#and i need to make a dionysus purely for their relationship because i think its fun

[moonstruckdraws]

Antheia

I would put this in the Aphrodite & Antheia post, but nah. I don't feel like it and I want to yap about her a little

So I fixed up her dress because she & Aphrodite were the first designs I did and didn't clean up the sketches. I still liked the outfit so I just cleaned it up. I changed the blue color to white and made her accent colors just gold because I couldn't find the place for the blue anywhere. Plus, she's associated with honey and myrrh plants (and roses & myrtle like the other Kharites). And I gave her little leaf antennae things for fun (like Aglaea's horns kinda. She was gonna have moth/butterfly wings in place of her ears but she already had a snake so it was getting confusing lol) The snake is a garden snake because she's a Goddess of flowers, swamps, gardens, & marshes. I just thought it'd be cute. I just gave her similar ears to Aglaea, but it may change idk.

Antheia is very close with Aphrodite and is her attendant, working together in the works of love. She'd also adorn Aphrodite in flowers to make her more irresistible. So she's associated with love as well as marriage, since her name is also an epitaph that Aphrodite and Hera have. Antheia is also close with Dionysus because she would follow him through vineyards as he worked, growing flowers. I think she's underrated (I say as this is the second time I've drawn her-) and that her bonds with certain gods could be talked about more

I've said this before, but when I first got into mythology when younger, I only learned of Aphrodite. And I learned of Antheia, and thought that she was a lover of Aphrodite (because everyone she interacted with she got with, basically is the logic I had when younger). She obviously is not, but for my younger self's sake, I like to say they're best friends in a QPR, but I don't really take much thought into it so

Anyway, onto the hate with Aglaea because I'm tired. Basically, my idea was that Antheia is salty at Aglaea because she married Hephaestus. She's biased towards Aphrodite, and is bitter towards him since the divorce, and even more upset at Aglaea for marrying him after. It's nothing truly hateful, it's more for me cause I found it funny. I like to think they still bicker, even after Aphrodite & Hephaestus get over it.

[cherry-selfship]

Hiya!! how about

Poseidon

Athena

Aphrodite

Hermes

for Spencer and for Sam

Hera

Ares

Hestia

Dionysus

and for the both of them

Zeus

Persephone

Hypnos

Calliope

Euterpe

Terpsichore

so i'll organize them by who they're answered for! this is really long, too. sorry in advance for the long post. but this was fun to answer all these. 

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

SAM

Hera: How did you first start your romantic relationship with your f/o(s)? How did the way you feel about each other evolve to get to that point?

- so... sam and i had been around each other for a little while, he kind of took me in after we initially met, and it was about six months into playing librarian for the boys with a massive crush on sam that he finally opened his mouth about his crush on me. we went from friends to lovers.

Ares: Are you ever protective of your f/o(s)? Are they ever protective of you?

- despite being about the weakest person in the supernatural universe, i would readily throw hands for my fiance. he is, of course, the one always protecting me, i protect him in that i patch him up when he comes home injured

Hestia: What makes you and your f/o(s) feel at home? 

- each other? the bunker, pie, movies in the dean cave, snuggling in a big comfy armchair, hot cocoa, each other. easy peasy. being snuggly and warm around people who care.

Dionysus: What do you like to do with your f/o(s) for fun? Is there anything fun you’d like to try with them?

- sam and i watch movies. a lot of movies. he likes comedies, i like action movies. we compromise with things like deadpool. ( i think our deadpool watch count is currently over 2 dozen. )

Zeus: How did you first meet your f/o(s)? How did you feel about each other at first?

- i hit a werewolf with my car. i was hunting the same werewolves the winchesters were, and i decided that i had the gall to hit a man with my prius who looked like he could rip the car in half. sam decided i was worth getting to know after that, and i thought he was good looking. so i tagged along with him and dean.

Persephone: How different are you and your f/o(s)? How do you deal with each other’s differences?

- sam is athletic, i am not. sam is big and strong, i am not. sam is very bookish and smart, that i am. honestly, he is just about my polar opposite. athletic, strong, a badass, basically vegetarian at this point. i am not. but we make it work. sam knows i wont go jogging with him and i point and laugh at his salads but he still makes me a killer burger when i want one lol. 

Hypnos: Do you like to sleep together or share a bed with your f/o(s)? If so, what position do you sleep in? Does anyone hog the blankets, or have a stuffed animal, or have nightmares and need the other for comfort? Anything else along those lines?

- purely because sam is Large, he is a blanket hog. a massive blanket hog. it works though, because he tends always to be warm so i'll just cling to him in bed. problem solved. 

Calliope: Do you have any poetry or literature excerpts (or other quotes) that suit your ship?

- happily ever after is not a fairy tale, it's a choice. 

+ our happily ever after was our choice, after all :)

Euterpe: What song(s) suit your ship best? Any particular lyrics that fit well?

- ( don't fear ) the reaper, blue oyster cult. 

All our times have come

Here but now they're gone

Seasons don't fear the reaper

Nor do the wind, the sun and the rain

We can be like they are

Come on, baby (don't fear the reaper)

Baby, take my hand (don't fear the reaper)

We'll be able to fly (don't fear the reaper)

Baby, I'm your man

Terpsichore: Have you and your f/o(s) ever danced together? What kind of dancing? Formal dress or completely informal jamming out in your home?

- rocking out to random songs when we're alone is practically mandatory. 

SPENCER

Poseidon: Do you and your f/o(s) like to travel? If so, where do you like to go? Is there anywhere you’d like to go that you haven’t yet?

- i love travelling, spence travels for his job, we both want to see paris. ive been trying to plan a trip but his schedule is so messy. 

Athena: Are your f/o(s) interested in any particular hobby or interest of yours? Have you taught them about it, or let them watch you, or anything similar?

- spencer loves watching me write. i'm a writer, i have published books. he sits and watches me click away on my laptop like its riveting tv. 

Aphrodite: How do you and your f/o(s) like to show love to each other? Feel free to include your love languages, if you find that helpful.

- spencer leaves little notes around the apartment for when he leaves, tries to be the gentleman when he's home. he's very actions-based, and i have to reassure him a lot that i'm not going anywhere. 

Hermes: Was it love at first sight? Slow burn with lots of pining? How fast did your relationship progress?

- it was annoyance-to-lovers. spence was a bit of an annoyance initially, but his quirks grew to be endearing. we knew each other about six months before he asked me on a date, which we had to postpone thanks to a case. however, once we were official it went rather fast. a year and a half after that first date we were married. 

Zeus: How did you first meet your f/o(s)? How did you feel about each other at first?

- he may have spilled coffee all over my favorite led zeppelin shirt, which subsequently smelled like a starbucks for about two weeks. he was annoyingly endearing at first, he told me that he thought i was intimidating, which i think is hilarious. 

Persephone: How different are you and your f/o(s)? How do you deal with each other’s differences?

- spencer is very quiet and reserved, bookish, and i try to be more outgoing and loud. he says i'm extroverted enough for both of us. 

Hypnos: Do you like to sleep together or share a bed with your f/o(s)? If so, what position do you sleep in? Does anyone hog the blankets, or have a stuffed animal, or have nightmares and need the other for comfort? Anything else along those lines?

- there's a fair bit of snuggling involved, especially after spence gets home from a case. i think he wants something happy in his life, after all the darkness of his job, and i try to be that. 

Calliope: Do you have any poetry or literature excerpts (or other quotes) that suit your ship?

- i am not telling you it is going to be easy - i am telling you it is going to be worth it. 

+ sure it's difficult, with spence travelling, the fear of the dangers in his job, but it is so very worth it. 

Euterpe: What song(s) suit your ship best? Any particular lyrics that fit well?

- just the way you are, bruno mars

'Cause you're amazing

Just the way you are

And when you smile

The whole world stops and stares for a while

Terpsichore: Have you and your f/o(s) ever danced together? What kind of dancing? Formal dress or completely informal jamming out in your home?

- i have discovered that spence has a record player, and he will put on either classical, or 1940s big band music, and we will push all the furniture to the walls, and he tries to teach me to properly dance. 

[tipsycad147]

The Fox

By shirleytwofeathers

Keynote: Feminine magick of camouflage, shapeshifting, and invisibility

Cycle of Power: Nocturnal, Dawn, and Dusk

Key Words: Wisdom, Cunning, Strategy, Cleverness, Adaptability, Quick-thinking

The fox is a totem that has touched almost every society on the planet. It is a totem that speaks of the need to develop or the awakening of camouflage, invisibility, and shapeshifting. It is one of the most uniquely skilled and ingenious animals of nature. It can teach these skills to those whose life it enters.

The fox has a long history of magick and cunning associated with it. Because it is a creature of the night, it is often imbued with supernatural power. It is often most visible at the times of dawn and dusk, the “Between Times” when the magickal world and the world in which we live intersect. It lives at the edges of forests and open land – the border areas. Because it is an animal of the “Between Times and Places,” it can be a guide to enter the Faerie Realm. Its appearance at such times can often signal that the Faerie Realm is about to open for the individual.

The fox encourages us to think outside of the box and use our intelligence in different, creative ways. The fox also brings us a message to try to approach our circumstances differently that we normally would. Be aware of some of our habits, and try a different angle of action.

The fox also a reminder that we must utilise all of our resources (seen and unseen) in order to accomplish our goals. Sometimes this means calling upon some unorthodox methods. Furthermore, the fox is a sign to be mindful of our surroundings.

Phenomenally effective shape-shifters and incredibly adaptable, the fox beckons us to not make too many waves but rather, adapt to our surroundings, blend into it, and use our surroundings (and circumstances) to our advantage.

The fox has an incredible amount of knowledge and wisdom to share with us if/when we are willing to be still for the teachings. Spend some meditative time with the spirit of the fox – odds are you will be amazed at the powerful insight this regal creature has to offer you.

The Lore of Foxes

In the Orient, it was believed that foxes were capable of assuming human form. In ancient Chinese lore, the fox acquires the faculty to become human at the age of 50, and on its hundredth birthday, it becomes either a wizard or a beautiful maiden who will ultimately destroy any man unlucky enough to fall in love with her.

In Japan, the fox is a particularly good influence. It is both a symbol of fertility and sacred to Inari, the God of Plenty. Inari often takes on the form of the fox, and shopkeepers, housekeepers, and businessmen of the Shinto faith keep a little shrine in their homes dedicated to this fox God, so that he will watch over their affairs.

There are several American Indian tribes that tell tales of hunters who accidentally discovered their wives were foxes. This is very symbolic of the idea of magick being born within the feminine energies, and that unless a male can recognise the magick of the feminine – in himself or others – and learn to use it to shapeshift his own life, it will ultimately lead to destruction.

The Cherokees invoke fox medicine to prevent frostbite, and Hopi shamans always wear fox skins in their healing rites. The Choctaw saw fox as the protector of the family unity. Apaches credited fox with the killing of the evil bear, and for sticking its tail fur into the flame and stealing fire for humans.

