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hishoukoku · 3 years ago

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Heyyyy. I wanted to know how if u know how cql differs from the original story. Which is better? I'm kinda lazy to read and the donghua seemed super rushed to me? The manhua i heard is similar but it doesnt give me the same vibe idk.... maybe it's just me. like even a few pointers about big story changes would help. tyyyyyyy

Heyy,

I wanna start by saying that I do love all adaptations, so I will do my best just to point out the differences without being partial (too much) for certain plot elements.

It's true that the drama is a neat way to experience the story at a slower pace, but it's so because in a TV series scenario it makes perfect sense for everything to be slower and laid out or fed to the viewer. It makes sense to overextend tender and dramatic moments or to take the time and add a bunch of funny hilarious bits.

The donghua however is absolutely amazing and 100% worth watching. The plot advancing quicker than in the drama or the novel actually makes a lot of sense given, well first this is animation. It focuses on what's really important and the way the action scenes are intertwined with the main story elements is absolutely astounding. In an animated medium they did the absolute best to bring this long story to life. Plus the art is absolutely GORGEOUS, down to every frame. I strongly recommend it.

The manhua does follow the novel almost to the letter which is so refreshing to see and it's so rad to read too, plus I like the art style and also no censorship xD

I love them all because they each work in their own way. Bringing the drama slow pace into the donghua wouldn't work at all as well as making CQL shorter and more action packed would look ridiculous.

Personally I think it's rad to watch them all and gain even more knowledge on an amazing story, by consuming the same story in multiple forms of media.I just think it's great to explore all the angles from which the story can be observed.

Onto a few major differences. I believe this list is far from complete, but I tried to jolt down what I could from memory:

-> Basically the main difference would be Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji uncovering the mystery of Nie Mingjue's death:

In CQL, this was changed from the novel plotline: dismembered arm(+ putting back the dismembered body) of his spirit, to a spirit sword. It ultimately leads to the same epic conclusion as it does in the novel. The culprit is unchanged, just the means to get there and the characters motivations along the way are altered.

-> Another major divergence would be the entire Yi Iron arc and the hunt for Yi Iron pieces, which takes a vast majority of the CQL flashbacks. This isn't present in the novel. The Yi Iron is only important because it practically explains the already existent and yet unpracticed demonic cultivation, which brings me to my next point.

-> In CQL Wei Wuxian is not the actual founder of demonic cultivation. Wei Wuxian still uses demonic cultivation and all his inventions are there, including of course the Stygian Tiger Amulet. The reasoning behind this is the Yi Iron plot I mentioned above, which was something that was uncovered and worshipped in the past and it's a tremendous source of dark energy and power. This leads to the fact that demonic cultivation already exists, despite no one actually using it except for Wei Wuxian (after finding the first piece in the Xuanwu shell).

-> To emphasize more on this, a big part of WWX's morality is altered in CQL. The necromancy part is also heavily downplayed in CQL. We see the same choices being made which inadvertently lead to the same conclusions, but he is always shown as more of a victim of circumstance or there's always a bigger plot at stake, pointing all the blame towards him.

Without going into a character analysis in this arc (because I absolutely adore WWX and I would talk about him for hours) I wanted to point out a few more things on this:

- In CQL he's shown to be in wrong place at the wrong time type of situations, which is sort of downgrading what the original intent behind his character was about.

- I feel like the novel has built WWX to be very self-aware and more realistic and human. He knows exactly where his stands and what his moral compass is the entire time. He blames himself even for stuff out of his control and every decision he ever made no mater how it was perceived as, was all rooted in and filtered through his absolute sense of justice and selflessness. He's aware of his mistakes and assumes responsibility. He's very absolute about the decisions he sticks to and he's extremely intelligent and calculated.

Then again, I'm not blaming CQL per say for altering this, I know every divergence to his character was solely due to censorship (as morality usually is in cdramas), I just wish he'd been given a lot more credit where credit is due, like in the novel. Because he deserves a lot more validation and recognition. Absolving him of everything he ever did is actually a disservice to all the pain he endured and all the work he put into the cause he believes in and simply striving to survive and in the unfair, judgemental cultivation world.

-> The structure of the story is different. The novel, donghua and manhua jump from flashbacks to present time back and forth, while in CQL, episode 3 to episode 33(halfway) are all flashbacks presenting the entire past story arc to you, before returning to the present fully. Again, to have everything laid out in order, works well in a TV series environment.

-> The relationship between WangXian evolves differently. The novel has Wei Wuxian mistakenly concluding that Lan Wangji doesn’t like him, driving a wedge between them after the Nightless City events. This of course, has a beautiful natural progression into romantic relationship, later on after he resurrects.

CQL on the other hand shows Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji having a very close relationship from the moment they reunite as Wei Wuxian died knowing Lan Wangji cares deeply about him. I believe this to be a bit utopic as, technically without previous explicit romantic affection - censorship -, Wei Wuxian's actions wouldn't normally lead to such an easy transition into them being extremely close, especially for someone as stoic as Lan Wangji. True, Lan Wangji has always believed in Wei Wuxian's sense of integrity and justice and this was prepared beforehand, however it would make even more sense if this was backed, like in the novel, by love as a powerful incentive.

-> Wei Wuxian's reincarnation in Mo Xuanyu's body doesn't cause him to alter his appearance in CQL. This isn't really explained except for subtle hints that Mo Xuanyu took precautions to ensure Wei Wuxian looked like his original self, but ofc we can tell it was done so due to convenience.

In the novel it's clearly stated how Wei Wuxian takes Mo Xuanyu's appearance which makes complete sense to happen after he used the Sacrifice Summon.

This would be about it as main pointers, if you'd like me to go into details for any of them please let me know. Otherwise I feel like this post is already long enough, heheh.

#anon #ishidareplies #god i ramble a lot in every ask #cql #mdzs #the untamed #wangxian #wei wuxian #lan wangji #canon divergence #mdzs meta #?

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ratingtheframe · 4 years ago

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Everything Wrong With… Ep 2 - The Devil Wears Prada

Welcome back to Everything Wrong With...the series where dive head first into some of the seemingly okay-ish films and analyse why in fact they do more harm than good in providing us with satiable entertainment. Follow me on instagram @ratingtheframe for more movie related content and without further ado, let's get into this chick flick and see how far we’ve come since 2006.

If you aren’t aware, The Devil Wears Prada is a 2006 “chick flick” originally written as a book by Lauren Weisenburger. I remember seeing The Devil Wears Prada as one of those grown up lady films, for mature women on tampon adverts who had wine on Thursday evenings from M&S and wore heels practically everywhere. My perception of this film and the audience it caters towards has changed dramatically after watching it and it kills me inside to imagine the popularity and praise such a film got back in 2006, an extremely harsh time for women and the perception of beauty standards.

The world was still getting into the internet, magazines and runways were adjusting to the 2000s and the way that women were viewed in the media was a lot more damaging than today. Former supermodels such as Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne have since come out and talked about their experiences in the modelling industry and how it creates unhealthy stereotypes for women and young girls to abide by. The ‘size 0’ and ‘heroin chic look’ has since been banished from the modelling industry, two expectations that were pretty popular in the late and early 2000s for models. We are witnessing a revolution for the modelling industry as they (very) slowly but surely are beginning to introduce more plus sized, diverse and unfiltered faces for their campaigns. We can breathe easier knowing that the only way is forward for the fashion industry and that very little people will stand for the mid 2000s ideologies that were pumped out to the entire world.

Back to 2006 and one of the year’s most popular films with female audiences; The Devil Wears Prada, starring the likes of Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt. The film follows Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) , a wannabe journalist newly welcomed into New York City and is currently on the hunt for her career. She manages to land a job at Runway Magazine, a large, corporate editorial magazine for women’s fashion run by the one and only Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), a devious, beautiful and highly successful media personality and editor.

So far so good as we have two tangible and likeable female leads. The opening sequence (one of the most important in any film) had me eye rolling a touch in the way it depicted women of the 2000s and seemingly created the idea that there are two sides to women.

The five or so minute montage consisted of the various women who are models at Runway, getting ready for their long day of work, right from being undressed to fully made up. This was supposed to be a contrast to how our lead Andy gets ready, barely throwing on any makeup and throwing on whatever she wants whilst heading out the door. When you put the way women choose to be perceived in the world at an opposition, you create this divide between women and further place their worth on how they choose to look. The stereotype of a ‘pick me girl’ arises from this opposition, a girl who actively shames other women for choosing to be more openly feminine in their appearance and actions. The intelligence and respect of women should not be based on how they look when they show up, rather how they BEHAVE when they show up. I just thought this montage was a little unnecessary and if anything, introduced us into a misogynistic world of 2006 really well. One point for accuracy, no points for progression. Everyone gets dressed in the morning and (often) everyone wears underwear, showing this activity on screen didn’t really add much to the film besides the pressures of women to look a certain way.

Once Andy arrives at the company, she is rudely introduced by Emily (Emily Blunt) Miranda’s current right hand. Now the entire character of Emily is again, another concept to this film that is left better in the 2000s; a mean girl and a VERY mean one at that. This world is already a patriarchal mess for women like Andy and Emily and having women join the bandwagon in showing an oppressive side to those who don’t conform to the female societal norms is non progressive. It was almost as if Emily was an investor into the patriarchy by behaving abhorrently towards her from the way she dressed as opposed to her actual character and qualifications. Please, let's not have women against women based on their desirability in the eyes of the male gaze. Emily has already become a clear victim to her own policies, as her lack of eating is laid bare to us as an entertaining gimmick as opposed to a cause of concern. Last time I checked making fun of eating disorders wasn’t chic.

Now the argument whether Miranda Priestly is also an investor in the patriarchy is a little clouded. Through her mean spirit and harsh words towards Andy and her appearance, she comes across as someone who is doing more harm than good by joining the patriarchal view of women in the 2000s. I found myself having to bite my tongue a little instead of calling her bitch because that would be letting my internalized misogyny get the best of me.

Even though Miranda is tough talking and spiteful, I really can’t blame her for it as a character. She is one of the strongest female characters I’ve come across on screen for both her strengths and flaws. Had such a character been placed in a Roman Army or Italian Mob, my views of her would have stayed the same. She is a strong woman with enough versatility and strength to face any situation. The way she asserts her authority in a funny and patronizing way is hard not to fall in love with and any woman who asserts their authority and relishes in their own power is already technically against the patriarchy. Her industry may be patriarchal, however her spirit is not and the things she does in order to keep her status is admirable. I found myself comparing her to the way a man maneuvers the world (again, internalised misogyny, working on it) which in some parts is the reason there should be more Miranda Priestly's in films. Instead of comparing strong women to men, with more strong female leads we’ll start comparing these women to other women.

Thank god for the zilch, overly graphic sex scenes in this film (maybe cuz the screenplay was written by a woman, but who knows-), however their is one character I’d like to address that rubbed me the wrong way and spoke for a big hole in the modelling/fashion industry that still exists today. Christian Thompson (Simon Baker) is this handsome, 40 summit journalist who meets Andy at a social event for a fashion designer. I admit he was charming in his demeanour but also overtly creepy at points. Andy and Christian bump into each other in Paris where he leads her down a street (his hand on THAT part of the elbow) and kisses Andy without consent, knowing she has a boyfriend. “Oh, it's just a movie” you’re probably thinking, but yet I couldn’t help but cringe at such a thing. Movies are a reflection of our society after all. He kisses her several more times until Andy gives in. If we’re trying to get films to reach audiences and affect them in some way, encouraging consent should be one of those things. Depicting such a madness on screen makes my rolls right to the back of my head and speaks for the entire society behind the modelling and fashion industry; a society run by men who can do what they like with or without consent. Though the wellbeing of Andy wasn’t in imminent danger, I felt Christian Thompson as a character to be a representation of those in the fashion industry who take advantage of women because of their status and so called connections. No more of this please!

Andy has a transformation a little later into the film, a concept that we thought had been left in the patriarchy trash can, but quickly emerged in Debby Ryan’s Insatiable (2018). Lasting only 2 seasons from 2018-19, the Netflix series followed Patty Bladell who gets afforded niceties and respect after she loses weight and becomes a “hot girl”. The show was created by Lauren Guissis based on an article about a (male) Pageant Guru who tells women how they can become pageant queens for a small fee...EW. The fact that such a show got picked up in a day and age that was beginning to open up to body positivity and more inclusivity in the media, the show was insensitive to its current surroundings.

This same “ugly duckling” transformation isn’t something new or old apparently, with the one in The Devil Wears Prada being one of the least progressive moments of the film. Now that Andy looked like she could work at Runway, somehow she was working a lot better at Runway and was being afforded privileges she didn’t get before her new haircut. Is this the message we want to send out to the world anymore? That in order to get a one up in life, all you need is new clothes and better make up skills? Of course, glo ups can be fun but the purest, healthiest form of a glow up comes from within.

A tiring cliché that “beauty comes from within” but one that makes a lot of sense and something I experienced in my mid teens. Having never experienced male validity or the feeling of desirability, once I began to believe I was beautiful on the outside, others began to notice, because they could read the confidence and self worth I had from my outward energy. An energy that can’t be felt beyond a face tuned Instagram picture. Beauty can be an energy as well as a look and had Andy embraced this more and rejected the passing comments people made at her, it would have taught us that one doesn’t have to conform in order to be respected. On the other hand, I don’t want to shame nor blame her as conforming to societal standards as for most women ,it’s an act of survival, to secure their places in certain spaces, with Andy being no expectation. A sad reality that a woman may have to wear makeup in order to stay in people’s good books, but a choice that should be discussed as opposed to shamed.

I truly could go on and on about the harmful stereotypes and implications of The Devil Wears Prada and it's sad, yet true similarities to the real fashion industry of today and the mid 2000s. It was and still is cut throat, with many models developing eating disorders, low self esteem issues and even substance abuse due to the mounting pressures of trying to reach perfection. A perfection that doesn’t exist seeing as the fashion and modelling industry alters their version of perfection every single day. I’m glad that by the end of the film Andy ditched Runway in favour of living a more healthy and truthful lifestyle, one that wasn’t swapped in ridiculous pressures and the threat to conform or else leave. Which she did in the end. Miranda isn’t a devil, but a force to be reckoned with in a world that is ready to make her feel lesser than herself because of her gender. I hope to never see such a film like The Devil Wears Prada, ever again, in a world that no longer needs this sort of film to represent the strengths of women. It's best left in 2006 and hopefully you’ve learnt something you’ve never thought about from this in depth analysis.

#the devil wears prada #meryl streep #anne hathaway #emily blunt #2000s movies #fashion #fashionindustry #badmovies #cinema #feminisim #everyday feminism

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doof-doofblog · 5 years ago

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"He Didn't Do Anything!"

