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brynnwrites · 2 years

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red tank top - emily prentiss

warnings: suggestive content, nothing explicit

You couldn't keep your eyes off her if you tried. And you were trying. Hard.

It's not like you could help it. The snug red tank top might as well have been the tempting fruit from the garden of Eden. Apple red and oh so sinful.

"Eyes up here," Emily's musical voice teased with a joking smile.

You jolted, your eyes jerking to meet hers. Your cheeks flamed, like a teenager who had been caught looking at a magazine they shouldn't have.

"I'm just teasing," she knocked your shoulder gently, prodding a stilted laugh from you. Her lips turned down into a frown. "You okay?"

"Huh, me?" You chirped, fiddling with the rings on your fingers. "Yeah. I-I'm fine."

"Okay," she chuckled lightly, wrapping an arm around you. "Why don't we head back to the hotel for a drink, yeah? Celebrate another success."

You just smiled and nodded, allowing her to toe you back to the SUVs. The other team members followed suit, murmuring in agreement about drinks. It had been a tough case—you all definitely deserved to celebrate the lives saved.

You were squished between Morgan and Emily in the backseat. Your face still felt hot, especially given the proximity to your very attractive best friend. You watched her delicate fingers tighten their grip on the handle above the window as the vehicle hit a bump, and you felt your whole body tense up.

"Right, Y/N?" Morgan asked, giving your shoulder a bump.

"Huh?" You definitely had not heard what he was talking about.

"Okay, what's wrong?" Emily chuckled, but she sounded worried. "You've been jumpy and spaced out since we caught the guy earlier. Is something bothering you?"

Her eyes were wide with concern and one of her hands moved to grip your knee. She thought you might have been upset from the case. She had no idea.

You gulped. "No, no, I'm fine, I promise. Just a little tired is all."

She nodded understandingly. "Maybe you should skip drinks and go to bed then. It's been a long week. I might join you myself."

The thought of heading up to bed with Emily while the rest of the team had drinks in the hotel bar made your heart quicken. "Oh, I wouldn't want to miss out on the party."

"I don't think there will be a party tonight," Morgan snorted. "Rossi's already asleep in the passenger seat. Go on and rest, I'm sure most of us will head that way sooner than later."

The SUV stopped in front of the hotel and Emily pulled you by the hand. "Come on, sleepy thing."

She didn't allow you to protest, on a mission to get you the rest you pretended to need. There was no way you could back out now and admit that you weren't that sleepy at all.

"If you're really intent on drinking tonight," Emily spoke as she opened the door to your shared hotel room, "we can order a bottle of wine up and watch a movie."

"Yeah, sure," you spoke absentmindedly, watching the material of her tank top shift as she reached up to take off her earrings.

You knew you had to get a grip on yourself. It was just a piece of clothing. On a person that you had immense feelings for.

She eyed you suspiciously as you marched over to your go bag, digging around for your pajamas. "Okay, seriously. What is up with you?"

You shrugged, not looking at her as you fished out the rest of your toiletries. "I'm fine, Em."

You could tell she didn't believe you for a second, being the damn good profiler that she was. You didn't give her time to push the subject, scampering toward the bathroom. "I'm gonna shower. Go ahead and order wine up and pick a movie."

You shut the door behind you and locked it, taking a deep breath. You muttered to yourself about pulling yourself together. Usually you were good about keeping your feelings for Emily hidden deep down but today—that God forsaken red tank top—had you struggling.

You showered off the grime of the day. It had been a hot one on the west coast of California, and the takedown was grueling. It felt like you were putting on new skin as you washed your body, melting into the warm shower spray.

You wrung your hair out as you stepped into fresh underwear and your silky pajamas. You gave yourself a silent pep talk in the mirror with a steeling deep breath before walking out into the room.

Your breathing stuttered, seeing Emily had kept the tank top on, opting only to change into a pair of sleep shorts. She was sat atop your bed, reclining against the headboard with her legs crossed, a red bottle and two glasses next to her.

"Come on," she patted the empty side of the bed, remote in hand. "I found your favorite—Mean Girls."

You snorted a laugh. She knew that even though the movie wasn't technically your favorite, it always cheered you up.

You eased onto the bed next to her, watching intently as she poured some wine into your glass and handed to you. She filled her own and she clinked it against yours.

"To another successful case," she toasted.

"Hear, hear!" You cheered, taking a sip at the same time.

You sat in comfortable silence as you watched the opening of the movie, when suddenly Emily cleared her throat.

"So," she spoke slowly, "are you ever gonna tell me what's going on with you today?"

You groaned, swallowing the mouthful of the drink you had and setting your glass on the nightstand. "Emily, I told you—"

"You're fine, I know. I call bullshit," she chuckled, nudging your leg with a painted toe. "I know it's not just because you're tired. You've barely been able to look at me or talk to me most of the day. Have I done something wrong?"

Your eyes widened. "No!" It came out louder than you meant to and lowered your voice. "No, Em, you haven't done anything wrong. It's just...me?"

She looked even more confused. "What do you mean?"

You groaned, leaning your head back against the headboard with your eyes closed. "Forget it, really. It's nothing."

She huffed, turning to face you with her legs tucked up beneath her. "It's not nothing. Obviously something is bothering you and you're not telling me what it is. I'm your best friend, you can tell me anything."

"That's the problem!" You said, frustrated. Before you could think, words came tumbling out. "You're my best friend. I can't tell you what it is because..."

"Because what?" She asked, inching closer. She was like a dog with a bone now, not going to rest until she got the truth from you.

"Because I'm not supposed to feel like this about my best friend," you mumbled, eyes squeezed shut still, bringing a hand up to cover them for good measure. You didn't want to see her face at your admission.

Her words came out low and reverent. "Feel like what?"

You brought your other hand up to scrub down your face with a frustrated sound. "You know what I'm saying, Em. Don't make it more embarrassing than it is."

"No, I really don't know," she said, placing a hand on your knee. "I need you to say it."

The air in the room turned thick and electric in a matter of seconds. You inhale sharply, still not daring to look at her as you turn your gaze to the ceiling.

"That damn red tank top," you mumble, as both a curse and a prayer.

She laughs disbelievingly, looking down and pulling at the neckline. "This old thing? That's what's got you all worked up?"

You groan in both frustration and eternal embarrassment. "No—I mean, yeah—but like, it's just you all the time and..."

Your hands have come back up to cover your face amidst your rambling, wanting nothing more than to sink down into the mattress and let it swallow you whole.

Soft hands wrap around your wrists and gently tug at them. "Look at me, pretty girl."

Your entire body flushes at her raspy tone, not to mention the nickname. You'd heard her call Spencer "Pretty Boy" in jest but this—this was different.

You reluctantly let her drag your hands away from your face as you cracked an eye to look at her. Her loose curls framed her face so perfectly, her rosy red bottom lip tucked up between her teeth. Those dark eyes that could easily intimidate serial killers were soft and full of sweet emotion, bracketed by dark, thick lashes. Not to mention her strong jaw and perfectly pointed nose—if Emily Prentiss was anything, she was stunning.

"Hi," you whispered, because what else could you say? With her hands still gently circling your wrists and her eyes piercing your gaze, you had very little cognitive function left.

Her hands released your wrists to cup your cheeks. She smiled softly, "Hi. How long have you been feeling this way?"

You swallowed thickly. "Realized it a few months ago, but I think since I met you."

Her smile widens as she brushes her thumbs over the apples of your cheeks. "And to think I was the only one."

"Huh?" You were confused. There was no way she...

"I've wanted you since the moment you walked into the BAU," she admitted, leaning in closer, your foreheads almost touching. "I just never thought it would be mutual."

You let out a long breath, feeling as though you could finally breath easy knowing she felt the same way. Her eyes flickered between your stunned gaze and your parted lips.

Your voice came out high and strained. "Kiss me, Em?"

"With pleasure," she smirked, closing the minuscule gap between your lips.

Your body instantly lit up, like a million little lights on a Christmas tree. A knot formed in your stomach as she licked into your mouth tentatively, moving so she was nearly straddling you. Your hands nervously slid over her hips to clutch at her waist, pulling her in.

Your lips separated for a moment, and your eyes fluttered open to see hers shiny and red, yours no doubt the same. Her gaze was heavy, her chest heaving. It took every inch of willpower not to paw at the red material covering the slopes of her chest.

"Eyes up here," she teased with a smirk, echoing her words from earlier.

"Ha-ha-ha," you huffed out a sarcastic laugh, "so funny."

She moved so she was fully straddling your lap, one hand cupping the back of your neck and the other tucking a stray hair behind your ear. You sucked in a sharp breath.

"I don't think there's anything funny about what we're about to do, pretty girl."

Her smile was wicked and you knew you were done for.

#criminal minds #criminal minds imagines #imagines #x reader #emily prentiss #emily prentiss x reader #emily prentiss imagine

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luke-hughes43 · 25 days

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eden and cutter have the week for spring break together, cutter waking his girl up with cuddles and making her breakfast and bringing it to bed. because cutter is definitely spoiling eden the trip and making up for everything he can’t do in long distance

in my mind, eden is a heavy sleeper so she doesn't feel when cutter slips out of bed. he goes and makes her coffee and gets some fruit together for her when she wakes up.

he'll slip back into bed and pull eden back into him to cuddle her. he leaves a few kisses to the top of her head and rubs her wake to wake her up gently.

he smiles when her eyes flutter up and she's looking at him. he says softly, "morning angel. I have coffee and some fruit for you. I know you don't each much in the morning."

she groans slightly and cuddles back into him, "too early. wanna sleep." he chuckles and just lets her cuddle into his side for as long as she wants.

that is how every morning goes whenever eden is in Boston or even whenever cutter visits in california.

