#Benefits of Educational Interpreter

[metausa23]

Introduction

Educational interpreter services are instrumental in bridging communication gaps between students who are Deaf or hard of hearing and their peers, teachers, and other school staff. These services ensure that all students have equal opportunities to participate in classroom activities, engage with instructional materials, and fully benefit from their educational experiences.

What Are Educational Interpreter Services?

Educational interpreter services involve the provision of skilled professionals who facilitate communication between individuals who use sign language and those who do not. These services are utilized in various educational settings, including primary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities.

Benefits of Educational Interpreter Services

Improved Communication

One of the primary benefits of educational interpreter services is the facilitation of clear and accurate communication. By having a trained interpreter present, students who are Deaf or hard of hearing can fully understand classroom discussions, lectures, and instructions.

Enhanced Learning Experience

Educational interpreters contribute to a more inclusive learning environment by ensuring that students who are Deaf or hard of hearing have access to the same information as their hearing peers. This inclusivity promotes diversity and enriches the educational experience for all students.

Access to Education for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students

Educational interpreter services are essential for ensuring that students who are Deaf or hard of hearing have equal access to education. By providing interpretation services, educational institutions can accommodate the diverse needs of all students and foster an environment of equity and inclusion.

Facilitation of Inclusive Environments

Educational interpreter services promote inclusivity by breaking down barriers to communication and fostering a sense of belonging for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing. This inclusivity extends beyond the classroom and contributes to the overall culture of the educational institution.

How Educational Interpreter Services Work

Educational interpreters undergo specialized training to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively facilitate communication in educational settings. They are proficient in sign language and have a deep understanding of the subject matter being interpreted.

Challenges and Solutions

While educational interpreter services offer numerous benefits, they also present challenges, such as addressing language barriers and ensuring cultural competency. However, these challenges can be overcome through ongoing training and professional development for interpreters.

Impact on Student Success

Research has shown that access to educational interpreter services positively impacts student success, both academically and socially. Students who receive appropriate support through interpretation services are more likely to achieve their academic goals and develop strong social and emotional skills.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Educational interpreter services are governed by laws and regulations, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which mandates that students with disabilities, including those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, receive appropriate accommodations to ensure equal access to education.

Cost-Effectiveness of Educational Interpreter Services

While there are costs associated with providing educational interpreter services, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial investment. By investing in these services, educational institutions can promote student success, foster inclusivity, and comply with legal requirements.

Future Trends

As technology continues to advance, the field of educational interpreting is evolving to incorporate new tools and techniques. Additionally, there is growing recognition of the importance of these services, leading to increased demand and support for educational interpreters.

Conclusion

Educational interpreter services play a vital role in ensuring that students who are Deaf or hard of hearing have equal access to education. By facilitating clear communication and fostering inclusive environments, these services contribute to student success and promote diversity within educational institutions.

[chronicbitchsyndrome]

i have been in community with profoundly developmentally disabled peers and peers with brain damage my whole life, bc i had a childhood diagnosis. i have also been leftist my whole life; my mother was a marxist and raised me that way, and while their politics were absolute dogshit, they were lefty dogshit.

my entire life, i have seen leftist educators throw mentally disabled people away as "lost causes" because they couldn't engage with the material the way it was being presented. leftist outreach and education does, genuinely, have a massive lack of accessible material. to be blunt, people are not interested in retrofitting their leftist outreach to be accessible to people who learn best through episodes of sesame street.

as in, i have repeatedly faced outright laughter and cruelty over the idea that this could be a priority. or even something that we consider doing at all.

"people who are that mentally disabled don't need to know about these things," the kindest interpretation goes. ("people who are that mentally disabled don't interact with the world, anyway, they're all in institutions or monitored 24/7 by their parents," the uncharitable underlying assumptions go. "they wouldn't be a worker who needs a union. or a library attendee. or a member of the community garden. or a volunteer at the food bank. or or or")

the people i have seen this hurt the worst, over and over again, are profoundly mentally disabled people of color whose lack of access to accessible antiracist education is causing real danger in their lives. institutionalized disabled people of color who have learned racist ideology and behaviors from white authority, whether they were adopted by white families or incarcerated in care institutions run by white staff. who are treated lower than garbage by leftist educators, who view them as "lost causes," as unworthy of time and effort and attention, as deserving of their abuses because they... what... internalized the abuses that make up every aspect of their lives since birth?

i see people saying things in this conversation like "disability isn't an excuse for racism or transphobia or whatever, people have the obligation to improve themselves." oh, believe me, i have seen again and again how many privileged disabled people utilize their disabilities to punch down on others, try to escape accountability for their punching down by citing disability. but individual weaponization of identity is just that: weaponization of identity.

the power structures at play are what they are. it is a noble and admirable goal to want leftist outreach and education to be more accessible to all. if that is truly your goal, you must eventually reckon with the existence of people who do, actually, really need it presented in a picture book. or an episode of bluey. or a conversation where you only use examples of people they know in real life, using things that happened to them personally. the existence of people who cannot grasp forms of abstract reasoning, who need information presented as rules, or as guidelines, or as categories. the idea that yes, fully grown adults who need daniel tiger to explain racism to them are human beings who not only deserve access to that very thing, but who also deserve to be a part of leftist spaces and benefit from leftist organizing. are people for whom it might be INTEGRAL they get to be a part of leftism. are victims of racism themselves and suffering without access to antiracist spaces and community and support.

and you will need to reckon with the abject cruelty of your peers who laugh and mock the very idea of this. you need to reckon with the fact that a lot of people you respect, a lot of leftists doing genuinely good work, will respond to this by making fun of the people you're serving, even outright telling you their violent fantasies about these people. that is the experience of organizing in leftist spaces for profoundly disabled people. that is why so many of us burn out so fast. there IS a structural problem with mentally disabled people being seen as disposable and not a part of community. and it is EXTREMELY present in leftist organizing and outreach efforts.

[companioncute]

Syncopate my skin to your heart beating

Pairing: Mark Grayson (Invincible (2021)) x fem!girly!reader

Summary: Unlikely friendship, even more unlikely relationship… or is it?

Notes: hey divas… I am soooo bad at posting sorry :(( I get stuck on the nsfw part bc I honestly suck at writing it, but I see the differences in how my nsfw vs sfw posts do, so I guess I’ll be a sellout

Cw: making out, penetrative sex, reader is very stereotypically feminine, reader implied to be upper middle/upper class (or have a suspicious source of income? Up to interpretation), reader is a nerd at heart, reader described as able-bodied (can stand/walk), reader attends university, idiots in love, friends-with-benefits (?) to lovers

Tw: graphic descriptions of sex

From an outside perspective, sure, you and Mark Grayson are an odd pair of friends. By outward appearances, Mark is comic posters with frayed edges, wobbly vintage second-hand vinyl, collared shirts underneath sweaters his mom has bought for him, and windswept hair that not even the usual pound of hair gel he used could tame. You, on the other hand, are glittering tennis jewelry, style section, alabaster pink matelassé nappa leather, and lace-trimmed silk.

On the inside, however, you and Mark are one and the same… to some extent.

“Does it look weird on me?” You ask, your upper body twisted 180 degrees as you look at the back of your new skirt in the mirror. “Is it the slit? I’m not sure I have the legs for this.”

The embroidered sequins catch the light, causing a shimmering effect to draw attention to the pink mini skirt (though Mark would argue that it’s a micro skirt). Two chunky leather buckles clasp the item together at the front, buckled one hole up so that it hangs as ideally low on your hips as you desire.

“Where would you even wear that?” Mark asks, his cheeks flushed as his eyes trace the way the skirt digs into the fat of your hips. “Seems… impractical.”

“It’s cute,” you say with a shrug. “Do you not like it?”

“I— I love it,” he laugh nervously, giving you small grin. “Just not much of a fashion guy. I’m sure I don’t know what I’m talking about.”

“I’m trying to give, like, Sydney Sweeney for Miu Miu meets Lily-Rose Depp for Chanel,” you sigh, continuing to twist around yourself to look at the skirt.

“I’m not even going to pretend to know what that means,” Mark snorts, rolling his eyes as he return to the comic you’ve drawn his attention away from. “But… you look, um, good. Great. You always do.”

A part of you wants to tease him, to draw out that pretty flushed pink color on his face, but instead you simply smile.

“Thank you, Mark. That’s really sweet.”

“Yeah, um, don’t mention it,” he laughs softly, unable to look up at you.

You slip out of the skirt, uncaring for the way your lower half is only covered by a pink lace thong and a pair of scrunched-up white ribbed socks that dig into your upper calf.

Changing in front of each other is nothing new. Back when you’d barely grown out of being a toddler, the two of you would run naked around in his backyard while jumping over Debbie’s garden sprinkler system. The difference now is that you’re not children anymore and you certainly don’t look it either. The weight of adulthood is taxing on you both, shown both physically and mentally.

There’s a permanent crease etched into marks forehead, right between his brows. His jaw always looks a little more crooked than the last time you saw him, and whenever he needs to regrow his teeth, they don’t always assume the correct position.

He’s still beautiful.

You’re tired, too. Although you’re no Atlas like Mark, the responsibilities of your education and student assistant jobs and clubs are also taking their toll on you. You hide it well, your concealer always brightening the chronically dark circles around your eyes.

You unbutton your top as well and slip out of your bra before throwing on something more comfortable. A trusted staple; a pink negligée, trimmed with lace. You’re a regular Naomi Lapaglia.

Crawling into the plush pink sheets, you curl up in Mark’s arms.

“I missed you,” you murmur into his neck.

Mark slides the John Constantine, Hellblazer omnibus across your bedside table to wrap his strong arms around you tightly.

“Missed you more,” he replies, running his fingers down your spine.

Your room, your home, is his sanctuary (not that his own home isn’t, but yours is different). It’s just the two of you here, just you and Mark—not Invincible. He’s never Invincible here. Lines tend to blur and you’ll spend hours tangled up in each other only to still call it friendship later.

“Missed you most,” you say, smiling sweetly up at him.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he whispers, fixing the morganite pendant of your necklace. His fingers are warm as they brush against your skin, holding onto the pale pink gem while sliding the hook on the chain onto the back of your neck.

“I’m not doing anything,” you whisper back, blinking heavily as you struggle to keep your eyes open. You’ve spent too many hours staring at a computer screen today.

Mark laugh softly, shaking his head.

“Liar.”

“Nuh-uh,” you murmur, grinning softly. Finely manicured nails scrape gently along his forearm, running over the fine layer of dark hair.

Mark only smiles, then leans down to kiss your forehead.

“Is this new?” You murmur, fingering the material of his shirt—a deep blue boxy t-shirt.

“Mhm,” he hum softly. “My mom got it for me.”

You chuckle softly.

“Debbie has good taste. Blue is your color.”

“Yeah?” He whispers, his breath hitching. It doesn’t matter whether or not it was before… blue is suddenly his favorite color. In fact, he might only wear blue from now on.

“Uh-huh,” you say, your nails carefully trickling down his chest. Your fingers dip under his shirt, splaying out against his abdomen. A sigh leaves you as you rest your head against his chest.

Mark tightens his grip on you, tugging the pink covers up over your shoulders.

“I love you,” he whispers; words he’s spoken many times before, yet never so tenderly. “You know that, right?”

“I love you, too,” you respond, angling your face up to look at him. “More than anything.”

“You can’t just say things like that,” he laughs quietly, his chest rumbling underneath you. His fingers run over your scalp, down your neck and spine again. “You’re gonna give a guy the wrong idea.”

“It’s different when it’s you,” you say, delicately tracing little hearts into the warm skin of his stomach.

It’s things like that which take Mark back to when he’d first introduced you to William, who had been all but bug-eyed at 17, staring at you with wonder. According to him, there was simply no way a girl like you had any reason to show interest in Mark other than to bully him. Then, within the first ten seconds of you opening your mouth, you’d begun gushing about William’s ‘cunty’ LEGO Batman: the video game (PS3) t-shirt which sent you off on a tangent about your chronic overuse of Poison Ivy’s toxic kiss back when you were eight years old, which, yeah, was totally a moment of self-discovery for you.

And then William got it, but Mark still finds himself mulling over his words.

Is he only good enough to be your friend (whom you may or may not kiss every once in a while)?

No. You’ve never made him feel less. If anything, his dorky personality and cringe one-liners only seem to make you adore him more.

“Does it have to be?” Mark asks softly, tapping his finger against the tip of your nose only to get some of your highlighter smudged onto the pad.

You tilt your head, laughing softly.

“What do you mean?”

“Just…” he begins, swiping his thumb across your cheekbone (much to your displeasure, as he always manages to smudge your otherwise perfect blush placement), “no, nothing. Forget it.”

You purse your lips (cutely, Mark notes), smacking your glossy pink lips as you sit up to straddle his lap. Routinely, Mark’s hands find your hips.

“Don’t give me that tone,” you say, raising a brow. “Defeated. Pathetic. Like nothing you have to say has any value.”

He sighs, shaking his head.

“It’s stupid,” Mark argues, his fingers dipping underneath the lace trim that lays flush against your creamy thighs.

“Nothing you ever say is stupid,” you say softly, then grin. “Okay, maybe some of the things you say are… but not this time.”

Mark laugh softly, then leans up to kiss you. It’s not the first time he’s kissed you, but it’s not something you ever really talk about.

A hum leaves you as you melt into the kiss, his strong arms circling your hips and pulling you closer.

“Don’t try to change the topic,” you murmur in between kisses. “I’m not gonna let it go.”

“Stubborn as a mule,” he laughs softly, pressing a gentle kiss to your jaw. “I just… do you never get tired of this?”

You pause, frowning.

“What— us?”

“Wha— no! No, no,” Mark reassures you, his fingers running up the sides of your ribs. “Never us, never you. Just… this uncertainty. I mean, sometimes I… I don’t know if you’re just not looking for more or if it’s because I’m me and—“

“Stop,” you say, curling your fingers around the nape of his neck. “What’re you talking about?”

Mark sighs, his shoulders slumping.

