#Lesson 2: PATTERNS IN NATURE AND THE WORLD

[walble]

Your Future Partner

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This is meant to be a fun, general reading, so it may not resonate with everyone. Take what resonates for you and leave the rest behind! Please take a moment to breathe, focus on your intuition, and choose the photo that calls to you. Each holds a unique message for you!

𐙚 • 𝑃𝑖𝑙𝑒 1

Your future partner is someone who brings a sense of hope, renewal, and inspiration into your life. They're likely to come into your world when you're healing or stepping into a more authentic version of yourself. This person carries a calming presence and seems to ignite a quiet optimism in you, as if things are finally aligning after a period of uncertainty or difficulty. They're drawn to your inner light and may even reflect that light back at you, encouraging personal growth and emotional clarity.

They likely avoid unnecessary conflict and prefer peace over chaos. Their presence suggests a breath of fresh air in your romantic experiences—someone who isn't here to play games or stir up drama. Past relationship patterns or internal struggles that once caused you stress begin to settle in their presence. This is someone who chooses communication over avoidance and is mature enough to let go of power struggles, making them emotionally supportive and level-headed.

Initially, there might be a hesitancy or emotional block on your end, perhaps due to past heartbreak or a fear of making the wrong choice again. But this person’s clear intentions and decisive nature will help you see things more clearly. Their actions will speak loudly, and they’ll show you that love doesn't have to come with confusion. You'll begin to trust yourself more around them, and that clarity will make it easier for you to open up.

They are intelligent, assertive, and driven—likely someone who charges forward when they know what they want. They might have a bold personality or a quick wit, and they’re not afraid to speak the truth. This person values honesty and progress, and once they decide to pursue you, they’ll do so with purpose. The connection may progress quickly once it starts, carried by strong communication and mutual respect. This person enters your life like a gust of wind—clearing the fog and pushing both of you toward something meaningful and transformative.

𐙚 • 𝑃𝑖𝑙𝑒 2

Your future partner is likely someone who has recently come out of a period of isolation or deep introspection. They may have gone through a transformative experience that forced them to confront their inner world and now they’re ready to step back into life, more self-aware and open. This person may have previously struggled with indecision or being stuck in their ways but is now making an intentional effort to take control of their life and act with purpose.

They are charismatic, skilled, and driven—someone who knows how to use the tools at their disposal to create opportunities and make things happen. There’s a sense of passionate energy around them, like they’re on the verge of starting something exciting, whether it’s a creative pursuit, a new project, or even a fresh chapter in life. This person will bring a spark into your world, not just emotionally but also through shared experiences and dynamic energy.

There’s also a feeling of wholeness and completion surrounding this future connection. This person may have traveled a long personal journey to get where they are, and now they’re ready to share their life with someone who can match their energy and growth. Your relationship with them will likely feel like the closing of an old chapter and the beginning of a new, meaningful one—with potential for long-term harmony, success, and mutual expansion.

𐙚 • 𝑃𝑖𝑙𝑒 3

Your future partner may initially come across as someone who has struggled with trust, communication, or immaturity in the past. They might have gone through a period of confusion, overthinking, or being unsure about their direction in life. This could stem from lessons they had to learn the hard way—perhaps from saying too much, too little, or not knowing how to navigate emotional conversations. When you meet them, they might still be healing from past experiences that shaped their perspective on love and connection.

They carry a deep emotional scar—perhaps from heartbreak or betrayal—that has forced them to confront their own vulnerabilities. This pain, while still present, has molded them into someone more self-aware and introspective. They're not looking for surface-level affection. Instead, they’re seeking something that brings balance, truth, and fairness into their life. They're serious about love and are ready to approach it with a sense of responsibility and integrity.

When they come into your life, the connection will feel undeniably strong. It’s not just romantic but deeply soulful, something that aligns with your values and your heart. There’s a feeling of choice and commitment between you both, one where mutual respect and emotional honesty play a big role. This person won’t shy away from showing you how much they care or from stepping into something meaningful with you.

