#truth talismans are effective

[thecupidwitch]

Common Witchy Terms

Athame

A ceremonial knife, typically black handled with a double-edged blade. You use it to inscribe your candles or to cast a circle around the altar before commencing a spell.

Altar

A place where you do rituals or spells. It is often a special table or shelf where your ritual tools are kept.

Amulet

Is an object that is carried or worn on a person or placed in a location in order to draw specific energy or luck toward that person or location.

Book of Shadow

A Book of Shadows is a Witch's journal. It contains notes on experiments, information they picked up along the way, spells, recipes, correspondences, chants, traditions and more.

Coven

A coven is a community of witches who gather regularly for religious and/or social occasion.

Divination

Divination is the metaphysical work of finding the truth of an issue by using symbols and objects to interpret messages from the the collective unconscious or from communication with spirit beings.

Evoke

To call or summon a spirit or entity or deity.

Familiar

A familiar is a magic-user's spiritual helper manifest in animal form.

Grimoire

Is a magical manual or a magician's instruction book. It is much more formal than a Book of Shadows.

Hex

It refer to an unfriendly spell meant to bring about mischief.

Invoke

to summon or draw a spirit being into your own body. This is usually done to encourage communication between the spirit world and the material world.

Sachet

A small bag of herbs, crystals, or other objects that is meant to bring about a desired effect; essentially acts as a charm.

Ward

A protective barrier may be maintained by a spell, a talisman, a symbol or some other physical or energy object.

tip jar

[ambermotta]

6 Types of Protection Magick

There are many ways one can do protective magick. In this post I'll be going into 6 of the most common and accessible ones!

Please understand that even one "protection magick type" can be done in an infinity of ways, some of which are closed to certain practices.

Disclaimer: based on my experience and research. I don't claim to know all truth. Further study is encouraged!

_________________♡♤◇♧_________________

#1 — Magic circle

The magic circle consists of creating a protection and delimiting a sacred space for magic and/or ritual.

The magic circle is probably one of the most popular protection methods thanks to its encouraged use in Wicca. However, other traditions have made use of similar concepts, such as in the afro-brazillian Umbanda concept of "chain".

The circle can be physically drawn on the ground, delimited by the members inside the circle, or visualized.

Casting one is fairly simple since it can be done in different ways, either in groups or solitary practice. You can use tools such as wands, chalk or physical objects to draw it, but what matters most is intention and successful visualization.

Before casting a circle it's important to have everything you will need already within grasp and inside the circle, since once created it is advisable that no one leaves it until the work is complete.

#2 — Amulets, and Enchanted Items

Enchanted Items are a very popular and effective form of magic, especially for personal use. These are often common objects that have been enchanted for protection.

They are often necklaces, rings and other jewelry since these are the most practical to carry around without suspicion. However, they can be any object.

Amulets can be created via enchanting, charms, or by asking deities and spirits to bless them with protective qualities.

The material and imagery used to create the talisman is also important in determining the kind of job it wants to do.

#3 — Sigils and other drawn Symbols

Sigils and Symbols can be used both for personal protection and for warding spaces. Here I am also including Runes.

They can be carved into objects, drawn upon skin and surfaces, or even tattooed.

However, before using any sigil, symbol or rune it is of extreme importance that you know exactly what they do, and know as much about them as possible. Especially if you plan on drawing them on your skin (either temporarily or permanently).

Unless specifically used only for protection purposes, inadequate use of them can lead to disaster. Even then, the type of protection they bring can vary.

For example, a protection sigil that works by hiding you from threats is different from a sigil that fights threats that come to you. It's important to set or to know how their protection work so that you do not come across unwanted results.

#4 — Prayer

My definition of praying: focusing on sending a message to a higher spiritual power, be it an entity, deity or energy.

Prayers are a great way of manifesting protection, though since you are asking for it to a higher power you must understand that it may choose to not grant it, or not grant it in the way you expect.

Plus, it is very important to know where you stand with this energy or entity. Do you work with them already? For how long? What is the nature of the relationship? Do you truly know them well enough to ask them for this? Is it really appropriate?

Cultivating a good relationship and having manners can be decisive factors for manifesting this sort of protection. Plus, it's always good to "give back" in some way. To receive something, something must be given eventually.

#5 — Affirmations and Visualizations

Words and the mind have innate power. Affirmations and visualizations are great ways to manifest protections because they rely only on yourself.

They are easier to do right if you use them together with other methods, or if you have physical representations of the work being done. To be successful one must focus, "feel" them happening, and maintaining that without help can be difficult. Frequent practice will help you get the hang of it.

There are also techniques that make affirmations and visualizations both more powerful and easier to accomplish.

#6 — Warding

Warding is when you set up a semi-permanent protection in a specific place, such as your house.

It can be done in many different ways. One of the most common is to have an object or place designated as the "holder" of the ward, which should be well kept.

Warding will be more powerful if you are frequently cleansing the space and recharging the ward. Leaving it alone for too long can weaken in or make it lose its properties altogether.

Some plants are used for this kind of protection, since they (usually) stay in place, can be powerful magical allies, and you'll be checking on them often anyway. The ones usued are often those with thorns, threatening-looking leaves, or even poison.

Note: always be very careful about bringing poisonous plants home, especially if you have children or pets.

Conclusion

This was an overview of the most common types of protective magick. A lot of protection spells and works fall somewhere within these categories, or are a combination of them.

Each tradition has a certain way of going about spiritual protection, so if you are exploring an specific path, I encourage you to not only research about protection in general but to also look into what unique techniques your path has to offer!

Many blessings and thank you for reading! ♡

[wangxianficfinder]

In the mood for...

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1. Hii! This is my first time asking for a fic, well cause usually other fans ask the same thing.

Any fic with JC/Jiang Sect bashing in the canon era.

Thanks a lot! I love all the work you guys do! @ffaddictsrn

🧡 All will be well when the day is done by abCEE (T, 76k, wangxian, time travel, canon divergence, fix it, not YZY friendly, not Jiang friendly, butterfly effect, no sunshot, madam lan lives, lan WWX)

A Matter of Time series by mrcformoso (E, 84k, wangxian, time travel fix-it, graphic depictions of violence, underage, LWJ pov, JC pov, dark LWJ, manipulation, grooming, teen body adult mind for LWJ, happy ending for wangxian, problematic consensual underage sex, blood & violence, insane LWJ, manic LWJ) lwj is BRUTAL to jc

💖 Return to Sender by Thesaurus_with_no_words (M, 73k, wangxian, not JC friendly, Canon Divergence, BAMF WWX, Wangxian Get a Happy Ending, YLLZ WWX, Golden Core Transfer Fix-It, Not Everyone Dies AU, Temporary Amnesia, Partial Memory Loss, Literal Emotional Manipulation, Unreliable Narrator WWX, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon typical horror and gore, Slow Burn, WIP)

🔒💖 Resilience. by Vrishchika (T, 7k, wangxian, time travel, not JC friendly, golden core transfer fix-it)

🔒💖 After Truth Lies the Honest Path by Vrishchika (M, 10k, wangxian, WIP, Canon Divergence, Truth Serum, Angry WWX, Post-Sunshot Campaign, Mild Angst, Wangxian Get a Happy Ending, Everyone Lives AU, Getting Together)

🧡 Never Again by Hauntcats (T, 67k, WangXian, WWX & WQ & WN, Canon Divergence, Time Travel, Golden Core Transfer Fix-It, Angst, Not JC Friendly, BAMF WWX)

The Core Issue by Hauntcats (T, 21k, WangXian, Angst with a Happy Ending, Not JC Friendly, Canon Divergence)

Go Hiking With a Blindfold On by Hauntcats (M, 12k, wangxian, JC & WWX, WQ & WWX, not JC friendly, Time Travel Fix-It, No Golden Core Transfer)

Lay my body down by tawaen (M, 48k, WQ & WWX, WN & WWX, wangxian, JYL & WWX, Canon Divergence, Time Travel, Rogue Cultivator WWX, Eventual Wangxian, No Golden Core Transfer, Not Cultivation World Friendly, Canon-Typical Violence, Not JC Friendly, Tagged just in case because there is no redemption arc here, What if WWX saw the first siege of the burial mounds and said Nope to the war, Original Character(s), OC point-of-view for one chapter for plot reasons)

Symmetry by Vir_Abelasan (M, 13k, WangXian, LSZ & WWX, One-Sided ChengXian, One-Sided ChengZhui, Canon Divergence, LSZ is raised by wwx, Wwx still dies sorry, Revenge, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Dark LSZ, Manipulation, Power Imbalance, Torture, Not JC Friendly, JC’s Canonical 13 Years Murder Spree, BAMF LSZ, WangXian Get a Happy Ending, LSZ Gets to Go Apeshit)

🔒 The Second Hand Unwinds by trulywicked (E, 30k, wangxian, WIP, Time Travel Fix-It, Not JC friendly, Not Yúnmèng Jiāng Sect Friendly, Not Jiāng Family Friendly, Not YZY Friendly, Time Travelling LWJ, Protective LWJ, Fluff, Minor Angst, Minor Character Death, JGS is his own warning, ,Wooing, LWJ is romantic af, Inventor WWX, Genius WWX, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Protective Gūsū Lán Sect Supportive LXC, Good Uncle LQR, WWX Protection Squad) Has both JC being a little shit & the Lans finding out about WWX's treatment during CRSA

🔒 Instead by apathyinreverie (T, 27k, wangxian, fix-it, darker gusu lan, manipulative elders, but in a good way?, golden core transfer fix-it of sorts, not Jiang friendly, or anyone friendly, except wangxian, cultivation world critical, fluff, sunshot, politics, courting rituals, genius WWX, no demonic cultivation, talismans, possessive LWJ, protective LWJ, WIP)

Get it right (mdzs time travel) Series by AmiraAlzilu (M, 85k, WangXian, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, Suicidal Thoughts, Canonical Character Death, Temporary Character Death, Fluff, Not JC Friendly, Unreliable Narrator, Unreliable Narrator WWX, Getting Together, Time Travel Fix-It, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, Not Jiang Clan Friendly, Jiāng Family Bashing, Character Death Angst, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Grieving LXC, Grieving LQR, LQR Is So Done, Dead LWJ, Dead WWX) (link in #2)

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2. heyyy thanks for all your hard work! itmf for fics that the lan clan finds out about wwx abuse from the jiang sect. thanks in advance!

🧡 All will be well when the day is done by abCEE (T, 76k, wangxian, time travel, canon divergence, fix it, not YZY friendly, not Jiang friendly, butterfly effect, no sunshot, madam lan lives, lan WWX) link in #1

🔒🧡 rain falls and soaks into the earth series by RoseThorne (T, 53k, WangXian, WIP, Near Death Experience, Attempt Drowning, Madam Yu Bashing, Recovery, No war AU)

🔒 The Second Hand Unwinds by trulywicked (E, 30k, wangxian, WIP, Time Travel Fix-It, Not JC friendly, Not Yúnmèng Jiāng Sect Friendly, Not Jiāng Family Friendly, Not YZY Friendly, Time Travelling LWJ, Protective LWJ, Fluff, Minor Angst, Minor Character Death, JGS is his own warning, ,Wooing, LWJ is romantic af, Inventor WWX, Genius WWX, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Protective Gūsū Lán Sect Supportive LXC, Good Uncle LQR, WWX Protection Squad) link in #1 Has both JC being a little shit & the Lans finding out about WWX's treatment during CRSA

🔒 Instead by apathyinreverie (T, 27k, wangxian, fix-it, darker gusu lan, manipulative elders, but in a good way?, golden core transfer fix-it of sorts, not Jiang friendly, or anyone friendly, except wangxian, cultivation world critical, fluff, sunshot, politics, courting rituals, genius WWX, no demonic cultivation, talismans, possessive LWJ, protective LWJ, WIP) link in #1

🧡 Company by WithBroomBefore (T, 29k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Pre-Relationship, Getting Together, POV LWJ, Fix-It, Pre-Canon, at least to start, WWX goes to Cloud Recesses, But Not In The Usual Way, fear of character death, Everybody Lives, Hurt/Comfort, Happy Ending, Light Angst, good teacher LQR, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, brief discussion of past minor character suicide, Kitten, Not YZY Friendly)

Get it right (mdzs time travel) Series by AmiraAlzilu (M, 85k, WangXian, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, Suicidal Thoughts, Canonical Character Death, Temporary Character Death, Fluff, Not JC Friendly, Unreliable Narrator, Unreliable Narrator WWX, Getting Together, Time Travel Fix-It, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, Not Jiang Clan Friendly, Jiāng Family Bashing, Character Death Angst, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Grieving LXC, Grieving LQR, LQR Is So Done, Dead LWJ, Dead WWX)

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3. Hello!! Itmf/does anyone know of any canon-compliant fics where when WWX comes back to life it is like no time has passed for him so he still feels and acts like a teenager/young adult? Where he gets along better with the juniors rather than his generation because he still is young at heart? Thank you!

