#spiritual guardianship

[compassionmattersmost]

Spirals of Harmony: A Deeper Look into the Crop Circle of August 29th

There’s something undeniably captivating about the crop circle that appeared on August 29th. As I gaze upon its intricate design, I’m drawn into a world where geometry and spirituality converge, where the mysteries of the universe seem to be woven into the very fabric of the earth itself. This particular formation, with its flowing spirals and perfectly balanced symmetry, speaks to something deep…

[science-lings]

I love that Phoenix is so father figure coded in the main trilogy with Pearl. Like the official art where she's napping on his thigh or being held up by him to put up Christmas tree ornaments, and the whole vibe of him bringing her along to crime scenes, and in the stage play where she gets scared and freezes in place so he just picks her up like a stack of firewood. Even from the second game when he's only like 25 he's been irrefutably dad-shaped. It should've been the least surprising thing to happen when AJ first came out that Phoenix had become a dad. That's been an important part of his personality, he probably was born to be a girldad more than an attorney.

anyway it's also really funny to think about him lowkey adopting the half-sister of the woman who tried to kill him and her twin sister who tricked him into thinking that she was his girlfriend.

[iamhussainialvi]

💖🔥 Unveiling the Mystical ✨🕊️ The Guardianship of Ali

"When Heart and Soul Unite: The Transformative Power of Ali's Guardianship"

_Bio_

I'm Muhammad Faisal Hussaini, an artist and scholar, inspired by the spiritual legacy of Ali.

_Summary_

Explore the profound impact of acknowledging Ali's guardianship on the human experience. Discover how this sacred bond transforms the heart, nourishes the soul, and awakens spiritual growth.

_Label_

Ali, Guardianship, Spiritual Growth, Heart, Soul

_Related Queries_

1. Significance of Ali's guardianship in Islam

2. Spiritual transformation through divine love

3. Heart and soul connection in Sufism

4. Ali's role in Islamic spirituality

5. Mystical experiences in Islamic tradition

_What's on Mind_

How does acknowledging Ali's guardianship transform your inner world? Reflect on the profound implications.

_Description_

In the realm of spiritual awakening, acknowledging Ali's guardianship marks a pivotal moment. As the heart circumambulates with devotion, the soul stirs, and transformation unfolds. This sacred bond ignites a flame of love, illuminating the path to self-discovery and spiritual growth.

_Key Takeaways_

1. Ali's guardianship as a catalyst for spiritual growth

2. Heart and soul connection in Sufism

3. Transformative power of divine love

4. Significance of Ali in Islamic spirituality

5. Mystical experiences in Islamic tradition

_Tags_

Ali, Guardianship, Spiritual Growth, Heart, Soul, Sufism, Divine Love, Islamic Spirituality

_Hashtags_

#Ali #Guardianship #SpiritualGrowth #Heart #Soul #Sufism #DivineLove #IslamicSpirituality

_Category_

Islamic Studies, Spirituality, Sufism

_Album_

"Whispers of the Heart: Reflections on Ali's Guardianship"

_Add to Playlist▶️_

"Spiritual Awakening" playlist

References:

- "The Life of Ali" by Dr. Muhammad Ali Amir-Moezzi

- "Sufism and Islamic Spirituality" by Dr. Sayyed Hossein Nasr

- "The Quran" (various translations)

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[deepwoundsandfadedscars]

Sat down to have a chat with my cousin before he flies home tomorrow to his wife, just cause I was anxious that she would try to twist it against me if she talked to him first, I explained my side of what the interaction was and the blatant lies she claimed, and he's not at all surprised and in fact is already planning on getting a paralegal when he gets home to start getting her the fuck out of his life

Me last night: hmm maybe I want another tattoo, I'm going to start talking to this artist *sends message*

My cousins wife: *sends an incredibly hostile message about how I've been ignoring her and she's gone above and beyond for me trying to be supportive of me, when in reality she hasn't texted me first since November and when I text her, she's very short with me and makes no effort to continue a conversation with me*

"Yeah hi, artist? Make that three tattoos"

[serpentface]

Here's what Brakul's abandoned son looks like in the present day. His name is Síldebrai, he's 14 years old and already almost 6', and he just graduated to his very first responsibility of impending manhood (tending cattle up at the summer pastures). He has a notably shitty deer tattoo given to him by a friend, which remains indefinitely unfinished due to them being caught in the process.