They’re also generous—not just with time or resources, but with emotional effort and energy. This person values equality in relationships and wants to give just as much as they receive. They’re someone who believes love is a two-way street, and they’ll make sure you feel valued and supported. Their journey hasn't been easy, but it’s made them someone capable of deep, sincere love—ready to build something real with you.

[tinytarotandtea]

「 ✦ PICK A CARD✦ 」

What are you being gently nudged to grow?

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Directions: Take a moment to breathe, calm down and focus as you choose a picture from above. From left to right is pile 1, 2 and 3. Then Scroll down to your pile! Please remember to only take what resonates with you and leave the rest 🫶

Pile One -

Cards Pulled - Knight of Swords Reversed • The World • Six of Swords Reversed.

Pile one! Hello, my loves! So, for you today, we've got the Knight of Swords reversed. He's whispering that you might sometimes rush towards things, eager to chase dreams or fix problems too fast. But the universe is softly encouraging you to slow down and move with intention instead of impulse. Don't rush, take your time and think it through.

The World is here to remind you that you're reaching — or close to reaching — an important completion or milestone. Growth right now isn't about racing ahead, it's about honouring what you have already build and allowing the new cycles to unfold naturally.

The Six of Cups reversed suggests that you're also being asked to grow by releasing old patterns or stories that you've outgrown, even if they feel safe and familiar. It's time to let go of the past so you can fully step into your beautiful evolving self.

Pile one, you're being nudged to grow your patience, presence, and trust in your journey. Let yourself move slowly, honour your milestones, and lovingly release what no longer fits.

Pile Two -

Cards Pulled - Three of Cups reversed • Knight of Pentacles reversed • The Hermit Reversed.

Hello pile two, my loves!! Today, you're gently being nudged to grow your independence, sense of responsibility and your inner trust. The Three of Cups reversed suggests that there may be a need to step away from relying too heavily on external validation or social circles. It's time to find joy and pride in yourself, even without outside affirmation.

The Knight of Pentacles reversed is pointing to the importance of developing steady commitment and following through. Growth here means building routines, setting small goals, and trusting the slow, patient process of progress.

The Hermit reversed is encouraging you to embrace time alone, not as isolation, but as a necessary and empowering journey inward. Some answers can only be found when you disconnect from external noise and reconnect with your own wisdom.

Pile two — you're being called to grow through steady dedication and trust in your own journey. Moving inward with intention with reveal strengths you didn't know you had.

Pile Three -

Cards Pulled -Ace of Pentacles • Seven of Pentacles reversed • Judgement.

Pile Three, my darlings! The Ace of Pentacles shows new opportunities — especially those related to stability, career, or personal growth — are either arriving or ready to be planted. There is fertile ground for building something meaningful if you are willing to invest your energy.

The Seven of Pentacles reversed, however, suggests a need to reconsider where your time and resources are currently going. Growth here involves reassessing your investments and making sure they truly align with what you wish to create long-term, rather than scattering your energy on things that won't sustain you.

Judgement here calls for honest reflection and a willingness to rise to a higher calling. You are being asked to listen to your inner voice, trust those lesson you've learnt and step boldly into a more authentic version of yourself. Growth now is about conscious decisions, and purposeful action towards your true path.

Pile Three, you're being guided to grow through new beginnings, careful evaluation, and stepping fully into your authentic purpose. Align your actions with your higher self and trust that it is time to build something lasting.

[bestworstcase]

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN it's a draw let's talk about the principles.

In the rulebook for The Lady Afterwards, these are defined as "the most fundamental elements of reality; or, the various natures of the Hours; or, a post-facto invention of scholars of the invisible arts." Mark that third note in particular, because the aspects we discuss herein are—expressly—only an attempt to taxonomize the occult forces at work in the world and thus necessarily an imperfect and imprecise model thereof.

Keep this in mind. There are no clean dividing lines between the principles, and what we label (for example) 'Lantern' and 'Forge' are not, in reality, discrete individual forces but rather a cluster of interacting forces, patterns, rules et cetera which may be expressed or called upon in different ways at different times. Many seeming contradictions or inconsistencies are thus resolved.

