#John Sage Developer

[greenwitchcrafts]

March 2025 Witch Guide

New Moon: March 29th

First Quarter: March 6th

Full moon: March 14th

Last Quarter: March 22nd

Sabbats: Ostara- March 20th

March Storm Moon

Also known as:  Crow Moon(Ojibwe), Hard Crust on the Snow Moon(Ojibwe & Chippewa tribes near the Great Lakes), Hrethmonath, Lenten Moon, Little Sand Storm Moon(Zuni), Moon of the Whispering Wind(Hopi), Moon When the Leaves Break Forth(Pueblo), Moon of the Winds, Sore Eyes Moon(Sioux, Lakota & Assiniboine of the Great Plains, northern plains, & Dakotas), Sap Moon(Shawnee of Ohio & Pennsylvania), Spring Moon(Inupiat in Alaska & the Passamaquoddy of the northeastern US), Storm Moon, Sugar-Making Moon(Ojibwe of southern Canada), Wind Moon(Choctaw, Cherokee of the southeastern US & the Catawba of South Carolina), & Worm Moon

Element: Water

Zodiac: Pisces & Aries

Nature spirts: Air spirts, water spirts & mer-people

Deities: Artemis, Astarte, Athena, Cybele, Isis, Luna & Minerva

Animals: Boar, cougar & hedgehog

Birds: Sea crow & sea eagle

Colors: Pale green, red-violet & yellow

Trees:  Alder, dogwood & honeysuckle

Herbs: Apple blossom, high John root, Irish moss, pennyroyal, wood betony & yellow dock

Flowers: Daffodil, jonquil & violet

Scents: Apple blossom & honeysuckle

Stones:  Amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, moonstone, obsidian, onyx, red zircon & topaz

Issues, intentions & powers: Astral, banishing, beginnings, empowerment, fertility & purification

Energy: Balance, beginnings, dream work, energy breaking into the open, exploring, growth, inner development, prospering, spirtual debt & truth seeking

March’s full Moon is often called the Worm Moon. It was thought this name referred to the earthworms that appear as the soil warms in spring.

However, In the 1760s, Captain Jonathan Carver visited the Naudowessie (Dakota) & other Native American tribes & wrote that the name Worm Moon refers to a different sort of “worm”—beetle larvae—which begin to emerge from the thawing bark of trees & other winter hideouts at this time.

• Storm moon comes from heavy rains & gray skies abound — the earth is being showered with the life-giving water it needs to have a fertile & healthy growing season. This is also a time of equal parts light & darkness, so a time of balance.

This month's full moon is a blood moon which is a full moon that coincides with a full lunar eclipse. This moon can have an unusually reddish appearance

•There is a partial solar eclipse on March 29th

• There is a total lunar eclipse on March 13-14th depending on where you are

Ostara

Known as: Alban Eilir, Lady Day, Spring Equinox & Vernal Equinox

Season: Spring

Element: Fire

Symbols: 8-Spoked wheel, butterflies, chicks, decorated baskets, eggs, feathers, hares, rabbits, seeds, shamrocks, spring flowers & sunwheels

Colors: Green, light-blue, indigo, pink, red, silver, violet, white & yellow

Oils/Incense: African violet, apple blossom, columbine, crocus, daffodil, daisy, florals, ginger, honey, honeysuckle, jasmine, jonquil, lilac, lotus, magnolia, narcissus, orange blossom, primrose, rain, rose, sage & strawberry

Animals: Bees, boar, butterflies, hare, hedgehogs, horse, rabbit, ram, sheep & snake

Birds: Chicks, cormorant, hawk, robin, sparrow & swallow

Stones: Amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, moonstone, red jasper & rose quartz

Mythical: Pooka & phoenix

Food:  Asparagus, dairy foods, dill, eggs, fruit, honey, honey-cakes, lamb, leafy green vegetables, mead, pine nuts, pumpkin, radish, seafoods, spring onions, sprouts & sunflower seeds

Herbs/Plants: Acorn, broom, ginger, gorse, hyssop, high John root, Irish Moss, lemon grass, olive, strawberry, woodruff

Flowers: Apple blossom, columbine, crocus, daffodil, dandelion, daisy, honeysuckle, iris, jasmine, jonquil, lilac, lily, linden, orange blossom, narcissus, peony, primrose, rose, snowdrop, tansy, tulip, violet

Trees: Alder, apple, ash, birch, dogwood, hawthorn, maple, yew

Goddesses: Aphrodite, Amalthea, Ariadne, Artemis, Astarte, Athena, Blodewedd, Coatlicue, Cybele, Demeter, Diana, Eos, Epona, Flora, Freya, Gaia, Guinevere, Hera, Idunn, Iris, Ishtar, Isis, Juno, Libera, Maia, Minerva, Ostara, Persephone, Rati, Renpet, Umaj, Venus, Vesta & Vila

Gods: Adonis, Aengus MacOg, Attis, Celi, Cernunnos, Coel, Dalon ap Landu, The Dagda, Dumuzi, Eros, The Green Man, Kama, Mithras, Odin, Osiris, Ovis, Pan & Thor

Tarot cards: The Empress, The Fool, The Magician, The Priestess, Strength, Justice & The Star

Spellwork: Altar rededication, beginnings, fire magick, new employment & new projects

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Agriculture, balance, beauty, fertility, growth, life, light, love, rebirth & renewal

Activities:

•Go on a hike/walk & look for signs of spring

• Add Ostara symbols to decorate your altar space

• Plant vegetable &/or flower seedlings indoors after blessing the seeds

• Color bight, decorate & hunt eggs

• Set your intentions for the weeks/months ahead

• Start a new class or hobby

• Create eggshell candles

• Make plans & new routines for the future

• Participate in rituals & ceremonies that connect you with energy & the life force of nature

• Have a feast with your friends &/family with sprouts & leafy greens

• Bake hot cross buns

• Clean & de-clutter your home

• Try a re-birthing/ renewing ritual

• Bring fresh flowers or plants into into the home

• Host a spring & floral themed tea party

• Make egg based food dishes & desserts

• Assist houseless individuals as most temporary shelters will soon be closing

Ostara gets it's name from Eostre, however the celebration isn't based on her even though she is said to be interpreted as the goddess of spring, fertility & the dawn. There is very little information on Eostre and none have shown up before the eighth century because of disagreements on she had Celtic or Germanic origins.

People tend to believe Ostara is an ancient holiday at it's core with an ancient goddess, but that may not be the truth. While most gods & goddesses have many myths & stories surrounding them, the same cannot be said about Eostre

It is still up for debate whether or not this goddess ever existed or if she was revered & celebrated the ways she's been in the more recent years.

•Like many other spring celebrations in other cultures, Ostara symbolizes fertility, rebirth & renewal. This time of year marking the beginning of the agricultural cycle when farmers would start planting seeds.

  There is no evidence that the ancient Greeks or Romans celebrated Ostara, although they did celebrate their own spring festivals, such as the Roman festival of Floralia & the Greek festival of Anthesteria. It was a time to honor the returning sun, fertility & rebirth.

Related festivals:

• Nowruz: March 20h-

Nowruz marks the first day of spring & renewal of nature. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox. It is also celebrated as the beginning of the new year by people all around the world for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East & other regions.

It promotes values of peace & solidarity between generations & within families as well as reconciliation & neighbourliness. Nowruz plays a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples based on mutual respect & the ideals of peace and good neighbourliness. 

Traditional customs of Nowruz include fire & water, ritual dances, gift exchanges, reciting poetry, symbolic objects & more; these customs differ between the diverse peoples & countries that celebrate the festival.

• Holi: March 14th-

Holi is a popular & significant Hindu festival celebrated as the The festival of colors, Love &Spring. It commemorates eternal and divine love of the deities Radha & Krishna. Additionally, the day signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it celebratess the victory of Vishnu as Narasimha over Hiranyakashipu. Holi originated & is predominantly celebrated in the Indian subcontinent, but has also spread to other regions of Asia & parts of the Western world through the Indian diaspora.

The festival has many purposes; most prominently, it celebrates the beginning of spring. In 17th century literature, it was identified as a festival that celebrated agriculture, commemorated good spring harvests & the fertile land. It's believed to be a time to enjoying spring's abundant colours & say farewell to winter. To many Hindus, Holi festivities mark an occasion to reset & renew ruptured relationships, end conflicts, & rid themselves of accumulated emotional impurities from the past

It also has a religious purpose, symbolically signified by the legend of Holika. The night before Holi, bonfires are lit in a ceremony known as Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Little Holi. People gather near fires, sing & dance. The next day, Holi, also known as Dhuli in Sanskrit, or Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated.

•Easter: April 20th-

Also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival & cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD. It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus Christ, preceded by Lent (or Great Lent), a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, & penance.