“If there’s one thing I know to be true about you, it’s that you always just go for what you want. If you want something, you take it. And sometimes I just wish you would…”

“What?” You ask, a smile tugging on the corner of your lips. “Take you?”

He laughs, his head slumping down against your shoulder.

“Okay, not great phrasing, but you know what I mean.”

You snort, grinning crookedly at him.

“I know what you mean,” you repeat, sliding your hand delicately up his neck to cradle his jaw, tilting his head back.

He sighs, closing his eyes.

“Consider this,” your murmur, leaning down to kiss his forehead, then both eyelids, the tip of his nose, and finally his lips, “me taking what I want.”

Mark swallows a moan, his grip tightening on your hips as he leans into the kiss. Strong, deft fingers dig into your flesh, then slide down the curve of your ass.

“Mh, love you so much,” he whispers in between kisses, sliding your negligee up alongside his hands’ movement back up to your waist. “You’re too good for me.”

Part of you is tempted to counter with ‘you’re literally Invincible’, but Invincible isn’t a name allowed inside your home—only Mark, your Mark. You’re not going to equate his worthiness of being with you to how strong he is; Mark is enough.

“Love you more,” you whisper, smiling sweetly as your lipgloss gets smeared across his own lips. “It’s always been you.”

You swipe your thumb across his bottom lip, tugging it down as you apply pressure.

“Desire suits you,” you murmur.

Marks stares up at you, pupils blown wide. There’s something about your tone…

“Oh,” he says, grinning boyishly and proudly. “Oh, I get it. That’s the shade name.”

You grin brightly, letting an undignified giggle escape your lips.

“Sure is,” you laugh, kissing him again. “This is a 38 dollar lip balm.”

“That price has to be a criminal offense,” Mark chuckles, his hands running up your sides. “But I’m honored that you’re wasting it on me.”

“It’s never a waste if I’m kissing you,” you tut, brushing his hair back.

“You really mean that, huh,” Mark states softly, smiling to himself.

“Mhm,” you hum, cradling his face in your hands. Long, pinkish nails scrape against his scalp as you run your fingers up and through his hair again, then settling them behind his neck. “I could also just let you borrow some. It suits you.”

“Don’t make me get the spray bottle,” he jokes, pinching your hip.

“Oh, bite me,” you counter, rolling your eyes playfully. “Like there’s anything you wouldn’t let me get away with.”

“Okay, yeah,” Mark says with a soft grin. “Maybe I’m biased when it comes to you.”

“Just a smidge,” you murmur, punching your thumb and index finger together for emphasis.

“Just a smidge,” Mark repeats, pressing a soft kiss to the tip of your nose.

With a giggle, you capture his lips in another slow, deep kiss. You tug lightly on his hair, tilting his head back before letting your lips trail down the column of his throat.

A strangled groan leaves Mark, his grip on your hips tightening as he pulls you closer.

“Baby,” he whispers, “don’t— don’t start something you’re not gonna finish. I’m not strong enough for that.”

“I’ve been considering getting the Tom Taylor Nightwing omnibus when it comes out this summer,” you say simply, peppering soft kisses further down his neck and leaving behind a shimmering pink smudge. “Thoughts?”

“There are literally no thoughts in my head right now,” he laughs softly, smiling dazedly down at you. “Go for it. I’ll— I’ll get it for you.”

“Yeah?” You whisper, smiling sweetly. “You will? Oh, Mark, you’re the best.”

“Uh-huh,” he murmurs, still grinning. “That’s me. The best.”

You reach down, tugging on shirt.

“Off, please,” you say in a polite tone.

“As you wish,” he laughs softly, reluctantly letting go of you to shrug the t-shirt over his head—and not without struggle.

“No, no, I got it,” he says sheepishly, smiling brightly through the darkening of his cheeks as he manages to discard the shirt.

“There we go,” you murmur, running a hand down his chest. “Handsome. You’ve gotten really big these past few years, y’know.”

Sometimes it’s almost too easy.

Mark’s spine straightens and his grin brightens.

“I know, right? Cecil has me on this tight program—“

You slip the negligee off your shoulders, letting the silk pool around your hips and expose your breasts.

“Hoo, boy,” Mark murmurs, grinning boyishly as his train of thought is interrupted. “You don’t know how hard it is having you change around me. I mean, the— the girls are just out, y’know?”

“That’s just, like, on purpose,” you snort, grabbing his strong hands and sliding them up your waist and settling them on top of your breasts, squeezing through his hands.

“Oh, fuck me,” Mark exhales with parted lips and furrowed brows, leaning down to press warm, wet kisses down your sternum.

“About the Tom Taylor run,” you begin, letting go of his hands and settling your fingers in his hair, “I know the art is gorgeous, but is the storylines actually worth it? Oh, who am I kidding? I’m a slut for beautiful comics.”

“Uh-huh,” Mark murmurs, nosing up the underside of one of your breasts. “S’probably fun. I don’t know.”

His tongue runs over your pebbled nipple, closing his lips around the peak with a gentle suction. He mouths at your nipple repeatedly, groaning softly against your skin. The calloused pads of his fingers trace down your back and slip underneath the lacy elastic band of your thong, digging into the fat of your ass.

“Let’s get you out of these, handsome,” you sigh, gently chewing on the inside of your cheek as you reach down to unbutton and unzip his (honestly fugly) khakis.

“Wha— oh. Oh, yeah,” he pants softly, letting his forehead thump down against your chest. He lifts his hips enough to tug the pants down, shuffling to kick them off his ankles without moving you too much. “Got it.”

“You sure do,” you murmur, your voice a soft purr as you brush your lips against his temple . “So strong and capable.”

“Fuck you,” Mark laughs breathlessly, kissing down your sternum again. “I’m trying so hard not be easy right now.”

“I thought you were Invincible?” You whisper with a soft grin.

Mark draws back with a crooked grin.

“Nuh-uh. You just broke the first rule of—“

“If you say Fight Club, I’m kicking you out,” you laugh, gently pushing him down against your covers.

He rests his weight on his elbows, then looks up and smiles softly.

“I’m just Mark, right?”

You nod, kissing him tenderly.

“Mark. Sweet Mark, my Mark.”

“Oh, out the window with not being easy,” he laughs softly, tugging you down and steadying you with his hands as he switches positions so that you’re below him. He hooks your knees over his shoulders, then lifts your hips with his left arm while peeling the negligee off you with his right. Gently lowering you back to the bed, he begins to plant soft, wet kisses up your stomach.

“Mh, oh,” you sigh, your nails scraping down the nape of his neck. “You know how often I’ve thought about you? Just— just thinking about you?”

“If it’s anywhere near as often as I have,” Mark pants, slipping your thong down your legs and ghosting his fingers across your sensitive flesh, “yeah. I think I have an idea.”

“Kiss me again,” you command in a soft tone, and Mark complies.

His lips capture yours in a slow, tender kiss that speeds up your heart rate. His thumb circles your clit, slow at first, then faster as he’s overcome by sheer excitement of being close to you.

“Mark,” you whisper shakily, losing your concentration on the kiss and dipping your face into the crook of his neck. “Mark—“

A soft laugh escapes you, followed by a small moan as you press your lips to his neck.

His middle finger slips inside you—long, strong, deft—as he continues the stimulation on your clit. Moments later, his ring finger follows.

“Mh-“

Long nails dig into his firm back as you claw him down closer.

“C’mere, c’mere,” you whisper, tilting your head up to kiss him again, and when you come, it’s with a soft moan against his mouth.

With a confident grin, he retracts his hand and slips his finger into his mouth to suck them clean.

“Dirty boy,” you comment playfully, brushing his jet black hair back. “Someone’s been getting laid these past few years.”

“Yeah, as if. No, I— I just wanna make sure I treat my girl right, yeah?” He murmurs, leaning down to kiss you again.

“Oh, your girl, huh?” You tease.

“You agreed to it,” he laughs, kissing your cheek, “just before.”

“Mhm,” you hum, kissing his cheek back. “I just like hearing it.”

“Yeah?” He responds, excitement lacing his tone. “My girl? My pretty girl? My sweet girl?”

He plants soft kisses up your jaw.

A silly, girlish giddiness overcomes you much to your own embarrassment.

“You do like it,” Mark laughs, pressing another kiss to your lips.

“Shut up,” you laugh, tugging on his boxers. “Off.”

“Bossy,” he says with a grin, slipping out of his boxer shorts before slotting his hips against yours. “Now be still.”

He reaches over you, his hand blindly fumbling through his wallet before retracting with a condom. Biting the inside of his cheek in concentration (definitely not a habit he’s picked up from you), he rips the package open and rolls the latex down his hardened dick. He grips your hips firmly but gently as he lines up with you before slowly, gently, pushing inside.

“That’s it,” he murmurs, his hand sliding up to splay out against your stomach. “Easy. There we go.”

“Who’re you reassuring?” You exhale with a dazed grin. Your stomach is slightly tensed up, struggling to relax at the foreign intrusion. “Me or you?”

“Both,” Mark responds softly, burying his face in the crook of your neck as he bottoms out. “You make me nervous sometimes, you know.”

“Yeah,” you whisper with a soft nod, eyelids fluttering. “You and me both.”

Slowly, gently, carefully, Mark begins to rock his hips into yours. His lips ghost over the junction between your neck and shoulder as he connects with you through languid strokes. His thumb returns to your clit, and you jump at the sensitivity.

“Mh… ah,” you laugh softly, smiling as you find his lips with your own. “S’nice. That’s— that’s good. Yeah, jus’ like that.”

Your voice turns more and more breathless, the sound partially swallowed by Mark’s mouth against yours.

“Love you so much,” he whines, panting into your mouth. “God, you don’t even— you don’t know.”

“I get it,” you whisper, arms wrapped around his neck tightly, practically clinging to him. “I get it. It’s just us, yeah? For the rest of our lives.”

Mark lets out a groan as he nods, the snap of his hips becoming more fast-paced as he loses his rhythm. It doesn’t take long before he comes, his hips stuttering into yours and his voice breaking as he utters your name. You fall apart in the same moment, underneath his fingertips and safe in his arms.

“You mean that?” He whispers carefully, and you pretend not to notice the sheen to his eyes.

“What?” You ask, dazed and confused.

“Forever,” he reiterates.

You nod.

“Just you and me. Forever.”

[astrolook]

🚀✨Jupiter’s Transit: Time for a Glow-Up or a Wake-Up! 💫👀

Note: These are my personal observations and patterns I've noticed over the years, so take what resonates and leave the rest. Let me know in the comments if this hits home! This is based on Vedic astrology, so it might feel different from other systems. These are general interpretations and would change according to what planets are in those houses. 😊✨

Jupiter enters Gemini on May 14, 2025, and will stay there until October 18, 2025. After that, it briefly moves into Cancer for a couple of months. This post will focus on the May 14, 2025 - October 18, 2025, Gemini transit. Just 2 days to go! Also, long post!

For Aries Ascendant, Jupiter will transit your 3rd house and aspect your 7th, 9th, and 11th houses.

3rd House: Expect a lot of short trips, new friendships, and opportunities to get your voice heard. It’s a great time to make purchases in your favor, meet new people, or even consider a move to a new place. If you have a sibling, your bond can grow closer.

7th House: This aspect could bring new romances into your life. For those focused on their career, it’s a favorable time for partnerships and receiving local support in your professional endeavors. If you wanna start a business or any career change, Jupiter will widen your horizons and says YES! GO FOR IT!

9th House: Jupiter’s aspect here may open doors for foreign travel, higher education, or trading. Moving abroad or going on faraway vacations could also be on the horizon.

11th House: Expansion of your social circle is likely. Great connections are on the way, along with more time spent online learning new things. If you’re considering online courses, this is an excellent time. It’s also a good period for starting a YouTube channel, podcast, or live-streaming (especially gaming, if that’s your thing). For bloggers and influencers, expect positive growth. Long-distance relationships may also blossom during this time.

For Taurus Ascendant, Jupiter will transit your 2nd house, with aspects to your 6th, 8th, and 10th houses.

2nd House: This transit can bring potential financial growth, including gains through family, property, or selling goods. If you’re in sales or business, this is a great time to boost your income. There’s strong potential for accumulating wealth, but Jupiter here can also make you spend freely, so watch your expenses. Investments and savings both have long-term benefits now.

6th House: If you’ve been struggling in your career or are unemployed, this aspect can bring job opportunities or helpful connections. For those in toxic work environments, things may either get worse (pushing you to make a change) or finally shift for the better. Students may find career-related support or internships opening up.

8th House: This aspect may spark interest in the occult, hidden knowledge, or taboo subjects. It’s a good time to explore deeper topics, but also a warning to be mindful in intimate relationships, as Sagittarius in the 8th can bring sudden, intense connections, including risks like STDs. Prioritize your well-being.

10th House: This is a very positive influence for your career. Whether you're employed or self-employed, growth and recognition are possible. It's also a great time to pursue learning, training, or certifications that support your professional path.

For Gemini Ascendant, Jupiter will transit your 1st house, with aspects to your 5th, 7th, and 9th houses.

1st House: This transit can bring positive shifts in how you see yourself and how others see you. It’s a great time for personal growth, confidence, and visibility. You may be drawn to leadership or management roles. However, Jupiter can also make you overextend, like taking on too much or indulging too often, especially with food or stress, so take care of your health and energy. Your voice holds power now, so use it wisely.

5th House: A great time for creative pursuits and reigniting old passions. If you've been waiting to start something artistic or expressive, this is your cue. For those married and hoping to conceive, this transit is favorable for a healthy pregnancy. Romantically, new connections may enter your life, some with long-term potential. Dating might feel overwhelming or rewarding depending on how you approach it.

7th House: Partnerships, romantic or professional, can flourish now. Trustworthy collaborators may appear, and serious relationships can begin or strengthen. It’s a good time for making commitments.

9th House: Opportunities for long-distance travel, higher education, or working with international clients may arise. Some may consider moving in with a partner, eloping, or planning a destination wedding. Spiritually and mentally, it’s also a time of expansion and learning. You can even get your voice heard through activism or supporting the unfortunate.