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4. heeyy mods, hope youre enjoying the holidays!!

this is for itmf

A) I recently read audience of one which is basically being XiCheng being sweet babies, so I would really love if someone could rec good XiCheng fics

B) are there any good modern wangxian detectives au!!?? @mercurygirlwt28

4B)

🧡 CSI: Gusu Edition Series by Stratisphyre (M, 39k, WangXian, WWX & LQR, Modern with Magic AU, College AU, Golden Core Reveal, Single parent WWX, Good Uncle LQR, Hospitalization, Allusions to violence and murder)

Moonlight as My Guide by BromeliadDreams (M, 32k, WangXian , Case Fic, Body Horror, Modern with Magic, Academia, (book) canon-typical desecration of the dead, actually far more soft domesticity than the previous tags imply, background/implied xiyao, grey-ace wwx)

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5. hii, tje next Itmf can I ask for fics which feel the song. "dark red" by Steve Lacy.

thank you!!

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6. Hola! for the next itmf, I have two requests please, they are kind of similar.

A) pls rec the good modern aus!! the fluffy, tje ones w angst, anything.

B) modern aus which also deal w depression.

6A)

🔒 Wangxian Tax Universe series by adrian_kres, RoseThorne (T, 5k, wangxian, modern, Getting Together, Americana, Family Dinners, Dysfunctional Family, Family Feels, Announcements, Therapy, POV Third Person, POV WWX, Crack, Fluff)

Extracts from the diaries of Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, relating to the case of Lan Zetian (Nov. 4 to Nov. 27) by Accidental_Child (T, 6k, wangxian, modern cultivation, Case Fic, Epistolaryish, Diary/Journal, WWX-centric, LWJ-centric, Slow Burn, (academic), Enemies to Lovers, academic rivals i guess?, Rivals to Lovers, Mentions of Murder, mentions of abuse, mentions of assult)

🔒 Standing By by Prince_kun (T, <;1k, wangxian, WIP, Modern, Mutual Pining, Getting to Know Each Other, Getting Together, Strangers to Lovers, Past WWX/Other(s), Airports, Airports can be romantic and not just meant for the dramatic breakup scene, Rich LWJ, CEO LWJ, Bisexual Disaster WWX, WWX is LSZ's Parent, Fluff, Light Angst, Everyone Lives AU, Developing Relationship)

Lessons in Belonging by Nyatci (M, 12k, wangxian, Modern, Childhood Friends to Lovers, POV LWJ, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Canonical Child Abuse, Bad Parents JFM & YZY, Not Jiāng Family Friendly, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Homophobia, Good Uncle LQR, background 3zun, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Assumed Asexuality, but it’s just an assumption, some mild non-overly-explicit smut, LWJ really wants to put a ring on it, so he does, Domestic Fluff, wangxian adopt a-yuan, 5+1 Things, softer than how the tags make it sound)

The extravagant wedding, the gorgeous brother, and other reasons you should listen to your uncle by deliciousblizzardshark (T, 5k, wangxian, Modern, Kid Fic, Soft Wangxian, Good Uncle LQR, Matchmaking, Fluff and Humor, shark week)

The Art of Communication by mrcformoso (G, 4k, WangXian, Modern AU, College/University, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Meet-Cute, Engineering Student WWX, Music Student LWJ, Swimmer WWX, Martial Artist LWJ, POV Outsider, POV WWX, POV LWJ, Everything is Beautiful and Nothing Hurts, Communication Issues, But Wanxian Makes it Work, LWJ has limited words, WWX has too many words, Falling In Love, First Kiss, Love Confessions, Love Languages, Requited Love)

Just Ask Me To Stay by mrcformoso (M, 20k, WangXian, Modern AU, Former JZ/WWX, Minor NieLan, Minor XuanLi, No Powers, Dancer WWX, Musician LWJ, Roommates, Friends to Lovers, Break Up, Post-Break Up, Recovery, WWX Has Self-Esteem Issues, Sex as Self Worth Reaffirmation, Fluff, Light Angst, Anal Se,x Anal Fingering, Oral Sex, Domestic Fluff, LWJ Has a Big Dick, WWX Has a Breeding Kink, Size Queen WWX, Belly Bulge, Porn With Plot, WWX Has Friends, LWJ Has Friends, Hurt/Comfort, A lot of comfort, Romantic Comedy, Cuter story than the summary makes it out to be, Feel-good)

🧡 Hello, IT. Have You Tried Turning It Off and On Again? By overmountainandmeadow (T, 65k, WangXian, Modern AU, Office, Modern office AU, IT Director! LWJ, Graphic Designer! WWX, Father!LWJ, Fluff, Mutual Pining, Slow Burn, Juniors as interns, Light Angst, Mistaken Identity, Identity Porn, Rabbits, Cloud Recesses as a company, Happy Ending, Single Parent LWJ)

🧡 Yiling Salon: Hair, Nails and Piercing by TriviasFolly (T, 22k, WangXian, Modern AU, Hairstylist AU, Hairstylist WWX, 5+1 Things, Fluff, Experimental style)

leave all your love and your longing behind by ScarlettStorm (E, 143k, wangxian, modern, Meet-Ugly, Panic Attacks, autistic LWJ, neurodivergent WWX, the neighborhood asshole dog, if you've met one then you know, Hurt/Comfort, Pining, Minor Angst, major shenanigans, Happy Ending, for everyone including the asshole dog, setting out to make the neighborhood safer for your crush and accidentally building community, Eventual Smut, switch rights, Sex Toys, horny yearning, Masturbation, the chef's assortment of partnered sex acts) (link in #17)

🔒some things go forward by everythingispoetry (T, 73k, WangXian, Modern AU, Hospitals, Teenage Drama, Slow Burn, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Happy Ending)

oh brother by lanzhans_rbf (skzinger) (G, 5k, LXC & LWJ, WangXian, Modern AU, POV Outsider, Twin Jades of Lán Dynamics, Twin Jades of Lán Feels)

A Soft Storm by AvoOwO (Not rated, 47k, wangxian, modern, hurt WWX, LWJ pov, protective LWJ, not SS friendly, car accidents, hurt/comfort, heavy angst w happy ending, sexual harrasment, stalking, crying, blood & injury & gore, major character injury, college, slut shaming, insults)

Coincidence is Another Man's Fate by TriviasFolly (M, 164k, wangxian, rape/non-con, modern, ABO, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Sexual Harassment, Implied/Referenced Sexual Harassment, WangXian play the long game, UNTIL THEY DON'T, Getting Together, fated pairs, Eventual Attempted Sexual Assult and Recovery, Office au, Mpreg)

I know what my heart wants by yakuso5u (Not Rated, 28k, WangXian, Modern AU, Single Father LWJ, Fluff, Mutual Pining, Getting Together, Accidental Child Acquisition, Domestic, Slice of Life, Christmas references)

flight of the birch tree by bleuett (T, 2k, WangXian, Modern AU, liminal spaces, Subways, dreamy vibes, Meet-Cute, kind of)

i know who i want to take me home by ScarlettStorm (E, 16k, wangxian, modern, bartender WWX, drunk LWJ, caretaking, meet-cute, fluff, comedy, smut, minor angst, major shenanigans)

spoke like we meant it by BlackWiresOnHerHead (T, 10k, WangXian, Modern AU, 5+1, Fluff, oh my god they were roommates, Friends to Lovers, Getting Together, Pining, Cuddling, Accidental Confession, Humor, Abandonment Issues, Light Angst)

Keep Track of Losing Days by giraffeter (T, 74k, WangXian, Modern AU, Case Fic, Police, Missing Persons, Mystery, Getting Together, Flashbacks, Rooftop Conversations, Detective LWJ, antifa WWX, Endgame NieLan, Angst with a Happy Ending, Sharing a Bed, First Kiss, First Meetings, Seattle, Mutual Pining, nonfatal car accident, mafia wens, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Friends to Lovers)

6B)

🔒 moonlight falls series by RoseThorne (M, 15k, wangxian, SL/XXC, JC & WWX, WQ & WWX, NHS & WWX, Found Family, Modern, Corporate Espionage, Bunnies, Adoption, Family, Family Feels, Family Fluff, References to Depression, Anxiety, Blind Character, POV Third Person, POV WWX, Confrontations, Bad Parent LQR, Pre-JC & WWX Reconciliation, Dissociation, Mental Health Issues, Anniversary, Food, Food as a Metaphor for Love, Emotional Constipation, Communication Failure, JC is Bad at Feelings, JC is Trying, WWX Needs a Hug, Implied/Referenced Sex, Food Sex, Friendship, Reconciliation, Psychological Trauma)

Welcome to the Family series by jiejieaini (E, 231k, wangxian, LXC/NMJ, JYL/JZX, modern, Wangixian Get a Happy Ending, LWJ is best dad, Bunnies, London, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Implied/Referenced Abuse, Adopted WWX, Fluff and Angst, Fluff and Smut, Hurt/Comfort, Reunions, Hand Jobs, Tears, Gay Sex, Consensual Non-Consent, Dom/sub Undertones, Blow Jobs, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Christmas, Praise Kink, Rough Sex, Rough Kissing, WWX & LWJ Have a Breeding Kink, First Time, Public Blow Jobs, High School, Implied/Referenced Domestic Violence, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Falling In Love, Love, Love Confessions, Birthdays, Blowjobs, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Drowning, Canonical Character Death, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Implied/Referenced Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Dubious Consent, Rimming, Panic Attacks, Anxiety, A-Yuan is adorable, Marriage Proposal, Weddings, Nightmares, Adoption, Pregnancy)

Lessons in Belonging by Nyatci (M, 12k, wangxian, Modern, Childhood Friends to Lovers, POV LWJ, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Canonical Child Abuse, Bad Parents JFM & YZY, Not Jiāng Family Friendly, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Homophobia, Good Uncle LQR, background 3zun, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Assumed Asexuality, but it’s just an assumption, some mild non-overly-explicit smut, LWJ really wants to put a ring on it, so he does, Domestic Fluff, wangxian adopt a-yuan, 5+1 Things, softer than how the tags make it sound) link in #6A

12 Hours In Hell and Paradise (Or: Lan Zhan’s Distinguished Guide to Seasonal Depression) by demonicsalad (T, 4k, wangxian, LXC & LWJ, Modern, Friends to Lovers, Developing Relationship, Mental Health Issues, Neurodiversity, Love Confessions, POV LWJ)

Just Ask Me To Stay by mrcformoso (M, 20k, WangXian, Modern AU, Former JZ/WWX, Minor NieLan, Minor XuanLi, No Powers, Dancer WWX, Musician LWJ, Roommates, Friends to Lovers, Break Up, Post-Break Up, Recovery, WWX Has Self-Esteem Issues, Sex as Self Worth Reaffirmation, Fluff, Light Angst, Anal Se,x Anal Fingering, Oral Sex, Domestic Fluff, LWJ Has a Big Dick, WWX Has a Breeding Kink, Size Queen WWX, Belly Bulge, Porn With Plot, WWX Has Friends, LWJ Has Friends, Hurt/Comfort, A lot of comfort, Romantic Comedy, Cuter story than the summary makes it out to be, Feel-good) (Iink in 6A)

💖 you are safe / loved / worthy / enough by everythingispoetry (T, 150k, wangxian, modern, College/University au, Social Media, Mental Health Issues, Healing, self-care, Anxiety, Hurt/Comfort, the mortifying ordeal of self-acceptance, Falling In Love, Depression, Slow Burn)

