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grey-sorcery · 1 year ago

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[TITLE]: Blood Magic: Refutation, Practices, Safety, & Alternatives

Recommended Reading

Basics of Binding Anchors Basics of Spellcasting Spell Circles Correspondences Altars: Uses & Designs Spell Logs Energy Work: Fundamentals Bias in Witchcraft

IMPORTANT:

This article discusses blood magic as well as the actions and elements associated with it such as: bloodletting, infection, self-harm, and open wounds. Readers are encouraged to approach the content with critical thinking and sensitivity. If you find such topics uncomfortable or distressing, I advise against continuing further. The information presented is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Should you choose to engage with blood magic, it should be done so with respect for cultural traditions and safety considerations, which will be outlined. This article is not to encourage the use of any harmful practices, only to educate.

If you find the subject to be triggering but still wish to engage with the information, the last section of this article (highlighted in blue) has a diluted list of the article without triggering content and goes over alternatives for blood magic.

Like always, an asterisk* is used as a marker for a closed or semi-closed practice.

Introduction

Blood magic involves the ritualistic use of blood as a potent symbol and conduit for connection. Central to blood magic is the belief that blood, as the essence of life and vitality, carries inherent energies that can be harnessed and directed. This doesn’t necessarily require blood to be removed from the body. In a few cultures, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, and some indigenous practices blood is utilized from within the body as a means for healing, directing energy from the subtle body, and developing a more thorough mind-body connection.

The applications of blood magic span a spectrum of purposes, each rooted in the practitioner's intentions and the energetic resonance of blood itself. While practices vary widely across cultures and individual traditions, common themes emerge regarding the uses of blood magic. Applications such as warding, binding, divination, and energetic balancing.

Please be sure to engage in this entire article if you are able, and do so in good faith. Blood magic, as a legitimate magical practice, has been influenced and poorly reflected by media which has resulted in a portent of misinformation and misunderstandings. The aim of this article is to eliminate misunderstandings and promote safe and ethical practices.

Uses

Blood magic is employed for several purposes, each rooted in the idea that blood is a conduit of life force and energy. Primarily, blood magic is utilized in rituals aimed at strengthening bonds. It is believed that by incorporating blood into rituals, one can forge stronger connections with ancestors, deities, or the natural world. This practice is seen in various indigenous traditions where blood offerings are made to honor and appease spirits or gods.

Moreover, blood magic is often used in rites of passage. These ceremonies, marking significant transitions in an individual's life, such as birth, maturity, marriage, and death, incorporate blood to symbolize the transformation and the continuity of life. The act of shedding blood during these rituals is seen as a potent gesture, signifying the shedding of the old self and the emergence of a new, empowered identity.

In healing practices, blood magic is employed as a method of channeling energy to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Traditional healers may use blood as a medium to draw out negative influences or to invigorate the body’s natural healing processes. This practice is not about the physical use of blood per se but rather the symbolic gesture, wherein the essence of life is called upon to restore balance and harmony.

The portrayal of blood magic in popular media has often led to widespread misconceptions and fear. Frequently depicted as sinister and malevolent, blood magic is associated with dark rituals, malevolent sorcery, and nefarious intentions. Such representations overlook the cultural and spiritual significance embedded in these practices, reducing them to mere sensationalist tropes.

A prevalent misunderstanding is the belief that blood magic is inherently evil or dangerous. This notion is fueled by horror movies, novels, and sensationalist media, which often portray blood magic as the domain of malevolent witches or nefarious cults. In reality, blood magic, like many other forms of spiritual practice, is neutral in nature. Its moral alignment is determined by the intent and ethics of the practitioner. For many cultures, blood magic is a sacred practice meant to honor life, foster healing, and maintain harmony with the natural and spiritual worlds.

Another common misconception is that blood magic involves human sacrifice or self-harm. While historical accounts do exist of bloodletting practices, particularly in ancient civilizations, modern practitioners of blood magic typically engage in symbolic acts rather than literal bloodshed. These acts can include pricking a finger or using animal blood obtained from ethical sources, rather than causing significant harm.

Furthermore, the false association of blood with the empowerment of spells is a particularly egregious misrepresentation. Blood is often depicted as a supernatural catalyst that amplifies magical abilities, granting practitioners extraordinary power. This portrayal is not only inaccurate but also undermines the cultural and spiritual significance of blood magic. The following is a list of media that inaccurately portrays blood magic or has been poorly represented in subsequent media.

"The Book of Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage" (15th century)

"The Lesser Key of Solomon" (17th century)

"The Greater Key of Solomon" (17th century)

"The Key of Solomon" (14th or 15th century)

"The Grimoire of Armadel" (17th century)

"Rosemary's Baby" (1968)

"The Craft" (1996)

"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (2001)

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (2009)

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997-2003)

"True Blood" (2008-2014)

"American Horror Story: Coven" (2013)

"The Magicians" (2015-2020)

“Supernatural” (2005-2020)

"Dracula" by Bram Stoker (1897)

"The Vampire Chronicles" by Anne Rice (1976 onwards)

"Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling (1997-2007)

"Twilight" series by Stephenie Meyer (2005-2008)

While some of these pieces of media do not directly promote the idea of literal bloodletting or the direct concept of magical strengthening through blood, their depiction and influence in later media does.

Process

The amount of blood required in blood magic rituals varies significantly depending on the specific tradition and the purpose of the ritual. Generally, only a minimal amount is used, symbolizing the essence of life rather than its physical manifestation. This minimalism underscores the principle that the power of blood magic lies not in the quantity of blood, but in the act of offering and the symbolic gesture it represents.

In most practices, a few drops of blood are deemed sufficient. This small quantity is often enough to establish the connection or achieve the desired outcome without causing harm to the practitioner. Overuse of blood is generally avoided, as it is not the volume but the act of offering that holds significance. This approach reflects a deep respect for the body and its life-giving essence, ensuring that the practice remains sustainable and safe.

Obtaining blood for these rituals must be approached with care and reverence. The method of extraction should prioritize the well-being of the practitioner or the source, emphasizing minimal harm and ethical considerations.

Self-pricking with a sterilized needle or lancet is a common method. This technique ensures that only a small amount of blood is drawn, usually from the fingertip. The use of sterilized instruments is crucial to prevent infection and maintain hygiene. The act of self-pricking is often performed as part of a ritualistic process, with practitioners mentally preparing themselves and ensuring a clean environment.

In rare instances, some practitioners may opt for menstrual blood, which is seen as a natural and potent symbol of life and fertility. The use of menstrual blood is often considered deeply personal and is typically reserved for specific rituals related to fertility, protection, or transformation.

In some traditions no bloodletting is required. Some of the most prominent traditions that use internal blood magic are Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine. These traditions employ methods that emphasize the internal circulation and quality of blood as integral to health, vitality, and spiritual balance.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)*:

Within Traditional Chinese Medicine, blood holds a vital role alongside Qi (life energy) as one of the body's fundamental substances. Blood, known as "Xue," is considered essential for nourishing the organs and tissues, promoting growth, and maintaining overall vitality. Unlike external applications or rituals involving blood, TCM focuses on cultivating and balancing the body's internal blood through herbal medicine, acupuncture, and dietary therapy. Practitioners diagnose imbalances in blood quality and circulation based on symptoms such as pale complexion, menstrual irregularities, or insomnia, and tailor treatments to restore harmony within the body's systems.

Ayurvedic Medicine*:

In Ayurveda, the traditional medicine system of India, blood (Rakta) is regarded as crucial for maintaining overall health and vitality. Ayurvedic texts emphasize the importance of balanced blood circulation and purity to prevent disease and promote longevity. Practices such as Panchakarma treatments aim to cleanse and rejuvenate the blood through herbal therapies, dietary adjustments, and lifestyle modifications. Unlike external applications or ritualistic uses, Ayurvedic medicine focuses on enhancing the body's internal mechanisms to optimize blood quality and circulation. By restoring balance to the doshas (body types), Ayurvedic practitioners aim to harmonize physical health, mental clarity, and spiritual well-being.

Across these traditions, the approach to blood magic diverges from external ritualistic practices commonly associated with Western occultism. Instead, they emphasize internal cultivation, balance, and harmony within the body's natural processes. By focusing on enhancing the quality and circulation of blood through holistic methods, practitioners seek to promote holistic health, longevity, and spiritual well-being without the need for external bloodletting or ritualistic practices seen in other magical traditions.

Physical Applications of Blood in Use of Magic

The physical applications of blood in these practices are varied, each carrying distinct symbolic meanings and ritualistic purposes. Blood is often used to anoint objects, spaces, or individuals, thereby consecrating and imbuing them with specific properties. So long as blood is applied to archival materials and kept in a cool, dry, sterile, and dark place with little to no air circulation the DNA which makes up the taglock can remain intact for up to 500 years. However, luminal, microbial, fungal, and or chemical interactions may cause DNA to degrade in as little as a few days.

