#Lord knows he's on record for having many children with many women

[13thpythagoras]

Rest in Power Alfredo Bowman, aka Dr. Sebi

#they don't call him Magic Johnson for nothing yall #he found the fountain of youth and what happened to his HIV diagnosis? lol #gone #Dr. Sebi diet cures HIV among other ailments #this has been proved in court but it's uncomfortable to admit #for western science #Dr. Sebi diet allows for longevity on the span of centuries rather than decades #uncannily similar to the Pythagorean diet is the Dr. Sebi diet #plant based diet #the more plant based the more longevity #could also be argued that Dr. Sebi practiced polyamory #Lord knows he's on record for having many children with many women #question being did he abuse the mothers of his children for seeking children with other men themselves #I don't know the back story of Alfredo Bowman's life but no doubt he's fascinating #if he doesn't have a history of partner abuse then he's really also a polyamory o.g. as well

[troublesomesnitch]

Make Your Hands Unclean

Aemond x Wife!Reader - Period sex drabble

Premise and bits of dialogue shamelessly stolen from The Borgias.

Contents: drabble, pure filth. Menstrual sex, p in v, anal touching, graphic imagery. Internalised misogyny and harmful attitudes towards menstruation. Aemond is an asshole. Porn with weird plottish vibes.

Words: 2300

idk what this even is, this thing kind of wrote itself and I just went with it. It is kind of a mess tbh.

You were supposed to marry a lord.

That is what you were raised for, and those are the skills you were taught. To sing, to dance, to play the harp; to make yourself look pleasant. Your septa taught you to sew, and a woman from Essos taught you to weave, and in the afternoons the maester taught you history and linguistics, astronomy and arithmetic, and other things that ladies rarely speak about, but nevertheless must learn. 

For it is the lady, not the lord, who runs the castle. Who manages the household, and oversees the people it employs. Such a lady must ideally be both kind and commanding, generous and frugal. She must know how to handle serfs and noblemen alike, and she must be proficient in numeracy; able to record expenses and perform difficult calculations. 

To be a prince’s wife requires no such skills. 

This castle already has two queens, and besides it is not for royal women to concern themselves with practical matters. There are ladies-in-waiting for that, and stewards, chamberlains, maids and matrons; an army of servants hundreds strong to ensure that you may always be spoiled and idle. More than a lady, but less than a queen, left to twiddle your thumbs and wonder when, if ever, the oppressive walls of Maegor’s Holdfast will begin to feel like home.

You do not like it here. 

The days are long in King’s Landing, and the air is foul, polluted by the smoke of ten thousand hearths, by the stench of filth and unwashed bodies. It seeps through every crack and crevice, and you like the early mornings the most, when a cleansing mist blows in from the sea, and the ship’s bells ring over Blackwater Bay. 

Your husband rises early too, though it is for different reasons. Prince Aemond adheres to strict routines, to noble pursuits and rigorous discipline. He is exactly as people say: a stoic, severe in both temper and countenance, condemning indulgence and deriding depravity. 

Yet for all of his moral posturing, he does seem to have developed a taste for it rather quickly. 

You couldn’t say the exact number of times the prince has had you, but it has been many, and often, and in every position imaginable, and you dutifully report it all back to your family. As they have instructed you to do.

Before you were sent off to the capital, you were relentlessly reminded that there will never again be an opportunity such as this. That a marriage to a royal prince is a rare honour for your family, and one that was only made possible because the crown finds itself at war. Your house is not a great one, and your father is not the noblest lord, but he is very wealthy. And on the field of battle, wealth does tend to triumph. 

You do not know what other promises were made, what lands or titles were negotiated. Only that so much now depends on you; on your ability to please your husband and give him healthy children. Preferably male, but even a daughter would markedly strengthen your position. So you play your part as best as you can , and you pen your secret letters, divulging all the details of your intimate affairs. That the prince sleeps with you frequently, and seems to find great pleasure in it. That he performs his movements to completion, and expends his semen inside your body. 

It is a grave responsibility to have on your shoulders, and you were utterly crushed when you woke to find your insides churning, and your sheets stained with blood. 

They will be most displeased, your mother and father. Your brothers and uncles, and your cousins too. Prince Aemond's seed has not yet taken. 

-

In the evening he knocks on your door. Two determined raps, and you are thoroughly surprised. Your maid will have told his mother of your ailment, and she will have told him, and he too must be disappointed. But you know it is the prince, for there is no one else who would visit you at this hour. 

You know very well what he has come for, too. 

“We can’t tonight,” you sigh. 

“And why is that?” he says, amused, as if the idea that you would refuse him is ridiculous. 

“My blood - I am bleeding.”

Prince Aemond hums, but he walks to your couch and begins to undress himself, unbuckling his doublet and unlacing his breeches, tugging off his boots while you wring your hands. 

He can’t be serious. He can’t mean to take you like this. 

“It’s not - it isn’t proper,” you protest. “Our maester said it is ill-advised - most men find it unclean - “

“I am not most men,” he scoffs. 

There is no arguing against that, and he says it with all the confidence of someone who knows it to be true. Aemond is a royal prince. A dragonlord, a scion of a greater people. Second to no one but his king and brother, and if he wants to get himself all bloodied, then you suppose that is his right. 

He rids himself of his undershirt, and you reluctantly move to the side to let him join you in bed. It isn’t proper, but your insides flutter when he pulls you against his naked body, letting you feel the warmth of his skin, his manhood against the back of your thigh. It is hard, and twitching when he runs his hands over your figure, your breasts and your stomach, your waist, your hips, the tops of your thighs -

“No, you mustn’t - ” you squeak, but he rucks your gown up anyway and slips his hand in between your legs.

You are wet there, with blood as well as with desire, and you can feel the stickiness when he spreads your lips, curving his fingers and sliding them back and forth along your slit. His breathing is hoarse just from caressing you, from feeling your wet, your warmth, your little swollen nub begging to be touched. You whimper when he circles it with the gentlest of strokes, light and teasing, until you arch your hips up in frustration and breathe oh please. 

Prince Aemond likes it when you beg. Only then does he press down, but not enough to bring you to a peak. Just enough to make your insides tighten, and more blood gush from your womb.

You always did find it strangely beautiful, the blood of your cycle. Deep maroon, and scarlet red - but you are ashamed to see it coating the prince’s fingers when he withdraws them. It is thick, and clotted, and he takes a moment to study it before he wipes his hand clean on your shift. 

“Are you not displeased with me?” you whisper. He should be, given that you have failed to conceive. That there is no way of knowing if you can bear children at all. 

“One mere month is not cause for concern,” the prince says. 

You breathe a faint sigh of relief. It is a comfort to know that at least your husband doesn’t hold your failure against you - yet. 

He tugs on your shift, eager to expose your body, but you cross your hands over your chest.

“Let me keep it for tonight,” you plead. 

You can’t rid yourself of the thought that you are unclean, and you would feel so much more at ease if he didn’t see your heavy, aching body. But you don’t want to entirely deny him access to it, either. Seeing as you are bleeding, the chances of begetting a child are small, which means that his wish to sleep with you must come from genuine desire rather than obligation. And that makes you very happy, as you imagine it would any wife. 

You will make sure to include it in the next letter you send back home. Hopefully it will lessen their disappointment. 

The prince looks somewhat displeased, but he lets you keep your dress, resorting instead to bunching it up around your waist. He is stern, but never cruel to you, even if he does pull at the neck to bare more of your breasts. He pinches your nipple, and then his hand moves downward again, and you throw your leg over his hip to give him more room to touch you. 

This time he does it properly. His fingers find your pleasure right away, and he swiftly brings you to your rapture, impatient as he is to have you. It leaves his hand stained and tainted, and once again he wipes it off on your shift, but this time you don’t care. 

With the position you’re in, it is easy for him to crawl over your leg and take his place between them, and he kisses you as he presses against you, deeply and hungrily, rocking his hips, his manhood throbbing and leaking between your legs. 

Your parts are soaked, but he is careful when he pushes inside. Despite the prince’s relentless pursuit of knowledge, he must not know all that much about a woman’s blood, at least not in practical terms. Where it hurts, and how much, and whether this intrusion will make it worse. You can’t hold it against him - you don’t believe there are many scholars who would want to write about the topic, and how then was he supposed to learn?

“Harder,” you pant, and he obliges, moving faster and pushing deep inside. 

You let him find a steady rhythm, hooking your legs over his hips, and letting your hands wander over his body while he has his way with you. You stroke his balls, imagining that what he keeps inside will take root in you. You pinch his nipples, all hard with pleasure, and you slide your hands down to his lower back, to the base of his spine, where the skin is dusted with downy hairs. Where you can feel each of his thrusts; the rolling movements of his hips, the rhythmic clenching of his buttocks. 

Your dainty touch makes him shudder, and you move your hands to his arse, and then further still, slipping your fingers in between his buttocks. To where he is warm and tender, and where his skin starts to pucker. 

It is filthy, the way he twitches there. The way he throbs. A dirty place to touch, and a sinful thing to do, but you have found that the prince likes it. No added pressure or attempts at entry, just gentle strokes with the tips of your fingers. Soft caresses over his opening. 

He buries his face in your neck and groans, and you can feel that he is nearing his peak. His movements are fast and shallow, his chest heaving and slick with sweat. 

“Yes, my prince,” you whisper. “Fill me with your seed, put a son inside me - “

He likes that. He hisses loudly, gripping the headboard for purchase, and you look up at him when his hips stutter. Prince Aemond’s face is always handsome, but never more than when he is on top of you, in the throes of ecstasy. His brow is furrowed and his eye squeezed shut, and the tension in his body makes the damaged side of his face convulse, his lip twitching up towards the scar. 

He wouldn’t like for you to see that, but in this state he does not feel it happening. 

You lie still as he peaks, allowing him to rut into you wildly, groaning and grunting as he spills his seed. Hot, and wet, and adding to the mess inside you. He lies limp on top of you to catch his breath, and when he finally withdraws, the blood is everywhere. On his softening organ, on his sack, and crusted to the soft hairs on his thighs. 

“I’ve made you dirty,” you state. 

“Yes, you have,” he says. “In more ways than one.” 

You look the other way to give him some privacy when he rises to tidy and dress himself. On your wedding night he stayed with you until the morning, and he has done it a few times since, but it is not a common occurrence. Prince Aemond prefers to sleep alone, and your mother chastises you for that too. She says that to rouse a man’s desire is less than half the battle, and that you must make your husband love you.

Of course if it were really that simple, then there would be no unhappy marriages and no children born as bastards, and if you knew how to make a man fall in love, you would be the richest woman in all the world. 

But you must at least try. 

“Won’t you stay with me?” You ask. “It is - important, for a woman to be embraced - to be treated gently, afterwards…”

“Next time, I will,” he says. And that is the end of that, for you will not stoop so low as to beg for his company. 

He smoothes out his shirt and pulls on his breeches, and you sit up and comb your fingers through your tangled hair. When you look down there are stains on your sheets, and a thick rosy fluid trickling out between your legs. 

“You may want to abstain from riding,” the prince says over his shoulder. “It is known to upset the balance of the womb.”

You nod, bound to obey what is clearly a command posing as a suggestion. 

“Did you know,” you muse, “that the blood of the womb is the only blood that is not born from violence?”

Prince Aemond looks at you with a thoughtful expression, one that suggests he had in fact not considered that before. 

“Quite the philosopher you are,” he remarks, with a little raise of his brow. Coming from him, that is the highest praise. 

It does not change his mind about staying, but he does press a noble kiss to your temple before he leaves you. Sore and bloodied, but content. 

You did well tonight. 

Notes

“Most men find it unclean/I am not most men” is from S1E7 of the Borgias. 

“Menstruation is the only blood that is not born from violence and yet it’s the one that disgusts you the most” is a quote by artist Maia Schwartz. I couldn’t find any more information about her unfortunately. 

Tags. @arcielee, @targaryen-madness.

#aemond targaryen x reader #aemond x reader #aemond targaryen x you #aemond smut #aemond x you #aemond targaryen #hotd fanfic #aemond fanfiction #aemond targaryen fanfic

[lizzie-queenofmeigas]

So, I saw a post some time ago that was talking about how the Andals and their religion (Faith of the Seven) is more equalitarian than Old Valyria.

I don't remember exactly what their points were.

First of all, we don't know anything about Old Valyria other than that it was advanced and had dragons and practiced slavery. We know a lot about the Andals, even if their information is different depending on who is telling it.

What we know

What we do know of Old Valyria is that women were important enough for Daenys's warnings to be heeded by her father.

We know that women had enough freedom to go in a three year expedition trip with their dragon in a whole other continent.

We do know that they had female goddesses.

We do know that women were dragonriders just like the men.

We do know that men often had to marry their sisters to inherit.

We know that they ruled together.

What we can deduce

We can deduce that women were allowed to be scholars — Daenys wrote a book about her prophecies.

We can deduce that women could be warriors — Visenya was renowned for her swordsmanship and had a sword of her own that may have been made for her. There is no record of Aegon or any valyrian man finding this weird.

We can deduce that a brother needed to marry their sister to accede to inherit — We know Daenys married her brother Gaemon and their children too married and were said to rule together. Aegon had to marry Visenya for duty. Aegon "the uncrowned" had to marry his eldest sister Rhaena.

We can deduce that they had similar rights — Again, they ruled together. There was no difference between Aegon, Rhaenys and Visenya other than he was the one crowned. The three conquerors had pretty much the same power.

Why did Aegon wore the crown instead of Visenya?

Visenya was the one to crown Aegon, this is important to note. We don't know how long exactly they were planning the conquest, but this may have been something they talked about. They were going to rule over a kingdom of deeply misogynistic people, they may have agreed to give Aegon the crown and introduce more progressive ideas later.