The Celts believed the fox to be a guide, and was honoured for its wisdom. The Celts understood the fox knows the woods intimately, and they would rely upon the fox as their guide in the spirit world.

In other societies, fox was also held in high esteem. In Persia it was sacred, for it helped the deceased get to heaven. In Egypt, fox fur was thought to bring favour with the gods. The Indians of Peru had a fox god. The fox was often believed to reward those who did it service.The fox is the totem animal of Dionysus, whose seductively foxy priestesses wore fox skins.

Early Christians associated the fox with that most cunning of tricksters, the Devil. The Fox Spirit of Japan and Korea is a shapeshifting often evil spirit called a Kitsune. You can read more about Fox Spirits here.

To Say To A Fox

When fox-red suns Burn low in the south, The cold fox turns To famine and death;

But leave by his house Four rats, three birds, Two hares and a mouse And these warm words:

Fox run round And favour my ground; Eat from my hand, Fatten my land

Who feeds a fox Should suffer no loss.

Fox Symbolism

The symbolic meanings associated with the fox are:

Physical or mental responsiveness, increased awareness

Cunning; seeing through deception; call to be discerning

Ability to find your way around, to be swift in tricky situations

Affinity with nocturnal activities and dream work

The seducer, or seductress

The magick of pure luck

The energy of mischief and opportunity

Play, charm and magickal allure

The Svengali effect ~

Playfulness, light-heartedness, glorious playful enthusiasm.

Beauty and elegance

It is noteworthy to observe the fox while it is on the hunt. We see its entire body is pointed like an arrow – straight and tightly aimed. This is a symbolic message for us to set a determined, and powerfully focused mindset in order to “hit the target” of our desires.

Red Fox Symbolism:

The Red Fox carries with it the symbolism and totem powers of passion and energy, in touch with the primordial Earth spirit, having confidence that the Earth supplies for all of it’s needs.

Gray Fox and Silver Fox Symbolism:

The Gray Fox also known as the Silver Fox is a symbol of being debonair, svelte, and in good taste. His discreet manner is that of nobility and refinement. The fur of the Silver Fox is almost iridescent as it sparkles in the sun, capturing the essence of wealth and good fortune.

Arctic Fox Symbolism:

The Arctic Fox is a sign of magick amidst the ordinary, capable of invisibility with the cloak of snow surrounding, it, magick is most definitely afoot when the Arctic Fox appears for you.

Fox As A Spirit Animal

The fox is often associated with the figure of the trickster, but as a spirit animal, it can also turn into a teacher providing guidance on swiftly finding your way around obstacles. If you follow the fox totem wisdom, you may be called to use or develop quick thinking and adaptability. Responsive, sometimes cunning, this power animal is a great guide when you are facing tricky situations.

When the fox appears in you life as spirit animal, it encourages action and quick, swift moves. You may be called to take action in a way that shows your adaptability and ability to move quickly through obstacles and resistance.

Being inspired by a fox totem, you can work at developing the sharpness of your mental skills: Analytical intelligence, power of deduction, observation can come into play more powerfully in how you deal with daily matters or bigger projects. The spirit of the fox may also imply that you are sharpening your physical alertness and responsiveness.

Fox Spirit Guides and Deception

The fox is known for sneaking into homes and getting away without being caught. Because of it’s characterised by its cunning ability, this animal has acquired the image of trickster in a number of cultures.

When the fox appears in your life, it may indicate that you need to pay attention to people or circumstances that may be deceiving or tricking you into going down a path that does not necessarily serves you. This spirit animal may call you to be more discerning in relationships, whether it’s in business or friendships, or in choices you make for yourself.

Following the fox totem wisdom, look for any area of your life where you may be cunningly led to do something else than you would in all reason do. Use discernment in your choices and actions.

Foxes and the Art of Invisibility

The coat of the fox serves as camouflage, and most fox coats have variations of colour within them. This facilitates their ability to stay camouflaged and remain relatively unseen. Practising and using camouflage is something everyone with a fox totem should learn to do. Working to blend in with the surroundings, to come and go unnoticed, moving silently about without revealing your intentions is all part of what fox teaches.

Much of this is reflected in learning to control the aura, the energy field around your body. You can adjust its frequency and intensity so that you harmonise more with others. You can focus on changing its appearance so that you blend in. Practice by standing against a wall and see yourself (and your aura) becoming the colour of the wall, just as if you were fading into it.

The next time you go to a party, take a seat in a chair or on a couch and see yourself as a fox that blends in perfectly to its surroundings. Remember that a fox is most often ween when it is out in the open, so visualise yourself as taking on the colour and pattern of the chair. Then sit quietly and watch how many people, accidentally bump into you or even begin to sit on you because they did not ���notice or see” you there. You will be amazed.

Practice seeing yourself as a fox when you enter or leave a party or gathering. See yourself as blending into the gathering, melting into it. Do not be surprised as the night goes on when people make such comments as, “When did you arrive?” “How long have you been here?” “I didn’t see you come in,” or “When did you leaved?” The more you work with fox, the easier this becomes.

The historical character of Merlin had to have used fox medicine and energy to accomplish much of what he did, but he practised it. Even during his life time Merlin was largely unknown to the greater public, except as “Merlin.” When he was summoned by kings or needed desperately to recruit other allies, he came silently, disguised as a poor shepherd, as a woodcutter or as a peasant. Even the sovereigns failed to recognise his in his various disguises. He practised concealment habitually and for a long period of time.

For those with fox totems, it will be important to learn this art of camouflage, and its related arts of invisibility and shapeshifting. The fox uses its ability at quiet camouflage to its benefit. With practice you can develop this same kind of ability and apply it so that you may see and hear things you otherwise could not.

About Fox Fur

Hair and fur are ancient symbols for energy and fertility, and layers of fur reflect levels of energy and levels of fertility. With the fox it is the undercoat which is the primal energy source from which an individual draws his or her abilities. The outer layer protects and defines how that energy is being used by the individual. As the outer hair changes so does the expression of the inner creative force.

Hair should become very important to an individual with a fox totem. If a change is needed on certain levels, learning to change the hair to reflect the change desired helps to activate fox energy so that shapeshifting can begin.

The overall thickness of the fur makes the fox look much larger than it really is. This is especially significant for those with fox totems. These individuals have the ability to make themselves appear larger than they actually are. Because of this, an individual schooled in working with this aspect of fox medicine can use it to his or her advantage, for personal protection or for making greater impressions in various areas of his or her life.

About Fox Tails

The brush or tail has always been considered the most sacred part of the fox, although this is not necessarily true. It does hold great significance for one with a fox totem. When it runs, the fox tail is always in a horizontal position out from the body. This acts as a rudder. This horizontal position is the feminine form.

Thus the fox tail is a symbol of directly guiding the feminine creative forces. It is especially beneficial to the fox when making abrupt and sharp turns. If the focus stays on the creative energies, any sharp turn in the individual’s life will be accomplished with ease.

The tail also serves as insulation from the cold for the nose and feet, as the fox wraps itself up in its tail. Individuals with fox totems have an ability to insulate themselves from anything that may seem to be cold, especially in relationships. They can become warm and cosy in themselves.

About Fox Activities

Although a fox dislikes getting wet, it is an excellent swimmer. This is also very significant, for it says something about the innate character of those with a fox totem. They have learned to draw upon and express the feminine energies, the creative force, in the outer world. For them, there is no desire to go back into the waters of life (feminine), but they will do so if it is necessary.

The legs of the fox are adapted for running. There is a tremendous stamina to them, an ability they can bring to others. Their favourite gait is a trot, and it is believed that they can trot indefinitely without exhaustion or the appearance of such. Few animals of a similar size can outrun a fox. Learning to establish a trotting pace is essential to those with a fox totem for their overall health and success. The fox also runs in such a way that the tracks look like a single line of footprints. During the trot the feet are placed almost directly one in front of the other., This reflects a straight-forward expression of the feminine energy.

Fox walks and runs on its toes, something very catlike. This is also significant for the fox is part of the canine family (dog), but it embodies a feline characteristic. The feline is the feminine energy given greater expression and movement. This quality reflects a need to assert the feminine, creative energies.

The fox also has the ability to run up trees if it is necessary. This reflects an ability to move into new dimensions and call upon new resources instinctively. The grey fox particularly has the ability to climb a tree much like a cat would, by using the claws of its back feet to push it up.

About Fox Senses

The senses of the fox reveal much about the potential within those who have it as a totem. Its hearing is very acute. They are like mini-antennae. They can pick up the squeal of a mouse over a hundred and fifty yards away. Those with fox totems have an excellent ability to hear what is not being said, as well as any whispering that may be going on. This ability is also tied to clairaudience, the ability to hear spirit.

The fox also has excellent eyesight. In fact they have elliptical eyes, just like a cat. They are colour blind, but they have a great ability to see varying shades of lightness and darkness. This gives an individual the ability to size people up very accurately. They also have a great ability to see moving objects, especially at the edges or borders of areas. Because of this, it is not unusual for those with fox totems to develop the ability to see spirit; actually see those beings of the “Between Places,” the fairies and the elves. This will happen if fox has come to you.

By far its keenest sense is the sense of smell. It hunts as much or more by smell as by the other senses. The fox is fascinated by unusual odours, and those with fox totems respond strongly to smells, detecting subtle differences in odours. Smell is one of its forms of social communication – deciding who to socialise with. It would be beneficial for anyone with fox medicine to study aromatherapy.

Sexually, the sense of smell is one of their strongest stimulants, and it has a key impact on the degree and intensity of arousal for those with fox medicine. There is strong connection between fragrance and sexuality, and for those with fox medicine this is critical.

The sexual energy is our most creative energy; it is part of the kundalini energy force within the body. This force is critical in all activities. If controlled and channelled, it can be used for a variety of purposes – one of the most dynamic being for the art of shapeshifting. A fox entering one’s life as totem may reflect the awakening of the kundalini. Such an individual to whom fox comes often has a great capacity for sexual expression with an ability to practice it in rich and varied ways – often with little inhibition. This aspect may often be camouflaged until the right moment.

The sense of smell is also associated with higher forms of discrimination and discernment. One working with fox medicine should sniff out each situation. This will let them know who to avoid and who to connect with. Does this person smell right? Does something smell funny about this situation?

About The Fox Family

Most foxes have only one partner. They are very monogamous. They also live alone for about five months of the year. They are often solitary and comfortable with that state most of the time. The red fox vixens (females) search for a den usually only when they are pregnant. If possible they return to that same den year after year, adding to it and making it larger and more comfortable.

This same quality and love of the home is found in those with fox totems. Although foxes are territorial and travel within that territory, they do return to their home, their den. Those with fox medicine may find themselves as territorial in their activities, but also inclined to return to their home and improve it.

A litter of fox cubs usually numbers from one to six. They are blind and deaf when they are born, but they move from that extreme to one of great sight and great hearing as they get older. If the cub survives its first year it will usually live several more, establishing its own territory. This reflects that those with fox medicine may have their greatest tests in childhood, but also their greatest instinctual education in the art of survival.