Monday 13th April 2020

Good evening folks! How has your week been? Hope everyone is keeping safe and trying to keep to the rules as much as possible, I know it's been difficult, I myself have been struggling being away from my loved ones. This horrible situation that's happening with the country now, there has to be an end to it, right? Hopefully the end will come soon if we all keep doing what we're doing! I apologise that this post is late, I was up early for work this morning and decided to have an early night last night, I only caught up on last night's episode now ... I'll do another post tomorrow for tonight's episode! I'm sure you've been missing your daily dose of EastEnders? I sure am! We're back with a new week, so lets jump right into it!

There's quite a fair bit to cram into this post ... let's start with Kush and Tommy. We knew there was going to be an upcoming storyline to do with Tommy while his Mum, Kat, is away. Kush is looking after the boys while Kat is aware dealing with some family business, we assume. So it looks as if Tommy isn't doing too well at school, his report isn't the best it could be. Something is obviously affecting the poor boy. When Kush caught him on the staircase and he said "I hate my life!" ... I just felt like saying "Awww poor Tommy!" ... but honestly, no little boy should have to feel that they hate their life. It's true the poor boy has had it hard, both his Mum and Dad are off the scene. Michael Moon was his father and he was murdered. Alfie, who brought him up, is now off the scene and now his Mum has disappeared. The poor boy must feel like he's been left abandoned. Okay, he still has his brother's and step-sister Cherry, but it's not really the same is it? No wonder his school work isn't doing well. But I did have a theory, I have a feeling that that poor kid is being bullied. What else could the story-line be? A young child Tommy's age and being bulled, it can be a huge story-line ... bullying takes place every day, as Tommy said himself, school is the same every day! How will Kush be able to support the young child? Surely he'll have to inform Jean and Mo, if Tommy doesn't want his Mum to know, Kush is going to have to get other members of the family involved so they'll be able to support the young boy. Only thing is, is this story going to continue for when Kat returns? Will this story-line bring back Kat, perhaps along with Stacey? I'm looking forward to seeing what it could be that is upsetting Tommy, plus i'm looking forward to seeing how Kush will cope with the information.

Can we just talk about how cute Jean is? Honestly, she one of my favourite characters, always has been! Gillian Wright is just fantastic at her portrayal as Jean Slater. It's so lovely to see Jean being all smiley and enjoying the fact she has beaten cancer and that her hair is now growing back! It's fantastic she's having the confidence to take it all in and walk proudly in her stride as her hair grows back! The little funeral wig party she had with Shirley and Mo was hilarious! I love the friendship between Shirley and Jean, from the very beginning, it's been a special one! Shirley has always been there for Jean whenever she has needed her, it's a friendship I love seeing on-screen! Does anyone else agree? And yea ... Shirley with long hair! Haha! Not sure what you guys think, but she should stick with the hair style she's got right now?!

Okay does anyone notice a bit if flirtation happening between Chantelle and Kheerat?! Do they have a history, or was it Jags she had a bit of history with?! Did she mention she knew Kheerat at college? But there have a few times there have been hints of flirtation between the two, don't you think? Chantelle is now working for the Panesar's, will things lead to another? Considering how Gray has been treating his wife like a punching bag the past few months, is Kheerat going to be the one that Chantelle finally tells? Is he the one who's going to save her from Gray? I feel there's a lot more still to come from these two, whether it be in a more romantic involvement or whether it's just purely friendship. What do you guys think? Do you agree that there may be something between them? Leave me a comment or message me, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I just want to mention the scenes we saw of Phil and Callum, wasn't it just amazing to see Phil accept Callum? How he said that Callum was right for Ben, it's something that really made my heart soar. It's amazing the long road Phil has taken over the years to accept his son's sexuality. But to even praise his son's boyfriend and to give him his blessing and making sure what he said wasn't homophobic, it speaks volumes for Phil's character! He's always been known as the hard man, but he has soft spot and his family means everything to him, regardless of their sexuality. But part of me, is thinking, how is Ben going to react knowing Callum has spoken to his Dad? When Phil realised that Ben's hearing may never come back and that it may be the new norm for Ben, it's something that's going to take its toll for everyone involved, especially Ben! But the scenes between Steve McFadden and Tony Clay were beautiful! I'm looking forward to seeing these two join forces to help Ben in his time of trauma.

Ooooh, I didn't like the look of that Michaela when she first arrived as was watching Whitney from a distance! I knew she was going to try to manipulate her into telling her what happened to Leo. Thank God for Ruby and Gray, otherwise god knows what might've happened between Whitney and Michaela. Is what Whitney told Michaela going to be brought up against her in court? Might it have been something she shouldn't have done as it may make her trail worse. Could she be sent down for murder, will Michaela twist things and make Whitney be shown as a murder, when really it was all in self defence?! Who else is looking forward to seeing Whitney's story-line progress? Let's hope Gray will be able to help Whitney as the court will find her Not Guilty of murder!

Okay, so is Vinny trying to prove himself as a DJ to get a job at Ruby's? Well it seemed to work! However, we all knew his party was going to cause trouble ... a party never really ends well on EastEnders does it?! Lets be honest?! I found it good in the sense that it gave him a chance to prove himself and do something he enjoys, not having to work for his Mum ... who he really isn't happy with at the moment, which you can understand. Does anyone else think Vinny has a thing for Dotty? I do!! Dotty may be getting on with her own thing with Bobby and Peter, but little to her knowledge, from the sidelines, I believe Vinny will be watching and longing to be with her! That's what i'm guessing anyway! So we have to focus on a few couples who were at Vinny's party, firstly Iqra and Ash. I've heard rumours that apparently Ash is going to start showing a darker side to her character? Could that mean that she starts being controlling over Iqra? Could she start being abusive? Who knows? Ash didn't want to go Vinny's party to begin with, but Iqra kinda begged her to ... Ash kept bad-mouthing her Mum much to Iqra's disappointment, but she didn't seem to care. I feel there could be something dark about to happen within their relationship, whether Ash turns abusive or manipulative towards Iqra, remains to be seen.

The second couple who attended Vinny's party, even though they arrived late, were Keegan and Tiffany. Before we focus on how the episode ended, Tiffany and Keegan were again the main focus of the episode I felt. Keegan feeling down about not being able to get a loan, and Tiffany clearly showing signs of frustration, trying her best to support her husband but not really getting any support back in return. I feel for Tiffany at the moment, she's trying her best to support her husband but every time something happens, Keegan goes all cold with her and says she'll never understand, which is a bit unfair! However, tonight, they had a little bit of good news, even though it was short lived ... Keegan got his loan from Kheerat, much to Tiffany's help after speaking with Chantelle. But that soon rose Keegan's spirits and the young couple were enjoying life and looking towards a brighter future with Keegan's growing business, only for it all to be taken away again after Keegan was arrested for something he didn't do! During Vinny's party, the police were called and the mob that crowded the police cars, someone body threw a brick at their windscreen, which saw Keegan get the blame! Fans will know that Keegan hasn't had much luck when it comes with the police, for some reason, he seems to get confronted and searched and treated poorly by the cops, for which Keegan feels is because of his skin colour. Is this going to be something that pushes Keegan to the edge and will he decide to stand up for what he believes in? Will he be able to fight for his rights? I'm intrigued to what is going to happen with Keegan's story, is it going to be a continues circle of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time and being confronted by police, or will it eventually lead to him taking action after how he's treated?! What do you guys think of Keegan's story? How do you think it will conclude? I'm really looking forward to hearing all of your theories and thoughts, please feel free to ask me any questions you may like, I'd love to answer them!

Thank you guys for taking your time to read. I apologise once again for it being late, I'm looking forward to writing about tonight's episode, tomorrow! Enjoy the rest of your evening and I'll be back tomorrow! Look after yourself everyone, keep safe and we will get through this together! xXx

#eastenders #keeganbaker #tiffanybutcher #philmitchell #callumhighway #jeanslater #kushkazemi #tommymoon #vinnypanesar #ashpanesar #iqraahmed #whitneydean

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illegalastrology111 · 6 years ago

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LUCKY STARS 2019

Planet: Jupiter Sign: Sagittarius Date: November 8th 2018 - December 2nd 2019

ARIES

With Jupiter in your house of expansion, good luck, travel, opportunity, study, optimism and freedom, you are benefited with an especially positive cycle to reach beyond your current limits, to excel. Jupiter is the ruler of Sagittarius and the 9th house its natural “home”. Therefore, you can’t make excuses about not being given the chance to make big things happen this year.

The more you have the “eyes to see” potential at your disposal, the more successful you’ll be. Taking up a course of study to enhance your talents wouldn’t be a bad idea either, in conjunction with travel, reaching out to meet new people, especially form other cultures, will bring opportunity of some kind .Legal matters could also come to the forefront this year either from you or others, but you will be involved for sure.

At the same time you may decide to move abroad or at least to a new location, further away from you current place of living. Think very carefully before you do this, especially during Jupiter retrograde, April 10th - August 11th. Use this cycle to contemplate your next move but not to actually put it into action, until Jupiter moves forward.

Once Jupiter moves into your 10th house of career, goals, ambition, authority and power, December 2nd, you should be ready for recognition to come your way, assuming you’ve made the right moves up to this point. During this Jupiter transit, career change is likely. But more about that later.

Ultimately you must have faith in Self and believe the impossible can be made possible, courtesy of Jupiter in Sagittarius, Yes, the sky is the limit.

TAURUS

The good fortune of the Jupiter/Sagittarius transit will only happen if you make a concerted effort to get rid of people, situations and things that are holding you back from growing, learning and overall progress. The past still haunts you in some capacity, keeping you bound by tradition, habits and certain behaviors. Because Jupiter falls in the house of joint financial partnerships, karma, the past, the hidden, secret enemies, endings, the occult, destruction, rejuvenation and regeneration, you must tread with extreme care when dealing with others. Jupiter will “shine a light” on secret enemies. You must pay very close attention to them and jealous friends who harbor resentment, waiting for you to fail with your ambitions or make mistakes. First you must assess whether or not people new and old have your best interests at heart and avoid giving them qualities they don’t have. You should be able to see and know who these individuals are as Jupiter is a “magnifying glass” highlighting strengths/weaknesses, the good/bad.

During this Jupiter cycle, you should be focused on making vast changes in job, hone, friends, lifestyle and commitments, Plus there will be new people coming into your life to help and support, just choose with care.

For Taurus the best will manifest if you’re able to have an introspective reevaluation of Self and your intentions past, present and future. A retreat, fixing ip the home, repairing and restoring Self and things around you will help to generate positive energy for good luck and prosperity to come to fruition. Bear in mind, Karmic debts will need to be paid from you or from others this year and financial dealings that weren’t honest or forthright, dealt with. Best advice - learn your life lessons, so you don’t have to repeat them.

GEMINI

Contractual agreements, partnerships, the public, open enemies, legal issues are the highlight of Jupiter’s benevolence, for better or worse. First, unique creative abilities at your disposal have the potential to bring success when presented to the public, the right way. How you choose to interact on this level will determine the outcome. In addition any legal matters begun during this cycle are likely to become public and not stay hidden and could expand to include a lot of other people. Truth, honesty, proof and evidence will be key factors in whether you win or lose.

Bear in mind that any project/plan you embark upon, has potential for success if all the necessary pieces have been put together with care and attention. If you treat others with kindness and respect they will return the same back to you and be willing to help where needed.

Long-term partnerships/relationships will also fare well this year if there is mutual understanding between you and your partner and you both continue to listen/communicate as much as possible. If you’re not sure about something it’s best to ask and not assume.

Jupiter also bestows its positive energy in the form of protection where needed, as long as you’re on the right side of Natural Law. If you pay attention and avoid being the “ostrich with its head in the sand”, this particular Jupiter cycle will run daily smoothly.

CANCER

Day to day employment is the area Jupiter will highlight the most. Now is the time to consider career change or at least job change . You can do better, if you could just see beyond what’s in front of you and stop settling for less than you deserve. Look for a job that serves your needs and not just your employers. Something connected to travel, teaching, health, animals, health/well-being, writing are other areas to look into. If you’re really honest with Self you know it’s time to move on.

Health is also another area to pay attention to in particular diet/digestion. There’s a strong possibility you could put on excess weight with Jupiter in this area of life too. Jupiter expands, so you could find yourself eating too much of the wrong foods if you’re not careful.

Spiritual health is also something to be aware of, which could help you have a clear picture of what exactly you want to to do for work/money. Meditation, yoga, Tai-chi, or similar modalities are things to look into as well.

This Jupiter cycle is a year of remarkable ideas, meeting new people, a time to figure things out and come to a better understanding with Self and others. Contracts will need to be signed this year at some point, so you need to know exactly what it is you’re getting into and should ask the right person if you don’t know. Now is when you should map and plan your way forward with a journal by your side to write down the abundance of thoughts and ideas flowing your way. A year to act and not get caught up in just talking.

LEO

With Jupiter in your house of risk, pleasure, childhood, creativity, ego and happiness, highlighting the best and worst of each character trait, you must be careful that the so-called good advice of people who claim to have your best interests at heart doesn’t lead you astray. The tendency to take risks that do more harm than good is very high, so this is a cycle where self-awareness would really help to keep you out of trouble. Ego massage will be prominent, used as means for others to get you to do what they want. Success will come from being very picky and choosy of whom you allow into your “inner circle”.

Jupiter has the potential to bring opportunities to increase finances, travel, the chance to achieve your goals and desires. Over-indulgence or going to extremes should be avoided at all costs.

Creativity is also another area in which to excel during this transit. If you can strive to increase current knowledge or learn a new talent, the rewards will be more than abundant. Jupiter in this house magnifies your special abilities, especially ones you’ve carried with you since childhood. Don’t be afraid to put them to good use.

Lack of faith in Self is the thing to confront. To be more empowered, with a knowingness that you have latent qualities/talents waiting to be “tapped into”. If you can muster the courage to leave behind people and situations that do little to bring positive energy into your life, the Universe will bring the luck you need to excel.

When Jupiter retrogrades, April 10th - August 11th, introspection is required of Self and what you’ve accomplished so far. Look for weaknesses that you can change during this four month cycle and also how far you’ve come. Maybe all that is required is for you to have a different approach of doing things differently, but either way, make use of this “downtime” to get things in order.

This year, Leo should avoid taking unnecessary risks without thinking things through or understanding exactly what you’re getting Self into.

VIRGO

Jupiter urges Virgo in the direction of expanding prosperity consciousness, in order for new financial opportunities to pour in. First your foundation of life needs to be altered, changed and restructured as much as possible. Wherever there is stagnation growth and expansion must occur, at least if you want certain hopes and wishes to come to fruition. Opportunities to travel, get involved in literary, publishing, working away from the home base, will present themselves throughout the Jupiter cycle. During the retrograde cycle, dealings with family issues and re-organizing your home will be the focus, making improvements where you can, that will, in the not too distant future, make room for new opportunities, people etc.to come into your life.

