#she also was birthed out of sea foam

[cyber-corp]

So how's learning about the greek pantheon going?

*i walk out, covered in ash, various arrows to the head, sling over my shoulder, etc* it turns out you should NOT call Aphrodite the hot one. that gets you into trouble.

[carebooks]

to all those new comers to the Percy Jackson world and being off on shipping Percabeth because Poseidon and Athena are uncle and niece, it’s stated in the books (specifically The Lost Hero) that gods don’t have DNA the way humans do.

and if that still doesn’t convince you or you may think it’s not a real or valuable explanation, let’s recall other ways that births happen in both greek myths and the Riordanverse:

- Zeus birthed Athena from his brain

- Athena’s demigod children are born the same way. out of her mind. so Annabeth is already way off from the usual goddess birth route

- Zeus also birthed Dionysus from his thigh

- Hephaestus was born from Hera and Zeus, but in a lot of versions its actually Hera who just had him by herself. she got pregnant and it happened. they’re gods. (then chucked him down a mountain) again, they’re gods.

- Hebe, goddess of youth, was born from Hera and a piece lettuce she ate

- in the Trials of Apollo, we learn that Kayla Knowles, daughter of Apollo, has a human father, Darren. meaning she has two fathers: Darren and Apollo. no mother involved in her creation whatsoever.

- Zeus has impregnated quite a large number of people during his time and in various different forms. one of the weirdest ones by far was when he came to a queen in the form of a swan, embraced her as that swan and nine months later she gave birth to two eggs. they hatched and inside was Helen of Sparta (as in Helen of Troy), Clytemnestra, Castur and Pollox.

- Poseidon and Medusa had a child and that child was born from Perseus cutting off Medusa’s head. that child was Pegasus. (yes, that Pegasus) (also some other dude was born too)

- Aphrodite was born out of sea foam made from the severed genitals of Ouranos that fell to the oceans

have i convinced you already? are we done here?

[lunarforager]

Who Is Aphrodite?

Welcome to the first of my "Introductions to the Hellenic Gods" post series! I thought it wise to start with Aphrodite as she is the deity I have been working with the longest and is also one of my favourites of the 12 Olympians. Now, onto the introduction!

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Aphrodite is the name given to the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty, passion, pleasure and sexuality. Her Roman equivalent is the goddess Venus.

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There are multiple myths that speak of Aphrodite's birth/creation.

Hesiod, in his Theogony, said that Aphrodite was brought into being when Cronus cut off the genitals of his father, Uranus, and threw them into the sea. Out of the sea foam created by the mixing of blood and water emerged the beautiful goddess.

Homer, on the other hand, in the Iliad, says that Aphrodite is the daughter of Zeus and Dione (who is either an Oceanid or a Titan, depending on the author).

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Aphrodite also has many different epithets, or versions of herself that were worshipped in different places across Greece. I suggest looking into all the different versions of her that are out there, they are all so fascinating!

But my favourite of all of her forms, is Aphrodite Areia, translated as Aphrodite the Warlike. This form of Aphrodite was worshipped by the Spartans and she was seen in a similar light to Ares or Athena, as a goddess of war and battle, often depicted in a full armor.

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Aphrodite was worshiped by many across Greece and throughout both the Classical and Hellenistic periods. In the Classical period the festival of Aphrodisia was held in her honor and in the Hellenistic period, Aphrodite had many temples and was particulary worshipped in Alexandria.

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To wrap up this post, I wanted to share my favourite stories and art pieces that mention or depict Aphrodite.

The Aeneid, by Virgil --> Venus (the Roman equivalent to Aphrodite) appears often as she is the mother of the main character, Aeneas

Venus de Milo --> Statue of Venus carved during the Hellenistic period, currently in the Louvre

The Birth of Venus painted by Sandro Botticelli --> A beautiful work of art depicting the birth of Venus as she rose from the sea

Aphrodite of Knidos sculpted by Praxiteles of Athens --> My favourite statue of Aphrodite, marks an important shift in art at the time as typically only men were depicted nude as a display of heroism

Aphrodite and Anchises by Homer --> Aphrodite annoyed the god Zeus by causing gods to fall in love with mortals, so he made her fall in love with a mortal named Anchises who later would be the father of her son, Aeneas of the Aeneid

[astroyongie]

𓆉⋆｡˚⋆❀ Goddess Worship: An Introduction of Venus 🐚🫧𓇼 ˖°

Note: Day 21 of our October calendar! Today we have an introduction of deities I work with/worship. This post is to provide some information about the deities but also how I work with them personally. Everyone has their own methods with the Gods, and you should do whatever feels right with you while also respecting the bases of the religions.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

Historical Background:

Venus is the Roman goddess of love, beauty, desire, and fertility, whose origins lie in the Greek goddess Aphrodite (they are basically the same deity but one can have a preference for one or another when it comes in terms of naming. I personally like Venus denomeation better than Aphrodite, yet Aphrodite's cult is older and thus more accurate when it comes to history). She played a major role in Roman culture, not just as a goddess of romantic love but also as a symbol of the prosperity and power of the Roman state. Julius Caesar claimed to be a descedent from Venus through her son Aeneas, who was a Trojan hero and a central figure in Roman myth. You can find a vast historical symbols and lore with Venus. Out of the three goddess that I work with (Venus, Freyja and Hekate) she is the most well represented through art, literature, historical history and mythology.

Attributes and Symbols:

Doves and Sparrows: they are birds sacred to Venus, representing love and desire but also innocence and purity. These birds often accompany her in art as a part of her symbolism. Shells and Pearls: Venus is famously depicted emerging from the sea on a shell, symbolizing her birth from sea foam. Anything directly linked with the sea can be symbolic in her name Roses and Myrtle: Both flowers are sacred to Venus, representing love, beauty, and fertility. Golden Apples: Associated with the goddess, these were the prize in the famous myth of the Judgment of Paris, where Venus was deemed the fairest of all. Other red fruits can also be associated with her, anything that holds a connotation of love and desire. (The apples are also an association with Eve and the forbidden fruit)

Worship and Rituals:

Veneralia: A festival held in honor of Venus Verticordia (Venus the Changer of Hearts) on April 1st. This festival was primarily concerned with cleansing rituals, bathing in myrtle-laden water, and offering prayers for purity in love and relationships. Venus Genetrix: A title meaning "Mother Venus," this aspect emphasized Venus’s role as a progenitor of the Roman people through Aeneas. Julius Caesar established a temple in her honor as Venus Genetrix, showing her importance in Roman political and public life. Gardens and Shrines: Venus had many shrines and temples, particularly in Rome. Shrines to Venus often included lush gardens, which were a symbol of her fertility and life-giving powers. This is also an idea to set al whole altar/shrine for her, that doesn't need to be inside of home and can be creative with your outside space. Erotic and Fertility Rites: Venus was invoked in matters of love, sex, and fertility. Offerings of flowers, perfume, and wine were common, and her blessings were sought by women who wished to conceive. Pretty much like Freyja, people would have sexual intercourse in her honor State Worship: Venus was integral to the Roman state religion. Augustus, following Caesar’s example, elevated her status, linking her to the success of the empire and military victories. Any "birth" was dedicated to her

-> When worshipping Venus, you can make a pretty altar while respecting her symbolisms. Venus can help with love, but remember she helps with self love first as well. Do not invoke her only to have X falling in love with you. her cult needs to be taken seriously. Offerings need to be maid every friday and during her ritual days. Never use her power to become "the prettiest of them all", as Venus doesn't take well humans who try to use her name for pettiness. Be grateful for her, shower her in love and admiration and she will bless you in return

-> Ideas for offerings: Wine, honey, shells, feathers, mirrors, roses, myrtle, perals, jewlery, perfume, incense, scented candles, hairbrushes or makeup, apples, red fruits, sea water or sand, anything symbolic with the sea and love.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

"Venus in Rome: A Translation of Book II of Ovid's Fasti" by Ovid, Translated by Betty Rose Nagle

"Venus Genetrix: Political Imagery and Female Personifications in the Late Republic" by Paul Zanker

Carney, J. (2013). Venus in Augustan Rome (Doctoral dissertation, Florida Atlantic University).

