#i considered Jupiter but too many authors are already named Jupiter

[sassysnowperson]

I'm brainstorming an author name for hypothetical future indie publishing, and I've got a decent one. It's gender neutral, nods to my family history in fun ways, and a bit of tribute to authors I've enjoyed.

The problem? The name came out very...respectable. I'd expect that name to write outdoorsey thrillers or nonfiction deep dives into the past and future of watermills. Not the gentle-hearted poly sci-fi romantic heist book I can actually see myself writing.

Idk, maybe I should keep looking, but on the other hand I'm drawn to the fun of a Respectable Name on Not Interested In Respect Art.

#writing talk #I think maybe I could play with the middle name more #theres got to be a good gender neutral sci fi or fantasy feeling name #i considered Jupiter but too many authors are already named Jupiter #i wonder how many are named Saturn.....

[crystalsenergy]

the primary archetypes and the 12 zodiac signs (and planets) #1

all images here do not belong to me. Credits to the appropriate authors.

I have long wanted to bring up a relationship that I make of Carl Jung's primary/most important archetypes with the 12 signs and major planets of astrology. Jung talked a lot about the phenomenon of synchronicity and from this I can think of how archetypes are actually present in the collective unconscious as he said. They are universal symbols present in the minds of each one of us, regardless of culture, and translate meanings that we will see present repeatedly (but in different languages) in various places. in Astrology, I can notice the presence of the main archetypes of Carl Jung.

the order of the archetypes and corresponding signs:

Animus - Aries/Mars

Anima - Taurus/Venus

The Child - Gemini/Mercury

The Mother - Cancer/Moon

The Father - Leo/Sun

The Maiden (the virgin) - Virgo/Mercury

The Persona - Libra/Asc-Venus

The Shadow - Scorpio/Pluto

The Hero (the hero) - Sagittarius/Jupiter

The Wise Old (Sage) - Capricorn/Saturn

The Trickster (the rebel) - Aquarius/Uranus

The Self - Pisces/Neptune

and what I find most interesting in this relationship is how the meanings of the signs fit in very well with those of the archetypes, and furthermore, how the order of the archetypes makes a lot of sense thinking in terms of the psyche and human existence. for example: the animus and anima are part of a "pair" of opposite characteristics that we need to know to possess within ourselves. it is said that men have more animus and women more anima, because the first, among many characteristics, is related to rationality, and the second, to sensitivity. well, it's not quite like that. not necessarily a woman has as predominance anima and a man animus. it can happen exactly the opposite, because we shouldn't relate animus with masculine and anima with feminine, this idea is no longer relevant considering the evolutions we made. so, animus and anima in the end is about an exchange that we need to have within ourselves and with outsiders so that we can balance these opposites. in relationships, in special love affairs, what do we do? we seek to balance, even if unaware of it, our characteristics with those of the person we relate to. for it is through exchange that we can evolve. and which signs and planets, better than any other, represent this exchange in astrology? Mars and Venus, respectively as Animus and Anima, and Aries and Taurus, as Animus and Anima.

finally, we can note that the signs are in the same order as the zodiac: from Aries to Pisces, and that this order perfectly matches the order of what we can possess in our psyche.

let's go to the meanings of each archetype, sign and planet:

1. The Animus - Aries / Mars

The "Animus" archetype is related to an internal energy that moves us to live, it's the impetus. It's an inner force that animates us. One of the characteristics of this archetype is to build something with all the energy you have within you, applying efforts after you want to do so. It's an archetype that makes a person capable of solving problems, with a lot of attitude, protagonism, physical and internal strength and a very strong personality. Again remembering: NO, this archetype doesn't represent only men, as this is a somewhat outdated vision. I'm sure you already know or will meet women with a lot more Animus than many men out there - who act like this, not only claim to be such things.

All of us, regardless of gender, may have more or less of this Archetype in us. And when we have too little, it's time to work to establish a balance, integrating more Animus - either through relationships, learning by projecting yourself into those who already have these characteristics, or through your self-knowledge, noting the need to integrate that part that so much is lacking in you - a drive for life, a lust to act and take sides with yourself.

Aries, in turn, exactly resembles the above characteristics. For those who already know the sign, you know what I'm talking about. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, the one that opens everything, that brings out the need to establish a strong bond between you and your own personality, the one that shows us how there can be someone with the energy to give and sell. Aries is intensity, it's looking at yourself, it's building your identity and personality.

Mars rules Aries, and gives to this sign exactly these characteristics of having a lot of energy, of knowing how to fight for what it wants, a lot of lust for life and for achieving its goals and so on.

2. The Anima - Taurus/Venus

The Anima archetype has characteristics that are opposed to the previous one, but at the same time complement it. Anima is related to sensitivity, with a contact between the external and the internal world. I would say it's more from the outside in and not from the inside out (as it is with the Animus). While the former has within itself what it wants to externalize, the Anima archetype is much more about pulling what is outside to bring it inside.

In other words, there is an exchange between the external and the internal world, not a mere injection of energy into one of them. It's said that Anima is great at nurturing and giving love as it's more sensitive and less focused on her/himself, however, this ability to love is not restricted to others.

Anima is able to appreciate itself, to nourish itself. Precisely because you have emotional contact and this exchange between what's outside and what's inside, you have empathy. It has in itself the ability to relax and enjoy life, feel the energy it has in it and appreciate its meaning. Anima appreciates a balance between giving and receiving. And yes, it has persistence much like Animus, but it's something more controlled in the sense that here there's a weighting before putting in that energy. But when you insert it, it's done with a lot of persistence. These are some of the many characteristics of the Anima archetype.

Taurus is the sign of appreciation of oneself and the other, it's one with a lot of persistence and energy, but much more restrained than Aries, precisely because it's much more cautious than impulsive. It's the sign of sensitivity, love, give and take, nourishment and fidelity. Taurus loves to appreciate the good things life has to offer, from nature to earthly pleasures.

Venus is exactly the one who bestows these characteristics on the sign of Taurus, for ruling it.

3. The Child - Gemini / Mercury

The child's archetype is the beginning of everything - the discovery of the things in life, it's the archetype of innocence, of curiosity. Impulsive, curious, creative, stubborn, extroverted... these are some of the characteristics of children and, yes, they represent very well the meaning of the child archetype (well integrated, without its "shadow" functions activated). Furthermore, the child archetype gives a person the ability to deal with life in a lighter, more playful and fun way, without having such a heavy and serious view of everything. It gives us an ability to nurture our innocent side and has a warm heart ready to make everyone around you feel good.

Gemini relates very well to this given how curious and young this sign is, that even gets the name "eternal youth", for being so playful and simply wanting to live life without too much worry, wanting to live without having much to think about: just living in the present moment. It's a sign of socialization, communication, and there is nothing that children (and Geminis) know how to do more than that: talk with others easily, speak openly and enthusiastically, even with those who don't know, with strangers. Extroverts and eternal curious. Gemini / who has a lot of Gemini in the chart even has a sweet and "childish" voice, even if the person is an adult.

Mercury confers many of these characteristics on Gemini, and so it also relates perfectly to the child archetype.

#gemini #mercury #aries #mars #taurus #venus #archetypes #the child archetype #animus archetype #animus #anima #child #anima archetype #archetype #psychology #psychology and astrology #astrology psychology #astrology psychological

[tipsycad147]

Hag's Medicine: Mullein Plant Profile

I realized that it’s been a few months since I wrote my last plant profile for all of you and continuing the last few posts on breathwork and herbs for respiratory wellness, Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) felt like the wonderful ally to celebrate and learn from this month. So let’s do just that!

Mullein

(Verbascum thapsus)

Common + Folk Names : Hag’s tapers, beggar’s blanket, graveyard dust, candlewick, Jupiter’s staff, torches, velvet dock, witch’s candle, lungwort, shepherd’s staff, duffle, fluffweed, fleawort, tinder plant, Cuddy's lungs, hare’s beard, Our Lady’s flannel, Quaker rouge, Aaron's rod, Jacob's staff, verbasco, Nookaadiziiganzh. Tarot Cards : The Devil, The World, Two of Pentacles - learn more about tarot + herbs Element : Earth, Water Zodiac Signs : Capricorn Planets : Saturn Moon Phase : Waning Quarter Moon Parts used : Leaf, flower, root Habitat : Native to Eurasia and North Africa but naturalized throughout North America. Growing conditions : Grows in waste areas and roadsides. Likes full sun and well-drained soil. Collection : Collect the flowers and leaves from second year and older plants. Roots in the fall. Flavor : Pungent, slightly bitter Temperature : Cool Moisture : Moist Tissue State : Damp/Stagnation, Dry/Atrophy Constituents : Carotene, choline, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, resin, saponins, glycoside, flavonoids, mucilage, tannins, triterpenes, volatile oil.

Actions : alterative, anodyne, antibacterial, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent, decongestant, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, pectoral, vulnerary. Flower: analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, demulcent, emollient, mucilaginous, nervine, sedative. Root: anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, anodyne, diuretic, nervine.

Main Uses : Mullein is described by Nicholas Culpeper as being under the guardianship of Saturn, which is in part why the herb is considered a plant of Capricorn. The herb is a great ally during the winter months, helping to clear phlegm from the system, reduce inflammation, and protect against infection. It is excellent for clearing out chronic, long-standing coughs, especially dry and spasmodic coughs, and can help with a number of respiratory complaints including bronchitis, asthma, and general lung weakness. Mullein has traditionally been used for tuberculosis, whooping cough, and pleurisy. Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine describes a traditional Irish preparation of Mullein for the treatment of tuberculosis prepared by adding a handful of the green leaves to two pints of fresh milk, strained, and then sweetened with honey which was then drunk once or twice daily. Think deep, thick, and chesty coughs. Look for signs of adrenal stress, especially after long bouts of illness and conditions worsening when lying down.

Add the herb to your cold and flu blends with Elder (Sambucus nigra) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita) for a lung-opening, immunomodulating blend. Mullein is useful, too, for Capricorn folk who tend towards stagnant cold states which lead to swellings and cysts as the herb helps to dissolve such manifestations of buildup. As a decongestant, Mullein is good for allergies such as hay fever, helping to clear phlegm and relieve pain. In her Physica, Hildegard von Bingen recommended Mullein for “one who is hoarse or has a pain in his chest” recommending that they combine the herb with Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) in a medicinal wine. Use also for asthma (especially if there is heat and aggravation) and general chest infections. Mullein has immunostimulating properties which is another reason that it is excellent for cold and flu season and especially for someone succumbing to chronic viral infections. The herb is effective against viruses such as herpes, too.

As a moistening diuretic, Mullein helps to soothe an inflamed urinary system and help with the release of urine. Mullein is also well-suited for many cases of edema and water retention. The herb also helps to remove toxins from the body because of its ability to move water out of the body. Use in cases of arthritis, rheumatism, gout, UTIs, and cystitis. As a digestive, Mullein is a mild bitter that relieves indigestion, especially in cases of a damp and stagnant digestion, and can help alleviate the pain of peptic ulcers.

Mullein can be used for nerve pain and combines well with other nervines such as Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and St. Joan’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). Use internally as well as an oil for neuralgia and especially nerve pain the hands and feet. In particular, the root can be used in cases of Bell’s palsy and facial nerve pain. The herb helps to loosen up stiff joints and connective tissue.

Topically, the mucilaginous Mullein is excellent for dry skin conditions but also as a healing compress or salve for boils, bruises, inflammation, hemorrhoids, eczema, sciatica, and joint pain. Use in a steam for lung conditions like asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory imbalances already described. In Plants Have So Much to Give Us, All We Have To Do Is Ask: Anishinaabe Botanical Teachings, Mary Siisip Geniusz recommends following a steam with Mullein a cup of Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and then to bed to clear the head and chest. Mullein is used similarly as a smoking herb as well as an aid to help wean off tobacco. Mullein is useful in cases of bulging discs and bone setting. The herb helps the skin repair after a wound, burn, sore, and ulcer and can be used for skin infections, too. A compress of the leaves is excellent for alleviating the pain of swollen joints, sore muscles, swollen glands, eczema and for headaches. Use also for lymphadenitis and mumps. Create a gargle of the tea or extract for laryngitis, swollen gums, and tonsillitis. Mullein and garlic ear oil is a trusted remedy for ear infections helping to relieve pain and infection. I always keep a small bottle of Mullein and Garlic oil in my home care kit just for this reason. Mullein is also a common herb in smoking blends.

Magickal Uses : The long thick stems are sometimes referred to as Hag’s Tapers (the dried stalks dipped in wax will burn as a somewhat messy candle) as they are associated with the magickal workings of Witchfolk. Mullein is a plant long associated with the working of Hags - the womxn overculture has always feared who teach us to embrace what has been deemed unpalatable to value systems that our not our own into essential tools of our self-understanding. The tapers can be burned at funerals to protect against unwanted and malevolent spirits. You can also tuck the leaves into your shoe for added comfort and protection on your journeys. Use for general protection against sorcery, the evil eye, and malevolent spirits. Specifically protective against wild animal attacks and guards against the Night Mare. Use as a substitute for graveyard dust in spells and charms. Burn Mullein in your Midsummer bonfire for protection and gather the ashes to use in protection charms.

The Mullein Personality : The Mullein person has something to get off their chest which can sometimes manifest as chronic respiratory infections and a barking cough that doesn’t allow them to get a clear word out. Their adrenals are often run down and mornings - just as they are getting out of bed - can be some of the most difficult times for them physically and emotionally. Often, Mullein folk come off as dried out (which can manifest in their physical symptoms), but they may appear dry because all of their waters have pooled deep in the body. With their unexpressed truth settling in the body they are stewing, sometimes even bubbling over. They need to learn how to light their torch, even if the words that come out aren’t “perfectly” illuminating or fit in with the standards that they or others hold them to. Mullein folk can be confused about what they stand for because they have been so focused on “correct” social customs and traditions. Mullein will help them to become honest with themselves and release these stagnant patterns of seeking authority outside of themselves and help them to speak their words. Ultimately, they learn that morals, values, and laws aren’t of any use unless they align with their morals, values, and inner sense of lawful justice.

Contraindications : Considered generally safe.

Drug interactions : None known.

Dosage : Standard dosage.

Recipe: The following tea is useful for alleviating the pain and tension of backache and neuralgia. It can also be made into an herbal oil or liniment and used topically.

Stand Tall Tea

1 part Nettles (Urtica dioica)

1/2 part Mullein Leaf + Flower (Verbascum thapsus)

1/2 part St. Joan’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Optional: 1/2 part Ginger (Zingiber officinalis)

Add the Ginger if the condition is worse with cold and better with heat. Sweeten with honey or coconut sugar and milk of choice.

I write more about Mullein and it’s uses as an herbal ally for fire season and it is featured in my list of herbs for breathwork and respiratory wellness. Mullein is one of my favorite herbs to use for Capricorn energy and learning more about the sign helps to understand the energy and magick that Mullein offers. Of course, you can always follow the tag for Mullein to see where it might guide you.

http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/hags-medicine-mullein-plant-profile

[hotchocolatedictator]

@muse-of-astronomy here's your missed connections fic! I hope you like it :D

Jack was already there when she showed up.

He usually was there first. After all, he drove down, and had to make allowances for traffic, and delays, and diversions, although his unique driving style certainly knocked off a good half hour any other person would have spent doing things like obeying speed limits. River, on the other hand, had a vortex manipulator. A working one, that is. Input a time and place, and that was that.

River walked over to the table Jack was sat at and smiled as she saw he’d already ordered her a drink. 

‘Hello.’

Jack looked up and grinned as he realised she was there.

‘Hey there. Got you a drink.’ He nodded towards the glass of vodka.

‘Thanks,’ she replied, sliding into her seat and picking up her drink. ‘So, did you have any plans?’

Jack gave her a look. ‘What are you up to this time, River?’

‘Oh nothing too bad,’ she said innocently, ‘Now, how do you feel about bank heists?’

It took them several drinks and a couple of half hearted arguments on Jack’s part, but soon enough (not that it mattered how long they took, they had a vortex manipulator) they had left the bar they’d started the evening in, and were well on their way to what was known as the best-protected bank in the universe.

(It wasn’t actually the best-protected bank in the universe. One of the actual best-protected bank in the universe’s security features was secrecy - only a select few even knew of its existence, let alone where it was.)

Their little meet-ups usually ended up like this. They’d start off in some bar somewhere, have a few drinks, talk a bit about immortality and the Doctor (the main reasons they’d started their little immortals club. Which was surprisingly large, considering that 21st century humans tended not to believe in immortality. Despite this, there were two, sometimes three if Me came along, of them, and all thanks to some involvement from the Doctor), and then River would suggest something dangerous and probably illegal and Jack would go along for the sheer pleasure of getting off Earth for a few hours. Oh, the joy of alien life that wasn’t trying to kill you!

Jack had always assumed bank robbing would be a lot harder than conning. After all, a con just needed charm, some good lying and a well-timed destruction. A bank heist, on the other hand… well, watch any 21st century bank heist movie and it’ll give you all the information you need on CCTV cameras, vaults with hidden security systems, and complex planning complete with carefully organised schedules whose downfall was sure to be its own precision.

River pointed her sonic screwdriver at the cameras as they walked in, and that was that.

If Jack had known bank heists were this easy, he’d never have become a conman.

-

‘So, what is it we’re here for?’ Jack asked. He may not have too many issues with bank heists, but he did generally like to know what it was he was stealing. And why too, if possible.

‘When I left my fourth husband, he kept some of my jewellery. I’d quite like it back.’

Jack had a feeling there was more to it than that - River didn’t seem like the sort to obsess over some gold and sparkly gems - but he didn’t press it.

‘Alright,’ he said instead, and felt for the webley in his pocket, ‘What vault?’

-

River had quite a lot of practice breaking into banks. She was married to the Doctor, after all - she was going to have a few quirks, and it just so happened that they tended to involve breaking into - and out of - things. And really, this bank was a doddle compared to some she’d seen. Best protected bank in the universe her arse. (River was one of the handful of people who knew where the actual best protected bank in the universe was. But that’s a whole other story…)

And when you had a sonic to help you on your way, and a vortex manipulator, and a broken but still partially functional one for good measure, well, it was child’s play.

A well placed zap at a security camera, and there was that worry gone. Getting in was the easy bit. Now, to figure out what vault they were looking for…

-

‘Alright, if we hack the computers, we can access the names of the owners of the vaults.’

River nodded. 

‘Well, let’s find a computer then!’

‘You wouldn’t happen to have schematics of the building, would you?’ Jack asked.

‘Nope. This was all a bit spur-of-the-moment, to be honest. Now, choose a direction!’

-

‘Next time we do this, I’m bringing a map.’

‘What makes you think we’ll do this again?’

Jack gave her a look.

‘Well, I’ve met you, for a start. There’s no way you’d just sit quietly in some bar with a pint of beer.’

‘Fair point,’ said River, opening a door and sticking her head in, ‘Ah, this looks right.’

Opening the door wider, she waltzed in, ignoring the man sitting at the computer gaping at her.

Before the poor bloke had a chance to recover from the invasion of his workplace, Jack had got to him, with a disarming grin and a ‘Captain Jack Harkness. And who are you?’

‘T'rak,’ the man stuttered.

‘Well, T'rak, I’m afraid we’re going to need to use your computer,’ River said, clicking something on the screen.

‘Do you have authority to do that?’ T'rak asked nervously.

Before River could reply, Jack had pulled a small square of paper out of a pocket of his greatcoat, and was holding it up for T'rak to see.

‘Ah,’ T'rak nodded, ‘I see. I’ll just leave you to it, then.’

And with that, he left.

‘Psychic paper?’ River asked, eyebrows raised.

‘From the Time Agency,’ Jack answered, ‘Comes in handy.’

River hummed in reply, then grinned as she pulled up a likely-looking file.

‘We’re looking for a Kreevor Tynnyn.'

-

‘Is that him?’ Jack asked for the fifth time, pointing at a name on the screen.

‘No. I told you, it’s Kreevor Tynnyn, not,’ River squinted at the tiny type the name was written in, ‘Kreevor Tynnynn.’

‘Looks the same to me.’

‘It’s not! There’s an extra n in this one, see?’

Jack squinted at the screen himself.

‘Oh. So it is.’ He paused, then added, ‘I hate this tiny type.’

‘Mmm. But there isn’t anything we can do about it.’

It took about a second, but then it hit them both at the same time.

‘The sonic screwdriver!’

-

‘So we’re sure it’s vault 742?’

‘Yes, we’re sure,’ River sighed, ‘It was definitely a seven.’

Before Jack could reply, she added, ‘And I know I said it was a one, but the text was tiny.’

Jack nodded at the explanation, and then held out an arm to River.

‘To vault 742, m’lady?’ He asked, in an absolutely terrible accent.

Grinning, River took it.

‘This way.’

-

‘Here we go,’ said River, as, with a final satisfying click, the door to the vault swung open.

Jack looked inside, wondering what it was that they’d actually come for.

It wasn’t much, actually. A few bits of jewellery, like River had said, but Jack had seen jewellery like that before. He’d heard of all sorts of clever tricks to let you hide messages in the metals and weapons in the jewels, and had even used a few. Anyone who knew River would decide it was a good idea to keep them far away from her. There was a key too, small and shiny and silver, and Jack knew what that was, too. Suddenly the whole endeavour made a lot more sense.

‘Right, let’s get this lot into the bag,’ said River, pulling out a Tesco’s carrier bag.

‘Tesco’s?’

‘I told you, short notice. Now hurry up!’

They loaded it into the bag and River tucked it away somewhere, leaving Jack to wonder exactly where she was hiding it wearing that dress.

‘And now…’

‘We run,’ finished Jack, and they both grinned as they raced forwards.

-

‘I’d call that a pretty successful night,’ said Jack, as they sat in the corner of a bar on one of the smaller moons of Jupiter, drinking hypervodka that was honestly not that much better than the vodka in the bar on Earth.

‘We didn’t get arrested,’ agreed River, ‘or killed. Definitely one of our better ones.’

She took a sip as they each remembered a few less successful adventures.

‘You got everything back alright, though?’

‘Yes, it’s all there.’

‘Hey did I ever tell you about my first con? It was, oh, over a hundred years ago now, in Pompeii. Right on volcano day, in fact…’

-

‘...and then he says, ‘I haven’t got any’!’ River grinned as Jack burst out laughing.

‘I should really be getting back soon,’ she said finally.

‘Me too. I don’t know what my team would do if I was gone for too long.’

They both stood up, and after settling their tab walked out.

‘Need a lift?’

‘Yeah, that’d be great.’

A minute later, the only sign that anyone had ever been there was two sets of footprints.

I don't know if you're on AO3 but I'll post it there too, if that's alright!

#doctor who #dw #jack harkness #river song

[zephyrthesolitary]

Astrology Basics - The Houses/Ruling Planets

We talked about Chiron, The Lunar Nodes, and personal planets and what they mean to us. Now, let's take a look at the Houses.

What are the Houses in Astrology?

