#semitic beauty

[septembergold]

I have a dream

That my Middle Eastern Family will come together and embrace its many differences and find solace in shared grief and hope. For we might be scattered like the sand through the wind in all Cardinal directions yet we are all equally dancing under the stars and God's eyes (whoever he or she or it may be).

Israel

Palestinian

Lebanese

Jordanian

Syria

Saudia Arabia

Kuwait

Bahrain

Libya

Tunisia

Algeria

Morocco

[selenagomez92]

Rare Beauty makes a statement regarding Gaza:

[astrstqr]

☆˙˖ DESIRED REALITY !

things i script for my modern dr. lmk if you want more

⬭ racism, homophobia, ableism, transphobia, islamophobia, anti semitism, misogyny, global warming, climate change, overconsumption, overpopulation, deforestation, habitat destruction etc., used to exist, however they currently do not and will never suffer from them again.

⬭ everyone is treated equal

⬭ no “pro-life”

⬭ people are allowed to have abortions no matter what age they are

⬭ women products are free such as pads/tampons and birth control

⬭ everyone is educated on problems happening around the world

⬭ health care is free

⬭ natives are seen as the founders of America

⬭ south, west, southeast, & central Asians are seen too + people know Asia is not just the east

⬭ having guns are illegal unless your job requires you to have one and there is no other way to get a gun

⬭ periods last a day and are very light

⬭ covid-19 doesn’t exist

⬭ plastic surgery is normalized , isnt look down on but people rarely gets it unless necessary

⬭ children of any age are not sexualized in any form or shape

⬭ in public bathrooms the toilet is always clean, people don't knock on the stall you are in, there is always toilet paper, always soap and a hand dryer

⬭ the Chinese government isn't so harsh & gives the citizens freedom

⬭ people of color’s cultures are RESPECTED, & not appropriated

⬭ foster care takes treats kids nicely

⬭ nobody harms animals and kill shelters are not a thing

⬭ all country leaders are good and honest people

⬭ human trafficking does not exist

⬭ the government never watches you through your phone

⬭ trump never ran for president

⬭ no world hungers

⬭ no one is homeless, and everyone has a home

⬭ world peace

⬭ women and men are equal

⬭ it’s easy for people to make money

⬭ all sickness has a cure

⬭ bullying does not exist

⬭ black history and pride month still exist

⬭ the government isn't greedy and take care of their people

⬭ every country has money, food, isnt poor, etc. etc.

⬭ no toxic parenting

⬭ the Sewol ferry never had an accident

⬭ school shooting doesn’t exist

⬭ minimum wage is $15-$20 an hour

⬭ crimes are punished with justice in mind

⬭ history is recorded correctly

⬭ people can start driving at 15

⬭ Korea is not conservative

⬭ Korea doesn’t have an unrealistic beauty standard

⬭ Korea never divided, it is united and free. But south of korea is like the city part and the north is like rural part

⬭ pollution does not exist

⬭ earth air is clean and easy to breathe no matter where you are

⬭ no acid rain, urban sprawl, ozone layer depletion

⬭ allergies do not exist

⬭ the world is more colorful and not dull looking

⬭ coral reef still has it color

⬭ no water in unwanted places

⬭ grass is always green

⬭ if the population increases the planet gets bigger to produce resources to accommodate the growing population. it doesnt effect the mass of the earth or the gravitational pull

⬭ global warming doesn't exist

⬭ humidity doesn't ruin hair

⬭ the library of alexandria was never destroyed

⬭ apple pencils work on iPhone

⬭ everything is wireless, and nothing needs a cord

⬭ line is always short in stores and restaurants

⬭ buildings and renovating don’t take longer than a wee

⬭ you can book a hotel with being 18 or older

⬭ traffic is always fine

⬭ netflix have more of a large selection of things and dont remove shows/add shows no one wants

⬭ spotify is free

⬭ the switch have a web browser

⬭ tv companies still make tv shows similar to the 2000s and early 2010s , just updated to keep up with the times

⬭ the sims franchise lore is linear throughout the series

the open world features from sims 3 is still present in sims 4

sims 4 is like an updated and better version of sims 3 keeping all the features from the sims 3 (still including everything that is already in sims 4)

non of the games have bugs

every expansion pack etc is just added to the game as an update and no one has to pay for it

⬭ cheap jewelry doesnt tarnish

⬭ washer/dryer cycles are 15 mins

⬭ in the show dancing dolls everyone was treated equally and was never fake to each other.

⬭ people actually do the theme for the met gala and it’s always unique

୨୧⠀˙⠀⠀˖⠀ world aesthetic & vibe

[esyra]

You do not deserve this. Your people do not deserve this. I hope it is okay to pray for you & your family, because I have been since this genocide began. Never again means never again. Your people will be free. The world is seeing You, they are loving you. Jews are on your side, Persian Jews such as myself are on your side, Ones in America such as I and all over the world. Palestine is a beautiful place, and this proposed ethnostate of Israel is only causing immense pain to Palestinians, who have done nothing but try to live, as well as Jews who are caught in between warmongering colonial powers as a scapegoat for oppression and apartheid. The pain you feel is seen, you are seen, and we love you. We are brothers, siblings, family though we do not know each other and never will. Im sorry this is long, I have been crying and praying for you so much. Your soul and your family's souls are more beautiful and precious than the stars in the sky.

I'd just like to say, hearing from Jews and seeing Jews standing for Gaza does make me hopeful. I know it must not be easy, I know you're in pain, which makes it even more bittersweet. I saw the anti-Semitic crowd in Russia, I'm sorry. You don't deserve this. Never.

I'm saying this not only to you, who sent this, but the amount of people who sent me those kinds of messages. From American Jews, European Jews, the entire Jewish community that's standing with Gaza. Thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for speaking up. I'll never have enough 'thank you's to give you. Thank you.

[sweatervest-obsessed]

Violent Delights Have Violent Ends

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!reader

WC: 1.8k

TW: Serial killers, murders, blood, referencing to infidelity,

A/N: This has been something I have been thinking about for a while. I hope y'all enjoy it!

Spencer did not realize that someone could know more about anything intellectual than he did. It honestly baffled him, when Hotch called him into the office, to introduce the two of you. 

“Spencer this is Doctor Y/N Y/L/N, Doctor Y/L/N, this is Doctor Spencer Reid.” 

