#the one time Andrew decided to share something and it probably ended in a lecture

[incorrect-tfc-quotes]

Aaron: Hey can I have a sip of your coffee?

Andrew: Milk and sugar.

Aaron: Thanks.

Aaron:

Aaron: Is this JUST milk and sugar?

Andrew: That's what I said.

[madswritingvoid]

Say You’re Sorry

Pairing: Max Phillips x f!reader

Words: 3k (oops haha)

Warnings: SMUT. 18+ only. Oral (f receiving), unprotected sex, p in v sex, fingering, swearing, slight choking, first time writing smut should probably be a warning itself, sexism, Max Phillips is a warning probably.

You knew it was a bad idea. Well, actually, no you didn’t. Not fully. The voice in your head was just screaming at you to stop - there were other ways to get his attention. Other ways to make Max feel bad for what he did during the Synersavers presentation that didn’t require you stooping this low. Fuck it, you figured, if he can go around and do whatever he wants to get his way then so can I.

Fixing your hair and outfit in the mirror one last time, you went back into the office looking for the desk you usually avoid like the plague. Max Phillips, fuck you.

Earlier That Day

“So you see, Mr. Jacobson, our third quarter projections have us coming in on top by two million dollars and the fourth quarter is looking even better. I mean really champ, if these numbers were anymore amazing they’d be as hot as your associate there in that fetching skirt,” Max winks at the woman taking meeting minutes for your potential new client, causing her skin to blotch, “fucking unreal. Pardon my French,” he finishes, earning a big laugh from the CEO of Synersavers, the new bullshit placebo pill that was supposed to alter the brain’s natural neural pathways to promote synergy. You weren’t sure what dreams synergy was helping pathetic humans to achieve, but it meant a bonus if they signed on so you made sure that PowerPoint presentation was the best slides of your career.

You scoff, worried that if you roll your eyes they’ll get stuck. You know Max Phillips was quite the charmer, you knew better than anyone in the office. This past year saw him go from being just your hot vampire boss you had a crush on, to your hot vampire boss that was now your boyfriend. 

While you never made an official statement to your coworkers, you quietly signed the papers Amanda in HR needed signed and let the sound of you screaming Max’s name in his office while he was balls deep inside you let the rest of your coworkers know of your relationship. Overall, Max was a great boyfriend. Better than expected even - attentive, caring, protective to a fault, all while still being that loveable (?) piece of shit frat boy extraordinaire he had been at the beginning. 

You knew he still had to lay on the charm to close sales from time to time, never actually violating your relationship in any way, but after the fight you had this morning you didn’t think flirting with the only person in the meeting who did not actually control whether or not this partnership was going to happen right in front of you was the best move.

“Mr. Phillips,” Jacobson says, once again only acknowledging Max and completely ignoring you as he had been for the entire presentation, “you got quite the silver tongue. But I like that about ya, I think you get what our product is all about and I wanna make this partnership work. I’m surprised your presentation is as good as it was, because if you’ll pardon my French, if my secretary looked as delicious as yours does I’d be too busy fucking her left, right, and centre to even think about the fourth quarter anything!” He laughs and claps Max on the shoulder and you tense up, sure that Max is going to say something. Not even because he’s your boyfriend, but because he landed the sale and doesn’t have to be as sleazy as this dickhead is. 

“See that’s where you’re wrong Jacobson, it’s almost like I’m working double to avoid her. Just doesn’t get the mojo flowing, y’know? Maybe we should switch, what do you think sweetheart?” He looks over at the still flustered secretary, “Come on and work for me and we’ll work on some new ways of making synergy happen,” he wags his eyebrows and you’re surprised this poor woman hasn’t slid right off her seat. You’re stunned. Even as Mr. Jacobson laughs and brings a laughing Max into some sort of capitalist bro hug, you can’t bring yourself to move. It isn’t until you hear the squeak of the wheels from the chair Mr. Jacobson’s secretary was sitting against the shitty meeting room carpet that you snap back to the present and shut everything down. By the time you finish everyone is long gone, leaving you to stew in your rage.

A hesitant knock on the meeting room door makes you jump as you’re met with a sheepish looking Evan in the doorway. You were never a big fan of Evan when you started, kind of thought he was a wimp but he was nice enough. After getting with Max and learning their shared history, you couldn’t stand Evan, but were able to be far more professional when needed until Max.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize anyone was still in here after Max and the Synersavers people left,” he shrugged. “What the fuck do you mean Max left with them?” You asked through clenched teeth. Scratching the back of his neck nervously, Evan took a deep breath before telling you, “yeah, um. They left for a late liquid lunch from what it sounded like, Max said you would be too busy learning how to make a paper clip bracelet to join them… Sorry, he’s such an asshole. You don’t deserve that, especially not from that bastard,” He couldn’t meet your eyes. Even though he still tried to tell you to leave Max every single day, you appreciate him being there this time.

There were many things you could be mean to Evan for, but deep down you knew he didn’t deserve the wrath of your anger this time. 

Later That Afternoon

After taking the elevator up to the office to mentally cleanse his mind from that mindless lunch with that absolute creep Jacobson, Max was trying to come up with the best apology for you. He knew he didn’t have to be so forward flirting with that secretary, what the fuck was her name anyways, in order to win the sexist CEO over. But he was feeling petty after your fight while you were getting ready for work he figured it wouldn’t hurt to remind you that many other women find him quite the catch.

“You’re lying! You have to be lying!! There’s no way that happened oh my god,” Max stops dead in his tracks as he hears your giggles from inside the office. “It is! I totally saw Tim practising the dance moves the day after that Kelly Clarkson concert in the men’s washroom. I didn’t even know she had dancers, but from what I saw it really must have been a hell of a show,” Evan says as you throw your head back and let out another over-the-top cackle. You’re sitting on top of Evan’s desk, resting your hand on his shoulder as he sits in between your open legs, clearly enjoying the attention. 

You’re hamming it up, he knows that, he knows that’s not what your real laugh sounds like - the laugh he gets to hear when he really does something that you like. He knows you don’t mean it but he’s immediately flooded with anger and guilt. He obviously didn’t realize how much the day had taken a toll on you and now you must be really mad if you’re going to Evan to get back at him.

“Oh my god Evan that’s too funny,” you giggle and place a hand on his shoulder, “you just made my day! I won’t tell Tim anything, it’ll be our little secret,” you wink. Evan’s blush deepens at the touch, maybe you weren’t so bad after all and if Max (and Amanda at this point) didn’t look out he would maybe ask you out for a drink sometime soon. Bring you back to the land of the living.

Deciding he’s absolutely had enough, Max quietly comes up behind Evan and slaps both hands on his shoulders after seeing you move yours back to your lap, causing him to freeze and let out a little squeak. “Slugger, I’m sure whatever’s going on here is just too funny, but didn’t I ask you to finish up that presentation for tomorrow’s meeting with NuevaWeight?” he pouts, “I really thought you were taking this job seriously buddy, but maybe I should just get Andrew to take over…”

“N-no Max, sorry. Yeah the presentation is almost done, it’ll be ready before the end of the day,” Evan stammers. Max finally meets your eyes and smirks, “and you can meet me in my office. Apparently you think you can stop doing your job and distracting my employees.”

You can’t even speak, your jaw set and eyes burning from the absolute rage you feel right now. Yeah you’ll meet him in his office, but it won’t be so he can lecture you about whatever bullshit he’s already thought of. “Of course Mr. Phillips, meet you there,” you manage to snap back, calmly making your way to his office. Anyone walking by you immediately gets out of your way, your anger coming off in waves making your undead coworkers shiver.

Clapping Evan on the shoulder one more time, Max saunters over to his office, ready to make you beg for his forgiveness after that little stunt. As soon as he opens his office door he realizes that won’t be happening.

You’re sitting in his chair, legs propped up on his desk in a way that makes your skirt ride up and expose more thigh than what HR might deem office appropriate. “Ah, Mr. Phillips, so nice of you to make it,” you smirk. “Sweets, I think there must be some sort of misunderstandi-'' you cut him off with a dark look and stand up. Walking up to him you close his office door and push him against it, “No champ,” you sneer, “I think you’re confused here. I’m not the one who decided to be a very, very bad boy by flirting with someone else and insulting me in front of new clients.” Chest to chest, your hand slithers up to grab Max’s throat. Even though he is a vampire who could toss you around like a ragdoll, you know he’s letting you be in control. He likes it.

“While you were out entertaining I’ve been thinking about what I could do to make you really sorry, baby. You were already on thin ice from this morning, but now you’re drowning,” you squeeze a little harder on his throat making his eyes roll back. “What are you gonna do? I’m so sorry,” he whispers. You take a moment, just looking into those eyes you love so much, before answering.

“Maybe I’ll sit on your cock. Let you fill my pussy up but not let you cum, because only good boys get to come, you know that Maxie. Maybe I’ll just use you like my own walking, talking dildo. If I’m so replaceable you won’t mind not getting to fill me up? Right?” You smirk again as he whines, his hands clenching because all he wants to do is make you feel good now. 

“You wanna run that mouth, Phillips? You wanna make everything think you’re so fucking special when I know you’re really just a scared little vamp, huh?” You say with a pout. Grabbing his hair, you force his head up so you can look right into his eyes that are now almost completely black from lust. “Come on big shot, if you wanna be a big boy then you gotta show me that mouth can do something other than just spew bullshit, slugger.” 

That’s all the permission he needs. He hoists you up in his arms and thanks to vampire speed you’re now sat on his leather couch, skirt up around your waist, underwear ripped clean off, fully exposed to his hungry eyes. “Baby, I’m so sorry,” he pouts, “let me make you feel good. I just want you-” You’ve heard enough, pushing him down so his mouth finally reaches your core. Moaning at finally tasting you, Max wastes no time taking your clit and sucking hard, already teasing your entrance with one of his long fingers. 

“Y-Yes Max, fuck! Be a good boy and make me cum just like this,” you moan and clench around the finger inside of you, knowing you’re absolutely dripping onto the couch underneath you. He adds a second, then a third, making you arch your back until you’re almost sitting up from how good he’s fucking you with his hands. His mouth doesn’t stop, sucking and licking, spelling out his apologies against your body. Knowing you’re close, he starts focusing on that spot inside of you that drives you wild. 

“Oh! Oh, Maxie yes. Such a g-good boy,” you pant, meeting his hand thrust for thrust trying to reach your high, “make me feel so good please please please baby I’m right there, I-” you can’t finish that sentence as your vision goes white and all you can do is let out a strangled moan that sounds like his name.

Once your legs start shaking you pull both of you up, undoing his belt and pushing him onto the couch so you can straddle his waist. You wrap a hand around his neck and start nipping at the area, rocking your soaked pussy along his aching cock that was now free from the confines of his dress pants a few times before sinking down on him. A wicked grin stretches across your face as his moans get louder. He chokes when he feels you gush around him, not expecting you to come again so soon but you were still sensitive from his mouth, the hair above his cock rubbing deliciously against your clit, but you wanted more still. 

Picking up the pace, you squeeze around his throat again and start taunting him, “You gonna replace me baby? Yeah? You gonna find a pussy that takes you this good? Be my guest. Go right now and find something better, or show me how goddamn sorry you are.”

Granting him permission to take over, Max flips you on your back, making sure your head is supported by one of the couch cushions. He immediately wraps your legs around his waist, angling one leg to let him sink even deep inside of you, your moans mixing together as you both revel in the feeling of him finally being inside of you. Wanting to prove himself he wastes no time pulling out just to start slamming back into you. 

You moan and clench around him, making him hiss and he doesn’t let up. Watching him disappear inside of you over and over again, he starts babbling his apologies. “N-Never baby. Could never replace you. Never gonna find a pu-pussy this fucking good. Look at you, so perfect, so so perfect taking my cock like that. I’m sorry. You’re so good. I don’t deserve it, it’s- fuck it’s so fucking good. Best pussy of all time,” he moans as you clamp down on him, your third orgasm ripping through you. 

“Yes - yes Max, that’s fucking r-right. I’m the best pussy you’ll ever have,” you moan again from being so full. You know he’s sorry so you decide to let him finish after all. Taking your hands off his shoulders, you start tangling your fingers in his hair and bring his face close to your so your lips are almost touching, “you did so good Maxie,” you coo, “you cock made me feel so fucking good I know you’re sorry now.” He shudders at your words but keeps his steady pace, trying to make you cum again, still holding back his own impending orgasm. “Thank you baby, ‘m so so sorry, I love you and I just wanna be good for you-” “shhh shhh Maxie, I know I know. You did good baby, now show me how good you are and cum inside of me.” 

That’s all he needs. 

Something between a groan and growl comes deep from within Max as he finally lets go, pushing himself as far as he can inside of you as he starts painting your walls. Coming down from his high, he nuzzles his face into the crook of your neck as you start peppering him with kisses wherever you can reach, carding your fingers through his hair.

“I’m really sorry baby,” you hear him mumble into your neck, “I love you.” He kisses along your throat and you hum, moving your head to give him more access. “I know Max, I love you too. I forgive you. But try that again and I’ll cut your dick off in front of the whole office,” you laugh.

He chuckles too, continuing to shower you with love. “As much as I want to stay right here forever baby, let’s go home and I can keep showing you how sorry I am,” he suggests, wiggling his eyebrows to earn a giggle from you, “sounds good Maxie, you’re lucky I’m just sooooo forgiving.”

Untangling from each other and making yourselves as presentable as you care to be, you leave the office hand-in-hand, ready to see what the rest of the night has in store.

[sam-not-samantha]

The Blackwoods & the Rheiders

“A train wreck dynasty of cash stacks and funny farms.”

#sltask02

 [Photos embedded, but not all characters have a faceclaim.]

The Blackwoods (Immediate)

Andrew Blackwood | Father | June 21, 1969-April 30, 2017         “Paycheck giver. Businessman. Quiet and kind, yet so apathetic.” Eliza Blackwood (née Rheider) | Mother | October 28, 1971-April 30, 2017         “Whiny bitch. Passive-aggressive. Judgmental. Tasteless. Fucking DEAD.” Samantha “Sam” Blackwood | Self | February 5, 1995         “Best fucking person you’ll ever meet.”

The Extended (And not-so-distant)

Jodi Rheider | Maternal aunt | July 1, 1975         “Anti-vaxer. Vegan. Cunt. Used to get cocktails with Kris Jenner.” Jenna Rheider | Maternal cousin | April 14, 1994         “Brainless twit. And a narc; ratted me out for doing coke only for her mom to do the rest.” Connor Rheider | Maternal cousin | November 2, 1999         “Quirky. Genius. Loves drones. Probably in charge of WikiLeaks.”

Luke Rheider | Maternal uncle | May 4, 1966         “Pretentious. Thinks old money is anything over a year. Football fan. Moron.” Charli Diamond | Maternal aunt-in-law | October 31, 1982         “Second wife. Thinks Luke’s gonna die soon, but she deserves gold. Refused the name.” Bastien Rheider | Maternal cousin | January 28, 1988         “One of the two actually cool people in this family. Sarcastic. Sick. Sweet.” Evie Rheider | Maternal first cousin, once removed | September 12, 2008         “Started sweet, is now fully demonic.”