Síldebrai does not have full ancestral tattoos (arms) yet, as these are only given when a child comes of age and is initiated into adulthood. His parental ancestry tattoos are atypical in only representing his mother and maternal grandparents, as his blood father abandoned him and is a known oathbreaker, and has thus been struck from his lineage. Ancestry is measured based upon direct parent to child blood relations (divided by gender into unbroken male and female lines), so his adoptive father Vrailedh cannot be directly represented. However, due to Vrailedh being Síldebrai's biological uncle (Brakul's brother), Síldebrai will still be able to claim his male ancestral line upon adulthood.

Remarriages in cases of death, exile, and abandonment tend to be kept within the family of the absent parent when possible. This is in large part a pragmatic matter of maintaining clan ties, but additionally to ensure full and unbroken ancestral guardianship for any children who have not yet come of age (and thus have not yet secured a place in their lineage). An adoptive parent completely unrelated to a child may be able to persuade their ancestors to offer guardianship, but the child cannot formally claim a place in their line. This is not socially damning, as they will still have a firm place in their clan, but it can be spiritually fraught and isolating. Being the progenitor of an entirely new lineage is a heavy burden both in life and especially in the afterlife, in which you will initially be the only member of your gendered line tasked with watching over your descendents.

[imharnaannesta]

I’ve seen a lot of conversation about Anakin Skywalker and grooming and whether if someone just did something differently would Anakin have fallen. And they’ve sparked a thought of my own that I haven’t been able to put into words.

Which is that regardless of whether it would have changed anything I believe that the Jedi Order failed in their duty of care to Anakin.

Firstly, I believe that the second Qui-Gon, being a Jedi Master on a mission as a representative of the Jedi Order, takes Anakin from his mother the Order has a duty of care to Anakin. Like if Qui-Gon had taken Anakin and immediately gotten into a speeder crash that was his fault and killed them both I think the Jedi would have been liable in a wrongful death suit. Qui-Gon may have been acting outside of his mandate but I don’t believe that changes that the Order bears some responsibility for his actions. Being a Jedi Master gives him a level of authority and if he abused that authority or uses it for actions outside his mandate then the Order is responsible for responding appropriately.

When the Council decides he shouldn’t be trained the next steps should not have been letting Qui-Gon take him into an actual war zone. Whether they’re training him or not he’s a child and until they’ve made other arrangements they are responsible for his care. If Anakin had died on Naboo it would have been due to the negligence of the Order.

The responsible choice would have been to find Anakin a place to stay in the temple until arrangements could be made for him to either be returned to his mother or entrusted to a guardian. In either case it would be the responsibility of the Jedi to ensure to the best of their knowledge and ability that Anakin was being placed in a safe and stable environment. A member of their order took Anakin from one home, if they do not care for him they cannot just wash their hands of him without doing their due diligence.

Secondly, once Anakin is a member of the Order it is the responsibility of the Order to ensure that children in their care are safe. That is the responsibility of any person or organization with guardianship of children. And I cannot fathom a world in which it is responsible to allow an adult outside the order, who has taken a special interest in a specific child, to have enough access to that child to be considered the child’s friend. The only legitimate interest Palpatine could possibly have in Anakin is in his role liberating Naboo (a thing he shouldn’t have been involved in anyway) and that’s certainly not enough. And frankly even if Palpatine was interacting with Anakin under supervision it clearly wasn’t enough. Even later, they shouldn’t be sending a nineteen year old to have solo meetings with the Chancellor. Especially if the Chancellor has taken interest in that nineteen year old.

And before anyone argued that Palpatine made them… I don’t care. If they suspected Palpatine’s interest in Anakin was anything less than pure (and they should have because aging politicians have no legitimate reason to be getting close with random children) then they should have been fighting tooth and nail every step of the way. And the fact that they send him into the viper’s den more than once suggests they aren’t making that effort.

If Palpatine was abusing Anakin in ways other than emotional and arguably spiritual then would you still say the Jedi had to let Palpatine have access to him? Because what he does to Anakin is arguably worse in some ways given how it turns out.

Thirdly, Anakin returns from fighting in the outer rim, is ordered to begin spying on the Chancellor (who the Jedi Order allowed him to have enough contact with in his childhood to consider him a friend), and then shows the signs of struggling emotionally. They do not push him on this, Yoda asks him about it and gives very surface level advice. And then they allow the armed and very powerful veteran of a large scale interplanetary conflict to continue his spying mission and go on his merry way.

This is not to say I think Anakin’s fall is anyone’s fault but Palpatine’s and Anakin’s. But Anakin is coming out of a psychologically damaging environment and being put into an extremely difficult position emotionally by being asked to spy on Palpatine. He’s already emotionally volatile and he is extremely well trained, armed at all times, and capable of being extremely dangerous. As is any Jedi. And given those factors I think not pushing when he appears less stable than usual and potentially not forcing medical intervention is negligence.