Most horoscopic traditions of astrology systems divide the horoscope into many houses. The position of these houses depends more so on the time and location of your birth as opposed to just the date of birth. If you notice, even when you enter your date of birth on an astrology website to see your natal chart; if you select Unknown Time or ‘Use Noon’ as the time due to not knowing what time you were born, it will only provide you with the Planets and which signs are in them. 

You’ll be missing the houses and you'll also be missing your Ascendant-- which is why knowledge of time and location is extremely vital!

Think of a clock or a wheel. A house in astrology is very similar to either of those things. The zodiac is divided into 12 houses and each one is ruled by a different sign/planet. 

The zodiac starts with the 1st House, which is represented by the sign of Aries and then proceeds in counterclockwise order, ending in Pisces.

Each house identifies and defines the exact areas of your life your chart and horoscope references. Each house also represents something entirely unique. They can determine the different types of people we are, or encounter, the places we go and the life circumstances we experience during this lifetime and in many others!

As the houses are, so too are the planets. For the 12 houses, on our charts, we may have planets existing in all, some or maybe a majority of our houses. Planets move constantly from house to house. In your birth chart, you can identify which planet is in which house. 

Pretty cool, right?

The locations of each planet at the time of our birth and even throughout our lives (called progressions and transits) can provide very valuable insights about us, our growth and our developments as individuals, in all of our relationships (love and platonic friendships), and our ambitions and goals. 

But I’m sure you may have noticed when looking at your birth chart also, that there might be multiple planets in certain houses while other houses are totally empty! 

Don’t panic! This is totally normal. It really just shows us what makes us unique and our life path too. So no fretting. :)

Now let’s talk Rulership!

What Sign is Each House Ruled By?

Not only do we have planets in houses, but we also have signs and planets that rule OVER each house and so in turn, they represent something to us.

1st House - ruled by Aries.

2nd House - ruled by Taurus.

3rd House - ruled by Gemini.

4th House - ruled by Cancer.

5th House - ruled by Leo.

6th House - ruled by Virgo.

7th House - ruled by Libra.

8th House - ruled by Scorpio.

9th House - ruled by Sagittarius.

10th House - ruled by Capricorn.

11th House - ruled by Aquarius.

12th House - ruled by Pisces. 

What about the planets that rule over the houses?

Well, we’ve already acknowledged that each house has a sign ruling over it. Let’s take a look at the ruling planets. Something interesting you’ll notice is that some signs may have 2 ruling planets instead of 1. An example is Pisces, who has Jupiter and Neptune as rulers. You might also see that a couple of signs might share the same ruling planets such as Aquarius and Capricorn; they share Saturn as a ruler. 

Let’s just chart it out to make it easier. 

Aries is ruled by Mars.

Taurus is ruled by Venus.

Gemini is ruled by Mercury.

Cancer is ruled by the Moon.

Leo is ruled by the Sun.

Virgo is ruled by Mercury.

Libra is ruled by Venus.

Scorpio is ruled by Mars & Pluto.

Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter.

Capricorn is ruled by Saturn.

Aquarius is ruled by Saturn & Uranus.

Pisces is ruled by Jupiter & Neptune. 

Straightforward enough right? Sign rule over houses and planets rule over signs. 

This goes without saying, as we have places where we are comfortable, we also have places we are the utmost uncomfortable with. So too, do our signs.

A place of discomfort for signs in astrology is also known as a ‘Detriment’. 

What Is a Detriment?

In astrology, for a sign to be in detriment or exile, it is positioned in the zodiac sign OPPOSITE of the sign it rules. An example: Mars meets its Detriment in Taurus and Libra. Mars is MOST comfortable with the ruling sign Aries. For obvious reasons.

But with Mars in Taurus and Libra, it is a very unhappy camper. Mars is happiest when it can express itself freely and directly. Think of an engine of the car. It doesn’t matter who’s driving and where it's going. It just wants to move!

Now: Consider Taurus. Taurus is Earth. Mars is fire. Speed vs. one of the slowest moving signs in the Zodiac. Taurus wants to be methodical, practical, and deliberate. So Mars is weighted down and cannot take action as quickly, thoughtlessly, and impulsively as it would like to. Mars in Taurus worries about finding a sensible and stale course of action. Because Mars’ energy isn’t built for slowness and deliberation, it often grows frustrated and angry as well as impatient. Pressure builds the less action that can be taken.

Still confused?

Try to think about the qualities of the planet vs. the zodiac.

Mars is explosive, fast, impulsive. Taurus is careful planning, realistic, and sensible. 

Seeing it clearer now? They do not go hand in hand. It's uncomfortable for poor Mars. This is what a detriment is. I’ll also chart it out for you so you can see which signs are Detriment in certain planets.

Detriment Chart

The Sun is in detriment in Aquarius.

The Moon is in detriment to Capricorn.

Mercury is in detriment to Sagittarius & Pisces.

Venus is in detriment in Scorpio and Aries.

Mars is in detriment in Libra & Taurus.

Jupiter is in detriment in Gemini & Virgo.

Saturn is in detriment in Cancer & Leo.

Uranus is in detriment in Leo.

Neptune is in detriment in Virgo.

Pluto is in detriment in Taurus. 

Lastly, let talk about what each house focuses on!

Houses and Their Meanings

1st House = The Self/Ego; physical appearance, the image we portray, self-esteem, and the first impression we make on others. The way you start something new. It is the “I am” energy. 

2nd House = Material Possessions and Security aka ‘Our Values’; including our finances, personal belongings, and our relationship to the gifts we possess both physically and spiritually. What are your spending habits? It is the “I have” energy. Sometimes your self-worth and self-esteem are apparent here too.

3rd House = Communication style and learning ability; local community and transportation can be affected here too. Planets located here are motivated by expression and focus on building close relationships with peers, siblings, coworkers, and classmates. When planets pass through here, we oftentimes receive important information about our immediate network. This house governs our thinking process and cognitive functioning. It influences our voice via writing, speaking, media, or communication arts. It is the “I think” energy.

4th House = Inner foundation; Homelife and the base of operations. This house rules the home we grew up in and our inner home. It determines our roots, sense of security, and emotional foundation alongside our connection to the past and ancestry line. It looks at our relationship with the maternal figure in our lives and the outlook on domesticity. We are often encouraged to invest in ourselves by creating more private and, nurturing spaces. It is the “I feel” energy.

5th House = Inner Child; playfulness, joy and creativity, pleasure, and romance. It affects our creative and spontaneous self-expression. What were we like as children and what made us happy? Planets that transit here deliver eureka moments that boost confidence. It is the “I will” energy.

6th House = Health and Routine; day-to-day life. It is responsible for our levels of mindfulness and problem-solving skills. This house focuses on daily responsibilities, health habits, and, due diligence. It also governs our domestic pets and our attitudes towards routines, scheduling, and, organization. It is the “I analyze” energy.

7th House = Partnerships, Marriage, soulmates and relationships, and our take on these unions. It also looks at our open enemies. Anything such as contracts, lawyers, and compromises made fall under this house. It is the “I balance” energy.  

8th House = Transformation, Meeting needs, life secrets, and joint resources; it is commonly referred to as the house of death, in both the literal and figurative sense. This house governs sexuality as well, revolving around rebirth, crisis, and change, addiction and transformation, regeneration, and the attitude we have about these subject matters. It rules over our relationship with other peoples’ money (i.e. inheritance, debts, taxes, money left behind from a deceased marriage partner). It is the “I desire” energy.

9th House = Traveling, higher learning, philosophy of life/spiritual understanding; this rules your expansion of belief systems and personal philosophies you may possess. Because it is ruled by Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius, it revolves around long-distance travel, foreign languages, cultures, and publishing as well as commerce. It is the “I see” energy. 

10th House = Legacy and Reputation; career, achievements in society, the areas of life where we make a name for ourselves, and something of our lives. It pertains to fame, material success, and our desire for achievement. It also rules our relationship to authority (father figures and government) as well as our relationship to success and achievement. It is the “I use” energy.

11th House = Network and Visions; Friendships, associations, ideals, and causes. It is our personal goals and the areas of our lives that fall under the section regarding our wishes, hopes, and true inner purpose. It also governs our sense of community. It revolves around our teams, friendship groups, extended networks, and tribes. It is the “I know” energy.

12th House = The subconscious, psychological issues, and secrets. It looks at our actual dreams and nightmares. It governs our karma, self-undoing, and the soul growth that comes from our own undoing. It determines hidden strengths and weaknesses. It is the “I believe” energy.

Well, that’s all for now! Any questions? Just ask. I love to teach and share knowledge. Feel free to repost/reblog too!

Until Next Time!

#wicca #wiccan #wiccalife #wiccanblr #wiccamagic #pagans of tumblr #pagan witch #paganblr #pagan wicca #norse pagan #witch #witch community #witchcore #witchythings #witchyvibes #witchy #witch advice #witchcraft #witches #witchesofig #witches of tumblr #witchesofinstagram #baby witch #astrology chart #astrology witch #astrologywitch #astrology #spellcaster #witch reference #witch aesthetic

[mari-beau]

The Right Thing

FANDOM: LOST IN SPACE (2018)

GENRE: Romance, Drama, (a little) Humor

TIMELINE: Between Season 1 & Season 2

CHARACTERS: Don, Judy, Debbie

PAIRING: Don/Judy

RATING: PG/T (References to adult situations; nothing graphic)

WORDS: 1681

SUMMARY: Ever since meeting the Robinsons, Don West has found himself struggling to do the right thing. Judy, in particular puts his conscience to the test. (Sort of an explanation for the shift in Don/Judy dynamic between season one and season two)

Author’s Note:  The reboot series is so satisfying that I never thought I'd feel the need to write fanfiction for it. But alas, I did find myself greatly missing Don & Judy's banter in season two. Honestly, they could've left it at friendly teasing and I would've loved it. Anyway, my brain felt the need to explain why it disappeared between seasons.

...

Don West’s com beeped just as he was elbow deep in the coolant system, making him start and hit his head on the edge of the metal panel. He cursed as Judy Robinson’s voice crackled over the device. 

/Don, I need your help with something./

The pain made him wince as he rubbed at the back of his head, but he pressed a button on his wrist com.  “What is it, doc?”

/Um… some sort of malfunction… in my room./

Don closed his eyes, took a deep, steadying breath, glared at the patched system that was barely holding it together, and replied. “I’ll be there in a couple minutes.”

/Thanks./

“Robinsons… gonna work me to death,” he told Debbie. The chicken cocked her head, obviously not falling for his griping. “What? Don’t look at me like that.”

He picked up the pet hen he’d never intended to be anything more than a future meal and made his way through the jupiter that had become his home over the past few months. Debbie didn’t even squirm when he carried her now. He thought she rather liked it. But when he set her down in his room and told her to be good while he helped Judy, she gave him a scathing chicken glare.

“It won’t be long,” he said. “I promise.”

She clucked and showed him her feathered backside as she went for her food dish. 

“Don’t be jealous. There’s plenty of Don West to go around.”

/Don, where are you?/ Judy’s voice rang out more clearly over his com this time. There was a bit of an edge to it that had him in a partial jog as he hurried to her room.

Her door was closed. He frowned, raised his hand to press the chime but it slid open before he could press the button. Judy’s attractive face appeared, her big dark eyes skimming over him and then glancing up and down the hall.

“What took you so long?” she asked.

“I-” Before he could finish pointing out that it had only been two minutes, the young doctor grabbed the front of his t-shirt and yanked him into the room, closing the door behind him.

“Judy…” He drawled her name in warning, wrapping his hand around her wrist, but she kept her fingers twisted up in his shirt and yanked on it, hard, pulling him down and crashing her lips against his. 

Her kisses were electric. Just like her. Vibrant, scintillating. Irresistible. They had a tantalizing exuberance that he only remembered last experiencing when he was in his early twenties, over a decade ago. Son of a-

He broke off the kiss, tried to ignore the bewildered hurt in her eyes as he placed his hands on her shoulders to push her away. 

“What’s wrong?” Her chin lifted in that stubborn bravado way of hers. “Did I interrupt something important? I thought you were just tinkering with-”

“That’s... uh… That’s not it.” 

She raised her eyebrows, those perfect, kissable lips of hers pursing. 

“We shouldn’t…” He scrubbed a hand over his face. He wasn’t used to refusing female attention. And more than that, he liked Judy. A lot. “I mean you’re…”

She silenced him with a glare. But he knew better anyway than to tell her she was only 19, too young, not an adult. Because she was one of the most responsible, wise, compassionate, badass people he’d ever met. Hell, she was more of an adult than him. He also should know better than to point out that her parents wouldn’t approve, would probably kill him. Because Judy herself would kill him for making such an intimation, that she wasn’t capable of making decisions for herself, that she didn’t consider every situation thoroughly before choosing a course of action. He knew better, and yet… 

“Coward.” She caught his gaze. And damn, she was beautiful when she was fierce. And Judy Robinson was always fierce. “You’re afraid of getting close to anyone. But whether you like it or not, this family cares about you. And you care about us. And you care about me.” She stepped in closer, her breasts -which he tried desperately not to think about- brushed against his chest. “And you like kissing me.”

She pulled him down into another kiss. He opened his mouth to her, unable to resist the intrepid probing of her lips, her tongue. And she was delicious. Not just sweet, but complex. Judy Robinson was so complex, so interesting. So… so… Oh, god, so good. 

Her hands had flattened against his stomach, were roaming up to his shoulders. She had skilled doctor’s hands, and so many parts of him wanted to discover just how skilled they were at tasks besides medicine. They slid back down his chest, fingernails scraping through the soft fabric of his t-shirt, raising goosebumps across his skin, making him groan into her mouth that continued to devour him. His own hands gripped her hips reflexively. She had such a feminine, athletic body, strong and beautiful, and pleasing to the touch. So strong.

She’d backed him against the cot, pushed him to sit on it, giving his tingling mouth a break. Oh, hell, he was aroused. He needed to put a stop to this before things really- Damn! 

Judy was up in his lap, straddling his legs, moving in for more devastating kissing, kissing that would doubtless lead to more than kissing, which he couldn’t allow. She was 19 and the Robinsons’ daughter. He liked them. He liked her. He turned his head, thwarted her hungry mouth, but only momentarily, for she kissed and nipped along his jawline instead.

She was certainly a woman who went after what she wanted. Only, he couldn’t give it to her.

He grabbed her shoulders and held her away from him… Well, partly away from him. There were still portions of their bodies in dangerously close proximity. She made a frustrated noise, and gave him her biggest pleading puppy dog eyes. But they weren’t going to work this time. Because the right thing to do was to stop this, stop her randomly calling him for secret rendezvous, pulling him into vacant corners for stolen kisses, looking at him like she might just be-

“You’re a smart young woman, Judy,” he said. “I mean, I have my moments of genius...”

He winked at her, making her smile. She stroked the nape of his neck, affection warming her features. He ignored how much he liked her gentler attention, because he had a point to get across. 

“But you’re way smarter than me, doc. You must know that the only reason you want me is because I’m the only option here.” 

Her soft, dangerously affectionate look hardened and he knew he was one small prod away from waking her stubborn temper. But it had to be done. 

“It’s probably been awhile for you. Hell, it’s been awhile for me, too. But you can do better than me, princess. And when you get out of here, get to where you’re going in life, there will be some fancy pants egghead waiting for you.”

“Just… Just shut up, Don. You don’t know what you’re talking about!” There was a pink hue coloring the gorgeous brown skin of her face. Her lips screwed up, a line forming between her brows. Her thinking face. She took a deep breath, met his gaze directly. Her eyes were always almost unbearably intense, showing all of her passion and intelligence. She wet her lips, surprising him with the nervous gesture.

“I’m not desperate for physical companionship. I genuinely like you, Don West. And if you can’t believe that…” Her eyes shimmered, but she was still wearing her tough face. “I’m sad for you.”

She removed herself from his lap, and it was a loss that made the bottom drop out of his stomach. She walked towards the door, not looking at him, an obvious dismissal.

It was for the best. It was.

“Oh, and Don…” He paused, so close that the scent of her, somehow fresh despite months of recycled air, filled his head. Her warm, dark eyes met his. “You would’ve been my first…”

“Fi-irst?” He nearly choked on the question, felt his mouth go dry. But felt his uncertainty fade ever so slightly. He had done the right thing, putting a stop to this… whatever it was between the young doctor and himself.

Wait. Was her mouth twitching?

“I didn’t mean like that,” she said. Then all amusement fled her. “I’ve just never felt…”

She closed her eyes, huffed, her cheeks turning pink again. He couldn’t blame her, he was feeling heat creep up his own neck and face. Their interactions always had been primarily light-hearted teasing and fiery exchanges. Deep discussions of feelings was not on his favorite things list, either.

“I think I could fall in love with you,” she said, her eyes finally daring to find his. She was so beautiful. Why did she have to be so beautiful, inside and out? So brave and strong and noble. So stubborn and mouthy. So Robinson.

“Oh, princess. I already love you.” The words were hard to get out, hard to say, and they emerged in a whisper he could barely hear himself. “But I love all of you stupid Robinsons. And I won’t do anything to hurt any of you.”

He jabbed the door control with his thumb. He needed to get out of there, away from her, the summer-breeze scent of her hair and skin, the consuming depth of her warm dark eyes, the pull of her kissable lips and smart mouth… 

“You wouldn’t hurt me,” she said. He turned to give her a bittersweet smile, finding her standing tall with her arms crossed in front of her chest, that adorable set to her jaw. A warrior through-and-through. “I’m tougher than you think. Even if things didn’t work out...”

“I know you’re tough, Judy. You’ll get over me in no time. But I can’t lose the Robinsons.”

Don West walked out the door. 

He’d done the right thing.

END. .... A/N: I actually hate criticisms of fictional (or real) relationships based on age differences. If they are two adults, then age is not what matters, not as much as compatibility, respect, etc. But at the same time, I would've been okay with Don & Judy just being friends, and wish TPTB had kept that teasing banter of theirs! My brain felt like putting a romantic-based reason for their shift in interaction in there. Maybe just to have fun with them, Judy as an aggressive partner (once she makes up her mind she wants him) and Don having to pull back because of his growing attachment to the whole clan.

#lost in space #fanfiction #fanfic #don west #judy robinson #don x judy #debbie the chicken #fix-it fic #lost in space season 2

[dropsofletters]

with a kiss, you’ll know

title: with a kiss, you’ll know pairing: lee taeyong/reader genre: writer!au/fan!au summary: taeyong likes to hide in the corner of the library, picking up his favorite romance novels and gushing about it in the silence of his privacy. however, there is this one writer that touches his heart in the most excellent of ways, and somehow, he feels like he is connected to this person. the problem? the author’s anonymity. type: fluff/angst

Once, she had a love so brief, it felt timeless.

Although, said person is as unknown as the planets in another galaxy, a representation of love just like Thais once was, and the main character of a story that is real life is none other than the man that sits at the very corner of the local library by the center of the city. Instead of sitting by the chairs and tables empty and ready to be stacked by books, like any other person would, he decides to take a spot near the romance section of the library. His knees are pressed against his chest, most of the time, cladded in jeans that show just how long his legs are. He wears thrifted clothing, like jackets that would be worn by people in the past but fashion always comes back. What is the most outstanding about him, however, is not the strange way he blushes as he walks towards the romance book section, but it is the fact that his reactions are priceless, probably the reason why writers would keep doing their jobs in the first place. He coos when a scene is adorable enough to warm his heart, already sensible although not shown often. His smile appears when he reads something funny, and he has gotten shushed by the librarian time and time again, although his wide eyes are enough to have him forgiven. Speaking of his eyes, they get teary sometimes when a scene is too profound, too bad to be real, so sad that it irks him that the book is so good.

Lee Taeyong enjoys literature, but he wasn’t always a book-freak. When he was younger, back in high school, he would have preferred a videogame over a book, but as he moved to his own place and bought decorations, he opted that a shelf full with color-coordinated books would be a great idea. He started learning that he loved reading, then, but he is too scared of horror books, and action books he is pickier about. What he has realized, however, is that he adores a good romance book. Not the type that has the cliché characters of a woman that needs a man to survive, and a man that needs a pure woman to change his outstanding ways of being a complete asshole. The books he reads, sometimes good and other times bad, have to indulge him in a storyline that makes him want to read more. Personally, he loves psychological thrillers mixed with romance, and there has been a few times that he has read erotica. Just for the sake of knowing what exactly it is about.

It only so happened that, as he was reading, a person passed by and looked at the title of the book—and of course, they just had to know what that book was about. A curious glance that looked more like awkwardness brought Taeyong to the mindset of never reading erotica again. Not that most authors do it well, anyways.

His friends do not know that the sweetheart that their friends is, Taeyong in this case, is a romance-book lover, but he goes as far as buying some of those books simply because he wants to read them again. He likes to believe that he is not one to seek for love, but the feeling that reading works about it leaves him is more of an obsession to him. Love is good in those books, most of the time, or at least it gives you a lesson. Seeing different points of view about a concept that is so widely known suddenly seems fitting—oddly enough, Taeyong thinks that every book shows just how exactly the authors perceive love, no matter how many romance novels they could, can and will have published.  

Some like to say love is the opposite of never, the companion of heartbreak or even going as far as saying that love is holding a person you love by their hand but never telling them how you truly feel. Taeyong has read so much that he doesn’t have a concept of love anymore—he’s impatient, that he knows, and a little bit jumpy. Cinema dates are not his thing, much less if a horror movie is playing in front of him, and he has a love affair with dinner dates in which he actually cooks dinner. With being impatient, comes Taeyong saying those three damned words before he should, or sometimes his mind doesn’t connect with the person he is dating.

Psychologically speaking, Taeyong reads romance novels because he is physically unable of projecting romance in a way that is not rushed. He lives in his teenage years where someone can mean his whole entire world. He gives entitlement to people who can take it to break his heart altogether, or simply to put it together.

This time around, Taeyong is sitting on the floor, a bag filled with hard candy on one side and strawberry milk by his other. One of his legs rests underneath his adjacent thigh, fingers dancing across his newest romance novel. The only problem is that this is not the first book he reads by this author; whose name is nothing more than a mere nickname—one that she has given to herself for some reason. Jupiter, like the planet, one that is ruled by intelligence and logic, but love is considered the opposite of that. While it is not the most perfect choice for a pen name, it definitely is not what has made her so famous and so loved inside his heart. The way of her words, not cliché at all, have captured his heart in webs of emotions he can never seem to get out of.

He is tranced by the way her words create kaleidoscopes of thoughts inside his head. She says enough, ramblings of words until the ending hits him as a surprise. Her analogies are satin, elegant and nice to the eye, but even more perfect with the mere touch. Her plots are oceans that show everything, but nothing at all—you’ll never know what’s the depth behind it, but you know that once you dive in a story, you won’t come back up until it’s finished. Taeyong munches on candy as he reads her first book, for his chronological order of reading her titles goes from newest to oldest, and he is lost, completely forgetting that there is life outside of that library.