Paul Blackwood | Paternal uncle | October 6, 1965         “Loudly republican. Loudly terrible. Horrible suits. Still calls me ‘Squirt’.” Charlotte Blackwood (née Gilfrey) | Paternal aunt-in-law | May 10, 1967        “If Ann Coulter was slightly younger and somehow slightly worse.” Kim Blackwood | Paternal cousin | August 1, 1987         “Couture PotteryBarn expert. Insufferable. Screechy. Trend-chaser.” George White | Cousin-in-law-to-be | November 7, 1980         “The manifestation of Kim’s daddy issues. Wedding date is permanently TBD.” Lisa Blackwood | Paternal cousin | April 9, 1989         “Mini-Eliza. Clothing terrorist. Should’ve been aborted.” Salvatore Stracci | Cousin-in-law-to-be | October 22, 1976        “Tall, Italian and scary. Also in a state of perpetual engagement and dissatisfaction.” Alessandro Blackwood | Paternal first cousin, once removed | May 31, 2010         “Had to hold him at a party once. He spat on me.”

Michael Blackwood | Patnernal uncle | May 1, 1967         “I legitimately don’t know if he and Paul are different people.” Natalie Blackwood (née Gainsbourg) | Paternal aunt-in-law | July 1, 1968        “Quiet, but clearly judgmental. Alopecia. Clings to Michael desperately.” Heather Blackwood | Paternal cousin | March 14, 1990         “The only sane woman. Editor at Harper’s Bazaar with Natalie. Goddess. Soul sister.”

Matthew Blackwood | Paternal uncle | Stillborn August 8, 1970

-

Dances– The Blackwoods | A Personal Essay (Written pre-parental death).

It was a dance.

It always was, no matter what. No, there was never any music. No stage. No choreography. But conversations with my mother were always an intricate samba on a tightrope.

It could begin at any moment, about anything. Simple small talk about where I went for brunch yesterday morning could turn into a bitchfest about my weight– as if being 110 was something to be ashamed of. The mere presence of an unopened, monthly bank statement could turn into a lecture about financial responsibility– as if she wasn’t surrounded by new, shiny things and maxed out AMEX cards. And, far more recently, a quick, innocent glance at the alcohol cabinet would have me sat down with some professional life coach while she watched, a vodkatini in hand.

Eliza Blackwood (born Eliza Rheider in 1971) was a bitch. An absolute bitch. A wretched, spoiled, high-strung, narcissistic, classist, borderline-anorexic, Valium-addicted, Shalimar-drenched, Kris Jenner-wannabe bitch. She was lucky she came from money, because if she wasn’t, I don’t think she’d be alive right now. I mean, I’m lucky, too, but I’m grateful for what I have.

Her parents were corporate assholes– her dad worked for Goldman Sachs, and his wife was a vapid, shrill, useless little brat not unlike her daughter. And, of course, that unloveable little bitch went and married someone who could satisfy her financial needs and not embarrass the family name– Andrew Blackwood, a New York politician from a family of Wall Street types (Some of whom also worked at Goldman Sachs, which is how the two met). On paper, they were a match made in heaven. A wealthy politician and his obnoxious jetsetter wife.

But, fortunately for me, even though I hadn’t been born quite yet, Andrew was a good, caring man. While Eliza was (and still is) ruthless, selfish and absolutely disgustingly horrible, Andrew had a heart. He cared about people. And things. Which was why he went into politics. He wanted to make a change. While his family was a bunch of wealthy Republicans, he was entirely Democratic, a fact that nearly alienated from them entirely (if only it had actually managed to keep his family out of my life) which is why I’m still in awe that he wound up with a pathetic Paris Hilton knockoff. A politician with a heart of gold wound up with a blue blood twat who measures her love in karats.

But back to her dances.

I’m not entirely sure where they come from. I mean, no matter how much you analyze someone and their family and upbringing and everything, you can’t pin point their personality traits and their behaviors. That said, I think I have a fair amount of clues as to where Eliza’s horrid personality came from.

While her relationship with her mother is mostly concealed to me, their lifestyle was no secret. Eliza always went on about how well she lived as a kid, how luxurious her house was, how high the thread count in the sheets of her crib was, and how she washed her face with caviar or something. But how she got along with her mother was never fully described. I’ve seen hints here and there– a glare across a table at a gala or whispers on the phone. But I don’t know too much. As far as I know, Eliza’s mother– Mrs. Karen Rheider– didn’t even bother to raise any of her three children. I wouldn’t have been surprised had they all been raised by a nanny while Karen went went on living as a trophy wife. But I assume that the two of them, when they did interact, got along the same way Eliza and I do– and that would make it safe to assume Eliza picked up her bitchy words, malicious intentions and passive-aggressive, condescending demeanor from her mother. The family bitchiness is hereditary.

Passive-aggressiveness is definitely a running trait in my family. I see it to an extent on my dad’s side– his brothers and him bicker endlessly, and they seem to show some slight disapproval for his opposing political stance, as if world views are trivial dinner conversation. But it pales in comparison to the Rheider family’s guilt. Aside from me, and my mother, I see it in the rest of the family.

My aunt Jodi, mother of two, is another disgusting person. Like Jenny McCarthy, she refused to vaccinate her kids because she believed it would make them autistic. Her son, Connor, has caught the flu every single year since he was six. The three (including her daughter Jenna) currently reside together at a nudist resort, where the kids were homeschooled… because they lack their immunizations. But that’s kind of besides the point– any time Jodi decides to dress up and sneak out into the world of normalcy, she misses no opportunity to make slick comments that everyone else in the family is living incorrectly. Thankfully, everyone else has mastered the art of clapback.

Eliza’s brother, Luke, and his wife, Charli (a full 16 years younger than him) are an obnoxiously pretentious couple who are all too proud of their FormDecor relationship and all too ashamed of everyone else’s. Luke has a son, Bastien, who he had with his first wife, that’s only 6 years younger than Charli. However, Bastien’s one of the few people on my mother’s side of the family that I actually enjoy. We share similar morals, and gratefulness for what we’ve been given, and spend every single family function together ripping the family apart. It’s a shame they never hear us.

Even the family elders have the same disapproving, condescending disdain for everything that my mom displays. But they’re far too silent around me to reveal anything noteworthy. The most words I’ve ever heard from my great grandmother Dorothy Cross (my mother’s mother’s mother), was scolding Jodi for her nudist colony being racially integrated, so it’s safe to say not much good was going to come from that generation. Fortunately, most of them are dead– Dorothy passed in 2011 (though her husband is still living off of a diamond-encrusted life support machine), and Eliza’s father’s parent’s are both long gone. Three out of Andrew’s four parents are deceased, his mother’s mother Clarissa Pullock (or something like that) is still alive, though I’ve never met her and probably never will– our first interaction will probably be at her funeral where I’m forced to pretend to mourn.

While Eliza’s family is dominated by a vile matriarchy, Andrew’s family has been dominated by powerful men with miniature dicks who made the Blackwood name known very much for investment banking until bank holding companies began to reign supreme, after which the family figured they would be better off in electoral politics. Andrew’s grandfather, Adam Blackwood, worked up a networth of slightly over $1 billion, and while his successors haven’t exactly been slacking, I don’t think any of them are ever going to do as well as him (but at the end of the day, if Andrew decided to have a bonfire using $100 bills as kindling, we’d recover before the fire even went out). Adam had two sons– Matthew and Bernard, and both received their jobs at Wall Street after him in a clear sign of nepotism. Bernard married a real estate agent named Elaine or Elle or something like that and had a million kids– most of which were boys. I don’t know much about them, and I don’t really care to. Matthew married some Janet something and had four kids– Paul (1965), Michael (1967), Andrew (1969), and Matthew Jr. (stillborn in 1970).

Unfortunately for this generation of men, who, unsurprisingly, continued the trend of nepotism and began work at the same place as their ancestors (save for Andrew who stayed in school, exploring his interests), none of them were able to produce any boys to continue the line. Paul was the first to reproduce– shooting out Kim and Lisa in 1987 and 1989, and as soon as the Kardashian sisters came around, they tried their hardest to be them but soon settled with just being their very close friends (and it’s safe to say I can’t stand any of them). Michael had Heather in 1990, and somehow, amidst a family of putrid, selfish monsters, she wound up a tasteful and snarky angel of hope. Like Bastien, we spend our family events together, an unholy trio of stylish black sheep.

And then finally, February 5, 1995, I came around. Eliza and Andrew had been married for about three years, and finally had me. Adam was still alive at the time and was praying for a great grandson– only to be disappointed for the fourth time. Almost as a sign of flippancy towards him, they named me Sam (well, Samantha, but I’ve grown accustomed to Sam and refuse to be called by my full first name unless I’m being charged with something). My mother made my middle name Elizabeth– because she hoped that I would follow in her footsteps. She once said naming me after her was “the biggest mistake” she ever made, which I don’t think is entirely unfair because taking after her is the last thing I ever want to do. And I’ve spent the last twenty-one years learning all of this.

People always say that blood is thicker than water, or whatever. That we’re supposed to stick with our families (over friends, or, well, anything). There’s been some mindset that family comes before all, that you honor your last name above anything and everything. I don’t believe that for one second. As if who happened to bang should determine everything about you. I despise almost all of that. And I won’t claim any of the ones that I don’t like for one second. I’ll take a tango any day. Fuck blood. And fuck the Blackwoods.

[morganapengdragon]

An English guide to fanfic 1

So I've read a lot of fic set in England lately, by writers who don't have anyone to 'brit pick' what they've written. But everyone deserves to be able to write stuff set in this hellhole of a country so if you don't have/want a brit picker but still want some general advice I'm gonna make a series of posts which might help with making your fic sound a little more natural. I'm gonna start with education because that's the one I've seen people have most problems with.

This is a long post so be warned

Education

There are 3 main parts of the school system (for comprehensive schools in England, I know it's different for rich people and people in Scotland/Ireland/Wales).

Primary school:

Primary school spans ages 4-11 and the years are

Reception: ages 4-5

Year 1: ages 5-6

Year 2: ages 6-7 (some schools make a split after this point, with the younger years referred to as 'infant' school and the older years referred to as 'junior' school)

Year 3: 7-8

Year 4: 8-9

Year 5: 9-10

Year 6: 10-11

A couple of information tidbits:

A lot of schools teach sex education in year 5 and 6. They tell you what sex is and what periods are. The year is split into boys and girls. They don't really talk about gay people, trans people or contraception.

It's not very common now but some schools will do a SATS exam in year 6. The grades go from 1-5 with 5 being the highest. They mean nothing but we all used to get stressed about them anyway.

Kids can also choose to do an 11+ exam if they want to go to grammar school. I never did it so I can't help you there. Some places in the country put more emphasis on the importance of grammar school than others (looking @@@ Kent) and some places don't have any grammar school at all.

Hard hitting insults when I was a kid were things like 'nerd' and 'weird'. We don't really use 'geek' much. 'Damn' and 'hell' aren't swear words here and kids will sometimes say them.

Most primary schools have uniforms

Secondary school:

Secondary school ages are 11-16 and the years are

Year 7: 11-12

Year 8: 12-13

Year 9: 13-14

Year 10: 14-15

Year 11: 15-16

There are 4 MAIN types of secondary school (afaik)

Comprehensive schools (like the one I went to) are your standard school. You just kind of have to live close to it to get in.

Grammar schools work kind of like comps but you have to pass the 11+ exam. Not everyone takes this exam (I never did, my closest grammar school is fuck off miles away). Apparently you get a better education there or something. Idk man but they like to make fun of the local comprehensives.

Private/public school. You have to pay to go to these types of school. I don't really know the ACTUAL difference between private and public but from what I can tell, public is more expensive and fancier. I think their version of primary school is called prep school?? All of the years work differently and every time a public school kid tries to tell me something about their education its gets more confusing. Rich people.

Boarding school. This is basically a private school but you live there and it costs more money than all of my possessions put together. There are quite a few, with some of the most famous being Eton, Harrow, Winchester etc. They are usually either all boys or all girls schools (those three are all boys schools). Rich people.

More detailed infos:

Year 7-9 is referred to as 'lower school' with 10 and 11 being 'upper school'

The exams taken in year 11 are usually GCSEs. These used to be called O-levels for some reason and lots of older people will sometimes call them that by mistake.

Kids choose which GCSEs they want to do at the end of year 9, and start learning the material in year 10.

Maths, science and English are all compulsory and make up 5/6 GCSEs (one maths, two English, two or three science).

Most people do about 10 and can pick from all of the other subjects what they want to do.

We don't really have a 'locker room' culture????

It's quite common for people to go to all girls or all boys schools.

Schools here are nowhere near as big as American schools. We probably won't have high budget theaters or particularly large sports areas.

I've never heard anyone talk about 'funding'???? Just assume nothing is funded, arts and sports alike. We do lots of fundraisers for anything expensive like rugby tours or school productions.

We still have that weird culture thing where like if you're smart then you can't be popular or play sports???? Strange.

Sitting at a specific table at lunch time isn't really a thing. Actually most people brought lunch from home and then would just sit somewhere outside. A lot of the buildings would be closed during breaks.

Not many people really drive to school.

Sixth form/college

After you finish secondary school most people go into either college or sixth form (or a sixth form college). Years are

Age 16-17: sometimes called year 12, sometimes called lower sixth, sometimes called first year

Age 17-18: year 13, upper sixth, second year

Sixth form:

Some schools have an attached sixth form. A variation of the school uniform is often worn, or students will be asked to wear smart clothing or something

There are also sixth form colleges which are a bit more informal, less of a school environment. Students usually tend to wear their own clothes and call teachers by their first names. They're usually viewed as well.

The qualifications earned at the end of year 12 are called AS levels. They count partially towards your final A level grade. Students usually do 4 and drop one at the end of the year. You can do more if you want tho (I did five and died). You can do whatever subjects you want. Like. Literally nothing is compulsory. You wanna do art, music, dance and anthropology? Fuck it why not?

The highest AS grade is an A. B and C is a pass. D and E are fail marks. U stands for ungradable i.e you got so few marks that your exam isn't even worth a grade.

At the end of year 13 you do A levels. You need 3 to get into uni. Some people do 4. They always regret it.

Grades for A levels are the same as AS but they go up to an A*.

Some schools do a thing called the International baccalaureate. I don't understand what it is and frankly it scares me. I don't know how it's graded or what you need for uni. It's a mystery.

Sixth forms can be comp/grammar/Private/boarding same as secondary school.

College:

You can do a bunch of different types of qualifications. Most popular are usually B-Techs and Diplomas.

You usually only study one subject as opposed to four.

From what I gather, the point in doing a B tech is it's more practical and less theoretical and aims to help you get the skills necessary to go straight into the work force.

Unis kind of have to evaluate B-techs fairly, but they don't like them.

Nobody thinks very highly of B-Techs unfortunately bc they're considered to be less academic and easier. Idk if that's the case but there you go. People will sometimes refer to shit versions of other things as 'B-Tech'. For example, Pepsi is just B-Tech Coca Cola. Boris Johnson is a B-Tech Donald Trump.

I know nothing about the grading system for either of these qualifications im sorry.

In a sixth form college there will be people doing A levels and also people doing B techs all in the same building.

University:

I won't go too much into detail but basically you get a degree at the end of it and degrees usually take 3 years to complete. Years are first year, second year, third year etc.

Some courses are longer and some people will do a year in industry in their third year, making their overall degree time 4 years.

Tuition is currently £9,250 per year. I have never met anyone who hasn't gotten a loan for this.

Most people also apply for a maintenance loan. You get money proportional to your family income. The highest is about £8,500 per year. Idk what the lowest is. Some people choose not to take out this loan and their parents give them financial support instead.