For Cancer Ascendant, Jupiter will transit your 12th house, with aspects to the 4th, 6th, and 8th houses.

12th House: This is a deeply spiritual and reflective time. You may feel drawn to solitude, healing, or even exploring or settling in foreign lands. It's a period of inner growth, dreams, and gaining insight into your future. However, it's not ideal for new commitments in love or business. Some may experience endings, like breakups or divorces, but these can ultimately feel freeing and bring long-awaited closure or peace.

4th House: Expect improvements in home and family life. You might spend more quality time with loved ones or invest in property, furniture, or home upgrades. Emotional bonds with family members, especially children, can deepen. Inheritance or family wealth may also come into the picture.

6th House: This aspect can stir up emotions at work or in school environments. Challenges may arise through hidden enemies or betrayal, so stay alert and guard your energy. This aspect can teach you who’s truly on your side. At the same time, it can push you to improve your daily habits and health routines.

8th House: Sudden gains, inheritance, or exposure to deep, transformative topics are possible. You might find yourself drawn to occult studies, psychology, or unconventional communities (like spiritual groups, support circles, etc.). Take care of your mental health, as emotional intensity may rise; this can be a time of healing or overwhelm, depending on how you handle it.

For Leo Ascendant, Jupiter will transit your 11th house, with aspects to the 3rd, 5th, and 7th houses.

11th House: This is a great time for expanding your reach and being seen. Whether you’re into blogging, YouTube, podcasting, activism, or social reform, you could gain more visibility and even grow your follower base. People may see you as a leader or someone with wisdom and clarity. Your goals feel more achievable now, and support from influential circles is likely.

3rd House: Expect stronger local connections and support. You might spend more time with siblings, friends, or in your neighborhood, or even move to a new area. Social outings like restaurants, concerts, shopping, or clubs could increase. Communication improves, and networking opportunities grow.

5th House: A great time for dating, romance, and creative expression. You may get into new hobbies, watch a lot of films, or explore your artistic side. If you’ve been wanting to start a passion project or even learn something new, like a language or coding, this is the time. It's also a positive aspect for pregnancy or planning a child.

7th House: Jupiter’s aspect here can bring serious romantic prospects or deepen an existing relationship. In a career, it’s a good time for forming partnerships or collaborations that have long-term potential.

For Virgo Ascendant, Jupiter will transit your 10th house, with aspects to the 2nd, 4th, and 6th houses.

10th House: This is a powerful time for your career. Jupiter here can bring recognition, promotions, or the opportunity to start something new, like a business, blog, or startup. If you’re job hunting, you may land a role with better pay and visibility. Leadership skills are highlighted, and others may start seeing you as a figure of authority or inspiration. Big moves in your professional life are very possible.

2nd House: This aspect supports financial growth, especially through career opportunities. It’s a good time to focus on saving, investing, and building long-term financial stability.

4th House: Favorable for real estate, relocating, or investing in your home. You may also feel emotionally more connected to family, and it's a good time to nurture those relationships, especially if you're younger or living with family.

6th House: New work connections are likely, especially with people from different backgrounds or fields. Some of these may be valuable allies, others not so much. Stay discerning, especially in competitive or high-pressure environments.

For Libra Ascendant, Jupiter will transit your 9th house, with aspects to your 1st, 3rd, and 5th houses.

9th House: This transit opens doors to foreign connections, clients, and opportunities to earn through international means. You might find yourself speaking or learning another language, traveling, or engaging with global platforms. It’s a great time for higher learning, spiritual growth, or expanding your worldview.

1st House: Expect a boost in self-confidence and presence. If you’ve been feeling low in self-worth, this aspect can help restore a sense of purpose and pride. You might also feel inspired to invest more in yourself, like your appearance, goals, or personal development.

3rd House: Your voice carries farther now, literally and figuratively. Whether it’s writing, singing, or speaking, this is a powerful time to share your ideas. Travel or relocation could also be on the table. If you’ve ever wanted to turn writing or music into a career, this aspect supports that.

5th House: Creative energy flows in, rewarding past efforts and reigniting passions. You may finally get recognition for the work you’ve done in previous years. It’s also a great time to start new hobbies or creative pursuits that could eventually evolve into a profession.

For Scorpio Ascendant, Jupiter will transit your 8th house, with aspects to the 12th, 2nd, and 4th houses.

8th House: This transit can bring sudden events, like unexpected inheritance or money, deep transformations, or even going viral (for better or worse). You may feel drawn to explore intense topics like human suffering, psychology, or the hidden layers of life. Toxic relationships may fall away, making space for new partnerships that could also become an additional source of income. It’s a powerful time for healing and reclaiming your worth.

12th House: This aspect may trigger deep introspection or even an existential crisis. You might feel low or isolated at times, but solitude here brings growth, not punishment. It's a good time for spiritual work, rest, and understanding your inner self on a whole new level.

2nd House: Financial gains through foreign currency or foreigners, joint investments, or property sales are possible. This is a favorable time for managing finances, especially in areas involving partnerships or passive income.

4th House: Unconventional people may enter your personal life, whether as romantic partners or collaborators, your family ends up embracing. You could be drawn to alternative lifestyles, such as age-gap relationships, interracial relationships, same-sex partnerships, minimalist living, or even being a stay-at-home partner.

For Sagittarius Ascendant, Jupiter will transit your 7th house, with aspects to the 11th, 1st, and 3rd houses.

7th House: This is a major green light for serious relationships. You may meet a potential life partner, enter long-term romantic or business partnerships, or experience more balance and success in existing ones. You could find yourself taking the lead in partnerships or attracting people who elevate your status and growth.

11th House: A great time for expanding your social network, especially online. You may join new communities, explore different cultures, or form valuable friendships and connections, even if some are short-term. This is also a highly supportive period for launching an online-based business or side hustle. Expect opportunities to gain profits and stand out in digital spaces.

1st House: You’ll feel more driven to take life seriously and commit to long-term goals. This aspect can bring a shift in self-image, responsibility, and how others perceive you. Confidence gets a boost, and there may be a change in status, personally or professionally.

3rd House: You might find yourself living in a multicultural setting or becoming friends with people from a wide range of backgrounds. Hobbies like online gaming, content creation, or language learning could lead to new connections. This is a fun and stimulating time to express yourself and explore new interests.

For Capricorn Ascendant, Jupiter will transit your 6th house, with aspects to the 10th, 12th, and 2nd houses.

6th House: This transit highlights health, work, and daily routines. If you’ve been struggling with health issues, there’s potential for recovery, but if you’ve been neglecting your health, Jupiter might amplify existing problems. It’s also a mixed bag for your career, as some may face setbacks or job loss, while others could land new roles or promotions. Consistency and discipline will be key.

10th House: This aspect brings momentum in your professional life. It’s a good time for job hunting, career changes, or stepping into leadership, but expect a few early delays or challenges. Boss moves are possible if you stay focused and don’t give up.

12th House: This can be a heavy emotional time. Feelings of loneliness, isolation, or endings (like breakups or divorces) might surface. But Jupiter here is trying to teach you that solitude can be healing. You’ll realize your inner strength and learn how to stand on your own. Be cautious with health and travel issues, like back pain, overexertion, or travel-related stress or accidents may arise. Hospitalization is possible if you're not careful.

2nd House: Finances may fluctuate. Jupiter expands whatever it touches, so if you’re doing well, expect more gains; if you’re struggling, it can exaggerate losses. Budget wisely and save for the future to stay grounded.

For Aquarius Ascendant, Jupiter will transit your 5th house, with aspects to the 9th, 11th, and 1st houses.

5th House: A vibrant time for creativity, self-expression, and passion projects. Whether you’re pursuing a career in the arts, media, sports, or any field that makes you stand out, this is your moment to shine. Applause and recognition may come your way. It’s also a favorable time for pregnancy, romantic interests, and being admired for your talents.

9th House: Opens doors to international opportunities, foreign clients, studying abroad, or spiritual exploration. You might start trading in foreign currency, connect with teachers or mentors abroad, or even enter a long-distance relationship that brings growth.

11th House: Expands your network, especially with people from different cultures or backgrounds. Touring, cultural exchanges, learning a new language, or engaging in online platforms can be rewarding. If you’re in a digital or online-based career, this aspect supports major growth.

1st House: Jupiter’s blessing to your ascendant boosts your confidence, personal growth, and social standing. You may feel more seen, respected, and aligned with your purpose. It’s a time to take yourself seriously, and others will too.

For Pisces Ascendant, Jupiter will transit your 4th house, with aspects to the 8th, 10th, and 12th houses.

4th House: This transit brings emotional focus to home, family, and your sense of inner peace. You may reconnect deeply with loved ones or feel the need to cut ties with toxic family dynamics. It’s a great time to support and care for your close circle but be mindful of emotional overwhelm. Buying property or making your living space more comfortable is also likely.

8th House: Some may face sudden shifts in family members' health or even loss in rare cases. This aspect also stirs deep introspection and curiosity about the hidden or taboo, think therapy, occult, or healing work.

10th House: Favorable for career growth, though it may feel intense or heavy at times. A strong push toward foreign or remote work is likely. You might also take on more responsibilities that push you to step up in your profession.

12th House: Spiritual detachment becomes a theme as you may explore holistic healing, solitude, or unconventional belief systems. Some connections may fall away as you move toward a future more aligned with who you’re becoming. This is also a powerful time to prepare for relocation or engage in meaningful connections abroad.

Wanna dive deeper into your chart's layers? ✨🔍 DM me for a full astrology reading, a 5 or 8-year marriage report, detailed synastry, or a kundli matching breakdown 🌙💬 Check out my pinned post for pricing and more info 💫💸

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[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking - the ability to examine information rationally and make a reasoned judgment based on your analysis.

Critical thinkers refuse to accept subject matter at face value and are aware of their own cognitive biases, which allows them to approach objective conclusions.

Higher-order thinking skills like critical thinking enable you to learn actively, rather than passively absorbing information as it's presented to you.

How to Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills

The development of critical thinking skills takes time, but there are some particular ways to speed up the process. As a starting point, follow these steps for teaching critical thinking.

Pinpoint the issue. Whether it's a problem that needs solving or a question that needs an answer, begin the critical thinking process by identifying the issue at hand.

Collect information. Accumulate as much research and data on the issue as possible. Make sure to seek out sources that challenge your own beliefs.

Examine and scrutinize. Check that your sources of information are reliable, determine their biases, and ensure any opinions are backed up by hard evidence.

Decide what's relevant. Figure out which arguments are actually relevant to your issue, and flag the most consequential pieces of information.

Self-evaluate. Ask yourself, "Was I biased when seeking information?"

Draw conclusions. Decide on one or more possible conclusions. Evaluate the soundness of your conclusions and flag any flaws.

Explain your conclusions. Clearly communicate your conclusions to the relevant parties.

Examples of Critical Thinking Skills

There are many important elements involved in thinking critically. To become a better critical thinker, familiarize yourself with these key concepts.

Open-mindedness: Critical thinkers must work to have unbiased thought processes and remain open to more than one point of view. This openness to challenging information is a foundation for critical thinking.

Analysis: Analyze information to determine its reliability and to understand it well enough to draw further conclusions. This is one of the most important aspects of critical thinking.

Interpretation: Take time to interpret your analysis, synthesizing, and deciphering the meaning of relevant information.

Problem-solving: Once you analyze and interpret a problem, you can come up with one or more possible solutions.

Decision-making: By making a decisive decision, you come to a conclusion based on the data you have interpreted.

Effective communication: You must be able to convincingly explain your conclusions (and the thought process behind them) to others.

Self-improvement: Good critical thinkers develop positive habits of mind by reflecting on their own personal critical thinking process and looking for ways to improve it.

The greatest benefit of critical thinking is simply that it helps you make more informed decisions in your everyday life.

Strong critical thinking abilities are especially important in both secondary and higher education environments; critical reading and thinking skills allow high school and college students to engage in learning at the highest level.

Critical thinking is also an important skill in your professional life. Employers value workers who tackle problems logically and view situations from different perspectives in order to come up with the best solution. If you're in a job interview and can demonstrate to your potential employer that you have a proven track record of thinking critically, there’s a better chance you’ll get hired.

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[myfictionaldreams]

Today's Lesson: Don't Catch Feelings // James Potter x Fem!Reader

PART 1 (Dry Hump) // PART 3

Summary: It was meant to be a one-time moment. A friend helping another friend who'd never been kissed before. So now, when your best friend finally gets the girl he's wanted to impress, why are you filled with such jealousy.

Tags: 18+ readers only, smut, angst, jealousy, friends w/benefits, can be interpreted as cheating but there's no official relationship, kinda love triangle, sex education, fingering, mutual pining, arguing, regret, kissing, drinking, fake orgasm (w/ other m character), dry humping, voyeurism, loss of virginity (James), praise kink, creampie, riding, cliff hanger! -- sorry if I've forgotten any tags

Words: 6.4k

Tags list: @bellathethirstybitch, @kenqkii, @ghostlycrystobalove, @anehkael, @1-800-ididurmum, @imdoingbetternow ~ Y'all asked to be tagged in the comments. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write a part 2! Thanks for your support.

my masterlist 📚 AO3 Link

"Move your thumb to the right. Yes, that's it! Right there - fuck James, don't stop! Yes! Yes! Oh-!" Even with the silencing charm around the room, you were sure the entirety of Hogwarts could hear you cumming hard around James' fingers curling inside your cunt as his thumb - now in the right place - circled your throbbing clit.

The tips of your fingers ached with how firmly you were digging them into his muscularly toned shoulders, probably bruising him, but he never commented on this. The messy-haired man just continued to listen to your instructions, putting more enthusiasm into these moments than in any lesson here at Hogwarts.

Even as your walls clenched tightly around his digits, he didn't stop. However, you were now quietened as he sloppily made out with you, swallowing your cries of euphoria until there was nothing left to give, and your moans turned into a laugh.

James groaned as you pulled away from his swollen lips, gently tugging on his wrist to ease his fingers out of you. "Woah there, Tiger, that was plenty good enough. Any more and I'll probably collapse", laughing as he pouted with his lower lip, his hazel eyes half-lidded and pupils blown in a clear display of arousal.