Flory, M. B. (1988). Pearls for Venus. Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte, (H. 4), 498-504.

[nightsunecilpse]

Luna Might Be Foreshadowing The Future Of The Show.

I've already officially lost it or I'm onto something here. It's been observed before Luna reading a book titled 'The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress'. The book is apparently about a moon colony that goes against the people of Earth because they are being taken advantage of by them. We can collectively agree that the book Luna was reading was intentional foreshadowing by the creators. It parallels the Moon Revolution in its main themes from the piece of literature. So it's not improbable to think that other references could be intentional hints.

The parody Venus thumbnail can be studied just like its original painting counterpart. The original painting of "The Birth Of Venus" has the god of the West wind, Zephyrus, embracing the former nymph Chloris, on the left side of the painting. Zephyrus is shown to be blowing the goddess Venus to shore while she is on a sea shell, with Chloris blowing softly along with him. But in this version, Earth, representing Zephyrus, is the only one blowing Venus. Luna would represent Chloris in this. He is almost overhead of Earth and his expression is neutral. There should be someone on the right ready to embrace Venus on shore, but there is no character in place for them. While Venus looks visibly pissed to be there.

The Myth of Zephyrus and Chloris, in short, is about a god abducting a nymph. Later, Zephyrus marries the nymph Chloris and, as a gift, makes her the goddess of blossom. Both gods are associated with the welcoming of spring, the season of New beginnings. As for Venus' story, after the castration of Caelus and his member falls to the sea, foam begins to form. From the Foam Venus rose from the sea and was blown onto shore.

Earth is so far the only planet that can sustain life, and Luna is there as his assistant in the process. So, in parallel to the myth, maybe it's a connection to The Earth-Moon system. Zephyrus was a god, and Chloris was a nymph, a lesser deity that still had influence on the social class of a god. Just as Earth is a planet and Luna is a moon, he still has a great impact on the solar system. Maybe in their beginnings, they established the new age of the solar system when Earth began to show signs of life. So, Earth blowing Venus to shore might connect to Venus' past dream to sustain life. The reason Earth got its start on life was that Luna was there, and Venus was moonless. So how Luna blankly stared at Venus, and nothing else might signify no point in trying to help. Nobody was there to embrace him. The angry expression is Venus not being able to see himself as the goddess he was named after.

Part two of the "Surviving The Dark Side of the Moon" arc has the thumbnail with a reference to the cover of the Pink Floyd album, The Dark Side Of The Moon. Yes, Astrodude and Cosmo are being shot out in a rainbow as the arc is primarily about them. Even so, it's understandable to think it's a simple reference to a popular album, but maybe it references more.

The year The Dark Side Of The Moon was released was 1973, during the space race between the Soviets and the US. The album is about life and how it can make someone crazy, inspired by the aftermath of WW2 and one of Pink Floyd's band members (Syd Barrett) crashing out and developing schizophrenia.

Cosmo is the last cosmonaut and has been living on the DSotM for 30 years because he has nothing else to go back to. After finding SBO, he found a glimpse of hope to bring his life back, even if it's impossible. The end of the arc has Astrodude chasing after Cosmo to get back the first found outer terrestrial life form. Re-establishing the space race as Cosmo had confirmed them to be enemies. There's also an issue with Earth. He is quickly becoming unstable and he's hearing voices. He even asks the question that has been driving me crazy. "Why do I want life?" He described life as being painful but it's what he worked so hard for. Yet, he can't explain why he wants it.

I think It's also worth noting after the "Surviving The Dark Side of the Moon" arc, Solarballs released the "what if the moon is going to crash into the Earth?" complication before moving into the next one. I've been speculating for a while that Luna and Earth's friendship was going to crash sooner or later. It could be that Luna will be fed up with Earth and leave him in his insanity or Luna will reveal the Dark Side of the Moon to him. As the last song in the album, eclipse says, "There is no dark side of the moon really a matter of fact, it's all dark." The meaning of the song is that in the end, life is pointless, and the rhythm found is nothing more than finding comfort in the chaos. We've wasted efforts following a system that stunts any freedom to truly enjoy life.

Possibly, Luna might show Earth his wants and concerns revealing all sides of himself. Maybe he will give Earth the choice to enjoy the time and life they already have together or pursue under the solar system hierarchy and pressure to live up to an impossible standard to appeal to everyone. This would also fit Astrodude's story, as he left his family for his pursuit to explore space. Struggling to find a balance between doing the right thing and following and keeping his dream job. Both Astrodude and Earth are similar as they do everything to follow their dreams while their biggest supporters are trying to manage the boxes left unchecked.

A Reddit post that analyzes the album.

Now onto Solarcards and their impact on the story. At first, I wasn't sure if they could even be considered canon at all. Advertisements aren't really important overall but then it was confirmed they're cannon compliance. Confirming it's as canon to the story as the book of spells from SVTFOE when they were used to reveal Theia. The rules of the game are interesting. There are two ways to play: trivia or battle mode. Focusing on battle mode, to win a player must summon a star. To get the star players must sacrifice weaker cards to gain more powerful ones. The Sun claims to like calling the action of replacing cards for next-tier cards a sacrifice because Earthlings used to make sacrifices to the Sun god. There are also the anomaly cards, which is funny because anomaly in astronomy is used to describe irregularities in celestial objects. The solar system is an anomaly in itself. Most observed solar systems are double-star systems and don't have planets that move as slowly as the planets in our solar system. Some of the cards even might give major hints about the identity of Mr. ROTSAR and "Houston."

In the Battle of Planet X part 3, the second trial the Sun makes the moons and X play is Solarcards trivia. What I find interesting is the first question the moons got right was the Inca, answered by Luna. The Inti was the Sun god for the Inca people and was viewed as the most important god. The Incas knew the Sun's warmth and light were important to agriculture, and they would make offerings and sacrifices to him. The show made reference to him before when the Sun was naming all his titles. So knowing in Solarcard battle mode, the action of replacing lower-ranked cards in exchange for higher ones is called a sacrifice isn't a coincidence. It's a reference to the Inti. The fact Luna was the one to answer that correctly is possibly foreshadowing his origin. Furthering, this could be the case; the last card that the Sun pulled out is Theia's. Setting up Earth into a spiral upon hearing her name.

In JRTTSS part 1, Earth hears the voices of two planets. Strangely enough, none of the voices are his own. They whisper Theia's name at first and they gradually get the loader. Till both of the voices are screaming " life. I want life." In unison. So there's a possibility that Theia and Earth sacrificed themselves to have better chances at life. They wanted to bring life to the solar system to appeal to the Sun. Who could've influenced them is probably Jupiter and Venus. Based on the science of the real-life hypothesis.

Jupiter and the Sun would never want to have two planets Collide to increase the chances of having life. They would've never approved of a sacrifice after losing so many planets already. They might've isolated Earth and Luna just for being the result of the incident. They probably thought it was dumb and reckless what they did. But it probably shocked everyone to find out that Earth did eventually obtain life. Truly redefining the solar system and really messing up the Sun.

A reminder that the Sun is on the borderline of overprotective and violent; emotionally and physically. His actions and logic contradict themselves, and he's an insane egotist. We know that he wasn't always like this and it could be speculated he was on the brink of snapping after the grand tack. So in between then and now is where it all went south. He likes the idea of sacrifices made to him and chuckles about how one day he'll consume his planets when he turns into a red giant. Yet we see him saddened when Earth tries to fling himself at him and can't do anything about it. It wouldn't surprise me if the Sun was the one that made the solar system hierarchy to make it harder for Earth and Luna to gain support from the others.

If Solarcards is being used to predict the show then it has been pointed out that Luna pulls out a Titan and a ringless Saturn card in that order. If anyone is wondering why that's suspicious, there is a hypothesis that Titan is reasonable for Saturn's rings when its gravity affected a moon. Sending it into Saturn's Roche limit and shredding the moon into dust. But it could be likely Titan doesn't remember this because it is estimated Titan is about 1 billion years old. If not, then it's a suppressed memory. It's also likely that the JRTTSS arc will branch off into three different arcs. Jupiter returning, Earth is going insane, and Uranus is becoming Caelus. No doubt a Caelus arc is going to include Saturn. Uranus is pretty proud of his rings but unlike Saturn, he knows how he got them. So there's a good possibility that his story will mention how they both got rings.