The pay back plan for these loans is super lenient, doesn't affect your credit score and is wiped clean after 35 years. Most students think of their loan as more of a tax than a debt (tho we all still cry about it).

People don't live in dorms. We call them halls of residence (or halls for short).

Most people don't live in halls after first year, they leave and find shared housing.

Most halls aren't catered.

Most halls don't have shared rooms.

Because we study so few subjects at A level, we do have this system in the UK where you take a bunch of different unrelated subjects in your first year and then decide on your major later. Instead you apply for a programme already knowing your major. So when I applied to university I applied to the BA French and German Linguistic Studies course at a number of universities.

Different courses have different entry requirements. So it's easier to get into uni to study History than it is to study Maths.

Each 'class' is referred to as a module, and all of your modules are usually related to your main degree title.

Stereotypically STEM students think that humanities students are dumb. Humanities students think STEM students are arseholes who don't know how to read so if you wanna have that kinda jock/nerd type rivalry but in uni then humanities/STEM is quite a good one.

We call all of our lecturers by their first names. Sometimes we go to the pub with them. I watched a documentary about gay porn with one of them. It's chill.

I've never seen anyone show up to a lecture in pyjamas. People would think it's weird.

We refer to clubs as 'societies'. I love being part of the Musical Theatre Society. It's sounds so much more impressive than club.

The English version of Ivy League is Russel Group. The most prestigious Unis outside of Oxford and Cambridge tend to be: Durham, St Andrews (Scotland), Imperial, LSE and Warwick.

Slang and Groups

We don't really use the word 'jock'. In my school we called those guys the 'Rugby Lads' because they all played rugby.

We don't really use the word preppy/peppy whatever because I literally don't know anybody who is like that.

Try 'Drama kids' instead of Theater kids.

The kids who do drugs and don't come to school are called road men. Even the girls. To do road is to deal drugs but you don't really hear people say that much.

If we can't be bothered to say a teachers full title we will usually call them 'sir' or 'miss' but not really ma'am.

'Hall Pass' isn't a thing.

Our school did have prefects but fuck if I know who they were. They didn't really have any extra responsibility or power.

School uniforms are a thing in most schools. The things people did to make themselves seem cool were things like rolling their skirts up super short, wearing the rugby ties on match days, trying to get away with shoes that don't TECHNICALLY break the rules but are deffo not allowed, wearing as much make up as they could get away with, without teachers noticing. Our school was p strict on uniform tho in comparison with a lot of schools in my area.

If your accent doesn't fit the standard for your area it will affect you in some way (depending on your accent).

Homeroom is called registration

Gym is sometimes called the sports hall

People don't really go to school matches unless they're dating sb bc we don't have bleachers.

Home ecenomics was called Food Tech and Textiles in my school

Woodshop or whatever is called DT (design and technology)

People don't get as involved in extracurriculars in school (but they do at uni).

We DO have houses and we get points given to out houses like in Harry Potter but unlike Harry Potter literally nobody gives a fuck. In my school they added a whole new house and moved everyone into new houses and literally nobody noticed and nothing changed.

There is a BIG difference between comp schools and all of the other kinds in terms of culture. I didn't know this until I went to uni and started joking about the time some kid started throwing chairs in RE (religious education) or when so and so tried to set our French teacher on fire and literally all of the grammar school kids were like O.O WTF.

Slang and school culture will also vary a lot depending on where you live. I live in East London which is not a very well off area but it IS in london so my experiences would match with that.

Everything is completely different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland so like.... Sorry.

[superlepato]

With Love from Memory Lane

I want to thank @benalras for correcting my grammar so I would be able to post the chapter today. I was going to actually post it yesterday, but I wasn’t ready.

You can say Hi in AO3 too.

I think I’m the only weirdo that is still posting stuff for the @harringroveweekoflove  

Chapter 1 / Chapter 2

Chapter 3

The next day was charged with excitement and expectations. Everyone knew where they belonged and today they were going to act upon it. Should Billy raise his chin? When would be the right time to posture? Would he be able to growl? He had so many questions that he didn’t ask his father, afraid of ruining the good time they were having, so he let them die in his throat at the moment.

His next worry was Stevie. He hadn’t seen him yesterday after the lecture. How were things between them? Would they change?

Billy went directly to his new locker. As the majority of things in high school, these were set according to the students' labels. The alphas lockers were first, betas (the majority) took the rest of the place, and in case that there were any omegas that year they would be located at the near end since they were a minority and were easy to accommodate that way.

The first class, Language Arts, was one of the classes that didn’t require separating the students by their designation. Stevie would definitely be there; maybe they could sit together.

He was indeed there, sitting next to the window close to the last row.

“Hey! My dad gave more money today. If we put it together with yours we could buy a pile of candy.” He was already imaging a pile of Laffy Taffy, Bubble Yum, and Jelly Belly. Maybe if there was something left they could buy a chocolate cigarette at the store after school.

Stevie was the one that bought most of the candies since his allowance was bigger and more consistent. If they put it together they could buy at least two candies from each of the brands they sold at school but Stevie didn’t share his enthusiasm.

“Dad didn’t give me any money today.” He grumbled on his desk, laying on his arms.

That was weird, one of the things Stevie was well known for was his parents’ money. What they didn’t know at the moment was that it would take three months for his parents to give him his allowance again.

In years to come, he will develop a theory of what must have happened in that strange period of time where Stevie came in a weird mood and without snacks. And also, what could have happened to Hannah.

It was universal knowledge that an alpha couple could only have an alpha kid, maybe a beta one if recessive genes came into collation. Still, they would never be able to have an omega child. Which Steve, unfortunately, ended up being -- only to accidentally prove the blatant infidelity of Mrs. Harrington. Steve just became collateral damage.

Billy could only imagine the fight that had to have been unleashed in that house after Steve showed them his test and schedule that needed to be signed.

Billy doesn’t know what kind of agreement they came up with, but the fact was the Harringtons didn’t divorce and still lived in the house. Well... they still stopped by the house when they were in town.

Frederick Harrington never denied Steve, never disowned him or physically hurt him after the events, but something changed after that day. The time he spent at work went on to the point of spending days or even weeks without setting foot in the house. His relationship with Steve started becoming uncomfortable, cold and denaturalized.  Understandable to a point if you consider that Steve’s presence reminded him of that infidelity and the fact that he raised a bastard all this time.

Martha Harrington was kind of a mystery. Nobody knew much about her past. She just showed up (a few times over the years she would share bits of her past with a glass of wine in her hand ). She wasn’t emotionally open, just a hard working woman even before meeting who would then become her husband, which might be why many of the adults at the time were surprised that she even had the time to have an affair.

He supposed that she did care for her son in her own way. But still, Billy wasn’t going to forget or forgive them easily for how they neglected Steve.

Those first weeks of school Billy took the lead and persuaded Stevie to play.

If the Harringtons home was chaos, the school wasn’t much better. You see, Billy wasn’t the only one that cared about displaying the proper behavior according to your designation. A few weeks after the start of school, you could see the attempts of several classmates to establish dominance over others and ensure a good position in the hierarchy of the classroom, and Stevie became an easy target as a result.

People weren’t prone to ignore the fact that Steve was the only male omega in the classroom, so a bit of taunt was to be expected. That was what he thought at the time, and why he didn’t intervene at that moment, mostly because he agreed with most of the things that were said.

I was a little bigoted shit, and again, I’m sorry, Steve.

They were playing basketball during recess and Stevie fell, scraping his knee. Not a big deal, it wasn’t the first time that any of them hurt a part of their body. He was wrong, because when the homeroom teacher found out, all of them were lectured on how they shouldn’t play so roughly with an omega, to the point of quoting the saying “you don’t touch an omega even with the petal of a rose”, which he always thought  was a stupid thing to say. Anyway, that crap ended up hurting Stevie more than any other game of basketball.

The teacher’s good intentions backfired after that day. Stevie wasn’t allowed to play with them, nobody wanted to be responsible for “hurting” an omega. Steve would end up being by himself all grumpy during recess until a teacher encouraged him to play with the omega girls.

Billy and Stevie would play together at Stevie’s home like always as if nothing had changed in their little world. They would still play outside and wrestle in the bathtub but Stevie never cried or decided to stop playing with him over a bruise or a scrape, and even though he knew that Steve was equally tough as any other kid, the boundaries were set, what happened at home stayed at home and what happened at school stayed at school.

Anyway, the teacher’s solution would never be permanent. First, because Steve didn’t have anything in common with those girls apart for their designation, and second, the “solution” only brought another problem -- Stevie was baptized with a new nickname after his new found fragility.

Stevie Queenie. It wasn’t a secret that Billy called Steve “Stevie” (it was that Steve called him Silly Billy), but he was the only one allowed to do that. After the taunting and some weak nicknames, that was the one that stuck in everyone’s minds.

Steve didn’t allow him to call him Stevie again after that.

One of the bigger problems at school was the fact that Billy didn’t do anything to defend him for a while, especially because for once Steve fought back. Maybe it was that Billy didn’t intervene, or how annoying and persistent the other could get, but Steve grew a backbone out of it.

One day, Steve just had enough of it.

It happened during recess. Billy was working on his homework so he would have less things to do at home. He tuned out the noise, so he didn’t know how it actually started. But basically, what happened was that a group of boys were talking about collectible cards or something, and that lead to what someone’s cousin said, which then led to that cousin’s job. This ended with them touching the topic of the future jobs they were going to have as adults, and then Michael told Andrew that he couldn’t be a professional football player because they were mostly alphas, the betas players weren’t as famous or popular to count. That lead to how betas would always marry other betas, until David, Jason or Mark (the name changed every time the story was told) said that the only omega that Andrew could have was Steve. Immediately, a series of eww’s, nooo’s and giggles exploded.

Billy doesn’t know how much of it Steve heard, but he did, and he proved it when he stood up from his seat and punched Andrew in the face, pushed Michael off his seat, and probably would have done the same with the rest of the group if Jason hadn’t stopped him.

Billy stood up when he saw Steve struggling and Jason about to do something while holding him. The teacher wasn’t there at the moment, so the fight easily went out of hand, and it didn’t stop until Jason was crushed under the two-door metal locker they used to store school supplies.

The only reason why the Millers didn’t take that incident to a whole new level was because legally confronting the Harringtons would’ve been unsuccessful, and because it would have to be made public that their son was being an asshole with a bunch of other kids to the only male omega in town (and were too cowardly to take full responsibility and do more than pointing fingers at each other), and also because Jason wasn’t seriously injured.

Everyone got a warning, the teachers got scared, and Steve wasn’t talking to him for a reason he couldn’t understand --I mean, I defended him, why was I having the silent treatment?

[buckyslightsaber]

Unnecessary Tutoring

Request: Not requested

Pairing: (Andrew Garfield) Peter Parker x Reader

Summary: You really want to get to know Peter, but the only way you could think of was by faking ignorance and pretending to need to get tutored by him.

Warnings: Language

Word count: 1,977

A/N: I thought this would turn out better with Andrew’s Spiderman, but if you want to think it’s Tom Holland’s Spied you are more than welcome to.

My Masterlist

Feel free to request anything by sending an ask to my inbox! (Please check if requests are still open before requesting!)

Unnecessary Tutoring

“Fuck…” You whispered to yourself, toying with the phone in your hands as you contemplated the lit screen in front of you.

The phone was open on a contact- Peter Parker’s contact to be exact. After having only one class with him, you’d foolishly fallen in love. You treasured the days when you’d walk into the Biology room, expecting to be bored to death with yet another lecture and instead getting to see Peter’s smile and his beautifully fluffy hair covering up your view of the professor’s board- not that you minded in the least. He gave off a warm and friendly vibe and had a kind personality, making your days that much easier to get through- well, that was when he attended the lectures, anyway. For being so smart, he had an outstandingly large amount of tardies and absences.

On the few occasions when he’d actually attend class, you’d try to get yourself to talk to him, but you could never really pluck up the courage to do so. Therefore he had never talked to you personally, let alone did you think he even knew you existed.

So how had you gotten his phone number? Well, after asking around and pulling some strings, you’d finally managed to get it. Still, you stared at the screen nonetheless, expecting him to magically call you or text you, as if this were some sort of fairytale. You had a brilliant idea, or at least it had seemed so at the time when you first had it. You wanted to ask Peter for some tutoring in order to finally be able to talk to him, not the you needed the lessons at all. You were top of your class, but he didn’t need to know that.

Shaking your head slightly, you let your finger wander down to the options, pressing the message button. If you could barely look at him without your heart getting all fired up, you weren’t trusting yourself to make it through an entire call with the guy. You let out a breath of air as you began typing:

Y/N: Heyyyyy Peter, this is Y/N!!! I was wondering-

“Ugh no, way too excited,” You thought. “Come on, you gotta be cool.” You erased the exclamation marks and started up again.

Y/N: Hey Peter, this is Y/N. Do you think you could tutor me?

“Mm, too straightforward.” You scolded yourself and tried again.

Y/N: Hey Peter, this is Y/N. I always used to watch you when we had class together and-

You frowned and stopped typing again. “Damn it, that sounds too creepy.” After several similar tries, you finally got a decent result:

Y/N: Hey Peter, this is Y/N. I don’t know if you remember me, but we had Biology together last semester. You seemed to do very well with science in general, and I was wondering if you could help me out with Chemistry, as in tutor me. I would really appreciate it.

Holding your breath, you pressed send, almost immediately throwing the phone to the other end of your bed. You puffed out a long string of air, feeling your anxiety coming back to you. You sat up, letting your face drop in your hands as you realized how bad of an idea this actually was. After all, you didn’t need to be tutored at all. In fact, you could probably be tutoring him. “I’m so stupid.” You grumbled into your hands. There were so many ways you could’ve approached him, but out of all of them you’d chosen faking to be stupid just to spend an hour or two with him.

Just as you began wracking your brain for ways to get out of the situation, your phone buzzed. You felt your heart flip in your chest as you gulped, slowly reaching out to get your phone.

Peter: Sure, I’d love to help. How about tomorrow at the library?

A small smile formed on your lips as you dropped all of your previous, less positive thoughts, feeling part of the weight being lifted off your shoulders. You immediately typed back:

Y/N: Cool. Is 3:30 pm ok with you?

You instinctively shut your eyes as you realized how fast you’d texted back, praying he didn’t find it weird. Just then, you received another text, pleased to see he responded within the same time frame.

Peter: Of course.

Biting your lip, you set the phone down and flopped down on your bed. You couldn’t help the butterflies that flew around in your stomach just at the thought of spending time alone with Peter, something you had wanted to do for so long.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

What the fuck were you thinking? How could you have possibly thought asking Peter Parker to tutor you would be fun. Now you had to suffer the effects of your careless actions.

You sat alone at a table in the library, turning at every little sound you heard, thinking it was Peter. Shaking your leg uncontrollably, you glanced around the open room for what felt like the millionth time. He still wasn’t here, not the you were expecting him to-it was barely 3. You played with the zipper on your backpack in hopes to calm yourself down, but it did nothing to help.

You decided it would be good to take out your books and at least pretend to be doing something in case he came by early.

You had made sure to bring along some old Chemistry books to make sure he didn’t know you had already taken that Chemistry class and many after that. As you yanked out the book, you felt something else fall out of your bag and onto the floor, but you ignored it and bergan reading.

Your eyes wandered up and down the pages as you lost yourself in the words. You were so engrossed in the book that you almost didn’t feel the light tap on your shoulder that instinctively made you jump.

