#the-tenth-arcanum

[queer-ragnelle]

(sorry there’s 3 parts actually!) Speaking of which, I wanted to ask if you had a scan of that book — no worries if not, I’ll see if I can find it at my local library or put it on my wishlist (I own quite a few books I still haven’t read so I’m on a book purchase moratorium at the moment). have a great day!

Hi!

I’m not going to answer the first 2 asks publicly to avoid spoilers but ahhh so glad you loved it!!!! Okay trust me, when you read the Lancelot book it’ll blow your mind. It’s technically book 1, but the stories happen simultaneously. So the things you were confused about in Gawain book are answered in Lancelot book. Gwen Rowley changed my brain chemistry about how to utilize multi-pov across several books, as in, leaving some mysteries unsolved to discover in a sequel. They can be read in any order so you’re good. I read Gawain first as well and it almost feels more satisfying going into Lancelot that way.

I have a PDF of Lancelot right here. Gwen Rowley is a Gawain lover so you’ll get more of him in this book too lol not to mention her incredible assortment of side characters. (Prose Tristan gang, Orkney bros, French gang, fay realm characters my beloved!!) Ah!!! I won’t spoil. Please tell me what you think when you finish.

Lastly a quick PSA: ignore the Geraint book. It’s so bad. It doesn’t even tie into the stories of the other two, you can skip it entirely. The only good that came of it was me and @waleweinn bonding over how much we hated it haha.

Thanks for reaching out, so glad you enjoyed the read. Have an awesome day!

[gayporcelain]

hi helen, extremely random but i've just seen a picture of colin morgan and it reminded me of when you said you went to see him on stage and he wasn't there. so you pulled up a picture of him on your phone and set through the play going through all five stages of grief. that's so funny. i mean it's tragic that it happened but it makes for a funny story. i'm glad you got to see him eventually <3 maybe someday again. manifesting 🙏

I'm so glad that this story has lived on omg

everyone pray for my fourteen year old self who cried in pizza express and then watched 3 hours of shakespeare staring at her samsung s3 mini instead

the combination of tragedy and comedy. I hope willy shakes himself approved

[merlinemrys]

@adhd-merlin replied to your post “honestly i’ve been reading a lot of gen merlin...”:

Any recs? :3

​for you?? always!! some of these might have minor/background arwen <3

Speak (With) Your Mind by s0mmerspr0ssen (6k)

Summary: When Merlin sets out to teach mindspeech to Arthur, he couldn't have known just how much it would affect the friendship between King and Court Mage.

Only Friend by CaptainOzone (60k)

Summary: What if Arthur went after Merlin in the tunnels outside of Ealdor earlier? What would he think of the confrontation between him and Agravaine? And how will he deal with the revelation as they retake Camelot? 4x13 AU.

Allow One to 'See' by mollrach13 (28k)

Summary: When the King is attacked in his tent on patrol and falls into an unending sleep everyone is worried. What they don't know is that Arthur is fine. In fact he is standing right here next to them, watching them all fret over his prone body. To stave off the boredom whilst a cure is found Arthur takes to wandering the castle and soon discovered a hidden side of Camelot he never knew about. Or: Arthur's soul gets trapped outside his body and takes to following his servant around. He gets an interesting insight into Merlin, his servant's life and just how much Camelot needs the man.

The Champion of the Arcane Dominion by Princess_Cocoa (81k)

Summary: When the well-being of Camelot's greatest hangs in the balance, Merlin undergoes the trial of the Arcane Dominion. He is alone, forced to enter a magical realm and confront a dangerous enemy in order to save his friends. Little does he know, those very friends are watching his every move. Trapped by the magic of the trial, Arthur and the knights are made to witness Merlin's journey - and discover some uncomfortable secrets along the way.

scorch marks and embers by southfarthing (93k)

Summary: Everyone he trusted with his secret – Will, Freya, Balinor, Lancelot, and now Gaius – was gone. Arthur would never bring magic back to the land, and he would never let Merlin stand at his side the way Merlin had hoped he would. It was a cold awakening, years of baseless faith dashed against the fraying tapestry that destiny had made Merlin sew into his own skin, but an awakening nonetheless. Merlin is shaken out of his obsession with destiny and his blind faith in Arthur. Arthur just wishes he knew how to get his closest friend back.