The Vixen

The name for the female Fox is Vixen. For humans, a vixen has always had the reputation of being a dangerous femme fatale. Having the ability to lure in males and send them away just as quickly, without a second thought, or lure them into danger.

The reason for this association is that when the Vixen is ready to mate, she sends out a scent to lure her mate who is the same mate year after year. He then picks up her scent and faithfully returns to her.

After mating, however, the female sends her mate away again, to raise her young on her own. She will beckon him again to return only when her kit has grown and left her side, and she is ready to mate yet once again. She is so irresistible that he returns year after year.

The Vixen makes the rules of the relationship! The Vixen has a message for today’s women; know your worth, define your boundaries and the right man will find you irresistible!

About Foxes As Hunters

The fox is a survivor and a great hunter. In spite of encroachment on its territory and the history of being hunted it has been exposed to, it still manages to survive. Its instincts are great.

Foxes are dainty, graceful, and lightfooted in hunting. They actually hunt more like a cat, often leaping upon their prey and holding it with their front paws. The fox is crafty and patient, and it will lie in camouflage intensely studying its prey until just the right moment to attack.

Probably the fox’s cleverest hunting technique is “charming.” In this technique, the fox is seen near a prey, performing various antics. It will leap and jump and roll and chase itself, so that it charms the prey’s attention. While performing, the fox draws closer and closer without its prey realising, as it is caught up in its seemingly non-threatening antics. Then at the right moment, the fox leaps and captures its prey.

This is a camouflage technique, one associated with behaviour. It is one that those with fox totems can use to capture any prize. As you develop attunement to the fox and learn its magick, any prize can fall to you.

When You Dream of a Fox

When Fox appears in your dreams, it may be telling you that there is a circumstance which calls for you to be very clever at this time, to look for new ways of approaching a situation or challenge. What areas of your life could use this kind of help? Fox can show you new ideas and new ways of doing things, sit in silence and let the fox show you.

Fox could be showing up in your dreams to guide you to opportunity, an opportunity that could prove to feel serendipitous and lucky.

A female Fox is like Wonder Woman! She could be telling you that you are more independent and resourceful than you realise, and she can show you how to tap into this aspect of her super powers. She is also saying that charm goes a very very long way in getting things to go in the most favourable and “luckiest” of ways!

Foxes are also considered quite magickal in Japanese lore, so you may be dreaming of Fox because she wants to recommend adding some magick to what is needing your attention. Consider a ritual or crystals or anything that feels magickal to you.

Fox Folklore and Superstition

Country people have always admired foxes for their cleverness and courage even though they disliked them for their raids upon the poultry-yard. The folk tales of every country where they are found testify to this fact, from remote times down to our own. In some parts of Europe, a fox’s tongue was worn as an amulet to make the wearer bold; in others, the same effect was achieved by cooking and eating it.

The fox was one of several creatures into which it was once believed that witches could, and did, turn themselves at will. In England, the witch-animal was more usually a hare, but there are a number of fox stories also.

As late as the end of the 19th century, the people of Kirtlington, in Oxfordshire, spoke of a local woman who transformed herself thus. A fine fox was often seen near her house and was frequently hunted, though never with success. On one occasion, the hounds were so close behind it that escape seemed impossible, but the fox made a sudden turn and rushed into the witch’s house. When, a few seconds later, the huntsmen followed it, there was nothing to be seen but a woman sitting quietly by her fireside.

Certain families in Ireland were traditionally said to be descended from foxes, as others there, and in Scotland, were supposed to be descended from wolves or seals. Such fox-families were warned of a coming death by the appearance of many foxes around their house. It is perhaps because of this legend that in other parts of Britain a fox entering or coming close to a house is thought to be a death omen.

Welsh people think it lucky to meet a single fox, but unlucky to see several together. A Lincolnshire belief recorded in “Folk-Lore concerning Lincolnshire” (1908) is that if anyone is bitten by a fox, he is marked for death within seven years.

An old method of drawing out an obstinate thorn embedded in any part of the human body was to lay a fox’s tongue on it. This had to be done at night, just before going to bed. In the morning, the thorn would have come out, even though it had previously resisted every attempt to extract it by the use of poultices or other remedies.

A cure for whooping-cough was to put down a dish of milk where a fox could drink it, and then to let the patient drink what was left when the fox had finished.

In many parts of England, it is still firmly believed that foxes dispose of their fleas periodically by taking a piece of sheep’s wool in their mouths and wading with it into a pond or stream until only their noses are above water. The fleas, to escape drowning, take refuge in the wool, and the fox then lets it fall into the water, thus ridding himself of these pests.

This curious piece of natural history is found in numerous districts, and many countrymen assert that it is quite true. In Oxfordshire recently, one man said that, because there are no sheep in this part of the country, the local foxes use bunches of dry grass instead of wool. He had, he said, “seen ’em at it, scores of times.” What exactly he, and other eye-witnesses have seen is not clear, but faith in this vulpine maneuver is still very common.

Sources:

Spirit Animal

Animal Speak

Element Encyclopedia of Secret Signs and Symbols

The Encyclopedia of Superstitions

What’s Your Sign

The Universe of Symbolism

Crone’s Book of Magical Words

https://shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/powers-that-be/category/animal-guides-and-totems/page/2/

[post-bronze-medals]

PJO AU

Hi! I posted awhile ago that I have a Percy Jackson AU for Yuri on Ice! in my head and I thought I would finally get around to typing it all out. Super thanks to @forovnix​ for not telling me to piss off when I sent her most of this drunk off my face and for encouraging me. Jus, you’re the best, ily a lot. Also I heard through the grapevine that her and @actualyuuri​ are writing one together, which was the whole inspiration for this universe I have thought up, so I am crediting them too ;) . It is very long - so I will put it under the cut!

Let us begin with...

THE CHARACTERS

Yuuri

CHILD OF: Hecate

PANTHEON: Greek

POWERS: Magic - specialism in spiritual and shielding; Mist control; Astral Projection into the lives of other Demigods and godly beings; Dance is his primary spell casting method.

BACKSTORY: After Hiroko had Mari, she found her womb was too damaged to bear another child. Wanting another child, they tried everything from medicine to, eventually, prayer. The only one who answered was Hecate, who was a distant relative of Toshiya from many generations ago. And with a little divine interference, Yuuri was made from three parents.

Yuuri’s eyes go gold when he uses his powers, a throwback to Kronos that Hecate thinks is kind of adorable. Zeus banned visiting their godly children back after WWII, but he can only really control what happens in the US, as it is the current seat of Olympian (and Roman) power. As such, Hecate has visited Yuuri four times a year since he was a baby, and drops in on him occasionally for a few hours at other times too.

Viktor

CHILD OF: Persephone

PANTHEON: Greek

POWERS: Control of flowers and plant life - especially creating and killing them; Strengthen harvests in the early stages (springtime); Talented at poison creation; Spreads poison through his flowers (airborne) and generally though touch.

BACKSTORY: Victor’s mother had zero need or desire for a husband, partner or indeed, physical sex. She, being somewhat dramatic, prayed to Persephone in a ritual handed down from mother to daughter for generations but generally regarded as a bit. Persephone, bored and wanting to create some life in the world, agreed to help her conceive a child with her as the other mother. She however, recalling how much Hades’ indiscretions had hurt her, told him about her plans beforehand, and Hades’ was absolutely fine with it. He knew he had no room to talk about extra-marital children and he loved his wife a great deal. Something that came of her would surely be only a good force in the world.  

Victor has his human mother’s silver hair, and his godly mother’s eyes that cycled through colour according to the weather, the state of the plants around him and his mood. He settled on a teal he liked as his day to day eye colour, and controls himself to keep it that way. Persephone and Hades, taking advantage of the same loophole as Hecate regarding non-interference, bring him down to the underworld every so often. Hades is actually a very doting uncle and is immensely fond of Victor’s loving and giving nature. He teaches him about poisons and summons spirits Victor wants to talk to for a chat whenever he asks. Persephone loves him a lot as well, but in a more distant fashion. It was her that taught him French, and they like to sit together in the pomegranate orchard underground and read.

Yuri

CHILD OF: Apollo

PANTHEON: Greek

POWERS: Graceful; Slight Precognition; Archery.

BACKSTORY: Yuri’s mum had a relationship with Apollo for two weeks, in which she could have sworn she was careful with condoms, but apparently not. Yuri was conceived and he left long before she found out or could tell him about it. The loss of the relationship didn’t really hit her hard, it was only really a fling to them both. She decided to have Yuri anyway, and once she recovered from the birth, she went straight back to work to earn money to support them all, leaving Yuri with his grandfather.

Yuri inherited his fathers colouring but his mother’s face. He also had Apollo’s artistic talents but enjoys dance the most, so generally ignored poetry and music - until he discovered hard rock at age 11. He is also a little precognitive, his instincts have got him away from more than one fight and also led him to the rink where Yakov took him on.  His mother doesn't care about his father’s absence but he kind of does, and really really hates the guy, whoever he is. Apollo never bothered to think of a loophole to the decree of non-interference and so never even tried to meet Yuri - he fairly quickly forgot about him and his mother when his newest conquest came around.

Otabek

CHILD OF: Thanatos

PANTHEON: Greek

POWERS: Sense when someone is about to die and if it is their ‘time’; Gravitas; BACKSTORY: Otabek’s parents were cultists when they were younger, cultists in service of Thanatos. Although they settled down a bit when they were older, dropping most of their worship, Thanatos never forgot about them. He doesn't often get cults in his name! So when they were trying for a kid and it turned out his father was infertile, Thanatos helped out without even being requested.

Otabek’s parents love him a lot, as an unexpected and much appreciated surprise. After his birth they figured that it must have been some kind of divine interference and began to pray to Thanatos again. The god sometimes comes to chill out with Otabek and teach him how to use his senses. Unfortunately, his heritage makes him seem creepy af to non demigods. Yuri is his first true friend.

Christophe

CHILD OF: Cupid

PANTHEON: Roman

POWERS: See the truth of love - as threads binding people; Cause lust (orgies); Wings

BACKGROUND: Chris' dads are a very gay, very happy couple who are somewhat overdramatic (being theatre actors) but love with all their hearts. While performing in Paris they prayed they could have a child through their love and nine months later, Chris was dropped on their doorstep in Switzerland. Whether he is the child of all three parents, or of one of them and Cupid, or if he is adopted is unknown.

Chris is seriously loved by them, even though they definitely know something is up because he has large bird-like rose pink wings that show up every so often when he is excited and cannot control himself. His dad isn’t around often, it isn't his nature, but he leaves gifts for him whenever he is in Switzerland, so Christophe doesn't really mind. He has his parents either way!

Seunggil

CHILD OF: Athena

PANTHEON: Greek

POWERS: Tactics/Strategy; Unshakeable calm

BACKSTORY: Seunggil has a single biologist father who had a one night stand with Athena when in the US for a conference. When he returned to S Korea, a son showed up on his doorstep and after confirming he was his son he rolled with it.

