#it is not the primary source of any significant problem

[cesium-sheep]

I'm feeling a little under the weather today probably because my uterus is up to some bullshit because they're taking so long to refill my birth control (I guess the ablation has officially failed), but I think he assumed it was cuz I miss arin.

[scarlet--wiccan]

Agatha All Along, the highly anticipated follow-up to WandaVision, begins airing this week on Disney+. Now is the perfect to revisit some important information about both shows and the context in which some of Agatha's new characters are being introduced.

WandaVision primarily followed the character Wanda Maximoff and expanded on her family history by introducing her late parents as well her twin sons, who are born from magic and age rapidly over the course of the series.

In the Marvel comics source material, Wanda is part of a large, multigenerational family of Jewish and Romani characters whose stories frequently reflect the systemic violence and oppression that both communities face-- including Romani Holocaust victims, who are critically underrepresented in both education and media. In the MCU, these identities and histories are completely erased, and the characters are all played by white actors. Alternate versions of these characters also appear in the Fox X-Men films, and are similarly whitewashed.

The Romani people are a racialized minority that originated as a South Asian diaspora, and who face severe systemic oppression in Europe and North America. The modern Romani population is quite diverse, but they are not of white ethnic origin, and despite the fact that Wanda and her family have historically been drawn with white features, they are minority characters and ought to be considered as such.

Depictions of witches and witchcraft are often entwined with antisemitism and anti-Romani racism. In pop culture, witches and fortunetellers are typically portrayed as visual stereotypes of Romani women. In the real world, fortunetelling is a profession born from survival work, one which Romani families are often heavily policed and racially profiled for practicing. While Wanda usually subverts these tropes, they are often played straight elsewhere in the superhero genre, and any story about witches, especially one featuring Romani characters, needs to be critiqued in this context.

Agatha All Along introduces viewers to a new cast of characters, including Lilia Calderu, played by Patti LuPone, and the enigmatic "Teen", played by Joe Locke, who is heavily speculated to be an incarnation of Wanda's son, Billy.

In the comics, Lilia is a member of a prominent Romani family in Wanda's community. Often lauded as the "witch queen of the gypsies," Lilia embodies many racial stereotypes about Romani women. In Agatha All Along, Lilia is depicted as an older Sicilian woman, however, being portrayed as a batty fortuneteller with a tawdry psychic shop, she still embodies an offensive trope. Although Lilia is far from "good" representation, this is not an improvement-- if anything, it's even more exploitative.

Billy was raised in a Jewish American household and places a very strong emphasis on his Jewish identity, in addition to having Romani heritage. His identity as a young gay man is always presented in conjunction with this heritage, not in spite of it. Though there is a significance to Locke being a gay actor playing a gay character, his casting-- if he is indeed playing Billy-- is not authentic. White gay representation should not supersede racial inclusivity, and it is not an excuse for whitewashing or Jewish erasure.

Marvel Studios recently announced that the character Doctor Doom will be played by Robert Downey Jr., who is returning to the franchise after many years in the role of Iron Man. In the source material, Doom is also a Romani character with a very similar background to Wanda's. This identity is central to Doom's character-- although he is written to be both morally and politically challenging, the liberation of his people has always been a primary motive.

Clearly, this type of whitewashing is an ongoing pattern in the MCU franchise. Although "Teen's" identity is still unconfirmed and Lilia may, ultimately, be of little consequence, they are part of a larger problem, and Agatha All Along needs to critiqued in that context.

[lonelyroommp3]

like sorry to be A Cunt but you can almost always tell when a singular f/f fic, or even more egregiously a popular f/f ship within a given fandom, exists primarily or even solely because of dutyfic/eat your vegetables reasons. it will be extremely obvious because of one or more of the following issues

often, it will be (subtype 1) two girls/women who scarcely or never interact, and have just been thrown together because they are The Two Most Prominent Women in a given work

sometimes it will be (subtype 2) two women who interact and may even have a compelling dynamic in canon. if you are unfamiliar with the source material you will be completely unable to tell whether a given f/f ship is subtype 1 or subtype 2 because either way they will almost invariably be written with absolutely no in universe justification for why they are together besides the looming doylist shadow of "well, they're lesbians!"

their personalities will be sanded down to the point of unrecognisability beyond vague archetypes such as "girlboss" or "soft girl" or "girl who is mean because she is in love"; any conflict faced within the story will be no more significant or high stakes than what you might find in a middling hallmark christmas movie

they usually exist as B ships in an m/m fic, with the primary purpose of acting as cute perfectly functional foils to the men who are allowed to have real conflict and problems. they will frequently be called upon in this capacity to give the men advice

when an f/f ship does get to be the primary dynamic, or even satisfy the otp: true filter on ao3, you are struck with the unshakeable impression that they would much rather be in the background of an m/m fic helping two guys get their shit together, sort of like watching a semiaquatic mammal try to gracelessly make its way across dry land

Q: but shouldn't we show this kind of bad writing more grace? after all, somebody might start out writing terrible bland eat your vegetables f/f but come to actually care about women in the process and end up writing better and less covertly misogynistic fanfiction. this is such a nice and charitable thought but i fear that this quite simply does not happen anywhere near as much as we might hope because the dutyfic f/f ship process inspires absolutely zero introspection on the part of its authors and readers

Q: most m/m fic is also based on bland archetypes that show no resemblance to canon, why aren't you complaining about that? first of all i love complaining about bad flanderised m/m fic too. secondly, people do not typically view writing or engaging with bad m/m fic as proof of your inherent moral virtue, unless it is being set up in a ship war against what many regard as fandom's ultimate evil, the het ship. but that is a conundrum for another post

Q: what happened to the "do it bad" philosophy? why can't we just let people write terrible fanfictions? well once again my issue is not people writing terrible fanfictions, it is that writing this specific type of terrible fanfiction is viewed as a moral duty, and any suggestion that you don't particularly care for a badly done f/f ship even for perfectly valid reasons is deemed tantamount to proclaiming that you are a raging misogynist, which leaves fandom trapped in a vicious cycle where we will never move past bland poorly written f/f ships because just writing an f/f ship, however terribly, however much actual misogyny and inability to view women as three dimensional beings capable of conflict and nastiness and horniness and whatever else may be baked into the fanon for a given ship, is viewed as the most progressive thing you can do in fandom

[the-virgoperspective]

Part 1

The Sun in the composite chart is one half of the most important luminaries and one of the most vital sources of energy in a relationship. The Composite Sun can tell you about the motivation of the relationship, what it’s purpose is, and what issues may revolve around it. It shows what energies are contributed in the relationship. Looking at aspects to the Composite Sun can give you a clearer picture of whether there will be challenges or harmony at the core of the bond.

I will be using the writings of Robert Hand from his novel “Planets in Composite: Analyzing Human Relations” to describe the meaning and significance of The Sun in each composite house. Please always keep in mind that this is only one vital step to reading an entire composite chart and should not be seriously considered without viewing everything as a whole. This is just one piece. Enjoy!