Anointing Objects: Blood is frequently applied to ritual tools, such as athames, wands, or talismans, to consecrate them and enhance their efficacy. This act is believed to imbue the object with the life force of the practitioner, creating a powerful link between the tool and the user. The anointing process is typically done with great care, often accompanied by sigils, chants, or prayers to invoke the desired energies. Anointing is most potent when used on absorbent materials such as cloth or paper. This is due to the blood, which acts as a dynamic taglock, becoming trapped within fibers.

Marking Spaces: Blood can be used to mark ritual spaces or boundaries, creating a sacred and protected area for the practitioner to work within. This marking might involve drawing symbols or lines with the blood, establishing a physical and energetic barrier against negative influences. The creation of these sacred spaces is an integral part of many blood magic rituals, providing a contained environment for the practitioner's work.

Healing Rituals: In healing practices, blood may be applied to the body to promote recovery and balance. This application is usually symbolic, representing the infusion of life force into the afflicted area (So long as it is not an open wound). The blood is often applied with the fingertips, accompanied by specific incantations or prayers to enhance the healing process. The focus is on the symbolic gesture rather than the physical quantity of blood used.

Offerings to Deities or Spirits: Blood can also be offered to deities or spirits as a form of devotion and reverence. This offering is typically done by placing a few drops of blood on an altar or in a sacred space designated for the deity or spirit. The act of offering blood is seen as a profound gesture, symbolizing the practitioner's dedication and connection to the divine or spiritual forces.

Safety

The practice of blood magic, while rooted in tradition and symbolism, requires a conscientious approach to safety, even within very simple workings. Ensuring safe practices is paramount, as the involvement of blood inherently carries risks, particularly concerning hygiene and infection. This section provides a comprehensive guide to maintaining safety, highlighting practices to avoid, methods for preventing infections, and essential steps for cleanup and disposal. The risk of spreading disease through blood biological waste is a significant concern due to the potential presence of bloodborne pathogens. These pathogens, which include viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, can survive in blood and other bodily fluids, posing a health risk to sanitation workers. When blood or biological waste is improperly handled or disposed of, these pathogens can be transmitted through direct contact with contaminated materials. This transmission can occur through needlesticks, cuts, or mucous membrane exposure, leading to serious infections. Additionally, pathogens can be aerosolized during certain procedures, increasing the risk of inhalation. Therefore, stringent protocols for handling, sterilizing, and disposing of blood and biological waste are essential. The use of puncture-proof and leak-proof sharps containers for needles and other sharp objects is crucial to prevent accidental injuries and subsequent infections. Furthermore, all contaminated materials should be disposed of in designated biohazard containers, which are then collected and treated by specialized waste management services to neutralize any pathogens. Adherence to these practices not only protects workers and practitioners alike but also prevents the potential spread of infectious diseases to the wider community.

Practices to Avoid

Certain practices in blood magic should be strictly avoided to mitigate risks and uphold ethical standards. Understanding these practices is crucial for any practitioner who wishes to engage in blood magic responsibly.

Excessive Bloodletting: One of the most critical practices to avoid is excessive bloodletting. The use of large quantities of blood is not only unnecessary but also dangerous. Blood magic typically requires only a minimal amount of blood—often just a single small drop. Overextending oneself by drawing significant amounts can lead to serious health complications, including anemia, dizziness, and, in severe cases, shock or death.

Using Unsterilized Instruments: Another hazardous practice is the use of unsterilized instruments to extract blood. Employing non-sterile needles, lancets, or other sharp objects increases the risk of infections and diseases. Practitioners must ensure that all tools used in blood extraction are properly sterilized and handled with care.

Self-Harm and Harm to Others: Blood magic should never involve self-harm or harm to others. The practice must be conducted in a manner that respects the well-being and dignity of all involved. Self-inflicted wounds or drawing blood from others without their consent and comfort are unethical and dangerous practices that must be avoided.

Sharing Blood: Sharing blood between individuals is a practice that carries significant health risks. Bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted through shared blood, leading to serious infections and diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Practitioners should never share blood or engage in rituals that involve the mingling of blood from multiple individuals.

Preventing Infections

Preventing infections is a primary concern when working with blood. Proper hygiene and careful handling of blood and instruments are essential to minimize the risk of infection.

Sterilization of Tools: All tools used for blood extraction, such as needles or lancets, must be sterilized before use. This can be achieved using medical-grade sterilization techniques, such as autoclaving or using single-use, pre-sterilized instruments. If reusable instruments are employed, they should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each use.

Hand Hygiene: Practitioners should practice meticulous hand hygiene before and after handling blood. Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is essential. If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used as an alternative.

Use of Gloves: Wearing disposable gloves during the extraction and handling of blood can provide an additional layer of protection. Gloves should be disposed of immediately after use, and hands should be washed again to ensure complete hygiene.

Disinfecting the Extraction Site: The area of the body from which blood will be drawn should be disinfected with an antiseptic solution, such as alcohol or iodine, before extraction. This reduces the risk of introducing pathogens into the body through the puncture site.

Proper Wound Care: After the blood has been drawn, the puncture site should be properly cared for to prevent infection. This involves applying an antiseptic and covering the wound with a sterile bandage. The area should be monitored for signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or discharge.

Cleanup & First Aid

Thorough cleanup and first aid procedures are essential components of safe blood magic practices. Proper cleanup ensures that the ritual space remains hygienic and free from contamination, while first aid addresses any injuries that may occur.

The use of a sharps container is critical for safely disposing of items that can puncture the skin and are contaminated with unsterilized biological materials. These containers are biohazard-marked, solid-walled, puncture-proof, and leak-proof on the sides and bottom.

Sharps Disposal:

Examples of Sharps: Needles, lancets, scalpels, knives, razor blades, glass slides, glass Pasteur pipettes, biologically-contaminated broken glass, and all sharps-associated medical devices such as syringes

Collection and Storage:

Immediately place all sharps into a designated sharps container after use. Use containers specifically designed for sharps disposal; avoid cardboard or repurposed containers. Ensure the sharps container lid has a restricted access opening and is fully closed when not in use. Store the container upright to prevent spills or contamination. You can obtain a sharps container from most pharmacies for free or for a low cost.

Treatment and Disposal:

Close the sharps container permanently when it is three-quarters full or when objects no longer fall freely into it. Do not force items into the container or shake it to make more space. Place full containers in designated biohazards waste pickup areas. Many pharmacies accept biological and sharps waste for disposal.

Liquid Biohazardous Waste:

Description and Examples: Includes bulk biological liquids like culture media and pooled clinical specimen liquids.

Collection and Storage:

Label collection vessels with biohazard symbols and the disinfectant used. Use non-breakable containers whenever possible. Store vacuum flasks in leak-proof secondary containers when not in biosafety cabinets (BSC).

First Aid Procedures

Treating Minor Wounds: If a minor wound occurs during the ritual, clean it immediately with soap and water. Apply an antiseptic and cover the wound with a sterile bandage. Keep the wound clean and dry, changing the bandage daily or if it becomes wet or dirty.

Addressing Severe Injuries: For severe injuries, such as deep cuts or heavy bleeding, seek immediate medical attention. Apply pressure to the wound to control bleeding while waiting for medical assistance. Remain calm and act swiftly to ensure proper care.

Monitoring for Signs of Infection: After any blood extraction or injury, monitor the wound for signs of infection, including increased redness, swelling, warmth, pain, or discharge. Seek medical advice promptly if any of these symptoms occur.

By adhering to these safety practices, practitioners of blood magic can mitigate risks and ensure that their rituals are conducted in a responsible and respectful manner. Emphasizing the importance of hygiene, proper tool use, and ethical considerations not only preserves the integrity of the practice but also safeguards the health and well-being of all involved.

Blood magic, with its deep-seated symbolism and intricate rituals, can sometimes require the practitioner to reverse or nullify the effects of a previously cast spell. Unbinding, or the process of undoing blood magic, is a crucial skill that ensures the practitioner retains control over their craft and can correct or withdraw magical influences when necessary. This section delves into scenarios where unbinding is beneficial and outlines the methodologies to effectively achieve it.

The following are some helpful resources about safety and clean up:

Basic First Aid

Sharps Disposal

Infected Wound Treatment

Counteracting, Unbinding, and Undoing Blood Magic

Blood magic can sometimes require the practitioner to reverse or nullify the effects of a previously cast spell. The process of undoing blood magic is a crucial skill that ensures the practitioner retains control over their craft and can correct or withdraw magical influences when necessary. When might undoing blood magic be a good idea?

Unintended Consequences: Despite meticulous planning, blood magic can sometimes yield unforeseen results. These unintended outcomes might stem from miscalculation, misinterpretation of the ritual's requirements, or external influences altering the spell's impact. In such instances, unbinding becomes necessary to mitigate any negative repercussions.

Changing Circumstances: Life is inherently dynamic, and circumstances that once justified a blood magic ritual may evolve, rendering the spell obsolete or even counterproductive. For example, a spell cast to protect a relationship may need to be undone if the relationship ends or transforms, ensuring that the energies involved do not cause harm or unnecessary entanglement.

Ethical Considerations: The ethical landscape of magic is complex, and practitioners may find themselves needing to unbind spells that no longer align with their moral compass. If a spell was cast under conditions or motivations that are later regretted, unbinding serves as a means of rectifying past actions.

