#i just find it interesting how as you go through life you develop a philosophy and methodology of navigating the world

[wangxianficrecs]

💙 Away from Trouble by Ilona22

💙 Away from Trouble

by Ilona22

M, 15k, Wangxian

Summary: An overheard conversation changes the way Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian part before he ascends Baoshan Sangren's mountain. From that point onwards, things go differently. Kay's comments: The story that made me fall in love with Ilona22 as a writer! I was immediately gone, the story was just too much to my liking. I'm just so weak for stories where Wei Wuxian thrives outside of the cultvation sects. Here, he leaves after the Golden Core transfer, because Jiang Cheng told him to get lost. Luckily, he soon finds his footing again without a trip to the Burial Mounds, since he didn't wait around for Jiang Cheng. Thanks to Wen Qing, he even has the hope to cultivate a new golden core, but for now, he finds a new profession, as a travelling painter. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji pines. I loved how the canon divergence played out in this story and just the found family vibes of it all. Excerpt: The during their conversation, they had all introduced themselves, too. The monk was Lu Lei, the other man was Lu Zhao. The later was an artist and calligrapher of some renown, Wei Ying had admired one of his paintings on Jiang-Zongzhu’s wall in his study. Lu Lei was the abbot of his monastery. The two of them new each other for a long time, and Lu Zhao had painted for the other on several occasions. Though he was more known for his paintings of plants and scenery. Lu Lei was highly skilled in the healing arts. And unwilling to let his patient escape, especially as he had saved both of them. As Wei Ying had guessed, neither was even slightly skilled at fighting. And so, Wei Ying agreed to travel with them. It turned out to be a good decision. Over the next two weeks, he rested and recovered, spending a lot of time talking with the two men. It were long conversations, often about heavy topics, as Wei Ying finally had the time to grieve the friends he had lost during the fall of Lotus Pier, and to adjust to the changes his life had gone through in such a short time. But they also had a lot of fun discussing art styles and philosophy. Lu Lei and him had several long talks about cultivation, and it was fascinating to learn more about the non-martial styles practiced by monks. Lu Lei was interested in his thoughts about talismans. The first time someone was so willing to talk about the branch of cultivation Wei Ying had always quietly hoped to be able to eventually gain his mastery in. In Lotus Pier, that would have been difficult. But now, he had realized during those conversations, there was no reason not to pursue that path. And so, slowly, he had come to look forward to this new chapter in his life.

pov alternating, canon divergence, wei wuxian leaves the yunmeng jiang sect, wen remants live, wen remants deserve better, families of choice, artist wei wuxian, rogue cultivator wei wuxian, golden core transfer fix-it, lan wangji/wei wuxian get a happy ending, mutual pining, developing relationship, not jiang cheng friendly, genius wei wuxian, inventor wei wuxian, sunshot campaign, love confessions

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

#Wangxian Fic Rec #The Untamed #Wangxian #MDZS #Kay's Rec #Kay's Favorite #January 2023 #Away from Trouble #Ilona 22 #Mature #medium fic 15k-49k #pov alternating #canon divergence #wei wuxian leaves the yunmeng jiang sect #wen remants live #wen remants deserve better #families of choice #artist wei wuxian #rogue cultivator wei wuxian #golden core transfer fix-it #lan wangji/wei wuxian get a happy ending #mutual pining #developing relationship #not jiang cheng friendly #genius wei wuxian #inventor wei wuxian #sunshot campaign #love confessions

[lightparty-fullparty]

Oh, would you look at the time? It's me having thoughts about Zenos O'clock.

This time, I want to break down what I think the central concept of who and what Zenos is. And why he lives in my brain rent free.

At his core, Zenos is a character who does not understand, nor is himself understood by other people. I don't think that's a very controversial or even new thing to say. It's repeared and reinforced at several points during the narrative, across multiple expansions. Lyse does not understand him at the Royal Menagire, Varis does not understand him at Garlemald, Jullus does not understand him at Camp Broken Glass.

They do not understand who Zenos is as a person. What he values, or what he cares about.

Zenos is shaped by absence. An absence of purpose, motivation, drive. An absence of connections, friendships, love.

Let's break it down.

The Absence of Purpose:

This is his boredom. What fuels his need to find a challenge. That spark of something, anything, to break through the utter tedium of his daily life. The short story claims that he has always been incredibly gifted. Learning and absorbing information with little effort and incredible speed. Before his new swordsmanship instructor, Zenos has never found anything difficult to do. He has not been sufficently challenged. Nothing has managed to retain his interest because he has mastered it too easily. He is a child, and he is tired of his life.

The encounter he had with the Corvosi tutor/assassin was the first instance where Zenos failed to achieve something immediately. Where he had to exert mental and physical effort. Where he developed a desire to overcome repeated instances of failing.

This is why he is desperate to recreate that feeling of challenge. Why he thinks that combat is the only available source he has. Because nothing, absolutely nothing else up to this moment, has done what his instructor did. Made him fail. Made him feel.

What this does to his outlook is narrow Zenos' world view. It gives him a single desire to recreate the feeling of motivation and drive he had towards finally besting his instructor. This is why I think Zenos was content to go along with the Empire's conquest of Eorzea and the rest of Hydalyn. Because it gave him the opportunity to battle. To test himself against other warriors who maybe, just maybe, would give him the same feeling his instructor did.

Nothing else mattered because nothing else made Zenos feel much of anything. It was all the same. Tedious. Bording. Easy.

To Zenos, the pursuit of a person's goal doesn't require any greater justification other than "It's what I want to do." You do things because they serve your greater purpose. You eat to keep yourself alive so you can train, so you can be strong enough for combat. That's it. There is no enjoyment, no pleasure, to be found in the daily living of life. The only moment of catharsis is finally reaching the end.

Zenos does not care about why the Empire is conquering the world. The Emporer simply wants to, that's it. To Zenos, all of the reasoning of "making the world better" of "spreading the glory of Garlemald" does. Not. Matter. Because it does not change the core belief that people do things because they want to.

Jullus asks him why? Zenos asks him why that even matters. People do things because they want to or because it allows them to achieve the thing they want. That's it. That's all. There is never a greater meaning than that. No dressing it up in philosophy or politics. It won't change the outcome of the actions. It doesn't affect anything at all. The dead are still dead. Zenos still wants his fight. Garlemald still wants its glory.

Jullus here is confronted by Zenos' nihilism. The realization that there is no justification. No meaning. Not for Zenos. Not for Garlemald. Not for anything. The reason is meaningless because the reason doesn't change a single damn thing.

And yet. How can we say that the reason never matters? Never changes things? How can we look at FFXIV as a story and say that this is right?

Reason is everywhere. Reason gives context and produces empathy. Understanding. Of course, you resent the outcome less when you understand that the problem was caused by someone trying to help. To make something positive. That it was a simple mistake instead of a purposeful act of harm.

This is where the second absence comes into play. This is where tragedy lies.

The Absence of Connection:

Zenos has no friends. No family bonds. No companionship. No understanding of other people. He sees people only in terms of his own goal. Weak and boring. Or strong and interesting. His emotional range is severely restricted. Fluctuating between bored or frustrated. Anything else only comes to the front after his encounter with the Warrior of Light. Where a faint hope is sparked that this person might just be the one to challenge him. This blazes to life at the Royal Menagire, and Zenos spends the rest of the game chasing that fading comet.

The short story shows us a bleak view of Zenos' life as a child. His mother is dead, and he has no memory of her. His father is absent, dismisive, and uncaring.

The servants and staff around are mere robots to Zenos. Implying they have little to no personal interaction with him. Or are so chained by the rules of Garlean High Society that they can not interact with him or risk punishment. On top of this, I believe that Zenos was also being taught due to the war propaganda, that these servants (possoble taken from conquered nations) were lesser. Were not people. Were to not be seen and not be spoken to.

His tutors were boring. Since lessons were easy and rote. Other children held no interest because Zenos was so far beyond them mentally. I imagine that given his genius that the average child his age must have seemed like a toddler to him. Zenos has never had a peer. Someone of equal standing. Someone he could connect with or was able to empathize with. I highly doubt that anyone else around him found lessons and training to be so easy. Who found living itself to be dull.