He gave you a small smile, and a slightly awkward wave. You were beautiful, there was no doubt about it, an absolute plus to the fact that you were intelligent. He was captivated by your eyes but quickly coughed and looked back at Hotch. 

“Doctor Y/L/N��”

“Please Agent, call me by my first name after the initial introductions, Doctor makes me feel a tad bit ridiculous after like the second time.” You couldn’t have been more than twenty four, Reid deduced. 

Hotch smiled at you, nodding. “Please, call me Aaron, or Hotch, I feel the same way about agent. Reid,” He turned towards Reid. “Y/N, is going to be a consultant on this next case, and you two will be working closely together.”

Reid was suddenly excited by the prospect of working with a consultant. He usually dreaded them, but something about you made him excited to actually be able to converse intellectually with someone on the team. 

But luckily for Morgan, you were not what anyone was expecting. You all had boarded the jet, sitting around and chatting since you had a long flight from DC to Oregon, not really willing to get into the details of the case just yet. 

“So, Doctor Y/L/N, what made you choose Shakespeare?” 

You rolled your eyes. “Agent Morgan, if you keep using my official title, you’re going to be talking to the wall. Wanna try again?” 

His jaw dropped slightly, enjoying the banter you were providing. Derek Morgan was far from ugly, far from it. But he simply wasn’t your type. But that did not mean you couldn’t flirt back. 

“Well then, Miss Y/N, why Shakespeare.” 

You smiled, “Shakespeare is just another language. And I already speak French, Arabic, Spanish, some Latin, a little Greek, and I’m learning enough Mandarin and Cantonese to get by on my next trip to China. So understanding Shakespeare from a linguistic point, I’ve already got covered. Especially since it was something I could read easily from a young age.” 

JJ and Emily had stopped their conversation and turned to face you, eagerly listening in to what you have to say. 

“But, from a theatrical point, his writing is so incredibly intricate. There are layers upon layers of text and context and subtext throughout all of his plays and sonnets, not to mention the fact that Shakespeare can be transformed, moved from one thing to another incredibly easily. You have to factor in that he was a misogynist, anti semitic, probably-most-definitely racist, among all of the other things, but adapting his works throughout time is something I have a special interest in, particularly his portrayal of woman and how that has been changed throughout productions over the years, mainly focusing in comedies and this strange need for him to have happy endings end in weddings.”

The jet was all staring at you, while a smirk slowly slid onto Derek’s face. “Looks like you got some competition here, Pretty Boy.” 

You shrugged at Derek, and looked back at your phone. “I appreciate competition more than meaningless run-around conversations Derek. If you’re going to profile me, then just profile me. Or google me really. There’s no need to prod and pretend like you’re not trying to find out whether or not I’m single. If you wanted to ask me out, you should just ask me out.” 

Jaws on the plane dropped. Derek tried to stutter out a response but was cut off by Emily, smirking over at him. “Besides consulting on murder cases, what do you actually do with a PhD in Shakespeare?”

You looked up at Emily and shrugged. “Whatever I really want to do. It’s just flexible enough that I can bullshit a job I want and take it, excluding present company. Usually I consult in England with the Globe Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, I also guest lecture Shakespeare for younger audiences, like high schoolers and first years in college because I’m still young enough that I could be considered nerdy by a high schooler, but have college freshmen not be able to talk to me because I’m just good enough to get away with it.”

“What did you get your undergrad in?” Spencer spoke for the first time to you since you met him, you smiled a little bit. 

“No one really asks me that.” You looked over at Spencer. “I have a bachelors in Directing with minors in English Literature, French, and Classics, and then I went on and got my Masters in Art History, since the visual aspect of the Arts is what interests me so much.” 

Rossi nodded, “Makes sense considering I’ve seen your thesis–very impressive.” 

“What did you write about?” JJ looked over at you. 

“I–” You started but Rossi interrupted you. “Actually, if any of you had done any research, or were familiar with the Theatrical Arts, you would know that her thesis was an incredibly well-received production of Hamlet that delved into the female psyche and experience.” 

Your jaw dropped slightly. “I-I didn’t think you, any of you would have even known that. Let alone had time to go and see my production?”

“Well, I have a fondness for the arts.” 

You shook your head. “Or incredible timing.” 

“Wha–timing?” JJ scoffed. 

“Well,it’s— the program was in London, and it was only running for a few weeks…”

“Rossi when the hell did you go to London?” Derek finally spoke up, slightly captivated by you, but not in the way Reid was. You were something else, something completely new, which meant he could learn, and you were something he wanted to learn everything about. 

“Well, right before I rejoined the BAU, I did a lecturing series over at Scotland Yard, and everyone had been discussing this production by the youngest female director to ever direct at the Bridge Theatre. I loved your use of, what were they, silks?” 

You nodded, slightly embarrassed, mostly in awe. 

“Ah yes, your usage of silks and the columns. I was on the floor, part of the cattle that was moved around. Very innovative use of that space, very impressive.” 

“I’d have to agree.” Hotch spoke up, and you turned to look at him, eyes even wider than before. He smiled at the look on your face. “When we got this case, and we were requesting you as a consultant, I watched the recording. Very good work Y/n.”

“W-wow, um, thank you so much Age–Hotch. I really appreciate it–from the both of you.” You smiled at him and Rossi. 

“I would love to hear all about this production, if you don’t mind me asking.” Emily slid across the aisle, taking the seat across from you, JJ doing the same, crowding Derek. 

“Well, as Rossi said, it was about the female experience, and my Hamlet, was absolutely incredible, really took on the queer aspect of the role since Ophelia was still a woman, and–” You explained the concept, the design, the thought behind all of it. Every single person on the plane was simply obsessed with you by the time you were done, asking questions when they were curious. It confounded Spencer how he had never really paid attention to that section of the world of academia, and he was almost beating himself up over it, because he had missed you this whole time. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

“Eyes look your last, Arms take your—this is Romeo’s death monologue before he stabs himself. And this other one, is ‘Be buried quick with her, and so will I’, which is Hamlet trying to fight Laertes after he learns of Ophelia’s death…And..this is the one from this morning ” You turned to the sheriff who was just trying to make sense of the fact that you just were able to comprehend and relay Shakespearean information after reading the images of the victim's blood used on the walls, so calmly. “Sheriff?”