Interference with Other Work: Multiple magical workings can sometimes interfere with one another, particularly if their purposes are not harmonious. In such cases, unbinding one or more spells can clarify the practitioner's magical landscape, allowing for more effective and focused rituals.

Psychological Relief: The psychological burden of knowing a blood magic spell is active can be significant. If a practitioner feels uneasy or haunted by a ritual, unbinding the spell can provide peace of mind, alleviating stress and restoring a sense of control.

How to Unbind

Unbinding a blood magic spell is a deliberate and structured process, requiring precision and respect for the energies involved. The following steps outline a general methodology for unbinding:

Reflection and Assessment: Before initiating the unbinding process, the practitioner must engage in thorough reflection and assessment of the original spell. This involves understanding the components, energies, and symbols used, as well as the specific outcomes achieved. Such introspection helps in crafting an effective unbinding strategy. Keeping a spell log will be invaluable for this purpose.

Cleansing the Space: Preparing the physical and ambient energetic space is crucial. This typically involves cleansing the area with purifying agents such as salt, sage, or other herbs known for their purifying properties, and energy work. The goal is to create a neutral and protected environment for the unbinding ritual.

Gathering Materials: An unbinding ritual may benefit from specific materials, which may include items used in the original spell (if available), purification substances, and tools for ritual work such as candles, incense, and a ceremonial knife. The precise materials will depend on the nature of the original spell and the practitioner's tradition. One component that will be absolutely necessary is the spell’s anchor.

Symbolic Acts of Neutralization: Symbolic acts can play a significant role in unbinding. This could involve burying, burning, or immersing objects used in the original spell in running water, symbolically returning the energies to the earth or cleansing them entirely. The act chosen should align with the practitioner's symbolic framework and the nature of the spell being undone.

Offering and Atonement: To maintain balance and respect for the forces involved, the practitioner may include an offering or act of atonement as part of the unbinding ritual. This could be a simple act of gratitude, a small gift to the natural world, or a gesture of goodwill that seeks to harmonize any disrupted energies.

Cleansing or Destroying the Spell Anchor: The original spell anchor, or object(s) that houses the spell must be cleansed energetically, or be entirely destroyed. Energetically cleansing the anchor means to isolate and unravel the energetic construct of the spell which is bound to the anchor. To destroy the anchor means to smash, burn, cut up, or dissolve the object until it is no longer identifiable. If the object is made of metal then it will require energetic dismantling, as not even melting the metal down will break down the spell unless it is diluted in other minerals or metals to a point where it is no longer chemically similar.

Sealing the Unbinding: Once the reversal actions are completed, sealing the unbinding can be used to ensure the spell's effects do not linger. This might involve the creation of a talisman, seal, or sigil which is then applied to the outside of the container holding the remnants of the original anchor.

Post-Ritual Reflection: After the unbinding ritual, the practitioner should take time for reflection and grounding. This allows for the assimilation of any residual internal energies and provides an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the unbinding. Meditation, divination, journaling, or simply spending time in nature can help in this process.

Monitoring Outcomes: The practitioner should monitor the outcomes of the unbinding over the following days and weeks. Observing any changes or shifts in circumstances can provide valuable feedback on the success of the unbinding and inform future practices.

Unbinding, like all aspects of blood magic, demands respect, mindfulness, and a deep understanding of the forces at play. By adhering to these structured steps, practitioners can responsibly undo the effects of their spells, ensuring harmony and balance within their magical practice and broader life context.

Alternatives to Blood Magic

For those who skipped the article, here is a diluted TL;DR list of the most important information from it with all potential triggers removed:

BM is binding magic and does not empower or boost a working

A single small pinprick is all that's needed, more than that approaches SH

There exist BM practices that do not require the removal of fluids from the body.

BM, for the most part, is just using a dynamic Taglock.

Safety is paramount

BM can be undone just like any other type of spell

Since BM does not in any way strengthen or empower spell work outside of self-binding, there are many alternatives. Blood within magic acts primarily as a taglock. It is for this reason that it can be replaced by any other taglock in spellcrafting.

Taglocks that can easily replace blood:

Signature: A personal signature is a direct representation of an individual, carrying the unique energy and identity of the person.

Photograph: A photograph captures the essence and image of an individual, making it an effective taglock for personal spells.

Hair: Hair contains DNA and is a physical part of the person, making it a powerful substitute.

Nail clippings: Like hair, nail clippings are part of the individual’s body and contain their DNA, serving as a strong link for spell work.

For BM that used blood as a conduit:

Blood is sometimes believed to act as a conduit in magic due to its life essence and connectivity. This role can be substituted by other substances capable of facilitating energetic transfer.

Light acids such as vinegar: Vinegar is a readily available and safe substitute. Acids can transfer electrons, which can be symbolically or practically useful in spells that require a medium to facilitate a reaction or transformation. Vinegar’s cleansing properties also add a purifying element to spellwork.

For BM for holding space:

When blood is used to hold space or create a sacred boundary, alternative materials can effectively perform this function.

Salt water: Salt water has long been used for purification and protection. Salt's crystalline structure and water's fluid nature make this combination a potent tool for creating sacred space.

Quartz (piezoelectric): Quartz crystals, due to their piezoelectric properties, can generate electrical charges and are excellent for maintaining energetic fields and enhancing spells.

Copper: Copper is a highly conductive metal that can enhance the flow of energy in spellwork. Its properties make it a useful substitute for blood in rituals requiring energy movement or containment.

Talismans/Sigils: These objects or symbols are charged with specific intentions and can effectively hold space or direct energy in spellwork. They can be custom-made to align with the desired outcome of the ritual.

For BM used for offerings to spirits or deities:

Offerings are an integral part of many spiritual practices, intended to honor and appease spirits or deities. Blood, being a potent life force, can be replaced by various other meaningful offerings.

Food and drink: Traditional offerings such as bread, fruit, wine, or other beverages are widely accepted in many spiritual traditions. They symbolize sustenance and respect.

Incense and herbs: Burning incense or herbs can serve as a fragrant offering, with the smoke carrying prayers and intentions to the spiritual realm. Specific herbs can be chosen based on their symbolic meanings and properties.

Flowers: Fresh flowers are often used as offerings due to their beauty, fragrance, and life energy. They can represent growth, renewal, and respect.

Candles: Lighting candles in specific colors can symbolize different aspects of the offering, such as white for purity or red for strength and passion. The flame acts as a beacon or signal to the spiritual entities being honored.

Coins or precious metals: Offering coins or small pieces of precious metals can symbolize wealth and prosperity, showing reverence and gratitude to the spirits or deities.

Personal creations: Handmade items, such as crafted objects, poems, or artworks, can be deeply personal offerings that convey sincerity and dedication. These can be tailored to the preferences and attributes of the deity or spirit being honored. This is the best alternative for BM in this regard.

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yourreddancer · 4 months ago

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FROM PUBLIC CITIZEN

We want to share updates on several of Public Citizen’s ongoing lawsuits against the Trump regime.

But first, a few quick notes:

So far, Public Citizen has filed seven lawsuits against the regime since Donald Trump returned to power.

We filed the first of those lawsuits within moments of Trump being sworn in for the second time.

Lawsuits can get a lot of attention when they are first filed and at certain steps along the way.

But the work doesn’t stop just because a case isn’t in the news.

Our legal team is working almost around the clock. Not quite literally — they do go home to see their families and get some sleep — but just about.

They know, as do you, that the very future of this country is in jeopardy. And they are giving everything they have as part of the broader movement to refuse tyranny.

OK, on to the updates. We’ll start with the most recent lawsuit then work backwards in time. If you’ve been following along over the past few weeks, look for double-asterisks (**) below to spot the latest developments.

Lawsuit #7 — Illegal Dismantling of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

After Wall Street’s reckless greed set off a worldwide financial crisis in 2008, Congress passed a law creating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to safeguard the American people, and our economy, from Big Banks and other giant financial institutions.

On January 31, the Trump administration began taking steps to dismantle the CFPB. On February 13, Public Citizen lawyers sued to halt that effort. The next day, we filed a motion for a temporary restraining order. Later that day, the judge entered an order blocking any destruction of records, firing of people, or transfer of agency funding while she considers the case.

** We were in court TODAY arguing for a preliminary injunction to halt the dismantling of the CFPB. **

Lawsuit #6 — Trump’s Unconstitutional Foreign Aid Freeze

Trump issued an executive order on his first day back in office directing agencies to freeze almost all foreign assistance that the United States provides worldwide.

On February 10, we filed a lawsuit on behalf of two organizations that receive grants from the State Department and USAID to do humanitarian work. On February 12, we filed a motion for a temporary restraining order. The next day, the court granted our motion and issued an order requiring resumption of foreign assistance funding for our clients and others as the case proceeds.

** Last week — with the administration so far having failed to comply with his order — the judge ordered it to release previously approved payments by midnight on February 26. Instead, the administration asked the Supreme Court to overturn the judge’s order and excuse its noncompliance. The Supreme Court could rule at any moment. **

Lawsuit #5 — “DOGE” Invades U.S. Department of Education

In addition to infiltrating a sensitive database at the Treasury Department, “DOGE” has accessed confidential information at other agencies as well, including the Department of Education.