"So it was good?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, not moving his face away from hovering over yours.

"It was more than good, Potter. You're very good at listening to instructions, and your skills are improving with each orgasm, that's for sure", you praise whilst pushing his glasses up his nose as he smirks handsomely in response. James turned to kiss the tip of your fingers as you couldn't help but giggle once more at the action, your feet hooking around the backs of his knees as you tried to pull him closer to the edge of the desk.

But, like everything perfect in your life, you became your own worst enemy as you couldn't help as the words slipped out, "You'll have Lily orgasming before her underwear's off". It was meant to be a joke, but it only reminded you why you were even in this situation.

The smile faltered for a split second on James' face as he dipped his head to look at the floor, his hair now curtaining your view of him. "That's the plan", he chuckles as he begins to casually suck on his still-soaked fingers as your jaw drops at the sight.

"James!" you exclaim as he returns his gaze to you. His look of innocence for the act only added to the desiring pulse in your core.

"What? Sirius said that there's nothing more tasty than a pretty girl. Seems he was right", he casually remarked with a shrug of his shoulders. All air seemed to rush from your lungs at the compliment that quickened your heart's beat and warmed your cheeks' skin.

You were once more captivated by his eyes as he inched closer, and the hardness still contained in his trousers poked your inner thigh. "Need some help?" you asked curiously, teasingly, reaching between your bodies to palm him.

James' eyes lowered to focus on your lips as he licked his own, wetting them, and all you wanted to do was taste him, but then he took a step back, your legs and hand stopping away from his warmth.

"Nah, I'll sort it later, don't worry", he explains whilst beginning to smooth the uncontrollable mop of black hair on his head.

A heavy sinking feeling settled in your chest as you realised you'd probably overstepped the thin line between what the two of you had been doing for the last couple of weeks.

James Potter, your best friend, had been since the first year at Hogwarts. Both were thick as thieves and when he'd previously admitted to never having kissed someone before and had finally convinced his long-time crush to date, he needed the practice as the fear of Lily turning him away for any bad kissing skills. As the good friend that you were, you offered to teach him how to kiss, which promptly ended with you both dry-humping to orgasms.

After, James had been on his date and returned, particularly thanking you on his knees as his kiss with Lily had been everything he had ever wanted. However, after this, it was like a drug you both couldn't get enough of. One lesson turned into another and another. How to touch a girl with and without clothes, t the right way to touch and kiss breasts, and now how to use his fingers.

Nothing penetrative yet, and it had all been about teaching him about pleasing girls, so you'd yet to touch him because that would mean you were both hooking up for satisfaction rather than education.

You were unsure where the lines were becoming blurred in your heart and mind. James had always just been your goofy best friend. Mr Popular at Hogwarts would go above and beyond to make you laugh or protect those he cares for, and he continued to be like this for you. However, the rooms felt too small when you were both in them. You spent way too much time fantasising about the feel of his hands or the taste of his lips that you'd yet to look at any other man since that first kiss in the Shrieking Shack.

Then, there came the added complication of Lily. Lily was also a close friend, and even though James and her were not officially boyfriend or girlfriend yet, the way he pined for her and the more dates they went on, the more you were filled with dread. It felt as if you were betraying her with your want for James. Even with the lessons, you knew if ever caught; it was almost impossible to explain that it was all for Lily's benefit in a fucked up sort of way.

You were essentially teaching the man you were falling in love with how to pleasure your friend for their future. All the while, you were becoming more emotionally involved than you'd ever meant to be. I mean, you had casually slept with numerous people during the last year at Hogwarts; sex and feelings were two things you were able to separate.

So now, you were unsure what had changed for you to fall for the man who was so evidently in love with someone else.

"Are you coming?"

His deep voice drew you out of your spiralling thoughts as you blinked at him in confusion. "Coming?"

"Yeah, to class?" he asked, picking up his bag and pulling the strap over his shoulder.

"Oh, yes, I just need a minute. You go without me anyway; we haven't got the same class next", you say whilst standing and trying not to wince at the dampness between your legs that had spread your thighs.

"You sure? I don't mind walking you", James ensured as he pulled on the tight area of his trousers around his crotch, but then gave up and covered his erection with his bag.

"I'm sure we're on opposite ends of Hogwarts anyway. I'll catch you later, Potter", you confirm whilst straightening your tie and shirt.

"Alright then, Sweetheart, catch you later".

With one more beautiful grin', he's off. Then you're by yourself and left to slump back onto the desk and rethink your life. However, you couldn't dwell on it as the clock tower bell began to ring, indicating the start of lessons. As you cursed to yourself, picking up your wand from your bag and waving it over your body, your clothes instantly corrected yourself, and the wet mess between your legs vanished.

You were utterly breathless by the time you'd arrived at potions, and it took a great deal of effort to ignore the lingering ache in your pussy as you attempted to sneak into the room.

"Ah, at last. Welcome miss! Please take a seat; we haven't started without you, dear," Professor Slughorn declared as he held his hand out toward your usual classroom seat as everyone stared at you.

Trying to ignore everyone's eyes, you rush to your seat beside Lily, that heavy, unwelcomed feeling returned to your stomach as she smiles at you, leaning close to whisper, "I told him you were in the bathroom, so he said he'd wait for you before starting the lesson".

You return her smile, however forced as you thanked her and turned your gaze back to the professor. Before long, Lily's sweet perfume drifted into your senses as she leaned in closer once more to ask, "Who's the lucky guy?"

A sharp pain shot through your neck with the speed with which you looked at her, "I don't know what you mean; I was actually using the bathroom".

She tilts her head to the side with an all-knowing look. "Mmm hmm, sure, sure. So why is your lipstick smudged then, huh?"

Your fingers quickly moved to the corner of your lips, frantically wiping away any residual lipstick when it dawned on you that you'd not put any make-up on this morning and had fallen for her trick.

Glaring at her, Lily gave you a brilliant smile whilst moving some of her luscious red hair behind her shoulder, declaring, "I can read you like a book; don't forget that".

Rolling your eyes, you playfully nudge your shoulder against hers, deciding to ignore the previous question. For some reason, unbeknown to yourself, you couldn't help but ask, "So how's it going with Potter?"

Internally, you were criticising yourself for even asking and showing interest in it, already knowing that the answer was something you honestly didn't wish to know.

Lily's grin softened until her lips pursed, and she began to write down the instructions from Professor Slughorn in the book on her desk. "It's going ok; I mean, he's definitely more of a gentleman than I thought he was ever capable of. I also think the exams are getting to him a little; he seems distracted at the moment".

This piqued your interest as you began arranging your ingredients before you, chopping whatever was closest to you without the slightest attention as you asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well, we were on head boy and girl duty two nights ago, and he always used to joke that he wanted a quiet corner away with me in a classroom or something, but now that you know, I'm more open to that. He seems distracted. He still holds my hands and gives me compliments and a kiss or two that makes me want more, but by the end of the duty, he will either find his friends or go to bed".

You swallow thickly, asking, "Oh really? So you guys haven't - I mean, you haven't done anything other than kissing?"

Lily's cheek blossomed with colour as she continued her prep for the potion before her. "No, not yet; I mean, I want to; he's a great kiss, but nothing so far. It still feels strange not to be cursing at him to get out of my sight, like I never pictured myself to be in this position, and maybe it's also taking him some time to get used to".

You were only half listening to what your friend was saying as your thoughts screamed at the fact he was only a good kisser because he'd practised with you. Also, the tiny part of you that was cheering her heart out at the fact that you were the only girl he'd touched intimately, for now.

"Psst. Oi! Goldie! Pea! Turn around. I know you can hear me", came the annoying whisper as you and Lily both glanced over your shoulders to Sirius, who was leaning across his desk, grinning from ear to ear, his shoulder-length hair tied at the nape of his neck.

You huffed, glaring at Sirius as you reminded him, "I've told you a thousand times not to call me that!"

The Marauder sarcastically sticks out his bottom lip, "But it's an endearing name, Pea!"

"No, it's not! It's bullying!" you remind him, turning further towards where he and Remus sat, the latter politely declining the conversation to continue with his work.

"It's not my fault you vomited peas in second year", Sirius pointed out with a cocky smirk.

Thankfully, Lily cut off your retort as she snapped, "Stop reminding her of that. I've told you that my hair is red and not gold!"

"Meh, semantics", he shrugs and appears eager again. "What are you both doing after this? We were thinking of getting a group of us together and heading down to Hogsmeade. Do you both wanna join? I'm sure James would want you there".

That nauseous sensation returned as you knew he wasn't referring to you as he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively towards Lily. One part of you desperately begged not to go, not wishing to see Lily and James acting all lovey-dovey in public, and another part of you knew it would look suspicious if you weren't to attend. Who else were you expected to hang out with on a Friday evening other than your best friend, James?

Lily answered for you as she wrapped an arm around your shoulders, "Of course, we'll both be there, but not to hang out with you; we don't need boys to have a good time".

You smile at her, forgetting all of your woes for a moment, watching as she adds a sprig of Rosemary into your potion and watching it change from the awful shade of red to a soft caramel colour to match hers.

"What would I do without you?" you say with admiration.

"I don't know, crash and burn?" she jokes, pulling a genuine smile from yourself.

Later in the evening, the two of you were true to Lily's word as you made your way there, joined with Marlene, and, not wanting to go with the boys, gave yourself some time to dress in something other than school clothes, opting for jeans and a warm jumper.

The three of you wandered through Hogsmeade, stopping in Honeydukes for a sweet treat before deciding to rest in the Three Broomsticks; however, you found what seemed to be the rest of your school year in the same place. There was hardly a free seat as the three of you pushed through the crowd to the bar.

"Evans! Over here!" James' voice shouted above the noise of everyone else from the corner of the room. Lily giggled as she waved over at him, and you tried not to wince with jealousy as you pushed her and Marlene in his direction.

"Go over there, I'll get the drinks". Thankfully, they didn't need much convincing before making their way over to the other Gryffindor. "Three butterbeers, please. Oh, and a large fire whiskey as well", you say, slipping the barmaid Rosmerta an extra galleon so she wouldn't question your age. You were old enough to drink, but there was a swift ban on students at Hogwarts being sold alcohol, but an extra galleon here and there, and no questions were asked.

As you waited for your drinks to be poured, you observed your surroundings and noticed a certain Ravenclaw watching you over the rim of his glass, a smirk flirting on his lips. You smiled back, holding his eye contact briefly before looking away from Quirinus. He was in Ravenclaw and relatively bright, if not a bit of a nervous nelly if he didn't have any alcohol in his system, which, by the looks of things, he was a few drinks deep and clearly in a flirtatious mood.

You were ready to make bad decisions when a hand on your lower back snapped your attention. The touch burned through your clothes to your skin as James appeared by your side. His face lowered so that he whispered into your ear as he questioned, "Is it bad that I can still smell you on my fingers?"

You swallow harshly, fighting to keep your face neutral as you couldn't help but quip back, "I'm sure your girlfriend would love to hear you say that".

James leans away to study your face, a frown adorning his expression, "She's not my girlfriend".

"Yeah, sure", you retort, turning away from him to nod at Rosmerta as she placed the drinks in front of you at the bar.

"Well, if she were my girlfriend, my fingers definitely wouldn't be smelling of you now, would they?"

The fire of jealousy that was being stoked in your heart was only being fueled further by his words. "I'm sure she could teach you a thing or two, Potter. You don't need me to taint your fingers".

"Maybe I do", he quickly responds but then corrects himself, "I mean, I don't think she has much experience. Anyway, you didn't mind it earlier when you were begging for more".

You turn to him with a glare that had him relaxing his stance as he realised he was on the threshold of overstepping. "Don't be so sure of yourself, James, and with the lack of experience you both have, wouldn't it be better for you both to be inexperienced together?"

Picking up the fire whiskey, you began to take heaving glugs of it, savouring the painful burn as it slipped down your throat. James eyed the drink as he leaned closer once more, his body half crowding around yours as he harshly whispered, "Where the fuck is this all coming from? I thought you were ok with what we were doing. It's nothing serious, just one single friend teaching another single friend, right?"

Yes, you answer in your thoughts, having not taken the fire whiskey away from your mouth, but then he's grabbing the glass and trying to take it away from you as he demands, "Hey, slow down, alright? You'll be pissed with the hour".

Giving him a shove with your shoulder, you spitefully say, "You aren't my boyfriend, Potter; stop telling me what to do. I want to drink, so get lost".

The concern in his hazel eyes drops as he looks at the two butterbeer, asking, "Are these McKenna and Evans? I'll take them and leave you to calm down".

"Thank fucking Merlin", you exclaimed with one final glare before he stormed off with the two drinks in hand.

You blew a long breath through your mouth, trying to ignore the overwhelming urge to scream, cry, or storm out. However, a brush of an arm against yours stole your attention as Quirinus now stood next to you at the bar, his Ravenclaw-coloured jumper vibrant in the candlelight.

"Fancy another firewhiskey?" he asked, and you nodded, not trusting yourself to be able to talk without crying.

The drinks came at a steady pace, and before long, you were feeling the effects, the anxiety that had hit you like the Hogwarts Express train from your argument with James had fizzled into anger. It only made matters worse when you would glance over the Ravenclaw's shoulder to see James wrapped his arm around Lily's shoulder, the two of them whispering to one another without a care.

A lump formed in your throat as the world tilted for a second. Quirinus noticed your glare as he, too, looked over his shoulder and assumed you'd prefer to sit with your friends as he offhandedly mentioned, "If you'd rather go and sit with them, I wouldn't be offended, you know".

"What?" you say, snapping out of your staring contest as you realise James is now staring right back at you with just as deep a frown behind his glasses. Giving your attention back to the man at your side, you quickly grabbed his arm, not wishing to be left alone, "Sorry, Quirrel, I really do want to stay with you. In fact, why don't we find somewhere a bit more quiet?"

The alcohol was definitely speaking on your behalf as his eyes lit up, his teeth nipping at his lower lip as he stood to his full height. "Ye-Yeah, I want to do that", he stammers enthusiastically as you grab his arm and head towards the back of the pub and climb the stairs, ensuring no one is following.