The buzzing streets, the screamed words, the smell of delicious pastries or even a nice looking pair of legs is not enough to take Taeyong away from his books, much less Jupiter’s.

Part of his love for romance comes from how boring his life is outside of the library. Taeyong is a call center representative, with a voice made to be heard, but no one really asks about him. He lives his life creating love for others, in the form of moon cakes for his friends, or a song for his mother when Mother’s Day arrives. He falls in love too easily, and people enjoy his presence for the mere existence of his nice looking face, but very rarely does someone think:

I’ll love the good, and bad, side of Lee Taeyong. The insecure side, that bites down on his nails and expects acceptance from people. That one side of him that jumps up and down when he gets a compliment, but bathes on pouts when he spends a Sunday afternoon alone.

His body jumps when he hears the sound of someone’s shoes hitting the woodened floor harshly, cradling the romance novel to his chest as if it is his child. Taeyong looks with worried eyes, sparkly and big, to the person that almost fell to his knees, cursing under a soft breath about how awkward it is to make noise at a library. He is met by the sight of a teenager, tall and with plump lips, wearing his school’s uniform and holding what seems to be a girl’s purse. Someone calls his name, then, with a bubbly tone: “Jisung, did you find the book I asked for?”

Somewhere along the library, someone shushes her and Jisung widens his eyes before stuttering a small: “Y-Yes! Coming.” Once again, another hush hits his ears and this guy, clearly around his last year of school, flinches at the sound. He notices someone else is there, and Taeyong is equally as embarrassed as the young man, just for different reasons. Jisung is worried about the tint of his cheeks, the development of his crush, and the fact that he almost fell on his nose. Taeyong, on the other hand, is holding Jupiter’s first novel, clearly about love, and while he adores a good book—he doesn’t normally like to show that he surrounds himself in stacks of romance novels, hard candy, and sometimes any drink that keeps his sugar-high intact. “Uh, excuse me…” The guy, whose name is apparently Jisung, says. “Is this the textbook section? Preferably the geography section…?”

Taeyong doesn’t find the words in his throat, but he whispers. “I…don’t work here.” It’s audible enough for the two and then, he moves the book in his right hand a little bit to catch Jisung’s attention. “This is the romance book section.”

Jisung frowns. “Oh.”

Always one to help, however, Taeyong points to his left. “The section you’re looking for is right over there. Two bookshelves to the left.”

“Your left or my left?”

“Everyone’s left.”

“Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

And when the high school guy leaves, Taeyong releases a big breath. One day, he will be confident enough to show his love for romance movies, but until then…he will continue sucking on hard candy and reading his favorite author’s books. Over and over again.

❤️

Taeyong has had a good set of bad days in his lifetime. Some worse than others, some equally as bad, all terrible in their own ways.

Because there are enough dreams about his teeth falling off to remind him that he is pretty much the human equivalent of one of those stress balls people buy to fight anxiety. He’s soft hearted, used by people to relieve whatever they have inside them, but no one ever dares to question why Taeyong is so strong for everyone, so condescending, as if he wants the world to be alright and doesn’t mind how he really is. Sometimes, the world he creates comes crumbling down at his feet and all he can do is bite on his bottom lip so the tears don’t spill from his eyes. He sits down on his bed, hopes for a miracle, wishes that his mind is suddenly wrong about the idea of pessimism and that the next day becomes the brightest moment of his existence.

Yet, life is a set of good and bad, wrong and correct, like how a flower blooms to die eventually for the lack of water, and water could be evaporated from the earth years from now thanks to climate change, which is something that continues to develop thanks to the ignorance of human beings. Sometimes, he gets some good news—and then everything is crashed down with the reality that there only needs to exist one person to ruin someone’s day. Like how the world could still end thanks to a single person that continues to throw plastic bottles to the ground.

Taeyong’s life is full of plastic bottles. No, it’s a creator of oil refineries. He only brings more stress upon himself.

Half of his hair is sticking up to different places, his head is peacefully resting against the fluffiness of his pillows and the smell of a fresh bath bomb clings to his body. Be forgotten his skin routine that night, for he is too lost on his reading app to even care. It’s an application that he finds himself entering often whenever he needs to find a good new book, create a set of to-read list and buy some of the cheapest deals in books. The importance of this is that sometimes, and only sometimes, the authors make some type of forum to answer questions that are sent their ways—and Taeyong doesn’t pay much attention to that, until a notification comes from one of the profiles he visits often. Jupiter is having a Q&A session.

The new release of her book is coming up, and Taeyong is one of those people who has pre-ordered the beautifulness that are her words, but the idea of talking to the author that has been the only person that has accompanied him through his stress seems fitting. He wants to proclaim how thankful he is, how his bed seems fuller with her words, how his dreams are no longer ruled by demons but filled with the idea of happy endings—even when they are not expected, or when they are not really happy, but they are fitting and necessary. Her words are the blanket he had as a child, the kisses his mother gave him, the meals he ate throughout his life, that one first trip he had to Jeju.

And he’s having a bad day. Days like those are the equivalent of irrational decisions made from a mindset that speaks the idiom of ‘I’ll regret it if I don’t do this’.

He thinks of the most complex question that he has been thinking about. Her second book, to be exact, where the main narrator remained unknown but at the end of the book everyone could guess who it was. People would have different guesses, but instead of pointing out whom did he think was the protagonist that no one knew, he spoke about how intelligent it was of her to add a narration like that. He added paragraph after paragraph of how delicious her honey-like sentences were, how her analogies and the small details led someone to believe that each character was more than they were, or less that they showed. Taeyong types on his phone quickly, loving the way he remembers the most profound of parts in the book, and by the time he sends it, he thinks Jupiter must have stopped answering questions, but he got to say how thankful he was to her.

That’s enough for a moment.

Until Taeyong is stuffing his mouth with his favorite package of chocolate cookies, dipped in Nutella, hail his appetite of a four years old boy. His phone buzzes by his side, though the first thought that blinks inside his head is the fact that one of his friends must have texted him—or his big sister, probably asking how he’s doing. Out of curiosity, he takes his phone in his hands and pops his fingers inside his mouth before he smears the Nutella and chocolate over his screen. Once unlocked, he’s welcomed by the sight of Jupiter having responded to his question (long paragraph talking about how big of a fan he is, really) and he doesn’t know if his heart jumps, or his sternum ends up poking a whole on his chest or if feelings are just ephemeral and his nervous system is sending waves of happiness to his bursting smile.

“I have gotten a hundred comments, never one like yours.” She starts, and Taeyong sits back on his bed with utmost happiness. Something along the ways of life changes, twists, turns, creates a new environment as if a year had passed by in a mere second. Taeyong thinks that the power of words is bigger than any theory of the Big Bang could or will ever be. How many friendships haven’t been destroyed by words? Just like that, there are words that mend people, bring their pieces back together after a long day, and being that for the person that has done just that for him makes him feel special, in a way. “I will admit that I had a terrible day. Thank you, user Yong, for being the sweetest highlight of my day today.” And she finishes it off with a pretty and highlighted Jupiter, one that reminds Taeyong that she is anonymous—but she is a human being. For all he knows, she might be eating spicy noodles, or laying in bed, or working a nine to five office job and sneaking some free time to respond to questions. Even better, she could be writing his next favorite book.

Is it wrong of him to be interested in someone just from their form of portraying art alone?

It’s creepy, isn’t it?

It brings a smile to his face, however, and he presses his cheek to his palm with a sigh of his own. The night still feels heavy, his head is thumping, his heart is aching…and there are the leftovers of despair that brings a frown to his pretty features, but there is the buzzing excitement of getting to know something more about Jupiter. At the very end of her response, there is a contact e-mail left and Taeyong raises his eyebrows in surprise. The thought that runs through his head, stupid like a kid’s imagination, is to send her an e-mail with all the gratitude he feels towards her. And that he does, sighing in relief when he turns to look at the TV to spend the rest of his night in utmost relaxation. Or the closest thing he can get to it.

❤️

Sweets are one of the addictions that Lee Taeyong has—that doesn’t make his life any sweeter, or easier, but something within him makes him believe that the only way of changing a bitter day is having what he likes to call optimism and sometimes, it comes with some time to rest and think, but other times he changes retail therapy for something easier. A chocolate bar, or candy, or a book—or mangas, he likes those as well.  

But life holds comparison, and an antonym of Taeyong must be the librarian that works at his favorite library. Old and wearing a huge hat that covers his baldness, always sporting a frown on his face that someone needed to kiss—but Taeyong won’t, obviously. He should be taking advantage of the fast WIFI at the library, but instead he is looking at the e-mail address of the woman whom he continues to read books from. Not only books, pieces of art, intricate secrets of the world that no one gets to live.

Sometimes, Taeyong thinks that he wants to be part of a book.

He’s Lee Taeyong. He’s a romanticist, in love with love, but also in love with the idea of comic books and music. He loves technology, hates insecurity when it arises within him, and most importantly he loves a good night of internet searching. His first roommate was a guy whom he couldn’t get along with, and ever since then he doesn’t want to have a roommate. He’s the mother of his group of friends, and sometimes he feels like he’s that one character in books that no one really pays attention to. It’s stupid—how he feels like he is being looked at with her books, because her characters are never heroes. They are real people, with issues and problems, not witty sometimes, other times deeply shown with colors and highlights that make them interesting. Her power is that she sees boring people, like Taeyong considers himself to be, like the most interesting person in the world.

His fingers hover over the keyboard, teeth biting down on rosy lips coated in cherry chap-stick. His hair is brown and sticking around everywhere, fluffy and soft and with thick strands. His eyes itch, thanks to his posture and how he gets too close to the screen. He continues to look at his Gmail account, hoping that some ray of certainty hits him in the middle of the rain that is his day at that very moment, and he simply decides to speak about his day. He tells her that he is Lee Taeyong, that he loves her book and that he wanted to be a firefighter when he was younger. He talks about his day, most importantly, and once he finishes the e-mail, he notices just how stupid he must look.

This writer must be a person of power, with a pipe in between her fingers and fingers that have no imperfections as they type down on a keyboard. She must love French culture, and Spanish literature, and she probably dates a philosopher of sorts.

Why in the world did he think she would care about what he had to tell her?

He scratches the side of his face as he ponders on the fact that there is a person on the other end of the email, and that is not the biggest issue, the problem is that he doesn’t want to be ignored. Taeyong sighs, closing his eyes tightly as he presses his finger down on the ‘send’ button. It seems out of place, irrational, illogical, and Taeyong has made good and bad decisions in his life, but this one seems like it is outstanding on its own. He feels ashamed, but at the same time anxious, and he bites down on his bottom lip as he distracts himself with actual proper and useful things to do instead of daydreaming about a writer that is out of this world, just like her name.

Pluto is tiny. Venus is filled with love. Jupiter is big, meant to be noticed, with moons roaming around itself to show just how powerful it is. Sometimes, Taeyong thinks he is like the little prince from that one book he thinks he read once, the one that fell in love with a rose and was from the sky—but instead, he is in love with Jupiter. Outstanding, captivating, the only sight he could see now that he perceived it.

Is Taeyong Pluto, perhaps, seeing from far away to the big planet when he is even considered a star by some ignorant people?

Or is he a person that has gotten tired of the stars and wants something new?

Is he finally going crazy thanks to metaphors? Yeah, that’s possibly something that happened.

The sound of someone knocking on his door has him licking the leftovers of sugar that a gummy bear left on his fingers as he shouts at the top of his lungs for the visitor to wait. He makes sure that he looks presentable, running his fingers through his silky hair and cringing at the sticky feeling of his fingers that are covered in sweets. As he rushes to the door, he realizes his phone vibrates in the pocket of his sweatpants, but he doesn’t pay much attention to it. Instead, he receives the person on the other side of the wall by opening the barrier between them and he shares a smile. Toothy, small, it makes his eyes shine in a way that people rarely see.

Some people think Taeyong is scary, for some reason.

By his door is a woman by bangs, lips pouty and covered in red lip tint. Her hair is dark and long, eyes small and innocent. Taeyong knows who she is, the landlord’s daughter, Mihee, who would rather watch a hundred movies but a book is out of question. A film major that enjoys spending a few hours around the building that Taeyong lives at, totally different from how the man is right now. She doesn’t have to move a single finger to work, and yet she is still humble enough to greet him with a smile at times, cheeks dusted in a blush. Taeyong even feels a little bad, since it is quite clear that Mihee likes him—and had not she confessed that to Dongyoung when he had asked her out on a date, he would have never known. He rests his arm on his door, nodding his head as a greeting. “M-Mihee…it’s…it’s nice to see you here.” He breathes out an awkward laugh and his eyes trail down to the box in her hands. “Does your dad need me to pay rent a little bit earlier on the month this time? Because I don’t think I can—”

Looking over to the side, Mihee plays with her bottom lip by moving it between her teeth. “No...you can pay whenever.” She whispers and then, she pushes the box towards his arms. “I was buying some donuts for my dad and I decided to bring some for you…since I know you like sweets.”

How does she know? He has no idea, but what he does recognize is that he feels bad accepting such thing from a woman he does not feel anything for. Mihee is attractive, but he does not think he is at that point of his life where he wants a youthful, easy to comprehend, and lively woman. He wants…some mystery, something to have questions about. Someone, really. “Mihee, you shouldn’t have!” He starts. “I was having sweets just now, and I don’t want to get sugar-high so…you can have them.”

His phone vibrates once again and he cusses inside his head when Mihee insists: “Have them as breakfast, then.” She pushes the box once again and Taeyong finds himself pressed to the carton of the box, taking it in between his hands. “Please.”

Taeyong sighs, grinning after the action. “Alright. Thank you so much.”

“Anything for you.” And Taeyong wants to wince, but he doesn’t—because it is rare to see someone crush on someone so deeply. Crushes are that, dreams turned into imaginations that soon turn into disappointment, because putting someone on a pedestal is never good. Even Taeyong thinks that there is something a bit delusional about his love for Jupiter’s writings, but this is not about himself. “Uh, sorry.” She replies after noticing the silence that followed after that and Taeyong shakes his head.

“No, no.” He starts. “I’m flattered.”

Mihee’s eyes widen at that and Taeyong feels his heart clenching inside his chest. It feels wrong, to have someone falling in love with him—no, with the idea of him. Would she like him less or more if she saw him sprawled on his bed on his worst days, reading the stories of a woman that he doesn’t know, but he feels like he does? She would probably leave him on the spot. The more he thinks about his situation, the more embarrassing it gets. “Well, I shall get going. Dad said I had…to…do something. I don’t really remember.” She giggles and Taeyong gives her a tight lipped smile, lifting the box up a bit.

“Thanks for the donuts.”

“Thank you for your time.”

And then, with a bow, Mihee leaves, not forgetting to take a second glance at Taeyong and his lazy attire, black hair and gray pajamas. The man in question releases a sigh, placing the bag of donuts on his kitchen island and calling one of the numbers on his phone do have someone over to eat them. Maybe, Yoonoh hasn’t made dinner yet and he could have some donuts—since it is not good for Taeyong’s health to have that many sugar in his body. However, when he is unlocking his phone to text the first person that popped inside his head, he realizes he has an e-mail on his inbox.

Not only that.

An e-mail…from Jupiter.

Not the planet, definitely, but the orbit that has his mind roaming through the expenses of unreality. Part of himself thinks that daydreaming about someone is better than reality sometimes. He smiles, so happily that one would think he has never gone through hardship, and when he opens the e-mail, he is pleasantly surprised by the message. “Oh, you’re that one Yong user, right?! I remember you! Well, thank you…I didn’t think someone would like my stories all that much. It’s never too late to get a message like this, since you’ve made my day, too.” Taeyong wonders what type of voice does she have. Is her voice lightweight like a worrisome day with a nice grade and an excellent payment waiting at the end of the week? Or is her voice deep, meant to tell the world the most intelligent of eloquences to bathe it in knowledge? Sometimes, he thinks her voice might have the secrets of life, those deep hidden meanings that come with years of living in the hellhole that is the world.

He wants to believe that however she sounds, her words are beautiful. And he wants to hear her, read her, feel her in the form of words and paragraphs and sentences. Her aches might drop as a new book, but he wants to be the reminder that there can always be happy endings—or just a happy moment throughout hardship. It’s hard for him to believe that, as well. “Oh, Jupiter! You wouldn’t believe how much your writings have helped me.”

And almost as if they were texting, she replies immediately. “I would like to know. Tell me.”

“Do you have time?” He asks.

“My writer’s block is here to stay, so…yes, I have time.”

Taeyong did not know he needed to be heard, not listened to. He ached for a person to read his words and find meaning, just like how he found a world full of light in hers. He wanted life to suddenly have color, and she painted dots of white in his dull world. It’s tenderness at its finest, how he ends up having a midnight conversation that moves to the morning in flowing motions. It feels like he has known her forever, and he is no longer the kid that watches such a marvelous planet from a telescope—he’s there, with her, talking to her, making her feel less lonely when they are both alone. Two toys that finally found a home, not with a kid or a collector, but within themselves…with one another, better yet.

❤️

“Hey, Yong.”

Taeyong tries to pull his gaze away from the book at his hands, listen to the voice that is calling him, or the sound of boxes being opened around the library, but he is stuck in an old book to pass time. It is rainy outside, the utmost cause of his sudden change of mood, but he is also feeling a bit under the weather—suddenly the sky is gray, and his heart is shrinking for some reason. When he hears the pitter patter of someone walking closer, he does look up to the see the librarian in front of him. The older man frowns at the sight of Taeyong, almost lost in his sweater that is a few sizes too big for him, and with his hair covering his eyes slightly, those two orbs that looked at him with innocence, paired with parted lips in a pink shade. His fingers hold onto the book, nodding his head as he says: “Yes, Mister? Can I help you?”

The man fixes the hat on his head before clearing his throat. “Yes, you can.” He says excitedly before pointing with his thumb to the front of the library. “Some books have just arrived and one of the guys from my staff is sick, and since you’re such a good reader, I thought you could help me.” Taeyong stands up from the ground, mumbling some kind of acceptance to the librarian’s offer. “I’m sorry if I am bothering you. I never do this, but I’m short on hands and I can’t see well—”

“No. It’s alright.” Taeyong says, pressing the book back into its place before placing his hands inside the pockets of his jeans. “Lead the way, Sir.”

Anyone who gets the chance to meet Lee Taeyong thinks he is a man of good, that he has never stumbled in life, or ignored something important, or did something pointless. Sometimes, Taeyong is just like a piece of art—a sculpture, and he likes being praised, but there are people who can’t live with that. Those people are scared of being put in a pedestal, only to show that they do not shine in colors, that they are not what everyone expect. It is a thought that pops inside his brain when he realizes Jupiter’s pre-ordered books are being delivered to the library, signed for those who wanted to buy it, since she never shows her face…or shows anything, really.

He wants to take one of those books between his fingers, but one of the people there takes his wrist in between her fingers before sighing. “Excuse me, ah…those are not going to be organized yet.”

Taeyong looks over to the side, met with a woman that has her hair in a messy ponytail, wearing a sweater just as oversized as his, letting go of his skin the moment his eyes connect to hers. He must have hypnotized her in some way, looking over to the side in embarrassment, but he talks to her. After all, he is not stupid enough to stop talking to a pretty girl. “Uh, sorry.” He admits. “Want to tell me how to organize these book?”

“No.”

What?

“Sorry, did I make you uncomfortable?”

The woman in front of him nods her head, closing her eyes tightly. “Yes. Well, no! No…yes? I don’t know.”

Taeyong scowls at that. His heart aches and he lowers his head to place his face in her sight before raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean? I’m confused.”

She places one palm against her face, breathing lowly before replying. “Yong, it’s nothing.”

It takes him one second—no, two! It takes him two seconds to realize that she doesn’t work there, and that she came with the boxes filled with Jupiter’s newest release, most importantly, he realizes that said nickname is the one he uses for his e-mails when writing to Jupiter, a person that he has talked to a few times over the past few weeks. They have bonded over books and their love for them, what is good about their days and what isn’t so much. She must have noticed Taeyong’s change mentally as he takes a good glance at her. For what he can sense from her, she is as beautiful as her words are, and her pouty lips with her worried gaze only makes his heart jump the slightest.

“You’re Jupiter?” He whispers and she scoffs almost too quickly, as if she is falling to her knees with her lie. She takes her phone out of her bag, shaking her head as she looks at her texts. “Hey,” He speaks softly, nudging her side with his hand. “It’s okay. I won’t tell anyone. I’m such a big fan—”

“I’m not her.”

“Are you sure? You called me Yong.”

She shushes him, cursing in between her teeth and strangely enough, she looks like an angel when doing so. She gets closer to him, to the point people would think they know each other—but they kind of do, sincerely. “Not a word about this to anyone.”

Even though he doesn’t get a confession, it is as clear as water to know that she is Jupiter. “What’s your real name?” She rolls her eyes, looking at her phone once again and he realizes that she needs to look away when saying the truth. She had gotten so used to lying she can’t even look at people and say the truth straight to their faces. When she does say her name, however, Taeyong’s smile becomes as addicting as bourbon. “And…sorry if I am making you uncomf—”

“Taeyong, carry those boxes there, please!” She lets out a soft breath when she realizes she won’t have to continue talking to Taeyong straight to his face, although through words on an e-mail things seemed easier. However, the world is never on her side, and she hears her name being called by the librarian. “…And you should carry the limited versions with him! Since you know more about that as Jupiter’s publicist.”

So, Jupiter herself pretends to be her own publicist just to hide her truth? Or is she her own team just to keep her secret? She bites her bottom lip and tries to take the box with the rest of the limited versions, but Taeyong beats her to it, instead bending his waist to carry the two boxes. “I can do it on my own.”

“I know.” He adds in a chirpy tone before grinning. “But I want to help you.”

Nonetheless, there is a cost to letting Taeyong help her, and she knows it. She remains quiet as she holds her two hands together, feet kicking fake dust from the floor before taking a glance at him. Taeyong is like one of the characters in her books, with love in his eyes and curiousness in his lips. With too much to think, too much fabric to cut, just enough for someone who has wanted to have the world at her feet, but has only gotten to see how ants roam around her flooring.

“Why do you hide your identity?”

She doesn’t seem offended, but it shows that she is out of place. After she clears her throat, arranges her thoughts and prepares the truth, because lies are too easy to tell, she finally speaks. “I guess I’m scared…” That’s all she says, and Taeyong expects for her to continue, but she doesn’t. Of course, they are strangers, and Taeyong can only nod his head before placing the boxes down. He wants to continue asking, getting to know the reason why she hides herself when having so much talent, but instead, he comes up with nothing. “Your…e-mails do make me smile, though. I appreciate it.”

He beams at that. “Really?” He asks and then, he looks down at the stacks of books, arranging them on a table neatly, always one to love cleaning. “I mean every single word. Your…your stories have stuck to me through this year.”

She chuckles at that. “I agree with you.”

“That your stories are excellent?”