With that out of the way:

The interaction most visible to the player is of course the Cultist Simulator 'subversion' mechanic, but I think it is also elucidating to consider 1. differing categorization of certain books shared between Cultist Simulator and Book of Hours, and 2. the principle aspects associated with each of the nine parts of the soul in the latter.

Before we dive into that, a note on 'Secret Histories' and 'Rose':

History is the scar on the world's skin. [Secret Histories describe the unknown complexities of the world, and its many pasts.] vs 'The rose which encompasseth all'. Nine directions to new horizons. [Exploration? Enlightenment? Hope?]

It is evident that Secret Histories and Rose have some relation and may even be synonymous to an extent—for instance, Dr. al-Adim is interested in the former in Cultist Simulator and the latter in Book of Hours—but Secret Histories notably isn't treated like a fully-realized principle in its own right, whereas Rose is mechanically indistinguishable from any other power. What's going on here?

Well, if Rose is the aspect 'which encompasseth all', then we might describe Rose as the skin; and therefore what we call Secret Histories are the scars or the flaws which inform the principle called Rose, in effect making Secret Histories not a principle in its own right, but rather an aspect of Rose.

So for the purpose of this discussion, I will refer only to 'Rose', even with regard to entities and things with Secret Histories aspect in Cultist Simulator. I believe the relation here is comparable to the relation between, for example, Heart and Dances.

Onward!

I have made a series of diagrams. First:

We begin with a wheel representing the order in which the Cultist may subvert lore and influences from one principle to the next, beginning with Lantern at the top and proceeding clockwise; into Forge, into Edge, into Winter, into Heart, into Grail, into Moth, into Lantern. Knock, placed at the wheel's center, cannot be subverted and subverts every other lore except Rose into itself.

Note the larger gap between Moth and Lantern. My reason for arranging the principles this way will become apparent shortly.

For ease of reference, here is a spreadsheet comparing the principles associated with every text that appears in both Cultist Simulator and Book of Hours. In cases where the text's mystery aspect does not match the lore fragment(s) it yields in the first game, I've noted the skill and memory as well.

This is a simple way to demonstrate the 'fuzziness' of the principles, noted at the beginning of this post.

In cases where the principle lore yielded by texts in Cultist Simulator differs from the text's mystery aspect in Book of Hours and the mystery aspect is not one of the newly-introduced aspects, generally speaking, the lessons the Librarian learns will match both; for example, 'The Six Letters on Memory' yields Forge lore in CS, but has Moth as its mystery in BoH, and the Librarian learns a lesson in Transformations & Liberations, a skill whose primary/secondary aspects are Forge and Moth.

The one notable exception is Sunset Passages. In Cultist Simulator, this text yields Winter lore; in Book of Hours, its mystery aspect is Forge, and it provides a lesson in Sacra Solis Invicti (Lantern/Sky). In order to understand the re-categorization of this text, we must consider its subject matter: it is a "miscellany of the funerary prayers, ceremonies, and hymns of the Church of the Unconquered Sun," which "schismed during the Intercalate, when the Sun was divided." It is thus concerned primarily with pre-Intercalate worship of the Madrugad, whose aspects are Winter and Forge, and the skill the Librarian learns from it pertains to those rituals.

Sunset Passages thus serves as a useful illustration of how and why certain texts may be categorized differently between the two games. It is not arbitrary. It's a mechanical representation of the taxonomic 'fuzziness' in that the Cultist can read a certain book and conclude that it's a volume of Winter lore whereas the Librarian can read the same book and categorize it as a book of mainly Forge lore with some relevance to Lantern and Sky, and both are correct, although the Librarian, being a scholar rather than an adept, takes a more nuanced view.

The point being that we can look at those texts which have been reassigned to one of the four/five aspects introduced in Book of Hours as a rough approximation of common relations between those aspects and the ones in the earlier game.

We'll use Moon as an example.