As you turned around you were faced with the one and only Peter Parker, crooked smile on his face and book bag hanging off one of his shoulders. You could feel your mouth practically hanging open as you tried to form coherent strings of words as Peter started talking, looking the tiniest bit taken aback himself, too.

“Hey, I’m Peter.” He said, extending his hand down toward yours. Mainly because of the height difference, you almost felt like you were staring up at a god.

Snapping back to reality you nodded, shaking his hand, which you noted, was comfortably bigger than yours. “I know.” Were the only words that fell from your mouth, making you immediately regret having opened your mouth in the first place. Peter raised his eyebrows and his smile grew bigger, almost as if he found it amusing.

You tried shaking it off, going on to introduce yourself instead. “I’m Y/N.”

Peter held on to your hand for a bit longer than someone usually would, repeating the name to himself as he nodded. “Y/N.” He finally let go of your hand, going to sit on the chair next to yours and setting down his backpack too.

After pulling out a couple things, he turned to you, having his face so close to yours that it left you starstruck. “What do you want to start with?” He asked, catching you off guard.

“Uh…” You turned to your textbook, pointing your finger at the first thing it landed on. “This.”

Peter looked at you once again, grinning as he quickly read over the title of the page. “Great.”

You listened intently as you Peter tried to explain to you one of the easiest concepts of Chemistry; Covalent bonds. Of course you understood them perfectly, but you couldn’t help but pretend you didn’t know what he was talking about just to keep him talking. Your eyes glued themselves to his lips as he went on and on and on.

“You get it?” Peter asked, raising an eyebrow at you and offering you a patient smile.

You bit your lip to hold yourself from smiling, scrunching your eyebrows at the same time. “Not really. Could we go over that just one more time?” You asked, batting your eyelashes as he thought of another way to explain it to you.

“Of course. How about this?” Peter reached over and gently grabbed your hand, making your face instantly heat up. You were about to ask him what he was doing, but your stomach was too busy doing backflips to even get you to concentrate.

“So, in ionic bonds the electrons are either given or taken, right?” He asked as you shyly nodded your head, feeling as he played with your fingers while talking. “Well, in a covalent bond,” He lightly brought your hand up to his, intertwining your fingers as he held your hands up in the air. “The electrons are shared between the atoms, just like our hands are, in a way, sharing fingers.”

“Oh.” You gulped as you broke the silence, seeing his eyes rake up and down your face. 

You felt like twenty tomatoes had been smashed on your face, but you couldn’t get yourself to pull away. Peter licked his lips, slowly inching closer as you felt yourself doing the same, feeling as if time had slowed down to a tenth of it’s regular measure.

Your lips touched faintly, moulding against each other as Peter let go of your hand and instead let it wander down to your waist. You in turn let yours go up to his hair, feeling your fingertips touch the soft strands of his maroon hair.

He pushed you gently against the library table as you arched your back in an effort to get closer to him and away from the cold wood. You both broke the kiss to get some air and for a brief moment you looked each other in the eye, and you all you saw was the face of a man that looked genuinely happy. That didn’t last long before he pulled you back and you continued.

Not a second later, you were interrupted by the loud ding of an unfamiliar phone. Startled, you pulled away as Peter scrambled to pull his phone out of his back pocket, bringing it up to his eye level.

His eyes widen as he read over the incoming message, whispering to himself, “Shit.”

He slowly pushed himself out of the chair, trying to fix his hair as he shoved things back into his bag and he scooped it up from the ground. “I’m sorry, I gotta go. I forgot I told my Aunt May I was gonna help her with something today.” Peter said, to addressing the dumbfounded look on your face.

“I’m sorry.” He repeated, offering you a sad, yet charismatic smile, one which you shot him back. “See you later?” He asked, looking hopeful as he gave you the infamous puppy dog eyes.

“Definitely.” You chuckled , feeling another blush spread all across your face.

“Good.” Peter replied, licking the corner of his lips. He started moving toward the exit door when suddenly his turned around to face you once again, calling out your name in somewhat of a questioning manner. “Oh, and Y/N?”

“Yeah?”

He tilted his head as he fixed his backpack strap. “I forgot to tell you when I got here, but you dropped your Advanced Organic Chemistry textbook under the table.” He smirked again, shooting you  a wink.

Your eyes widened as you snapped your head under your seat and sure enough, there was your textbook, innocently laid out under you.

You cursed out loudly, your brain going a hundred miles per hour trying to come up with a valid excuse, but when you looked back up, the door was already closing and Peter was nowhere to be seen.

“Oh shit..”

More Fics By Me

Tags: @annadier, @imaginesandfeels, @batmanxxbabe, @writing-marvel, @crownie-sr, @oxodianaoxo

If you want to be added to my tag list, you can send me an ask telling me so and what fandoms you want to be tagged in

[mrmichaelchadler]

Short Films in Focus: Being 97

Last month, I wrote about a short film called “Pocket,” which took place entirely on a smartphone owned by a less than sympathetic teenager named Jake, who, like many of us, suffer from screen addiction. Watching Andrew Hasse’s “Being 97,” a documentary about a 97-year old man who used to teach philosophy, I thought about what young Jake would be like at the age of 97. Would he still need his smartphone to survive the day-to-day grind? What will become of 97-year-olds fifty or sixty years from now? Will there still be the compulsion to check Facebook statuses and Twitter feeds? Will there be a special kind of social media for people, say, seventy and older? 

These are not questions brought up in this gentle, moving documentary, but that’s what came to mind. We are living longer than we did fifty years ago, but are we filling our time up wisely? Probably not as well as we should. Dr. Herbert Fingarette, the subject of the piece (and Hasse’s maternal grandfather), spent much of his life in philosophy studies and wrote many books, including one simply titled “Death” at the age of 77. Twenty years later, his view on life has changed. Where once he challenged the idea of fearing death, stating that there’s nothing to fear because nothing will happen, now he fears it.

How did he come to that moment? He states at the top of the film that it’s hard to imagine the state of mind of someone his age. One has to accept that your motor skills do not function the way they used to, so outside assistance becomes necessary. Of course, someone who comes in and helps out is no substitute for a loved one who has been dead for several years. Herbert has been living without his wife for a long time now. “Her absence is a presence,” he says. Perhaps the loneliness he now feels will give way to (as he sees it) the emptiness of death, a moment of transition no one would wish for themselves. How often do we hear about someone dying peacefully, surrounded by loved ones? At Herbert’s age, he doesn’t have that possibility.

It’s hard to imagine anyone not being moved by Hasse’s film. He captures the stillness of life at 97 and the slow passing of time, while also giving the viewer a well-rounded view of Herbert and his time on earth. Herbert connects to the past through music and keeps up with his reading. He still enjoys bacon, eggs and bagels for breakfast. He speaks fluently on his changing world views. By the end, we wonder what his final moment will be like. Will the fear give way to peacefulness and acceptance? I hope so, but then we probably all hope that for ourselves as well. The best immeasurable accomplishment “Being 97” could have is that it will make the viewer unplug for a little while and think about those things. 

Director Andrew Hasse

How did this film come about?

Herb was my maternal grandfather. I've been close with him throughout my entire life, but our relationship deepened after my grandmother, Leslie, passed away in 2011. As you can see in the film, he was truly heartbroken after she died, and needed a lot of emotional support from me and the rest of the family, especially in the first few years of adjusting to life on his own.

My grandfather was a prolific writer—I have a big box full of reprints of articles, lectures, and of course all of his books. But after Leslie died, he couldn't write anything, except for notes that he never developed into anything finished. This is because my grandmother was basically his editor—he would write, show it to her, and she would help him simplify and clarify the language (she was editor of her high school paper and on a champion on the debate team, a sharp intellect as well.)

So the film emerged as a way to help my grandfather voice his thoughts since he wasn't able to write them down. We would have long conversations about many things, including death, a topic which he was adamant about treating openly and honestly. I wanted to record some of these conversations for myself, and he had ideas that he wanted to share with the world about being old and facing death, so we decided to do it. The film also presented an opportunity for us to collaborate together, which we both thoroughly enjoyed.

How much time did you spend with Herbert during filming?

The filming took place over about a month, probably 14 days of filming little segments—we only did a few hours at a time. But I also spent a lot of time with him where we weren't filming. I made sure to see him every day or at least every other day for the last six months of his life.

Did he get to see the final film? If so, what were his thoughts?

He did see it, and he was very moved by it. He said it was a "great film" (although I'm sure there's a bit of grandfather-ly bias in there.) I was worried he might think it was too dark, but he said it depicted his situation accurately. I asked him if he thought anything should be changed, and he said it was just right the way it was. He marveled at how all the little snippets that we'd filmed over the course of the month came together to tell a story and paint a picture. He said he learned something about filmmaking through that process, which was meaningful to both of us, since he'd seen and supported my development as a filmmaker since I began at age 11.

What went through your mind when you learned of his passing?

I was with him when he died. I was happy to be with him in his last moments, which were relatively peaceful, but it was a very intense, cathartic experience for both of us.

Has any part of your worldview changed at all because of this film?

I think the piece that's not in the film, but that's very present for me, relates to his spiritual outlook. Although he was interested in dreams, mythology, religion and the spirit, he was fundamentally an existentialist, a material rationalist, who had the firm belief (as is made clear in the film and in his book on death) that after you die, there's nothing. Whether this is true or not, I don't think that it's necessarily the best strategy for meaning-making when you get to that age. He was limited in many ways because of his age, and his world shrank down from what it was when he was in his prime (he said he didn't start feeling his age until his mid 80s.) I think that without my grandmother and without his philosophical work, he wasn't left with much meaning in his life. Of course he had me and my mother and my brother and the constant companionship of his caregiver and close friend, Sheryl Pontis, who appears in the film. But obviously that wasn't enough to give his life a sense of purpose. So as I move forward in my own life and look towards eventual death, I do so with an open mind, uncertain of what comes after life, as I don't think there's any real way to know what does or doesn't happen until you get there and experience it first hand.

What’s next for you?

I'm continuing on the theme of family, working on a short doc about my father, who died 15 years ago. The logline is: an archaeological excavation of family secrets, in search of lost feelings for my father. I'm also working on a feature length documentary about adaptations to climate change.

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Scheer thinks Trudeau is vulnerable on debt and taxes. Here’s why the opposition leader might be wrong

Andrew Scheer keeps saying that a vote for Justin Trudeau this autumn will be a vote for higher taxes.

That’s a reasonable deduction. The budget deficit has increased to about $20 billion from zero in 2015, so the debt is growing. That’s bad, according to most economics textbooks. Government borrowing puts upward pressure on interest rates, and it crowds out private capital because investors prefer risk-free government bonds to risky bets on entrepreneurs. The situation can’t be allowed to persist, and since Trudeau appears allergic to spending cuts, debt dynamics will force him to raise taxes.

“Higher deficits today mean higher taxes tomorrow,” Pierre Poilievre, the Opposition finance critic, wrote in a column for the Toronto Sun at the end of November. Economics 101, albeit with a partisan twist.

But what if the textbooks need updating?

Canada's economic Achilles heel: A mountain of household debt

Ottawa's annual spending breaches $300B for first time, pushing up Canada’s debt ratio

Kevin Carmichael: There's just one solution to ridding Canada of its distant-horizon deficit

As the federal Conservatives seek policy inspiration in their old university notebooks, the economics profession is asking whether public debt matters, at least to the extent that it thought it did.

Last month, Olivier Blanchard, the former International Monetary Fund chief economist, stole the show at the American Economic Association’s annual meeting by arguing the rule that public debt means higher taxes probably is wrong; as long as nominal gross domestic product exceeds the “safe rate,” or the interest rate at which governments borrow, there is no obvious economic reason to raise taxes, according to his research.

Blanchard, who now is a professor emeritus at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, presented a paper that shows such a relationship tends to be the norm in major developed economies; therefore, a country such as the U.S. could reduce its debt burden simply by rolling over existing bonds because nominal growth will exceed the interest rate.  

“In a way, there is no fiscal cost,” Blanchard said in a lecture on Jan. 4. “We can discuss the semantics, but you can see what I have in mind: You don’t need to raise taxes to finance the additional debt.”

The Trudeau government has been applying a variation of this theory since it decided to ditch its promise to run only small deficits for a few years. (The deficit is the equivalent of about one per cent of GDP, which is still pretty small by most standards.)

In Canada, nominal growth will average 3.9 per cent between 2018 and 2022, and the yield on the 10-year bond will average 2.9 per cent, according to the mean estimate of the 14 outside economists who advised Finance on the fall economic update. The debt is on track to shrink as a share of GDP, which matters more than the absolute level. No tax increases required.

Nevertheless, Scheer appears to think that Trudeau is vulnerable on debt and taxes. On Jan. 29, the Opposition forced the Liberals to defeat a motion that called on the government to promise that it wouldn’t raise taxes in the future. It’s a tweak of Scheer’s pre-Christmas assault, which focused simply on the deficit. As you evaluate the new critique, keep in mind that the theory on which it is based hasn’t really been updated for the post-crisis, low-interest-rate age in which we live.

For example, Jonathan Ostry, the Canadian economist who is the deputy director of the International Monetary Fund’s research department, showed in 2015 that countries that can borrow relatively cheaply are better off living with their debts than adopting austerity for austerity’s sake. 

In 2016, Stephen Poloz, the Bank of Canada governor, published a paper that suggests the Harper government’s decision to balance the budget contributed to the surge in household debt; a better policy mix would have allowed the central bank to raise interest rates, avoiding the credit bubble.

And last month, Jason Furman and Lawrence Summers, Harvard University economists who served in President Barack Obama’s administration, published an article in Foreign Affairs that calls on American politicians to get over their debt obsession.

“Textbook economic theory holds that high levels of government debt make it more expensive for companies to borrow,” they wrote. “But these days, interest rates are low, stock market prices are high relative to company earnings, and major companies hold large amounts of cash on their balance sheets. No one seriously argues that the cost of capital is holding back businesses from investing. Cutting the deficit, then, is unlikely to spur much private investment.”

That’s a lot of brainpower amassed against the Conservatives’ contention that Trudeau’s fiscal policy inevitably leads to higher taxes.

Still, Team Trudeau shouldn’t feel smug. Blanchard said his research shouldn’t be used as an excuse to pile on debt. And Furman and Summers raised an important political economy concern: the debt-to-GDP ratio that Trudeau favours might be the right gauge, but it’s nuanced, and “nuance doesn’t sell.”

To keep the fiscal prudes from winning the political argument, the former Obama economists advise American policymakers to match new spending with program cuts or extra revenue, except during recessions. “If something is truly worth doing, it should be worth paying for,” they wrote.

Dozens of countries use budget rules as a check on spending. Trudeau scrapped the one that Harper had put in place. If he wants to win the debt debate with Scheer, he may need to replace it. The prime minister has tossed too many promises to run on his word alone. And Olivier Blanchard’s new algebraic calculations — no matter how brilliant —  aren’t yet taught in school.