Zenos IS an island. Zenos IS alone. And this affected him deeply. He has never learned what a healthy connection with someone else is. His emotional development was so utterly stunted and warped that it left him unable to empathise. To Zenos, his life has been so empty of warmth and care for him that he is unable to feel that towards other. Due to this, he can not understand motivations outside of his own narrow scope. To Zenos, life has never had any meaning, outside of his pursuit of challenge. Whereas others around him, who struggle, who fail, have always had this deep rooted purpose of striving to improve and succeed. Their dreams and goals pushing them forwards because it doesn't come easy. So here we have this isolated, empty, genius. Who has never struggled, has never managed to connect with anyone. Chasing desperatedly after the one, singular person in his life who managed to change that. it's so important that he called the Warrior of Light his 'First Friend'. The first person Zenos has been challenged by, who has sparked insterest. Who he has connected to. I do believe that, as least for the 'cannon events' of FFXIV, the Meteor Survivor Box Art timeline, the Warrior of Light does have things in common with Zenos. The enjoyment of a good fight. A want to face tough opponents, to seek greater and greater challenge. Zenos sees this, and for the first time in his life, he is able to in part understand someone else. He is only able to return this gift of purpose and connection in the same way he recieved it. By throwing himself at the WoL in combat. To try and recreat that spark he felt. This is also the reason, I think, that Zenos didn't change his approach after he resurected into EleZenos. I don't think he ment to come back. It was an accidently biproduct of the Resonant. Zenos was suddenly faced with the possiblity that he was now immortal, and I think the implication that his life of utter tediom would never end drove him to chase the WoL all the harder. He needed something to give him meaning and purpose, or be faced with a bleak eternaty forevermore.

This is what Alisiae is able to see. Past all of Zenos' outward neutrality and boredom, she saw that desire in him to keep that connection with the WoL. That's why she called him out on it, becuase Zenos did not understand himself and his emotions enough to idenitfy what it was he really wanted. A friend.

#ffxiv #final fantasy xiv #zenos yae galvus #ghostly rambles #I am obsessed with him #I love him so much as a character #he is my blorbo #blorbo from my game

[thrashkink-coven]

Lord Hermes says not to brag about the results until the work is done, so I won’t say too much about our experience together, but I do want to thank him for his advice and openness with me last night. We haven’t fully established a working relationship just yet, but he did make an appearance in my work, on my altar during a conversation with Lord Lucifer last night.

These next few months will bring lots of change and new opportunities, my main goal in our work together is to harness my energy into doing and experiencing new things, places, and parts of myself. I want to get involved with the social justice movements happening in my community. I feel a responsibility to do my part in improving not only myself, but my community. I need to involve myself in mutual aid and charity, I now know that this is an important part of my life that I’ve been missing. Things are just too bad outside right now to stay inside and do nothing. I need to be the change I want to see in the world, it’s not debatable anymore. That’s what Hermes helped me out with last night, accepting that I need to change for the betterment of everyone around me. As much as Hermes is highly involved with travel and commerce, he’s also the God of change and communication. Using my words and my beliefs to make a positive change in other people’s situations. Finding the right words to express the truth. He told me that I am already blessed with the art of language (thanks Jophiel) and my way of thinking and choice of words is much needed in activism.

I want to learn new things and see new people- help new people as well as myself. Hermes says that this will be a slow but rewarding process. It will take a lot of commitment and dedication to learning and unlearning. It will take a lot of discomfort and awkwardness. Mistakes will be made. He said that I must decide what my philosophy is and stay absolutely true to it through judgement and adversity. This is a work that must be done, not for credit or fame but for the empowerment of myself and my people.

As much as I adore Hermes, my relationship with him last night felt a lot more relaxed. I didn’t get those butterflies or anything like that, and I think that’s because he was being more serious. He lightened up at times, but when we started talking about my goals and plans for the future, he really locked in. It verified to me how incredibly wise he is. He’s so funny and relaxed because he’s so damn smart. He asked me multiple times if I was really ready for this next step, not in a doubtful way, just in a way that made it clear that he was serious about working with me, which was actually really nice. He expressed that “there is no right time to decide to change, you simply must” and that it would be my own anxieties that prevent me from reaching my max potential. Lucifer said something very similar before he introduced Hermes into the space. I do feel ready, although I know that I need to take this slow. My problem is that I rush into things at 100%, and quickly burn out. This is going to take a lot of time and slow growth, slow building of skills and intellect, Hermes made it very clear that we are in this for the long haul.

He also congratulated me on my relationship with Lady Aphrodite and Lucifer. When I first approached Hermes, he rejected me, the main reason being that I still had SO much development to go through with Lucifer and Venus. He called me a whore lol, saying that until I fully give my heart to my relationship with Lucifer, he would never work with me. He was absolutely right, and I’m happy that he made me aware of that, because I truly am a different, wiser person than I was the first time I approached him. I had planned to approach Hermes during the huge solar eclipse on April 8th, but last night Lucifer ushered him in, saying that I was ready now. I basically said “I want to but I don’t want to delude myself by getting my hopes up if he’s not interested in me yet”, and Lucifer was like “well, he’s here so buckle up” LMAO

Hermes also reminded me very heavily to communicate with and create a relationship with Lady Hecate, saying that my relationships with Cerberus and Faviel should have already lead me to her by now. Which, they have subtly been nudging me her way, I just haven’t found the right words and offerings to give to her. I believe I may have introduced myself to one of her archetypes with Cerberus, but Im yet to approach her in a working relationship. Hermes understood this and called it wise, but advised me not to wait too long. I think the lunar eclipse will be a great opportunity to finally give her the recognition she deserves. He told me that his work with me would make me a master of alchemy and elemental theory, he would teach me the refined art of spell craft. But Hekate is the master of energetic direction, while Hermes can help me be well studied, Lady Hecate can help me use those studies practically and see the results of my work truly manifest in a powerful and influential way.

Anyways, sorry for the yap fest. I thought that as soon as the candles went out I would create a chaotic and excited post like HERMES FINALLY NOTICED ME AAAA!!! But since giving it some time and sleeping on it, I feel a lot less !!!!!!!!!!!!!! about it. Don’t get me wrong I am SO excited, but I’m more so appreciative. This isn’t going to just be my winged footed bff, he has a lot of hard work and studying for me to consume myself with. I’m lucky to have been in his presence and I am infinitely thankful to him for his help.

Ave Lord Hermes! Thank you!

#witchcraft #magick #occultism #pagan #demonology #paganism #witch community #witch aesthetic #witchblr #grimoire #hermes deity #lucifer devotee #lucifer deity #deity work #deity witchcraft #deity worship

[multiplicity-positivity]

Hey i have a question, how do i develop my own identity as a headmate? i was the host when we figured out we're plural, so i never really did as much self discovery as other headmates did, and i'm now realizing i don't have much of an identity. like i don't have any hobbies or interests outside of out collective ones.

Hi! There’s lots of things you can do to develop your own identity as a headmate outside of your system’s collective interests and identities.

Ralsei (hiya!) put together a template for getting to know other system members a while back. Maybe you could use it to try and get to know yourself?

We’d also recommend doing stuff like:

Answering plural, headmate, and alter ask games! You can find a bunch by searching for the “#plural ask game” and “#system ask game” tags on Tumblr!

Doing self-reflection! Spend some time thinking about yourself and who you are. What do you want in life? What are your aspirations? Does anything stand out to you or sound interesting that may not be exciting for the rest of your system?

And most importantly…

Try! New! Things!

Experiment with everything! Try all sorts of new foods, listen to different kinds of music, try and learn a new skill or hobby that has even passively caught your interest! Play with your gender identity and expression! Question your sexuality and how you experience attraction! Learn about alterhumanity, kintypes, and what it means to be nonhuman! Read all kinds of books and watch lots of different movies and shows! Spend time learning about different religious, philosophies, values, and schools of thought! And through all of this, don’t be afraid if the things that draw your interest vary vastly from what the rest of your system is into. It’s okay to be different, and this process can help you develop into your own headmate with different tastes from the rest of your system!

As you go on this journey of self-discovery, not everything you try is going to click with you. And that’s okay! Just keep trying new things, and as you discover more about who you are, don’t be afraid to express this and be yourself! Of course, this is a process that will likely take some time, so please don’t be too discouraged if you’re having trouble figuring yourself out after a few weeks of experimentation! With time and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone, we really think you may find it gets easier for you to develop your own identity!

Good luck with this! We hope the process of developing your identity goes smoothly for you, and that you can have a lot of fun along the way!