This is also not to say that the Jedi somehow brought their fate onto themselves. The destruction of the Jedi Order is Palpatine’s doing and very little they could do outside of successfully killing him would have prevented it by the time it came to pass. Anakin’s involvement in it is also not ultimately the fault of the Jedi Order. But that doesn’t mean that they didn’t fail Anakin.

It might not have changed anything. It doesn’t mean that they are responsible for Anakin’s actions once he swears his allegiance to Palpatine. It doesn’t mean the Jedi are bad as a whole. Or even that any of them are bad people. But I do think they had a duty of care. And I do think they fell short.

And now I kind of want to write a fic where Padme successfully finds and frees Shmi and brings her to Naboo and Shmi sues the fuck out of the Jedi Order for the way Qui-Gon went about acquiring her son. And for allowing him to go with Qui-Gon to Naboo.

[jiangwanyinscatmom]

Wangxian, Jiang Cheng, The Ancestral Hall, and who was really dishonorable during that confrontation

Some terms and accepted commonalities of traditional early ancestral worship, that is not to be confused with what is seen in smaller tighter family homes with less of the previous community focus:

祠堂 Ancestral Hall or 家廟 Family Temple (used less often as the basis of the temple is to promote strong lineage worship and filial piety of past generations that helped to grow a strong long line and respecting what had come before)

A building where members of a particular clan gather to honor their ancestors. An ancestral temple can serve clan members of a village or local area who all share common ancestors or, on a larger scale, it can serve all the clan members of a longer lineage. It is usually named after a certain ancestor, such the common ancestor of the clan members who first inhabited the village or the founder of the lineage.

An ancestral temple would be open on a regular basis for those wishing to offer prayers for good health, success, etc, in the same way that temples housing the images of traditional deities would be open.

Due to how prevalent Ancestral worship is and as shown within MDZS, the heavy community based aspect of the sects are the basis of Wei Wuxian's own visit to the shrine, and traditionally, was the most respectful action to take to those that had raised him, not as an inner Jiang, but overall the clan of Yunmeng Jiang that had once been open to all disciples that wished to be a part of Yunmeng Jiang.

These halls, unlike current real life family altars, were open to all who wished to pay respects to the ancestors/clan of that province. (Lotus Pier's hall is not designated to the inner sanctum of just Jiang Cheng's estates and is for all disciples/ties to the Yunmeng Jiang Clan, however distant. Wei Wuxian despite his nebulous status within the Jiang family was still once considered formerly of Yunmeng and was his relevant filial ties and guardianship. As such, it is only respectful to confer with the dead that had such significance in his life to allow continued peace of the dead as well as reverence in asking for their blessings as he found a prospect for marriage as it was traditional for the bride (groom in this case) to be presented to those who had been considered as parents/family.

It is also unbecoming to bring negativity within the ancestral hall as it is a place to acknowledge what the living had been given and granted due to the dead's actions (karma) and to be granted a good life in return for that show of respect.

As such, Jiang Cheng himself does not make mention the good the Jiangs had done, only focusing on how the living are causing him problems, disrespecting the rest that the dead spirituality have been blessed with and no actual respect upon their lives as he hyperfocuses on the death and it's impact upon him. Wangxian in the traditional wuxia setting and tropes fit tightly as well worshipping visitors, the heroes of these novels always display upright morality of filial piety and Confucian ideals of the practice.

Jiang Cheng, ironically despite his speeches of his family and besmirching of their honor, is the one to do just that as he goads Wei Wuxian into the personal strife that the Jiangs have no longer been apart of for years and represents another bad omen of his granted title.

[seeker-ophelia]

Hallelujah

(There are no Veilguard spoilers in this content, it was all created in early September, I’m only posting it now).

So I found this old Bioware article from 2014…

Its about what the writers listened to when they wrote their characters.

I was immediately struck by Weekes’ (writer of Bull, Cole, & Solas) comment that he wrote whole swaths of Solas dialogue listening to K.D. Langs cover of Hallelujah.

Because when I was playing Origins, way back in 2009, as soon as I heard the words “The Chant of Andraste” I thought of Hallelujah.

No better parallel could exist for me. Hallelujah, if you listen to the lyrics, is not really church related, yet it got absorbed into the church as a hymn. Its fucking sad, and yet we’re praising god or some shit?

Kinda like how I feel The Chantry has changed their religion, their original purpose, Andraste and the Maker and all that, into something horrible (subjugation/lobotomization of mages, feeding templars crack, you know, nOrMal StUfF).