On February 7, we filed a lawsuit in federal court to block “DOGE” access to Department of Education databases, which include financial information of thousands of student-loan applicants and their families. On February 14, the judge held an hour-long hearing on our motion for a temporary restraining order.

On February 17, the judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order. But the case is proceeding.

Lawsuit #4 — USAID Shutdown Ignites Worldwide Humanitarian Crisis

The Trump administration illegally ordered USAID workers to stop doing their jobs, terminated contracts, froze grant funding, and prepared to lay off or fire nearly all USAID employees. Elon Musk bragged that he had spent the weekend “feeding USAID into the wood chipper.” With USAID in disarray, essential medical care, food assistance, and other critical projects across the globe cannot operate.

On February 6, we filed a lawsuit in federal court to reverse the Trump administration’s attempted dismantling of USAID. On February 7, we asked the court for a temporary restraining order. That night, the judge issued an order blocking the plan to put 2,200 USAID workers on leave and bringing back the hundreds put on leave earlier in the week, through February 14. On February 13, we were back in court seeking to extend the court order. The judge extended it through February 21, as he considers whether to grant further emergency relief.

** The judge has since lifted the restraining order, but we will soon be briefing a motion for summary judgment, asking the court to issue a final order restoring USAID. **

Lawsuit #3 — Public Health Agency Websites Censored

On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive requiring federal agencies to “use the term ‘sex’ and not ‘gender’ in all” federal documents. In response, on January 31, agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed from their websites important datasets and webpages, including information that doctors and researchers across the country use to diagnose and treat patients, monitor diseases, and advance public health.

On February 4, we filed a lawsuit challenging the removal of this vital health information. On February 6, we moved for a temporary restraining order. On February 11, the judge granted our motion and ordered the agencies to restore the deleted webpages and datasets while the litigation proceeds.

** Last week, we amended our complaint to expand the scope of the case, adding the City and County of San Francisco. Now we are preparing a summary judgment motion asking the court to enter a final order in our favor. In a fit of authoritarian desperation — Elon Musk has called for the judge in this case to be impeached. At the risk of stating the obvious, there is absolutely no cause for impeachment. **

Lawsuit #2 — “DOGE” Invades U.S. Treasury Department

On February 3 — following news that Elon Musk’s “DOGE” gang had infiltrated a payment system at the U.S. Treasury Department — we filed a lawsuit demanding an immediate halt to the illegal invasion of the privacy of millions of Americans whose information is in that system. The suit got widespread coverage in the media, both nationally and internationally. (The American Prospect called it “one of the most important lawsuits in the history of the United States.”)

Two days later, our lawyers filed a motion for a temporary restraining order. And on February 6, the judge issued an order restricting two Musk-connected men already housed at Treasury from modifying or copying the database, prohibiting them from sharing any information with Musk or anyone else outside the department, and preventing Elon Musk himself (or any additional DOGE-connected people) from accessing the sensitive Treasury data while our lawsuit proceeds to the next stage.

** Last week, we appeared before the court and asked for a longer-lasting preliminary injunction. We are awaiting the judge’s order. **

Lawsuit #1 — Elon Musk’s “DOGE” Operating Unlawfully

Two minutes after Trump was sworn in on January 20, we filed a lawsuit challenging the so-called Department of Government Efficiency — being run, infamously, by Elon Musk — for operating in secrecy and in violation of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

Shortly after we filed this lawsuit, two similar cases were filed and then consolidated with ours. To maximize resources, we later decided to voluntarily dismiss our case.

Now we want to say something about the support we’ve been getting of late.

From the moment we responded to Trump’s re-election with our plan to confront him, we’ve received messages of appreciation — in equal parts for having a plan and for giving hope. Then, from the time we filed our first Trump lawsuit within minutes of his inauguration, the outpouring has been overwhelming.

From all over the country — and all over the world — people have expressed their appreciation that someone is standing up to authoritarianism and for decency. For trying to stop at least some of the destruction and cruelty and corruption.

Many Public Citizen supporters have also been kind enough to make donations — with many donating for the first time, others making larger gifts than in the past, and still others signing up to be monthly donors.

We are just so grateful to everyone who has chipped in whatever amount was right for them. And — equally — we want to be very clear that if donating is not right for you, we understand.

Just reading our emails — so you know how we’re fighting back and so you know you are part of something bigger than any of us could ever be on our own — is incredibly meaningful.

On that point, if our updates are starting to blur together, don’t worry — you don’t have to read every email or keep track of all the ins and outs of the work we’re doing. We promise to keep you in the loop so you have at least an overall sense of how we’re standing up to the Trump regime.

To be part of this shared project called Public Citizen is to be part of the active resistance to the authoritarian nightmare that Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the rest of MAGA are trying to force upon the American people and the entire world. We are doing what we can. We are bringing to bear everything we’ve learned, all the connections we’ve made, all the experience we’ve developed, all the passion we’ve nurtured — from every victory and every setback — since our founding over half a century ago.

If you can, please donate today to support Public Citizen’s work standing up to the Trump regime.

Anything you can chip in — $5 or $25, $50 or $100, $500 or even more — will help at such a critical moment.

CONTRIBUTE NOW Or join our popular Monthly Giving program (if you haven’t already) to help make sure we have the ongoing financial resources to fight Trump day after day after day.

If you’ve donated to Public Citizen already, thank you. If a donation is not right, we get it. Either way, thank you for being part of Public Citizen.

For progress,

- Lisa Gilbert & Robert Weissman, Co-Presidents of Public Citizen

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snickerdoodlles · 1 year ago

Note

🤗

What advice would you give to new writers?

Love you 💗💗

[Metro Man voice] love you too!!

fair warning I super over thought my response to this, so ⚠️ caution: there be rambles ahead ⚠️😂

for my really new writing peeps-- just write. don't even worry about "how to write" advice*, just write and let yourself practice writing. the process of getting that jumble of images, feelings, and ideas in your head down to paper is hard and I really think the first step in writing is just getting comfortable with that. it doesn't have to be anything big either? start with small things like taking an image from a show and describing it or writing out a small conversation or even character fic that's as much analysis as it is story, or any small writing exercise that interests you.

for my friends who are past that step-- for me, I noticed the most progress in my writing after I started really paying attention to the writers I liked and breaking down what I liked in stories. I started with my favorite rereads from my favorite authors and just started picking out sentences/scenes and asking myself "what do I like about this?" (I was absolutely dog shit at literary analysis in high school so I had to teach myself how to do this basic form of it from the sentence up lol.) Teaching myself how to pick out the specific story pieces or writing devices that I liked not only helped me figure out what I wanted to practice incorporating into what I wrote (and just better figure out what sort of stories I liked vs stuff I thought I should like), but also figuring out how to pick apart a story into what pieces I liked vs what pieces i didn't like has been the best skill I've developed to edit my own stories. any story editing is about making all the story pieces work in harmony with each other, so being able to identify which pieces of a WIP are working for me vs which pieces of a story are pulling it off course or even don't interest me has been one of the most useful skills I've developed to get me past writers block borne from story frustration or any discouragement I've felt from my stories that don't satisfy me (self-assessment is hard 😂)

so yeah! that be my baby writer** advice! ajsjsj

*I put an asterisk here because like. there's good writing advice out there. there's a lot more dogshit writing advice out there. sometimes it's good advice from a well-established author but it doesn't work for you. one of the unfortunate tricky things about "how to write" advice is that you have to have at least some familiarity with writing to start picking out what's good advice and a good sense of your own writing to pick out what's good advice for you. if you're a new writer and really feeling stuck or wanting writing advice, look for advice from authors you like. you'll have a much better chance of finding good advice that will hopefully also be applicable to how or what you want to write.

**it's me. I'm the baby. I've been doing this casually for 15 years and I'm a baby about it

fic asks

#❤️❤️#i hope this helps???#i always feel so pretentious giving advice 😂💦

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ur-online-friend · 17 days ago

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#ai

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risa-desktop · 25 days ago

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How Empty Storytelling Creates Opportunities

Do you ever just delay a passion project for so long that you end up just wanting to get it over with? That you've spent so much time on and learned so much throughout that you've grown out of the journey itself, you just want to get to the end? Yeah that's me right now, we're talking about big empty worlds that just don't get to the point.

I've been seeing a trend in the entertainment industry that consists of cosmic settings and a lot of backlash against works that add or retcon lore shit, like there aren't real reasons to be critical of a work. First thing you think of is Star Wars, yeah I know. Its fandom is probably some of the most sensitive and openly racist we've all had the misfortune of interacting with. If you'd allow me the time to explain some: Star Wars' original story was first written as a novel that, and George Lucas didn't quite have confidence in a movie longer than it needs to be, only to end on a cliffhanger… twice. With all that in mind, Lucasfilm cut out a lot of the filler and reworked it to make it a palatable feature film, and with only a few loose threads, ended on a mostly positive note that could hint to a future film, and so the holy Samurai-Science-Fantasy trinity was born. What was most curious about this was that 20 years later, Lucasfilm promised to make a 2nd trilogy centered around the few plot threads that were fed to the audience as core plot points of a story larger than what was being told. This was a whole unexplored galaxy after all, it would probably be a waste to leave it that way. And then the fans hated it. Notably the adult fans hated it, not so much the younger fans who are singing its praises today. Hell, the prequel trilogy still gets hate from people that I even respect. All new material covering new ground in Star Wars gets hate simply for not hooking its fandom in with nostalgia bait.