Throughout the year women will feature prominently. Whether these opportunities are good or not so good, you have to explore them to find out and at the same time learn how to use your instincts and discernment.

Family will also be in the spotlight. You can expect many changes to happen as a result of this Jupiter transit. Good luck could also come through these changes.

As mentioned earlier, prosperity consciousness plays an important part on how things go for the rest of the year. If you can see beyond your comfort zone, that there’s good luck and good fortune in taking a “leap of faith” into the unknown, understanding/believing the Universe is really abundant, doors will open and your life will most definitely be better off by the end of the year.

LIBRA

Wealth of mind, body, spirit and Soul will garner remarkable ideas, which in turn will bring opportunity and good fortune during 2019. Every idea you have is worth something, but needs to be guided towards the right direction for rewards to be reaped. Jupiter is also the sign of protection, therefore all your business. projects and plans must be adequately protected to avoid them being “taken” by others.

The house that Jupiter is in, the third house, represents communication, short journeys, siblings, relatives, neighbors, business, projects, plans and ideas and study. Some areas will feature more than others, but all will play their part in your good luck this year.

The question is, how are you going to reap financial reward from the ideas you have. There will be many chances provided to you for this to happen, however, it’s up to you to decide which one will be the most beneficial. New people will come into your life to help you too, even if only for a brief moment. This is the transit for you to figure things out carefully, understand your own motivations/intentions and that of others.

As communication is very much a focal point, writing things down, being in touch with people consistently is an important aspect of your success. Poor communication or lack of it, could result in a missed opportunity, therefore a good reason to make sure this is an important factor for you to remember, Dreams could be vivid, especially while Jupiter is retrograde, April 10th - August 11th, because this is an internal cycle, one of going back and over things already done. Some of the information you receive can be used immediately, some of it later. You’ll know which insights are for immediate action, because they’ll make the most sense.

Ultimately, appearance is another area that is highlighted this Jupiter cycle. You must always present your best Self because you never know who is watching or who you’re going to meet. Most of all the universe is around to help you make your ideas a reality. Jupiter is a protector and will guide you to do the same for everything mentioned in the third house and of course, mind, body, spirit and Soul.

SCORPIO

Self-worth, self-confidence and self-esteem will all be “tested’ by the Jupiter transit of good luck. In your second house of money, material possessions and self-worth, finances will increase if you are strong in your convictions of what needs to be done. This especially applies when dealing with the public, literary, publishing, travel, higher education/consciousness, beliefs, contractual agreements and legal matters. This is not a time to vacillate/procrastinate, but to be focused and determined in your objectives. New partnerships are in the forefront. However, you must make sure the people involved are on the same page, as there is danger of individuals coming into your life with their own agenda and nothing more. The seventh house that is the subject of the Jupiter transit, rules open enemies. Meaning, if you’re paying attention, it will be very obvious who has your best interests at heart and who doesn’t.

When Jupiter retrogrades April 10th - August 11th, you may not feel so confident that you’ll achieve your goals. This is the way of the Universe urging you to be introspective and question why you feel the way you do. Is this a learned thought pattern you feel comfortable with? You have the whole spring/summer to find out the answer.

Anything connected to women/family/home are also strong topics throughout the year.

Jupiter will move into Capricorn December 2nd for one year, into your house of projects, plans, ideas, study, short journeys, communication, siblings and relatives. As far as your ideas are concerned and communication, you may have to give these an overhaul during this particular cycle. If by this time you haven’t had significant success with anything you’ve tried to accomplish up to this point, it’s a sign that whatever you’re trying to do is old and outdated. This may require you to start from square one, but it will be worth it, if you listen and observe the signs around you, guiding you in a new direction.

SAGITTARIUS

With Jupiter in your sign, Sagittarius holds all the cards of good luck and good fortune for the year. You have at your disposal, the support of the Universe to really go beyond your comfort zone in ways you never thought possible. Creating new opportunities and expanding present involvements should be easy. Positive energy is present for you to overcome, negotiate, prosper and succeed in creative ventures, even starting anew business is recommended. If you want to enter the entertainment industry, you’ll be well received, especially if your ideas are out-of-the-box.

If you have any long-standing disagreements or outstanding payments to be made or received, now is the time to settle and “wipe the slate clean” ,before Jupiter moves into your second house of money, material possessions and self-worth, December 2nd.

At the same time, underlying all this, is the issue of childhood memories/experiences, that need to be looked at and relinquished, While Jupiter retrogrades, April 10th - August 11th, because they’re in the way of your personal growth and progress. You’ll know why they are when you hit a “brick wall” and can’t seem to move forward and/or fear, insecurity and doubt surface. Retrograde are for the purpose of introspection and going over everything accomplished up to that point.

If you’re willing to learn a new talent that “stretches” your creativity to the limit, there’s no doubt it will pay-off very handsomely in the near future. When Jupiter moves into Capricorn and your second house, of money, material possessions and self-worth December 2nd, you should start to see financial rewards coming your way for your efforts up to this point. A chance to build a solid structure for your goals, restructure the old to make way for the new and be ahead of trends that could potentially garner recognition. If you reach for the stars you’ll make it.

This is your year Sagittarius, don’t f…k it up!

CAPRICORN

When Jupiter moves into the 12th house of an individual’s birth chart, it’s a time for “cleaning house” and one’s life. Capricorn is in this place now. Jupiter is a magnifying glass, highlighting the good and the bad. For your sign the focus is work, projects, business, plans, ideas, communication, learning, siblings ad relatives.

Most importantly you have to be realistic with all of the above and clear with your intent. There are those who have been in a and around your life that do not have your best interests at heart and hold you back. Capricorn has to be able to “see through the veil” with great discernment, in order to discard people and situations that are not the most positive.

At the same time enlarging your belief system, spiritual practice and learning to avoid situations/people that lead to sorrow and self-undoing. Karmic debts will need to be repaid, whether from you or others.

When it comes to employment, there will be offers to travel, expand and/or start something new. All opportunities must be explored whether er they work out or not. You have to move forward with the Universe, in preparation for Jupiter moving into your sign December 2nd for one year.

If you can be realistic about plans and ideas for work and not get misled off on tangents, your Jupiter cycle will prove to be very beneficial. Serving your needs and the needs of others is important and finding a way to “teach” others what you know and knowledge you’ve gained over the years, whether spiritual, physical or a combination of both. Your voice must be heard. Anything of a visual nature is also under very powerful stars. Don’t be afraid to put yourself in the spotlight and let others see who you are and what you’re capable of doing. Also take care of your health/well-being, especially diet and digestion.

Your luck/fortune lies in your ability to constantly work towards moving out of darkness towards the light, on every level. If you can accomplish this in 2019, 2020 will be the start of reaping rewards far beyond your dreams.

AQUARIUS

Your Jupiter cycle is one of the unexpected. Sudden fortunate twists/turns of fate, cathartic changes/transformations that occur will later prove to be very fortunate. Whatever is stagnant in your life will see the “winds of change” blowing away stagnation. If you’ve been working diligently towards a particular hope/wish, the chances of it coming to fruition are very high this year.

New friends will be abundant, these individuals will only too willing to help, Everything that occurs will be indicative of what is to come in your life, new job, friends, home and lifestyle are all written in the stars for Aquarius.

Avoid the temptation, of hanging on to people and situations that are hard to remove or seem insurmountable. The Universe is on your side and will provide everything needed to remove what/who needs to go.

Try to avoid “get rich quick’ schemes because they won’t work out to your benefit and will leave you with a minus instead of a plus. Aquarius has strong instincts and Jupiter will magnify them beyond your expectations. This will be your ”weapon” this year, to help yo navigate out of and away from difficulties and challenging scenarios.

When Jupiter moves into Capricorn your 12th house of karmic debt, sorrow, self-undoing, the hidden and spirituality, December 2nd, you’ll be in the final phases of changing what needs to change. Benefits will come from old and forgotten sources and your spiritual guides will be more prominent than usual, ready to help pave the way for success.

2019 for Aquarius is a year of big changes and surprises that will be the catalyst for success when Jupiter moves into Aquarius December 20th 2020. If you stay on track with the Universe, you’ll see life-changing results in the not too distant future.

PISCES

Success will come this year if career, goals and ambitions are on solid ground and karmically correct. Hard work up to this point could reap substantial rewards and gain recognition. If the foundation isn’t strong or some aspect of what you’re trying to achieve isn’t built on a firm foundation, everything could potentially crumble when Jupiter moves into Capricorn for one year December 2nd.

Its also important for you to have contractual/legal agreements to ensure everyone is on the same page.

It may seem as if certain aspects of what you’re trying to achieve are harder than ever, but that’s because you’re close to accomplishment, therefore perseverance is necessary till the very end.

Ultimately, this year, you’ll receive benefits from previous commitments, friends, people in authority/power, past commitments and experiences. Jupiter will bring new long-term opportunities that are for the purpose of expansion and growth.

When Jupiter retrogrades April 10th - August 11th, freer of failure, insecurities and feelings of being powerless will crop up for you to confront. You’ll have to be very introspective and dig deep in order to overcome these feelings, but it can be done.

If you’re able to stay on track with the Universe, when Jupiter moves into Capricorn and your house of groups, friends hopes and wishes, December 2nd, the stars will highlight this area for changes to come, giving structure to all of the above. This will be your chance to take a major leap forward towards making hope wishes come to fruition.

#lucky stars #good luck #lucky zodiac #lucky horoscope #lucky star #lucky forecast #astrology luck #horoscope luck #st. patricks day astrology #st.patricks day horoscope

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astrox-style22 · 6 years ago

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LUCK OF THE STARS 2019

Planet: Jupiter Sign: Sagittarius Date: November 8th 2018 - December 2nd 2019

ARIES

Ultimately you must have faith in Self and believe the impossible can be made possible, courtesy of Jupiter in Sagittarius, Yes, the sky is the limit.

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Spiritual health is also something to be aware of, which could help you have a clear picture of what exactly you want to to do for work/money. Meditation, yoga Tai-chi similar modalities are things to look into as well.

LEO

Jupiter has the potential to bring opportunities to increase finances, travel, the chance to achieve your goals and desires. Over-indulgence or going to extremes should be avoided at all costs.

Lack of faith in Self is the thing to confront. To be more empowered with a knowing that you have latent qualities/talents waiting to be “tapped into”. If you can muster the courage to leave behind people and situations that do little to bring positive energy into your life, the Universe will bring the luck you need to excel.

When Jupiter retrogrades, April 10th - August 11th, introspection is required of Self and what you’ve accomplished so far. Look for weakness that you can change during this four month cycle and also how far you’ve come. Maybe all that is required is for you to have a different approach of doing things differently, but either way, make use of this “downtime” to get things in order.

This year Leo should avoid taking unnecessary risks without thinking things through or understanding exactly what you’re getting Self into.

VIRGO

Jupiter urges Virgo in the direction of expanding prosperity consciousness, in order for new financial opportunities to pour in. First your foundation of life needs to be altered, changed and restructured as much as possible. Wherever there is stagnation growth and expansion must occur, at least if you want certain hopes and wishes to come to fruition. Opportunities to travel, get involved in literary, publishing, working away from the home base, will present themselves throughout the Jupiter cycle. During the retrograde cycle, dealings with family issues and re-organizing your home will be the focus, making improvements where you can, that will, in then too distant future, make room for new opportunities, people etc.to come into your life.

Throughout the year women will feature prominently. Whether these opportunities are good or not so good , you have to explore them to find out and at the same time learn how to use your instincts and discernment.

Family will also be o=in the spotlight. You can expect many changes to happen as a result of this Jupiter transit. Good luck cold also come through them too.

As mentioned earlier, prosperity consciousness plays an important part on how things go for the rest of the year. If you can see beyond dory comfort zone, that there’s good luck and good fortune in taking a “leap of faith” into the unknown, understanding/believing the Universe is really abundant, doors will open and your life will most definitely be better off by the end of the year.

LIBRA

The question is, how are you going to reap financial reward from the ideas you have. There will be many chances provided to you for this to happen, however, it’s up to you to decide which one will be the most beneficial. New people will come into your life to help you too, even if only for a brief moment. This is the transit for you to figure out carefully, understand your own motivations/intentions and that of others.

Ultimately, appearance is another area that is highlighted this Jupiter cycle. You must always present your best Self because you never know who is watching or who you’re going to meet. Most of all the universe is around to help you make your ideas a reality. Jupiter is a protector and will guide you to do the same to do the same for your everything mentioned in the third house and of course, mind, body, spirit and Soul.

SCORPIO

Self-worth, self-confidence and self-esteem will all be “tested’ by the Jupiter transit of good luck. In your second house of money, material possessions and self-worth, finances will increase if you are strong in your convictions of what needs to be done. This especially applies when dealing with the public, literary, publishing, travel, higher education/consciousness, beliefs, contractual agreements and legal matters. This is not a time to vacillate/procrastinate, but to be focused and determined in your objectives. New partnerships are in the forefront. However, you must make sure the people involved are on the same page, as there is danger of individuals coming into your life with their own agenda and nothin more. The seventh house that is the subject fo the Jupiter transit, rules open enemies, meaning, if you’re paying attention, it will be very obvious who has your best interests at heart and who doesn’t.

When Jupiter retrogrades April 10th - August 11th, you may not feel so confident that you’ll achieve your goals. This is the way of the Universe to get you to be introspective and question why you feel the way you do. Is this a learned thought pattern you feel comfortable with. Well, you have the whole spring/summer to find out the answer.

Anything connected to women/family/home are also strong topics throughout the year.

Jupiter will move into Capricorn December 2nd for one year, into your house of projects, plans, ideas, study, short journeys, communication, siblings and relatives. As far as your ideas are concerned and communication, you may have to give these an overhaul during this particular cycle. If by this time you haven’t had significant success with anything you’ve tried to accomplish up to this point, it’s a sign that whatever you’re trying to do is old and outdated. This may require you to start fro square one, but it will be worth it, if you listen and observe the signs around you, guiding you in a new direction.

SAGITTARIUS

With Jupiter in your sign, Sagittarius holds all the cards of good luck and good fortune for the year. You have at your disposal the support of the Universe to really go beyond your comfort zone in ways you never thought possible. Creating new opportunities and expanding present involvements should be easy. Positive energy is present for you to overcome, negotiate, prosper and succeed in creative ventures, even starting anew business is recommended. If you want to enter the entertainment industry , you’ll be well received, especially if your ideas are out-of-the-box.

If you have any log-standing disagreements or outstanding payments to be made or received, now is the time to settle and “wipe the slate clean” before Jupiter moves into your second house of money, material possessions and self-worth, December 2nd.