“Sorry, yes. Yes” 

You frowned a bit, “They’re getting more violent. This is Brutus finding out Portia is dead–’with meditating that she must die once, I have the patience to endure it now…”

Reid looked over at you, “All of them are the men’s reactions to the death of their beloved.” 

You nodded and sighed. “That means, uh…If he has a list,” You walked over to the white board and started writing the names of the fictional couples on it. “He still has Antony and Cleopatra…Macbeth and Lady Macbeth,,,,and….”

“And what?” The sheriff looked between you and Reid, as you turned a little white. “The um. The last couple dealing with murder/suicide of each other is, uh, Othello.”

Hotch gave you a look. “Explain.” 

“What do you know about Othello?” 

Hotch furrowed his brow.

You took his silence as permission to ramble. “It’s just a theory but, it’s regarded as not only one of the most tragic endings to lovers, even beyond the stupid miscommunications of Romeo and Juliet, because Othello kills his wife, believing she had cheated on him, suffocating her to death on their marriage bed, and then once he realizes he’s been tricked by Iago, he kills himself next to her body. It’s horrendous.”

“If I had to guess, He’s forcing the husbands to kill their wives, and then he kills them..” Spencer followed up, analyzing the pictures across the tables. “Based on the way they were positioned—he’s setting them up as a series of muder-suicides, just like Shakespeare.” 

“Actually.” You picked up one of the pictures and handed it to Hotch. “I think it’s a woman.” 

“You just stole Reid’s line.” Derek mused from the doorway, handing you a cup of coffee, which you gratefully accepted. 

Reid huffed and rolled his eyes. “It’s not my line.” 

“It is.” Hotch said dryly as he analyzed what you had just told him. “Y/n, can you please get me a list of the monologues left, so we can try and figure out who might be his next victims, so we can try and link the victims we do have.” 

You nodded and sat down at your laptop. It was bugging you slightly at how much you enjoyed working on this case, working with the BAU, working with Doctor Reid. 

This was the most action your PhD had seen since you had written it. 

Part 2

[boreal-sea]

okay sorry you don’t like the word Zionist I’ll come up with a new word and it’s weirdassbitch btw and guess whatZzz ummm yeah you fit the bill. I don’t know man 😭😭😭😭 the fact you’re only posting about gofundmes when it’s about Israeli hostages or only ever being like “okay yeah what’s happening to Palestinians is bad” in conjunction with “so about this anti semitism we’ve been having…” means you’re obviously biased you’re just biased and hey… hey holds your hand it’s okay ❤️❤️❤️❤️���️ We can work through this… together *looks away shyly* also I’m like Jewish like by blood. I didn’t even have to convert sorry I’m laughing converts you’re valid but boreal I guess I’m just like…. Better than you at being Jewish? Idk btw and hey maybe the reason why antisemitism is rising is because you guys are all like yeah so we deserve Israel because we lived there 1000000 years ago and if you hate Israel you’re anti Jewish soooo yeah…. Yep maybe having being Jewish synonymous with a genocidal state isn’t smart idk just my thoughts. I think having Jews live all across the world is so beautiful it brings a tear to my eye… I think shoving us all in one place is gay as hell to be frank. Whwtagevrr. I was born in USA born and raised and my family came from Ukraine. I have zero claim to a plot of land 6000 miles away just because I wanna have a sick ass vacation home. maybe that’s why you converted I’m just joshing around it would be funny though if you went through all that just to build a cute little Resort on stolen land. I don’t know boreal. I think I’d just rather have my BLEGH :P, not a :•]

I have not posted a single gofundme for Israeli victims. I’m not sure why you’d make up that lie? Please feel free to look back in my blog as far as you’d like, you won’t find one. It’s even in my blog description that I do not reblog gofundme posts.

I do post links to organizations that directly help Palestinians in Gaza. I have done so fairly often. I don’t recall ever posting a link to aid organizations that only benefit Israelis.

Do I often talk about antisemitism and Gaza at the same time? Yes. These two things are inextricably linked. What is happening in Gaza right now wouldn’t be happening without antisemitism.

Am I biased? No more than the average human being on Earth. I personally consider the folks screaming “Death to Israel!” to be a lot more biased than myself, as I am simply calling for peace between Israel and Hamas. I wanted a peaceful solution from the beginning. You can even find posts on my blog right after Oct 7th where I compare Israel to the USA after 9/11 and state my fears that Israel will have a disproportionate reaction. I loathe the political posturing of both Netanyahu and Hamas and I hate that they both dragged this out so long. Netanyahu wanted this to look like Trump’s victory, which disgusts me. And Hamas allowed their people to suffer for over a year! They’re disgusting, too. Every leader involved in this conflict failed their people.

Our personal feelings about whether or not native people like the Jews “deserve” to live in their homeland is irrelevant — Israel as a country exists here and now. Though it does bring up the interesting question: do you think if the USA just waits long enough, native Americans will also lose their landback rights? How long will that take?

Jews don’t really live “all over the world”. Nearly half live in the USA, and the other half in Israel. This is because all the other countries were so violently antisemitic to the Jews living there the Jews had to flee. In fact, after Israel was founded, a lot of countries literally forced their Jews out under threat of death.

Jews still suffer from antisemitism all around the world, and did so even before Oct 7th. The increase in antisemitism since Oct 7th hasn’t exactly made diaspora Jews feel safe. “A country you’re not even a citizen of did a bad thing, so now I’m going to firebomb your elementary school” isn’t fertile ground for cooperation, is it?

I don’t agree with everything Israel has done. I don’t have to. I think it is a country in crisis that needs major reforms, much like the USA. But I don’t scream “death to America!” either. I live here. I want to make it a better place. I want them both to be better, to live up to the ideals they espouse. To be free, and safe, and prosperous.

I want Gazans to be able to go home. I want them free from the cruelty of Hamas, which has allowed its people to die and suffer since it took power in 2005 and refused to hold any more free elections. They are tyrants. I want Palestinians in the diaspora to come home, too. I want them to have a safe, prosperous country where their culture and children can flourish!

I want peace. If that makes me a “weirdassbitch”, then so be it. I’ve been weird my whole life, anon!