For billions of years, the moons have been living under the planets, and the planets live under the Sun. To the Sun this system made it easier to manage his solar system. It made it easier to ignore Luna, the closest moon to him and one of the celestial bodies that are associated with the Death of Theia. But because nobody in the solar system knows how to communicate how things should work, things just escalated. So the so-called balanced solar system was deteriorating over the course of billions of years. Like a house of cards, it took one gust of wind for everything to fall down. One question from Neptune and an answer from one Astrodude caused a domino effect that might make or break the solar system.

The planets and moons are supposed to be friends, according to the Sun, but he is the main contributor to their broken family. Jupiter tried to make up for his negligence, but it was also his fault in a way that the Sun even got this way. So in the future, they could talk/fight about their efforts to hold up the solar system. They could even reflect on their mistakes or place the blame on someone else. Maybe the Sun will blame Earth and Luna. Will see.

[your-local-crypt1d]

I did WRA headcanons, so now it's time for seablings headcanons

(Mostly worldbuilding headcanons around them)

The appearance you often associate with the Ocean Queen and Codfather are actually their “mortal forms” they use not to freak everyone out. The twos “true forms” are a lot more like biblically accurate angels, they took after their parents in the “ancient lovecraftian horror” department.

Jimmys’ magic is unstable and heavily effected by his emotions, though, so he uses the Codfather mask to keep his form in check. That’s why he was so desperate to get the head back when stolen, he was scared his body would change out of his control and scare someone (or if he’s anything like Cthulhu, drive them insane just by his appearance alone).

Jimmy and Lizzies’ mortal forms are slightly off from regular merfolk, being that they are ridiculously tall for their kind. Lizzie is 11 feet tall and Jimmy is around 7’10”, whereas most merfolk tend to max out at 7 feet. They also have some other powers that only gods and God-blessed people have, like sensing each other and being more in tune with magic than mortals are.

Jimmy and Lizzies’ parents are an ancient sea monster known simply as the Leviathan and the primordial goddess of all water. Lizzie was birthed from sea foam (à la Aphrodite) thousands of years ago as the goddess of saltwater and the Queen of the oceans. She took after her mother in being a blue axolotl.

Lizzie has been on and off as the Ocean empires queen since then; the ocean levels naturally rise and fall like what happened during the rapture and her annual memory loss usually coincides with that, so the citizens of her empire have plans put in place (an elected regent to take over) to handle their goddesses regular disappearances.

Some time after Lizzies’ birth, the leviathan laid a clutch of eggs in one of the many nurseries outside the ocean empire. Lizzie was supposed to have many little siblings, each a demi-god to rule over different bodies of water inland like ponds, rivers, and inland seas. Unfortunately, though, demigods can die.

The salmon, who had been feuding with the cod merfolk for a long time now prompting the making of new demigods, got to the eggs first and massacred all the babies. Lizzies’ grief at her fathers final clutch not surviving was so powerful, the oceans were in a perpetual category 5 storm for months. It caused tsunamis to hit coastal towns, boat travel was impossible, and the salmon living in the ocean who survived were all swept inland by the storm.

Each empire that had land near the coast at the time of this has their own name for it in their own languages, but all basically translate to "the great storm" or "terrible hurricane."

We all know Jimmy survived, though. Somehow, against all odds, he swam his way home to Lizzie. Her relief and love for her little seabling caused the storms to calm and perfect waters across the empires to last for decades after, opening up new trade routes to landfolk empires like Mezalea.

Jimmy takes after their father in being more fish-like than axolotl (salamander)

After hatching, baby merfolk (or “tadpoles”) follow the scent of their mothers to find their way home. The ocean empire has historically often been invaded by Drowned, landfolk, rogue guardians, etc, so they lay their eggs outside the empire in hidden nurseries, then let the hatched tadpoles find their way home as a ritual, believing if they survive, their goddess has chosen them to live with her children and the others to stay with her at the bottom of the sea.

For Jimmy, he followed Lizzies' smell instead since their actual mother is in hibernation with the other old gods.

Being the only surviving member of the clutch, Jimmy was dubbed the demigod of freshwater and the swamps, later establishing the codlands as a sanctuary for the last remaining cod merfolk, both sides of the war suffering massive losses.

The Codlands also have a system put in place for when Jimmy loses his memories that's a bit more complicated than their ocean cousins. The Codfather is an electoral office like a president, so while Jimmy is gone they elect a Codboy to replace him, and when he returns it doesn't always mean he returns with his memories so they hold this “fake” election and pretend everyone chose Jimmy. It's not really pretend since the Codfather is loved by his people, but the whole "we've decided you should be our new Codfather" is pretend as a way to prompt his memories to return faster.

Oceanic, the language of all merfolk, is a language often only learnt by merfolk and mer-adjacent people, as their vocal cords can make a variety of more sounds than land-dwellers, along with the language mixing body language and movement with those sounds like from their tails and fins. Despite this, Joel makes an attempt for his cool fish wife. He settles with learning the codish dialect as it is a little easier on land folk, since the cod spend more time on land interacting with them, thus their dialect adapting to compensate.

Merfolk have two sets of eyelids, the usual ones we humans have that open and close up and down, distributing moisture across our eyes, and a second translucent set that slides inward from the outside of each eye and acts like built-in goggles. The way eyes need to function to see on land is very different to how they work to see underwater. unfortunately, merfolk can't have both so they went the way of the crocodile with the two sets of eyelids.

They also went the way of the crocodile in that merfolk have loads of sharp teeth that they can perpetually lose, as a new tooth will grow in to replace it, they don't only have two sets of teeth like humans.

All merfolk also have “siren songs”, a subset of verbal spells only merfolk can cast by singing. Depending on the tune, it can do different things like healing, helping the listener sleep, sharing memories between the singer and listener, and much more. It's very volatile and dangerous magic though, it takes many years to control it around other merfolk let alone land dwellers who are much more susceptible to the foreign magic (the same way people who aren't vaccinated are affected by those diseases worse compared to those with immunity)

The song gets its name because some merfolk, known as sirens by human sailors, would use their songs the way sirens in myth would. Those “sirens” aren't actually any different from other merfolk though, just malicious in nature.

Due to this, music is highly regarded in both empires. The Musical Lizzie wrote in real life is canon to me, in that the Ocean Regent worked with the Codboy and some refugee bards from other empires to make the musical as both to honour their gods and as a cautionary tale of land dweller hubris (that's the way they spun the story at least).

Pearls (the stones) and clam shells are highly regarded in the ocean empire and codlands. Pearls are usually worn by the upper class and given as courting gifts to romantic partners or to family members depending on the style. Whereas, clam shells are exclusive for the royal family and priests of the primordial water goddess, due to religious reasons.

Merfolk having webbing between their fingers makes wearing rings nearly impossible, so instead they use necklaces – specifically pearl chokers – as their wedding jewellery. Joel proudly sports his own pearl choker from Lizzie, along with a clamshell in the centre due to being the ocean queens consort. Concurrently, bracelets and armbands are given to family. Jimmy has a cobalt wire armband with a pearl pendant.

Tadpoles who have just hatched from their egg and returned home get a mix of a baby shower and naming ceremony, part of this celebration of life is gifts from family like pearls as previously mentioned and nautilus shells. Nautilus shells are given to children as a symbol of longevity and health since they have been thriving in this world for 480 million years, which merfolk with their long lifespans (similar to elves) would be aware of.

Speaking of elves, back when Alinar was alive and just beginning his training with Aoer, the stag god had spoken to Lizzie for an alliance to fight the corruption. During this, Alinar met Jimmy and had a very brief crush on each other before Alinar left to fight Cohnal and Jimmy lost his memories soon after for a few decades, by the time the Codfather returned, Alinar was long gone. Credit to this fanfic for that idea.

