The forest guardians are not easily convinced to help outsiders. You'll need to prove your worth and earn their trust."

You exchanged a determined look with Felix. "We're ready," you said, your voice steady.

Over the next few hours, the vampires helped you and Felix gather supplies and prepare for the journey ahead. They shared stories of their own encounters with the forest guardians, offering valuable advice and insights. Despite their intimidating appearance, the vampires proved to be kind and generous hosts, their initial theatrics long forgotten.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the forest, Riki returned with good news. "I've made contact. The forest guardians are willing to meet with you, but you'll need to travel to their sacred grove deep within the forest. It's a long and challenging journey, but I have no doubt you can make it."

Heeseung handed you a map, carefully drawn and marked with key landmarks to guide you on your way. "Stay on the path and trust in yourselves," he advised. "And remember, the forest guardians value honesty and respect above all else. Show them that, and you'll have their support."

With the map in hand and a renewed sense of purpose, you and Felix bid farewell to your vampire friends, grateful for their help and hospitality. As you stepped out into the cool evening air, the forest around you seemed to hum with anticipation. The journey ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but you felt ready to face whatever challenges lay in wait.

Together, you and Felix set off into the forest, the clue in your pocket guiding you forward. The path was winding and often treacherous, but you pressed on, driven by the promise of discovery and the hope of unravelling the mysteries that lay ahead.

“Do you think we can trust them?” Felix asked, glancing back towards the now distant house.

“I think so,” you replied, stepping over a gnarled tree root. “They helped us, after all. Plus, they seemed genuinely interested in helping us find the Heart of Eris.” Felix nodded, though his brow remained furrowed.

“I just can’t shake off how strange that whole experience was. I mean, vampires?” You chuckled softly.

“I know. It’s a lot to take in. But if we can accept that vampires exist, I suppose forest guardians aren’t too far-fetched.” Felix smiled at that, his mood lightening.

“You’ve got a point there. It’s just… this whole thing feels like a dream.”

“A very weird, vivid dream,” you agreed, sharing in his wonder.

As night fell, the forest came alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures and the rustling of leaves. The moon cast an ethereal glow over the landscape, illuminating your path and filling you with a sense of wonder. Despite the challenges, you felt a deep connection to the world around you, as if the very forest itself was guiding you towards your destination.

“Look at that,” Felix whispered, pointing to a cluster of glowing mushrooms growing at the base of a tree.

“They’re beautiful,” you murmured, pausing to admire the bioluminescent fungi. “It’s like the forest is welcoming us.” Felix knelt down, gently touching one of the mushrooms.

“Y’know, seeing things like this make me forget a little about how dangerous this whole thing is…”

“I know what you mean,” you said, crouching beside him. “But we can’t lose focus. You convinced me to help you with this mess, so you better not forget about it.” Felix stood, nodding resolutely.

“Right. Let’s keep moving.”

The path grew narrower and more winding as you ventured deeper into the forest. Trees loomed overhead, their branches intertwining to form a natural canopy that blocked out the starlight. The only illumination came from the moonlight filtering through gaps in the leaves and the occasional glow of phosphorescent plants.

“According to the map, we should be getting close,” Felix said, studying the parchment by the light of a glowing flower he had plucked earlier.

“I hope so,” you replied, feeling the fatigue of the journey beginning to set in. “I could use a rest.”

“Me too,” Felix agreed, his steps slowing. “But we have to stay alert. We don’t know what might be out here.” After hours of walking, you finally arrived at a clearing bathed in moonlight. In the centre stood a towering oak tree, its branches reaching towards the sky like ancient arms. Surrounding the tree were figures clad in green, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. Felix grabbed your arm, his grip tight.

“This must be it.”

You nodded, heart pounding with anticipation. Or maybe it was the way his hand felt against the skin of your arm. “Stay close.” As you stepped into the clearing, the figures turned towards you, their movements graceful and fluid. One of them, taller than the rest and adorned with a crown of leaves, stepped forward.

"Welcome, travellers," he spoke, his voice a melodic blend of authority and kindness. "We have been expecting you." You and Felix exchanged a wary glance before stepping forward.

“We’re here seeking your help,” you said, trying to keep your voice steady. The figure nodded.

“We know. The winds of the forest have carried your story to us. But tell us, what brings you to our sacred grove?” Felix took a deep breath and began to explain, recounting your journey and the clues you had uncovered so far. The forest guardians listened intently, their glowing eyes never leaving your face. When Felix finished, the leader of the guardians stepped closer, his expression thoughtful. “Your quest is a noble one. But to earn our aid, you must prove your worth. We cannot grant our trust lightly.”

“What do we have to do?” you asked, your determination unwavering. The guardian smiled, a hint of challenge in his eyes.

“There is a trial you must undertake. It will test your courage, your wisdom, and your heart. Only those who are truly worthy can succeed.” Felix looked at you, his resolve mirrored in your gaze.

“We’re ready,” he said firmly.

The guardian nodded. “Very well. Follow me.” As you followed the guardian deeper into the forest, the air around you seemed to thrum with ancient magic. The trees parted to reveal a hidden glade, bathed in the soft glow of fireflies and moonlight. In the centre of the glade stood a stone altar, inscribed with runes that seemed to pulse with a faint, otherworldly light.

“This is the heart of the forest,” the guardian said, his voice reverent. “Here, you will face your trial. Prove yourselves, and the forest will aid you on your journey.”

You and Felix stepped forward, feeling the weight of the guardian’s words. The trial awaited, and with it, the next step on your path to unravelling the mysteries that lay ahead.

“So travellers, are you ready to take on what is to come?”

taglist: @mumusreblogs @2minstan @painstakingly-juno @jinnie-ret @juskz @nvmkyuu @cinnabunnyongbok @mirbokk @stardustlixie @vampcharxter @michelle4eve @silverstarburst @abovenyx @palindrome969 @hyunjinloverrr @asp3ntr33 @starrymactavish send an ask to be on the taglist!!

leisel's note: am i back? yes! am i writing again? yes but very inconsistently! i had a brain wave and lost it halfway through writing this. ill be posting random short stories and writing peices more often than actual fics or chapters but please show support still !! reblogging helps a lot with motivation :3

[geistundmaterie]

Phenomenology of Mammon

Either what I’m about to write doesn’t make any sense and I’m slowly spiralling down into a state of madness, or I have managed to see the true essence of Mammon.

When one is fascinated by a certain character, it does not happen by a mere accident. Your unconsciousness responses to the seen images with different intensity, some things appearing especially meaningful to you. This text is not an analysis of the obvious allegories that were put into Mammon’s concept. Instead, I attempt to explain why his design and everything related to him “goes hard” and fascinates many at an irrational level.

Clowns and the Transcendence

Mammon is a clown and this fact is meaningful in itself. In human cultures across the globes, the universal transcendental reality is broken down into various local forms. Thus, "truth is one, the sages speak of it by many names". In other words, material reality consisting of concepts and forms is finite. By relying solely on it, one loses some of the possibilities that exist beyond the rational association with the world.