#cutter gauthier #eden hughes

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420technoblazeit · 11 months

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Ok I'll do the recap so in the beginning there was God and then there was Michael then Lucifer then Raphael then Gabriel (but secretly God's sister the Darkness but they locked her up so dw about her) and then God created humans but Lucifer didn't like humans so God cast him out of heaven and Lucifer declared war and God ordered Michael to fight Lucifer and then Lucifer went into the Garden of Eden while Gadreel was snoozing and tricked that dumbass Eve into eating some fruit and then turned my girl Lilith into the first demon and so God created a cage in hell and locked him there and then Cain killed Abel but he secretly had a good reason and it was written in gospel that eventually in a bajillion years the apocalypse will happen and Lucifer will go free and he and Michael will take two human brothers as their angelic vessels and fight to the death on earth and kill a bunch of people but everything will be fine after (heaven said so). So this prince of hell Azazel is like rad I wanna free daddy Satan so he kills a room of nuns and Lucifer tells him to bleed in babies mouths so they get special demon powers and Azazel meets a hunter named Mary and kills her bf John and makes a deal with her that he'll bring John back to life but he (Azazel) is going to come back and bleed in their infant baby's mouth. Years pass and in 1983 Azazel comes and bleeds in baby Sam's mouth and Mary tries to stop him so he burns her on the ceiling and John gives Sam to four-year-old Dean and tells him to run and everyone gets out but John knows some shit's gone down and he becomes a monster hunter trying to find the thing that killed his wife and raising his sons to do the same but when Sam is like 18 or something (baby) he runs away to go to Stanford and study law and his friend Brady (secretly a demon) introduces him to a girl named Jessica and they start dating. After a few years, John decides to fuck off somewhere looking for Azazel without telling Dean and so Dean goes to find Sam in California and says Dad's on a hunting trip and he hasn't been home in a few days and

actually i htink michael was the one who cast lucifer out on god's orders but otherwise yeah i think this is accurate. what he said

#supernatural #spn spoilers #supernatural spoilers #the pig squeals

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jedivoodoochile · 8 months

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Behind The Music

"Nature Boy" was Nat King Cole's first big hit, since then it has been covered over 1223 times! The story behind the song is even more sensational.

Joe Moondad has the strange story of eden ahbez:

"In the late 40s, there was a rumor that there was a "hermit," disenchanted and disillusioned with the world, supposedly "out-of-sync" with society, living in California in a cave under one of the L’s in the Hollywood sign.

No one really cared about this strange man, until one night in 1947, when someone tried to enter backstage at the Lincoln Theater in Los Angeles. Nat King Cole was playing there, and the man said he had something for Cole. Of course, the employees didn't let the strange man see Cole, so he gave whatever he had with Cole's manager.

What he had was a song sheet, which Cole would later take a look at. Cole liked the song and wanted to record it, but he had to find the strange man. When asked, the people who saw the man said he was strange, indeed, with shoulder-length hair and beard, wearing sandals and a white robe.

Cole finally tracked him down in New York City. When Cole asked him where he was staying, the strange man declared he was staying at the best hotel in New York - outside, literally, in Central Park. He said his name was eden ahbez (spelled all in lower-case letters). The song he gave Cole was titled, "Nature Boy." It became Cole's first big hit, and was soon covered by other artists through the years, from Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan to Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, most recently.

Of course, the media went crazy about the strange, mysterious man who handed Nat King Cole, one of the biggest hits during that time. Everyone went out to try to find out more about him.

What little they found was that he was once an orphan, who never stayed at one place very long, living in various foster homes. He explained he just never fit in and was always searching, for something.

["They say he wandered very far...

Very far, over land and sea..."

They found out he would hop freight trains and walked across country several times, subsisting solely on raw fruits and vegetables, then one day he completely vanished.

["A little shy and sad of eye...

But very wise was he..."]

He finally showed up again in the Hollywood hills. When a policeman stopped the strange, long-haired man with beard, sandals, and robe, ahbez simply replied, "I look crazy but I'm not. And the funny thing is that other people don't look crazy but they are."

["And then one day...

One magic day he passed my way..."]

He then showed up backstage at Nat King Cole's concert in Los Angeles, to present him with the song, "Nature Boy." No one seems to really know why he selected Cole, there were some rumors that he came out of hiding when he began to hear about the racism going on and trouble throughout the world, and he thought "King" was the best person at that time to pass his message along.

["While we spoke of many things...

Fools and Kings..."]

When he was asked about racism, he replied, "Some white people hate black people, and some white people love black people, some black people hate white people, and some black people love white people. So you see it's not an issue of black and white, it's an issue of Lovers and Haters."

It was that theme of love that he continued to talk about, what was missing in the world, and what would be needed in the future if we are to survive.

ahbez would eventually get his message out, especially after the counter-culture finally caught up with him and the hippie movement began, when other artists such as Donovan, Grace Slick, and the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson sought him out. He also wrote songs for Eartha Kitt and had another song recorded by Sam Cooke.

In 2009, Congressman Bill Aswad recited the last lyrics of the song before the Vermont House of Representatives at the passing of his state's same-sex marriage bill in '09.

Author Raymond Knapp described the track as a "mystically charged vagabond song" whose lyrics evoked an intense sense of loss and haplessness, with the final line delivering a universal truth, described by Knapp as "indestructible" and "salvaged somehow from the perilous journey of life."

["This he said to me...

The greatest thing you'll ever learn...

Is just to love and be loved in return."]

➖➖➖

"George Alexander Aberle (April 15, 1908 – March 4, 1995), known as eden ahbez, was an American songwriter and recording artist of the 1940s to 1960s, whose lifestyle in California was influential in the hippie movement.

He was known to friends simply as ahbe.

Ahbez composed the song "Nature Boy", which became a No. 1 hit for eight weeks in 1948 for Nat "King" Cole.

Living a bucolic life from at least the 1940s, he traveled in sandals and wore shoulder-length hair and beard, and white robes. He camped out below the first L in the Hollywood Sign above Los Angeles and studied Oriental mysticism. He slept outdoors with his family and ate vegetables, fruits, and nuts. He claimed to live on three dollars per week.

In the mid 1950s, he wrote songs for Eartha Kitt, Frankie Laine, and others, as well as writing some rock-and-roll novelty songs. In 1957, his song "Lonely Island" was recorded by Sam Cooke, becoming the second and final Ahbez composition to hit the Top 40.

In 1959, he began recording instrumental music, which combined his signature somber tones with exotic arrangements and (according to the record sleeve) "primitive rhythms". He often performed bongo, flute, and poetry gigs at beat coffeehouses in the Los Angeles area. In 1960, he recorded his only solo LP, Eden's Island, for Del-Fi Records. This mixed beatnik poetry with exotica arrangements. Ahbez promoted the album through a coast-to-coast walking tour making personal appearances, but it sold poorly.

During the 1960s, ahbez released five singles. Grace Slick's band, the Great Society, recorded a version of "Nature Boy" in 1966 and ahbez was photographed in the studio with Brian Wilson during a session for the Smile album in early 1967. Later that year, British singer Donovan sought out ahbez in Palm Springs, and the two wanderers shared a reportedly "near-telepathic" conversation. In the 1970s, Big Star's Alex Chilton recorded a version of "Nature Boy" with the photographer William Eggleston on piano. The song was finally released as a bonus track on the 1992 Rykodisc re-release of the album Third/Sister Lovers.

In 1974, ahbez was reported to be living in the Los Angeles suburb of Sunland, and he owned a record label named Sunland Records, for which he was recording under the name "Eden Abba." From the late 1980s until his death, ahbez worked closely with Joe Romersa, an engineer/drummer in Los Angeles. The master tapes, photos, and final works of eden ahbez are in Romersa's possession.

Ahbez died on March 4, 1995, of injuries sustained in a car accident, at the age of 86. Another album, Echoes from Nature Boy, was released posthumously."

#nat king cole

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ohfiendangelical · 2 years

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hey z how would you describe the story of Adam and Eve I feel like you would have great takes on this tell me a bedtime story pls

You are settled into a coffin-shaped California king, buried under lavender-colored sheets of satin and a comforter that smells of narcissus flower. Your hair is brushed from your face affectionately, the gesture almost paternal in nature, though his youthful face lends a sort of wrongness to such an act. Brushing a hand over your eyes to close them, he sits by the bed and pulls the rosary from his bedside table, contemplating it for a few moments before beginning to speak. When he finally does, his voice is soft and rich, the sleepy gravel of it like cookie crumble in mud pie.

❛ ... At the beginning of all things, we had paradise — or, more specifically, one man did. God’s earthly firstborn, Adam. He lived in the Garden of Eden alone, surrounded by fruit that was always ripe and animals that danced in the flourishing fields. He was given Heaven on earth, divinity in the mundane, and he wanted for nothing. Almost.

❛ One day, he confessed to his Heavenly Father that something was... wrong. He didn’t understand it, really. He knew no real pain; he was happy, but something was lacking. He yearned for something, but he didn’t know what. This feeling would later be known as loneliness — something we all know very well. God must have already known, though, even then, because he used his powers of creation once more, forming the first woman, Eve, from Adam’s rib.