🌷 Corrie and 💚 Ralsei

#headmate identity #alter identity #identity development

[isiscelestia]

These are my predictions and advice for the Saturn in Pisces transit. This is my first time posting a transit interpretation for each rising sign, so please be nice! I hope you all enjoy❤️

SATURN IN PISCES

- Aries rising (Pisces 12H): Lucky for you, Saturn enjoys being in the 12th house. Prepare to go on some deep self discovery. Saturn in Pisces will be helping you with introspection into the dark, unseen parts of yourself. Think about the parts of yourself that you keep hidden from the rest of the world. I recommend doing shadow work during this transit because you need to do some soul searching. Find out what you love and hate about yourself and your past. Learn to embrace not just what you like about yourself, but all aspects of you. This is a wake up call, a new journey is about to embark and a different (a more mature you) is coming out on the other end. Your subconscious wants structure, improvement, an overall better you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Be careful with substances, drinking, or other things you could be addicted to (food, social media, etc).

- Taurus rising (Pisces 11H): You are beginning to reevaluate your role/position in your friend groups and community. Take the opportunity to strengthen your boundaries with people. Who around you is beneficial and who isn’t? Who enables you? Who adds structure to your life and who adds confusion? These are some questions you may be asking yourself. Don’t be afraid to retreat or go into hermit mode to really decipher who you call your friend and your community. Your relationship with the internet (social media perhaps) will also be causing some strife. Learn how to limit your time on social media and do not let it distract you. It is time for you to learn how to stop letting your habit/obsession with social media be the blockade for your goals and manifestations. Take the time and put in the work into your aspirations! Don’t feed into peer pressure, learn how to add structure into your social life, and remember to stay on top of the work you need to do to accomplish your goals.

- Gemini rising (Pisces 10H). I don’t know if you know it or not, but people will be having their eyes on you! I need this group to push their creative image. Whether you do music, art, write, or others, this is a great opportunity to showcase this side of you to the world. Even if it’s not creativity, it could be your emotions, your dreams, or even your interest in the occult. What you decide to show about yourself is becoming your reality. Prepare to add some discipline in your life, this is the push you need. Be careful with getting side tracked from your goals and remember to stick to your plans, but remember to not go overboard. Remember that other aspects of your life need focus too, not just your career and image.

- Cancer rising (Pisces 9H): Are ready to embark on a deeper spiritual journey! This transit is about to have you asking the right questions about your faith, what do you believe? If you are in school you may be questioning why you’re there, or you may start getting impatient about going to the next level after school. My advice is to not rush anything, you need to dot your i’s and cross your t’s. This transit is great for introspection into religion, spirituality, and philosophy. Thinking critically is a big theme during this transit, but be sure to use discernment. Stay away from the fakes and the zealots! Also stay away from the “holier than thou” people and don’t develop that rhetoric either!

- Leo rising (Pisces 8H): Be ready to start building financial wealth and fortune! It will not be an easy feat and you will have to stay on top of what you need to do for material gain. This transit will also help you connect in a deeper sense; just know that secrets will be revealed. You are about to go through some transformation and inner growth, especially when it comes to being comfortable with your shadow self. Make sure that you are careful around bodies of water, especially the ocean. Learn how to trust your intuition, especially if you are putting more work into your spiritual journey and practices.

- Virgo Rising (Pisces 7H): I see someone is about to be reevaluating their personal relationships. I want you all to be upping your standards in this department because the people in your life are about to show you who they really are, and no this is not just about romantic relationships! Even thought it can be about a romantic relationship, your relationships in general are about to change. Stay away from friends and partners who are not clearly communicating with you, and if their intentions with you are not clear then maybe you need to reevaluate that relationship. Things could get mucky here because you may experience your boundaries being crossed or you could have trouble with discernment in your relationships. My best advice is to trust your gut on this, and take off the rose-colored glasses. This is the time for you to try and see who people really are because if you don’t it could turn into a situation where you will be dragged down with them.

- Libra rising (Pisces 6H): Take extra care of your bodies! What you put into your body is important and how you treat your body is important. You may be noticing that certain foods/substances not going well with you, or you may even be thinking about trying new things for your health. Physical wellness is taking a forefront in your life. If you are working, your job will be testing your patience and I say that this is a good thing you should experience. If you don’t learn patience in the workplace/patience when working with others during this transit you will crash and burn. Add structure into your daily routine because this transit will be teaching you about responsibility. As long as you stay vigilant and patient, in the end you will come out victorious. Be sure to take care of your immune system during this time and beware of foot injuries.

- Scorpio rising (Pisces 5H):During this transit you have to learn how to limit how much you are partaking in your pleasures. Overconsumption could be an issue during this time because we all need to learn that too much of a good thing could be a bad thing! Being spontaneous will not come easy but my solution to this is being open to things you weren’t open to before. Please don’t over analyze your productivity because it will affect your self expression and creativity. Right now you should be working on creating an environment and a lifestyle that truly reflects you. You may be attracting older romantic partners or your love life may feel slow/inactive, but be sure not to rush any connection. Stay away from people who hinder your self expression and people who refuse to see you for who you truly are.

- Sagittarius rising (Pisces 4H): What truly makes you feel secure? What makes you comfortable? To answer these questions you need to look back at your roots. You will be going through some life-altering changes when you do look deep into your family history. All of you won’t be moving but you will feel the need to reorganize your space for your own comfort. If you are moving or reorganizing your space, be sure that you are prepared to take on that responsibility. In this capitalistic world, your home should be where you feel safe. If you don’t feel comfortable or relaxed in your own home, then how can you get adequate rest? Also, building your safe haven won’t be done in a day or a week. Just know that it will take time, but be sure to put in good effort.

- Capricorn rising (Pisces 3H): The way you think and the way you speak is going to change for the better. Move away from close/mindedness and learn how to do some real introspection. This is not the time to only think at a surface level because it is not fulfilling and it’s hindering your growth. Work on being able to communicate clearly and openly. During this time you may be getting a lot of brain fog or feel like your brain is being overactive. Learn how to not overthink and jump to conclusions because the things you see and hear may not be the way they are. This is why I said earlier that you need to learn introspection and think outside of your usual viewpoint.

- Aquarius rising (Pisces 2H): This transit is going to be all about finances, material, and self-worth. I think this group should learn to not associate their self-worth with the material they have. I think this group is going to learn how detrimental it is to put all their time and effort into financial and material growth only. Yes adding structure to your life and being responsible (this means not being frivolous) should be helpful to your pockets, but this should not be where all your validation is coming from. Your finances should not be the only thing you’re putting all your effort in. Sit and think about why your self worth comes from material and unpack that. Beware of people in your life who are using you for material because they are not presenting themselves that way on the outside.

- Pisces rising (Pisces 1H): The rose-colored glasses are coming off and you will truly see yourself for what/who you really are. Do you like yourself? Do you like what you’re becoming? Take your time when you are deciphering what changes you want to make to yourself and your appearance. You may even begin to be self conscious but in the end you should learn how not to be so self critical and superficial. Let go of what you think you should be/look, and focus on what makes you feel good. During this time you should be working on erasing the illusions that you have because it is not beneficial for you, and in the end you will be coming out a new you! Beware of being delusional and not being real with yourself. Inconsistency in your life should not be tolerated at this time either, people who love themselves are consistent!

#saturn #pisces #pisces saturn #saturn in pisces #saturn transit #tropical astrology #whole signs #western astrology #modern astrology #traditional astrology #rising sign

[randomidiocyncrazies]

daaaaaaamn new ep of Gwitch CRAZY!!! it’s a total cliff hanger in which nothing really gets resolved lol, but since there’s gonna be a break between the two cours it makes sense why they don’t wanna show their hand

spoilers and initial thoughts under the cut

the theme of character A doing something horrible to save character B, only for character B is lose all trust in them was interesting. It touches on the idea that in wartime and extreme situations, the morals of survival becomes muddied. If you’re saved through immoral (or at least ethically dubious) means, how do you interact with the person who saved you? can you forgive them? can you live with yourself, knowing what it took for your life to be saved?

We see it with Nika and the Earth House kids, as well as Suletta and Miorine at the end. Without Nika all the Earth House kids would’ve been crushed by Sophie, and the only reason they didn’t get slaughtered is because Nika managed to call them off using secret callsigns. We don’t know how much the Earth kids have put Nika’s background together, and we don’t know far their mistrust of her goes just yet, but the shock and betrayal in Martin’s voice signals that she’s going to have to deal with the fall out soon. (I expect we’ll get a range of reactions again, since the Earth kids are a diverse bunch. Some would probably see her as a monster for being part of a terrorist group, others would argue that they’d all be dead without her etc.)