Seunggil was brought up as a scientist, to question everything, which only helps his sense of strategy. He is a calm person but if you rile him up utterly he completely loses it and is terrifying.He also is very interested in coding and technology. He never meets Athena and doesn’t care about it - his father barely knew the woman anyway. 

Phichit

CHILD OF: Venus

PANTHEON: Roman

POWERS: Charmspeaking; See love bonds

BACKGROUND: Phichit’s mothers are devotees to beautiful things, but most especially to dance. Venus saw them dancing and blessed them with a threesome in bed in exchange for them spending an evening dancing for her. Phichit was the result, as they found out several months later.

Phichit, like his mothers, loves beautiful things but prefers selfies and photography as his outlet, he is determined to capture the manmade and natural world in all its diverse beauty! Being able to charm people into doing what he wants means that he can be a little manipulative but he has a very strong moral code generally and would never hurt a friend.

Leo

CHILD OF: Morpheus

PANTHEON: Roman

POWERS: Send people to sleep; Influence dreams

BACKSTORY: Leo's dad has a very long and healthy relationship with Morpheus through his dream scape, where the bright colours of his artistic mind drew the sleepy god. They decided, after much deliberation, that they wanted a son as a sign of their love and to dote upon in the real world. Leo was conceived in a surrogate’s womb, but is of the two men’s DNA. Leo gets visited as regularly as possible by his godly dad in his dreams, as he is unable to leave the underworld to meet in person. He has never doubted that he is loved. He lives in Mexico with his dad but trains in the US / for the US when he gets his bracelet (more on that later)...

Guanghong

CHILD OF: Vesta

PANTHEON: Roman

POWERS: Fire, Constancy

BACKSTORY: Guanghong parents were unable to conceive and both being pure of heart, were blessed by Vesta so that they could have just one child. He doesn't see her often, but feels close to his godly mother when near a fire or a hearth. He is the emotional centre of his friend group and his sweet nature is pretty much never-ending, also he is asexual.

Mickey 

CHILD OF: Dionysus

PANTHEON: Greek

POWERS:  Grape Control; Invoke Narcissism and other disorders involving delusion; Makes a party crazy fun when he feels like it (rarely).

BACKSTORY: Mickey and Sara’s mother is a single black mother from a big Italian family. Dionysus didn't want to test his father in Italy, although he probably would have been fine, and decided to leave the Crispinos alone ‘for their own safely’. They pair were raised by their grandmother and long extended family primarily as their mother works. Mickey is protective of Sara for multiple reasons that are Not a sister complex here.

Sara 

CHILD OF: Dionysus

PANTHEON: Greek

POWERS: Cause Maenad like madness with a touch; Make wine at will

BACKSTORY: Mickey and Sara’s mother is a single black mother from a big Italian family. Dionysus didn't want to test his father in Italy, although he probably would have been fine, and decided to leave the Crispinos alone ‘for their own safely’. They pair were raised by their grandmother and long extended family primarily as their mother works. Sara is very gay.

Mila 

CHILD OF: Venus

PANTHEON: Roman

POWERS: Create infatuations; Exceptional Beauty

BACKSTORY: Mila has a single father, who is a premier ballerino and remarried when Mila was seven. Mila was a typical Venus ‘one night of passion’ baby, who was dropped off with her father after her birth and then promptly ignored by her mother. She really likes her stepmum actually, who is a ballerina as well. Mila is very beautiful personally and also a dab hand at makeovers.

Phew - that is a lot! Dont worry, anything important will come up in the fic (if I ever write it...)

Now, onto the actual Plot...

THE PLOT

ARC 1: Yuuri begins to astral project as a child, while he is still learning to control his powers. Through his astral projection he meets the other demigod kids (the geographically closest first, then he ranges progressively further afield). He makes friends with them all and gets something of a crush on Victor, his skating idol (and pretty lovely guy when he gets to know him in person!) Monsters, able to smell their scent, are coming for them even though they aren't in America and everyone is pretty afraid. Yuuri, having the biggest heart,  decides to try to change that fact of demigod life at just age 11 and he is very very stubborn about it, asking all the gods of the underworld and all the friendly or neutral monsters he sees about it. He hurts himself a lot trying it, but after a year or so he managed to create a bracelet that holds in the demigod 'scent', making his friend safer. The bracelets have to be personalised to the specific powers of each child so the first one goes to Phichit (his first friend). Then he makes them all one as he meets each character in person, either posting them out or giving them at the novice and junior skating competitions he attends. The hardest to create was Victor’s, who as the first child of Persephone is very powerful. Yuuri ends up accidentally putting a piece of his Self into the bracelet as that is the strongest power he has. It is very dangerous but even after his upset mum Hecate told him what he had done, he could;t regret it. The life of his friend was the most important thing!

ARC 2: Aboveworld gods don't care for their kids by and large (see character notes above.). They often forget them as they are not under American jurisdiction and therefore won't fight battles for them. Only The underworld gods and those mentioned above really care. Even as they become friends at competitions and through Yuuri’s projections, the strain of the bracelets wears on yuuri and maybe eventually one bracelet snaps or becomes overwhelmed. No one blames Yuuri but Yuuri, they just didn't realise how tough it was to power the close shielding of their scent. They have to team up to defeat the monsters that come for them. There is a Big Battle Scene and despite their desperate prayer to the above world parents, none can help. The underworld ones do their best but it is the solstice - their absence would be noticed. The arc ends with them all being pseudo adopted by underworld gods.

ARC 3: They all decide fuck the above gods, they won't be beholden to them anymore. The decide to circumvent their monopoly on items such as nectar and ambrosia, in the process setting up in the Underworld and creating their own godly market/culture/empire for those who dont want to use Olympus. In the process, they make friends with or at least win respect from some monsters. who admire their chutzpah, and also their stylish fashion.

ARC 4: Camp Half-Blood need hep with something as of yet undefined ( a prophecy?). Nico knows Victor through the Hades/Persephone connection and also because of their underground empire. Hades favours Victor as an heir despite not being his son because of his love for Persephone and also his strong underworld connection through Yuuri, his boyfriend, who is also an immensely powerful son of the underground. Victor, having survived past his teens, is also very responsible and wise so is a generally good choice. The whole crew agree to visit the camp at Nico's request and to meet their siblings. Drama ensues...

Yes, There are elements not mentioned here (how do Victuuri get together? What about other pairings? What happens at Camp Half-Blood?) but hey, have to leave something for the actual fic. Hope this is interesting to you guys, I spent several weeks daydreaming this. Tell me your head canons if you want, what do you think about my godly parent decisions? I would love to chat about it. <3 <3 <3

[victorineb]

Fic Recs Mega Post

Whenever I write one of these posts I’m struck by the sheer amount of incredible writing talent in this little fandom of ours. It is quite astonishing, and it’s a privilege to get to read all of this wonderful work. Below there’s a small selection of the fantastic stuff I’ve been reading recently, featuring gods, monsters and feral jungle men - and that’s just for starters!

Storms (series) by @lovecrimevariations (KareliaSweet): This frankly astonishing series starts out in barnstorming but fairly innocuous style in Where Are The Storms I Was Promised, in which Will Graham, famous monster hunter, is called to deal with the Wendigo that’s been terrorising an entire town. And then it proceeds, over the course of a further six instalments, to document the beautiful, bloody, often painful course of the relationship between Will and Hannibal, constantly deepening and recontextualising the ‘verse as it goes. Reading this series is almost like watching a really good magic trick – every time you think you’ve got its measure, it pulls something new and surprising out of its hat. And it’s not just flash and sparkle either, the writing is utterly beautiful, the characters are perfectly captured and it is both deeply funny and enormously moving (I was genuinely weepy a number of times throughout). Plus, it also features a majestic, powerful, do-not-under-any-circumstances-fuck-with incarnation of Bedelia, who is worth the price of admission all by herself. Seriously, she was my favourite part of this whole series and I love it beyond any sense or reason. If you have any love of writing whatsoever, read this series, it is a masterclass.

You’ll be in my heart by @starkaryen: Based on the totally beautiful art (here and here) by @camilleflyingrotten, here Will is a scientist on an expedition to find and study gorillas. Instead, he ends up finding Hannibal, a mostly-feral man who lives in the jungle, has an adopted gorilla family, and takes an immediate shine to Will. Who, because this is Will and Hannibal, finds himself taking a shine right back. And all is rosy in Camp Hannigram, until Jack damn Crawford sticks his nose in (like always) and threatens Hannibal’s way of life. As befits the utterly gorgeous artwork, this fic is just lovely from start to finish. It features a particularly adorable version of Hannibal – the scenes in which he indulges his obsession with Will’s safari hat are nothing short of precious – and a charmingly earnest Will. It’s a simple, innocent bit of loveliness, which is rather refreshing in this dark and sophisticated fandom of ours XD.

(Also, if you’d like a little more Tarzan AU, this time with an A/B/O flavour, check out Hannizan by @hotsauce418, which is just pure filth and utterly wonderful with it XD.)

We, the common by @thelongcon23 (thelongcon): A retelling of the show (and beyond) in omegaverse style, this fic alternates masterfully between Hannibal and Will’s POVs as the omega becomes fascinated, obsessed, and ultimately falls in love with the alpha. The result is that while the course of events remains largely the same         (Will still gets framed and gutted, and they still go over the cliff in each other’s arms), others change drastically (the way Will locates Hannibal in Florence, for instance, gets a very clever omegaverse twist). And their relationship after the fall? Well, I can pretty much guarantee you’ve never seen it go down quite like this before. If you’re looking for fluff, I suggest you go elsewhere, but if you’re after passion, intensity, and that terribly Hannigram sense that love and cruelty are not mutually exclusive, this is the fic for you. The writer has a firm grip on the characters’ voices and motivations and is uncompromising and incisive in their betrayal of both. This is not necessarily an easy read (particularly towards the end, when Hannibal gives Will a reckoning of his own) but it is a compelling and fascinating one.

Cookies by @desperatelyseekingcannibals (TigerPrawn): Now, those of you who are after some fluff, here’s some of the best around. Tiger’s non-cannibal AU is an absolute treat, full of emotional idiots, kick-ass women and a totally adorable kid (and I don’t say that lightly cos kid!fic ain’t my thing!). It all starts when Will accompanies his daughter Abigail as she goes door-to-door selling cookies for charity and finds himself face to face with the ever-so-handsome Doctor Lecter. And then somehow, before he knows it, Will is agreeing to a date in exchange for Hannibal buying all of Abby’s stock, and soon finding that he might have stumbled into a real relationship. Not that it’s smooth sailing, of course, this is still Hannigram we’re talking about! It is my deep and ardent belief that Hannibal dreams of being a romcom when it grows up and with this utterly charming, romantic, as-sweet-as-its-name-suggests fic, that dream is made a reality. Anyone who’s ever wanted to see Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter fall in love the old-fashioned way (you know, without all those annoying stints in prison and near-fatal injuries), treat yourself and read this fic. I guarantee it will melt even the most dark and twisted of hearts.