1H Composite Sun

Composite Sun in the first house often signifies a relationship that is unusually important in terms of your own lives. The first house signifies an entity’s personality and the way a person or a relationship impresses others.

The two of you complement each other in such a way that as a pair you may make a stronger impression on those around you than you would as individuals. Even if neither of you is an especially strong or dominant personality, you will be strong as a couple. Together you may be able to accomplish more in life than you could have separately.

The first house is a very strong and favorable position for the composite Sun. It is usually an indication that you will be able to accomplish whatever you have done together.

The two of you may worry too much about how you appear to others. This can lead you to neglect the real problems that are not visible to others, for you consider such problems to be less important. They may be more important than you think.

If as individuals you are intrinsically forceful people, the energy of this position may make you come on too strong with others, which could provoke active opposition to anything you want to do as a couple. If this is the case, be careful to control your energies toward others.

For an intimate relationship such as a love affair or marriage, this is an intrinsically excellent position. It is characteristic of the first-house Sun that the two of you will become very much a unit, which can bind you together closely. Assuming that in the aspects of this horoscope there are some good indications of love between you, this is likely to be a meaningful relationship.

2H Composite Sun

The Sun in the second house of the composite chart is the best possible position for any business or professional relationship whose primary aim is to make money or to gather material possessions. For a personal relationship this position is neither good nor bad. However, it does mean that the relationship focuses rather heavily on material advantage, possibly at the expense of psychological, emotional, and other intangible factors.

The Sun in this house gives you a strong drive to seek whatever it is that you collectively value. Usually these are material things, although in some cases they may be philosophical or spiritual values. The point is that you will go after whatever you want, and you are likely to succeed simply because you put so much energy into the effort.

In a personal relationship such as marriage, in which you own things together, these things will be very important to the security of the relationship. Even if you would not normally acquire property together, you may do so with this placement. Friends with this position in the composite chart may go into business together or become involved in a common living situation in which possessions such as furniture and appliances are owned jointly. However, although a second-house Sun may suggest that you will live together, this is usually more characteristic of a fourth-house Sun.

One danger of this placement is that there may be a conflict of values between you. If this is so, it will be a serious problem, because your relationship is based so much on values. It will not be easy for the two of you to compromise on such issues, so it would be best to decide whether your values are compatible before you embark on any kind of joint venture. Unfortunately, the second-house Sun does not necessarily indicate compatible values; it only indicates that values as such are an important issue in the relationship.

3H Composite Sun

The Sun in the third house of the composite chart favors relationships in which communication and exchange of ideas and opinions are important. In business and professional relationships, this position favors associations in commerce and in the communications field.

For a personal relationship this position has great strengths as well as great weaknesses. The strengths are as follows. You will have a strong ability to communicate, for you share many of the same ideas and opinions, and you will be able to speak openly with each other. There will be few barriers to mutual understanding, except perhaps at the emotional level. You will enjoy having good conversations with each other.

The greatest weakness of this position is that even a personal relationship will function primarily on an intellectual or mental level. It is not likely to be a very profound emotional tie. Clearly, then, the Sun in the third house is a much better position for friendship than for a love affair. You will relate to each other by talking rather than by feelings, as a love relationship requires. When an emotional situation arises, there is the danger that you will intellectualize it or try to figure it out instead of just living through it and learning from the experience. The knowledge gained by this kind of experience cannot be replaced by logical analysis. But this is a lesson that the two of you may have some difficulty in learning, because the third-house Sun inclines you to logical analysis.

There is nothing wrong with an intellectual relationship, but there are times when it is inappropriate. Fortunately, your strong commitment to communication will aid you in approaching the problems you may have to face together. Just be sure that you don’t stop at the purely mental level. You should enjoy an unusually good mental rapport and be more able to talk to each other than many couples can.

4H Composite Sun

Composite Sun in the fourth house favors a strong emotional involvement. In a personal relationship, you and your partner are likely to seek out everything that you have in common-past experiences, shared tastes, standards of right and wrong, and particularly, shared ideas about home and domestic life.

The fourth is the house of your most personal and intimate life, your home, your past and origins in general, as well as your inner feelings and emotions. The Sun in this house of your composite chart will make you focus particularly upon these factors in your life together. Thus, this position favors a relationship in which you settle down together and share each other’s personal lives as intimately as possible.

This is one of the best positions for marriage. It will not necessarily bring about marriage, but should it happen, your domestic life will be very important to you both. You will work very hard to create a stable home life and a personal world to which you can retire from the pressures of everyday existence.

Because this is an angular house, the position makes for a very strong relationship. This position indicates a concern for owning a home or real estate together, which may manifest itself as a desire to own land. If you live together you will not be satisfied with a small city apartment but will want plenty of room and, if possible, land.

On the psychological level, you are likely to experience profound emotions together and become deeply involved in each other’s innermost mental and emotional depths. This is not likely to be a superficial relationship. But try not to become so wrapped up in each other’s psyches that you lose all perspective and the ability to see things clearly. The fourth is a subjective house, and the composite Sun there reinforces all subjective tendencies in the relationship.

5H Composite Sun

The Sun in the fifth house of the composite chart is one of the best positions for a sexual relationship, because the fifth is the house of love affairs, among other things. It is also the house of creativity, children, self-expression, amusement, and good times in general, as well as of speculation and gambling. The Sun in the fifth house gives a strong emphasis to any of these elements.

In a personal relationship, a composite fifth-house Sun implies that your relationship will give you good opportunities for self-expression, for being yourself and enjoying it. You will like each other and enjoy being together. This is not truly a position of partnership, but rather of being yourself with others. For this reason, although this position is good for love affairs, it is not so good for marriage or any partnership that requires a greater feeling of oneness between you. The Sun in this house is not harmful to marriage and partnership, but by itself it does not produce staying power for the long haul. But if other positions make up for this lack, it can be quite good for marriage, especially since it gives a strong concern for children.

This is a good position for friendship because it indicates a light-hearted relationship in which you genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Also, you will learn to be yourselves with others and discover more about how you affect others.

In a relationship with this placement, you must give each other room to be what you are. Fortunately a fifth-house Sun relationship usually has this capacity. If you do not give each other sufficient room, you both may feel that the other is placing clamps on your self-expression. Neither of you can remake the other, so do not try. In any case you must learn to let each other be and still stay together.

6H Composite Sun

The sixth house is one of the more difficult positions for a composite Sun, because it is inherently a house of inequality. In most relationships there must be some balance between taking and giving. Even if each person does not contribute exactly the same thing, each one must contribute in equal measure, if the association is to work. But in a relationship with a sixth house Sun, one partner gives and the other takes. It is the house of your service to others and of other’s service to you.

The great danger of this position is that one of you is likely to feel taken advantage of by the other. In fact, it is quite likely that each one is somehow using the other and is in turn being used, which both of you will ultimately resent. You will find yourself asking the question, “What am I getting out of this relationship?” When a question like that comes up, there are serious problems.