Miorine’s reaction is more concrete: she is absolutely horrified and disgusted by Suletta squashing the attacker and acting totally nonchalant about it. She knows she and her father would’ve 100% died without Suletta flattening the guy like a pancake, but Suletta’s cheerful demeanor is so creepy and off-putting that she is monstrous to Miorine (which Prospera might take advantage of, to isolate Suletta and make Suletta more dependent on her???)

Note that Prospera and Suletta also had a variant of the “A does something morally dubious to save B”—and while Suletta was initially conflicted, Prospera is so good at manipulating Suletta that Suletta agrees with her philosophy very quickly, and becomes willing to kill. Prospera has successfully created a child soldier who is willing to kill people she views as enemies with little to no hesitation in order to protect the people she loves. How far could Prospera twist Suletta’s perception of who the enemy is?

As for the corporate/tech stuff... we find out that the Antidote doesn’t work for Gundams beyond Parmet Score 3, and I think there are going to be 2 factions going forward: one side wants to develop a better Antidote, and the other wants to focus on developing their own Gundams. this would most likely escalate into a war fought using Gundams—which was supposedly the reason why Vanadis Institute was wiped out, with the ethical crisis being war machines that kills their own pilots should not exist—and could be part of what Prospera/Elnora is going for with her revenge.

Also, Vim Jeturk is now dead, so Jeturk Heavy Machinery would have to deal with a succession crisis. When Shaddiq’s involvement comes to light (which it absolutely will), Jeturk and Grasseley would probably explicitly become enemies—and I doubt Shaddiq being un-adopted/thrown out will solve the problem.

Of course, Jeturk was in on the plan to assassinate Delling, so both Grasseley and Jeturk would most likely lose a lot stock if it ever gets out. With El5n’s comment about staying out of that whole mess, I think Peil Tech might have the advantage going forward regarding the corporate stuff? Like, in terms of starting on a stable front and not having to deal with internal upheaval due to this event.

(That said, I absolutely think El5n is going to screw El0n and/or the Piel CEOs over... he does have a wicked personality after all.)

Shaddiq’s non-reaction to the assassination plot failing is also interesting; I don’t really have clear thoughts about that right now, but I do wonder if he actually cares about Grasseley Defense and his adoptive father. tbh i can’t really get a read on his motivations, so... he most likely has a plan for either outcome of the assassination plot, but I don’t really get why he’s doing the stuff he’s doing. (ALSO i just wanna know how he recruited his squad... so far they’re devoted to his goals, even when he casually talks about splintering the Benerit Group and blatantly goes behind his adoptive father’s back, they Sabina knows he’s been plotting Benerit Group’s downfall for years...)

And Guel... bro’s been through so much and now he has to deal with the fact that he accidentally killed his father. I honestly don’t know how his character arc will develop, but I do want him to be kinda okay by then end of it (unlikely, but still.) My friend and I thought he’d become Suletta’s ally, but after watching this ep i’m less confident of that.

tbh the specifics of Vim’s death bothers me a little? Guel has good knowledge of his company’s products, and the way he was acting after he incapacitated his opponent (his dad) suggests that he wasn’t going for a killing blow—so the fact that Vim got so fucked up and his suit explodes quickly afterwards felt a little weird to me. not so much that it’s unconvincing tho (and accidents happen all the time, especially in extreme situations like armed conflict).

like... if Vim had answered Guel’s initial intercom communications instead of trying to kill him, this entire thing wouldn’t have happened. parents, remember to communicate with your kids: it could literally be a life or death situation

EDIT: I have since re-watched the scene, and during the battle Guel was under pressure to fight back and survive however he could. I don’t think he necessarily intended to kill his opponent, but survival wins out against pulling his punches. That said, his desperation to establish communications again after incapacitating his opponent suggests that he thought his opponent would be in a functional state to take in his words, and that clarifying his identity is important.

(also, i think it’s so interesting that Vim dealt a head blow, but Guel’s was to the cockpit—Guel is the master duelist where head strikes are how you win, while Vim had shown that he’s willing and prepared to kill people since our first introduction to him in the series proper, but in this battle they strike at areas that would be associated with traits of the other.)

#gwitch spoilers #gundam #gwitch #ric reacts

[white-weasel]

Saw Saturday came early! (Aka my friend and I are doing something else on Saturday so we got together and watched Saw III on Thursday instead) More thoughts from me about the movie

I feel like this movie REALLY made a big gore jump. Saw II already had a big jump from the original but this one… Jesus Christ. I worry that sometimes the traps get a bit too gruesome for their own good? We’ll have to see the later movies to see how my opinion develops on this topic

I was surprisingly okay with the angel trap? Idk it’s definitely a horrifying thought but I think there was just a very big disconnect in how that would feel/play out and the over the topness of it all made me able to watch it. Very creative though I will give them that.

Going along with that, rip Kerry. The start of the movie I was so ready for her to be like the dual protagonist of the movie and then she was not. I thought it coulda been kinda interesting but I get that wasn’t really the plot direction they were going with it

Generally enjoyed the character of Lynn! I wish I could’ve learned a little bit more about her before the end of the movie, but I get they were setting up the twist of her being Jeff’s wife so they had to keep things vague. At the same time, the absolute BALLS on her to threaten and taunt Amanda with that shotgun collar around her neck? She’s an icon for that

Lynn and Amanda could have been toxic yuri, if only they were given more time!!! I mean they *were* toxic yuri, but I’m saying in another life we got even more with them

Jeff sucks. Really really hated Jeff. And he wasn’t even fun to hate, I just hated him. Like dude I get you’re going through grief and fucked up because your kid died but come ON (Lynn, at this point the toxic yuri is looking like a better option for you than that sad sack of a husband)

The pig guts vat trap didn’t bother me like at all lol I’ve seen a few lists about traps and this one tends to be towards the top but it was whatever to me from both a story and shock value perspectives Like I like the idea of a psychological trap where the person being tested doesn’t have to hurt themself physically but rather has to do something insanely hard emotionally, but man. Jeff sucks so much that I didn’t even care about his internal conflict about destroying his dead son’s possessions. I was just sitting there screaming “hit the fucking incinerator button already.” Also yeah, rotting meat is gross but seeing it thinking about it doesn’t make me ill. The thing is, this was the trap my friend had the hardest time watching without a doubt. Different strokes for different folks

The hardest trap for me in this movie was the rack. I feel like I don’t need to explain why. I didn’t even attempt to watch any of it. As soon as the explanation was given, I turned my head and dutifully put my hand shield up lol. My friend was nice enough to give me the general play by play of the scene, but just listening to it was a lot

I liked seeing more Amanda in this movie and her character of someone who believes that John saved her life by putting her in a trap, but then can’t actually live and abide by that same code when it comes time to take up his work

(And she also falls into her own self destructive tendencies, despite being “saved” by John, showing how fucked up and flawed his own philosophy actually is)

Did enjoy seeing Adam again even if it was literally only in a flashback where Amanda is killing him

Also enjoyed the puppet again. He always makes me laugh and my friend finds it funny that I find him funny. Like that part where he’s just laying in the hallway with the trike? It got me so good

Curious to see where the movies go now that both John AND Amanda are dead. My guess is that John had some sort of contingency/final game that he wants to be played upon his death. This would mean that there’s at least one other apprentice running around who will carry out this game for him

There are only two people I’m aware of who we’ve been introduced to and have survived a game: Lawrence Gordon and Daniel Matthews (though he wasn’t really being tested but also he was in the death house so?? Close enough) so I think it’s gotta be one of them. I’m leaning more towards Daniel but idkkkkkk I’m not getting strong vibes from either of them that they’d join John like Amanda did. My friend is also keeping her lips staunchly sealed so I’m floundering like a fish here

Things I’m excited for/wanting to see in future installments: finding out who the next Jigsaw is, hoping for a little more focus on trap victims so I care about them getting out, the gay middle aged men (HoffStrahm), and more of the puppet

#saw #sawposting #saw series #saw franchise #saw iii #white weasel talks #I scream about saw #I think I got all the tags I needed

[donnerpartyofone]

I have been thinking a lot about the concept of Experience lately. I've been working on this big piece of analysis of a movie (possibly my Favorite Movie actually) that's kind of a magic-realist fantasy about a guy who lives in what is almost like a little terrarium where every day is the same and not even something as radical as death can alter the cycle. Problems come up when he develops desires outside the bounds of his routine, but because he has no point of reference for the dynamism of real life, he just projects his usual narcissistic fantasies onto everything and everyone, and it's a big disaster. I have an almost frame-by-frame knowledge of the movie, but talking about it intelligently requires a sharp eye for all kinds of esoteric cultural references and influences, it's really meaningfully connected with art history and philosophy and films that went before it--so if you're a guy who lives the same kind of dogmatically cloistered life as the hero, you're really not going to get it. And maybe it's telling that a lot of people Do Not Get this movie.

