#Finding Balance

[under-the-table-podcast]

Surprise!

Pop up ep dedicated to our Queen Ayo Edebiri to discuss this amazing Citizen Magazine interview

uncut edition

[stormborn-witch]

Finals and Witchcraft

I haven't been around much thanks to my endeavor to go back to college. I am finishing up finals and will have a few weeks of free time to do whatever I damn well please!

That being said, I'm looking at ways I can incorporate witchcraft into my college life so I don't feel like I'm disconnecting from my craft while working on my education. Maybe I'll make a series out of it?

In the meantime, I gotta finish this final paper and then take a nice warm bath to cleanse and relax after a semester of hard work!

[chasingbalanceandchaos]

Countdown Cuteness: How Excited Are the Kids for the Wedding? Let Me Tell You…

If you’ve ever tried to plan a wedding with kids in the mix, you know it adds a whole other level of fun, chaos, and memory-making. Our big day is getting closer,June 7th! and the kids? Well, they might just be more excited than we are. 🥰 🩷🩵🩷 From trying on outfits to practicing walking down the “aisle” in the living room, this wedding is not just ours it’s theirs too. 🧁 My youngest (our…

[marengogo]

It is a very very very basic and simple thing, you're a worldwide celebrity, you got the INFLUENCE, you saw someone with with your name (shipper name to be exact but okay..)and want to post a video, you click on that account to check if the said acct is someone who's problematic for example a Zionist, god forbid a r*pist or anything else and then you post it on your story. As simple as that. In taehyung's case he wouldn't even have to scroll down through the page to see it's problematic cause the initial posts are enough. The work would have been done in 3sec max.

He was irresponsible and holding him accountable for that is not accusing him of doing some crime. They're human and can make mistakes and if we accept that they're capable of making mistakes idt it's making anyone bad. There's no need of big explanation for this.

He said the "n" word on his live but he didn't do anything wrong, he wore a durag on his live but yeah he didn't know about it, he was irresponsible for making a mistake which gave antis bigger platform to hate on his member but yes he's he's got no time for it. y'alls ability to keep defending every single thing the boys do is something else. The only thing people said is he should have been more careful but nahhh we're hating him just for saying this, we're making big deal out of nothing, we're his antis for saying that damn. I would have said the exact same words as "He should have been more careful with these things" if my bias was in place of taehyung.

QUICK NOTICE: I am still VERY MUCH in my not announced Not-Really-Answering-Asks era, (Colosseum is closed and all that stuff you know…) THAT BEING SAID, some of the asks I have been receiving [due to yesterday’s “ARMY debacle”] happen to serve themselves as perfect scenarios for me to point out some aspects of me that I really would want to make VERY CLEAR & UNDERSTOOD.

Hi Anon,

So, you believe all of this to be a very very very basic and simple thing, right?If that is the case why are you here? I obviously don’t think the same way you do, but I’m not even asking you to. Own up to what you believe and roll it, why justifying yourself? you are not on trial. The only thing people said is he should have been more careful but nahhh we're hating him just for saying this, we're making big deal out of nothing, we're his antis for saying that damn. Do you feel like you are making a big deal? Are you an anti? If the answer to both questions is no, then why you stressing bro?

You see, I haven’t formed the habit of just considering everything in a very very very basic and simple way I clearly was absent that day particularly when I see underlying problems. So then, if I see a problem, I try to get to the root of it and see what can be done. Reason why when Tae said the n-word, I addressed the issue accordingly:

By the way, I also emailed BigHit about it

And let me tell you right away, I ain’t finna weight a singer mouthing the n-word while singing, in the same way I would weight a singer that came to me, called me the n-word and told me to die. Sorry, I’m not wired like that and let me make this abundantly clear for future Anons:

I will ALWAYS consider motive, circumstance, chance and any other factor surrounding an incident/accident upon casting ANY KIND of judgement, be it the most complicated case in history or the “simplest” hiccup ever. ALWAYS, because I strive to always treat people the same way I would want to be treated. I refuse to live in a white and black world, that's the whole point of this blog. BUT I also match energy, so be warned 😗✌🏾.

So actually you can really miss me with the whole He was irresponsible and holding him accountable for that is not accusing him of doing some crime like it would be so great if people knew how to take a step back and properly assess situations. If you went to a court of law wanting to sue Tae for “reposting a picture of himself from a random IG post” how do you think that will hold up in court?