A sixth-house relationship is one in which normal ego drives seem to be particularly disruptive. Perhaps the best way to deal with the problem may be going by into such a relationship in a spirit of service and help for your partner, with as little thought for yourself as possible. But recognize that to really do this is extremely difficult, and you will probably be deluding yourself if you try. Maybe you’re just looking for warm pats on the back for your “selfless” endeavor, but even that much recognition may not be forthcoming. Remember that each of you may be doing the same thing in this relationship.

Another way of dealing with this position would be to have a common task or goal that you can work toward together. Even in this instance, accomplishing your objective should be the only reward you seek. Other rewards may come, but you must not consciously seek them, or you will endanger the relationship.

Find part 2 here!

𓂀 ombré divider + support banner by @roseschoices 𓂀

[whereserpentswalk]

It's a debate amoung many scholars if humans ever got a chance to explore their moon.

Since it's been hundreds since any sovereign humans state has existed, and almost all humans were expelled from the sol system only a few generations after the conquest of earth, outside scholars didn't have as much of a chance to see humans in their native environment as they wanted to. So for those who are studying the sol system after its resettled (useally referred to as auxus by the new settlers) they have mostly archeology to go on.

Now, some have tried to consult the humans for their own cultural memories of such things. And though the human diaspora is very large, serving the role of "middle man minority" in a lot of planets, and taking especially well to spaceships, that doesn't mean anthropology should trust their history as they tell them. Because of how primitive humans were at the time of the conquest, their history as they wrote it is thought of as more of a mythology then a history, important for analyzing the character of humanity, but not an objective account. And unless archeological research backs something up, human primary sources are assumed to be myth.

Now. There is archeological proof that someone was building spacecraft in the sol/auxus system around the time of conquest. We've seen examples of the human homeworld Nexcur (called earth in the human's language) having strange and unknowable machines orbiting it as artificial satellites. And Nexcur's moon has objects such as a flag planted on it, and the closest planet to it has some small unmanned vehicles. It's unknown who made these and why, and has been a mystery since its discovered. Some people think the nearby gaetgians or trinurians built them, others think that the iiriu built them long before the humans evolved. There's even some theories that the yethyy empire built them in preparation for the conquest of earth. There's even more crackpot theories about divine beings or ancient interdimensional entities making them on some corners of the internet.

Of course. The humans almost all claim their ansestors made them, pointing to their own myths. Scholars are just starting to take it seriously, though many remain rather skeptical. The humans were known to be a primitive and warlike species on their homeworld, with no ftl capabilities, the idea of them sending anything to space is laughable to a lot of academics. And it very much differs from the image of humanity that most people have when the think about that time period. Humans have a reputation for taking their mythology a bit too seriously, such as claiming heritage from mythical kingdoms such a King Arthur's Britain, the Odyssey's Greece, or Journey to the West's China.

There is also the obvious problem with any archeological research around what is now auxus which is its religious significance to cultures such as the yethyy and aeretiel. While we try not to offend their religious ideas, and treat them with respect, it is often a problem when their religious ideals of an ancient significance in auxus clashes with the archeological reality that before 1458 SD there is no evidence of non human civilization. For example the mummified body that many yethyy claim to be their prophet kkayykar (despite not even possessing the right amount of eyes or arms to be a yethyy) was recently identified as the mummy of the human king Lenin. However, it's still in a yethyy temple, and still in the power armor the yethyy added to it (partially to make him look more like their own race), as archeologists don't want to offend yethyy heritage.

Still, as no religion has fully claimed the ancient evidence for human era space travel as their own, now is the perfect time for archeologists to learn more about them. More and more of human mythology is being proven plausible, especially as the human mythological creatures known as "dinosaurs" have finally been proven to have some basis in paleontological reality in recently. Science still waits to find out more about auxus's fascinating history and prehistory.

[qweerhet]

I think it’s because people have often used ‘TERFs hate men’ as a way to implicate trans women as men or argue that TERFs focus primarily on men and not trans women, so people are sort of trying not to do that, plus the fact that TERFs do the most damage towards trans women. In my opinion, I do think TERFs hate men but trans women are A. minorities and B. radical feminism often manifests by just trying to sex segregate as much as possible, so the people they don’t like way over ‘there’ are much less likely to be direct targets of vitriol and violence than the people messing up their dichotomy and trying to come over ‘here’

i agree with your basic analysis, but i stop short of the conclusion that radical feminism's targeting of trans women isn't fundamentally rooted in the way it analyzes men and manhood. many transfems are not men (some are, important to note when making broad generalizations about gender and feminism); radical feminism targeting transfems is targeting women (among tons and tons of other genders, transfem men included), however, the political ideology itself is premised on the idea that the groups it is targeting are solely made up of men, and it is positing an entire framework for how gender operates as an axis of oppression that casts these demographics as male.

like it is factually true that radical feminism's Transgender Problem flows directly from the fact that it perceives gender as the radix of oppression within a binary sex modality. it is patently garbage analysis because sex is not binary and gender is, in terms of societal forces, an abstract set of social conditions enforcing the constructed sex binary (rather than any material or ontological trait of individuals). radical feminism perceives trans women as dangerous, predatory, and a threat to cis women precisely because it perceives sex as a binary that is fundamentally immutable and unchanging. it wholly perceives anyone with an arbitrary number of primary and secondary sex characteristics as a man, on a level where "man" is a biological category that bodies themselves slot into. it's based on an understanding of patriarchy as a structure controlling the means of reproduction, and gender as solely a weapon with with which to maintain control over the means of reproduction (a lot of it is really just failed attempts at transplanting, unchanged, marxist analysis onto the concept of childbearing and its relationship to patriarchy).

i think it's important to keep your analysis grounded in this fact because, well--yes, radical feminism explicitly targets transfems and is a massive source of violence toward transfems in particular and trans people overall, but laser-focusing in on only how it interfaces with transness--particularly to the degree of arguing that it only targets trans women, and doesn't have anything in particular to say about men, because it does not categorize transfems as men within its ideology but rather as super-abusable women that are only misgendered for the purpose of manipulation and extortion--that throws out an entire section of analysis that's. genuinely important to how it affects the material world. like, radical feminism's framing of men and manhood directs a significant amount of violence toward intersex people, for example, and casting sex as an immutable binary category is the entire basis for that violence. if it didn't analyze sex as an immutable binary in which men are cast as owners of the means of reproduction by virtue of their unchanging sex characteristics, that would not have the same interaction with intersexism. you can't accurately analyze the political movement's fundamental intersexism without first understanding this.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Grist:

A row of executives from grain-processing behemoth Archer Daniels Midland watched as Verlyn Rosenberger, 88, took the podium at a Decatur City Council meeting last week. It was the first meeting since she and the rest of her central Illinois community learned of a second leak at ADM’s carbon dioxide sequestration well beneath Lake Decatur, their primary source of drinking water. 