And it made me start worrying about the mass fandom cult again, like I worry about people who are actively defensive about their right to only consume children's media and avoid any critical reflection of any kind, and I think this must tie into how intensely anti-sex a lot of people have become too. Like being celibate or asexual is a real legitimate thing of course, but I strongly suspect there are a lot of people who just want to be infantilized, almost literally, they want trigger warnings for stuff they just don't like in addition to the reasonable ones for traumatic content, they want media that's stripped of allegorical meaning or whose only meaning is dictated by the rest of the franchise, or by the fandom urge to remove practically all narrative and symbolic considerations besides who's gonna kiss. And I'm not saying that everybody needs to devote their lives to intellectual challenges or big adventures or whatever, but I think that you should at-least-sometimes read something that refers to something more than just the last thing in the same series, I think that even if you legitimately cannot go outside and expand your world, you should at-least-sometimes watch or read or observe something that presents concepts and ideas outside of your pre-established list of favorite things. "Touch grass" (a phrase I find a little annoying but oh well) isn't just meant to differentiate indoor and outdoor activities, it means like, go do something you haven't tried before, or pursue a new line of thought. Just like, find out what kind of person you can really be. If you don't, it's going to make you increasingly brittle and vulnerable as life goes on around you and you're eventually forced to face certain things.

And I mean I'm speaking as a person who had a pretty hard time growing the fuck up even though I was considered "smart". Everyone gave me all this shit about how people like me (hopeless dweebs) really blossom in college, and then it took me [redacted] years to get through it and I still think they passed me just to get rid of me finally. And even though I was interested in sex and relationships, I was so phobic and unsure of myself that I almost only had bad experiences up to the time that I lost my virginity (another annoying phrase but oh well) at [a ripe old age] [and mostly bad experiences after that too let's be honest, but it eventually got better], because I just didn't understand who I was or what was out there. And even if it was essentially right for me to take my time with different things, it was also bad for me to actively avoid life for such a long time--if I hadn't, I would have seen certain people coming miles away and a lot sooner. I have no desire to discuss all the details with the general public but the awful, manipulative, and as it turned out universally abusive person that I "lost my virginity to" (ugh) impressed me because he had this extreme academic intelligence and of course I bought into how Dark and Tormented he was. The thing that eventually made me stand up for myself was when I started noticing that actually, secretly, he was really dumb. That's what a lot of Drama is; sometimes it's deep and dark and rooted in Circumstances, but oftentimes it's just adults who should know better willfully doing stupid, boring, dreary shit, and assigning it WAY too much importance. The specific stupid shit in this story began with a girl who was at the center of a love quadrangle involving my Dark and Tormented person. What inevitably happened didn't even hurt my feelings in the end because I just could not be jealous; the situation was moronic and the girl was not cute, and not stylish, and not smart or clever, and not talented. I met her once outside of a screening of TEXAS CHAINSAW, which she had never seen before even though she was trying out this pathetic horror chick flex, and it did not occur to me for a minute that she might be a threat because she was just so lame. The awful guy asked her if she liked the movie, and she giggled, "Oh yes, um, it was so...MASTERFUL...because everything was so........WELL-HANDLED." I was standing there thinking oh my god, did you just use a word and then define the word in the same sentence? Ever since that day "masterful" has been my least favorite word, it's so embarrassing. My best friend and I use it as a kind of slur for pretentious bullshit, we're like "Oh yeah, was that movie MASTERFUL? Because it was so WELL-HANDLED?"

It turned out her deal was that she was basically just auditioning various men to see if one of them would sign a lease on a new place for her so she could move out on her boyfriend who she was cheating on with all these potential new roommates. I mean it was like, really deeply unsexy. But certain kinds of Dark and Tormented men are extremely attracted to just ugly, crass messiness, they mistake garden variety idiots for like Laura Palmer or something. And if you add in the excitement of competition, like which one of these guys is going to win the privilege of paying her rent while she cheats on him with all his frenemies, that's like heaven for some people. And there is no better way to find out who is smart and who is fucking stupid, than by observing a situation like this in action. Anyway that motherfucker is dead now and I got to enjoy many years of him trying to get my attention back in really stupid ways before he suddenly croaked, but I'm here to say this today: Challenge yourself to get some life experience in whenever you can. You don't have to do every crazy thing you can think of, but it just does not pay to be ignorant and naive, especially if you don't even know how ignorant and naive you are until it's too late.

[ethereallyrigid]

Hello!new follower. I don't know if you can help me interpret this synastry or composite chart.

Thank u for your time

Hi! Thank you for sending in my very first ask and I appreciate you following my blog! 💕

I’ll be breaking down the major aspects I see that would dictate the themes of the relationship and how you both view eachother.

You are the first planet and the second planet is the other person. You -aspect-them.

Disclaimer: All energy is just that, energy yes squares cause tension but also trigger change and action and tribes could be considered comfortable yet boring. It all comes down to how developed each person is in their own energies, what is in their chart, what they are comfortable with and how much you both are willing to develop the energies you both bring to the table and create together.

So let’s get into it! 💃🕺

Synastry

Aspects:

Sun conjunct Juno double whammy: this could indicate the way you both express yourselves triggers eachother to want to commit to eachother and build a relationship

Sun square mars: your expression triggers their aggression the way you express yourself could aggravate them but at the same time trigger them to want to take action towards you.

Sun square Venus: could indicate attraction however the way you express yourself is at odds with how they give and receive love or what they find attractive this still could peek their interest

Moon square sun: The way you express your emotions is at odds with their core self expression this can create misunderstandings and an imbalance of feminine and masculine energy however can be worked out and trigger growth in both energies when handled properly

Mercury opposite moon: The way you communicate is at odds with their feelings they could feel that you invalidate their feelings or it’s hard for them to express their feelings for fear of being misunderstood

Venus opposite moon: creates attraction and could lead to a beautiful balance of energy however there needs to be a certain level of understanding. When developed can be very comforting and romantic

Mars trine Venus: good for chemistry and attraction. It is easy to express passion between eachother. Venus likes the way mars takes action and mars is attracted to Venus looks, style and artistic expression.

Mars trine mars: I love this aspect it just makes doing things together easy. You’re usually on the same page when taking action or making plans. And you don’t piss eachother off with how you go about things lol

I see you have Adonis in there so if the other person is a male and you’re a female then Adonis conjunct sun means he is your ideal type you love the way he expresses himself also with Adonis conjunct Mercury you love the way he speaks you may love his voice and overall how he communicates

I’ll also assume you want me to talk about Pholus.

Pholus conjunct sun and Mercury: you could trigger a turning point in their life that alters how they express themselves, their ego and how they communicate. Those aspects about them could change forever after interacting with you.

Eros conjunct Venus and mars: You are super attracted to them for the way they look, take action you may even like when they are mad lol their style and the way they move. They also find you erotic and you both have the urge to “merge” with eachother in ways that are laced with themes of Venus and mars. You can do the math on that one 😉

Overlays:

Your sun, Mercury and venus in their 9th house: These planets in the 9th house could indicate the way you express yourself, communicate and live may feel foreign to them yet intriguing. They want to learn about you they may want to travel with you and explore other cultures. You guys could be different ethnicities or could be culturally different somehow. You can cause them to expand in some way ether that is their beliefs, religion, philosophy, education or through travel. And vice versa.

Their sun and Mercury in your 2nd house: This can indicate physical attraction and possessiveness. This overlays could affect one of your financial situations could bring opportunities and inspire either one of you to be materially generous with one another. They could boost your self esteem. The way they speak could make you feel validated.

Your moon in their 2nd house: Again possessiveness but here there is a sense of comfort the moon softens the stubbornness of the Taurus energy the 2nd house has. Again a boost in self esteem.

However having your Neptune and Uranus here could also indicate you have the ability to confuse their self esteem and erratically valid and invalidate them.