Picture Imperfect by @shiphitsthefan: Will Graham is a very special alpha – unlike many of his sex, he can be trusted not to turn into a hormonal animal around omegas. It’s how he’s made his career as a photographer. That is, right up until he’s in a room with concert harpsichordist Hannibal Lecter and everything goes to hell when they scent each other and can barely keep themselves from ripping their clothes off and bonding right there and then. Seems like they’re true mates and it’s only a matter of time before they give into their urges – so Will, being a decent and respectful alpha, has to get this courtship show on the road before that happens. Well, mostly before that happens. Given the UST inherent to the plot, this is every bit as intensely, stupidly hot as you’d hope, but it’s also a really clever, thoughtful exploration of the omegaverse concept, set in a ‘verse in which omegas are the ruling gender, a nice reversal of the usual a/b/o setup. Plus it has an almost indecently adorable version of Hannigram, in which progressive Will and traditionalist Hannibal attempt to conjoin their lives so that they can get on and shag already! Smart and sexy a/b/o is one of our fandom’s greatest strengths and this is truly just an exemplary version of it.

Space Invader II: A Very Darko Sequel by @devereauxsdisease: A sequel to the utterly wonderful Space Invader (and if you haven’t read it, I’m begging you, go remedy that this instant), this return to Dev’s Spacedogs ‘verse sees Adam and Nigel still ensconced in blissful coupledom. So blissful, in fact, that it’s making Darko wonder if he might want some of that relationship stuff for himself. Cue the appearance of a certain sassy lab tech last seen working for the FBI. That’s right, Beverly Katz is alive, in town and about to rock Darko’s world XD. This is just an utter joy to read, stuffed with Dev’s trademark mix of fantastic dialogue, heartfelt emotion and wickedly dirty jokes. And best of all is her way with the characters, all of whom are wonderfully loveable and who work beautifully together. I spent the whole fic marvelling at the way in which these disparate characters come together and feel like they were always meant to be that way – they make a lovely, entertainingly weird family and are never less than an utter delight to spend time with.

Forgemaster by @llewcie: Valhalla Enchanted by way of the Greek gods now, in this peerless piece of sweetness by the lovely Llew. Char and Ella are the new Dionysus and Aphrodite (in this ‘verse, the gods can retire and be replaced) and live like brother and sister, i.e. bickering, winding each other up, pushing each other’s buttons... They particularly like making bets, which winds up with Ella making Char agree to three dates with Hephaestus, being played in this fic by One Eye. Given that One Eye is unsociable, ragged, and constantly dirty from his forge, Char is less than impressed with his companion and says so… somewhat unfortunately within One Eye’s earshot. So when, despite himself, Char finds himself falling for the blacksmith god’s charms, he’s got a lot of work to do to convince One Eye that he’s worth the trouble! Llew has the charm turned up all the way to eleven in this gorgeously frothy, funny little comedy of errors, with a sweetly vain version of Char melting under the steadily growing appeal of One Eye’s gentle strength. If you need cheering up for any reason, this fic should be your first port of call.

Pure Imagination by @constructfairytales (beforethedawn and Destinyawakened): Stranger Things was one of my favourite shows last year (admittedly it’s no Hannibal, but what is?). It was smart and weird, and as an 80s baby it pressed every last one of my nostalgia buttons, from soundtrack to costume design. So, of course, it was with nothing but delight that I started this crossover AU, in which Will is police chief of the town where young Will Byers goes missing and Hannibal is the psychiatrist he brings in to counsel the traumatised community. And I wasn’t disappointed – this is a fantastic blend of Hannibal’s surreal romanticism with the full-on monstery weirdness of the ST ‘verse, with plenty of unexpectedly but pleasingly fluffy Hannigram at the centre of it. Though it follows the basic plot of ST, having Will and Hannibal involved inevitably shakes things up (Will’s empathy is given a brilliant twist) and predictable this certainly ain’t. Instead it’s fun, thrilling and playful, with at least one story development that genuinely had me on the edge of my seat. And did I mention the Hannigram? Cos, yeah, there’s no slow burn here. Our boys are goners from the second they meet and the intensity of their connection is all kinds of wonderful.

The Estate by @bokuno-jinsei: Amusingly, the tags on this fantastic fic eventually turn into a short plea for Will Graham to stop thinking so much (a plea which anyone who’s written the over-analytical little shit will know is hopeless). Fortunately, Will clearly paid no attention, and so we readers are treated to this charmingly introspective piece of canon divergence. So, Hannibal gets as far as sitting Will at the dinner table in Florence. But, before he can get out his bonesaw, he seemingly has second thoughts and so Will wakes some time later to find himself ensconced in the last place he expected to revisit – Lecter Castle. Where, he finds, Hannibal has decided to change the game between them: if Will agrees to see if they can live together, Hannibal will cease any attempts to change or influence Will. So the pair find themselves as the unlikeliest of roommates as Will wrestles with his demons, his desires and, inevitably, his feelings for Hannibal. Anybody who enjoys intense conversations, brewing sexual tension and Hannibal in waders (yes, really), step this way, you’re in for a treat.  

Inevitable by Vulcanmi: I do adore canon divergence. And I have a weakness for prison fics (love Hannigram falling in love while incarcerated). So this fic is entirely my jam. It picks up in the second half of s3: Hannibal is in jail, Will is “happily” married to Molly, and Jack is still desperate to have his pet empath back on board to deal with the Tooth Fairy. Except in this ‘verse, Will decides not to give into Jack and remains with his family, far away from Baltimore. In order to make it up to his former boss, though, Will writes a letter to a certain inmate, suggesting that he offer his services where Will cannot. Of course, it’s not the last letter Will ends up sending to Hannibal. Not by a long shot. And we all know what happens once Will gives Hannibal an inch… (hey, I didn’t mean that kind of inch, you filthy perverts!). Though it starts out as an angsty exploration of Will’s determination to separate himself from Hannibal, somewhere along the way this fantastic fic transforms into a twisted yet adorable romcom, as our murder muffins confront their feelings and try to figure out whether there’s any version of the world in which they might be together. And, frankly, it’s an utter delight to read. One for those (*raises hand*) who like their hurt/comfort 20% hurt and 80% comfort.

Inside the Imitation by @belladonnaq (Belladonna_Q) with artwork by @reapersun: A confession. I’ve never seen The Thing (because I’m a scaredy-cat who doesn’t watch anything that could remotely be described as scary. “But Vic, isn’t Hannibal scary?” Yeah, yeah, I contain multitudes, now hush mango, I’m working). However, I’ve never let ignorance get between me and my Hannigram and so I jumped headfirst into the The Thing/Hannibal crossover which, fortunately, works utterly brilliantly with absolutely zero knowledge of the film. So, once again Jack Crawford finds reason to call upon the services of Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter. Except this time, it’s not in order to investigate the Minnesota Shrike, but a strange case with its roots in a decades-old tragedy in Alaska. Soon things turn weird and monstery and Will and Hannibal find themselves reluctantly (well, as ever, Will’s reluctant, Hannibal’s thrilled) investigating a burned-out government building with something truly frightening at its core. This is thrilling, clever and wonderfully creepy, a fantastic reframing of canon (especially the Hannigram) and tons of fun throughout. I have to admit, I did not see the twist coming in this fic (though that’s possibly because I’m a dim bulb when it comes to plot) and it was delivered brilliantly, turning everything on its head and upping the stakes for our beloved murder muffins. Oh, and make sure to check out @reapersun’s fabulous artwork that accompanies the fic, it’s staggeringly gorgeous.

The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: Volume 2 by @fragile-teacup: A continuation of the marvellous The Spaces Between series, this picks up a little after volume one, with our boys enjoying Argentinian high society. Unfortunately, while the end of the previous instalment hinted at full-blown murder husbandry, it quickly turns out that Will and Hannibal haven’t quite sorted out their feelings to anyone’s satisfaction (you’re shocked, I can tell). Fortunately, we’re pretty much out of slow burn territory here and the idiots manage to get their act (mostly) together just in time for some ghosts to rear their perfectly-coiffed, millionairess heads and throw a spanner in the works. This sequel continues the achingly lovely tone of its predecessor, with romance a-plenty amongst bouts of emotional idiocy and bloodlust. It’s sweet and tender without compromising on the intensity and darkness of our beloved boys and builds their relationship with care and patience, allowing for a believable building of trust and love between them. It is, in other words, a treat to read in every way, so get yourself to ao3 and have at it!

As ever and always, if I’ve miscredited anyone or if there are bad links, please let me know and I’ll correct it ASAP. Happy reading, lovely fannibals!

[jamesdazell]

A Brief History of the Life and Death of God

“Fear created the first gods in the world” said Statius a 1st Century AD Roman poet. "God is a superstition" from film There Will Be Blood. “God is dead” said Nietzsche “I count religion but a childish toy” wrote Christopher Marlowe We have all had that sensation of an overwhelming tremendous feeling that we quite know not want to do with. It feels like too much to handle, it feels to be so much more than what we are that we must be a recipient of it, not the author of it. There must be someone to credit for it. And so we psychologically project it outwards, we empty it into what seems like a vessel, something that can contain it, and we try to give it explanation in order to give it accountability. In so much as to ease the sensation, but also to manifest that sensation in to some kind of phenomenon. Seemingly at all costs not to attribute it to ourselves. But why should we not be the author of it? * We can often see bursts of projected overwhelming feelings whenever love is too much to bare. Whether the love for another person or love received by another. We are suspicious of a strong and powerful love. We want it subdued. Containable. Playful. Too much makes it heavy and serious, and only ends up giving us the blues. And yet we say “he/she loves me too much” as though it were a bad thing to love. And yet we cannot hate enough. People commonly cant deal with overwhelming feelings. Or say you’ve been hurt in a relationship and are distrusting of love. If you hated love, you'll never find it and you never enjoy it. If you said to yourself I'll never let myself get hurt again, you'd never fall in love again. Falling in love involves hurting. Bob Marley said everyone's gonna hurt you, you just gotta find the one's worth the pain. Similarly with life, if you tell yourself you're never gonna get hurt by life, then you're never gonna live. It's just part of it but how you deal with it is a whole other matter.  * Science likes to demean the past by suggesting that the ancient people were naive about the world that they live in, and that all the world was understood as magic and superstition. It wasn’t that ancient people thought floods, hurricanes, lightning storms, death of loved ones, insane victories in battle, were so inexplicable that they must be attributed to gods. It’s that the feelings they caused were so tremendous, whether fear, grief, or awe, that it was cast off and projected in to the attribution of something which could retain authorship. It was too much for them. Psychologically speaking, it is rational psychology. We still do this today. In the beginning of cognitive thought, what else would man do with his understanding of the sun that gives life to all things? Was he supposed to assume the systems of the cosmos, a helio-centric solar system, the universe? The very misunderstanding of it would cause enough awe to overwhelm him. Science is overtuning itself all the time. We are still to be seen as naive to some distant future. Even our smartest thoughts might to some future seem stupid. It may be that man’s stupidity, his non-intellectual primal characteristics, even his barbarism, might seem more interesting to a future that has forgotten them by its ever elevated esteem for intellectualism. That man’s irrationality might be also his primal nature. * God is not so much a matter of belief but of psychology. It’s the incapacity to retain authorship of those overwhelming feelings in the face of events that create gods. God is just a psychological discharge when experiencing powerful and overwhelming feelings that one feels incapable to absorb and attribute to oneself. The crudely term it “a mental ejaculation.” And it’s completely rational. Anyone is capable of doing this. This is done in the same sense with miracles, ghosts, and energy and other supernatural phenomena. When someone feels afraid and that fear becomes heightened, one can create all kinds of things, aliens at the window, bogeymen in the house, ghosts appearing, and all manner of creations that stem from the feeling that inspired them. Sensations which are projected, emptied, and attributed to ‘a cause.’  God is just the psychology of that psychological resignation, that self-denial, casting off the authorship of oneself to project on to something else, something larger, more inexplicable. Whatever was too great to comprehend and hold on to was thrown out in to whatever could hold on to it, as nevertheless the overwhelming feeling was present. One believes in God because one believes in the sensation. Because one is real, so he assumes is the other. * So baring in mind those two psychological traits: an incapacity to attribute overwhelming feelings to oneself, and a disposition towards life that one doesn't want to experience hurt. 