A symbol gives access to the deeper layers of existence which are otherwise inaccessible. For example, the rationally incomprehensible can nevertheless remain expressible in the artistic image. A clown, in turn, is the ultimate symbol of the symbolic expression in itself, as seen in its performances or playing of a role. It is an articulation of a desire to escape the human cerebral way of thinking. Clown’s intuitive trickster nature allows it to access the realm of existence that go being the conventional categories of reason. It exemplifies how a wordless intuitive artistic expression can compensate for the deficiencies of a language. Clowns playfully engage with the reality and lure us into a region of the spirit beyond any material or societal creeds. Thanks to their silly form, clown embodies a statement that point beyond themselves into the realm of everything instinctive and irrational.

In a letter to comedian George Carlin, Byrd Gibbens, a professor of English at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, wrote about the significance of the trickster in indigenous myths:

Many native traditions held clowns and tricksters as essential to any contact with the sacred. People could not pray until they had laughed, because laughter opens and frees from rigid preconception. Humans had to have tricksters within the most sacred ceremonies lest they forget the sacred comes through upset, reversal, surprise. The trickster in most native traditions is essential to creation, to birth.

Balancing between Chaos and Order

The Helluva Boss’ merch of Mammon depicts him in a dynamic and balancing pose. Any good clown is always balancing between chaos and order, not falling into the extremes of both.

One thing those depictions of Mammon instantly remind me of is the World tarot card. It usually represents the archetype of completion, achievement, fulfilment, sense of belonging, wholeness, harmony. This card has a dancing figure at the centre. The figure is constantly in motion, but it moves harmoniously, calmly balancing between opposites. Its expression of unity and fulfilment is eternal yet dynamic rather than simply static. One feels the cosmic rhythm and participates in it. There are four figures on each corner of the tarot card, representative of the four corners of the universe, the four elements, and the four evangelicals. Together, they symbolize the harmony between all of their energies. And all of them are is the dancer’s control. Mammon, in return, has four hands.

In fact, it is not a mere coincidence that The Fool and The World tarot cards both have a dynamic yet balancing figure at their centre: this state is the beginning and the end of all being, starting with unconscious wholeness and moving to its conscious experience. The clown is the perfect synthesis of Apollonian and Dionysian drives: it is a whim that has gained form and purpose. A repressive (Apollonian) society needs a mediator between it and a Dionysian element, a safety valve through which one can give a symbolic satisfaction to the antisocial tendencies. Without the latter, human life is misbalanced. One must experience what Friedrich Schiller called the play drive. It unites the infinite and the finite, instinct and reason, and life and form in the human experience. In order for the play drive to effectively mediate between the body and the mind, humans must develop passivity, practise intuition, and open up to the universe. They also need to practise using reason and active stance towards the world. When both are accomplished, a person can experiences a balance between two polar opposites of being at once; they feel themselves as ever-changing matter and come to know themselves as an eternal mind.

Artistic expression results from the balance and union of two opposed principles of rational and irrational. By being like a clown and engaging with life in a playful, symbolic way, you transcend yourself and become fully human.

Taken from the Shark Robot merch store, Twitter: zllm6

Spider Web and Mandala

Mammon is a spider demon. His territory is packed with spider web visuals, including “the lounge” he sits at during the performances. Spider webs are an unconscious but a meaningful creative phenomena, a beauty that is produced by an instinct. They also bear a striking resemblance to mandalas.

Mandala can be found in all the ancient cultures and is a symbol of life’s innate interconnection and of the Self, a unification of the conscious and unconscious life of the individual. In terms of one’s inner world, it represents the inherent order of the soul in centre of which resides the God itself. A centre that unites all polarities and contains the essence of all that emanates from it. There is no linear evolution; there is only a circumambulation of the Self.

In the mythology of many Native American cultures, an important figure called Spider Grandmother (Hopi Kokyangwuti, Navajo Na'ashjé'ii Asdzáá) can be found. She has a central role in the creation myth as the Creator who spun the “Web of Physical Life”. It is upon the strands of this web that all life is interconnected, with each creature being a vital and integral strand in the cosmic web.

Hence, a spider web can be viewed as a symbol of the organised cosmos and primal source of everything.

Unio Oppositorum

Mammon at his core is a union of opposites. To begin with, he unites the classical dichotomy of matter and spirit in himself. He has animal features and is still a spiritual being. His concept as an “animal deity” also corresponds to the ancient tradition of depicting beings with a divine status as animal-like: Egyptian pantheon of Gods, some Babylonian Gods, three animals following the Evangelists, and so on. Even the Christ was attributed with animal features, being called “a lamb of God”, “a fish”, or being depicted as a snake on a cross. Both, the instinct and the spirit, belong to the wholeness of the cosmos.

Mammon encompasses numerous other opposites within himself: he’s both goofy and dangerous, he’s a “baby” or “a manchild” to some and a sugar daddy to others, he’s lazy and extremely energetic at the same time, he’s fat yet very agile and has a very good body coordination, he has teeth and claws yet reminds you of a teddy bear, he’s both the performer and the manager, he’s both “a rock star” and an traditional artist, he’ll take from you but also give you what you want, his theme music is a combination of a classical circus jingle, a tune from “Carmen” and electric guitar rizz. Despite all the opposites at hand, everything feels natural and balanced in Mammon.

Even Mammon’s black-and-white stripes in his full-demon form indicate the consciousness of the opposites in him: he is not just light or not just dark; he is a combination of the two. This detail of his appearance reminds me of Koshare Pueblo Clowns (sometimes called Sacred Clowns).

For the same reason Mammon’s dualistic patterns on his clothes are extremely fitting and symbolic.

The Double, the Trinity and the Quaternity

“One becomes two, two becomes three, and out of the third comes the one as the fourth.” Carl Jung, C.W. Vol. 12: Psychology and Alchemy

Mammon has two Fizzbots sitting beside him. Folk cosmologies commonly feature twins, who are typically engaged in an unending battle with each other. Reality consists of a multiplicity of things: the division into two was necessary in order to bring the ‘one’ world out of the state of potentiality into reality. Dualities coexist in an undifferentiated manner in their natural state. However, the tension between the opposites grows stronger as consciousness awakens. An irrational third, the transcendent function, manifests from this conflict and unites them.

The fact that the Twin Fizzbots look gender ambiguous is meaningful: they are in unison and transcend the sexual duality, with “the transcendent function” being Mammon’s wish to make them androgynous. For the same reason it is very symbolic that in the storyboard, Mammon had two groupies of opposite genders sitting beside him: it is a “the divine pair” of complementary opposites united through Mammon’s equal attraction to them.

In alchemy, a lot is revolved around the “Mystery of Coniuctio” (of the Conjunction, the Marriage of the Opposites). The conjunctio requires a medium for its realization. The fruit of this union is the “Philosopher’s Son”, the Mercurius. He is a trickster entity that balances between two opposites, and is the base and the end of all being, an integration of light and dark, good and bad. This alchemistical process expresses itself in a trinity, tria prima, related to the law of the triangle. The law of the triangle is natural law formed from the union of two opposite but complementary equal halves to produce a perfect manifestation. Consequentially, the Twin Fizzbots (having complementary outfits with patterns on opposite sides!) are joined in Mammon, with them forming a trinity together.