Cod, like other species of fish, can change their sex if needed. I think gender is extremely fluid to Merfolk, they adopted the ideas of “male” and “female” from humans and that's it, no one cares how you present or what pronouns you prefer to use. Meeting a merfolk as one sex then seeing them change to intersex or another is very common. Jimmy is Intersex. Sometimes same-sex couples temporarily switch just to have their own eggs and then switch back. There just isn't much importance put on gender to merfolk.

And, finally, because merfolk lay eggs and are cold-blooded, thus not mammals, no merfolk would have nipples 👍

[artsandculture]

The Birth of Venus (1483-1485) 🎨 Sandro Botticelli 🏛️ Uffizi Gallery 📍 Florence, Italy

The painting was commissioned by Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’Medici, a cousin of Lorenzo the Magnificent. The theme was probably suggested by the humanist Poliziano. It depicts Venus born from the sea foam, blown by the west wind, Zephyr, and the nymph, Chloris, towards one of the Horai, who prepares to dress her with a flowered mantle.

This universal icon of Western painting was probably painted around 1484 for the villa of Castello owned by Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de 'Medici. Giorgio Vasari saw the work there in the mid-sixteenth century – along with Botticelli’s other well-known Primavera – and described it precisely as "showing the Birth of Venus." The old idea that the two Botticelli masterpieces were created for the same occasion, in spite of their substantial technical and stylistic diversity, is no longer accepted. However, rather than a birth, what we see is the goddess landing on the shore of her homeland, the island of Cyprus, or on Kithera. The theme, which can be traced back to Homer and to Ovid’s Metamophoses, was also celebrated by the great humanist Agnolo Poliziano in the poetic verses of his Stanze. The Venus of the Uffizi is of the “Venus pudica” type, whose right breast is covered by her right hand and billowing long blond hair partially shrouds her body. The goddess stands upright on a shell as she is driven towards the shore by the breeze of Zephyrus, a wind god, who is holding the nymph, Chloris. On the right is the Hora of springtime, who waits to greet Venus ashore with a cloak covered in pink flowers.

The seascape, stunning for its metaphysical tone and almost unreal quality, is illuminated by a very soft, delicate light. Like Botticelli’s other masterpiece, Pallas and the Centaur, the Birth of Venus is painted on canvas - fairly unusual for its time - using a technique of thin tempera, based on the use of diluted egg yolk, which lends itself particularly well to give the painting that aspect of extraordinary transparency, which brings to mind the pictorial quality of a fresco. The figure recalls classical sculpture and is very similar to the famous Medici Venus found in the Uffizi, which the artist certainly knew. The real meaning of this dreamlike vision is still under scholarly debate and investigation but is undoubtedly linked with the Neo-Platonic philosophy, widely cultivated in the Medici court.

Like the Primavera, the Birth of Venus is also associated with the concept of Humanitas,or virtuous Humanity, a theory developed by Marsilio Ficino in a letter to the young Lorenzo. According to the interpretation by Ernst Gombrich, the work depicts the symbolic fusion of Spirit and Matter, the harmonious interaction of Idea and Nature. Nevertheless, the interpretations of this painting of extraordinary visual impact are numerous and diverse. The divine ethereal figure has been viewed as an allegorical representation of Humanitas upon her arrival to Florence, while the nymph holding out the cloak of flowers for the goddess may perhaps be identified as Flora, the same depicted in this masterpiece’s “twin”, the Primavera, where she may be seen instead as the personification of the city of Florence. From this work emerges clear evidence of Botticell’s strive to reach perfection of form that could rival with classical antiquity. It is for this reason that the humanist Ugolino Verino in his work Epigrammata, presented in 1485 to the King of Hungary, Matthias Corvinus, likened the Florentine painter to the legendary Apelles of Ancient Greece.

[zilanbasboga]

Gods & Myths.

Nice evening or morning, wherever you are :)

I’ll try to keep this short, I swear! Tiktok ruined my attention span too. I would like to start by saying that all religions are essentially myths. In my previous post, I talked about our mother Gaia. In this one, I would like to touch upon the Titans and Gods who are descendants of Gaia and their myths of existence. I will try to summarize as much as I can. Myths are not absolute truths that represent our Gods, but they serve as a means to make it easier for us to know and understand them. Humanizing the gods (giving them human emotions in stories, drawing them with human figures) makes it easier for us to connect with them and comprehend the religion. With the union of Gaia and Uranus, the lineage of the Titans begins. Uranus fears the power of his children and imprisons them under the Earth, which is basically Gaia's womb. (Some say he is not afraid of his children, but is disgusted with them.) This is a very painful process for Gaia and makes her angry. Gaia agrees with her son Kronos, and at the moment when the Sky meets the Earth (just when they were about to have sex), Kronos takes his hand out from under the Earth and tears off Uranus' genitals. Ashamed and angry, Uranus walks away. From the blood of Uranus mixing with the Earth, the Forest Fairies, the Goddesses of Vengeance and the Giants; from his genitals falling into the sea, Lady Aphrodite is born. This begins the reign of the Titans.

Kronos conquers the world and marries his sister Rhea, who is afraid of him. When they have children, he fears that their children will displace him just as he displaced his father, and swallows them after birth. However, the Gods are immortal and they continue to grow in Kronos's belly. Rhea cannot stand it and does not surrender her last child, Zeus, to Kronos, but wraps a rock in swaddling clothes instead. Kronos, who thinks he imprisoned Zeus in his stomach, is defeated when Zeus grows stronger. The twelve Titans are overthrown and twelve Gods take their place. They are known as the Olympians. But Gods are more than just the three words that describe them in their myths. Lady Aphrodite is not just a beautiful face – she is not limited to beautiful faces. She is the Goddess of all that is beautiful. She is in the beauty we see in small moments. She is not only in loving others, but also in the love we feel for ourselves. Lady Aphrodite comes with the purest forms of love. She is the Goddess of war, therefore, Goddess of fighting for what you love, She is reborn in the foaming water with every wave, she is immortality. She is about not being ashamed of your pleasures. 

Take your time to understand the deities that you worship 💗

[talonabraxas]

Venus & Lilith. Where Light and Dark meet. A reflection of the soul's true essence

THE LANGUAGE OF ASTROLOGY allows us to understand and connect with different areas of our lives—from the most personal, to the obscure.

Truth is, there is no such thing as black or white in our reality. We are multidimensional beings, able to deepen our thinking and connection with our environment by unravelling the secrets that lie within us using our intuition as a guide. The connection between Venus and Lilith depicts the true essence of the soul, the birth of one’s true self and identity, transmuted into flesh and bones. Our raw and untamed side meets the brightest, most authentic part of our soul—our spirituality.

Venus and Lilith represent the union between light and shadow, and how purity and desire can coexist. Though in order to understand this connection, we first need to delve into each of the archetypes separately and their myths. Venus in Astrology is considered one of the personal planets, meaning her aspects, signs and transits will feel very tangible (or personal) to us. Traditionally, Venus is connected with Aphrodite, goddess of love, beauty and grace. Venus in a natal chart rules not only love, but also our possessions and desires. When we look at the ancient myths, it is quite ironic for me that the goddess of love was born out of war.

In ancient Greek mythology, the birth of Venus tells the story of how Aphrodite was born when Kronos (Saturn, lord of time and sacrifice) turned against his father Ouranus (Uranus, lord of heaven and enlightenment) and decides to castrate him —dropping his testicles into the ocean that ended up fertilising the sea. The name Aphrodite comes from the Greek word ‘aphros’ which means ‘sea foam’ produced by the violent ocean waves. There is a very thin line between pain and pleasure, though both can be seen through the archetype of Venus. This myth symbolises how something beautiful can be born from a bad/painful situation. The birth of new hope, purpose, and future.

ON THE OTHER HAND, the Lilith we will begin to describe, is also referred to as Black Moon Lilith in Astrology (and I feel it is important to state this since there are different Liliths in astrology, one of them being an asteroid). Black Moon Lilith is not an object but a mathematical point between the Earth and the Moon that always remains in the shadows. The Moon in Astrology is connected to our emotions, instincts and intuition. I sadly often see articles talking about Black Moon Lilith as one’s traumas, misfortune and suffering, however I like to refer to Black Moon Lilith as the untamed, raw, unfiltered part of ourselves that may clash with what is expected from us, creating a sense of discomfort and, in a way, rejection.