What is your psychological disposition towards life? That is the question. How much can you draw those sensations back in to yourself, and affirmatively attribute them to yourself? What does your character say about your relation to life and your value of the meaning of life. How affirmative are you with life? How much is life valued and venerated to you? How much capacity for life do you actually have? How in love with it, under all its terribleness, its profoundness, its awe, can you be? And how close to that scale can you measure yourself to be? In short, now that you are born and alive, how up to life are you? Truth, whatever it may be, denotes a character. Truth is relative to the character that would possess the appropriate motive for the truth to be discovered and valued in the first place. Nothing is absolutely true, everything true is makeup for a variety of psychological archetypes. Because behind any truth there is always motive. Not so much our relationship to truth, but a relationship with a goal that needs a whole string of truths, because they are the as the atoms that make up its ideal. There are some people, we have all met them, when you remove a truth they held so dear, it’s as if you’ve removed a piece of the Jenga block from the tower and its all about to fall down. They refute you because the system of truths would be otherwise broken down. That thing has to remain true for them. That is conviction. That is faith. - Always allow the freedom for truths to be overturns, never nail a truth down. Aristotle said that if two people value wholly different things they would never be friends because they would be the sum of wholly different values. Variety is more important than perfection. Everyone has their place. * This isn’t an actual history, but a swift overview of how things come to be. I’ll begin where what matters to us most: the God we’re most familiar with. In the ancient world gods were generally exchanged between cultures the more they interacted with each other. There are parallels from Europe to India and even to China in some respects regarding parallel gods. Certain gods were more popular than others. Usually some rites associated with the gods were more favourable than other gods because they represented some vitality in the culture. And by way of myth, word of mouth, ritual, and conquering other regions of the world, gods kind of of frequently got chewed up and exchanged, metamorphosing from one place to another under different names, epithets and symbols. One such parallel being the Egyptian god Osiris, the Greek Dionysus, the Indian Shiva, and to some degree certain devas in Buddhism because of its Hindu influence. (I mention Dionysos because it’s related to Christianity later on.) These secret Dionysian cult rituals (called Dionysus Mysteries) are traced back long before Archiac Greece and the name Dionysus has been found on tablets from regions outside of Greece at earlier periods. But in archiac times (10th-6th Century BCE) these rituals were only participated in by invitation and then initiation ceremonies (think somewhere between an illegal word of mouth rave party and the infamous scenes in the film Eyes Wide Shut) consisting of wine drinking, psychedelic drugs, sexual orgies, dancing, as well as eating meal from sacrificed animals such as rams as well as flagellation. The purpose of it being to return back to the primal version of ourselves, outside/beyond the contrained systematic formalities of civilized culture and society. In a sense to lose formal character by civilization and return to a kind of primal vitality, free of civlized code and rationality, and affirmative an animalistic nature that was deeply instinctive and the basis of vitality. Yet despite all this seemingly barbaric primitivism, if you tennis ball that back and forth between civilized society, it only ends up revitalising your intellectual formal character too. We have a smaller version of this when we break up the working work with the weekend fun. The pinnacle of this found its place in the invention of formal Western theatre by the Archaic Greeks in honour of Dionysus born out of ecstasy of the rituals. Greek Theatre, it doesn’t feel right to call these plays, were essentially equally music-poetry-spectacle performances where poetry, music, spectacle came together. It was affirming both the wild ecstatic state in its musical singing dancing choruses and its formalised character in its speaking characters. But more than that it was simultaneously showing the truth behind life that is hard to bare, masked and beautified by art of beautiful poetic speech, costume, theatre in order to handle experiencing it. I don’t think theatre is art, but a communicating medium for pure art: poetry, music, dance. The elements of theatre are technical crafts (acting, set design, costume, lighting, camera etc). Dionysus was the patron god of theatre because he was a transformative god, he would appear as different creatures, which paralleled the idea of becoming actors, and the ecstasy of dance and music. The creative spirit of art paralleled with the wild ecstatic state of the rituals. Dionysus essentially was a god of the intoxicated creative spirit. The audience would be given cups of wine and ivy leaves. The event would be more like a pop concert than the opera. * It’s that same creative spirit that created the entire pantheon of Greek gods.  God is not so much a matter of belief but psychology. Polytheistic religions should be understood differently than monotheistic religions. The pluralism of polytheism does not censor new gods, in fact it adopts them if it can enjoy them. Polytheism is self-affirmative, throwing created projections out on to the world again and again. It’s psychologically a more artistic spirit. And adversely to a monotheistic God, driven by fear. Polytheism is driven by gratitude. The Greek gods were created out of veneration of life. They had a god for every aspect of life. They venerated life so much they deified every aspect of it. * Running underneath these religions (perpetuated by nobility) there was a subterranean religion known as Judaism, this was a religion of the people, conversely to the religion of the nobles. Unlike the other mentioned religions, it was monotheistic - one God. Nevertheless, the artistic spirit is still there. The mythology of the Old Testament is full of so much grandeur that it rivals are the literary epics of the same era. Its full of profoundness. Not so much in its teaching but in its imagery. The imagery of the Genesis, Great Floods, Goliath, these stories only have the great ancient literary epics to compare with. Yet they were completely in the same literary fashion as the time. It’s not so much a distinction of religion but of the times. And if anyone has heard a Jewish shofar before, it’s one of the most beautiful sounds there is. * Towards the period of the Roman Republic (1BC) Rome was becoming unstable and and from the assassination of Julius Caesar fell in to civil wars. This ended with Rome’s first emperor Augustus. In this period there was a Jewish man named Jesus. Jesus lived his entire life in the Roman Empire under the reign of Augustus and later under Tiberius, between Galilee and Caparnaum until he was crucified in Jerusalem. Jesus’ ethical teaching was a continuation of the people’s religion values, basically both a more honest form of Judaism and criticism of the Roman values, which were his greatest oppression, and created an ethical teaching which subverted its values. Naturally he was crucified by Romans which was a typical form of punishment and wouldn’t have been done so in a manner which was particularly ceremonious. The myth of Jesus Christ is interesting though. Alhough I believe Jesus was a real person, the myth surrounding him is very similar to Dionysus of Greek myth. Note that depictions of the Devil are somewhat similar to the goat-hoofed tailed horn-head faun, satyr, followers of Dionysus. This probably came by way of two things. The cult of Dionysus developed and separated off in to the cult of Orpheus which was influences Pythagorism, which in turn influenced Plato, which in turn influenced Christianity. And Dionysus’ cults have flourished on and off in Roman culture under their equivalent god Bacchus. And with Dionysos being an antithesis of Christian values bodily acestism could ward off preference by the pagan Dionysus by having his image like the Devil and his myth narrative like Jesus Christ. So if anyone gravitated toward him they would be swerved to Christianity. But it also shows how powerfully significant Dionysus had been throughout archiac greek, roman, and christian society. The Romans borrowed their religion from the The Greeks and the Etruscans. The Greeks were much more positivistic, affirmative, celebratory, happier, gratuitous, and pluralistic in their religion. They were, simply in themselves, a description of a pleasure of life and a strong disposition towards it.  When we come to Christianity, this turns around into the subduing of all powerful feelings, whether sexual, egotistical, power, etc. Things which belonged quite naturally to an archaic Greek in general or Roman of nobility. The best of the Greeks and Romans were far too free in how they handled their gods to legitimately believe in them, but they clearly saw a useful for them, both personal and political, and they loved making new ones - as did the Egyptians. Not fear, but the use of festivities, that would unite the people and momentarily make their social place ambiguous. The Roman equivalent of Dionysos was Bacchus. The festivals to him were outlawed and reinstated on and off. Julius Caesar has reinstated them with support of Marc Anthony. The world had two people of a J.C. initials that would make or break history: Jesus Christ and Julius Caesar. Everything that Julius Caesar represents is sinful in Christianity. Everything Christianity represents is symbolises by the dead man on the cross. As people they are antithesis of each other. The very Roman spirit was antagonistic to it. And yet it was Rome that gave us Christianity. During the 1st Century BC Rome had several philosophical schools that would make it ripe for Christian seduction: Epicurianism, Neo-Platonism, and Stoicism. As the Roman Empire spread far and wide it was under rule of a triumvirate, (three rulers, divided up regionally) each wanted total control. Due to this amongst other instabilities the Roman Empire was falling apart. Emperor Constantine (3rd Century AD) was the one to discover a means. He was ruling over Britannica (now Britain) which although the Romans somewhat admired its former Druids (as the notebooks of Julius Caesar show), they considered Britannica a land of masses by comparison to Rome. And therefore more given to the people’s religion of Christianity. Constantine therefore knew that if he had the people he had the empire. He declared that he would unite the Roman Empire under Christianity and make it the official religion. He thereby managed to sway all the people under the Roman Empire on his side, taking control of the empire in all regions. Now Christianity was the religion of the Roman Empire and thereby the religion of Europe - because it was a means for imperial power. The Roman Empire had collapsed by the 6th Century AD. And the majority of Europe consisted of bloody wars, mostly in the name of Christianity supremacy and executing paganism. Although Europe had collected many Greek and Roman books ordered by such rulers like French ruler Charlamagne, King of the Franks (8th Century AD) as a desire to preserve educated society. In the 8th Century when Mohammed had founded Islam, Arabia had several religions such as Roman, Christianity, Judaism, and smaller tribal communities. It’s likely that Mohammed was a scholar and reformer of the Judeo-Christian teachings. The Qu'ran is certainly the best writing of the three Abrahamic Holy Books, and unless God was taking serious writing classes between his serial publications, then it’s the penmanship of a well read scholar/s. It was the Muslim scholars who still had most important ancient books - the philosophers, mathematicians, grammarians, histories, etc. In the 9th century the Arab empire expanded and came to North Africa and Southern Europe. They arrived to dried desert like southern Spain, and since their scientific achievements had flourished beyond Christian Europe, and they were familiar with that terrain they used irrigation to extract water from deep beneath the dried surface make it useful to build settlements. There were Jews and Christians there and they formed a kind of religious hierarchy where Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together. But it was their Persian culture, still Indian influenced and retaining some of its Roman culture to Europe in the form of energetic music, erotic poetry, and glorious architecture, that injected a revived European spirit. Even Italian Christian clergy commissioned Muslim architects to design Christian Churches. It was this technological interest that revived their interest in their own classical Roman architecture. It was he erotic poetry that gave Europe its love sonnets. And its music that gave Europe the Goliards, Troubadours, Trovere, and Trecento - possibly the greatest period of music Europe has ever had still to this date. The European Renaissance (French for rebirth) 12th Century to 16th Century AD was a re-discovered enthusiasm for not only the literature of the ancient world which in truth had never so much fallen out of fashion during the medieval dark ages, but the resurgance for its ancient values and spirit. The medieval period had to deal with constant brutal wars and the black death which swept Europe. Christianity was inevitably not sufficient enough a disposition towards life for these people. They needed more strength towards life as individuals. Something more resilient and less resigned, something more empowering of the self, which felt isolated and vulnerable against the calamities it faced. This would make the values re-discovered in ancient literature mean more than just the enjoyment of stories. But an affinity with its spirit and attitudes. But the Renaissance was not to be a long rebirth of ancient values. This was undone by firstly the Protestant Reformation that felt the Catholic Church had become corrupt by this new “paganism.” And the final nail in the coffin by Calvinism in the 17th Century AD - which essentially is the basis of the world we live in today. Our law, politics, economy, social morals, culture, etc The ancient people’s values versus ancient royal values. And that no matter what you want to believe about God does not change that we still live in God's world. 