“No.” She says, placing with a book as she roams her fingers over it. “That this year fucking sucks.” She cusses and Taeyong shakes his head, chuckling at her words before taking a peek inside one of her books. The cover is rose gold and shines in the perfect light, but when she tuts her tongue, he stops his movements. “No. You’ll have buy one of these tomorrow.”

Taeyong takes his wallet out of his pocket, taking some money out of it. “I’m paying for it now.” He places the money on top of her hand, watching her surprised expression thanks to seeing someone being so…himself. He is not scared of showing his real colors. “Only if you add a special note on the first page.”

She takes something from the table, maybe a pen, because she clicks it soon after and then taps the object to her lips. “What kind of note?”

Taeyong shrugs, organizing and making himself noticeable with just his mere presence. “Whatever you want.” She takes a good glance at his side profile, jotting something down on the first page and then, tossing the book at Taeyong that barely catches it between his hands. He opens the book, watching her face for a moment before looking at what it says:

“I hope you find the peace you gave me when reading this book.”

The man smiles, pressing the book to his chest like how he used to hold the toys he was given on Christmas when he was a child. She doesn’t look at him, too busy organizing, but if she did, her heart would have probably burst at the mere sight. “Thank you.”

“Thank me with some help arranging this.”

“Okay.” He says but when he starts working, he can’t help but start asking her questions. “On your second book, the character…wait, I know his name…he’s in the background but—”

Absentmindedly, he makes her day. For the first time in her life, she feels accepted by someone.

❤️

Neutral is a feeling, too, even when people do not confess it. You can feel neutral about a show, for example, not like it but also not hate it. You can have a neutral day, where cereal doesn’t taste well, and your clothes are just not nice looking enough—but they are not bad, also. That is exactly how Taeyong feels when it snows; the time where raindrops turn into snowflakes slowly but surely. He likes to wear thick clothing and big coats, but he hates having to clean after the rain, and he despises shivering at the mere touch of his feet against the flooring early in the morning. His fingers skim over the cup of black coffee he is holding in his hands, the plastic cup seeping its warmth to his skin. His eyes occasionally roam around the place, looking for his sister and his niece, whom had brought him to that park just to play with them.

If nodding his head to whatever his niece tells him and buying her gummy bears against his sister’s will counts as playing, though, that is a subject for people to judge.

But he does not really feel like playing, just like how he does not feel like staying at his apartment doing absolutely nothing but reading. He is the sand, between the water’s coldness and the sun’s hotness. No, he is the crab that walks around; perceiving, protecting himself, but also being vulnerable to people’s touch.

The material of his gray coat matches his bright blue turtleneck, and the fabric of his dark jeans. His dark hair is sleeked back, and he can feel a few glances of people looking at him. His sister is cheerily playing with her daughter, and he is sitting by a bench holding an insane amount of Barbie dolls and sweets. It is at that moment that he starts people watching, and he almost imagines stories for every person. A couple that falls in love, for example, right by one of the benches, when in reality they are just two students trying to take pictures for a project. It is weird, how books have changed his life, to the point he sees it differently.

Definitely from a better perspective, of course.

Sometimes, he writes letters to his favorite writer—Jupiter, that is no longer a planet but a star, a constellation that if he tries hard enough, he can reach. There had been a man in the moon, so he can touch the sky if that is what he so desperately pleases. And she, always (and this is not an exaggeration), always responds. Sometimes, it is a mix of words in between the lines of “Sorry, I can’t talk at the moment. I’m writing.” And other times, they talk about everything and anything.

He has gotten to know meaningless yet interesting things about her—like her favorite color, and how she can’t ever pick just one; or that one movie that she cries whenever she watches. Furthermore, she has said profound things about herself, as well, and Taeyong has spilled a few things about his heart, too.

Like how her first book is based on her first heartbreak.

And how Taeyong thinks he has loved many people, but he believes no one has loved him. At least, not the romantic type of love people talk about in books.

Soon after, she makes him feel better, telling him that there is no book that is not at least a little bit based on fiction, so to base something so carnal and emotional on some writing is lame. Taeyong, however, argues that every book has a little bit of reality, and that leads to another conversation.

Finally, she has someone to talk about her reality with.

But she still hides, just like how when she gave him her number through an e-mail, she said she did not want him to call her (“I prefer writing,” she said, “I feel like my voice is annoying.”), but she would never believe that Taeyong both loved listening to her and also, reading her. It is an unusual use of words, combination of a verb and a person that might sound either really stupid or insanely creepy, but reading her is nothing more than seeing her truest soul through words. Every lie has its reality, or so he believes, but he is proud of saying that he thinks his favorite author is not lying to him.

Giving her peace, that is somehow the main reason why he believes she is being truthful.

Taeyong jumps slightly when he hears the sound of something falling to the floor, although it touches the snow and the sound is not as hard as it should. The person who let their phone fall curses quite audibly, kneeling down and taking the device in between her hands, unlocking it and checking it was fine, using her sleeve to wipe off the snow from the very front of the screen. Taeyong acts upon his slight innocence, not the type of innocence that everyone would think about, but the one that keeps him looking at the world as if it was beautiful, when in reality there are terrible things about it.

“Is your phone okay?” And when said woman looks at him to respond, he realizes that cladded on a hoodie and a coat over it is the author he is always thinking about. A smile spreads across his face, like butter on bread, and her eyes widen at the mere sight of him.

“Yes.” She replies, standing up from the freezing ground with white spots on her jeans, specifically where her knees are. Her fingers fiddle with her one, passing it from one hand to other, and she swings back and forth as a way of distracting herself. “It’s fine. It’s nothing—”

“Be careful.” Taeyong says and it shouldn’t feel warm, because it is damn freezing at the very moment, but there is something about his voice that calms her down. No, there is something about Taeyong that translates to summer mornings, for some reason. He interlocks his hands behind his back and with a mere smile, he continues his train of thought: “Wouldn’t want my favorite person to have a broken phone.”

She squints her eyes. “That’s such a weird sentence…” She whispers before clearing her throat. Her eyes widen, because he had not just said that she is his favorite person. Taeyong could have easily picked Cervantes, a writer, or George Washington or maybe…Lee Minho, that most definitely has everyone eating from the palm of his hand after every drama, but he picked her. “W-Wait…you meant to say favorite author, correct?”

Taeyong shakes his head, his cheeks burning in color just like his nose that makes him sniffle continuously thanks to the coldness of the day. “I said what I said.”

She chuckles at that. “You’re crazy.” She starts. “We have only talked through e-mails.”

Taking the opportunity of hearing her admit that she is the author Jupiter, something that she doesn’t do often even when he asks her through e-mails, he presses his index finger to her shoulder momentarily as a grin appears on his face. “So you are not Jupiter’s publicist?”

In reality, she has a publicist—an old man that takes her word on the fact that she is going to represent him physically when she goes to libraries or book signings, since no one would know she is actually the author a lot of people have looked up to for the last three years. She has two best sellers, a nice amount of New York Times’ mentions, and most importantly, a few awards that she keeps hidden in boxes because she never tells anyone about her real job. To anyone that asks, she is a publicist. “You already know the answer.” She bites back and then, she kneels down to grab a handful of now.

“What—?” And then, Taeyong feels it, the snowball that hits his chest and has him gasping. She gives him a smile like a child’s, showing just how interesting she finds the situation to be, and with a mere smirk, he retorts with a snowball thrown her way, as well.

“Hey, don’t me mean!”

“You threw a snowball at me, too!”

“Sorry, my hand slipped.” She comments and Taeyong can’t help but laugh, watching her red-colored lips and the beanie that covers her head. He can’t help but find her beautiful, because he has gotten to know her—even through letters on a screen, or on a piece of paper, or just in person. They don’t know each other, but Taeyong thinks romanticism is better when he is blind, sighted by the beauty of life.

“Uh…do you have something to do right now?” Taeyong asks and she answers:

“I’m free, actually.” But he can tell that it will take her a long while to ever open up to him, or anyone for that matter, because (as he has thought plenty of times before), she is nothing more than a lie—and he wants to see the truth inside her. “Why…?” And she has written a hundred of love scenes, like burglars that find love in non-existent shadows, or maybe love triangles between the guardians of a king, but she has never imagined stories that can be developed in real life. Mediocrity at its finest, that is how she would describe her romantic life, but maybe someone could change that. “You aren’t busy?”

“I’m here with my sister and her daughter, but they aren’t paying attention to me so…” He trails his voice, biting his bottom lip and fluttering his dark eyelashes before lending his bent arm at her, his hand hidden at the depth of his pocket. She hesitates, looking at his arm when he says: “Let’s find some street food around here, and stuff our faces with some grease. How about that?”

She scoffs, because romance is not supposed to be like this. He should be dramatic, or maybe even invite her to some coffee, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “Lead the way.”

“What kind of food do you like?”

She’s like a fruit that he tries to peel, but with every bit of skin that he gets to see, there is another part covering it. She has layers, ones that Taeyong doubts he can get through…but he has never been one to think of that as something bad. After all, the best of books tend to be longer than most ones…and what is so wrong about a few hundred more pages to read, just to get to the perfect ending?

❤️

“So, are you okay with finally telling me why you’ve never shown yourself off to the public after becoming so successful?”

It is not common to see her at the library, and he is always there, but life seems to make do with whatever moment they can have together, working with a friend called ‘coincidence’ just to get a meeting from two people who only talk online, or through the phone (because, finally, Taeyong can text her or call her if needed). This time around, she is signing some new prints of her book, because her latest project had been excellently received in that library—no, around the city and the country itself, and to keep it a secret, she does it at the very corner of the library, when the place is about to close down and students are too occupied on not falling asleep on their notebooks to even pay attention to some anonymous writer. Taeyong, on the other hand, has already finished his book of the day, and he is helping the librarian by dusting some of the old history books by the shelves. To be honest, people rarely read those by now…

For a moment, he does not get an answer from the author, and he thinks that he will remained bothered with an unanswered question, but she lets out a sigh that lets him know there is going to be a sentence coming soon after. And indeed, she speaks up. “I told you before,” She starts. “That I’m scared.”

He pouts his lips, turning around with a book pressed to his chest before mumbling—really, that is all they can do in that library—. “Why? You’re so talented. You shouldn’t feel scared!”

Sometimes what we don’t see is what scares us the most. What we don’t live, what we can’t perceive, what we can’t touch. No one ever says that intrigue is also pain, that when they unite they create the worst of mixes, and she knows this. She bites down on her bottom lip, dismissing what he says with a movement of her hand before continuing with her signings. “Thank you. You’ve told me that already.” Although, she never gets tired of hearing him say it. Or anyone, for that matter. Yet, Taeyong makes it sound special each time. “And don’t be so curious about things. That’s not good.”

Taeyong moves towards her quickly, settling himself on the seat in front of her at the table. “But—” He initiates. “We’ve known each other for a month…maybe a little bit more. I would guess you’d want to give me that little bit of information, since I am your only fan that knows your true identity.”

“I still haven’t told you if I am Jupiter.”

He widens his eyes comically. “It’s obvious!”

“…Either way,” She breathes out, clicking on her pen and leaning back on her chair. “Don’t call yourself a fan either. I’m not a person you should look up to.”

“What?” He asks in a whisper before resting both of his hands on his cheeks, pushing them together slightly but absentmindedly. “You don’t even notice how powerful you are?! Not only in writing, no.” The way he talks about her doesn’t give her a sense of comfort, it brings her fear…not knowing if she would live up to the expectation Taeyong has for her. “In everything. You’re beautiful, and intelligent, and definitely mysterious and creative. Not only that, but you also like the same sweets as me…and love replying to my stupid ramblings…” His voice gets lower as he pulls on the sleeve of his sweat, suddenly becoming shy at the mere thought of saying all those things in front of her. Taeyong doesn’t know how to call what he feels for her, or that if he would give it a name at all, but the mark that her art and her persona have left on him is timeless. “…I just want to know.”

She realizes that enough is enough, and that she wants to be bared of her fears only for the slightest of seconds. Nonetheless, she hesitates to speak about what troubles her, whatever it is that keeps her from being truthful to herself—or the world, for that matter. “I’m scared of being judged.” She starts. “Not for my writing, I want to be judged as an artist…but people are mean in this world. What happens when people I know in real life judge me? Or if I suddenly fail and people watched me do so?” She lowers her voice when she realizes she got a little bit into it. Her hands close the book she had been signing harshly before releasing a big sigh. “This is stupid. I shouldn’t be pouring my insecurities on you—”

The world switches, and Taeyong is suddenly brave, and there is water in between them instead of a huge brick wall. His fingers reach for hers, delicately tracing the outline of the veins that pop out of her hands, resting his palm in an engulfing manner just on top of the back of her hand and when he looks into her eyes, he sees the surprise in them, because she has definitely written a hundred stories about encounters like that one, or having a person that understood a character in such a way…but could something like that exist in real life? “No.” He wraps the word cutely around his lips, like a present just for her. “I want to hear them, because you never talk to anyone about these things…and it’s good to get it out of your chest.”

But he could always hurt her and spill her secret to everyone if something ever went wrong. “I’ll be fine—”

“I know you will.” Taeyong says, his soft skin and thin lips shining with just one glance. She swallows thickly, seeing how he suddenly becomes a prince right in front of her eyes. “But…even if you decide to stay anonymous, just know that there are people like me who will accept you. Maybe, don’t go public to your writers…but tell the closest people in your life. Don’t feel ashamed of liking something and making a living out of it.”

Whether she feels like crying or not, bawling her hands and clinging to his chest just to pour all her emotions out, or not, is not perceivable. However, she stacks the books together, patting them against the table before standing up. All she says is: “Thank you.” But it weights as much as a bus, and Taeyong is not a weightlifter—it downs him, makes his heart race, presses him to the floor because he has done something for someone he cares about. He has taken a layer off the igloo, and that has to be something. She goes around the table, pressing a kiss to his cheek and stumbling over her words soon after. “I, uh…I have to go deliver these now and find something to eat…”

Taeyong smiles, tilting his head to the side to look into her eyes. “Yeah?” He asks dreamily, his skin tingling, his mind burning, his heart set ablaze because he is making her nervous. Progress is what he calls it.

She nods her head. “Uh-huh.”

Taeyong moves his face, pressing a kiss to her cheek in return of hers, and he smiles toothily when she gazes at him with impression on her face. “Make sure to send me a text when you get to eat, okay?”

With a gaze full of tenderness, she hums in approval. Of Taeyong, or of the situation, but she is content for the slightest moment.

❤️

Mihee isn’t supposed to be there. At the library, his meeting place with the woman that starts to feel like a dream, because she is more the illumination of his screen late at night that dries his eyes that a palpable being that he gets to see outside of the library. However, Taeyong had been carrying a big amount of plastic plates, spoons and forks, as well as some boxes filled with his favorite meals and pastries—all prepared by himself—for the little lunch break that he is planning, all in commemoration of having one of ‘Jupiter’s’ books going out of stock after only two months of being released, a best seller at its truest form. He needed some helping hands, and Mihee is always there for Taeyong.

Sure, it sounds fucked up, to have the person that likes him help him get the person he likes, but that is just a big slice of the cake that is life.

“Yong?” Mihee asks in her soft voice, turning around with sweater paws covering her hands and sweetness coating her eyes as she holds onto some empty bag. “Why are you preparing all this?”

Someone would say he’s crazy. Others would say he is a romanticist. Taeyong, however, thinks he is just being optimistic about his whole ordeal with his crush. It is like he has a brick wall in front of him, and he is driving a Maserati, and instead of stopping on his tracks to not crash, he goes full force into what is her life, and sometimes he feels left out, but by scraping the slightest part of her personality, he gets to see a glimpse of the real her. That, of course, is not something that he should tell Mihee, the woman that basically second-hand owns his apartment—or the building he lives in, per say—and that crushes on him madly ever since months ago…or years. ��A friend of mine finished a project and it was successful…so we’re basically celebrating.”

Mihee is not stupid and she squints her eyes out of suspicion. “At a library?”

“Well, she likes books.” Taeyong admits and Mihee’s vibe falters at that, hunching over and playing with her hands as Taeyong continues with the finishing touches.

“So they’re a she…”

“And?”

The woman in question widens her eyes at that. “N-Nothing!”

But Taeyong recognizes what she feels: raw jealousy that fades into discomfort. He tries not to make her feel bad, instead patting his hand against her back as a way of comforting her. “Thank you for helping me out. I appreciate it.”

And instead of breaking hearts, Taeyong mends Mihee’s back together with a smile, as if that is enough to count as love. He understands her, strangely, because he feels the same for the author that has taken his breath away through words, and then with her beauty, finally with her personality, but her emotions have been nothing more than a hazy picture for Taeyong to figure out. Sometimes, he feels like their conversations are deep in flirting, and that their getaways are dates—but other times, she closes down once again, emanated by fear, and Taeyong is left with the same feelings he had at the beginning. She exists, but she is untouchable.

People say they love the moon, but they don’t love how far away it is.

Is it normal that he wants to continue, even when she gets further away?

Her pseudonym says it: Jupiter. A planet far, far away.

“Anytime!” Mihee adds with a smile, beaming with happiness until they hear the sound of someone tripping with a chair. Taeyong turns to look at the source of noise, and Mihee seems to do as well, noticing that the woman he had prepared all those meals for is standing right there, holding onto the edge of a table before smiling weakly.

“You’re here—”

“Ah, yes…you kind of told me I had to come here.” She replies, waving weakly at the woman beside Taeyong before widening her eyes at him, wearing a fake smile that has Taeyong’s wondering what she thinks of the situation. “I…” She scratches the side of her head, chuckling  a little bit at her silence. “What were you planning exactly?”

“Since your project got so much praise and love…I wanted to celebrate.” But it is not Taeyong and her celebrating, like it had always been, there is someone else in the room and the secret of her job is still a subject that shall remain in between two people. She grits her teeth together, watching the plates and the food, the nice smell that lingers on the air, the small table at the edge of the library decorated with a sign that says ‘congratulations’ and if only it had been Taeyong there, alone, she would have loved the surprise…but he is accompanied by someone, and there is a gush of something that radiates deep within her. “This is my friend, Mihee. Mihee, she’s—”

She takes her phone out of her pocket, pretending that it is vibrating before putting it up to her ear. “Yeah, I am getting a call…Hello?” Taeyong knows it’s a lie and she tries not to cringe at the sound of her voice, but the way she closes her eyes tightly lets him know that she is trying to run away once again.

“Hey, cut it off.” Taeyong says, more like whispers, as he gets closer to her. She watches his eyes as he gently takes her by the wrist, his gaze showing nothing more than disillusionment. “Nothing bad will happen. Don’t act like this.” Mihee does not listen to their conversation, and Taeyong is too close. She realizes then that getting close to him, a stranger that adores Jupiter—her pseudonym—, is not what she should be doing. Jupiter is a version of herself that is not afraid of judgement or everything that surrounds her, and a mistake from her part could lead to Taeyong telling her secret. Most of the time, she feels like she can trust him—but Taeyong is innocent, he believes in people like Mihee, he trusts that the world is a bone with its head and its body, it’s never broken…and for some reason, she can’t see that part of life. “Can we just sit down and eat and celebrate?”

“Oh, yeah, Boss…I-I did not know…you needed me there. I’ll be on my way.” She pretends she is on the phone, looking straight into Taeyong’s black eyes before putting her phone down. “I can’t stay.”

“I didn’t say a single thing. You’re overreacting.”

She leans closer to Taeyong, until she can count every hair in his eyelashes, fine and soft. Then, she mumbles: “I’m sorry. I can’t risk having someone else around us…that’s not…what I want.” Or maybe, she just realizes Taeyong is not a loner like she is, and sometimes she feels like they are in their own bubble—only the two of them—and it is ridiculous and egotistical of her to want to keep him in her lie filled, fearful life. “But I can take the food with me.”

Taeyong pulls away, taking the plates in his hands and giving them to her before sighing. “If that’s what you want…” She bites on her bottom lip, because it is not what she wants, but it is what she feels like she needs. Mouthing a small ‘thank you’ and saying a ‘nice to meet you’ to Mihee, she gets out of the library in a rush, leaving Taeyong with his heart in his sleeve, and his lips pouty out of…anger? Sadness, maybe?

Mihee whistles. “Your friend is busy.”

Taeyong looks to the side, pondering if he should feel angry at himself for bringing Mihee over or because the woman that just left is in absolute denial of her talents and how they are powerful enough to be shown to the world. “She is.” He confirms, crossing his arms over his chest before sighing. “Want to eat the leftovers?”

And Mihee’s eyes shine with the idea of a love affair that doesn’t exist.

❤️

“Jo In-Sung what?!”

She does have friends, ones that don’t know about her identity as nothing more than the best-seller, romance author Jupiter, but Taeyong is the closest person that she dares to call a friend to which she can talk about her success as a writer. Earlier that month, she had been contacted to be told that her first book was going to be bought to be turned into a movie. That morning, however, she received an invitation to attend the first recording of the first scene of the movie. Turns out, Jo In-Sung, in all his famous actor glory, was going to be the main character of said movie—and of course, she had to deny it as Jupiter. Not that she couldn’t attend as Jupiter’s publicist. “The Jo In-Sung is going to be the male lead of the movie based on my book and I get to meet him as Jupiter’s publicist.”

Taeyong scoffs, because she is the author herself and even when something as big as that opportunity arrives at her doorstep, she can’t open the door to reality. “We should celebrate!”

She bites down on her bottom lip, pressing her phone to her ear and continuing with responding to e-mails. “With your friend there?”

The encounter with Mihee at the library had passed a few weeks ago, yet, she could not let go of it and that caused Taeyong to roll his eyes. “Nope. Just you and me and my favorite restaurant, and a beautiful sunset if that’s what you want.”

And a sunset and a pretty man do sound like the best idea she has had so far, but when Taeyong parks in front of the restaurant that he had been bragging about, elegant and with gourmet dishes that aren’t the size of a toe-nail, she feels absolute fear. The fabric of her dress hugs her body nicely, with a heart-shaped neckline that falls off her shoulders and creates the shape of an elegant woman, but that is not the look she wants to have when she dies…because if she ever gets to the highest floor of that building, she will totally pass out along the way. Taeyong said the restaurant was a little bit high, so she thought a second floor or a third…not a thirteenth floor.

“Oh no, I’m not going up there.” She says after she gets out of the car, holding tightly onto her purse. Taeyong moves over so he is standing in front of her, wearing a white button down and trousers in typical elegant fashion. He runs his fingers through his dark locks, the silky strands falling back onto his forehead, and he sighs at the sound of her voice. Dramatics are on her tone, something that comes with writing so many books in the lines of romance. “Next week, I am meeting one of the most loved actors of the country, and I am not getting up there. Jo In-Sung is waiting for me.”

“For Jupiter, you mean. We agreed that you’re not Jupiter, right?” Taeyong asks in a sarcastic manner and she rolls her eyes. The man smiles gleefully, taking her hand in his and trapping her fingers in between his before giving a soft kiss to the back of her hand. “It’s just an elevator and then some big glassy windows. I have come here before and nothing will happen to you.”