“Just because CO2 sequestration can be done doesn’t mean it should be done,” the retired elementary school teacher told the city council. “Pipes eventually leak.” 

ADM’s facility in central Illinois was the first permitted commercial carbon sequestration operation in the country, and it’s on the forefront of a booming, multibillion-dollar carbon capture and storage, or CCS, industry that promises to permanently sequester planet-warming carbon dioxide deep underground. 

The emerging technology has become a cornerstone of government strategies to slash fossil fuel emissions and meet climate goals. Meanwhile, the Biden administration’s signature climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act, has supercharged industry subsidies and tax credits and set off a CCS gold rush. 

There are now only four carbon sequestration wells operating in the United States — two each in Illinois and Indiana — but many more are on the way. Three proposed pipelines and 22 wells are up for review by state and federal regulators in Illinois, where the geography makes the landscape especially well suited for CCS. Nationwide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing 150 different applications. 

But if CCS operations leak, they can pose significant risks to water resources. That’s because pressurized CO2 stored underground can escape or propel brine trapped in the saline reservoirs typically used for permanent storage. The leaks can lead to heavy metal contamination and potentially lower pH levels, all of which can make drinking water undrinkable. This is what bothers critics of carbon capture, who worry that it’s solving one problem by creating another.

In September, the public learned of a leak at ADM’s Decatur site after it was reported by E&E News, which covers energy and environmental issues. Additional testing mandated by the EPA turned up a second leak later that month. The EPA has confirmed these leaks posed no threat to water sources. Still, they raise concern about whether more leaks are likely, whether the public has any right to know when leaks occur, and if CCS technology is really a viable climate solution.

Officials with Chicago-based ADM spoke at the Decatur City Council meeting immediately after Rosenberger. They tried to assuage her concerns. “We simply wouldn’t do this if we didn’t believe that it was safe,” said Greg Webb, ADM’s vice president of state-government relations. 

[dailyanarchistposts]

Section II: Purpose of this Book

It seems to be the trend of authors these days to publish books that are a meld of opinion, critique, enlightened ideas, and facts. If one were to isolate the facts from these books and the primary ideas, the books would lose 90% of their volume. That is one thing that I hope to avoid, among all, with this work. Right from the outset, I am going to tell you the purpose of this book. I believe in the theory and practice of Communism as an economic system. I believe that public interest for the welfare of all, rather than private interest for the wealthy of few, is the ultimate when it comes to creating a humane society. In our world and in our era, it seems that anything can be done with the aid of technology. And though this technology aids us in our technical productive work, it does not solve our social problems, it does not eliminate the economic qualms, nor does it sway the errors of our political system. Through this book, I am going to demonstrate the basic claims of why I believe in a Communist system, and more thoroughly defining exactly what I mean by the term Communism or Capitalism or Socialism. I will justify my claims only through reason, evidence, and logic. I only require that my reader has an open mind, and a willing heart.

A brief overview of the chapters... The first chapter will cover the use of technology in society, setting up the basis of civilization as a cooperative effort. The second chapter will describe the mechanics of a Capitalist economy. Chapters 3–4 will cover the history of Capitalism as it effected the worker in society, chapters 5–6 will cover the history of Capitalism as it effected the consumer in society, and chapters 7–8 will cover the history of Capitalism as it was the cause of poverty. I have sought out books that cover the result of Capitalism as it effected society, using direct historical sources to prove their claims. All that I could find were very vague history books. Because of this, chapters 3–8 can very well be viewed as the history of society under the economy of Capitalism. Chapter 9 will deal with the theory of Communism, and how it would satisfy the desires of society much more efficiently and justly. Chapter 10 deals with the economic result of Communism, as it would occur in practice based on current available information. Finally, chapter 11 will deal with arguments against the theory. With all the bases covered on the case I am making for Communism, chapter 12 will act as an ending note to readers. It is true that chapters 3–8 are almost purely history, while other chapters heavily rely on historical references. This book may seem more like a history lesson in industrial and post-industrial society than a case for Communism or any economic system. While it is true that history plays a significant role in this text, it is primarily because history is the only form of proof that an economist or sociologist can bring up to make his case. Without it, my arguments would be nearly null and void.

If any of these terms are confusing or otherwise seem to be vague, I assure my reader that there is no need to worry about this at all right now. They may seem vague, but the point of an overview is not precision. When I speak of the term Socialism here, one may ask, “Scientific Socialism or Regulatory Socialism?” When I speak of the term Communism here, one may ask, “Communism as it was practiced by Christians in the 1800’s, or Communism as it was practiced by Mao, Lenin, and Stalin?” I assure the reader that such questions will be answer with good time.

[iatrophilosophos]

Hey, do you have any info or tips on diy medicine? I've always been interested but haven't found much success

Medicine is just problem solving. IME it's important to take nothing for granted and get as granular as possible with what you're trying to achieve, because that opens more doors.

Re: that point, diy med is being a medical researcher. Very rarely is work done for you, so there's a lot of fucking around and finding out--how much risk you chose to take is up to you in experimenting; but I'm pretty gung ho and I can still count on one hand the number of times I've tried something that carried more risk than over-the-counter acetaminophen.

Read voraciously--coming from someone who can only get thru about three books a year. It's fucking hard but it is so beyond worth it to work at it, however much you can. Read until you know enough to have questions and then read to find the answer to those questions and/or figure out how to determine an answer for yourself.

Bad sources can be just as educational as good ones--western medicine has a bunch of fuckshit in it and having strong, grounded analysis of why you think an approach, treatment, whatever is bullshit will help you in finding something better.

Anecdotal evidence is useful as FUCK. Western medical practice is regulated formally and informally by legal anxiety and profit motives (ergo an unwillingness to produce anything under a certain statistical bar of effectiveness) but for a LOT of anecdotal home remedies and experimental treatments, risk factors are p minimal and if you feel comfortable trying it based on a realistic risk assessment...you can just try it, lol.

I really want to stress that diy med doesn't just have to be about trying to get a sub-par approximation of western med. Sometimes what we can do for ourselves is limited or less effective, sure--but we are also capable of doing better. There's pros and cons, right, but autonomous medicine gives the opportunity to try something that a doctor never would--sometimes because of risk, but more usually it's about legal anxiety and state restrictions. I remember hearing someone I knew who worked in drug development talk about how stupid it was that their team was having to reinvent the wheel instead of using THC in a drug; even though there exists documentation that THC has the property they were after, their program got federal funding so no marijuana.