The mythology of Lilith goes far in history to Babylonian times, when the figure of Lilith was referred to as the untamed spouse of Adan. She refused to live under a specific law and reclaimed her sovereignty. She was true to herself and would not submit to any God or man, that is why she was expelled from Eden as she sought to fulfil her own pleasure. When looking at astrology, we can identify one’s power struggles by looking at their Lilith and Pluto placements. There is no specific theory as to what sign rules Lilith. However, from personal experience reading ancient texts and other books/articles—we could say Lilith feels at home in the sign of Scorpio, which is the opposite sign to Taurus (one of Venus’ domiciles). Here we begin to understand the correlation between both myths. How in many cases we have been forced to deny our desires in order to be accepted or loved. Both Venus and Lilith seek the same thing—pleasure. The appreciation of the beauty of life and how our feelings make us feel alive. Yes, both good and bad. Venus and Lilith invite us to reclaim our sovereignty by fully accepting who we are without dimming our light.

While Astrological interpretations tend to revolve around the signs, I have a different way to interpret Lilith and her meanings which is directly connected to the houses. Each house is ruled by one of the signs, so in a way, we are also encapsulating the essence of the signs within the houses. Though, I feel it is easier to understand all the different layers within the archetype of Lilith and its connection to Venus by primarily referring to the houses.

Lilith Talon Abraxas

[warrioreowynofrohan]

Silmarillion Daily - Of Menegroth

Today’s Silmarillion Daily contains two events - one is the building/carving of Menegroth and the other, happening around the same time in Valinor, is the births of Turgon and Finrod.

Here’s the part on Menegroth:

Now Melian had much foresight, after the manner of the Maiar; and when the second age of the captivity of Melkor had passed, she counselled Thingol that the Peace of Arda would not last forever. He took thought therefore how he should make for himself a kingly dwelling, and a place that should be strong, if evil were to awake again in Middle-earth; and he sought aid and counsel of the Dwarves of Belegost. They gave it willingly, for they were unwearied in those days and eager for new works; and though the Dwarves ever demanded a price for all that the did, whether with delight or with toil, at this time they held themselves paid. For Melian taught them much that they were eager to learn, and Thingol rewarded them with many fair pearls. These Círdan gave to him, for they were got in great number in the shallow waters about the Isle of Balar; but the Naugrim had not before seen their like, and they held them dear. One there was as great as a dove’s egg, and its sheen was as starlight on the foam of the sea; Nimphelos it is named, and the chieftain of the Dwarves of Belegost prized it above a mountain of wealth.

Therefore the Naugrim laboured long and gladly for Thingol, and devised for him mansions after the fashion of their people, delved deep in the earth. Where the Esgalduin flowed down, and parted Neldoreth from Region, there rose in the midst of the forest a rocky hill, and the river ran at its feet, There they made the gates of the hall of Thingol, and they built a bridge of stone over the river, by which alone the gates could be entered. Beyond the gates wide passages ran down to high halls and chambers far below that were hewn in the living stone, so many and so great that that dwelling was named Menegroth, the Thousand Caves.

But the Elves also had part in that labour, and Elves and Dwarves together, each with their own skill, there wrought out the visions of Melian, images of the wonder and beauty of Valinor beyond the Sea. The pillars of Menegroth were hewn in the lines of the beeches of Oromë, stock, bough, and leaf, and they were lit with lanterns of gold. The nightingales sang there as in the gardens of Lórien; and there were fountains of silver, and basins of marble, and floors of many-coloured stones. Carven figures of beasts and birds there ran upon the walls, or climbed upon the pillars, or peered among the branches entwined with many flowers. And as the years passed Melian and her maidens filled the halls with woven hangings wherein could be read the deeds of the Valar, and many things that had befallen in Arda since its beginning, and shadows of things that were yet to be. That was the fairest dwelling of any king that has ever been east of the Sea.

And when the building of Menegroth was achieved, and there was peace in the realm of Thingol and Melian, the Naugrim yet came ever and anon over the mountains and went in traffic about the lands; but they went seldom to the Falas, for they hated the sound of the sea and feared to look upon it. To Beleriand there came no other rumour or tidings of the world without.

There’s another tidbit about Menegroth in History of Middle-earth (The Peoples of Middle-earth, “The problem of Ros”):

…the great Hall of the Throne of Elwë in the midst of his stronghold of Menegroth…was called the Menelrond [heaven-dome], because by the arts and aid of Melian its high arched roof had been adorned with silver and gems set in the order and figures of the stars in the great Dome of Valmar in Aman, whence Melian came.

The section further states that Elwing named Elrond in memory of this place, and that this was held to be prophetic, as it foreshadowed Elrond choosing the kindred of the Eldar and “carrying on the lineage of King Elwë [Footnote: Also also that of Turgon; though he oreferred that of Elwë, who was not under the ban that was laid on the Exiles.]”, while Elros, named for water, crossed the seas and became King of Númenor.

I feel like Menegroth in the passage above comes about as close as anything else we see to Eru’s ideal for the Ainur and the Eruhíni: dwarves and elves and a Maia all working together in Middle-earth to make something beautiful with their different skills and knowledge. The decision to do it in incited by the awareness of danger, but that leads not to hostility but to cooperation and beauty. It’s not in Valinor, but it recalls much of Valinor and of the Valar: the carvings of trees and woodland creatures recall the forests of Oromë, the nightingales the gardens of Lórien, the tapestries of history (and visions of the future) the halls of Vairë and Mandos. Different peoples get a glimpse of things they don’t fully understand, but are drawn to: the dwarves can’t stand the sea, but they nonetheless love Círdan’s pearls.

This is what makes the way Menegroth ends such an absolute tragedy, and it is what makes Legolas and Gimli in The Lord of the Rings the redress of that tragedy: their visits to Aglarond and Fangorn, each understanding what the other loves, is a kind of echo of the unity of these caverns carved with trees and forest-creatures. They’re putting things right. (As, in a different way, Galadriel is putting Fëanor’s story right, and Elrond is putting Thingol’s specifically right.) Not putting things back exactly as they were, but healing them.

[midwestbramble]

Rose Folklore

Rosa spp.

Ruled by ♀

⸙༄𓆤𓆩𓆪❁𓇢𓆸🏵

Contents:

Overview

Folklore

Uses in Witchcraft

Safety Notes

Conclusion

⸙༄𓆤𓆩𓆪❁𓇢𓆸🏵

Overview

The Rosa genus incorporates over 100 different species and 18,000 cultivars, ranging from the simple dog rose to the impressive Juliet. Most folklore is talking about the dog rose native to Europe, North-Western Africa, and Western Asia. The meadow rose (Rosa blanda), Arkansas rose (Rosa arkansana), and Rosa carolina are native to Iowa, my home state.

Most wild roses are going to look and grow similarly to the dog rose. These flowering bushes are found growing along woodland edges near lakes and rivers. Rosebuds will generally begin to form in the summer. Most wild cultivars will only have five petals and thorny stems with golden stamens in the middle. The fruit, known as a rosehip, form in late autumn.

The petals and leaves are best gathered on a dry, sunny day just after blooming to get the best volatile oils and aromatics. The hip is best gathered after they have been exposed to a light frost. It will turn from an orange color to red. Considered a noxious weed, you will not hurt it.

⸙༄𓆤𓆩𓆪❁𓇢𓆸🏵

Folklore

*Some folklore belongs to marginalized groups. These are here for the inclusion of these groups so that they feel seen in the community. Please remain respectful of cultural boundaries.*

-Birth of Aphrodite-

In the eighth book of the Illiad, Homer tells us of how Aphrodite was born of sea foam. When she steps onto land a plant grows where her foot touched. According to Anacreon this was the first white rose and they also grew where the sea foam dripped off of her.