❛ They were happy. They were in love. Loneliness ceased to be, and perfection was once again all the universe knew.

❛ But perfection is corruptive. In Heaven, eons away from the happy lives of Adam and Eve, the angel Lucifer began to understand perfection in a way even God could not. He saw that perfection was divinity in and of itself. This birthed vanity, which festered into something like hatred. He thought that something must be done. God didn’t know better than he did — He was simply the one in charge, flaunting his power, conning the cosmos. Yes, something must be done.

❛ Now, one thing I haven’t told you yet is the single rule God gave to Adam. From the beginning, it was made clear that everything in this world was his. Everything, of course, save for the fruits of one single tree. That tree belonged to God, and he told Adam that if he partook in its fruits, he would surely die. It was an easy enough rule to follow. Small. Simple. There was so much else in the bountiful garden that nothing was really missed.

❛ Until Lucifer came, disguised as a serpent, to Eve. She was the youngest of God’s children, the most innocent, the least indoctrinated. He told her the name of tree, its purpose; he said it would give her the knowledge of good and evil and she would become like God. She’d been lied to, he said, she’d been played for a fool. And doesn’t that fruit just smell divine?

❛ She ate it. She came to know. It was delicious and she felt powerful. Being so in love, she knew she had to share this with Adam, and so she ran to him with the fruit and told him to taste it. How could he resist her glittering eyes, the smile on her lips? God never gave him such a feeling. He ate the fruit, too.

❛ When God found out, a war was started in Heaven and suffering was born. Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden for their trespass, Lucifer and those who agreed with him were cast out of Heaven, and the world rotted into what it is today. God’s people blame Eve, making her naiveté a crime. But if you read between the lines, maybe you’ll see Lucifer’s point of view. What is true, what is right, and morality are sometimes different things.

❛ Amen. ❜

#anonymous #☆ FANMAIL .

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jdgo51 · 8 months

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How Jesus Saves

Today's inspiration comes from:

How Jesus Saves

by Joshua M. McNall

The Lost Father

"Abdulfattah Jandali ran a Mediterranean restaurant in California. He was a Syrian immigrant, balding and intelligent, with fierce eyes and round, wire-rimmed glasses. After coming to America, Jandali earned a PhD in economics. He got a job as a professor at the University of Michigan. He began dating a woman named Joanne, and she became pregnant. But despite his brilliance, Jandali was a flawed and restless man. So with Joanne still pregnant, he abandoned both his family and his career. The baby boy in Joanne’s womb was given up for adoption.

Jandali later reunited with Joanne, they were married (briefly), and the couple had a daughter. But when the child was young, Jandali once again grew restless. He left and never returned. The baby girl grew up to be a famous novelist named Mona Simpson. And as an adult, she decided to seek out her long-lost father. What was he like? she wondered.

Why did he leave? Simpson hired a private investigator who tracked down Jandali, managing an eatery in California.

In a corner booth, Jandali told his daughter proudly of the places he had managed over the years — especially the Mediterranean one near San Jose. “That place was wonderful,” he remarked. “All of the successful technology people used to come there. Even Steve Jobs. He was a sweet guy and a big tipper!” Mona Simpson’s mouth fell open. What she never told her father was that Steve Jobs — the brilliant billionaire and founder of Apple Computers — was the baby Jandali had abandoned in the womb. And despite never knowing one another outside of those brief, oblivious encounters — the two men shared uncanny characteristics.1

Fathers shape us even in their absence. We inherit things. Like a sharp mind, a set of piercing eyes, and maybe even a taste for round-rimmed wire glasses. There is a mystery in what gets passed down. But in the case of Jobs and Jandali, the similarities do not stop there. Eerily, the founder of Apple Computers would also abandon his own firstborn child, Lisa, in the womb, at the exact same age Jandali had been when he left. What should we make of such surprising recapitulations? My claim is not that every aspect of our fate is predetermined by our past or our genetics.

We can make choices — with God’s help — to break certain cycles. But we are often more tied to others than we think as modern, Western individuals. In other words, as Jandali demonstrates:

We are mysteriously bound up with our fallen forerunners.

An Apple with a Bite out of It

Steve Jobs’s famed logo was an apple with a bite missing. Yet there is another bitten fruit that figures prominently in Scripture. In Genesis 3, humans reject their calling to reflect God’s character in the garden they were called to “guard” (shamar; Genesis 2:15, author’s translation). This Hebrew word implies that though Eden was very good, it was not yet perfect. Hence the garden needed to be ordered and protected. That was Adam’s job.

Some scholars picture Eden like a beachhead of shalom (“peace”) carved out by God in a broader world that had already experienced a cosmic disruption. Why else would it need guarding? Why else would there be a talking Tempter who we now know as “that ancient serpent, who is the devil” (Revelation 20:2)? The first humans occupy a territory that is good but dangerous. And by falling for the serpent’s temptation, the head of humanity (Adam) is severed. Adam is cut off not just from the tree of life but from the future God desired for his people.2 Just as with Jandali, fallen fathers cast long shadows. Poisoned water flows downstream. The roots affect the branches. No one sins in a vacuum.

It didn’t have to be this way. Back in Genesis, humans could have done what they were commanded to do: guard the garden. After all, God gave them authority to “rule over” animals (Genesis 1:26). And here was one blaspheming the Creator (Genesis 3:4). Adam could have done precisely what young David did when he heard Goliath blaspheming Israel’s God. He took the fate of the people upon himself as their anointed head and soon-to-be king. What happened to David in that showdown with Goliath (in either failure or triumph) would carry over to the whole nation (1 Samuel 17:8–9). And in this case, as it was with Jesus, it was the Enemy’s head that was severed.

Jesus is the rightful head of an interconnected human family.

Recapping Fallen Adam

This brings me back to Jesus. We have seen how Jesus is connected to Adam as the true head of all humanity. But how can this be? Christ was born long after Adam. And Jesus had no children. Wouldn’t this make Him more like the elbow of the human race? How can Jesus be the true head of all humanity? It’s time to tackle more specifically the nature of our bound-togetherness.

Enter Irenaeus. Despite his strange-sounding name, Irenaeus was a Christian leader just after the time of the apostles (c. AD 180). Like Julian of Norwich, he was fascinated with the connection between Christ and Adam, and he saw this relationship as revealing something about how Jesus saves. Irenaeus noted that God made all humans in His image (Genesis 1:26). And despite sin, we retain that image even now. Since all persons have been stamped in God’s likeness, our bodies have intrinsic value regardless of race, gender, wealth, or shifting beauty standards.

But the image of God is not just something we have — like blue eyes or an intolerance to dairy. The image of God is also something we do.

Humans are called to “image” (or reflect) God to those around us. It is a vocation and not just a possession. For these reasons, the image of God is one of the most important concepts in the Bible. Why is each human life precious beyond price? The image of God. Why is stewardship of the environment a sign of Christian maturity? The image of God. Why must racism, abortion, and sexual immorality be treated together as offenses against the way of Jesus? The image of God.

The image of God also explains how Jesus can represent all humans even though He is just one man.

It’s because even Adam was made in the image of God’s Son — Jesus. The New Testament speaks of Christ as the true and perfect Image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15). Though we are flawed reflections of God’s character, Jesus is the perfect Image. As the second person of the Trinity, the Son of God preexisted Adam. Jesus is the eternal Son and the creative Word by which God made everything (John 1:1–3; John 1:14). To use the analogy of a copy machine (which sounds pretty sacred, right?), we might say Jesus is the original Image that is used as the pattern to create all subsequent images. Every human who has ever lived was patterned and printed in the image of the true human — Jesus Christ.

This matters for atonement. For Irenaeus, since even Adam was made in the image of Christ, that makes Jesus the true head of all humanity. This means that at the deepest root of our expanding family tree — deeper than your grandparents, your weird uncle, or your ancient ancestors — there is not a fallen father. At the deepest root there is an obedient and perfect Son.

Jesus is the image in which all people were created, and the head of His body, the church (Colossians 1:15). Consider this rough diagram, which took thousands of research dollars to create, and an entire team of artists and geneticists.

the human family The drawing shows that Christ is the founding head of the entire human race, like the unseen headwaters of a long and winding river. Because while Jesus was born near the middle of the human story, even Adam was patterned on the image of Christ.3 For this reason, Paul states that just as Adam’s disobedience led to the many being made sinners, so also through Christ’s obedience “the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).

Ultimately, Jesus isn’t just one disconnected human individual. Jesus is the rightful head of an interconnected human family.4 No matter what your past is like, this is good news. In the words of Nichole Nordeman, God’s love doesn’t “get hung up on the branches of family trees that bend and sometimes break under the weight of our painful histories. It’s too busy at the roots. Where the soil is soaked in mercy.”5 This is true because Jesus comes not just as one perfect individual in the middle of history, but as the new and true Adam who can empathize with our pain and suffering, while lifting us out of the dirty ditches where we’ve fallen."

Quotations cited from Walter Isaacson, Steve Jobs (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011), 257. In Genesis, God makes clear that Adam and Eve were not created immortal. It is the tree of life (and their ability to continue eating from it) that makes it a possibility for them to “live forever” (Gen. 3:22). See Joshua M. McNall, The Mosaic of Atonement: An Integrated Approach to Christ’s Work (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2019), 78–79. Irenaeus, Demonstration of Apostolic Preaching, trans. Armitage Robinson (New York: MacMillan, 1920), 22. Nichole Nordeman, Love Story: The Hand That Holds Us from the Garden to the Gate (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2012), 50. Excerpted with permission from How Jesus Saves by Joshua McNall, copyright Joshua M. McNall.