I mean, besides the fact that just scrolling down someone’s page will not always tell you exactly who they are at a first glance, I mean I know I don’t have 60 million followers but when I get some gifs or pics from the internet, to use on whatsapp, I never check the source, I probably should uh? Seems like everyone does … sorry I’m late to the party! how is Tae reposting a story which, once again, has a picture of himself, the same as endorsing what the person is doing on their page? 

Did Tae ask people to follow said account?

Did Tae compliment the account holder, or its content?

Did Tae ask said account to be a shipper account?

The fact that ARMY felt obliged to follow said account is on ARMY and ARMY SOLELY.

Like, I dunno, if you go to a page and you see that its content is questionable, are you not gonna flag it? But that's just me.

It is not Taehyung's responsibility to make sure that people have and use common sense. The fact that the Tannies are now having to be responsible for rectifying some ARMY’s failed education which should have been provided to them by at least parents/guardians and/or teachers is very mind boggling to me. Because, on this occasion, what exactly are you holding Tae accountable for? Sure, he has influence but he is not Charles Manson FFS. The whole “he could have liked a Zionist page, r***ist, etc” was a complete after-thought brought about as a way to talk back to the fact that the actual issue that caused this whole debacle is SHIPPING, but we ain’t ready to tackle that just yet. Cause where was this energy when JK actually started following all those random ass accounts on TikTok? Naah, you really can miss me with that.

Actually, I have a wish for this fandom. My wish is for this fandom to be able to have balanced responses to issues, without creating issues upon issues upon issues … One day this fandom will learn to also use words in an unnecessarily provocative way, which hey, I’m cool, I can be your punching bag all day, I don’t assimilate so whatever, but that bird app … boooiii, people get triggered AF! … for example where you wrote y'alls ability to keep defending every single thing the boys do is something else why you grouping me there bro? Something like “some of y'alls ability to keep defending every single thing the boys do is something” little things like that help fostering amicable conversations, because you are not an anti so no need to retaliate if you don’t relate. Right?

Anyways, all that to say that I disagree, but we ain’t gotta agree so, all cool. If you feel that what you doing is right, then you keep doing you, ayte? Thanks for stopping by!

Always respectfully yours,

Marengo.

PS - sorry for the lack of gifs, I’m feeling a bit under the weather and it takes me forever to make my own gifs and I am trying to keep a rectangular gif aesthetic, most of all gifs in the internet are a bit squary I don’t think that is a word but whateve’s.

[studyblr-accountant]

The Struggle is Real: A Journey of Resilience 🌪️💪

Hey everyone! Just a heads up: this is gonna be a long post. Buckle up! ����

The past six months? A total rollercoaster 🎢. Seriously, if you’ve ever felt like life is just throwing everything at you all at once, you’re not alone. From grad school to work, it’s been a wild ride, and honestly, I’m still trying to process it all. The exhaustion is real, and it’s taken a toll on my physical and mental health. So, let's dive in, shall we?

•·.·''·.·•ੈ✩‧₊˚.ೃ࿐ೃ༄·˚ ༘ˏˋ°•*⁀➷⋆·˚ ༘ *ೃ⁀➷✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:⍣ ೋ✧.*ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡

Grad School: The Never-Ending Cycle 📚

Let’s start with grad school. Can we talk about the sheer madness of it all? I remember spending countless hours researching, skimming through papers, and trying to craft the perfect arguments. It felt like my blood was running on caffeine alone (or maybe it was?)! ☕

Researching Like Crazy: Finding relevant literature was a daunting task. I’d spend hours combing through papers, desperately searching for that one source that would back up my points. It was exhausting!

Plagiarism Panic: And don’t even get me started on plagiarism checks. Simple sentences would get flagged, and I’d be left wondering, “Why can’t you trust me that this is my own sentence, not AI, not someone else!?” Seriously, it felt like a nightmare. 😂

Help Wanted: Finding affordable statisticians and grammarians was another struggle. I scoured the internet, asked for referrals, and had to negotiate prices. I just wanted to get quality help without getting scammed!

Defense Planning Woes: Planning for my thesis defense was a logistical nightmare. I had to order food, find tokens of appreciation for the panel, and shell out my own money first. Plus, I was preparing for those grueling questions from the panels.

When the defense day finally arrived, it was a blur. I felt like I was being grilled by experts in front of me. There were moments I wanted to give up, but my adviser’s confident gaze kept me going. I passed with the highest grade! 🎉 Honestly, I didn’t even care about the score; just surviving that ordeal felt like a victory.