[beardedmrbean]

Two Sydney nurses have been stood down after disturbing footage emerged of the pair saying they would “kill” and refuse to treat Israeli patients.

It’s understood the clip, which showed two workers from Bankstown Hospital wearing New South Wales Health uniforms, was filmed during a live stream on Tuesday night.

The video shows the pair speaking to a popular Jewish influencer in Israel.

During the conversation, the man who claims to be a doctor tells the influencer: “I’m gonna be really honest with you … you actually got really, really beautiful eyes, but I’m so upset that you’re Israeli, like eventually you’re going to get killed.”

“Why do you think I’m going to get killed?” the influencer asks, before the female nurse interjects.

“It’s Palestine’s country, not your country you piece of s–t,” she says.

“One day your time will come and you will die the most,” she continues before the video cuts out.

“Listen to me when your time comes, I want you to remember my face so you can understand that you will die the most disgusting death.”

Wanting to ask a question, the influencer begins to say: “Let’s say an Israeli, God forbid …”

“I won’t treat them, I’ll kill them,” she interrupted. “Not God forbid, I hope to God.”

“You have no idea how many Israeli … dog came to this hospital and … ,” the man added, gesturing a knife through his neck.

“I literally sent them to Jahannam.”

Jahannam is the Arabic word for “hell”.

NSW police confirmed they are investigating the video, announcing Strike Force Pearl, which investigates anti-Semitic attacks, has taken carriage of the investigation.

“NSW Health, believe they have identified the individuals involved and are currently assisting detectives with their investigation,” a NSW police spokesperson said in a statement.

“A thorough investigation is underway.”

No charges have been laid.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park condemned the “appalling” video.

“The comments are vile, dehumanizing and unacceptable,” he said.

“They made me sick to my stomach.”

“If the investigation concludes that this behavior has occurred, these individuals will no longer be working for NSW Health,” Park continued.

“These comments do not reflect the values of NSW Health or the broader NSW community.”

“We cannot afford to have people like that in a health system. Everyone is entitled to access NSW health and hospital services without featuring for their life and without having that sort of hate-filled attitude come through some of our health care workers,” he added during an interview on 2GB.

‘Disgusting’: PM responds

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled the footage “sickening and shameful”.

“The antisemitic video circulating today is disgusting. The comments are vile,” he said in a statement on X.

“These antisemitic comments, driven by hate, have no place in our health system and no place anywhere in Australia.

“These individuals have been stood down by NSW Authorities. They have rightly been referred to the NSW Police for criminal investigation.”

Albanese concluded by stating those who have committed criminal antisemitic acts will “face the full force of our laws”.

In a joint statement, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler and Federal Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke said the government “utterly condemns the appalling video”.

“This video is as chilling as it is vile. The comments made in this video are sickening and totally unacceptable,” they said.

Butler and Burke said they welcomed the news the individuals involved have been stood down.

“Health workers have a solemn duty to treat and heal everyone who comes before them needing help. The vast majority hold to that oath,” they said.

“The idea that you would single out a particular group in our community and indicate you wouldn’t care for them runs against every single principle in our health care system.”

‘Act of bastardry’

Addressing reporters on Wednesday morning, Park said those people, subject to an investigation, will “not ever be working for NSW Health ever again”.

“There is no place for this sort of perspective in our society.”

Park apologized to the Jewish community.

“I can assure you this, the care that you get in our hospitals will continue to be first-class. We will investigate this uphill and down dale. We will not be looking at this incident per say but we will also be … going through previous cases to make sure that hospital has been working in a way that reflects those values around safety and care.”

Addressing healthcare employees, he said: “This act of bastardry, this act of vile disgusting behaviour, from two individuals, will in no way diminish the value the secretary, myself as the minister, but more importantly our state, values the work that you do each and every day.”

‘Tip of the iceberg’

The co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australia Jewry Alex Ryvchin said the video was “utterly sickening to watch”.

“Their unrepentant, gleeful hatred is the precursor to the violence we are experiencing in our country and it must be stamped out,” he said on X.

“No doubt we will see the defence that Jews have brought this hatred upon themselves through Israel’s war in Gaza.

“That these people are merely traumatized from the images of the war. They have it backwards. It is this hatred and dehumanization of Jews that causes wars and the carnage of October 7 and if left unchecked it will further degrade our society. Time for consequences.”

Speaking to Sky News, Ryvchin warned the incident was just “the tip of the iceberg”.

“This is a warning sign once again to all Australians about the evil that exists in our midst, the need to understand this ideology and to confront it, and the harm that it does to all Australians,” he said.

Ryvchin said for months he’s heard from medical practitioners who have been warning about extreme content posted by other nurses and doctors online.

“This is clearly the first time it has gone to such a public, brazen level. But I think we’d be kidding ourselves if we thought they were isolated individuals. I think that this is merely the tip of the iceberg.”

Medical community responds

Dr. Michael Krasovitsky, who is Jewish and works as a medical oncologist at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney said it was “terrifying” to hear the comments made by fellow healthcare workers.

“I love my job, and I feel very connected to working within NSW Health. To hear that two hopefully rogue colleagues of mine so deeply hate Israeli and Jewish people is simply terrifying,” Krasovitsky said.

“No matter our ethnicity, political beliefs, sexuality, gender or other defining characteristics, we all deserve respect, and all deserve compassionate and best-practice health care.

“I will hold my head up high when I next provide the best care I can to someone whose beliefs don’t align with my own”.

The Australian Medical Association (NSW) has condemned the “anti-Semitic commentary” within the health system.

“On behalf of NSW doctors, we want to make it very clear that doctors, nurses and other health practitioners are committed to providing the best possible care to every patient in NSW,” it said in a statement.

“The Declaration of Geneva states doctors will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between their duty and their patient.

There is no place for hatred or division in the health system and this behavior will not be tolerated. Our hospitals must remain safe havens for all patients.”

[motherpriestess]

Her Changing Faces

The Great Mother in Many Forms: Goddesses Across Cultures

The archetype of the Great Mother has been revered across cultures and ages, embodying fertility, creation, wisdom, and transformation. From the life-giving earth to the celestial heavens, she has taken many forms, known by countless names. Below, we explore some of the most powerful and enduring goddesses associated with the Great Mother, spanning mythologies from Mesopotamia to Greece, from Egypt to India, and beyond.