This is very long and wordy, but does give you some messages to consider.

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marketing123456789 · 1 year

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Organic Food and Beverages Market Size and Share Analysis by Type, Application, Segmentation, Innovations, Solution and Services by 2033

In the present year 2023, the organic food and beverage market is valued to be around US$ 250 Bn, which is analysed to register a grand CAGR of 13% during the forecast years. As per the experts, the overall valuation is expected to reach about US$ Bn by 2033.

The expansion of the global organic food and beverage industry has been aided by consumer knowledge of health issues associated with conventional agricultural produce and the numerous advantages of consuming organic food products. In the near future, it is projected that rising consumer knowledge of the advantages of avoiding genetically engineered or GM crops would drive the global organic food and beverage market opportunities.

In regard to government expenditure on organic food production, China, India, and Japan are the three largest economies. These nations with the greatest populations also have a substantial inclination to manufacture organic food and drinks. Additionally, a significant increase in the consumption of frozen food as a result of less time available for cooking and preparation is creating new opportunities in the local supermarkets and hypermarkets for organic frozen food items.

For more Insights, Download Report Sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-15960

Key Takeaways from the Organic Food and Beverages Market Study

The greatest CAGR is anticipated to be seen in the Asia-Pacific region throughout the projection period by the rapid adoption of organic farming methods in China and India.

Now organic fruits and vegetable segment dominates the market by contributing more than 40% of the revenue generated, while the organic meat & poultry segment is poised to take over later by growing at a rate of 15% through 2033.

The contribution of offline distribution channels has come down to 50% in the past few years and the online distribution channel is projected to grow at a rate of 14% during the forecast years.

Competitive Landscape for the Organic Food and Beverages Market

The Whole Foods Market L.P., THE HERSHEY COMPANY, Amy’s Kitchen, Inc., Organic Valley, Conagra Brands, Inc., Nestlé, Eden Foods, SunOpta, Dole Food Company, Inc, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., General Mills Inc., Danone, United Natural Foods, Inc., Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (Amul), EVOL Foods, Eden Foods, Starbucks Corporation, Nature’s Path Food,WhiteWave Foods Co., Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Dean Foods Company, SpartanNash Company, Amy’s Kitchen, Inc., and the Kroger Co. are some of the top companies operating in the organic food and beverage sector. Additionally, in the contemporary world, many private-label organic drink companies are becoming more well-known on a broad scale.

View Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/organic-food-and-beverages-market

Recent Developments in the Organic Food and Beverages Industry

Sunopta Company, which is a pioneer in the production of healthy fruit- and plant-based meals and drinks, released OatGold TM in the market in March 2020 as a nutrient-rich powder and is used to make a variety of items, including baked goods, salty snacks, and sandwich spreads.

The purchase of Assan Foods by The Kraft Heinz Company from a privately owned Turkish company named Kibar Holding was revealed in June 2021. With this takeover, the business hopes to broaden its market reach internationally while concentrating on improving food quality and customer service.

In April 2020, Amy’s Kitchen introduced veggie-loaded pizzas that are gluten-free and are prepared using organic sweet potatoes, broccoli, and other condiments. According to another announcement by Amy’s Kitchen, in November 2020, it has plans to invest in a new pizza manufacturing plant in San Jose, California, particularly for the production of frozen organic meals and shelf-stable soups

Nature’s Path Company introduced Regenerative Organic Certified Instant Oatmeal in April 2020. Nature’s Path is also dedicated to eco-friendly packaging and has developed a business model around carbon neutrality, and ecological giveback initiatives in support of their belief that combating climate change should start with the foodstuff we produce and consume.

Key Segments

By Product Type:

Organic Fruits and Vegetables

Organic Meat, Fish and Poultry

Organic Dairy Products

Organic Frozen and Processed Foods

Organic Non Dairy Beverages

Organic Coffee and Tea

Organic Beer and Wine

Other Organic Food and Beverages

By Process:

Processed

Unprocessed

By Distribution channel:

Supermarket/Hypermarket

Specialty Stores

Convenience Stores

Online Sales Channel

Others

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia and Pacific

Middle East and Africa (MEA)

About Future Market Insights Future Market Insights (ESOMAR certified market research organization and a member of Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) provides in-depth insights into governing factors elevating the demand in the market. It discloses opportunities that will favor the market growth in various segments on the basis of Source, Application, Sales Channel and End Use over the next 10-years.

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thorntonkrell-blog-blog · 1 year

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It's always nice to start at the beginning. Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge. The snake tempted Eve and she in turn tempted Adam. This was the beginning of the human tendency to be able to resist anything except temptation.

Everybody got a bad name after the fact. Men were now seen as sinful clowns who could be talked into anything by seductive women and everything could be blamed on the god damned snake.

Furthermore, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Knowledge means we are now tempted to make our own decisions about what is right and what is wrong, rather than following God's guidance.

Yeah

Nobody got out of this fiasco unscathed, not even the tree for without the tree we wouldn't have the fruit.

But what about the fruit?

Ya know what, the fruit emerged somejow as the good guy in all of this when someone decided that the fruit of knowledge was indeed and Apple.

Wo doesn't love apples?

In America, apple pie ranks right up there with Mom as our favorite things. Plus, if you eat one a day, the doctor will stay away.

In Greek mythology, apples are associated with the goddess of wisdom, Athena, and are sometimes seen as a symbol of knowledge, wisdom, and learning.

In Norse mythology, the goddess Idun was the keeper of the magical apples that kept the gods youthful and beautiful. Apples are sometimes used as a symbol of love, beauty, and fertility.

Health and Nutrition: Apples are a common symbol of health and nutrition, as they are a nutritious fruit that is widely associated with promoting good health and well-being.

Okkay to sum up, apples represent knowledge, wisdom, learning, love, beauty, fertility, good health and well being.

Hey God, what's not to like?

I know, I know if we had stuck too the original plan knowledge, wisdom, learning, love, beauty, fertility, good health and well being would have been a given and we'd all be perfectly happy and content with ourselves especially after we got done naming all the animals including the time we decided to name something an aardvark.

But noooo.....we had to listen to the snake or rather that woman had to listen to that snake and pass it on to the clown with the missing rib.

And then eventuallt, the Beatles came around and caused a world wide mania even more popular than God with fainting and swooning as part of the package.

They created their own record label and named it Apple.

Eventually Apple records fell apart as did the Beatles but thankfully around the same time, Steve Jobs was in California on a fruitarian diet he was following at the time, which emphasized eating only fruits and vegetables, including apples.

Jobs and his partner figured out how to make computer use more personal and less threatening. They needed a name for their company that was fun, friendly and tempting.

They were also fans of the Beatles and were inspired by the Beatles album label. They decided to name their company Apple.

it has since become one of the most recognizable and iconic brands in the world. The Apple logo, which features an apple with a bite taken out of it, has also become a widely recognized symbol of innovation and technology.

Innovation and technology also mean knowledge, bravery and magic.

I am typing all of this on an Apple computer. I'm about to go on a walk during which I will use my Apple phone to communicate.

Yup, the apple turned out awright.

And now it's threatening us with artificial intelligence and God only knows where that will lead

perhaps back to another beginning.

what fruit did Adam and Eve eat According to the Bible, Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. The specific type of fruit is not mentioned in the Bible. It is often depicted as an apple in art and literature, but the Bible does not confirm this.

[email protected] what's the tree of knowledge of good and evil According to the Bible, the tree of knowledge of good and evil was a tree in the Garden of Eden from which Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat. God warned them that eating from this tree would result in their death. However, the serpent (who is often interpreted as the devil or Satan) tempted Eve into eating the fruit, and she in turn gave some to Adam, leading to their expulsion from the Garden.

The tree of knowledge of good and evil is often interpreted as a symbol of the choice between following God's commands and going against them. Eating the fruit of this tree represents choosing to disobey God and make one's own decisions about what is right and wrong, rather than following God's guidance.

[email protected] Was there any need for knowledge in the garden of Eden Although the Garden of Eden is described as a perfect paradise in the Bible, there is no explicit statement regarding the need or lack of need for knowledge. However, it can be inferred that Adam and Eve were created with some level of knowledge, as they were given the task of naming the animals in the garden and were capable of communicating with God.

The tree of knowledge of good and evil was specifically forbidden to Adam and Eve by God, as it represented a choice to disobey Him and make their own decisions about what is right and wrong. The implication is that God did not want them to have knowledge of evil, as it would lead to sin and suffering.

It is also possible that the knowledge gained from eating the fruit of the tree would have been more than just knowledge of good and evil, but a broader understanding of the world and the consequences of human action. However, since Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the tree, they were banished from the Garden of Eden and the full extent of the knowledge they would have gained is not explicitly described in the Bible.

[email protected] what does an apple symbolize The apple has been used as a symbol in various cultures and contexts throughout history. Some of the common symbolic meanings associated with apples include:

Temptation and Sin: In Judeo-Christian tradition, the apple is often associated with the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. The act of eating the apple is seen as the first sin committed by Adam and Eve, and the apple is therefore sometimes used as a symbol of temptation and sin.

Knowledge and Wisdom: In Greek mythology, apples are associated with the goddess of wisdom, Athena, and are sometimes seen as a symbol of knowledge, wisdom, and learning.