Kanishk at the Spider's Door — Edge lore -> Moon mystery — Lesson is Sharps (Edge/Moon) — Memory is A Stolen Secret (Moon/Knock)

Larquebine Codex — Heart lore -> Moon Mystery — Lesson is Sea Stories (Moon/Grail) — Memory is Gossip (Rose/Grail)

Morphy Codex — SH lore -> Moon mystery — Lesson is Tridesma Hiera (Moon/Grail) — Memory is Beguiling Melody (Grail/Sky)

Viennese Conundra — Moth lore -> Moon mystery — Lesson is Wolf Stories (Moon/Scale) — Memory is Fear (Scale/Edge)

Voyages of Ferninshun of Oreol — SH lore -> Moon mystery — Lesson is Sea Stories (Moon/Grail) — Memory is Salt (Knock/Moon/Winter)

Tally up the aspects associated with these texts: Grail: 5, Edge: 3, Rose: 3, Knock: 2, Scale: 2, 1 each Sky, Moth, Winter, Heart.

& secondary aspects for skills with primary Moon aspect: Grail: 2, Scale: 2, Edge: 1, Heart: 1

& primary aspects for skills with secondary Moon aspect: Winter: 5, Rose: 2, Edge: 2, 1 each Grail, Heart, Nectar, Sky, Scale.

& other aspects on Moon-aspected memories: 4 each Rose, Edge, Winter, Knock, 1 each Sky, Moth.

Keep in mind that this is only an approximation, because we're not taking into account any context for when, why, or how these conjunctions may occur. But we can identify certain patterns just by looking at the frequency; the two most common conjunctions are with Edge and Winter (10x), followed by Rose (9x), Grail (7x), Knock (6x), Scale (5x), Heart and Sky (3x), Moth (2x), and Nectar (1x).

Rose and Knock are both unusual in how they interact with other principles, with Rose being all-encompassing and Knock all-opening. So we're somewhat less interested in them for now. If we consider only the frequency of Moon's associations with the seven 'regular' principles present in Cultist Simulator, where might we position Moon in relation to the subversion wheel diagrammed above?

Well, the most intuitive way to decide its placement is to first put it in between Edge and Winter, then move it a bit clockwise to reflect its significant overlap with Grail and minor associations with Heart and Moth. Right?

In the interest of brevity I won't go through the tallies for the other three 'regular' aspects introduced in Book of Hours, but after going through this same process (and making some aesthetic adjustments, because this is only an approximate representation)...

What we have here is the Cultist Simulator order-of-subversion wheel with the four new aspects plotted onto it as the corners of a containing square; Sky in the juncture between Moth and Lantern, Scale between Lantern and Edge, Moon between Edge and Heart, and Nectar between Heart and Moth. I propose that:

These four principles subvert each other clockwise around the outer wheel, Sky into Scale into Moon into Nectar into Sky, and

The principles in Cultist Simulator, including Knock and Rose, all emerged through division of these older four during the striving and conflicts of the Lithomachy.

Any serious discussion of the Lithomachy is well out of the scope of this post (BUT WE'LL GET TO IT SOONER OR LATER BECAUSE HOO BOY) so my argumentation on this second point will necessarily be rather thin. Sorry. The remainder of this post will concern how well the above diagram holds up to more substantive investigation, and to that end here are the definitions of each principle aspect as per Book of Hours, in order of subversion:

Rose. 'The rose which encompasseth all'. Nine directions to new horizons.[Exploration? Enlightenment? Hope?]

Sky. Wind, storm, echo, song; the intricacies of mathematics and the principles of flight. Law's touch is lighter than we sometimes think.[Matters of balance, harmony and necessity.]

Scale. Hard without, hard within, hard to rouse, harder to subdue. [What is left of the crude powers of the deep earth.]

Moon. Secrets are soft; night is softer still; the sea speaks. It is not always wise to listen. [The nocturnal, the forgotten.]

Nectar. The green wealth in the world's veins; the pulse of the seasons. [Long ago, some called this principle Blood.]

Lantern. 'Life is a pure flame, and we live by an invisible Sun within us.' - Thomas Browne [Lantern is the principle of the secret place sometimes called the House of the Sun, and of the light above it.]

Forge. 'Fire', I once read, 'is the winter that warms and the spring that consumes.' [The principle of the Forge transforms and destroys.]