Their moon in your 7th house: The way they express their emotions is exactly what you need on a partner. They balance you out with the way they feel. Great aspect for a romantic relationship imo.

Your mars in their 8th house: Heavy and intense physical attraction but it may be hidden or feel taboo. Both of you feel drawn to eachother and innately feel a connection. You’ll probably ever forget eachother and always somehow feel connected.

Their Venus, mars, and Pluto in your 4th house: They feel at home with you they feel comfortable expressing love and taking action towards you and you may feel comfortable with the way they go about both expressing love and pursuing you. You could feel as comfortable as family with eachother. However mars in the 4th house could mean someones mom doesn’t like the other person lol look out for that but Venus there could cancel that out hopefully 😅 with Pluto there could transform eachother home lives or create a home together who knows 🤷‍♀️

Their Neptune Uranus and Jupiter in your 6th house: Could shake up your daily life, make it dreamy or chaotic or just expand what happens on your everyday life. Could also enlighten and change your health in a significant way good or bad that’s up to the both of you. Or could cause outside events to do such since these are outer planets but they would triggered by this relationship.

Their Saturn in your 8th house: could be authoritative and restrictive with things such as taxes, money, or anything taboo. Could also mean they are more dominant when it comes to 8th house matters. Could also indicate sharing their wisdom with you in regards to 8th house matters

Your Saturn in their 5th house: they could see you as a party pooper lol could view as a parent when they want to have fun but could also indicate them respecting you with all 5th house matters such as art and being a leader, all things Leo.

Composite

Aspects and Signs

Juno describes the nature of the relationship when committed which is in virgo meaning you will interstate your lives together. You will most likely end up moving in together and make good flat mates, you will see eachother often if not everyday you will have a schedule and a routine together. You will care about each others health and diet. You could be nitpicky especially about how you both express yourself sun but find it fits into your daily lives and eachother a lifestyle don’t expect passionate love with these placements but if you like having someone seamlessly blend into your life whilst helping you make improvements to it then you should like the energy these placements bring

Juno conjunct sun: the relationship is all about commitment and commitment of to blending your lives together for the sake of perfections and improvement (virgo)

Moon conjunct Uranus: the feelings in the relationship can be exciting yet can also be tumultuous. There is a lack of stability but a sense of freedom and independence. You feelings don’t have to rely on the relationship there can be a level of detachment however when feelings are expressed they can be inconsistent and chaotic or restrictive and detached

Moon trine mars: Good balance between emotions and passion it’s easy to translate intimacy physically. There is a sense of comfort when you both are intimate. Also be careful of pregnancy

Venus conjunct mars: Although the orb is pretty wide this does indicate good chemistry your relationship has a nice yin and Yang balance

Moon trine Venus: again the orb is wide but when you become close it is easy to cabaret emotions and feelings and you are able to be very comfortable and soft with eachother

Sun trine Neptune: this can add a bit of romantic expression to the relationship and it comes naturally with the trine but it could make the core of the relationship either dreamy or confusing

Saturn square Neptune: Outside authoritative figures and/ or responsibilities could cause confusion and restriction on the relationship. This could indicate having to break an illusion and learn a lesson through the relationship

Overlays:

12th house stellium, sun,venus,mars: Could mean the relationship is hidden, highly spiritual, could have a telepathic connection. Could indicate being soulmates when properly developed individuals enter this relationship. Underdeveloped at its worst could mean an affair.

Eros, Juno and Lilith in the 12th house: Same as above. When developed incredible devotion, unconditional love, passion that is spiritual and never burns out and the acceptance of eachother dark sides. When underdeveloped: indicates an affair, misconstrued intentions, manipulation, toxic controlling behaviors , obsession and possessiveness and lack of commitment.

Mercury in the 11th house: Open and friendly communication. Love to talk about progressive topics and expand eachother as knowledge in world events. Could volunteer together and advocate for all things human rights. In virgo could indicate advocating for animals.

Aquarius moon in the 4th house: Progressive home life. Lots of freedom with emotions and building a home together ✨traditionally untraditional ✨ beautiful, love it

Saturn in 7th house: Commitment.

Pluto in 2nd house: Your finances are ever so transforming through this relationship

Jupiter in 5th house: expansion of fun, creativity, children 👀could indicate excessive gambling, be careful honeys

Bonus! Amor in 9th house: could indicate a foreign and/or expansive love

Well I hope this resonated with your relationship and/or brought clarity to the themes and purpose of this relationship!

If you want me to look at any specific aspects or overlays I didn’t mention, feel free to ask!

And I hope you have a wonderful day love! 💕

#astrology #synastry chart #synastry #composite chart #composite #synastry overlays #overlays #virgo #zodiac signs #zodiac #mars #venus #Adonis #amor #asteroid #asteroid astrology #Mercury #astrology aspects #Lilith #Juno #sun #moon #Jupiter #Saturn #Neptune #Uranus #Pluto #asks #house overlays #house synastry

[justsomeoneintoomanyfandoms]

hi! id like to req a matchup for bungo stray dogs, mystic messenger, and obey me^^

name: harmonia

pronouns: she/they

sexuality: probably aroace idk

zodiac/mbti: aries, entp

appearance: im like. 148cm (im so tiny). i have kinda long black straight hair, and brown eyes.

personality: kinda socially awkward in front of strangers but once I get to know someone i open up a lot more and talk about interests more comfortably lol :)) im also kinda described as "eccentric".

likes: rhythm games, rpgmaker games, cute things, pastel stuff, philosophy, art, psychological horror/thriller

dislikes: bugs????? can't think of any. lolol

hobbies: drawing, reading, gaming, doing silly things with friends

Hi Harmonia! Thank you for your request! Sorry it took a while to get out; I've had a bunch of assignments due for end of semester at uni. I hope you like your matchups!

In Bungo Stray Dogs, I match you with...

You and Dazai are eccentric buddies!

Thinks it's sweet that you like cute pastel things. Anytime he's out and sees something he thinks you would like, he's getting it. Expect to be flooded with plushies and pillows!

At the same time, Dazai loves that you also lie psychological horror stuff. He's right beside you, watching the latest horror movie or bringing home a copy of his favourite horror novel.

Loves reading with you. He finds it relaxing. He's also probably going to try writing some things he think you would like.

Dazai is absolutely going to tease you about your height. Don't listen to him. He thinks you're adorable, he just has a reputation to maintain.

Also will tease you about not liking bugs. But he'll get rid of any bugs with only a few overdramatic comments about being your "saviour".

In Mystic Messenger, I match you with...

Yoosung is playing every rhythm game imaginable with you! Also playing every rpg game in existence. How does he find time to do that as well as his college work? No one knows.

I don't see Yoosung as a huge fan of horror but he's willing to sit through movies and gameplay as long as you're willing to sleep with the lights on. Even psychological stuff gets to him.

He's not a huge fan of bugs but also doesn't mind them as long as they keep their distance. If you ask him to get rid of any bugs, he'll scoop them up with a cup and take them outside.

Loves going out on unique dates! If you have something left-field you'd like to do, he's up for it.

Thinks your eccentric nature is the best thing about you. He loves how it brings energy into his life.

In Obey Me, I match you with...

Solomon's pretty eccentric himself. You've found a kindred spirit!

Loves reading with you. Any book you pass his way, he's putting at the top of his "to read" list. Solomon also loves listening to you read out loud. He likes your voice.

Enjoys psychological horror better than jumpscare horror. He just laughs at jumpscares. Psychological things get his heart racing.

Not a huge video game player but he'd enjoy watching you play your rpgs and rhythm games. Secretly very good at them just because he has watch you so much (and he was alive when the games were being developed).

Thinks your fondness for cute things is admirable in a place like the Devildom. Any cute things he gets from the human world when he's travelling will be placed around your room for you to find.

#writing #fanfic #matchup #matchup request #request #bungo stray dogs #osamu dazai #mystic messenger #yoosung kim #obey me #obey me shall we date #obey me nightbringer #solomon

[studyhaus]

Book Review #2

Book Title: The Little Book of Philosophy: An Introduction to the Key Thinkers and Theories You Need to Know

Author: Rachel Poulton

Edition: Paperback, Summersdale, 2019

Target audience: Anybody interested in a general summary of the evolution of philosophy

Many of us may have heard of the word "stoicism" or of someone named "Plato". However, not everyone is clear why suffering helps a human live a purposeful life or how rationalism formed Socratic thinking. For those who want to find the answers to the questions and take a further step into the philosophy world, though, this miniature book could be a perfect fit. With over 200 pages of summaries, the reader is guided through the history of this field in a simple manner that allows them to absorb concepts easily yet accurately. Entries cover biographies, concepts and much more - making the learning experience one that shows how exactly various ideas have evolved and the factors affecting their development. From start till end, the writer continuously shows an encouraging attitude towards everyone learning about philosophy, whether professionally or leisurely.