I love the parallels there. And I love that Weekes used this sad-ass fucking dirge for our sad-ass fucking egg, especially considering what KD Lang said about it:

Canadian singer k.d. lang said in an interview shortly after Cohen's death that she considered the song to be about "the struggle between having human desire and searching for spiritual wisdom. It's being caught between those two places."       (Be still, my heart.)

And I thought about how Legends Shouldn’t Be Given The Weight of History, and how The Chantry’s purpose has been twisted, and how Hallelujah’s purpose has been twisted, and at the time, I was completing The Temple of the Emerald Knights in DA:I. I was thinking about how the Elvhen temple is littered with statues of Andraste and Mythal (dragon), how there’s a Knight, Andale (which is so obviously Andraste, prob Flemythal reincarnate of some sort).

The blending and melding and mushing of cultures and religions as time drags on, how originally good or pure purposes are changed or shifted, or corrupted.

And I thought of Andraste again.

I have been unhealthily obsessed with this artist named Aly, who is a Bard in Thedas and sings at The Dread Halla Tavern (you can find them on spotify here);  

(for clarification, this human is not me, I am not a singer, she is very good, you should go listen to all her songs-after you read this).

Anyways, I got to thinking…

What would Andraste’s Hallelujah sound like?

I had to write it.

Its sad and beautiful and tells the story of a woman flighting against forces she has no hope of defeating (But we still have to try).

[Andraste’s Lament]

And I got immediately transported to a smoky, dimly lit tavern in Southern Thedas. Aly has just sung Andraste’s Lament, and is approached by Neria, a lone Dalish Elf who clutches a scrap of paper tightly in her hand.

Aly listens to this elf tell her a story of a sad song her mother used to sing her when she was young, before she got killed by bandits. And could she sing this song for her, please, she even has a few coppers.

And Aly sits down, scans the paper, and realizes it’s a different version of Andraste’s Hallelujah.

Written in small looping script at the top, in Common, is Dirge of the Dread Wolf.

And she sings it softly to Neria, a strange story of mothers and gods and tricksters and wolves, and Neria’s eyes well.

[Dirge of the Dread Wolf]

She ends the song, the last beautiful Hallelujah trembling through the thickness of the tavern air.

Neria sniffs once, and then begins a new story. Aly listens to this Elf speak of a crumbling Dalish temple deep in the middle of nowhere, where she found a piece of paper beside a four legged statue that has since eroded to expressionless guardianship, of words crossed out and changed and smudged.

Then she shakily hands Aly a different piece of paper.

This velumm is significantly older than the first, thicker, almost crumbling around the edges.

And its Hallelujah again, but its spelled wrong, and some strange name with too many n’s in it is written at the top.

And Neria asks Aly if she can sing this.

But it’s written in Elvhen, and Aly shakes her head, she doesn’t think she can stumble through all the strange Dalish a’s and ash’s and am’s (there's so many damn vowels in Dalish…).

But, Aly halts the elfs falling face, she is more than willing to sing this in Common, if Neria will stay to act as translator.

So the two bend their heads close over the bar, and Aly pulls out her small precious notebook where she writes down the lyrics to her own tunes, and they quickly make work of the Elvhen words, Aly humming and hawing as she changes some words to better match the pattern of the song.

And soon they have a brand-new Hallelujah, and Aly asks Neria to pronounce the name at the top.

Ghil-an’nain, Neria says, and make sure you spell the hallelujah right.

H, a, l, l, a, l, i, e, u, y, a.

What does that mean in Dalish? Aly asks the elf.

And Neria shrugs. Halla is like a halla, she assumes. But this word lieu, she doesn’t know.

Aly assumes in the context of this song it must mean birth, but Neria shakes her head. Shena is the verb for born.

Well, what about victory? But Neria shakes her head again. Ena’sal’in is the word for victory, or triumph.

Aly blows out a breath. She’s a lyricist. What would make this poetic.

What about truth?

The elf thinks, and a small smile grows on her lips.

She can’t think of a Dalish word for truth.

Ghilan’nain’s Truth of the Halla?

Aly’s beautiful soprano soon fills the room, and her eyes widen when a soft Alto joins her, singing along in the original Elvhen.

[Ghilan’nain’s Truth of the Halla]   

A haunting melody, completely changed by the understanding of the root of halla lieu’ya, not a praise to The Maker, or the curse of a trickster, but the story of a young god, beaten and battered and blinded, and her creations, and her destruction of them.

[Ghilan’nan’es Halla’lieu’ya]

The tavern erupts when they finish, and poor Neria blushes furiously as her back is slapped, and her hair is tousled, by the patrons of the establishment.