“Okay, but what is this leading to?”

Lazy film makers are actively looking for ways to perpetuate a story beyond its own limits, and/or bending themselves backwards trying to emulate its contemporaries and now predecessors. The MCU has been talked about day and night over this, and I guess it's worth repeating for the point: the movies' plots are now contriving reasons to promote a future project, rather than make a standalone movie that's enjoyable by itself. Even one of the recent movies I like, say the Marvels needs multiple asterisks for a complete story. Disney knows that fans of X-Men will literally eat anything off the floor, and therefore neglect to make a particularly good standalone movie, even with the leeway of being a sequel to two other movies, and a line of comic books, and a series. Star Wars and Marvel's first takes on a cinematic universe of movies can be confidently placed on a pedestal by themselves as standalone movies, even if they aren't all that great in the first place.

Each canon also had specific rules, not too demanding, but easily moldable or applicable to a completely different plot, disconnected from the original, hence the many spin-offs. The Force is a cosmic, and an entirely unknowable entity, seemingly with a will of its own in a galaxy that harbors thousands of healthy planets just like Earth. And then Marvel is uhhh… rule of cool, because there are alternate dimentions, universes, timelines, and gods of multiple different mythologies.

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaats the problem though?”

The problem is that empty story telling is very commonly overlooked to its own detriment. A world will often either roll back on its own established characters to rehash that arc over and over again, or deliberately slow down the characters' developement for extensive buildup until it can't be built up anymore, and then cycle it back around to learn a completely opposite lesson. The Goldbergs really does that first one, and since it's based on a real life family, with creative liberties taken, almost every episode is about the importance of family, with slight changes to the events of each episode with the same theme, its pretty much just a comic strip made into a live action dramedy sitcom. Not to say The Goldbergs bad, I'm actually generally unsure how people see that show, but its the last thing I'd consider for a spin-off made to expand on the 1980-something lore of Jenkintown, Pensylvania.

Proabably the worst example of this would be something like… well something like Arcane, where, if you've watched the show, the characters have exactly one or less core traits, but this time I'll use World of Warcraft. The world of Azeroth actually has things happening in it pretty much everywhere on cosmic and microcosmic scale, but the change it's given has very little to say about the world besides that it's just… a cruel and brutal place. Ever since Blizzard was outted as a band of Bill Cosby-worshiping neo-nazis, I'm not making that up, pretty much everyone caught on to their writing trends and realized why they handle the sorts of subjects they do in such passive and agressive ways. Simply put, they're conservative, and they need to die- and they feel the need to express that the world they live in, and by extention, the world they're making, technically has nothing wrong with it, nothing that happens matters in the grand scheme, and the only change the world makes is to just become more violent. The Horde and Aliance faction war has gone on for actual real world years, and while many of the actions made by one or the other side is motivated personally, which is a narrative positive because real wars work the same way, the games' conclude in comparatively unrealistic ways. Notably, a victim of treacherous violence spanning generations, multiple genocides, and implied rape, The Banshee Queen decides to burn an entire continent to the ground because 'well the world is fucked anyways.' There are plenty of videos explaining why this narrative decision was extraordinarily imbicilic, so I will point you to those… and lets move on.

That's a big trend in these empty stories and empty worlds that house these empty stories. Nothing that matters changes, and the only change that seems to matter are the stakes. It's resonant to telling people "it gets better" or proudly shouting "waiting for the revolution" when you can't wait for change, you have to make it yourself. A story can be many things, but what does it say about your story that it says "and then things got better or worse" without any of the payoff or commentary. It doesn't make anything happen, it implies something happened and hopes you fill in the blanks.

"But Risa, wouldn't that imply a bad message is better than no message at all?"

Well its true. Bad or offensively ignorant media have called hundreds of thousands, to millions of people to criticize them, and for better or worse, call them to action, even if the creator of that offensive media was intentionally and hostilly attacking marginalized communities through their media. It's better to say something stupid, get called out on it, and learn from your mistakes than to say nothing, hear nothing, and learn nothing. This doesn't… technically need to be a political topic though, it could be about pretty much anything imaginable. Not all art is political, but all good art has a purpose, and if you try to propose more than you're able to grasp, then you end up looking pretentious, Arcane. There's a piece of writing advice that I heard a while back, that for the life of me I can't find the source of, saying if your art has a theme that's broad, then you have the potential to resonate with mutiple different stories, Star Wars, again, is the most popular example of this. However, if your art is narrow in scope, you can tell a story that is far more personal. It'd require more engagement, but it's better than engaging mindlessly with a story that goes on for too long and makes no plot or character progress until it's final act.

Probably my favorite cartoon within the same demographic I'm aiming my targets at is Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, about a little girl, Lunela Laffayette, in the lower-east side of New York City who adopts a dinosaur from another dimention. This is another Marvel product, but it's uniquely different by leaving the iconically important characters, like Captain America, as cameos. The show sticks to its own plot revolving around Lunela and her family. See what I said about being more personal? Some of the best episodes of the series tackle subjects that often times don't need Lunela to even BE Moon Girl, she just solves problems with logic, or fixes her own problems with empathy. The best episode of the series is about gentrifacation, and blatantly shows us how a community of people wrecking house is what's needed to stop technically legal, but extremely evil property theft and replacement, not a singular figure of goodness. The best episode of the series is about refuting the need for a superhero in a superhero show, within the confines of a superhero mascot conglomerate. That's a grim meta take there: a work actively showing us that it wouldn't exist if we were in a better world.

"Yeah Risa, we get it, art should have purpose, we literally learned this is 2nd grade, but you also mentioned fandom backlash."

Yeah, this is the part where I talk about the Acolyte, which, if you know me on Tumblr, I've personally rewatched about a dozen times to cut it into an incomplete movie trilogy like it's predecesors, but if you've seen the backlash for this show, you know that white people utterly hate that the main character is black. They won't say that, but they say it's about them breaking lore a million different ways and criticism of the jedi. The Acolyte is at least an okay series, but the last 9 movies they watched have a considerably different character composition… can you tell what's going on now? I can tell you the problems with the actual show, and not the cast listings: the pacing switches from a goofy melodramatic adventure story to a murder mystery, which is something Star Wars probably shouldn't have done in a serialized format. The acting of the characters downplay what's going on in the scene, and sometimes the scene itself lingers too long on silence, when it'd be best served with some music and a faster pace. The main culprit of this issue is the abomitbly long runtimes of the newer movies (2 and a half hours) compared to the old ones (an entire hour shorter.) With the setting of a galaxy, far far away, you'd think it'd spend more time on multiple planets, and The Acolyte technically does, the way it's directed doesn't make it seem like such, which many people thought it'd be best served in a different franchise, which is true (this series deserves a better fanbase,) but wouldn't have the same impact, considering it's a prologue to the prequel trilogy. All in all, the only REAL problem is that the pacing mirrors Sherlock Holmes meets Hidden Inventory, over typical fantasy or the episodic version of the tone it's going for anyways.

That's what this whole thing is about, the consept of mixing two types of storytelling that don't work together, and seeing lackluster results. Film and show producers, will look at the grand fantasy they want, and emulate the bleak, lampshading/downplaying tone of their favorite soaps, usually Game of Thrones or Hulu Copaganda, and try to mix the two.

"Why is this so bad, and how does it effect the story?"

Because both of those two examples play off ideas that we are socially exposed to when we just go outside, while a fantasy story will have a sprawling pantheon that individually need to be named with consepts that don't matter to the story. Peter Jackson cut down what could've been a quintology of 5-hour film experiences into three 2-hour movies, and it's because he cut out a lot of Tolken's world-building and added a lot of funnier, more dramatic moments. Why do you think anime is more popular now than ever? Because the best ones focus on dramaticizing the mundane and turning ireverance into comedy. Imagine if every realistic fiction stopped its pacing to explain what concrete is… doesn't sound like fun, does it.

The purpose of art is to relfect real life in a way you can be satisfied with, not remove it or just repackage it with different labelling.

This is a problem seen in many of YOUR, yes YOUR favorite franchises, and to offer a fix to this, frankly awful trend, I suggest you make things more dramatic in your art. A silent moment should be silent for comedy or as a reaction to a big, loud event, and said big, loud event should be used to signify a climax. Once you reach the end of the climax, go give your characters some aftercare before changing the conflict or cutting off the story there. If you're a consumer, you should be willing to engage in critical discourse, or at least critically examine media that you've engaged yourself with. Just enjoying things isn't enough, and if you want basic, non-critical enjoyment, you should probably put down the remote and pick up a more relaxing hobby.