Mammon has four arms. Four is a culturally meaningful number and an omnipresent symbol of the cosmic balance, as expressed in four cardinal direction, the four "Holy Creatures" that bear the Divine Chariot, four seasons of the years, fours functions of the consciousness, etc. Quaternity represents wholeness and universality. Several Hindu deities are often portrayed with four arms. The iconography of four arms symbolises divinity and power, as well as dominion over the four quarters of the universe.

The Rhombus

Mammon’s current costume includes many rhombuses: a shape consisting of two triangles, one downward and one upward pointed, joined together. This geometric symbol represents the unification of low aspects with the upper. Because rhombus contains vertical and horizontal directions simultaneously, it expresses the concept of Unus Mundus that unites matter and spirit instead of treating them as two polar opposites that exclude each other. In other words, it’s a symbol of the Hermetic universal principle: "as above, so below; as below, so above", which is rooted in the ancient Egyptian mysticism and Hellenistic philosophy. According to it, the immortal and eternal realm of the inner world corresponds to the physical and mortal reality of the outer world that we all experience. With that, Mammon displays yet another symbol of a union of opposites.

The Value of Money

Mammon represents the sin of Greed in a physical embodiment. There is nothing he loves more than money, all his endeavours dedicated to making more and more of it. He desires the ultima ratio of all things worldly.

Aside from its economic function, money can be used as a driving force behind action, a benchmark of success or status, a means of expressing one's own value, a tool for exerting control over others, a means of achieving happiness, a solution to problems, a means of defining one's own worth, and a source of security. It is not inherently wicked.

Money also symbolises a storage of concentrated potential energy for later use, it links us to the material world. Soul needs money so it doesn’t fly off into some distant psychic reality. “Laying up treasures in Heaven, where moths and rust can not consume them” leads to disassociation from the material existence, condemning it to a degree it does not deserve. Before your physical death, you are forced to play by the rules of the world that put value on success and material gains. In Jungian school of thought, the first half of human life is dedicated to adapting to the outer world, planting your feet firmly on the ground and accustoming oneself to the conditions imposed on you, learning how to use the material restrictions to one’s advantage. It’s all about the expansion of life and conquering the environment you are inhabiting, which includes learning how to secure yourself and improve your life conditions by earning money.

Mammon is also the supreme patron of money. A demon who can help in accumulating wealth and attracting financial prosperity. So, next time you look at a Mammon standee on you shelf, think about that: could it be that you are creating a little altar to attract his favor? Maybe, on an unconscious level, you seek his blessing in terms of fortune, prosperity, and abundance? Could it be that Mammon keychain on your backpack is a magical charm you feel supported by in your earthly endeavors?

Taken from the Shark Robot merch store, Twitter: kstoooone

Colour Psychology

What are the positive features one could instinctually associate with Mammon’s colours?

In colour psychology, green represent health, life, and prosperity. Being a dominant colour in nature, green is associated with vitality, harmony, and growth. It is a harmonizing, balancing and calming shade. Green is also associated with luck: the Irish believe the wearing of the green brings fortune.

The gold colour is the colour of wealth, achievement, and triumph. Golden colour adds richness and warmth to everything that it comes in contact with. It illuminates and enhances other things around it. It is optimistic and positive, as well as being synonymous with divinity, wisdom and power in many religious settings. It inspires knowledge, spirituality, and a deep understanding of ourselves and our souls. For the alchemist, gold represented the source and end of all being, and the perfection of matter on any level, including that of the mind, spirit, and soul (the famous “Philosopher's Stone”).

Sometimes, purple colour can be seen in things associated with Mammon (his advertisement for Fizzbots, the interior of his concert building, etc.). Purple, green and gold are Mardi Gras colours.

Mammon’s merchandise usually feature lime green, a hue mixture of yellow and green. Lime green is a bright, electric colour full of vibrancy and energy. It is a colour closely associated with confidence, and is thought to promote feelings of liveliness and excitement. It is also a colour that is said to stimulate the mind and body, and to promote creativity.

In conclusion, Mammon’s visual appearance features colours that have a psychologically vitalising and positive effect on the viewer, making him a very pleasant character to look at.

KA-CHING!

The known laws of physics forbid the movement through the outer space of either mass or energy faster than the light speed. Mammon doesn’t care about that, he simply teleports wherever he pleases.

The trickster archetype is a “boundary-crosser”. They violate principles of social and natural order, playfully disrupting normal life and then re-establishing it on a new basis. They will dismantle, construct, manifest themselves, move, and perform tricks that seem to bend all notions of causality, normality, and sense. All your prior knowledge and assumptions will be casually thrown out the window by these entities. They excel at manipulating reality to their will and breaking the laws of physics. The strangeness of Mammon does not end there. Where does the „ka-ching“ sound and confetti come from? What are those voices of cheering kids? Mammon is a reality warper and uses his abilities in the most childish yet endearing way possible. You are confronted with something that blows up your categories of judgement and does not give you a coherent explanation for anything you saw. These are just facts you need to somehow integrate into your established picture of reality.

The Jester and the Death

There could be a very profound symbolism behind Mammon’s skeleton suit.

The medieval understanding held that the root of all foolishness was the denial of God (logos, ratio). Any detachment from human reason, or the instinctive, irrational, and impulsive behavior that prioritizes desire over purposeful thought, was referred to in this context as "foolishness." Foolishness and sin were set on the same level. Those who denied the existence of God were doomed to eternal death after their life on Earth had ended because they rejected the idea of an immortal soul (and, instead, lived a life of an irrational desire-driven “animal”).

The Fall of Man brought death into the world. Adam and Eve lose both paradise and immortality when they choose to follow the serpent instead of God. The Old Testament provides an explanation for the two greatest mysteries of human existence: first, the imperfection of man and, second, the temporal limitation of his existence. If original sin is the reason for death and if foolishness has the same meaning as the original sin, then foolishness should also have a causal connection with death. This was, in fact, the conviction of people in the late Middle Ages.

The fool and the death are believed to have a kinship relationship in the Dance of the Death frescoes. The death appears in numerous depictions of it dressed as a jester. During the turn of the Middle Ages, there are actually a lot of visual arts examples where death and the jester are viewed as counterparts (window niche in the monastery of St. Georgen in Stein am Rhein; choir stalls of the church of St. George in Nördlingen, collegiate church of Öhringen in Hohenlohe, etc.).

The other implied connection is the fact that the Carnival (“carne vale”) is followed by the Ash Wednesday (“remember man that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”). Two aspects of man’s limitations (flesh and death) are thus seen as affiliated with each other in the liturgical year.

The Devil, the Jester und the Death are the Unholy Trinity of Christian visual art.