The Great Mother in Ancient Egypt

Nut – The sky goddess who births the sun each morning and swallows it each night, embodying the cosmic cycle of life.

Hathor – The nurturing cow goddess, associated with love, fertility, and motherhood.

Maat – The personification of divine order, truth, and balance, ensuring the universe’s harmony.

Isis (Au Set) – The great mother of magic and resurrection, healer of the sick, and protector of women and children.

The Great Mother in Mesopotamian Mythology

Inanna (Innin) – The Sumerian goddess of love, war, and fertility, often associated with transformation and the underworld.

Ishtar – The Babylonian counterpart of Inanna, embodying passion, power, and renewal.

Nammu – The primordial sea goddess, mother of the gods and the creator of the world.

Ninhursag – A goddess of fertility and mountains, revered as the mother of all living things.

Tiamat – A primordial goddess of chaos and the sea, giving birth to creation itself.

Ninlil – Goddess of the wind, wife of Enlil, and mother of divine lineage.

Ereshkigal – Queen of the Underworld, embodying the darker aspect of the Great Mother, associated with death and transformation.

The Great Mother in the Levant and the Near East

Anat – A warrior goddess of Canaanite origin, associated with fertility and vengeance.

Asherah – The ancient Semitic mother goddess, often called the "Queen of Heaven."

Astarte (Ashtart) – A Phoenician goddess of love and fertility, linked to both the heavens and the underworld.

Atargatis – A Syrian goddess of fertility and water, often depicted as a mermaid.

Al-Lat, Al-Uzza, and Manat – Pre-Islamic Arabian goddesses linked to fertility, war, and fate.

The Great Mother in Indo-European Traditions

Goddess Danu/Diti – The primordial mother goddess of Hindu and Celtic traditions, associated with rivers and wisdom.

Devi (Mata-Devi) – The supreme goddess in Hinduism, embodying all aspects of the feminine divine.

Kali – The dark and transformative aspect of the mother, representing destruction, time, and rebirth.

Vac – The Vedic goddess of speech, wisdom, and the sacred word.

Minerva – The Roman goddess of wisdom, war, and craft, linked to the Great Mother archetype through her strategic and protective nature.

Rhiannon – A Celtic goddess of sovereignty, often linked to horses and the moon.

Diana (Artemis) – The Roman goddess of the hunt, the wild, and childbirth, representing independence and the power of nature.

Selene – The Greek personification of the moon, tied to the cyclical nature of the Great Mother.

Ariadne – The mistress of the labyrinth, a goddess associated with transformation and the soul’s journey.

Aphrodite – Though often seen as the goddess of love and beauty, she also holds deep connections to fertility and the life-giving powers of the sea.

The Great Mother as the Cosmic Sovereign

Queen of Heaven – A title given to many mother goddesses across cultures, including Ishtar, Asherah, and Mary in Christian tradition.

Lady of the High Place – An epithet for deities worshipped in mountaintop sanctuaries, emphasizing their connection to the heavens.

Celestial Ruler, Lady of the Universe, Sovereign of the Heavens – Titles that reinforce the Great Mother’s supreme authority over creation.

Lioness of the Sacred Assembly – A fierce aspect of the goddess, symbolizing protection and strength.

The Great Mother in Classical and Modern Traditions

Gaia – The Greek primordial goddess of the Earth, mother of all life.

Demeter and Kore (Persephone) – The mother-daughter pair representing the seasonal cycle of life and death.

Ceres – The Roman counterpart of Demeter, goddess of agriculture and fertility.

The Triple Goddess – A modern pagan concept representing the Maiden, Mother, and Crone—three aspects of the divine feminine.

She Who Will Not Have a Husband – A powerful concept of the independent goddess, rejecting patriarchal control.

Conclusion

The Great Mother is one of the most enduring archetypes in human spirituality. Whether she is worshipped as Isis, Inanna, Demeter, Kali, or Gaia, her essence remains the same—she is the giver and taker of life, the weaver of fate, and the ultimate source of wisdom and transformation.

Her name may change, but her power remains eternal.

[fluxphage]

Today ❗❗ is PURIM 🍺🍸🍷 when beautiful 💖 QWEEN 👑💅💄 Esther stopped evil 👺 daddy haman 🅱🅾🅾 from killing 🔪 the 🔯🔯 Jews 🔯🔯 so grab 👐 a drink 🍸 and get LIT until you 👌👌 can't ❌ tell 👀 the difference between ↔ good 😇😇 and evil 😈 send this to all your friends. get 5 🕔 back and you're a purim pussy get 10 back 👅👅 and you're a semitic slut get 15 🔝📬 and you're a qween hamentaschen ho

[grecoromanyaoi]

ok. so. this contains spoilers for the movie gladiator 2 (2024). i will probs add more bc im sure im forgetting smth. tldr - theres not a single historical fact in sight god bless ❤️

- they were so confused abt the message of the movie. they tried to say so much while instantly forgetting everything the moment they said it. oh, u thot this was going to b a movie talking rome as a brutal imperialist force from the pov of colonized ppl? well, it is, for like 10 minutes. n then they forget abt it. rome is good. u thot this was going to b abt slavery n how deeply ingrained it was in roman society? it talks abt that for 5 minutes. marcus aurelius had slaves, they say, then forget abt it after 10 minutes. marcus aurelius was a good man. rome is bad bc its an empire built on slavery n imperialism, we should fix it, n make it a REPUBLIC built on slavery n imperialism.

- ok so hanno is a pheonician name. n he was given that name in numidia. which was an amazigh kingdom. n everyone else around him were aesthetically amazigh??? except for when they were aesthetically west african. im p sure ridley scott still doesnt know where numidia is. (also in the hebrew subtitles they translated hanno into האנו when it should b חנו??? its a semitic name. its חנו like the word חן. whatever. least of my worries.)

- there was a jumble of accents which made immersion in the setting so hard. why did denzel washington n pedro pascal keep american accents while most other ppl had british accents. why did lior raz keep his accent. where is he even supposed to b from.

- ok. i dont like using the word woke in a way that doesnt align w its original meaning. HOWEVER. this movie felt like republicans making fun of progressives n making a movie that was 'gladiator but woke'. they tried so hard to put poc in the story n they talked abt imperialism from the pov of the colonized n characters who were canonly lgbt but also this was all so surface level bc. even the character that was supposed to b the pov of the colonized turned out to b a roman prince n turn around to support rome n the roman army. they still had characters (namely caracalla n geta) b gnc as a way to signal that theyre morally corrupt.