Easter traditions vary across the Christian world & include sunrise services or late-night vigils, exclamations & exchanges of Paschal greetings, flowering the cross & the decoration and the communal breaking of Easter eggs (a symbol of the empty tomb) among many others. The Easter lily is a symbol of the resurrection in Western Christianity traditionally decorates the chancel area of churches on this day & for the rest of Eastertide. Additional customs that have become associated with Easter & are observed by both Christians & some non-Christians include Easter parades, communal dancing, the Easter Bunny & egg hunting.

Other celebrations:

• Festival of Luna: March 31st-

Is a feast day honoring the Goddess Luna who is seen as the divine embodiment of the Moon.

The Temple of Luna was a temple on the Aventine Hill in Rome, dedicated to Luna, the moon goddess. Its dedication was celebrated on March 31st, thus the celebration.

According to Tacitus, it was built by king Servius Tullius. However, the first confirmed reference to a temple to Luna dates to 182 BC & refers to one of its doors being knocked off its posts by a miraculous blast of air & shot into the back of the Temple of Ceres. That account probably places the temple at the north end of the hill, just above porta Trigemina. The temple was struck by lightning around the time of the death of Cinna, as was the temple of Ceres. After the destruction of Corinth, Lucius Mummius Achaicus dedicated some of his spoils from the city to this temple. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD & not rebuilt.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

Encyclopedia Britannica

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2025 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living

https://www.learnreligions.com

Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials: Ostara

[1313ablackcat1313]

Herbs and Their Purposes

Going through some of my witchy journals and sharing things that I have collected over the years.

Amaranth: reduces swelling, helps stomach flu symptoms, repairs broken hearts Angelica: aids colic, helps hepatitis symptoms, protects your home and garden Basil: eases stomach cramps, eases insect bites and stings, helps reduce fevers, banishes negativities, aids in keeping love Bee Balm: makes a sedative tea, attracts fairies Calendula: helps gum disease, encourages psychic development Chamomile: helps insomnia, eases sores, attracts money, protects home, aids meditation Comfrey: heals wounds, bruises, and broken bones, provides travel protection Daisy: helps headaches, brings good luck Dandelion: detoxifies liver, promotes circulation, aids clairvoyance Eucalyptus: works as insect repellent, aids health, provides purification Garlic: works as a natural anti-biotic, dispels negativity, protects the house Heather: suppresses coughs, aids sleep, guard against violent crime Hyssop: aids lung ailments, used in purification baths Lavender: eases nervous tension and stress, used in healing incenses and sachets Lemon Balm: eases bee stings, headaches and colds, used in healing and friendship spells Marjoram: helps asthma symptoms, cough, strengthens intestines, eases grief, protects home Myrrh: works as a powerful antiseptic, used to consecrate and purify ritual tools Patchouli: eases dysentery, diarrhea, and nausea, wards off evil Rose: nourishes skin, purifies blood, aids in love spells Sage: eases laryngitis symptoms and stomach troubles, aids in spiritual purification, banishes evil Soloman's Seal: helps tuberculosis symptoms, helps diabetes symptoms, used in cleansing Spearmint: makes a facial astringent, used in spells for courage Star Anise: eases stomach disorders, wards off evil eye St. John's Wort: helps depression symptoms, heals wounds, banishes negativity Thyme: used as an antiseptic, if used in a pillow it wards of nightmares Witch Hazel: eases insect bites and burns, twigs used for diving, mends broken hearts Wormwood: helps ease liver and bladder symptoms, aids clairvoyance Yarrow: stimulates the liver, eases toothache, wards off negativity, repels fear Yellow Dock: purifies blood, aids in spells for happy homes

****DISCLAIMER**** Do NOT take internally with out a doctor's supervision. Misuse can be FATAL. Do not ingest if allergic. Please see a doctor for all ailments described above.

[nztsume]

i think the thing that interests me the most about homelander is 10000% the fact that hes redeemable and likable just because of the fact of how much he loves the people he loves and how much he needs to be loved by them. like that makes him SO interesting to me, and the more we discover about him the more his insanity makes sense. the fact that nobody ever in his life saw him as any other than a product or a message or a pennant but never a HUMAN, and the fact that he himself doesnt want to see himself as a HUMAN when he so clearly is because all of this!!! the fact that hes gets so pathetically obsessed with any woman that shows him some love and attention, even if its fake! the way he refused to kill maeve because a part of him genuinely loves her still, the fact that when annie kissed him for the fake dating thing he was genuinely GENUINELY into it, and not in a sexual way. he fucking SMILED into the kiss??????? 'i'm glad you're here'???????????? the way stormfront never gave him any genuine show of affection, when it was clearly all about the sex and the power she had over him and he still didnt see it because he was so glad there was a woman who was willingly giving him what he understood as affection (that for her was just sex) idk i just feel like theres something so innocent about his character that the rest of the guys in the boys dont have - which is a clear reflection of how traumatized he was in the lab, how he never quite understood how to navegate his emotions as a grown up and develop actual self love. he loves homelander, but does he love john? everyone loves homelander, but who loves john? im obsessed. and i love how this spills into things that men who stan him actually would never accept or understand- like the fact that he doesnt even care about looks, he doesnt even care about his own supposed ideals where he considers supes superior to humans. he doesnt even care about loyalty!!!! otherwise hed loved firecracker. he simply wants a woman who will love him, really love him, like nobody ever loved him in his life. (and if you think about it thats soooooooo tragic. imagine not even having parents that love you... not even your own fucking child!!!! despite you doing everything to make him not have to go through what you went through!!!! despite giving him your undivided attention- even when youre one of the most important people in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and by the way, im really glad they didnt go for a super easy and predictable storyline where sister sage would pretend she loves him to manipulate him- because that would have been incredibly boring. and one last thing: this is soooo silly and petty but this is why the single most infuriating and insufferable thing in the fandom is the way men stan him, because in universe, theyd literally be the kind of people homelander would fucking hate LMFAOOOO because they ignore all of these essential parts of his character because they are too busy wankin over ashley look at me

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hi! I'm craving some cozy autumn vibes johnlock fics to read in the cold season. Do you have some recs? Lots of love <3

Hi Lovely!!

Oh what a fun list idea!! I can't believe I've never thought of doing one given that Autumn is my fave season! I know more fics than what I picked here for you take place in the Fall, but I've only included ones with the season in the tag. If anyone has more fics, PLEASE add them and give me a hand :)

Hope you enjoy these fics!!

AUTUMN / FALL FICS

See also:

Hot and Cold Fics (June 2022)

Halloween and Ghosts (updated Oct 31/21)

Halloween Fics 2023 (MFLs)

BOOKMARKS

And as the seasons change, I love you more by Teatrolley (NR, 3,219 w., 1 Ch. || Fluff and Angst, Est. Rel., Marriage / Proposal) – A year in the lives of John and Sherlock, essentially.

In the Bleak Midwinter (A Canticle for Advent) by CaitlinFairchild (M, 3,476 w., 1 Ch. || Angst, Injury, Missing Scenes, HLV Timeline) – In the autumn of 2014, Mary Watson shot Sherlock Holmes. This is what happened after.

Let me be the wallpaper that papers up your room by Teatrolley (NR, 3,966 w., 1 Ch. || Est. Rel., Two Idiots in Love, Fluff, Domestics) – Four seasons in the life of Sherlock and John, really.

Pater Noster by SilentAuror (E, 34,256 w., 2 Ch. || Case Fic, HLV/S3 Fix It Fic, Family Trauma, Sherlock POV, Villain Mary) – During the autumn that John is staying at Baker Street again after Sherlock was shot, he ruminates over the similarity between Sherlock's shot and the one that killed his father when he was fifteen. Cold case meets series 3 fix-it. Part I takes place entirely within His Last Vow, Part II takes place starting at the end of HLV and continues after.

Act IV by SilentAuror (E, 39,707 w., 1 Ch. || HLV Fix-It, First Person POV Sherlock, Infidelity, Angst, Drama) – After Sherlock is shot, John moves back into Baker Street. They spend the autumn together as John tries to make sense of his life and make some important decisions about both Mary and Sherlock. Canon-compliant, excerpts from His Last Vow.

MARKED FOR LATER

Into the Gloaming by Vulpesmellifera (M, 8,385 w., 4 Ch. || Heavy Angst, Child Death, Grief / Mourning, Mentions of Cancer, Corvids, Fever Dreams, Hopeful Ending) – She lays the sage bundle down in one of his seashells, avoiding the label. How he loved cataloging natural items. That sharp mind of his so naturally tended to the sciences, and she’d taken great joy in encouraging him all his life. All the first thirteen years of it. The last year has been entirely different. His hand lies just outside the white comforter. When she touches it, the chill of his skin sends a shiver down her spine. His lips move, his voice as soft as dead, dry leaves. “What’s that, love?” she says. “In the trees,” he says, his eyes still closed. “Is it John there in the trees? I think he’s waiting for me.” Viola turns her gaze out the window and to the closest tree, a resplendent cherry in the throes of autumn. In the branches there, for just a second, she thinks she sees it: a black bird, feathers gleaming in the sun.