Truth is One, One is All, All is One

Cultural similarities across the globe underline the facts that, despite things being expressed in different ways, our psyche tries to communicate the same truths. All cultural manifestations have their unique features, but within their areas of action one can recognize the same archetypal patterns. Jungian analysts and mythologists pointed to the plethora of tricksters around the world.

Firstly, Mammon reminds me of the Laughing Buddha (Budai or Hotei) from Eastern cultures. His well-fed appearance represents abundance. When you observe the most popular form of the laughing Buddha closely, you will notice that he is always carrying a cloth bag that is filled with many precious items such as food, candies for children, and other riches. According to the belief, he will collect all your sadness and misfortune, put it in his sack and leave you with abundance and positivity. The sack also represents wealth and good fortune.

The most popular colour for household Laughing Buddha sculptures is gold. Even though it is a Feng Shui sign, Vastu Shastra experts also advocated for the placing of Laughing Buddhas in the home. To them, the smiling Buddha is comparable to Kubera (the god of wealth). Lord Kubera, celebrated as the Supreme Lord of Wealth and revered as the Treasurer of the Gods, stands as the epitome of affluence in Hindu mythology. Business owners and shopkeepers, seeking to accumulate wealth, turn their devotion toward Kubera.

Lastly, Mammon’s affiliation with the wealth and his jester nature draw parallel to the Roman God Mercury. He is a trickster and the god of commerce. His name is related to the Latin word merx, from which we get the English words merchandise, merchant, and commerce. It may also correspond to the Latin word mercari (to trade). Mercury often served as a mediator between the gods and mortals, including being a guide to the people who descended into the Underworld. Considering the fact that “the Underworld” is a symbol of the unconsciousness, this perfectly correlates with the previously mentioned ability of a clown to perfectly balance between rational and irrational state of being.

As stated above, the alchemy symbolically views Mercurius as the resulting “child” of the Union of Opposites, the restoration of the original undifferentiated state of the cosmos. The tria prima of alchemy needing for the achievement of this state consist of “sulphur, salt and mercury”. Sulfur, the "soul", is the masculine principle. Salt, as the "body", is the feminine principle. Mercury, as "spirit", is equivalent to "mind". Hence, the mystical trinity is: Soul, Body, Mind. It is, however, important to consider that the mind has two aspects (conscious and subconscious, left and right). This is metaphorically expressed in the balancing act of Mercury. This is why Mercury is often depicted with wings, he literally "flies between the two worlds". In the “In the mountain of the Adepts” engraving from Stephan Michelspacher's “Alchemia”, one can spot Mercurius at the top centre, being depicted as a playful, jester-like figure, standing in the same balancing pose like the Mammon standee.

Taken from the Shark Robot merch store, Twitter: kstoooone Conclusion

Mammon provides us with a plenitude of symbolic insight into the topics that continue to stay vitally relevant. Seeing Mammon is enough to feel like coming in contact with a primordial deity. You are confronted with something greater that yourself and experience “mysterium tremendum et fascinans”. Mammon is undoubtedly the best character ever created by the Western civilization.

*gives his cheek a smooch*

[guided-by-the-skies]

Environmental Astro

Ok, my post on astrology and your space was a bit (???) mote popular than I thought, nothing special but didn't realise the topic would attract any interest at all.

I have always tried to read this way (in line with the environment) just because it always made sense to me, I found I couldn't understand astrology out of this context so I got deep into geospatial and geolocational stuff and also reading the energy of places.

🌲 This approach is great for reconnecting to nature especially if you feel nature deprived or even climate anxiety. This can often affect earth and water signs.

🌺 Sacred groves (rings of trees) appear all over europe and had significance in Celtic times in the uk, these can be great places to go and relax at the quarter moon as they normally have loads of dynamic beneficial energy that is not so intense that it brings up unnecessary shadow work

🍁 The age of aquarius is both water and air based, some people are sceptical but could this refer to the huge changes in tech that are taking place and the impact on human consciousness and the natural world? Sometimes things are real but astrology often works in metaphor. There is evidence in the landscape on ley lines, water lines, and so on that our consciousness can affect the landscape and vice versa

🍀 Signs born in winter (maybe sagittarius to pisces) can find they are negatuvely affected by energy in summer, it can be too intense for them. It helps to go near water or other shady, cool, or sacred places such as nearby woods and so on

🍂 Full moon can make all signs more anxious and jittery, it may be tempting to stay in and hole up in your room but this powerful time can amplify shadow work especially if you go for a walk near a body of water.

🌲 The 'dog days' of summer wre recognised by ancient people and coincided with the rising of the star sirius. This came along with periods of stiflingly hot weather. In this period energy can feel stagnant and shadow work is difficult. It can help to travel to different places in this time to combat this.

🌺 Autumn can be a time of great change for all signs but especially earth and fire signs. Being in an urban environment at the time can help with this and bring positive change into your life as urban centres have a greater diversity of different energy

🍁 Train stations and places like airports are ruled by mercury. If mercury is in your inner houses this can lead you to feel overwhelmed or drained after visiting these spaces. If mercury is in your outer houses you may instead feel inspired and energised.

🍂 Pluto placements in any of the inner houses (1-6) can lead you to doing shadow work mostly around your home space ans seeking the outdoor world as a form of distraction.

🍀 uranus placements in your outer houses (7-12) can indicate where and in what field you will manage to challenge the status quo. 11th house can refer to places like coffee shops, bars, and other social spaces. 9th house connects to academic institutions, museums, and libraries. 10th house can cover places of fame and status like concert halls but also those with intense power structures like the business district of a city.

🌲 The 9th house can influence how you respond to places of learning. If you have beneficial 9th house places you may find these environments inspiring. Alternatuvely uranus in the 9th house can lead to feeling stifled in these environments. Mars can lead to conflict and a tense atmosphere while venus can lead to you finding spaces solely transactional but maybe uninspiring (think of a degree or course that is only taught to the book for financial reasons)

🌺 swimming pools, beaches, rivers, the sea, and lakes are all governed by different planets. Pools tend to fall under uranus or neptune depending on the space as they are man made structures.

🍁 as liminal or transitional spaces, beaches connect to the 2nd house as well as the 11th and 9th (travel). they tend to be ruled by different planets based on the individual beach

🍂 rivers have a strong influence from mercury as they are in a sense a form of energy flow/communications in the natural world

🍀 the sea is ruled by the tides and therefore the moon. Your draw to the sea (if you feel this) may be governed in fact by the phases of the moon.