Personally my entry point was herbalism and it's not a bad route to go. It can do a LOT, it's very accessible, and unlike a lot of medicine it's less gatekept & there's a significant population of writers creating resources specifically for laypeople with a focus on autonomy and self practice; plus rad community spaces exist and ofc like any scene they're full of bullshit (transmisogyny and gender essentialism in lefty alt health is a huge current, unfortunately), but they can be a good place to like. Network until you actually find the other ppl on the fringes of the scene who you might actually click with. An herbal background also gives you a LOT of directional freedom--lots of sources will combine western medical information on top of traditional and anecdotal practices, which cumulates in a lot of lenses you can apply to try to solve a problem; plus a lot of drugs are or can be plant-derived and having a skillset to identify/grow, harvest and process plants is really useful even if western medicine is the primary lens you want to use (tbh ur basic herbal preparations are often the first step in more exact drug isolation procedures). It's also just essential imo to have more than a western medical perspective--take time to read less immediately practical texts about medical history, other medical systems, and other conceptualizations of illness and the human body. One of my hotter takes? Miasma theory is still relevant and useful. There's a lot of fuckshit everywhere, both within and outside of western medicine--treat no source as authoritative and every claim as a thought experiment! But seriously, take the time to see what's out there. Accumulate as much raw information as possible to build your toolkit.

Some herbal resources I like for beginners (all books on LibGen.is)

Rjwhelan.co.nz -- aoteroa based medical herbalist who presents a really wide range of info from historical/traditional to western scientific. He's got some interesting (read: bad) takes but is a solid writer and information aggregator.

The herbal medicine makers handbook by James green -- good intro to herbal preparation with a range of procedures from simple folk methods to more measurement and chemistry heavy. Also got some weird opinions. That's just kinda how it be.

Wild remedies by rosalee de foret and Emily han -- cute basic introduction to herbalism

The psychopharmacology of herbal medicines by Marcello spinella -- says it right on the tin. useful reference.

The Earthwise herbal (vol 1 and vol 2) by Matthew wood -- listen. I fucking hate this man. I kind of hate these books (organized alphabetically by latin name...come the fuck on) BUT. It is still a pretty ok reference book with a similar approach to Richard Whelan's work and it has herbs that I've had trouble finding in other texts.

On working with others and sharing information: it's important to not play doctor. I strongly encourage folks to help out other people, but in an assistive capscity--not a prescriptive one. Share your sources, explain your opinions! The goal is to offer as much information as possible for someone else to make their own decisions. If you're in the US, this is a pretty good rundown of the legal positionality of herbalists (/health consultants generally) but I strongly advocate for going further than the law in this case on ideological autonomy-focused grounds.

Finally: medicine is not a solitary undertaking. Having a group of friends or even just acquaintances with different needs, priorities and viewpoints will get you much further in a few months than you could on your own in years. And it's slow going at first. It really is. You'll fuck up, you'll go around believing something for years to suddenly realize it's bullshit, you will grow and change. But you'll get there.

[murdcrofcrows]

behind my eyelids are islands of violence my mind's shipwrecked, this is the only land my mind could find, i did not know it was such a violent island full of tidal waves, suicidal crazed lions. they're trying to eat me, blood running down their chin and I know that i can fight or i can let the lion win i begin to assemble what weapons i can find 'cause sometimes to stay alive you gotta kill your mind. am i the only one i know? waging my wars behind my face and above my throat shadows will scream that I'm alone but I know we've made it this far, kid

inspo ・ visuals ・ threads・ wcs ・ playlist ・ pinterest 

( general stats. )

— name : finnegan patrick o’brien — nickname(s) : finn, fifi or finny if you want to die, boss — date of birth :  august 10th ( 40 years old ) — occupation : boss ( shamrocks ) ・ owner ( hell's gate ) — nationality : east atlantean — ethnicity : irish—white — religion : an atheist until he realized he's god — residence : burnington  — gender : cis man ( he / him ) — orientation : bisexual— ( kinsey scale 4 ) ・ homoromantic — status : single and sleeping around

( physical & mental characteristics. )

— voiceclaim / accent : boyd holbrook + irish mixed with east coast  — height :  6’2” / 188 cm — body type : broad, muscular — hair colour : sandy blonde — eye colour : luminescent blue — dominant hand : right — tattoos : too many to list, see pinterest for inspo — piercings : right ear — physical health : average, he hasn’t gone to the doctor in a long time, he certainly doesn’t treat his body well, drinks too much and smokes even more, he spent half his life in a very bad environment and has been participating in violent interactions since a young child. he’s honestly surprised any day he wakes up. — scars : too many to list, significant ones are the large lash marks on his back made from a belt, eyebrow slit where hair doesn’t grow unsure of source, and several cigarette burns on his arms, many of the others are weaved into his tattoos.  — style : he dons suits on occasion but also can be seen in a leather jacket, t-shirts, jeans, button up short sleeves, and sleeveless shirts, depending on the day.  — conditions : c-ptsd ( undiagnosed ) ・ night terrors

( personality stats. )

— qualities : loyal ・ hardworking ・ protective ・ strong ・ observant — flaws : aggressive ・ callous ・ ruthless ・ stubborn ・ detached — mbti : entj — moral alignment : neutral evil — temperament : choleric — enneagram : 7w8— the opportunist — zodiac :  leo sun ・ capricorn  moon ・ scorpio rising

( background check. )

— birthplace : side of the road in eastern atlantic  — intelligence : average— high in street smarts / hustling, but didn’t go to any schooling past elementary level — education : primary school education  — skills : fighting ・ exceptional aim ・ manipulation ・ leadership ・ explosives  — likes : irish whiskey ・ alcohol ・ smoking ・ casual sex ・ nice cars ・ violence ・ when people do stuff for him ・ good food ・ success ・ pain ・ honesty — dislikes :  long conversations about nothing ・ committed relationships ・ fruity drinks ・ reading ・ dogs ・ cats ・ most animals / pets ・ most hard drugs ・ doctors ・ hospitals ・ being touched ・ fathers ・ being lied to  — languages : english, some irish

( facts. )

he can find you pretty much whatever you need with his large network of ties across the world. network contacts were both made by him and previous leadership, or other ranks.

most of his business is done by him coming to you ( if a lower rank doesn’t do it ) or at hell’s gate, though he does have a place in lost angeles for business needing to be done there. 

under finn’s leadership he made sure to secure the spot on the board of directors for afterglow even though they’ve worked with them long before finn was alive, they’d never had an on paper voting stake in the megacorporation. however an associate sits in it to limit connection visibility to the public. 

has a drinking problem but since he is functional with it 9/10 he doesn’t see it as a problem. he’s also a stubborn asshole, that always thinks he’s right ( even when he knows he’s not )

[persephoneism]

There's this one person, who really grinds my gears. They are very anti- Leto and Rhea (?!)

And their posts are so uninformed with no lack of proper understanding. The worst part is they try to sound smart and give niche sources but ignore the context of them if they go against their argument.

Fore example, they say Demeters relationship with Zeus happened before his marriage to Hera (They cite the theogony) so therefore it wasn't an affair. But they actively dismissed the Theogony as a reliable source when it comes to Leto's relationship with Zeus becauseit goes against the canon. They also call her a rape victim when... baby that's Orphism which if you actually paid fucking attention to the text you'd realize it also "goes against the canon". More on that in a bit.