Edge. All conquest occurs at the Edge. One who dwells there is blind, and cannot be wounded. Another is strong, and grows stronger. [Edge is the principle of battle and of struggle.]

Winter. ... [Winter is the principle of silence, of endings, and of those things that are not quite dead.]

Heart. The Heart Relentless beats to protect the skin of the world we understand. [The Heart is the principle that continues and preserves.]

Grail. Hunger, lust, the drowning waters. [The principle of the Grail honours both the birth and the feast.]

Moth. I knew a man who captured moths in a bell-jar. On nights like this, he would release them one by one to die in the candle. [Moth is the wild and perilous principle of chaos and yearning.]

& Knock. The Knock permits no seal and no isolation. It thrusts us gleefully out of the safety of ignorance. [The Knock is the principle that opens doors and unseams barriers.]

And while, as I said, we are not going to delve deeply into the subject of the Lithomachy in this post, I do want to make a brief note of the gods-from-stone and their probable aspects. The Horned-Axe, we know to be both Knock- [Liminal Evocation] and Winter-aspected [Winter veneration]. Her attestation in 'On the Winding Stair' is also quite interesting:

Gregory evidently succeeds in opening a way to something he calls the 'Moon-Hall', but here his account becomes erratic. He insists that in the Moon-Hall the Horned-Axe is still an Edge-power; he hopes for an 'eternal rival', but cannot find the one he needs. The narrative is increasingly interspersed with chess notations, and ends abruptly.

Here we have an implication that the Horned-Axe was and is no longer an Edge-power, but within the House of the Moon she still is Edge-aspected (or possibly a cross-gender mirror-twin of hers retains an Edge-aspect that she has lost or discarded). The similarity here to the recurring idea that the Wheel still turns in the House of the Moon is striking. Her altar beneath Hush House accepts Edge, Scale, Winter, and Knock aspect.

The Horned-Axe is one of the three Hours of the Chancel alongside the Meniscate and the Sister-and-Witch, of whom the former has obvious associations with the Moon and the latter with the Sea. I submit, then, that before the Lithomachy, the Horned-Axe's aspects were instead Moon and Scale, and that she was—in some way—divided or bifurcated in the course of the Lithomachy into two halves, both with Knock aspect, one Winter-aspected and the other an Edge-aspected reflection.

(<- I will note, as an observation, that there is a vague and rather tangential precedent for such an occurrence; the Wolf-Divided is the product of the division of an Hour, and likewise has Edge and Winter aspect. The common factor would seem to be the coincidence of an ending, hence Winter, with the emergence of an entity driven by an unfulfilled need, hence Edge.)

That is our only living god-from-stone. The others are the Wheel, the Flint, the Tide, the Seven-Coil, and the Egg Unhatching. We know that the Wheel was usurped by the Moth (and that its blood, shed on the roots of the Wood, birthed the Velvet); that the Flint was shattered by the Forge; that the Colonel and the Mother of Ants conspired to slay the Coil; and that the Egg Unhatching fled to the Glory by unknown means and with uncertain outcome.*

[*The Unwise Mortal brought it through the Tricuspid Gate and then it hatched into the Sun-in-Splendour. This is how he ascended to Hourhood as the Watchman. I can't get into it right now or we'll be here all day but: TRUST.]

So, the Wheel was replaced by the Moth and the Velvet (aspects: Moth, Heart—& I submit, also Moon). When the Medium paints the endless memory: "With each turn its cilia pulse and wriggle and its body flushes translucent to crimson. It might be ugly but it is beautiful like the withdrawing of blood from the labyrinths of glass. It does not cease and all its involutions are infinite." All of this locates us firmly in the neighborhood of Moth/Heart, emphasis on Heart given the imagery, and given that the aspect now called Nectar was once known as Blood, this one is easy.

The Wheel's first aspect was Blood. I believe it may also have been Scale-aspected, due to its association with serpents. (On this see Serpents & Venoms. Note that the Secret Histories wiki identifies the 'low red sun' as the Egg Unhatching mostly on the basis of the Medium's glorious memory, but this plainly incorrect. The 'low red sun' was the Wheel, and the Egg Unhatching was a moon, before it hatched. We'll talk about this in more detail in my next post.)