A Thousand Kisses Deep by Susan (E, 12,689 w., 1 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Time Travel, Longing, Angst, Post S1, Time Travel Fix It) – “Come here,” Sherlock said and when he did, he put his arm across John’s shoulder, and pulled him close. John let him, and after a moment, rested his head against Sherlock’s chest. Sherlock felt the familiar ache, a longing for what might have been. If only he’d been braver, more sure of John’s feelings. He dropped his arms and stepped back. It was too late. Things were as they were meant to be. But it was autumn in Sussex, and everything was changing. If you were given a chance to go back to the beginning and make things right, would you take it?

Hot Water Bottle by khorazir (T, 18,436 w., 1 Ch. || Post TLD / TFP Doesn’t Exist, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Misunderstandings, Communication, Demisexual Sherlock, Bisexual John, Autumn, Bed Sharing, Developing Relationship, First Kiss) – A case in one of the remotest corners of the Lake District, a storm, an inn, a broken boiler, a room with two beds but only one hot water bottle, and two men who have a lot to sort out between them – all of this makes for a night to remember.

Johnloctober by prettysailorsoldier (E, 169,945 w., 31 Ch. || Assorted AU’s || Alternate First Meetings, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, 30 Day OTP Challenge, Prompts, Halloween / Autumn, Assorted Tags) – 31 days of autumnal Johnlock with prompts from all of you! There will be a bit of everything, but you can check the tags for more specifics.For a summary of every chapter, as well as individual tags, click here.

Enigma by khorazir (M, 289,667 w., 23 Ch. || Codebreaker / WWII / Imitation Game-Inspired AU || Case Fic, Espionage, Period-Typical Homophobia / Sexism, Pining Sherlock, Inexperienced / VirginSherlock, Implied / Referenced Drug Use, Non-Graphic Violence) – It’s the autumn of 1941, war is raging in Europe, German U-boats are raiding Allied convoys in the Atlantic, the Luftwaffe is bombing English cities, and the cryptographers at Bletchley Park are working feverishly to decode their enemies' encrypted communications. One should consider this challenge and distraction enough for capricious codebreaker Sherlock Holmes. But the true enigmas are yet waiting to be deciphered: an unbreakable code, a strange murder, and the arrival of Surgeon Captain John H. Watson of the Royal Navy.

[witchthewriter]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐬

ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ | ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ ᴵᴵ

𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆

ENTJ

Slytherin

Lawful Good / Neutral Good

Capricorn Sun, Cancer Moon, Libra Rising

The Mentor: A wise and experienced character who guides and advises the hero, providing knowledge, skills, and guidance.

The Cunning Strategist: this character is known for their intelligence, sharp wit, and ability to manipulate situations to their advantage. They excel in political maneuvering and outsmarting their opponents.

The Fallen Hero: The Fallen Hero archetype represents a character who was once noble or heroic but has fallen from grace. They may have succumbed to their flaws, made tragic mistakes, or been corrupted by power. The Fallen Hero often grapples with guilt, redemption, or the desire to reclaim their former glory.

I will always see John as some type of leader. A leader of a wolf pack, or the King's Guard. Even a team of immortals. His task force would shift between each universe, but his station always stays the same. Price is the eldest and the leader of the men.

𝑺𝒊𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝑹𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒚

INTJ

Ravenclaw

Neutral Good

Capricorn Sun, Scorpio Moon, Virgo Rising

The Guardian: A character who protects or defends a person, place, or idea, often serving as a source of strength and support. I can see him taking stray kids under his wing, and taking care of them.

The Knight: Is a character archetype in stories that embodies chivalry, honor, and a strong sense of duty. I think the strong sense of duty is most previlent here. I think he would even be the King's Champion.

The Rebel: A character who challenges authority, norms, or societal expectations, often seeking change or liberation. After seeing all the pain and suffering from the villagers/those less fortunate around him, he would snap. Wanting to help them.

Simon reminds me of both Geralt and Sandor Clegane. I think he would do well both within a group setting (with his teammates) or going out and doing something indepedently.

𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏𝒏𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒄𝑻𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒉

ESFP

Ravenclaw

Neutral Good / Chaotic Good

Aquarius Sun, Taurus Moon, Sagittarius Rising

The Trickster: A mischievous and cunning character who uses wit and deception to achieve their goals or disrupt the plans of others.

The Wise Fool: The Wise Fool archetype is a character who appears foolish or simple-minded on the surface but possesses unexpected wisdom or insight. They often use humor and unconventional behavior to challenge social norms, offer unique perspectives, or deliver profound truths.

The Loyal Companion: The Loyal Companion archetype is a faithful and devoted ally to the protagonist. They offer unwavering support, loyalty, and may serve as a moral compass or voice of reason.

I think Johnny is a bit of a difficult one, because he's both humorous - which can place him in the archetype of jokester & comedic relief. But maybe thast just makes him ... a wild card? Hence I think that' why people often give him the hybrid of werewolf.

𝑲𝒚𝒍𝒆 𝑮𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌

ISFP

Gryffindor

Chaotic Good

Gemini Sun, Virgo Moon, Cancer Rising

The Romantic Interest: A character who forms a romantic connection or relationship with the protagonist, often adding depth and emotional tension to the story.

The Underdog: A character who faces significant challenges or disadvantages but ultimately triumphs against the odds.

The Sage: The Sage archetype represents wisdom, knowledge, and enlightenment. Sages are often revered for their insights and serve as a source of guidance or counsel for the protagonist.

God this man could fit into so many archetypes. He is just ... the perfect character. He can still have character development, however, he can still be put forward as a fully formed character. Romantic, loving, intelligent, mindful. He likes to sit back and learn about others. He's diligent in that way (hence the Underdog). I also think he's so wise. Especially for his age. And he feels the most magically inclined out of the rest of the men.

𝑲𝒐̈𝒏𝒊𝒈

ISTP

Hufflepuff

Chaotic Neutral

Aries Sun, Aquarius Moon, Leo Rising

The Outcast: A character who is marginalized or rejected by society, often possessing unique abilities, insights, or perspectives.

The Beast: A character or entity often found in stories that represents the primal, untamed, and instinctual aspects of human nature or the natural world.

The Antihero: is an archetype is a character who lacks traditional heroic qualities but still engages in heroic actions. They often possess flaws, ambiguity, or morally gray motivations.

I think there are many different ways of looking at Konig. Physically he's a powerhouse - tall asf, a tad arrogant (only because of his voicelines), somewhat dramatic. But some have written him as toxic, others like to baby girl him. I think he's a bit similar to Simon but there's more distrust about him.

What would really be great is the task force as the Knights of the Round table. I think I could see Simon or Johnny as Arthur and Kyle or Price as Merlin (obviously Kyle as a young version like the BBC Merlin).

I can also see them as pirates! I actually want to write a Pirate! Task Force. Obviously Price as the Captain, Quartermaster is Simon, Kyle as Bosun (or Boatswain) and Johnny as the Gunner (makes things go boom!)

If I had to give the men shapeshifting abilities (into one mythical animal) I would go: ▪️ John Price | 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏 or 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒖𝒓 ▪️ Simon Riley | 𝑮𝒓𝒊𝒎 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒓 or 𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 ▪️ Johnny MacTavish | 𝑾𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒐𝒍𝒇 or 𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒙 ▪️ Kyle Garrick | 𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒏 or 𝑷𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒔 ▪️ Konig | 𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒌 or 𝑯𝒚𝒅𝒓𝒂

[mumblingsage]

Another book review/recap from my recently finished pile: Laurence Gonzales's Deep Survival was one of my periodic reads on disaster and crisis survival (I think every writer should read these to learn more about human psychology under stress, and every human should probably read them as just-in-case preparation). It's not my favorite on the topic--I think Amanda Ripley's The Unthinkable was more organized and gripping--but there were some fascinating insights. Gonzales draws on research, reports (including official incident reports, which he recommends everyone read for their chosen sport or hobby so we know the dangers) and his firsthand interviews to cover a range of survivors, including two different young women who walked out of the wilderness after surviving plane crashes in exceedingly inappropriate clothing: one young woman got out of the Amazon after a few weeks in her confirmation gown, another got down the Sierra Nevada mountains wearing a short skirt, high boots, and no underwear (Gonzales is not seedy about this fact, just uses it to illustrate the point that she did not have supplies). Granted, whatever you're wearing isn't going to be in its most useful condition after you fell out of the sky, regardless.