They argue that Hera can't fight back or directly retaliate against Zeus because he is the king and therefore more powerful than him, but then they bash Rhea for not doing anything punish Zeus (like girl what is she supposed to do, if Hera can't do anything what makes you think that Rhea can) and by that logic why did literally any other god not do anything like Hestia and Demeter? On top of that, they criticize Rhea for not preventing Zeus’s assault on Demeter and Persephone... but in the source, they outright say that Demeter is Rhea, and she did try to prevent Persephones assault like wtf?! They don't read the shit that they're citing. Rhea helping Zeus' children isn't her supporting him or his mistresses. It's literally her protecting the children. Harming children and pregnant women isn't girlboss behavior.

They also go on a whole tangent that Hera is so much better than Leto because she has a throne on Olympus, her husband's support, and her cult is way older and independent from her children. They go into actual history when it comes to defending Hera but ignore Leto's, who was seemingly an anatolian mother goddess and a recognized consort of Zeus. In the Theogony and the illiad, she is called the wife of Zeus alongside Hera. In the hymn to Apollo, she literally has a seat besides Zeus. She isn't just a side piece.

I have no problem with people critiquing the gods, but I find it intellectually insulting to see someone misuse primary sources to defend an unnecessary argument.

Ahh, pretty sure I know who you're talking about. Their posts popped up in tags I track so I just #blocked them. Not before reading their uninformed takes, unfortunately.

In the end, the big issue here (aside from the ever persistent "THIS god is good and THAT god is bad" pattern) is that people treat the gods as characters. They expect them to be consistent in their behavior and actions, and then complain when they don't act as they think they should. I've talked about this before, but the characterizations of the gods in ancient texts tend to be kind of vague, or they all more or less share the same traits.

Another point I cannot stress enough is that events unfold the way they do in myths for a reason. They can't happen any other way because they are events of pretty much cosmic significance. The birth of a major god like Apollo, essentially the original hero and monster slayer, cannot be an ordinary, unremarkable happening. And if you think about it, most important second generation Olympians have very curious tales surrounding their births.

And although there is a general accepted mythological "canon," there are variations depending on the time and place, yet still some key occurances remain unchanged (Hephaestus' fall from Olympus, Persephone's marriage, Leto's difficult labor etc.)

So, sure, you can write Hera accusing Rhea of not supporting her while Zeus sleeps around with other women in your retelling, but your retelling is not a corpus of stories (or even pre-historical "events") meant to explain how the world and the divinities that rule over it came to be.

[clevermusiccreation]

The Importance of Regular Water Line Inspections

Introduction

Water is an essential resource for every household and business. From cooking and sanitation to maintaining the overall health of your plumbing system, having a reliable water line is crucial. However, many people overlook the significance of regular inspections. This article delves into The Importance of Regular Water Line Inspections, detailing why they are vital for maintaining the integrity of your plumbing system, preventing costly repairs, and ensuring safe drinking water.

What Are Water Lines?

Water lines are pipes that transport water from a municipal supply or a private well to homes and businesses. They play an integral role in providing clean and potable water necessary for daily activities.

Types of Water Lines Main Water Line: The primary pipe that brings water from the municipal source. Service Lines: Smaller pipes branching off the main line to individual fixtures. Drainage Pipes: Responsible for carrying wastewater away from your property. Why Regular Inspections Matter

Regular inspections can identify potential issues before they escalate into significant problems. Here’s why you should prioritize them:

Prevent Costly Repairs

Addressing small leaks or blockages promptly can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repair costs down the line.

Ensure Safe Drinking Water

Undetected leaks can lead to contamination, affecting your family’s health. Regular inspections help maintain water quality and safety.

Enhance Efficiency

A well-maintained plumbing system operates more efficiently, reducing utility bills and conserving resources.

Signs You Need a Water Line Inspection

Recognizing warning signs early can make all the difference.

Unexplained Water Bills

If your monthly water bill spikes unexpectedly without any changes in usage, it could indicate a leak in your water line.

Low Water Pressure

Experiencing low water pressure may signal blockages caused by sediment buildup or leaks in your plumbing system.

Wet Spots in Your Yard

Puddles or wet patches in your yard might suggest a leak somewhere https://medium.com/@swaldeiuum/trenchless-sewer-line-repair-the-future-of-plumbing-6d3705c60836?source=your_stories_page-------------------------------------------- in your underground piping system.

The Process of Water Line Inspections

Understanding what happens during an inspection can prepare you for scheduling one with a professional plumber.

Initial Consultation with a Plumber

First, you'll consult with a licensed plumber who will discuss any concerns and assess visible components of your plumbing system.

Visual Inspection

The plumber will conduct a thorough visual examination of exposed pipes, looking for signs of corrosion or wear.

Advanced Techniques: Sewer Video Inspection & Hydro Jetting

For underground systems, techniques like sewer video inspection can provide valuable insights into hidden issues. Hydro jetting may be employed to clear stubborn blockages effectively.

Common Issues Found During Inspections

Being aware o

[tiimagazine]

Lessons from Failed Startup 

Starting a business is an exciting venture, but it also comes with its fair share of risks. Despite the countless success stories, the startup world is filled with many who didn’t make it. Learning from these failures can be invaluable for aspiring entrepreneurs. In this blog, we’ll explore the top reasons why startups fail, share examples of failed startups in India, and provide essential lessons to help others avoid similar pitfalls.

Top Reasons Why Startups Fail

Every year, thousands of startups shut down, and the reasons for their failures are often surprisingly common. Here are some of the primary reasons why startups fail:

1. Lack of Market Demand: A significant number of startups fail because they create a product or service that doesn’t meet market needs. Without sufficient demand, even the most innovative ideas can struggle to gain traction.

2. Poor Business Model: Some startups lack a clear or sustainable business model. Without a solid plan for generating revenue and managing expenses, financial problems quickly arise.

3. Insufficient Funding: Startups often require continuous funding to develop and scale their products. A lack of capital can halt growth, making it impossible to stay competitive.

4. Inadequate Team: A strong, cohesive team is essential for any startup’s success. When startups lack the right talent, face internal conflicts, or experience high turnover, they often struggle to execute their vision.

5. Unsuccessful Marketing: Without effective marketing strategies, even the best products may go unnoticed. Many startups fail to reach their target audience or don’t communicate their value effectively, resulting in limited growth.

Failed Startups in India

India has witnessed both successful and unsuccessful startups. Below are some well-known startups that failed to survive in the competitive landscape:

– AskMe: Once a popular online classifieds portal, AskMe struggled with cash flow issues and eventually shut down in 2016 due to its inability to secure additional funding.

– Stayzilla: Initially a leader in the budget accommodation segment, Stayzilla closed in 2017. The company faced challenges with customer demand and a lack of financial sustainability.