• Email: kcarmichael@nationalpost.com | Twitter: carmichaelkevin

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[sublimedeal]

Andrew Holecek – Dream Sculpting

more info – http://archive.is/pDRUx

Mindvalley Presents The Gold Standard Course In Lucid Dreaming

From Barely Lucid To Hyper Lucid — Discover The Master Blueprint To Turn Lucid Dreaming Into Your Strongest Ally In Accelerating Your Personal And Spiritual Evolution

Join Andrew Holecek In This Six-Week Transformational Journey Into The Deepest Depths Of Your Mind Where You’ll Uncover A Whole New World Of Possibilities That You Never Knew Existed

Why This Course

Instructor Profile

What You’ll Learn

Course Information

What Students Say

Enroll Now

FAQs This course is for you if you

1) Interested in the thrill of waking up in their dreams and having the time of their life in the privacy of their own mind. 2) Looking to make better use of the combined 50 hours a week the average person spends in slumber and turn part of it into a life-transforming experience. 3) Drawn to the concept of Lucid Dreaming as a vehicle for awakening or spiritual expansion.

Every human being on this planet sleeps and dreams.

Have you ever wondered what’s going on when you sleep and dream?

What are those shadowy states of consciousness we all share?

Ones that we spend a third of our lives in?

Are they mere rest that serves no other purpose than rejuvenating your physical body?

What if there was more to the story?

What if those were the greatest missed opportunities of humankind?

author name

Have You Been Sleeping While Others Were Awake?

The fact is… our sleep and dream states present an extremely precious opportunity for psychological and spiritual growth.

An opportunity to live our greatest lives. And the only way to make use of it is through the art of lucid dreaming. When correctly harnessed, lucid dreaming can revolutionize the way you relate to sleep and dream. Yet there are millions of people who either have never heard of it or never really fully understood the potential of this unique dreaming experience… who are missing out on living the highest version of themselves.

What if everyone could make use of this natural gift that only humans are blessed with?

Will they still choose suffering over joy?

Why should they?

Patricia Garfield, a dream researcher with a Ph.D., and the author of ten books, says “By deliberately changing elements in your dream life, you can learn to confront many of your problems at their origin—in your own mind, rather than years later in the therapist’s office.”

Mary Ziemer, who manages the Dream Research Institute at the Centre for Counseling and Psychotherapy Education in London, says, “[_Transformation_] which can take years in waking physical reality, can be greatly accelerated as the psyche understands this process inwardly within a single dream.”

The question now is…

Are you missing out on living a life that’s much more heavenly than the one you’re currently in?

Now You Can Finally Wake Up In Your Dreams And Explore The Deepest Depths Of Your Consciousness Through Lucid Dreaming

Ask any Lucid Dreamer and they’ll swear by the life-changing magic of lucid dreams.

For one, it gives you limitless freedom and escapism.

This is perhaps one of the first and foremost reason why so many people find lucid dreaming attractive. Through a lucid dream, you can meet your personal idol, re-enact a particular day in history or soar in the sky like an eagle. There’s immense freedom. You can manifest anything you want while still mimicking the reality you live in right now.

It also empowers you to question the nature of reality, communicate with your subconscious mind and shine a light on your shadows.

You can even practice your skills in a virtual reality like manner to become better at something.

Jack Nicklaus famously improved his golf game through a lucid dream.

A pianist could practice in their lucid dream, and reap the same benefits as if they were practicing on a real piano. The legendary Arthur Rubinstein was able to mentally practice a piece he had never performed, and then perform it without further rehearsal.

The German chemist Friedrich Kekule discovered the molecular structure of benzene in a dream, James Cameron’s dream of a robot-man eventually became the movie The Terminator, Robert Louis Stevenson came up with the plot for his novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in a dream, and Paul McCartney’s song Yesterday came to him in a dream. Plus lucid dreaming creates a natural, joyful high that spills over to your waking reality.

Imagine that happening to you.

In short, if everyone mastered the art of lucid dreaming, it would exponentially advance and enrich the human race.

So how can you get started on this personally?

Introducing… Dream Sculpting — The Gold Standard Course In Lucid Dreaming With Legendary Teacher Andrew Holecek And Designed By Mindvalley We partner with some of the legendary teachers on the planet merging their teachings with great technology and design to create learning programs that truly change lives and transform you into the greatest version of yourself.

We realized that the concept of lucid dreaming is anything but new and there are countless studies and thousands of books written on it. Our scientists started studying it since 1978. Before that, the ancient Eastern spiritual schools had documented it thousands of years ago.

Yet today, thousands of amateur practitioners are struggling to find a definitive path to its mastery. And that’s why we decided to create a gold standard course called Dream Sculpting.

It is designed as a six-week experiential program based on modern science and Eastern Buddhist traditions. You will learn the fundamentals of lucid dreaming as well as advanced techniques. You will be guided every step of the way by Andrew Holecek.

You not only get all the benefits of a self-paced curriculum but you also get highly interactive and personalized solutions to suit your needs as Andrew will be answering your questions.

It truly is the masterpiece of a course that the world needs right now.

Our guarantee is that this course will not only transform your night. But it will completely shift the way you look at your life from now on.

And you do not have to work on it for years. Just six weeks.

Four Things That Make The Dream Sculpting Program Unique

1. Rooted in Eastern spirituality and Western science The Dream Sculpting program offers you the best of both worlds when it comes to Lucid Dreaming. It bridges both the Western scientific approach with the time-tested Eastern methodologies to form a unique framework that you can apply and start benefiting immediately. While the science helps you soothe the logical mind, the Eastern mysticism captures your heart and pulls you towards something greater than yourself. There’s no better way to do it than this.

2. Both daytime and nighttime practices At the core level, the Dream Sculpting program offers a framework for awareness designed to put you in touch with both your waking and dream reality. This holistic approach to Lucid Dreaming means you’re not shunning one for the other. Your awareness won’t just be limited to your dream consciousness. Instead, you’ll find yourself fully aware and conscious during the day too. And what doesn’t improve with more awareness? That’s why we’re confident that by the end of the six weeks, you will be a completely new person — fully aware, present and joyful.

3. Designed for results in six weeks It’s a common myth among lucid dreaming circles that one has to practice for years to finally achieve some lucidity in their dreams. However, according to Andrew Holecek, with the right tools and techniques and with the proper step-by-step guidance, anyone can become a master of lucid dreaming in a matter of weeks. The Dream Sculpting program will take you from kindergarten level to graduate level or higher in mere six weeks. Just imagine. Six weeks is all the time you need to invest in picking up a skill as important and as life changing as Lucid Dreaming.

4. Community support from a passionate group of students We understand that Lucid dreaming is not an ordinary topic that you’ll see discussed everywhere. Not everyone around you is interested in this topic as much as you are. But wait, what if everyone around you is as passionate about lucid dreaming as you? Well, that’s what you’ll find in the Dream Sculpting program. Throughout the six weeks and after, a huge community of passionate lucid dreamers will gather on our online platform to share their learnings, discuss their lecture notes and offer encouragement to each other. This tribe alone can be the biggest needle mover on your path to mastery. What You’ll Learn

Eight Ways The Dream Sculpting Program Will Transform You

Even though Andrew brings in wisdom from the East, there are no religious undertones to this course. We respect all beliefs and the course is deeply rooted in science and verifiable facts.

But it’s not for everyone.

While some might be what we call a “natural” when it comes to Lucid Dreaming, others have to set a firm intention to unlock this ability.

Hence if you’re not a natural Lucid Dreamer, you must be willing to put in some effort to enjoy the fruits of this noble endeavor.

If you do put in the effort, this course will probably take you through the entire spectrum of Lucidity — from barely recalling a dream and shortest flashes to being hyper-lucid in your dreams and experiencing vivid HD-quality lucid dreams that last an hour.

And you’ll undergo a massive transformation in the process. Here are some of what you can expect.

01 Reduce nightmares, depression, and trauma

Lucid dreaming is a remarkable tool to put people out of depression, nightmares and trauma of the past. In a study at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, participants underwent lucid dreaming treatment (LDT), which included coming up with alternative endings to their nightmares. Those who were able to do so reduced the number of their nightmares. 02 Boost your confidence, skills and happiness levels

In your lucid dreams you can conjure up any of the scenarios of your waking reality and in an instant alter the scene to suit your needs. This can be a tremendous personal growth tool which can be used to boost confidence, overcome shyness, manage grief, and even rehearse your skills. 03 Eliminate bad beliefs and habits while cultivating new ones

Of all the states of consciousness we know of, the waking state has the least power to transform simply because of the years of past conditioning and programming that it’s already been subjected to. However, in the dream state, our consciousness is more malleable and more fluid. Hence it’s the best, most effortless way to cultivate new habits and beliefs. 04 Solve problems, find answers and get innovative ideas

While lucid dreaming, your consciousness level is up a notch and so you may be better at solving problems. Several studies prove that lucid dreamers often come up with a “remote and, at the time, implausible” options when presented with a challenge in a lucid dream. These turn out to be the most innovative solutions that otherwise wouldn’t even register in their mind. 05 Enhance your physical strength and improve performance

Lucid dreaming has been proven to be effective in helping you with any physical activity that you want to improve. Scientists in Germany, through fMRI research, found that doing something in your lucid dreams is neurologically equivalent to actually doing it. Meaning, if you improve your dream body, it will have an effect on your physical body. Studies with professional athletes have proven this to be true. 06 Trigger healing and reverse problematic conditions

One doctor published a paper about a patient with a twenty-two-year history of chronic pain who cured himself overnight with a single lucid dream. There are other studies too that show how people have all kinds of healing results from healing a painful sprained tendon to stopping internal bleeding, reducing fever and signs of infection, speeding recovery from fractures, reducing uterine cysts, and healing scar tissues. However, please note that lucid dreaming cannot be a substitute for proper medical care. 07 Become a powerhouse of creativity and intuition Lucid dreaming is also proven to have the potential to tap into your creative and intuitive potential. The creative reservoirs that artists, musicians and inventors use can be accessed in your lucid dreams. And it can also give you a Déjà vu-like intuitive feeling for spotting out opportunities or dangers. 08 Awaken to your true nature and see the full potential of life

When you start having lucid dreams, you’ll realize that during your entire life you’ve been sitting on top of a vast reservoir of potentiality that you never tapped into. In lucid states, you’re entering the deepest depths of your consciousness to uncover your true nature and see your natural gifts so you can bring them to the surface of your life. Here’s the important thing you need to keep in mind: the waking life or the physical reality that you see every day is but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cause and effect in life. Much of it is governed by huge, unbelievably immense subconscious realms of our minds.

Lucid Dreaming offers a shortcut to those realms.

And the Dream Sculpting program eliminates the guesswork from your lucid dreaming practice.

Rock Your Dream World So You Win The Real World By embarking on this 6-week journey with Andrew Holecek, you are not just transforming your nighttime experience…

… but you’re actually changing your entire life.

Because the fact is your waking and dream consciousnesses have a bidirectional effect on each other. What happens during your day will affect what happens in your night and vice versa.

By mastering the “dream game” — your thoughts, habits, and actions in the waking state will transform in the shortest possible time.

It’s like somewhere in the deepest depths of your consciousness you’ve flipped a switch that gave you a newfound sense of freedom and confidence like nothing you’ve seen before.

For instance:

Have you ever wondered why some people can overcome any problems, however complex or unending it may seem? Did you ever find yourself opening your mouth, gasping when they achieve what they want against impossible odds? It’s because they have a tremendous sense of belief in themselves in relation to the real world. Some are natural at it. But if you want to cultivate this type of behavior, there’s no better practicing ground than the dream reality. And in just six weeks, you’ll be the person that others look to in awe. There’s no arguing that the legendary Steve Jobs had great vision. In your own life, you may have seen people like that. Perhaps your boss or someone you really admire in life. Have you ever wished you could be like them? According to a Gallup study, 50% of Americans dislike their jobs. A big part of this is because people are working on tasks that do not align with their vision. When you learn to lucid dream, you actually gain greater clarity on your purpose and mission in life and how to move towards it. When this happens you won’t need motivation — instead you jump out of bed every morning excited about your vision. If you have writer’s block, artist’s block or any other creative block, consider them gone by the end of the six weeks with Andrew Holecek. This is because Lucid Dreams are the ultimate breeding ground for all creativity. Your mind, will literally be unhooked from the imaginary leashes we carry in our waking mind, and there will be limitless possibilities. For the first time in your life, you’ll never run out of ideas. You’ll wake up every day in the morning and literally scramble for pieces of paper to write down all the ideas you’ve had in your dreams. People will start calling you the idea man or woman. And you’ll start wondering why others haven’t figured out Lucid Dreaming yet. And there are so much more transformations you’ll have thanks to Lucid Dreaming.

The truth is any of these transformations will make an amazing difference to the quality of your life. And so being able to Lucid Dream consistently and every night, is clearly one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your loved ones.

That’s why we’re excited to bring you this course with Andrew Holecek.

Course Information

Here’s How We Structured The Program For Your Maximum Results

The Dream Sculpting program is designed as a one-stop course for mastering the many facets of Lucid Dreaming. However, we also know that each person’s experience will be different, and each student may have special needs that warrant special solutions.

That’s why we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all solution.

Throughout the six weeks of Dream Sculpting program, Andrew will not only share all his best practices, techniques and tools but also Q & A sessions that will benefit the whole group just as the questions raised by other students will help you.

Plus it’s much more fun that way.

We’ve found that this level of personal student-teacher interaction is what makes a learning sprint most effective. Furthermore, we’re adding new elements to this course time and again to make your learning experience extraordinary. With Andrew’s help, you’ll master the principles that will strengthen your dreaming world and weaken the influence of external world over you. Which will slowly but surely reveal your true potential.

Here’s what the course looks like:

WEEK 01

Lucid Dreaming Foundations

In the 1st week, you’ll understand the key levers of Lucid Dreaming, the varying degrees of lucidity, and even its history. If there are any safety concerns, they will vanish during this week. You’ll also get the hang of the various possibilities for improvement and growth that comes with mastery in Lucid Dreaming. Andrew will conclude this week with a powerful daytime practice to kick start your 6-week practice.

Weekly practice:

Guided meditation. WEEK 02

Lucid dreams – Daytime techniques

Here is where things get to the next level. You’ll dive into the daytime Lucid Dream induction techniques as well as various practices for motivation, dream recalls, and dream journaling as well as practices for conducting state checks. Andrew will also guide you through Eastern and Western tips for maintaining a healthy sleep regimen. You’ll also learn how to work with dream signs and how to develop prospective memory.

Weekly practice:

LUCID SLEEP ONSET practice. Technique I: The Countdown. Exercise I: State checks. Exercise II: Dream signs. Exercise III: Developing prospective memory. WEEK 03

Lucid dreams — Nighttime techniques

The third week is devoted to night time lucidity induction techniques. You’ll understand sleep cycles and how to use them. Andrew will also walk you through some of the most proven nighttime techniques such as Mnemonic Induction method (MILD) and the Wake Back To Bed (WBTB) method. He will also teach some of the powerful Eastern dream techniques, which work with the subtle body, especially the chakras.

Weekly practice:

Technique II – MILD. Technique III – “Wake-and-back-to-bed” technique. WEEK 04

Shortcuts to Lucid Dreaming

The week 4 is about special hacks for Lucid Dreaming. You’ll learn how to use sophisticated electronic gadgets, lucid dreaming apps and natural supplements like galantamine. Plus Andrew will reveal some of his magic shortcuts that can accelerate your results. And finally, you’ll learn how to practice lucid napping, and how to play with hypnagogic and hypnopompic states, those amazing pre and post dream states.