KILF (Knits I'd Like To Fuck in) by ScarlettStorm (E, 168k, wangxian, modern, sex work, fiber arts, 2nd in series)

Many happy returns. by orange_crushed (E, 25k, WangXian, Modern AU, Mistaken Identity, Misunderstandings, Grief/Mourning, Loss of Parent(s), Implied/Referenced Suicide, Past Suicide of a Parent, References to Depression, Anxiety, Therapy, References to Anti-Depressant Medications, Escort Service, Loneliness, Everybody’s Abandonment Issues, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Angst with a Happy Ending, Domestic Fluff, Moving In Together, Oral Sex, Penetrative Sex, Hopeful Ending, Recovery, References to Escorting/Sex Work but No Actual Escorting/Sex Work)

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7. Itmf some fics that are just plain funny! Rec me any fics that made you lol please @peebls

Lan Wangji Gets Harassed by a Pack of Children by hyacinth4maria (G, 9k, wangxian, CSSR & WWX & WCZ, CSSR/WCZ, Madam Lan & LWJ, LWJ meets the Wei family, the Wei family consists of OCs and strays, Modern, High School, Young Love, Fluff and Crack)

rerun from the outside by Eicas (T, 2k, wangxian, JC & WWX, Time Travel, POV Outsider, JC POV, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, WWX has timetravelled! unbeknownst to him so has LWJ!, JC gets to be there for the glorious moment when the penny drops, Mojo's post)

❤️ Wangxian’s Time-Travelling Shenanigans series by pupeez4eva (G, 18k, wangxian, time travel, love confessions, humor, Mojo's post)

The Twelve Days of Christmas, OR, How to Drive Your Brother-in-Law Insane by Following One Traditional Carol by Hobbsy3 (T, 3k, wangxian, modern, Fluff, Crack Treated Seriously, Twelve Days Of Christmas, sending someone six geese and seven swans is definitely not an act of love, OR IS IT, Christmas Fluff, JC is So Done, LWJ is a Little Shit) link in #16

Deep Dive by MimiSpearmint (E, 24k, wangxian, JC & WWX, modern, therapy au, twin prides of yunmeng feels, angst w/ happy ending, career ending injuries, counsellor LWJ, eventual smut, crack, discussion of domestic abuse)

Meng Yao vs. the Board of the Homeowner's Association Series by Ariaste (M/T, 119k, WIP, XiYao, WangXian, Modern AU, Established Relationship, xiyao and wangxian are both already married, Family Feels, Domestic Fluff, Family Bonding, Slice of Life, Discussions of Past Trauma, wwx's canonical kinks, HOAverse) there's a reason it's recced all the time!

To Woo a Yao by Iamnotawriter (G, 8k, WangXian, Some Humor, Investigations, Post-Canon, Canon Compliant, Secret Letters, Mystery, Crack)

WeHateDogs by trippednfell (T, 3k, WangXian, Modern AU, Inspired by Twitter, Social Media AU, WWX is a professional dog hater, Fluff and Crack)

our own kind of magic. by scarletwanlian (T, 18k, WangXian, 5+1 Things, Fluff, Humor, Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers, Modern AU, Magic, Magical Realism, College/University, Slice of Life!, Witch!WWX, Banter)

~*~

8. Uhm hi. I’m looking for a fic where instead of Jiang Fengmian, Yu Ziyuan was thought to be Wei Ying’s parent. Or where yu ziyuan adopts Wei ying

Hope series by RoseThorne (T, 57k, wangxian, WWX & YZY, WWX & JFM, WWX & JYL, YZY/JFM, JC & WWX, LQR & WWX, LXC & JYL, Madam Jin & YZY, LQR & JFM, LXC & LWJ, Transmigration, Time Travel Fix-It, Illnesses, Family, Scars, Memory Loss, Angst, Crying, Music, Nosebleed, Fear, Recovery, Nightmares, Sharing a Bed, Flirting, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Good Parent YZY, Referenced Sexual Slavery, Blood and Gore, Monsters, Sexual Tension, betrothal, Arranged Marriage, Grief, Adoption, POV Third Person, POV Alternating, Implied/Referenced Abuse, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Good Parent LQR, Clairvoyance, Butterfly Effect, Kid Fic, Epistolary, Food, Secrets, Resentful Energy, Cultivation Sect Politics, Character Death)

~*~

9. Hi! Do you have rec fics where Wwx has a sibling/sister? (This part added to FF) Thank youu!! @gideonmorningstar

We Meet at the Thousandth Step by Admiranda, Rynne (T, 163k, wangxian, CSSR/WCZ, WIP, Canon Divergence, No Sunshot Campaign, CSSR & WCX Live, Rogue Cultivator WWX, Different First Meeting, Night Hunts, Genius WWX, Inventor WWX, Plot, Romance, Drama, Fluff, Strangers to married, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Unresolved Romantic Tension, Everyone LivesAU, Developing Relationship, Minor Violence, Case Fic, Mystery, Flirting, WWX's Canon-Typical Flower Flirting, Arson, There Was Only One Bed, Getting Together, First Kiss, Meeting the Parents, Resolved Sexual Tension, Resolved Romantic Tension, WWX Is a Good Big Brother, New Relationship Bliss)

Lan Wangji Gets Harassed by a Pack of Children by hyacinth4maria (G, 9k, wangxian, CSSR & WWX & WCZ, CSSR/WCZ, Madam Lan & LWJ, LWJ meets the Wei family, the Wei family consists of OCs and strays, Modern, High School, Young Love, Fluff and Crack) link in #7

~*~

10. ITMF fics that changed your minds about tropes/settings/characters you had previously disliked? I am trying to try new things but I tend not to pick things for myself outside of plain plain status quo. TY!

mating rituals by detectorist (E, 16k, WangXian, XuanLi, Modern AU, College/University, Humour, Pining, Getting Together, Idiots in Love, The Rituals Are Intricate) Never cared about jzx until I read this fic

Coincidence is Another Man's Fate by TriviasFolly (M, 164k, WangXian, Modern AU, A/B/O Dynamics, Omegaverse, Alpha LWJ, Omega wwx, Sexual Harassment, Implied/Referenced Sexual Harassment, Getting Together, fated pairs, Eventual Attempted Sexual Assult and Recovery, Modern Setting - Office, Mpreg) This is the abo fic for anyone who’s never liked abo

symmetry by bleuett (M, 44k, WangXian, Space, Science Fiction, Happy Ending, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Holding Hands, Blow Jobs, Hand Feeding, Cultivation in Space, Yearning, Reunions, Hurt/Comfort, Family Feels, Canon-Typical Violence, Minor Injuries, Grief/Mourning, Unconventional Time Travel, Burial Mounds) Never liked fics set in space but this one was so good

Twin Demons of Mò by XiaoFeiFei (ArfBarkWoof) (M, 358k, MXY & WWX, wangxian, JL & MXY, XY & MXY, JGY & MXY, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Injury, Abuse, Death, Twin Demons of Mo, MXY Lives, Major Character Injury, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Minor Character Death, Angst with a Happy Ending, Character Death, Minor Implied/Referenced Incest, Implied/Referenced Torture, Near Death, Near Death Experiences, Canon Divergence, Self-Harm, Found Family, Sexual Abuse, Rape/Non-con Elements, POV Alternating) Twin Demons of Mo was my first foray into the super heavy angst that can pop up in the fandom, and since I'm very empathetic, heavy angst tends to be difficult for me to read, but TDOM was beautiful and now I can handle fics like Concord with more ease

TAKOYAKI by ariskamalt (E, 3k, wangxian, modern, Established Relationship, PWP, Tentacles, Tentacle Sex, First Time, Semi-Sentient Tentacles, Anal Sex, tentaclejobs?, Podfic Available) please don't let the tentacles scare you😆

~*~

11. hello! i just finished this fic on ao3 called 'like speaking to my heart' by SnowshadowAO3.

it has suibian and bichen as daemons and i've really enjoyed reading it.

i wanted to ask if it's possible to find more fic's where suibian and bichen play a major role either in their sword forms or are like these aus where they take a different form.

(not really necessary but are there any fics where suibian and bichen share a really close bond with lwj and wwx, respectively, too?)

thank you so much!

🧡 Song of Suibian and Bichen: Or, the Greatest (And Only) Furby Master of Demonic Cultivation by moonwaif (T, 64k, WangXian, Fix-It of Sorts, canon adjacent, The spiritual weapons are furbies, Angst with a Happy Ending, The parent trap but make it WangXian with furbies, Mutual Pining, Taking my favorite parts of every adaptation and smashing them together)

~*~

12. hi hi! i'm in the mood for fics where lwj feels insecure over his "bland and stiff" personality and wwx reassures him

~*~

13. Could you suggest some multi-chapter fics of genre Fox Wei Wuxian and Dragon Lan Wangji. @lostsoul234

(Dreaming of) Being Human by Harleydoll (M, 109k, JC & WWX, NHS & WWX, LXC & WWX, LXC & LWJ, wangxian, JYL & WWX, Soft Wangxian, Pining, POV LWJ, Protective LWJ, Oblivious WWX, YLLZ WWX, Fox WWX, Canon Divergence, Canonical Character Death, Huli Jing, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Cloud Recesses Shenanigans, Gūsū Lán Forehead Ribbon, Gūsū Lán Sect Rules, , Fluff, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Past Child Abuse, Cuddling & Snuggling, Sleepy Cuddles, Literal Sleeping Together, Sharing a Bed, Nudity, WWX is a Lán, WWX is Loved, Gremlin WWX, Shapeshifting, POV WWX, Qíshān Wēn Indoctrination, Not Lánlíng Jīn Sect Friendly, Burning of the Cloud Recesses, Post-Burning of the Cloud Recesses, Explicit Sexual Content, Oral Sex, First Time, First Kiss, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Sunshot Campaign, Fox Spirit WWX, Canon Temporary Character Death, Not Really Character Death)

🔒Due Process by Kytrin, Mslead (E, 279k, WangXian, XiChengSang, Poly Junior Quartet, Modern AU, Foxxian, dragonji, Genderfluid WWX, WWX identifies as male, Organized Crime, Grief/Mourning, Hurt/Comfort, mentions of child abuse, Angst with a Happy Ending, Found Family, Reincarnation)

To lurk, to lie in wait by trippednfell (M, 124k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Huli Jing, strangers to co-parents to lovers, Strangers to Lovers, Kid Fic, teenage juniors, background NieLan, Angst with a Happy Ending, Case Fic, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Hurt/Comfort, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Not Really Character Death, Fox Spirit WWX, Dragon LWJ, Blood and Injury)

The early bird gets the worm, the early fox gets the bird. But the dragon wakes the earliest of them all. by sekhmetpaws (E, 52k, WangXian, XiYao, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Royalty, Prince LWJ, dragon lwj, fox wwx, dragonji, Arranged Marriage, but not really, Mistaken Identity, Omega WWX, Alpha LWJ, Foxxian, slowish burn)

~*~

14. ITMF a fic where wangxian bond over both being Chinese / having similar experiences?. It can just be a small moment in a bigger story or it can be whole story @zerokogane

Ticket to Ride Series by mistresscurvy (E, 21k, wangxian, modern, online dating, road trips, service top, phone sex, dick pics, wedding banquet, shower sex) Also it has a killer meet cute

~*~

15. Hey!! I’m fairly new to the fandom and I’m still trying to navigate through your blog so idk if you’ve already done this ask but can you recommend a fic that follows the junior quad as they accidentally give travel back to Wangxian at cloud recess??