Aly and her new friend make their way to the bar, where foaming tankards await them.

They cheers, and as they tip the beer back, a city elf approaches them, dressed like a Dalish, but he has no vallaslin. He pushes his cowl down to reveal a bald head and shocking purple eyes. His voice is quiet, with a deep, romantic lilt.

“Where did you find that song?”

…

Please be gentle with any constructive criticism on my voice, I am absolutely NOT a singer, I know I don’t have a superstar voice but I’m also not tone deaf, so just… don’t be shitty to me, internet. Listen to the lyrics, not the delivery.

If anyone’s actually interested, I'll message you the lyrics. I also did record all four songs (Andraste, Dread Wolf, Ghilly (English), and Ghilly (Elvhen),) but can only put one video per post. Maybe I'll link them later if people are interested.

*It did not even occur to me until after writing Andraste’s Hallalujah that someone might have had this idea already. I did a little googling afterwards, and someone has put solas’ dialogue to the tune of Hallalujah, but no ones “re-written” it yet in this context (that I could find). My query to you is, why would Solas speak in Leonard Cohen's hallelujah/iambic pentameter if he had never heard it before?

---

Obviously, this can never be turned into a real song, because Sony owns the rights to the OG Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. But the romanticism of this song, changing through the ages, was too good to pass up. I hope you enjoy it, sincerely, and if you are a better singer than I, by all means, use my lyrics and record it, and please send me the link so that I can listen to it!  

Thanks to Weekes, Leonard Cohen, & The Dread Halla Tavern for inspiring this.

Bare your blade, and raise it high.

[imthepunchlord]

Thinking about those fox powers also reminded me of my ideas for the peacock. The first is how I could alter the canon power. So, along with the basics of removing the sentient life aspect, I would also make it more summoner-like. So, the user would use their own emotions, the emotions of those around them, and even the emotions that have seeped into the places they are in to create sentimonsters (no amok or item). The sentimonsters would generally be more animal-like, and the powers they have are more minor and depend on the creature. The user can control the creatures mentally and with hand movements. The user can probably make multiple at a time (both the same creature and different ones), but making too many can overwhelm the user and split their focus too far. Basically, it would be like what Maria Renard from Castlevania: Nocturne can do (https://youtu.be/xCFvixsZFhc?si=4OnHNv7A5taaOuKo)

Some other ideas for alternative powers are: stunning people with their beauty, delving into the mind of a target to discover their secrets by making direct eye contact with a target, absorbing negative energy to empower themself, scrying, seeing into the future (and if paired with the snake the snake could see into the past), and wind manpulation

Man, Peafowl and Rabbit really are the top two I want changed power wise.

On the topic of Peafowl's canon power, changed or not, I really should've been a power tied to Ladybug. Whether making sentient life to animated puppets, that's heavily ted to Creation.

Peafowl I stand should've had something different, something that should've changed up the status quo as it felt too similar/an extension of Butterfly. And it is a little funny that you have Mayura moving about when when she's a little more designed to be hidden away than even HM himself.

But yeah, a lot you brought up would work. They are iconic symbols of beauty and I also thought of a power of charming with their appearance, maybe even able to charm people to do as they ask. Mind reading, scrying, and foresight all make sense given the major eye motif peacocks have, Vision is one of their more iconic aspects and would've made more sense for Duusu's concept. Air/wind manipulation I'm the most iffy on, there is the fan to work off of, but that power may better work for a more aerodynamic bird like Falcon or Eagle. Peacocks I don't really associate with flight, and I don't know how good a flyer they are, especially with those long tails.

Other possibilities to add:

Healing/purification/rejuvenation, as the latter is an iconic symbol of it, as well as rebirth. Peacocks are associated with taking in evil/corruption and purifying it into beauty, eating venomous snakes to bring out the color of their feathers.

Peacocks also could've had a time power, even Snake's time resetting power could've worked. Mayura is a peacock that stands upon a snake and represents a cycle of time.

Peacocks are also tied to truth, and there's the idiom True Blue to work off of.

They're also tied to guardianship, royalty, luxury, and invulnerability. So they could've been related to fortune and wealth or being more defense.

They're tied to spirituality so could've done something related to spirits, or astral projection.

It's one of those animals that has a lot of possibilities in terms of powers, so the route they went is disappointing, kinda lazy, and convoluted a lot. It's also a little funny as I have read up that peacocks are tied to absolute goodness, being incorruptible; yet it's Miraculous is broken and misused (and maybe still? Idk if Felix is a good guy or not).