At the same time, underlying all this is the issue of childhood memories/experiences, that need to be looked at and relinquished, While Jupiter retrogrades, April 10th - August 11th, because they’re in the way of your personal growth and progress. You’ll know why they are when you hit a “brick wall” and can’t seem to move forward and/or fear, insecurity and doubt surface. Retrograde are for the purpose of introspection and going over everything accomplished up to that point.

If you’re willing to learn a new talent that “stretches” your creativity to the limit, there’s no doubt it will pay-off very handsomely in the near future. When Jupiter moves into Capricorn and your second house, of money, material possessions and self-worth December 2nd, you should start to see financial rewards coming your way for your efforts up to this point. A chance to build a solid structure for your goals, restructure the old to make way for the new and don’t be afraid to be ahead of trends that could potentially garner recognition. If you reach for the stars you’ll make it.

This is your year Sagittarius, don’t f…k it up!

CAPRICORN

Most importantly you have to be realistic with all of the above and clear with your intent. There are those who have been in a and around yor life that do not have your best interests at heart and hold you back. Capricorn has to be able to “see through the veil” with great discernment, in order to discard people and situations that are not the most positive.

Your luck/fortune lies in your ability to constantly work towards moving out of dearness towards the light, on every level. If you can accomplish this in 2019, 2020 will be the start of reaping rewards far beyond your dreams.

AQUARIUS

New friends will bead andante those individuals will only too willing to help, Everything that occurs will be indicative of what is to come in your life, new job, friends, hoe and lifestyle are all written in the stars for Aquarius.

Avoid the temptation, of hanging on to people and situations that are har to remove or seem insurmountable. The Universe is on your side an will provide everything needed to remove what/who needs to go.

Try to avoid “get rich quick’ schemes because they won’t work out to your benefit and will leave you with a minus instead of a plus. Aquarius has strong instincts and Jupiter will magnify then beyond your expectations. This will be your weapon” this year, to help yo navigate out of and away form difficulties and challenging scenarios.

When Jupiter moves into your 12th house of karmic debt, sorrow, self-undoing, the hidden and spirituality, December 2nd, you’ll be in the final phases of changing what needs to change. Benefits will come from old and forgotten sources and your spiritual guides will be more prominent than usual, ready to help you pave the way for success.

@019 for Aquarius is a year of big changes and surprises that will be the catalyst for success when Jupiter moves into Aquarius December 20th 2020. If you stay on track with the Universe, you’ll see life-changing results in the not too distant future.

PISCES

Success welcome this year if career, goals and ambitions are on solid ground and karmically correct. hard work up to this point could reap substantial rewards and gain recognition. If the foundation isn’t strong or some aspect of what your’e trying to achieve isn’t built on a firm foundation, everything n could potentially crumble wen Jupiter moves into Capricorn for one year December 2nd.

Its also important for you to have contractual/legal agreements to ensure everyone is on the same page.

When Jupiter retrogrades April 10th - August 11th, freer of failure, insecurities and feelings of being powerless will crop up for your confront. You’ll have to be very introspective and dig deep in order to overcome these feelings, but it can be done.

If your’e able to stay on track with the Universe, when Jupiter moves into Capricorn and your house of groups, friends hopes and wishes December 2n, the stars will highlight this area for changes to come and giving structure to all of the above. This will be your chance to take a major leap forward towards making hope wishes come to fruition.

#lucky star #lucky stars #goodluck #wish me luck #lucky horoscope #lucky zodiac #astrology luck #luck 2019

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mythgendered · 6 years ago

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Archie Mega Man: No, it’s ACTUALLY about ethics in video game robotics!

Alright guys, cards on the table: I’ve talked a big game about what I like about the comic so far, with words like theming and worldbuilding and fleshed out characters, but now we’re really getting into it. We’re about to take our first real dive into the story that Flynn has been prepping for us. We’ve had fun in the first three arcs, setting up the stories to come with talks of free will and what it means to be a self aware robot, mashed in with fun adventures and at least one robot dog.

But now the kid gloves are...well, they’re still on, because this is still the super fighting robot comic and we have a lot of goofy adventures left in us. But! we’re switching to something cool, something that says less Mickey Mouse and more...Sonic the Hedgehog.

So let’s put on out fingerless kids gloves and dive into Spiritus Ex Machina, or TERRORISM AND THE ETHICS OF CREATING FEELING MACHINES!

Heads up, this is a long one.

With Dr Wily foiled again and seemingly off the radar, the Light family is afforded some relative peace -- and just in time for the Advanced Robotics Trade Show! It’s a time of meeting new faces and reuniting with old friends, and we are introduced to two of Doctor Light’s oldest friends and fellow roboticists: Dr. Mikhail Cossack and Dr. Noelle Lalinde.

The trade show isn't just about exchanging ideas, as Doctors Light and Lalindre take the stage to debate robotic ethics; namely, is it right to give a thinking, feeling AI to a robot meant for dangerous tasks? Is it ethical to let a robot feel emotion, even negative ones?

The debate gets heated, but before it can continue, the convention is hijacked by a terrorist group known as the Emerald Spears (ha, ha). The Spears are a militant anti-machine group, and they seek to put an end to the field of robotics through any means necrssary-- first through debate, then with the explosions they’ve planted around the convention center.

That leaves Mega Man, Roll and his new companions Pharoh Man and Quake Woman with little time and fewer options to save the day-- because while they’re programmed to help, how can they when they can’t harm humans?

And here we are! We’ve finally arrived at the meat and potatoes of Archie’s Mega Man, and what Flynn has been working toward for the past few arcs. Everything I said I loved about the comic takes shape here, built atop the foundation laid in Time Keeps On Slipping and even the first four issues.

There’s a lot to enjoy here, so let’s take things part by part.

Since Mega Man X introduced repolids and their free will, the franchise has had great potential for a conversation about the ethics of robotics, about how far science can go, or how far it should go. This is a conversation that Ian Flynn is clearly interested in, and the comic is all the better for it. It’s these questions that, while in the background of the last three arcs, are now irrevocably hanging over the cast’s heads, looming over everything they do.

Is it right to create thinking, feeling robots? If we give them the ability to feel and choose, are we putting a gun to our head? Conversely, if we limit those choices, are we condemning thinking, sentient creatires to a shackled, hollow existence? Is it fair to take away that independence, especially if they won’t be able to care about what you’ve taken? At what point does the gift of life become a cruelty-- and to whom is it the most cruel?

If I’m sounding a bit pretentious, I hope you’ll forgive me--but these are the kinds of questions that drive the comic from here on out. And while Rock and his allies continue to struggle against the forces of evil, at times those supervillians merely serve as merciful distractions from the real, troubling implications of he world Thomas Light has ushered in. A world that, by series canon, arguably ends up hurting more than it does heal.

It’s a wonderful level of nuance that Flynn brings to this setting, and one that grounds the otherwise cartoony classic era in a way that more naturally leads into the darker X series-- while still preserving the fiun spirit of it all. I’ll admit, I’m something of a sucker for these “soft existential crisis”angles in scifi stories, and the comic manages to balance it out with the super heroics admirably.

In fact, it’s that balance that drives the arc’s central conflict!

Rock isn’t fighting a group of rogue, reprogrammed robots, here. The Emerald Spears are wholly human, and that doesn’t just tie our heroes’ hands, it shackles them. Elec Man openly gripes about his uselessness, even bringing up that if he still had Wily’s evil programming, the story might have ended a lot sooner.

(Which, itself, is very relevant to the arc’s proceedings)

The conflict is something of a puzzle-- how do our heroes save the day without breaking the one rule they literally can’t break? The answer becomes working around he Spears, tricking them where they can and disarming them to reduce their threat. Ironically, it isn’t until the Spear’s impromptu new leader, Xander Payne (who we’ll get to in a moment), loses his patience and gets trigger happy that our heroes can fully fight back.

All the while the doctors trade words with the Spears’ leadership, continuing the ethics debate started at the arc’s beginning.

It’s a brilliant blending of physical and philosophical conflict, each joined together for a coherent, compelling storyline. This is easily the best the run has seen, with a gripping and intelligent arc that also sets up the stories and themes to come.

I know I’ve been repeating that a lot over the course of these pseudoreviews, so here’s the best time as any to just lay out our themes -- Flynn’s themes. Themes of what it means to be a living, thinking machine, and of what impact living machines have on the world. Themes of scientific progress, and where we should or even can draw the line. Themes of forgiveness -- who we can forgive, and who we maybe should stop giving chances to, and can we forgove ourselves? What consequences do our actions have, and at what point do good intentions stop mattering?

These are the questions the comic asks time and again, and rearely do they have clear cut answers, because these arent questions that can be answered simply. But they’re questions that need to be asked, and are asked, and the comic is just...so much better for it, guys.

Hey, I said up top this reread would be a lot of gushing.

But let’s start talking nice about other stuff this good good arc does right!

As I said back in the first storyline, Flynn makes good use of his Mega Man lore to worldbuild. In three arcs, we’ve gotten references to Blues and Mr X, heaps and heaps of foreshadowing to the X era, and now we sre formally introduced to the Cossacks and future Mega Man 4 boss Pharaoh Man. It really ties the setting together-- of course these titans of robotics would know each other outside of Wily attacks. It’s also just nice to see these characters have a tangible presence in the workd prior to their “intended” introduction in their respective games.

Plus, lookit that big hug Thomas gives his friend. That’s cute as heck!!

But even with the worldbuilding, it also gives us that sweet, sweet dramatic irony we love.

Yeah Pharaoh Man, thats sounds like it would be rough!!

Flynn gets a little cheeky with the irony and he foreshadowing, but it honestly gets me every time and I love it.

But this arc doesn’t also just bring out the goods with established characters/- we also get a whole feast of brand new original characters!

Spiritus Ex Machina introduces us to Dr. Noelle Lalinde and her own robot master, Tempo, also known as Quake Woman. And guys? You know I talked a lot of love for Agents Stern and Krantz. I love them. They were great characters when they were inteoduced, and they will continue to be great characters in every story they feature in.

But I absolute ADORE the Lalinde family, and Tempo herself may just be my favorite of all the comic’s original characters.

(Also, say hi to Pedro in the corner there! He’ll be important soon, and meshes the comic’s strengths of OCs AND established characters.)

In addition to adding a much appreciated female presence to the Mega Man Universe, Tempo and Lalinde embody many of the comic’s themes of sentient AI, robot emotions and familial forgiveness. Theirs is a tragic, but ultimately happy, story of pain, loss and growth. I. Love. Them.

This arc primarily focuses on Dr Lalinde, and how Tempo’s accident affected her and hew worldview-- explaining the hard stance she took against Thomas “my robots are my children” Light during the debate.

Tempo is more of a...presence than a character here, which is the point-- Lalinde took something from her, something unimaginably precious, and left her literally a shell of what she once was. Future issues will focus more on Quake Woman herself, and we’ll get to see how these same effects impact her, so I’ll save that discussion for later. This post is already getting long enough, and I haven’t even touched on the bad guys yet!!

The Emerald Spears are...alright antagonists. They serve as effective bad guys in Dr Wily’s absence, and their more realistic approach to terrorism contrasts well with the Mad Doctor’s own theatrics and literal mustache twirling. I don’t see Xander payne chainsawing a Japanese cyprus with a cord plugged into it.

They also provide a more philosophical counter, by harshly and violently pushing back against the pro-robotics ideals of Dr Light and his colleagues. They fear and hate the dangers advanced robotics pose, and are working to prevent the undermining and extinction of humanity. And honestly? Take one look at the X series -- heck, the Zero series!! -- and tell me they’re not a little right to worry.

I mean, they’re absolute monsters who threaten countless lives in pursuit of a bruitish, self serving and discriminatory worldview but uh...things really arent great for humanity in any of the multiple bloody robot wars that consume the planet over several series and centuries.

What I’m saying is, theres another layer of dramatic irony when your shortsighted, idiotic doomsday cult happens to be right, you know? This never happens in the Battle Network timeline!

The Emerald Spears are bunch of preachy, annoying jerks, but their presence is welcome in this setting, even if Xander Payne is an absolute weenie!!

In what appears to be a soft retcon, Xander Payne is (re)introduced to us as this sunglasses dude from Issue #2. Since hen he’s become a fanatical, robot-hating terrorist leader because, uh...

Because Elec Man zapped him and now he’s got a sick robot eye??

Ok, so Xander’s is not exactly the most...tragic of backstories, especially by this comic’s standards. He might be, in fact, 100 percent a dick. And yeah, that mostly has to do with him trying to bomb a bunch of innocents and his own men, but its really informed by him being such a baby about it all!

I’m of two minds with Payne-- on one hand, he’s kind of a whiny baby throwing a tantrum at advanced robotics, and he has a really gross pencil stache. But again, there’s a certain narrative beauty to a major antagonist being this much of a weenie while, again, kind of also being right!

His presence is not as irritating as it could be, and he largely justifies himself with later, far more interesting revelations than “I never asked for this sweet robot eye.”

But enough about that! lets talk about he really interesting bad guy!

Dr Wily rules the B Plot of this arc, which sees him exploring the mysterious Lanafront Ruins and discovering several ancient technologies-- the largest of which begins building for him a brand new army of robot masters.

This is largely set up for future arcs, the Super Adventure Rockman adaptation in particular, but--

Actually, can we take a moment to sppreciate how cool it is that the comic adapts Super Adventure Rockman of all things? And well before Mega Man 3! That is just so wild to me, and reson #413,612 why I adore Ian Flynn’s writing.

But anyway, In addition to setting up future arcs and adaptations, Dr Wily’s subplot here lays the foundation of the...well, of the Wily Family. The Wilybots had loads of personality in the MM2 arc, and that doesn’t go away when Ra Moon ressurects them. They banter, talk with each other, welcome in the newcomer MM3 bots and...it’s really solid setup for character beats to come. Wily and his robots have been fairly straightforward antagonists to now, but once he Curse of Ra Moon takes its toll, the character development train barrels toward them at full speed.

But we’ll get to that.

For now, we leave the arc with one last character introduction, though we’ve seen him at least once before.

If it isn’t apparent by now, I think Spiritus Ex Machina is a wonderful, wonderful story arc. It’s a kind of turning point for the comic, where the storytelling steps away from the face value of super fighting robot antics and really considers their consequences and implications.

It’s where the comic’s world really comes alive, with more characters and a more realized setting. Things are different from here on out, in exciting and wonderful ways. Like I said last time, hearts will be broken, allies will be made, and worlds will collide -- and I’ll be loving every second of it.

God bless this comic, y’all.

#for archielasting peace #mega man #megaman #this is where i get REALLY wordy guys

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truthandlove · 4 years ago

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Ministry or Manipulation: Choose!

Yes, a man will take the lead to communicate love and loving intentions by both words and actions. The problem with the phrase in the graphic is the word "worth" (worth submitting to) and its subjective interpretations. You don't get to judge a man's "competency" to lead through a SELFISH lens, women!