Love and Beauty: In Norse mythology, the goddess Idun was the keeper of the magical apples that kept the gods youthful and beautiful. Apples are sometimes used as a symbol of love, beauty, and fertility.

Health and Nutrition: Apples are a common symbol of health and nutrition, as they are a nutritious fruit that is widely associated with promoting good health and well-being.

The symbolic meaning of an apple can vary depending on the context and culture in which it is used.

[email protected] wht did steve Jobs choose the word apple for his product The story behind why Steve Jobs chose the name "Apple" for his company and products is often the subject of speculation and interpretation. According to various accounts, Jobs and his co-founder Steve Wozniak were looking for a name that was fun, friendly, and not intimidating to consumers. They also wanted a name that would come before "Atari" in the phone book (Atari was a popular video game company at the time).

One theory is that Jobs was inspired by a fruitarian diet he was following at the time, which emphasized eating only fruits and vegetables, including apples. Another theory is that Jobs was inspired by the Beatles' record label, Apple Records, and that he wanted a name that was fun and playful like the Beatles.

Whatever the inspiration, the name "Apple" was chosen for the company and its products, and it has since become one of the most recognizable and iconic brands in the world. The Apple logo, which features an apple with a bite taken out of it, has also become a widely recognized symbol of innovation and technology.

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imagemains · 2 years

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Raw power shiraz

#Raw power shiraz tv#

Applications for the first year of its 2011/12 stu.

NEWEST WINE LOCATION SPECIALISTS ANNOUNCED.

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1WineDude TV Episode 34: Save The Children! Also.Zev Robinson interviewed by Luiz Alberto & Roy Her.NICOLAS PALAZZI -The SPIRIT of PM by Philip S.Download Our App Call US 64 Home Shop All Wine By Style. DON'T MISS THE GET REAL NY "BELGIAN BEER FESTIVAL. Get Raw Power Shiraz from East River Wines and Spirits for 14.99.Wine Bloggers Conference - July 22-24, 2011 in Cha.Australia’s "new wine" is not Shiraz? So what is it?.Kid-Free Monday - Wine Tasting on Bikes? by Scott.Kid-Free Tuesday In & Near Healdsburg by Scott Kru.OLE Wine Portfolio Scores a "BULLSEYE" by Philip S.'HALL WINES from Napa are ORGANIC and SUSTAINABLE".Why Terroir Matters – Blog by: Jordan Harris – Ta.JULIO VIOLA.PATAGONIA'S VISIONARY puts "BODEGA D.The wines are mineral, steely and elegant Riesling is the most important white grape (and wine) of the Eden Valley, developing strong lime juice and floral aromas, and with great intensity of flavors (lime zest, lime juice) on the palate, ultimately allied with touches of lightly browned toast as the wines age.Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in many places, none more than Coonawarra, with its Bordeaux climate and - just to confuse things - a limestone-based soil similar to that of Burgundy and Champagne, producing fluid, seamless, cassis, mulberry and blackcurrant wines Great Southern's Cabernet Sauvignon with imposing dark berry fruit, great structure, but seldom rough or tannic the multi-faceted, extremely complex Cabernet of Margaret River, typically with some Merlot as a blend (or bed) mate Langhorne Creek's supple, sotto voce wine in contrast to the masculine, sometimes macho, Cabernets of the Clare Valley, McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley (listed in descending order) the raw power of Central Victoria contrasting with the finesse of regions such as the Yarra Valley.Pinot noir from Tasmania, southern Victoria (from the Yarra Valley mainly) and (less consistently perhaps) the Adelaide Hills, which is consistently and wrongly assumed to be inferior of that of New Zealand, Oregon and Burgundy.Chardonnay ranging from flinty, minerally Chablis-like wine from the coolest regions southern Victoria and Tasmania moving through degrees of richness until the Montrachet-like wines of the best Margaret River producers.Unique unoaked long-lived Semillon from the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, and - more international - partially barrel-fermented Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends from the Adelaide Hills and Margaret River.Fine sparkling wines from Tasmania and the coolest parts of southern Victoria and Adelaide Hills.This product doesn't have any reviews yet.Here are few options offered by James Halliday. While the 2015 vintage was already showing its complexity this wine, like the 2016 Mount Edelstone Shiraz, is a different beast altogether. In discussions with Stephen Henschke about this wine the term tightly coiled kept coming up. View all products by Old Plains California Residents: Click here for Proposition 65 WARNING Henschke Hill of Grace Eden Valley Shiraz 2016. e wine opens-up over time in the glass, displaying ripe tannins and long savoury finish. Medium bodied flavours follow through from the aromatics with plenty of “raw power”. Tasting Notes Lifted aromatics with spice, plums and dark chocolate. Basket pressed with ferment finishing off in barrel / tank. Raw Power fruit was machine harvested early morning with whole berry ferment in 10 ton open top concrete fermenters with twice daily pump-overs. Vintage commenced Feb 13 with the ‘Plains shiraz, fruit came thick and fast over the next four weeks in a compact crushing season. Our Adelaide Plains and Mt Lofty Ranges vineyards really stood up to the dry conditons, yields were approx 15% down, quality was up and no instance of disease, damaged or stressed fruit were recorded. In terms of quality it will rate extremely high, in terms of fruit timing it produced some of our earliest picking on record, in terms of weather conditions one of the driest and coolest for a long time. Vintage/Winemaking Notes Across the board 2013 was an outstanding vintage in many ways.

#Raw power shiraz

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yhwhrulz · 2 years

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Today's Daily Encounter 5th September 2022

A Day of Rest Print this page “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”1

In 1882 U.S. cabinet maker Peter McGuire introduced his idea for a new holiday saying, "Let us have a festive day during which a parade through the streets of the city would permit public tribute to American Industry." A dozen years later President Cleveland signed a bill into law designating the first Monday in September "Labor Day." Therefore, today is a day off from work for many people here in the United States. There are other countries who celebrate Labor Day on a different date as well. However, a day of rest was not a new concept when introduced by McGuire. God declared a day of rest in the Garden of Eden after creating the world!

While work is an important part of life, so is rest. God had worked for six days when he saw that his work was good and took time to rest on the seventh day. Keri Wyatt Kent put it this way: “At the end of each day, stop. Take a rest, eat a good meal, get enough sleep, and refresh yourself. Take time to think about your day, to notice where God was in it and where you were blessed, and to say, "It's good." Then go back at it the next day. And after six days, take a whole day off. And say, "It's really good." Spend a whole day just pausing, just reflecting on how really good it is, and then start the dance again, at a sustainable pace."

Let us see our work as an opportunity to serve God while serving others, regardless of what our job title may be. Putting on the attitude of Christ and displaying the Fruits of the Spirit in all tasks can be a testimony to others of the blessing it is to be a follower of Christ.

In all that we do, may our goal be to bring HIM glory. May our day of rest be a time to renew our minds by setting our eyes on Jesus. Count the blessings he has given you, enjoy those blessings, and let this awareness deepen our sense of gratitude and bring us closer to our Savior.

Suggested Prayer: Dear God, whether I am working or resting, please help my mind to be focused on you. Thank you for your provision and great faithfulness to me. Help me see my work as another opportunity to bring others to you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1 Corinthians 10:31.

Today’s Encounter was written by: Crystal B..net/

NOTE: If you would like to accept God's forgiveness for all your sins and His invitation for a full pardon Click on: http://www.actsweb.org/invitation.php. Or if you would like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, please click on http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php to note this.

Daily Encounter is published at no charge by ACTS International, a non-profit organization, and made possible through the donations of interested friends. Donations can be sent at: http://www.actscom.com

ACTS International P.O. Box 73545 San Clemente, California 92673-0119 U.S.A.

Phone: 949-940-9050 http://www.actsweb.org

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brightgnosis · 3 months

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talking about adam and chauva you speak of an orange as the fruit. why?

So funnily, contrary to popular knowledge and belief? There is no actual general consensus on what the "Forbidden Fruit" that was taken from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil actually was.

In Christian tradition, it's pretty universally considered an Apple. In Islamic tradition, I believe it's fairly well considered either Wheat or Barley. In Jewish tradition, however, it's possibly a Fig, a Grape Vine, the Etrog, Wheat, or some kind of Nut (Fig is the most common belief, with Grape Vine being the second most likely due to some of Eve's Midrash iirc) ... In my own tradition, however, it's an Orange. And I center the Orange as The Fruit for several reasons:

(1) My own Ancestral connections to Oranges via the LA Basin here in California, within the united States of America.

From my own BOS: Oranges still maintain ancestral connections via the Los Angeles Basin of my birth, and their history in the Americas as outlined in ‘Orange Empire: California and the Fruits of Eden’ by Douglas Cazaux Sackman.

Valencia Oranges (Citrus x Sinensis ‘Valencia’) are a thin-skinned variety originating in California- originally hybridized in Santa Ana, in Southern California, located just south of Los Angeles and its Riverside subsect of my birth; they're popular in America for Juicing, and are specifically a late season cultivar typically ripe in July. Connecting it firmly to my own American ancestry, and making it the perfect representative of the species within my personal craft.

(2) Socio-cultural emphasis on sharing Orange sections as an act of loving-kindness (which feeds into my own Gnosis of Adam and Chava's portion of Genesis really being a story about the highest form of Ahava- Love- in many ways).

From my own BOS: ⇝ The sharing of knowledge has powerful parallels with the sharing of orange sections- especially when combined with modern romanticism of the sharing of Orange sections as an act of love.