Thank you so muchhh

~*~

16. Hey any Christmas wangxian fics that are not too smutty and just wholesome and pure @veryfoxyfulwuji

The Twelve Days of Christmas, OR, How to Drive Your Brother-in-Law Insane by Following One Traditional Carol by Hobbsy3 (T, 3k, wangxian, modern, Fluff, Crack Treated Seriously, Twelve Days Of Christmas, sending someone six geese and seven swans is definitely not an act of love, OR IS IT, Christmas Fluff, JC is So Done, LWJ is a Little Shit)

Ornaments Under the Stars by trippednfell (M, 57k, wangxian, Modern, Inspired by Hallmark Christmas Movies, the wangxian Hallmark Movie AU no one asked for, plot and title were randomly generated, Kidfic, Disabled Character, debilitating injury as substitute for missing golden core, Additional Warnings In Author's Note, Angst with a Happy Ending, Guest starring LWJ's sky blue coat, The Coat deserves its own tag, disordered eating habits)

We Wish You A Logical Christmas by little_ogre (M, 9k, wangxian, Star Trek AU, Mutual Pining, Happy Ending, Going to Vulcan for Christmas, WWX is Vulcan, LWJ is human, what could go wrong, Pon Farr)

Christmas Eve at Number 16 by liulans (T, 9k, wangxian, Christmas Fluff, Modern, Getting Together, Mistletoe as an icebreaker, Fluff, neighbors to lovers, Friends to Lovers, Christmas Eve, snowstorm date)

~*~

17. Hi! I recently saw a DIY where they printed out their favorite fanfic and they (did book binding, sorry, I don’t what the English word for this is) so I wanted to ask if anyone could recommend fanfictions wich are 1. long enough (so it makes sense to bind it into a book) and 2. good/awesome/ wholesome,etc enough ( so I will actually want to bind it).

To keep it short, please recommend your favourite long fics. Thank you so much!

An addition to my ask because my dumbass accidentally send it before adding detail.

If anyone knows a fanfiction with a great plot, good writing or one you think deserves to be a book (because some of them honestly feel more professional than most real books do) I would be super thankful to them <;3 @desperation-is-my-middle-name

Twin Demons of Mò by XiaoFeiFei (ArfBarkWoof) (M, 358k, MXY & WWX, wangxian, JL & MXY, XY & MXY, JGY & MXY, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Injury, Abuse, Death, Twin Demons of Mo, MXY Lives, Major Character Injury, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Minor Character Death, Angst with a Happy Ending, Character Death, Minor Implied/Referenced Incest, Implied/Referenced Torture, Near Death, Near Death Experiences, Canon Divergence, Self-Harm, Found Family, Sexual Abuse, Rape/Non-con Elements, POV Alternating)

leave all your love and your longing behind by ScarlettStorm (E, 143k, wangxian, modern, Meet-Ugly, Panic Attacks, autistic LWJ, neurodivergent WWX, the neighborhood asshole dog, if you've met one then you know, Hurt/Comfort, Pining, Minor Angst, major shenanigans, Happy Ending, for everyone including the asshole dog, setting out to make the neighborhood safer for your crush and accidentally building community, Eventual Smut, switch rights, Sex Toys, horny yearning, Masturbation, the chef's assortment of partnered sex acts)

💖 Magical Marriage Ribbons series by starandrea (M, 1M, wangxian, animal transformations, weddings)

Fallen series by Jaywalker_Holmes (M, 150k, wangxian, major character death, underage, time travel)

💖 love, in fire and blood by cicer (E, 360k, wangxian, immortal WWX, slow burn, pining, arranged marriages)

The Scarlet Lotusby rainbowninja167 (M, 137k, WangXian, Marriage of Convenience, Secret Identity, Fix-It, Angst with a Happy Ending, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, Canon-Typical Violence, canon-typical war crimes, Yunmeng Bros, the mortifying ordeal of getting seduced by your own husband, nonlinear chronology we die like cql, just kidding nobody dies in this fic, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Miscommunication)

Twelve Moons and a Fortnight by stiltonbasket (M, 290k, WangXian, Humor, Slow Burn, Post-Canon Fix-It, Long-Distance Relationship, Epistolary, Love Letters, Family Feels, a-qing lives, teenage romance, Adoption, Romantic Comedy, Happy Ending, Weddings, Case Fic, Parenthood, Politics)

how to be a heartbreaker by sweetlolixo (E, 122k, wangxian, Sugar Daddy AU, Modern, Sugar Daddy LWJ, Sugar Baby WWX, Dark WWX, Dark LWJ, Pining LWJ, Possessive LWJ, Crossdressing WWX, Seductress WWX, Eventual Happy Ending, Dirty Talking LWJ, They Do Fall In Love and there’s Fluff, Dark Wangxian Power Couple, Off the Charts Sexual Tension, Size Kink, Daddy Kink, degradation kink)

🔒 Silver & Gold  by beeswaxing  (E, 162k, wangxian, post-canon, de-aging, fluff & angst, happy ending, fix-it of sorts, family bonding, established   relationship, non-sexual intimacy, BAMF WWX, pining, protective WWX)

A Matter of Time series by mrcformoso (E, 84k, wangxian, time travel fix-it, graphic depictions of violence, underage, LWJ pov, JC pov, dark LWJ, manipulation, grooming, teen body adult mind for LWJ, happy ending for wangxian, problematic consensual underage sex, blood & violence, insane LWJ, manic LWJ) link in #1

Meet Me Friday At Seven by craftyTrickster (luoxiaobai) (E, 128k, wangxian, modern, Fluff, Meet-Cute, Friends to Lovers, Blind Date, lots of texting, almost a chat fic, WC and WLJ aren’t evil but they are annoying, Kissing, Masturbation, Anal Sex, romantic sex, Bi WWX, bi nhs, Single Parent WWX, Slow Burn, Unreliable Narrator)

how to fall in love with a catfish: a guide by wei wuxian (disaster rat) by bwyn, Yuisaki (T, 54k, WangXian, Modern AU, College/University, Actors, Multimedia, Online Friendship, Drunken Shenanigans, Hijinks & Shenanigans, Underage Drinking, Drinking Games, Families of Choice, Ensemble Cast, Fluff and Angst, Slow Burn, Catfish AU)

finally safe (for me to fall) by sassybluee (E, 77k, wangxian, modern, sugar daddy au, age difference, sex work, rich WWX, older WWX, service top WWX, poor LWJ, single parent LWJ, sugar baby LWJ, family issues, hurt/comfort, angst w happy ending, slow burn, cockblocking, anal sex, blowjobs, no lube & lube, addiction, compulsory heterosexuality, implied/referenced abuse, wangxian + others)

it rains, it pours by jublis (Not Rated, 130k, WangXian, Hurt/Comfort, Humor, Food as a Metaphor for Love, Case Fic, Established Relationship, Angst with a Happy Ending, Soft WangXian, Canon Compliant, Post-Canon, The Junior Ensemble Love WWX, Protective LWJ, Protective WWX, WWX Needs a Hug, YLLZ WWX, Rogue Cultivator LQY, LQY & WWX Friendship, BAMF LQY, Horror, Friendship/Love, Junior Quartet Dynamics, Ambiguous/Open Ending, for the mystery, Our boys are fine) is dripping with atmosphere, and being able to hold a physical book and read it by the fire on a stormy night would enhance that so well

~*~

If you didn’t get an answer to your ask here, don’t forget to make use of @mdzs-kinkmeme and MDZS KINK MEME on Dreamwidth. Authors actually do use them for ideas. You may get what you order!***Your prompt doesn’t have to be kink! Fluff, crack, whatever - it’s all good!***

[vinyls-and-valentines]

There are several common misconceptions city folk have when first settling into the Zones.

The first, is that masks are meant to protect the living. While living under constant surveillance, it is perhaps only natural to find solace in the impression of anonymity provided by face coverings such as masks, helmets, and bandanas, and even more cynical types who claim their purpose is to obfuscate what little presence BL/i does nurture amidst the harsh desert winds— however, these are nothing more than outsiders' views on matters that had not previously concerned them. The truth is, in fact, much simpler: masks are talismans, and bargaining chips of the dead— they prove there once was someone who cherished them and whom they in turn swore to protect. No one can return from the dead without renouncing some part of themselves, and when dealing with something as strongly entwined with one's identity as a mask, it is one last chance for forgiveness or retribution.

The second most common misconception amongst newcomers, is that all information shared voluntarily is shared without ill intent. It is undeniable that skill and information are what constitute power both sides of the wall, and that the latter is often freely shared amongst those willing to stand their ground against Better Living as a form of leverage, but unlike the City which has had its bare bones exposed, ground down, and then rebuilt inside-out in the crater of something far larger than any atomic bomb, the Zones are alive. Alive in a way which goes far beyond the roads spreading like veins and arteries beneath fallow land. Alive in a way which alludes even the conscious component of a place brimming with the unknown and unexplainable where the line between one's perception and physical reality is drawn thin. Alive in a way that is cold and uncaring, and which if exposed would be enough to drive even the most devout believers and cynical scholars mad. It is truth which makes the sharpest blade, afterall.

The third and final misconception many new zonerunners hold to be true, is that numbers are a liability. While undeniable that resources in the Zones are scarce and that it's more difficult to move as a group rather than an individual, to treat one's life as merely an extension of their escape from the clutches of Battery City is no better than to pen their name on their own death certificate. There is of course the practical aspect of desert community as well; although scattered like dandelion seeds in the wind, killjoys often come together for events such as parties, races, concerts and markets, and even on more mundane occasions there are more than a handful of crews loitering about Tommy Chow Mein's or slumbering sharehouses and bars. Information travels fast within groups and although there is such a thing as too much, patrol routes and standing commissions will always be made known on the ground before the airwaves. Solitude may be effective while running, but rest is always better shared with those you've come to trust

[the-mortuary-witch]

COMMON WITCHY TERMS / TOOLS

ATHAME: a ritualistic knife, typically black handled with a double-edged blade. You use it to cast a circle around the altar before commencing a spell and to direct energy. 

ALTAR: a place where you do rituals or spells. It is often a special table or shelf where your ritual tools are kept.

AMULET: an object that is carried or worn on a person or placed in a location in order to draw specific energy or luck toward that person or location.

BOLINE: the witch's working knife, a white-handled ritual knife that has several magical tools. Such as being used to carve candles and cut herbs. 

BROOM: used to purify and sweep away negative energy. 

BOOK OF SHADOWS: a Book of Shadows is a Witch's journal. It contains notes on experiments, information they picked up along the way, spells, recipes, correspondences, chants, traditions and more.

COVEN: a coven is a community of witches who gather regularly for religious and/or social occasion.

CAULDRON: a cauldron is used to build a ritual fire or concoct magic brews. 

CHALICE: a chalice is used for drinking ritual brews and magic potions. 

CANDLES AND INCENSE: essential ingredients in many spells, can also be used to cleanse objects and your space.  

CRYSTALS: typically used as batteries of energy in spellwork. 

DIVINATION: the metaphysical work of finding the truth of an issue by using symbols and objects to interpret messages from the collective unconscious or from communication with spirit beings.

EVOKE: to call or summon a spirit, entity and/or deity.

FAMILIAR: afamiliar is a magic-user's spiritual helper manifest in animal form.

GRIMOIRE: a magical manual or a magician's instruction book. It is much more formal than a Book of Shadows.

HEX: referring to an unfriendly spell meant to bring about mischief.

INVOKE: to summon or draw a spirit being into your own body. This is usually done to encourage communication between the spirit world and the material world.

JARS AND BOXES: used to store ingredients and can be used for spells. 

MORTAR AND PESTLE: a mortar and pestle used to grind herbal mixtures for spellwork. 

PENTACLE: used to symbol the five elements and for protection. 

SACHET: a small bag of herbs, crystals, or other objects that is meant to bring about a desired effect; essentially acts as a charm.

WARD: a protective barrier may be maintained by a spell, a talisman, a symbol or some other physical or energy object.

[jiangwanyinscatmom]

Since it seems, I need to point all this out... again...

Anonymous asked:

Like, I have no trouble seeing WWX as a good guy, or even the least bad in the cultivation world, but if he can subject a man to forced autocannibalism and orchestrate a scenario where a woman is made to put her mouth around his penis before biting it off, then he’s far from an ideal guy imo. There are things no one deserves no matter what they’ve done. Mxtx could have done more to distinguish his actions from the way XY subjects people to cannibalism and JGY forces women to rape his father.

I've answered a bit of this before, I will repost my response as well as respond further to my own view as to why I don't condemn him the same as Jin Guangyao and Xue Yang. As well as how it is a fandom fallacy he did the act to force Wang Lingjiao to do anything.