My thinking is that after being crowned and being called king, it got to Aegon's head. He stopped heading Visenya's advice and started treating her worse. He started to accept the Andals ideals because it gave him more power, even marrying his thirteen year old son to a twenty three year old woman only because the Andals were scandalised with the union of Rhaena and Maegor.

The union of Rhaena and Maegor would have made it difficult for Aegon "the uncrowned" to acced the throne (or a future son) as Aegon I and the Andals probably wanted.

This is not exactly new, men jumping at the opportunity to have more power and betraying their female companions. This has happened many times in our own history and it happened later with Jaehaerys.

Other Theories

The Dragonbinder has an inscription that says: "I am Dragonbinder ... No mortal man shall sound me and live ... Blood for fire, fire for blood."

No mortal man. This can easily be a "Lord of the Rings" situation and if it is it means women had much more power in Old Valyria than the Andal or First Men women.

Aenys and Maegor may not be Aegon's, this could mean that the valyrians didn't mind bloodlines continuing by women's children (the lords of Westeros voted against this in the Great Council of 101) which is already a huge improvement of what the Andals do even in the face of their own laws.

Conclusion

Valyrians did have better regard for women that the Andals or the First Men.

I don't trust the Andals, they lie a lot about their own history and are religious zealots.

#old valyria #valyrianscrolls #house targaryen #faith of the seven #a song of ice and fire #asoiaf #asoiaf meta #aegon the conqueror #aegon i targaryen #visenya targaryen #visenya the conqueror #rhaenys the conqueror #rhaenys targaryen #anti house hightower

[makeela]

[slaps miquella on the back] this little guy can hold so many alter egos

ok. here it is. my gigantic tinhat thesis about Miquella and my belief that he is, in fact, like, just so many different guys. at the same time. or, well, mostly women, actually. diversity win!

Disclaimer: this post assumes in large part that you already know a fair bit of the “established lore”. Some things may only be mentioned in passing or glossed over for this reason.

lets fucking go

Miquella and St Trina

Relevant item descriptions:

“Candlestand torch that burns with a light-purple flame. The carvings depict St. Trina, but in adult form, somewhat unnervingly. The light-purple flame induces sleep.” (St. Trina’s Torch, found in the Consecrated Snowfield)

“Silver sword carried by clerics of St. Trina. Inflicts sleep ailment upon foes. St. Trina is an enigmatic figure. Some say she is a comely young girl, others are sure he is a boy. The only certainty is that their appearance was as sudden as their disappearance.” (Sword of St. Trina, found at the Forsaken Ruins south of the Divine Tower of Caelid) “Tree branch blessed with an incantation of unalloyed gold. Craftable item. Pierce a foe, using FP to turn them into a temporary ally. The Empyrean Miquella is loved by many people. Indeed, he has learned very well how to compel such affection.” (Bewitching Branch)

“A record of crafting techniques left by a man who was utterly captivated by St. Trina. He continued the search for her in his slumber. Acquire the knowledge to craft the following: - Bewitching Branch” (Fervor’s Cookbook[3], obtained from Gideon in Roundtable Hold after entering Mohgwyn Palace and resting at a Site of Grace)

This one was kind of a given, but is important to mention for subsequent tie-ins. Given these item descriptions, plus cut quest content from a character named Rhico, which was meant to end in the Consecrated Snowfield after helping him travel in dreams in his search for St. Trina (written below) it’s fairly easy to assume that Miquella and St. Trina were, at least at one point, the same person.

“You know, a holy personage was once abducted from these lands. Thus I am here in search of clues that might unravel the mystery. The abductor's bloody footprints are said to have disappeared in the Forest of Ancient Bowers. Finally, I have found it! St. Trina's, no, Lord Miquella's cadaver.” 

Empyreans, as We Know Them

According to Ranni upon doing her quest, there are currently three (technically two, if you don’t count Ranni herself, which she does not) distinct Empyreans. Herself, Malenia, and Miquella.

“I was once an Empyrean. Of the demigods, only I, Miquella, and Malenia could claim that title. Each of us was chosen by our own Two Fingers, as a candidate to succeed Queen Marika, to become the new god of the coming age."

However, if you look deeper into item descriptions, you’ll find out there was a fourth Empyrean: The Gloam-Eyed Queen. 

“Superior Black Flame incantation of the Godskin Apostles. Summons a circle of Black Flame pillars around the caster. Charging increases the size of the circle. The Gloam-Eyed Queen led the apostles. It is said that she was an Empyrean chosen by the Fingers.” (Black Flame Ritual)

Now, at this point it’s worth noting that there are only two required qualifications to be an Empyrean. You must be chosen by your own Two Fingers, and you have to be a direct descendant of exclusively a god. Ignoring the specifics of Ranni’s parentage (something to get into later, but not on this post), unless Marika and Radagon had additional children or there’s another god floating around, our options are very slim for who it might be.

“Remembrance of Malenia, Goddess of Rot, hewn into the Erdtree. The power of its namesake can be unlocked by the Finger Reader. Alternatively, it can be used to gain a great bounty of runes. Miquella and Malenia are both the children of a single god. As such they are both Empyreans, but suffered afflictions from birth. One was cursed with eternal childhood, and the other harbored rot within.” (Remembrance of the Rot Goddess)

The Gloam-Eyed Queen and Why She’s Important

The Gloam-Eyed Queen was an Empyrean who went toe-to-toe with Marika, which eventually led to Marika removing the Rune of Death from the Elden Ring and sealing it in Farum Azula, a realm separate from the Lands Between where time works differently. The Gloam-Eyed Queen presided over the Godskins, and more importantly, raised(/potentially birthed) them. She was eventually defeated by Maliketh, and Destined Death — alongside her and her disciples’ ability to kill Gods — was sealed away.

“Sacred cloth of the Godskin Apostles, made from supple skin sewn together. Successive attacks restore HP. The Gloam-Eyed Queen cradles newborn apostles swaddled in this cloth. Soon they will grow to become the death of the gods.” (Godskin Swaddling Cloth, found after defeating the Spirit-Caller Snail in the Spiritcaller cave, located in the Mountaintops of the Giants)

“Sacred sword of the Gloam-Eyed Queen who controlled the Godskin Apostles before her defeat at the hands of Maliketh. The Black Flames wielded by the apostles are channeled from this sword.” (Godslayer Greatsword)

“Robe made by sewing together patches of smooth skin. Worn by the Godskin Apostles. The apostles, once said to serve Destined Death, are wielders of the god-slaying Black Flame.  But after their defeat by Maliketh, the Black Blade, the source of their power was sealed away.” (Godskin Apostle Robe)

So now that we know all of that, what’s so important about her? Firstly, she rose in direct defiance of the Golden Order: while we don’t know what her motivations were exactly, we know that she could wield Destined Death and could kill not only Marika, but would have been in a position to kill an Outer God, as well. As far as we know, Malenia had no intention to inherit the Elden Ring, and was fully in service to her brother. This leaves only two obvious possibilities (not including a third, which will be mentioned later): Ranni and Miquella, who both are clearly resentful of the Golden Order, though for different reasons. While it’s conceivable that Ranni could’ve been the Gloam-Eyed Queen, especially given her close proximity to Destined Death with the Night of Black Knives, something like that wouldn’t have been necessary for her to shed her body if she had control over Destined Death in the first place — she would’ve been able to shed her Empyrean flesh long before Maliketh sealed away Destined Death. This leaves Miquella.

Miquella’s Haligtree and His Purpose "... Only... a little further now... Show me the path, O gentle lights... the path to Elphael." (Lost Spirit NPC, Consecrated Snowfield)

Miquella’s Haligtree, hidden behind a waygate in the Albinauric town of Ordina, is presented to the player as a place those shunned by the Golden Order could turn to. You’re first made aware of it in Liurnia upon meeting Albus, who gives you the right half of the Haligtree Medallion and urges you to seek out Latenna, so that you might help her journey to the Consecrated Snowfield.

“A chosen land awaits us Albinaurics. The medallion is the key that leads to the city. It's only a quaint treasure, for we who cannot make the journey. But for dear Latenna, it is needed. To fulfill her purpose.” (Albus dialogue)

“Flanged iron cap adorned with a crown of unalloyed gold. Increases faith. Worn by foot soldiers sworn to the Haligtree. Who is that Miquella shall bless, if not the low and the meek?” (Sacred Crown Helm)

“Silver helm of Loretta, a Knight who served Miquella's Haligtree. Loretta, once a royal Carian Knight, went on a journey in search of a haven for Albinaurics, and determined that the Haligtree was their best chance for eventual salvation.” (Royal Knight Helm)

Upon arrival, you find Haligtree town full to the brim with Misbegotten, who are well-known to be oppressed under the Golden Order. (You’ll also find several Spirit-Caller Snails — this is important for later.) 

This was not, however, Miquella’s original intent in creating the Haligtree. His initial goal was to cure Malenia of the affliction she’s suffered since birth: the Scarlet Rot, and later, free Godwyn from his half-life as the Prince of Death. Since this was something that wasn’t viable under the Golden Order, he split off to create his own Erdtree that could hopefully help in curing his siblings. This research led him to Unalloyed Gold, which, short of removing the Outer Gods entirely, is a way to stall their affliction. This is shown both in the case of Scarlet Rot (Malenia’s armor and prosthetics, Cleanrot Knight armor, Haligtree/Elphael Knight armor) as well as the Frenzied Flame (Unalloyed Gold Needle). 

“One of the incantations of the Golden Order fundamentalists. A gift of gratitude to the young Miquella from his father, Radagon. Produces a golden ring of light and fires it across a wide area. Charging enhances range. And yet, the young Miquella abandoned fundamentalism, for it could do nothing to treat Malenia's accursed rot. This was the beginning of unalloyed gold.” (Radagon’s Rings of Light)

Before looking at how this all comes together, it’s also important to note that in Kale’s cut questline, we see that St. Trina would sing to the merchants to try and stave off the Frenzied Flame. This is the same song that some merchants can be found playing. Link to a youtube video containing the entire cut questline can be found here: https://youtu.be/LK_8F_XwLaE

Where Miquella and the Gloam-Eyed Queen Come Together

Let’s start with the obvious. All Godskins are weak to sleep — in fact, Godskin Duo is the only main story boss receptive to sleep past a brief stagger. Continuing on the sleep thread, all spirit-type enemies (Fia’s Champions, Niall/O’Neil adds, Spirit Soldiers in Castle Sol, etc.) are immune to sleep with the exception of the spirit versions of the Godskin Duo that you fight in the Spiritcaller cave and Spirit-Caller Snails. Despite the name, Spirit-Caller Snails are classified as Those Who Live In Death. Regardless, they are also the only enemy of this type not immune to sleep. As we know already, St. Trina is associated with sleep, and we have established for our purposes here that St. Trina and Miquella are one in the same, and given the fact that these are both outliers specifically because they can be slept, it’s hard not to draw a conclusion between the two. 

(As a note, I don’t think Spirit-Caller Snails on their own are SUPER hard evidence or anything, but laying out that they are all either related by Mohg, Miquella, or Godskins even coincidentally is kind of important)

It’s also definitely worth mentioning that there are only three instances of Spirit-Caller Snails outside of the Haligtree. The first is the faux Godskin Duo who drop the Godskin Swaddling Cloth on defeat, as well as lesser Spirit-Caller Snails in the same cave who summon wolves and (more importantly) disciples of Okina. For those who may not remember, Bloody Finger Okina is the NPC invasion in Mountaintops who drops Rivers of Blood. The second instance is in the Leyndell Catacombs — you know, the ones at the bottom of the sewers, where you can find Mohg’s shackle. This Spirit-Caller snail is protecting the Haligdrake Talisman +1. Lastly, and least importantly (or maybe not, depending on how you feel about “the arbitrary number is the same so therefore it MUST mean something”), in Road’s End Catacombs there is a Spirit-Caller snail that summons Crucible Knights Siluria and Ordovis. On its own this doesn’t mean much, but overall there are seven illusory walls in the dungeon, which strangely enough matches up with the Godskin Noble Robe item description: 

“Robe made by sewing together patches of smooth skin. Subcutaneous fat makes it plump and soft. Worn by Godskin Nobles, known for their seven-face aprons. Strengthens the Noble Presence incantation. Nobles are the most ancient apostles who are said to have assimilated inhuman physiology. Not unlike the crucible, the Erdtree in its primordial form.”

Now, let’s talk about the Black Flame Protection incantation. It’s given to you by Gideon after you arrive at the Haligtree and return to Roundtable Hold. This is the item description:

“A Black Flame incantation of the Godskin Apostles. Summons black fire within, increasing physical damage negation. However, sacred flasks and other such forms of HP restoration are impaired. The Apostles were all embraced by the Gloam-Eyed Queen, and the Black Flame was their armor within.”

Within the context of what and whom Miquella welcomed at the Haligtree — and the fact that this is given to you upon entering the Haligtree — it seems far from unlikely that he would turn away Godskins on his doorstep. 

Other things that are interesting but inconclusive/not worth a full paragraph:

The location where you get the Sword of St. Trina is pretty close to the Divine Tower of Caelid, where you fight a Godskin Apostle for their armor set and the Godslayer Greatsword

Miquella likely has some type of connection to the crucible, or something similar spawned from the Haligtree, considering it was basically a “proto-Erdtree” and Miquella was trying to grow his own; this could have led to physical deformities in the Godskin Nobles if they were present

Black Flame Monks are just Flame Monks that abandoned the Giantsflame in lieu of Black Flame. Doesn’t really have much to do with anything other than proximity, since Giantsflame originates in the Mountaintops

Expanding upon this point, the Black Flame Monk Amon ashes are found on the Hidden Path to the Haligtree after defeating the hidden stray Mimic Tear. Item description states that he was the first of the Flame Monks to convert.