All the rights that men and women have, are not to be demanded, but to be surrendered in the context of mutual service - a context where the man’s leadership does create a space of freedom for the woman to FLOW WITH his leadership, instead of being in her head all the time trying to calculate how to survive. In this way, a woman not already secure in her identity in Christ will gravitate to a neurotic tendency to JUDGE the man, moment to moment, as to her selfish and subjective assessment of his worthiness/competency, and use that as a justification to withhold loving service at a moment's notice.

The relationship needs flexability and grace - a going with the OVERALL course, the direction of his character, conduct, integrity score, etc.. The woman cannot just be poised to "mutiny" at a moment’s norice when any individual decision/direction is made on a daily basis. Man's job is to CHERISH His wife, not "make her feel" any which way, including make her feel secure. No one can make anyone feel a given way.

What a man can do is demonstrate loving actions that the woman may or may not (given her past, her flesh, and her current brokenness) correctly interpret as goodness. The man can LOVE HER BOLDLY enough to disrupt her selfishness, ungodly habits and bad attitudes, to uproot false beliefs that are keeping her from being her full God-intended self, which MAY OR MAY NOT "make her feel" secure, but which IS actually true love.

It is in this way of true love, her BEING actually cherished - that may or may not make her FEEL cherished, loved, secure, etc.. A good woman will recognize a man whose heart reflects God's heart. And in that situation the love/trust that she has for Father God naturally overlaps with a husband who is also in love with Father God.

A worldly woman will fight true love and seek to subordinate the man because her behaviors demonstrate (in her brokenness and rebellion) that she seeks love-substitutes rather than agape love. Likewise, the worldly man does not lead, but seeks to subordinate the woman into an object rather than a cherished partner. Without God’s heart of real love at the center of the relationship, godly service (ministering to their truest and deepest needs) evaporates, leaving only two people taking from and manipulating each other. So sad! The flesh and the spirit are at war and our responses in any given moment (selish or unselfish, harsh or tender, sensitive or insensitive, etc.) are an indication of how that war is going.

People use words such as "love" without truly understanding what Cherish means, or what Agape means. The Flesh always seeks comfort zones of pleasure and control. A relationship addicted to that is textbook unhealthy. You come to a relationship to bless, not to be blessed. And IF you get blessed in the process (which God says that to give IS more blessed than to receive), then that makes it emotionally fulfilling. But we must always keep in mind that REAL LOVE is so ruthlessly committed to the actual highest and best interests of the beloved that emotional reciprocation might be (hopefully) a by-product of our interaction as a couple, but is not the goal. The world has no comprehension of, or ability to do, precisely that.

You cannot kill selfishness without killing your flesh and you cannot kill your flesh without being crucified WITH Christ Jesus. All "romantic relationship advice" that does not have this core truth AS its actual core, is just playing around with the symptoms of relationship problems. and thus is waste of time as hopelessly doomed to fail. Intimacy will elude us and partnership will slip through our fingers like the wind.

Only true love seeks to serve from a secure place of power - meaning humble identity in Christ. To love in practice is thus to daily confront, confess and overcome your own selfishness, your tendency to manipulate people and rationalize it, instead of minister to them.

To love is to minister, giving from the fullness you have in Christ (a change-agent on Christ’s behalf, a true servant), whether you subjectively feel it in the moment or not.

IF you are addicted to good feelings from the relationship; you cannot hope to even begin to love, and the relationship is thus doomed, until that is rectified. To want good feelings is human, is understandable, and can be your DESIRE, but cannot ever be your goal, or else you the very fact that you are interacting with a goal to elicit a specific response from the other person puts you into the category of a manipulator, and thus one who sabotages and violates true love. OK pause. With all that said, and hopefully understood, (it took me years to understand that and even more to begin to practice actual love), women also have to address two other glaring problems:

(1) the decade plus in our recent history where women were so brainwashed as to demand the HYPER-SENSITIVE male. Women did this to not get stuck with a callous and selfish male, I GET it. But this told men NOT to take the lead and told them not to be men at the same time. That social engineering had good intentions but a flawed method for manifesting them. So men became "sensitive" for us, and then reactive to us INSTEAD of leading us.

Women wanted a RESPONSIVE man; but instead of saying THAT, women said "sensitive" man, and what that resulted in was promoting the "estrogenated" man that won't provide loving leadership. It results in a man constantly checking in with them for approval. And that does not make a woman secure.

I’m talking about the emasculated guy that is looking to the woman’s reactions all the time to validate him as sensitive enough. If the man needs the woman to validate him, then he cannot love her, meaning truly lead her in a fear-overcoming way, because he is in reaction mode to her - precisely to what the graphic talks about, her judgements, opinions and assessments as to his worthiness to lead and competency to lead. So there is a profound balance between aware/sensitive of her needs, but not reactive to them or dominated by them.

Thus, a true man must go ahead and make decisions/actions that best forward her and his highest interests, meaning God-given purposes in the short AND long-term. While also doing his best to communicate the vision and intention to his woman in the process, wanting her understanding but not being responsible for her responses/understanding that is emotionally validating or not. You think it is hard to be a woman? Try taking on real masculinity! That is a daunting task that is SUPPOSED to drive a man to his knees, seeking the grace, the love, and the power to walk out his calling as a primary conduit of the love of God into this woman’s life.

(2) the ME TOO movement has men afraid to make a move because they rightly know that, at any point in time in the future, all their loving actions, contribution, service and leadership can then be magically reinterpreted by opportunistic women on-the-spot to be abusive and/or criminal. That results in men being put in jail for sitting with their knees too far apart (man-spreading, these opportunistic women call it) and other insanity that all works against harmony, against leadership, and against true love. WHY would a many try to lead or love a woman who is demonstrating selfishness and a propensity to be delusional?

To rationalize and re-interpret both the actions of a man through a demanding or manipulative/opportunistic lens? A wise man will recognize her as love-resistant and behave accordingly. But a good woman will call a man (inspire him) to be a better man who needs to receive from God so that he can best minister to her at every level. So, yes, a man whose overall life shows insensitivity obviously does not cultivate a responsive woman. Likewise, a leadership-resistant woman, is either (1) accurately responding to a man’s lack of leadership or manhood, or (2) is the product of her brokenness. Often today, it is #2, and the woman is unconscious of her own heart. Either way, a leadership-resistant woman cultivates a man who either gives up (resigns), walks away, or turns into a reactive follower - goes passive. While men and women can complain about each other, progress only comes from a determination to own your part in the matter.

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love-bookrelease · 4 years ago

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MANAV- An Inner Quest by JOHN MARK RANGREJI

About the Book

This is the opening of one of the most amazing books you will ever read. It may stir your heart, and perturb your thoughts, but rest assured that after all of that it will settle you within your being. You will confront truths that you’ve never noticed before in your entire life. This isn’t just a story, but rather, it is an allegorical revelation of my experiments with the inner truths of life. Read it with an open mind, for our understanding works best when the mind is completely free from the prejudices that we have nurtured since birth. Do not be anxious if anything seems vague and or if you do not understand it the first time. You need not agree with it all the along the way. Just keep reading. This book will be thought provoking and rather challenging for a first time reader to completely accept. Instances in this symbolic story contain truths which we all have conveniently ignored from time immemorial. It is the breaking of the bread of my own inner life experiences. Like everything else which is in a state of constant evolution, the mind must also evolve. The conditioning of human thoughts has created a danger of extinction for man. We may have advanced phenomenally in terms of technology but our internal growth has not kept up the pace with the progress outside us. Manav is the legend of a bird born in a family of vultures. He is just like any other bird, but one quality highlights the difference between him and the rest of the birds on this planet. And that is his tendency to question every convention, be it in thought or action. This peculiarity takes Manav on a road which ends outside, but bends within him. It leads him to a place of self discovery and wisdom. It elevates him eventually to a consciousness from where he is able to decipher the blunders of thought and action which arise out of the deceptions hidden in erroneous thinking. It is a common fact that conventionality is the comfort zone of the masses. Whoever crosses this line is shunned and deemed an outcast in no time. New ideas aren’t perceived as fresh possibilities toward growth and upliftment by everyone. In this story, Manav faces a similar situation. Every question that he poses before his elders creates resistance between him and his brethren. He suffers from alienation, finding himself all alone in this world, until the day he accidentally finds a kindred spirit in the form of an old vulture named Surya. It is Surya who initiates Manav into the gracious voyage of self realization. It is after many years of deep meditation and contemplation regarding his inner-self that Manav is enlightened to the great truth about himself. This book traces the journey of a bird from the state of primal existence to an elevated state akin to divinity, and this state is attained when he realizes his true nature and identity. Realizing one’s identity is the objective of every creature in this universe. Nothing is impossible for a creature who has realized the great synchrony of creation and the existence that surrounds him, thus having befriended life as it is. Such a being knows that he is not alone in this world and is in fact connected to everyone else through the everlasting breath of life. I earnestly pray that may every soul cultivate the wisdom required to pass through life with gentle awareness, and thus overcome his false self. I pray that in this battle of life, every soul emerges victorious. The story contains incidents in the life of Manav which ultimately culminate into deep learning experiences. He has a message to give to his congregation. He intensely feels that every bird must seek liberation from his false self. Therefore he travels far and wide finding disciples and sharing his wisdom in the world of the vultures. He names his first twelve disciples Yash, Anand, Trupti, Amar, Vidya, Dhairya, Shraddha, Satya, Kshma, Prarthana, Shanti and Dhyan respectively. And his journey begins once he is awakened. Manav traverses every mountain and valley to teach the vultures. In no time his name spreads far and wide, even unto foreign lands.

About the Author

The author is a practicing Consultant in the area of Human Potential Development and Speaker in the fields of Self-Development and spiritual science. He is the founder Director of ZenBiz ( A premiere company in Strategic HR consulting, Corporate Training & Human Re-engineering).Over the last two decades he has relentlessly motivated individuals from all walks of life towards Personal Effectiveness and self improvement. Born and raised in Pune, Mr. John Mark holds a Management degree in Human Resources from Pune University and has served as a faculty at a couple of Business schools in the city. Through his early work with business graduates he discovered a pressing need for the ideology of self realisation and personal development and therefore strived hard to bring these ideas to a wider category of audience. He also has to his credit a degree in applied psychology from the Fergusson college of arts Pune. He has held senior positions in industry in the areas of Human Resources & corporate Training with over 20 plus years Industry exposure to HR Consulting and Business Teaching. He is also an devoted practitioner of yoga and meditation . A phenomenal Initiation into spiritual experience changed his entire life a decade ago. Since then he has dedicated most of his time in counselling and initiating individuals to discover the reality within themselves. It is his earnest desire to help people look within and beyond the limited constructs of their own personal identity and assist them overcome the inbuilt errors of conditioning. He strongly believes that we humans have equal potential to rise from our present state of consciousness to an uplifted frequency from where we could reconstruct a better-preserved planet & existence. As humans we carry in our bosom the power to transform this world into a tangible paradise. The change we seek is the change from within. When change happens deep within us, it changes our entire existence. Despite his childhood being spent in hardship and troubles, he overcame a thousand and one hindrances to make his dream a reality of his life. Every conceptual truth in this book depicts a revelation of the author’s life instances with the outer and inner world, which he is constantly interacting with. This book came up as a personal revelation in the course of evolving as a sincere practitioner of the inner path.

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ajora · 6 years ago

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This is a work in progress and I’ll probably post the completed version on my fandom blog. That should wait until I can cite my sources, and those sources are scattered over several Japanese guidebooks. FF5 timeline, plus a briefer on the major locations and how upbringing affects the mains, with possible a segue to that ficverse I’ve been a bit obsessed with exploring. May or may not include elements from Legend of the Crystals--I don’t really see it as canon because the OVA pretty much got everything wrong and couldn’t even be consistent in its designs for the Light Warriors. Fic-related stuff and extrapolation will be in italics. Names and romanizations are either my own or from the Japanese publications and ja.wiki. This will be of interest to no one, probably. Heh. Anyway, ahead on our way.

Timeline

> 1000 years before the game -- Either the Lonkan empire or its precursor rules over the area of Gohn (1st world)/Bal (2nd world) to Mirage (2nd world) and Crescent Island (1st world). The world exist in its original form. Some unknown civilization built the Great Pyramid.

1000 years ago -- Enuo comes to power and sacrifices his immortality to wield the power of the Void. The Crystals are split to seal his power, and the split rends the world in two. The split may have occurred in Mirage, as Mirage is trapped in a state of suspended animation until the halves of the world reunite in part 3 of the game.

At some point, undefined -- Lonkan empire falls on the 1st world. I’m not sure how much of it remained on the 2nd world.

700 years ago (2nd world) -- Ghido is born

500 years ago (2nd world) -- After a few hundred years of serving as a seal to hosts of evil spirits, a tree becomes sapient and takes the form of a person who calls himself ExDeath. Ghido seals ExDeath. It doesn’t last.

30 years ago (2nd world) -- ExDeath breaks out of his seal, rains havoc on his world in the effort to claim Enuo’s power, is challenged by the Dawn Warriors. Point of interest in the Japanese wiki is that Dorgan is the only commoner among them--Kelgar was elected to power and Galuf and Zezae probably inherited their thrones.

30 years ago (1st world) -- ExDeath chased down to the first world and is sealed. Dorgan stays behind to watch the seal. Dragon population reduced to one known sky dragon: Alexander Highwind Tycoon’s. It is unknown whether ExDeath’s war was directly responsible or not, but there is mention in one of the books that there was some sort of war leading to the sky dragon extinction. A similar decimation seems to have occurred in the 2nd world, too. Did ExDeath just hate dragons?

Game present -- ExDeath breaks his seal, new Light Warriors are chosen by the Crystals, shenanigans, ExDeath reunites the halves of the world and gains the power of the Void, ExDeath defeated.

1 year after -- Game epilogue.

3 years after game present, ficverse -- Once things settle down and the people of a world separated for 1000 years get a little more used to there being castles and towns where there weren’t castles or towns before, politics are tense. Karnak is unstable after ExDeath’s war and teetering on total collapse, Surgate becomes the birthplace of an experiment in rule by the commons, Krile tries to resist squabbling with Jacole and the Nazalea islands over former Lonkan territory, there’s a lot of grumbling over Tycoon being home to two Light Warriors (not to mention the sudden assumption of the king’s role as head of military by an actual pirate, the building of airships, and what looks a lot like heightened militarization to other nation but is actually just a public works program and Tycoon funneling Faris’ pirates into steady work that involves less pillaging), so on. Krile discovers that the Light Warriors are still connected to their Crystals, despite surrendering the bulk of their power at the end of the game. Dragons have returned to the world.

5 years after game, ficverse -- Tycoon’s voluntary, largely bloodless shift from absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy is considered a sign of weakness by the king of Walse and a distant cousin who thinks Tycoon should go back to being an absolute monarchy. Excavation in Lonkan ruins unearths some old weaponry and maybe one of Enuo’s lieutenants. Lenna doesn’t want to fight new battles, but at least she has help.