About the supervisory office:

First, let me at least mark the difference between “gui dao” and “mo dao” as it will be important for the courier station antics.

魔道 (Mo Dao): Lit. Devil’s way/path/truth

鬼道 (Gui Dao): The Ghost’s/twisted/sly, way/path/truth

心 (Xin) Soul/center/core/heart

心魔 (Xin Mo): Devil, Soul/center/core/heart

鬼 (Gui) lit. A ghost/demon/crafty/cursed

With these in mind, the way Mo Dao is crafted as a cultivator, is that you have to have a center/a core, that is innately tuned to be crafted as evil, hence, a corrupted core. To use real mo dao, it needs to come from within to manipulate, not from outer external references, it is the corruption of the self and the still living to craft evil beings.

To use real gui dao, it comes from the dead, the ghosts and the supernatural, in other words not of much of the self. It is using the outside forces of death and non-living beings to use techniques. It is simply using what already existed before to craft an entity.

Now, on to the Wang Lingjiao and Wen Chao scenes and why these distinctions are important and it was just Wei Wuxian manipulating the two’s already heightened paranoia’s to exasperate the negative energy they fostered between themselves.

1:

In that moment, as soon as she opened the chest, she was able to peer inside.

It was none of her beloved treasures, but the body of a pale, curled-up child!

2:

She snuck within the room once again, found a long clothing pole, and flipped the chest over. Inside of it, her treasure sat peacefully.

There was no child whatsoever.

Wang Lingjiao sighed in relief. With the pole in her hands, she squatted down. Just as she was about to brace herself, she suddenly realized that two bright spots were shining underneath her bed.

It was a pair of eyes.

That pale child from before lay prone under her bed, staring into her own.

3:

As he turned around, the rest of what he wanted to say stuck within his throat. He was staring at a woman in front of his door.

The woman’s features were broken, as though they had been smashed and then pieced together haphazardly. Her eyes stared in two different directions; the left upward and the right downward. Her entire face was horrendously disfigured.

Wen Chao, with some difficulty, was able to recognize her from her scanty robe. It was Wang Lingjiao!

4:

Still on the ground, Wang Lingjiao immediately picked up one of the stools legs, and frantically, she began stuffing it into her mouth, laughing all the while, “Fine, fine, I’ll eat it, I’ll eat it!

Haha, I’ll eat it!”

She had already stuffed a significant length of the stool leg down her throat!

Remember, that just before these confrontations Wang Lingjiao had already assumed that Wen Chao’s time was up as well as she herself making plans to run away. They had already turned on each other, as she was planning to move on to a more prospective target, and he wanting her out of the way as an annoyance.

As such, both have created a negative space for themselves, also, remember all of the talismans for protection that they had placed on the outside of the courier station, and their effects which had been reversed by Wei Wuxian. Their 风水(geomancy) physically and mentally has been disordered. Their harmony is broken. Thus, they have cultivated an outside force for Wei Wuxian to manipulate and turn the two against each other.

The above scenes are simply the inner hell they created from their own paranoia and negativity they trapped themselves in. Wei Wuxian only had to change a few character strokes on the protective talismans to sic them on each other while he was on the outside looking in.

5:

Wen Chao cried sharply in pain. It sounded piercing within the silence of the courier station.

Jiang Cheng asked, “Why is his voice so pitched?”

Wei Wuxian responded, “Of course it would sound like that with a certain something gone.“

Jiang Cheng replied in disgust, “You’re the one who took it? ”

Wei WuXian said, “It’s wretched if you think that. Of course I wasn’t the one who took it. It was bitten off by his woman when she went mad.”

There is no reason for Wei Wuxian to lie here, he has already proudly admitted to his tortures of Wen Chao before hand and his physical abuse against him and Wen Zhuliu. Wei Wuxian’s entire persona here was meant to be cruel and monstrous and he continued further torture of course, but it was added on to the existing abuse that Wen Chao and Wang Lingjiao cultivated together already.

So, no, anon, Wei Wuxian was not a rapist in any capacity here. He simply played dirty tricks to make these two ruin each other even more by themselves.

Now, to the second part of your ask. Personally, I am content with the way MXTX portrayed the act of his vengeance as being different than Jin Guangyao and Xue Yang. Because ultimately, when he did choose to do this, it was for all the violence these two (Wen Chao and Wang Lingjiao) reaped themselves, by the mandate of heaven and Chinese Buddhist belief, they have gathered their merits of "negativity" to face the consequences of their own actions. Cruelty is met with cruelty it has accrued. Nothing more, in Doaist terms, it is the way of nature righting it's harmony that humans are not made for. An eye for an eye.

The way of the world is for a human to be able to balance the self in it, and not for the world to cater to humanity. In this sense, the only ones who are in turmoil are those that have misrepresented their own words and actions (i.e. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian).

And, as I said, Wei Wuxian took revenge on none other than those that had wronged him. To Daoist principal that is as it should be. As for Jin Guangyao and Xue Yang however, they did not leave it to just that, they steeped in obsession of hate. To be doaist, you cannot place obsession, of any sort, over the tranquility of your own choices and way. They continued to cause ruin without the give. This has already set them apart as lost to the moral code of a daoist.

Daoism is not about the call of morality humanity is, it is simply the act of natural actions. Good and bad, are human and a fight that is constant to make peace with.

And for further details, let's get what geomancy is out of the way since it is critical to the usage of this scene and how the Wens there were easily turned against each other with just TALISMANS.

For starters, in China the art of geomancy is also divination , I Ching, specifically and has been used to say that by following the earth's natural patterns harmony can be achieved for life and home.

To garner negativity is to welcome negativity by being unaligned with those patterns. Which brings in the warding talismans that have been used all over by the Wens during this time. To shift the ward meanings is very simple and expounds the paranoia and hate that have already festered within this particular place. It has no Feng Shui based on natural energy that these people have. Harmony that is vital for daoism and cultivation has already been ruined and altered enough for it to be easy to manipulate through simple divination and the manipulations of the outside force that already is in existence.

Wei Wuxian already had the tools for all there to hurt themselves. Gruesome yes, but also in line with what is deemed as the energy accumulation and disruptions humans made themselves for revenge.

[cherrypikkins]

Some fe3h OC things! More under the cut (spoilers warning!)

Backstory: Kitt was born in a remote village in the Oghma Mountains that held a tradition of keeping distinctly marked stones as family heirlooms and good luck charms. For a time, things were peaceful, until the some mysterious mages began to travel in and out of the village. Over time the villagers began to exhibit signs of illness and strange behaviour. By the time the Church had heard the news and sent their Knights to investigate, most of the villagers were either dead or transformed into Demonic Beasts.

The sole survivor Kitt was found by Flayn and Seteth, in a death-like state, the fragment of a Crest Stone fused to their neck. Flayn begged Seteth to help save the injured, convulsing Kitt. Their transformation was miraculously halted by a ritual and a heavy transfusion of blood, which was sanctioned by Rhea.

Thereafter, Kitt was transported to the Monastery, where they spent a year in recovery. While the new blood in their veins stabilized the effect of the Crest Stone permanently fused to their neck, they continue to exhibit bizarre reactions in combat, especially when monsters are close.

Kitt was welcomed by Seteth and Flayn as family for a time, but has grown to distrust the Church due to their politics and secret-keeping, believing that lives could be saved if certain truths were revealed to the world. Nowadays, they spend their time exploring the woods outside of Garreg Mach, actively seeking Demonic Beasts in the area to hunt and kill. It is revealed that the transfusion of blood, despite saving Kitt's life, is unlikely to completely prevent their transformation further down the road.

They view Professor Byleth as a calming presence and can relate to the circumstances of being caught up in Church politics and secrets without having a say in how to live their life. They believe in fate as a force that not even the Goddess necessarily has full control over, but that it can be influenced in small ways by even the most ordinary of actions, hence their superstitious beliefs.

They are especially concerned about being able to reign in their strength during a fight and not losing their cool.

They are can be recruited in all story paths and will gladly follow Byleth to the end.

Paralogue: 'Rites of Requiem'

Against the advice of the church, Kitt is determined to visit the ruins of their home village. It is swarming with Demonic Beasts - but with Byleth's help, they are able to put the transformed villagers to rest. On the body of one such beast, Kitt finds a talisman, which belonged to their family. The center stone is missing, but it still resonates with power. Kitt senses that it is probably safe for them to hold onto.

Ending Card Title: 'Stalker of Beasts'

Lost Items

Rabbit's Foot - belongs to someone who is somewhat superstitious

Compass - belongs to someone who spends a lot of time navigating the outdoors.

Gem Magnifying Glass - belongs to someone who has a habit of closely examining strange stones.

Favourite Gifts

Blue Cheese, Coffee Beans, Exotic Spices, Riding Boots

Disliked Gifts

Ceremonial Sword, Book of Crest Designs, Gemstone Beads

Unit Selection Quotes:

-- Academy Phase --

"I hear you." - full health

"If I have to." - injured

"…You're kidding me, right?" - near death

-- War Phase --

"I'm listening." - full health

"Nothing to worry about." - injured

"If that's what it takes…" - near death

Critical Hit Quotes:

-- Academy Phase --

"Alright, you asked for it!"

"I'm getting tired of you."

"If it's a fight you want..."

-- War Phase--

"Have it your way."

"I'd run if I were you."

"You're trying my patience!"

"No turning back!" - against named opponent

Victory Quotes:

-- Academy Phase--

"Why can't you just run?"

"Are you satisfied?"

"Didn't have to be like this."

-- War Phase--

"Such is your reward."

"I'm done holding back."

"This is the only way."

Gambit Quotes:

"Let's do this the old-fashioned way." - academy phase

"All's fair on the battlefield." - war phase

Defeat Quotes:

"I don't feel so great. Time for me to bow out." - academy phase

"That's all I've got. I'll leave the rest to you." - war phase, casual mode

"...And just like that, the pain simply...fades away..." - war phase, classic mode

Other Notes:

Will have paired endings with Byleth (any gender), Edelgard, Claude, Bernadetta, Felix, Sylvain, Lysithea, Marianne, Linhardt, Seteth, Flayn, and Hapi

Will have supports but no endings with Jeritza, and Cyril.

A-support with Sylvain will only be possible if both were present at the Battle of Conand Tower.

Favors Ginger Tea

Will excel at Sky Watch and Choir activities.

Is available for recruitment in both academy and war phases. Will default to fighting for the Church as a fully fledged Knight of Seiros but can be convinced by Byleth or Edelgard to defect to the Adrestian Empire.

If they are the one to land the killing blow on either Flayn and Seteth during the Crimson Flower, then both Flayn and Seteth will survive and retreat into hiding after the battle.

Thanks for making it this far! Have a Three Hopes design!

fe3h ui elements were downloaded from the Spriters Resource site!

portraits were done by following this tutorial by ramyeonguksu!

[docgold13]

Batman: The Animated Series - Paper Cut-Out Portraits and Profiles

More Talia al Ghul 

Although he had lived for centuries thanks to the rejuvenating powers of the Lazarus Pits, Ra’s al Ghul knew that he was not immortal and that he would eventually require an heir to continue the work of the Society of Shadows in his wake.  Ra’s had sired many sons over his long life yet none measured up and each proved a disappointment.  

Meanwhile, Ra’s daughter, Talia, had proven herself far an away to be the most competent, loyal, shrewd and effective of her father's lieutenants.  It was only Ra’s deeply seated sexism that prevented him from seeing Talia as the obvious choice to ultimately replace him as the Demon’s Head and leader of the Society of Shadows.  

Despite his flaws Talia remained dutiful to her father.  When Ra's desperation to extend his life led him down a ruinous path, Talia recruited Batman to assist her in saving her father from himself.  

Some time later, Talia aided her father in a new venture that sought to use a magical talisman to steal the powers of Superman and transfer them into Ra’s.  The plan nearly succeeded yet Batman interceded so to save Superman.  Both Talia and Ra’s appeared to perish in the ensuring struggle yet both managed to survive and would later return.  

In the end, Talia’s loyalty to her father was awarded with the cruelest twist of them all.  Talia agreed to sacrifice her own life so that Ra’s could transfer his sentience into her youthful body.   Talia's mind, her soul, was essentially erased, covered over by that of her father’s.  And now occupying a fresh, younger body, Ra’s was once more able to use the Lazarus Pits to maintain his youth and vigor.   

