bramblywitch

[bramblywitch]

Jedi and Anxiety: Finding Peace in a Restless Mind

“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.” – Yoda

Anxiety is something nearly all of us face. It shows up as racing thoughts, tightness in the chest, second-guessing everything, or feeling like you’re one wrong move from disaster. And while the Jedi are known for calm and clarity, they are not free from fear or worry.

What sets a Jedi apart is not the absence of anxiety but how they respond to it.

Anxiety Is Natural. Reactivity Is a Choice.

Jedi are trained to feel emotion, but not to be controlled by it. That includes anxiety.

“The Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind.” – Yoda

In Jediism, it doesn't mean suppressing how we feel. Rather it means we observe, we breathe, and we respond deliberately. Anxiety clouds judgment. Jedi practice presence, even when the mind is loud. That starts with recognizing the voice of fear and choosing not to obey it.

Why Overthinking Leads to the Dark Side

When you’re overthinking, your mind is trying to predict and control every possible outcome. But control is an illusion, and the desire for control is a breeding ground for fear.

“Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

This doesn't mean you're becoming a "Sith" for worrying. It means that left unchecked, anxiety becomes a loop: worry → avoidance → guilt → more worry. A Jedi breaks the loop with awareness and grounded action.

Overthinking is the mind’s attempt to protect. Jedi training teaches us to trust something deeper: our clarity, our preparation, our connection to the present. (Hey! Is this helpful? We would love to have you in our NEW Jedi Community.)

Jedi Tools for an Anxious Mind

Here are a few real-world tools Jedi use to meet anxiety without being ruled by it:

1. Breathwork

“Breathe. Just breathe.” – Luke Skywalker

When the mind spirals, return to the breath. Inhale slowly through the nose for 5 counts. Hold for 6 counts. Exhale through the mouth for 7 counts. Do it again. And again. Let your nervous system reset.

2. Mindful Movement Anxiety is energy. If it has nowhere to go, it builds. Jedi walk, stretch, train, move, to help their mental state, too.

3. Thought Observation Instead of arguing with your thoughts, notice them. Label them. “That’s fear.” “That’s doubt.” “That’s a future I don’t control.” Naming separates you from the storm.

4. Service to Others The Jedi serve. Anxiety often pulls us inward, but serving others (even in small ways) can restore balance and purpose. This can be something as simple as leaving a nice social media comment, or appropriately complimenting someone.

You Are Not Broken. You Are Becoming.

“The Force will be with you. Always.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi

The presence of anxiety doesn’t mean you’re failing...it means you’re human. The Jedi path is not about eliminating all fear but learning to live well in its presence.

Some days, the mind will be loud. Some days, peace will feel far away. But you are still walking the path. Every breath, every moment of awareness, every time you choose calm over chaos.

That’s the Jedi Way in action.

You don’t have to fix everything. Just stay grounded. Keep showing up. The Force is with you, and so are we. -Ael Adrel

[bramblywitch]

[bramblywitch]

Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski (in the home of the other Jeffrey Lebowski) in The Big Lebowski (Coen Bros, 1998).

[bramblywitch]

We're All Dicks Sometimes

I was very un-Dude last week. Work was crazy and the stress got me wound up. I was a dick.

But you know what? That's okay.

We're all a little uptight and dickish sometimes. It's just the way it is. The best we can do is try to take time to take 'er easy, to drop in and see what condition our condition is in.

And we need to f*kin' apologize. Admitting when we've been a dick is strength, not weakness, and gets us back to being Dude.

The Dude abides.

[bramblywitch]

"New Testament God is merciful and kind, Old Testament God is wrathful and vindictive!"

Old Testament God: "Look kid, you just invented murder and fratricide, even the planet itself is freaked out about it, I can't just let that slide, but you are right that people will want to commit vigilante justice against you, so you know what? I'm gonna give you a special tattoo to warn everyone that you're off-limits."

Old Testament God: "The Earth is crying. The Earth is literally crying, that's how badly the humans have messed things up. I'll give them a couple centuries, hopefully they'll fix things by then, but if not I'll have to do something drastic"

Old Testamemt God: "I might have gotten a bit carried away with the whole 'flood the Earth' thing. Gonna make sure not to do that again"

Old Testament God: "Okay, fine, if you can find me ten people in Rapist City who aren't evil, I won't nuke it. Not gonna go any lower than ten"

New Testament God: "Yeah, if you don't devote your entire life to me I will torture you for all eternity. Peace and love!"