THANK YOU! 🦋HOPE 🦋YOU 🦋ENJOY 🦋

[elisabethbabarci]

With gratitude, acceptance, and appreciation , love yourself unconditionally. Be mindful of your tolerance levels, do not accept conditional love, and be brave to be vulnerable. Being mindful of your environments is paramount in any union as it enhances or degrades who we will become — who we decide to share our energy with will become a part of us. Attuning into your needs and respectfully the needs of others will enable you to see beyond with compassion and an authentic approach. Never adapt to societal pressures of the norm, relations that are forced will dissolve as they are not within the natural rhythm or flow. Only you know what is in alignment for your highest and greatest good. Be empathetic to all situations with the ability and fortitude to seek another perspective, seek to understand, and to embrace mindfulness. Choose your battles, never seek validation, seek inner peace and self regulation to heal deeper, to be aligned with your path. Keep evolving while you stand in your truth. Remember, divine sacred unions help us along our spiritual expansion to enable us to be open, vulnerable, compassionate, to anchor our light for not just ourselves but others as a beacon of unconditional love. True sovereignty and unity consciousness emerge as we stay grounded and centred in who we are. To stand in our power, to embrace clarity in our sight, and to be aligned with our true moral purpose is living fully in the present. When you embody who you truly are, you will receive love in abundance as the love you have for yourself will be mirrored by others. Encompass spiritual integrity, inner liberation, transformations, as you rise and evolve to new forms of love for yourself and others. All circumstances and experiences lead to inner awakenings, ascension, and inner growth which promotes a diverse mindset, rooting in your higher purpose, and the acceptance of interconnectivity as we are all one.

Elisabeth Babarci

[plandthealguidebooktranslation]

Azran Legacy Guidebook: Page 37

Previous Page: Page 36

(continued from previous page)

II: The Three Legacies and their Connection to the Sanctuary

Sticky notes at the top of the page:

3 legacies

Misthallery’s Garden of Healing, Ambrosa’s City of Harmony, The Infinite Vault of Akbadain

All of them are in their control!

Having existed for at least 1 million years prior to modern society, the Azran were a vast, world-wide civilization, and many of the mysteries surrounding this civilization remain unsolved. How and why did such an advanced civilization built by the Azran vanish so abruptly from the forefront of of history? The key to unlocking the proof of this civilization lies in the Azran ruins mentioned by Donald Rutledge in “Ancient Histories”. Namely, three sites known as the known as the “legacies”.

These three legacies are of importance, as they are thought to embody the values of the Azran Civilization. During his worldwide search for Azran ruins, Dr Rutledge found three reoccurring words amongst the artefacts: “healing”, “harmony” and “infinity”, and identified the three sites – the “legacies” – which were constructed to be embodiments of these three concepts. In addition to these “legacies”, exists a “sanctuary” which could be called the centre of Azran society, indicating that… (page cuts off).. these three… Azran Civilization…

Figure B: Mishallery’s Garden of… Figure C:…

Sticky note: Should I refrain from mentioning Aurora’s existence in my paper?

Lined page: At the dawn Of time. the world was one big continent, and the Celestial King sheltered all the lands beneath his ample wings. All living things served him. The king had five children, the Great Riders of the Sky, but they were proud and coveted their father’s throne. The constant warring Of the Riders exhausted the people and tainted the land.

Roused at last to anger, the king drew his sword and made four strokes, slicing the land into ten continents. His children.. He banished them to live on Earth

Unable to sit back and watch, the King used his sword and made four slices, dividing the land into ten continents and banished his sons to the earth. The king sealed the sacred gates to the skies and scattered the five keys on earth, that his children might one day find them. -> Eggs?

Ever since that day. the king’s children have gazed up at the skies, longing to fly again one day.

On corner of lined page: Inscription on the wall of the gods

III: The Scattered Ruins as Azran Systems

The excavated ruins show that the concepts of “healing” “harmony” and “infinity” were highly revered by the ancient Azran people. According to “Ancient Histories”, each of these concepts encapsulates the knowledge and technology of the Azran Civilization. “Healing” controls the life of living organisms, and “harmony” controls the environment in which they live. The third, “infinity”, though difficult to believe, involves a device that supposedly generates infinite amounts of energy. By use of these technologies, the Azran are said to have built a civilization unparalleled by any other in human history. My own fieldwork, appears to support this. We have found, for example, sluices and wind-controlling devices which may have served as systems to regulate the “harmony” of the surrounding environment.

Figure G: Egg Figure H: Popoños

IV: Purpose of the Eggs

In “Ancient Histories” there are several references to mysterious egg relics, found scattered amongst Azran ruins. Based on Dr Rutledge’s research, it may be that that these Eggs function somehow as a key to the Azran’s central sanctuary. …(cut off)… because of the attention on this relic, worldwide…

For example, Hoogland is famous for its belief in the dragonlord, the folklore of which has been the subject of much research. Interestingly, this village also has a tradition tied to “egg” relics, with a related shrine that contained a wind-control mechanism, believed to belong to the Azran.

In addition to being a famous tourist trap, San Grio… (cut off) … objects called “popoños”…

3 つのレがシ ー ~ストハレリの応しの園、 プロシアの調和の町、 アンー ダインの無限回廊ア すべてやつらの

Ⅱ.神殿と 3 つの遺産の関連

現在の人類史より 100万年以上も前に存在した、世界をまたにかける巨大な文明、アスラント。この超古代文明には、いまだナゾの部分も数多く残されている。 それだけ高度な文明を築いたアスラントが、なせあるときを境に歴史の表舞台からこっ然と姿を消したのだろうか。 この超古代文明実在の証明の鍵となる、アスラントの-遺跡"の存在については、ド ー ン・ノ ーランの「古代史」にて、関連すると思われる言及がなされている。それは 3 つの遺産"(レガシ ー )と名付けられた、一連の遺跡群である。 これら 3 つの"遺産"は、アスラント文明の思想を体現する遺跡として存在しているとも考えられる重要なものた。

ノーラン博士は、世界各��に見られるアスラント文明の痕跡を求めるうち、それぞれの遺物に”癒し” “調和” “無限” という 3 つの言葉が散見され、これら 3 つの概念を体現する遺跡が、3 つの遺産として建設されたという記述を発見した。 これら"遺産"となる遺跡群には、アスラント文明の中心地とも言うべき、　“神殿"と、アスントのを指し示す、という…ており、この 3 つの ラント

アーリアの存在を論文で公表するのは控えるべきか？

世界はかってひとつの大陸だった… 空駆ける王は大いなる翼でせ界を覆い、生きとし生ける者すべてが王にかしずいた。 偉大なる王には 5 人の息子があり、それぞれが次の王位をめぐり、争っていた。 戦いは長年に渡り、 国と民とを混乱に陥れた。 見かねた王は剣を4振りし、地上を１０ の大陸に分けると息子たちを地上へと追放した。 やがて王は嘆き天の扉を閉ざし((5 つの鍵を))血の狭間に封印した。エッグか？ 自らの罪を悔い改める時、天に戻れるように。 閉ざされた扉を見上げ、王子たちは各地に散らばり、鍵を探 しなが ら 天へ戻るいを夢見て いる。

神々の壁の碑文よリ

III: 各地に点在する遺跡は、アスラントのシステムである可能性が

出土する遺物には、古代アスラント人が重きを置いた"癒し"調和""無限"という 3 つの概念が散見される。 「古代史」によれば、それぞれはアスラント文明の叡智テクノロジ ー を表すシンポルでもあるという。癒し"は生物の生命活動をコントロ ールし、調和"は生命の環境をコントロ ー ルする。 そして 3 つ目の、無限"は、にわかには信じがたいが、なんと無限のエネルギ ー を生み出す装置であるらしい。アスラント文明はこれらテクノロジ ー により、人類史上類を見ないほどに高度な文明を築き上げていたという。 だが、わたしはこの度のフィ ー ルドワ ー クで、それを裏付けるかのような、水門や風のコントロ ー ルのための施設など、-調和"に関わる環境を調整するためのシステムを担っていたと思われる遺物も、数多く発見することとなった。

Ⅳ: 工ッグという遺物の役割

「古代史」にはアスラントの遺物に散見される、ナゾのエッグ"という存在についての記述がいくつか見られる。ノー ラン博士の研究によれば、この、・エッグ"という存在こそが、アスラントの中心地である神殿"への何かしら鍵のような役割を果たすものだと推察している。 ….この遺物に注目し、世界各地の….