•·.·''·.·•ੈ✩‧₊˚.ೃ࿐ೃ༄·˚ ༘ˏˋ°•*⁀➷⋆·˚ ༘ *ೃ⁀➷✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:⍣ ೋ✧.*ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡

Work: The Corporate Grind 💼😩

Now, let’s talk about work. It’s been overwhelming, and despite asking for help, I’m left wondering if I’m not communicating my needs properly.

Promotion Waiting Game: I’ve been waiting for a promotion for what feels like forever. My ratings have been exceptional for years, my exposure is great, and my skills are up-to-date, but despite all this, I’m still waiting.

Comparing Myself to Others: It’s hard not to feel left behind when I see my colleagues moving forward while I feel stuck in the same team. I often find myself torn between staying and waiting for the promotion or taking a leap of faith and moving to a new role, which would mean starting the waiting game all over again for a promotion.

Project Fatigue: On top of that, I’ve been working on a project with some amazing colleagues to develop a tool that will benefit many. We started back in August, and here we are in June, still pushing through. Every meeting feels like a marathon, and I can sense the exhaustion in everyone’s voices. Honestly, sometimes it feels like “malayo na pero malayo pa”, we’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go! I often feel guilty because I’m detail-oriented and notice every little error.

Resource vs. Key Resource: I was supposed to be a resource, not the key player. Yet, I found myself putting in the most effort. I enjoy the work, but it’s frustrating when it feels like I’m doing all the heavy lifting. There was a time when I was taking a leave and had to align it with someone who was supposed to be the key resource. It felt frustrating because he was doing a backup for work that he was supposed to handle! I’m friends with him, and I hope he doesn’t take it the wrong way, but that’s how I felt at my lowest point.

Resistance to Change: Deploying our tool to everyone was a challenge. I predicted there would be resistance, and boy, was I right. Convincing everyone that this new tool was worth their time and that it would be easier to navigate than what they were accustomed to was an uphill battle. It felt like I was fighting against a wall of reluctance!

•·.·''·.·•ੈ✩‧₊˚.ೃ࿐ೃ༄·˚ ༘ˏˋ°•*⁀➷⋆·˚ ༘ *ೃ⁀➷✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:⍣ ೋ✧.*ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡

Teaching: The Empty Passion 🍏😔

On top of everything, I’m also teaching part-time, and honestly? I’m just going through the motions.

Where’s the Passion? I’m tired, and my passion for teaching seems to have vanished. I just want to get through the day, comply with papers, and go home. It’s disheartening to admit that I’m losing my spark.

•·.·''·.·•ੈ✩‧₊˚.ೃ࿐ೃ༄·˚ ༘ˏˋ°•*⁀➷⋆·˚ ༘ *ೃ⁀➷✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:⍣ ೋ✧.*ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡

Alone by Myself 🌙💔

When the clock strikes 3 AM, and I’m still awake, I often find myself lost in thought.

Wishing for Connection: I wish I could talk to a friend, but who’s online at that hour, right? I used to have a friend I could confide in during these late-night hours, but things went downhill because of me, and I still haven’t processed how to move on from that treasured friendship.

Journaling Struggles: I’ve tried journaling about my day, but it often feels like I’m just writing in circles. Sometimes I think maybe I should just cry to release the pent-up stress, but when I try, nothing comes out. It’s like I’m emotionally numb.

•·.·''·.·•ੈ✩‧₊˚.ೃ࿐ೃ༄·˚ ༘ˏˋ°•*⁀➷⋆·˚ ༘ *ೃ⁀➷✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:⍣ ೋ✧.*ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡

Health: The Price of Stress 🍔😩

Let’s keep it real—my health has taken a hit.

Body Image Issues: I’ve gained weight, and my clothes don’t fit nicely anymore. I can’t look at myself without feeling ugly and unworthy. It’s hard to face the mirror and see someone I don’t recognize.

Unhealthy Eating: My lab results aren’t good either. I’ve been eating unhealthy foods and relying on coffee to stay awake. I feel like I’m running on empty, and it’s taking a toll on my physical and mental health. I’m trying to prioritize my health, but it’s hard when I feel like I’m juggling so many responsibilities.