-Adonis and Aphrodite-

The tenth book of Metamorphoses, Ovid recounts the tale of Adonis’ death. In the tale, any time Adonis is not spending in the underworld with his adoptive mother, Persephone, he is spending with Aphrodite and the two are thought to be madly in love. One day, Adonis is pierced by the tusk of a boar he is hunting. Aphrodite, hearing his moans, rushes to his side to try to help. On her way, she pricks her toe on a thorn and her blood colored the white rose red. Unfortunately, she doesn’t make it to Adonis in time.

-The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ-

The Virgin Mary is said to have pulled her son down from the cross with roses growing where her tears fell. It’s also connected to her as a symbol of purity. The Rosary is named in her honor and in Latin means “garland of roses.”

The connection to the passion of the Christ comes from the five wounds he received when crucified and the five petals of the rose. One on each hand, one on each foot, and one on the side. The crown of thorns he wore on the cross is thought to be rose thorns.

-Sleeping Beauty (Briar Rose)-

Within the Grimm Brothers collection of German fairytales is the familiar story of Sleeping Beauty. The Princess’ name is Briar Rose and whoever tries to enter the thorny hedge that has grown up around the castle will get stuck in die. It only parts for the last Prince because it is the day the castle wakes from its slumber. Many of these would-be-intruders had heard rumors of the sleeping beauty and wanted to wake her. I think the rose hedge was protecting her.

-The Snow Queen-

In Hans Christian Andersons story, little Gerda is trying to find her friend Kay. Gerda is welcomed in by an old woman who knows magic and identifies her as a good witch. She makes Gerda forget about Kay and the little rose bush they shared together, and her own rose bush goes underground. When the old woman wears a rose covered hat, Gerda remembers Kay and she tries to ask all the flowers in the garden if they know where he is. They don’t and Gerda cries, watering the spot where the roses were. They pop out of the ground and tell her that Kay is not dead. They know because they were just in the ground where all the dead things are. So Gerda continues her journey to find her friend Kay.

-The Cherokee Rose-

When the Cherokee people were made to move on the trail of tears they lost many people, including children. The cherokee rose appeared on the trail to give them comfort and remind them of their strength and courage to protect their remaining children. The golden center is a reminder of the white mans greed.

⸙༄𓆤𓆩𓆪❁𓇢𓆸🏵

Uses in Witchcraft

Much of the folklore revolves around lost love and death. This is a wonderful plant for helping a grieving heart, it's even classified as a euphoriant herb for purposes just like this. It holds the heart and helps you cry and grieve. For what is grief if not love preserving? (thank you WandaVision).

The thorns are also seen as protective, surrounding Briar Rose's castle as she slumbered, protecting her from would be suitors. Maybe a good plant to help you sort out your own. I've even seen rose thorns used to beat away harmful spirits.

⸙༄𓆤𓆩𓆪❁𓇢𓆸🏵

Safety Notes

The petals may reduce iron absorption in humans when taken at the same time as iron supplements, please wait an hour between the iron and the rose tea. Rose hips are safe, just strain out the hairs to avoid irritation.

⸙༄𓆤𓆩𓆪❁𓇢𓆸🏵

Conclusion

The wild rose is a perfect flower for this time of year, as many people begin focusing more on ancestors and general spirit work. I've used it as an offering to many different spirits of the dead and it has been received well (unlike some other plants). While many people think of it as a flower of love, there's more to love than romance.

References:

Iowa State University Extension Office

Midwest Medicinal Plants by Lisa M. Rose

The Legend of the Cherokee Rose

Southern Cunning by Aaron Oberon

Images

Title image made on Canva

The Birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli (c. 1484-1486)

The Awakening of Adonis, John William Waterhouse (1899-1900)

Michelangelo's Pieta (commissioned 1637)

Prince Florimund finds the Sleeping Beauty - Project Gutenberg etext 19993

Kay and Gerda in their garden high up on the roof by Arthur Rackham

Trail of Tears painting, artist unknown

[rosie-love98]

The Women Of Oropher's House:

Winduirost:

Wife of Oropher and mother of Thranduil.

Name means “Windy Rain” in Sindarin. She was called this due to her gray eyes.

Daughter of Tauraear (“Vast Ocean”) and Erinmidh (“Morning-Dew”).

Was sister to an elder brother named “Duinlung” (“Riverbend”) and a younger sister called “Loebnen” (“Fresh-Water). Along with their parents, both Duinlung and Loebnen would be killed during an Orc attack in the First Age 585. Winduirost was the sole survivor when Oropher had managed to rescue her.

Married Oropher in the First Age 588 and made the move to Mirkwood with him.

Had the unique trait of having golden-blonde hair. This may be the result of a Vanyar or Noldor ancestor.

Winduirost didn’t think highly of the Silvans of Mirkwood. This was why she was against Thranduil marrying her handmaiden, Lisselote.

When Oropher gave Thranduil and Lisselote his blessing to their engagement, a petty Winduirost gave Lisselote dozens of hard tasks to prove her worth.

When Oropher perished during the War Of The Last Alliance, Winduirost would soften her harsh judgment thanks to Lisslote’s kindness towards the grieving queen.

Sailed to the Undying Lands in the Third Age 87, shortly after the birth of her grandson, Legolas.

Despite (somewhat) softening her cold disposition, it still didn’t stop Winduirost’s initial objection to Legolas’s romance with the Wingildi, Nenselde. Though, in Winduirost’s defense, she had more legit reasons.

Lisselote:

Wife of Thranduil and mother of Legolas.

Name means “Honey-Blossom” due to having honey-blonde hair.

Daughter of Malinurin (“Yellow-Sun”) and Tuilevire (“Spring Rose”).

Had a younger sister named “Incadaisime” (“Small Daisy”).

Was a hand-maiden to Queen Winduirost when Lisselote became acquainted with Thranduil.

Married Thranduil in the Second Age 3500. They were engaged back in 3429 but they were forced to halt the wedding due to the War Of The Last Alliance breaking out.

Was given the White Gems Of Lasgalen as a wedding gift from Winduirost on the late Oropher’s behalf.

During an Orc attack on Mirkwood, Lisselote was kidnapped by the enemy and taken to Angmar where she’d be tortured to death. 

Her untimely demise was sacrificial as the Orcs were trying to find and kill the then-infant Legolas. Little did they know Lisselote had given Legolas to her maid-servants who were already protecting the other Mirkwood Elflings (including little Tauriel).

This Orc siege had also cost the lives of Tuileveire and Incadaisime. As for Malinurin, he had already died during the War Of The Last Alliance.

Nenselde:

Wife of Legolas and mother of Marillalote.

Is the very last of all the Wingildi (“Foam-Maidens”) to have been created. 

Name means “Sea-Child” in Sindarin.

Unlike the Wingildis, she was made with the tear of Nienna. As a result, she was made and grew as an Elf child rather than a grown adult like her sisters. Yet, the other side-effect was that Nenselde was prone to grief and depression.

When Nenselde was a small, Elf child, she was given to Osse and Uinen to raise along with Wingildis.

By the time she turned 200-years-old, the now adult Nenselde would be so overwhelmed with her depression that she left her family for seclusion within the Bay Of Belfalas.

As much as she loved her family, Nenselde forbade herself from returning to them. The likes of Gandalf and Cirdan even tried to talk with her but whenever that arrived at Belfalas, a nervous Nenselde would hide away from them.

For centuries, Nenselde would be all alone at the bay until the Fourth Age arrived. From the Fourth Age 190-220, she would have mysterious visions of Prince Legolas Of Mirkwood. From all of these shared visions, the two would grow romantically close.

Yet, as Nenselde longed to be with Legolas and his friends in the Undying Lands, she was still torn with the Bay Of Belfalas. 

To make matters worse, their shared dreams would be corrupted by an evil force, the Dark Tree Cult that also made both Legolas and Nenselde undergo a deadly coma.

Still, by the Fourth Age 221, Nenselde would finally leave the Bay Of Belfalas and wed Legolas to the joy of Gimli Gloinul, Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Gandalf The White along with Thranduil and Winduirost.

Marillalote, Legolas and Nenselde’s daughter, would be born shortly after the wedding in the Fourth Age 225.

Marillalote:

Name means “Pearl-Blossom” in Quenya.

Was going to be called just "Marilla" but Legolas wanted to pay homage to his late mother.