Anyway, in the last chapter Gonzales does summarize his key tips for either staying out of trouble, or getting out of it once you're in it. In my spirit of "everyone should know this stuff to understand human psychology better and maybe draw on it in a disaster - or more routine shit," here's my summary of his summary -- much of the wording is Gonzales's, but I've condensed parts and added some glosses [generally in brackets]. Bolding for emphasis is mine:

Look, see, believe. Even in the initial crisis, survivors' perceptions and cognitive functions keep working. They notice the details and may even find some humorous or beautiful. If there is any denial, it is counterbalanced by a solid belief in the clear evidence of their senses. They immediately begin to recognize, acknowledge, and even accept the reality of their situation. They may initially blame forces outside themselves, too; but very quickly they dismiss that tactic. They see opportunity, even good, in their situation. They move through denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance very rapidly. [Sage's note: notice how finding things funny or beautiful in life-threatening crisis is not considered denial, but the opposite--a form of engagement in the situation. Leading to the next point:]

Use humor, fear to focus. Survivors make use of fear, not being ruled by it. Their fear often feels like and turns into anger, and that motivates them and makes them sharper. They keep their sense of humor and therefore keep calm.

Get organized; set up small, manageable tasks and routines. In successful group survival situations, a leader emerges, often from the least likely candidate. Alone or in a group, survivors push away thoughts that their situation is hopeless. A rational voice emerges and is often actually heard, which takes control of the situation. Survivors perceive that experience as being split into two people and they "obey" the rational one. [Sage's note: Some survivors experience the rational voice as a completely outside entity. I'd read John Geiger's The Third Man Factor a few years ago, and being aware of the phenomenon, spotted it a few times in Gonzales's survivor accounts. Fascinating stuff!] It begins with the paradox of seeing reality--how hopeless it would seem to an outside observer--but acting with the expectation of success.

Take correct, decisive action (be bold and cautious while carrying out tasks). Survivors are willing to take risks to save themselves and others. They set attainable goals and develop short-term plans to reach them. They are meticulous about doing those tasks well. Thy deal with what is within their power from moment to moment, hour to hour, day to day.

Celebrate your success and take joy in completing tasks. That is an ongoing step in creating an ongoing feeling of motivation and relief and preventing the descent into hopelessness.

Count your blessings (be grateful-you're alive). This is how survivors become rescuers instead of victims. There is always someone they are helping more than themselves, even if that someone is not present [aside from helping fellow survivors, Gonzales speaks of the effort to survive for the sake of a loved one waiting back home, and also a fascinating case of a Third Man phenomenon where a survivor hallucinated a travel companion to look after].

Play (sing, play mind games, recite poetry, count anything, do math problems in your head). The more you have learned and experienced of art, music, poetry, literature, philosophy, mathematics, and so on, the more resources you will have to fall back on. Just as survivors use patterns and rhythm to move forward, they use the deeper activities of the intellect to stimulate, calm, and entertain the mind. Movement becomes a dance. One survivor who had to walk a long way counted his steps, one hundred at a time, and dedicated each hundred to another person he cared about. ... Survivors search for meaning, and the more you know already, the deeper the meaning. They engage the crisis almost as a game. Playing also leads to invention, and invention may lead to a new technique, strategy, or piece of equipment that could save you.

See the beauty. This appreciation not only relieves stress and creates strong motivation, but it allows you to take in new information more effectively.

Develop a deep conviction that you'll live. All the practices just describe lead to this point: survivors consolidate their personalities and fix their determination.

Surrender (let go of your fear of dying; "put away the pain.") Lauren Elder, who walked out of the Sierra Nevada after surviving a plane crash, wrote that she "stored away the information: My arm is broken." That sort of thinking is what John Leach calls "resignation without giving up."

Do whatever is necessary (be determined; have the will and the skill). When Lauren Elder's plane crashed above 12,000 feet, it would have seemed impossible to get off alive. She did it anyway, including down-climbing rock faces with a broken arm. Survivors don't expect or even hope to be rescued. They are coldly rational about using the world, obtaining what they need, doing what they have to do.

Never give up (let nothing break your spirit). There is always one more thing that you can do. Survivors are not discouraged by setbacks. They accept that the environment is constantly changing [Sage's note: earlier in the book, Gonzales references military strategist Carl von Clausewitz's* theory of "friction" and adds that the "friction rule," his own second rule of life, runs "Everything takes eight times as long as it's supposed to." As someone gets very demoralized when encountering friction, I felt this one.] They pick themselves up and start the entire process over again, breaking it down into manageable bits. Survivors have a clear reason for going on. They keep their spirits up. They come to embrace the world in which they find themselves and see opportunity in adversity. In the aftermath, survivors learn from and are grateful for the experiences they've had.

[*Readers of Bret Deveraux's blog, in unison: "Clausewitz! Drink!"]

[stormandforge]

X-Force #10 preview

It's the last preview of this run 😢

Yay, Esperanto! I'm going to miss all the languages in this book, both real and made up.

Sage turning up with some random X-Men she found somewhere, gotta love it.

I love that they're all very early X-Men, too. Like we're looking at some alternative version of the O5. One that doesn't hide Sage away. (She might have forgiven Xavier, but I haven't.)

Look at Betsy and Forge sleeping like Disney princesses 💜🖤

I totally buy John Wraith as part of this team. I don't know why, but he fits and I enjoy him. You can tell Thorne was planning on keeping him around.

So the Colossus dude actually is Colossus? I thought he was a clone or something. That means Tank can't be Colossus then? To be frank I don't think I ever really cared, but it'd be nice to finally get a reveal.

I have this fear that La Diabla's mysterious boss will turn out to be the Adversary. In which case I would throw the comic across the room and cry in a corner. Because that'd be unoriginal as fuck and would actually set Forge back. But I don't see why Thorne would take back all the development he's given Forge, and he doesn't strike me as an unoriginal writer either. I'm just scared for my boy.

I'm hoping it will be a Forge-heavy issue. Logically speaking it should be, since it's the conclusion of the overall narrative, which was centered around him. Let's see.

[get-back-homeward]

The chapter of Royston Ellis meeting the Beatles is so wild.

He first hits on George at the Jacaranda. George responds to this with a casual “oh, you’d love my friends” and brings him to Gambier Terrace:

Also dropping into the Gambier Terrace pit was a special guest, Royston Ellis, “King of the Beatniks.” The bearded bard, who featured in TV documentaries and press articles whenever an offbeat teenage angle was needed, was in Liverpool to read his poetry at the university on June 24/25, and he swiftly found himself drawn into the Beatles’ company. The conduit was George, who (with nothing else to do while John, Stu and Paul were in school) was hanging around the Jac when the wandering coffee-bar poet traipsed in, drawn by hip radar to “the happening place.” Avowedly “trying everything,” Ellis was an active bisexual in this period of his life and he took an immediate fancy to George: “He looked fabulous with his long hair and matelot-style striped T-shirt, very modern, which is why I deliberately spoke to him. I was nineteen and he was seventeen and we clicked right away.”15

George took Ellis, his typewriter and his duffel bag back to Gambier Terrace to meet John and Stu. A rapport was quickly established and Ellis was invited to “crash” for a few days—yet another occupant for the filthy back room.

Then Ellis hits it off with John and Stu and wants them as a backing band:

Ellis says he developed a particular rapport with John and Stuart and that they discussed poetry, art and London. When he left, they spoke of doing it again sometime: “We were talking about how I wanted a band to come to London and back me on my Rocketry performances, and they were thrilled at the idea.” Art school studies finished the following Friday, July 1, marking the end of Stu’s fourth year and John’s third and last because the college was waving him goodbye. The exam results, when they came through on August 1, were just as expected: John failed and was out, Stuart passed the NDD, for which he received a certificate. The option was there for him to do a fifth year and attain the highest available qualification, the Art Teacher’s Diploma (ATD), akin to a degree and entitling him to become a teacher … but both he and John were pondering a period as prospectors, and doing something again with Ellis was a definite possibility.

So much so, Ellis is responsible for the first* two mentions of the band in the newspaper:

As for Ellis, so much was he enthused by the possibility of appearing with them again that he soon got the Beatles their first mention in a music paper. It was the July 9 edition of Record and Show Mirror, where a supercilious little article about “the bearded sage of the coffee bars” ended “he’s thinking of bringing down to London a Liverpool group which he considers is most in accord with his poetry. Name of the group? ‘The Beetles’”

….A born publicist, Royston Ellis knew how to manipulate a follow-up, writing a letter for publication that clarified a point in the first. He expressed his intention to find a group that would join him on TV appearances with Bert Weedon and the Shadows, and reiterated, “For some time I have been searching for a group to use regularly, and I feel that the ‘Beetles’ (most of them are Liverpool ex-art students) fill the bill.”