The Flint was 'eclipsed and then shattered' by the Forge. In nearly all of its attestations it's associated with the earth in some way. When painting the golden memory, the Flint is described thus: "This is only a stone, though it is smoothed and sharpened to a midnight point, but look closer. Each of its facets shows a single point of light. It might be the glint of firelight. It might be each a different Star."

As with the Wheel being a Blood-Hour, it seems quite straightforward that the Flint's aspect was Scale; and given its connection to the Wheel through the line of Antaios, an argument could be made that it had a minor Blood aspect as well, making the Wheel and the Flint reflections of each other (Blood/Scale | Scale/Blood).

Next, the Tide, which the Red Grail drowned and consumed. Its usurpation by the Grail and association with the Sea would suggest Blood (the primordial precursor to Grail) and, obviously, Moon. Painting the luxurious memory offers the description: "In a night-blue Mansus-haze swims a coral palace-crown. At its fore-edge it absorbs the lesser Names, coating them with its minerals and juices, and at its rear edge it expels some of them, polished like jewels. The others go to feed its thorny Tide-heart," which reinforces the 'Grail-precursor' angle pretty strongly.

Further, the Tide being Moon- and Blood-aspected offers an elegant explanation for the unusual frequency of Moon-Grail conjunctions in comparison to the other 'precursor' aspects (Heart-Sky is also a common conjunction but otherwise conjunctions with aspects outside the precursor 'quadrant' are quite rare); consider the Sea as the world's blood, an ever-churning life-giving liquid, and the Moon must figure as the world's heart, as the engine of the tidal forces which keep the waters circulating. Heart is the connection between the two, but Grail having supplanted Blood (now Nectar) as the principle most strongly associated with the Sea, it remains closely entangled with the Moon.

Like the Flint, it seems fairly straightforward that the Seven-Coil was Scale-aspected: its monstrous serpentine form and present associations with earthquakes both unambiguously point in this direction. Contra the Secret Histories wiki, I actually do not believe that the Seven-Coil had Rose aspect itself. The events leading up to its slaying are (notably) recounted in much greater detail than the death of any other god-from-stone, and unlike the others, its defeat came not at the hands of a god-from-blood but what seem to have been the first two human* gods-from-flesh; it follows that the death of the Seven-Coil occurred much later than the usurpation of the Wheel, the Flint, and the Tide...

[*I believe the Elegiast and the Beachcomber may be much older, but neither of them were mortal humans as the Colonel and the Mother of Ants seem to have been prior to their ascensions. Jury is out on when the Vagabond ascended to Hourhood exactly, but she's of the Cross. Probably.]

...and indeed, 'The Deeds of the Scarred Captain' places the slaying of the Seven-Coil immediately prior to the founding of Mycenae, which occurred around 1350-1200 BC—well into the Bronze Age and not remotely prehistorical.

The Coil itself wasn't Rose-aspected; I believe its slaying is the inciting incident for one of the Histories—most likely the Third. The massive proliferation of Worms in that History, the loose association between Worms and the Coil, the origin of the Seven-Coils' Temple in the Third History, Sparrow's paranoid conviction that this History is "overrun by Coils," and even the aspects of the Third History's encaustum Nillycant (Winter & Edge for the Colonel; Scale for the Coil) all seem to point in this direction.

That leaves only the Egg Unhatching, vexing little enigma that it is. In the Medium's painting it appears like this: "A faded pale white-gold seen in certain patches of the sky, when the mist is clearing but the sun might be mistaken for the moon. We hold our breath and watch it brighten, until each colour divides from the next like a new-minted alphabet." Despite its having been a moon, I'm not wholly convinced that it had Moon aspect; that it hatched into the Sun-in-Splendour (you'll have to trust me on this for now) might suggest it was Sky-aspected, although this doesn't feel quite right to me either.