Script for a new video

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sheerbittech · 1 month ago

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Sheerbit: The Top VoIP Development Company for Custom, Scalable Solutions

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, clear and reliable communication is no longer a luxury—it’s a business imperative. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology has revolutionized how organizations connect, collaborate, and serve their customers. However, not all VoIP development companies are created equal. Selecting the right partner can mean the difference between a smooth deployment and ongoing technical headaches. This is where Sheerbit shines. As a leading VoIP development company, Sheerbit combines deep technical expertise, bespoke solutions, and unwavering customer support to deliver communication platforms that scale with your business.

Understanding VoIP and Its Business Impact

VoIP enables voice calls, video conferences, and multimedia data to traverse IP networks rather than traditional telephone lines. This shift reduces costs, boosts flexibility, and integrates seamlessly with cloud-based and on-premise systems. Organizations that adopt VoIP enjoy features such as advanced call routing, click-to-dial, call analytics, and integration with CRM or helpdesk platforms—empowering teams to work smarter and respond faster to customer needs.

Common Challenges in VoIP Deployments

Even with compelling benefits, VoIP projects can falter if not handled by seasoned professionals. Organizations often face:

Quality of Service (QoS) issues that lead to dropped calls or latency

Security vulnerabilities exposing voice traffic to eavesdropping or fraud

Complex integrations with legacy PBX systems or third-party applications

Scalability hurdles when call volume spikes or new offices come online

Ongoing maintenance and lackluster support after go-live

Addressing these challenges demands a partner who understands both the networking fundamentals and the unique needs of your business.

Why Sheerbit Stands Out

Sheerbit has built its reputation as the best VoIP development company by focusing on three core pillars: technical excellence, client-centric customization, and comprehensive support.

1. Technical Excellence

Every Sheerbit engineer brings extensive experience with leading VoIP platforms—Asterisk, FreeSWITCH, OpenSIPS, Kamailio, and WebRTC frameworks. Whether you need a robust SIP trunking solution or a cutting-edge WebRTC application, Sheerbit’s team writes clean, scalable code and adheres to industry best practices for network performance and reliability.

2. Custom VoIP Solutions

Off-the-shelf VoIP packages rarely fit every business scenario. Sheerbit specializes in tailor-made development services, from crafting custom dial plans and interactive voice response (IVR) systems to integrating advanced call-center features like predictive routing and real-time analytics. With Sheerbit, you can hire VoIP developers dedicated to understanding your workflows and delivering solutions that align perfectly with your objectives.

3. End-to-End Support

The deployment of a VoIP system is just the beginning. Sheerbit offers full-lifecycle services: consulting and needs assessment, architecture design, development, testing, deployment, and post-launch maintenance. Their DevOps-driven processes ensure seamless updates, continuous monitoring, and rapid resolution of any issues—minimizing downtime and safeguarding call quality.

Key Service Offerings

VoIP Development Services: Sheerbit engineers build feature-rich VoIP applications, including softphones, mobile VoIP apps, and web-based conferencing tools. They ensure interoperability across devices and browsers, delivering user experiences that mirror or exceed traditional phone systems.

Custom Integrations: Leverage your existing investments by integrating VoIP with CRMs like Salesforce or HubSpot, helpdesk platforms such as Zendesk, or bespoke databases. Sheerbit’s APIs and middleware ensure call data syncs accurately with your business systems.

SIP Trunking & PBX Migration: Whether you’re migrating from a legacy PBX to a modern SIP-based infrastructure or establishing new SIP trunks for international call routing, Sheerbit’s proven migration framework guarantees minimal service interruption.

Security & Compliance: Voice services must be secure. Sheerbit implements TLS/SRTP encryption, robust firewall configurations, and fraud-detection modules. They also assist with regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) to protect sensitive communications.

Success Stories

Global Retail Chain Enhances Customer Support A multinational retailer struggling with call center overload engaged Sheerbit to deploy a scalable Asterisk-based IVR with predictive call routing. Post-launch, average wait times dropped by 40%, and customer satisfaction scores rose significantly.

Healthcare Provider Integrates VoIP with EHR Sheerbit developed a HIPAA-compliant FreeSWITCH solution for a healthcare network, integrating audible call prompts directly into the electronic health record system. Clinicians saved an average of 10 minutes per patient, boosting operational efficiency.

How to Hire Sheerbit’s VoIP Developers

Engaging with Sheerbit is straightforward. After an initial consultation to assess your needs, you’ll receive a detailed proposal outlining scope, timelines, and pricing. You can choose to hire VoIP developers on a project basis or onboard them as part of your extended team. Flexible engagement models include fixed-price projects, time-and-materials contracts, or dedicated-team arrangements.

Pricing & Engagement Models

Sheerbit offers transparent, competitive pricing tailored to project complexity and resource requirements. Typical engagement tiers include:

Standard Package: Core VoIP deployment with essential features

Advanced Package: Custom development, integrations, and analytics

Enterprise Package: Full-scale solutions with ongoing support and SLAs

The Implementation Process

Discovery & Planning: Define objectives, technical requirements, and success metrics.

Design & Architecture: Create network diagrams, call-flow maps, and infrastructure plans.

Development & Testing: Build features in agile sprints, perform comprehensive QA, and conduct pilot testing.

Deployment & Training: Roll out the solution, configure networks, and train your IT staff and end users.

Support & Optimization: Provide 24/7 monitoring, periodic performance reviews, and iterative enhancements.

Conclusion & Call to Action

Selecting the best VoIP development company can transform your organization’s communications, delivering cost savings, operational agility, and superior customer experiences. With Sheerbit’s proven expertise in custom VoIP solutions, end-to-end support, and dedication to quality, your business is poised for seamless, future-ready communications.

Ready to elevate your voice infrastructure? Contact Sheerbit today to schedule a free consultation and discover how you can harness the power of a tailored VoIP solution built by industry experts.

#voip #webrtc #voip development #hire voip developers #voip development company

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digitalworld77 · 2 months ago

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The Digital Nomad’s Secret Weapon: Reliable Internet Testing with Netspeed.net

Here is your cleaned-up version with all hashtags, brackets, and asterisks removed:

🚀 Why Netspeed.net Remains the Gold Standard for Internet Speed Testing in 2025

In today's hyper-connected world, fast and reliable internet is no longer a luxury — it's a necessity. Whether you're streaming, gaming, working remotely, or managing smart devices, knowing your internet speed is essential. One tool continues to stand out as the industry benchmark: Netspeed.net.

What Is Netspeed.net?

Netspeed.net is a free web-based application developed by Net Speed that allows users to test the performance of their internet connection in real-time. Launched in 2001, it has since become the go-to resource for millions of users worldwide.

The platform measures:

Download speed

Upload speed

Ping/latency

Jitter

It also provides access to historical test data, server locations, and mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Why It’s Still the Best

Massive Global Server Network Speedtest.net uses thousands of servers worldwide, allowing accurate and geographically relevant testing wherever you are.

Real-Time and Historical Data Beyond a one-off test, it lets users track trends over time — valuable for troubleshooting or comparing ISPs.

Unmatched Accuracy Net Speed's proprietary testing methodology ensures consistent and reliable results even under variable network conditions.

Trusted by Professionals ISPs, network engineers, and tech journalists rely on Speedtest.net as the definitive tool for evaluating connectivity.

Pro Tip: Use Netspeed Before You Call Your ISP If you're noticing slow speeds or buffering, run a test before reaching out to your service provider. Having hard data from Netspeed.net gives you an informed edge in resolving issues quickly.

Final Thoughts Whether you're a casual user or a network professional, Netspeed.net continues to set the bar for speed testing tools. In 2025, its relevance hasn’t faded — it’s only become more essential.

#Wifi #Netspeed.net #Best 2025

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lackhand · 4 months ago

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My Server Side Rendering thoughts

I'm tech advising my friends' startup and it's interesting. Out of our discussions, I had a thought I wanted to get down in ink.

Client Side Rendering sucks for small teams but is nearly impossible to escape in Standard Technologies^1.

^1: Cunningham's Law: "the best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer"

Backend development is basically fine

Say that you are writing an internal tool website. In his case it's a sales-y CMS-y thing; an integrated wizard & search tool. Obviously there's a few domains there (the Requirements server! The Catalog & search product! the produced Proposals!) and there's a sane UML chart about how the layers interact. Cool.

You've picked a language like ts/js/go/py/php/kotlin for your backends based on skill availability, libraries, etc. You're done, right?

But!

Frontend dev still requires a completely different approach

Developing the frontend for this kind of sucks. You've written a sane set of microservices in your favorite backend technology, yes, but when it comes time to knit them together, you probably need to switch technologies. You're going to pick React (or equivalently Svelte, Vue; Solidjs, etc), because you want a Single Page Application website.

At WebScale(tm), this makes sense: nothing scales or is available like the users' own browsers for the interactivity parts of your app. But if you're optimizing for the simplicity and team size, I'm not sure you want to bring a completely second technology into this game.

Liveview writes the frontend for you ASTERISK! FOOTNOTE! SEE CIT!