The Hands of the Enemy by N16 (46k)

Summary: When Arthur accepts an invitation to a nearby kingdom where magic is free, he hopes to establish an alliance despite their differences. Instead, he and his knights find they’ve been invited under false pretenses, and the queen may succeed in turning friend against friend to accomplish her own aims.

[malinaa]

LYS HOW DO YOU PUT COMMAS IN A TAG

HEHEHEHE jules i'm gna introduce u to the wonders of the single low-9 quotation mark 🙏 keep it safe

‚

[quotidian-oblivion]

@the-tenth-arcanum

...quotidian is a rough synonym for normal/regular. Oblivion is just oblivion. I'm a normal oblivion.

But the next time someone asks me, i'm adopting that.

in the tags

say what you think prev's url means

[merlin-slut]

17 for the merlin ask game?

17. Unpublished Merlin Fic Idea you have that you'd like to share.

oooooooooooooooooo tbh this a super hard one for me because i don't actually write fics but i def read too many but i think if i wrote one, id love to do something related to god!merlin!! so maybe after the first time merlin goes to the crystal cave is when all of his powers fully unlock and he realizes that hes even more powerful than he initially thought. so itd probably be more of a character study and an introspective moment for merlin to try and come to terms with immortality and becoming a god and what that means as he continues to navigate the world!!!

and itd be so interesting to see the changes in his interactions with mordred during the events of season 5 because he probably would notice that change in him and the druids would probably be aware of it!!

[fratricideknight]

i just read the synopsis of the book and it sounds so good oml... agilulf is just like me fr. thank you for supporting the trans illness, beloved

also i wondered what was going on with your reblogs ;-; i hadn't seen it on your main, so thank you

[adhd-merlin]

Nine people I'd like to get to know better

Tagged by @helloimawitchwannaseemycauldron (that's a mouthful!)

Last song: a remix of Mariah Carey's "Joy to the World" my brother sent me. Not a fan.

Favorite color: yellow, like my very good friend Vincent Van Gogh 🌻 it's such a joyful colour 💛💛💛

Last movie/TV show: watched the first two episodes of Fellow Travelers. not sure when/if I'll continue.

Sweet/spicy/savory? sweet 🍫

Relationship status: single. please, form an orderly queue

Last thing I googled: "french traits"

Current obsession: verdian opera

Tag Nine People: @holocrone @frat-ri-cide-yu-ri @aliveaudiencegang @eeverlark @secret170193 @sexy-sorcerer-sapphic @castelled-away @followtheechoes @amaranth

[sexy-sapphic-sorcerer]

10 characters, 10 fandoms

rules: list your ten favorite characters from ten separate fandoms, then tag ten people!

I was tagged by @the-tenth-arcanum <3

Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables/Anne with an E

Merlin from BBC's Merlin

Thomas Barrow from Downton Abbey

Donna Noble from Doctor Who

Spock from Star Trek TOS

Elena Alvarez from One Day at a Time

Sherlock Holmes from A. C. Doyle's Holmes series

Sydney Novak from I Am Not Okay With This

Jo March from Little Women

Quinni Gallagher-Jones from Heartbreak High

I'm tagging (no pressure): @vickythestrange @tansyuduri @poisonedfate @dryadalisliv @aroseydream @knight-gwaine @kajaono @themoonovercamelot

[santoschristos]

Libra

September 23 - October 23

Thoth, God of Knowledge, and Ma’at - Goddess of Truth and Divine Justice

The zodiac series: Libra art by Johfra Bosschart

The tenth holy night of the Christmas season, from January 2 to 3, corresponds to rulerships, the higher intuition (Buddhi, life spirit) and the constellation Libra. In the painting below, Johfra (1919-1998) depicts characteristics of the Libra, and in the following text he provides an explanation.