– Doodhwala: This milk delivery startup failed due to operational and funding issues, unable to compete with larger players in the food delivery space.

Important Lessons from Failed Startups

Learning from others’ mistakes can provide a roadmap for success. Here are key lessons from failed startups that every entrepreneur should consider:

1. Conduct Thorough Market Research: Understanding market demand and customer needs is crucial. Make sure your product or service has a clear value proposition and a defined target audience.

2. Develop a Scalable Business Model: Ensure that your business model can grow and adapt over time. Plan for scalability from the start to avoid future complications.

3. Secure Sufficient Funding: Keep track of your cash flow and understand your financial needs. Securing funding from reliable sources and planning for contingencies can help keep your startup afloat.

4. Prioritize Team Building and Culture: A strong team and positive workplace culture are essential for long-term success. Hire team members who align with your vision and bring diverse skills to the table.

5. Adapt to Market Changes: The startup environment is highly dynamic. Be ready to pivot if necessary, whether that means adjusting your product or altering your business strategy.

Tips to Overcome Startup Failure

Experiencing setbacks or failure doesn’t mean the end of the journey. Here are a few strategies to help startups overcome challenges and avoid failure:

1. Embrace a Growth Mindset: Accepting failures as learning opportunities helps you stay resilient and motivated to improve.

2. Network and Seek Mentorship: Connecting with industry mentors and other entrepreneurs can provide valuable guidance and support through challenging times.

3. Focus on Financial Management: Proper financial planning is essential. Control expenses and invest in areas that yield the best returns.

4. Stay Customer-Centric: Continuously listen to your customers’ feedback and improve your offerings. Building a loyal customer base can sustain your business during difficult periods.

FAQs

Why do Indian startups fail?

Indian startups often fail due to reasons like a lack of product-market fit, poor financial management, competition, and inadequate funding. Additionally, many startups struggle with navigating regulatory hurdles and an evolving market landscape.

How do you overcome startup failure?

To overcome startup failure, it’s essential to learn from past mistakes, refine your business strategy, and focus on improving weak areas. Seek advice from mentors, control expenses, and remain adaptable to market changes.

How do I exit a failing startup?

Exiting a failing startup can be challenging. Start by exploring options like selling assets, merging with another company, or pivoting to a new model. Additionally, work with investors and stakeholders to find a resolution that minimizes losses.

Conclusion

While startup failure rates are high, they also provide valuable lessons for entrepreneurs who wish to build resilient businesses. By understanding why startups fail and implementing strategies to avoid common mistakes, founders can increase their chances of success. Remember, resilience and adaptability are key in the challenging yet rewarding world of entrepreneurship.

[acrepairdfweulesstx]

Why Regular HVAC Maintenance is Key to Comfortable Living in Euless, TX

Living in Euless, TX, means experiencing a climate that can range from sweltering hot summers to cool, brisk winters. In such a dynamic environment, your HVAC system plays a critical role in ensuring your home remains comfortable year-round. However, to keep your HVAC system running smoothly and efficiently, regular maintenance is essential. If you're unsure where to start, consider consulting HVAC Repair in Euless TX to ensure your system is in top shape and ready to handle the local weather extremes.

1. Enhanced Energy Efficiency

One of the primary benefits of regular HVAC maintenance is improved energy efficiency. Over time, dust, dirt, and debris can accumulate in your HVAC system, causing it to work harder to maintain the desired temperature in your home. This extra effort can lead to increased energy consumption and higher utility bills. By scheduling regular maintenance, you can ensure that your system is clean and operating at peak efficiency, saving you money in the long run.

During a maintenance check, an HVAC technician will clean and inspect critical components such as filters, coils, and ducts. These steps help prevent the buildup of contaminants that can restrict airflow and reduce efficiency. Additionally, well-maintained systems are less likely to experience breakdowns, which can be costly and inconvenient.

2. Prolonged System Lifespan

Investing in regular HVAC maintenance can significantly extend the lifespan of your system. Just like any other mechanical equipment, your HVAC system experiences wear and tear over time. Without proper maintenance, small issues can escalate into major problems that may require expensive repairs or even a complete system replacement.

Regular maintenance allows HVAC professionals to identify and address minor issues before they become severe. For example, they can detect and fix a small refrigerant leak or replace a worn-out fan belt before it leads to a system failure. By staying on top of these issues, you can maximize the lifespan of your HVAC system and avoid the expense of an early replacement.

3. Improved Indoor Air Quality

In Euless, TX, where outdoor air quality can sometimes be compromised by pollutants, allergens, and seasonal changes, maintaining good indoor air quality is essential for the health and comfort of your family. Your HVAC system plays a significant role in filtering and circulating air throughout your home, and if it’s not properly maintained, it can become a source of indoor air pollution.

During routine maintenance, HVAC technicians will inspect and replace air filters, clean ducts, and check for mold or other contaminants that can negatively impact indoor air quality. Clean filters and ducts ensure that the air circulating in your home is free from dust, pollen, and other allergens, creating a healthier living environment.

4. Consistent Comfort

An HVAC system that is not regularly maintained can struggle to keep your home at a consistent and comfortable temperature. You may notice uneven cooling or heating, with some rooms being too hot or too cold. This inconsistency can be frustrating and uncomfortable, especially during extreme weather conditions.

Regular maintenance helps ensure that your HVAC system is functioning optimally, providing even and consistent temperatures throughout your home. Technicians will calibrate your thermostat, check the refrigerant levels, and inspect the ductwork to ensure there are no leaks or blockages that could affect your system’s performance. By maintaining your system, you can enjoy a comfortable living space regardless of the weather outside.

5. Cost Savings on Repairs

While it may seem counterintuitive, spending money on regular HVAC maintenance can actually save you money in the long run. Neglecting maintenance often leads to unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs. A poorly maintained system is more likely to fail when you need it most, such as during a heatwave or a cold snap, leaving you in an uncomfortable situation and with an emergency repair bill.

By scheduling regular maintenance, you can catch and address potential problems early, avoiding the need for emergency repairs. Additionally, well-maintained systems operate more efficiently, which can lead to lower energy bills and reduced overall operating costs.

6. Peace of Mind

Knowing that your HVAC system is in good working order provides peace of mind. You can rest easy knowing that your system is less likely to break down unexpectedly and that it’s running efficiently, providing your family with a comfortable and healthy living environment.

If you’re a homeowner in Euless, TX, it’s essential to consider consulting HVAC repair in Euless TX for regular maintenance and any repair needs. Professional technicians have the expertise to keep your system running smoothly, ensuring your home remains a comfortable haven year-round.

In conclusion, regular HVAC maintenance is not just a good practice; it’s a key component of maintaining a comfortable and efficient home in Euless, TX. By investing in routine upkeep, you can enhance energy efficiency, prolong your system’s lifespan, improve indoor air quality, and ensure consistent comfort, all while saving money in the long run.

[doodlebugdrawz]

Silly Game Time: Who are some of your favorite tech-oriented characters? And what do you like about them?