Also, idk about you guys, but since I've done various research on other animals and their myth, folklore, symbolism, and idioms, Ladybug I found to be kinda boring as a major lead animal to focus on and set up to be important. Why couldn't it follow a more interesting animals, we could've had Peafowl!Marinette instead. That also could've better worked off her interest in fashion too.

[kazumahashimoto]

Xan, important question. As #1 Angeal enjoyer, what bird fits him best? I need to know for reasons.

EHEHEHEH :3 OKAYY!!!!! honestly i don't know much about birds so i got my friend to help ^_^ BUT he suggested some sort of owl!!! so i looked into the symbolism of owls and then specifically white owls and it was saying they can represent guardianship, protection, wisdom, death and REBIRTH😱?!?! crazy. and specifically like the shedding of feathers represents transformation and self discovery. or so the spiritualism blogs tell me. cool stuff anyhow i think that all fits angeal (and his connection to zack) really well :D!!! so YEAH thinking some sort of white owl.. snowy owl perhaps....

[compassionmattersmost]

Patterns of Wonder: A Connection to the Cosmos

As I gaze upon yet another crop circle formation, I am struck by the sheer complexity and precision of its design. The intricate patterns woven into the fields are more than just a visual spectacle—they are a doorway into the profound mysteries of the universe. Each curve and line seems to pulse with an energy that is both ancient and timeless, stirring within me a deep sense of amazement and…

[tanoraqui]

Trick or Treat! Something Silmarillion?

In the early Third Age when Turgon has returned to life and he and Elenwë and Finrod & Amarië are finally fulfilling their long-held plan of having children at the same time, that they might grow up close as siblings like Finrod and Turgon had, Idril and Tuor say, "Hey, we could also do that! We always meant to have more than one child, and there's nothing actually stopping us!"

So they do. Now, there actually is something stopping them a little - the bearing of Elvish or half-Elvish children is more...metaphysically participatory? than that of Men (or Dwarves, etc). For both parents. Tuor had done it once and been fine, but that was in his native land, and even with Ulmo's guardianship and life on Tol Eressëa, which was fairly mild in terms of blessing-intensity, at roughly 3,500 years of age, his fëa is now worn a little thin.

But their daughter is born hearty and whole, and if Tuor is abed for a few weeks with weariness, well, he's back on his feet soon, and Idril is more than strong enough to bear a single mother's spiritual burden now that the babe is born. Indeed, she insists. Unequivocally.

Moriwen ("dark-crowned maiden") is named for her grandmother Rian and the dark brown hair she inherited from her (to no small amusement to many, given that her parents were both very blond). Her hair never quite achieves the natural luster of Elvish locks - instead, it easily gets tangled, bedraggled, and encrusted with sea-salt like her father's.

She grows up on Tol Eressëa at a nearly Elvish pace, because that feels most natural to her, and chooses to live and die (or not) as an Elf. All her friends and family are Elves (or as close as one semi-retired prophet of the sea can be) so why should she wish to be otherwise?

(The Choice is natural to all first-generation half-bloods, though after that, majority-genetics determines it unequivocally, and mortality wins in a coincidentally 50/50 balance...unless complicated by Maiaran blood, see: the heirs of Lúthien. That extends the Choice for a couple more generations, though mortality is still a heavy draw. Usually. Several Valar very quietly wish those guys would stop reproducing because tbh it's freaking them out.)

But the Mannish half of her heritage did enrapture her as well, and even more eagerly than Tuor, she sought tales of mortal Arda from every newcomer to the immortal shores. What were her distant cousins up to now? How was their mastery of metallurgy going? Were Elrond's youngest (her great-niece!) walking yet? Was that cathedral in Osgiliath still under construction?

She started recording accounts, new and old, and copying any books people brought with them when they Sailed. She blinked and she'd founded a library, soon the greatest in Aman for records of mortal lands. She was called Moriwen Peradan ("half-Man"), and for at least half of the Third Age had a thriving covert correspondence with Elrond via specially bred seabirds. (If you combine the migratory endurance of the arctic tern with the seagull's ability to get everywhere, and you're very patient, long-lived, determined, and by a precise intersection of Ainu blood and favor have a particular knack with seabirds, you can create an all-new species that can travel back and forth along the Straight Road, and discreetly share them with family!)

Moriwen ends up marrying Maeglin about a century after his re-embodiment, after he awkwardly shyly sidles into the Great Library of Tol Eressëa to find out (without, god forbid, talking to anyone involved) what happened to Idril's descendants after they survived, y'know, Stuff; and some rom-com mistaken identity shenanigans ensue.