Millicent’s optional quest location that lets you summon her at Dominula (Windmill Village) to fight the Godskin Apostle. This is available only after giving her the Valkyrie’s Prosthesis at the Erdtree-Gazing Hill, which means her route from that Site of Grace to the DTS outside Leyndell (her next summon location) is much longer than necessary, and there’s no plot reason for her to have gone there.

What About Melina?

Disclaimer: very little of this is supported by actual in-game item descriptions or text. This is based almost entirely off of my own inferences and a few lore tidbits.

Earlier I mentioned that there was another possibility for who the Gloam-Eyed Queen could be. This is, of course, Melina. She’s an extremely popular choice for people’s depictions of the Gloam-Eyed Queen, especially since in the Frenzied Flame ending she’s shown to have one purple (“gloam”) colored eye, and she promises to deliver the Tarnished Destined Death. 

“Lord of Frenzied Flame... I will seek you, as far as you may travel... To deliver you what is yours. Destined Death.”

She also has multiple burn scars that would be consistent with either Black Flame or Destined Death, and upon sacrificing herself to burn the Erdtree and grant the Tarnished entry into Farum Azula, she says,

“The one who walks alongside flame, Shall one day meet the road of Destined Death. Good-bye.”

She also brings up being “burned and bodiless” upon resting at a Grace in Altus Plateau for the first time, and later explains that she only has a physical body at the foot of the Erdtree, in Leyndell.

“The Erdtree...is close. Only a little further till the foot of the Erdtree, and the accord is fulfilled. It takes me back. I was born at the foot of the Erdtree. Where mother gave me my purpose. Though now, everything is lost to me. I...have to ascertain for myself. The reason for which I live, burned and bodiless.”

“My utmost thanks. For bringing me to the base of the Erdtree. Here, I can govern my own movement. And thus, the accord is fullfiled. I shall depart to ascertain the purpose I was given.”

Now, it’s not that I think Melina wasn’t the Gloam-Eyed Queen! Quite the opposite, in fact. It’s important to note here that we do not, for sure, know Melina’s parentage, but from context clues (born at the foot of the Erdtree, purpose given to her by her mother which she shirks upon getting to the Mountaintops, semi-corporeal form consistent with curses put on Malenia and Miquella) we can assume that her parents were Radagon and Marika. The problem is that she would’ve had to have been a hidden child, something that seems impossible to do, especially within the more omniscient scope of item descriptions that don’t even remotely mention a secret child but do mention other “secret” things, like Radagon/Marika being the same person, or the existence of Mohg and Morgott.

Truthfully, I’m not certain Melina exists at all. Or, at least, I don’t believe she exists in the traditional sense — her existence and consciousness are very real, but are probably more in line with, say, Radagon. Let me explain.

Miquella is the strongest Empyrean of all. This is stated outright by Malenia, and given what we know of him, there’s no reason not to believe her. He’s the spitting image of Marika, because he’s essentially a clone of her. 

“Winged helm made of unalloyed gold. Worn by Malenia, Blade of Miquella. Malenia awaited Miquella at the foot of the husk. "My brother will keep his promise. He possesses the wisdom, the allure, of a god—he is the most fearsome Empyrean of all." (Malenia’s Winged Helm)

Of course, he’s not as strong as Marika, due to the birth defect that keeps him in a child’s body, which is why he chose to go into slumber in a cocoon — so that he might overcome his curse and ascend to godhood. Despite this, I do think he would be capable of splitting himself off similarly to Marika, though perhaps not in quite as solid a form, perhaps due to the fact that he’s in a “dream” state, so interactions with the  “real” world may be fuzzier and less clear. This could also potentially explain why Melina was in possession of the Spectral Steed Whistle, which clearly belonged to Miquella prior to the events of the game. This is evidenced not only in the fact that the whistle is very similar in appearance to other unalloyed items, but also in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC art, he appears to be riding Torrent.

This would also provide an explanation on how Melina has so many clear memories of Marika without technically being her daughter, and why she’s able to stave off the Frenzied Flame in the Lord of Frenzy ending — she’s resistant by the same logic that St. Trina was when she attempted to keep the Merchants from joining the Frenzy Hivemind. 

Of course, there’s not loads of evidence here either way. Melina is a mysterious character with very little actual lore to speak of, despite being a “main” character, but I do think her being split off from Miquella, especially as an instrument for him to work in the waking world, goes a long way to fill in inconsistencies left when you take her at face value. 

If you’ve managed to make it this far, thank you so much! I’ve been brewing all of this in my head for months. I’m aware that a lot of it is VERY tinhat theory, but I do think there are solid leads that could amount to something. There are too many coincidences for them all to be… coincidences, you know?

Once again, thanks so much for reading!

#elden ring #miquella the unalloyed #melina #marika #elden ring lore #fromsoft #malenia blade of miquella #godskin duo #does tumblr still only count the first 5 tags #no right #anyway i was meant to go to bed like literally 6 hours ago. and then i had an autism moment and now i'm here. so

[ltwilliammowett]

The Female Sailor - Anne Jane Thornton

At the beginning of the 19th century, a phenomenon that enjoyed great popularity among the population was the ballad. In this case, those of the warrior women. Dianne Dugaw - professor of English literature and folklore at the University of Oregon - summarised the ballads about female seafarers and other early modern "heroines" in her 1982 dissertation under the category "Warrior Women" and revealed that of the 154 or so pieces, only about 34 turned out to be true, the rest were filled with fictional women.

One of these true women was Anne Jane Thornton the Female Sailor. She recorded her short story in a biography and became the subject of many ballads. The woman who was even invited before the king, and even allowed to have cake and wine with him. But the question is what is really true and what do we know about her and what is fictitious.

  Engraving entitled ANN THORNTON the FEMALE SAILOR GOING ALOFT,  1835 (x)

The Female Sailor (x)

The young woman Ann Jane Thornton had arrived on the ship "Sarah" at Fresh Whart London Bridge in February 1835, after her sex had been exposed a few days earlier on the sea voyage. Within a very short time, her story had made the rounds and a policeman took her to the Lord Mayor of London, who subjected her to an interrogation. In it, she explained the reasons for her decision to pretend to be a boy. In the year of her unmasking, she was said to be 17 years old, which would put her birth year at 1718. Her widowed father had moved her and the rest of her family from County Gloucestershire (England) to Donegal (Ireland) when she was six years old. She admitted to regretting causing her father so much grief when she left him. The reason for her journey, according to the pamphlet (the ballad), was a captain named Alexander Burk, whom she had met when she was 13 years old. The two fell in love, but her lover was ordered to New York, where his father also lived. Without further ado, she decided to follow him. Accompanied by two servants, she got herself the clothes of a cabin boy and a passage to America. When she arrived in New York, Burk's father told her that her beloved had died. From East Point, she is said to have marched seventy miles through the woods to St. Andrew. There she signed on as cook and steward on board the "Adelaide" and then on the "Rover", sailing again to St Andrew and joining the "Sarah" under Captain McIntire, which then sailed back to London. She was at sea for 31 months as a permanent part of the crew. (x)

Gallant Female Sailor (x)

This is the summary of the ballads. What is not mentioned, however, is that her discovery was not a particularly pleasant thing, because her comrades had found out that she was a woman and had approached her inappropriately and probably also abused her. Fearing that the torture would continue, she decided to tell the captain. At least that is what an anonymous short biography says.

After her discovery, she was interrogated in London and became the subject of the king's curiosity. Amused by her story and curious to meet a true warrior woman. He invited her to wine and cake, then placed her under his protection and assured her of a £10 pension. This made her a very desirable marriage match and eventually forced her to go back to Ireland to marry and raise a family and was now known as Jane Gallagher. But they were not lucky for long. Unlike the ballads, where it was only reported that thanks to the king she was now able to put aside her adventurous life and live as a happy wife and mother.

The Era 23. May 1847

In reality, however, the couple became ill and on 3 May 1847 Jane succumbed to the unknown illness shortly after her husband. The mother of “many” children left behind "very young seamen" - as the Era article calls her descendants - all named after relatives of Queen Victoria.

The article also raises the question of whether the seafarer's children would continue to receive the pension. This suggests that the pension had continued to be paid annually after William IV's death in 1837. The author hoped that the pension would continue to be paid until the children would also join the Navy in the clothes in which their mother was unmasked.  

Interestingly, her year of death is often given as 1877 in the media, but this is probably due to a typing error. The ballads also tend to differ in detail, as does the biography she wrote. Which is why it is difficult to say what is true and what is not. At least the part about her pension was probably true, but as far as the details of her journey are concerned, it is anyone's guess. But these ballads are just as much victims of time as folk tales and other orally transmitted stories and songs. They are subject to variations and changes. Such was the case with the one about Anne Jane Thornton, who, over time, had not sailed after an Alexander Burk, for example, but after a William Brown, another female Sailor.

But it was not that these ballads were distorted over time, but also by Anne herself. She published her own biography in 1835 and, having become a very honoured and famous woman, she adapted it to give her readers the adventure they wanted to hear in order to enhance her fame and fortune.

Therefore, we can only assume that her story probably only roughly corresponds to what actually happened to her. In the end, however, we know that she really existed. Which makes her one of a small number of warrior women who were actually at sea.

#naval history #women at sea #anne jane thornton #jane gallagher #1835 #age of sail

[thesantos-gottadoit]

sergio you and your wife are so hot . awoof.

Betty looks at her husband as he twirls his hat around and sets it back on his head, pointing out the few things they can recognize and excitedly rambling about what to buy first for their new lives. His arms flexed with a record of the years he'd spent climbing and carrying her around the house because he wanted to show off his strength. His eyes turn upwards to meet hers. Brown and full of warmth and the years she's spent looking into them. All the good and bad they've gone through together is somewhere behind his eyes. She's seen every last emotion in those eyes. She's felt every bit of that beautiful face.

He knows.

Sergio glances up at his wife. She wasn't a special trained government spy. She didn't have a fall back or backup in her line of work. Neither of them did. It was herself, a few of her friends she could trust, and him. They worked together, trained together, spent long, long nights preparing and planning for their gigs together. They'd spent too many nights worrying that it would be their last in the same bed.

So they made the most of it and spent those potential last nights as close to each other as possible. He'd heard her profess her love as best she could between kisses a thousand times. He'd told her exactly how much he loved every last part of her he could think of. The mornings would come, sometimes they woke up to it, sometimes they looked out the window to see sunlight.

Maybe this time they could find work that wouldn't beg them to risk having a true final night together. Even if she loved her job. He'd never stop her from it. But they'd said goodbye with their whole hearts enough times. They were in this until the end. Whenever that may be.

Betty shone in the admittedly cold daylight. America was far too chilly to be dropped into it like this. But they had the right clothes. Lord she looked incredible in that sweater. It was a backup she'd gotten in case they needed to flee somewhere cold for a few months until it was safe to come home. He hoped they still sold clothes in her size. Who knew what the majority of women looked like now. (The idea of them not selling things in her size made him rather upset. He quickly dismissed it)

Taking his hand with hers, and he knew how easy it was for her to pick him up and toss him into the air with joy. How many times she'd swung him around to entertain the children. All the dances they shared. All the nights he'd spent working to be able to do the same for her.

Her hair was tied up beautifully and it framed her from every angle. So black that the winter sunlight almost gave it a blueish shimmer. Curls and hair ties and the texture he knew like he knew his own name. It never stopped feeling good.

Their eyes met and those green eyes, those glittering green eyes. So full of life. Full of their lives. The tiny flecks of blue im them that you wouldn't notice as anything more than a trick of the light if you didn't look closely. He'd seen them full of the thrill of a chase. He'd seen her sobbing in alleyways after losing friends or seeing someone die. They never got used to that. They never got over it. They just hid it until they could cry. He'd seen the tired eyes, the passionate eyes, the eyes she only made in the late nights they spent in bed, and those focused on work eyes.

"She knows."

#hatchetblr #sergio rp #betty santos #sergio santos #married couple #my ship is sailing #love #theyre in love your honor #they love each other #so much #romantic writing #spies are forever #hatchetverse #Sergio x Betty #tin can bros #starkid #starkid rp #hatchetfield #hatchetfield rp #couples in love #flirting encouraged

[scotianostra]

The Four Mary's Linlithgow.

On way to Edinburgh so here's a wee bit history for you all while I sit on the bus.

The inside of the Pub is like a museum with lots of historical artefacts, don't expect to see the footie though, it doesn't have a television.

Some of you may know the song of the same name, which has been covered by many artists including The Corries, Joan Baez and Steelye Span, but the story behind the song dates back to the 16th century and centres on Mary Queen of Scots.

The Four Marys pub was named after the four ladies in waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots, who was born over the road in Linlithgow Palace.

They were Mary Seton, Mary Beaton, Mary Fleming and Mary Livingston. Mary Fleming was also a relative of Mary Queen of Scots, as Fleming’s mother was the illegitimate half-sister of Mary Queen of Scots’ late father King James V. The other ladies were of noble and high birth.

Although Mary Queen of Scots’ connection to France started at a young age, it wasn’t always certain that France would become her home. King Henry VIII first attempted to marry his son Prince Edward to the young Scottish Queen. Although some of the Queen of Scots’ nobles supported an English alliance, Marie de Guise and other nobles pushed for the Auld Alliance.

In 1548, the four Marys joined their Queen at Inchmahome Priory in preparation for their journey to France. The journey to France from Scotland was a rough sea voyage. It is recorded that during the journey, all of the ladies came down with sea sickness.

Upon their arrival in France, the station of Mary Queen of Scots and that of her ladies-in-waiting could not have been made clearer, as Mary was to join the Valois royal children whilst her ladies were initially separated from her. This could appear as a cruel move by the French King Henri II, however it was for the young Scottish Queen’s benefit. First of all, if she were to marry the Dauphin, she would need to learn to speak French and be associate with the Valois Princesses, Elisabeth and Claude. Secondly, by making her closest companions Henri’s daughters he could secure her loyalty and ensure she was surrounded by women of noble birth and of respectable character.