[bramblywitch]

Shavuot really is That girl. You have to have a countdown 50 days in advance till i get here. Yes, i will keep you up all night. You will wear all white for me. Im going to stuff you with cheese till you explode. Yes, i am associated with the most prominent story centered around the relationship between 2 female characters. She is diva, she is elegance, she is serving cunt. Theres truly no one else like her. We have the neurotic gay cousin holiday (purim) and the cottagecore aunt holiday (sukkot) and the nerdy undiagnosed dad holiday (pesach) and many many more, but no one truly does cool confident older sister the way shavuot does. She is the moment, she is THAT girl.

[bramblywitch]

Look at this lovely 1970s kids' Yiddish primer I found on the Internet Archive.

Yiddisher Kinder Alef by Joseph Mlotek, published by The Workmen's Circle, (now The Workers Circle) 1971.

The plot lines aren't that compelling but the illustrations are delightful.

Here's a seasonal one for Sukkot.

[bramblywitch]

HP: Magic Rejuvenated Masterlist

Intro

WORLDBUILDING

UK Wizarding Community

schools

Hogwarts

Beauxbatons

Durmstrang

CHARACTERS

protagonists

Harry Potter

Hermione Granger

Ron Weasley

ORIGINAL CHARACTERS

TBA

Tagging - @adrianasunderworld @the-trinket-witch @yumeko2sevilla @frosity @zexal-club @ice-cweam-sod4 @abyssthing198 @the-weirdos-mind @queen-of-twisted @mangacupcake @fair-night-starry-tears @absolutepokemontrash @achy-boo @liviavanrouge @tragedytells-tales @reawakened-goddess @vampviia @boopshoops

[bramblywitch]

HP: Magic Rejuvenated - Hogwarts

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, or simply Hogwarts, is the British wizarding school located in the Scottish Highlands.

Any magical children residing in Great Britain or Ireland who had reached the age of 13 by the start of the incoming term were accepted as students. The school is open to mages regardless of blood-types

The school's motto is Magia est omnibus, which, translated from Latin, means "Magic is for all."

HISTORY

Founded on 997 AD by one of the greatest sorcerers Myrddin Wyllt, or Merlin as he prefers to be called, with the assistance of his five students students at the time:

Godric Gryffindor

Helga Hufflepuff

Rowena Ravenclaw

Salazar Slytherin

Morgan le Fay

EDUCATION

Hogwarts is a seven-year magical institute divided into three school terms: Autumn (September-December), Spring (January-April), & Summer (May-June).

Years 1 and 2, also known as the Foundation Years, are when students focuses on introduction of the core magical subjects: Defense & Duelcraft, Natural & Magical Theory, Charms & Wards, Herbology, Transfiguration, & Potions.

Year 1 students, in addition to the core magical subjects, also take special classes: Flying, Core Magical Theory, Ethical Spellwork, & Latin where they are taught the basic foundation of being a mage.

Year 2 students focus on learning about outside the UK wizarding community in their core subjects: World Cultures, Wizarding History, Wizarding Culture, Muggle History, Science & Technology. Near the end of the second year, students have a counseling with a teacher to choose the electives they want to take/are recommended to take.

Year 3 is when students begin to take their chosen elective subjects: Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Ancient Runes, Self Defense & Dueling, Elemental Magic. This is also when students are allowed to visit Hogsmeade without staff supervision. This is mainly the year where students begin to show their individual magical talents.

Year 4 students begin to take more intermediate classes of the electives that they chose during their Year 3. This is also when students are able to partake in the Magical Apprenticeship Program as part of Hogwarts curriculum. The program encourages students to work with magical professionals, Hogwarts staff & alumni included, in order to gain real-world experience outside the classroom.

Year 5 students begin to focus on taking their OWLs (Ordinary Wizarding Level Exams), which are exams that are designed to cover all subjects students have taken. This is also the year where students meet with teachers to go over career planning, where they get to explore various options on career paths they could take. In addition, students who wish to focuses on specialized careers are allowed to take advanced core subjects before their sixth year.

Year 6 students begin to focus on electives as well as advanced classes such as: Alchemy, Advanced Magical Theory, & Advanced Potion Making. Placement in these classes is based on the scores students received on their OWLs (usually between an E & an O). It’s also the year that students start working on their NEWTs (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests) and brainstorming on their final projects, independent spellwork, or magical thesis that they’ll begin working once their 7th year begin.

Year 7 students focus on completing their NEWTs as well as when working on their final projects, independent spellwork, or magical thesis. During this school, students must choose a career track for themselves which includes: Magical Creature Care, Potion Brewing, and Magical Education.