- why were all the rich romans so pale, powdered n sickly looking

- speaking of caracalla n geta. this remains the funniest whitewashing in history. i had to stop myself from bursting out laughing every time they were on screen. look at what theyve done to our beautiful brunettes

- also. twin emperors?????? lmfao. why was geta the prime brother n leader. caracalla was older

- why were all the statues white!!!!!

- why did they make up that random roman figures were gay. why did they made up that lucius verus n caracalla were gay. why did all the men want his gladiussy so bad

- ok last but is actually the most important point. WHERE THE FUCK WAS IULIA DOMNA. (sidenote - they joked abt the incest storyline they made up for the first movie but no mention of the real historical incest rumors abt caracalla fucking his mother??? smh)

[proudzionist]

I agree with Marnie 💯 Eden made Israel very proud . She outshined their Anti semitic hate with beauty and grace and Jewish pride and she is a role model .

She handled herself so well under such a stressful situation.

She made us proud 🇮🇱💙🫂

[daenystheedreamer]

Valyrian Pantheon Headcanons

We know the names of 5 of the Valyrian gods and that's it. We don't know anything about the practices or even what those gods were patrons of. Here is my headcanon reconstruction of the pantheon ^_^

I think the Fourteen Flames (the volcanoes) are named for fourteen gods who constitute the main pantheon, similar to the 12 Greek Olympians or the 12 Roman Dei Consentes. There are many minor gods, usually personifications of concepts like seasons/emotions.

I imagine them like Egyptian gods, who are personified sometimes as humans, sometimes as animals, sometimes as animal-headed humanoids. I imagine the main fourteen as dragons, though idk how silly that would look lol.

I think they were also androgynous gods. Why? That's fun. That's so fun. Dragons are theorised to be hermaphroditic/intersex who can change their sex at will, but also are referred to as she-dragons if they are confirmed to lay clutches of eggs. So some of these gods are gods, and some are goddesses, despite being a-gender

Canonical Gods

BALERION: I believe Balerion's name is at least a little inspired by Ba'al, an ancient Semitic god who was very important to the religions of the region (Canaan, Babylon, etc) and features as a false god in the Hebrew bible. I think he's the King of the gods, like Zeus. God of war or fire or conquest or all of the above. Many ancient gods shifted their patronage and powers.

VHAGAR: Consort of Balerion, similar to Hera. Goddess of war/wisdom, similar to Athena. I think this fits a person like Visenya.

MERAXES: Perhaps a concubine of Balerion? Like how Zeus had thousands of lovers. Metis, Leto, Demeter, etcetera. Goddess of love, because Rhaenys seems like a woman who enjoyed love and life. Perhaps also a goddess of marriage?

SYRAX: It's gotta be someone Rhaenyra would think is cool. Perhaps a goddess of the sun/moon? Another war goddess? A queen? Actually, perhaps Syrax is the Hera of the pantheon, while Vhagar is not necessarily virginal like Athena but 'unmarried' so to speak. Goddess of beauty/wealth would also fit Rhaenyra. Goddess of the sun or moon would be fun in opposition to Sunfyre.

BOASH: called 'The Blind God' Mentioned as the god the Lorathi worship, whose religious followers (dissidents of the Valyrian Freehold) founded the city of Lorath. The name doesn't follow the typical Valyrian naming traditions, perhaps he was originally Boax/Boaxes? Would be fun. He's a very esoteric god connected to 'higher truths', the priests are eunuchs and the followers are vegetarian teetotalers and a main tenant is that everyone is equal. They also wear hair shirts which is an old Christian practice. I think he's a version of a Valyrian death god

the BLACK GOAT: Whose followers founded Qohor. I think he's a minor god, perhaps of magic or agriculture even, agricultural deities tend to be very important to common folk. However the goat imagery evokes Satan and Baphomet, so I think a villainous or death deity would be fun.

Non-canonical gods

A lot of the Targ dragons are given names with similar naming style to the canonical god dragons.

VERMITHOR & VERMAX: The naming conventions of Vermax and Vermithor intrigue me... I think one is the name of the God and one is a theophoric name in reference to the god. Perhaps a god of justice, law, order, etc, since they were the dragons of Jaehaerys and Jacaerys and I can see them picking that kind of God.

ARRAX: Lucerys names his dragon this, so I think a coming-of-age god or god of youths would be fun since he, yknow, got eated at 14.

CARAXES: This is Daemon's dragon so I'm saying Caraxes is the Dionysus/Hermes trickster god. Daemon picking the bacchanalian drunk sex god for his dragon is real to me.

MELEYS: Rhaenys TQWNW's dragon. Rhaenys gives off SUCH demeter vibes idk so agricultural god would be fun but idk i don't think she'd pick something like that. Perhaps its based off of Meraxes since Rhaenys is her namesake. Perhaps an oceanic or weather-based god.

MORGHUL: Morghul is simply the word for death in High Valyrian e.g. 'Valar Morghulis', but I like it as a euphemistic name for a God of death. Like his name is so tabboo that you just refer to him as death, or he's just named death in relation to afterlife, like how Hades refers to both the god and the underworld. I think perhaps Boash and the Black Goat are actually interpretations/aspects of the same deity, perhaps a death - morghul - god.

SHRYKOS: Sick name sorry just had to say that. He's Jaehaerys (son of Helaegon)'s dragon. got no clue what he could be a god of cos jaehaerys is a plot device character. I think he's just a cool Valyrian word, like Morghul, since Jaehaerys and Jaehaera are twins. Be fun if they picked life/death dichotomy for their dragons :p

TERRAX: ridden by the pre-doom character Jaenara Belaerys, who flew further south in Sothoryos than anyone else. God(dess) of travel/wisdom/conquest/oceans would be fun since she's a traveller who flew across oceans and sort of exemplifies the Valyrian conquest/adventurer spirit.

TESSARION: Okay the blue queen has to be a goddess of the ocean or the sky<3

TYRAXES: Joffrey's dragon :) I think a god of animals would be cute also cos he sounds like T-rex. I would name my dragon T-rex. Possibly a bastardisation of Terrax though...