John and Stu decide to go to London on their own to join Ellis…but then chicken out:

By July 10, at the end of his three-year art school vacation, John had arrived at a key decision in his life: he would try to earn his living from the guitar. “I became a professional musician the day I got a red letter from the art college saying ‘Don’t bother coming back next September,’ ” he later said.31 Cyn would remember, “John decided that this [music] was very definitely the life for him. All the ideas that everyone else had for him of making an impact on the art world faded into the back of beyond with incredible rapidity, and with almost no regret at all. Aunt Mimi was distraught. Her view of his future couldn’t have been blacker at that time.”32

These events coinciding, it seems John and Stu decided to head south and hang out with Royston Ellis. Allan Williams is emphatic on the matter: he says John and Stu “split the Beatles and went down to London.”33 Norman Chapman would remember Stu asking him for a lift through the Mersey Tunnel one day so he (or he and John) could hitchhike to London—“They wanted to go down to London and become involved in this poetry-music scene.” Beat poets led a nomadic life by definition. Ellis lived for periods in all sorts of places, but his main base was still his parents’ house, at 31 Clonard Way, Hatch End, Pinner, Middlesex, a pleasant detached villa with the name Denecroft. This was the address he gave John while staying at Gambier Terrace. When Ellis arrived home one day his mother said he’d missed a visit from his “beatnik friends from Liverpool.” He never knew how many or who had come, but—as insane as it appears—John and Stu (and/or as Ellis always thought—hoped—George) had hitched the best part of two hundred miles, taken the trouble of locating his house in leafy Metroland, not stayed or left a message and then gone home again, never returning or making further contact. It makes no sense, but there it sits, illogical and incomplete.

Allan Williams remembers them being “back in Liverpool within a week, because it didn’t work out,” at which point the Beatles “reformed” as if they’d never been away. With bookings only every Saturday, it’s conceivable they did all this without missing one, and perhaps that was always the intention. However, while three independent witnesses (Ellis, Williams and Chapman) all remember something happening, none of the Beatles ever mentioned it—though in their interviews they talked with candor about everything. So it must remain in doubt, an intriguing puzzle unlikely to be solved.

There are two additional curiosities that may or may not be incidental. One is that, in the last days of July, a group of Liverpool art school students, apparently including John and Stu, went to London (or tried to go) to see a Picasso exhibition at the Tate Gallery. Second, and most fascinatingly, a set of photographs taken at this very time (mid-July 1960) in Stu and John’s studio-bedroom-slum at 3 Gambier Terrace includes several people they knew but not John and Stu themselves—perhaps because they were on the Hatch End trip. It was published on July 24 in the national Sunday rag the People in a sensation-splash headlined THIS IS THE BEATNIK HORROR. It’s as if a man on a flaming pie was pointing down at Flat 3, Hillary Mansions, Gambier Terrace, Liverpool 1. In six months, three Beatles moved in and the fourth was hanging out, the nation’s best-known beat poet had come here to get them high, and now, when a Fleet Street journalist and photographer were looking to substantiate a load of old tosh about dirty beatniks—reportage that could have been cooked up anywhere in the country—they landed in Stu and John’s room.34

Though hugely amusing, the feature had one unfortunate side-effect: because the address was given (a “three-roomed flat in decaying Gambier Terrace in Liverpool”) and some of the occupants (“well-educated youngsters”) were named, the landlord gave the tenant, Rod Murray, notice to quit. On August 15, everyone—Rod, Diz, Ducky, Stuart, John and sundry other bodies who’d joined them—would be out on the street.

—Mark Lewisohn’s Tune In, Ch 15 (May 31–Aug 15, 1960)

And Lewisohn is just like yup nothing to see.

So what the hell happened here? Was it just a school trip? Or was it a deliberate split?

[greenwitchcrafts]

Update: https://www.tumblr.com/greenwitchcrafts/776729861802819584/march-storm-moon?source=share

March 2024 witch guide

Full moon: March 25th

New moon: March 10th

Sabbats: Ostara-March 19th

March Worm Moon

Known as: Crow Moon, Eagle Moon, Goose Moon, Hrethmonath, Lenting moon, Lentzinmanoth, Moon of Snowblind, Moon of Winds, Plow Moon, Sap Moon, Seed Moon, Sore Eyes Moon, Storm Moon, Sugar Moon & Wind Strong Moon

Element: Water

Zodiac: Pisces & Aries

Nature spirits: Air & water spirits & Mer-people

Deities: Artemis, Astarte, Athena, Cybele, Isis, Luna & Minerva

Animals: Boar, cougar & hedgehog

Birds: Sea crow & sea eagle

Trees: Alder, dogwood & honeysuckle

Herbs: Apple blossom, broom, high John root, Irish moss, pennyroyal, wood betony & yellow dock

Flowers: Daffodil, jonquil & violet

Scents: Apple blossom & honeysuckle

Stones: Aquamarine, bloodstone, jasper, opal &topaz

Colors: Pale-green, red, violet, yellow & white

Energy:  Balance, beginnings, dream work, energy breaking into the open, exploring, fertility, inner development, karma, prosperity, spirituality, success & truth seeking

For many years, it was thought that the name "Worm Moon" referred to the earthworms that appear as the soil warms in spring. This invites robins and other birds to feed—a true sign of spring.

However, more research revealed another explanation. In the 1760s, Captain Jonathan Carver visited the Naudowessie (Dakota) and other Native American tribes and wrote that the name Worm Moon refers to a different sort of “worm”—beetle larvae—which begin to emerge from the thawing bark of trees and other winter hideouts at this time.

March’s full Moon often plays a role in religion, specifically in Christianity, this Moon is known as the Lenten Moon if it is the last full Moon of the winter season (i.e., if it occurs before the spring equinox) or as the Paschal Full Moon if it is the first full Moon of spring (i.e., if it occurs after the spring equinox).

Ostara

Known as: Alban Eiler, Lady Day & Spring/Vernal equinox

Season: Spring

Symbols: 8-spoked wheel, butterflies, chicks, decorated baskets, eggs, feathers, jellybeans, lambs, rabbits, seeds, shamrocks, spring flowers & sunwheels

Colors: Green, indigo, light blue, pastels, pink, red & yellow

Oils/Incense: African violet, florals, ginger, jasmine, lotus, magnolia, rose, sage & strawberry

Animals: Cormorant, hare, hawk, rabbit, sheep, sparrow & swallow

Mythical: Dragon & Unicorn

Stones: Amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, moonstone, red jasper & rose quartz

Food: Dairy foods, eggs(hard boiled), fruits, honey, honey cakes, leafy greens, vegetables, pine nuts, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, sprouts & waffles

Herbs/Plants: Acorn, cinquefoil, dogwood, ginger, Irish moss, olive, strawberry & woodruff

Flowers: Celandine, crocus, daffodil, dandelion, Easter lily,  jasmine gorse, honeysuckle, hyssop, iris, jonquil, linden, narcissus, peony, snowdrop, tansy & violet

Goddesses: Aphrodite, Ariadne, Artemis, Athena, Coatlicue, Cybele,Demeter, Diana, Eos, Eostre, Flora, Gaia, Hera, Idunn, Iris, Ishtar, Juno, Minerva, Persephone, Venus & Vesta

Gods: Adonis, Attis, Celi, Cernunnos, Coel, Dagda, Dalon ap Landu, Dumuzi, Green Man, Lord of the Greenwood, Mithras, Odin, Osiris, Ovis & Pan

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Agriculture, balance, beauty, fertility, growth, life, love & rebirth/renewal

Spellwork: Air magick, fertility, new beginnings & water magick

Activities:

• Go on a hike/walk & look for signs of spring

• Add Ostara symbols to decorate your altar space

• Plant vegetable &/or flower seedlings

• Decorate eggs with bright colors

• Set your intentions for the weeks/months ahead

• Start a new class or hobby

• Create eggshell candles

• Make plans & new routines for the future

• Participate in rituals & ceremonies that connect you with energy & the life force of nature

• Have a feast with your friends &/family with sprouts & leafy greens

• Bake hot cross buns or lavender/lemon flavored treats

• Clean & de-clutter your home

• Try a re-birthing/ renewing ritual

• Bring fresh flowers or plants into into the home

• Host a spring & floral themed tea party

• Make egg based food dishes & desserts

This holiday marks the Spring Equinox, which happens before March 19-22. It is the second of three spring celebrations (the midpoint between Imbolc and Beltane)  during which light & darkness are again in balance, with light on the rise. It is a time of new beginnings & of life emerging further from the grips of winter.

There is much debate regarding the origins of Ostara due to the lack of primary sources about this sabbat. One theory is the name of Ostara came from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre. Another theory is that Eostre is more of a localized goddess in Kent County, England. Despite the questions of her origins, Eostre is associated with modern-day Pagan traditions of Ostara.

There is no evidence that the ancient Greeks or Romans celebrated Ostara, although they did celebrate their own spring festivals, such as the Roman festival of Floralia & the Greek festival of Anthesteria. It was a time to honor the returning sun, fertility & rebirth.