[andijaart]

+++ 🙏🏻God Bless🕊️ +++

The Guardian Angel Orthodox icon is a revered symbol in Christian tradition, depicting a protective angel assigned to watch over and guide each individual. This icon, often crafted with intricate details in silver or gold plating, reflects Byzantine artistic heritage. Guardian Angels are seen as messengers of God, offering divine protection and comfort to the faithful. Placed in homes or churches, the icon serves as a reminder of God’s constant presence and guidance in life’s journey, embodying peace, faith, and spiritual guardianship.

💫 International Orthodox Art Corporation Andcross

May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

[duckingwriting]

Always Hoodie Weather

Day 7 of @flufftober kinda got away from me. Turned into a multi chapter thing. I still got a couple chapters to edit so will reblog with them as I go.

Fandom: InuYasha - A Feudal Fairy Tale Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Higurashi Kagome/Sesshoumaru, InuYasha/Kikyou (InuYasha), Higurashi Kagome & InuYasha, Higurashi Kagome & Kouga, Higurashi Kagome & Kikyou Characters: Higurashi Kagome, Kikyou (InuYasha), Sesshoumaru (InuYasha), InuYasha (InuYasha), Kouga (InuYasha) Additional Tags: Flufftober2024, Modern AU, Kikyou and Kagome are twins Summary: Sesshomaru was only supposed to be visiting his family since his brother was graduating form college. Someone has stollen his hoodie though. And she keeps wearing it.

It's on AO3 and bellow the cut

Sesshomaru blinked his golden eyes slowly as he walked into the kitchen. He was home visiting his father and his father's mate, Izayoi. He did not come home often but sometimes he could not avoid it. And the human woman his father had taken as his mate was always eager to try to include him in everything. She always claimed they were a family. Sesshomaru knew there was blood and marital ties but he was already nearly grown by the time Toga had claimed her as his mate. He had moved out on his own shortly after she had birthed his half-breed half brother. He had as little interaction with them as possible. Granted he had less interaction with his own mother. At the end of the day, despite taking over his father's business successfully, Sesshomaru still sought the man's approval and so when his father used that tone he had no choice but to obey. He joined on the family outings though he was less than approachable. 

But family gatherings did not explain the human woman in their kitchen, wearing the hoodie he had left on the back of a chair. The sleeves were rolled up so her hands were free and it easily engulfed her. She looked up and blinked at him, seeming just as surprised as he was to see him there, then recognition crossed her face.

"Oh! You must be InuYasha's brother!" She was smiling as she came around the counter from where she seemed to have been preparing some popcorn, she held her hand out to him. "I'm Kagome! I'm one of his friends. Kikyo's twin?"

Sesshomarue looked at the offered hand then lifted his gaze back to hers. He was well aware of who Kikyo was. Despite his best efforts it seemed he needed to know about his younger brother's social life. So he was well aware that he was courting a priestess. One training to take over guardianship of the Shikon No Tama at the Higurashi shrine. Sesshomarue continued staring into the blue eyes of the woman who's bright smile faltered under his glare. Friend of InuYasha or not, she should not be in his hoodie.

"Yo! Kagome! What's takin' so damn long?" InuYasha entered the living room. "Oh. Hey, Asshole. Mom said you were going to try and make it in. Wasn't sure you would."

"InuYasha," Kagome sighed and rolled her eyes at her friend. "Be nice."

"Father suggested time off would be good." Sesshomaru drawled, not mentioning that the old demon lord had all but commanded him to take the time off. Had hinted at taking the company back if he didn't do as asked. "Izayoi was concerned that after you graduate college at the end of the upcoming semester we will not be able to get together as-"

"A family." The brother's spoke at the same time, InuYasha rolling his golden eyes. "Yeah she's been a little nuts."

"Your mom loves you." Kagome reached out and smacked the hanyo who grumbled at her after the spike of spiritual power aided her strike.

"Your mom...what are you wearing?" InuYasha turned his gaze on his friend, ready to point out that Mrs. Higurashi had not tried to smother Kikyo or Kagome the way his mother was when he noticed she was wearing a hoodie. One that smelled far too much like his brother.

"I told you I was cold and was going to steal your hoodie." Kagome rolled her eyes at him and returned to the kitchen to finish making the popcorn.

"That's not mine." InuYasha stated firmly.

"What's not yours?" Kikyo asked, sliding beneath InuYasha's arm as he pulled her close. Kagome pointedly looked anywhere but at the two. Sesshomaru noticed that while his brother didn't notice, his future mate did. Her scent spiking slightly with amusement, subtle enough he knew the hanyo's nose would not pick it up. 

"The hoodie Kagome's wearing." InuYasha said making the girl's eyes widen, her head jerking up to look at him in confusion. "It's Sesshomaru's."