My friend's background includes the Elixir/Phoenix/Liveview stack^2.

Liveview uses a persistent websocket between the client and server. The client sends browser events to the server across the socket. The server uses a react-like events-and-caching-and-reevaluating model to determine changes to state as a result. The server uses session state to maintain its own mirror of the browser's DOM, and then streams the differences to the frontend, where the standard clientside javascript library applies them, and the cycle continues.

^2: 15 bits entropy remain

Chris McCord on how and why Liveview is, c. 2021.

Ok, so...? How does this help the solo dev?

At this phase, separation of concerns is overrated and you're probably not doing it right anyway.

You're a small-team multi-hat dev. You are building this app by the seat of your pants; you are not sure the UI you're building is the right UI yet.

So if you do normal React stuff, the flow of data is something like:

... → [Raw Database Schema] → [Internal Business Object in e.g. python] → [Display-oriented GET API in python on server] → [Serialize JSON] → [React render in typescript on browser] → [React produces final DOM changes on browser]

Those "display oriented API"/Serialize/"react HTML" lines are really suspicious at this point. Even though you've modeled your business objects correctly, every change to the interaction model requires synchronized FE and BE changes.

This is more than a protocol problem: something like protobufs or tRPC or whatever let you better describe how the interface is changing, but you'll still need to consume/produce new data, FE & BE changes.

So it lets you instead write:

... → [Raw Database Schema] → [Internal Business Object in elixir] → [Server rendering in elixir & HEEx on server] → [Serialize LV updates] → [LV FE lib renders on browser]

Bennies

By regarding the produced DOM mirror as a server API, you can feel ok about writing custom display queries and privileged business model access in your backend code. It means you're not using your RESTful GET endpoints in this codepath, but it also means you're not spitting out that boilerplate with only one current caller that will never have a second caller...

By sending browser events to the server's mirror of the DOM, you don't need to dip into the browser behavior; you can write server code that responds to the user's semantic actions. One can go too far; probably most confirm modals etc should get maintained & triggered clientside, but liveviewers usually take the serverside loop.

This websocket is critical for scoping changes, because e.g. a form post down in the guts of the page might cause changes at distant locations in the DOM (a nested delete button deleting an element from a list?) and the client's browser needs to be told to do the refresh of those elements (the list and any changed elements and a parent object with an element count and...?). That didn't use server generated events, but those could exist too ofc.

How does Elixir keep getting away with it?!

The pat answer for how Liveview does this -- including Chris McCord's article -- is the Blazingly! Efficient! Nature! of the BEAM! VM! (everything is green threads; cluster routing of method calls and replication of state; resumption of failed units of computation, etc etc).

I'm incredibly suspicious of this.

Sure, BEAM solves these problems for the developer, but so does a redis instance (or just the DB you were using anyway! Postgres is no joke!) + frameworks. Lots of apps use session state and use adapters to store that state durably with the end dev not needing to get into the weeds about how. Library authors could do this. It might be easier or harder for a given library author to deliver this in a given language, but there are some very skilled library authors out there.

You, developer, do not yet have as many users as you hope. DevOps has deployment practices that BEAM does not fit into. BEAM's enormous multiplexing is not saving you more than just turning up a few more servers would. You would be writing in go or in c++ if you meant it.

So:

Why isn't there already a popular equivalent of LV in js/ts/py/php/kotlin/etc?

TL;DR: LiveviewJS seems like the closest/most complete option as I understand it.

There are other equivalents ofc. But they have nowhere near the same level of use, despite being in languages that are OoM more in-use.

Candidates include turbo, django unicorn, unpoly, React Server Components... But none are really right afaict!

I can kind of guess why they're not as popular, which is that if you do not need to tie up server assets on a per-client basis, you will not choose to tie up server assets on a per-client basis. Websocket state, client DOM mirrors, etc; it adds up.

If you're building a chat app or video app, obviously devoting a stateful local socket-per-client is a good tradeoff. But I feel like there are lots of models that are similar! Including the one my friend is facing, modifying a document with a lot of spooky action at a distance.

What's missing? The last mile(s)

We have the technology to render any given slice of the page on the server. But AFAIK there's no diff behavior or anything so it'll render the entire subtree. You can choose whether to ship back DOM updates or fully rendered HTML; it doesn't make much of a difference to my point IMO.

Using something like htmx, you could have a frontend form post cause a subtree of the DOM to get re-rendered on the backend and patched back into the document.

That's "fine" so far as it goes, but if (in general) a form post changes components at a distance and you're trying to avoid writing custom frontend-y code for this, you're going to need to target some fairly root component with the changed htmx and include a lot of redundancy -- a SPA that does a refresh of the whole business model.

Why aren't more people talking about this?

The pieces of architecture feel like things we've all had available for a while: websockets, servers that handle requests and websockets, session state, DOM diffing, DOM patching.

How did Elixir get there first (Chris McCord explains how he got there first, so that might just be the answer: spark of genius)? Why did nobody else follow? Is there just a blindingly obvious product out there that does it that I'm missing?

One thing I see is that the big difference is only around server pushed events. Remix/RSC gets us close enough if the browser is always in control. If it isn't, you gotta write your own notification mechanisms -- which you can do, but now you gotta do it, and they're definitely running on the client, and your product has taken on a whole notification pipeline thing.

#web development #reactjs

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aparnarj · 7 months ago

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How to get better at doing research-Zolarink

Improving your research skills involves developing a systematic approach and utilizing strategies that help you efficiently gather, analyze, and synthesize information. Here are several tips to enhance your research capabilities:

1. Clarify Your Research Question

Define the scope: Be specific about the topic or problem you're investigating. A clear and well-defined research question will guide the direction of your work.

Narrow your focus: If the question is too broad, break it down into manageable subtopics or aspects that you can explore in detail.

2. Use Reliable and Varied Sources

Start with academic databases: Use platforms like Google Scholar, JSTOR, PubMed, or subject-specific databases. They provide peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and other scholarly materials.

Evaluate sources: Assess the credibility of the source by checking the author's qualifications, publication date, and the publisher’s reputation.

Diversify your sources: Combine academic papers with books, expert interviews, reports, and other trusted materials to get a well-rounded perspective.

3. Develop Efficient Search Strategies

Use advanced search techniques: Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), quotes for exact phrases, and asterisks for wildcard searches to narrow or broaden results.

Refine keywords: Experiment with different search terms and synonyms to cover all possible avenues of research.

Search in multiple languages: If applicable, check for sources in different languages to get additional perspectives.

4. Organize and Manage Information

Use reference management tools: Software like Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley helps you organize your references, store PDFs, and automatically generate citations.

Take organized notes: Keep track of key ideas, quotes, and their sources. This makes it easier to cite later and avoids losing valuable information.

Create an outline: Draft a rough outline of your research to visualize the structure and flow of your final work.

5. Critical Thinking and Synthesis

Analyze the evidence: Don’t just accept information; question its validity, assumptions, and relevance to your research question.

Look for patterns and connections: Compare findings across sources, identify common themes or contradictions, and explore new insights or gaps.

Synthesize, don't summarize: Rather than simply summarizing the material, integrate it into a cohesive narrative that addresses your research question from various angles.

6. Stay Current

Monitor recent publications: Follow leading journals, academic conferences, and news in your field to stay updated on the latest research and trends.

Use citation tracking: Identify key papers in your area of research, and track which later papers have cited them to uncover additional relevant studies.

7. Be Systematic and Consistent

Establish a routine: Dedicate regular time slots for research to maintain focus and progress steadily.

Break down tasks: If the project feels overwhelming, break it into smaller tasks like literature review, data collection, analysis, and writing.

8. Seek Feedback

Consult with experts: If possible, talk to faculty members, colleagues, or professionals who are experienced in the topic.

Peer review: Share your work with others to get constructive feedback. Fresh eyes often catch mistakes or suggest new directions.

9. Improve Writing and Communication

Write as you research: Draft as you go along, rather than waiting until you have everything. This helps clarify your thoughts and often leads to deeper insights.

Be clear and concise: When writing up your research, avoid jargon unless necessary. Write for a general audience, explaining technical terms clearly.

Revise and refine: Editing is key in research writing. Ensure that the structure is logical, arguments are supported, and the writing is free of errors.

10. Develop Persistence and Patience

Expect setbacks: Not every search will be fruitful, and not every lead will pan out. Patience is essential in research.

By honing these skills and habits, you'll gradually become a more efficient, effective, and thorough researcher. The key is consistent practice and adapting your methods to the specific challenges of each new research project.

Please take some time to visit: https://www.zolarink.online/

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vindaloo-softtech · 9 months ago

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The Future of Asterisk: Upcoming Features and Trends

Asterisk, the renowned open-source communications platform, is all set to shape the future with upcoming features and emerging trends. It continues offering high-tech functionalities and integration to enhance connectivity. With a focus on improving scalability, security, and user experience, the latest developments in Asterisk promise to empower organizations with more robust and flexible communication solutions.

Let’s explore the key innovations and trends of an asterisk in the coming years and how they will help to build VoIP software advanced.

Before that know……

What is Asterisk?