Related festivals:

• Nowruz- March 19th

Nowruz marks the first day of spring & renewal of nature. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox. It is also celebrated as the beginning of the new year by people all around the world for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East & other regions.

It promotes values of peace & solidarity between generations & within families as well as reconciliation & neighbourliness. Nowruz plays a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples based on mutual respect & the ideals of peace and good neighbourliness. 

Traditional customs of Nowruz include fire & water, ritual dances, gift exchanges, reciting poetry, symbolic objects & more; these customs differ between the diverse peoples & countries that celebrate the festival.

• Holi- March 25th

Holi is a popular & significant Hindu festival celebrated as the The festival of colors, Love &Spring. It commemorates eternal and divine love of the deities Radha & Krishna. Additionally, the day signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it celebratess the victory of Vishnu as Narasimha over Hiranyakashipu. Holi originated & is predominantly celebrated in the Indian subcontinent, but has also spread to other regions of Asia & parts of the Western world through the Indian diaspora.

Holi also celebrates the arrival of Spring in India, the end of winter & the blossoming of love. It is also an invocation for a good spring harvest season. It lasts for a night & a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (full moon day) falling on the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which falls around the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar.

• Easter- March 31st

also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday is a Christian festival & cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD. It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus Christ, preceded by Lent (or Great Lent), a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, & penance.

Easter traditions vary across the Christian world & include sunrise services or late-night vigils, exclamations & exchanges of Paschal greetings, flowering the cross & the decoration and the communal breaking of Easter eggs (a symbol of the empty tomb) among many others. The Easter lily is a symbol of the resurrection in Western Christianity traditionally decorates the chancel area of churches on this day & for the rest of Eastertide. Additional customs that have become associated with Easter & are observed by both Christians & some non-Christians include Easter parades, communal dancing, the Easter Bunny & egg hunting.

Other Celebrations:

• Festival of Luna- March 31st

Is a feast day honoring the Goddess Luna who is seen as the divine embodiment of the Moon.

The Temple of Luna was a temple on the Aventine Hill in Rome, dedicated to Luna, the moon goddess. Its dedication was celebrated on March 31st, thus the celebration.

According to Tacitus, it was built by king Servius Tullius. However, the first confirmed reference to a temple to Luna dates to 182 BC & refers to one of its doors being knocked off its posts by a miraculous blast of air & shot into the back of the Temple of Ceres. That account probably places the temple at the north end of the hill, just above porta Trigemina. The temple was struck by lightning around the time of the death of Cinna, as was the temple of Ceres. After the destruction of Corinth, Lucius Mummius Achaicus dedicated some of his spoils from the city to this temple. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD & not rebuilt.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2024 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living

[cptn-sulu]

tagged in this by @freya-faust <3333 giving you a little forehead kiss (WITH CONSENT!!!!) <333

1. Last song:

No Hard Feelings by The Avett Brothers

2. Favourite colour:

green! big fan of forest and sage greens especially

3. Last movie:

ooooh god ummm i THINK it was spirited away? might've been my neighbor totoro though. i rewatched multiple studio ghibli movies in quick succession and can't remember which one was last

4. Last show:

i literally JUST watching the season 1 finale of the pitt with my girlfriend. truly, quite possibly, a perfect season of television

5. Last book:

the last book i finished was sunrise on the reaping by suzanne collins (i did not remember to preorder, but my local bookstore got it to me within a week of it coming out bc they're incredible). i read it in an afternoon. i'm currently reading everything is tuberculosis by john green (also from my local bookstore, but i remembered to preorder that one)

6. Sweet, spicy, or savoury?

i am not much of a sweets person with the exception of ice cream, will always fuck up some ice cream. spicy and savory are probably about equal for me preference wise, but that's a fairly new development! i didn't start really liking spicy food until the last couple years

7. Last food eaten:

my girlfriend and i made breakfast for dinner and had bacon, eggs, biscuits, and potatoes

8. Last thing you Googled:

"the pitt cast" LMAO i was trying to see if an actor was actually disabled

9. Current obsession:

i accidentally made a New Little Guy? and i'm kind of obsessed with him at the moment. i love him. no i don't know what i'm doing with him. except putting him in little jar. and shaking the jar sometimes maybe.

also the red dead obsession is creeping back up. i feel it. will probably play this weekend.

10. Looking forward to...

not going into work tomorrow LMAO now granted it is bc our fridge is on the fritz and i have to be here for the maintenance guy but yanno. little victories.

11. I tag (WHO CAN IGNORE ME IF THEY WANT):

@numberonefrancisforeststan @fjordstan @insane-sociopath @thetechnicolorchild

[zepskies]

Hi Zep! Buckle up because I have a number of picks for your ask game! How about 2, 10, 17, 40, 48, 55 and 70?

Hey Michelle! Hope you're having a lovely Sunday. ☀️💜

Omg these are amazing questions!!

Lmfao this is hilarious to me, but I actually had to think hard about this one. My pre-writing/outlining process is pretty methodical. However, I think the biggest time the narrative hijacked my hands was in Smoke Eater (firefighter!Dean x reader).

I had several scenes in the original outline that just weren't fitting right when I got to the drafting stage, to the point where I had to chuck them out entirely. Also, the whole murder mystery that's central to the narrative was complex to tease out, but that also took me by surprise when I was outlining!

I wasn't intending to go that route at first, but when I thought of including John Winchester and Cas as homicide detectives (drawing from my childhood obsession with Law & Order), it kind of just started coming to me.

So I usually have the premise of the idea before the title. It's gotten easier as I've become more experienced as a writer, but sometimes I just put a placeholder title that kind of encapsulates the idea before I come up with something better, then I start outlining/researching.

Often I get placeholder titles from songs/lyrics of what will likely give me inspiration for the story, and sometimes those titles stick!

Ooh another great question. 😂 Funnily enough, the ones that come to me off the top of my head are mostly from Break Me Down:

M.M. scoffed, with a subtle shake of his head.  “Nah, man,” he said ruefully. “That’s true motherfuckin’ love.”

And a fun one:

“Alert the media,” you said. “We’ve got the ultimate weapon against Soldier Boy: a slow ride on his dick.”

😂 This one also sticks out in my mind from the Midnight Espresso-verse - Devour Me (Part 2), as a playful one I was weirdly proud of lol:

“Question: do you consider yourself more of a tits or ass man?” you ask him. You’re half teasing, but still curious. Dean snorts at the question.  “More of a connoisseur,” he replies, smirking.  “Ah.” You nod sagely, and you point between him and yourself. “So this is like a ‘sample the menu’ situation.�� Dean’s smirk deepens. “Sweetheart, you’re a goddamn buffet.”

Finally, this one from the imagine "You are Dean's one exception":

Oh man, that's very tough. I've been blessed to get some amazing feedback from you and others, and believe it or not, I do go back and reread comments and reblogs. It puts a smile on my face whether I'm having a bad day, or want to continue smiling on a good one. 💖

I think one of the best compliments I can receive, however, is that a story touched someone on an emotional level and somehow got them through a difficult time in their life, or is one of their "comfort stories." That's happened a few times, and it almost makes me cry every time. 🥲

I can also say that you, @chernayawidow, and @waynes-multiverse have given me some of the best feedback I've ever gotten on stories. Not just because the other two have made me cheese grin/nearly cry of laughter, but also because all of you are writers and have been able to tell me narratively (or on a character development level) what you liked about what I was doing in a story. As a writer, that kind of feedback is amazing as well. 💖💖

Also, some of my favorite feedback of all time has been on Midnight Espresso -- whether it's been people thanking me for the representation of the Hispanic/Latin culture, or sharing experiences with being plus-sized and how that's viewed in society. 💗

😬😬 Ahh guilty, lol. At the risk of sounding prideful, I think if you're doing it right, you should be writing the stories you want to write. So it stands to reason that you should be able to enjoy reading your own work. 💜

None on Tumblr, but unfortunately I do have a few on FF.net, which I don't even post on anymore, and maybe one or two on Ao3. Sometimes you just lose the drive to write for that fandom, especially if engagement is down. Sometimes you just move on to other things.

I'm a voracious editor. I believe good writing is also good editing -- that's just part of the process. So yes I guess I can be self-critical. lol

Sometimes I'll be rereading something, and I'll go in and edit it after it's already been posted for months, whether it's a typo, or a line that doesn't sound quite right for the character, or part of a scene that I think needs smoothing out. I guess I'm a bit of a perfectionist that way. 😅

Again, thank you so much for these questions, my friend!! I'm going to be sending you some too very soon. 😘

[mxalexis]

Behold !

I am bringing you a masterpiece featuring :

💭 a walk down memory lane

👬 friendship

⏱️ a race against time

💢 a domineering father

🏳️‍🌈 queer folks

💗 hope

Yes, I am talking about The Lost Cases, The Private Diary of John Watson, The Vanishing Heiress by Sage Boscombe.