“I’m scared of heights; can’t you tell?”

Taeyong nods his head. “And I understand.” He admits. “But we can’t let your fears get the best of you. You already fear so many things.”

And while she complains about how she does not along the way, holding Taeyong closely to her body, she knows he is correct.

She can say a lot about herself; how she fears heights and ants, failure but at the same time utter success. She thinks fears, as you get older, become miniscule or invisible—to the point big monsters don’t scare you anymore, but what can’t be seen seems like a more fitted nightmare. Sometimes, she wishes her life would not be guided by her fears, that she could be like Taeyong: willing to fall into the hands of life like a leaf from an Autumn tree. She has never trusted life, however, because whenever she falls, it is face first on the floor and it hurts her. She does not want to be hurt, or judged for falling.

Her eyes are closed tightly when the doors of the elevators open and Taeyong chuckles before wrapping an arm around her waist, letting go of her hand but feeling her fingers reach for his biceps to grip onto something. “We’re here.” He whispers, near her face to the point she smells his scent, and when she opens her eyes they are greeted by the sight of an elegant restaurant. Dark carpet with a tone of brown, walls that are made out of glassy windows and a skyline that deserves its own book. “See? Little by little, step by step…you can get over your fears.”

Only if he is there, but she won’t say that. “I doubt it.”

“Why?” Taeyong asks, after they are leaded to their table, that is—and she remember that Taeyong said that he has a friend working there that helped him get some reservations at the last minute.

Once she sits down, she answers. “My fears are already part of me.”

“You said it! Part, not entirely you.”

Dear, lovely, adored Taeyong, that sees life like something easy…when it is not. She smacks her lips together, looks into his eyes and hopes that she could let go of what she is scared of, but it is too late for her. “I am paranoid. I have got to settle with that.”

“You can change, if you want to.”

She looks over to the menu, ignoring what he said as she starts: “What did you say was your favorite dish—?”

Taeyong’s feet gently taps her calf under the table as he whines. “Don’t ignore the topic.”

“I’m hungry.”

“But—”

“Hungry, I said.”

With a kiss, you’ll know if love is real. That is a part of her first book, and she thinks she was full of bullshit when she wrote it, maybe she had been thinking about something that sounded profound but was not really, but now that she is a few years older and she has Taeyong in front of her, she thinks she really was wrong. When love is felt without a kiss, it aches a hundred times more, it makes your problems fluttering butterflies and every date becomes a set of words that you can’t wait to read. She wishes she could kiss Taeyong, tell him about the space he has earned inside his heart, but she can’t.

She doesn’t want to make him go through the hassle of loving her.

She is complicated, like how she takes too long to pick what she wants to eat and how she laughs a little too loudly at his jokes. They share smiles and conversations after eating, even when they are just looking at the sunset, and all that she can think about is the end—not because she wants the closure of the date, or of their friendship, whatever had blossomed between them in the past few months, but because she is visibly and mentally scared of how things end. When someone told her that nothing lasts forever, she took it to heart.

But Taeyong is sweet, like everything she never had, and with a simple movement of his chair, he is seated by her side, not caring if people look at him, listening to her every word and ounce of pride she has for herself, because a movie deal is a lot of money, and her book is being recognized to a bigger extent. His fingers reach for her hair, tucking the strands behind her ears and trailing his fingers down to touch her long golden earrings. He grabs her jaw, his lips quirking into a soft smile as he says: “I am proud of you. Not of Jupiter, but of you.” And it means a lot, because Jupiter had always been more powerful, but there is someone that liked her. Not a planet, or a writer, but her.

She holds his wrist in between her fingers, widening her eyes and fluttering her eyelashes up at him. “Say that again.”

Taeyong chuckles at that. “What if I say something better?”

She continues his laughter. “I don’t think there is something better than that.”

“Mhm?” He hums before leaning forward, his breath ghosting over hers as he looks from her eyes to her lips, creating a set of dots—constellations that he unites into his own zodiac. “I like you.”

When he kisses her, at the almost empty restaurant that is about to get packed in an hour or so—since it was too early to have dinner—, he does it so softly that it feels like she is made of stars. His lips press to hers delicately at first, the thin skin coated in her lip-gloss in the matter of seconds. His hand travels down to her jaw, his touch warm as it seeps through her skin. He tilts his head to the left, and she wishes she could open her eyes just to look at his blissed expression, at the way he lets out a soft sound against her lips when he opens his mouth the slightest to let the tip of his tongue touch the surface of her lips. She invites him in, or more like her body does without asking her mind, letting her hands fall to his knees, wanting to be closer but making it impossible in the uncomfortable position. The sound of their lips joined together ends too quickly, pulling away to watch Taeyong lick his lips with his eyes closed, letting out a smile that means the whole word to her.

With a kiss, she knew she loved him.

But with doubt, she knew she would never tell him.

❤️

Do you remember the first lie you told?

She doesn’t, but she remembers the last. It was on a Sunday afternoon, seated on top of Taeyong’s car, swinging her legs with the man beside her serving as leverage, her head resting on his shoulder. Taeyong’s fingers are on her thigh, and he talks about how excited he is for the little sneak-peaks he got to see when he went to see the recording of the movie with her. His voice is lightweight, filled with energy, and sometimes she wishes she could tell him how much she loves it, or how she never wants to have his heart broken by anyone…but then she is reminded that she fears the end of it all, and the least she wants is to be able to recognize that she fell for him and then have it taken away from her.

“One day, you will finally reveal yourself as Jupiter. I know so.” Taeyong says with excitement, shaking his head and smiling up at the stars. She, however, can’t imagine such day and his thoughts of her being successful are always the main source of their arguing. Writing is not supposed to be a job, so it is logical of her to think that it won’t last—

But will they last? “I don’t think so.” She says, stopping the movement of her legs before cupping his cheek, making him turn towards her as she looks at his face. Sometimes, she thinks the easier option is just breaking everything up with him, but she does not want to lose him. All she knows is that Lee Taeyong should be the definition of forever. Taeyong whines, blushing because of her gaze.

“You’re so stubborn.”

“I am not.” And there’s a lie, but Taeyong only smiles through it, leaning in to the point her back is pressed to the car’s hood, his fingers resting on her waist before kissing her lips. As always, Taeyong takes his precious time and when he deepens the kiss, it is unexpected. Only that every time he kisses her, she wishes he can feel what she never says—I love you. I like you. Please, never leave.

With a kiss, they make a brief love timeless, and even when someday it will end…a kiss is all they need to make it better.

#taeyong scenarios #taeyong #nct scenarios #nct #kpop scenarios #writing #nct fluff #nct angst #taeyong fluff #taeyong angst #nct au #taeyong au #anonymous writer!reader #fan!taeyong #unrequited love!au #ish? #not really??? #i hope you like it #tumblr doesn't let me add my breaks so i added hearts #bc strangely enough i like this #so #tell me your opinions!!!

[brunhiddensmusings]

Tell me more about this conspiracy theory about dragonball as a retelling of journey to the west please

okay, some of this is pretty surface level to the point its just face value but also just more ignored then denied firstly, i must establish ‘journey to the west’ to those not familliar with it- its a 2000+ page long chinese novel from the ming dynasty, like 1600 if i recall, but odd because it focuses on a buddist mindset in a time when china still considered buddism to be a foreign influence. the author uses fairly large sections to critisize the other contemporary options to buddism such as daoism (for being largely unconcerned with helping people or betterment) and confucianism (for being rigid to the point it cant adapt and promote extremely bloated beaurocracies incapable of doing much) as well as to extoll the upsides of budism (namely magic powers) and how badass demons are journey to the west is notable for being the origin of about 80% of all anime tropes and over a dozen anime and videogames are directly based on it son goku, unsurprisingly, is pretty much a dirrect anlouge for son wukong, the magical stone monkey king that was born with laser eyes spends the first 7 chapters becoming about (i lost count) 8+ kinds of immortal, learning how to shapeshift and fly from an old hermit monk, and pissing off most gods of any note and the entire bureaucracies of both heaven AND hell. as i said, this is face value to the point its pretty open

son wukong’s identifying features including a size-changing 8 ton iron staff, being pretty much indestructible even to major gods, being extremely impulsive and moderately arrogant, flight, and pretty much openly admits he has probably eaten some people. this should sound familiar however he is not the main character, Buddha himself buries him under a mountain (which has a magic seal on top because a regular mountain wouldnt be heavy enough to hold him) to try and teach him some humility (which fails) saying he needs to wait untill someone frees him in which case he will be endebted to and be the servant of said free-er. while we progress to the ACTUAL protagonist of the story a bald monk named Tang Sanzang is in fact the central charachter, although his name has been interpereted several ways including Tripiṭaka (also the name of the baskets of scrolls hes supposed to carry). the big B entasks he of the shiny head with the task of journeying from china to india to pick up said sacred scriptures so holy they can redeem anyone and then bring them back to filthy filthy china thats badly in need of these ‘morals’ things people keep talking about. but this is where you start to get a lot of ‘wait, that sounds familiar’ when i describe things like ‘bald monk’ and the adventures cueball the magical is going to go on with his companions of anime

because almost immediately after freeing son wukong from the magic mountain of sityerassdown and putting a magic circlet on his head that causes him great pain when baldy says a prayer to keep him in line (yes this is where inuyasha gets the ‘sit’ necklace) they come across a SHAPESHIFTING PIG DEMON who turns out inst all that bad a guy its just that his new wife is very upset because she thought she was marrying a handsome bishounen despite admitting hes a dilligent worker and treats her well because hes seeking attonement for having eaten people after being kicked out of heaven (where he used to actually be a bishounen in the celestial army) for hitting on women. yet another case of DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR

and i just now realize why he was wearing the chinese military officers uniform or at least would sound familiar to people who watched the original ‘dragonball’ and not just DBZ where oolong and the 50 other characters who were all established to be quite powerful when used cleverly were all relegated soely to be sideline cheer squad and ‘hey, remember these guys, from back when this wasnt the kiss goku’s butt show’- which is the point here following the original journey to the west story you started with the magical monkey shenanigans (check) then he learns from hermit (check) how to fly (check) and shapeshift (i guess they thought he was powerful enough without it despite it being one of his major go-to solutions in the story but i get that they already established thats a power someone else had so i understand leaving it out narratively) battling demons, gods, and pissing off the kings of hell and the emperor of heaven (check) and then gets humiliated by Buddha (absent, again i understand leaving this out for narrative tone and to avoid being overly religious in a kids cartoon despite actively leaving king Yema in the story) teams up with the bald monk who they initially clash but becomes his friend over time (check) who then becomes the main protagonist (major not-check) magical monkey jerk is repeatedly scolded for wantonly killing people and given a magical crown of headaches ( fail) teams up with shapeshifting pig who also becomes close ally with useful powers but has deep character flaws (check) and then team up with a dragon who ate their horse who then apologizes by transforming into a horse and then everyone forgets its a dragon (wait, what) and then team up with a river god named sandy (by this time the dragonball plot has already passed mars and is orbiting Jupiter because i think this is when frankenstein appeared and then king piccolo with his sons drum, tamborine, piano, and cymbal, i think goku kills one eats another and asked a samurai if he could eat the third but this is before they retcon piccolo to be a namek {eg- from the planet ‘slug’} instead of a demon because they keep waffling if demons are real) and is then followed by a long list of falling into traps laid by demons because the monk is naive, the pig is cowardly, the monkey is foolhardy, the dragon is too busy staying in his ponysona, and the river deity is carrying the bags narratively this is confusing for several reasons but i could literally teach a college level class on what DBZ does that no writer should ever, EVER, do and every friday to prevent unkind amounts of homework point at how original dragonball at least had narrative cohesion of purpose when it went off in left field but that's part of the journey- in original dragonball everything is a journey of the human spirit for self improvement, in original journey to the west everything is a journey of the human spirit for a shot at redemption, but in DBZ everything is goku is awesome and nobody else is worth his time unless they go ‘ha-ha, i am the most powerful fight punch guy in universe, we must fight’ because fuck anyone who isnt the most powerful being in the universe and even fuck them because they almost never have a reason for being the most powerful and its irritating how shit they are like some of them are mentally five years old who gave you the power to be this dangerous. whats odd is they specifically set it up several times that goku is supposed to narratively step aside and his son(s) step up to carry on the legacy in a return to the earlier more sensable formula, even presenting them as being less powerful as him as an attempt to move away form the absurd escalation issues the series had where goku can destroy a planet by farting yet every thursday they mysteriously find someone five times stronger then the last strongest person in the universe as that wasnt the point in either original dragonball or journey to the west where being clever was always far more important then being powerful, especially as son wukong was mostly more powerful then goku anyways but still got in monster of the week shenannegans not solvable by impulsive brutality. they knew this was a problem, they understood that the endless escalation had gone to the realm where the audience had lost any investment and nobody other then goku could be useful to the story to the point that they even had a WHOLE SERIES where to try and counteract the power creep they had some weird explanation goku is actually time traveled or cursed or some shit so hes only a kid and roughly as strong as he was in later episodes of the original dragonball..... close, so close to actually addressing the problem but also keeping so many other problems krillin moving into being the protagonist would have alleviated the majority of the problems DBZ had- the power escalation bullshittery and the complete lack of stakes as you know goku is going to punch the thing untill it explodes after six episodes of yelling and anything without ‘planet gonna go boom’ no longer seems like a problem worth caring about. goku being downgraded to being the impulsive muscle on a team that included others that were less overtly powerful but still narratively useful to the adventure would have also alleviated almost all the ‘everybody who isnt goku is a fragile useless  porcelain figurine of a child’ problems that are very counter-intuitive and kind of insulting: in original dragonball, for example, master roshi was the only known human capable of doing the kamehameha which took 50 years to learn (goku learns it by watching it once and that should have been the cap for him being overpowered{a rival teacher had a more powerful version that nobody else learns}), climbed the sacred tower which took 7 years (it took goku about a week, which is well within the realm of where escalation should be), and blew up the fucking moon but in dbz his ‘power level’ is lower then his pet turtle..... despite all of that and being the one who trained goku and krillin allowing them to be absurdly strong in the first place so they apparently forgot their own history.  so taking the actual good story points they aready had and throwing them in the trash is a running problem

they even had the setup for krillin being in peril continually, all the ‘krillin dies’ memes are about on par with how often every demon on the road (which they pass like gas stations) are kidnapping and trying to eat Tripitaka, whcih is framed as despite Tripitaka being powerful he isnt as powerful as his allies but never framed as useless, especially as even goku has to seek help frequently, often from non-martial sources instead of the ‘kung fu solves everything’ mindset im unsure if anyone will want to start a fight about my statements regarding daballz but im okay with an intelectual argument about its writing .... how do i tag this? i forgot replies dont let me do that but i need to learn how to tag my rants one of theese days in hopes they actually get feedback

[circe-poetica]

A Midheaven study, MC Leo conjunct Lilith and Regulus

The Black Moon is associated with all the dark faces of the Great Mother; Kali, Black Madonna, Black Tara and, with Mary Magdalene in her form as the Shakti of Christ, so she is a huge image of the Divine Feminine and it is no small thing to have her so powerfully placed. She has claimed you as one of Her own and wants you to be an agent for her power in the world. Any image of Lilith around our career life demands that we develop the sacred feminine warrior energies and give them expression. Black Moon/Lilith, especially in Leo, points towards doing it from a place of great personal power and individualism, as opposed to old beliefs that set us up for subservience. She can be found in people who work in areas like defending the rights of women, refugees, the under-privileged; in international law, in war zones, in women’s refuges. She is a gutsy advocate, activist, on the side of the deepest emotional truths and in any area of life where the feminine has continued to be dishonoured, rejected and abused.

She is as much found in deep therapeutic and spiritual process, as in those who work on the life and death edges, like hospice work, conscious dying or in casualty departments. (The word spirituality is too light weight for her energy here as she is a form of great Shakti, the transformative serpentine power of the sacred feminine!) Therapeutically, Lilith is comfortably operating in those who work with sexuality, masculine/feminine balances, sexual abuse and healing, relationship dynamics (especially in helping women regain their individuality and personal power) and in tantric processes. And in working with the deepest ends of the emotional spectrum; rage, grief, all forms of toxicity, past-life and trans-generational residues and influences, conception/in-utero/birth traumas. This where the “curse” label comes in, as anyone with strong Lilith positions is a carrier of the same, the accumulation of rage, toxicity, grief and betrayal that comes form lifetimes, ages and generations of rejection of the feminine in all her forms. So part of the journey of owning her power, and your own, is through processes that allow you to purify and release these carried residues. Whether through primal work, spiritual or shamanic midwifery, whatever takes you into these deepest places, it is absolutely necessary to be able to own this part of your birthright. The unfortunate truth is that distorted Lilith or any of the other “Dark Goddesses” are fully able to sabotage your life in their unhealed forms.

Regal Regulus at 29º Leo has the honor of being the closest star to the ecliptic and therefore closest to the red carpet path of the glorious Sun. Regulus is a triple 1.3 magnitude star that flashes white and ultramarine. It is found, naturally, in the brave heart of the constellation Leo the Lion. Regulus officially entered tropical Virgo on November 28th 2011.* Could Regulus crossing this symbolic sphinx cusp, Leo to Virgo, herald the age of Aquarius? Many astrologers speculate that Virgo will teach Leo to put aside ego, dispense personal glory, become more humanitarian and have respect for mother Earth itself. Other ‘star seed’ type commentators describe a switch from service-to-self (Leo) towards service-to-others. (Virgo=Service, Aquarius=Others).

Now all this assumes that Leo’s ego is somehow a bad thing! Conversely however, those with a weak sense of self are also those that suffer from narcissistic personality disorders (And other related Dark triad traits. See Ceres post.) Without a strong sovereignty, service-to-others can become co-dependancy and doormat syndrome! Regulus is the archangel Raphael, one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. On the fixed cross, Regulus is one of four cherubim, symbolised by the Bull, Lion, Eagle and Human. These are the signs Taurus (Aldebaran), Leo (Regulus), Scorpio (Antares) and Aquarius (Fomalhaut) respectively. You can see these Archangels on the corners of the Rider-Waite tarot deck on the Wheel of Fortune and The World.

“Early English astrologers made it (Regulus) a portent of glory, riches, and power to all born under its influence”and this fixed star is generally considered fortunate, courageous, successful and all those great qualities associated with the sun sign Leo.

Regulus has its negative side. “It gives violence, destructiveness, military honor of short duration, with ultimate failure, imprisonment, violent death” Bernadette Brady associates Regulus with downfall. Regulus is pure divine-masculine energy, which these days is often portrayed in Hollywood at its lowest, crudest vibration.

Otherwise, Hollywood seems to delight in ridiculing and belittling Regulus energy. For example Disney has removed the Prince’s true love kiss in ‘Frozen’ and denigrates heroic, chivalrous men in ‘Enchanted’. This could also be seen as Regulus’s ‘downfall’, but it is a manipulated one. It suggests that all the testosterone-fuelled, courageous energy of Regulus’s past is somehow ‘wrong’ and so the solution is we must rip the balls off every feisty Lion.

Can we shift from service-to-self to a service-to-others mentality? It’s hard to feel like you want to be “of service”if you are essentially already living as a slave. The working classes suffer most from cheaper, imported labour. These working classes, (often vilified as ‘Chavs’ or ‘Rednecks’) are craving Regulus empowerment and fame through ‘selfies’ and reality TV shows. Why? Because the despised ‘populist’ working class are subconsciously grasping for their lost sovereignty and culture with this apparently narcissistic, negative-Regulus behaviour.

For approximately the last 600 years Regulus has been in Leo decan 3, which is ruled by aggressive Mars in both systems and Leo decan 3 includes the influence of Regulus so; “They are always right, their rule is absolute, any challenge to their authority is seen as betrayal. Loyality, loyality and more loyality, this is the number one demand of their loved ones.”

Medieval astrologers said Regulus would bring glory, riches and fame to all those born under it, and that it was the ‘Royall Starre’. Robson says Regulus gives “success, high and lofty ideals and strength of spirit, and makes its natives magnanimous, grandly liberal, generous, ambitious, fond of power, desirous of command, high-spirited and independent.” It is important to bear in mind, even with Regulus in Virgo, the ‘Royall Starre’. will still carry its original meaning for natal charts.

Regulus Keywords

Brave, bloodthirsty, gutsy, ambitious, driven, unstoppable, proud, pompous, majestic, magical, vain, arrogant, egotistical, regal, owning one’s sovereignty, loyal, poised, famous, flamboyant, fabulous, dashing, flash, outrageous, chivalrous, courteous, conquering, entrepreneurial, outré, controversial, glorious, bold, hot, brutish, sexy, passionate, diva-esque, haughty, naughty, playful, flirty, childlike, extremist, romantic, generous, fanatical, bossy, unhinged, stalker, predatory, man-eater, mentorship, ability to prophecy, seer, benevolent leader, assuming responsibility, parental, protector of the people, in service for the greater good, connection to ones pride, a statesman/woman, alchemical transition to the Red King (Rubedo), the path to individuation.

Regulus Midheaven

“Honor, preferment, good fortune, high office under Government, military success. If with Sun, Moon or Jupiter, great honor and ample fortune.” [4]

Jackie Kennedy Onassis;(03′) Regulus’s near neighbour is the rather bloodthirsty star Phecda, this I believe is what gives the Regulus its raw martial side. The beastly nature of the Lion isn’t afraid to throw itself into battle and get blood on its hands. This is graphically demonstrated with Jackie, for after John Kennedy was shot, she refused to remove her bloodstain pink Chanel suit. Regretting having washed her bloodstained face and hands, she stated “ I want them to see what they have done to Jack” [2] Of course the woman was an icon, more poised and regal then most real life royals and exuded bravery and loyalty. The Vatican; Much bloodshed in the name of Jesus Christ… Barbara Windsor; Soap matriarch and ex landlady of the Queen Victoria, with a regal sounding surname. Patricia Routledge; Famous for her portrayal of snob Francis Bucket (“pronounced Bouquet…”) in British comedy ‘Keeping Up Appearances.’ Mark David Chapman; Famous for bringing down king of rock John Lennon. Jimmy Page; Rock singer with wild blond mane. Prince; Well he’s Prince… Bernadette Brady;Astrologer. Also Michael Douglas, Clint Eastwood, Mata Hari, Patrick McNee, Henri Toulous Lautrec, Jim Carrey, Shania Twain, Claudia Shiffer, Peter Stringfellow.

https://danielsowelu.com/a-prominent-lilith-on-the-midheaven/

https://darkstarastrology.com/regulus/

#midheaven study #regulus #lilith in leo

[queen-ofthe-pumpkinpatch]

The Reluctant Countess: Chapter One

Story Summary: When another plague outbreak arrives on the shores of the Black Sea in 1667, wealthy merchant’s daughter Rosalind is forced to flee her comfortable life for the relative safety of a remote village in the Carpathian Mountains. But she soon finds the humble village harbors a sinister secret and a haunted past.