The Libra is a positive sign, sky in essence, the sign the sun is at the beginning of fall as it crosses the equator to enter the period of winter. The ruling planet is Venus. The distinctive quality of this sign is balance and harmony. That is why the composition of this painting, like that of the Twins, has been kept symmetrical.

In the sign of Libra, the orientation of the soul changes. While in the preceding six signs the emphasis of the evolving human being has been on the self, in the following six signs the non-self is central to the acquisition of experience. It is Venus, the goddess of love, harmony and beauty who reigns here.

It is above all also the balance between head and heart, mind and feeling, which is the aim of this sign. That is why I also involved Thot-Hermes in the performance when compiling the symbolism. Just as I have pictured Mercury as ruler of the mind in his Egyptian form, so here also the goddess Venus appears in her Egyptian form as Hator, the goddess of joy, dance, celebration and love, with cow horns and ears. The two figures keep a balance.

On the one scale the feather of Maat – so again the soul-judgment, but then in connection with love-wisdom. The placement of Mercury to the left and Venus to the right of the balance refers to the kabbalah where Hod, the sefira who rules over the mental aspect in man, stands below on the left pillar of the tree of life (the pillar of austerity), while Nezach, the feeling , is at the bottom of the right pillar (of loving kindness or mercy). So here too the perfect balance between reason and emotion is expressed. Left and right absolutely need each other. Reason without feeling is sterile and deadly. The emotion without the corrective mind is just sentimentality and creates chaos. Both are very dangerous abilities without their polar opposites.

Nezach is the seventh sefira. Hence Hator carries a seven-pointed star between her horns. Below it is the astrological sign of Venus. In her hand she holds a sistrum, the ritual ringing instrument of the Hator priestesses. The four serpentine rods it contains represent the four elements that harmoniously resonate in the cosmos. Winding around the figure of the ibis-headed Thoth are the well-known serpents of the Mercury staff — the negative and positive forces united in harmony. In his hand he holds the ankh cross – the symbol of eternal life among the ancient Egyptians. At the center of his belt is the astrological sign of the planet Mercury.

The harmonic duality of the sign Libra is further depicted in the lower part of the painting by the two Assyrian sphinxes. These represent the chariot (arcanum 7) on the tarot card, which is associated with the sign of Libra. Here the two sphinxes pulling the chariot represent opposing cosmic forces, which work harmoniously under the guidance of the charioteer.

In the painting, the two animals are also symbols of the four elements in a positive (male sphinx) and negative (female sphinx) respect: the head is the element of water, the lion's front legs are the element of fire, the wings are the element of air and the bull's abdomens are the element earth – completely analogous to the four beasts of Ezekiel and the four symbols of the evangelists from the previous sign of Virgo.

The black and white checkered tile floor also refers to the harmonious cooperation of the polar forces at the foundation of the cosmos (this is the floor of the temple of the Freemasons). The lily in the foreground represents the serenity that results from the perfect balance between head and heart.

In the middle of the tiled floor is another Masonic symbol, namely the altar in the shape of a cube. The cube represents the foundation, because it consists of squares. This "cubic stone" is the "cornerstone", the Christ. It is the philosopher's stone of alchemy. This sacred altar in the temple, where the light of the spirit is always burning and never extinguished, was the Hindu symbol for our sign Libra. Officially, this cubic stone should be black and opaque. However, I painted it as a crystal to show the sphere, the golden seed it contains. This also contains the astrological sign for Libra, also in a heptagon, for Venus is related to Nezach (the seventh sefira on the tree of life).

When the cube is unfolded, the six faces form a Christian cross. In that case, the golden seed in the center of this cross. This image is directly reminiscent of the rosary, where the rose is also attached to the center of the cross – see the scales as a rosy cross above. I chose the sign of the Rosycross because this order also strives for the balance between head and heart in building the perfect man. The red rose is the flower of Venus, for it represents self-sacrificing love.

Furthermore, some other symbols related to the union of the opposites: the Chinese yin-yang symbol in connection with the polarization in primordial matter, the superimposed ∞ (the lemniscate, the symbol of infinity), the polar forces of the sun and moon, the spirit and the soul, interacting eternally. - Johfra Bosschart

[fairyhagmother]

13 Books

Thank you @gellavonhamster ! This was really fun :)

The last book I read: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. A decade late to the party and my verdict is that I preferred the film. Sorry don’t kill me. 