This novella is the 3rd chapter in a serie featuring John Watson & Sherlock Holmes, with a focus on their personal relationship.

In case you didn't know, let me be clear : they are in love! With each other! In a very gay way!

(Just tought I would clear that up)

Now, onto the story :

➡️ Sherlock and John find themselves *cough* interrupted *wink* with a message from a rich man whose daughter has been missing for a month, and who desperately needs their help finding her and bringing her back.

He's not a sympathetic man, his temper seems to flare up quite easily, and he's clearly not used to not getting his way.

But he is obviously very distraught by his daughter's disappearance, and the police are of no help. So our favorite duo decides to investigate the matter.

They end up going to Barts, Watson's old university, to interview a good friend of the missing young woman, who might or might not know what happened to her.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

In the previous chapters, I was enchanted by the silliness, cuteness, and romantic aspects of John & Sherlock's story.

And those are still there ! Very much so !

The scene involving Mrs Hudson (you'll know wich one when you read it), in particular, has me roaring with laughter every time I re-read it !

The "aaaaaww" dimension is also very much present on several occasions.

⚠️ The reason I'm explaining all this is to make sure you keep that in mind as you move on with the rest of my comment, because it's not all sweet and roses.

I have to say, very rarely have I read a story that gut-wrenching, and yet hopefull & wholesome at the same time.

Here we start seeing more concretely what it meant at that time to be qu33r in London. And while it would have been easy to focus it all on misery, despair, or ostracism, the author beautifully showed hope, resilience, solidarity, and acceptance.

Not only is it very well-written, it's also a lovely continuation of the previous chapters, absolutely believable in terms of characters' development, & a great way to explore these 2 sweet men's universe some more.

Thank you so much, Sage Boscombe, for creating these precious stories 💙

I can never recomend these novellas enough.

Please consider giving them a go!

[messinwitheddie]

If you ever watch the movie *A bugs life* I can’t help but headcanon Lich’s voice as Hopper cuz he’s a bully and a boss man.😅 especially the last scene where the ants finally are fed up with him and face him for being a tyrant that he is.

That's awesome you have a voice you can hear for Lich. I haven't watched a Bugs Life in a long time, but I liked the movie as a little kid. I can see the parallels with the characters.

Originally, when I first came up with the concept of Lich's character (Can’t even remember what I originally named him. Maybe it was the same name. Can’t remember. Wow…

Either way, Lich's original backstory/ role in a fanfic [I won't name because I wrote it in middle school and it was AWFUL], was very different from what it is now. The plot of the fuc was a ripoff of the movie ,“Heavy Metal” so Ronnie James Dio or Alice Cooper were the two voices I usually associated him with. "The Mob Rules" and "The Black Widdow" are Lich's theme songs.

BUT Kevin Spacey's voice fits Lich very well, now that you pointed it out.

He is oozing with Hopper vibes.

If I had an obscene amount of money to spend, I would hire these voice actors/actresses/ singers (resurrect them from the grave if necessary) to play my ocs and/or Characters from Invader Zim that never officially were assigned hired voice actors.

At least most of my Irken ocs have voices picked out.

Pepperoncini: Sir Christopher Lee (?) Earle Hyman (?) Even those two would have to pitch their voices lower and more gravely. Cini's voice, especially in his later years, is very, VERY deep and ravaged by centuries of smoking pipe amber. I guess the contrast in his bright, lighthearted, bubbly personality amuses me.

I can’t think of a voice that perfectly matches the voice Cini has in my head. Any suggestions would be welcome.

I loosely based his personality on Phyllis Diller and Vincent Price, to give an idea of his mannerisms.

Spinch: Martha Kelly (so shy)

Hoola: Eric Bauza (His personality is based on Daffy Duck, though lacking in WB toon antics and the lisp.)

Mem: Bette Midler (first choice), possibly Kathy Bates or Meryl Streep

Some of Mem's swarm I have casted

Handoverfist aka Hof: Eugene Mirman

Ferocity: Betsy Sodaro

Skathe: Jenny Slate

Starboard: John Fiedler

Zee: Jillian Bell

Rook/ the Sage: Originally I imagined John Cleese playing Rook, at least in Rook's older years (because he was based on the Monty Python’s Holy Grail Tim the Enchanter) or Suzy Izzard.

But again, now that you pointed out the parallels, David Foley fits pretty well too.

Miyuki: I'm sure plenty of people would disagree with me, but I think Cher (or at least a younger Cher), Lynne Lipton (again, younger), or Cree Summer would make great choices for Miyuki.

Kii: Can't get Melissa Fahn's voice out of my head for her, but any suggestions are welcome. Maybe Doro Pesch.

Soxx: Percy Rodriguez (would have to bring him back from the dead)

Hitz: Richard Romanus

Spork: Lorenzo Music (I just do)

Commander Poki: Brooke Dillman (I love that woman's voice. Boss as shit.)

Frylady Soo-Garr: Kristin Chenoweth or Grey DeLisle. Either. Either or would pull off her vindictive personality perfectly.

Pielord Emis-Gee: Ron Funches

Brewmaster Shakkin: Christopher McCulloch

Yeet: Hong Chau (so spunky!)

Vroog: Billie Mae Richards or Maria Bamford for a living person to play her.

Irken Gir would be played by Rosearik Rikki Simons, just no synthesizers or anything.

This is not a complete list by far. If you’re curious about any of ocs that I didn’t list, you can ask about or make suggestions.

Hearing the voices helps develop the character for me.

[stormandforge]

Raw reactions to X-Force #9

Current sexuality: Sage.

Spoilers below.

You are in the presence of Teresia of House Tarisik, mutant of many names, queen of sci-fi and cyberpunk, quantum supercomputer, first X-Man and lethal spy, v 10.6. BOW.THE FUCK.DOWN.

I don't care about X-Manhunt, so I'm happy to report that this issue doesn't feel like part of a crossover. It feels like X-Force vol 7. And there seems to be consensus that it's the best written part of the crossover anyway, so in your face, stupid Marvel people. We've been telling you that this creative team is fire, it's your loss if you didn't listen.

And as X-Force, it's an excellent issue, possibly the best one yet. The writing keeps giving me envy and the art, my God the art. Objectively, this is just a very, very good superhero comic. What a fucking shame.

I see you, Marcus To and Erick Arciniega, conspiring to make Sage the coolest, most mysterious babe in Marvel. The figure, the moves, the glowing goggles, the black and the blue and the shadows on her face...You can't hear me, but I'm making little noises of appreciation.

Sage in her catsuit is the kind of sight that makes people realise their sexuality. I'm not even joking. I had Larroca Sage, the new generation will have To Sage.

I'm actually going to need Marcus To to calm down, because everyone in this comic is hot. Have you seen John Wraith? He can take me to church any day.

Sage. Tessa. Teresia. Diana. Arabella. The abundance of names is giving international lady of mystery and I am there for it.

That little Sage avatar is so. cute.

Another compliment for Marcus To: he makes Sage's hairstyle look realistic. Many artists make her look like a Playmobil figure, but when To's drawing her she's just a woman who has no time to think about her hair, and probably doesn't care all that much. I feel that.

I see and appreciate all the seeds for future Sage stories Thorne is sowing here. He's revealing a whole separate life for her, where she goes out at night dressed like Catwoman to save Kestrel from certain death or win toyboxes in battles of wits. That vault full of gizmos? Our girl is busy. If only someone would write these stories now.

The upgrading aspect of Sage's power set is a brilliant narrative device. It allows Thorne to address previous iterations of her in a way that makes sense for her mutation, while developing her and opening doors for further developments. Thorne explained his vision on CBR and it's enlightening as usual. Key takeaway: if she upgrades, she can also downgrade. She could return to previous versions of herself and get her telepathy back.

Not that I want her to. She doesn't need the telepathy to be interesting, she needs writers who honour her core mutation. The telepathy only happened when Claremont realised he actually didn't know what 'living computer' meant and that he'd written himself into an impasse. Also, because the MU and its fandom love ranking mutants, if she'd kept her telepathy she'd always have been a ''second-rate'' telepath compared to the big ones, which irks me. Get rid of it.

The alcoholism conversation deserves a closer look. I completely understand that it would upset people to see it deleted with a sleight of hand, but I don't think it's actually what's going on here. Sage doesn't say she got rid of her alcoholism, or even her addiction, she specifies ''chemical addiction''. This is very precise language. The way I see it, she's only erased the chemical aspect of the problem. The rest is still there and can be picked up in future stories. (Will someone address her trauma please?)

One thing that doesn't sit right with me in this issue is Sage's devotion and deference to Xavier. It's diametrically opposed to my interpretation of her backstory. I'd always thought she had beef with him, and that this beef had informed her x-perience fundamentally. However, the upgrading device is so cool I can easily believe she got rid of that resentment at some point, because it would definitely hold her back. And even without stretching this far - writers are allowed to give me any interpretation they want as long as it's well-written. And this is well-written, so I don't mind. Any vexing I feel here is personal and my problem. Thorne did his job and did it well.