Atheism has none of this creative energy. It doesn’t tackle the matter at all. Atheism isn’t affirmative, its negative.  Atheism is neither positivistic nor affirmative. Formal atheism is more denying than Christianity. Atheism is just Christianity without God. It’s the same subduing and reductive mode of thought but turned in on itself. Catholicism, to Protestantism, to Calvinism, to Atheism. If you’re going to be Atheistic you may as well be a Buddhist; it has no god but at least it’s positivistic. Buddhism aims to ward off suffering, doesn't account it as sin, but seeks to purge it as a kind of hygiene of life. As a cleanliness and contentedness. Nevertheless, its disposition towards life is positive, unlike the Abrahamic which put under the microscope is negativistic towards life. With Atheism it’s that same negation that Protestants removed the Pope that takes out God as mere denial of belief - the construct of what is Christianity in its spiritual and moral sense still remains. Christians believe in the same God as Jews and Muslims - and this framework that Atheists deny. It’s morality that belongs to Christians, and I don’t see Atheists having done much to overcome that. Athetism to me is only a new version of Christianity.  Catholicism, to Protestantism, to Calvinism, to Atheism.

Consequently Christianity has attempted on multiple occasions throughout history at pivotal moments to collapse the positive artistic spirit - as secular Christianity in the form of Romanticism, Decadent Art, Nihilistic Art - a creative spirit that is wholly unartistic, who only attempts to dramatise and express the suffering they experience but is wholly incapable of overcoming it and mastering or venerating it as real artists do, and thereby glorifying life - instead they use their suffering to create an art which throws disgust at life and praises weakness, dysfunction, and exhaustion. Jesus was never a Christian; only those who followed him. Or if he was then he was the only Christian. Christ is a man superior to Christianity and cannot belong to it. Out of his artistic-creative spirit he overturned every positive element of man and turned it in to a sin, and toppled every good and great statement of life ever spoken, thought or felt, to the degree that we don’t even associate ourselves with Greeks, Romans or Renaissance men.  I.e, a people who would be brave and confident in the face of life for its terrors and love life for its pleasures. As opposed to the lower class who would fear and despise its oppressive rulers for their lot in life (both noble and life would also mean bad) and find themselves no equivalent pleasures which the nobles enjoyed, thereby despising pleasures which were exclusive to nobles. Life would be weighed and valued with veneration by the ancient upper class whilst being weighed and valued with resentment by the ancient lower class. Why then didn’t the nobles later overthrow it is because, ancient noble literature and religion, as full of wisdom about the nature of life and values of action, prudence, heroic codes and all that that it was, it didn’t have the psychological internalisation of a human being that Christianity had, profoundly deep speculations of conscience and how they think and feel. The noble religions consisted of more action than thought, they just got on and did things; it was more codes of conduct, more outwardly looking at life. And they didn't have a noble internalisation until perhaps Renaissance Humanism. Principally in Machiavelli, Montaigne, and Shakespeare. And nowhere more so than France. The whole modern period in French philosophy (and theatre too) has been both a scepticism of Christianity and a kind of noble internalisation that the both Europe of their day and the ancient world lacked. Until then the western world lacked equivalent books of Royal perspective, world interpretation, heart and conscience. Why it's important was because it detailed all the affirmative qualities within us all. Things which are natural to life. It existed in nobles because they had to both fight and lead men in war, lead nations, and had the luxury and pleasures in life. In a sense they had the worst and the best of it. If it took a person of noble class to make it so be it. It's the mentality and disposition towards life that matters. That it was achieved at all is what matters. Religion denotes a psychological construct of character. * The Egyptians, Greeks, Etruscans, Hindus, Shinto, ans Romans were hugely artistic in creating gods and by their pluralistic religions everyone was given the door to be able to have an artistic spirit. Monotheism is censorship like a locked door. There is no room for self-assertion, it is in itself denying a self-assertiveness before God. The polytheistic door was always open to new gods. Theirs was a positivistic affirming self-assertive culture. And so gave everyone the self-assertive right over his own world to contribute to it. In fact it was this very liberty that brought the end to them: it was liberal enough to let Christianity in. How dull we are in comparison. Two thousand years and no new gods. How unartistic of us! What is higher than any religion we have ever had is simply that positivitic affirmative artistic spirit that went in to creating them in the first place.   In both the mythology of religion and the values of its morality, that artistic act of creativity of religions is superior to the religion itself. To create a religion requires huge creativity of creating values, perspectives on life, stories which hold them. All religions have built on the creative spirit, whether positive or negative, whether affirmative or nihilistic, and all have principally been born from a relationship towards pain, suffering, and death. Pain and suffering are intrinsic aspects of life. They are inevitable aspects of life. They are causes of overcoming, they are signs of it too, they are the very seeds of the future. Pain and suffering is the creative aspect of life. A sign of our growth. The it the artist overcomes it and creates the beautiful music, image, words, or dance. The artistic spirit venerates pain and suffering therefore they venerate life. The artistic spirit requires it. It’s these antagonisms which make it. Every Holy book on Earth has misunderstood this. Whoever worries and complains focuses on what is wrong, but a person who believes everything is right does neither and is content. Any future good owes itself to the day we meet bad things head on, therefore there is necessity in bad things that they justified the moment we strive to overcome them and make things better. It is antagonisms that make us. Bad things are justified by that it makes stronger and that we have cause to correct them. Everything bad is necessary. Everything that succeeds does so because it excels in some good in some way. *

Fear creates gods said Statius - fear created many things it seems. Fear of life, fear of pain, fear of suffering, fear of death - Fear is the very foundation of our religions. Fear in the face of life. In contrast, the artistic creative spirit of those antique artists (Greeks, Romans) more artists than religion was the cornerstone for a quintessential mentality of confidence in the face of all things and veneration of life as it is. The artistic psychology is superior to every religion ever conceived. Culture, if its artistic, is higher than religion and a better answer to the same problem. If i were to rank religions and culture i would like this: 2. Archaic Greek and Late Republican Roman culture 3. The culture of France and Japan 4. Venetian Italian in the time of Renaissance Humanism 5. Buddhism and Hinduism 6. Judaism (i put it higher cos it existed alongside the above religions and cultures without ever destroying them whereas the below didnt. And Jewish people always have a self-assertive ballsy audacious out-spoken temperament which Ive always liked) 7. Islam and Christianity 1 being some future leader culture that would show tolerance for them all and allow them a proper place without persecution within one society but according to its psychological rank. Believing that variety is more important than perfection. You may somehow get rid of religion but you can never get rid of the person it constitutes; they will always exist within society. Its more a matter of understanding it and finding its proper place. To take out that block from the Jenga tower. To remove God. What then? For the longest period of time people have pursued spiritual and moral goals, with religious founders as being their pinnacle of representation. If God is removed, then the whole spiritual and metaphysical mythology is removed? What then? If people have no need to purpose a moral ideal for the judgement of the next world? Genius is the only character throughout history that has every time being beneficial to themselves and everyone. They're not only fundamentally good, they are the best of men. I believe that genius, whether a Leonardo da Vinci, or an Albert Einstein whatever is the only example without exception of a person who is fundamentally beneficial for both themselves and for everybody. That looks to this life and this actual world for its goals and endeavours. And in its creation affirms its inner vitality. Taps in to some personal vitality peculiar to itself that it has developed as a resource from protracted struggle. A heightened faculty which it has nourished on in order to thrive. The deepest self-assertive affirmation. A true being what one is. And that perhaps genius is the only time when the human race is really on target to actual goals. They can seemingly create new order out of such a chaos. For them, the whole Jenga puzzle can fall down, because they’d just build something else. Like a kind of noble genius Dionysus.

[hereticaloracles]

Full Moon in Cancer- Atonement

“And here, shipmates, is true and faithful repentance; not clamorous for pardon, but grateful for punishment.” -Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

Effective Date:  January 12th, 2017

Helios’ Astrological Angle on the New Moon in Cancer– Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome back to the greatest show in the universe- The Cardinal Crisis! That’s right, you thought it was all over, but here we are, back for ONE! LAST! SHOW! I promise you it will be one to remember…

That’s right Heretics, the first real Lunation of 2017 is the last gasp of the Cardinal Crisis. Sure, there’s a bit of a shuffle in the cast of characters and the title bout doesn’t exactly have the stars we thought they would, but in essence and function? Its all the same. All that matters is who wins in the end, not how you get there. The Cardinal Crisis was many things- Amazing, Terrible, World-Destroying, Eye-Opening, Exhilarating and Exhausting all at once- but the one defining factor of the Cardinal Crisis was that during it, anything was possible. If anything is possible, and anyone come out on top of this giant steaming clusterfuck that is a future, than why not you? After all, it has to be someone.

Gear up- You’re heading back to the front lines, soldier.

Artemis’ Tarot Take on the New Moon in Cancer- “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.”  Good Lord, this full moon is brimming with big Cancerean tears and begging to be forgiven for something.  The awkward emo of the zodiac has turned viscous, nailing us to the heavens via “cardinal cross.”  The absolution will not come until the confessions are made, Heretics.  The confessions will come in many forms, and most will seem almost out of the blue (this moon is volatile)… yet not so much.  You were expecting these things, weren’t you?  You had them stewing at the pit of your stomach; a sickness rising like smoke to strangle your heart.  These are the things that have been following you like shadows that now have taken on substance and must be reconciled with.  This moon is about atonement, Heretics, but not with the gods.  Oh no.  We must atone with each other.