"Wha- OH GOD!" Kagome scrambled to get the hoodie unzipped. "I'm so sorry! I thought it was InuYasha's or maybe Kouga's-"

"As if the wolf would wear a hoodie. Freaking furnace."

"Everything InuYasha has said about you made it seem like something you'd never wear. I'm so sorry I'll-"

"Keep it." Sesshomaru inturrupted the fumbling girl. While he was enjoying the flush on her cheeks, the shame in her scent burnt his nose. "I don't need it."

"But-"

"It will smell of human now. I will buy another."

Sesshomaru walked away before she could say anything else. He did not look back to see if she kept his hoodie on or not, far more distracted by the way his inner yoaki stirred at the flush on her cheeks and wondering how far down it went.

[mahayanapilgrim]

Nagas in Buddhist Mythology: Serpent Spirits of Power and Mystery


*Nagas (Skt. nāga; Tib. ཀླུ་, lu, Wyl. klu)* hold a significant place in Buddhist cosmology, recognized as serpent spirits within the eight classes of gods and demons. This diverse group is sometimes categorized as animals or demi-gods, residing beneath the earth, in water, trees, or rocks. Endowed with magical powers and wealth, they are also associated with certain illnesses transmitted to humans.
Originating from India's ancient snake cults, likely dating back to the Indus Valley civilization, nagas assimilated into Buddhism early on. In Indian mythology, they face predation from the garudas, adding depth to their symbolic significance.


Buddha’s Encounters: Muchalinda and Prajnaparamita Sutras
During Buddha Shakyamuni's meditation under the Bodhi tree, a storm arose, and the naga Muchalinda (Skt. Mucalinda) emerged, providing protection from the rain. This event symbolizes the interconnection between the natural world and the spiritual realm.
Nagarjuna, a pivotal figure in Buddhist philosophy, is credited with retrieving the Prajnaparamita Sutras from the nagas. Entrusted to their care by Buddha Shakyamuni, these sacred texts emphasize the wisdom of emptiness.


The Eight Great Nagas: Leaders and Guardians
Within the naga hierarchy, the eight great nagas or naga kings hold prominence. Virupaksha, the guardian king of the West, assumes a leadership role among them. However, enumerations of these eight nagas may vary across different traditions, contributing to the rich tapestry of Buddhist mythology.


In essence, nagas embody a blend of mysticism, guardianship, and symbolic significance in Buddhism, weaving their way through the narratives of Buddha's enlightenment, the protection of sacred texts, and their role as both powerful beings and potential sources of ailment.

[theblackbookofarkera]

Raishi

The Raishi, a minority people within the vast Tauxien Empire, inhabit the lush and fertile delta of the Zigong River. This unique region, with its winding waterways and verdant landscapes, is home to a community that stands apart in both custom and belief.

The Raishi are known for their distinctive practice of marrying within the family, a tradition that has persisted for generations. Remarkably, unlike other instances of inbreeding seen across creation, the Raishi do not suffer from the genetic maladies typically associated with such unions. This peculiarity has long puzzled scholars and outsiders, adding an air of mystery to the Raishi's way of life.

Central to Raishi culture is the worship of Pai and Lan, twin deities of lightning. These gods, both brother and sister as well as lovers, embody the duality and power of the natural world. Pai and Lan are revered for their control over the storms and the life-giving rains that nourish the delta. Their temples, often situated on high ground to be closer to the sky, are adorned with intricate carvings and symbols of lightning.

The Raishi's religious practices are deeply intertwined with their daily lives. Rituals to honor Pai and Lan are conducted regularly, especially during the storm season. These ceremonies involve offerings of fruits, grains, and crafted items, all presented with prayers for protection and prosperity. The Raishi believe that their gods' favor ensures the fertility of their land and the health of their people.

The Raishi community is tightly knit, with extended families living in close proximity. Their social structure is built on mutual support and shared responsibilities, with elders playing a significant role in guiding the younger generations. The practice of marrying within the family strengthens these bonds, creating a sense of unity and continuity.

Stories of Pai and Lan are passed down through generations, often told around communal fires or during festivals. These tales speak of the gods' love and their battles against the forces of chaos, reflecting the Raishi's own resilience and harmony with nature. The lightning that dances across the sky during storms is seen as a manifestation of Pai and Lan's presence, a divine reminder of their watchful guardianship.

The Raishi, with their unique customs and deep spiritual connection to their gods, remain a fascinating and enigmatic people within the Tauxien Empire. Their way of life, shaped by the rhythms of the Zigong River and the storms that sweep across their land, continues to intrigue and inspire those who encounter them.