Many years past yet Ra’s sexist notions persisted.  He wanted to be a man again; yet not just any man but rather the one man whom he ever truly respected.  Hence he had his agents track down Bruce Wayne, who had long since retired from his role as Batman.  Posing as Talia, he invited Bruce to regain his vitality by way of the Lazarus Pit.  Ra’s ultimate plot was to restore Bruce to youth and then take over his body, transferring his essence into Bruce’s corporal form in the same way that he had taken over Talia.  

Aided by his new protégé, Terry McGinnis, Bruce was able to ferret out this terrible truth.  Talia was dead and her father's madness had finally consumed him beyond the point of no return.  A struggle ensued when Ra’s tried to force Bruce into the Lazarus Pit.  Terry rescued Bruce just as an electrical line fell into the pit, incinerated Ra’s.  Thus bringing a final ending to the tempestuous ordeals of both Talia al Ghul and her villainous father.    

Actresses Helen Slater and Olivia Hussey each provided the voice for Talia al Ghul with the tragic character first appearing in the forty-fourth episode of the first season of Batman: The Animated Series, ‘Off Balance.’        

[demonslayedher]

Why is it that demons are averse to wisteria? I have been trying to look into the meanings behind wisteria but I can only find what wisteria symbolises in European cultures. Is the relationship between demons and wisteria something that already exists in Japanese folklore, or something Gotoge decided, and if so, what might have been the reasoning/symbolism for choosing that particular plant over others?

AHA!!!! I knew I had written this up before, I just couldn't find it! I finally remembered that is was in my longer post theorizing that Muzan was from an offshoot of the Fujiwara clan! That wasn't exclusively about wisteria, but I'm copying-and-pasting here the long part that was, see below the cut. The Prof. Owada I refer to below is a retired Shizuoka University professor who wrote a book called “Japanese History of Demon Slayers” to directly capitalize on the success of Kimetsu no Yaiba, and to dive into a lot of ties between the series and what it may pay homage to throughout Japanese history and culture. It is not an official Shueisha publication and therefore not canon material, but it takes canon and fan theories into according pretty thoroughly. Since he's already done the breakdown of "why wisteria" I'm simply borrowing it. Short answer: No, this does not already exist in Japanese folklore and is unique to KnY. However, Gotouge usually has reasons for things and people love to ponder those reasons.

One such question is, why were wisteria lethal to demons? According to Prof. Owada’s research, there is no historical basis for this. Some of the talk online is that: 1. Wisteria are in fact poisonous, and consuming too much of them would cause vomiting and diarrhea (though I’ve also seen people make jam out of them because of the fragrance, so, like???) 2. Beans are thrown around at Setsubun to ward off demons (like so, Feat. Muzan and Kimetsu Beans), and wisteria are of the bean family 3. Wisteria like sunlight, so perhaps like Nichirin, they soak up some of the sun’s properties that are lethal to demons 4. In the language of flowers (Hanakotoba), wisteria symbolize kindness, welcomeness, refusing to leave someone’s side, being drunk with love, being straightforward and truthful, not losing the humanity in one’s heart, thereby containing a lot of meaning contrary to the conduct of demons Interesting, but some of its kind of a stretch. While still finding it a stretch to apply it to wisteria being poisonous to demons, Prof. Owada goes on to say that since ancient times, while the wisteria has some negative connotations of how it was sometimes written with characters meaning “doesn’t heal” (不治) and growing downward with smaller and smaller flowers like symbolize the slow downfall of a family line, it conversely also carries positive connotations of longevity and flourishing family due to the fact that its vines grow upward.

Now, you might picked up at some point that the Japanese word for wisteria is “fuji.” Not to be confused with Mt. Fuji (that’s written differently), it IS the same fuji as in “Fujiwara”: 藤.

Prof. Owada goes on to explore the association with the use of Wisteria crests in Kimetsu no Yaiba, especially on the houses of supporters of the Demon Slayer Corp. His recurring thesis is that the pandemic is partly responsible for Kimetsu no Yaiba’s popularity since demon legends have long since had origins in epidemics, and he supposes the Wisteria crest has a protective effect on the houses, similar to a talisman used in a lot of real life rituals for warding off illness and then often displays in or on the entries of houses to protect the family every year (I have one such item gifted to me, it stays by my doorway, along with a couple sticks of charcoal (but the culture of charcoal is a post for some other day)). The talisman is in reference to a god of Hindu/Chinese origins being treated with hospitality by the So clan, so although other families perished in disaster/disease, he promised to always protect the So clan descendants, so the talisman says “Descendants of the So Clan” so that any household may try to claim that divine protection. The gratitude-exchange of hospitality and protection and sure sounds familiar! Prof. Owada isn’t done yet. While the crest design used in Kimetsu no Yaiba isn’t an actual family crest in in real life, there are lots and lots and lots of family crests that use a wisteria design and have the character for “wisteria” in the name. Any time you hear “—tou”, like Satou, Saitou, or even Gotou, you can typically assume it’s 藤. It’s very common nowadays, but the first family to be granted the use of this name was the Fujiwara clan, when one of the pre-Heian and very powerful emperors granted their clan head this surname, which was a major honor, and it marked the start of the Fujiwara clan’s political dominance (there was already influence leading up to this, but meh, we like clear-cut stuff to simply centuries of history, don’t we?). Furthermore, although we often think of the Fujiwara clan for their influence at court, and we might think of the Minamoto clan for warrior heroes who fought demons, Prof. Owada concludes his argument of wisteria’s protective influence by pointed out a long list of Heian period Fujiwara warriors who also were the heroes of demon slaying legends, stating that their name has also long been tied with demon slayer culture.

[thefallofophanim]

ACT TWO - THE PETALS OF SIN

I added a prayer to my edifice of shame with each new incident - they multiplied at an unhoped-for speed. The human mind is surprisingly maellable; even I didn't know it could be that easily troubled. The clear water that once was the collective unconscious of the Silk is now tainted with the black, sorrowed ink of the anonymous Prophet I have become, and its lost followers can only drink the unholy beverage of my truth- a truth that will, at last, allow us to merge with the divine and feel in our luminous core what it means to be human.

The chain of incidents has deeply shaken the Order of the Silk, so much so that I opened this morning a written order giving me the obligation to receive, alongside Semione, individuals in need of confession. To do so, I had to bid a temporary farewell to my black robe, and proudly but superficially don the true scribe's clothing, similar in shape but gleaming white; which would normally have been given to me at the end of my apprenticeship, by the end of winter. I would say "when I am finally a Man", but a Scribe's life is no comparable to a Man's. We are ostracized, sacrificed, and maniacally worshipped as we agonize on our shrine.

These moments don't mark my thoughts, nor my emotions. I remember neither the hollow confessions that could not ever possibly interest our Lord, nor the pleading faces of sinners - I know them all too well. Each one of them, more than they would imagine, or expect. Years and years of observation, of silence, and it is now my duty to feign ignorance. For them, for the Ophanim, and for my own self.

Surprisingly, wearing that new colour had an instant effect on my behavior. My shy, withdrawn temperament gave way to a certain charisma to which the impure ones are sensitive. The broken scribe, searching for a talisman in pieces of stained glass, gave way to a prince of the heavens, guided and worshipped by a choir of Angels who put as much faith in him as men put in God. I am losing myself. I am drowning, for the sake of a better tomorrow- glorious days unmatched by any work of art. Semione was the most sensitive to this change. "White certainly fits you well", they said, their heart seemingly full of pride at the sight of my new self. And yet... you can only fool a mentor for so long. "

What is the meaning of this?" They asked harshly, scornfully tossing the sheets marked with my ink onto our shared desk. Their voice is hoarse, their eyes marked by fatigue. I don't even have to look down to know what they're blaming me for. "My duty." My response is scathing, though I mean it sincerely. Suffering Semione's wrath (justified wrath, I admit!) is profoundly disturbing, and my defense is as pathetic as my actions. "Your duty, as you call it, is responsible for the chaos The Silk is going through. All the fear, all the death. Every moment of it." They articulate every word, dominated by wrath and shame. "I didn't expect you to be that insightful, Lysander", They continue. "Not so soon."

"Is that so."

Silently, we challenge each other with our eyes. So much to say, so few words. Mutual incomprehension, and the lord knows that Semione knows me as if I was their own- hence their ability to see through me so soon, despite my best efforts at discretion. Their facade breaks a little when they whisper, "Don't do this. You have to grieve."

"I saw you", I say without even paying attention to their plea. "In the land of Silhouettes." Her eyes widen and I see in her gaze all the horror of the world, something completely beyond us. A divine horror. "I saw you. So young, and already so full of talent. You are remarkable, Semione, truly remarkable, a lot more than I could ever be." They take a step back and I get up, piercing through them with a morbidly insisting gaze. "So why did you walk away from Them? They would've welcomed you, without an ounce of hypocrisy unlike our fellow humans. Why did you refuse to hear their chant?"

They swallow, and for a moment I catch myself believing they will faint. "You have to walk away, too, Lysander." "I have no reason to." "You have every reason to. Do you even know what indulging into the irrational means?" I do not answer. I can only smile at them, in a way that I want to be reassuring, but their anger is a fire's at this point, consuming. They violently overturn the pile of sheets they have brought, which fly in all directions, crumpled. They refuse to look at me, suffocating in their own torment, before turning away and walking out the door. "Clean all of this up. If I can't stop you, I can at least slow you down. Do think about the reasons why I refused the Celestials."

"Only to do the same as me, in the end", I sarcastically let out. "Don't think I didn't notice your own influence in those so-called historical, or sacred texts. Who is the real threat to humanity, after all- the one slapping it with heinous truth, or the one cradling it with deceitful lies?"

Semione leaves the room without a word, their quick footsteps disappearing down the monastery's spiral staircase, leaving me alone amid a flurry of loose, inked sheets. The Ophanim laugh.

[ambermotta]

Protection Magic: Some Important Concepts

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Long post based on my experience and research. Meant to be informative. I don't claim to know the absolute truth.

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Protection magic is any type of work meant to protect A from B, and there are many ways that this can be done: prayers, charms, talismans, tokens, casting circles, setting up wards, visualization. The list can go on and on because it can be done in many different ways and combining many different methods.

But methods are not the topic of this post today. No, today I would like to talk about some key concepts to keep in mind before getting started on making protections and keeping them effective.

The Importance of Cleansing

Before doing any protection work I like to do a cleansing. Imagine you have an open water bottle, and because it was open, a lot of dirt has found its way into it over time. You decide to seal the bottle so no dirt comes in, but you don't pour out the old water, so you end up sealing it in. Yes, you'll keep more dirt from coming in, but the muck is still there.

It is easier to see this being applied to a physical location, but I personally also apply this to personal protective tokens. I feel they work better when you are taking care of your energies by doing regular cleanses and managing internal negativity.

Important Definitions

Protection ≠ Banishing ≠ Cleansing

I feel a lot of people are under the impression that these are all the same. I think they all work together towards a similar goal, but their jobs are different.

Protection: protecting something from something

Banishing: driving out entities

Cleansing: clearing out energy

You can do cleansing, banishing, and protection at the same time, but that doesn't mean they are the same. You can do a ritual including all of them, but you can also just do a cleansing or just do warding (which is a form of protection).

Note: cleansing is not restricted to “negative energy”. You can cleanse any kind of energy. Exemple: a friend of yours decides tarot is not for them and hands down their deck to you. If you wanna work with that deck it is highly advisable that you do a thorough cleansing of it and then infuse it/consecrate it with the energies you want. It's not that your friend has “bad” energy, it's just that you might not want to work with the same energies they have, or use a tool that has someone else's energy in it.

Not Necessarily a Lazy Job

One important thing with protection magic is that no matter how strong or how successful are at doing it is that it is not failproof. I have yet to see protection work that lasts forever, and there may be a few reasons for it.