例えば、しばしばフォークロア研究対象としてその題材とされることの多い、龍神信仰で有名なマリードールだが、驚くべきことにこの村落にも"工ッグ"とおぼしき遺物の伝承が遣されており、またそれに関連する祠には、アスラント文明のものと思われる、風をコントロールする機構が存在した。

またそのほかにも、避暑地として有名なマル …物に「ポポンチョ」とい

[santoschristos]

Meaning and Symbology of the Circle

The Magic of the Circle

The Circle represents perfection, completeness, Union, that which has no brokenness and cessure. Traditional emblem of that which has no beginning or end, formed by a unique line whose ends join to cancel out one another.

The Circle: The Primitive Substance

This geometric figure represents the state of primordial substance, impalpable and transparent, uniform and indifferent. In fact, the Circle without corners and edges symbolizes harmony, which thanks to the absence of oppositions, such as high and low, etc. , translates indifference into equality of principles. It is the symbol of the spirit and the immateriality of the soul. The symbolism of the Circle is two things, both magical and celestial. This sky-like figure represents the intellectual and spiritual dimension.

Indeed in its opposition to the Square, this geometric figure embodies the sky in relation to the earth, to everything that is material. The circle like the sky is connected to the perennial cycle of life.

This concept is well expressed by the circumference, geometric figure in which it is not possible to distinguish the principle from the end, symbol of eternity and therefore perfection. Circular motion, which is also that of heaven, is perfect, unchanging, without beginning or end or variation; this makes it represent time, which in turn can be defined as a continuous and unchanging succession of moments all identical to each other, and hence the concept of cyclicism. Circumference also determines a separating boundary between the defined inner surface and the infinite outer surface.

The Circle and Center

The symbolism of the Circle is closely related to the one in the centre, in relation to the primordial unit. It is the sacred place where all material and spiritual energies are focused.

Of this circumference, the four elements are the rays. The center, which is also the central point of the cross, is the point from which the rays depart but to which they converge. It is therefore a symbol of the Principle from which everything originates and from which everything returns.

In primitive peoples the circumference with the central point is still the representation of the Sun, whose warmth is associated with love, and light to beauty and truth.

The Circle, like a magic circle or sphere, is a well-defined temple, even though it is not a physical space. The Magic Circle has ancient origins. Some of its forms were used in ancient Babylonian magic.

The magic circles

Even the ceremonial magicians of the medieval and renaissance used them. Magic Circles were used by magicians in ceremonies to protect themselves from the summoned forces.

In the Celtic world, the Circle has a magical function and value. This geometric figure therefore symbolizes an invincible magical limit. For nomadic peoples the Sanctuary for Divinity was designed circular, like their tent.

They fixed a stick into the ground to delineate the Sanctuary. Then they conceived the rod as the axis of the world.

Every point on the Earth’s surface was conceived, therefore, corresponding to such an axis. With a wire tied to a rotating stick they formed the Circle, transfiguration of the sky and the cosmos.

SOURCE

the magic of the circle

L'Antro celtico

[zileans-big-cl0ck]

Hii, if ya feel up to it could you write some comforting headcanons for Yasuo and Talon? They need some good hugs but honestly what league champion doesn't

(if you feel like writing for others too go for it, I like to read anything you make)

✦–Comforting them headcanons.✦ (SFW)

✦Hurt/comfort, because they also deserve a hug. A lot of hugs. Every single one of them.

✧ prompt: ✧ hurt/comfort.

✧ champions: ✧ Talon, the Blade’s Shadow; Yasuo, the Unforgiven; Cassiopeia, the Serpent’s Embrace.

✧ reader: ✧ gender neutral.

✧ author’s note: ✧ oh, dear readers and anons, you don’t even know how appreciated I feel whenever you send me some positive energy or compliments, haha! Every time it’s so adorable, I couldn’t feel any better. Thank you for everythig, especially since english is not my first language, so. I basically have no idea what I am doing. Ah, but apart of this anecdote, the reader is really into self care, but I think it shouldn’t be a problem since we are doing a comforting post.

masterlist

✦Talon, the Blade’s Shadow.

He left his blade by the door, because he would never want you to see it in the comforting space of your home, begrimed with blood and disgustingly obscure.

He has lost his prey. His target fleed - he failed; he didn’t manage to complete the only merit of his life that he truly named his own, his passion and devotion, the thing he has been created to do.

If he fails in something so elementary, a thing fankled into his soul and his whole being, an aspect pierced into his heart, then what is his worth?

You spotted his inconvenient posture imidiately, sensing an unnatural twist in his mood, so used to his everyday harshness, enriched by a little bit of sweetness towards only your person. But this time he was different - apathetic with stilted aura of dullness around. Talon let himself tiredly slide on your shared bed, ignoring you just because of the guilt that has been oppressing his heart.

And you, instead of letting him perish alone, you offered him your silent comfort - just yourself by his side. You sat there, your head on his shoulder, gentle touch of your hand on his back, maybe even the tip of your fingers making little circles, massaging.

You asked him what happened, though for the most of the following time you remain quiet, relishing the moment, only you two as the centre of the universe.

But he still felt the enveloping sensation of the failed mission, a feeling he had never experienced before; he has dishonoured his sacred mission. Should he be allowed to feel comforted after a mistake so unforgivable? If he could, he would wear the disgrace as a punishment, visible and vociferous, so everyone would see his shamefull attempts to find comfort in someone else, unworthy of it and pathetic.

Talon was always a mysterious person, but you were like a stronghold for him - it wasn’t a long time until you heard these thoughts of his vocalized out loud, honest and brutal. He murmured them into your ear, while you listened silently, cherishing this sacred moment of his true, intimate self, the person behind the blade.

His thoughts seemed like a form of self-flagellation, noxious and malign. Something pitiful that made your eyes wet, little droplets settling on your eyelashes.

You couldn’t listen to him anymore, saying those denigrating and disgusting statements about himself. All it was untrue, made from the years of abandonment and loneliness, and you were positive to cure it.

But how many times more will you hear him saying that his name doesn’t matter? That as an assasin he is not a human being - he is just a blade that cuts efficiently, deeply and terminally.

“I couldn’t wish for a better person in my life than you, love.” You beggined with you voice brittle, like you were telling him a unconfronted secret. “There is nothing that could make me feel even slightly different. I love you the same amount, as you should love yourself.”