•·.·''·.·•ੈ✩‧₊˚.ೃ࿐ೃ༄·˚ ༘ˏˋ°•*⁀➷⋆·˚ ༘ *ೃ⁀➷✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:⍣ ೋ✧.*ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡

Moments of Joy 🌈💖

But amidst all the chaos, there have been some moments of joy:

Vietnam Adventure: I went to Vietnam with friends, and it was unforgettable! It was my first international travel, and for nearly five days, I didn’t think about work or my thesis (or maybe I did, every time I was about to spend, I thought of my restricted budget). I want to go back without responsibilities and enjoy it to the fullest.

Maid of Honor Duties: I was the maid of honor at my friend’s wedding, and I think I did a pretty good job! We’re still gushing about the beautiful and not-so-beautiful photos from the day.

•·.·''·.·•ੈ✩‧₊˚.ೃ࿐ೃ༄·˚ ༘ˏˋ°•*⁀➷⋆·˚ ༘ *ೃ⁀➷✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:⍣ ೋ✧.*ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡

The Unexpected Twist of May 🎉💥

Then, in just two weeks, everything changed:

Thesis Defense: I finished my thesis defense, which means I’ll soon get my MBA title! The feeling of accomplishment is still sinking in, and I’m proud of myself for pushing through all the challenges.

Promotion Surprise: I got promoted at work, effective July 1! The announcement took me by surprise, and it made me question, if I should’ve trusted the waiting season more.

Recognition: I also received a title "Master of Business Process Excellence", shared with me in a nerve-wracking meeting with the leadership team. Less than 5% of the overall population gets this recognition, and it felt amazing to be acknowledged for my contributions.

•·.·''·.·•ੈ✩‧₊˚.ೃ࿐ೃ༄·˚ ༘ˏˋ°•*⁀➷⋆·˚ ༘ *ೃ⁀➷✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:⍣ ೋ✧.*ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡

Reflection: The Road Ahead 🌟🚀

My mentor reminded me of my resilience through it all. As I look back on the past six months, I’m reminded of both the struggles and the triumphs.

Last year felt like a storm, but now, blessings are pouring in.

I’m still trying to process everything that’s happened, and I know I need to take care of myself.

Social Media Break: Maybe I should take a break from social media. I feel like I’m constantly comparing myself to others, and it’s draining.

Health Focus: I need to prioritize my health and break free from these unhealthy habits. I can’t keep living off junk food and caffeine.

Self-Love Journey: I need to start loving myself again. It’s tough feeling so alone, but I realize it’s even harder when I don’t love who I am.

I’ve learned so much about resilience. I’ve adapted, found ways to overcome obstacles, and prioritized what truly matters.

I’m not perfect, and I don’t have all the answers. But I’m trying my best, and that’s what matters. People often say they admire how I juggle everything, but honestly, it’s tough, and I’m just trying to get by.

•·.·''·.·•ੈ✩‧₊˚.ೃ࿐ೃ༄·˚ ༘ˏˋ°•*⁀➷⋆·˚ ༘ *ೃ⁀➷✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:⍣ ೋ✧.*ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡

By sharing my story, I hope to remind others that it’s okay to struggle and that you’re not alone. Life can be overwhelming, but it’s important to keep going, even when it feels impossible. Remember, asking for help doesn’t make you weak; it shows strength and courage.

Thanks for sticking around to read my story! If you’ve been through something similar or just want to share your thoughts, drop a comment. Let’s support each other through the chaos! 💖

proof of struggles lol

[liftingtheirspirits]

We talk, claw, run, hide, scream, dig, cry, pray, wish, hope, dream, plead, beg, argue and writhe.

For many of us, the issue isn’t inaction - we act on things all the time. The issue is in the stillness. In the quiet. In the dark corner of our own thoughts.

God forbid we stop scrolling, or running, or working, or training, or talking, or (real talk) drinking. Anything to shut them up; the voices scratching the edge of your consciousness trying desperately to get your attention.

Sometimes, the brave thing to do, is nothing.

[the-potato-slayer]

[wanderosed]

🧶A Fiber Grimoire🧵

~ Yarns, Threads, Thoughts~

Imbolc Spin into Spring

This is my personal challenge to gently reawaken myself to my spinning practice this year.

It was a ferociously stress filled autumn & a terrifying, bashing January. I am bruised and emotional. I've lost my balance.

Spinning is my meditation as well as my craft. [ Turns out, spinning is a meditative practice for many of us. ] Finding strength requires rest & breath & food & thought. Spinning serves each of these.

