#development journal

[moratoria-the-blog]

The Workaround- Moratoria Development Journal #2

I’ve been extremely busy with school and my internship recently, and since both those locations are in a different city, that means I’ve been driving an hour and a half there and back at least three times a week. Which is a horrible way to spend the few precious waking hours I have in the day, but oh, well. Nothing I can do but bear it and pray that next year’s internship is closer to my house. I had an interview with one that went very well, and I visit their building next week for a follow-up. Please, please God, please, I don’t want to keep having to wake up at five in the morning…

On the bright side, since I’ve spent so much time sitting in traffic, I’ve had a lot of time to think about future drawings, specifically in the Moratoria Alphabet series, but unfortunately they’ve been put on the back burner for now because my tablet is broken and I have no money. My hope is that I’ll be able to buy a new one sometime this summer, but until then, updates are going to be a bit slower.

Anyway, here’s a sketch of a possible future drawing in the series!

I’m thinking this one would be “R is for Retrospect,” or something similar. You can’t tell from the drawing, but the idea is that Enrique on the right would be cut off on that vertical line, and the colors would be smudged across the left side of the image like the broken screen of an old monitor, with the sketch of young Enrique and his aunt messily drawn on top of it. I’m not sure if this is actually what I’m going to go with, but it’s an idea!

Although my tablet is broken, I’ve still been trying to find workarounds to keep drawing. I’ve been doing stuff with just my finger on my laptop trackpad, which has been an interesting experiment but unfortunately far, far too unsustainable for me to want to do it any more than I have to. So here’s a little drawing of Miriam that served as an experiment.

I like how it turned out! I’m happy with it. Especially her hands. Usually when drawing hands, I start by taking pictures of my own hands in whatever pose they need to be in, and then I insert that photo into the Clip Studio file and trace over it. I remember when I first started taking art seriously this kind of thing was very frowned upon, but now it seems to be more of an accepted practice as long as the artist has permission to trace the photo. I don’t personally see a problem with it, because they’re my own pictures taken by me of my own hands, and hey, photography is an art form too, right?

There are so many little details in this design for Miriam that I had so much fun including. One advantage of a messier, looser rendering style like this is that I don’t have to be as precise when adding all the smaller lines and shapes! I do wish I had the opportunity to draw more of her tattoos, but since she dresses more modest and most of them are on her back, they aren’t visible in everyday life except for the one.

Technically her pose was taken from Orthodox iconography, not Catholic. But shhhhh.

I’ve been listening to lots of new music on my long drives. Currently on repeat are “Perfect Celebrity” from Lady Gaga’s new album, which I first saw in a Twitter edit using footage from the movie The Substance, and “One Day Robots Will Cry” by Cobra Starship, a song which I only began to like after listening to it about ten times. Side note, I hate how Spotify always recommends me a “Punk Mix” every day and then when I open it it’s just Cobra Starship and Fall Out Boy. Neither of them are punk! And besides, I only like one or two Cobra Starship songs! Please don’t build a playlist for me around that…

Here’s hoping that the next few months will be full of artistic progress, even if I do have to brave the spring without my tablet! 

[thejournallo]

ME MANIFESTING THAT EVERYONE WHO SEE THIS POST GETS WHAT THEY WANT.

(Masterlists)

[girlwithrituals]

30 THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU BECOME MORE SELF-AWARE

❦ how much self-control do i have with things that i know are bad for me, but tend to indulge in?

❦ how do i respond to someone who is different from me or whose ideals and beliefs i don't agree with or understand?

❦ how do i deal with being misperceived or misunderstood?

❦ how do i respond when someone judges me, makes fun of me, or calls me names?

❦ how do i deal with other people's mistakes and unpleasant behavior?

❦ how do i deal with people who have hurt me in the past?

❦ how do i spend my free time?

❦ how do i deal with negative people?

❦ how do i deal with stressful situations? do i tend to worry a lot? what else do i do?

❦ how do i deal with inconvenient life situations?

❦ how do i respond to situations that i have no control over?