Negativity also comes from within

Imagine you have a fish inside an open fish tank. Just like the bottle example earlier, you decide to put a lid on so you prevent leaves from falling into the tank and polluting the water. However, there's a fish, a living being in there, and it produces waste. It is impossible for the fish to live without producing waste. If you don’t regularly clean the water, ammonia and fecal matter will build up.

In this analogy, you are the fish. I am the fish. Humans literally cannot live without ever having a negative thought or feeling, it is part of our existence and we have to live with it. No one lives in constant bliss.

That doesn't mean we have to live in the muck though. That's why cleansing yourself is important.

No one is immune to the environment

Here I have another analogy for you. Imagine you're facing a harsh winter, but you are safe in the security and warmth of your house. Your house is protected from the cold so you don't even mind it. However, you have to go outside. You dress up, go out and you feel very, very cold. You could perhaps wear something warmer, but it will never feel the same as home. Yet it is better than going outside naked, no?

Same thing for energies. You can have protection, but depending on how strong the energy in the environment is you are sure to feel it to at least some degree. However it's best to have some protection than no protection at all.

And there is a difference between Feeling an energy and dwelling in it vs Feeling an energy and not letting it latch onto you.

Energy can wear off, and new energy can build up

Energy is ever changing, ever moving. If you do a strong protection spell once, it can last for a long while, but if you forget about it it will likely lose a lot of its strength over time. Some of what you put out there might wear off and be substituted by something else. The energy can also grow stale, which means it becomes less effective.

But if you do a strong spell every month you will not only make your protections stronger, but also constantly renew the energies and not let them stagnate.

So keep doing cleanses and every now and then give a boost to your protections so they are refreshed and recharged.

Note on "Negative Energy"

One of the main reasons someone might choose to do a protection ritual and a cleansing is to ward off negative energy. But is that really needed? What is "negative energy"?

Negative energy might feel like a sense of heaviness, dread, pain, sadness, feeling ill, angry, sad or anxious. Emotions produce and attract what we can call "negative energy", the same way it can make us feel those things.

And while I personally think nobody wants to feel them, we must understand they are not always bad at their core.

The uncomfortable feelings they can cause may also be a gateway for healing and transformation. Pain tells us there is something that needs to be worked on, that needs change.

If you are feeling negative, ask yourself why. Why does this bother me? What makes me feel this way? What can I learn from this pain?

If you happen to feel negative energy, it is good to cleanse and protect. But I advise you to always look for the source to see what can be done about it or what you can learn from it. Don't just try to use spellcasting to run away from your shit. Own your shit. Deal with it.

Otherwise, it will keep coming back no matter how much protection you have.

Conclusion

It is impossible to always be free from “negative energy” all the time, no matter how strong your protections are. But protections can absorb some of the blows that you would otherwise take and ease the ones you were going to take no matter what.

Protection magic alone will not solve all your problems. It is a great tool to help you keep your center and remain grounded, but it is not usually something you do once and forget. It is a continuous, ever evolving work, meant to be used in conjunction with other types of spellwork.

And most importantly, it can give you some comfort through the many trials of life.

Thank you for reading, and good luck on your path! ♡

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 The Last Love Song Book Review 🦇

❓ #QOTD What's your favorite love song?❓ 🦇 After graduating, Mia Peters is given a letter from her late mother, country music star Tori Rose — the woman who left the small town of Sunset Cove to pursue her dream. That first letter sends her on a scavenger hunt across town to find more, each one like a puzzle piece, adding to the hazy image Mia has of the woman behind hit albums and fame. Each letter brings Mia closer to her mother, but further away from her best friend and sort-of-girlfriend Britt, who is leaving in a few days to pursue the same dream. Can Mia unravel her mother's past, face her present, and decide on a future outside of Sunset Cove? Or will the truth leave her disappointed and trapped in the small town her mother left behind?

💜 Kalie Holford does a stunning job at sparking vivacious life into Tori Rose through letters and journal entries. You experience the magnetism everyone in Sunset Cove once did, and understand why the entire town reveres her. Readers are bound to connect and empathize with both Tori and her daughter Mia in this dual POV/dual timeline story. Reading it, I was instantly tugged back to 2005, at the memory of reading Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes. There's such exquisite balance between the past and present in this story, Tori's puzzle-pieced past simultaneously soothing Mia's concerns about leaving Sunset Cove while adding to them — a reminder that your choices and mistakes MUST be your own.

💜 That beautiful balance creates parallels between Mia's story and her mother's. We even see parallels between Mia and her unknown father. Both run away, fear being brave or taking a risk, and it holds them back from their true potential. Mia is so eager NOT to repeat her mother's history that she second-guesses herself constantly, afraid to make her own mistakes. Mia not only learns from her mother's journal entries, but also the lives she touched — proving the domino effect we can have on another person's lives. At the end, though...it's also a story about regret. We aren't our mistakes, but what we learn from them. It's a story about growth after the fact.

💜 "I will never regret chasing my dream. I regret the people I hurt. I regret the bridges I burned. I regret losing who I was in an attempt to find someone else in everyone else and within me."

💜 The lyrics from Mia's music AND her mothers add an extra layer to this story. For the record, I did cry (reading the story's literal Last Long Song), so if you're sappy like me, have tissues at the ready.

💙 Holford beautifully encapsulates that pivitol "coming-of-age" moment that empowers any YA story. The best friends to lovers aspect is messy, realistic, and pure; a series of stolen, secret kisses, failed relationships with others in between, the fear of either ruining or losing an unspoken love story. You'll root for Mia and Britt, cry at Mia's side, and feel full of hope by the end of it all. Also, Mia's grandmothers? They are everything.

🦇 This is a powerful, atmospheric debut that's bursting with heart and soul. Recommended for fans of Sadie, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, and Mama Mia. And, beyond a doubt, all you Swifties.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 🎵 Bisexual FMC 🎶 Sapphic Romance / Best Friends to Lovers 🎵 Lyrics 🎶 Mother/Daughter 🎵 Dual POV 🎶 Dual Timeline 🎵 Grief & Self-Discovery 🎶 Contemporary YA 🎵 Debut

🦇 Major thanks to the author @kalieholford and publisher @blackstonepublishing for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

💬 Quotes ❝ All my life I’ve collected pieces of Tori Rose like breadcrumbs, lyrics like talismans, stories like safety nets. ❞ ❝ "Really think about it without the fear and the lies and the telling yourself you can’t have it.” ❞ ❝ “You’re going to be a star, you know that, right?” She shakes her head. “Stars burn out. I want to be my own goddamn galaxy.” ❞ ❝ She’s the personification of a love song, and I can’t get her out of my head. ❞ ❝ The world raises girls to be competitors not constellations. ❞ ❝ We burst and we break. We are dichotomies and paradoxes and lies and happily never afters. We are an ending that wants to be a beginning and a beginning that never got to start quite right. We are everything and she is everything and only I know that I truly wish I could go with her. ❞

[archiveikemen]

Bonds of The Past: Chapter 1

Abe no Yasuchika • Sutokuin/Akihito

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

Read this before interacting┊aikm’s Genjiden Glossary

— Many years ago, in Kyoto.

Akihito: Once again— congratulations on your promotion to Head Onmyōji, Yasuchika.

Sitting in front of Ibuki and Akihito was Yasuchika, dressed in his formal Onmyōji attire.

Akihito: It’s amazing that you got promoted so fast in such a short period of time.

Yasuchika: Ah, no, no, no… it’s all thanks to your help and my abilities that I was able to make it to this stage.

Ibuki: You’re not being modest at all, you even discredited me.

Yasuchika: You did nothing apart from harassing me.

Yasuchika: You used to say things like “the preparatory phase is making me bored”, then use it as an excuse to fool around.

Ibuki: Oops? But I wonder who was the guy who went snooping around for your opponents’ weaknesses, while a certain someone left to get some rare sorcery tool from the outskirts?

Akihito: If you want him to thank you with tears in his eyes, you should work hard on a regular basis.

Ibuki: Like you, Akihito?

Akihito brushed off Ibuki’s mockery with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders.

Ibuki: Must be hard for you to build up your network without revealing that you’re the “former emperor”.

Ibuki: And yet you managed to gather quite a large number of followers. You really are a sinister man.

Yasuchika: Don’t lump Akihito-sama together with yourself, yeah?

Yasuchika intervened before Akihito could respond.

Ibuki: All I did was tell the truth.

Akihito: It’s just that there are people in the corrupted Imperial Court, especially the younger ones, whose eyes have yet to be completely clouded.

Akihito: I gathered those who share our beliefs, guided them, and radicalised them… then repeated the cycle.

Akihito: That took me quite a while.

Yasuchika: …

Yasuchika suddenly got to his feet.

Yasuchika: We can finally proceed with the next part of our plan.

Yasuchika: Me becoming the Head Onmyōji was just step one. Therefore—

Yasuchika: Shall we go, Akihito-sama? To the place you belong.

Akihito: … Certainly.

Akihito took Yasuchika’s hand and stood up from his seat.

Ibuki naturally did the same.

Akihito then said to Yasuchika who led them out of the room,

Akihito: Thank you, Yasuchika.

Yasuchika: No need to thank me. You’ve done a lot more for me, so this is nothing compared to that.

Akihito: That’s…

Akihito furrowed his beautiful eyebrows in annoyance at Yasuchika’s response, which he gave without even looking back.

Yasuchika • Akihito: …

Ibuki: Oh for petes sake. Can you two not ruin the big day by dampening the mood?

Ibuki smacked both of them on their backs, shoving them onto the hallway.

Yasuchika: Oww

Akihito: … That hurt.

Ibuki: Wow. You really have such wonderful chemistry… Oi, Yasuchika, put that damn talisman away.

A single action from the demon was enough to dispel the awkwardness that had developed between Yasuchika and Akihito.

They stared up at him, and he casually extended his two hands.

Ibuki: It’s your big day, so go have some fun. Your life spans are short.

Akihito: That’s a very wild and demon-like way of thinking, but you have a point.

Akihito: The path we took to make this far certainly wasn't smooth, but the journey ahead of us will be as rough, if not rougher.

Akihito: Therefore, at the very least… keep smiling.

Yasuchika: — Yes, Akihito-sama.

Yasuchika and Akihito looked into each other's eyes, as if trying to find the memories of their past together.

…

Court Noble: How can such a young child create a sorcery tool…?

Head of Abe Clan: Of course, and don’t worry about its effectiveness. “This” over here is better than most Onmyōji out there.

Head of Abe Clan: Come on, Yasuchika. Show us that thing.

Yasuchika, the boy who had been politely standing next to the Clan Head, smiled at the court noble. That smile was completely void of emotion.

Yasuchika: Here’s the box.

The court noble’s eyes twinkled at the sight of the tightly sealed box presented to him.

Court Noble: Can I open it?

Yasuchika: This is one of the most powerful sorcery tools I’ve ever made. It’ll be better if you keep it sealed until you truly need it.

Yasuchika: If you bury this box in the residence of your enemy, the place will become haunted within three months.

Yasuchika: Instructions for the necessary rituals are written on a piece of paper inside the box.

Court Noble: Wow… this boy surely is the rumored child prodigy. He will be so useful to your clan.

Head of Abe Clan: Indeed. It was worth my efforts to “educate” him.

Yasuchika stared with a deadpan face at the adults who were over the moon after treating him as nothing more than a mere tool…

Yasuchika: …!

His eyes widened in surprise when he noticed a man standing in a corner of the room.

Akihito: Good evening, Yasuchika.

Yasuchika: — Akihito-san.

[crystalelemental]

Unicorn successfully Overlorded. Game's pretty good! Alain's team remained instrumental, but there's one other I'd like to talk about that really stood out by the end.

Celeste

Boreas' Axe (+1 AP, +10 Initiative/Evasion)

Amethyst Pendant (+1 AP, +1 PP)

Lifeblood Talisman (HP +20)

Ervelda's Talisman (HP +30, HP +10%)

AP skills set Fatal Dive for use any time she's at 75% or more HP, Aerial Smite next if the target's HP is over 100%, High Swing prioritize Cav.

PP is open, with Griphon Glide, Feathering, and Wing Rest.

Liza

Kingsbow Bastorik (All stats +5)

Azure Crest Greatshield (+1 PP, Guard Efficiency +50%)

Elite Beret (+12% Atk)

Cloth Gauntlets (+30% guard rate)

AP uses Toxic Bolt on armor, Heavy Bolt on front, Power Bolt if she's got 1AP or less.