The four Marys were initially sent away to be educated by Dominican nuns. However their time in France was not to be for as long as anticipated, as although Mary Queen of Scots married Francis, they ruled France together for only a year before the young King died in 1560.

By this time, Marie de Guise, who had once decided her daughter’s future in France whilst protecting her realm in Scotland, had died. This left Mary no choice but to return to her country as queen. The four Marys returned with her to Scotland. Scotland would be the place where the four Marys would seek their own husbands, as their now widowed Queen would also seek out another.

Mary Queen of Scots married her cousin Lord Darnley in 1565. Her ladies also married, all except Mary Seton who remained in the Queen’s service until 1585 when she left the Queen’s household to join the house of God and become a nun. Mary Beaton married Alexander Ogilvy in April 1566.

Mary Beaton had a son James with her husband in 1568. Two years earlier, she had been there to support Mary Queen of Scots as she gave birth to her son and heir James, who would become James VI of Scotland and eventually, James I of England.

Mary Beaton lived a long life, dying at the age of fifty-five in 1598. Mary Beaton has been depicted in history as a model lady in waiting and one who was well educated. It is recorded that Mary Beaton’s own handwriting was very similar to that of Mary Queen of Scots.

Mary Livingston married her husband John Sempill in the same year that Mary Queen of Scots married Lord Darnley. Both Mary Livingston and her husband’s characters were not considered to be honourable and respectful, unlike those of her ladies Seton and Beaton. The Scottish Reformer John Knox wrote that Livingston was “lusty” and her husband was a “dancer”. He even rumoured that Livingston had conceived her child before the marriage and therefore was of unworthy character to be a lady-in-waiting to the Queen. These remarks by Knox were ignored by Mary Queen of Scots who granted wealth and land to her lady and her husband. Mary Livingston was even awarded some of the Queen of Scots’ jewels in her will. However she and her husband were ordered some years later to return them to the crown. Her husband John Sempill was arrested for refusing to return them. Livingston died in 1579.

Mary Fleming married a man who was many years older than her, Sir William Maitland. Maitland was the Queen’s royal secretary. There were rumours that their marriage was an unhappy one, but this has been largely disregarded by history and evidence proves otherwise. Their marriage took place after three years of courtship and therefore, they had time to get to know one another well before the marriage. In 1573 they were captured at Edinburgh Castle. Mary’s husband died shortly after their capture and she herself was kept a prisoner. Mary Fleming was forced to give up her belongings and her estate was not returned to her until 1581/2 by the then King James VI, the son of her former Queen and mistress.

There is a dispute over whether Fleming remarried but it is commonly believed that she did not. She had two children, James and Margaret. In 1581 the Queen of Scots tried to set up a meeting with Mary Fleming, but there is no evidence that this ever took place. Fleming died that same year.

The lives of the ladies-in-waiting of Mary Queen of Scots were very different, despite their common experiences and Dominican education in France; three married and only one lady actually returned to a life in a nunnery.

#scotland #scottish #history #linlithgow #mary queen of scots #The four marys

[branwendaughterofllyr]

Branwen reads ASOIAF (again) - AGOT Bran I

or as I like to call it, baby’s first beheading! 

The chapter opens with a friendly reminder that it is still summer, and even summer in the North can get pretty fucking cold. Perfect. When can I move? Bran had to wake up extra early for his first execution. I don’t remember my field trips being this hardcore. I imagine that Cat packed a special lunchbox for Bran. 

Bran is pretty pumped for his first execution. Robb thinks the man might be a wildling, sworn to the king-beyond-the wall Mance Raydar and Bran has never seen a wildling before! But he does know all of Old Nan’s stories.

The wildlings were cruel men, she said, slavers and slayers and thieves. They consorted with giants and ghouls, stole girl children in the dead of night, and drank blood from polished horns. And their women lay with the Others in the Long Night to sire terrible half-human children.

I think that this paragraph is just fascinating taste of the way stories and tales are handled by the narrative. Right, so Bran as a child believes these stories, and many other people in world do as well. We the readers are more likely to skeptical, and what we see later discounts a lot of it. The wildlings, or rather the free folk, are just people, and aren’t any worse than those south of the Wall. BUT, there’s a kernel of truth in pretty much all of this. They really do keep company with giants, possibly even mating with them, since the idea of giant’s blood in men seems pretty accepted. And wife stealing is very much a thing. There's even some cannibal tribes running around. The most interesting bit is probably that they lay with the Others, which there doesn’t seem to be evidence of among the wildlings (aside from what ever the fuck Craster is up to, which seems to be mainly human sacrifice), but does show up in the story of the Nightfort, where the 13th commander of the NW took an Other woman to wife and had to be defeated by the Stark in Winterfell. This lord commander was likely a Stark as well, especially since his name was purposely removed from the records. But I guess my point is, that there are layers of truth to all of these stories, if you dig hard enough you’ll usually find something, though often in a more ironic way. 

But its more pertinent that Bran is very into scary stories, and he’s a little disappointed that the man is just, well, a man. Hi, Gared. See you managed to get out alive. Not for much longer though. 

Bran is doing his best to seem older and braver- he is only seven. We also get the first description of the arms of House Stark, a grey direwolf racing on a background of ice-white. 

Ahead of Bran and his brothers Robb and Jon, is their father Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell. I am again reminded that Eddard, and most of his contemporaries are only in their thirties, which feels kinda weird. War really does age you, and Lord Stark has the salt and pepper beard to show for it. 

And then there’s this part, which I always find kind of interesting.

He had taken off Father’s face, Bran thought, and donned the face of Lord Stark of Winterfell.

This actually comes up a lot in regards to Ned, that he has a bit of a separate persona between his family life and his lordly duties. Which makes perfect sense- being a lord in Westeros can be a tough business and requires a certain amount of stoicism. The reason I bring this up, is there’s a certain amount of emphasis on the difference between being a lord, and the office of lordship, that being the lord of whatever is just a much a representation of that place and people, as it is about the person. I think this comes up mainly with the Starks- Bran and Jon specifically, but I want to keep an eye on it, since there’s probably something in there about the ideal ruler in medieval world? Idk, I’ll have more to say about this in moment, when we get to the Starks’ old way. 

Unfortunately, Bran doesn’t really pay attention to what Gared says, since he’s freezing his little butt off and trying to look serious. I’m going to assume it wasn't anything too important about the Others, since Ned never brings it up. But wouldn't it be funny if Gared had told the whole thing, and everyone just ignored him because they were too busy thinking about drinking hot cocoa back at WF? Probably not, lol.

Ned finally gets on with it, and has Theon bring out Ice, which is a comically big fuck-off sword 

 It was as wide across as a man’s hand, and taller even than Robb. The blade was Valyrian steel, spell-forged and dark as smoke. Nothing held an edge like Valyrian steel.

How has anyone ever used this sword for anything?????? For reference, this fucking massive claymore in the national museum of Scotland, which is taller than me,

was pretty much only used for ceremonial purposes, and I’m not even sure it's as big as Ice is supposed to be. Or maybe George doesn’t understand how heights work, which very well could be the case.  Or maybe I don’t understand how height work, which is also probably the case. 

Ned hands off his gloves to his one true BFF, Jory Cassel, and sentences the deserter to death in the name of King Robert. 

“In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, by the word of Eddard of the House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, I do sentence you to die.”

Only a couple things to note here: Westeros is mentioned here as being made up of three main peoples, the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. We’ll get more of an explanation for this latter, but I think it establishes early on that the seven kingdoms are pretty complicated in their own right. Also “the protector of the realm” thing, which George is really interested in, for a lot of good reasons in my opinion. There’s a real world use of this title by the Plantagenets, who ruled England from roughly the 12th century to the 15th century, and also have embarrassed me many times with my inability to pronounce their name. Warden also has a real world equivalent as well, in the wardens of the Welsh marches, I think? There’s a lot going on here.

The man’s head is cut off, and the best bit of descriptive writing award for this chapter goes to:

Blood sprayed out across the snow, as red as summerwine. One of the horses reared and had to be restrained to keep from bolting. Bran could not take his eyes off the blood. The snows around the stump drank it eagerly, reddening as he watched.

Bonus points for the implications of bloodthirsty trees!

Theon tries to invent soccer in the most asshole-ish way possible, by kicking the dead man’s head. RIP, Gared. You deserved better than Theon desecrating your body. 

Bran gets a “good job” from his bastard brother Jon, who's already fourteen and “an old hand at justice.” BABIES, mere children I say!

It’s time to get back on the road, and Robb and Jon discuss the man’s death. Robb thinks the man died bravely, but Jon disagrees. There was fear in the man’s eyes. 

There’s this set up of Jon and Robb as opposites and parallels (and dare I say foils?????) from literally the beginning, and it’s underlined by first this discussion and then their physical differences, and I like how it’s presented together.  I already mentioned the physical description of Jon last chapter, with it’s similarities to Waymar Royce, but let’s do it again just for fun!

Jon’s eyes were a grey so dark they seemed almost black, but there was little they did not see. He was of an age with Robb, but they did not look alike. Jon was slender where Robb was muscular, dark where Robb was fair, graceful and quick where his half brother was strong and fast.

I’m sure that Jon looking like Waymar will have no future implications! Nothing to see here! (I’ll talk about how the same words are used to describe Ser Loras, another Sansa crush, when we get there)

I’d also like to point out that one of the first things we get told about Jon is that he notices shit. Not necessarily consistently, lol, but enough that it's an important character trait. (Yes, this is me complaining about the show making Jon dumber and boring, deal with it. I will die on this hill.)

I am also contractually obligated by @starkmaiden​ to bring up the semi-crack theory that Jon’s eyes are actually a dark shade of violet-grey that only looks purple in certain light, so that his true parentage was literally staring everyone in the face the whole time, lol. 

No word from Bran on how handsome Jon is. I’ll guess we’ll have to wait for Sansa to report back to us in TWOW. 

Robb and Jon run off to have a race home in a moment of happiness we will soon never see the licks of again, while Ned has a one-on-one heart to heart with Bran (He seems to do this with every child BUT Sansa. No, I'm not bitter about Ned’s parenting at all, why do you ask?) Bran brings up what Robb and Jon were talking about, leading us to probably the best advice Ned ever gives, and possibly just the best piece of wisdom in the whole series stop. 

“Can a man still be brave if he’s afraid?” “That is the only time a man can be brave,”

Do I tear up little every time I read this line? Maybe, but that’s my business. 

And it’s a great insight into human nature, that will come up pretty much none stop in the series. @agentrouka-blog​ brought up in the tags of my last post, that George has a way of creating a flawed character, and then having them rise to the occasion, and I think that this exchange is kind of the thesis of that idea. 

Ned is now going to give Bran, and us, a breakdown of how Northern justice functions, and we have to talk about it. Ned explains to Bran that the man was not a wildling, but a deserter of the NW, who had to die for breaking his vows. But that’s not the real question Ned was asking. Why did Ned have to do it himself, when the king and other lords all have headsmen? 

Yet our way is the older way. The blood of the First Men still flows in the veins of the Starks, and we hold to the belief that the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man’s life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.

So, I think there’s a lot to unpack here. The first thing that stands out, is the assertion that the Starks are the descendants of the First Men, and still hold to the customs (and religion) of their ancestors. In many ways, they *still are* the First Men, despite the Andal invasions and the Targaryen Conquest. The Starks have ruled the North for eons, and the same houses they fought at the beginning and defeated are still in the North, ruling where they have ruled for thousands of years. How much difference there actually is between the ways of the First Men and the Andals is up for debate, with my main critique being that the religion of the old gods isn’t much a religion, but I digress. 

The second thing, is that the old way means that “the man who passes the sentence should swing the sword.” Why? If you can’t bear to do it yourself, maybe the man shouldn’t die. Ned further elaborates. 

 A ruler who hides behind paid executioners soon forgets what death is.

An interesting idea- that the ruler should be aware of what it is he actually does when he sentences someone to death, and how vulnerable and close he is to it himself. 

Race for the Iron Throne makes an interesting point about this as well, that there’s not a real world equivalent of this custom, and it could be a re-assertion of the human element into a ruling system dominated by the idea of “the divine rights of kings.” This ties back into the division between “the Lord” and the person who’s actually doing things. There's a difference between “The Lord” sentencing someone to death, and the lord actually doing the deed himself. And I think it’s interesting that this element occurs in the story of the Starks, who are both the protagonists of ASOIAF, and part of a culture that’s built on getting through harsh conditions. The Starks became the Kings in the North because they were able to subjugate the rest of the North, including the notoriously ruthless and cruel Boltons, as well as the Marsh King of the crannogman, which much have been really hard to do considering the Neck is a giant swamp, and pretty much every other house (with some exceptions, looking at you, House Manderly). It makes sense that their customs would demand a lord/king be able to handle the messy aspects of ruling, and not flinch at ruthless parts. 

There’s also something in here about how a king/lord had to be a war leader as much as an administrator, especially in this pseudo-medieval world. I’ve been reading Marjorie Chibnell’s biography of Empress Matilda, and the fact that as a woman, she couldn’t lead her armies was a major problem for her and the women of the 12th century who wanted power. (Don’t worry, I’ll talk about the gendered nature of power in medieval Europe and Westeros later) I think that part of the old ways, as we see more of Stark governance in the future, has to do with how personally capable a ruler has to be in the North/Westeros, even as power in Westeros in the current timeline is as much more dependent on bloodlines as personal capability. We’ll probably revisit this with Renly and Stannis in ACOK, and with Robb before the end of AGOT.