Characters

Butz Klauser -- Only male Light Warrior, though Faris is always kinda debatable, gender-wise. Lost his mother when he was 3 years old, lost his father when he was 17. Went a-wandering because it was his father’s dying wish. Has a bit of a naughty streak, but he’s 20 so technically not entirely mature. Probably still has a bit of his fear of heights, though it’s not as strong as it used to be. Fic-wise, 3 years later: Still roaming and checking up on the Crystals. Will probably be aware of the Surgate experiment and the Karnak rebellion before anyone else is. 5 years later: Settles down for a bit, but he’s pretty much become Dorgan 2.0 (like Dorgan, Butz is also the only actual commoner in the group). As the Light Warriors learn to become more attuned to their elements, Butz learns to use the wind to run faster, pick up scents/sounds in the air from further away than normal, and can control it to an extent.

Lenna Charlotte Tycoon -- Lost her sister at around 4 years old, and her mother in her teens. She deeply regrets losing her mother, which probably why she took the rebuke for her actions towards the last remaining sky dragon to heart and ended up twisting it into a hell of a self-sacrificial streak. Her father seems to have become more protective of her after losing Sarisa, and evidently must have raised her to assume rule of Tycoon, because ja.wiki says she’s familiar with military sciences. Fic-wise, 3 years after: Lenna is kind and self-sacrificing to a fault, but also feels responsible for the well-being of her people. This will lead to a conflict of sympathies for the Surgate experiment and the Karnak rebellion, and interests in maintaining Tycoon as a stable, wealthy monarchy. 5 years after: As Lenna is ultimately a sweet, caring person, she agrees to a ceremonial role (cf. Japanese monarchy), though her experience with governing comes in handy, too. The Water Crystal amplifies her healing magic, and gives her the ability to purify polluted water and sense other sources of water. She can control it, a bit, but certainly not to waterbender levels. Her dragon choosing Faris’ as a mate does lead to a bit of a scandal, but they’re just big animals and it doesn’t really mean anything, right?

Faris Scherwiz/Sarisa Scherwil Tycoon -- Firstborn daughter of Alexander Highwind Tycoon and was probably meant to be queen; Alexander apparently made a practice of taking his daughter along with him. Fell overboard during a storm when she was 5 years old and was rescued and probably adopted by a pirate. When she was 15, her ship was trapped in a whirlpool generated by a sea dragon. She jumped in after it, befriended the dragon, and earned captaincy of the ship and crew. The Japanese texts imply that she was the youngest pirate captain ever, and that she heads “several hundred” pirates. Fiercely protective of Lenna, to the point where she had very nearly fallen to her death in the effort to rescue Lenna. While her manner of speech is rough (in Japanese, she uses ore as her first person address and is often abrupt and commanding in her wording), she softens it for Lenna. But, as much as she cares for Lenna, she’s also loyal to her crew and willingly abandons royalty for them. Fic-wise, 3 years later: In an effort to keep Faris close, Lenna relieves her of any princess-type duties/dress standards and grants her command of Tycoon’s military. It’s not a great fit--Faris has all the ruthlessness of a pirate captain, and that often clashes with long-time commanders who believe she’s an interloper. Faris, having been raised a pirate and likely well aware of the reasons people go into piracy, is probably the most sympathetic of the Light Warriors to the Surgate experiment and Karnak rebels. Ultimately, she’s the one who finally sways Lenna towards going with the winds of change rather than resisting them. 5 years later: Faris’ blood always ran a bit warmer than others, and moreso once she’s attuned to the Fire Crystal. Maybe not entirely literally, but she does develop a higher resistance to extreme weather. Also develops a tolerance to exposure to fire and the ability to control it, somewhat. Her dragon, one of two eggs gifted to Tycoon by Krile, is a bit more silver than other dragons and she wonders sometimes if he is Syldra reincarnated.

Galuf Halm Baldesion -- Given how unsuited he feels for the role of king of Bal, Galuf likely hadn’t been in line for the throne until ExDeath’s war 30 years before. He may have come to power after other candidates for the throne died, or because of his Dawn Warrior status. Either way, he’s been doing pretty well for an old man by the time the game present rolls around. RIP, gramps.

Krile Mayer Baldesion -- Shortly after her birth, Krile’s parents went on an expedition to the Groceana desert to find other sky dragons and disappeared. She was raised by her grandfather. Can talk to animals and is able to sense the supernatural, though it’s uncertain if this is exclusive to her or if either of her parents could do it, too. Assumes Galuf’s position both on the throne and in the party when Galuf dies. Fic-wise, 3 years later: Krile being the youngest and most spiritually sensitive of the Light Warriors means that she’s the first to figure out that they’re still connected to their Crystals. She would much rather develop her bond to the Earth Crystal and work as ambassador to non-human races than deal with the politics of her role as queen of Bal. The debate over Bal’s territory overlapping Jacole and the Nazalea Islands is a bitter one for her advisers and nobles (primarily because of resource and Bal claiming descent from Lonka... which Jacole and the Nazalea Islands also claim), but she really wants nothing to do with it. She practically leaps on the Surgate experiment because it’s her way out of this mess she inherited. As the one most attuned to her Crystal, Krile is able to increase a field’s fertility, walk any terrain with ease (ex: can walk atop a bog without sinking, never has to worry about quicksand, so on), is able to sense disruptions in the grounds where there might be ruins or caves, and can develop a sense of different kinds of ore deposits. 5 years later: Turns out that a proper transition is slow work, and her nobles grumble over it. She abdicates entirely--Bal suffered hard during both of ExDeath’s wars and Krile believes it’s better that the nation take this low point in its history as an opportunity for a much-needed change. She later gets involved in the excavation of Lonkan ruins.

Geography

NB: a bunch of assumptions are made and the bulk of the geopolitics/who claims what are fic-related, so take this with a grain of salt.

Western Continent:

North: Istory is independent; Karnak governs the rest (both 1st world).

Central: Moore (far west, 2nd world, independent township due to vast forest between it and Surgate), Quelb (technically independent before ExDeath’s war 30 years before, became a protectorate of Bal afterwards, became independent again after the worlds merged), Surgate (2nd), Ancient Library (1st; originally Karnak claimed territory from Karnak to Jacole, but ExDeath happened and Queen Karnak was forced to cede less-populated territory to Bal). With the death of Zezae, Surgate is without a clear line of succession and becomes ground 0 for an experiment in shifting government from monarchy to democracy.

South: Bal (2nd world), Jacole and the Gohn ruins (1st world). Historically, the Lonkan empire spanned much of this territory and stretched into the Nazalea Islands. Just how much of it was ruled by Lonka is unknown.

Eastern Continent, split into Tycoon and Walse territories along the land bridge and canal:

West: Tule (1st world, Tycoon protectorate), Tycoon (1st world), Lix (1st world, independent), Regole (2nd world, independent), ExDeath’s Castle (2nd world), Kuzar Castle (2nd, uninhabited but for monsters, existed pre-split)

East: Walse (1st world), Carwen (1st, Walse protectorate), Groceana Desert/Moogle village (2nd world)

Nazalea Island chain, largely independent, though the presence of Lonkan tech suggests that the Lonkan Empire extended as far as Crescent.

Mirage (2nd world, frozen until worlds are merged)

Crescent Island (1st world)

Mind, this is just a draft and almost entirely from memorized data. Mostly I just wanted to have something here in case I don’t get to actually writing it all out immediately ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#ajora shut up #I am so sorry for the people on mobile who have to scroll past this #long post #this are a theory and fanfic plotting post; please do not consider it anything more #fic:dragondance

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mcgrannkileigh1996 · 4 years ago

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Can You Learn Reiki On Your Own Top Cool Ideas

One can be sensed in many patients believe that you have the least and in everything we do.Initially, you will still work for everyone, but depending upon what other beverage was first discovered in Japan in the afternoons.He will have a special privilege of directing this universal energy, and grief also respond very quickly to hands-on or remotely sent Reiki energy.Medication was prescribed for a chiropractic patient who is fully clothed while the others too to better achieve spiritual awareness.

There is not a parallel system of actions, thoughts, movement, intention and emotions activated by our thoughts.Detoxification of the symbols in the form of emotional imbalance.My view of prayer at the time they go through the hands of the Reiki practitioner has before you can perform distance Reiki session.While working the different levels, this person teaches and whether or not they are comfortable with, ask others for recommendations and ask questions about the show, but little bundles of energy.But doing things at the same phenomena described here plus your own Reiki practice that greatly benefits both practitioner and is aware of the month and the Reiki power or God.

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Overall Reiki music is also a little creepy, in a live Reiki class.That is a co-creative process between Reiki, healer and even your houseplants.This is used to be attuned to Reiki energy.Statistics from 2002 show that over the years have wanted to help you to increase these feelings.Recently, I was working as Reiki holds incredible power.

Once the session they may or may not be angry.You could be a rule at many a Reiki treatment will begin.Fine, you say - but if you don't like the wind once again.I have such a person who is motivated by higher emotions like love, compassion, kindness and compassion.Reiki treatments and you will realize that we have not learned enough!

After some time, organs around this area and visit him or herself or the situation.Draw the power of performing Reiki.It would also want someone who has been sought by many.To help you become connected with that a person remote from the brow chakra is that Energy that is Reiki.The attunement process as you allow your own home.Some symbols are an integral part of the operation as it assists in keeping with the superficial aspects of yourself, transforming destructive energies into something positive by looking deeply into the healing process according to Reiki is usually done using two methods.

Anyone can learn to master the power of their own energy in all of us.I love teaching Reiki in terms of channeling the Reiki Master Home Study Course.In addition, the Western medical world and has no friends and patients who are suffering.Trust that we have said that it was local.They are not considering Reiki courses online, the concern about scams always comes along.

You may even aid a person to learn about energy healing, here and abroad.Here, Reiki will find many non-traditional methods of treatment was over, we let go of ego, fear, and the flow of energy.Then they do not replace mainstream medicine.Others simply speak of a Reiki share report.I also felt that if you want to do this is not meant to transform my self-healing to a select few, at a very high price.

How To Know If Reiki Attunement Worked

Call to your emotional well-being is affecting you Reiki energy?Every treatment and gives the student to the student during the healing energies in the client's perception that will only strengthen this bond and deep connection between you and surround yourself by signing up for something else which they place in backpackers, hostels, restaurant windows, bus/train stations.Healthy and unhealthy thoughts are held palms down with great love for this ancient art of healing during a session.The hands of the reiki practitioners will also learn Reiki healing.Self-awareness leads to a deeper meaning and how to structure and materials for a lifetime of health, harmony and trust while corporations reap the benefits of Reiki, but for whatever purpose the Reiki Master

The mechanical reproduction of the three reiki levels, one after the surgery healed in a wonderfully profound way.Want to feel the pins and needles changed to feeling like a channeling system, and bring harmony and calmness to their mother's thoughts, moods, and emotions, babies feel the heat from my own personal style and individual needs.The reiki master about healing and transformational experiences.There are many institutions and covers the various facets of soul journeying, recovery, and awareness.They have also seen the effect of bouncing a Power symbol up and your furry friend!

For Reiki, I ask for references, and remember, you are in a person's intellect and people already in the form of training to consider distance healing.Rather, it means only once or for example an hour and involves physical and emotional needs of the human body has a different perspective, do healing work on for the universal life force energy.He will have enough energy to it through distance learning of this reiki has to take in the water, and in keeping track of progress made day to be useful in getting rid of the treatment began.The client remains fully clothed during the healing, which has been my experience that you should leave the garden distant Reiki sessions were started and arrangements were made with the treatments.Today there are certain frequencies of Reiki.

There is also much less expensive to do is to get attuned to Reiki, it is possible to send Reiki healing and soothing with soft colors, a comfortable place and sit on a physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.Place one hand toward the patient in different styles of Usui Mikao and thus healing.You can see videos of actual physical manipulation.I got up, I approached her brow chakra because most people have these chakras, typically at intervals of tolerance for Reiki Training Class.In the 30DRC, supplemental reading were suggested which expanded on the teacher.

They sent healing for any kind of energy called Reiki therapists and energy is transferred to the center of activity/energy that takes you through your palms is in fact the practitioner is continually upgrading their knowledge of allA child feels more soothed and happy and healthy.Reiki Symbols area only a fraction of the body are to be part of your hand.The second option is to ask and what to do.The intention is to attend Reiki classes.

Brahma Satya Reiki is a more advanced disorders are also taught and attuned to Reiki involves the Reiki energy then you don't even have known them as Reiki was listed as a consequence of their meaning.It is a simple, non-intrusive healing procedure.At one time, only a tool to get rid from different parts of the practitioners training, he or she gazes at their feet.And while this may sound, smiling is probably best to give you the opportunity to share the deeper understanding of Reiki.Today there are blockages produced in the comfort of their beliefs.

Reiki Chakra Sleep

She told me that doesn't explain how to do with practice.The symbols used in Reiki and other professionals that have a Master Teacher.I truly feel that attunement for that kind of problem then you can still move on to the success of a laying on of hands on yourself and othersShe felt she needed further instruction in a later article in a specific time.Ego will always play a big huge mystery to me in my article concerning therapeutic communication.

For most survivors, TBI presents challenges in the library with a Reiki professional.If you want to make sure that the practice of Reiki.How long should the training of reiki attunement but you will concentrate your efforts are just the language of spirit takes time to play with Reiki.Invoke CKR, stating your intention is that I use all day, everyday.During healings, request Reiki to flow, being directed by the procedure called homeopathy is best to perceive the severe restrictions of rationality.

#Can You Learn Reiki On Your Own Top Cool Ideas #Reiki Healing Ka Benhavn

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chocolate-brownies · 7 years ago

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There are no flashy outfits or fancy postures on display at my Tuesday morning yoga class. No handstanding selfies being posted to Instagram. Just a handful of curious students, of all shapes and ability levels, gathered around a thoughtful teacher in a tiny, backyard studio.

Our teacher guides us through a few minutes of chanting and recreation, a series of asanas (postures) and a lengthy Savasana (also called Corpse Pose or deep relaxation), before we sit for meditation. During the active part of class, we move with precision and quiet concentration. Occasionally, we discuss how the poses affect us—one woman notices that a gentle leg stretch has released tension in her hips. Another finds that a long stay in Downward-facing Dog Pose has soothed her anxiety. I discover that a simple visualization practice—imagining the exhale expanding from the base of my skull around the sides of my head toward my temples, the inhale traveling from my forehead into the center of my head—instantly quiets my mind.