And so - I will be spinning as the sun's intensity waxes toward Ostara. I will, for at least 15 minutes everyday, take fiber made from the earth & sun, twist it gently between my fingers, and fashion a yarn - a thread - that will nourish my soul and heal my brain & heart.

I invite anyone who wishes to come with me to grab some fiber, find a spindle, and go.

🧶We spin at dawn.🧵

[jamiesonwolf]

I’ve accidentally started a new memoir. Some things never change, not really. I recently made a decision for myself, and it was the best decision I could have made, but it left scars as these things do. That decision had everything to do with my words, so I had to take time to heal. The words were coming, but I had no idea what I wanted write. What idea would hold my interest. At first, I wrote…

[contessaortiz]

Source: Lisa Maclean

[ilovespringrain]

Final page of the next Finding Balance update is up on Patreon! Expect to see the update on Tapas soon!

[chasingbalanceandchaos]

Why My Teen Has a Book in Her Hand and I Have Coffee in Mine☕📚

Some mornings are loud. Some are pure chaos—someone forgot their gym shorts, the dog knocked over her water bowl, and no one knows where the charger went. But every now and then, something shifts. I catch a quiet moment, and there she is—my 14-year-old daughter, curled up in the corner of the couch, totally lost in a book. And there I am, coffee in hand (usually cold by now), just soaking it…

[nvraln-etsy]

The presence of nightmares is often seen as the result of unprocessed trauma with the nightmare being seen as a way to process the emotions or as a message that the dreamer needs to process the particular emotion or situtation. Chevron Amethyst can assist by opening doorways to the subconscious providing the dreamer with strength and clarity to access their divine inner knowledge and wisdom. Additionally, these messages or dreams could come from contact with spirits or ones ancestors. 

Chakra: Third eye and Crown 

Element: Wind 

Cleansing: Smudge 

Charging: Place outside on a windy day for a period of time. 

[rafaelllaaaa]

been trying to embrace my instincts to find the light in everything 💛 life’s been good ever since!

[whatonyogaearth]

Yoga, Social Media & the Fracture Within

You’ve probably noticed we’ve been posting more lately. 

It’s something we’ve resisted for a long time.  Not because we don’t care, but because social media has always felt like a difficult fit.  Awkward. Dissonant.  Not quite right. 

We’ve been reflecting on why that is. 

Yoga, for us, is something real.  Something rooted.  A living practice of presence and remembering. 

But here, online, everything gets compressed.  Stylised.  Turned into soundbites and scrollable moments.  Even the most heartfelt post can feel like a leaf in the wind. 

There’s something deeply strange about putting something sacred  into a space designed for distraction. 

It’s not just about aesthetics.  It’s about energy.  The pace. The performance.  The pressure to make something that ‘lands’, even when what we’re sharing is more like soil than spark.  Something slow.  Something ancient.  Not made to be consumed. 

We’ve always found this tension hard to hold. 

And if we’re honest, being here takes a toll. 

The flickering attention.  The overstimulation.  The constant sense of being pulled outward.  It doesn’t just drain time,  it frays the nervous system.  It scatters presence.  It weighs on the heart in subtle, cumulative ways.  And it doesn’t always feel healthy. 

So yes, we’ve been posting more,  but it’s a bit of an experiment. 

A way of trying to be here  without losing ourselves.  Of being in the world  without being of the machine.  Of showing up with honesty and care,  while resisting the demand to perform or produce. 

And still we worry that something is being lost. 

We worry that in trying to share yoga,  we sometimes betray it.  That in chasing visibility, we become less rooted.  That in packaging our lives into highlights,  we lose touch with the raw, real, beating heart of things. 

Yoga teaches us to return. 

To remember who we are underneath the layers.  To honour the quiet, the unseen, the imperfect.  It calls us back to the body,  the breath,  the earth.  Away from screen glow and endless noise.  Back to the slow, rhythmic pulse of being alive. 

This isn’t a farewell post, or a call to unplug completely. 

We’re still here.  Still sharing.  Still searching for a way to be online  that doesn’t cost us our presence. 

But we want you to know: 

We’re asking questions.  We feel the fracture.  And we’re tending to it. 

We are trying, always, to choose truth over trend,  practice over polish,  remembering over reach. 

We hope you’ll join us in that remembering.  In carving out small spaces of honesty.  In returning, again and again, to what matters most. 

Yoga is not content.  You are not content.  This life is not for consumption.  It is for living.