But anyway, we’ll definitely talk about this part of the old way again, since Robb and Jon deal with it head on (ha!) later. I didn’t even talk about this is relevant to character development, lol. That was one long digression. 

I think I’m mainly trying to justify to myself that the Starks being blood of the First Men is more than set dressing and a way to explain the magic lol. 

Moving on to one of my favorite things: foreshadowing! Double points for Bran as king foreshadowing. 

“One day, Bran, you will be Robb’s bannerman, holding a keep of your own for your brother and your king, and justice will fall to you.

Okay, first of all, this makes it sound like Bran’s brother and king will be one and the same, and that something will put his king out of commission and leave ruling to fall to Bran. Maybe a bit of stretch, but I think the wording indicating Robb will be Bran’s king is pretty solid, and the idea that justice will fall to Bran might be indicative of his tenure as prince of WF before Theon rolls in, as much as a future King Bran hint. But I’m going to go with possible King Bran foreshadowing. 

But just as we finish this important conversation, Jon comes riding back, shouting that Robb found something. PUPPIES!

ALright, I know I just wrote way too many words vaguely speculating about the old way, but we have to talk about the dire wolves. 

Jory Cassel and Theon get to Robb first, and the first thing both of the them do is draw their swords, and tell Robb get away, because he’s standing by a giant prehistoric monster, and kidnapping her babies. But it’s not a kidnapping, its a rescue, since the mama direwolf is dead. 

We’ll take a moment to mention the waist high snow drift in SUMMER, as Bran wades through it to Robb and the little bundles of fuzz. Bran (and me) are in love immediately. 

The Stark men are, rightfully, low-key freaking out over the direwolves. 

“Direwolves loose in the realm, after so many years,” muttered Hullen, the master of horse. “I like it not.” “It is a sign,” Jory said. Father frowned. “This is only a dead animal, Jory,” he said. Yet he seemed troubled.

Oh Ned, and your refusal to believe in the omens in a world where magic is real. Never change. 

Robb, interestingly, is the one who finds the reason for the direwolf’s death: an antler in the throat. Talk about an omen, lol. Robb is also part of the “I’d give anything for Ned Stark to be proud of me” club, which has many members, some of whom are more happy to be there than others. 

Everyone is even more freaked out by the death by stag, even if Bran doesn’t get it. One guy lightens the mood by saying ““Born with the dead,” ... “Worse luck.”. Fantastic! 

Theon jumps on the “let's put the puppies out of their misery” bandwagon, and tries to take the puppy away from Bran (is this foreshadowing for Theon taking WF away from Bran??? Probably not, lol, but I do think it is indicative of his character and I think it’s about as reasonable as half the theories on reddit anyway.)

Robb and Bran are not having it, but they have to get them by their dad. Ned is the dad that didn’t want a cat, but ends up loving the cat. Jon jumps in, and says that there are five wolves, three male and two female, so they were clearly meant for his true born Stark children. 

Bran saw his father’s face change, saw the other men exchange glances. He loved Jon with all his heart at that moment. Even at seven, Bran understood what his brother had done.

Their father understood as well. “You want no pup for yourself, Jon?” he asked softly. “The direwolf graces the banners of House Stark,” Jon pointed out. “I am no Stark, Father.”

My boy. The divide between him and the other starklings, and his Stark issues, literally starts from chapter one. 

With Ned finally convinced, because how could he say no after what Jon did, and after giving them a stern lecture about walking the dog, and training the prehistoric killing machine, it’s time for them to finally go back to WF.

But wait! Jon hears something. Is this Jon having a psychic connection to Ghost already, or being more observant of the surroundings than the others, you decide! He finds a sixth pup, out in the snow.

“He must have crawled away from the others,” Jon said. “Or been driven away,” their father said,

Ominous, Ned, very ominous and more than little sad. I’m assuming this is foreshadowing for Jon being booted off to the NW in a couple chapters. And also, general angst about not being a Stark. 

Also, Ghost is the only wolf to already have opened his eyes. Another point in the observant Jon column. 

Theon is a dick, but Jon Snark appears for the closing line. 

“An albino,” Theon Greyjoy said with wry amusement. “This one will die even faster than the others.” Jon Snow gave his father’s ward a long, chilling look. “I think not, Greyjoy,” he said. “This one belongs to me.”

Nice.

George has said that the inspiration for the rest of ASOIAF came out of the scene of the dead direwolf in the snow, and I think that we can add to that to “the Starks are the heart of the story” pile, along with the fact that they have the bulk of the pov chapters in AGOT. 

But anyway, Bran is baby, keep an eye out for more King Bran foreshadowing. 

(I don’t even want to know the word count for this)

#AGOT #Bran #branwen reads asoiaf again

[wintersandthebeast]

23. Trust

RE8 | Wintersberg | Romance, Slow Burn | Action, Sci-Fi

Link to Master List

TWO MONTHS EARLIER

The trio stood (well, the Duke sat) inside the small shed, one that Karl had reinforced for himself years ago.  It had the look of his other substation and work areas, but this was one of the surveillance outposts, full of monitors, tapes, microphone hubs, camera parts.  He slapped the side of the old CRT monitor, willing the image to appear.  Damn signal.  

They were looking at the sluice, which was now open.  The feminine form had removed her plague mask and now shook her head delicately at the footage.  The Duke passed Karl a lit cigar as they continued to watch the recording of Ethan’s confrontation with Moreau.  

After several more gruesome, disgusting minutes, the footage ended, and Heisenberg sat the monitor down on a nearby shelf, clicking it off without touching it.  The Duke swung his legs, appearing antsy to leave the area, but the female crossed her arms.  

“Where did you decide to send him?”

Karl cringed behind his dark sunglasses.  “The uh.  The Lycan stronghold.” 

She actually looked slightly appalled.  Karl had met Ada there originally years ago; she was no fan of the area.  Her stare said as much.  

“You didn’t.”

The Duke shook his head and smoked.  

“Well,” Karl said sharply with another brandished arm, “I had to do somethin’ that wouldn’t make Mirander suspicious.  She knows he’s on his way to me an’ if I just…” he gestured, “Open my doors, no problem…I had to make it look like I was…toyin’ with ‘im.  If he made it through I can play dumb.”  Not likely he wouldn’t with all the extra help Karl had given him, but Heisenberg didn’t mind.  Look what he’d done with the help so far.  

He licked his lips.  “Anyway.  He’s a big boy.  He can handle it.  We need to start preparin’.”  

His so-called siblings, the other Lords, were now all dead.  How odd that Moreau lasted longer than either of the women.  Heisenberg knew he was to be next, knew that Miranda was discarding her “children” not to mention,  had an affinity for the child’s father.  Maybe even more than an affinity, he thought darkly as he paced.  She’d… chosen to stay with him longer than necessary while she dished out experiments on the mother.  Gross.  

Karl was wrestling with everything about the situation.  He’d be swift to mercy kill any regular outsider stupid (or unlucky) enough to wind up here now that Miranda had officially and completely lost her fucking mind.  But there was something about Ethan, something that made Heisenberg want to kill him for other reasons.  He was tough, stubborn.  He was fun to watch.  He made Karl…feel, things.  Karl did not like nor want to feel things.  This made him angry at Ethan.  

He was supposed to be planning against his own demise, he’d been planning this for over a week--since Miranda caught wind of the Winters family and set her plan into action.  He had to guard himself against Miranda’s definite next move--getting rid of him .  The Duke and Ada were his allies in this regard, as they’d called in favors of the Lord before and this was his turn.

So much blood.  So much waste.  So many lives, for nothing.  A legacy of families, ended by what?  At least, he told himself, it would soon be over.  

He should be focusing on the science at hand, at ensuring plans were followed to their specifications.  And instead all he could focus on was watching that fucking papa bear plow through every obstacle in his path and look good doing it.  Karl felt more dangerous than he had in many years; he felt like killing.  Miranda, mostly.  But also Ethan, for being such a distraction.  For being unexpected .     

“I will leave you to that,” the Duke said amiably, now moving to kick into his extremely large boots, very slowly.  They remained untied; the man rarely wore shoes and probably wouldn’t have worn them here if the path weren’t full of briars.  “I must get back to my wagon,” he sighed, “And hope that Winters makes it back.”

“He’s a big boy,” Karl said, with more confidence than he felt.  And even if Ethan wasn’t fine, who cared?  It’s about ending Miranda, he thought for the thousandth time to himself.  It had always been about ending Miranda.  No one else mattered.  What he’d done to Ethan didn’t matter.  So he would keep hammering into his own head.  

His golden stare now landed on the beautiful woman in front of him.  With another careful puff of his cigar, he asked her casually, “So.  You ever…die?”

She smirked.  “Depends on who you ask.” 

Ethan stirred in his sleep.  It was the fucking Vârcolac this time.  Stalking below his hiding spot.  Now he was away…Its breathing was audible…it was somewhere in the tall grass of the fallow plot. 

As he stirred, he became aware of a sensation on his thighs.  Warm breath.  A warm body.  Ethan faded in and out of sleep, the imagery of the cursed village stuck in his mind as his body urged him away from it.  And now the nightmare melted away as he realized two things--one, his pants and underwear had been pulled down, and two--the warm body at his groin was kissing along his waistline.  The lips, and the accompanying facial hair, brushed his skin pleasantly. 

The fear from his nightmare pulled at him, and Ethan’s heartbeat sped even further.  He opened his eyes at the dark ceiling, but just as he panicked, he felt warm arms slide up his sides.  The body settled, straddling him.  

“Karl,” he breathed, a sound of relief as well as disbelief.  He was still on edge, still afraid.  Ethan had set a boundary with the clearly hungry man before, and here he was in his room?  The blond shivered and felt Heisenbeg’s rough hands slide across his chest as he inhaled deeply.  

The blond froze, realizing he was still panicking.  Karl had always possessed animalistic qualities, not that different from the Lycans  he commanded; creatures who were happy to latch onto Ethan’s body, tear at him.  Pant on him with their warm breath as Karl was doing now.  Ethan had never spoken to Karl about his absolute fear of him, of what would happen if the man really did lose control one day.  Why hadn’t he ever spoken of it? 

He could move, and now he writhed as he felt one of those hands explore his body.  Ethan’s breath stuck in his throat and he closed his eyes.  A voice of reason overrode the many other voices screaming in his head.  This is Karl, talk to him.  He’s safe. 

The man who stabbed him, threw him down in a tunnel with an armless jet engine on legs?  THAT Karl?  But Ethan’s heart began to slow as he realized with the feel of the man’s lips on his thighs that he…wanted this?  Even though he was afraid.  He put a hand up to his mouth, bit his fingers to keep his own voice at bay.  Part of him wanted to scream stop, the other wanted to moan loudly.  

It’s Karl, his mind repeated.  Karl is safe. 

He felt the hot breath on his exposed flesh, then the lips, then the tongue.  Any fear or worries Ethan had disappeared with those sensations and he melted.  At first he kept his eyes closed, but as Karl continued to enthusiastically feast, the blond moved his other hand down to the tangles of brunette hair and chanced looking at the other. 

His heart skipped a beat when Karl lifted his head, the hunger evident in his eyes, and stared at Ethan with almost glowing irises.  With this look some of Ethan’s fear returned, but he forced his breathing to steady.  This…wasn’t how Karl looked at him.  Ethan had been the subject of Heisenberg’s stare many times before, and it was always hungry, but patient.  Calculating, even.  Karl had mirth in his stares, as though he always had some secret information.  

This stare was cruel, cold.  Ethan felt as though he were under a microscope and his stomach turned.  He wanted to ask for confirmation, but his mouth refused to form the engineer’s name.  It wasn’t Karl.  

“You really liked him all over you,” issued the female voice, from Karl’s male form.  Now a smile crossed the man’s face and Ethan pulled away. 

“Miranda!”

“What’s wrong, Ethan,” she hissed as Karl sat up, and now with a flutter of wings she was herself.  She was naked, Ethan realized, and he fought to breathe as he avoided looking at her.  “Is your preference that strong?”  She laughed and Ethan struggled to move.  She wasn’t touching him, but somehow his arms were pinned.  “I have other forms, as you know,” she cooed, and with another flourish of wings Mia sat on top of him.  

 “What’ll it be, Ethan?” Mia laughed in Miranda’s voice.  “Let us do this dance again.  I do so love…experimenting.”

Karl was pacing, he’d just sent Ethan down to Sturm.  He was furious.  And…something else.  The engineer pounded his fist into the wall, and then stormed out of the room.  He needed to be away from the room where Miranda and Alcina still stared hollowly after him from their spots on the wall. 

He strode down the hallway, cigar in his mouth.  He was actually hurt.  CRUSHED, if he admitted it.  He’d expected Ethan to agree.  Heisenberg felt the pain again and he pitched forward, losing his cigar and almost his hat, which he saved by clapping it to his head.  When he groaned in pain, the sound was metallic, an echo from his chest.

The heart in his body wasn’t his.  His was crystallized and safe with the Duke.  And though Heisenberg had faith in his own creation, he knew he was unstable.  It was only a matter of time now, this body would…change.  He blinked as he straightened, pacing toward the surveillance area where he’d continue to watch Ethan.  

Miranda was more important, he kept telling himself.  This was the fight of his life.  And though he didn’t have his heart, currently, Heisenberg couldn’t help but feel heartbroken at the rejection.  

He stirred, realizing he was dreaming.  The factory walls fell away as Karl woke up, covered in sweat.  His heart was racing; something wasn’t right.  What wasn’t right?  The brunette scanned the room, seeing nothing amiss, but he realized after a few moments that he was sensing Ethan.  Something was wrong with Ethan. 

Karl abruptly stood and left the room. 

Oh god, Miranda was pinning him down and he couldn’t even scream.  Somehow she was holding his entire body hostage.  Ethan tried to thrash against the restraints.  How could he ask for help?  He tried to focus on any power, literally anything, as she turned back into Karl and settled back, chest catching the moonlight from the window.  