The chronological order of the field's history made for a smooth read, especially since it showed how the evolution of mankind had a profound impact on various schools of thoughts. There was a diverse range of philosophical perspectives included, which gave place for some cultural learning too. There were many definitions given to help readers grasp the ideas properly. The humor included made difficult information more engaging to digest and made the experience more lighthearted. Certain concepts or philosophers were introduced too briefly, but given the nature of this book, it is understandable and did not seem too big of an issue considering that there were many resources listed at the end for the audience to further their learning. I really enjoyed the chapters about female philosophers (who happened to be an extreme minority in the field until the last few centuries).

I would recommend this book to those who are beginners in philosophy - it really is a great start that will not only show you the importance of its findings, but how it affects you too. Those interested in history or general knowledge are also welcome. While I could complete this book in a single read, I believe that it could also be effective as a reference book read from time to time when you are in search of a particular concept or just want to read it on the go for a few minutes. This book is also a great idea if you want some inspiration for your self-improvement journey as it focuses heavily on what it means to live a fulfilling life. Enjoy reading this book :)

Signing off till next time ~

Follow @studyhaus for more book reviews!

#bookaholic #new books #book #booklr #book review #books #bookish #book news #book community #book reviews #philosophy #reading #study #learning #knowledge #study blog #studyhaus #2023 #book recommendations #readers #writer #essay

[jolyneswife-anime-reviews]

Food wars anime review

Spoilers for food wars and mentions of nudity

Disclaimer : I've only watched the first 2 seasons of food wars, because the rest aren't available on Netflix.

“Repeating trial and error and failing many times... it’s that process which makes dishes shine,” - Soma Yukihira

Genre: Slice of life, cooking, high school, comedy

Where I watched it: Netflix

Characterisation: 8/10 (The characters come form very different backgrounds and have distinct personalities, which all translate in their cooking. They are developed throughout the series, becoming more individual and gaining confidence in themselves, like Megumi, or understanding themselves better, like Hisako or Mito. Their backstories, where revealed, are intricate and original, fitting for them as individuals.)

Setting: 7.5/10 (I really liked the shift from Soma’s humble family diner to the grand cooking school- it really shows he’s entering a different world. The school caters to everything as it should, with cosy dorms where Soma and his friends hang out after class and grand stages for cooking competitions like the fall selection. One thing I particularly liked was the training camp- the fast paced plots and the changes in setting to match the activities made it really fun to watch. Apart from that, nothing stands out in particular.)

Art style: 9/10 (I absolutely love the way the characters are drawn ! Although it is nothing too unique, the style is really pleasing, and each character’s appearance is thoughtful and reflective of them. Settings are also drawn carefully and with attention to detail; this makes the anime all the more complete and enjoyable. Something that is definitely worth mentioning in this section is the food- I adore the way food is drawn in anime, and with this anime, you get to see many creative dishes presented in artistic ways.)

Plot: 8.5/10 (The plot is well executed and fast paced, with just the right level of build up before important cooking events. There’s a lot of anticipation too, as well as a few plot twists which keep the anime engaging. Despite the fact that the central focus of the series is cooking, there are many other elements and sub plots (romance, rivalries etc) which just add to the richness of the plot. However, it definitely falls short in one aspect- when the judges (or anyone, for that matter) eat good food, all their clothes come off (especially if they are women) and we find ourselves viewing strange scenarios in their heads which are somewhat linked to what they feel about the food. While I understand it’s meant to illustrate the impact the food has on the judges, I think there are better ways to go about it, because some of those scenes feel awkward and downright bizarre.) 

Comfort: 8/10 (Food wars is a pretty light hearted and relaxing anime to watch- it’s humorous and feel good, with the characters growing close and becoming more skilled and confident with each other’s help. There are plenty of wholesome scenes with the cast, and Soma’s carefree, happy vibes are definitely contagious for viewers.)

Addictiveness: 9/10 (The bright, bold characters and the interesting dynamics between them, as well as the fast paced plot, the thrill of the cooking battles, and the dangerously competitive feel of some episodes make this anime very addictive, even for those who aren’t too interested in cooking.)

Philosophy: 6.5/10 (As a more light hearted anime, it doesn’t have many deep messages, but it does showcase the value of friendship in our lives, particularly with Megumi and Soma- their relationship, as well as finally having someone to believe in her and support her, leads Megumi to develop self-confidence and become a very skilled chef. The series also illustrates the benefits gained from having to fight through difficult situations, with the most skilled chefs coming from the most humble or demanding backgrounds, and how much losses can help you improve, if you learn from them and don’t get discouraged. This is the secret to Soma’s cooking.)

Consistency: 8/10 (The show’s quality is consistent throughout- it stays engaging and gripping as the series continues, with some arcs being slightly less exciting but still pleasant to watch.)

Originality: 9/10 (I have never seen a show combine slice of life elements, regular high school life and high stakes cooking battles in such a harmonious way. The school itself, as well as all the opportunities and contests offered, are unique to the anime, as is the way the food battles are executed.)

The plot

Soma Yukihira works in his father’s eatery, fighting every day to improve his cooking and please customers. He takes great pride in the restaurant, and hopes to one day take over from his dad. One day, his father leaves due to business and tells him he is to sign up to Totsuki academy, the most prestigious cooking school in Japan. Initially, Soma is skeptical, but he attends the entrance exam regardless. However, when the candidates see who is judging their dishes for the exam, they all flee in a panic apart from Soma, who is up to the challenge. The judge is Erina Nakiri, a celebrity in the food industry and the director’s granddaughter. She is known for having a very fine palette and being almost impossible to please. Not knowing any of this, Soma begins working on his dish, which needs to incorporate eggs. When Erina tries it, it’s clear she likes it, but she refuses to bow to Soma, as she views his more humble background in cooking as “common,”. Because of this, she tells him he has failed the exam. However, the school director was watching in secret, and contacts Soma to let him know he passed. At the entrance ceremony, Soma makes a speech as the transfer student, saying he fully intends to take the top spot at the academy, as it would be embarrassing for him to lose to a group of people who have never actually worked in a kitchen. His bold declaration of battle offends most of the students, but Soma is blissfully ignorant to that. This marks the start of Soma’s stay at Totsuki- he will meet many different chefs from all over the world, and complete a vast range of challenges, all the while making good friends and meeting strong rivals. 

Masterlist

#anime and manga #anime fandom #anime reccs #anime review #anime recommendation #comedy #high school #cooking #slice of life #soma yukihira #erina nakiri #ryo kurokiba #alice nakiri #hayama akira #takumi aldini #isami aldini #cooking contest #ikumi mito #megumi tadokoro #ryoko sakaki #jun shiomi #hisako arato #satoshi isshiki #tosuke megishima #anime discussion #joichiro saiba #food wars #food wars anime review #food wars review #jolyneswifeanimereviews

[internetanomaly]

September 8th, Day 4/365

Counting down to September 5th 2024.

Two days back – on this blog, I talked about how I've been defining myself by my interests and the media I consume, but weirdly, I haven't actually shared what I'm into. That was pretty much why I started writing the Day 2 entry, but I got clearly sidetracked by other thoughts.

I want to say that I've taken up this digital niche because I lack someone in the real world to talk to about what I enjoy, but that's not true really. There are people, friends in my life who'd gladly listen to me babble about my newfound favorite song. But even though I've been reassured about this before, there's always this nagging fear that they're just listening to me out of pity. I believe enjoyment is personal, and even if someone likes the same stuff as me, even when our interests align, the way they experience it will always be different from mine.

A great example of a personal experience of mine would be the videogame 'Disco Elysium.' I introduced it to a friend, knowing they'd connect with the main character, and so they did. Yet, every time we talk about the game, it's clear that we took pleasure in completely different aspects. The way we decide to elaborate on the messaging and development of the story is vastly different, and it couldn't be any other way.