A book I recommend: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. I always reflexively call this my favourite book and I re-read it recently and it was as brilliant and as chilling as I remember. Merricat truly is a masterclass in writing unreliable narrators. 

A book I couldn’t put down: Anyone who follows me on my main blog knows I am deep in my hunger games era. I read the prequel over a week-end when I was in Berlin with work and now the whole trip is sort of a surreal blur. Highly recommend reading a book about violence and commemoration while walking around the haunted city that is Berlin.

A book I’ve read twice (or more): Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. I read it every Christmas! 

A book on my TBR: Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire.

A book I’ve put down: Intercepts by T.J. Payne. It’s about an underground government lab that experiments with sensory deprivation. I love horror actually! but I get really upset when anything bad happens to pets and as soon as I sense that something may happen to a beloved animal I check out. 

A book on my wishlist: I recently read Scorched by Wajdi Mouawad, and it was incredible! So I would like to find the time to read the rest of his ‘inheritance’ cycle of plays.

A favourite book from childhood: La Douane Volante by François Place, which is the story of a young boy from 1914 Brittany who finds himself in a sort of parallel universe based on a fantasy Belgium / the Netherlands and trains to become a physician. 

A book you would give to a friend: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

A book of poetry you own: Hm. Does my anthology of Middle-English lyrics count?

A non-fiction book you own: Chernobyl by Serhii Plokhy.

What are you currently reading: Betty by Tiffany McDaniel, a family chronicle about a young girl growing up in rural Appalachia. 

13. What are you planning on reading next: The new Julia Armfield novel, Private Rites! I love Armfield so I am so excited.

I tag : @persephoneprice @coryo @the-tenth-arcanum @readingloveswounds @hrimceald @laminacore

xoxox

[godmerlin]

Tagged by @the-tenth-arcanum

9 people you'd like to get to know better

three non romantic duos:

Alright... Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson. I love them they are bffs 🩷

Merlin and Gwen! I've never really seen them as anything but platonic even if I've made jokes or comments that may seem like I could see them romantically. Of course Gwen had an innocent crush on Merlin but who can blame her?

Dean Winchester and Charlie Bradbury. My beloveds. Best friendship on the show. 😭

a ship that might surprise others: i am unfortunate swine and love buffy/giles 🤣🤣🤣 shhh that's probably it though.

Last song: nightswimming - R.E.M.

Last film: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice lol I haven't watched a lot of movies lately. But I do believe I haven't seen one since I went to the theatre for that.

Currently reading: don't hate me but I'm not currently reading any books. Because my vision is fucked and when I try to read books the words move on the page...so I've been reading a lot of fanfic because on my phone I can take my glasses off and close one eye and it sort of doesn't do it. I know I could read e-books but I have sooooo many real books i haven't read and ugh yeah I have an eye appointment for the end of the month hopefully things get fixed!!!! Then I shall read again!!!

Currently watching: well I'm trying to rewatch Merlin again. But I'm also finally watching. Heartstopper and and Agatha all along and ummmm rewatching a ton of colin shows too. It's all whatever my brain is capable of which sometimes isn't a lot.

Currently consuming: like...food? Because nothing...I just drank water, does that count? Is this even what this question is about??? I don't know. Lol

Currently craving: I don't even know. Happiness! Lmfao I'm not joking but that's lame...but also just knowledge with what the hell is happening to me. 🙃

I don't know who to tag I'm so sorry I suck but I'm always terrified to tag people in these things I want to get to know every one if my mutuals though lol

[ghostingtheinternet]

So the ashari are descended from the Gau’drashari from the calamity, and Ludinus (who presumably lived through the calamity??) is trying to harness/ manipulate their power to extend his life long enough to get to the moon and release predathos to kill the gods who destroyed everything he knew during the age of arcanum when wizards got close discovering the power of the gods. Not just in how to become one, mind you, but also how to harness their power entirely (the creation hammer etc.) to create and destroy anything they please. Ludinus wants to “free” everyone from the gods to gain their power. Honestly, I have to respect the RIDICULOUS long game he played. I wish I had a tenth of that drive and focus💀

[merlinemrys]

I was listening to First Time by Hozier and it made me think of your Arwen fic "Thread of Gold" 🥺🥺🥺

JULES PLEASE THIS IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU COULD EVER GIVE ME 🥹🫶💙 laying down on my floor now.. MWAH!