Sneaking past the bathrooms, you ascended even further into the depths of the pub until you found a spare living room with a sofa in front of the fire as you claimed, "This will do perfectly".

Turning around and before you could ponder any further on the man you really wished was here and deciding you needed to have some fun of your own, you grabbed the collar of Quirrel jumper and pulled him in for an eager kiss. However, the door barges open as you both spring apart.

You release a nervous laugh as you see no one is there, quickly rushing over to it and shutting the door, locking it properly with a wave of your wand. "Oops, must not have locked it".

Turning back towards Quirrel, he eagerly eyed you up and down. Not giving yourself time to regret the decision, you ran over to him, your arms moving around his neck as you pulled him into a quick snog. It was sloppy and distracting as he kissed you back with just as much eagerness.

It seemed Quirrell wasn't in the mood to wait as he soon fumbled with the button to your jeans. You silently have to give him some credit if he was going straight to the good without even touching your tits or kissing your neck. You wanted a distraction, and the fingers slipping into your underwear were definitely a distraction.

Especially as he began to vigorously rub your left labia rather than your clit. Attempting to shift your hips in your favour, he kept his fingers in the same dry spot, assuming your hip movements were a sign that he was doing a good job.

Great, you thought. Your love life was now just as dry and useless as your friend's life. Just fantastic.

Deciding there was still some hope left, your fingers moved into your jeans, your hand cupping the back of his fingers and moving them to finally circle your clit. However, the dryness and eagerness that he was moving made you feel overstimulated and ready for it to be over as fake moans began to spill from your lips.

"Fuck, you're so pretty", Quirinus moaned against your lips as he suddenly pulled back, but only so he could turn you on the spot and lean you awkwardly against the back of the sofa. Two things then started. One, his fingers shifted again back to the poor labia and away from your clit and two, he began to hump into your arse like a dog in heat.

Your eyes closed as you continued to fake the moans as his lips found the side of your neck as he nuzzled into you and continued with his pleasurable humps. You knew you could push him aside at any time, but for now, he was distracting you, even if you weren't finding any pleasure in it.

"Fuck you're so wet. Do you like that?" he asked, biting your neck like a vampire as you refrained from rolling your eyes.

Instead, you faked your seductive voice as you moaned, "Mmm yes, feels so good", even though you were pretty sure the wetness he was feeling was just sweat, as there was no way you were wet for this guy.

Matching the eagerness of his moans, you pretended to be close to orgasm just as his thrusts increased in speed, and your thighs began to ache as he pushed you harder and harder into the back of the sofa.

"Fuck!!" he cursed loudly into your ear as he came, and you two pretended to also orgasm, breathing heavily whilst bending over slightly to put some room between the two of you. As his fingers removed from your underwear, he proclaimed, "That was so good, wow. Hey, do you want to go on a date or something-".

His abrupt stop in the sentence has you turning with a questioning gaze but stopping short, seeing his face turn a pasty shade of green.

"Are you ok- Shit!" you quickly move out of his way as his hand covers his mouth, eyes bulge in panic, and he runs towards the door, wordlessly waving his wand and dashing out of the door with the promise of going to vomit.

You're unsure whether to be worried for his well-being and sudden turn or offended that he had suddenly become so unwell. Either way, you were well and truly finished with the day. Buttoning up your jeans, you began to move towards the open door and back down to the loud mass of students downstairs, but the door slamming in your face and audibly locking had you halting.

"What the fuck?" you question under your breath, rushing towards the door and twisting the handle, but it was thoroughly locked. "Alohamora" with a wave of your wand, you'd expected the door to unlock, but even this didn't work as panic slowly began to set in as you started to wonder if this was some trap in the room for people who sneak in. "Shit! Please open, please, please, please!" you repeat with more urgency as you continue to try and spell the door open, but then a low behind you in the empty room has you screaming and turning until your back is pressed against the door.

"He didn't make you cum”, James stated with venom laced in his words as he revealed himself from underneath his invisibility cloak.

"James?! What the fuck- have you been there the entire time?!" you hissed in rage, your body becoming hot all over as realisation dawned on you.

"Why did you fake an orgasm with him?" he asked, repeating the same subject as before as he stepped closer to you from where he was leaning against the desk at the opposite end of the room.

"You can't just follow me around, James! That's so fucking creepy, and wait - did you hex Quirrell? Is that why he was sick?"

"He fucking deserved it for not making you cum”, he declares as his body trembles with the restrained anger flowing through his veins, the vein in his throat bulging as he takes a step towards you.

Shaking your head in disbelief, you begin to pace in front of the fire, rubbing your hands over your face as you go through about every emotion humanly possible. "I don't understand you whatsoever! Who are you to judge who and how I spend my time? You never cared before, so why now?" Turning to face him, you see the anger that seems to have disappeared from his body as he slowly steps towards you, his eyes unblinking as they bore into yours, full of rich emotion that you were too frightened to name.

You felt breathless as he stepped into your personal space. The fire crackled to your side and illuminated half of his handsome face, reflecting off the glasses already beginning to slide down his nose as he peered down at you, and you had to clench your fist to stop yourself from pushing them back up again.

James was still wearing his school uniform, you noticed, giving yourself the slightest distraction from the anger and confusion pulsing through your body.

Your mouth suddenly felt dry as you asked quietly, "How did you know I was faking it?"

James breathed in through his nose as his eyes scoured your face. "There were a few obvious signs". You became utterly captivated with every word he had to say as he lifted his fingers, gently held your chin, and began to tilt your face further up to his as he lowered his own so there was only a breath width between the tips of your noses.

"One, you always hold your breath just as you're tipping over the edge. Two, your eyes were open; you usually close them as you become lost in the moment", he numbered off whilst gently kissing the corner of your lips and like every other time recently, your body reacted instantly to the touches, pulsing and begging for more but then he listed the final sign. You truly became wholly lost to James Potter. "And third, the reason I know you didn't orgasm was because you weren't saying my name".

A soft moan escaped your parted lips as he had you hypnotised and, blaming it once more entirely on the alcohol, closed the gap between both of your mouths.

The kiss was everything you could have ever wanted for a first romantic kiss with someone you had a crush on. However, it meant so much more. Barriers were being broken, friendships snapped for potentially a lifetime, and yet it was what you needed—more than the air in your lungs, than the heat blazing from the fire. You needed James, and he evidently needed you.

The gentle and tentative touch of your lips lasted for a single breath, and then all restraint keeping you back was released as both of you gripped each other fiercely. Your fingers wove through his soft hair, pulling him down firmly as his arms wrapped around your waist, tugging you until both of your chests were pushed together.

Where you'd once been overheating with rage, now you were ablaze with lust. The clothes were too tight and claustrophobic against your skin as you needed to touch his. Thankfully James had the same idea, as both of your faces tilted, the kiss deepening with longing strokes of tongues and swapping of saliva, just like you'd taught him those weeks ago, his hands began to move beneath your clothes frantically.

Before long, your jumper was carelessly dropped to the floor, the same with his tie and shirt. Your fingers explored his toned chest and stomach, enjoying the little hitches of breath that he moaned. However, it was your turn as he moved your bra straps off your shoulders as his nimble fingers unhooked the band at the back with a simple flick, another trick you had taught him last week.

Before you could compliment him, his lips were trailing down your neck, sucking and licking on the sensitive areas until you were mewling with need. However, he didn't stop lowering his face until his lips were wrapped around your nipple, pulling the sensitive bud into his mouth and pressing the flat of his tongue against it.

"James!" you keened, rising to the tips of your toes to press your chest harder into his face, and he loved it from the deep groan he released, his fingers flexing on your lower back.

The Marauder moved from one breast to the next, teasing and nibbling until you were a desperate mess. Gripping onto his hair, you tugged on it, forcing his face away from your tits so that you could go back to kissing him deeply whilst also pulling on his shoulders towards the direction of the sofa.

Catching onto the direction he was being pulled in, James took over the lead as he sat down and pulled you into his lap, where you straddled his thighs. You couldn't help but contemplate how the position mirrored the one that started this entire situation, except now you weren't teaching. He was more leading and dominating the situation.

The hand on your lower back pressed more pressure until your crotch was flush against his. It felt somewhat wrong to have your chests both naked and pressed together, but the rest was still covered with jeans and trousers. However, it didn't stop the moans from escaping either of you as his hands moved your hips so you were grinding on his cock.

"Sweetheart, I need these off. Right fucking now before I combust", James pleaded as he undid the button of your jeans.

"You two then, Potter, off!". Once more, the clothes were off of your body within the blink of an eye until you were both only in underwear. Returning to finding your pussy against his cock, now you could genuinely find some real pleasure as the fabric of your underwear and the shape of his erection pressed against your clit, causing your insides to clench with the need to be filled.

James began to chuckle as his lips wandered down your throat, causing you to sit back and ask, "What's so funny?"

Moving his face closer to yours, he confidently stated, "I can feel how wet you are, even through my boxers". The two of you looked down to see a wet patch had formed over the grey material of his underwear where you'd been rubbing yourself as you realised you'd soaked through your lace material. The smile soon drained from your face as you both looked at one another.

"I need you", you dared to whisper as your hands moved from his shoulders to cup his cheeks, skimming the edge of the metal frames of his glasses.

The Adam's apple bobbed in his throat as he repeated the words with just as much passion, "I need you too".

It was almost like an out-of-body experience, your lust and arousal dictating your movements as you both held eye contact as you raised on your knees, pulling aside your underwear as James pushed the waistband of his underwear down to the mid-thigh.

Nothing separated the two of you now, and you could have cried as you positioned the head of his cock at your entrance. His arms moved around your body, hugging you close as he rested his forehead against yours.

"Oh Sweetheart, you feel - holy shit - you feel so good", James gasped as you lowered yourself to his length.

You were shaking with the overwhelming sensations pouring through your body, making just as pleading praises to the man currently stretching your cunt. For once, it wasn't about teaching him anything but just following instincts and responding to each other's bodies. You both took a second to adjust to the new sensations and then you couldn't wait another moment before rolling your hips, easing your body up and down.

The room echoed with the fire crackling and the sound of your drenched cunt being filled with James' cock over and over as he began to find more confidence, meeting your hips midway with his own thrust.

"Yes! Just like that!" you praise, tipping your head back and allowing him to move with his vigour as he fucked into you desperately.

"I- I feel like we're made for each other", he grunts as he looks down at where your bodies meet.

"Me too! James, please don't stop!" You could feel it, that tightening in your core that gave you such pleasure. You felt as if it was too much as it continued to build in the moment, as all you could do was cling to the man beneath you.

"That's it, Sweetheart, I want you to cum for me, say my name and cum”, he demanded as he fucked you as hard as he could, holding onto your shoulder to keep you in position. All air escaped your lungs as your eyes closed, and the tightness in your pleasure exploded in a flurry of clenches as you squeezed his cock through your orgasm, screaming his name like it was the only thing that mattered.

Through your overwhelming pleasure, you were half aware of the shivers and grunts coming from James as he couldn't contain himself any further and came with his shaft buried entirely within you. The thick seed spilt into you, mixing with your own juices and pooling into his lap as it began to slip out as his cock softened.

Heavy breaths and the stink of sex suffocated the small room as you both clung to the tendrils of hope that had bloomed from giving in to temptation.

But like most things, the happiness had to end as his grip loosened on you and the reality of the situation dawned on the both of you.

No more kisses were shared, no more longing looks as you clambered off of his lap, and the two of you began to dress, ignoring the fact that both of your underwear were now coated in bodily fluids.

Just as you pulled your jumper above your head and turned towards the door, James' hand circled yours. "Please don't shut me out, you're my best friend, I can't lose you". You don't say anything, and the emotions that had been threatening to spill all day finally surfaced as tears lined your eyes and your nose became stuffy. James looked devastated by your reaction as he stepped closer, his hands cupping either side of your face. "Did I hurt you? Please tell me you don't regret this".

"I should regret this", you begin to explain, letting the tears slip free, but James' thumb was there to swipe them all away. "But I don't, never with you. The only thing I regret is that this was your first time in this shitty little room and-. And your virginity wasn't meant for me".

James frowns at your words as he kisses your temple for a long second, "I'm pretty sure it's my virginity, and I can do whatever the fuck I want with it and give it to whoever I like. Also, side note, speaking about my virginity like this makes me sound like some virgin sacrifice".

You laugh tearily, leaning into his touch for a moment before stepping out of his grip and moving towards the door, turning the handle but finding it still locked. You couldn't turn around to face him, knowing it would break you to see the sadness in his eyes.

"Please don't go", James pleaded.

"Let me go, James", you whispered, meaning the sentence in more ways than one.

"I can't, Sweetheart", he admits, sounding almost broken.

"You have to. I don't want to be your bit on the side".

"You aren't my bit on the side; I mean, I can't do that to Lily; that's why I haven't asked her to be my girlfriend yet because of what we were doing".

Your heart sank at his words even though you knew he wasn't necessarily saying it to be cruel. "You can't do that to Lily, but you could do that to me? Please, James, please just let me go".

You were greeted with pure silence, and just as you're about to turn around and ask again, the door unlocks, and you're out the door in less than a second, rushing down the staircase and away from what you'd done but not before you're out of earshot as James screams the word "Fuck!" like a broken man.

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

And just to follow up on that previous reblog without derailing it: a lot of the really weird relationships and discourse that exist out there in the neo-pagan, Satanist, and atheist communities are in fact echoes of the weird relationship that Xtianity has with Judaism.