“I’ve watched you two, you know,” she said smugly, taking Ethan’s length in her hands as he fought to scream, pull away, anything.  “Such a shame you don’t remember.” 

Ethan closed his eyes, realizing he could do one thing--cry.  Now the tears came almost hysterically and Miranda laughed as though nothing pleased her more.  

The door slammed open abruptly, and Ethan jolted; he could move again.  Now he sat up, still hysterical as Karl stood in the doorway looking confused and disheveled.  

“Ethan?”  Karl’s voice, confused, questioning.  

Ethan fought to sit up and pull away from the bed, his body spasming as it was allowed to move again.  Karl was not satisfied with this thrashing as an answer and he stepped into the room cautiously.  Ethan threw the blankets off and realized he was still dressed.  But how?

Karl was now at the bed, staring down at him strangely with luminescent eyes.  

It had all been a nightmare.  None of it had been real.  

Ethan paused and put his face in his hands.  He could feel his cheeks overheating, he could feel his heart pounding almost out of his chest.  How had none of it been real?  It felt so…

“I need you,” he whispered in what was not a very strong-sounding voice, through his hands.  He felt the engineer’s warm arms around him, felt him slide into the bed without a hesitation.  Soon he stopped shaking, and he let the unnatural warmth of the other seep through his skin and warm him.  Inductive heat.  Did Karl know he was doing this, warming Ethan?  Filling his essence, his entire being, with a feeling both comforting and thrilling.  

As Ethan calmed, he noticed the other sensations.  The ones that still remained in his body, from when he’d awoken.  What if it had been Karl?  Ethan realized with the man truly pressed up against him now that he wouldn’t have stopped.  He would have relented to whatever Karl wanted to do.  He felt as he lay there almost a sense of radical belonging--that he was Karl’s.  

It was a wild, ridiculous realization.  

Ethan sat up, looking at the engineer as though he just realized the other was really here.  His hazel eyes met the yellow-flecked irises and he stared, penetrating.  What the fuck was happening to him?  

Karl stared back.  At first the engineer’s brow was raised quizzically, but as Ethan continued to challenge him with the eye contact, his eyebrow dropped and the familiar look came back across his features.  There it was.  Hungry.  Predatory.  But wise, confident.  With some humor or hidden joy behind his expression.  A secret longing to be told, a stony stare as he drank in Ethan’s gaze. 

This time Ethan lost control and before he knew it, his mouth moved to Karl’s, his tongue hungrily seeking reassurance.  With a low growl Karl answered and reached his hand along the expanse of Ethan’s throat as he kissed him back.  Then came the possessive squeeze.  Ethan pushed against the pressure, fighting to kiss the man even deeper.  If he told the other that he felt owned, he had an inkling that Karl would be proud, and possibly even agree.  

But then too soon, the brunette pulled away, his hand still holding the blond in place.  Karl tilted his head; he was breathing heavily.  So was Ethan, and now their eyes met again.  

“Ethan, I can’t--”

“Control it?” Ethan guessed, and he watched the almost-shame settle over the other’s features.  Shame, anger.  He felt Karl's emotions--he wasn’t supposed to be this way.  He had been made to be this way.  He hated the loss of control, it was sickening, even if it made him feel powerful and in control. 

“I don’t want you to,” the blond said almost desperately against the hand around his throat.  “Do it.  Kiss me, take me.” 

When Heisenberg stared, full of hesitation and clear internal conflict, Ethan moved his palm to the other’s scarred cheek, caressing him with all of the tenderness he knew was foreign to the other.  

“I trust you.”  

#ada wong #the duke re8 #karl heisenberg #ethan winters #winters and the beast #wintersberg

[troybeecham]

Today, the Church remembers the the visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary the mother of Jesus to her cousin Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist as recorded in the Gospel of Luke 1:39–56.

Traditionallly, Mary, a young Jewish girl who was little more than an adolescent by today's standards, (probably around the age of 13, the traditional age of transition from child to adult and the age for getting married) when she left Nazareth after the Annunciation of the angel Gabriel that she, though a virgin, would bear the Son of God, and her pregnancy had become visible.

Her pregnancy was complicated for many reasons, mostly because she was unmarried, though betrothed, and Luke records that she went "into the hill country...into a city of Judah" to attend to her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth was in the sixth month of her pregnancy before Mary came. Mary stayed three months, and most scholars hold she stayed for the birth of John. Given the prevailing cultural traditions and needs for security, etc., it is probable that Joseph accompanied Mary to Judah then returned to Nazareth, and came again after three months to take Mary back to their home. The visitation of the angel Gabriel to Joseph, mentioned in Matthew 1:19–25, may have taken place when she was with Elizabeth to end the tormenting doubts of Joseph regarding Mary's maternity.

It is traditionally held that the purpose of this visit was to bring divine grace to both Elizabeth and her unborn child. Even though he was still in his mother's womb, John became aware of the presence of the Son of God, Jesus, and leapt for joy, being filled with Holy Spirit. In this one line of Scripture, we can see the clear teaching of Scripture that unborn children, no matter the stage of development, are fully human and capable of knowing and responding to the presence of God. The ongoing clinical murder of unborn children is an unspeakable evil, and we must pray for God to have mercy on us and give us his Spirit to transform our minds to recognize this truth, that at conception we are fully human, made in the image of God, and must be protected and nurtured in love.

Elizabeth also responded similarly and recognized the presence of Jesus, at which she [Elizabeth] spoke out with a loud voice, and said, "Hail, Mary, full of grace! Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."

In response to Elizabeth, Mary proclaims the Magnificat:

"My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever."

Blessed indeed is she who believed the promise of the Lord, and blessed is he, Joseph, who also believed the promise of the Lord.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Bearer of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Father in heaven, by your grace the virgin mother of your incarnate Son was blessed in bearing him, but still more blessed in keeping your word: Grant us who honor the exaltation of her lowliness to follow the example of her devotion to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

#father troy beecham #christianity #jesus #saints #god #salvation #peace #faith #early church #new testament #blessesd virgin mary

[gatekeeper-watchman]

Does Freedom of Speech have Boundaries?

True freedom can never be experienced until one comes to know the Lord Jesus Christ, as only through Him can we truly be free. True freedom cannot be divorced from truth and truth can only be defined by the Bible. In the last blog, I talked about the only way we can live an overcoming life is to line up our lives with the standards and commandments of the Bible. God did not give us commandments to punish us or deny us any good thing. He gave us commandments so that by following them we could live blessed lives on this earth. Since He created man and the earth, He also established the rules for living. If we follow those rules we are blessed, but if we disobey and rebel against His rules, we will fall under a curse. God gave the man a choice. We can choose to obey Him and be blessed or disobey and be destroyed. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” and this means we can never know the truth unless we know Him and we can never be free unless we know Him.“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

God gives every person free will to choose to follow Him or choose to disobey and suffer the consequences in this life, and in the life to come, doing evil and rejecting Christ will cause that person to go to a permanent place known as hell. We can choose our destination – believe in Christ and follow Him to heaven or reject Him and follow the devil and go to hell.

Penalties Should Be Imposed for Criminal Acts

Do we have the freedom to commit criminal acts? Yes, but if we do, then we also should face the penalties imposed for committing those evil deeds. We are free to choose to do evil, but not free from the consequences of our choices. The Bible outlines many principles for the good of society as a whole; keeping them, brings blessing and order to society. The practice of evil brings destruction. If any man’s freedom imposes harm on another, then it is not the freedom that our founding fathers intended to extend to the people. If any man’s use of his freedom of speech perverts the minds of our children, then we have the right to rise and say that is not the kind of speech that we will tolerate.

Pornography – A Perversion of Free Speech

I just read a review of an evil book and movie entitled, Fifty Shades of Grey. No Christian should see this movie, as it demonstrates perverted sex on the screen (sadomasochistic bondage sex). This is the same as pornography. As Christians, we are called to live holy and pure lives and we should never partake in movies or depraved sexual acts. The Bible tells us to live a separate life from the evils of this world.“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17).

Pornography should never be protected under the first amendment as freedom of speech because it is an evil that is doing great harm to our society. Among the many evil fruits of this sin are broken marriages, the spread of sexual diseases, and the extreme sexual perversions that incite sexual predators to rape and kill women and children. The devil is furnishing pornographers with an escape from their evil deeds by using the first amendment as their legal way to get by with what they are doing. This is a perversion of freedom of speech. Certain religious deeds fall under this same thing. Freedom of religion gives us the right to worship as we are led by God, but if any religious deeds harm or destroy people, they should not be protected under the Constitution. Acts of terrorism, in the name of God, fall in this same category. Biblical principles and guidelines influenced the forming of our Constitution; those same guidelines should interpret our Constitution at the judicial level. Should Christian Morals Influence Public Life?

Many Americans have believed the lie that we should not allow those who practice Christian religious morals to impose those good principles on the public. What is wrong with influencing the public with good? True Biblical standards will always create an environment for the good of all, while wicked standards will allow evil to overcome good. If Christian and Biblical moral practices are not incorporated into our national life, evil men will impose upon us their wicked interpretation of “freedom” i.e., the right to do evil in the name of freedom.

Biblical Definition of Freedom

If our definition of freedom is not based on the Biblical definition, then it is not true freedom. Jesus said that the truth would set us free. Since Jesus Himself is The Truth, His words to us will free us. Bondage is the alternative to freedom. The devil brings men into bondage by tempting them to sin, being careful not to tell them that the wages of sin are death. Bondage from sin comes in many forms–addictions, stress, fear, diseases, unforgiveness, torment, etc. The only way to escape from bondage is to come to Jesus and repent of our sins and find His love and forgiveness. He then will disciple us and teach us His Word and His ways so that we will be set free from every bondage that sin brings.“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed in him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We are Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:31-36).

From: Elder Steven P. Miller Founder of Gatekeeper-Watchman International Groups Jacksonville, Florida., Duval County, USA. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sparkermiller.JAX.FL.USA https://www.tumblr.com/blog/gatekeeper-watchman https://www.facebook.com/Parkermiller/ Twitter: @GatekeeperWatchman1, @ParkermillerQ, @StevenPMiller6; #GWIG, #GWIN, #GWINGO, #Ephraim1, #IAM, #Sparkermiller, #Eldermiller1981 Instagram: steven_parker_miller_1956 & Gatekeeper306 URL: linkedin.com/in/steven-miller-b1ab212From

[email protected]

[thefatedfinwe]

Something was bothering the 7ft5 blacksmith.

Everyone knew it, even those who had never known him before coming to the Havens of Sirion. The Gondolin survivors and the Lord of Havens, Eärendil, were on high alert. They knew better than to brush his uneasiness away.

For Halrë's ability to recognise danger long before anyone else did was nearly unparalleled. Many of the women and children left on ships to Lindon, where Erenion was waiting to help them settle. With Eärendil having gone to find Valinor, those who remained looked at the mostly nonverbal smith to lead.

All a while, his sense of approaching danger grew stronger, until the Feanorians attacked. Except this time, the survivors fought back. "Aiming for a record of three Kinslayings?" Fire glinted in his silver eyes as he avoided getting hit by one of, who he thought was Feanor's twin sons.

/Halrë | Hey :) Do let me know if this doesn't work.

Pitya grinned wide, the mile almost painful looking but his eyes were dead and cold as a corpse already. He held his twin swords, moving them in a dance then shrugged, "Not an aim, but we have no choice unless you surrender, do we?" He asked.

"Perhaps ask your lady if I gemstone is worth the blood all of you lose?" He raised a brow and took a step back, "I have seen enough death, I yearn for none but my own. So release me or step down."

#rangersarecool

[wolint]

THE LORD FIGHTS FOR YOU.

THE LORD FIGHTS FOR YOU

Deuteronomy 1:30-31

 

What a glorious encouragement that the Lord of Hosts is going ahead of us in life to fight our battles for us, even before we get there. Moses encouraged the Israelites in his time, as he does us today, that the Lord is always ahead of us to fight for us.

In this world of instant news, there are many things that frighten us. We fear natural disasters, terrorist attacks, accidents, and wars. We know that God is in control, but watching the news can bring us to a state of anxiety and crippling fear.

The Israelites were fearful too. They felt the same fear we do today, irrational fear. After all, isn’t all fear irrational? The punishment for their irrational fear was a lifetime wandering the desert. God was ready to give them the promised land, but their fear gave them the desert.

When we watch the next news story about a tragedy or disaster, we can remember that God promises His presence no matter what we encounter. Trusting God means taking our fears head-on and moving to a place of peace.

God’s promises to us are true and lasting, and because He’s with us and will fight for us, we can overcome our fears. He will not only fight for us, but He will always be our protector and fortress, say the scriptures, even for those around us.

There are battles we do not engage in, not because we wouldn’t know what to do, but mainly because our strength will fail due to the length of the battle, we may run out of ammunition and resources to fight with, or we may not know the best strategy to defeat our foes.

Joshua 6 gives an incredible account of the most decisive action in war ever known to man. No weapon, as it was evidenced, but the battle was won partly because of obedience to godly instruction and trusting in divine strategy. Simply put, God fought for Israel.

In what world would a war be won with only a few men and pans plus sticks? Only in God’s world. There was no question that God gave the 300 men army of Israel victory over the 135,000 men army of Midian in Judges 7:8-21. God fought and still fights for His own.

1 Samuel 17 records the battle between the shepherd boy David and the well-trained soldier who was defeated with mere stones and a sling. Goliath did not believe in Israel’s God and therefore mocked God, the very God who gave Israel victory without them fighting in the battle.

God encouraged the children of Israel not to be afraid when they see their enemy come against them - the same way He encourages us today to have total confidence in His ability to fight for us and deliver us in the face of adversity in Deuteronomy 20:1.