Born in Tol Eressea, an island of the Undying Lands.

Thanks to having Gimli Gloinul as her godfather, she’s prone to having a Dwarf-like personality; adventurous, strong-willed, along with being able to forge and wield an ax. This is why she’s often called “Dwarf-Kin”.

Also, like a Dwarf, Marillalote is knowledgeable on mining and jewelry-making.

Godmother was Legolas’s childhood friend, Tauriel.

As a Wingildi on her mother’s side, Marillalote inherited the ability to sing wildly.

By the time Marillalote was 20 (seven in Elf years), Gimli, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee would all pass on peacefully.

Would eventually marry Elenimir (“Star-Jewel"), grandson of Elboron (son of Faramir and Eowyn) and his wife, Alasse (daughter of Aragorn and Arwen) in the Fourth Age 500. 

Elenimir and Marillalote would later have two sons and two daughters.

[vilandel]

Black Clover Next Generation III ♣️💘

Family Tree of House Vermillion

Fire Vermillions

Plant Vermillions

I've already talked a bit about Mimosas and Langris children here, so I won't go too much into details yet (that will be for the profiles).

Just so you know, Kirsch is actually an excellent uncle and to Mimosas surprise, well loved by her children. He also became an uncle for Finrals and Finesses children.

As for the Fire Vermillions, Esclarmonde and Yogan are the oldest of their generation.

Yogan is the only son of Mereoleona and Yosuga (their marriage/bond/whatever is rather special in many ways I'm still figuring it out^^'). He is actually as calm as his parents are wild.

Yosuga and Mereoleona can have their most fierce, devastating battle training and he can just sit unbothered in the middle of it with a book.

Just so you know, he is very powerful magic-wise, in fact he is double as powerful as his parents... Him being such a calm boy was a relief for EVERYONE. Yogan also gets along great with his uncle Fuegoleon.

Yogans birth is quite the story, because Mereoleona was fighting an herd of powerful Magic Beasts and some renegade noble bandits WHILE giving birth to her son. Come on, this is Mereo, of course she would give birth during a battle or something.

His parents are still very proud of him.

Esclarmonde is the calmest one of her siblings. She has a romantic soul and the story of her parents underlines this trait even more.

She also wants one day to become Wizard Queen, learns and trains hard for that. This includes also doing charities and learning no-magic first aid. Plans already to make this a basis for Magic Knights training and has talks with her father about it. She and Fuegoleon are really close, a true Father-Daughter trust.

Is determined to join the Crimson Lion Kings and also to become their captain one day.

Orion is wilder than his older sister, but still calm. Let's say that he is calm but with passion.

Doesn't talk much, but shows more. Not very stoic, though, as he smiles often.

Aliénor is much younger than her siblings, another kind of surprise child.

Personality-wise, she is like auntie Mereo.

Leopolds wife is another OC of mine (I'll made a profile one day for her). To sum up, Venus is a peasant, a member of the Green Praying Mantises and rather crazy (she can cut with her Foam Magic).

Their daughter Eleonora is as loud and wild as her parents. She has a soft spot for volcanos, much to auntie Mereos delight.

Their son Espumaleon is practically the shy baby. Was very sick when he was a baby, so his parents are protective about him and his big sister even more.

Unlike Eleonora, Espumaleon prefers calm and fluffy places, especially with pillows and blankets. Or a bubble bath. He also doesn't want to become a Magic Knight.

Yogan as straight and long dark red hair, which he usually wears in a low pony tail, his mother's blue eyes with the Vermillion red eyeliner and he has powerful Lava Magic (Don't make him angry, as he doesn't yell, remains calm but his lava quickly runs wild).

Esclarmonde and Aliénor have all their mother's nacreous eyes and their father's red Vermillion eyeliner. Orion has his father's bright lilac eyes, but also the red Vermillion eyeliner (maybe a bit darker than his sisters). Esclarmonde has wavy waist-long hair, red has Fuegoleon's and also has inherited her father's Fire Magic. Orion has dark purple hair like his mother, but shoulder length and soft just like his father, he also got Litals Star Magic. Aliénor has a wide curly mane like her mother, the color is a redish purple (a mix of her parents hair colors) and got Seafire Magic, a powerful one at that. Noelle one day almost got a heart-attack when little Aliénor accidentally put her Sea Dragon's Roar on fire^^'

Eleonora has long and slightly curly red hair, her mother's jade green eyes, with typical Vermillion eyeliner and got her father's Fire Magic. Espumaleon has black hair like his mother, grass green eyes and red eyeliners from his father, with Venus' Foam Magic.

[alyx-the-witch]

Hello! my name is Alyx, and im a Hellenic Witch! i wanted to talk about my practice a little bit, and let other people know that its ok to be unconventional when it comes to your practice. you do what you think is best, and intuition is your best friend when it comes to designing your practice.

anyways, heres some things i do throughout the week to worship my Gods.

personally, i got very overwhelmed when i started worshipping, so i set up a schedule, giving each deity and myself a day of the week that coincided with their historical days of worship.

Sunday

This day is for Lord Apollon. for him, i wake up before the sun and have a glass of orange juice while i watch the sunrise. i also go for a walk, and feed the corvids (crows and ravens) in my neighborhood.

Monday

this day is for Lady Artemis. for her, i record the moon phase, go to a park near my house, and bring some food with me for any animals i might come across. this is also one of the days i cleanse my space and myself.

Tuesday

this day is for Lord Ares. for him, i go to the gym, spend any free time i have with my dogs, and take good care of my mental health.

Wednesday

this day is for Lady Hestia. this day is apart from her historical day, but i trusted my intuition and chose this day because she feels very centering and in the middle of everything, and wednesday’s give that energy for me. for her, i bake or cook something, veil, and make sure that im choosing kindness over everything else.

Thursday

this day is for Lord Thanatos. for him, i wear something dark, honor the dead by visiting the cemetery near my house and leaving offerings, and finding a butterfly in something. finding a butterfly is a bit unconventional, but butterflies remind me of the beauty and peacefulness of death. its actually funny because when i first started to worship him, he would send me monarchs. one of those times, i found one almost dead and drowned in a puddle, and i took care of it in its final moments.

Friday

this day is for me. i set aside time to take care of myself, i make sure i eat well and drink water, i go to the gym, and i try to get more sleep. because i am currently worshipping 6 Deities, i have one day left over, and so i treat myself on that day how i would treat a deity. obviously i never compare myself to them and never hold myself on the same level as them, but its important for me to set aside a day for myself.

Saturday

this day is for Lady Aphrodite. for her, i take an everything shower, do my makeup, and honor Water. to me, she is a Water Deity, because in her birth myth, the blood of Uranus and the sea mixed together, and she rose from the foam, so involving water in her worship is important to me.

Other Things i do for my Gods

i took a vow of chastity for Lady Hestia

i make my own offerings out of clay (im a ceramics student so thats easy for me)

i wrote my own prayers for them

i braid colors into my hair that reminds me of them (i do one color per day and on each of their days i braid it into my hair using string)

i use my hair as a tool for my practice, and take care of it well. i use it to express periods of my life, and periods of change. for example, i cut it all off when i decided to change myself, and morned my old self while it was short, and now that it grew back out, i am out of that period and into a different one.

i offer myself as a conduit for them to experience the human condition of the 2000’s. they can inhabit my body for a period of time and live my life, taste my food, experience working a modern job (🤢🤢🤢), stuff like that.

i have a playlist for each of them with songs they like/songs that remind me of them/ give off the same vibe. i listen to their playlist on their day

anyways, my posts will most likely be about my practice and anything i think might be helpful, please talk to me about any questions you have!

[sltwater]

𝑐𝘩𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑟⧸𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑒 :   feyrah demetriou   ››   human   ››  hazal filiz küçükköse  .

❛❛   aesthetic.  ❜❜   ⸻   ◜   ❏  . ⸻ lover , hunter , friend and enemy , to their kind ; she will always be every one of these , bodies of water���birthed from bodies of water…drawn to bodies of water , a mother only doing what she thinks is best despite not wanting to hold in secrets from her own flesh and blood . ⸻   ◜   ❏  . ⸻  →

001.    GENERAL INFORMATION.

OFFICIAL  NAME   feyrah demetriou.