Xtianity has a weird, tumultuous relationship with Judaism because they must simultaneously validate the Tanakh and the Jews who created it or else their own religion is devoid of context and built on a house of cards. But! If they validate Judaism, then they have to grapple with the fact that the Jews did not accept their interpretation of the Tanakh, that we still, against all odds, exist, and that because we still exist, we are still around to point out the ways in which the New Testament does not fit with the Tanakh and that the Tanakh does not inherently or naturally point to Jesus. And that's to say nothing of the bloody history of Xtianity towards Judaism. Our continued existence is a sore point and a weakness in the Xtian narrative that has been a constant source of irritation, frustration, and violence since the dawn of Xtianity. And, at the same time, there is a certain fascination with Judaism related to things that have been appropriated by Xtians or understood as particularly useful in spreading supercessionist ideas. So what you wind up with is a toxic mix of antisemitism and philosemitism (effectively fetishization and orientalism) that drives too many Xtians to "love" us by attacking our beliefs and way of life, and stealing whatever they think will be most helpful in their mission (especially as it pertains to Jews) in order to try and convert us.**

Many people who have also been hurt from inside of Xtianity or by the broader Xtian culture they live in seek to deconstruct those ideas by creating an inverse of Xtianity in one way or another. Those who turn to Satanism typically do this by worshipping the opposite force of the Xtian god. Those who turn to neo-paganism typically do this by embracing an unambiguously polytheistic religion and/or by turning to the cultural historical enemies of Xtianity. Those who turn to atheism typically do this by rejecting "God," "faith," and "organized religion" (as these concepts are understood by Xtian norms.)

And honestly? That's fine. If it helps, if it brings you meaning and joy, knock yourselves out. I have no problem with people turning to these beliefs for reasons of healing as well as simply being drawn to it. And for what it's worth, I did a similar thing by turning to Judaism. Obviously I had many other reasons for becoming a Jew as well, and I assume that's true for the aforementioned folks, too. Judaism healed a lot of Xtianity-shaped wounds for me, and if your paganism, Satanism, and/or atheism helps you in the same way as well as bringing you meaning, I sincerely wish you the best.

However, the problem is that many times, unless you turn to Judaism and learn our side of the story, it's very difficult to deconstruct the antisemitism of your past entanglement with Xtianity. Xtian antisemitism has permeated western society so thoroughly for so long that it is real *work* to identify and unlearn it. Those converting to Judaism have the benefit of the Jewish community and extensive educational resources to help. Other folks do not.

Here's the problem: if you simply invert Xtian ideas, you are still treating Xtianity as the baseline reality from which your other assumptions and beliefs flow. If you just choose the opposite at every chance, you divorce yourself from Xtianity, but not its prejudices.

Now you might fairly ask, "hey Avital, if we are making the opposite choice at every turn, wouldn't that invert the antisemitism to being at least neutral if not positive towards Judaism?" And that would be perfectly logical! But unfortunately deeply and (for us) dangerously incorrect.

The reason is because (1) antisemitism has never been rational but reactionary instead, (2) philosemitism is also bad, and (3) it is structured in a way that it's pretty much always "heads I win, tails you lose." Have you ever noticed that according to antisemites, Jews are both ultra-white and also dirty foreign middle eastern invaders? That we are supposedly very powerful and run the world, but are also weak and degenerate? That both the Right and the Left have extensive antisemitism problems? Etc.? There's a reason - it's because antisemitism is designed to other us no matter what. So oftentimes I see folks inverting Xtian philosemitism to being "those awful fundamentalist Old Testamenters" or inverting Xtian antisemitism to valorizing Judaism, but only to the extent that they can meme-ify our religion down to fighting God and/or being un-pious godless liberals.

But like other groups, we are a diverse and complicated group with a very long history and a lot of trauma to boot.

If you're trying to unpack your Xtian conditioning, please also unpack your antisemitism and philosemitism. If not for our sake and for it being the right thing to do, at least do it for yourselves, because unless you deconstruct that as well, you will still be operating within a really ugly aspect of a Xtian mindset.

(**Please note that this isn't literally all Xtians everywhere, but it is a lot of Xtians in most places and throughout most of history. There are absolutely Xtians who are good allies to Jews, but they are much smaller in number and are swimming upstream in their relationship to both Jews and Xtianity.)

[girlactionfigure]

ANTISEMITIC BIAS 

Many antisemites don’t consciously dislike Jews. They might even think highly of Jews. For example, they might believe “positive” stereotypes of Jews, such as that Jews are good at business or good with money. They might have Jewish friends. They might like “some” Jews. But they still cause tremendous damage to the Jewish community. 

“Biases” can be defined as “an inclination or prejudice for or against one person or group.”

Unconscious biases are known as implicit biases. We all have implicit biases (whether negative or positive) in the way that we interpret the world around us. Conscious biases (such as, for example, the Nazis outwardly believing that Jews were “the inferior race”) are known as explicit biases.

Because antisemitism is everywhere in our world — in our cultures, our languages, our folklore, our literature, our entertainment, our media, and more — it’s impossible for us not to internalize at least some antisemitic biases. These biases, however, exist on a spectrum: from unconsciously assuming that most Jews are wealthy (implicit bias) to believing the white supremacist conspiracy theory that Jews are enacting a “white genocide” (explicit bias) to everything in between.

Because antisemitism is so old and so deeply embedded into our society and institutions (e.g. religion, language, literature, education, and more), that means that there is a lot of antisemitic bias in our world, most of which you might not even be able to see. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. 

ANTISEMITISM IS A CONSPIRACY ABOUT THE JEWS

Antisemitism can be tricky to spot because it works very differently than every other form of bigotry. While other bigotries see their victims as “inferior,” antisemitism sees Jews as both “inferior” but also “superior” or all-powerful, capable of causing every calamity from wars to natural disasters to diseases to controlling the weather. 

Societies project whatever they dislike most onto the Jews. In the Middle Ages, Jews were Christ-killers. In Nazi Germany and McCarthyist America, Jews were communists. In the Soviet Union, Jews were capitalists. In Nazi Germany and during the rise of the scientific racism period, Jews were the inferior race. To white supremacists, Jews are not white. To left-wing anti-Zionists, Jews are white. For centuries in Europe, Jews were untrustworthy foreigners from Palestine. But today among anti-Zionists, Jews are Europeans colonizing Palestine. We are whatever makes us the perfect scapegoat at any given time. 

It’s no coincidence, then, that antisemitism tends to surge most when societies are in upheaval. After all, the leaders need someone to blame. Examples of this include the Germans’ blaming Jews for Germany’s suffering post-World War I, as well as the rise of the “Deadly Exchange” conspiracy which blames Israel for police brutality in the United States, following George Floyd’s murder. 

Antisemitism moves through conspiracy theories. Most notably, since to the antisemite, Jews are all-powerful, the most prevalent and deeply ingrained antisemitic conspiracies have to do with Jews and wealth and power. In the Middle Ages, for example, Europeans believed that Jews aimed to subvert Christendom. Since the 1920s, antisemitic leaders in the Arab world have rallied their followers behind the conspiracy that Jews intend to destroy Al-Aqsa Mosque and usurp Islamic lands. White supremacists — and far left anti-Zionists — today believe the “Zionist Occupied Government” conspiracy, which accuses Jews of controlling and manipulating the American government for their benefit. 

Given the pervasiveness of conspiracies regarding Jews and power, antisemitism is nearly impossible to address without triggering more antisemitism. If an antisemite faces consequences for their actions, antisemites will use this as “proof” that it’s the all-powerful Jews that have imposed these consequences. This makes antisemitism a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

BIGOTRY WON'T ALWAYS BE OBVIOUS TO YOU

Most of us want to do the right thing. The problem is that bigotry — whether antisemitism or something else — doesn’t come with a flashing neon sign that says “this is bigoted! Call it out!” Instead, bigotry persists because entire societies convince themselves that their bigoted worldview is somehow justified. This is especially true of antisemitism. Antisemites throughout history have long persecuted Jews under the guise of seeking justice. 

For instance, since the Middle Ages, Jews have been periodically persecuted on the accusation that they killed a Christian or Muslim child for ritual purposes. In other words, antisemites were seeking “justice” for these children that the Jews allegedly killed. This antisemitic trope is called “blood libel” and has led to the deaths of millions of Jews. It’s safe to say that these murderous antisemites fully believed that they were doing the “right thing.” Some examples of historic blood libels that have resulted in violence against Jews include the William of Norwich blood libel (1144), the Damascus Affair (1840), and the Kielce Pogrom (1946). 

During the Bubonic Plague, Jews were persecuted under the false accusation that they were “poisoning the wells” and sickening the gentile population of Europe. Once again, the persecution of Jews was seen as just.

During the Nuremberg Trials, high-ranking Nazi officers testified that they believed that Jews were a danger to the safety of the German people and the German nation. In other words, they justified their mass extermination of Jew under the guise of “protecting” the people of Germany. 

The list goes on and on. Is it possible that today you too have been made to believe that violence against Jews — Zionists, Israelis — is a just cause? 

THE NAZI FALLACY

A few years ago, the notorious antisemite Shaun King argued with a Holocaust survivor on Twitter. When accused of antisemitism, he retorted, “I can’t be an antisemite. I fight Nazis every day!” But anyone even remotely familiar with antisemitism or Jewish history will know that Nazis were far from the Jews’ only historic oppressors. You don’t have to be a Nazi to be an antisemite. In fact, most antisemites are not Nazis.Not even close. 

Nazism is just one manifestation of antisemitism. It’s a deadly one, certainly, but it’s also far from the only deadly manifestation of antisemitism. Jews have been killed by the thousands — sometimes by the millions — by a multitude of other oppressors. Some, like the Nazis, the KKK, and other white supremacists, are far-right. Others, like the Soviet Union, are far-left. Others are somewhere in the middle, and others oppressed us so long ago that their ideologies long predate the left-right political spectrum as we know it today.

The horrific images of Nazism and the death camps are seared in the world’s collective memory. It’s easy to think that if it doesn’t look like Nazism, if it doesn’t look like Auschwitz, then it’s not actually antisemitism, or perhaps it could be antisemitism, but it’s not serious antisemitism. In reality, though, antisemitism doesn’t go from zero to Auschwitz. Instead, antisemitic tropes, conspiracies, and stereotypes fester and proliferate, operating under new euphemisms and adapting to whatever society they’re in. Many of the same antisemitic conspiracies that drove the Nazis nearly 100 years ago are the exact same conspiracies that are driving “protestors” to violently harass Jews in the streets of New York City today. 

For many years before the gas chambers, antisemitism in Germany, which once was home to the most assimilated, well-integrated Jewish community in the Diaspora, proliferated in university lecture halls, justified and explained away in academic language. It wasn’t deadly yet, but it soon would be. When you dismiss any sort of antisemitic rhetoric because it doesn’t mirror the deadliest days of the Nazi regime, what you are actually doing is that you are contributing to the sort of hostile, conspiratorial environment that eventually made the Holocaust possible in the first place. 

THE GASLIGHTING

Antisemitism and the gaslighting of Jews go hand in hand. If an antisemite faces consequences for their antisemitism, it simply reinforces their antisemitic beliefs. Because antisemitism always places Jews in the role of oppressor, it’s nearly impossible for Jews to seek accountability or justice without being accused of exaggerating, crying wolf, playing the victim, or otherwise having nefarious intentions. 

After the Holocaust, for example, the second in command at the Red Cross, Carl Jacob Burckhardt, decried the Nuremberg Trials, calling them “Jewish revenge.” Others, like the Palestinian newspaper Falastin, did so as well. 

Antisemitic bias oftentimes makes it impossible for some people to see Jews as victims. If an antisemite loses their job for espousing antisemitism, they will then blame the “powerful” Jews — or Zionists, or another euphemism — for taking their job. In that way, they turn the victim into the victimizer. This is a classic gaslighting tactic, which creates a catch-22 and is one of the reasons antisemitism can be so hard to combat. 

For example, in the lead up to the Holocaust, American isolationists of various political persuasions accused Jews sounding the alarm on the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany of trying to instigate a war with the Germans. 

Sometimes we are even accused of provoking or exaggerating antisemitism for our own benefit. There are a number of conspiracies, for example, that the Zionists worked with the Nazis to instigate the Holocaust to justify the creation of a Jewish state. 

An example of the accusation that Jews play the victim is when we are told that we talk about the Holocaust “too much” — contrary to the statistics that demonstrate people are woefully misinformed about the Holocaust — or that we should move on because we “got reparations” (not exactly true, but that’s a different topic). 

Then there are the accusations that we brought antisemitism or antisemitic violence onto ourselves — something that we’ve seen on a grand scale following the Hamas massacre on October 7. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

(1) Listen to Jews. I don’t mean just listen to your Jewish friends, or to the Jews you personally agree with. I mean listen to the Jewish community as a whole. Jews don’t often agree on much, but at the end of the day, we are a community, and only the Jewish community can fully describe our own experience. 

Don’t listen just to the Jews who validate your views. Listen to the Jews that challenge you. Don’t shut yourself off from learning because it might contradict whatever ideology you follow. Learning is a lifelong process. I promise you you don’t know everything there is to know about antisemitism (I don’t either! I’m always learning). But it’s your responsibility to open yourself up to new information so that you can do better. 

(2) if Jews are telling you something is antisemitic, then your first instinct should never be to distrust us.Can Jews weaponize accusations of antisemitism? Sure. Anyone can weaponize anything. Is it likely that that’s what’s happening? No. Antisemitism worldwide has skyrocketed to the highest levels since the end of the Holocaust. It’s a very real threat taking lives. You should take accusations of antisemitism just as seriously as you take accusations of other bigotries…even if initially you don’t see it. 

(3) I can’t stress this enough: do your best to educate yourself about antisemitic conspiracies, stereotypes, and tropes throughout history. The euphemisms may change — sometimes we’re “globalists,” other times we’re “Zionists” — but the formula remains the same. To be able to spot antisemitism, you have to learn to spot it. I recommend reading my post “The World’s Oldest Hatred” for more. 

Instagram

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Rachel Bitecofer at The Cycle: Many times I’ve asked you to imagine what it would be like, what your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about contemporary America would be like, if you were one of the 100 million plus Americans who can’t name their own state’s senators. Vox dropped a recent piece that is firewalled, but I want you to read this short excerpt from their reporting:

Now, don’t focus on the particular demographics of this particular disenchanted voter. She could be anyone: a man, a woman, old, young, Black or White. Believe it or not, there are even college educated Americans who have this kind of limited, simplistic frame for interpreting political events. Anyhoo, that is a long wind up to get to what I want to talk to you about today which is the sensitivity of the low information public to lies intended to radicalize them.