(3) Socio-economic connections of the Orange with power, wealth, and economy- as well as spiritual and magical associations with wealth and solarity. Additional personal gnostic connections have been made between tutelage, the sharing of knowledge, etc, with the above, based on several Mysteries; additional mythopoetic connections have also been made between Chava's active Solar components and Queenship, and the Orange as a result.

From my own BOS: Oranges (as opposed to the traditional Apple) have been chosen as the Fruit of Knowledge, Power, and Sovereignty due to their bright solar qualities, popular imagery of sharing associated with them, historical associations with wealth and abundance, as well as their history in California economics and agriculture.

Oranges are the dual natured symbol of knowledge and tutelage. July is the coronation of the Lady of the Well as the Great Veiled Queen at the zenith of her power and glory. Thus, July is the natural month for the brightest association of Oranges. Therefore Oranges may also be seen as a symbol of sovereignty and power- especially that which comes from knowledge.

(4) General Jewish connection of The Fruit to the Etrog in some interpretations- which is considered the most beautiful Citrus in Jewish tradition, which plays a central part of Jewish rituals at certain points; Jewish use explicitly of the modern Orange in certain traditional rituals (such as on the Seder plate, to represent the MOGAI community); as well as the general historical connection of the Jewish people to Citrus in regards to its global cultivation, production, hybridization, and more.

This itself is both another religious connection, and another Ancestral connection at the same time.

Fun random but related fact: I center the Pine Tree (specifically the Long Leaf Pine) as my Tree of Life and Death!

This is written explicitly to share with friends who blatantly requested I ramble at them about this topic. It is my own opinions, gnosis, and beliefs tailored entirely to my own practice, based on my own Mythopoeticism and religious Calendar, etc. I'm glad it if inspires, but it's not for anyone else to vulture for their own practices.

This account is run by a Dual Faith «(Converting) Masorti Jew + Traditional NeoWiccan» & «Ancestral Folk Magic Practitioner» with 20+ years of experience as a practicing Pagan and Witch. If that bothers you, don't interact.

#I Have Very Strong Feelings About The Genesis Story And Chava's Creation And I'm Not Sorry For It #Chava / God the Mother / Lady #A Direct Look At My Practice #lavendervillage #Answered Asks #Witchcraft Asks #2024 Asks #2024 #Religion & Magic #The Trees Speak

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trolledu · 2 years

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The strange encounter of Nat King Cole with eden ahbez...

By Jonathan Pienaar.

In the late 40s, there was a rumor that there was a "hermit," disenchanted and disillusioned with the world, supposedly "out-of-sync" with society, living in California in a cave under one of the L’s in the Hollywood sign.No one really cared about this strange man, until one night in 1947, when someone tried to enter backstage at the Lincoln Theater in Los Angeles. Nat King Cole was playing there, and the man said he had something for Cole.Of course, the employees didn't let the strange man see Cole, so he gave whatever he had to Cole's manager.What he had was a song sheet, which Cole would later take a look at. Cole liked the song and wanted to record it, but he had to find the strange man. When asked, the people who saw the man said he was strange, indeed, with shoulder-length hair and beard, wearing sandals and a white robe.

Of course, the media went crazy about the strange, mysterious man who handed Nat King Cole, one of the biggest hits during that time. Everyone went out to try to find out more about him. What little they found was that he was once an orphan, who never stayed at one place very long, living in various foster homes. He explained he just never fit in and was always searching, for something. ["They say he wandered very far...Very far, over land and sea..."They found out he would hop freight trains and walked across country several times, subsisting solely on raw fruits and vegetables, then one day he completely vanished. ["A little shy and sad of eye...But very wise was he..."

"And then one day...One magic day he passed my way..."

No one seems to really know why he selected Cole, there were some rumors that he came out of hiding when he began to hear about the racism going on and trouble throughout the world, and he thought "King" was the best person at that time to pass his message along.

"While we spoke of many things...Fools and Kings..."

It was that theme of love that he continued to talk about, what was missing in the world, and what would be needed in the future if we are to survive. ahbez would eventually get his message out, especially after the counter-culture finally caught up with him and the hippie movement began, when other artists such as Donovan, Grace Slick, and the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson sought him out. He also wrote songs for Eartha Kitt and had another song recorded by Sam Cooke.

In 2009, Congressman Bill Aswad recited the last lyrics of the song before the Vermont House of Representatives at the passing of his state's same-sex marriage bill in '09.

"This he said to me...The greatest thing you'll ever learn...Is just to love and be loved in return."

George Alexander Aberle (April 15, 1908 – March 4, 1995), known as eden ahbez, was an American songwriter and recording artist of the 1940s to 1960s, whose lifestyle in California was influential in the hippie movement. He was known to friends simply as ahbe. ahbez composed the song "Nature Boy", which became a No. 1 hit for eight weeks in 1948 for Nat "King" Cole. Living a bucolic life from at least the 1940s, he traveled in sandals and wore shoulder-length hair and beard, and white robes. He camped out below the first L in the Hollywood Sign above Los Angeles and studied Oriental mysticism. He slept outdoors with his family and ate vegetables, fruits, and nuts. He claimed to live on three dollars per week. In the mid 1950s, he wrote songs for Eartha Kitt, Frankie Laine, and others, as well as writing some rock-and-roll novelty songs.

In 1957, his song "Lonely Island" was recorded by Sam Cooke, becoming the second and final ahbez composition to hit the Top 40. In 1959, he began recording instrumental music, which combined his signature somber tones with exotic arrangements and (according to the record sleeve) "primitive rhythms". He often performed bongo, flute, and poetry gigs at beat coffeehouses in the Los Angeles area.

In 1960, he recorded his only solo LP, Eden's Island, for Del-Fi Records. This mixed beatnik poetry with exotica arrangements. ahbez promoted the album through a coast-to-coast walking tour making personal appearances, but it sold poorly. During the 1960s, ahbez released five singles. Grace Slick's band, the Great Society, recorded a version of "Nature Boy" in 1966 and ahbez was photographed in the studio with Brian Wilson during a session for the Smile album in early 1967. Later that year, British singer Donovan sought out ahbez in Palm Springs, and the two wanderers shared a reportedly "near-telepathic" conversation.

In the 1970s, Big Star's Alex Chilton recorded a version of "Nature Boy" with the photographer William Eggleston on piano. The song was finally released as a bonus track on the 1992 Rykodisc re-release of the album Third/Sister Lovers.

#history #stories #storytelling #trolleng #trolledu

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didanawisgi · 2 years

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“In Iroquois mythology, they have a beautiful story of how humans came to help form the world: The geese, turtles, otters, swans, ducks, fish of all kinds were living on the earth. One night they looked into the sky, and, much to their surprise, they saw a woman falling from the sky with a small bundle clutched in her hands. The geese took flight, knowing the woman was not made for the sea, and caught her in their wings before she fell too far. But the geese could not carry her long, so an old turtle offered to let her rest on his shell. The animals understood that she needed land for her home, and so they called a council to discuss what could be done. The deep divers among them knew that there was mud at the bottom of the water. One by one, they dove deep into the water in search of the mud. But the water was too deep, and they returned empty-handed. Some did not return at all. Finally, it was only the little muskrat left. He was the weakest diver of them all, but he bravely volunteered to go. He swam into the depths and was gone a very long time. Then, his limp body floated to the surface, but in his hand was a clump of mud. He gave his life to help this human. The old turtle said, “Put it on my back, and I will hold it.” The Skywoman took the mud and spread it on the old turtle’s back. So moved by this act of kindness of these animals, she began to dance in gratitude and thanksgiving. The mud began to grow and spread far beyond the shell, building an island and then the lands of the earth. It was the alchemy of the animals’ gifts and the woman’s gratitude that created the beautiful world we have today. Of course, like any good guest, she did not come to earth empty-handed. In the bundle she brought was a small rooting of a tree – the Tree of Life. She planted the tree and in time scattered the seeds of grass, fruits, herbs and trees. In this way, all living creatures had plenty to eat, and life was good. I first read this story in the beautiful book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Consider as you read this beautiful creation story how different it is from the Story of Eve and the Garden of Eden. In the story of Skywoman, she creates a garden for the well-being of all. In the Story of Eve, she finds herself in an exclusive garden, banished to a world of pain and suffering when she seeks to taste its fruit. As Kimmer notes, “Same species, same earth, different stories.” Stories are powerful shapers of how we understand ourselves in relationship to the world. As we watch California and Oregon burn, as we grieve the 925,284 people worldwide who have died from COVID, as we watch the extinction of thousands of plants and animals, I pray we find a new story of how we live in relationship to our world.

May Skywoman fall on us and awaken us in this age.

We are in this together

by Cameron Trimble”

#skywoman #angel #native american #tree of life #Alchemy #wisdom #ancient #garden of eden #fav #nature #natural law

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transdeputy · 3 years

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Name: Junior Deputy Ariel Towers

Alias/nicknames: Deputy, Rookie, Ari, Towers

Gender: agender (they/them)

Age: 27

Abilities/Talents: hunting, knowing a lot about nature, playing piano, seeming very friendly, moving quietly, irritating Seed siblings to the point of violent rage

Alignment: Chaotic Good, emphasis on chaotic

Religion: Jewish

Sins: envy / greed / gluttony / lust / pride / sloth / wrath

Virtues: charity / chastity / diligence / humility / justice / kindness / patience

Languages: English, Hebrew

Family: A mother that lives in an apartment in Helena, which Ariel bought for her once the Eden’s Gate cult became a serious concern to keep her safe. A younger brother who lives in California. A late infant daughter named Asa. An ex-husband they haven’t spoken to in six years.