A “Beauty and the Beast”-inspired vampire story, rated T for some violence. (The romance itself is going to be rated PG.)

<< Previous Chapter

Two Weeks Earlier

Over her shoulder, Rosalind watched the city of Constanta, and the serene Black Sea behind it, slowly disappear. Dawn was just creeping over the horizon. The city would soon stir awake—the fishermen casting their nets in the harbor, the grocers and butchers setting up their stalls in the market square—but now it was drowsy, blanketed in shadow. All she could see distinctly in this light were the spires of the great basilica and the mosque piercing the sky.

The ships anchored in the harbor swayed like a line of trees in the wind. As a child, she had loved watching the merchant ships and imagining what cargo they brought—fine glass from Venice, perhaps, or spices from Aleppo, or even jade and silk from the Orient. But now Rosalind could only think, with a leaden heart, that her father's ship would never again be among them.

The horse-drawn wagon jerked over a rut in the cobblestone road, and she was forced to face ahead once more. She wanted to memorize the view, even though she had awoke to it every day of her twenty years, because it would be the last time. Her traveling companion, a middle-aged Turk in a saffron-colored turban, laid a hand gently on her arm.

"You will see it again someday," he assured her. "Take heart, my dear."

She swallowed hard and nodded. "Is it hard for you too, Faruk? Leaving Constanta?"

Faruk considered her question carefully. "This city has been good to me, but I was not born here, so it isn't quite the same. Leaving Istanbul, that was a wrench for me. I think of it still. And the family I left behind. It never leaves you, but the ache does fade with time. I promise you that."

She took a shuddering breath. She appreciated his empathy, but the wound was too raw and recent for her to intelligibly respond. He took one hand off the horses' reigns to squeeze hers.

"There was nothing you could have done for him, Rosalind," he said firmly. "Once the black marks appear on one's skin, death is inevitable. He will not suffer much longer, that I know. There will just be time to make peace with your god."

He waited for Rosalind to respond, but she couldn't. She still had not cried, but she felt brittle.

"Your father was a warm and generous man, a good friend. I do not pretend to be an expert on your Christian values, but I cannot imagine he will be given anything but peace in the life to come. And if it's any comfort—"

"Faruk," she interjected, "I know you mean well. But I'm not ready to speak of my father in the past tense. Can we talk about something else?"

He pursed his lips, watching the road in silence for a moment, seeming to search for another topic. "It's been some time since I've quizzed you on anatomy," he said at last. "Let's see how well you've retained my teachings. If a man were said to have an overabundance of the sanguine humor, what remedy would you suggest?"

Rosalind almost chuckled at his one-track mind. Faruk had been one of her tutors growing up, drilling her in astronomy, sciences, and algebra. Her father had wanted only the finest and most modern education for his only child. Faruk, having no family of his own, had acted as a sort of avuncular guardian while her father was away on his long voyages, and so the two had become very attached.

But it had been many years since Rosalind had studied such things in any earnest—of late, she had been too occupied with keeping her father's financial affairs in order.

Whenever one of her father's merchant friends protested or sneered at a young woman being trusted with such matters, he had simply replied, I have no son to carry on my name or my business, so why not my daughter? She's clever enough. Why should I marry her off so soon when she's of so much use to me here? And in private, he would then clasp her hands and reassure her, We'll wait to make a match for you, Rosalind. Not until we've found someone you like and respect. There's no hurry, my girl.

She took a shuddering breath. Anything and everything reminded her of her father right now.

"It means the patient has too much blood," she replied finally, modulating her voice carefully. "Application of leeches, or bleeding him with a knife, would bring his humors back into balance."

"Correct. And what celestial body is associated with a sanguine temperament?"

Rosalind found it difficult to concentrate on his questions, as she was tired and lulled into a stupor by the rhythmic rocking of the wagon, but those lessons were still firmly ingrained. "Jupiter," she said.

Faruk must have heard the drowsiness in her voice, for her put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll wake you when we stop, Rosalind. Sleep if you can, it will be a long journey."

Rosalind slept fitfully. It was difficult to stop replaying recent memories in her mind, and they bled over into her vivid dreams. It was so hard to accept that her life had turned upside down only hours before.

In the middle of the night, she had sensed that something was wrong. Usually Rosalind met her father at the docks to welcome him home, but this time his ship made port in the moonlight while she slept. What woke her was not an embrace from her long-awaited father, but rather the sounds of rummaging through drawers and trunks, and low mutterings coming from the room adjacent to hers.

At first, Rosalind feared it was a burglar, for it wasn't like her father to come home without even waking her. She threw off her blankets and crept out of her chamber with a heavy iron candlestick to confront the intruder.

Through the crack in the door, she spied a familiar stocky silhouette frantically throwing items into an open chest on the floor.

"Papa?" she murmured, still drowsy and confused. "What are you doing?"

He locked eyes with her, and she saw in them a desperate, hunted look like a fugitive.

"Rosalind. Stay where you are, my girl." When she ignored him and rushed forward to embrace him, he retreated, palms up as if to ward off an attack. "Come no closer, I tell you!"

Another man, who had been hidden from her view until now behind the door, gently guided her a few paces further from her father. It was Faruk. "He's right, Rosalind, we must keep our distance," he said apologetically.

"Papa, what…what's wrong?" she asked faintly, for now that she could see both men in the candlelight, it was clear that something was. Her father's dark unruly curls were sticking to his brow with sweat and he was breathing hard, as if he had just run a great distance. There was a chalky quality to his olive skin, and a horrible death rattle in his lungs when he coughed. Faruk's entire body was tensed.

"Sickness is coming to this city," her father said gravely, whispering as if he feared the authorities were listening on the street corner. "You must go, Rosalind, leave this place at once, before the magistrates issue a quarantine."

"What are you talking about, Papa, aren't you coming with—?"

"It's too late for me," he said, shaking his head in agitation. "I am already showing signs of the disease."

He rolled up one of his sleeves to reveal a blackened patch of skin on his forearm. Rosalind clapped a hand over her mouth in horror. She had never seen anything like it, but she had read enough medical and historical texts to understand the significance of his slowly deadening flesh.

"Unless you go now," he said, "they will lock up the sick and the well together, and you will have no chance either, don't you understand?"

Rosalind was reeling; she couldn't fully comprehend what was happening. "But where can I go?"

"Inland. To the mountains. There is a village two days north of Bucharest, high in the Carpathians. It is the place I was born. Your aunt Ioana lives there still with her husband, you can stay with them. It is a strange place but…you will be safe there."

He was then overcome with weakness, clinging to the bedpost to stay upright. Rosalind tried to reach for him to help, but Faruk caught her and held her back.

"Papa, please let me stay, you need someone to take care of you," she pleaded.

Her father didn't reply to her. "Faruk, remember your promise to me," he said, staring intensely at the old tutor.

Faruk swallowed hard and nodded. "I will keep my word to you, old friend," he said in a quivering voice, still holding fast to Rosalind's arm.

"Good man." He pushed the wooden chest across the floor toward them. "Take this with you, Rosalind. It's your dowry—I've been putting it away for you little by little—it's not as much as I'd hoped, but it may prove useful all the same."

Through her tears, Rosalind whimpered, "I can't, Papa, I can't just leave you to die."

"And I can't die in peace unless I know my daughter is safe." His breathing was labored. "Go. There isn't much time."

Faruk began to drag her from the room—he was no stronger than her, but Rosalind was too overcome with shock and despair to put up much resistance. She caught a few final words in her father's hoarse whisper.

"I love you, my child. God be with you."

Next chapter>>

#my fiction #vampire fiction #historical fiction #in future i will be posting fictionpress links for the chapter updates #but right now the site isn't letting me upload so this will have to do!

[pride-vns-blog]

LGBTQ VN Week: Day Three! (6/20)

Welcome back for my third day of LGBTQ visual novel recommendations! Remember to check out my first post’s “One note before we get started” section to get a handle on what this recommendation list is, what it’s not, and why I made it, if you haven’t already!

The four visual novels I’ve got lined up to talk about today move beyond endlessly bleak apocalypses to focus instead on persistence and hopes for a brighter future — Spincut’s Who We Are Now, Sofdelux Studio’s Disaster Log C, and Worst Girls Games’ We Know The Devil, followed by a conversation with Jaime Scribbles Games about her upcoming As We Know It.

(Disclaimers: I’m somehow still into unique-looking apocalypse stories in the year 2018, so I backed both Who We Are Now and As We Know It on Kickstarter, and I also know the creators of Disaster Log C personally.)

Head on in for comic book supervillain jokes, super important teddy bears, one hell of a summer camp, and juggling your full-time job with the end of the world!

WHO WE ARE NOW (SPINCUT)

Itch.io Tagline: "A queer, post-apocalyptic visual novel about love at the end of the world.” Genre(s): Romance; slice of life; science fiction. Release Date: December 12th, 2017 (Xander’s Story); June 18th, 2018 (Jesse’s Story); TBA (Ray’s Story & Nathan’s Story). Content Warnings: Multiple explicit sex scenes; discussion of traumatic violence.

Who We Are Now, a visual novel following protagonist Wes as he offers comfort to the isolated fellow residents of a post-apocalyptic town named Home under the advice of town leader Mohra. The backdrop for Who We Are Now is distinctly science fiction, but the worldbuilding elements are interestingly vague enough that the characters only refer to the apocalypse more in terms of how it impacted their lives, rather than concrete details about exactly which places were destroyed on what dates and how. That’s personally something I prefer for character-focused pieces like this, and an interesting contrast to the hyper-detailed way AAA studios approach the apocalypse — it works in Who We Are Now, especially in the instances where the characters react differently to the circumstances of their situation or share different information, because it’s what they’ve retained.

Although Who We Are Now is short and largely still in “preorder”, according to its Itch.io page, both of the two relatively complete Stories — starring romanceable characters Xander and Jesse, respectively — offer distinct enough stories with memorable characters that I feel comfortable saying their two companion pending routes (Ray and Nathan) will all be well worth the price and the wait. Spincut’s script treats the two love interests’ struggles with society and their respective traumas carefully, never really offering an answer or a single moment that stood out to me as being a demand for them to just “get over it”. Both Jesse and Xander bristle, especially in the later half, and neither Xander’s struggle to control his mysterious electric powers nor Jesse’s slow progress fitting in as part of the society in Home go seamlessly. Even Wes’s personality feels realistically flawed; as a character who’s lived for years on his own, there’s moments in the script where his self-reliance and avoidance gets in the way of honest and open communication.

As a relationship-focused story with a heavy emphasis on character development, Who We Are Now’s writing delivers some solid growth and reasonable conflicts in a minimal amount of time, especially in Xander’s Story! Without going into too many spoilers, his convictions about the “bad guys” outside of the community of Home and his struggles with self-worth throughout the story build up to a believable, sympathetic end — his Story raises some interesting questions about violence in a post-apocalyptic world that, combined with how different it felt from Jesse’s perspective, made me all the more excited to see Ray and Nathan’s viewpoints on the apocalypse.

(Also, the sex scenes are 👌.)

The Xander’s Story and Jesse’s Story chapters of Who We Are Now are available now for a total price $15, a price that includes the eventual release of Ray’s Story and Nathan’s Story, both of which currently TBA. For more updates, you can follow developer Spincut on Itch.io or Twitter.

DISASTER LOG C (SOFDELUX STUDIO)

Itch.io Tagline: "It has been raining ceaselessly for 7 days...” Genre(s): Comedy; mild horror. Release Date: October 23rd, 2017. Content Warnings: See Itch.io page.

(This section contains mild, vague spoilers for Disaster Log C’s ending. It’s short and free, you might want to give it a try first!)

When it comes to the four apocalypse stories on this list, they’ve all got (thankfully) relatively different approaches to handling the end of the world, but Disaster Log C’s approach is one of the few visual novels that actually surprised me with its later swerve into a revelation I hadn’t totally expected. (I’m trying to be vague enough as possible, but I seriously didn’t see that plot point coming and can appreciate the worldbuilding that made it easy to accept as a “how did I miss that?” kind of fact once it’s revealed!) Protagonist Mell’s no-nonsense approach perfectly serves the story’s steady pace, punctuated by Mell’s own “Disaster Logs” of the ocean rising up to swallow the island she’s lived on her whole life, and that pace is fed into perfectly with the frantic nature of knife-wielding Issa’s demands about where to go, what to do, and how much alcohol she wants to drink. 

There’s a goofiness to Disaster Log C that never undercuts the story’s more serious moments — Mell’s struggle with the end of the world she’s always known and Issa’s own relative detachment from that world as it exists are both given more than enough space in the text, and the story never holds their growth back for the sake of slapstick. But there’s plenty of slapstick and a lot of absolutely hilarious moments, served equally well by both script and story, that are well-placed enough that it becomes clearer and clearer in hindsight exactly when Mell and Issa became as close as they can be by the story’s end. Their dynamic is a delight and well worth reading for, whether it’s in the most serious of heart-to-hearts or a scene where they’re arguing with one another about how much food to eat.

But above all else, the thing that really sells me on Disaster Log C — and Sofdelux Studio’s previous dating sim, Mermaid Splash Passion Festival — is how sincere it is. It’s easy for apocalyptic fiction to be smug, or grim, or just plain dark, but Disaster Log C manages to capture the real grief inherent in its premise without ever plunging into hopelessness. The world Issa and Mell inhabit is a beautifully illustrated one filled with plenty of jokes and triumphant fishing CGs, but it’s also a cruel world, and it’s still very much the story of how everything Mell has ever known disappeared in the blink of an eye. That’s a delicate balance to walk, for sure, but it’s a balance Disaster Log C walks seamlessly enough that its wonderfully optimistic True Ending had me in tears.

Disaster Log C is available now for free, in both English and Korean. Both halves of Sofdelux Studio also have individual Itch.io pages (DCS’s here and Nami’s here), or you can follow their shared Itch.io for more Sofdelux Studio projects!

WE KNOW THE DEVIL (PILLOWFIGHT, WORST GIRLS GAMES)

Steam Tagline: "Follow meangirl Neptune, tomboy Jupiter, and shy shy Venus as they get to know each other--but one always gets left out.” Genre(s): Group relationship horror. Release Date: February 15th, 2016. Content Warnings: Religious abuse; blood; character death; implications of sexual harrassment/abuse.

(This section contains spoilers for the plot and endings of We Know The Devil. Sorry! Please play it!)

It would be difficult — if not totally impossible — for me to talk about why I liked We Know The Devil or what it's doing in this group of visual novels without spoiling the ending in one way or another. (I don't think I could even refer to Venus, my hands-down favorite character, in a way that felt natural without dodging around her pronouns like a middle schooler playing volleyball.) For a while, I considered putting this in the creative design category and trying to avoid spoilers anyway! There’s been of fascinating pieces that I’ve loved reading about how We Know The Devil’s unique choice system operates; its “choose two characters out of three” model is smart, well-executed, and offers a lot of character development in both the duo you observe and the one you don’t in every playthrough.

But the piece of this story that I’ve always loved the most has been its ending and the way I feel that it functions as a work of apocalyptic fiction. While the other three entries on this list are all set either at the dawn of the apocalypse or well after the apocalypse has literally “dawned”, We Know The Devil’s apocalypse is more quasi-metaphorical and much more closely linked to its ending. If you read it 100% literally, the “three worst girls since Eve” ascend in all the ways they were never supposed to be and end the world; if you read it strictly metaphorically, they still become more removed from the all-encroaching, endlessly painful social standards that have been forced upon them. And in that case, it’s even more the “end of the world” for their family or the religious authority figures around them to see that self-satisfaction and acceptance instead of the quiet repression and shame, isn’t it?

I can’t deny that a lot of my fondness for this kind of reading is a deeply personal one, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. (If anything, I think how many personal reactions there have been to We Know The Devil is a testament — ha! — to the nuanced writing and worldbuilding.) The legacy of religious abuse in the name of Christianity, specifically Irish Catholicism, is something that’s haunted my own family for generations. It’s dictated who got married and who couldn’t get divorced, it’s been the reason some of my friends were born and the reason some others died, and its impact is so irreversable that the guilt even gets passed down into generations that have barely attended a service. So for We Know The Devil’s true ending to take a lot of those religious hallmarks, that guilt from failing to live up to expectations, and then build up to a true ending where the rest of the world is damned for the way it treated Jupiter, Neptune, and Venus — without the true ending’s text ever condemning any of them for being teenagers who are willing to scorch the Earth, metaphorically or literally, and refuse to accept the pain they shouldn’t have to suffer? As a story about the end of three characters’ slice of the world, We Know The Devil one hell of an answer to the Christian idea of a Rapture, and one I prefer a thousand times over.

We Know The Devil is available now on sale for $1.99 (75% off), while you can try We Know The Demo for free on Itch.io; Worst Girls Games can be found on Twitter and Tumblr with more information about their upcoming project, Heaven Will Be Mine!

AS WE KNOW IT (JAIME SCRIBBLES GAMES)

Kickstarter Tagline: "A heavily branching visual novel, featuring love, friendship and life-sim elements in a future destroyed by the sun.” Genre(s): Romance; drama. Release Date: April 25th, 2018 (demo); TBA (final version). Content Warnings: Alcohol and drug use; violence; mature content.

As someone who really enjoyed Pinewood Island, Jaime Scribbles Games’ debut horror visual novel about college students trapped on an island with a murderer, I’ve been looking forward to As We Know It since I first saw initial character designs. The first demo definitely was what I’d been hoping it would be — although visually unfinished in places, given that the Kickstarter was largely to help fund purchase of its art assets like finished backgrounds and side character sprites — and the story about a post-apocalypse society that largely functioned but still ran into unexpected troubles instantly hooked me.

Interested in hearing a little more about protagonist Ashlynn’s dual focus on romance and maintaining a job, I reached out to Jaime with a couple questions to hear what she had to say about her upcoming visual nove.

First, congratulations on your Kickstarter reaching full funding and a bonus goal! I'm sure you've done a lot of this already during the funding period, but how would you pitch As We Know It to someone who'd never heard of it before?

A heavily branching visual novel with romance in a post-apocalyptic setting. Something along those lines.

Yeah, that sounds accurate to me! What's the experience in having run a successfully-funded Kickstarter for a visual novel been like? Are there any weird little details or things that you weren't expecting to have to deal with that have become surprisingly important?

Hm, I didn’t really know what to expect. I can’t say anything too unusual occurred.

Hey, no news is better than bad news, for sure!

Both As We Know It and Pinewood Island have had different mechanics alongside the romance -- in Pinewood Island's case, unpuzzling a brutal series of deaths, and in As We Know It's case, pursuing a career path in a crisis-stricken community -- that seem to be just as central to the storytelling, rather than a backdrop for romance. Can you talk a little bit about striking that balance?

It’s not easy! I have to make sure it makes sense for these characters to want to pursue romance despite whatever else is going on. That usually means making sure things don’t get too intense until more of a relationship is formed. Since romance is such a heavy aspect I hope people don’t question it too much lol

When you're designing characters' personalities or approving their visual depictions, what do you keep in mind? What do you think is the most important thing when it comes to building a lineup of characters to make them all feel distinct from one another?

I think of different personalities, different types of people I want to write, and then I try to make sure their looks are diverse and varied. As I write them their characteristics become more solid.

Were someone else to make a "dream visual novel" for you as a player, what do you think that visual novel would be like? In terms of genre, romance routes, etc?

Oh I’m not sure 🤔 probably a really good mash up of horror and romance with psychological elements and a mature story (no teenager plz) lol

😆 I'd definitely play that, too!

For my last question, what LGBTQ visual novels from other developers or creators are your personal recommendations?

Let’s see, Hustle Cat, Let's Meat Adam are my faves, but there are tons more out there!

Definitely! Thank you for the conversation, Jaime, I'm looking forward to seeing As We Know It's progress over the next couple months!

You can find more information about As We Know It on Kickstarter, try out the free demo on Itch.io and Steam, or keep up with progress on the game’s development blog!

[whocouldstayyyy]

Probably you already know why you should support and fight actively for lgbt+ community, going by your presence here. Today we are lucky to stay in close connection with the queer folks; thanks to the pride activism, most of us have an open mindset to know more and are inclusive in our behaviour towards them. But this is not the situation in majority of places. They face discrimination and infringement of basic rights on daily basis in their lives. Still we cannot deny before social media activism things were even worse. They have come a long way to decriminalisation of gay sex (which is very natural in every way you want to see), here we take a look at the long journey to decriminalisation and waiver of the notorious Section 377 In India.

...

What do these sculptures say? The erotic homosexual sculptures at Khajuraho Temples carry the voices that are hidden behind the so-called “Hinduism slogans” of anti-gay activists. But theses sculptures speak volumes about India’s true perspective on homosexuality: never out of natural order...until british raj happened. Read on to know what’s the jazz is all about.

If you are not from Jupiter, you have witnessed the scrapping of section 377 in the year.... the sculptures at Khajuraho are a colossal example of the accepting nature of the ancient India and its scholars. But we have more examples as such in stock.

Influence in Literature: In Rigveda (one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism) enunciates the phrase Vikriti Evam Prakriti ( what seems unnatural is also natural). Other than Khajuraho there is a sculpture of one of the coolest couple, we Hindus worship. The Ardhanariswara, is the androgenous form of Shiva and Parvati and it can be found in a sculpture from Gangaikondacholapuram.

In ancient India, religion had a big role in society’s functions. The religious ancient texts have a strong bearing with the contemporary LGBT causes and recent activisms. Some scholars are of this opinion that Rigveda recognises transexuality and all dimensions of sex and gender of human life, pretty similar to the waves of universal diversities. Vatsayna’s work Kamasutra which is an enriched documentation of fulfilment, sexuality and happiness in lives, has a whole chapter on homosexual behaviour.

Hinduism has always included homosexual characters and themes to its folklores, ancient texts, epics and art. Another great creation of ancient India, Arthashastra, a treatise on economical and foreign policymaking, can be considered the Gita of Statecraft by the great scholar Chanakya. This text has mentions of a wide variety of sexual practices between a man and a woman. Though, homosexual behaviours were not legal but punishments were minor whereas few kinds of heterosexual acts used to carry more severe punishments.

...

Mughal men and #loveislove: Beyond every astonishment, Mughal emperors had also involved in homosexual relationships. Though they were prime authorities of the country and I doubt if anyone could point fingers at them. But definitely, these stories put us in awe and boggle our minds to think how tough those times were. Whatever be the situation we have records of Mughal emperors involving in homosexual relationships in spite of the prohibitions against it in the sharia law, religious laws for Islam.

The first Mughal emperor Babur has said in his autobiography “Babarnama” about his strong feelings for a young boy. Many reliable texts suggests of Ali Quli Khan, to have relations with a Hindu boy named Abhai Chand and eventually his father had let them be happy with each other.

There can be found a term “chapti” which refers to sex between people of same genders. Despite social and religious constructs against one’s order of love, Mughal emperors have always been on the side of inclusivity of all sorts of love.