Weekly practice:

EXERCISE in Lucid Napping. WEEK 05

Overcoming Common Hurdles

By the end of the 4th week, you’re already a proficient Lucid Dreamer. However, there might be some obstacles in your dream consciousness like “near enemies,” spiritual bypassing, and slippery things like nihilism. You’ll overcome them all. And Andrew will also teach you how to sustain a lucid dream. You’ll also learn a wonderful Buddhist practice, which is the remarkable daily practice of Illusory Form.

Weekly practice:

Illusory form Technique. WEEK 06

The Fruition of Lucid Dreaming

During the final week, you’ll learn how to translate your accomplishments in the dream world into the real world, otherwise known as the fruition of lucid dreaming. And Andrew will also discuss dream yoga and sleep yoga, showing you just how far the practice of Lucid Dreaming can go. From physical benefits to deep psychological growth, to unlimited spiritual evolution – the opportunities are endless.

Weekly practice:

Fruition of Lucid Dreaming A Huge Reservoir Of Untapped Potential… With Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars, Perhaps Even Millions In Value

Most people go through life not being aware of their full potential.

They think they are limited by their circumstances, their education, their socio-cultural upbringing or for some, even their last breakup in a relationship.

But the truth is… the greatest gift we all have as a human being is that we’re infinitely creative, and we have, within us, all the means to fulfill even the wildest of our dreams.

Only we need to step out of our ordinary consciousness to really see this potential.

Lucid Dreaming offers exactly that.

And puts more awareness in your life.

Anything that heightens awareness is beneficial.

Even if Lucid Dreaming only expands your awareness by a fraction of what is really possible, it will make your life ultimately more lively, more playful and childlike.

Lucid Dreaming also frees up extra time that you can invest in making yourself better.

Imagine having that extra edge in your job or professional career by practicing your skills in your lucid dreams. People have also used lucid dreaming to lose weight, treat trauma, eliminate stress disorders and confront their phobias.

Plus Lucid Dreaming offers the priceless opportunity for enlightenment as described in Tibetan Dream Yoga.

Can you see how much of a blessing Lucid Dreaming can bring you?

Here’s What People Say About Andrew Holecek And His Work

“The best lucid dreaming teacher in the West”

“Andrew Holecek is the best lucid dreaming teacher in the West. His teaching on this fascinating and important topic is clear, contextual, relevant, practical, engaging, and comprehensive. He is the only lucid dreaming teacher whose teaching spans both secular and religious origins of the practice, and with students, he is respectful, encouraging, and cheerful.”

Chris Thatcher Attorney/Acting Coach/Somatic Psychotherapist “I cannot recommend it enough.”

“Andrew’s Lucid Dreaming and Dream Yoga program was fantastic. He interweaves traditional dream yoga practices and perspectives with modern Western lucid dreaming methods and techniques, not simply as some intellectual endeavor to bridge East and West, but as a pragmatic approach to lucid dreaming and spirituality that focuses on what works. He is a clear speaker who brings humor to what and how he teaches. He covers the spectrum of practice and theory well, and makes it all practical and useful. I cannot recommend it enough.”

Jay Mutzafi host of LucidSage – The Lucid Dreaming Podcast “Help students access and remember complex concepts”

“Andrew’s depth of personal experience of the practices combined with his broad knowledge of the Buddhist teachings on dream yoga makes him particularly adept at guiding our journey into the dream world. He is a playful wordsmith using catchy phrases and images that help students access and remember complex concepts. His personal anecdotes make his teaching authentic and accessible. It was a joy to study the Dream Yoga teachings with Andrew.”

Dr. Ina Robbins Psychologist “His programs on these nocturnal practices are a real gift.”

“Andrew is a rare gem as a Western teacher. With dedication to the integrity of the material, he shares the benefit of a lifetime of committed study with clarity, enthusiasm, and warmth: a natural born teacher. His presentations on lucid dreaming and dream yoga are both accessible and exciting, offering profound insights for anyone committed to furthering familiarity with their own mind. Time spent with Andrew always reignites my own passion and enthusiasm for both practice and study. His programs on these nocturnal practices are a real gift.”

David Tillinghast Associate Professor and Director of Special Projects at Art Center College of Design “The practices helped me to bring together the two streams of consciousness of dream and waking life”

“Andrew’s lucid dreaming teachings stretched my understanding and appreciation of the parallel streams of my “dream life” and “waking life” far beyond what I knew was possible. The practices helped me to bring together the two streams of consciousness of dream and waking life, and my life experience increased in clarity, joy, playfulness and depth. Andrew’s teachings also helped me explore how lucid dreaming can even help me prepare for death, which in turn amplifies my attempts to be more present and alive right now.

After weeks of focused practice in the techniques, and some normal frustration at the lack of progress, the lucidity in my dreams and waking life increased 10 fold. I noticed that the other students and I eagerly awaited to share and hear about each other’s experiences in the class. Andrew created a safe space for learning and sharing that was really beautiful. Sharing was welcomed and honored, and Andrew brought humor and levity to this often clunky process.

Andrew is an intellect and a true scientist-practitioner. His vast depth of knowledge and experience with Eastern and Western philosophy and theology, Tibetan Buddhism, dream and sleep yoga, Western lucid dreaming traditions, and other scientific fields of study (physics, psychology, and neuroscience) is so profound and rich that “taking it all in” could be intimidating to the new learner. However, Andrew is so playful as he articulates the information, and shares such passion, clarity, humor, and curiosity that all kinds of people are included and welcomed to take the journey together. Students and teacher were often laughing along the way. Andrew is known for wonderful analogies that help learners grasp the material. He taught us how to prepare for the night with step by step instructions, and with meditations and visualizations. We learned that nighttime was not about “checking out” but instead about “checking in.”

I feel so blessed to have Andrew introduce me to the many phases and stages of lucid dreaming, a practice I will be exploring for the rest of my life. Every night is a cutting-through journey. It is the gift that keeps on giving.

Thanks Andrew, for supporting me and all of your students to explore these vast dimensions!”

M. Fitzgerald Ph.D., Clinical psychologist and researcher “Some of the deepest and most profound dream work I have ever experienced.”

“The lucid dreaming and dream yoga seminar with Andrew Holecek is some of the deepest and most profound dream work I have ever experienced. I continue to learn more as I practice. I am in awe and most grateful of the results that can be achieved and felt in everyday life through dream yoga practices. Most of which have been self-empowerment, calm presence and a deeper sense awareness for all I experience. Andrew Holecek is a very gifted and wholehearted teacher and facilitator of dream yoga.”

Jasmin Bloch M.A., Psychological Counselor, Art Therapist & Teacher, Zurich, Switzerland “New levels of insight for me”

“I have been studying with Andrew Holecek for many years, focusing on advanced Buddhist practices such as dream yoga, the dying process, and the Six Yogas of Naropa. Andrew is my favorite Western dharma teacher due to his tremendous ability to synthesize the Eastern wisdom and practice tradition with modern Western science and psychology. He presents his deep understanding in an accessible way that unlocks new levels of insight for me. He is able to present very advanced practices and topics in a way that is delightfully understandable because he has boiled down his extensive dharma practice and wide-ranging scholarship in the cauldron of personal experience. Out it comes with humor, clarity and insight, and this applies to both his books and personal presentations. I attend every single teaching of his that I can get to – he is that useful to me.”

Lindsay Vinyard CPA, Colorado “Profound and transformational.”

“Andrew’s teachings on lucid dreaming and Dream Yoga are profound and transformational. As a teacher, he is engaging, generous, and fun. The topics he teaches have the potential to be esoteric and unapproachable, however he teaches in such a way that his students, no matter where they are on their path, are able to understand and apply his teachings to everyday life. Each time I complete one of Andrew’s programs, I feel that my entire practice and path have been enhanced and given a more expansive, deeper meaning.”

Jennifer Wang Los Angeles “What a fascinating, intriguing experience!”

“Andrew’s Dream Yoga teachings can absolutely guide one’s experience toward lucid dreaming. I had a lucid dream guided by the the techniques offered in his program. What a fascinating, intriguing experience! During his sessions, Dr. Holecek lays out the view, describes the induction methods, and supports your journey toward understanding another dimension to self discovery — and mind’s profound essence.”

Eileen Kay Colorado “Fresh, exciting and deeply spiritual”

“Lucid Dreaming has been a study of mine for several years. Andrew’s approach to how it can be learned, mastered and applied is like nothing else I’ve come across. Fresh, exciting and deeply spiritual, this retreat awakened me, while inviting me to “find myself” in sleep.”

Misha Wolf Vancouver “Fresh, exciting and deeply spiritual”

“Lucid Dreaming has been a study of mine for several years. Andrew’s approach to how it can be learned, mastered and applied is like nothing else I’ve come across. Fresh, exciting and deeply spiritual, this retreat awakened me, while inviting me to “find myself” in sleep.”

Misha Wolf Vancouver What other Authors Say About Andrew Holecek

“From Andrew Holecek’s first words, you know you can trust him. He writes from deeply felt experience as well as a masterful grasp of the vast dharma.”

Testimonial By Irini Rockwell | Lucid Dreaming – Mindvalley Academy Irini Rockwell Author of The Five Wisdom Energies

“Don’t miss your opportunity to realize some of the very deepest and highest of all human potentials, from a real master of these realms!”

Testimonial By Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche | Lucid Dreaming – Mindvalley Academy Ken Wilber Author of The Fourth Turning

“Andrew Holecek helps us to accept the inevitability of difficulty and find new ways of coping with challenge.”

Testimonial By Andrea Miller | Lucid Dreaming – Mindvalley Academy Andrea Miller Editor, Shambhala Sun magazine

Enroll Now

We’re Making This Affordable For Everyone

When we set out to build a gold standard course in Lucid Dreaming, we looked for the absolute best teacher in the world. And we’ve found one in Andrew Holecek.

But the fact is… teachers like Andrew Holecek are so precious in this world that students are willing to pay a fortune for the chance of learning directly from them.

If you were to hire a top Lucid Dreaming instructor to take you through journey personally, it would probably require an investment of at least $1,000.

And we know not everyone has a spare grand to invest.

Still, we want you to experience the results.

That’s why we’ve worked hard to make this course — where you learn directly from Andrew — as affordable as possible. The regular price for the Dream Sculpting program is an investment of $1095.

But that’s not even what you’ll pay when you enroll today.

Since this is a new course in Mindvalley Academy and to encourage as many people as possible to try it out, we’re offering a 55% discount for a limited time.

Today, you can enroll in the Dream Sculpting program with just a single payment of $495 only.

And the best part is you don’t even have to decide now.

Ranked Top 10 Best Customer Support Team in the World by NiceReply

As Mindvalley’s Customer Happiness Manager, it’s my goal to ensure you get the best experience with this course. Our support staff consistently rank among the top of all companies using NiceReply, which scores customer support service. Know that you can always find instant answers on our on our support center, or email us directly, or talk with our caring support agents (Monday to Friday, 7am – 7pm Pacific Time).

Advantage 1Safe Enrollment Program – this means you can enroll in ANY course and get full access instantly and still claim a full and timely refund within 30 days if it does not meet your highest expectation. Advantage 2Results – We work only with the best teachers and curriculums that deliver amazing results and raving fans. Advantage 3Quality – Mindvalley is known for World Class Customer Service, Design and Learning Experience.

Kristi Anier Customer Happiness Team Lead Don’t Decide Now… Take All The Time You Need And Try Dream Sculpting For 30 Days

Here’s what we propose:

Try the Dream Sculpting course for a full 30 days… go through the program… attend the recordings with Andrew Holecek… If by the 30th day, you find it’s just not working for you… if you don’t find yourself growing significantly lucid in your dreams and on the path to a great adventure in an alternate reality…

Simply let us know, and we’ll refund everything you’ve paid for the enrollment.

Chances are you will go on to complete the full six weeks with Andrew and experience a life-changing shift. Because if you really put forth some effort, it’s inevitable that you see results.

Andrew will walk you through his best techniques and practices…

He’ll guide you step-by-step through them…

He’ll be there to encourage you… answer your questions…

You’ll also get supported by a passionate community of Lucid Dreamers…

Andrew may also offer customized solutions to suit your needs…

And on top of everything, you enjoy complete peace of mind knowing that if you are not blown away by your results within 30 days… you pay nothing for the course.

In other words, you will win no matter what.

So click the Add-to-Cart button below.

And get started today.

Click the “Add to Cart” Button & Try Dream Sculpting With Andrew Holecek Now

Here’s everything you get when you order:

A comprehensive 6-week course with 6 recorded lectures, guidance audios, and fun, playful homework exercises in Lucid Dreaming The shortest path to mastering Lucid Dreaming and beginning your exploration Six Coaching and Q&A sessions with Andrew Holecek All the guided practices as separate MP3 Handouts and transcripts to aid your learning An unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can be sure this course is the perfect fit for you with no risk on your part Award-winning customer support whenever you need help, so you know you are always taken care of Payment Plan Option Flexible payment option for you to get access to the program risk-free for 30 days from the day you enrol.

$179 billed monthly for 3 months for a total of $537

$419 $179

ADD TO CART Single Payment Option Get instant access with one payment and save more than 50% on the original program

$1095 $495

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What Happens After You Order Secure checkout page Secure checkout page Click the Add to Cart above and you’ll be taken to a Secure Order Page.

Log into your account Log into your account Complete your Order and you’ll get an Email with your Login and Password

Enjoy your new course Enjoy your new course Visit Learn.Mindvalley.com and login to Access Your Program.

Quit Thinking About It And Begin Experiencing Today

In life, mistakes are normal. No one gets it right at one go.

Unless you aren’t afraid to make mistakes, you can’t live your life fully.

However, there’s one mistake that most people make that doesn’t add much to their life.

And that’s the mistake of not trying at all.

The “some day” syndrome: “Some day I’ll try it.”

Did you come this far in your journey with us only to be bogged down by it?

The fact is… you’ve always wanted to experience Lucid Dream for a while now.

You’ve done your research — you’ve heard stories of how people can fly, have the most surreal experiences and explore the universe consciously in their dreams.

Yet, you haven’t gotten serious about it.

Remember that reality is what you give attention to.

Attend to the superficial psyche, which is always looking out, and you will skim the surface of life and forever remain asleep.

You’ll never know who you really are.

Lucid dreaming allows you to reverse your gaze and attend to your real self, which will wake you up to your true nature.

And there has never been a wrong time to do that.

Try Dream Sculpting today.

You can click the Add-To-Cart button to get started immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did We Really Drop The Price By 55%? + Who is Dream Sculpting for? What exactly will it do for me? + What does the Dream Sculpting program look like? + Will I be able to Lucid Dream? Can everyone do it? + Is lucid dreaming safe? + Why should I study Lucid Dreaming? + Do you guarantee that it will work for me? + How long does it take to see results? + Click the “Add to Cart” Button & Try Dream Sculpting With Andrew Holecek Now

Here’s everything you get when you order:

A comprehensive 6-week course with 6 recorded lectures, guidance audios, and fun, playful homework exercises in Lucid Dreaming The shortest path to mastering Lucid Dreaming and beginning your exploration Six Coaching and Q&A sessions with Andrew Holecek All the guided practices as separate MP3 Handouts and transcripts to aid your learning An unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can be sure this course is the perfect fit for you with no risk on your part Award-winning customer support whenever you need help, so you know you are always taken care of

Andrew Holecek – Dream Sculpting published first on http://ift.tt/2qxBbOD

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Andrew Holecek – Dream Sculpting

more info – http://archive.is/pDRUx

Mindvalley Presents The Gold Standard Course In Lucid Dreaming

From Barely Lucid To Hyper Lucid — Discover The Master Blueprint To Turn Lucid Dreaming Into Your Strongest Ally In Accelerating Your Personal And Spiritual Evolution

Join Andrew Holecek In This Six-Week Transformational Journey Into The Deepest Depths Of Your Mind Where You’ll Uncover A Whole New World Of Possibilities That You Never Knew Existed

Why This Course

Instructor Profile

What You’ll Learn

Course Information

What Students Say

Enroll Now

FAQs This course is for you if you

1) Interested in the thrill of waking up in their dreams and having the time of their life in the privacy of their own mind. 2) Looking to make better use of the combined 50 hours a week the average person spends in slumber and turn part of it into a life-transforming experience. 3) Drawn to the concept of Lucid Dreaming as a vehicle for awakening or spiritual expansion.