You have the assurance that the Lord goes before you to be a comforter and protector when you’re distressed. You don’t need to fight a battle or go to war to win the fight, because God will fight for you.

But you must remember to turn to the Lord and let Him help you to always remember that in times of trouble you are never alone, the Lord your God will always fight for you.

PRAYER: Man of war, Lord, I thank you for always going ahead of me even onto battle for my victory, I glorify you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Shalom

WOMEN OF LIGHT INT PRAYER MIN.

#spotify #devotional #christianpost #women's ministry #biblestudy #biblestudy christianpost women's ministry #biblestudy christianpost 'women's ministry #conference #family #prayer meeting

[riverdamien]

Traveling--The Road Not Taken!

Traveling--"The Road Not Taken!"

"Shall I abandon, O King of mysteries, the soft comforts of home?

Shall I turn my back on my native land, and turn my face towards the sea?

Shall I put myself wholly at your mercy, without silver, without a horse, without fame, without honor?

Shall I throw myself wholly upon you, without sword and shield, without food and drink, without a bed to lie on?

Shall I say farewell to my beautiful land, placing myself under your yoke?

Shall I pour out my heart to you, confessing my manifold sins and begging forgiveness, tears streaming down my cheeks?

Shall I leave the prints of my knees on the sandy beach, a record of my final prayer in my native land?

Shall I then suffer every kind of wound that the sea can inflict?

Shall I take my tiny boat across the wide sparkling ocean?

O King of the Glorious Heaven, shall I go of my own choice upon the sea?

O Christ, will you help me on the wild waves?"

(Prayer of St. Brendan)

========

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel to both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and I wanted to wear it; Though as for the passing there Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.

===============

INSPIRATION

Not soon, as late as the approach of my ninetieth year, I felt a door opening in me and I entered the clarity of early morning.

One after another my former lives were departing, like ships, together with their sorrow.

And the countries, cities, gardens, the bays of seas assigned to my brush came closer, ready now to be described better than they were before.

I was not separated from people, grief and pity joined us. We forget - I kept saying - that we are all children of the King.

For where we come from there is no division into Yes and No, into is, was, and will be.

We were miserable, we used no more than a hundredth part of the gift we received for our long journey.

Moments from yesterday and from centuries ago - a sword blow, the painting of eyelashes before a mirror of polished metal, a lethal musket shot, a caravel staving its hull against a reef - they dwell in us, waiting for a fulfillment.

I knew, always, that I would be a worker in the vineyard, as are all men and women living at the same time, whether they are aware of it or not. — Czeslaw Milosz, “Late Ripeness”

--------------

St. Brendan, a  10th century, Celtic Monk, one day felt the Spirit calling him to take a voyage; he set off towards the West with this prayer:

"The Lord is our Captain let Him direct us. "

He travels towards the West and had many adventures. 

The cross above, the Cross of St. Brendan, is a symbol of oneness with all of creation, and the dolphins symbolize us growing intelligent as we journey, into that oneness in Christ, and the water is a sign of our baptism. St. Brendan is the patron saint of travelers, and when I travel I wear this cross.

The cross of St. Brendan, during this Lent, personally is a journey of traveling, traveling on pilgrimage, retirement comes only when I enter the Reign of God, into the arms of Jesus.

The photo of the trail is one taken at Reel Foot Lake in Tennessee, where I hung out as a boy. It wanders on for miles, not traveled very much; and it is the road I chose as a twelve-year-old boy hearing the call of Christ.

The cross of St. Brandon points to the way of abandonment; of letting go, to a way of life of complete vulnerability to God's promise of a new life; of authenticity, the connection to the love of God--to a way of wandering and sharing the love of God. A quote of Kwaga, one on my mission statement says it all:

"I am a free lance, a tramp, a vagabond for Christ. I must go until Christ's work is done. I go like the wind."

As I near the 30-year mark of my ministry I have been struggling with a lot of questions, fears, doubts, and fatigue; various people have expressed their suggestions, like retirement, moving to a new location, simply letting go of ministry; there are so many various suggestions, and I tend to try to please and agree;  my anger has often come out towards my friends. And I am suddenly realizing we all have chosen our paths, and I have chosen the "road less traveled" with a different understanding of life.

My call is that of Thersa of the Little Flower,

"But I want to seek out a means of going to heaven by a little way, a way that is very straight, very short, and totally new."

And I close first of all with an apology to anyone I have hurt, angered or shown disrespect towards, and this poem inspired by Steven Garnaas Holmes, rewritten by my Soul Friend, Jay Swanson:

Child the best way you can be restored, that you can return today, is to stop avoiding God's tender gaze.

Stop ignoring the Beloved calling your name.

Stop declinging the deep healing meant for you,

that mysterious love that flows beneath that self you call you.

Let Jesus heal the ignoring of your self, belittling yourself, acting as if you're not  worth it.

Forgive yourself. Soften your heart, and return.

Let your judgment, your despair go. Surrender to love.

Indulge yourself in sacret restorative time,

simply to marvel at the gift, the miracle that is you.

You are beloved.

Live into your love for your sake, God's sake,

and the sake of others!

Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

"The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you, may the Lord lift up his countenance, and grant you peace! Amen.

=========================

(Temenos and Fr. River seek to remain accessible to everyone. We do not endorse particular causes, political parties, or candidates, or take part in public controversies, whether religious, political or social--Our pastoral ministry is to everyone!

---------------

Press Release:

"Jesus continues to be crucified in all those who are crucified in history...There are not enough Stations of the Cross to depict all the ways in which the  Lord continues to be persecuted, imprisoned, condemned to death and crucified today!"

-Leonardo Boff

What: Non-Violent Witness in the Tenderloin to commemorate Good Friday!

Tenderloin Stations of the Cross

“A Journey With People on the Street!”

“Our Haunted-ness!”

When:

March 29, 2024

Noon-2:00 p.m.

Meet in Front of Polk Street-Side City Hall

Why:

There are approximately 8, 000 people on the street, without housing, or health care, they suffer from prejudice, anger, and hatred; they are shuffled around as if they are "objects" rather than human beings.

As followers of Jesus, and all who care, living in a war-making and uncaring empire we say loudly and clearly with Jesus: "Love one Another," "Love your enemies", "Be merciful as God is merciful," "Put away the sword," and "Thou shalt not kill."

We witness as people of faith who believe in God's reign of justice, love, peace, and restorative justice!

Sponsored by Temenos Catholic Worker

For more information:

Fr. River Sims, D.Min., D.S.T.

415-305-2124

[email protected]

www.temenos.org

www.paypal.com

Day of (No) Silence 2024: Rise Up. Take Action.

History of Day of (No) Silence: Started in the mid 90’s by two college students, Day of Silence has expanded to reach hundreds of thousands of students each year. Every April, students would go through the school day without speaking, ending the day with Breaking the Silence rallies to bring attention to ways their schools and communities can become more inclusive.

2024 Day of (No) Silence: With more than 800 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced last year, we must Rise Up and Take Action. GLSEN’s Day of NO Silence is a nationally recognized student-led demonstration where LGBTQ+ students and allies all around the country—and the world— protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools.

====================================

.n----------------------------

[dfroza]

A set of prophesied births

(miraculous in nature)

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 1st chapter of the book of Luke:

For those who love God, several other people have already written accounts of what God has been bringing to completion among us, using the reports of the original eyewitnesses, those who were there from the start to witness the fulfillment of prophecy. Like those other servants who have recorded the messages, I present to you my carefully researched, orderly account of these new teachings. I want you to know that you can fully rely on the things you have been taught about Jesus, God’s Anointed One.

To understand the life of Jesus, I must first give you some background history, events that occurred when Herod ruled Judea for the Roman Empire. Zacharias was serving as a priest in the temple in Jerusalem those days as his fathers had before him. He was a member of the priestly division of Abijah (a grandson of Aaron who innovated temple practices), and his wife, Elizabeth, was of the priestly lineage of Aaron, Moses’ brother. They were good and just people in God’s sight, walking with integrity in the Lord’s ways and laws. Yet they had this sadness. Due to Elizabeth’s infertility, they were childless, and at this time, they were both quite old—well past normal childbearing years.

One day Zacharias was chosen to perform his priestly duties in God’s presence, according to the temple��s normal schedule and routine. He had been selected from all the priests by the customary procedure of casting lots for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enter the sacred precincts of the temple. There he burned sweet incense, while outside a large crowd of people prayed. Suddenly Zacharias realized he was not alone: a messenger of the Lord was there with him. The messenger stood just to the right of the altar of incense. Zacharias was shocked and afraid, but the messenger reassured him.

Messenger: Zacharias, calm down! Don’t be afraid!

Messenger: Zacharias, your prayers have been heard. Your wife is going to have a son, and you will name him John. He will bring you great joy and happiness—and many will share your joy at John’s birth.

This son of yours will be a great man in God’s sight. He will not drink alcohol in any form; instead of alcoholic spirits, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the time he is in his mother’s womb. Here is his mission: he will turn many of the children of Israel around to follow the path to the Lord their God. Do you remember the prophecy about someone to come in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah; someone who will turn the hearts of the parents back to their children; someone who will turn the hearts of the disobedient to the mind-set of the just and good? Your son is the one who will fulfill this prophecy: he will be the Lord’s forerunner, the one who will prepare the people and make them ready for God.

Zacharias: How can I be sure of what you’re telling me? I am an old man, and my wife is far past the normal age for women to bear children. This is hard to believe!

Messenger (sternly): I am Gabriel, the messenger who inhabits God’s presence. I was sent here to talk with you and bring you this good news. Because you didn’t believe my message, you will not be able to talk—not another word—until you experience the fulfillment of my words.

Meanwhile the crowd at the temple wondered why Zacharias hadn’t come out of the sanctuary yet. It wasn’t normal for the priest to be delayed so long. When at last he came out, he was making signs with his hands to give the blessing, but he couldn’t speak. They realized he had seen some sort of vision. When his time on duty at the temple came to an end, he went back home to his wife. Shortly after his return, Elizabeth became pregnant. She avoided public contact for the next five months.

Elizabeth: I have lived with the disgrace of being barren for all these years. Now God has looked on me with favor. When I go out in public with my baby, I will not be disgraced any longer.

Six months later in Nazareth, a city in the rural province of Galilee, the heavenly messenger Gabriel made another appearance. This time the messenger was sent by God to meet with a virgin named Mary, who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David himself. The messenger entered her home.

Messenger: Greetings! You are favored, and the Lord is with you! [Among all women on the earth, you have been blessed.]

The heavenly messenger’s words baffled Mary, and she wondered what type of greeting this was.

Messenger: Mary, don’t be afraid. You have found favor with God. Listen, you are going to become pregnant. You will have a son, and you must name Him “Savior,” or Jesus. Jesus will become the greatest among men. He will be known as the Son of the Highest God. God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David, and He will reign over the covenant family of Jacob forever.

Mary: But I have never been with a man. How can this be possible?

Messenger: The Holy Spirit will come upon you. The Most High will overshadow you. That’s why this holy child will be known, as not just your son, but also as the Son of God. It sounds impossible, but listen—you know your relative Elizabeth has been unable to bear children and is now far too old to be a mother. Yet she has become pregnant, as God willed it. Yes, in three months, she will have a son. So the impossible is possible with God.

Mary (deciding in her heart): Here I am, the Lord’s humble servant. As you have said, let it be done to me.

And the heavenly messenger was gone. Mary immediately got up and hurried to the hill country, in the province of Judah, where her cousins Zacharias and Elizabeth lived. When Mary entered their home and greeted Elizabeth, who felt her baby leap in her womb, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Elizabeth (shouting): You are blessed, Mary, blessed among all women, and the child you bear is blessed! And blessed I am as well, that the mother of my Lord has come to me! As soon as I heard your voice greet me, my baby leaped for joy within me. How fortunate you are, Mary, for you believed that what the Lord told you would be fulfilled.

Mary: My soul lifts up the Lord!

My spirit celebrates God, my Liberator!

For though I’m God’s humble servant,

God has noticed me.

Now and forever,

I will be considered blessed by all generations.

For the Mighty One has done great things for me;

holy is God’s name!

From generation to generation,

God’s lovingkindness endures

for those who revere Him.

God’s arm has accomplished mighty deeds.

The proud in mind and heart,

God has sent away in disarray.

The rulers from their high positions of power,

God has brought down low.

And those who were humble and lowly,

God has elevated with dignity.

The hungry—God has filled with fine food.

The rich—God has dismissed with nothing in their hands.

To Israel, God’s servant,

God has given help,

As promised to our ancestors,

remembering Abraham and his descendants in mercy forever.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth in Judea for the next three months and then returned to her home in Galilee.

When the time was right, Elizabeth gave birth to a son. News about the Lord’s special kindness to her had spread through her extended family and the community. Everyone shared her joy, for after all these years of infertility, she had a son! As was customary, eight days after the baby’s birth the time came for his circumcision and naming. Everyone assumed he would be named Zacharias, like his father.

Elizabeth (disagreeing): No. We will name him John.

Her Relatives (protesting): That name is found nowhere in your family.

They turned to Zacharias and asked him what he wanted the baby’s name to be.

He motioned for a tablet, and he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was shocked by this breach of family custom. They were even more surprised when, at that moment, Zacharias was able to talk again, and he shouted out praises to God. A sense of reverence spread through the whole community. In fact, this story was spread throughout the hilly countryside of Judea. People were certain that God’s hand was on this child, and they wondered what sort of person John would turn out to be when he became a man.

When Zacharias’s voice was restored to him, he sang from the fullness of the Spirit a prophetic blessing.

Zacharias: May the Lord God of Israel be blessed indeed!

For God’s intervention has begun,

and He has moved to rescue us, the people of God.