…

Then what was the turning point of Indian society’s hostility towards homosexuality and LGBT?

Dual plight of colonialism and faulty system: It was the British raj who criminalised homosexuality as it was opposing their biblical beliefs on love, nature and sexuality. Very soon section 377 entered India’s legal system in 1861. In spite of rare convictions under section 377, the law was widely used to harass the LGBT activists, HIV/AIDS prevention activists and sex workers.

…

Indian activism pierces the veil: Shakuntala Devi is mostly known for her mathematical genius. What everyone doesn’t know is she is the first person to publish a full-length study on homosexuality in India. The nation hasn’t been through a smooth path on its way to decriminalise ‘love for everyone’. Homosexual activities was considered criminal offence under section 377 until the law was challenged in 2009’s Naz Foundation vs. the Gov. of NCT of Delhi. Delhi High Court observed that the law defies the fundamental rights provided in the Indian Constitution. But in 2013 again homosexuality was recriminalised by supreme court’s decision in Navtej Singh vs. Union of India, as an act against the order of nature.

Between these 5 long years the activists have never taken a back seat. In 2012, Asia’s first genderqueer pride parade was organised in Madurai, India, led by Anjali Gopalan, an eminent face in the country’s human rights and animal rights activism. She is also the founder and executive director of The Naz Foundation Trust.

…

#loveislove: Since 2012 the supreme court been listening to pleas against the decriminalisation of homosexuality. The supreme court decided to see things on contemporary society’s perspectives where a lot of new ideas have become the new normal. The bench also referred to the sculptures and paintings of Khajuraho and immediately received a comeback that modern social laws cannot be fixed upon seeing the sculptures. Later on arguments were raised that Khajuraho was made keeping in mind the Indian society and also this law is brought bi the British. Indian society cannot be guided by people who doesn’t know how the moral and social values function here. Under section 377, a same-sex relationship could kead to a 10 years imprisonment. Some of the most memorable pride moments between 2013-2018 can be the introduction of a guide titled ‘Creating Inclusive Workplaces for LGBT Employees in India’ campaigned by IBM, Goldman Sachs, Google. In 2013 the law was reinstituted, leading thousands of protesters hitting the road. This was a huge chance for political activism for the political parties to show their support for LGBT rights. By 2014, parties like Congress, CPI(Marxist) & Aam admi party had included their support for decriminalisation of homosexuality in their election manifesto. The first Bhopal Pride march of 2017 had collected almost 200 members. After a 6 year-long tug-of-war on 6th September 2018 the supreme court of India legalised homosexuality in India. But the real life scenarios are far from it. The real struggle of the LGBT community can be improved only with social campaigning for awareness. In many regional areas the police and local authorities fail to provide legal help to the distressed folks in help. This is the time we stand up for their rights with the view to live together as an inclusive and accepting society where everyone deserves a peaceful life.

#writers on tumblr #lgbtq positivity #lgbtq #lgbtpeople #lgbt rights #lgbtpride #loveislove #i love them #them #gayhot #trans pride #wlw pride #pride icons #pan pride #Spotify

[grimoiresontape]

Circling Ways in Geomancy

In the relatively early days of my magical practice, I gathered and used a lot of things I found in the course of going on walks - bits of interestingly-shaped sticks, torn pages of books and newspapers, playing cards, scraps of fabric, that sort of thing. This seems a common enough phase for many magicians, learning to navigate their landscape and sense the subtle tides and shifts around them in those interactions. Walks around my neighbourhood, building my relationship with the spirits of place, or drifting through unfamiliar parts of town on extended augury expeditions; these rambles would lead me to find objects that seemed significant and magically useful. There was something so satisfying about finding meaning and use in things picked up off the ground; those discarded omens and overlooked materials of inner-city sorcery. For years I kept a stray white cue ball which I had found when on an extended Lunary wandering. Chalk-marked ivory globe uncannily out of place, plucked from the gutter of night, a delicate egg of veiled promise. One of my most used magical tools found in this manner was a simple set of brown seed beads strung as a necklace. I came across it while ambling along meditating on geomancy, the earth, and delineations of sacred space. Mulling over old pantheism-and/or-animism distinctions and where divining with spirits in space fit in, I found the beads lying on the floor: they were spread like a square. This demarcation of space, this establishment of a matrix of divinatory coherence, this cauldron from which new answers could be cooked up, made a lot of sense. The shape of the idea itself looped me in. I began using the strung seeds as a field upon which to throw my coins, dice, or whatever other means I was using to generate my geomantic figures. This is not to suggest I invented anything - this is simply how something was shown to me. As we shall see shortly, such a technique is far from unique to my practice. In the years since, that found cord has had a lot of play. A lot. Enough that, a month or so ago, I pulled it from its bag and saw it was - in exactly the way time’s shadow sneaks up on you - suddenly looking all too raggedy. I resolved to build some new gear. In fact I had already made short beaded “loops” - too short to be considered necklaces - dedicated to particular senior spirits in my practice, and generally adorning their statuary and icons. I would occasionally employ these to charge the divining space with their authority, especially at auspicious hours and days at which the power of these Chiefly spirits waxed crowned. I would set them out, squaring the circle - forming the four sides of the natural ‘elementated’ world from the celestial circle. These beaded circlets empowered the clarity and focus of my readings. I even found them useful for cohering the virtues of the figures I set for more sorcerous ends; combining the natural potencies of their gemstones with the operative spellcraft of displaying a figure inside them, as in the manner of image magic employing, say, Tarot cards. Rough chips of sanguine coral, the very blood of Medusa, as soldiers of scarlets and incarnadines surrounding a marked Puer in the eighth hour of Tuesday.

More broadly, this kind of altar-top circling has long been part of my practice, casting an orbit of materia magica around foci of influence and effect. The sprinkled rosemary around the purifying candle spell, the chalk around the spirit’s seal to trap or stabilise. Such circlets belt up firm foundation, spin loops to run perpetually, wind and bind. New cord and even knot magic utilities continue to reveal themselves. Even a rosary is but a garland of the threaded blooms of Love and Mystery, stirring in turns and spirals. Considering the Puck’s girdle about the world, however, I am especially interested in how spiritwork permeates these kinds of tools and techniques. So it was I decided to construct seven circlets, dedicated to the seven planetary Rulers so important to geomantic sorcery. 

In more modern geomancies, diviners are often encouraged or instructed to invoke the Spirit of the planet most suitable for the question - matters of romance and sensuality on Friday, the day of Venus, for example - as part of the formal protocol of divining. Along with directing practitioners to begin their geomancy by tracing an Invoking Pentagram of Earth, Israel Regardie’s A Practical Guide to Geomantic Divination suggests the following:

‘To every planetary force in geomancy, there is attributed a Genius presiding over all matters covered by the definitions of that force… [Each genius has a] sigil, a traditional word that merely means a signature. This sigil should be very deliberately and carefully drawn in the centre of the Pentagram which has been traced. It should be visualized as clearly as possible, while vibrating his [sic] name several times, either vocally or mentally. This places the whole divinatory process under divine guidance, and opens up specific pathways to the Unconscious area which can act to provide an answer to the question.’ [Regardie, 45.]

It seems an uncontroversial consensus these days that the formal shaping of pentagrams and spirit seals of the Golden Dawn’s protocols for geomancy can be traced to John Heydon and his Theomagia. In this Temple of Wisdom (as it is not-so-humbly subtitled), when he is not quoting Agrippa whole-sale, Heydon expounds of his self-identified “Rosiecrucian way” that operators ‘first used holy Deprications, Incantations with other Rites and observations provoking and alluring Idea’s of this nature hereunto...’  [Heydon, Theomagia (London, 1668), 2-3] Here are hints of geomancy’s “high ceremonial” dimensions. Crucially however we should also note that Owen Davies has remarked that early modern village cunning-folk and local wizards, traditionally represented as the magic-users least interested in complex Neoplatonic orders and arrangements of angels, ‘would certainly appreciate the detailed practical guide to astromantic and geomantic divination, and the diagrams showing the various signs and characters of the planets and their angels’. [Davies, Popular Magic (), 124] 

The senior planetary Spirits of geomancy, contrasted by Agrippa with the more angelic planetary Intelligences, are referred to by Heydon et al as the ‘seven Rulers of the Earth’. Without diving too deep into Heydon’s idiosyncratic cosmology, it is worth reiterating that Heydon hardly ever refers to the straight astrological grammar of geomancy, preferring to use the names of the spirits of those astrological principles: he does not talk about Saturn, but rather Zazel; he speaks of Malchidael not Aries. It is in his lists of correspondences attributed to these Rulers that we come across colour schemes for these spirits:

Zazel, Spirit of Saturn: ‘He ruleth over the Lead, the Load-stone, the dross of all Mettals, as also the Dust and Rubbish of every thing... He Ruleth the Saphire stone, Lapis Lazul, all black ugly sheet stones, not polishable and of a sad ashy or black colour…’

Hismael, Spirit of Jupiter: ‘that which is most pleasant and delightful without extream Colours; he signifyeth Seagreen or blew, purple, Ash colours’

Barzabel, Spirit of Mars: ‘He delighteth in Red colour, or yellow, fiery and shining like Saffron…'

Sorath, Spirit of the Sun: ‘he ruleth the Yellow, the colour of Gold, the Scarlet or the clear Red, and all reddish colours’

Kedemel, Spirit of Venus: ‘she signifieth white, or milky colour, mixed with brown or a little green’

Taphthartharath, Spirit of Mercury: ‘Mixed and new colours, the gray mixed with Sky colour, such as is on the neck of the Dove, and Pidgeon, Stock-Dove, and such fine Colours; also Lincy-Wooly colours, or… of many colours, mixed…’

Chasmodai, Spirit of the Moon: ‘Of Colours, the White, or pale Yellow, White, pale Green, or a little of the Silver colour’

Rather than simply tracing the sigils of these Spirits to centre and focus my readings, I was inspired to bead my own circlets in versions of these dedicated corresponding colours, including in the designs gemstones with virtues relevant to their planetary governances. Specifically, four stones for squaring that circle, for bringing to bear the four classical forces of the ‘elementated’ natural world with which geomancy so deeply engages. These would be a tool for further drawing on the strength, force and authority of the Rulers to provide accurate information in my readings and precise affect in my rituals. 

It was in speaking about these plans to my dear friend and Tatá Quimbanda that I discovered this was in fact not a novel approach! Practitioners of Candomble and of Quimbanda have both long utilized the beaded necklaces of their traditions - ritual objects with deep significances - to mark a space for divining with shells. Elekes of Candomble, like those of Regla de Ocha and the guia de contas of Umbanda, represent a holy bond between devotee and the Orisha. Washed in sacred omiero, these beads are a sign of blessing as well as a mantle of commitment. The beads are normally worn around the throat, either diagonally or pendulously, and must encompass the heart and ideally down to the navel. This necklace connects the speaking voice and the core at the heart of us. A connection between what is ordinarily worn now on a table creates a necessary link between the Orisha’s mouths (the cowries) and your own. To divine is after all to give voice to the divine from the heart.

Similarly, the guias of Quimbanda de Raiz are washed in sorcerous amaçi and worn to foreground pacts and commitments made and to offer protection. Along with beads worn in devotion, they are also used to ensure Orisha and Exu and Pomba Gira can communicate efficiently. The guia imperial of Quimbanda is in fact required for reading shells when reading away from one’s assentamentos. My godfather describes this in terms of how it keeps the link to the spirits one has seated and works with: a temporary field of settlement allowing all Kingdoms to come through. A further innovation of these Afro-Diasporic techniques of demarcating ritual space for divination with sacred beads includes not only various different necklaces for different gods or spirits, but of constructing one large loop containing sections for each power, force, Orisha or Kingdom, such as the guia imperial pictured below. 

Candomble and Umbanda-influenced practices also hold important lessons to bear in mind when comparing such so-called New World practices with the specifically planetary aspects of geomantic divination and sorcery. Earlier African significances of sevenfold divisions and heptarchies - for seven is a potent crossroads number - were later glossed through Theosophic lenses as chiefly concerning the seven classical planets. As highlighted by articles such as this, on the ‘Fundamentos de Jogo de Búzios’, this gloss can be seen in the approach to things like days of the week in such practices.

I am far from the first geomancer to cast into a corded or even beaded circlet. It is a shared technological response to the operation of geomancy, a co-impulse of many different craftsfolk of the divinatory art. Such living full-blooded traditional practices are unique instantiations of resonant approaches to patterning the geomantic crafts of ritual and truth-telling. Noting the use of circlets in this manner should not be taken as any attempt to flatline different traditions and cultures but celebrate their songs and harmonies in sharper context.

Conducting geomantic divination using these talismans dedicated to the Seven Rulers of the Earth, emblazoned in their heraldic colours and bearing stones of empowering virtue, has already focused my readings, has brought planetary virtues of both stability and dynamism to bear. They have begun to assist my understanding of the unique natures of these Spirits as more than cookie-cutter planetary entities. These geomantic circlets have also certainly improved the scope and precision of various operations of geomantic sorcery. I share these thoughts, accounts, and experiences at a somewhat nascent stage of working the tools: I am excited to share them and their techniques to encourage and compare experiments and extrapolations. 

Working these planetary talismans of the Seven Rulers has certainly furthered my interest in exploring use of circling ways beyond the classic 9-ft magic circles of protection and conjuration. It has also given me valuable perspectives on broader historical instances of circling in the European grimoire traditions of magic. Evidence from one of the earliest manuscripts of the Grimorium Verum grimoire-family, the Clavicula Salomonis De Secretis, details several sorcerous operations involving encircling tools of magical operation: ‘Ut Pluat' (To Make It Rain) one must place a glass of sea water and a heliotrope stone in a circle inscribed; ‘Ut Fulguret’ (To Make Lightning) a lamp is placed at the centre of a specially scribed circle; and an operation to ‘Concubitu Potiendum’ (‘For Love Making/Coupling’) features a diagram of the circle, to be inscribed in a red ochre chalk, on top of an altar.

Another operation of the Grimorium Verum with strong circling implications, To Open Anything that is Shut or Locked, demonstrates some pertinent squaring dimensions as well as avenues for potential spiritwork. The experiment instructs the operator to make a circle around a lodestone then ‘within the circle make a square and at all the angles put the sigil of Sergutha’. If we take this to be Surgat, recent developments in joined-up thinking about grimoire devils inform us that this spirit is also identified with Annobath… who just happens to ‘teacheth the knowledge of necromancy, geomancy, and chiromancy’, amongst other things. We come full squared circle. 

The use of a bloodstone to mark the earth in the Grand Grimoire offers inspiration for experimenting with lapidary lore for our geomantic tools, both in terms of beading or these more direct gemstone styli. Nor should we be hidebound to strict repetition: bloodstone is a powerful ally, but it is not our only poison. When constructing the geomantic circlet for work with Hismael and Jupiterian currents, virtues and spirits (and, thus, for Thursdays especially), for instance, I divined that the inclusion of four amethyst beads for the circlet’s “corners” would inform and galvanise my work with the grand Spirit of the Greater Benefic. 

I have already signaled from social media accounts the availability of these planetary talismans for purchase. Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you are interested in working with these tools; I am happy to work with clients to tailor bespoke consecratory treatments. They are currently priced at $44 apiece, or $231 for the full set of seven. I am currently experimenting with various forms of additional consecration - involving homebrew planetary oils, asperging waters and fumigation blends - so that price may climb as I develop these talismans further and the process of construction and empowerment becomes more complex and potent.

Inquiries, commissions and any other questions or comments can be directed to [email protected]

[lizabethstucker]

The SFWA Grand Masters, Volume 2

Edited by Frederik Pohl

A selection of short stories and novellas from the second group of five authors named Grand Masters by the Science Fiction Writers of America:  Andre Norton, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Alfred Bester, and Ray Bradbury.  The stories are science fiction and fantasy, some a mixture of both.  The styles may be different, but all of these authors captured the imaginations and loyalty of readers throughout their decades of writing.

 Pohl has selected a decent group of stories, five each except for Asimov who only has four.  Each author’s section has a short biography and an overview of their writing career.  Pohl also provides a list of suggested books.  Overall, this is a solid 4 out of 5.

 Mousetrap by Andre Norton

There are strange sand monsters on Mars, ones that are highly desired by museums back on Earth.  Unfortunately, they are too fragile to capture for transport, dead or alive.  Until prospector Sam Levatts is approached by hustler Len Collins.  Part tragedy with a hopeful ending.  This was a sad read and yet very satisfying in the denouement. Incredibly short, yet tightly written. Norton was a favorite of mine in middle school once I actually started reading science fiction.  I much preferred her science fiction stories to those with a more fantasy bent at that time.  Despite being marketed to children, her stories didn't pull any punches in regard to violence, depression, and even suicide.  Some of her works haven't aged well, but then you'll come across something like this and remember just why she was so very popular among all age groups.  4 out of 5.

 Were-Wrath by Andre Norton

Lady Thra of Laniat flees deep into the forest after the last of her liegemen is killed.  She stumbles across a hut, a cat who speaks telepathically, and an unfinished carving on an armoire.  Then the man-creature appears.  Soon Thra will be forced to face a greater evil than any of the were.  One of the things that Norton was best at was how she gave life to outsiders and how strong her female characters were.  Thra, once a lady, now a woman who has been stripped to a fierce survivor.  Farne, abandoned by his birth family, finds love with a mother-figure until she was taken from him.  There's magic and a hint of romance at the very end, an enthralling fantasy.  As I stated earlier, Norton's fantasy wasn't something I cared for when I first began reading her works.  That changed by the time I hit high school, thanks to Tolkien and Fritz Leiber, among others.  Makes me eager to dive back into the author's fantasy works.  4.5 out of 5

 All Cats Are Gray by Andre Norton

Steena was known by many free spacers, a quiet woman who gathered knowledge through listening and a photographic memory.  Her peculiar knowledge had helped many of the men around her, never accepting any reward.  Until she's given Bat, a cat, by a man whose life she saved.  Now she helps another free spacer hoping to get control of an abandoned pleasure spacecraft with a dangerous reputation.  Creepy, cool, and another story with an important cat character.  Steena could resonate with those young girls with a thirst for knowledge, that lived in our own type of gray world, filled with acquaintances and friends rather than lovers.  This is an unusual portrayal and use of an extreme type of colorblindness.  A good read.  3.5 out of 5.

 Serpent’s Tooth by Andre Norton

Seeker Modic chooses Rentarn to guide him and his group into the Questionable Lands.  Modic is determined to find the city of Lonscraft, long deserted, hoping for treasure despite the danger.  But as he says, the treasure isn't the kind Rentarn might think.  The legends and myths learned by all who live in the Between Villages may be Rentarn's only hope of survival.  That and his genetics.  More a novella than a short story, Norton has an interesting treasure hunting quest that mixes fantasy with a tinge of science fiction, leaning heavily toward horror with the mysterious events in Lonscraft.  Who the blue men in the heart of the palace might have been is never truly answered, the reader only receiving hints.  The intriguing possibilities are never confirmed.  A fascinating story.  4.5 out of 5

 Rescue Party by Arthur C. Clarke

When the crew of the exploration survey ship S9000 is notified of an inhabited planet's sun going super nova, they rush there to save as many of the inhabitants as they can.  As the increasing heat has already begun to decimate the surface of the planet, it is difficult and dangerously time-consuming to search for any possible survivors.  Defeat followed by surprise followed by a hint of more to come makes for a tightly written story.  And it is an interesting viewpoint, even if filled with old-fashioned science fiction tropes, from tentacles to collective minds.  This is the first story written by Clarke, done in 1946.  A decent enough start for a newbie.  3.5 out of 5

I found it amusing and telling that Clarke’s nickname in fandom was “Ego”.  I doubt if it was entirely friendly.  Despite his constant bragging that he solely invented satellite communications, that wasn’t entirely true.  Yes, he wrote about it in a trade paper, but he wasn’t the only one working on the concept, nor was he the only one who published.  I never cared for Clarke, mostly for his extreme arrogance and weirdness portrayed in interviews, both written and filmed.  I don’t know if this affected how I reacted to his work or not, but he was rarely on my reading list.  There were a couple of stories that I enjoyed, but mostly I veered away from him.  

 The Secret by Arthur C. Clarke

Henry Cooper, a science reporter, has been sent to the moon by the United Nations Space Administration in an effort to generate support for the Pluto City base.  He has been there before, so he is aware of how things operate.  But this time there is something off.  He contacts an old friend, currently the Plato City Police Department Inspector General, to ask what is going on.  The answer is nothing he could've expected.  *sigh* This is the type of crap that turned me off of Clarke's stories.  It's a great setup but had no real payoff in my opinion.  Yes, we're told the answer to the mystery, nothing past that.  This story was published in 1963, long before the moon landings.  Clarke's views were very pessimistic of that event.  Vastly disappointed, yet not really surprised.  Hopefully the next few stories are better.  The setup helped squeak this rating to 3 out of 5.

 Reunion by Arthur C. Clarke

Aliens are returning to the Earth that they claim to have colonized millions of years ago.  They became aware that the change in the planet's environment had led to mutations in some of the colonists.  Not a problem, they can help fix anything!  While the ending may be trite, almost expected for a story published in 1971, it doesn't make it any less fun to read.  A remarkably tight story for two pages.  4.5 out of 5.

 The Star by Arthur C. Clarke

A deep space survey vessel is exploring the Phoenix Nebula, a sun that went super nova centuries earlier.  On the planet farthest from the now dead sun was found a vault that contains the records of the people who died in the blast.  One crew member, a Jesuit who is their Chief Astrophysicist, finds his faith stuttering by what he discovers.  This is actually a good question; can religious faith survive deep space travel?  Yes, I knew instantly what the core idea would be, but in 1952 to deal so directly with faith and science in a science fiction story would've been very brave of the publishers to put out there.  It is also a subject much discussed by both non-believers as well as more scientific-minded believers.  In fact, it was a subject discussed at great length by my Episcopal Middle School Bible Study class with Father Alex Boyer, a man who would've been a Jesuit if he had been Roman Catholic.  This story could be a great discussion starter as well as a good read.  3.5 out of 5.

 A Meeting with Medusa by Arthur C. Clarke

Howard Falcon had been seriously injured while piloting a test flight of the Queen Elizabeth IV thanks to a news camera platform that crashed through the dirigible.  Doctors had put him back together, giving him some extras that will come in handy with his next adventure:  a trip to Jupiter, the first gaseous planet to be explored by man.  If this type of story was more Clarke's usual output, I might be able to understand why he was considered one of the Big Three in science fiction.  The sense of adventure is neatly woven into the story, particularly the suppositions made by Clarke about what might be found on and above Jupiter if we continue with ever closer flybys that can delve deeper into the atmosphere.  I will say that the extent of Falcon's "enhancements" took me a bit by surprise, making me wonder just what was left of his physical self.  Best guess would be his brain and nothing else.  Fascinating and disturbing in equal measures.  4.5 out of 5.