Every human being on this planet sleeps and dreams.

Have you ever wondered what’s going on when you sleep and dream?

What are those shadowy states of consciousness we all share?

Ones that we spend a third of our lives in?

Are they mere rest that serves no other purpose than rejuvenating your physical body?

What if there was more to the story?

What if those were the greatest missed opportunities of humankind?

author name

Have You Been Sleeping While Others Were Awake?

The fact is… our sleep and dream states present an extremely precious opportunity for psychological and spiritual growth.

An opportunity to live our greatest lives. And the only way to make use of it is through the art of lucid dreaming. When correctly harnessed, lucid dreaming can revolutionize the way you relate to sleep and dream. Yet there are millions of people who either have never heard of it or never really fully understood the potential of this unique dreaming experience… who are missing out on living the highest version of themselves.

What if everyone could make use of this natural gift that only humans are blessed with?

Will they still choose suffering over joy?

Why should they?

Patricia Garfield, a dream researcher with a Ph.D., and the author of ten books, says “By deliberately changing elements in your dream life, you can learn to confront many of your problems at their origin—in your own mind, rather than years later in the therapist’s office.”

Mary Ziemer, who manages the Dream Research Institute at the Centre for Counseling and Psychotherapy Education in London, says, “[_Transformation_] which can take years in waking physical reality, can be greatly accelerated as the psyche understands this process inwardly within a single dream.”

The question now is…

Are you missing out on living a life that’s much more heavenly than the one you’re currently in?

Now You Can Finally Wake Up In Your Dreams And Explore The Deepest Depths Of Your Consciousness Through Lucid Dreaming

Ask any Lucid Dreamer and they’ll swear by the life-changing magic of lucid dreams.

For one, it gives you limitless freedom and escapism.

This is perhaps one of the first and foremost reason why so many people find lucid dreaming attractive. Through a lucid dream, you can meet your personal idol, re-enact a particular day in history or soar in the sky like an eagle. There’s immense freedom. You can manifest anything you want while still mimicking the reality you live in right now.

It also empowers you to question the nature of reality, communicate with your subconscious mind and shine a light on your shadows.

You can even practice your skills in a virtual reality like manner to become better at something.

Jack Nicklaus famously improved his golf game through a lucid dream.

A pianist could practice in their lucid dream, and reap the same benefits as if they were practicing on a real piano. The legendary Arthur Rubinstein was able to mentally practice a piece he had never performed, and then perform it without further rehearsal.

The German chemist Friedrich Kekule discovered the molecular structure of benzene in a dream, James Cameron’s dream of a robot-man eventually became the movie The Terminator, Robert Louis Stevenson came up with the plot for his novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in a dream, and Paul McCartney’s song Yesterday came to him in a dream. Plus lucid dreaming creates a natural, joyful high that spills over to your waking reality.

Imagine that happening to you.

In short, if everyone mastered the art of lucid dreaming, it would exponentially advance and enrich the human race.

So how can you get started on this personally?

Introducing… Dream Sculpting — The Gold Standard Course In Lucid Dreaming With Legendary Teacher Andrew Holecek And Designed By Mindvalley We partner with some of the legendary teachers on the planet merging their teachings with great technology and design to create learning programs that truly change lives and transform you into the greatest version of yourself.

We realized that the concept of lucid dreaming is anything but new and there are countless studies and thousands of books written on it. Our scientists started studying it since 1978. Before that, the ancient Eastern spiritual schools had documented it thousands of years ago.

Yet today, thousands of amateur practitioners are struggling to find a definitive path to its mastery. And that’s why we decided to create a gold standard course called Dream Sculpting.

It is designed as a six-week experiential program based on modern science and Eastern Buddhist traditions. You will learn the fundamentals of lucid dreaming as well as advanced techniques. You will be guided every step of the way by Andrew Holecek.

You not only get all the benefits of a self-paced curriculum but you also get highly interactive and personalized solutions to suit your needs as Andrew will be answering your questions.

It truly is the masterpiece of a course that the world needs right now.

Our guarantee is that this course will not only transform your night. But it will completely shift the way you look at your life from now on.

And you do not have to work on it for years. Just six weeks.

Four Things That Make The Dream Sculpting Program Unique

1. Rooted in Eastern spirituality and Western science The Dream Sculpting program offers you the best of both worlds when it comes to Lucid Dreaming. It bridges both the Western scientific approach with the time-tested Eastern methodologies to form a unique framework that you can apply and start benefiting immediately. While the science helps you soothe the logical mind, the Eastern mysticism captures your heart and pulls you towards something greater than yourself. There’s no better way to do it than this.

2. Both daytime and nighttime practices At the core level, the Dream Sculpting program offers a framework for awareness designed to put you in touch with both your waking and dream reality. This holistic approach to Lucid Dreaming means you’re not shunning one for the other. Your awareness won’t just be limited to your dream consciousness. Instead, you’ll find yourself fully aware and conscious during the day too. And what doesn’t improve with more awareness? That’s why we’re confident that by the end of the six weeks, you will be a completely new person — fully aware, present and joyful.

3. Designed for results in six weeks It’s a common myth among lucid dreaming circles that one has to practice for years to finally achieve some lucidity in their dreams. However, according to Andrew Holecek, with the right tools and techniques and with the proper step-by-step guidance, anyone can become a master of lucid dreaming in a matter of weeks. The Dream Sculpting program will take you from kindergarten level to graduate level or higher in mere six weeks. Just imagine. Six weeks is all the time you need to invest in picking up a skill as important and as life changing as Lucid Dreaming.

4. Community support from a passionate group of students We understand that Lucid dreaming is not an ordinary topic that you’ll see discussed everywhere. Not everyone around you is interested in this topic as much as you are. But wait, what if everyone around you is as passionate about lucid dreaming as you? Well, that’s what you’ll find in the Dream Sculpting program. Throughout the six weeks and after, a huge community of passionate lucid dreamers will gather on our online platform to share their learnings, discuss their lecture notes and offer encouragement to each other. This tribe alone can be the biggest needle mover on your path to mastery. What You’ll Learn

Eight Ways The Dream Sculpting Program Will Transform You

Even though Andrew brings in wisdom from the East, there are no religious undertones to this course. We respect all beliefs and the course is deeply rooted in science and verifiable facts.

But it’s not for everyone.

While some might be what we call a “natural” when it comes to Lucid Dreaming, others have to set a firm intention to unlock this ability.

Hence if you’re not a natural Lucid Dreamer, you must be willing to put in some effort to enjoy the fruits of this noble endeavor.

If you do put in the effort, this course will probably take you through the entire spectrum of Lucidity — from barely recalling a dream and shortest flashes to being hyper-lucid in your dreams and experiencing vivid HD-quality lucid dreams that last an hour.

And you’ll undergo a massive transformation in the process. Here are some of what you can expect.

01 Reduce nightmares, depression, and trauma

Lucid dreaming is a remarkable tool to put people out of depression, nightmares and trauma of the past. In a study at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, participants underwent lucid dreaming treatment (LDT), which included coming up with alternative endings to their nightmares. Those who were able to do so reduced the number of their nightmares. 02 Boost your confidence, skills and happiness levels

In your lucid dreams you can conjure up any of the scenarios of your waking reality and in an instant alter the scene to suit your needs. This can be a tremendous personal growth tool which can be used to boost confidence, overcome shyness, manage grief, and even rehearse your skills. 03 Eliminate bad beliefs and habits while cultivating new ones

Of all the states of consciousness we know of, the waking state has the least power to transform simply because of the years of past conditioning and programming that it’s already been subjected to. However, in the dream state, our consciousness is more malleable and more fluid. Hence it’s the best, most effortless way to cultivate new habits and beliefs. 04 Solve problems, find answers and get innovative ideas

While lucid dreaming, your consciousness level is up a notch and so you may be better at solving problems. Several studies prove that lucid dreamers often come up with a “remote and, at the time, implausible” options when presented with a challenge in a lucid dream. These turn out to be the most innovative solutions that otherwise wouldn’t even register in their mind. 05 Enhance your physical strength and improve performance

Lucid dreaming has been proven to be effective in helping you with any physical activity that you want to improve. Scientists in Germany, through fMRI research, found that doing something in your lucid dreams is neurologically equivalent to actually doing it. Meaning, if you improve your dream body, it will have an effect on your physical body. Studies with professional athletes have proven this to be true. 06 Trigger healing and reverse problematic conditions

One doctor published a paper about a patient with a twenty-two-year history of chronic pain who cured himself overnight with a single lucid dream. There are other studies too that show how people have all kinds of healing results from healing a painful sprained tendon to stopping internal bleeding, reducing fever and signs of infection, speeding recovery from fractures, reducing uterine cysts, and healing scar tissues. However, please note that lucid dreaming cannot be a substitute for proper medical care. 07 Become a powerhouse of creativity and intuition Lucid dreaming is also proven to have the potential to tap into your creative and intuitive potential. The creative reservoirs that artists, musicians and inventors use can be accessed in your lucid dreams. And it can also give you a Déjà vu-like intuitive feeling for spotting out opportunities or dangers. 08 Awaken to your true nature and see the full potential of life

When you start having lucid dreams, you’ll realize that during your entire life you’ve been sitting on top of a vast reservoir of potentiality that you never tapped into. In lucid states, you’re entering the deepest depths of your consciousness to uncover your true nature and see your natural gifts so you can bring them to the surface of your life. Here’s the important thing you need to keep in mind: the waking life or the physical reality that you see every day is but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cause and effect in life. Much of it is governed by huge, unbelievably immense subconscious realms of our minds.

Lucid Dreaming offers a shortcut to those realms.

And the Dream Sculpting program eliminates the guesswork from your lucid dreaming practice.

Rock Your Dream World So You Win The Real World By embarking on this 6-week journey with Andrew Holecek, you are not just transforming your nighttime experience…

… but you’re actually changing your entire life.

Because the fact is your waking and dream consciousnesses have a bidirectional effect on each other. What happens during your day will affect what happens in your night and vice versa.

By mastering the “dream game” — your thoughts, habits, and actions in the waking state will transform in the shortest possible time.

It’s like somewhere in the deepest depths of your consciousness you’ve flipped a switch that gave you a newfound sense of freedom and confidence like nothing you’ve seen before.

For instance:

Have you ever wondered why some people can overcome any problems, however complex or unending it may seem? Did you ever find yourself opening your mouth, gasping when they achieve what they want against impossible odds? It’s because they have a tremendous sense of belief in themselves in relation to the real world. Some are natural at it. But if you want to cultivate this type of behavior, there’s no better practicing ground than the dream reality. And in just six weeks, you’ll be the person that others look to in awe. There’s no arguing that the legendary Steve Jobs had great vision. In your own life, you may have seen people like that. Perhaps your boss or someone you really admire in life. Have you ever wished you could be like them? According to a Gallup study, 50% of Americans dislike their jobs. A big part of this is because people are working on tasks that do not align with their vision. When you learn to lucid dream, you actually gain greater clarity on your purpose and mission in life and how to move towards it. When this happens you won’t need motivation — instead you jump out of bed every morning excited about your vision. If you have writer’s block, artist’s block or any other creative block, consider them gone by the end of the six weeks with Andrew Holecek. This is because Lucid Dreams are the ultimate breeding ground for all creativity. Your mind, will literally be unhooked from the imaginary leashes we carry in our waking mind, and there will be limitless possibilities. For the first time in your life, you’ll never run out of ideas. You’ll wake up every day in the morning and literally scramble for pieces of paper to write down all the ideas you’ve had in your dreams. People will start calling you the idea man or woman. And you’ll start wondering why others haven’t figured out Lucid Dreaming yet. And there are so much more transformations you’ll have thanks to Lucid Dreaming.

The truth is any of these transformations will make an amazing difference to the quality of your life. And so being able to Lucid Dream consistently and every night, is clearly one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your loved ones.

That’s why we’re excited to bring you this course with Andrew Holecek.

Course Information

Here’s How We Structured The Program For Your Maximum Results

The Dream Sculpting program is designed as a one-stop course for mastering the many facets of Lucid Dreaming. However, we also know that each person’s experience will be different, and each student may have special needs that warrant special solutions.

That’s why we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all solution.

Throughout the six weeks of Dream Sculpting program, Andrew will not only share all his best practices, techniques and tools but also Q & A sessions that will benefit the whole group just as the questions raised by other students will help you.

Plus it’s much more fun that way.

We’ve found that this level of personal student-teacher interaction is what makes a learning sprint most effective. Furthermore, we’re adding new elements to this course time and again to make your learning experience extraordinary. With Andrew’s help, you’ll master the principles that will strengthen your dreaming world and weaken the influence of external world over you. Which will slowly but surely reveal your true potential.

Here’s what the course looks like:

WEEK 01

Lucid Dreaming Foundations

In the 1st week, you’ll understand the key levers of Lucid Dreaming, the varying degrees of lucidity, and even its history. If there are any safety concerns, they will vanish during this week. You’ll also get the hang of the various possibilities for improvement and growth that comes with mastery in Lucid Dreaming. Andrew will conclude this week with a powerful daytime practice to kick start your 6-week practice.

Weekly practice:

Guided meditation. WEEK 02

Lucid dreams – Daytime techniques

Here is where things get to the next level. You’ll dive into the daytime Lucid Dream induction techniques as well as various practices for motivation, dream recalls, and dream journaling as well as practices for conducting state checks. Andrew will also guide you through Eastern and Western tips for maintaining a healthy sleep regimen. You’ll also learn how to work with dream signs and how to develop prospective memory.

Weekly practice:

LUCID SLEEP ONSET practice. Technique I: The Countdown. Exercise I: State checks. Exercise II: Dream signs. Exercise III: Developing prospective memory. WEEK 03

Lucid dreams — Nighttime techniques

The third week is devoted to night time lucidity induction techniques. You’ll understand sleep cycles and how to use them. Andrew will also walk you through some of the most proven nighttime techniques such as Mnemonic Induction method (MILD) and the Wake Back To Bed (WBTB) method. He will also teach some of the powerful Eastern dream techniques, which work with the subtle body, especially the chakras.

Weekly practice:

Technique II – MILD. Technique III – “Wake-and-back-to-bed” technique. WEEK 04

Shortcuts to Lucid Dreaming

The week 4 is about special hacks for Lucid Dreaming. You’ll learn how to use sophisticated electronic gadgets, lucid dreaming apps and natural supplements like galantamine. Plus Andrew will reveal some of his magic shortcuts that can accelerate your results. And finally, you’ll learn how to practice lucid napping, and how to play with hypnagogic and hypnopompic states, those amazing pre and post dream states.