❦ how do i deal with negativity in my environment?

❦ how do i deal with challenges in my life?

❦ how do i respond to situations that force me to get out of my comfort zone?

❦ how motivated am i to change my life for the better?

❦ how much do i follow through on what i preach and talk about?

❦ how do i deal with uncertainty, the unknown or a future event that i have no control over?

❦ how do i respond to obstacles, hardships, and "bad" things that happen in my life?

❦ how do i respond when i don't get what i want?

❦ how fulfilling is my everyday life?

❦ how do i respond to new ideas and new ways of thinking?

❦ how do i respond to bad or inconvenient news?

❦ how do i deal with the violence, hate, and suffering in the world?

❦ how do i recharge, rejuvenate, and replenish my energy?

❦ how much do i prioritize spending time and energy on myself and on my passions?

❦ how do i deal with change? new job, new house, new lifestyle, new people, new rules, new technology...do i tend to avoid it, welcome it, fear it, like it, complain about it, stress out about it, worry about it?

❦ how do i deal with emotional pain?

❦ how do i respond when plans change or plans get cancelled without my say so?

❦ how do i respond when i make a mistake or when i fail at something?

❦  how do i deal with rejection?

[gojoest]

satoru spending way too much time trying to see if the baby in your belly can already sense cursed energy — pressing his face against your baby bump like “come on, tiny legend — kick once for limitless, twice for six eyes”

[bloomzone]

Don't ever underestimate yourself. No dream is too big, because I think dreaming gets us where we want to go. Be curious, explore, open yourself up to new ideas always. It will be OK. Don't worry about making bad decisions. Oftentimes, you learn the most in those situations of failure and move in and put your point of view out there and express how you would deal with the situation or business decision you would make. Just to keep believing in yourself, you can do it. If you believe in yourself and have confidence, then others will have confidence in you too. Just keep going. Just keep working hard. And then you get to the other side, of course you have what it takes to get to the other side. Be fearless,journal your thoughts, cut out people who make you feel behind, buy yourself books, explore new things, everyday is a new day, embrace discomfort, set boundaries unapologetically, celebrate small wins, trust your intuition, stay consistent, invest in your growth, rest without guilt, challenge your fears, be kinder to yourself, step outside your comfort zone, believe in your potential, disconnect to reconnect, prioritize inner peace, speak up for yourself, stay curious, nourish your body, learn from failures, visualize your success, let go of perfectionism, protect your energy, keep moving forward and u will see the change

[iwannadiearly]

Delusion is the key to unlocking your dream life. Don’t have a job? Be delusional and imagine you do. Don’t have a boyfriend? Be delusional and believe you already have one. Is your current life disappointing? Be delusional and trust that you’ll get what you want. You can either cry about your circumstances or embrace delusion one feels miserable, and the other doesn’t.

[theambitiouswoman]

Questions To Ask Yourself If You Want To Become The Best Version of Yourself

What do I really care about? What things are really important to me?

What am I good at, and where do I need help? What am I strong in, and what could I get better at?

What do I want to achieve soon and later? What things do I want to do soon, and what are my bigger, long-term goals?

Am I trying new things and not just staying comfy? Am I doing things that might be a bit scary but good for me?

How do I deal with problems and when things go wrong? What do I do when stuff doesn't work out?

Am I nice to myself when things don't go well? Do I treat myself kindly, especially when things are tough?

How do I use my time, and what's most important? How do I plan my day, and what things matter the most?

Am I learning new stuff regularly? Do I keep finding out new things?

Do I have a good balance between work and fun? Do I make sure to have enough time for work and for things I enjoy?

Do I have good friendships and avoid bad ones? Am I friends with people who make me feel good?

Do I take care of my body? Am I eating well, exercising, and sleeping enough?

Do I think about my feelings and thoughts? Do I pay attention to how I'm feeling and what I'm thinking?

How do I deal with stress and make myself calm? What do I do when I'm stressed out?

Do I help others and make the world better? Do I do things to make people's lives nicer?

Do I have good habits and get rid of bad ones? Are there things I do every day that are good for me? Are there things I should stop doing?