Friends: Deputy Joey Hudson, Nick and Kim Rye, Staci Pratt, Grace Armstrong, Jess Black, and Hurk Drubman Jr. are their closest friends, but they make friends everywhere they go and consider themself on very friendly terms with all of the other characters in Hope County.

Sexuality: heterosexual / bisexual / pansexual / homosexual / demisexual / asexual / unsure / other

Relationship status: single / partnered / married / widowed / open relationship / divorced / not ready for dating / it’s complicated

Libido: sex god / very high / high / average / low / very low / non-existent

Build: slender / average / athletic / muscular / curvy

hair: white / blonde / brunette / red / black / other

Eyes: brown / blue / gray / green / black / other

Skin: pale / fair / olive / tan / brown / dark / other

Height: 5′5″

Scars: C-section scar, top surgery scars, minor scars from hunting, “wrath” scar from John

Features: Short black hair, tattoo on their left shoulder and collarbone, under eye bags, naturally loud speaking voice, chipped front tooth from being hit in the face with the butt of a rifle

dogs or cats || birds or bugs || snakes or spiders || coffee or tea || ice cream or cake || fruits or vegetables || sandwich or soup || magic or melee || sword or bow || summer or winter || spring or autumn || past or future

Five songs that remind you of them:

1. How Come My Body- Half Moon Run

2. The Rains- Henry Jamison

3. Meet Me in the Woods- Lord Huron

4. Ebb and Flow- Larry and His Flask

5. Elijah- Matthew and the Atlas

#fc5 #fc5 deputy #fc5 oc #oc: deputy ariel towers #character sheets

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evandearest · 3 years

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The Garden of Eden | Part II: Reflection

Pairing: James March x reader (you) | ~Part: (2/4)~

Summary (Part Two): When memories are all that clouds your vision, how do you begin to break cycles and live in the present? Can you overcome your irrational fear when paradise is only a memory of long ago? Living through hell can make or break you.

Warnings (in this part): Slight PTSD, that’s all I would say.

Word count: 3,586

Notes: I’m so excited to be posting this! This part is quite a bit longer than the last one. I absolutely loved writing it though! Be on the lookout for many metaphors, biblical references, and *reflective* events. This part is complex in many ways, and a lot of things tie into one another. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it!!

Also a side note, if you’d like to be on the tag list for this series just let me know!

Tag List: @etoile-writings @haileyybird @ietss

An odd feeling settled upon you as rays of sunlight blinded your eyes. Something wasn’t right. You couldn’t exactly pin it down, but all you knew was that you felt calm. Calm was not a part of you, as much as you portrayed to others that it was. Spending nearly ten years with a man you didn’t trust could do that to you.

The bed underneath you was soft, the scent in the air surrounding you lavender. You wondered for a moment where you were, your heart jumping as your eyes glanced around you frantically. That’s when you remembered: you were in James’ hotel. James’.

Your nerves lessened when you thought about James, a small smile curling your lips. As soon as you had arrived at the hotel, he insisted that you get a room to yourself to get the best rest possible. He’d even sent his maid to give you a basket of everything lavender to help you sleep: candles, essential oils, soap. He practically spoiled you the minute you arrived. You couldn’t deny how good it felt, though. You felt like a queen.

You sat up in bed, wondering where the man pervading your thoughts was. You glanced at your side table, noticing the vase of white roses immediately. When had those gotten there? The tiny card leaning against the vase caught your attention in particular. You reached for it and opened it. The small note was in James’ neat handwriting, reading:

“Good morning, darling. Gather yourself and meet me in the lounge. I do hope my accommodations suited you. Yours truly, JPM.”

You smiled, your curiosity spiraling at the thought of what he had planned for you. You quickly jumped out of the bed, going to the bathroom to get ready. You noticed immediately of all the things in this bathroom that weren’t normally in hotel bathrooms. There were tons of beauty items for women that most men don’t even know exist. You knew it was James. He was so thoughtful, giving you anything you could possibly need and more. James had taken the time to be sure you had everything. Your heart fluttered at the thought, excitement settling within you. James really did have everything, and now you had James. You knew it was going to take a long while before you were used to this luxurious treatment, but you weren’t complaining. You’d dreamed of living this kind of life since you were merely a child.

Once you had showered, gotten dressed, and did your hair and makeup, you were ready. You smiled at your reflection. James had picked the most fashionable clothing to put in your closet, and you simply loved having a reason to dress up in general. But it wasn’t even about you, in reality. You wanted James to see how much you appreciated everything he was doing, so you were going to make sure that you put all he gave you to use. It was all for James. You were going to spend every second doing as much as you could for him. He had saved you, after all. You couldn’t imagine what would’ve happened if James hadn’t arrived when he did. That was the worst argument that you and Robert had ever had.

You scolded yourself for thinking of Robert. You needed to focus on now, on the new life you were beginning. You couldn’t just shake it off, though. You still felt the need to be vigilant, to walk on egg shells. You sighed. You didn’t want to be in a bad mood today, of all days. James needed to see how much you appreciated and cared for him. You took a deep breath. Just focus on now, you told yourself, before taking one last look at your reflection.

When you entered the lobby, you were surprised to be greeted immediately by James’ maid, Miss Evers.

“Right this way, Ms. Y/L/N,” the woman smiled, gesturing with her arm for you to follow. She made her way up the stairs, you following behind curiously. It was as if she was escorting you somewhere. Your questions weren’t left unanswered for long, however, as you found your answer at the top of the stairs.

The entire bar was empty, which seemed odd compared to it’s usually bustling atmosphere. The dining area was decorated to the brim with white roses, all surrounding a table in which had plates full of fruit, pancakes, eggs, and many other breakfast foods. You gasped quietly at the extravagance as your eyes landed on James, who stood in front of it all, hands clasped together politely as he awaited you. He smiled at the sight of you.

“Hello, darling,” he greeted, walking over and offering an arm to you. You stared at him in disbelief for a moment, a wave of déjà vu coursing through you.

You remember you were so excited. Los Angeles was a gorgeous city in it’s own, and you felt so lucky to have been born in a city in which held so much opportunity. You were merely fourteen; barely old enough to even think for yourself, but you’d always been smart. Your mother had assured you of that since you were born, always putting your education above all else. She’d told you, “One day when all the distractions of young age are gone, you’ll realize why you need to be prepared.” You hadn’t understood why then, but the words had always stuck with you. It was one of the first times that she had trusted you on your own. Most of the time, she had always put her fear for your safety first, but on that day she had given in to your pleas.

She had let you walk to the garden of white roses, three blocks down, by yourself. When you thought about it now, you realized just how defining that moment of your life was, because what happened when you got to that garden had changed your life forever.

White roses had always been your favorite flower, ever since you had first passed that blooming Southern California garden at three years old. The owner was a tiny sweet elder lady, gracious and elegant as ever. She had owned the garden her entire life; it was her pride and joy. She’d always welcomed polite visitors, and if she caught you, she’d tell you all about the flowers, and how special they were. She said that they had brought to her all of the pleasantries that her life held; love, wealth, and even an eternal feeling of youth. That’s why she never picked or sold them, she said; “if you betray the rose, the rose no longer profits you.” Some people said that she was a witch; you just thought she was sweet, maybe a little kooky, but nice nonetheless. You had grown to look up to her.

When you had arrived at the rose garden on that day, however, you were greeted with a new presence foreign to you. The boy stood as still as a statue, his eyes raking over his surroundings. Based upon his height and physical appearance, you had assumed that he was about the same age as you. You watched him as he picked a rose from the bush, bringing it up to his nose to smell. You approached him quietly.

“If Mrs. Smith knew you picked one of her flowers, she’d claim treason,” you said, catching the boy’s attention. He looked at you in bewilderment.

“Where did you come from?” he asked quietly. “I didn’t hear you.”

“I’m sneaky,” you said jokingly with a teasing smile. He blinked, his confusion still evident. “But seriously,” you continued, “you better hope she doesn’t see you. She doesn’t like people who disturb her flowers. In fact, she’d probably curse you.” At that, the boy smirked.

“Is she a witch?” he asked, his eyes sparkling.

“Some people think so,” you replied, walking closer to him. “If you ask me, I think people should listen to her. She’s very intelligent.” You nudged his side, watching him to gouge his reaction. He raised his eyebrows, watching you carefully.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, for one, she’s ancient. That gives her some credits. For another, she grew this garden, and she’s experienced much more than most people. You should hear her stories.” You smiled as you plucked the rose from the boy’s hand and twirled it between your fingers, admiring it.

“She sounds fascinating.”

“She is.” After a moment of silence, you looked up at him, only to catch his eyes. You smiled shyly, tucking your hair behind your ear.

“James March,” the boy said, offering his hand to you.

“Y/F/N Y/L/N,” you introduced yourself in return, smiling up at him.

There was another moment of silence, the both of you just staring at one another. James suddenly took the rose from you again. He pulled a knife from his pocket, your heart stuttering slightly at the sight of it. But James didn’t try to harm you, he simply chopped the stem of the rose off. His hand came up to your face as you smiled nervously at him.

“I think your wrong,” he said, tucking the rose in your hair behind your ear. He stepped back, smiling softly at you. “See? Sometimes even dying flowers can serve a beautiful purpose. It’s a sacrifice. Sacrifices aren’t evil.” You paused, a shy blush forming on your cheeks at his actions.