URRAX: This is the name of a legendary/fairytale dragon from the story of Serwyn and Daeryssa from the Age of Heroes. By Daeryssa's naming convention and the fact she is mentioned only in AGOT, I think she was perhaps supposed to be a Targaryen before GRRM had established a full history. I think he's just a bastardisation of perhaps a Valyrian god like Arrax.

So my vision of the Valyrian pantheon includes Balerion, Vhagar, Meraxes, Syrax, Vermithor, Arrax, Caraxes, Terrax, Tessarion, which is 9 gods

plus Meleys and Tyraxes who I'm not sure if I want to be referring to above gods or just the name of a god entirely, which makes 11

Adding a death god (Boash, Black Goat, Moghul) makes 12,

which leaves another two unnamed for my personal idea of a Valyrian pantheon :)

[daniel-nerd]

yesterday(may 9th) i attended the BIGGEST protest in israel against the occupation since october 7th.

in this video you can hear us chanting “they’re still alive, this is the time for deals” and “leave the balcony, the deal is collapsing” referencing the ceasefire agreement, and encouraging people to join us.

i will post a video of ahmad tibi’s speech later today, after i’ll translate it.

in this protest i marched with so many different people, from kids to elderly, from muslims in keffiyeh to jews with crochet kippah. we all came from all over the country to demand the end of the war.

after the march, there were people who gave a speech, politicians who told us about their fight against netanyahu, family members of the hostages who talked about their cries for justice, rabbis who talked about how real jewish values demand us to fight against the sins of the government, and about their fight for solidarity with palestinians, and about a future where all the semite religions could live together in harmony on this land.

it was truly beautiful, and for the first time in a long time, i felt proud of my jewishness!

[copperbadge]

Hi, please ignore if this is too personal, but as someone with Jewish ancestors who is considering conversion, I'd love to know your reasons for converting? For me it's more about community and reconnecting with that part of my family (there's a complicated family history there) than about religious belief, but I'm worried that might not be enough of a reason, if you know what I mean?

I don't know, I think conversion to Judaism is hard enough that if you don't have "enough" of a reason, you'll find out -- but I also think that one doesn't have to have a "sufficient" reason to convert to any faith which allows it, just determination and respect. If you want a connection to your ancestors and community, that's a very powerful motivation. And if it's not enough to sustain you through conversion, that's still a huge self-discovery for you, and while some practice should remain closed, you can still connect through things like traditionally Jewish foods and appreciation for Jewish art and culture.

For me, it's not that it's too personal, but it's difficult to vocalize; often when I'm asked about converting there's an assumption that I'm marrying a Jewish person, and when I say no, I usually add, "I just hear a call." Which admittedly is much more often said by Christians joining a ministry, but it's the most truthful I know how to be in short. Something in Judaism speaks to something in me. I have very little Jewish ancestry (although every time the DNA websites reevaluate their calculations it ticks up a percentage point, which is hilarious to me; I'm up from 2% to 6% currently) but the attitude towards the divine, the strength of tradition, the respect for learning, they all speak to my soul.

Even the hard stuff -- content in Torah or Talmud that I find difficult to reconcile with modern sensibility -- is at least something to challenge me, and Judaism is a faith that encourages argument, so I'm allowed to have a critical opinion of it. I think a lot about a quote I read from someone (possibly a reader, if so I am so sorry I can't find your name in my memory) who said, "I keep kosher, but sometimes I eat bacon when I'm mad at G-d." I think a lot about my Methodist confirmation class, where I was almost kicked out because I thought the Parable of the Wedding Feast was stupid and continued to argue against it after, realistically, I should have stopped; if it had been a class for a Bar Mitzvah, we might have been allowed to really examine it instead of glancing across it awkwardly and moving on. (As I found out years later, it was basically about how anyone can be a Christian but Jews should be punished for refusing to convert, so you know. Even as a kid I was very Jewish in my approach to theology and knew anti-Semitic propaganda when I heard it.)

I like that so many of the traditions involve things that I find compelling: bread, fire, water, the written word, the cycle of the harvest. I like that there's a search for truth and precision in Jewish scholarship, and that scholarship often seems to reward a neurodiverse approach to faith and study. As someone committed to philanthropy and versed in radical compassion, the exhortation to care for others baked into every foundational Jewish text is also very attractive. Some of the prayers I find viscerally satisfying (particularly the Traveler's Prayer, for some reason).

I find faith in a single divine entity extremely difficult, but one of the first things that got me to seriously consider Judaism (something I'd already been interested in) was being told that you can be an atheist Jew. To be able to commit to a faith community while still struggling with faith itself feels special to me. Whether a divine entity caused the miracle of the oil we celebrate this time of year is immaterial to me; the beauty of the narrative, the righteous rebellion rewarded with eight nights of light, is enough for me.

I might never finish conversion; realistically while I've done a lot of studying I still haven't worked extensively with a rabbi on a conversion path, and I do not call myself a Jew and won't until I complete conversion (I do observe a lot of the holidays and prayers, but mainly because that's generally advice to converts, so they can understand the demands of the faith and the myriad issues with being Publicly Jewish). But that's fine too; Judaism has been around for thousands of years, it'll wait for me, and if I never convert I'm still enjoying the journey.

[mariacallous]

A British priest who delivered an Elon Musk-inspired, straight-armed salute during his address to a pro-life gathering last week has been kicked out of his church.

The Anglican Catholic Church announced Wednesday that Father Calvin Robinson is “no longer serving as a priest” in the denomination. 

The removal of Robinson’s license came after he delivered a speech on Friday to the National Pro-Life Summit in Washington, D.C. At the end of his speech, he mimicked the language and gestures that Musk, the billionaire Donald Trump adviser, used during an Inauguration Day event last week. 

Like Musk, Robinson said “My heart goes out to you,” touched his chest and made the straight-armed salute. A clip of the moment went viral. Many observers have said the gesture is tantamount to a Nazi salute, and Robinson’s now-former church endorsed that view. 

“We condemn Nazi ideology and anti-Semitism in all its forms,” the church’s statement said. “And we believe that those who mimic the Nazi salute, even as a joke or an attempt to troll their opponents, trivialize the horror of the Holocaust and diminish the sacrifice of those who fought against its perpetrators.”