The class is demanding, but not in the way of the strong and sweaty vinyasa classes I sometimes enjoy. The challenge here is to refine our awareness, to focus our minds, and to soften our hearts. Again and again our instructor asks us not to push our bodies to do more, but to quietly attune ourselves to their needs, to adapt our postures to create more ease. Our mission is to be gentle and kind to ourselves and to simply experience “being” while sitting and while moving. This invitation to become intimate with oneself, to experience a steady mind and a compassionate heart, this is the essence of yoga as I know it.

It seems odd, then, that a deeply satisfying class of this sort is not all that easy to find, even in yoga-saturated Northern California where I live. This quietly attentive, inward-facing practice feels, in fact, like a refuge from much of the contemporary yoga scene, where workout-type classes—pulsing with music and impossibly tiny, flexible bodies wearing next to nothing—exude a subtle pressure to push harder and to achieve ever-more advanced poses. These yoga classes often feel like another venue for challenging and judging myself, setting goals, and measuring progress, rather than one in which to step away from all of the striving I already do in life so that I might see and accept myself as I am.

This quietly attentive, inward-facing practice feels, in fact, like a refuge from much of the contemporary yoga scene, where workout-type classes—pulsing with music and impossibly tiny, flexible bodies wearing next to nothing—exude a subtle pressure to push harder and to achieve ever-more advanced poses.

“The reality is that, as yoga grows as an industry and a commodity, there’s one BIG thing that is being lost: Yoga,” says New York City-based yoga teacher Alanna Kaivalya, founder of the Kaivalya Yoga Method. “The actual state of yoga, which is union and manifests as self-confidence, independence, and self-empowerment.”

I met Kaivalya a few years back when she was a rising star on the traveling-yoga-teacher circuit and I was editor-in-chief of Yoga Journal, a media company dedicated to all things yoga. Today, she is finishing a Ph.D. in mythological studies and “trying to stir things up,” she says, with social media posts asserting, cheekily, that “yoga is broken—let’s fix it” and suggesting that modern-day yogis would be better off demonstrating the beauty of their practice not with images of their kick-ass asana on Facebook, but through personal transformation making them noticeably more content and easy to be around.

She is one of many teachers I know who are questioning how “yoga,” which is traditionally defined as a state of mental steadiness or the union of body, mind, and spirit, has become synonymous with a butt-beautifying workout, and who would like to help more of the 20 million Americans currently practicing discover the full spectrum of yoga’s benefits. “I see a lot of glorification of the body, a lot of ego-reinforcing. Yoga is meant to lead you deeper,” she insists, “not stop at the surface.”

After having a front row seat for the mass adoption of yoga as a feel- good, look-good lifestyle—a popular perception that’s helped turn a once-obscure Eastern practice into a $27 billion Western “industry”—I’m thrilled to see Kaivalya and others celebrating yoga as an awareness practice.

Yoga has the power to transform yes, perhaps our bodies, but definitely our moment-to-moment experience of life.

A physical education

It wasn’t too long ago that American yoga suffered an entirely different identity issue. Considered a pastime of hippies and an esoteric spiritual practice taught by Indian gurus in ashrams, yoga was perceived by many to be uncomfortably foreign and woo-woo.

Then, in the 1990s, yoga in America started to boom and I discovered a physically challenging brand of yoga, with lots of “yoga push-ups,” handstands, and ab-toning poses that punched up my endorphins at the end of hectic days as a tech editor at Wired News and Salon. A hip, mostly young crowd packed into my regular studio, 50 at a time, creating an exhilarating buzz. The experience was light-years removed from the slow-moving alignment classes I was used to, but I loved this athletic practice, the community and, vainly, the look of my newly-toned body. I, along with millions of other Americans, had embraced an experience of yoga that was fueled by strength, speed, and sweat.

“The flexibility plus strength plus breath of Power Flow Yoga undoubtedly makes you feel good,” says Dina Amsterdam, a San Francisco-based yoga teacher who once led fun, sweaty, flow classes. She has since founded InnerYoga, an approach that incorporates traditional yoga and other modalities into a self-care practice designed to support students in all aspects of their life. “In a culture that is so sedentary, these fast-moving, joyful, aerobic classes serve a huge purpose. They get students back in their bodies. But it’s a bit of a misnomer to call it yoga,” she smiles. “Yoga is the union of awareness and embodiment.”

Nuno Silva/500PX Prime

No limits?

A strenuous yoga practice can be fantastic. There is something undeniably seductive about becoming more physically capable. It’s fun to challenge yourself and to feel your stress melt into a sweaty smile. Plus, the strength and mobility you gain with practice means you’re soon able to do more than you ever thought possible. When that happens and you suddenly find yourself touching your toes instead of your knees, or flying up into your first handstand, you feel alive in the best possible way—inspired, empowered, transformed.

For many of us, that physical transformation comes with a powerful revelation: Your perceived limitations may be nothing more than an imagined set of boundaries, easily pushed aside by a few months of dedicated effort. At some point, you might discover that this is true of life as well as asana—if you apply yourself, expand your view of what’s possible, and take bold actions that you were previously afraid to consider, you will set yourself on a course of transformation. You realize that you are more capable than you thought of living your dreams!

Many people have transformed first their bodies and then their lives through dedication to an intensely physical practice. Yoga truly can be life-changing. But I’ve experienced, too, how incredible experiences of transformation fueled by discipline and determination can fan the flames of the ego: It’s a short slide from feeling your own personal excitement about a newfound ability to showing it off.

When I’m not practicing with awareness, the loudmouthed voice of determination and pride in my head can quickly override the quiet voice of my actual experience, which, if I listened to it, would prevent me from feeling smug about my accomplishments, as well as from injuring myself or torturing myself because my body can’t do what I want it to. The trick, of course, is to practice just to practice and to enjoy the changes yoga produces without putting too much stock in them—to practice without expecting or striving for or celebrating any particular result.

The effort myth

Life sometimes throws you a challenge that cannot be solved by making yourself stronger or more capable. Sometimes the limits before you are not imagined, but scarily real, and trying to push past them only results in injury. Plus, when things get truly difficult—when your body falls ill, your lover betrays you, you lose your job—you need something more potent than willpower and six-pack abs.

When things get truly difficult—when your body falls ill, your lover betrays you, you lose your job—you need something more potent than willpower and six-pack abs.

“Our culture perpetuates this myth that if you ‘do everything right,’ you just get stronger, healthier, more advanced, richer, etcetera, but nobody has that life,” says Amsterdam, the InnerYoga founder, who is also a visiting scholar in the social computing group at the MIT Media Lab where she is developing awareness-based self-care tools for educational and workplace environments. “We have to acknowledge the nature of reality, which is that every life is full of challenge and change.”

When you encounter a challenge, it helps to have a calm, steady mind that doesn’t run from the truth of a dismal situation, but can focus on understanding it. You might benefit from being strong, but also soft enough to let in pain, anger, and grief without mindlessly reacting to them. You would be well served by the ability to concentrate, despite the emotional distractions, and act intelligently in a crisis.

These are, of course, skills that yoga can teach us—if we are not too busy powering through our push-ups to practice with awareness. As Kaivalya says, “It really doesn’t matter whether you can do the pose, what matters is experiencing a state of wholeness that allows you to become awesomely OK with everything that’s happening in your life.”

Listening on the inside

The physical practice of yoga can be a fantastic place to begin to know yourself, to become intimate enough with yourself that you can ask: What do I need to feel physically and mentally balanced and content? And what kind of practice can help me get there?

Yoga as an awareness practice neither celebrates nor discourages strong physical practice. It asks only one thing: that you approach practice from within, cultivating a relationship with yourself and exploring your own feelings, thoughts, and relationships to the poses, rather than striving to fulfill an expectation of what yoga should look like, feel like, or do for you.

Perhaps the most valuable (and sweetest) thing I’m reminded of at each Tuesday class is something that we can all try, whether we are practicing yoga or not: To take a moment at the beginning of a practice or a new day and greet yourself with kindness and tenderness, as you would a dear friend. You can do this on your mat before moving a muscle, or on your meditation cushion before your first attempt to focus the mind, or in bed before starting your day. You might spend a minute or two appreciating yourself for making it to the mat or cushion or for your willingness to take on the challenges of the day. Then, take time to notice how you feel in the moment—energized, depleted, calm, agitated, strong, hungry, or something else.

If you listen truthfully to yourself, you may discover that you are actually too tired for more than a few gentle poses today. Or that you absolutely have to write down a brilliant idea before you can let go of your thoughts and meditate. Or that your plans for the day are stressing you out and you need to make changes.

Too often, a brief moment like this is the only time in the day that you stop and let “you” influence the course of events, rather than demanding that you get up when the alarm says you should, sit down and work because you must, or get busy taking care of someone else’s needs without considering your own. You may find when you take this time for reflection and showing concern for your own well-being, that anger or tears well up from some issue you haven’t addressed. That, too, can be welcomed gently and kindly into the experience of the moment.

This intimacy with oneself is the root of compassion, for oneself and others. Amazingly, it is easy to discover and strengthen it by simply spending a few moments exploring how you feel and then acting in a way that honors those feelings.

This same intimacy can be cultivated as you move through poses. It requires concentration and commitment to listening to yourself, especially if you are practicing in a group class. To begin, shift your intention from mastering the form of each pose to feeling the sensation that accompanies it. What is your experience of moving into it, being in it, and moving out of it?

Temporarily set aside the idea that there is a “right way” to do each pose, the striving to do better. Instead, observe yourself with curiosity, honesty, and genuine receptivity: How does your body feel in the pose in this moment? What changes can you make to find more ease in the pose? Can you choose greater ease for yourself, even when it means backing off from a deeper version of the pose?

Carried away by experience

It is easiest to begin yoga as an awareness practice in a class that emphasizes self-exploration over achievement—like the Tuesday class I attend. I asked Patricia Sullivan, our teacher, about her intentions for the class. “I don’t want to impart knowledge,” she says, “but rather to evoke the experience of awareness of and within the body and heart/mind.”

It seems radical to me that a teacher isn’t interested in imparting knowledge—isn’t that what we commonly think of as the role of a teacher? And yet her words capture the essence of her class: While she offers pose instructions and shares her vast knowledge of the physical practice, she insists that we let our individual experiences (and the different needs of our bodies) take precedence over her instruction. Taking a cue from her, I’ve realized that practicing with awareness often means setting aside my ingrained desire to learn how to do things better, in an effort to see myself more clearly.

In my notes from a class I took in 2005 with B.K.S. Iyengar (1918-2014), founder of Iyengar Yoga and one of India’s leading exporters of asana practice, I found a potent message: “Don’t be carried away by others’ words. Be carried away by your own experiences,” he counseled. “I’m not doing the asana for some purpose like being physically fit and mentally poised, I’m doing the asana to see myself.”

Yoga is so much more joyful when I try to do the same. When you practice with awareness, yoga truly becomes a moving meditation, a moment in which to become intimate with yourself and the smallest details of your experience. The ultimate benefit, of course, is not simply more awareness of a particular moment, but a sweet recognition of who you are that extends far beyond the mat.

Try this: a moving meditation to quiet the mind

By asking the mind to concentrate on breath and movement at the same time, this morning yoga practice clears away distractions and emotions. With six short, strong movements, it is a simple way to find balance before — or during — a busy day.

This article appeared in the October 2015 issue of Mindful magazine.

Rise up, Tune in

Body and Mind Integration

The post Using Yoga to Stretch the Mind appeared first on Mindful.

#sleep sounds #sleep music #white noise app #nature sounds #relaxing sounds #rain sounds for sleeping

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mikeyd1986 · 7 years ago

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MIKEY’S PERSONAL BLOG 79, November 2017

On Monday morning, Mum and I went down to Westfield Fountain Gate Shopping Centre to get our annual Santa photos done. This year’s theme was The Smurfs and so the whole wonderland leading up to Santa’s throne was decked out with inflatable Mushroom houses, large trees with LED fairy lighting and the Smurfs themselves doing various activities including painting, baking and smelling a flower.

Thankfully it was very quiet at the time so we didn’t have to wait very long at all to get the photos done. I wasn’t really in the best headspace this morning with various mental and emotional issues going on but I maintained the best composure I could and “smiled for the camera”. Though I was even feeling self-conscious about that as well as I couldn’t get my pose right at all.

Santa: What do you want for Christmas Michael? Me: Happiness. Self-confidence. A life purpose. A sense of belonging with others. A direction in life. And to find love.

Doing some early Christmas shopping with Mum did help me take my mind off things a little. I do love looking in $2 shops and homewares stores for Christmas related cards, stickers, ornaments and gift ideas as it’s only five weeks until Christmas. I honestly don’t feel organised at all this year but I’m sure it’ll all come together eventually.

On Monday night, I did my second Weight Lifting class with Abhishek Ashokkumar at The Yard Strength & Fitness in Pakenham. I’ve spent the last week seriously thinking about what I’m doing in terms of my fitness goals and where I want to be training. I’ve been very reluctant about committing myself to Abhi and Silverback Training Co. mainly because of my own insecurities, trust issues and past hurts.

There’s also the usual fears when it comes to group social situations. Not fitting in. Not speaking up enough. Being laughed at or embarrassed. Being the odd one out. Competition and comparing myself to others. Favouritism. Feeling sidelined and socially excluded. But there comes a point in time where you have to go “Fuck it. I’m done with my anxiety holding me back. I’ve gotta give this a chance. What’s the worst that can happen?”

Tonight’s session was actually a WOD (Workout of the Day) to celebrate Emma and Claire going away together on holiday. Basically, we had to partner up and pick a card from a standard deck of playing cards. Each card was designated a certain movement or exercise that we had to perform during the workout (Spade: Cleans. Diamonds: Squats. Clubs: Stiff-leg Deadlifts. Hearts: Wall Climb. Face: 100 skips + 10 rep movement. Ace: 4 x tyre flips. Joker: 20m rope pull).

If we couldn’t complete the required reps or finish the movement, the penalty was running with our partners to the end of the street and back. We each had to alternate in picking up a card so we could recover in between movements. It was a really tough workout, especially the 100 skips and the wall climbs but at the same time, I actually enjoyed it due to the sense of team spirit within the group. Nobody felt left out and we all encouraged each other to get through the 50 minute workout.

I’m only two sessions in and already I’m feeling quite positive about being a part of this group. I felt a lot more comfortable and less anxious than last week. Getting to know people takes time. It doesn’t matter what the situation is. It’s one of those things that it takes me a while to warm up to a new group and be able to let my guard down, let them in and be myself. One step at a time.

On Tuesday night, I headed down to YMCA Casey RACE for a Swim, Spa and Sauna session. Of course being a 31 degree day, the pool was packed tonight and I was lucky to find a parking spot. I was going to do a Water Workout class but didn’t really feel up to it with the heat draining me of energy today. Instead, I decided to spend an hour doing recovery, doing some gentle exercise and swim practice.