Asterisk is an open-source platform for developing telecommunication applications, which was developed by Digium. Users can easily access and modify the source code based on its features and components. It is based on the Private Branch Exchange (PBX) that enables voice and video communication via (IP) Internet protocols. Asterisk seamlessly turns a PC into a VoIP server and manages various business requirements through its compatibility with multiple operating systems and communication technologies.

An Asterisk, well-known for its robust telephony stack in the VoIP sector. It acts as a comprehensive toolkit for creating advanced telephony solutions. With Asterisk solutions, there is no requirement for any additional hardware, making it a cost-effective choice.

There is another Asterisk IVR Solution, whereby the callers can interact with your phone systems through the menu by using voice commands. This way, it can win customer satisfaction. Hire an asterisk developer to get a personalized IVR system as per your preferences.

Interesting Facts about Asterisk:

2,000,000 downloads annually

Implemented on 1,000,000 servers globally

1,300,000 new endpoints are added each year

Used in over 170 countries

A community of 86,000 contributors Source: https://www.asterisk.org/

How does Asterisk help to Build a VoIP System?

Asterisk gives power to various communication solutions such as IP PBX systems, VoIP gateways, conference servers through Asterisk Video Conference, and many more tailored applications.

In VoIP, Asterisk enables setting up and customising the VoIP system including call routing, voice mail, video conferencing etc. It supports various VoIP protocols such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and IAX (Inter-Asterisk Exchange), to provide a seamless communication experience. Asterisk integrates and connects with different hardware and software such as IP phones, gateways and CRM systems.

Asterisk call centres configure extensions and call queues and customize IVR systems for efficient call routing. It also provides tools for managing calls, including call forwarding, call recording and conference calling. This enhances scalability by accommodating growing user numbers and increased call volume.

Get the best asterisk development services from Vindaloo Softtech.

The Future Trends of Asterisk

Asterisk is a fit for all types of organizations from small enterprises, large corporations, and call centres to government agencies. Asterisk is all set to go with its future trends and advancements. With continuous technological advancements, it will introduce upgraded features and improve all performance including advancements in security, cloud-based solutions, and robust analytics.

Moreover, it will integrate with artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to revolutionize communication. With these features, it will transform the way businesses manage and utilise their communication system more smartly. Asterisk Development is at its peak to serve the business beyond the best.

How does Asterisk help to enhance business communications?

Robust Connectivity:

Asterisk rules out communication barriers and lets businesses connect with clients and employees across the globe without any interruptions.

Streamlined Operations:

It centralizes communication by integrating all communication channels so that employees can collaborate efficiently. Businesses utilize it to boost productivity and create more efficient workflows.

Cost Cutting:

Traditional phone systems can cost a chunk, especially to manage high call volumes. However, asterisk significantly reduces communication costs. It is a cost-effective option for companies seeking affordable solutions.

Scale up:

Asterisk accommodates changing communication needs without needing additional investment. As businesses scale up, asterisk permits businesses to effectively add or remove extensions and lines.

Flexibility:

Asterisk has a versatile application in various businesses and their different models. It can be implemented in any sector regardless of its scale. It adapts to the specific requirements of each organisation.

Global Reach and Convenience:

Now that Asterisk provides global access to businesses through its virtual presence, there is no need for physical offices in multiple locations. The best part is that it supports virtual phone numbers and international calls to remove geographical barriers.

Asterisk Vs FreeSwitch: Which VoIP Technology is Right for You?

It is often a matter of confusion in deciding the best from Freeswitch Vs Asterisk. Each has its own bright side depending on your business needs. However, Asterisk is easier to develop on several levels while FreeSwtich offers better modularity and manages more concurrent calls. To dig deeper, scroll your eyes through a write-up on Asterisk Vs FreeSwtich Development.

#Asterisk #asterisk call center solution #Asterisk developer #Asterisk Development #Asterisk development services #Asterisk IVR Solution #Asterisk software development #asterisk solution development #Asterisk Solutions #Asterisk technology

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bytebranllp · 11 months ago

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Selecting the Ideal Tech Stack for Your VoIP Project

Software development involves various technologies and processes that are constantly evolving with new tools and frameworks. While these advancements simplify development, they also add complexity when selecting the right technologies for a project. Beyond the technical aspects, successful software development requires strong teamwork, project management and communication among diverse teams. These skills are crucial for keeping projects on track and within budget. Our blog article aims to give you a clear understanding of the crucial factors to consider when choosing the right technology stack for your software development project.

Understanding the tech stack

A tech stack is a set of tools and technologies used to build and run an application to cover everything from servers and databases to frontend and backend frameworks. Here’s a quick look at its main components:

Frontend: Handles the user interface and experience with technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like React, Angular and Vue.js.

Backend: Manages business logic, database interactions, and server setup using languages like Python or Ruby and backend frameworks.

Databases: Store and manage application data, including relational databases like MySQL and NoSQL databases like MongoDB.

DevOps and Cloud Services: Ensure your application is integrated, scalable, and well-maintained.

VoIP Platforms

FreeSWITCH, Kamailio, OpenSIPS, and Asterisk are top platforms for creating VoIP services.

FreeSWITCH is an open-source platform that connects and routes communication protocols.

Kamailio and OpenSIPS are high-performance SIP servers for managing voice, video, and real-time communication.

Asterisk is a free framework that turns a standard computer into a powerful communication server.

Tech Stacks in Practice

Have you ever wondered what technology stacks power your favorite brands? Let's explore the tech stacks some industry leaders use and see what they rely on to deliver their services.

Uber Tech Stack:

Web Servers: NGINX, Apache

Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB

Server-side Framework: Node.js

Programming Languages: Python, Java, JavaScript, Objective-C

Uber's tech stack combines robust web servers with versatile programming languages and frameworks, enabling smooth communication and data management across its platform.

Instacart Tech Stack:

Server: NGINX

Databases: PostgreSQL, Redis

Server-side Framework: Rails

Programming Languages: Ruby, Python, Objective-C

Instacart uses a streamlined stack focused on efficiency and reliability. It strongly emphasizes fast database operations and a robust server-side framework.

Reddit Tech Stack:

Server: NGINX

Databases: PostgreSQL, Redis

Server-side Framework: Node.js

Programming Languages: JavaScript, Python

Reddit's stack is optimized for handling large amounts of user-generated content. It uses powerful databases and a modern server-side framework to maintain its performance and scalability.

These examples highlight brands' different choices in building their tech stacks tailored to their specific needs and operational demands.

Choosing the Right Tech Stack for VOIP App Development

Selecting the right tech stack for app development can be overwhelming, especially for non-technical entrepreneurs. While developers often have their preferred stacks, it's wise to seek guidance from a subject-matter expert. An expert can provide valuable insights and help you avoid future issues. If you're short on resources, start with these simple steps:

Understand Your Users' Needs: Focus on what your users need. For example, if most of your users are on mobile devices, consider a "mobile-first" tech stack. If your app is "mobile-only," your tech stack will likely differ from other types of applications.

Define Your Development Needs: The complexity and scale of your app will influence your tech stack choice:

Small Projects: Well-defined stacks like Python-Django or Node.js-React are ideal for simple apps like MVPs or one-page apps.

Medium Projects: E-commerce stores or mid-market apps require more complex stacks with multiple layers of programming languages and frameworks.

Large Projects: Complex marketplaces or social apps need a robust tech stack designed to handle high-volume use and maintain performance.

Evaluate Your Resources: When choosing a tech stack, consider your available resources. Even the best tech stack won't be effective without the right developers to implement it. Many frameworks and tools are open-source and free to use, but remember to account for costs related to servers and hosting when making your decision.

Essential Components for a VoIP Software Technology Stack

Let’s understand these components.

Real-Time Communication Protocols: SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol) are essential for managing voice, video, and messaging sessions. WebRTC enables real-time communication directly in browsers and mobile apps, making development easier.

Codecs: Codecs like G.711, G.722, G.729, and Opus compress and decompress voice data, balancing call quality and bandwidth usage.

Programming Languages: Python and Java are commonly used for their simplicity, readability, and strong support for multithreading and concurrency.

Web and Mobile Frameworks: Angular and Node.js are popular for web development, while Flutter and React Native are favored for cross-platform mobile apps.

Databases: SQL databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL handle structured data, while NoSQL databases like MongoDB offer scalability for unstructured data.

Server Technologies: Cloud services like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure provide scalable, secure environments with various development tools.

Testing Tools: Selenium for UI testing and Apache JMeter for load testing help ensure the software performs well and offers a good user experience.

Take Away

A tech stack is essential for a startup or business's success, so selecting the right technologies, languages, frameworks, and tools is essential.

Choosing the right technology stack for VoIP software development depends on your project's specific needs and goals. To make the best choice, follow these three rules: prototype and test, seek expert advice both within and outside your team and stay flexible. Doing so will help you build a strong and scalable product. Consulting experienced developers or software development companies can help you get tailored recommendations. With the right choice, your VoIP application will meet your current needs and be adaptable to future changes.

#voip technology #voip solutions #voip development #VOIP technology stack #Custom Software Development

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