Also, if X-Force doesn't fall in line with the current Xavier-hating trend, good. Don't get me wrong, I hate the guy (precisely because of what he did to Sage), but I hate Marvel bandwagons more. I'm a Forge fan - I know what it's like when both writers and fans have decided that only one opinion is acceptable. It's hurtful, not to mention tedious. A bit of nuance has never hurt anyone.

Forge! Where are you? There he is. Just a few panels, but he's here, mermaid hair and all. Loved the glare he gave La Diabla. I don't think he meant it to be sexy, but he's being drawn by Marcus To, so he can't help it.

'He doesn't even know what he's for': I know this is a serious, foreshadowing line, but I read it like a dig and I giggled. Bless his heart, he doesn't even know what he's for.

I appreciate the realism of Forge needing a minute to build things, but couldn't he have kept his rattle from last time? Silly boy.

We all need an objective point of view every once in a while, to remind us that the X-Men are, in fact, fucking weird. Thanks, Kestrel.

I found the contrast between the two narrative strands - the explosive comic book action in Estrella and the sneaky wench nighttime action in Mexico City - to be very cinematic. I loved the two parallel panels of Sage and Rachel.

'And it's Tessa. Again.' This is almost meta. Sage implies that it was her choice to change names back and forth, but the dialogue also nods to the confusing change of names by different writers. All in a full stop and a single word. Details that make me smile.

Naked Lilandra. Nope. *turns page* AAAAHHHH NOOOO SHE'S STILL NAKED AND NOW SHE'S MAKING OUT WITH CHUCK IT'S LIKE XMEN '97 ALL OVER AGAIN...Oh thank God Sage has brought clothes.

''Full sweaty reunion''?? EEEEWWW SAGE NO WHY WOULD YOU PUT THIS IMAGE BACK IN MY HEAD

OK, full list of languages used so far: Japanese, Spanish, Cheyenne, Esperanto, a whole bunch of code, runes (?), binary, French and now Krakoan, Russian and whatever the hell those symbols were Sage was using to overwrite the Thinkerware. I will miss the linguistic feats. Even if there were mistakes in places. It was cool. 😞

Only one issue left. I can't wait to see how it ends, but I also don't want it to end. I have a month to manage my own expectations, remind myself that the writing will be rushed, and most likely derailed because it's an anniversary edition. That the focus on Forge will be truncated. Sigh.

[carusolikey]

The Blue Hour

a Max Phillips & Bloodsucking Bastards FanFic

Would it really be a signature Caruso FanFic without Easter Eggs?

Return to Chapter 1

Return to Masterlist!

Chapter 1 - We're Going on an Adventure!

Sandra Bullock in the movie, The Net - it's a classic 90's movie about the terrors of working from home and having your identity stolen because you're an introvert. Prescient? Who's to say? Watch this trailer and then decide if you're in for the whole wild ride!

Mr. Rochester, the vibrator. Named of course, after the male protagonist in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. If you're not familiar with the book, it falls under the category of "books written by women under the pen name of men in order to get published." But also, it's one of the first prose books that is written primarily in first person, providing an intimate look into the emotional development of Jane from childhood to adulthood, and how she grapples with the morality and spirituality of her world, bringing class and even feminism in as overarching themes. In truth, I don't want to ruin the story for you, because it is quite the dramatic tale of romance. Which is why I've included a link to Project Gutenberg's free eBook of Jane Eyre: An Autobiography.

Lil' Sebastian, the best, most precious mini horse in all of Pawnee, Indiana! Don't believe me? Allow me to change your mind, you beautiful, chestnut-haired sunfish!

Sing like no one's listening and dance like no one's watching. Always sage advice to take, especially if it's from Liz Lemon.

H'okay. Private Dancer by the Queen of Rock and Roll, Tina Turner. This music video is a feast for the eyes and is rife with symbolism. Tina plays the role of a Taxi Dancer from the 1920's-30's, which is not quite a sex worker (which is work, we know dis), but a woman who attends dances with men - who pay to dance with her. The entire video is dedicated to the concept that while Tina dances with these men, she gets through it by fantasizing / dissociating about the dancer she could've been - a ballerina, perhaps a flamenco dancer? Throughout the video we walk alongside her, through her thoughts, viewing all of the possible paths she could've taken. There's a couple covered in cobwebs for a marriage that may or may not have lasted, the band covered in cobwebs representing the monotony of night after night doing her dances, the couple wrapped in bandages feeling trapped. At some point she watches a full performance in front of her, what could be her lost hopes and dreams as a professional dancer. It's a song full of sadness for what could've been and a constant longing for someone, who might be the right person she dances with one night. Someone who could take her away from all of this (gestures at music video).

What is my purpose in having Max bring up this song? Well. I do like to leave a little mystery. Here's a fantastic rabbit hole for you to hop around in and pay your respects to the illustrious diva, Tina Turner:

It's interesting that a salesman's favorite book is The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, don't you think so? I mean, given that the whole story is about the Great Depression in the U.S. and how the few farmers not affected by the Dust Bowl, as well as the ever-present wealthy handful of citizens, took advantage of the unemployed by creating unfair wage standards that changed daily, did not provide benefits, and did not hire people for more than one day at a time. It seems like it would be conflicting with the type of man he needs to be for his position. And that his second favorite author is the guy who writes the Calvin & Hobbes comics, I mean - really? Who even is Max??

Capote's Books - Breakfast at Tiffany's is different than the movie, and yet still has minor details that crossover. If you watch the movie, read the book, then watch the movie again, you won't be disappointed. There's a lot to discusss between the two. In Cold Blood is not "based on a true story" it is essentially the retelling of Capote's experience when he decided to follow a news story to Holcomb, Kansas. He interviewed the sheriff, deputies, friends, family, and even the murderers themselves, along with Harper Lee. What Capote wrote, based on his copious notes, is a frightening masterpiece. Dickens - David Copperfield is a journey that pulls you through so many different emotions as David travels through bleak and joyful times as a child, then journeys into becoming a young man. Naturally, thinks he may have the world figured out - to his detriment. David Copperfield's Aunt, Betsey Trotwood is also one of my favorite characters. She's fiercely independent and is always, always focused on her yard and whether or not donkeys are getting into her garden, ever-ready with a broom to chase them. That's #Goals for me. Dickens writing style is so vivid, humorous, and heartfelt. It would be a shame to never pick up David Copperfield or any of his others.

Acupressure points for migraines is a true story. However, there are some health guidelines to follow, because there are risks associated depending on specific conditions you may have as an individual. Always check with your doctor before trying something new! I'm sharing a source, which provides additional warnings.

Mr. Rochester, the giant vibrator! This is from Awkwafina is Nora from Queens. If you haven't watched this show, you're doing yourself a disservice. Lori Tan Chinn, Bowen Yang, AND B.D. Wong, c'mon. Here's the full scene:

As we go on the "cringe" rant, I'm ending at The Lake House, starring Sandra Bullock and of course, Keanu Reeves. Does the plot defy reason? Well, let me ask you another question - is there a reason it shouldn't? And YES! I know this is the second Sandra Bullock movie reference. It was an accident - or was it? What do you think I'll reference next? Practical Magic? Premonition? Force of Nature? Miss Congeniality? While Yoou Were Sleeping? BIRDBOX???

"...maybe because of the prancercise craze of the late 90’s? (It’s just prancing. Prancing, I said!)" - File this under your new-old favorite exercise craze.

Down at the gym, the preferred machine is the elliptical, in order to get a little bit o' that Audrey Hepburn experience in the movie Charade - which is a classic spy thriller, also starring Cary Grant and a very young Walter Matthau and James Coburn. With music scored by Henry Mancini, it's definitely a vibe - drama on the slopes AND a handsome mysterious stranger? Sign me up!

"Oh my god, I'm such a Samantha!" - You'd think this was a reference to Sex & the City...

"...my eyes blissfully closed, thoroughly enjoying what Herbal Essences commercials of the 90’s long ago promised and never delivered." - The commercial is heteronormative, but I do enjoy the intersectional inclusivity of encouraging men to enjoy the same self-care activities that women do. I'll allow it.

And those are all of the Easter Eggs for this chapter!

Return to the Masterlist Here or, while you're waiting for chapter 2, be sure to check out my one other fanfic about Javi G. from The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Paddington 3: Lost in Mallorca.

Return to Chapter 1

Continue to Chapter 2

[dcyswclking]

@lcstinfantasy asked: “ can i ask… what happened? ” sage @ anyone

"What happened?!" Kie repeated in a huff, still very much angered by how everything was developing. "Your sister is hooking her ugly claws into my best friend! That's what happened!" The worst John was falling for it no matter what she was saying.