Team Trump has a shrewd strategy to use obviously illegal executive orders to prepare the MAGA base for rebellion when they are inevitably struck down. An important concept from Introduction to American Government courses is something called the Expectations Gap. The Expectations Gap refers to the gap between what a president must promise to win election (especially to win their party’s nomination) and what he or she can actually deliver through a system intentionally designed to make governing very hard. Unless a president is extraordinarily lucky, like FDR who governed through two crises and used both to reshape the size and scope of government, a president is doomed to over promise and under deliver. All of them.

And that is during the best of times. These are not the best of times. Back in late 2009, early 2010, Republicans developed a keen strategy to try to make Barack Obama a one term president. That strategy was designed to increase the expectations gap by purposefully obstructing major legislation to deny Obama legislative wins. Its a strategy that benefitted Republicans politically so much, it became their go-to strategy throughout the full 8 years of Obama and for 4 years of Joe Biden, with one recent exception: Biden’s Infrastructure bill. They architects of the GOP’s opposition strategy had no idea at the time, but their strategy to starve the public of good government went on to play a key role in creating both the MAGA movement (right wing populism) and the Bernie Sanders movement (left wing populism). When people see their government can’t deliver solutions to their problems (or are told hyperbolic lies like Death Panels) they go a little crazy. And as demonstrated above, few voters have the sophistication to understand that Barack Obama failed to deliver on immigration reform because the Republican House simply refused to allow a vote on it.

[...] There’s just one problem: most of the executive orders Trump has issued to “finally achieve results for the American people” are illegal. Some are so grotesquely illegal they have Supreme Court justices gasping at the lunacy of the arguments coming out of what were once well-respected government lawyers. MAGA doesn’t know it yet, but most of Trump’s executive orders will never have the force of law. They will die quick deaths by a judiciary that overall seems inclined to protect the Constitution’s separation of powers system and maintain the power of the courts to review and determine the legality of actions taken by the Congress, the President, and the states. Unfortunately, Team Trump has been radicalizing the MAGA base for weeks in terms of the legitimacy of the courts.

Donald Trump’s executive orders are all about setting the MAGA base for rebellion when and if they get struck down.

[obsidian-pages777]

Asteroid Industria and Asteroid Varuna in your Astrology Chart

Asteroid Industria is about your ability to be diligent and industrious, therefore represents a significant part of your career, while Asteroid Varuna represents in your birth chart the pathway that represents where you will receive justice and fairness. Both these Asteroids along with their separate interpretations are often used to see as to where your life trajectory including your career are leading you towards.

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In astrology, the asteroid Industria (Asteroid 389) represents themes related to hard work, industriousness, ambition, and diligence. Its position in the houses of your natal chart indicates the areas of life where you focus your efforts and work ethic. Here's an interpretation of Industria in the different houses:

1st House: You are seen as a hardworking individual with a strong personal drive. Industriousness becomes a central part of your identity and how others perceive you.

2nd House: You may work hard to attain material security and financial stability. You're likely to place a lot of effort into building personal wealth or resources.

3rd House: You are diligent in communication, learning, and perhaps neighborhood or sibling relations. You put effort into writing, speaking, or developing skills in areas of education.

4th House: You apply your energy toward family, home life, and creating a strong emotional foundation. You might be focused on real estate, property matters, or improving your living space.

5th House: Your industriousness is channeled into creative pursuits, hobbies, romance, or activities involving children. You might approach pleasure or self-expression with a serious work ethic.

6th House: This is one of the most natural placements for Industria, emphasizing diligence in daily work, health routines, and service to others. You might be highly organized or disciplined in your job or personal health.

7th House: In partnerships and relationships, you apply effort into maintaining balance, cooperation, and mutual benefit. You may work hard to form strong partnerships, both personal and professional.

8th House: You might work hard in matters of shared resources, transformation, or dealing with crises. This placement often signifies intense effort in areas like finances, taxes, inheritances, or psychological work.

9th House: You may apply your energy into higher learning, travel, or spiritual/philosophical pursuits. You might be hardworking in educational endeavors, publishing, or expanding your worldview.

10th House: Industria in the 10th House points to career ambitions and public reputation. You may be seen as hardworking, disciplined, and industrious in your professional life.

11th House: You apply your energy into social causes, group activities, or friendships. This placement suggests hard work in achieving long-term goals and in collaborating with others for the greater good.

12th House: Your industriousness may be focused on behind-the-scenes work, spiritual growth, or serving others in a more hidden capacity. There could be a tendency to work in solitude or on issues related to mental health, healing, or the subconscious.

================================================================================================

Asteroid Varuna (20000 Varuna) in astrology is linked to themes of cosmic law, justice, fairness, and overarching principles that govern life and the universe. Named after the Hindu god of the oceans and the guardian of cosmic order, Varuna's presence in an astrological chart often reflects one's relationship to larger principles, truth, and integrity. Here's how Varuna might manifest in the houses of a natal chart:

Varuna in the Houses

1st House: Varuna here may influence your personality and how you present yourself. You may be someone who naturally stands for fairness, cosmic justice, or a higher truth. There’s a tendency to carry a sense of personal integrity, often seen as someone with a strong moral compass.

2nd House: In this house, Varuna affects your values and approach to material possessions. You may have a deep sense of fairness regarding wealth and resources, with a focus on acquiring things in an ethical and balanced manner. There could be a drive toward working in fields that uphold justice or universal laws.

3rd House: You express Varuna’s energy through communication, learning, and interacting with your immediate environment. You may be concerned with truth in communication, desiring clarity and fairness in all conversations, possibly advocating for justice through writing or teaching.

4th House: Varuna influences your home, family, and emotional foundation. There may be a strong sense of moral principles within the family or an emphasis on fairness and justice in your home life. You might seek to create a nurturing environment based on universal laws and fairness.

5th House: In this house, Varuna’s energy is expressed through creativity, romance, and self-expression. You may infuse a sense of justice into your creative works or feel compelled to use your talents to address larger issues of fairness. Romantic relationships might also be influenced by ideals of truth and ethical behavior.

6th House: Varuna in the 6th House suggests that your daily work, health routines, and service to others are guided by a sense of cosmic justice. You may be drawn to work environments where fairness and integrity are key values, or you may approach health and wellness through a holistic lens that respects universal laws.

7th House: Varuna influences your partnerships and relationships. In this house, fairness and justice become central to your interactions with others, particularly in personal or business relationships. You may be drawn to partners who share a similar ethical stance or work in areas related to law or justice.

8th House: Varuna in the 8th House can bring a focus on justice and integrity in matters related to shared resources, transformation, and deeper psychological issues. You may explore intense themes of power, control, and fairness in joint ventures, inheritances, or spiritual transformation.

9th House: Here, Varuna amplifies themes of higher learning, travel, philosophy, and religion. You may be deeply concerned with exploring truth and justice on a global scale, possibly engaging in studies or travels that challenge your sense of universal laws and cosmic order.

10th House: Varuna in the 10th House suggests that your career and public reputation are linked to themes of justice, integrity, and universal principles. You may be seen as a figure who upholds high moral standards or works in a profession where justice and fairness are paramount, such as law, governance, or education.

11th House: Varuna here affects your involvement in social groups, friendships, and long-term goals. You may be drawn to social causes that focus on justice, fairness, and the betterment of society. Varuna can inspire you to work within communities that are committed to ethical and fair practices.

12th House: In this deeply spiritual and hidden house, Varuna may influence your subconscious mind, dreams, and connection to the mystical or unseen realms. You may have a strong inner sense of cosmic justice and be drawn to work behind the scenes to support fairness, or you may grapple with themes of integrity and truth on a deeply personal and introspective level.

================================================================================================

Conjuction, Square, Sextile between Varuna and Industria

1.Conjunction

When Varuna and Industria are conjunct, their energies blend and work together. This aspect suggests that your sense of hard work and industriousness (Industria) is deeply aligned with cosmic justice, integrity, or higher truth (Varuna).

You may approach work and effort with a strong sense of moral duty or feel that your career or daily tasks should reflect universal principles of fairness and justice. You could be driven to work in areas that promote ethical values, social justice, or larger causes. This aspect might also make you feel a profound responsibility to maintain balance and integrity in your professional or personal efforts.

If you are in a leadership role or public service, you may work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served or that ethical standards are maintained. Your industrious nature is deeply tied to what you perceive as universal truths or laws.

2. Square

A square between Varuna and Industria creates tension between your drive for hard work and diligence (Industria) and your ideals of cosmic justice or truth (Varuna). This tension can manifest as internal or external conflict, but it also creates opportunities for growth.

You might experience situations where you have to balance between working hard and staying true to ethical or moral principles. There could be a struggle between what you must do in your day-to-day life or career versus what you feel is morally or cosmically correct. Alternatively, you may face challenges that force you to choose between practical hard work and higher ideals.

You might be in a job or situation where your industriousness is at odds with your ethical values. Perhaps you are expected to compromise your integrity to achieve professional success, and this creates stress or a feeling of being morally "out of balance."

3. Sextile

A sextile between Varuna and Industria is a harmonious aspect that facilitates easy flow between your work ethic and your moral or ethical principles. This is a positive aspect where both energies support each other, offering opportunities for growth and achievement.

You are likely to find it easier to align your work efforts with higher ethical standards. This aspect suggests that your industriousness complements your sense of cosmic justice, and you may find opportunities to work in areas that reflect your moral values. You can effortlessly apply hard work in fields that promote fairness, integrity, and truth.

You may be in a role or profession where you feel a natural alignment between your sense of responsibility and your ideals of fairness and justice. Opportunities may come your way that allow you to work hard while promoting social causes or acting with high ethical standards.

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[explorastro]

THE THIRD DECAN

The passage of a planet, angle, asteroid, house or other in the third decan of a sign will bring the individual to encounter all the greatest difficulties and facilities of the sign's archetype. A bit like Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld, it's a journey of initiation for the hero as he enters his final phase of fulfillment. The ins and outs of planet, angle, asteroid in correlation with the sign will be very important in the life of the native/subject.

Some interpretations possible for each planets and the ascendant in the third decan :

Sun in the third decan :

- being seen/recognized a lot by your peers, fans, audience

- accomplishing something impactful personally in the life multiple times

- learning more quickly than others

- can being a visionary by how you accumulated experiences

- being yourself freely

Moon in the third decan :

- might having a family who supports/educate you very well

- emotions are a big lessons theme of the native/subject

- your relation with the crowd makes you special

- can achieving inner journeys in the occult knowledge

Mercury in the third decan :

- reaching high level of intelligence

- using your hands very well because of talent or hard work

- might developing new technologies

- being very inquisitive and curious even when you regret it

- can learning a lot of books in their life

Venus in the third decan :

- can having a lot of resources, money at a young age

- might being in relationships often

- developing high ethics and values

- can being surrounded by beautiful/cute people as you

- having a connection with nature that you cherish

Mars in the third decan :

- being the warrior in every room you enter

- having to deal with a lot of accidents and fails

- but also being an achiever by how you invest in your projects

- shaping your mind and body can leading you so far

Jupiter in the third decan :

- being socially enthusiastic that leads you to have wisdoms

- expansion of the qualities of the sign

- benefits of the signs maximized

- exploring the possibilities of the world and universe

- teaching your philosophical insights

Saturn in the third decan :

- having to deal with a lot of karmic lessons

- but can reaching all the summits by discipline and hard work

- might being an important figure of the society

- isolation can affecting your mental health more than others

Uranus in the third decan :

- brain electricity being vivid

- shocking revelations coming out of nowhere constantly

- knowing things that the majority don’t know

- being rebellious since an young age and for all the life

- growing in an innovative environment

Neptune in the third decan :

- being the center of attention in a spiritual sphere

- being creative artistically at a point that others are fascinated by you

- handling heavy karmic endings

- mastering the gifts that universe gives you

- finalizing something faster than others

Pluto in the third decan :

- living moments of intense fear that you fight then

- can being more wealthy than others

- might live a period of death and rebirth cyclically

- using the influence to breaking the limits of what was possible

Ascendant in the third decan :

- this incarnation is a main character for your soul

- your body can be important to your well being

- self care and love is crucial to advancing in this cruel world

- can being an stereotype of the sign’s archetype

[srbachchan]

DAY 6005

Jalsa, Mumbai July 27, 2024/July 28 Sat/Sun 2:37 am

.. the body moves .. not quite as before .. but moves .. movements are an integral part of our living .. we are brought here in this Universe to move .. move out move above move about and around , but move ..

I sought the pt's of movement for us likes and are given the directions that pertain to the fact of how movement is the crucible of necessity ..

"For an 82-year-old male, maintaining movement is crucial for overall health and well-being. Gentle activities like walking, swimming, or tai chi can help enhance mobility, strength, and balance. Stretching exercises improve flexibility, reducing the risk of injury. Light resistance training can preserve muscle mass and bone density. It's essential to include regular breaks and avoid overexertion. Social activities like dancing or group exercises provide both physical and mental benefits. Consulting with a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise regimen is important to ensure safety and to tailor the activities to the individual's health status and physical capabilities."

.. and so I move ..

but enough of the 'i' .. it's time to bring in the 'they' .. 'they' are the necessity of the movement living .. for the simple reason that what 'they' induce you with , becomes the movement legacy .. 'they' may never feel so , but the fact is just that .. MOVE ..

blessed are we that are the face of public appearance .. and the 'they' comes in with immense intensity to justify our beliefs and aforementioned detail ..

when 'they' burst we explode .. when 'they' explode we hold on to their tails and travel where 'they' do or go .. 'they' go to destinations known to them but 'they' carry our destinations as well .. without them we have no destination .. our final peak is theirs .. and that is how we be ..

In a few hours from now .. well .. quite a few hours from now at the GOJ .. there shall be meets and greets and shares and givings and reciprocation .. that is life , reciprocation .. get one give two ..

and the interpretation be theirs as well .. we learn from them .. 'they' are the spirit that educates .. 'they' teach professionally .. we follow in the lead given ..

the mention of the 95% and 98% is ever adorned with great appreciation .. but 'they' teach us that there are those that achieve from the 50% to the 60% also..

are their achievements any less ..

they deserve the lead as well , to swell the encouragement to keep the growth ..

and growth is movement ..