Your words were prosaic, menial. But these were honest promises of adoring him countlessly times, endlessly and for eons, until he comprehends the feelings you wanted him to nurse not only for you, but also himself.

And at some point Talon chuckled, though it wasn’t a sign of joy - it was depressing, unnatural. He tried assuring you that it wasn’t a problem big enough to enwrap you, his beloved one, in - but you could sense his poignant sadness running through his body, just like you could feel his pulsing heart or heavy breath.

You promised him to dedicate to him all of your time, just to assure Talon in his human ability to make mistakes, even so meaningful; to help with his low esteem, even if he firmly disagreed to have anything to do with the mythical term of the mentioned ’low esteem’.

You wrapped your hands around him, tigh and lovely, planning on imprisoning him in a cage made of adoration from someone, who could gave him the comfort he deserved.

Talon left his blade by the door as a symbol of rejection - he rejected the person beyond this place, the one who covered his face with a hood, exchanging him for a more relaxed one, the one made from flesh and honest feelings, the real ones, the right ones, and the absolutely normal ones.

✦Yasuo, the Unforgiven.

As we know, Yasuo escaped Ionia after the unfortunate tragedy that led him despair.

He was lost and longing for a company, though he stated out loud that he didn’t want anyone nerby - he was still too fragile, still in shock of the brutal act he allowed himself to do, bewildered, horrified by himself.

He didn’t want to hurt another human being again. He didn’t want to accompany yet another person, only to betray them nor to give up on them. Another loose would be too painful, too demolishing.

For them, of course. He thought he could handle all of this crushing on his mind.

But Yasuo wouldn’t survive seeing his acquaintance being betrayed by him, once again.

He wasn’t eager to befriend new people here, in Bilgewater; he didn’t seek anyone particular. You found him by yourself, and soon became his only comfort in those times, only way to drift his depressing thoughts away.

And even though it was admirable, your acts of desperate tries, as he considered you as the most valued person in his life, you knew he shouldn’t be feeling so much pain. It could broke even the toughest weilder. His nailed heart pulsing right in his chest was aching and trying to free itself every time Yasuo bestowed you with his deep, sad eyes.

He suffered in silence, though he claimed that you were the only cure for this desease that was gutting his body.

You could name this curse - it was guilt in its purest form. And you were determined to free Yasuo from it.

At some point, he must have opened himself before you, render a vivisection of himself, show you his insides and the putridity that has enveloped his heart and soul. Something you should despise, scream and shout at the sight of, bewildered and cheesed.

But instead of pushing him away as he expected, almost desired, instead of feeling overwhelmed by the emotions he had dropped on your shoulders, you hugged him tightly, the words of comfort pouring from your mouth.

”That wasn’t your fault.” ”You regret this, and you are not the same person you were back then.” ”That was an accident.” ”You are always there for me - let me be here for you now.”

So he declaimed the weight of the world like a poem. About his past and his brother, who has lose to his blade in the accident. You cried with him, mixing your own tears with his own, brushing his problems and concerns off.

You couldn’t even imagine how deeply was he hurt. But humans tend to crawl for the concept of empathetic co-suffering; it makes them feel understood and is crutial when it comes to comforting, therefore it was enough for him: getting the heavy burden off his own mind, sharing it to the world, admitting that he had commited something unforgivable.

You forgave him, though he has never hurted you. But any mercy given from a human being was a relief for Yasuo.

✦Cassiopeia, the Serpent’s Embrace.

Cassiopeia didn’t need your comfort. She despised it. It made her look pathetic and weak, even if she already looked miserable as half a serpent.

But she was a proud woman, a lover of many in her halcyon days of glory. Everyone longed for her and everyone needed her like an antidote for a deadly poison. It was a desire not in a lovely, romantic way, but in a frantic, melodramatic and amusing form of begging for sparing a life.

She manipulated the whole nation of pathetic Noxians into her hands, toyed with them on one of her palms, treating those little figures like ants, just simple pawns on the board that she created from her life. She would be considered infantile if anyone knew what a little mouse wanted to adhere to her, hug her scaled waist and tell her that… she deserved love.

Of course she did! You should have seen her when she was still human, not an abomination, just a twisted figure of her past self.

”No, I am not thinking like this of myself, little mouse. Do not approach me, we can bargain from a distance-”

She would admire your confidency with honesty, if only you weren’t so… clingy. Your hugged her in a devoted way that spoke without words - that you will always follow her as her dearest worshipper, even if she turned into something more fearsome than a half-snake. Even if she turned into a sculpture, you would attend her every day.

Cassiopeia indeed had to admit to herself, in her own convoluted way of a serpent, that your confession made her feel better. Like she had one person that was truly her admirer, not just another human she led on and wrapped around her claw, ready to allure and use. And that her little mouse was kind of adorable; more like a pet, but at least a faithful one.

It was a change of perspectives for her, a phenomenon that made her smile softly, her hand slidding from the top of your head to your back, where she pushed you closer, admiring and loving.

[nushkiespeaks]

*post continued*

You lived on the banks of the Sarasvati for the sacrifice that went on for twelve years. O Krishna! O immensely energetic one! You went to the sacred pilgrimage of Prabhasa, known to all pure ones, and stood there on one leg for one thousand divine years, practising austerities and observing rites. O Keshava! You are the supreme soul of all beings, their beginning and their end. O Krishna! You are the store of all austerities and sacrifices and you are the eternal one. O Krishna! You killed Naraka, famous as Bhoumya, the one with the earrings.7 You performed the first horse sacrifice. O bull among all the worlds! Having accomplished this deed, you became victorious over all the worlds. When all the daityas and danavas assembled together, you killed them in battle. O mightyarmed Keshava! You then gave lordship over everything to Shachi’s husband.8 You then manifested yourself in the world of men. O scorcher of enemies! You were Narayana and then you became Hari.9 You then became Brahma, Soma,10 Surya, Dharma, Dhata,11 Yama, Anala,12 Vayu,13 Vaishravana,14 Rudra, Kala,15 the sky, the earth and the directions. You are without birth. You are the preceptor of everything that moves and is still. You are the creator. You are the supreme being. O Krishna! You are the original god. In the forest of Chitraratha, you performed the turayana sacrifice16 and other sacrifices, donating large amounts of alms. You have great energy. O Janardana! At each sacrifice, you apportioned out one hundred times, according to the share, a hundred thousand gold pieces. O beloved of the Yadavas!17 You have been Aditi’s son. O illustrious one! You are now famous as Vishnu, Indra’s younger brother.18 O scorcher of enemies! O Krishna! While you were only a child, you used your energy to cover heaven, sky and earth in three steps.19 You have attained heaven. You ride the sky seated in the sun’s chariot. You are the soul of all beings. Through your radiance, you are brighter than the sun. The Mouravas and the Pashas have been destroyed.20 Nisunda and Naraka have been killed and the road to the city of Pragjyotisha has become safe again. Ahuti was killed at Jaruthi. Kratha, Shishupala and his followers, Bhimasena,21 Shaibya and Shatadhanva have been conquered. Your chariot is as resplendent as the sun and roars like the cloud. Riding on that, you defeated Rukmi in battle and obtained your queen from the Bhojas.22 In your anger, you killed Indradyumna and the yavana Kasheruman. You have killed Shalva, the lord of Soubha, and you brought down Soubha itself. On the banks of the Iravati, you killed Bhoja, who was the equal of Kartavirya in battle. You also killed Gopati and Talaketu. O Janardana! You journeyed to the ocean and made Dvaraka, sacred, prosperous and loved by the rishis, your own.23 O Madhusudana! O Dasharha!24 You show no anger, no jealousy and no falsehood. No cruelty or crookedness is established in you. O Achyuta!25 You are seated in the centre of the mind, radiant in your own energy. The rishis come to you there and ask for freedom from fear.26 O Madhusudana! You gather up all beings at the end of a yuga.27 O scorcher of enemies! You withdraw the entire universe into yourself and remain alone. No other one in the past has performed such deeds, nor will they in the future. O immensely radiant god! Such are the deeds you performed even when a child. O Pundarikaksha! Such are the deeds you performed with Baladeva’s help. You lived in the abode of Vairaja28 with Brahma himself.” Having thus spoken, the great-souled Pandava, who was like Krishna’s soul himself, fell silent. THIS CLEARLY, CLEARLY SHOWS HOW ARJUN KNEW SO MUCH ABOUT KRISHNA, MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE! AND IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE, WHEN YOU ARE AT PAR WITH KRISHNA'S DIVINITY! HE CLAIMS HE WAS NARAYAN, WHO HAD DONE EXTREME PENANCES IN BADRI! HOW WAS HE AWARE? HOW DID HE REMEMBER THAT KRISHNA WAS NARAAYAN IN HIS MORTAL BODY IF HE DID NOT HAVE GODLY ABILITIES?