PP is free,w ith Medicinal Aid, Aid Cover, and Quick Reload.

Yunifi

Apeliotes' Bow (AP +1, Initiaitive/Evasion +10)

Sapphire Pendant (+2 PP)

Warrior's Medallion (+2 Atk, +10% Atk, +10% crit rate)

Retalliation Earrings (+40 damage on retaliation attacks)

AP is Mystic Arrow if there are armors, Sonic Shaft to prioritize Flying. I do not use Glacial Rain, I consider Charge moves a mistake.

PP is Snow-white Strike if foe is frozen, Eagle Eye if there are scouts to ensure the hit, and Triple Counter as the free action.

Tatiana

Precious Rod (grants Limited Heal, which can overheal allies)

Undead Ring (+1 PP, Poison Immunity, Deathblow Immunity)

Silk Hood (+10% Mag Atk)

Royal Scarf (+30 evasion)

AP does Limited Heal for free, Sacred Heal if debuffed, and Heal as the backup for lowest percentage.

PP is Parting Resurrection free, Lifesaver if she's under 50% HP, Refresh if afflicted, and Quick Heal to lowest HP percentage.

Lhinalagos

Spellsteel Bow (it's a regular bow, this game doesn't like elf-based weapons)

Carnelian Pendant (+1 AP)

Lapis Pendant (+1 PP)

Dawn Robes (grants Diurnal Impetus, which grants +20% Mag Atk broadly, and +1 AP during the day)

Mystic Conferral is granted to the front row as needed, while Icicle Arrow is the main focus. Wind Arrow exists for 1AP actions.

All of his PP skills are free. Diurnal Impetus, Pure Field, and Selfless Heal.

Strategy I want it known I spent like an hour looking through options to arrive at this, literally one (1) map before the random training battle where a Featherstaff shows you this exact idea.

Celeste! I like her a lot! I really wanted to get her to work, but with her general skills, she really seemed like she was only good for fighting cavs. Evasion is decent, but her raw power wasn't anything exceptional. That's when Fatal Dive caught my attention. It's impossible to guard, and deals flat damage. With the Ervelda Talisman and another HP booster, Celeste hits fantastic HP. Add the Dew, and that's another +10. Mine is currently sitting at 145 HP, dealing 72 damage to a full column with this swing. On her own, she's excellent at clearing options.

Liza exists to block hits and help recover. In all truth, I could probably swap Tatiana for Sanatio, who has natural Overheal and Holy Cradle to endure a hit, which would pop the fuck off with Yunifi. But it's late and I'll make that adjustment tomorrow, I was just rushing to finish. Anyway, I bring this up because Liza's guard also recovers HP to keep Celeste going, and if we could endure, Yunifi would be really, really funny.

Anyway, Yunifi is damage dealer 2. She is on the front line, relying on high evasion the overheal effect to survive. The retaliation is what we're aiming for. It hits three people at once, for full damage. With Retaliation Earrings, this is an incredibly hard-hitting attack. She also capitalizes on the freeze that Lhinalagos applies with massive shots.

Tatiana herself exists to overheal. She's a decent cleric besides, but I do have to admit, Sanatio is likely a better choice for the stage. Natural overheal means flexibility with the staff, and Endure effects are really good. But, on the flip side, Parting Resurrection is game-changing for an actual stage. Even if a character drops, we can revive them and keep plowing through the stage. That is, I think, the real value here.

Celeste took out like 60% of the final map. That is not an exaggeration. She could beat pretty much anything without taking almost any damage, and thanks to Parting Resurrection, even if someone did drop, they're right back the next fight. Endurance considerations were more significant than her fighting ability. The only team to do as well as Alain's. Entire teams I had expected to perform wonderfully just fell apart while Celeste tore the stage apart. I was initially fearful that I wouldn't have much that Celeste could accomplish in a team. But here we are, as the second most useful composition we devised. I'm extremely satisfied with how this turned out.

[suspiciouscorpsicle]

mdzs/Natsume fusion notes:

-have lwj & wwx meet as kids? wwx is open about being able to see yokai (pick some Chinese examples for later, but this'll be quicker for notes) & lwj is the only one who knows he's not a liar bc lwj is sensitive enough that the presence of yokai makes him ill? or maybe lwj doesn't yet know that that's what causes his illness. might work better, bc then his first impression of wwx is of someone who makes up wild tales and acts irrationally and talks to things that aren't there. they shouldn't be close at this point. maybe make a mention about lwj interacting with wwx immediately after wwx has been interacting with a yokai. mention that lwj had begun feeling unwell, and it gets worse when he looks directly into wwx's eyes. but, like. maybe be subtle with this.

-wwx is the one who leaves. he's being bounced around among relatives. actually, that brings up an interesting question. even tho this isn't going to be a 1:1 fusion to start with, I really don't want to put the Jiangs in place of the Fujiwaras bc the Fujiwaras are SO KIND TO NATSUME ;u; switch it up so that the town ends up being where wwx goes to college? the jiangs took him in & he's attending with a scholarship + pocket money from jfm + a job. means he's living in the dorms.

-lwj is attending the same college. the Lans are monks, and there's a temple run by a branch family where he's staying. lwj shouldn't be able to banish yokai, so maybe lxc went around randomly chanting sutras to purify the area. (check to see if this is also something that might have a basis in Chinese culture. seems like it should, but double check.) wwx comes out to see what all the yokai are making a fuss about, and finds lwj. (make their first meeting something memorable enough for wwx to be delighted to see him.) lwj leaves the encounter feeling a bit dizzy. his family has since told him that his sickness is due to spiritual sensitivity to yokai, and he notes that even tho lxc had purified the area around the temple for him, after speaking with wwx, he'd started to feel faint effects.

-if looking at wwx's eyes is what's causing the dissonance, then that's going to have to be addressed. can lwj build up a tolerance? has he already been doing so, and lxc was just being overprotective? can one of wwx's yokai buddies provide some sort of charm or talisman that would relieve the symptoms in this case? (the wens as yokai, tho!)

-scene I really want to get to--lwj and wwx washing up together at the sink in the temple bathroom. wwx stayed the night, or is going to stay the night. lwj looks up into the large mirror as they stand side-by-side, and as wwx grins at him in the reflection, lwj notices that wwx's pupils are slitted. he's shocked, and turns to look, but wwx just turns as well, still smiling. there's nothing odd in his expression, only happiness, but lwj starts to feel dizzy, his stomach gets that fluttery feeling. wwx's eyes look normal, but there are stories about mirrors showing the truth of things. perhaps, like the yokai, it takes a certain level of spiritual awareness to see his eyes as they really are. lwj's been feeling strange around wwx off and on the whole time, but he put it down to falling in love. now so many of those physical reactions can be attributed to something about wwx possibly being part yokai. it feels like the ground has fallen out from beneath him. he doesn't know if he can trust his own heart.

-do the Lans have a one true love thing going on here? is it possible it's related to yokai? either as a curse or a blessing?

-as far as wwx goes, he doesn't lie about being able to see yokai, but he has learned that things are easier if he doesn't react to them around people, and doesn't advertise that he can see them. when they show up around the college, he's calmer about it than Natsume is.

-oh!! keep in the bit with the yokai fish pond! wwx can draw them for lwj.

-is there any way we can work in the Moon-Splitting Festival? I'd love for there to be an excuse for lwj to see wwx all dolled up during a yokai competition. lwj would have to be able to see the others, tho. what allowed Tanuma to see what was going on during the mansion gathering? or was that an exorcist thing where some of the shikigami got loose? lots of eps to rewatch in order to work all this out.

-maybe work in lwj getting strong enough not to be affected by wwx's eyes with wwx falling for him. as they interact, lwj stays by wwx's side to support him when things get sticky. he's the first one to both believe wwx and to have no ulterior motives. the matoba exorcists (Jin clan) want wwx's power & the Book of Names under their control. some of his classmates who found out were only wanting to see yokai, either for personal interest or to somehow use proof of the supernatural to get rich and famous. who's in Natori's role, tho? do we need anyone for that? I guess it could be jgy...that would give him ties to the exorcists, but also leave room for him to be on good terms with lxc. also, I never did fully trust Natori. I think he would act in what he feels is Natsume's best interest, disregarding Natsume's choices or what might be best for the book.

-ohhh am I gonna lose the whole mask aesthetic by switching to Chinese critters? booooo I like that aesthetic.

-instead of the ep where Natsume loses his ability to see yokai, we could do a curse where wwx loses his sight entirely. maybe that's when lwj kisses him. wwx is hanging out in the forest, waiting for the yokai who cursed him to approach, but it's lwj who comes upon him. maybe this is lwj's turning point? he accepts his feelings, punishes himself for stealing a kiss, then begins working in earnest to reach a point where he can not only look wwx in the eyes without feeling ill, but actually support and protect him when necessary.

-OH GOD A-YUAN IS THE LITTLE FOX KIT

[honourablejester]

Homebrew Godly Magic Items

Instead of items for my homebrew deities, I thought I’d do some magic items put out into the world by existing D&D deities. So, one from the gnome pantheon, because I really enjoy the gnome pantheon, just in general, and one from Leira, Goddess of Illusion, because her, Savras and Selûne are probably my favourites of the Faerunian pantheon.

MEDDLER’S COIN

Wonderous Item, Rare (requires attunement by a creature of non-evil alignment)

Once upon a time, the gnome deity Nebelun the Meddler, by reasons and means of her own, came into possession of a minor dragon’s hoard. Baffled as to what to do with this pile of coins, she decided to approach two other members of her pantheon, Gaerdal Ironhand and Baravar Cloakshadow, and ask them what benefits they believed should be conferred upon them. Gaerdal argued for defence, a ward or shield that would protect. Baravar suggested luck, a charm that would aid the best outcome. Nebelun, enjoying both suggestions, decided on both, and abruptly tossed the hoard into the air, crying out for her compatriots to bless the coins as they fell. Startled, both Gaerdal and Baravar threw out their blessings, transforming the coins as they rained back to earth. Rather than transforming half the hoard each, their blessings merged and granted part of both to every coin. Nebelun, delighted by this tiny element of chaos, thanked them effusively, and left to scatter her new hoard across the world, to where it would do the most good, or perhaps cause the most chaos. Or, perhaps, to wherever she absent-mindedly dropped one in passing.

A Meddler’s Coin has two sides, one marked with a hand, the other with a hooded cloak. While attuned to the coin, once per day, you can use an action to flip the coin (roll a d2) and gain a benefit depending on which side it lands on:

Ward. If the coin lands on the iron hand (even), you gain a +3 bonus to your AC for 1 hour.

Charm. If the coin lands on the cloak shadow (odd), you gain advantage on all saving throws for 1 hour.

TALISMAN OF THE MISTSHADOW

Wonderous Item, Legendary (requires attunement)

There exist spells and magic in this world to defend thoughts and guard the mind. For Leira, however, the Mistshadow, the Goddess of Illusion, such magics often seem rather … unsubtle. A glaring absence of readable thought is as much a signal of something potentially hidden as an open admission of guilt. How are lies to be believed from someone so suspicious? Thus, for her most favoured liars, it is said that she has created a talisman, or perhaps talismans, to better aid in their deceptions.

A Talisman of the Mistshadow can take many forms, almost all innocuous. Perhaps a slip of paper or cloth bearing an illusory symbol. Perhaps a silver thread woven into a garment. Perhaps a ‘leaf’ caught in the hair. Once attuned to a talisman, you gain the following benefits:

You are automatically aware of any effect that would sense your emotions or read your thoughts.

You can lie in your thoughts as well as with your words: any effect used to sense your emotions or read your thoughts will hear and sense only what you wish them to hear and sense.

If you are subjected to the Zone of Truth spell, regardless of the results of your Charisma saving throw, the caster of the spell will believe you have failed the save.

The resonance of truth is blurred for you: creatures with the ability to automatically detect lies, such as certain celestials, can only detect them from you if they succeed on a passive Wisdom (Insight) or Intelligence (Investigation) check against your passive Charisma (Deception).