SO ..

MOVE ..

MY LOVE CARE and my affection for them that strain .. strain to move forward .. a step or two may be and NOT a gallop .. but a step all the same ..

'take the strain .... HEAVE ' !!!!

Amitabh Bachchan

[proudhinduforever]

India's chart and Rahu in lagna

An astrological analysis

India's birth chart has rahu in lagna and many think it is a bad placement. But it's not true. Rahu is exalted in Taurus as per Parashara and has its own advantages.

(Note: The below interpretations are not of akhand Bharat/ancient India. It's of India which got established in August 15, 1947 after independence.

Date of birth of independent India: 15 aug 1947

Time of birth: 12 am

Place: New Delhi)

Below are the advantages:

1. Strong Taurus Rahu in lagna brings a craving to be successful materialistically. As a result of that, most Indians are hardworking.

2. Strong rahu in lagna gives a great ability to defend itself. India is surrounded by enemy countries (china, pakistan and Bangladesh) but still stays strong.

3. Rahu being a technical planet, most Indians are interested in technical education. Indians are mainly getting identified by engineers and technology these days.

4. Rahu in lagna is observed in many saints as well. It is because ketu is always placed in 7th house. So it brings a sense of detachment and pushes India towards spirituality. Bharat(India) is a tapobhumi.

5. Taurus Rahu in lagna also makes India financially strong. Rahu in Taurus supports financially growth.

6. Taurus being a sthir lagna, it gives India a stable government and not fluctuating often.

7. Strong Rahu in lagna gives an ability to see through the lies or conspiracies. For example, Pakistan had lied about mumbai attack and Pahalgam as well. But India hit back.

8. Strong rahu in lagna gives an acceptance towards other religion/culture. As we all know, India is a diverse land consisting of many cultures and religions.

9. Strong Taurus Rahu in lagna gives benefits from foreigners. So India will continue to receive help from foreign lands in future and especially from West.

10. Strong rahu in lagna in the chart of India makes one proud about their identity even if we are a developing country. As we all know, we Indians are very emotional when it comes to defending identity associated with our country.

11. Strong rahu in lagna in India's chart brings internal conflicts. But , despite this, in the adverse times, it will fight back against enemies keeping the differences aside.

12. One of the most beautiful thing of strong rahu in lagna is their ability to grow from a very poor foundation. India was really poor when it got it's independence. But it has lifted millions of people from poverty unlike a terrorist state😅

This is just about one placement of India's birth chart. Deep analysis might require some time.

India's birth chart is strong enough to place her as a powerful country in future.

Jai Hind 🇮🇳

Har Har Mahadev 🙏

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: The Arcana Interpretations

symbolism for your next poem/story (pt. 2)

12. The Hanged Man

Self-sacrifice, approved sacrifice, lunar-Venus influence

Good: Disinterest, unselfish, devotion, submission to duty, patriotism, generosity, apostolate, philanthropic, gifted; dispersal of ideas

Bad: Good ideas not executed, projects not realized, good plans remain as theory; promises not kept, love not shared, exploitation of good feelings; powerless achievement; losses

13. Death

Inescapable fate, necessary end, disenchantment, active Saturnian influence.

Good: Profound, intellectual penetration, metaphysics, disillusionment, severe discretion, disillusioned wisdom, detachment, resignation, stoicism

Bad: Inevitable failure; discouragement, pessimism, absolute change, starting again in a diametrically opposed fashion

14. Temperance

Serenity, coldness, adaptation, Mercurial-lunar influence

Good: Accommodating character, practical philosophy, happy, carelessness, accepting the inevitable, bending to circumstance, sociability, educability, adaptive transformation

Bad: Indifference, lack of personality, passive change, changing moods; tendency to change with the environment, submission to fashion; results do not come up to aspirations, inability to influence the flow of life

15. The Devil

Disorder, passion, sexual excitement, conjunction of Mars & Venus

Good: Sexual attraction, passionate desires, magical action, magnetism, occult power, practising mystical influence; active protection against bewitchment; protection against sorcerers

Bad: Trouble, over-excitement, amorous, lust, complication, stupidity, intrigue, use of illicit means, bewitchment, fascination, enslavement of the senses, weakness resulting in an awkward situation, selfishness

16. The Tower

Explosion, destruction, fall, lunar-Mars influence

Good: Delivery, salutary crisis, defiance, fear resulting from reckless enterprises; benefit from other people's errors; good sense, detention, genuine timidity; attachment to the observance of piety, religious materialism

Bad: Illness, punishment, catastrophe provoked by imprudence, clandestine childbirth, scandal, discovered hypocrisy; excess, abuse, monopolizing, presumption, pride; fanciful enterprises, misleading alchemy

17. The Star

Practical idealism, hope, beauty, solar-Venus influence

Good: Candour, abandonment to sensible influences, naturism, confidence in destiny, aesthetics, poetical sensibility, presentiment; kindness, compassion

Bad: Wild, prudence, frivolity, lack of spontaneity, unhealthy artificial constraint; romanticism, on who turns away from the practical life

18. The Moon

Imagination, appearances, illusions, active lunar influence

Good: Objectivity, the sensitive world, experimentation, work, the difficult conquest of reality; instruction by pain, imposed task, fastidious labour which is necessary; a passive view, lucidity; navigation

Bad: Errors of sense, false suppositions, ambushes, traps, deceptions, deceptive theories, fantastic knowledge, visionaryism, flattery, menaces, blackmail, loss, journey, whim, lunacy

19. The Sun

Light, reason, harmony, solar influence

Good: Limpid discernment, clarity of judgment and expression, literary or artistic talent; pacification, harmony, good relationship, conjugal felicity; fraternity, reign of the intelligence and good sentiments; reputation, glory, celebrity

Bad: Glaring, vanity, poseur, show-off, pride, susceptibility; misunderstood artist; hidden misery, bluff, false appearance, assimilated facade, prestigious decor

20. Judgement

Inspiration, redemptive blow, a lunar-Mercurial influence

Good: Enthusiasm, exultation, spirituality; prophecy, sanctity, theurgy, miraculous medicine; past resurrection, renovation, birth; propaganda, apostolate

Bad: Spiritual and mental intoxication illumination; reclaim, noise, agitation for no reason

21. The World

Completion, recompense, deification, Jupiter-solar influence

Good: Major fortune, complete success, completion, achievement; decisive intervention; very favourable circumstances, propitious atmosphere; absolute integrity; contemplative absorption; ecstasy

Bad: Tremendous obstacle, hostile atmosphere, self pity; distraction, lack of attention and concentration; large setback of fortune, ruin, social disregard

0. The Fool

Impulsive, alienation, passive lunar influence

Good: Passive, absolute abandon, renouncement of all resistance, carelessness, innocence, irresponsibility; instinctiveness; abstention

Bad: Nullity, incapable of reason; abandonment to blind impulse, unconsciously unruly; extravagance, punishment, foolish acts, vain remorse, annihilation

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ On Tarot ⚜ Part 1

[theoldspark]

A criminally overlooked fact of the Transformers is that they do not have a childhood.

Cybertronians, once born, are thrown into their world already conscious; already aware of what they are. They are created with an apparent purpose—their alt-modes often define their use in society and become who they are as a consequence: an ambulance a medic, a telescope an archeologist, a truck a deck worker, et cetera. These are their jobs and they do not get to grow, experience and learn before they are pressed to choose what their contribution to society will be.

Transformers do not have one to call a parent. They do not have a caretaker or guaranteed guidance. They don't have a period of their life in which the responsibility of their existence and actions falls on another. Some may be lucky and find a mentor, but this is not the rule. It is all on them. Their principles, the lessons they learn, their interpretations of the latter. It is all up to them, and they have no assurance there will be someone to assist them for it.

It is why Primus and the Prime/Primacy is such a crucial piece of their culture.

Primus, their creator, is their referent for good. Primus, all powerful and knowing, is, as well, their literal parent. But he is not more than a legend and a rock of alloy within an endless space of stars and galaxies. The Prime, on the other hand, is their true guide. The Prime is the personification of all that is good (Primus) and his wisdom. They are who will lead them to greatness and who will bring peace and order to their race.

The Prime is a figure entrusted to bear the responsibility of protecting, leading and caring for its fellow Cybertronians. Thus, for the ones who read Optimus Prime as a father figure (or as fatherly figure coded), you are not really that far fetched. He is not parent of his soldiers or enemies, but he is, to the general consensus, the one to fill a role of authority and guidance.

The Matrix is the only real connection a Cybertronian has to Primus (excepting the Allspark, which should reunite them with Primus and everyone whose spark has extinguished). The holder of such an artifact is naturally the closest to their god father, hence the next in line.

Their severe lack of a close and warden figure at the beginning of their development might explain, in part, the mess and chaos in their overall community. There are socially constructed morals, but they are only learnt by exposition and not education. If one wishes to learn and differentiate right from wrong, they need a closer look to these concepts, and with experience as their sole teacher, their conclusions will vary and greatly depend on what they've learnt until then.

One who isn't benefited by their society’s values will more than likely reject them and consequently follow an opposing path. One who hasn't been fortunate to learn these morals will find their own, and nobody can say which way they'll go. One who doesn't understand these rules will be tempted by concepts they do understand and that often ends in disaster.

These are the consequences of being part of a civilization that does not have a warranted figure to give sense of direction in their early lives or a period which provides them with time to discover themselves and truly have a choice on who and what to be for their future.

[transmutationisms]

The popularity of drugs and the eagerness of conservative politicians to cut state hospital budgets explains the quick pace of deinstitutionalization in California.86 From 1970 to 1974, California reduced the number of state hospitals within its system from ten to seven and converted or limited services in the remaining hospitals to specialized types of care. This physical shrinkage translated into an eighty-three percent reduction in the state hospital population, from 36,000 patients in 1955 to less than 6,000 patients in 1977.87 When taking into account the number of patients who passed either through the doors of a state hospital or county ward for treatment, California also reduced the number of patients it institutionalized for any given amount of time by fifty-three percent (558,922 to 193,436) from 1957-1977.88 Under the LPS law, this new system reflected the belief that mental illness existed on a continuum between “normal” and “violent” states by only temporally holding the mentally ill when they were considered dangerous and releasing them into society when their florid states subsided.

West sought to advance racially liberal psychiatry by conjoining psychotherapeutic concerns around child development with the fields of biological psychiatry and psychopharmacology. In an era of growing alarm about the availability of public funds, he believed the future of community mental health required money be diverted away from “non-medical” anti-poverty programs and towards resource- and capital- intensive lab-based psychiatric research and medical education. Although he began the mid-1960s using interpretive frames of culture, race, and class to explain violence, he increasingly became interested in unlocking an underlying biologic basis for violence that rendered such frames less meaningful. His attempts to find a universal color- and class- blind basis for violence, however, ended up strengthening policing of poor people of color by reinforcing their spatial segregation from society in prisons, state hospitals, and segregated neighborhoods with new ideas about the social transmission of violence.

Comments West made after the 1965 riots/uprisings demonstrate he initially agreed with most race-based community mental health proponents that normal black personalities existed among black populations where strict cultural adherence to normative ideas about gender and sexuality was exhibited. On a panel titled “Prevention of Racial Violence in the Urban Ghetto,” for example, West suggested psychiatrists study the Nation of Islam’s program of black nationalism and its strict moral codes for working class black communities because, unlike the psychiatric community and the black middle class, they seemed to be the “only ones who have made significant progress with the prostitutes, alcoholics, addicts and recidivistic criminals who prey on their fellows in the ghettos.”89 His comments suggest he sympathized with Cannon’s belief that separate black cultural spheres had therapeutic effects.

By 1969, however, West was convinced violent behavior had nothing to do with race and/or class, but had everything to do with childhood development. He crafted new arguments about the etiology of violence after closely observing the social relationships of the Tarahumara Indians of Northern Mexico.90 Despite contact with dominant Mexican society, West believed the Tarahumara’s reverence for children and their collective protection of childhood accounted for the perceived absence of violence and its strong commitment to peaceful conflict resolution. In spite of their minority and impoverished status in dominant Mexican culture, he hypothesized the Tarahumara’s limited exposure to violence and dysfunction during childhood created biologic benefits that prevented violent behavior in them as adults.

His hypothesis captured the imagination of UCLA’s search committee and was prioritized as a guiding research agenda for UCLA after he was appointed as Chair of Psychiatry and Director of the NPI in 1969. In a series of joint psychiatric studies conducted by the University of Southern California and UCLA, West and his research team analyzed the case histories of violent offenders “from all walks of life” who, as a group, could not be “distinguished by belonging to any particular groups.”91 His findings suggested that a significant percentage of the study’s violent offender subjects tended to share the same history of being “victims of violence in childhood themselves.”92 His observations produced a new color- and class-blind psychiatric theory he eventually termed epidemiology of violence theory, a concept which proposed dysfunction witnessed as a child created a psychobiologic basis for violent behavior as an adult. In other words, he argued that childhood trauma altered brain functioning enough to make violent behavior a predisposed inevitability in adulthood.

West was convinced his theory had enormous potential for renewing community mental health’s moral discourses of prevention and hygiene and for generating a whole host of research investigations for psychopharmacological-based rehabilitation programs for a group he termed “violent people,” individuals biologically disposed to violence because of childhood exposure to dysfunction. For race-based mental health professionals, his research sustained focus on the importance of childhood development and the place of positive role models in producing well-adjusted personalities. For mental health researchers accustomed to research in biologic psychiatry, particularly in the fields of electroshock therapy, electroencephalography, psychosurgery, neuroscience, and psychopharmacology, West’s hypothesis offered a useful bridge to the popularity of social science and psychotherapeutic study that defined psychiatry since the 1920s.

Nic John Ramos, Pathologizing the Crisis: Psychiatry, Policing, and Racial Liberalism in the Long Community Mental Health Movement. Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Volume 74, Issue 1, January 2019, 57–84