Do I learn from what people say about me? When people give me advice, do I listen and try to get better?

Do I say no when I need to? Do I tell people when I need space or when something isn't okay for me?

What makes me really happy? What do I like to do that makes me feel great?

Do I use money wisely? Am I good at saving and spending money in smart ways?

Do I believe I can improve and get better? When things are tough, do I think I can get through them and learn something?Am I being kind to others and making them feel good? Do I treat people nicely and make them happy?

Do I learn from things I do wrong? When I make a mistake, do I figure out how to do better next time?

Do I try new things, even if they scare me a little? Do I give things a shot, even if they seem a bit scary?

Am I spending time with people who care about me? Do I hang out with folks who like me for who I am?

Do I eat healthy foods and move my body? Am I eating good stuff and getting some exercise?

Am I sharing and helping others when I can? Do I give stuff to others and lend a hand when I'm able to?

Am I paying attention when people talk to me? Do I really listen when others are speaking to me?

Do I take breaks and do things I enjoy? Do I give myself time to rest and do things I like?

Do I say sorry and make up if I hurt someone? When I make someone feel bad, do I apologize and try to make things better?

Do I imagine good things for myself in the future? Do I think about cool stuff I want to do?

Do I stop and relax when I'm feeling stressed? When I'm worried, do I take a moment to calm down?

Do I ask for help when I need it? Do I tell someone when I can't do something on my own?

Do I try my best, even when things are tricky? Even if it's hard, do I give it my all?

Do I pick up after myself and keep things tidy? Am I good at cleaning up and keeping things in order?

Do I use my time for things that matter most? Do I do important stuff before other things?

Do I think about good things that happened today? Do I remember all the nice things that occurred?

Am I okay with making mistakes and learning from them? Do I know it's okay to mess up sometimes and learn from it?

Do I show appreciation for the people around me? Do I let others know I'm thankful for them?

Do I take deep breaths and relax when I'm upset? When I'm mad, do I breathe and try to calm down?

Do I believe I can do better and keep growing? Do I think I can get better at things and keep getting smarter?

Am I happy with who I am right now? Do I like myself just as I am?

Do I feel okay when things don't go as planned? When stuff doesn't work out, do I stay calm?

Do I think about good things about myself? Do I focus on the nice parts of me?

Do I let go of things that make me sad? When something makes me upset, can I move on from it?

Do I notice when I'm feeling worried or scared? Am I aware of when I'm feeling nervous or frightened?

Do I believe I can do things even if they're tough? Can I do hard things if I try?

Do I try to make my mind peaceful? Do I relax my thoughts when they're racing?

Do I find things that make me feel relaxed? What can I do to feel calm and at ease?

Am I patient when things take time? Can I wait without getting upset?

Do I talk kindly to myself in my head? Do I say nice things to myself in my mind?

Am I curious about things and want to learn? Do I like to find out new stuff?

Do I think about good times and happy memories? Do I remember fun things that happened before?

Do I try to understand how others feel? Can I tell what others are feeling?

Do I imagine nice things happening in the future? Can I think about good stuff that might come?

Do I take time to rest and be by myself? Do I give myself breaks and quiet time?

Do I let go of things I can't change? Can I forget about things I can't do anything about?

Do I believe I can do things even if I don't know how yet? Do I think I can learn new things?

Do I tell myself I'm doing a good job? Do I give myself a pat on the back?

Do I stay calm even if things are really busy? Can I be relaxed even when things are crazy?

Do I know that I can make mistakes and it's okay? Do I understand that everyone messes up sometimes?

[a-path-by-the-moon]

[thefemigirl]

✦ Wrapping Up the Year

▪ What are my goals for next year?

▪ What will I do to achieve those goals?

▪ What drained my energy this year?

▪ What will my life look like in the new year?

▪ What milestones did I accomplish this year?

▪ What are my intentions for next year?

▪ What did I learn this year?

▪ What am I most grateful for this year?