Weekly practice:

EXERCISE in Lucid Napping. WEEK 05

Overcoming Common Hurdles

By the end of the 4th week, you’re already a proficient Lucid Dreamer. However, there might be some obstacles in your dream consciousness like “near enemies,” spiritual bypassing, and slippery things like nihilism. You’ll overcome them all. And Andrew will also teach you how to sustain a lucid dream. You’ll also learn a wonderful Buddhist practice, which is the remarkable daily practice of Illusory Form.

Weekly practice:

Illusory form Technique. WEEK 06

The Fruition of Lucid Dreaming

During the final week, you’ll learn how to translate your accomplishments in the dream world into the real world, otherwise known as the fruition of lucid dreaming. And Andrew will also discuss dream yoga and sleep yoga, showing you just how far the practice of Lucid Dreaming can go. From physical benefits to deep psychological growth, to unlimited spiritual evolution – the opportunities are endless.

Weekly practice:

Fruition of Lucid Dreaming A Huge Reservoir Of Untapped Potential… With Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars, Perhaps Even Millions In Value

Most people go through life not being aware of their full potential.

They think they are limited by their circumstances, their education, their socio-cultural upbringing or for some, even their last breakup in a relationship.

But the truth is… the greatest gift we all have as a human being is that we’re infinitely creative, and we have, within us, all the means to fulfill even the wildest of our dreams.

Only we need to step out of our ordinary consciousness to really see this potential.

Lucid Dreaming offers exactly that.

And puts more awareness in your life.

Anything that heightens awareness is beneficial.

Even if Lucid Dreaming only expands your awareness by a fraction of what is really possible, it will make your life ultimately more lively, more playful and childlike.

Lucid Dreaming also frees up extra time that you can invest in making yourself better.

Imagine having that extra edge in your job or professional career by practicing your skills in your lucid dreams. People have also used lucid dreaming to lose weight, treat trauma, eliminate stress disorders and confront their phobias.

Plus Lucid Dreaming offers the priceless opportunity for enlightenment as described in Tibetan Dream Yoga.

Can you see how much of a blessing Lucid Dreaming can bring you?

Here’s What People Say About Andrew Holecek And His Work

“The best lucid dreaming teacher in the West”

“Andrew Holecek is the best lucid dreaming teacher in the West. His teaching on this fascinating and important topic is clear, contextual, relevant, practical, engaging, and comprehensive. He is the only lucid dreaming teacher whose teaching spans both secular and religious origins of the practice, and with students, he is respectful, encouraging, and cheerful.”

Chris Thatcher Attorney/Acting Coach/Somatic Psychotherapist “I cannot recommend it enough.”

“Andrew’s Lucid Dreaming and Dream Yoga program was fantastic. He interweaves traditional dream yoga practices and perspectives with modern Western lucid dreaming methods and techniques, not simply as some intellectual endeavor to bridge East and West, but as a pragmatic approach to lucid dreaming and spirituality that focuses on what works. He is a clear speaker who brings humor to what and how he teaches. He covers the spectrum of practice and theory well, and makes it all practical and useful. I cannot recommend it enough.”

Jay Mutzafi host of LucidSage – The Lucid Dreaming Podcast “Help students access and remember complex concepts”

“Andrew’s depth of personal experience of the practices combined with his broad knowledge of the Buddhist teachings on dream yoga makes him particularly adept at guiding our journey into the dream world. He is a playful wordsmith using catchy phrases and images that help students access and remember complex concepts. His personal anecdotes make his teaching authentic and accessible. It was a joy to study the Dream Yoga teachings with Andrew.”

Dr. Ina Robbins Psychologist “His programs on these nocturnal practices are a real gift.”

“Andrew is a rare gem as a Western teacher. With dedication to the integrity of the material, he shares the benefit of a lifetime of committed study with clarity, enthusiasm, and warmth: a natural born teacher. His presentations on lucid dreaming and dream yoga are both accessible and exciting, offering profound insights for anyone committed to furthering familiarity with their own mind. Time spent with Andrew always reignites my own passion and enthusiasm for both practice and study. His programs on these nocturnal practices are a real gift.”

David Tillinghast Associate Professor and Director of Special Projects at Art Center College of Design “The practices helped me to bring together the two streams of consciousness of dream and waking life”

“Andrew’s lucid dreaming teachings stretched my understanding and appreciation of the parallel streams of my “dream life” and “waking life” far beyond what I knew was possible. The practices helped me to bring together the two streams of consciousness of dream and waking life, and my life experience increased in clarity, joy, playfulness and depth. Andrew’s teachings also helped me explore how lucid dreaming can even help me prepare for death, which in turn amplifies my attempts to be more present and alive right now.

After weeks of focused practice in the techniques, and some normal frustration at the lack of progress, the lucidity in my dreams and waking life increased 10 fold. I noticed that the other students and I eagerly awaited to share and hear about each other’s experiences in the class. Andrew created a safe space for learning and sharing that was really beautiful. Sharing was welcomed and honored, and Andrew brought humor and levity to this often clunky process.

Andrew is an intellect and a true scientist-practitioner. His vast depth of knowledge and experience with Eastern and Western philosophy and theology, Tibetan Buddhism, dream and sleep yoga, Western lucid dreaming traditions, and other scientific fields of study (physics, psychology, and neuroscience) is so profound and rich that “taking it all in” could be intimidating to the new learner. However, Andrew is so playful as he articulates the information, and shares such passion, clarity, humor, and curiosity that all kinds of people are included and welcomed to take the journey together. Students and teacher were often laughing along the way. Andrew is known for wonderful analogies that help learners grasp the material. He taught us how to prepare for the night with step by step instructions, and with meditations and visualizations. We learned that nighttime was not about “checking out” but instead about “checking in.”

I feel so blessed to have Andrew introduce me to the many phases and stages of lucid dreaming, a practice I will be exploring for the rest of my life. Every night is a cutting-through journey. It is the gift that keeps on giving.

Thanks Andrew, for supporting me and all of your students to explore these vast dimensions!”

M. Fitzgerald Ph.D., Clinical psychologist and researcher “Some of the deepest and most profound dream work I have ever experienced.”

“The lucid dreaming and dream yoga seminar with Andrew Holecek is some of the deepest and most profound dream work I have ever experienced. I continue to learn more as I practice. I am in awe and most grateful of the results that can be achieved and felt in everyday life through dream yoga practices. Most of which have been self-empowerment, calm presence and a deeper sense awareness for all I experience. Andrew Holecek is a very gifted and wholehearted teacher and facilitator of dream yoga.”

Jasmin Bloch M.A., Psychological Counselor, Art Therapist & Teacher, Zurich, Switzerland “New levels of insight for me”

“I have been studying with Andrew Holecek for many years, focusing on advanced Buddhist practices such as dream yoga, the dying process, and the Six Yogas of Naropa. Andrew is my favorite Western dharma teacher due to his tremendous ability to synthesize the Eastern wisdom and practice tradition with modern Western science and psychology. He presents his deep understanding in an accessible way that unlocks new levels of insight for me. He is able to present very advanced practices and topics in a way that is delightfully understandable because he has boiled down his extensive dharma practice and wide-ranging scholarship in the cauldron of personal experience. Out it comes with humor, clarity and insight, and this applies to both his books and personal presentations. I attend every single teaching of his that I can get to – he is that useful to me.”

Lindsay Vinyard CPA, Colorado “Profound and transformational.”

“Andrew’s teachings on lucid dreaming and Dream Yoga are profound and transformational. As a teacher, he is engaging, generous, and fun. The topics he teaches have the potential to be esoteric and unapproachable, however he teaches in such a way that his students, no matter where they are on their path, are able to understand and apply his teachings to everyday life. Each time I complete one of Andrew’s programs, I feel that my entire practice and path have been enhanced and given a more expansive, deeper meaning.”

Jennifer Wang Los Angeles “What a fascinating, intriguing experience!”

“Andrew’s Dream Yoga teachings can absolutely guide one’s experience toward lucid dreaming. I had a lucid dream guided by the the techniques offered in his program. What a fascinating, intriguing experience! During his sessions, Dr. Holecek lays out the view, describes the induction methods, and supports your journey toward understanding another dimension to self discovery — and mind’s profound essence.”

Eileen Kay Colorado “Fresh, exciting and deeply spiritual”

“Lucid Dreaming has been a study of mine for several years. Andrew’s approach to how it can be learned, mastered and applied is like nothing else I’ve come across. Fresh, exciting and deeply spiritual, this retreat awakened me, while inviting me to “find myself” in sleep.”

Misha Wolf Vancouver “Fresh, exciting and deeply spiritual”

“Lucid Dreaming has been a study of mine for several years. Andrew’s approach to how it can be learned, mastered and applied is like nothing else I’ve come across. Fresh, exciting and deeply spiritual, this retreat awakened me, while inviting me to “find myself” in sleep.”

Misha Wolf Vancouver What other Authors Say About Andrew Holecek

“From Andrew Holecek’s first words, you know you can trust him. He writes from deeply felt experience as well as a masterful grasp of the vast dharma.”

Testimonial By Irini Rockwell | Lucid Dreaming – Mindvalley Academy Irini Rockwell Author of The Five Wisdom Energies

“Don’t miss your opportunity to realize some of the very deepest and highest of all human potentials, from a real master of these realms!”

Testimonial By Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche | Lucid Dreaming – Mindvalley Academy Ken Wilber Author of The Fourth Turning

“Andrew Holecek helps us to accept the inevitability of difficulty and find new ways of coping with challenge.”

Testimonial By Andrea Miller | Lucid Dreaming – Mindvalley Academy Andrea Miller Editor, Shambhala Sun magazine

Enroll Now

We’re Making This Affordable For Everyone

When we set out to build a gold standard course in Lucid Dreaming, we looked for the absolute best teacher in the world. And we’ve found one in Andrew Holecek.

But the fact is… teachers like Andrew Holecek are so precious in this world that students are willing to pay a fortune for the chance of learning directly from them.

If you were to hire a top Lucid Dreaming instructor to take you through journey personally, it would probably require an investment of at least $1,000.

And we know not everyone has a spare grand to invest.

Still, we want you to experience the results.

That’s why we’ve worked hard to make this course — where you learn directly from Andrew — as affordable as possible. The regular price for the Dream Sculpting program is an investment of $1095.

But that’s not even what you’ll pay when you enroll today.

Since this is a new course in Mindvalley Academy and to encourage as many people as possible to try it out, we’re offering a 55% discount for a limited time.

Today, you can enroll in the Dream Sculpting program with just a single payment of $495 only.

And the best part is you don’t even have to decide now.

Ranked Top 10 Best Customer Support Team in the World by NiceReply

As Mindvalley’s Customer Happiness Manager, it’s my goal to ensure you get the best experience with this course. Our support staff consistently rank among the top of all companies using NiceReply, which scores customer support service. Know that you can always find instant answers on our on our support center, or email us directly, or talk with our caring support agents (Monday to Friday, 7am – 7pm Pacific Time).

Advantage 1Safe Enrollment Program – this means you can enroll in ANY course and get full access instantly and still claim a full and timely refund within 30 days if it does not meet your highest expectation. Advantage 2Results – We work only with the best teachers and curriculums that deliver amazing results and raving fans. Advantage 3Quality – Mindvalley is known for World Class Customer Service, Design and Learning Experience.

Kristi Anier Customer Happiness Team Lead Don’t Decide Now… Take All The Time You Need And Try Dream Sculpting For 30 Days

Here’s what we propose:

Try the Dream Sculpting course for a full 30 days… go through the program… attend the recordings with Andrew Holecek… If by the 30th day, you find it’s just not working for you… if you don’t find yourself growing significantly lucid in your dreams and on the path to a great adventure in an alternate reality…

Simply let us know, and we’ll refund everything you’ve paid for the enrollment.

Chances are you will go on to complete the full six weeks with Andrew and experience a life-changing shift. Because if you really put forth some effort, it’s inevitable that you see results.

Andrew will walk you through his best techniques and practices…

He’ll guide you step-by-step through them…

He’ll be there to encourage you… answer your questions…

You’ll also get supported by a passionate community of Lucid Dreamers…

Andrew may also offer customized solutions to suit your needs…

And on top of everything, you enjoy complete peace of mind knowing that if you are not blown away by your results within 30 days… you pay nothing for the course.

In other words, you will win no matter what.

So click the Add-to-Cart button below.

And get started today.

Click the “Add to Cart” Button & Try Dream Sculpting With Andrew Holecek Now

Here’s everything you get when you order:

A comprehensive 6-week course with 6 recorded lectures, guidance audios, and fun, playful homework exercises in Lucid Dreaming The shortest path to mastering Lucid Dreaming and beginning your exploration Six Coaching and Q&A sessions with Andrew Holecek All the guided practices as separate MP3 Handouts and transcripts to aid your learning An unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can be sure this course is the perfect fit for you with no risk on your part Award-winning customer support whenever you need help, so you know you are always taken care of Payment Plan Option Flexible payment option for you to get access to the program risk-free for 30 days from the day you enrol.

$179 billed monthly for 3 months for a total of $537

$419 $179

ADD TO CART Single Payment Option Get instant access with one payment and save more than 50% on the original program

$1095 $495

ADD TO CART

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What Happens After You Order Secure checkout page Secure checkout page Click the Add to Cart above and you’ll be taken to a Secure Order Page.

Log into your account Log into your account Complete your Order and you’ll get an Email with your Login and Password

Enjoy your new course Enjoy your new course Visit Learn.Mindvalley.com and login to Access Your Program.

Quit Thinking About It And Begin Experiencing Today

In life, mistakes are normal. No one gets it right at one go.

Unless you aren’t afraid to make mistakes, you can’t live your life fully.

However, there’s one mistake that most people make that doesn’t add much to their life.

And that’s the mistake of not trying at all.

The “some day” syndrome: “Some day I’ll try it.”

Did you come this far in your journey with us only to be bogged down by it?

The fact is… you’ve always wanted to experience Lucid Dream for a while now.

You’ve done your research — you’ve heard stories of how people can fly, have the most surreal experiences and explore the universe consciously in their dreams.

Yet, you haven’t gotten serious about it.

Remember that reality is what you give attention to.

Attend to the superficial psyche, which is always looking out, and you will skim the surface of life and forever remain asleep.

You’ll never know who you really are.

Lucid dreaming allows you to reverse your gaze and attend to your real self, which will wake you up to your true nature.

And there has never been a wrong time to do that.

Try Dream Sculpting today.

You can click the Add-To-Cart button to get started immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did We Really Drop The Price By 55%? + Who is Dream Sculpting for? What exactly will it do for me? + What does the Dream Sculpting program look like? + Will I be able to Lucid Dream? Can everyone do it? + Is lucid dreaming safe? + Why should I study Lucid Dreaming? + Do you guarantee that it will work for me? + How long does it take to see results? + Click the “Add to Cart” Button & Try Dream Sculpting With Andrew Holecek Now

Here’s everything you get when you order:

A comprehensive 6-week course with 6 recorded lectures, guidance audios, and fun, playful homework exercises in Lucid Dreaming The shortest path to mastering Lucid Dreaming and beginning your exploration Six Coaching and Q&A sessions with Andrew Holecek All the guided practices as separate MP3 Handouts and transcripts to aid your learning An unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can be sure this course is the perfect fit for you with no risk on your part Award-winning customer support whenever you need help, so you know you are always taken care of

Andrew Holecek – Dream Sculpting posted first on premiumwarezstore.blogspot.com