The technology they're good with can be very real-world based or complete fiction; it can be digital or mechanical (a hacker or a machinist), electric or nuclear or solar or petroleum or clockwork or steampunk or magic or use futuristic power sources.

They can be of any race/species from any genre of any media (books, movies, shows, games, etc.), too. What matters is that one of their primary skills, roles in the story, and traits as a character is being good with the story's available level of technology.

hmmm

subspace (red-pink one) from phighting! he makes robots called biografts and i think thats really cool. i also enjoy biograft (orange one) cuz theyre a TANK ingame i dont usually play em but whenever i practice with them they deal so much damage its crazy

rainworld iterators just in general.. (my favorites are five pebbles, no significant harassment, seven red suns, sliver of straw, and looks to the moon tho) theyre big supercomputers that were made to solve a problem but the people who made them found a solution to the problem but never told the iterators so theyre stuck trying to solve it everyday until they wither away

p.AI.nter (computer) and imaginary friend (red one) from pressure.. p.AI.nter is a silly computer guy whos forced to mine roblux for 6 days a week then gets one day off but hes too exhausted to do what he wants to (make art) and imaginary friend is well.. a not-so imaginary friend, shes activated by finding a remote control which will make her appear and she says stuff sometimes

scag (computer) and prototype (robot) from regretevator !!! i just think theyre silly and cute :) prototype grabs boxes and takes em into an elevator and they can hold different stuff like coins and scag is a shopkeeper on the floppy shoppy floor (which scag can only enter the elevator if prototype is on it cuz he holds her)

entirety of murder drones. robots. yeah. show so good i have the official plushies of the two main characters xd

i think i like technology related characters idk tho

[shamandrummer]

The Shamanic Practice of Ancestral Healing

Ancestral healing is a profound aspect of shamanic practice that has been revered in various cultures worldwide for centuries. This ancient method involves connecting with the spirits of our ancestors to address and heal emotional, psychological, and spiritual wounds that are often passed down through generations. By exploring the roots of these issues, individuals can experience significant transformation and liberation from the past. In this post, we will delve into the essence of ancestral healing, its techniques, benefits, and its relevance in contemporary life.

Understanding Ancestral Healing

Ancestral healing is based on the belief that the experiences and traumas of our ancestors can influence our present lives. These influences can manifest as recurring patterns, unexplained fears, emotional blockages, or even physical ailments. Shamans or shamanic practitioners work to identify and resolve these ancestral issues to bring about holistic healing.

In many traditions, it is believed that ancestors continue to exist in a spiritual realm and can communicate with the living. This communication is facilitated by the shamanic practitioner, who acts as an intermediary between the physical and spiritual worlds. By engaging with the ancestors, the practitioner can uncover the source of generational traumas and help release them.

Techniques of Ancestral Healing

Journeying One of the primary techniques in shamanic practice is journeying. This involves entering a trance-like state, often induced by rhythmic drumming or other repetitive sounds, to travel to the spirit world. During a journey, the practitioner may encounter ancestral spirits and gain insights into the problems affecting the individual or the family. These journeys are deeply personal and can provide powerful revelations and healing.

Rituals and Ceremonies Rituals and ceremonies play a crucial role in ancestral healing. These practices can vary widely depending on the cultural background of the practitioner and the person seeking healing. Common elements include offerings, prayers, chants, and symbolic acts designed to honor the ancestors and seek their guidance and support. These rituals create a sacred space where healing can occur.

Healing through Storytelling Storytelling is another potent tool in ancestral healing. By sharing the stories of their ancestors, individuals can gain a better understanding of their family history and the patterns that may be influencing their lives. This process helps to humanize the ancestors, making it easier to connect with them and heal any unresolved issues. Practitioners often guide individuals in this storytelling process, helping them to uncover hidden truths and insights.

Energy Work Energy work is also integral to shamanic ancestral healing. Practitioners may use techniques such as soul retrieval, where lost fragments of a person's soul are recovered and reintegrated, or extraction, where negative energies or entities are removed. These practices help to restore balance and harmony to the individual's energy field, facilitating deeper healing.

Benefits of Ancestral Healing

Ancestral healing offers numerous benefits, both on a personal and a collective level. Some of the key advantages include:

Breaking Cycles of Trauma By addressing the root causes of generational trauma, individuals can break free from destructive patterns that have been passed down through their family line. This can lead to profound personal growth and transformation, as well as healthier relationships and a more positive outlook on life.

Emotional and Psychological Healing Ancestral healing can bring about significant emotional and psychological healing. By releasing the burdens of the past, individuals often experience a sense of lightness and freedom. This can result in improved mental health, increased self-esteem, and a greater capacity for joy and fulfillment.

Spiritual Growth and Connection Connecting with one's ancestors can deepen one's spiritual practice and sense of belonging. It can provide a greater understanding of one's place in the world and a stronger connection to the spiritual realm. This connection can be a source of guidance, strength, and inspiration.

Physical Healing In some cases, ancestral healing can also lead to physical healing. Many physical ailments have emotional or psychological roots, and by addressing these underlying issues, individuals may experience relief from chronic pain or illness. This holistic approach recognizes the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit.

Relevance in Contemporary Life

In today's fast-paced and often disconnected world, the practice of ancestral healing is more relevant than ever. Many people are seeking ways to reconnect with their roots and find meaning in their lives. Ancestral healing offers a pathway to do so, providing a sense of continuity and connection with the past. Moreover, as the awareness of generational trauma and its impact on mental health grows, ancestral healing provides valuable tools for addressing these deep-seated issues. It offers a holistic approach that complements modern therapeutic practices, providing a more comprehensive understanding of healing. Integrating Ancestral Healing into Modern Practice

For those interested in exploring ancestral healing, there are several ways to integrate this practice into modern life:

Seeking a Shamanic Practitioner Working with a trained shamanic practitioner can provide valuable guidance and support in the ancestral healing process. These practitioners have the expertise to navigate the spiritual realms and facilitate healing in a safe and effective manner.

Participating in Workshops and Retreats Many organizations offer workshops and retreats focused on shamanic practices, including ancestral healing. These immersive experiences can provide a deeper understanding of the techniques and allow individuals to experience the benefits firsthand.

Personal Practice Individuals can also explore ancestral healing on their own through personal practice. This might include creating a sacred space at home, performing rituals, or engaging in meditation and journeying. Reading books and resources on shamanic practices can also provide valuable insights and guidance.

Conclusion

The shamanic practice of ancestral healing is a powerful and transformative approach to addressing the wounds of the past and fostering holistic well-being. By connecting with our ancestors, we can gain profound insights, release old traumas, and experience deep healing on multiple levels. Whether through the guidance of a shamanic practitioner or personal exploration, ancestral healing offers a path to greater understanding, connection, and liberation. In a world where many are seeking meaning and healing, this ancient practice provides timeless wisdom and a profound sense of belonging.