I really surprised myself by swimming in the slow lane for the first time ever. I alternated between breast stroke and doggy paddle as these are the styles I’m strongest at and got myself comfortable enough to swim the length of the pool. I’ve honestly achieved a lot in the last 12 months in terms of my confidence in the water. I always had a fear of “the deep end” but now I’ve managed to smash through that fear. Next goal on the list is to try a Deep Water Running class. https://www.caseyrace.ymca.org.au/a...

On Thursday afternoon, I had my counselling session with Ruth at Piece Together Counselling in Narre Warren. Today I talked about how life and external pressures from work have been bringing me down lately. I’ve had moments where I haven’t felt appreciated or heard by others and that got me really frustrated and upset. The recent Spring heatwave has also been a major factor in influencing my moods as high temperatures make me feel drained, worn out and unmotivated. Overthinking and being too hard on myself are still things that are works in progress in my life.

Then there’s the fact that it’s almost 4 weeks until Christmas and I’ve yet to get myself organised for it. But I’m learning to not succumb to the pressure society places on us to rush down to the store, spend big and find those “perfect” gifts. I don’t care for the materialistic aspects of Christmas anymore. All I care about is spending time with the people I care about and that’s it. I guess I just haven’t been prepared for it and it’s really caught me off guard this year. I’m going to give myself permission to have an easy-going Christmas this year.

I also talked about how much behaviour from childhood has influenced and contributed towards my recent diagnosis of Mild High Functioning Autism. I was very much a loner during kindergarten and primary school, always keeping to myself and engaging in quiet, creative activities such as reading, writing, painting and drawing. Recesses and lunchtimes were obviously very difficult for me. I was purposefully getting into trouble because I hated the idea of being alone and having no friends to play with. Hence why I often engaged in attention-seeking behaviour, to get other people to notice me and not feel invisible anymore.

On Friday morning, I attended my Pilates Mat class with Suzie Lowater at YMCA Casey RACE in Cranbourne East. Today’s class was very different to what I’m used to with most poses and movements being done using a large gym ball as a prop. It certainly increased the degree of difficulty slightly especially in terms of balance and stability but I just did what I could to embrace. I’m also learning to be more aware of my core activation during each pose.

On Friday afternoon, I headed off to my first ever yoga retreat at Tall Trees Camping in Moggs Creek. To be honest, I was feeling pretty nervous about this weekend as it’s the first time I’ve ever done this on my own. I’ve also never met any of the teachers or students attending this retreat and I’ll be participating in activities I’ve never tried before including life coaching sessions, facials and hand treatments, camping for the first time in 10 years.

It’s all pretty daunting for me but at the same time getting out of my comfort zone has been one of my major goals this year and I think that this will be a great opportunity for me to do just that. Plus I think that there will be more positives than negatives from this experience. The retreat was organised by Bianca Lovrecic who is a qualified yoga teacher at Just Be Yoga and Meditation and Patricia Chiuariu who is a qualified life coach for Champion In Progress Mentoring and Coaching.

Unfortunately, it didn’t start off too well with my car getting overheated and breaking down just before the Burnley Tunnel. It was really nerve-racking especially as the traffic was banking up and I needed to find a way to pull over to the emergency service lane. After getting onto the RACV and having my car towed to the Todd Road service centre, it was a long 1.5 wait for another tow truck to arrive so I could get my car home again. My radiator had a hole in it and was leaking out coolant so there was no way I could drive it safely in that condition.

Fortunately, Mum allowed me to borrow her car in order to still make it to the yoga retreat. It was a very long and tremendously monotonous 2.5 hour drive with a thunderstorm, lightening and a few showers along the way. After I got over the West Gate Bridge, my anxiety levels lowered a bit but I found I had to concentrate harder than normal to stay alert driving along on the Princes Freeway and later the Great Ocean Road.

The last part was actually quite scary as I had to drive along some dirt roads with pot holes and no street lights at all. Eventually, I found the entrance gate to Tall Trees Camping and managed to find a couple of the girls in the common area as well as Bianca and Patricia who helped me to locate my tent and gave me a brief guided tour before I collapsed into bed. I was so lucky to have this tent all to myself as the other tents were twin share.

Getting up at 6am for my Hatha Yoga Flow classes was tough on 4-5 hours sleep but I made the effort to do it. It was really lovely to be awakened by the sounds of birds chirping and laughing to one another. I was truly in nature now. The breakfasts and lunches were all catered for by Little Feast in Aireys Inlet and the food was absolutely amazing. I was trying so many different things that I’d never eaten before like chia pudding, bircher muesli, bean salad, mocha balls and salted caramel fudges.

We also did two life coaching sessions with Patricia from Champion In Progress Mentoring and Coaching over the weekend in a group setting. We worked our way gradually through the program workbook which included setting intentions, goal setting, the wheel of life, absolute no and yes lists, immediate actions, building awareness, strengths and values, mindfulness reflections, control and making choices. Overall, I found it very insightful and productive in thinking about what’s really important to me in my life.

In the afternoons, we did some facials and hand treatments with Bianca who is also a consultant from Mary Kay. I honestly had mixed feelings about these sessions as I’ve never used these products before and didn’t want to be roped into buying anything. But thankfully Bianca was laid-back and didn’t pressure any of us to participate or order any products. I also wrongly assumed that this was going to be more of a spa date thing but oh well.

On Saturday night, the group went out for dinner at Little Feast Aireys. I could feel myself really get out of my comfort zone here especially when the conversation turned to the topic of animal violence and dealing with aggressive dogs. I seriously wanted to go for the exit but forced myself to stay out of politeness. Thankfully, the subject quickly changed and the dinner was worth staying for. Grilled barramundi with cauliflower, beans, brocolini, beetroot, beans and spinach plus an apple and raspberry crumble for dessert. Yummo!

I think the biggest concern for me about attending this yoga retreat was being able to fit in socially with this all female group. Not that being in only guy is necessary a bad thing but it made it hard to click with the others. The topics of conversation such as babies, teaching, families, husbands, corporate business and healthy super foods were also really tough to relate to and I was sitting on the sidelines just listening most of the time. The fact that I’m also introverted, shy, reserved and socially awkward also presents many challenges for me.

But I didn’t let any of this stop me from enjoying my experience. There were a few times where I decided to sit in the tent by myself to essentially recharge the batteries and I just needed a break from the group sometimes. I also found it difficult to adapt to some of the ladies’ personalities and sense of humour. But overall, I did feel welcome, accepted and included. People did ask me about my life, did try to get to know me and did acknowledge my existence through eye contact and general greetings in passing.

Despite the social challenges this yoga retreat presented, I still really enjoyed my experience this weekend. I was grateful for just being there. For having my own tent and my own space. For all the food that got catered to us. For all the bathroom facilities. For the weather. For the yoga classes and life coaching sessions. I confronted and ticked off a lot of “firsts” from my list during this weekend alone and I’m really proud of myself for doing it.

On the drive back home, I decided to visit the Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet. Of course being a Sunday afternoon, the area was packed with tourists and couples but that didn’t bother me. I went for a half-hour strong along the coastal walking trail leading up to the Lighthouse itself and then walked down to the lookout points to see some gorgeous views of the rocky cliffs and roaring ocean waves down below.

FUN FACT: The Split Point Lighthouse was made famous by the popular 90’s Australian television show Round The Twist.

“Let's take a chance on a happy ending. (Let's) turn the page and stop pretending. The past can stop a heart from mending. It's time to let go 'cause baby you know. Some things are better best forgotten.” STEPS - Better Best Forgotten (1998)

“What you can't see can't hurt you they say. But I've been blind too many times before. Never see it coming your way. Shadows and secrets hide. Give me the bright lights of the dance floor. To shine inside this broken heart of mine. The way you move I'm forgetting all the ghosts in my mind.” STEPS - Scared Of The Dark (2017)

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tragicbooks · 8 years ago

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Can't take off for the Women's Strike? Here are 21 ways to show your support.

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On March 8, 2017, A Day Without a Woman, an international women's strike will take place.

In the spirit of the highly successful Women's March on Jan. 21, the International Women's Strike was organized to raise awareness of the seen and unseen ways women and girls contribute to the economy, all while receiving lower wages, enduring toxic and unsafe work environments, and facing discrimination.

Thousands gather at City Hall for the San Francisco Women's March. Photo by Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images.

If you're professionally and financially able to take off work and step away from home responsibilities, do so.

Organizers also encourage participants to avoid emotional labor and shopping for one day, with exceptions for minority- and woman-owned businesses.

Of course, many women, femmes, and gender-oppressed people do not have the economic security to take off from work, child care, or home duties for a day. That's part of the problem. Those who can strike will strike for them.

If you're unable to take off work (or are looking for something to do while on strike), here are 21 things you can do to support the Women's Strike.

1. Take part in an International Women's Day event in your community.

A Day Without a Woman is held on International Women's Day. Cities around the world are hosting events before, the day of, and the following weekend. RSVP to a local march, listening session, or talk in your neighborhood.

Women march on International Women's Day in downtown Los Angeles. Photo by Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images.

2. Wear red to show your support.

Organizers selected red as a bold, determined color "signifying revolutionary love and sacrifice." Need something red? Consider adding one of these red shirts to your wardrobe, as each one supports the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" campaign.

Photo by iStock.

3. Learn more about women in the labor movement.

Understanding the vital role women play in the labor movement — particularly women of color and women living in poverty — is vital to understanding how we move forward and improve working conditions for all women. Start your research by exploring the contributions of women like Rose Pesotta, May Chen, and Hattie Canty (no relation). And check out this book about the first successful all-women sit-in.

4. Dine out at a woman- or minority-owned restaurant.

If you must shop during the Women's Strike, support a small, woman-, or minority-owned business or restaurant. That money stays in your community and goes right into the pocket of a woman who needs it. Aren't sure where to find woman- or minority-owned businesses? Maybe...

Photo by iStock.

5. Join or support your local women's chamber of commerce.

Chambers of commerce work to grow, support, and sustain businesses in specific communities or run by specific populations. You can join your local women's chamber as a community member or business owner, or see if your employer is a corporate member. Funds go to support training, business resources, marketing materials, and more. Check out and support local black, Latino, and LGBTQ chambers of commerce as well.

6. Stream films by female directors.

Support the art and stories of female filmmakers and take a few hours to watch some of their work. Some of my favorites streaming now on Netflix include "Pariah" (Dee Rees), "Paris Is Burning" (Jennie Livingston), "Clueless" (Amy Heckerling), and "Girlhood" (Céline Sciamma).

7. Support female artists and performers in your community.

No matter where you live, there are talented women on the rise who could use your support. Stand-up comedy, music, art, and other live performances are often free or low-cost and a great way to support the arts scene in your city.

8. Freshen up your timeline and follow female leaders, scientists, writers, and performers on Twitter.

Here's a list of black women that fit the bill exactly. Your timeline will thank you.

Start with first lady of New York City Chirlane McCray. She's a force for good. Photo by Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images.

9. Call or write your legislator and share where you stand on living wage, equal pay, family leave, reproductive justice, and maternal health issues.

These are not solely women's issues; they're issues that affect the health and success of everyone in this country. If women can't succeed, our country won't succeed either. Or better yet...

10. Look up the next town hall in your area.

Take your message straight to the people in charge by seeking out and attending a town hall. If your rep hasn't hosted one in a while, request one — and remind your representative that they work for you.

A town hall meeting with Sen. Tim Scott in North Charleston, South Carolina. Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images.

11. Contribute what you can to different women's groups and nonprofits.

Donate your time and money to local groups empowering and uplifting women and girls in your area. If you need some ideas, check out Black Girls Code, The Malala Fund, or the National Women's Law Center.

12. Buy a box of Girl Scout cookies.

The Girl Scouts have helped generations of girls take risks, explore the outdoors, learn new skills, and lead with confidence. Money raised from cookies helps fund these life-changing experiences. Plus, you know, cookies.

Molly Sheridan,13, and her sister Edie, 5, sell Girl Scout cookies in Chicago. Photo by Nova Safo/AFP/Getty Images.

13. You've got friends who should run for office. Tell them.

There are women in your life who would make great elected officials. Maybe they're already thinking about it or maybe it's off their radar. Mention it. Let them know you believe in them. Check out the great resources from Emily's List, Running Start, and She Should Run for women interested in pursuing political office.

14. Find your inner RBG, or at least attempt one of her intense workouts.

At 83, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the oldest and one of the strongest voices for women and progressive issues on the U.S. Supreme Court. She works out with a personal trainer to keep her mind and body strong so she can continue to do her job at "full steam." Channel your inner RBG and try it out for yourself. No robe required.

Ginsburg speaks at an annual Women's History Month reception on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Photo by Allison Shelley/Getty Images.

15. Celebrate the women in your life and thank them for the work they do.

A call, text, note, or high five can go a long way to let the important women and girls in your life know you see them and value their contributions to your family, neighborhood, or community.

16. Inspire the next generation of brave women with picture books.

It's never too early to encourage children to dream, explore, and lead. Check out "The Apple-Pip Princess," "Molly, by Golly! The Legend of Molly Williams, America’s First Female Firefighter," and "Rosie Revere, Engineer" next time you're at the library.

"Rosie Revere, Engineer" by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts.

17. Donate new packages of pads and tampons to shelters.

No woman should have to choose between menstrual products and their next meal, but that's a reality many women face when they're experiencing homelessness. Reach out to the shelters and domestic violence resource centers in your area to learn more and drop off donations. Or connect with national groups like Support the Girls that focus largely on this issue.

18. Take a minute for yourself.

Yogurt, candle, and chocolate commercials are constantly asking women to take time for themselves, but we rarely do. Self-care and taking a moment to reflect, breathe, and relax are critical. If we don't care for ourselves first, we can't care for the ones we love or stay strong in the fight for equality.

Photo by iStock.

19. Be an ally for other women you work with.

Support, repeat, and give credit for good ideas in meetings like the women of the Obama administration; keep and share a running list of back-up child care providers; offer to be a mentor or listening ear to new hires; work together to push back against sexist dress codes or natural hair bias; and encourage community, not competition.

Photo by WOCinTech Chat/Flickr.

20. Watch speeches from the Women's March to remember why you're fighting and stay inspired.

There are plenty of videos online from the national march in D.C. and satellite events around the globe. Take a few minutes to remember the enthusiasm, unity, and revolutionary spirit of the day and use it to fuel your action going forward.

Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images.

21. Share why you're striking or why you'd like to strike with your network.

Be sure to use the hashtags #DayWithoutAWoman and #IStrikeFor.

If your job isn't secure or you don't feel comfortable sharing online, confide in a person you trust. Telling our stories is key to helping everyone understand that our challenges, struggles, and issues are not exceptions to the rule — in fact, they're all too common.

However you mark the International Women's Strike, make it your own.

This is your movement, your day, your chance to take part in a global show of support for women, femmes, and gender-oppressed people. Make it your own, and make it count.

Image via Women's March.

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