[malinaa]

there's something lyrical about your writing — do you read much poetry? If so, who are your favourite poets? (sorry for the random question I was just curious)

jules im KISSING u btw this is a high compliment for ME.

so i recently read c.t. salazar's headless john the baptist hiking which was so vivid and brutal like... “forgetting is a kind of mercy / eventually even the cemetery / forgets it is a cemetery and looks like an open field" that's insane. he easily became one of my fav poets. ummmm ocean vuong bc i read night sky with exit wounds and i felt every emotion under the sun. there's of course ada limón and natalie diaz—specifically when my brother was an aztec—and like...mary oliver ofc. honestly i need to read more poets to Have more fav poets because i usually just read poems (singular) so here are some of my favs (i have literally inflicted some of these poems on my uni profs because they made me so unwell):

sonnet 17 by pablo neruda

belovéd by yves olade

eating a gyro reminds me that i sometimes believe in god by charnell peters

el salvador by javier zamora

obligations 2 by layli long soldier

lullaby on mount moriah by traci brimhall

[gayporcelain]

9 people you'd like to get to know better

tagged: @the-tenth-arcanum

tagging: @sexy-sapphic-sorcerer @oleryn @kissme-withyour-cherrylipstick @cwilbah @kairenn-n @agapantoblu @sentinel-babes @greyhoundsix

three non romantic duos:

1. Abby and Lev (The Last of Us: Part Two) - they are EVERYTHING to me. It's about the found family. How they should hate each other and they did hate each other but they saved each other's lives? They learn so much from each other, overcome their fear and ignorance of the other side - and they help each other so much. It's how Lev sees the good in Abby when Abby thinks she is nothing but a killing machine, and that it's all she's good for, and how protecting Lev becomes Abby's new focus and actually saves her life, makes her want to live for them both. (the fact that she learns this lesson FAR quicker than Ellie does - and she gets to keep her new family because of it - just kill me) Their dynamic is SO fucking excellent. Lev not getting any references and Abby teaching him. They BOTH lose their homes and their families and become each others again - like come onnnnn - this line kills me offff

I could write a separate essay about these two. I'm really trying to keep this short.

2. The Doctor and Donna Noble. Listen - David Tennant and Catherine Tate's dynamic is unmatched and I cherish their episodes together. They're best friends! It was probably one of the first on-screen platontic male & female duos that I'd seen as a kid, and that was so refreshing.

3. Ellie and Joel (The Last of Us) - I was trying really hard not to do another one from TLOU but. Here we are. Again I'm a sucker for found family and fuckkkkkk does this go hard. I could talk for days. Traumatised killing machine unwillingly adopts rebel child and finds reason to live again? Don't talk to me about the parallels between these two and Abby and Lev

honourable mentions to Merlin and Gwen but you guys know I love them.

a ship that might surprise others: idk man. don't think there is one

last song: probably something from my beloved, hand-crafted 6 hour long halloween playlist. that thing is like a child to me I LOVE it. I birthed it

last film: LONGLEGS. been trying to watch a fuck load of horror to make up for the fact I've not watched that much over the past few months. also rewatched Us and Get Out, and watched It Follows for the first time

currently reading: the book I was reading before sucked so I've given up on it I'm yet to choose my next one - will probably be either Under the Dome (Stephen King) or an arthurian one

currently watching: a LOT of dan and phil. shut up

currently consuming: again I don't know what this means. I'm making pasta for tea?

currently craving: MORE TIME. i have too many fic ideas and art ideas and too many wips and my job keeps expecting me to go to it? gross