‘Janardana then spoke to Partha, “You are mine and I am yours. All that is mine is yours too. He who hates you also hates me. He who follows you also follows me. O invincible one! You are Nara and I am Hari Narayana. We are the rishis Nara and Narayana, born from that world in this world. O Partha! O descendant of the Bharata lineage! You are no other than I. I am no other than you. O bull among the Bharata lineage! No one can know any difference that exists between us.”

Do you think Sri Krishna will tell this to someone randomly if he isn't equal to him? If Narayan was God, why couldn't be Nar? Krishna himself says I AM NO OTHER THAN YOU. Why will he say so if Arjun didn't have abilities as him? Nar and Narayan originated from Bhagawan Vishnu for God's sake! Then how is it possible that Narayan is God and Arjun isn't?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PROVE THAT ARJUN WASN'T BHAGWAN? He is literally worshipped in temples are SRI ARJUN SWAMY and you dare question his credibility as a God?

Arjun was a devotee? He was! But does that snatch his credibility as a God? NEVER?

Wasn't Hanuman a devotee of Sri Ram? Do you guys not consider him as God?!

Do you guys understand what LEELA is? It was Krishna's decision always to let Arjun be the taker so that he can be the giver!

IFY, even obtaining Geeta needs so much knowledge! It's also not possible for everyone to take Geeta that too right from the God himself!

[river-in-the-woods]

Hello Leigh! hope you're having a good one. I was reading your posts about cultivation and something sparked my interest: you were saying how most magical acts in asian traditions are mediated by Gods, Bodhisattvas and ancestral spirits, in general, calling on somebody with power and authority enough to Do The Thing for you, would that be right? if that's so, do you account for people's own magical abilities somehow? like the clair senses or their own ability to make things manifest? Taking a guess, I would assume it's tied to one's Qi and possibly some form of magic inheritance, but I don't see it discussed often. Is that a thing? how common is it?

Hello :) Hope you're having a good one too.

I can't remember in which post I talked about it, but it seems I did not explain very well! Let's give it another try.

The short answer is yes, you can do magic without other spirits. Because you have a spirit. And though you are oriented to the physical plane, which gives you an advantage on the physical and a disadvantage on the spiritual plane, you can still learn to do everything that spirits can do.

In other words, everyone does have their own capacity for doing magic, and that is tied to how developed a person's subtle body is. In Taoism they talk about qì, jīng, shén and meridians; in Buddhism they talk about the movement of prana through the chakras, or the channels, winds and drops. I'm just speaking broadly, because there are various systems that focus on different numbers of energy centres and channels, and I don't know the half of it tbh. But these are the things that give rise to what you know as clair senses.

The longer answer:

In East Asian traditions, performing magic requires mainly three things:

1) a well-developed subtle body, whether this is for channeling energy or for being possessed by gods in trance

2) a good relationship with the powers you favour, whether that be gods, buddhas or spirits

3) instruction and training by a human teacher, from an established tradition in or outside of your family

You can do magic through any one of these things, but it is not as effective/powerful and not considered 'professional'. If you haven't acquired spiritual authority and training from being part of a lineage, the gods and spirits may ignore your attempts to call on their power, or it simply wouldn't work because you have not received the blessing that gives you the ability to do so.

Without initiation, you would be doing what is considered laypeople's folk magic and cultivation. This has a more devotional approach, is done for general well-being, and does not involve commanding spirits or creating magical amulets and talismans.

There's a lot you can do even as a layperson that can have a real impact on your quality of life. Venerating one's gods and ancestors, attending seasonal festivals, practicing virtue, meditation and breath work. There are also folk magic methods that rely on the virtues of plants, minerals, etc, that are informed by traditional medicine and fēnɡshuǐ.

For lay Mahayana Buddhists there are plenty of sacred mantras and scriptures. The 6 syllable mantra, Golden Light Sutra, Heart Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Diamond Sutra, Great Compassion Dharani, Kṣitigarbha Dharani, Ten Small Mantras, White Robe Guan Yin Mantra, etc... These are popular ones.

Lay Daoists can recite Bǎogào (寶誥) for various deities, as well as the Eight Great Incantations (八大神咒). There are plenty of spells and invocations for protection and purification, which I will not list here. And of course there's studying the Dàodéjīng.

To the Western view, these are all very magical things even for a layperson, and indeed they are. But to us, it is not a separation of magic vs mundane (because there is no separation) rather it's professional magic vs lay magic. This is the defining aspect of being a magician or shaman-priest in East Asia; it's a profession and a societal role like doctor, scientist, musician, writer.

Not sure about other languages, but magic in Chinese is 法, literally 'method'. A Daoist magician is called a 方士, 'method master' – they would be expected (in antiquity, at least) to study not just occult methods but also chemistry, medicine, science, politics, astrology and astronomy.

So this is really the main point of my answer. It's not gods-power vs personal-power, because the reality of both these things is included in our spiritual philosophy. I don't believe there are any traditions of Asian magic that do not involve the concept of spirits both within and without us 😅 this idea of secular magic doesn't really exist outside of the West, as far as I know.

I hope that makes sense. I rewrote this post many times trying to figure out the best way to answer 😆