[moderatelyquicksilversposts]

Tarot Is A Game (and It's Fine)

It started with "the tarot was created by the Egyptians". It developed into "the tarot was created by Kabbalists". Now some want to convince us that the tarot was created by Mary Magdalene or the Cathars or whatever. Some people are desperate for a cool and broody origin story, as if it could justify the fact that they shuffle little pieces of cardboard for answers about life (or to justify the price tag to the saps they try to sell books to).

Professional historians have pretty much concluded that the tarot is simply a beautifully illustrated medieval Italian card game with allegorical pictures that most people back in those days would have been able to immediately recognize. So the tarot was not created for divination, fortune-telling or hiding deep secrets. So what? Tea leaves aren't created to be read, nor clouds to be skried into. Dice were created to have fun, yet witches roll them to get answers. What better than a card game to reflect the playful interrelation of events in the game of life?

[moratoria-the-blog]

Thermodynamics, Nostalgia, and Zero Free Time- Moratoria Development Journal #1

I’ve been feeling extra disconnected from reality lately, so naturally I’m throwing myself into my art more to cope. I thought it’d be an interesting idea to start little journals about whatever I’m thinking about at any given moment— so that hopefully, in the future, I can look back and have an idea of where my head was at.

I’m in the process of working on the “E” drawing for my Moratoria Alphabet series— I decided on a word and composition, sketched out the general shape of everything, etc. But I just haven’t had as much time to sit down and give it my full attention. I have my internship two or three times a week, college classes once a week, and work every weekend… I probably should’ve anticipated that I’d be busier. There’s a reason everybody talks about how hectic grad school is.

This is what exists of the “E” drawing so far— 

It’s Bree! The idea for it is that the Bree on the bottom-right is going to be her “artist’s persona,” for lack of a better term; how she understands herself and presents to the world. And the top-left is the more accurate representation of who she really is. In the final version, she’ll have a different expression, too, with her eyes open.

So, there’s that, but I’ve also been thinking about Max quite a bit. From what I’ve shown to friends and art communities on Discord, Max is generally seen as one of the least interesting members of the cast. Which I completely understand, but I don’t agree. He’s interesting to me… this is going to get a little rant-y, so bear with me for a moment.

When I was in high school, I had this idea for a story where a young woman made a deal with an otherworldly something-or-other geometric-themed entity. The entity provided her with the ability to relive her childhood and hang out with her childhood friends in her dreams, but in return, it gradually chipped away at the lives those friends were living in the present and erased them from reality the more she used it. The justification for that in-story was something about the first law of thermodynamics; how the imaginary constructs of her old friends need energy to exist, and that energy needs to come from somewhere. And since in the present, all those people hate her now, the protagonist didn’t feel too bad about making the deal.

Here’s a quick sketch I just did of the designs:

So it was that kind of thing. I still like the concept of a demon-like creature who grants wishes based on the first law of thermodynamics, though. Now I’m wondering what that would look like for the other laws… probably not much different, since they’re all generally about systems in equilibrium.

There was also the fact that around that same time when I was in high school, more concept art for OMORI started coming out. I still stand by the opinion I held back then, which is that the art is absolutely beautiful and far, far more interesting than the game itself. I remember one night when I couldn’t sleep and I was scrolling on my phone through all of the different colorful concept art, thinking “this is so cool! If I ever made a game, I’d want it to look something like this!” I tried to guess the plot and themes of the game from all the teasers, and I’d say I got it ninety percent right.

Now that OMORI’s actually released and I’ve checked it out, I think the main reason it doesn’t click for me is that there’s supposed to be a contrast between this colorful, imaginative fantasy world and the more mundane, often bleak real world, but the real world is still all quirky and Earthbound-inspired. The “reality” parts are far more exaggerated and cartoonish than actual reality, so the core of the story rings false.

Max’s story is a similar to OMORI in that it’s about nostalgia and escaping into fantasy to cope with the fact that your childhood friends have all grown up and don’t like you that much anymore. It’s also similar to my geometric first law of thermodynamics story, since there’s an element of how clinging on to previous versions of someone and insisting they stay the same hurts all parties involved.