“I never thought of it that way,” you whispered, reaching up to tuck the rose more firmly behind your ear. You smiled at James, a weird feeling you’d never felt before settling upon you. His simple action and thoughtful words had made you excited in a way you’d never known. It had created a spark; a strong urge inside of you that was almost indescribable. And as you looked in his eyes, you wanted nothing more than to relive that feeling over and over again. You swore you’d never let him go.

Suddenly, you were looking at his face again, but this time much older.

“Darling, are you alright?” James asked, and you blinked quickly, your focus shifting present.

“Yes,” you said, your eyebrows furrowing slightly as you realized just how deep into the memory you had been. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s quite alright, dear,” he said, studying you. “Are you sure you feel pleasant? You were quite far gone, I called your name several times. Did you rest well?”

“Yes, of course,” you said quickly, reaching out to clasp his hand tightly as you smiled reassuringly. “I promise. You just surprised me, is all.” James nodded, seeming fairly convinced, before smiling and gesturing towards the table.

“Alright darling, well why don’t you sit and eat something. A proper meal should do just the trick.” You smiled and nodded back at him, moving to sit in your chair that he pulled out for you. Once you were situated, James moved to sit across from you at the other end of the table.

“I wasn’t sure what you enjoyed most, so I instructed Miss Evers to make several morning dishes,” he said, grinning at you. “I hope it’s suiting for you.”

“Of course,” you said, placing a few items on your plate. A few minutes passed as you ate, your mind drifting back to last night’s events in the silence.

“Are you happy, my love?” James suddenly asked, snapping you out of your thoughts once again.

“Yes,” you replied quickly, smiling at him sincerely, “yes of course!” You could tell from the look of concern still on James’ face that he wasn’t convinced. You sighed, deciding to just be honest with him. “I just... it’s difficult to process how my life just changed.” You paused, watching James closely for a reaction. He stared, waiting for you to elaborate, his eyebrows furrowed in concern. “I’ve been alone for so long, living a horrible, unhappy life. I’m happy now, with you, but I can’t just turn that feeling off, that feeling that this moment is fleeting. It-- it terrifies me...” You trailed off, your mind wondering as you stared at the roses around you. The roses that James decided to decorate your breakfast with. The roses that had ultimately brought you together in the first place. The roses that James kept bringing around for you. Your roses. You turned your attention back to James, your eyes meeting his.

“These flowers, why did you pick them?” you asked him seriously. A look of confusion clouded James’ expression.

“Well,” James started, “I suppose they have some semblance to us, darling... these were the very flowers--”

“Of course, I remember...” you trailed off, thinking of what to say next. “But really, there has to be more to it...” It came out as more of a question than a statement. You just didn’t understand why he was bringing up all of these memories.

“Of course, dear,” James said, sighing. He looked you in the eyes, and you could see the sincerity there. “I knew you wouldn’t recover in a day, a week, a month, even a year...” he paused, his eyes downcast at the tablecloth. “I just hoped that by reminding you of what we can be once again will help you settle. My only wish is to make you happy...” he paused again, his eyes shifting back up to meet yours. This time you were met with certainty. “I want to take us back to that time. To that garden. To when we flourished the most even if the rest of the world was, well...”

“Hell. The rest of the world was hell,” you finished for him, your eyes teary at his sweet sentiment. James, however, faltered slightly at your words. You paused, taking note of the way he cringed at the mention of hell, before you reached to grab his hand, squeezing it tightly, lovingly. “Thank you James.” Your voice held so much emotion, and at that, James stood before walking over to you and pulling you out of your chair and into his embrace.

“Darling,” James whispered into your hair. You hummed in response, burying your face into his chest, breathing in his manly scent. You clasped onto him tightly. “Whatever may happen, I promise I will never let you slip from my grasp ever again... you shall never be afraid again. I would give everything away just for your happiness. You inform me and I will have it done for you, whatever you may need.” It was a firm promise, and you knew he meant it. James didn’t make empty promises. Your chest felt as if it might explode with love and adoration for this man. He really did want to give you the world. He really was your heaven... your God.

-♥-

After you had finished breakfast, James had insisted that he take you on a tour of the Cortez, and you weren’t going to turn him down. It was his pride and joy, and regardless, it was the most gorgeous place you had ever stepped foot into. You were nearly finished, with only two more floors to explore, when James started acting strange.

“James, what’s wrong?” you asked, placing your hand on his arm. He grimaced before looking at you nervously.

“Well, you see...” he trailed off for a moment, his voice hesitant. You began to get concerned. “These floors are still under slight renovation...” You giggled at his words.

“James,” you said sweetly, “it’s okay, I’m not afraid of a little dirt.”

“Well, no, that’s-”

“I’m serious,” you interrupted, giggling once again. The elevator dinged as you reached your destination. You smiled before taking his hand and leading him out. He sighed, still looking standoffish.

James had been telling the truth; there was a particular section of the hallway in which there was a wall being built, but it was small. You didn’t understand what he was so nervous about.

Suddenly, a loud shout rang out through the hallway, causing both you and James to flinch in surprise. There was a sound of commotion and James quickly walked towards the scene; you following closely behind him.

“What’s the issue?” James demanded someone standing at the back of the gathering crowd of men. There was a sound of someone groaning in pain. You stood at a distance away, more interested in the small white rose twirling between your fingers.

“One of the construction workers collapsed, sir,” the man informed him. At this point you’d lost interest, zoning in on the pretty rose in your hands. James barked a few orders at the men, but you weren’t really paying attention.

You looked up as James returned to you.

“I apologize for the interruption,” James said, obviously irritated.

“What’s the problem?” you asked, confused.

He paused, looking at you softly, “I thought that may have worried you.”

“Men get hurt all the time,” you said passively.

“Of course...” James trailed off, looking slightly confused, which made you confused. What did you do? Were you supposed to be worried? You brushed it off, smiling at him expectantly.

“Ready to continue with the tour?” you asked him, turning your back on him. You began walking back down the hall, glancing behind to see James following you. You rounded the corner, only to run into someone unexpectedly.

You stumbled backwards, nearly tripping. Luckily James stabled you before you hit the ground. You looked up, your eyes landing on a beautiful blonde woman. You paused, studying her, before a realization dawned upon you. You’d seen this woman before.

You remember her distinctly, for she was the person who had ultimately made you lose all hope. James’ wife, Elizabeth. You’d seen her all that time ago when you had first tried to escape your husband. She’s the woman that had made you believe James didn’t love you anymore.

When James had come back for you, you’d assumed that his relationship with her had failed. So why was she here?

“Why, hello,” the woman said, glancing between you and James, a weird grin on her face. She looked at James. “And who might this lovely lady be?”

You turned to look at James, your eyebrows furrowed in confusion. James’ jaw was clenched as he stared at Elizabeth, and right there and then you knew he didn’t like her.

“It’s okay, James,” she purred, her smirk never leaving. “I’m not offended. We both knew it was never going to work.” She turned to you. “You must be Y/N. I’m Countess Elizabeth.” She offered a hand to you, and you took it gracefully. James was disturbingly quiet beside you. You decided to take the ropes.

“Yes, that’s correct,” you replied smoothly.

“What’s all the commotion down the hall?” Elizabeth asked curiously. You could tell that she had some kind of ulterior motive, otherwise she would have moved on.

“Nothing important,” you replied nonchalantly. It was the truth. You didn’t feel the need to be competitive with this woman anymore; you knew who James stood by, and you trusted him. You turned to him, intertwining your arms together. “James here was just giving me a tour. I hope you don’t mind?” You smiled politely at Elizabeth. She paused, her expression one of slight surprise. It seemed to be a strange look on her.

“Of course not,” she said through tight lips. “You two have fun.” You smiled at her kindly once more, before you and James continued on, arm in arm.

Once in private in the elevator, James turned to you.

“I have to say,” James said, smiling at you, “you handled that well. You do know that Elizabeth was... shall I say, challenging you?”

“I know,” you said, smiling at him reassuringly. “But that’s the thing: she was the one challenging me. Obviously she thought she had something to fight for. I know what’s mine.” James expression morphed into one of surprise, and then pride.

“Of course you do, dear,” he said, smiling down at you. He leaned in, his lips meeting yours in a passionate kiss. The kiss was loving and at the same time slightly rough. You loved how James could make you feel like this; so powerful. After a heated moment, he pulled away.

“Darling, despite your present confidence in the matter,” he began, “I’d like you to know that regardless of Elizabeth and I’s history, she will never compare to your glamour. You truly are a revelation like no other.”

You smiled once more at his words, thinking back to that day in the garden once more, and to your mother’s words. The feeling you had now was a reflection of the feeling you had then. He’d always made you feel so incredibly self-assured. You felt like no matter what happened to you and James, nothing could break you at this point and time. And your mother had been right: gaining the knowledge was important.

Now that you’d ate the fruit of the garden and survived hell, what could possibly stop you?

You felt invincible, so long as he was by your side. You no longer feared the past or the future; you were completely centered present, all cycles broken. And it had took James less than a day to make you feel this way. Your excitement soared as you thought about your future with James. You knew that so long as you had him, you were unstoppable together. You were gods.

You didn’t need the garden, after all. Paradise lost stood no match to you, because with James, you could survive anything.

---

Series Masterlist: The Garden of Eden Series

Main Masterlist

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