Tagging - @adrianasunderworld @yumeko2sevilla @frosity @abyssthing198 @fair-night-starry-tears @tragedytells-tales @the-trinket-witch @the-weirdos-mind @ice-cweam-sod4 @reawakened-goddess @liviavanrouge @queen-of-twisted @mangacupcake @zexal-club @kousaka-ayumu @achy-boo @boopshoops

[bramblywitch]

HP: Magic Rejuvenated - Hogwarts/Hufflepuff

Founder: Helga Hufflepuff

House Colors: Honey & Sage

Element: Earth

Animal: Badger

Motto: "Where the hearth burns, we stand and tend."

Core Traits & Values: Hard Work | Empathy | Kindness | Community | Fairness | Compassion

Hufflepuff students are known for their quiet strength; being the hardest workers while also being the kindest of the bunch. They value the power of compassion and empathy over the chance of earning fame and glory.

Helga Hufflepuff believed that anyone with the capacity of magic should be free to learn. That welcoming those who were often overlooked by others is a strength that cannot be faked; her students having that quiet yet powerful strength within each of them.

Hufflepuffs are the ones who will offer for those who are in need a hand, even when everyone else has turned them away. The ones who get the job done without the desire of being in the spotlight, always ready to help their friends.

Earth, dependable and nurturing to a fault.

Badger, often underestimated but still protective.

Honey and sage, the healing heart & the guiding mind of every Hufflepuff.

Tagging - @adrianasunderworld @yumeko2sevilla @achy-boo @queen-of-twisted @frosity @zexal-club @liviavanrouge @tragedytells-tales @boopshoops @the-weirdos-mind @abyssthing198 @fair-night-starry-tears @mangacupcake @nproduction626 @lovelybuefood

[bramblywitch]

Jewish culture is Spock.

.

[bramblywitch]

Art by Katie Daisy (source)

[bramblywitch]

[bramblywitch]

F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Beautiful and Damned.

[bramblywitch]

ketubahring

🥖✨Wheat, fruit, and a little bit of magic… Shavuot begins tonight!! 🌾🍇🌙 Not just a day of cheesecake and flowers (though I’m not mad about that), Shavuot is one of the most ancient and meaningful celebrations on the Jewish calendar. It marks the moment we honor the wheat harvest in the Holy Land and the seasonal shift when the earth gives generously: think olives, figs, grapes, pomegranates, and dates. Symbolic, earthy, and absolutely beautiful. Traditionally, Shavuot also celebrates the receiving of sacred wisdom (yes, that famous moment at Sinai), but it’s just as much a celebration of first fruits, both literal and spiritual. It’s a reminder to pause, reflect, and ask: what are we harvesting in our own lives right now? ✨If you don’t have anything planned, don’t worry, there are still so many lovely ways to bring the spirit of Shavuot into your space. A simple spread of seasonal fruits, roasted veggies, fresh herbs, rustic breads, anything grain-based or nourishing. Basically, any food that feels grounded, earthy, and made with love. Light a candle, eat something meaningful, and take a moment to feel connected to the season. Wishing you a meaningful, nourishing, and mystical Shavuot. May your harvest, inside and out, be sweet 🌾💫

[bramblywitch]

The Book of Ruth is a short biblical book that tells the story of a Moabite woman named Ruth who, after her husband dies, follows her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth gleans in the fields of Boaz, a wealthy landowner who is a relative of Naomi's. Ruth and Boaz eventually marry and have a son, Obed, who is the grandfather of King David.

The Book of Ruth is read on Shavuot, the Jewish holiday that commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

* The Book of Ruth is a story of redemption and hope. Ruth. who is a non-Jew, not only is welcomed by Jews but eventually becomes the ancestor of King David.

* The Book of Ruth is also a story of kindness and generosity. Ruth shows great kindness to Naomi, even though Naomi is not her biological mother. Boaz also shows great kindness to Ruth, by marrying her and providing for her and her son.

* The Book of Ruth is also a story of harvest. The story takes place during the barley harvest, and Ruth's act of gleaning is a reminder of the importance of agriculture and the land. Shavuot, is also a holiday that celebrates the first fruits of the harvest.

Unlike social media- Ruth was not out to get followers or fame. She simply loved genuinely and was loved in return. In her famous words... But Ruth said, "Don't force me to leave you; don't make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I'Il live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I'Il die, and that's where l'll be buried, so help me GOD-not even death itself is going to come between us!"

Afshine Emrani