Anyway, if I can ever finish that “E” drawing, I think I want to draw something with Max for “F”… I just need to think of a word.

[thejournallo]

Witchcraft Basics Masterlist!

Witchcraft Basics and Giggles:

Everything to know before you start! The various practices The Tools healing, protecting, and grounding. shielding and banishing herbs,oils and crystals.| Herbs | Oils | Crystals color magik the sabbats the Elements astrology + astrology calendar spells, hexes and curses energy manipulation the various entitis Divination tool Symbology Shadow Work Witchy hack Offerings Grimoire/book of shadows how to work with deities. (works with entities too) sigils. How to create a spell

more master lists!

[girlwithrituals]

20 NIGHT JOURNAL PROMPTS TO CLEAR YOUR MIND BEFORE BEDTIME

1. what's on my mind right now?

2. how am i feeling right now?

3. write down one word to describe my day (calm or hectic, productive or unproductive, etc.) and write a sentence about it (today was calm because i did my morning routine and that helped me stay in the present moment)

4. what am i grateful for today?

5. emotions i felt today include...

6. what did i do today to make myself proud?

7. what did i learn about myself today?

8. what is something I accomplished today, big or small, and how did it make me feel?

9. something that bothered me today was...

10. how did I handle any stress or anxiety that came up today?

11. have i done anything to make someone else happy today?

12. write one thing that made me feel loved today.

13. what do i want to take from today into tomorrow?

14. what's my word for tomorrow?

15. what would i like tomorrow to bring me?

16. if i could change one thing about my behavior today, what would it be?

17. what is a meaningful conversation I had today and why did it stand out?

18. what are my top three priorities for tomorrow?

19. what's one thing I can do to improve tomorrow based on today's experiences?

20. how do i want to feel when i wake up tomorrow morning?

[arielleslipgloss]

How To Be An It Girl Like JENNIE KIM

“We ain't never let it ruin a good time. Ain't nobody gon' dim our good light. This them words we're livin' by. “ Jennie Kim

1. Stop letting hate bring you down!! Jennie’s living the dream she worked 6 years for. You think she’s gonna stop just because of hate? Well the answer’s no. So, stop caring what others say and think of you. Their opinions aren’t going to matter when you’re successful. They shouldn’t even matter now.

“Never cared what you thought then, why should I now.” - Jennie (Filter)

2. Surround yourself with positive people!! Be very careful with the people you allow to have access to you. Not everyone is mean’t to be in your life. Some people unfortunately may pretend to care for you, when they really don’t. So, be picky with your circle of people. Take the time to find positive and caring friends. As Jennie says in her song Zen, “Money cannot buy no real friends.”

3. Know that you’re one of a kind!! No one is like you. No matter how hard someone tries, they can’t be you. You’re the only you, own it. Be your absolute best and authentic self. And don’t let anyone tell you, that your someone your not.

“Special edition and your AI couldn't copy.” - Jennie (Like Jennie)

4. Don’t give up on your goals and dreams!! As I said, Jennie worked hard (as a trainee) for 6 years to be where she is now. And she still works hard to achieve her goals to this day. She is a clear example of if you work hard, it can happen. All the sweat and tears will pay off one day. So don’t stop now. This is only the beginning, keep going.

“I want to go far away, I want to shine brightly.” - Jennie (Solo)

“Target on my name, but your aim's way off.” - Jennie (with the IE)

As always, thank you dolls for reading until the end!!

Remember that your special edition and to stay pretty 💗

Xoxo, Arielleslipgloss 💋🎀

[bloomzone]

20 question to ask yourself to find your sun

inspired from heya by ive the members represent the tigers who want to eat the sun !

the myth

(the story is so long I cut it out btw)

There is an old Korean legend of a tiger, fierce and restless, who climbed mountains in pursuit of the sun . Some say he wanted to devour it, to claim its light for himself. Others say he was drawn to its warmth, its brilliance, its quiet power. But what the story truly tells us is this:the sun cannot be taken by force. It can only be reached by the one who climbs with a pure heart.In this life, we are all climbing. Each of us faces our own mountains doubt, fear, failure, the weight of the world... And within us, like the tiger, burns a hunger: to find meaning, to become something more, to reach a dream that feels impossibly far.

this story reminds us no matter how high the peak, no matter how long the journey, if your heart is sincere and your vision clear, you will reach your sun.