This will sound like some spiritual, new-age mumbo jumbo, but what i'm really trying to say is that the vibes and sensations we created and experienced during the game are fundamentally different and they never had a chance to be the same. The same movie viewed through someone else's eyes becomes an entirely different experience. By existing in a context our experiences are necessarily subjective and tainted. In this context empathy is limited, it is fundamentally impossible to find someone who truly enjoys something for the same reasons you do. Isn't that sad?

I think this is why I'm so reticent about the things I enjoy with those close to me. Words often fall short in conveying emotion, and the moment you try to explain or show something, the essence inevitably gets diluted.

A few days ago I've started watching 'Dekalog' (1989) by Kiéslowski. It's got quite the reputation for its depth and profound thematic exploration, but if I may voice my skepticism, I'm not entirely sold on the hype. I already spilled my guts in a few Letterboxd reviews, so I won't go into detail here. Overall, I just feel that the stories are surprisingly surface level for how universally acclaimed this is. Maybe that's the very reason it brings enjoyment to so many – there's not much deep thinking required but it's great at hinting at a deepness and nuance that is just not there. This way people can still feel the rush of philosophy without having to put any effort in; Kiéslowski serves his messages up clear and loud, leaving the viewer with the single responsibility of getting exposed to it. I truly do feel like I'm being too harsh with this series of films but my expectations were too high to justify what I saw.

On the polar opposite end of the spectrum, Matsumoto's 'Funeral Parade of Roses' (1969) completely blew me off. I went into it blind and I was so completely took by surprise right at the beginning – when *spoiler* Eddie's shower scene showed that she didn't have breasts I audibly gasped out loud; I literally had an involuntary physical reaction to an image on my laptop screen, I cannot stress enough how impressive that is. From that moment I was completely hooked, I knew this film was going to be a journey of self-exploration for me and it unequivocally delivered. Maybe it's not for everyone, but I would dare to say that it's a masterpiece. Apart from all the technical praise I could give it, what truly stuck with me is that it just made me feel seen. I guess that's simple enough, but it really means a lot to me. Maybe that's why people enjoyed 'Dekalog' too, there's a lot of family themes that I'm sure resonate with people. Once again: by existing in a context our experiences are necessarily subjective and tainted, my empathy is also limited so who am I to judge? What's probably happening is that I just don't get it, I'm certain there has to be beauty in the simplicity of it, I'm just not the person it speaks to.

#diary

[cynicalmusings]

Here for the writer ask game! !

✨ 💫 🌻

Oh oh, also, here's a few things about you that I adore.

1. Your writing! : I really loves the setting of your story! When I write a fic, my only focus was the plot. I never thought too deep about character development nor the flow. I loves how you gave great details about it, even it's just a story. (I loves loves that! !)

2. Your personality! : I genuinely think you're a unique person and sometimes, I'm too invested with your response. (hehe don't mind me)

3. Your tastes (if that makes sense) : (don't get me me wrong, sorry if this seems too personal or creeping you out, but I really look up to you) I never thought of philosophy and stuff before. That's so cool and interesting!

Nevertheless, hope you have a good day or night! Sorry that I sound annoying (⁠･⁠–⁠･⁠)⁠ ⁠\⁠(⁠･⁠◡⁠･⁠)⁠/

- 🧋

✨ - what's a fic you've posted you wish you could breathe life into again and have people talking about it? (or simply a fic you wish got more credit)

…i don’t think i need to specify by this point… however, i would like to maybe revisit the storyline of ‘silence shared by candlelight’ in the future, and it is a fic i quite like which doesn’t have that much attention.

💫 - what is your favorite kind of comment/feedback?

i find it helpful (and motivating) when people tell me specifically what they liked and disliked about the story; for example, if someone liked a description i wrote, it’s nice to know that that’s the thing that stood out to them, or if there’s some dialogue that feels clunky, letting me know (not rudely or anything, of course). keyboard smashes are a close second.

🌻 - what makes you want to give up on writing? what makes you keep going?

what makes me want to give up sometimes if how much time and effort it takes, especially if i’m going through a writer’s block or not able to properly express my ideas for whatever reason. also, it’s a little demotivating when i post something and don’t get any comments or thoughts on it. what makes me keep going is how satisfying it feels to read over something i’m happy with, and seeing how it affects people or how they react to my work. also, writing is sort of an addiction to me by this point… even if i wanted to stop, i’d inevitably get hit by some idea at some point and need to scribble it down furiously.

it’s nice to hear that people enjoy the time i out into character writing, and the last point isn’t creepy or annoying or anything. that was really nice to read, so thank you!

#sent: 🧋 anon #r answers

[rishikeshadiyogii]

Mental Health and Self-Care in 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs in Rishikesh

Introduction

Yoga teacher training in Rishikesh is the perfect place to learn how to bring mindfulness and physical balance into your life.

200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs

It's important to understand the difference between a healthy, balanced life and a life that is out of balance.

In order to be able to teach your students how to live a balanced life, you must first understand what it means to have a balanced life.

A healthy, balanced life is one with all of the following:

A strong sense of self-worth and confidence

A sense of purpose and direction in life

An ability to express emotions in appropriate ways (e.g., crying at sad movies but not at happy ones)

You need a strong sense of self-worth.

You need a strong sense of self-worth.

This is an important concept to understand and it's something that can be damaged by trauma, abuse and other negative experiences. Self worth is also something that can be damaged by poor self-care or unhealthy relationships with others.

Yoga helps create a strong sense of connection to others.

Yoga helps create a strong sense of connection to others.

Yoga is a practice that helps you connect with yourself, others and the world around you. Yoga helps you connect with your body, mind and spirit; it also allows for deep breathing which can increase feelings of peace and calmness. In yoga classes, students are encouraged to look inward as they move through sequences of postures (asanas) or meditation practices (pranayama). This type of introspection allows individuals to become more aware of their own thoughts and feelings so they can make better choices in life rather than just reacting without thinking things through first.

There are many ways to start caring for your body, mind and spirit.

There are many ways to start caring for your body, mind and spirit. Here are some ideas:

Meditation

Yoga

Exercise (walking, running, cycling)

Healthy eating

Regular sleep

Socializing with friends and family

Journaling or keeping a gratitude journal can help you stay positive during challenging times in your life as well as when things are going well. It's also an excellent way to reflect on what is important to you in life so that you can make changes if necessary.

Reading books on self-care topics such as yoga philosophy or meditation practices will help inspire new ways of caring for yourself physically and emotionally!

Make it fun!

When you're in a yoga teacher training program, it's important to make sure that you are enjoying the journey and not just focusing on the end result. This can be hard when your mind is constantly thinking about how much time is left until graduation.

If you start feeling stressed or anxious, try having fun with your friends! Try something new together like going out for dinner or seeing a movie. Relax and enjoy the moment! Remember to laugh at yourself when things aren't going according to plan, as well as other people who may be experiencing similar hardships along their own paths toward self-discovery and personal growth (including those who are not taking part in 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs). Try finding humor in every situation; even if it doesn't seem funny at first glance...I promise there'll be something humorous once we get through this together :)

Yoga teacher training in Rishikesh gives you the tools you need to live a more balanced life

Yoga teacher training in Rishikesh will give you the tools you need to live a more balanced life. Yoga helps develop a strong sense of self-worth and enables you to connect with others, making it easier for you to stay healthy and happy.

If this sounds like something that would interest you, then consider joining us for our 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs

Conclusion

The best way to care for yourself is by taking care of your body, mind and spirit. Yoga teacher training in Rishikesh will give you the tools needed to live a more balanced life. A strong sense of self-worth will help you feel confident about reaching out for help when it's needed and make positive changes in your life. Yoga helps create a strong sense of connection with others so that when things get tough, we have someone who understands what we're going through or at least knows how hard it can be sometimes!

#200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh #rishikesh #yoga #medium

[rubberbandballqueen]

“why are you like this” *points to extremely specific formative moment in my life*

#'i can go into excruciating detail explaining how that butterfly effect'd its way through my life #and affected other formative decisions through my life bc of how my experiences change my philosophy #but you're not actually interested in sitting down for twelve hours and understanding me that well are you?' #those tags are a hypothetical response to a hypothetical person asking in bad faith lol #i just find it interesting how as you go through life you develop a philosophy and methodology of navigating the world #and how if you look back and you have the words you can kind of realize 'oh! it's been there all along before i had words' #or how certain events made you start realizing things that become foundational to your worldview later #human beings are naturally pattern-seekers so i think a part of that also comes from reapplying a familiar lens #the worm speaks