NICKNAMES  +  ALIASES   fey.

AGE   45.

GENDER  cis woman.

PRONOUNS   she+her.

SEXUALITY   heterosexual.

PLACE  OF  BIRTH   gallowmere , south carolina.

ZODIAC  SIGN   virgo.

FINANCIAL  STATUS   well off.

OCCUPATION   owner of the lagoon / ocean conservationists.

LANGUAGES  SPOKEN   turkish , english , spanish , german.

002.    PHYSICAL TRAITS.

HAIR  COLOR   COLOR.

EYES   deep brown.

HEIGHT   5' 8''.

BUILD   athletically slim.

TATTOOS   n/a.

PIERCINGS   ears.

SCARS   n/a.

SPECIES   human.

SCENT   soft lavender waves and vanilla sea foam.

FACECLAIM   hazal filiz küçükköse.

003.    MENTAL ANALYSIS.

POSITIVE  TRAITS   resilient , determined.

NEGATIVE  TRAITS   stubborn , secretive.

ALIGNMENT   chaotic good.

PRIZED POSSESSION   antique white gold ring & necklace given to her by her first love.

LIKES   the ocean , swimming , spending time with her loved ones .

DISLIKES   people who litter at the beach , those who are rude to others .

004.    CONNECTIONS.

MOTHER   fatima polat ( deceased ).

FATHER   kaan polat ( deceased ).

CHILDREN   alara demetriou.

SIGNIFICANT  OTHER   kayra demetriou.

005.    BIOGRAPHICAL DATA.

⸻ feyrah was born to fatima , a high school biology teacher , and kaan , your local fisherman . When she was only 3 years old , she had been introduced into the world of fishing and swimming in the sea by her father.

⸻ every summer since she was 5 , feyrah would go out at sea with her father and help him fish and even clean up trash if they came across it .

⸻ feyrah was determined to train to become a skilled and famous marine biologist someday , a dream she is forced to abandon after her mother passed away and she took over household chores and made sure her father took well care of himself so he doesn't run himself to the ground .

⸻ often times feyrah would go out at sea with her father's boat and just enjoy the view , swim , or pick up any litters she saw . Albeit at one point when she was 16 , feyrah would almost drown when she got caught in the current and dragged down . it was her first encounter with a siren as far as she knew . saved before she passed out . part of her should have been shocked yet another part of her knew that the ocean is a vast place with sea creatures and being yet to be discovered .

⸻ eventually feyrah would meet her first and only love . A siren and dive into their world even more once she fell pregnant . she tries to understand her lover's turmoils and knowing that their affair must be kept a secret , she also knew the consequences for him if it got out . as long as her daughter and her were fine , feyrah would let herself drown . having their daughter in secret , feyrah gave birth to her in her own home , almost losing her life .

⸻ she's the owner of the lagoon , a night club she started at 23 and had been successful . with the extra money she earns and able to put aside , feyrah uses it and works as a ocean conservationist on the side .

⸻ feyrah would do anything for her daughter , alara and kayra . kind and smart , feyrah loves the ocean and enjoys taking care of the beach and making sure there's no litters . loyal to those she truly loves but despite her gentle and kind nature , she's not one to be taken advantage of . stubborn and willing to sacrifice herself for her daughter and kayra , she's not afraid to say what she's feeling or thinking and refuses to let others push her around

[multifandomfanfiction]

Under the Black Lake

TITLE: Under the Black Lake PAIRING: Draco/OC (if you squin) RATING: T CHAPTER: One-shot SUMMARY: Fayina is just like any other magical girl, only she's not.

[A/N - Inspired by a comment made by Ominous Gaunt in "Hogwarts Legacy".]

To say that Fayina Donohue didn’t belong in Slytherin would be an understatement. She was quiet, reserved, and hardly ever displayed the traits that were most commonly associated with Slytherin.

Most days, if she wasn’t in class, she could be found staring out of the glass windows.

It was common to tell first years that mermaids often swam past the windows, but of course that was just a lie that older students told them to keep them occupied. The Giant Squid could be seen swimming in the distance some days, but they never saw mermaids.

“She’s just as loony as that Lovegood girl,” she heard Pansy Parkinson say.

Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini were with her.

“She’s a wicked Potions partner though,” Blaise said.

“I say that if she wants to stare out the window all day, let her,” Draco told them.

The trio left the common room, probably on their way to the library or the Great Hall.

Once the common room was clear, Fayina started singing softly under her breath.

A webbed hand came up from below and touched the glass.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Fayina was walking near the Black Lake when she heard a scream. She ran towards the lake and found a small first or second year splashing in the water.

The more the boy thrashed, the further he was swept out.

Fayina threw her stuff down and pulled off her cloak. Before she could get in the water, a hand grabbed her arm.

“Don’t.”

She looked up and saw Draco Malfoy.

“Let a teacher handle it.”

She shrugged his hand off and dove into the water. The moment she touched the water, her clothes faded away and her legs fused into a tail. She swam towards the boy.

“Shhh,” Fayina cooed. She started singing a song her mother had taught her as a child.

Draco watched as the boy stopped thrashing around. He also could swear he heard singing.

Fayina took the boy in her arms and she was able to lead him closer to shore.

A few people came running and helped the boy out of the water.

Fayina needed the shore to clear so she could dry off, but she kept an eye on the boy.

Draco glanced at the water. He saw a head of dark hair disappear under the water and a flash of a shimmering tail.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When the shore was empty, Fayina pulled herself onto land. She pulled her wand out of her bag and whispered a spell under her breath. Her clothes returned and she was bone dry.

The spell had been passed down through the generations of Donohue women.

Fayina grabbed her bag and made her way back to the castle.

Draco approached Fayina in the common room. “I know what I saw,” he told her.

She looked at him.

“How did you do it?”

She grabbed his hand and pulled him over to an alcove near the windows. She cast a spell over them so they wouldn’t be overheard.

“Long ago, a mermaid wished to be human…”

Draco rolled his eyes. “A fairytale? Really?”

Fayina glared at him. “It’s not a fairytale. It’s my life.”

“Fine. Go on.”

“This mermaid made a bargain with a sea witch. In order for this mermaid to remain human, she would need to marry someone with magic within the year. If she did not, she would return to the sea as foam. The mermaid did indeed marry someone with magical blood and gave birth to a daughter. But what she didn’t know was that the sea witch had cursed her. Her bloodline would only give birth to daughters, no sons. And if those daughters did not marry someone with magical blood by their 21st birthday, they would return to the sea as foam.”

“So…you’re a mermaid?”

“Well, half.”

“So any contact with water causes this?”

“Only when submerged. I can still shower and everything, but if I were to take a bath…tail.”

Fayina glanced around the common room and found it mostly empty. She turned to the glass and softly sang under her breath.

Draco watched in amazement as a mermaid floated into view.

The mermaids in the Black Lake looked nothing like the mermaids in the fairytales. Not like Fayina.

“How come you don’t look like that?” Draco asked, “Your tail is beautiful by the way.”

Fayina blushed. “The Black Lake mermaids look like that because of their environment. Evolution and everything. My family is from a country filled with coral and brightly colored fish. Helps us blend better.”

“Are all mermaids related?”

Fayina shrugged. “In a manner of speaking. We’re more like distant cousins really. Especially with all the magical blood. We’re barely mermaids by most standards.”

Draco stepped towards her, backing her up against the glass. “Is that why you were sorted into Slytherin? Your fishy little secret?”

Fayina tried to keep a straight face, but burst out laughing. “Fishy little secret? Really?”

Draco’s cheeks and ears burned. “Alright. Stop laughing at me before a douse you in water.”

Fayina’s mouth dropped open and she narrowed her eyes. “You. Wouldn’t. Dare.”

Draco smirked. “Ah. That’s why.”

“Draco!” Blaise shouted from across the common room, “Quidditch practice!”

“Go,” Fayina told him.

“This isn’t over Donohue.”

“I look forward to continuing our conversation, Malfoy.”