Inner Longing & direction:

1. What "sun" (goal, activity, feeling) do I find myself staring at longingly, day after day?

2. What pulls me forward, even when I can't fully explain why?

3. If I felt free to chase anything without fear of failure, what would it be?

4. What activities make me feel most alive and connected to something bigger than myself?

5. What inner "fire" feels like it's burning within me, waiting to be ignited?

Obstacles & perseverance:

6. What "rivers and forests" (challenges, obstacles) might I face on this journey?

7. What voices might tell me I'm foolish for pursuing this?

8. How can I stay motivated even when the "sun" seems too far away?

9. What does perseverance mean to me in this context?

10. What am I willing to sacrifice or endure to get closer to my "sun"?

Meaning & transformation:

11. What does my "sun" represent to me (e.g., enlightenment, creativity, connection, impact)?

12. What kind of person will I become if I pursue this goal with all my heart?

13. How will this journey transform me, regardless of the outcome?

14. What lessons might I learn along the way?

15. Even if I don't reach my "sun," what value will I gain from the pursuit?

Action & clarity:

16. What is one small step I can take today to start moving towards my "sun"?

17. Who can I reach out to for support or guidance on this journey?

18. What resources do I need to gather to help me on my path?

19. How can I measure my progress and stay accountable?

20. What does success look like to me, and how will I celebrate it (even the small wins)?

@bloomzone ⌨️

[agirlwithglam]

☆ it girl journalling tips ☆ part 1

TIPS TO REMAIN CONSISTENT AND GET MAXIMUM BENEFIT:

TIP 1: dont follow the “pretty journalling trends" ... unless you know that it’s gonna benefit you in some way and you’ll actually stay consistent.

You know the ones im talking about. The ones with the aesthetically pleasing habit trackers and sleep trackers and water trackers. Those ones. Before you do them, save yourself the time and energy and firstly ask yourself:

If it’s a habit tracker you want: am i looking to develop new good habits? - Is there another easier and prettier way i can do this?(maybe online) - Will i stick with this format everyday? - Am i ready to draw this whole thing out?(except if you’re printing it or its already there, then skip that)

If it’s a water tracker you want: do i need to hydrate myself more and drink more water? - Is there an easier way i can do this? Etc etc.

If it’s a sleep tracker you want: do I need to/ want to fix my sleep schedule? - Do i need to check the best way i can sleep so i have a lot of energy the next day? Etc etc.

And so on. Me personally for example, I’ve decided to start a sleep tracker to figure out a) what time is best for me to sleep, b) what time is best for me to wake up, and c) how many hours of sleep should i get so i can get more energy the next day. This is all so that i wake up feeling less tired and more energised. (Sure you can take tests/ quizzes online on this, but experimentation is the best and also the most funnest.)

TIP 2: have a good and solid WHY

if you're just doing it for the aesthetics, sure it will be fun at first but then the hype will die down and you'll get bored and just quit. thats why its important to journal about something that actually means something to you. don't force yourself to follow what someone else is doing because something that they are trying to achieve and understand about themselves may not be the same as you.

if you know that you have quite a negative mindset, then everyday make the habit of writing down 3 things that happened that you're grateful for in your day!

if you want to get to know yourself better on a deeper level, search up shadow questions and write them out to answer in your journal!

TIP 3: romanticise it!

omg there is NO better way to get the full main character, it girl feel than romanticising it!! it can feel so good and sometimes literally gives me this tingly sensation!!! here are some tips to romanticise it:

light candles

play some music

soft, ambient, cozy lighting

hot chocolate / coffee

late nights

snacks / cookies

cute stationary- pens, notebook

hoodies

getting cozy (can be in bed!)