And the Lord has raised up a powerful sign of liberation for us

from among the descendants of God’s servant, King David.

As was prophesied through the mouths of His holy prophets in ancient times:

God will liberate us from our enemies

and from the hand of our oppressors!

God will show mercy promised to our ancestors,

upholding the abiding covenant He made with them,

Remembering the original vow He swore to Abraham,

from whom we are all descended.

God will rescue us from the grasp of our enemies

so that we may serve Him without fear all our days

In holiness and justice, in the presence of the Lord.

And you, my son, will be called the prophet of the Most High.

For you will be the one to prepare the way for the Lord

So that the Lord’s people will receive knowledge of their freedom

through the forgiveness of their sins.

All this will flow from the kind and compassionate mercy of our God.

A new day is dawning:

the Sunrise from the heavens will break through in our darkness,

And those who huddle in night,

those who sit in the shadow of death,

Will be able to rise and walk in the light,

guided in the pathway of peace.

And John grew up and became strong in spirit. He lived in the wilderness, outside the cities, until the day came for him to step into the public eye in Israel.

The Book of Luke, Chapter 1 (The Voice)

A set of notes from The Voice translation:

In the time of Jesus, Jewish life is centered in the temple in Jerusalem. Priests are responsible for the temple’s activities—which include receiving religious pilgrims and their sacrifices (cattle, sheep, goats, and doves). Animal sacrifices may sound strange to a modern society, but in the ancient world, they are quite common. The slaughter of animals is a daily experience; it is part of any meal that includes meat. So this meal brings together the Jewish family from near and far, seeking to affirm their connections to the one true and living God. Their gift of animals is their contribution to the meal. (The priests, by the way, are authorized to use the meat for the sustenance of their families.)

The presentation of the blood and meat of these sacrifices is accompanied by a number of prescribed rituals, performed by priests wearing prescribed ornamental clothing, according to a prescribed schedule. As the story continues, these solemn rituals are interrupted in an unprecedented way.

•

Mary is deeply moved by these amazing encounters—first with the messenger and then with her cousin, Elizabeth. Mary’s response can’t be contained in normal prose; her noble soul overflows in poetry. And this poetry isn’t simply religious; it has powerful social and political overtones. It speaks of a great reversal—what might be called a social, economic, and political revolution. To people in Mary’s day, there is little question as to what she is talking about. The Jewish people are oppressed by the Roman Empire, and to speak of a King who will demote the powerful and rich and elevate the poor and humble means one thing: God is moving toward setting them free! Soon Zacharias will overflow in poetry of his own.

Today’s paired reading from the First Testament is the 7th chapter of the book of Zechariah:

Two years after I saw the eight visions, on the fourth day of the ninth month (called Chislev) of the fourth year of the reign of Persian King Darius, the word of the Eternal came to me, Zechariah. The situation was this: the citizens of Bethel had sent a delegation, including Sharezer and Regemmelech and his men, to seek the favor of the Eternal One by questioning the priests working in the temple of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, and by questioning the prophets.

Delegation: During the fifth month of every year, I fast and mourn. Should I continue separating myself from the impure world on these occasions as I have for so many years?

The word of the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies came to me and told me how to address their question.

Message: Ask the citizens of the land and the priests, “When you fasted and mourned during the fifth and seventh months for the last seventy years, were you really fasting for My benefit or just for yourselves? When you were feasting on holy days, weren’t you just eating and drinking for yourselves instead of honoring Me? Aren’t these the same directives the Eternal One gave you through the work of earlier prophets, when Jerusalem was bustling with people and prosperous, when the villages around Jerusalem throughout the south and the western valleys were settled?”

The word of the Eternal came to me, Zechariah, again.

Message: Here is what the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, has to say: “Dispense true justice, have mercy on others, and show all people compassion. Do not take advantage of those who have lost a spouse or a parent, or those who are outsiders or poor. Don’t purpose to do evil toward your fellow Israelites.”

Some refused to listen. They turned their backs on this message and plugged their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint, refusing to listen to the law or the messages the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, sent by His Spirit and enacted through earlier prophets. That’s why His great wrath and calamity fell upon His people.

Eternal One: When I called out, they chose not to hear Me, so when they called out, I returned the favor and decided not to hear them. Like a sweeping tornado, I blew them throughout the nations, scattering them in distant lands where they were aliens, all alone. That’s how the land and its cities were emptied out and left so barren that no one even traveled through it. This is how your pleasant hills and valleys turned into empty lands.

The Book of Zechariah, Chapter 7 (The Voice)

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Tuesday, february 20 of 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New) of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about (the inner room) of the heart:

The revelation of the Mishkah (Tabernacle) presents a great mystery. God brings us out of Egypt, delivers us from slavery, carries us through various trials, all in order to be "our God" (אֱלֹהֵינוּ), and that means being in relationship with Him, brought to a place of conscious service by being made alive to His glorious reality that is hidden beneath the superficial appearance of things. Among other things, our freedom (חוֹפֶשׁ) means being set free from the vanity and illusions of this world by means of God's redeeming and atoning love. "In God's light we see light" (Psalm 36:9).

Just as the physical Mishkan was intended to accompany us in our journey to the promised land, it was always meant to represent a "pattern" (תַּבְנִית) or parable -- symbolizing a deeper design, namely God's inner light and presence within the heart of faith. Hence it says in the Torah, "Let them make for Me a holy place (מִקְדָּשׁ) so that I may dwell within them (וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם)", that is, within the midst of their hearts (Exod. 25:8). It is the heart that is to be the place where God's presence is manifest...

This "pattern" foretold and revealed Yeshua as well, for He embodies the inner meaning of the Mishkan and invites us into His heart for communion with God. Indeed, Yeshua is ha'makom (הַמָּקוֹם), “the Place of God,” and in his life we find our redemption and atonement. Attired in the humility of the High Priest during the Yom Kippur avodah, Yeshua identifies with his people and presents the blood of atonement in the inmost sanctum of God on our behalf. His heart is torn open for us in intercession and He will never leave nor forsake us.

Our lives are meant to live within God's heart and presence. The Holy Spirit reveals the pattern and we experience freedom as we abide within his love (John 15:10; John 14:21). The center of his passion is revealed in the cloud above God's Ark, where the blood offered over the shattered tablets of our lives, and it is there that the voice of His intercession is eternally uttered on our behalf (Exod. 25:22; Luke 23:34; Mark 15:33-38; Matt. 27:51).

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Psalm 23:6 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm23-6-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/psalm23-6-lesson.pdf

And another about our inner healing:

From our Torah portion for this week (i.e., Tetzaveh) we read: “You shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure olive oil “crushed” for the light, that an eternal or continual lamp (i.e., ner tamid: נר תמיד) may be set up to burn” (Exod. 27:20).

The Hebrew word for “pure” olive oil is zakh (זך), which refers to the clearest oil derived from squeezing out (or crushing) the very first drop from the choicest olive. The purest of oil was obtained by a process of “crushing for the light” (כתית למאור), which symbolizes the Light of the World, the One Crushed for our iniquities, the “Man of Sorrows” (אישׁ מכאבות) who offered himself up for our healing and illumination (Isa. 53:1-5).

Some things are seen only through the process of tribulation, breaking, and surrender. When we kindle this lamp, we are able to see the truth; we perceive how God’s heart was crushed for the sake of our salvation...

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Isaiah 53:5 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/isa53-5-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/isa53-5-lesson.pdf

2.19.24 • Facebook

from yesterday’s email by Israel365:

The lesson here is clear: it is the ongoing, everyday actions—our consistent efforts to connect with God, to live by His commandments, and to treat others with love and respect—that truly define and deepen our spiritual lives. Through this lens, we see that the essence of Judaism and a relationship with God is not captured in a single moment of revelation or a lofty ideal, but in the cumulative impact of daily, dedicated practice. It is in these seemingly small, routine acts of devotion and kindness that we find the true heart of our faith and the path to a meaningful relationship with the Divine.

This idea challenges us to see the sacred in the ordinary, and to recognize that every act of kindness, every moment of self-discipline, and every gesture of love, contributes to the fabric of a life well-lived. It teaches us that spiritual growth and ethical development are cumulative, built layer upon layer through our daily choices and actions.

In a world that often seeks instant gratification and dramatic transformations, this message is a reminder of the value of patience, persistence, and quiet dedication to our values and beliefs. It encourages us to commit to our principles not just in moments of inspiration or crisis but as a continuous, living practice. Whether through prayer, meditation, service to others, or simply through the way we conduct our everyday lives, we are invited to make every action count and to infuse our daily routines with intention and purpose.

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

February 20, 2024

How to Please the Lord

“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9)

In this verse, Paul expresses the strong desire to be “pleasing to” (the idea behind “accepted of”) the Lord Jesus Christ. It should likewise be our own ambition—whatever we do and wherever we are—to please Him. This, of course, will make a difference in what we do and where we go!

The Scriptures give us a number of specific ways in which we can be confident of pleasing Him. For example, “we then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1). That is, our criterion should be pleasing Him—not ourselves. Similarly, we are warned that “they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). That is, our thoughts and deeds must not be governed by worldly considerations.

By suffering, willingly, for His sake, we can please Him. “If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable [‘well-pleasing’] with God” (1 Peter 2:20).

“Without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6). We must walk by faith if we would please the Lord. This is not faith in the abstract but specific truth—faith to believe the revealed Word of God and to act on that faith.

God is pleased with generosity. “But to do good and to communicate [to share what we have with others, for His sake] forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). This certainly includes sharing the gospel as well as our material possessions. “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).

Finally, when our ways please the Lord, we have this gracious promise: “Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22). HMM

[princeofgod-2021]

LIGHT OF LIFE 465

John 1:4

DIVINE ORDER 30: BEGINNING OF MARRIAGE 8

Eph 5:25 And to the HUSBANDS, YOU ARE TO DEMONSTRATE LOVE FOR YOUR WIVES WITH THE SAME TENDER DEVOTION THAT CHRIST DEMONSTRATED TO US, HIS BRIDE. For HE DIED FOR US, SACRIFICING HIMSELF TPT

THE NEED FOR WOMAN 4

Another crucial need for the WOMAN is [indirectly] expressed in the [first] command that the man received.

It is however secondary to the COMPANIONSHIP context.

Gen 1:28 God blessed them and said, "BE FERTILE, INCREASE IN NUMBER, FILL THE EARTH, and be its master. Rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that crawl on the earth." GW

But was this the 1st command?

No!

Though it was said in Genesis 1, it was said to “them”, meaning it was said after creating the Woman, according to the records shown in Chapter 2.

This means that the MANDATE of Childbearing was “spelt out” to both man & woman.

Of course, God couldn’t have told the Man alone to bear children, right?

Psa 128:3 YOUR WIFE WILL BE LIKE A FERTILE VINE IN THE INMOST PARTS OF YOUR HOUSE: your children will be like OLIVE PLANTS ROUND YOUR TABLE. BBE

I need to quickly pause here to emphasize a salient point.

We must learn why the Context of Comfort & Companionship is more important than, and comes before Childbearing.

You cannot get marital comfort and companionship EXCEPT you connect to your wife, and you definitely can’t get it alone.

Ecc 4:11 If two people sleep together, they will be warm. But A PERSON SLEEPING ALONE WILL NOT BE WARM. ERV

But if God was merely talking about Childbearing and multiplying humans on earth, then we don’t need marriage to do that, do we?

You hear many frustrated women claiming that they prefer being single mothers and there are many men making money from donating sperm.

Many children are being conceived without sexual intercourse.

Do you get this?

Pro 5:16-17 Should your overflowing spring be scattered abroad as rivers of waters in the streets. LET THEM BE ONLY YOUR OWN, AND NOT STRANGERS' WITH YOU. MKJV

That scripture is saying that we shouldn’t be sleeping around and bearing illegitimate children.

Now, coming from Solomon, the wisest human alive, who married 300 wives and had 700 concubines, that was way too hypocritical.

Don’t you think?

1Ki 11:1-2 Now A NUMBER OF STRANGE WOMEN WERE LOVED BY SOLOMON, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites: The nations of which the Lord had said to the children of Israel, You are not to take wives from them and they are not to take wives from you; or THEY WILL CERTAINLY MAKE YOU GO AFTER THEIR GODS: TO THESE SOLOMON WAS UNITED IN LOVE. BBE

Did you notice that for a man who married so much, only the son that succeeded him was ever mentioned in the bible.

All the others seemed nonexistent.

The point is that for a woman to fufill her purpose of childbearing and for the children to have healthy profound essence, they must be conceived and brought up between married and loving couples.

Psa 128:3 Your wife will be like a FRUITFUL VINE IN THE INNER ROOMS OF YOUR HOUSE; your children will be like olive branches, AS THEY SIT ALL AROUND YOUR TABLE. NET

You wife is only “approved” as FRUITFUL only when she is “in your HOME”, and your children around your TABLE in that same HOME.

Childbearing is only sublimely blessed when they are born in an environment of COMFORT & COMPANIONSHIP.

Got it?

Mal 2:14-15 You ask why he no longer accepts them. It is because he knows you have broken your promise to the wife you married when you were young. SHE WAS YOUR PARTNER, and you have broken your promise to her, although you promised before God that you would be faithful to her. Didn't God make you one body and spirit with her? WHAT WAS HIS PURPOSE IN THIS? IT WAS THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE TRULY GOD'S PEOPLE. So make sure that none of you breaks his promise to his wife. GNB

God-fearing and loving children are best developed from within a relationship founded in warmth & solid Companionship.

I pray that your Marriage will be all of these and much more. Your labour for your family will not be in vain, IN JESUS NAME.

Come back on Wednesday, as we proceed in digging into this inspiring Subtopic.

Brother Prince

Monday, January 29, 2024

08055125517; 08023904307