Robinson’s gesture has fueled ongoing debate over whether Musk intentionally meant to deliver a Nazi salute. Extremists who saw his gesture as a dog whistle, meanwhile, have begun adopting his words as a new slogan.

Robinson’s actions were met with laughter and applause from the gathering of an estimated 100,000 student anti-abortion activists. Other speakers at the event included former Trump cabinet member Dr. Ben Carson and pro-Trump commentator Charlie Kirk.

Robinson had overseen a parish in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and his social media bio says he is affiliated with a far-right British political party. Facing criticism on Wednesday, he offered an explanation for his gesture

“I am not a Nazi,” he said on X, Musk’s social media platform, explaining that he had made the gesture and comment as “a mockery of the hysterical ‘liberals’ who called Elon Musk a Nazi.” He insisted that his gesture “was not a joke at the expense of WWII, nor an admission of my membership in the Nationalist Socialist Party. “

“Context is key, but sometimes people ignore context to confirm their own prejudices,” he added. “People see what they want to see.” To his detractors he also wrote, “I forgive you for your ignorance. My heart goes out to you,” adding a salute emoji.

The church said it had cautioned Robinson, who has a long track record of provocative and antisemitic comments, not to engage in such behavior.

“Mr. Robinson had been warned that online trolling and other such actions (whether in service of the left or right) are incompatible with a priestly vocation and was told to desist,” it said. “Clearly, he has not, and as such, his license in this Church has been revoked.”

Robinson has also embraced beliefs that are associated with a strain of conservative Catholicism entwined with contemporary right-wing politics. On X, he has called Vatican II, the 1960s council at which the Catholic Church reformed its practices and declared that Jews did not kill Jesus Christ, “divisive”. 

He declared the Latin Mass, a traditional pre-Vatican II service that has caused Catholic-Jewish tensions, “true, beautiful and good.” He said efforts to restrict it are “wicked.”

On X recently Robinson also discouraged Christians from becoming Zionists, writing, “Christians should not make an idol of the geographical Israel. The Church is the new Israel.”

In the same post, Robinson both said Christians should not hate Jews — and seemed to encourage proselytizing to them. 

“We do not hate people based on their ethnicity or religion,” he wrote. “We can and should discourage people from following evil/false religions. But that is not because we hate people; it is because we love them and want them to get to heaven. The only way to the Father is through the Son.”

He has also expressed support for supersessionism, the belief that Christians have replaced Jews as God’s chosen people. 

“Modern Judaism is a post-Christian religion born of the rejection of Christ,” he wrote. “Jews of the Bible are now Christian.”

[jewsingermany]

A Celebration Canceled: Valentina Marcenaro’s Fight to Keep Jewish Culture Alive in Dresden

When Food Becomes a Political Battlefield

Can something as simple as food become a flashpoint in global conflicts? Is it now impossible to enjoy a serving of gefilte fish or hummus without invoking political strife? For Valentina Marcenaro, the answer is painfully clear. The chairwoman of Jewish Week Dresden, Marcenaro was forced to cancel the annual Gefilte Festival, a Jewish culinary celebration, due to mounting fears among participants. Scheduled for early November, the event was meant to showcase Jewish cuisine and culture, but growing insecurity made it impossible to proceed.

"Some of those who had been scheduled to take part in the festival were too scared to identify themselves as Jewish," Marcenaro explains. Despite her deep desire to go ahead with the event, she recognized that fear is not something to argue against but to respect. The current climate in Germany, particularly in Dresden, made it impossible for people to celebrate their own heritage without fear of reprisal.

A Life Woven with Jewish Culture

Marcenaro, 50, considers herself more culturally Jewish than religiously observant. Born in Italy, she moved to Dresden in 1998 with the intention of staying briefly to learn German—but love and life kept her rooted in the city. Her passion for Jewish culture has shaped her career, particularly in her role with Jewish Week Dresden, where she strives to teach people about the everyday aspects of Jewish life beyond its tragic history.

For Marcenaro, food is an essential tool for cultural understanding. "The best recipe against anti-Semitism," she believes, "is teaching people how to cook Jewish food." This sentiment has driven her mission to share Jewish cuisine with the broader German community, fostering connections through shared meals and traditions. But the cancellation of the Gefilte Festival has cast a shadow over her efforts.

A City’s Complicated Jewish History

Dresden’s Jewish community numbers around 700, with many members having arrived from Russia and Ukraine following the fall of the Berlin Wall. The city’s Jewish history is one of resilience, but also hardship. In East Germany, the Nazi terror was followed by communist-era anti-Semitism, leaving only a few hundred Jews in the region by the late 1980s. Today, Dresden remains a place where Jewish identity is often met with hesitation, if not outright hostility.

"Germans are rather inhibited when it comes to all things Jewish," Marcenaro observes. To many, Jewish identity is a mirror reflecting their own feelings of historical guilt rather than a vibrant, living culture. Through her work, she aims to change that by integrating Jewish traditions into everyday life—one meal at a time.

When Cuisine Becomes Controversial

The idea of cultural exchange through food is beautiful but, as Marcenaro has learned, also naive in today’s climate. Across the world, particularly in the United States, debates over food have turned political. The so-called "hummus wars" have reemerged, with accusations that Israel has "stolen" Lebanese and Palestinian dishes. Social media is flooded with calls to boycott Israeli restaurants, met with retaliatory smear campaigns against Palestinian-owned establishments. The kitchen, once a space of comfort and unity, has become yet another battlefield.

Marcenaro rejects these divisive narratives. "It’s nonsense," she says. "What others see as cultural appropriation, I see as diversity." Jewish cuisine, she explains, has always been a melting pot, reflecting the influences of the many places where Jewish communities have lived. From Ukrainian borscht to Sicilian Caponata, Jewish food is a testament to cultural fusion rather than theft.

Holding Onto Hope

On Marcenaro’s desk sits a porcelain pomegranate, a gift from Israel. The fruit, rich with seeds, is a symbol of fertility and abundance in Jewish culture and serves as the logo of the organization behind the Gefilte Festival. Though the festival has been canceled this year, Marcenaro refuses to give up hope.

For her, the act of sharing Jewish food remains an act of resilience. It is a way to ensure that Jewish culture is not only remembered but lived. Even in the face of fear, new beginnings are always possible.