 The Last Question by Isaac Asimov

As mankind's computers expand in knowledge and abilities, there is one question that is asked over the ages that doesn't receive an answer other than "insufficient data".  But as the millenniums pass and the Galaxy fills with life, immortal life, the question becomes ever more urgent.  How can you reverse or stop entropy?  The ending!!  I should've seen it coming, but surprisingly I didn't.  I really enjoyed the glimpses into how man and computers evolved over the trillions of years, yet both still struggled with the basic question of survival of that which provided power and life no matter how both learned and adapted.  Asimov, in this publication date of 1956, postulates solar power and mankind's increasing reliance on super computers, not to mention increasing overpopulation driving exploration even more than curiosity.  4.5 out of 5.

 Ah, Asimov.  So much incredible talent and so much wide-ranging interests he had. Surprisingly I’ve only read a few of his works, particularly the Foundation series and his I, Robot series, as well as some of his short stories.  I was more likely to read his non-fiction works, from science to the bible, or the short story collections he edited.  I would devour his introductions even more than the stories themselves. I’ve found the introductory biography on this author to be more enjoyable as Pohl had a lifetime friendship with Asimov, giving it that personal touch.

 It’s Such a Beautiful Day by Isaac Asimov

The day that the Hanshaw Door failed to operate was the day that 12-year-old Richard Hanshaw Jr. began to avoid using it to go to school and back home again.  Nothing his mother tried could deter him other than on rare unexplained occasions. Yet Dick didn't seem to mind using the Door to visit New York or Canton, China.  His mother reluctantly agrees with his teacher to take him to a psychiatrist for probing.  Asimov has provided a most prophetic story about how technology can cause people to withdraw from experiencing the outdoors.  The reasons and type of technology might be different, but the results wind up the same.  Video games, the internet, television, and other media all do the same. Thought-provoking.  4.5 out of 5.

 Strikebreaker by Isaac Asimov

Sociologist Steven Lamorak visits the first asteroid world in order to gather facts about Elseverse's society.  While there he learns it exists under a strict caste system. Igor Ragusnik's family has overseen waste reclamation for generations.  Unfortunately, this makes the family outcasts, unable to meet with nor interact with the rest of the community.  Igor has decided to go on strike until his family is accepted, although the leaders of Elseverse are determined to not give in.  The consequences for the community are dire if something isn't done.  Intriguing as well as an echo of other Earth-based castes such as the Untouchables in India.  A very disappointing solution by Lamorak.  And, frankly, I think his estimate as to how long changes would occur was out of line.  And, as a sociologist, Lamorak should know better.  3.5 out of 5.

 The Martian Way by Isaac Asimov

Earth is getting testy about the amount of water used by the Martian colony, especially that used for propulsion by the scavengers who catch shells discarded by rockets launched from Earth for their metal content.  After a year of politicians pontificating, a ration is set up, one that will essentially stop all scavenging.  Certain of the scavengers understand that this could be just the beginning of Earth’s hold on the colonies tightening.  The newest of the scavengers, Ted Long, encourages them to look elsewhere for their water, cut ties with Earth.  Long’s idea?  A newer source of water, the rings of Saturn.  The idea of using water for propulsion purposes in low or no gravity situations really isn’t that far-fetched, but as shown here it would require having a virtually endless supply available.  Asimov has another valid point.  For any colony to be truly valid, they must be self-sustaining.  3.5 out of 5.

 Disappearing Act by Alfred Bester

General Carpenter is leading the War for the American Dream, directing good citizens to become sharply honed tools.  His motto is “a job for everyone and everyone on the job”. After all, how else can they defend the American Dream of Beauty and Poetry and the Better Things in Life? Then a perplexing mystery appears in Ward T of the U.S. Army Hospital that requires an expertise not readily available in Carpenter’s America.  This was beyond a hoot!  And all too possible, at least in regard to a country so involved in a long-term war that they focus their attention on specific talents needed, not the softer interests.  I have little actual knowledge of Bester’s works.  I’ve always known the name, but somehow missed reading anything from him. This story tells me just what I’ve been missing, so I’m looking forward to the remainder of his section in this collection.  5 out of 5.

 Fondly Fahrenheit by Alfred Bester

James Vandaleur and his android are on the run after the android kidnaps and kills a child, something previously thought impossible. I don't know how to describe this. It is a confusing narrative with multiple fluid viewpoints.  Fluid as in it can be hard to understand who is narrating, whether there is two or three present during certain scenes.  Once farther into the story it gets easier to understand what Bester is up to.  But despite the initial confusion, this was an intriguing psychological story.  As Mr. Spock would say, fascinating.  4 out of 5. There's a short commentary following the story itself in which Bester discusses his writing process in general and regarding this particular story.  A nice glimpse into how the sausage is made.

  The Four-Hour Fugue by Alfred Bester

Pollution and a lack of great quantities of fresh water for bathing and cleaning has led to an increased use of perfume in the urban jungle slum of the Corridor.  When Dr. Blaise Skiaki's latest product development slows almost to a stop, the company he works for begins an investigation as to the reasons behind it. Mystery and romance over-layered with almost supernatural aspects.  More fantasy than science fiction in my opinion.  I also found the ending a bit rushed, but still adequate.  What I didn't like much and almost turned me off were the racist overtones, especially for a story published in 1974.  For example, the use of the term "gook" and the statement "slitty eyes that would need careful watching". Perhaps Bester was merely implying that the two characters involved with racist, but it was still bothersome to me. 3.5 out of 5.

  Hobson’s Choice by Alfred Bester

Addyer is a statistician by day, dreaming fantasist by night, wanting to live in another time period.  When he finds that, despite the ongoing war and the effects of the atom bombs, the population appears to be increasing, he pinpoints the epicenter to be in Finney County, Kansas.  Directed to go there, what Addyer finds is not even close to what he expected.  An interesting look at those who long to live in another time, with some reality checks regarding the differences that might be encountered.  As the immigration man says, every time is the Golden Age to someone other than the one that they live in.  3.5 out of 5.

  The City by Ray Bradbury

The City has waited for twenty thousand years for this moment.  A rocket filled with explorers from Earth has arrived.  The City awakens, at long last able to fulfill its programming. Creepy.  Very creepy tale of long forgotten actions that resonate with the hapless Earth men.  Short and sharp story.  3.5 out of 5.

  The Million-Year Picnic by Ray Bradbury

Timothy was no fool, even as young as he was.  He knew this sudden vacation was more than a fishing trip.  His mom and dad seem nervous.  To keep his younger brothers calm, Timothy plays along, waiting for his dad to explain. This short story turned out to be the first installment into what became THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES.  What this story did was setup the reason why the Mars community ever started, why the original colonists fled Earth.  THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES is one of my favorites and the first Bradbury book that I ever read.  This has me itching to read it again.  Sounds like a trip to the library is in my immediate future.  4 out of 5.  

  All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury

Venus only stops raining for two hours every seven years. The children don't remember it from the last time the sun came out as they were too young. Margot is the exception. A frail young girl whose appearance appears to be washed out with the constant rain, she desperately wants, needs to see the sun again. Children are brutally cruel, something Bradbury has shown in horrible prose. The ending was so horrible, yet so simple. Quite possibly one of the saddest stories I've read in quite a while, even if realistic. It made it hard to rate. 3.5 out of 5.

  There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury

A smart home continues its daily routine, from cleaning to cooking to announcing important dates, for days and days.  Doing its programmed tasks to empty rooms.  Talk about gut-wrenchingly sad.  That view outside the house can rip your heart out. And the dog.  4 out of 5.

  The Affluence of Despair by Ray Bradbury

The lure, the addiction of publicity, of seeing ourselves on television.  Not for our accomplishments and successes, only for the bad and the tragic.  A little over two pages and published in 1998, this is anything but fiction.  Take a good look at yourself, world.  4 out of 5.

#The SFWA Grand Masters #Frederik Pohl #Andre Norton #Isaac Asimov #Alfred Bester #Arthur C. Clarke #Ray Bradbury #collection #science fiction #book review #science fiction collection

[phynxrizng]

DECEMBERS ENERGY REPORT

SOURCE... [email protected] Search … December 2017 Energy Report by Jennifer | Dec 4, 2017 | 2017, awareness, blog, Boundaries, December 2017, determination, Energy, faith, joy, relationships, Spiritual Path, transformation | It’s the final month of 2017 and if we look back on the past 11 months we have a lot to celebrate, it has been quite a wild ride with lots of progress. When I hear thousands of people say ‘mass awakening’ to describe what they see happening in the world, I know we have succeeded greatly. Now we can use the energy of December to prepare for 2018, representing another level of master as it’s an 11 year. So it’s not surprising that the energy themes for December is grounding, which is transcension, alignment, and integration, and serenity, which is clarity and the state of being ‘composed’. Let’s look at how December begins – with a Mercury retrograde and a full moon supermoon. Full moons bring up a lot of emotional energy and they also light up the heavens and the earth. With a full moon the Sun shines on the Moon, they reflect each other. And this one is even more special as we look at the connection between the full moon, Mercury retro and Neptune. The full moon sets off Neptune (a square aspect) between the signs Gemini and Sagittarius. The short version of this longer astro story is, Gemini is the mind, Sag is higher thought and both are set off by Neptune, planet of illusion, spirituality, and the spiritual world. Think of it as the difference between low thinking and high thinking, knowing and wisdom, the chaotic, chattering mind and the serene, aware mind. This full moon on December 3rd is a movement from denial (which is both the inability and the unwillingness to see other potentials) to awareness, a state of expanded knowing, to release the limitations of fear, doubt, and confusion to expand into acceptance, self awareness, wisdom, and divinity. This is the point of intersection between human and spirit. This has been our soul mission for eons, integrating our divinity in our humanity for the achievement of congruent wholeness, not holiness as the church would have you believe. And if that isn’t enough we have more action this month (December is a huge turning point to prepare for 2018). Venus, representing value, worthiness, love and self love, and balance, hits 3 signs this month, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Capricorn. These are not Venus’ best signs to be in so they challenge her ability to maintain her self worth and serenity (another December energy theme) in tough situations. They are also the signs that deal with being in the world, especially Capricorn. How safe do you feel in the world? Have you been hibernating, afraid to shine your light? Does the world feel cold, ruthless, and dangerous to you? This starts to shift in December, opening to a much larger shift in 2018. We cannot open our hearts until we feel that our spiritual essence is safe and free from attack. One way to protect ourselves is to hibernate, another is to be serene and confident. Did you hear the Soul Trauma Healing Secrets free webinar? It is available for another 36 hours and you can register here (registration is required) and gain instant access to this 90 minute information packed free webinar. I think this is a reflection of what we are seeing in the world, the battle between the people and the ‘deep state’, overthrowing the self serving politics of governments and agencies for the benefit of humanity. If you don’t already know it, we are involved in this battle right now and while we’re making headway, the battle is not yet won but the light is being spread by many more people now, so the light work that was once the exclusive mission of the light ‘workers’ is now being shared by a greater collective. That’s a relief. Mars goes into Scorpio on the 10th and that’s a challenging placement because the planet of war can become a little too brashly confident in the sign of transformation. But it will be balanced out by Jupiter, also in Scorpio. Saturn makes its long awaited move into Capricorn on the 23rd where it will meet up with Pluto in early 2020. Saturn/Pluto conjunctions are rare and this one arrives at a pivotal time in our collective evolution and ascension. What happens when the planetary taskmaster meets up with the planet of deep transformation? We don’t have to wait for 2020 as it is beginning right now. Keep those lights shining, they are very necessary to maintain our ascension and 5D integration for the next few years. The most important energy activity this month is the Pluto/North Node aspect, at 150 degrees it is a very uncomfortable angle which is exact from November 25 to December 5. Take a look at what is happening in the political arena, the ‘mass awakening’ we are seeing in the world, the sexual harassment scandals, the government scandals, this is the result of this aspect. It’s also going to set the stage for what unravels in December, so watch for more reports of dirty deeds to hit the public awareness. The December 18 new moon lights up Saturn on its last day in Sagittarius as it prepares to move into Capricorn. This is a last hurrah before we get down to work. This fiery new moon also involves Venus, Eris, and Uranus, another reminder that the power of transformation is chugging along. December brings the promise of transformation but we have to hitch our own wagons to that star and keep the energy moving in the direction we want it to go. December’s first theme is grounding but this is less about maintaining the current stability of your own energy than it is to learn how to maintain that stability as you expand, integrate, align with, and anchor the energy you want to see in your life. If you want peace, love, joy, and prosperity, you have to create those energetic frequencies. They are not a random gift that magically appears in your life. They are a potential and potential without intention is vaporware. Potential needs to be grounded in our reality through intention and the world will be changed through our collective intention to create the world we want to live in. December’s second theme is serenity which means more than peace, calm, and quiet. It means having clarity and being ‘unclouded’. If we want serenity we have to remove those things that cloud our energy, which is our own fear, self doubt, and self judgment. As energetically sovereign beings we are in control of our individual and collective realities. We do get to call the shots, so to speak, but not when we are distracted and disloyal to our own power. No one takes our power from us, we give it away without realizing that in doing so we are robbing ourselves of the joy, love, peace, and prosperity that we wish we had. Being serene also means releasing your soul trauma, the painful energetic memory of lifetimes of trauma that serves the purpose of creating soul wounds to remind us of the karmic healing that is our life purpose but at some point it just drags us down energetically. And in order to move farther along the 5D integration and ascension path, we must make a conscious and deliberate choice to release ourselves and everyone involved in this karma. That time has come. Set yourself free by envisioning the energetic outcomes you want in your life and let them become real-ized in your reality. December has many opportunities for karmic release and forward movement. This does come with some challenges as releasing our karmic ties also shifts all of our relationships. In some cases we move to new levels together; in other cases we move apart. Don’t fear the outcome, let the energy flow where it needs to for the fulfillment of your joy. Whatever leaves your life gets replaced by something else. Use the energetic potential of December to clear out the dark corners and scary spaces to prepare for a masterful time in 2018 and a new level of 5D integration and ascension for everyone. ======================================= If you like this article and would like to work with me because you are ready for profound personal and spiritual transformation, consider a personal intuitive consultation or intuitive coaching, where we work together to examine your life path, purpose, potential, and possibilities and help you choose one that will bring you the joy, abundance, love, peace and power that you are ready for. Click here to explore the possibilities for transformation. Copyright (c) 2017 by Jennifer Hoffman. All rights reserved. You may quote, copy, translate and link to this article, in its entirety, on free, non-donation based websites only, as long as you include the author name and a working link back to this website. All other uses are strictly prohibited. Energetic Congruence, Christed Awareness, Martyred Healer, Empowered Master, Life Re-Vibed, Energetic Significance, Light Age, Light Beacon, and Enlightened Mastery are trademarks of Enlightening Life OmniMedia. High Vibes Living® is a registered trademark of Enlightening Life OmniMedia, Inc. Comments 0 comments  Submit a Comment Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *  Comment  Name *  Email *  Website Submit Comment  Notify me of follow-up comments by email.  Notify me of new posts by email. Soul Wound Healing Program  Release Soul Wounds now Surrender Course to Allow & Receive  Learn to Surrender so you can Allow & Receive Schedule a Session  Recent Posts December 2017 Energy Report Singularity, Uniqueness and Connection How Much Are You Paying for Parking? Judging, Judgment and Energy Flows November 2017 Energy Report Tags 3D 5D 2012 abundance alignment angels ascension awareness boundaries connection consciousness dimensions emotional energy emotions empowerment energy fear healing heart integration intention journey joy karma life purpose light LOVE manifest manifestation peace potential power purpose reality relationship relationships soul spirit spiritual transformation truth Universe vibration victim wholeness Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress SOURCE, JENNIFER HOFFMAN/ENLIGHTNINGLIFE.COM REPOSTED BY, PHYNXRIZNG

[twinflameshardcore]

End of the old Earth - September 23 - oh yes!

Of other things, there’s actually a good reason why it had been brought lately by some 'Bible followers’* that 09/23/2017 brings the end of the Earth, a catastrophe, Nibiru’s return or whatever. Guess what. Considering another planet’s alignment (with Jupiter and Virgo included) and the fall/spring equinox that day, it will be a (welcome!) ‘catastrophe’, just as 2012 was! >:))

(source: Stellarium software)

It will be the end of their old school control over our minds and bodies, end of pleasing others, end of old teachings, the mental and emotional harassment to lay low and act like a worthless zero, fearful, the end of threatening us with god’s anger, death, and destruction for sins we never made, and the scare against the Red Dragon specifically. I don’t know if the Red Dragon comes soon or in 2036 (the Fire Dragon’s year) or if it’s already here in all abusive countries making people wake up, stand up, look around, speak aloud and take action.

The Red Dragon may appear in the least expected place. The dragon is the wisdom & truth which the Catholic Church had been trying to cover and fears as they’re liars and they made up something to rule over this planet. The Red Dragon is the true Life Force, the Chi energy, independent free-thinker, vital, sexual, fiery, wise, omnipotent, and multi-talented. It depicts everything the Catholic Church (Islam & Judaism too) had been trying to tame, especially in Europe, Africa, Australia and South America between XII-XV centuries. One religion triggers the birth of another, with more dualities, stirring more conflict and wars, to fight ‘in the name of 1 exclusive god who is best then any other’. The most harmful, forced procedure is a conversion from a pure, happy spirit into a ‘dirty’ sinner, mortal who must pay cash to be ‘purged’. Conversion to any religion from a non-religious state of pure spirit is a rape performed on said spirit.

The coming of the Red Dragon means the ultimate end of lies of the Church and all organized religions in the eyes of billions of people. Not that bishops will shut up. It’s the people who will find a detachment in their hearts, minds and spirits to not give any more energy - attention, thoughts and money to, but also and against religions. Often when we dislike something we nevertheless engage into criticizing which is also giving one’s energy to that negative force which created the topic, and feeds with. Religions will die out without attention. If there’s a venue but nobody wants to perform at and watch, it gets abandoned, it loses sponsors and supporters. The only answer people can give to the Church is ‘No!’, because they should know by now where love and peace can be found - in their own hearts and in activities which make their hearts truly happy. Churches will be abandoned and forgotten. Cardinals and bishops will not be given any more grants, easy money, they will not be invited to bless a new company, street, condo, or a governor. They’ll no more decide if a person can be buried on a cemetery owned by the Church. Or if a woman should undergo abortion or not, or if a pharmacy can sell ‘abortion’ pills, or even condoms to young women and men. All this sexuality makes the Church jealous because they have formally deprived themselves of it, yet their bodies are screaming for sex because it’s a human thing to have and they’re mostly men in this ‘service to humanity’. Sex, when supported with love, trust, connection, stability means pure joy, yet it’s a process of releasing dualities which we humans were pushed into, of harmonization, balancing, and a creation of the most powerful 3rd energy in union (and unison even better!) which makes us closer to angelic beings as we used to be. Instead, priests and cardinals end up shooting movies with abused little boys grabbed from a choir then are forgiven and covered by the Vatican. I’m foreseeing that churches will be transformed into places for art, dance, music and spirit, ran and owned by non-religious, yet spiritual, artistic people to enjoy their free spirits and co-create, as these places usually have a capacity and architecture prepared to capture a lot of vibration to resonate well. How many priests will leave the Church to pretend they’re different now, to keep the money flow? :] What will the Vatican do? Move out on Mars accompanied by NASA and Elon Musk? Hey, we’ve been there. All they’re looking for are lost, buried weapons and skeletons in corridors below the surface. We’ve lost Venus, we’ve lost Mars and if changes are not made, we may lose Earth too if the oceans pollution continues. So far oceans are treated like a bag for everything, from regular cans to trashed satellites, rockets and nuclear tests. The BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is the one to blame for the latest increase of hurricanes in that area, plus weather control which is no more needed as the ozone layer returns to its previous, healthy state but the weather control had done more damage than it was supposed to help.

The Red Dragon is the symbolical sea of living anger of pure spirits, old souls who were suppressed in their natural progression for million years. It is a consciousness of wisdom which not only opens the eyes and hearts but also stirs an angry response towards those who have abused us for so long. Religion, banks, government, husbands, wives, children, parents, employers and employees, social media owners etc etc etc = a total revolution is underway. Angelics cannot develop any further when we still need to beg for money every week, being slaves in companies where we do not do what enjoys us, paid little and demanded much, underestimated when we create art, novels, movies, music, handmade stuff and when consumers demand it almost for free. We cannot move any further in our Ascension if all these limitations, a lack of understanding and empathy exist. The split will occur because it is our wish to move on, to burn bridges while we leave the rest of the population to their own devices.

2012 was also announced as the ‘end’ year and yet it was the end - of the waiting, of old consciousness, of limitation; those who were meant to meet, they have met as promised and wished for. We recognized w/ my twin in 2012. And guess what? 2012 was the year of the Water Dragon. Mayans, Aztects respected a snake. Snake and Dragon, are very meaningful in many ancient cultures, they appear under similar names and may also be depicted alike (the Euro dragon is different to the Eastern dragon, but for instance Wikings’ dragons when used for a boat decoration were similar to snakes). It was in 2012 when it ate its tail = the snake/dragon had learnt about himself and became ready to advance to another level. And so the next cycle started then. Our eyes felt bigger and dry, colors looked more intense and shapes were sharper, reality felt closer, separation was temporarily gone.

I’m not saying that it’s all related to a dragon but myths and legends and also religions always try to slain the dragon/snake, as if symbolically to prevent the advancement of the Earth, the truth for the humans, the change of the linear time into quantum etc, the overall progress and transformation. Myths and legends were mostly made to scare people against monsters - the reason for why the fear of unknown, ugly, non-humanoid, and overall different was created. The ancient reason for racism and hatred towards minorities too. Obviously, there were also nice, and happy legends ;) We’ll welcome the Wood Dragon in 2024 (numerological 44=8) but in 2036 (56=11) we’ll have the year of the Fire Dragon again. It’s another cycle too - Water lets the Wood grow. The Wood lets the Fire burn. We’re 5 & 6 (33) with my twin thus 11 together. I only hope we won’t need to wait that long to start living together as it would make us enjoy only several years together before we die, with over 20 years in LDR. Ugh. I didn’t volunteer for such a drama. I will be 60 years old in 2036 = 60 = 3+3 ;)

When I get ready I’ll write about who Seraphim, Dragons and Draconians are, as I’ve received from my higher self to shed some new light on the topic. I carry the essence of these.

*(Genesis seems to be the only chapter left alone because this Universe was was always about genes, creation, while other chapters were altered for the purpose of the Church’s expansion and killing the remained truth, wisdom, burning wise healers, channelers, free people who only follow their heart and rebel against taking alien’s contradictory ‘rules’ into their pure spirit).

[This post is copyrighted by the author of this blog who prefers to remain anonymous. My posts must not be used for commercial purposes of any kind. Respect my work - ask first before you copy, always include a link back to my site when you quote a part of my writing!]

#bible #seraphim #dragons #red dragon #religions #end of the world #september 23 #2309 #fall equinox #vatican