The Sun & Moon, Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus– You do not have to be all right right now. Not everything has to make sense to you. What is real and what makes sense are not going to fully align from your perspective. The danger here is trying to bury your head in the sand, and trying to avoid what it is you have to do. We all have obligations in our life, you can’t just ignore them forever- Certain things just need to be done. Roll up your sleeves and get to work. This astro demands a level of interaction and engagement that you are not prepared to give just now, which is too damn bad because nothing less will do. It’s all or nothing under these skies. There is a part of you that seeks punishment for some secret shame you carry- You seek to unburden your soul. The problem with that is that when you do so, you turn to those closest to you; If they reject you because the shame is too great, the sin too much to stomach, then you are forever changed- There is no way to unsee who you really are when you take off the mask. This is what the Cardinal Crisis planned for you at the very start: To show us who we were, underneath it all. The need for punishment, confession, all of it? It’s because you are holding yourself to an unreachable standard in your head. Of course whenever we are purposefully doing that, its because we are refusing to accept our humanity, and who could blame you for that? Accepting our humanity means accepting our inherent weakness and individual unimportance in the grand scope of the history of this planet, let alone the greater universe around us. Capricorn focuses on our limits, playing the cards we were dealt, and acceptance of one’s lot in life. Cancer focuses on ways around those limits, making the most out of whats in between the extremes. Cancer is our emotional self, that secret humanity that we seek to deny ourselves. Wear it, and that ‘weakness’ that you see in yourself as a shield. If you hold your secrets out for all to see, your scars and flaws, then they cannot be used as ammunition against you and lose their power over you instantly. All of a sudden your weakness becomes your strength. (Minor Planets used: Chiron, Eris, Juno, Chaos, Sila-Nunam, Manwe; Siva, Damocles, Eurydike)

The Sun (The Chariot), Moon (Queen of Wands), Jupiter (The Lovers), Saturn (6 of Swords), and Uranus (9 of Wands)- Cancer is fretful by nature, and avoidance just makes that anxiety swell during this time.  This moon demands that you carry through with your ideals and make some moves.  Things can happen rapidly surround the full moon, and you will get washed under the tides just as quickly as you believe you have made it to safely to shore.  Swift justice must be dealt as Jupiter squares the Moon and the Sun during this transit – opposing Uranus and Eris.  You cannot wait any longer to do what you need to do – to make the connections or cut the cords.  Words of advice: you must accept the consequences of your actions this year and step forward to receive all that is necessary because of them.  If you shy away from this or wish to be forgiven once again for your mistakes, you will not go through the incredibly necessary emotional transformation that is required for you to digest your Tower Year.  The confessions of the Gemini Full Moon in December will solidify here, and we will seek to make amends and follow new paths.  This Moon demands change, and it doesn’t give a shit if we are already tired.  We must confess.  We must move on.  We must become better.  I know, there is a lot of apprehension in the air and we have all been boxed into a corner, but you know how to do this.  You have been training since the Cardinal Crisis in June, and now it’s time to swing full force and not let up.  Cancer’s shell protects the tenderness they hold inside; their pincers hacking away at enemies who dare to defile that tenderness.  Do not destroy that tenderness inside of you.  You built your fortress in order to protect that that emotional gold.  Do not forget this.  

Mercury– You are facing down issues with your own worthiness. You keep calling out to a higher power to give you the answer and are given nothing but silence. That problem that you are trying to solve you already have the answer to. You literally have it right there in your hand. Is it the fault of the cosmos that you have not risen to the challenge ahead of you? Is it up to them to do ALL of the work? You were chosen to do this job, and  it is YOURS to do. No one else’s. Are you saying that the higher power you believe is more or less omnipotent made a mistake? Because I know those guys- they don’t make mistakes, they make investments.  You may not feel like you can do it or that you are right for the task but that is a luxury you cannot afford right now. Even though you think you have failed, the only way you fail is by giving up. Don’t give me crap about how you give up because you’re not strong enough- BULLSHIT. You made it through this all before, and worse is ahead of you. you are so much stronger than you allow yourself to be. Stop running from who you are. Run TO it! Embrace it! Right now, you are struggling to see the truth that is right in front of your face. Everyone sees it but you. Open your eyes, wise up, and get your shit together. The sooner you quit running from yourself, the faster you can get to what it is you really want. (Minor Planets used: Quaoar, Salacia; Vesta, Pelion, Orius, Rhiphonos, Siwa, Orpheus)

Mercury (6 of Wands)- We have been avoiding to remedy some very important things that Mercury in Retrograde hopefully shook out of us.  People think of Mercury Retro as a time of mis-connections when in fact it is Mercury hot wiring quicker connections.  Your world will get shocked and you’ll come face to face with things you have been desperately avoiding (reasons people hate Mercury retrograde).  Mercury will be going direct only days before this Full Moon, remaining in shadow during the lunation.  So yeah, everything is out in the open, and we are left dealing with the emotional gunk of 2016’s wreckage before descending into the utter chaos that is 2017 (oh yeah, pressure cooker style year – and the heat is being turned on NOW).  This is heart gunk, guys, and Cancer will not let you sleep until the heart is sanctified.  If you can manage to deal with what Mercury has sent your way, this will be the victory that begins your momentum for 2017.  Even if you met your Mercury Retrograde challenge, the 6 of Wands reminds us that all victories are ephemeral and a bigger battle is on the way…

Venus and Neptune– Okay so you are going to want to take advantage of this one. It’s not creepy if the planets want to be used! Venus will be conjunct Neptune, and in astrology Neptune is considered a more pure, refined, higher expression of Venus. Mix the two and you transform your base emotions into something truly sublime. This is some really incredible astro for starting a new romance, or reinvigorating an existing one. The danger in the new relationships is that the other person’s flaws could be hidden from you, or you may just not want to see them. In existing relationships, it allows you to overlook those parts of them that drive you crazy, and reminds you why you love them. If you’re in the unenviable position where you are caught between an old love and a new one, I don’t know what to tell you as this astro is not great for decision making. Either way, allow yourself a bit of romance- Just be careful who you take home. (Minor Planets used: Orcus, Altjira, Mors-Somnus; Chariklo, Circe, Dionysus, Itokawa)

Venus (Queen of Pentacles) and Neptune (Queen of Swords)- This moon is highly psychic.  If you sit quietly enough, I’m sure you could just about hear the thoughts of others around you. We are setting out on a new year, and although we are tired, it will be far easier to understand each other now, so make sure you use this chance to atone.  There will be a Venus/Neptune conjunction happening during this full moon (and a fantastic trine between the moon/Mars/Chiron), so you will feel a lot more bravery than usual to confront situations head on.  Seriously, use this energy before shit starts descending into chaos later (remember, we have a Venus Retrograde in Aries coming soon – 40 days and 40 nights of temptation right around the corner).  The cards are telling me to make sure that although emotions are raging, you stay grounded and keep your eye on the prize.  Whatever it is that your heart truly desires, make sure that you stay keen on that.  This is a “rose colored glasses” warning, so make sure you do what you set out to do before you get swept back into the ocean of Maya.  Other than the doom and gloom, this will be a tremendously nurturing time for all of us if we allow it – even if the emotions we end up dealing with are “difficult.”  If we push through and act with integrity and bravery, we will lay exceptional groundwork for the rest of 2017 and have at least some stability going in.  Neptune says “stab through the illusion” that you have participated in weaving around yourself, and reach for the realness that exists below it.  Do not be afraid to shatter fantasies, for we need to solidify ourselves in what we really feel before we can ascend the mountain of this year.  Capricorn sun demands for the fantasies of these two planets in Pisces to create the “great art,” but to remember the difference – art and fantasy can illuminate a truth or it can take us far far away from truth.  Your choice, Heretics.  Do you want the truth of it or do you want a fantasy that will surely crumble in the near future?  Remember Tower Year.  All Towers Fall.  Make your choice wisely.

Mars and Pluto– Finally! These two together is just what this astro needs. First, we unburdened our soul and spoke our truth aloud. Then we got up and moved on, and the world opened up with sublime new possibilities for us. Mars and Pluto are telling you “Go out and get them”. These two can mean many things, not all of them good- but what they definitely mean is decisive action. Be sure, swift, and ready to pounce. This whole chart stuck out to me, not because of the Cardinal Crisis back from the dead, but because there are no retrogrades- it is all forward motion (albeit there’s a shadow or two in there). Sure, you do not have the world on a silver platter YET, but you can absolutely have it- Mars and Pluto want to work, and you do too. You have the fire within you to get your piece of the pie. Why are you twiddling your thumbs and waiting for it to fall in your lap? This may be a strongly Neptunian Lunation, but this is goddamn Capricorn Season! If you want your reward you have to show up and earn it! Get out there, hustle, and demand that the world recognize you. You may deserve it already but you won’t get it until you go and collect it. Make them pay you your dues. (Minor Planets used: Deucalion, Borasisi, Varda; Echeclus, Klotho, Ophelia, Astraea, Arachne, Sappho, Magdalena)

Mars (Ace of Pentacles) and Pluto (Knight of Wands)- Networked Revolution.  Don’t you forget that term, because that will be the theme of this year.  Although Mars will be in illusive Pisces, he will be super powering this moon with his presence.  He has been diving through the waters of illusion looking for something soft to plant the seeds of intent into.  That softness, Heretics, is your raw heart.  Here is where we plant the intentions of our year, and they must come from your deepest desires.  Set things out in motion here, but do not fret if they do not unfold immediately.  Whatever intentions you cast during this time must be nursed throughout 2017, but remember that they will surely unfold as your life progresses through these months.  You may feel stuck since the last full moon, struggling to figure out exactly where the fuck you should go (all this Pisces energy surely isn’t helping with that), but you have to remember that the past month hasn’t been about going anywhere.  It has been about digging deep within yourself and seeing exactly who you are and what you are made of.  Now you must muster that bravery and actually act with it – actually make the transformations inside of yourself that are necessary for you.  Do not dismay, Heretics.  We are warriors, and we must find stability and peace within the fight.  You have a warning here.  Although you are eager to move ahead and actually get shit going – essentially being pushed by the Sun and Pluto in Capricorn in opposition to this moon – you will be slugging through a lot of planets in water signs.  This means that you are going to be forced to reconcile with emotional roadblocks – with the things that have been transpiring since June 2016 – and you will finally have to put a lid on Tower Year’s emotional challenges.  Have fun with that.  But remember, once you atone for whatever it is that is holding you back from “becoming,” you will be set in motion so quickly it will be like a blaze of fire.  June-Dec 2016 showed you exactly what you needed to see.  Now that you are down to your foundations, there is nowhere for you to go but toward the flickering star of hope in the future.

Full Moon in Cancer- Atonement was originally published on Heretical Oracles