The other Lantern-precursor it could have had is Scale, and I am fairly confident that the Egg Unhatching was Scale-aspected. The Seven-Coil is described as 'the nest' in a certain ending and there are some hints toward a connection between the Sun-in-Splendour and the Scīmafectra-kind of the Carapace Cross; it would not be unreasonable for the Egg Unhatching to have been laid or incubated in the Nest—that is, the Seven-Coil—during the era of the Carapace Cross, and thus to have Scale aspect. The Scale determination may loosely support this as well. Furthermore, the Unwise Mortal "learnt the shaping arts of the Flint" and later "ascended to the shadow of the Egg Unhatching," which is suggestive of some degree of similarity between the Flint and the Egg. So we'll put this one down as Scale and a 'maybe' on Moon/Sky.

...and that's my 'brief' note on the probable aspects of the gods-from-stone. TO RECAP:

Horned-Axe: Moon/Scale -> Knock/Winter + Knock/Edge

Wheel: Blood/Scale

Flint: Scale/Blood

Tide: Blood/Moon

Seven-Coil: Scale

Egg Unhatching: Scale + Moon/Sky (?)

Lastly—and this is more a footnote for a future post, really—notice the absence here of any gods-from-stone with clear, unambiguous signs of having been Sky-aspected. An argument can be made for the Wheel and the Flint to have had Sky aspect, the Wheel having been the old sun and the Flint being associated with starlight, but there is little in the way of supporting evidence (and neither Sky-Nectar nor Sky-Scale are common conjunctions, although Heart and Sky are frequently conjunct in matters of weather, so the argument for the Wheel to have been Blood / Scale / Sky is a bit stronger than the one for the Flint).

Right. So.

Let's talk about the nine elements of the soul.

Here, I've marked how different aspects are connected through, or by, each part of the soul. Where two aspects are not adjacent, the connection is represented passing through the simplest juncture, such that the aspects of Ereb, Wist, and Trist connect to each other through Knock; the Moth and Rose of Fet pass through Sky; and Moon is the joint between Health's Nectar/Heart and Scale.

Depicting the elements this way reveals some interesting patterns:

Other than Health, which is unusual in other ways, every non-adjacent pair here is joined through its juncture at a 135° angle (and if we were to route the connection from Heart to Scale through Knock rather than Moon, this would be true of Health too; however, I believe that Moon is the more appropriate juncture in this case for reasons I will outline in a bit.)

The two paired aspects that are adjacent around the inner wheel, Forge/Edge Mettle and Heart/Grail Chor, are stronger in the principle subverted when these aspects interact. In theory, this suggests that Sky may subvert Lantern—and this in turn would be a small point in favor of interpreting Sky / Scale / Moon / Nectar as precursor aspects whose division created the modern principles, on the grounds that Sky subverting Lantern then obeys the Sanguine Exception.

(which holds that every door must open both ways.)

Chor, "exuberance, rhythm, and instinct," has Heart aspect with a lesser power of Grail; when subverting Heart lore or influence into Grail, the project description is "what does not cease will succumb, at last, to temptation," and the action "all that moves must succumb to hunger." This conjunction is also reversed in Memory: Satisfaction, which has Grail aspect with a lesser power of Heart, so it doesn't seem like a stretch to conclude that Chor arises from hunger in moderation; that is, the need for sustenance and meaning in life, absent the wilder hedonism of Grail.

Chor's malady, Duendracy, is a lapse in concentration brought on by what is described as a quite pleasant but very distracting (or perhaps inspiring) "possessing presence from the Mansus." It has Heart aspect only; but notice how afflicted Chor seems to be stilled as the Grail aspect is lost to the pleasant distraction—even though Heart is defined as the principle of relentless motion! Similarly, that Duentratic Chor must be roused by a sufficient power of Moth, the "wild and perilous principle of yearning," suggests the best cure for Duendracy is a nameless dissatisfaction which reawakens the Heart to its hunger, and thus restores its balance with Grail.

Ereb is "pride, compassion, hatred, fear" and "the shadow in the soul's cellar." It has Grail aspect with a lesser amount of Edge; so, we might call it an expression of passionate desire bringing about, or brought about by, strife. And while Ereb itself lacks Knock aspect, the way its Grail-Edge conjunction is expressed does resonate with the principle of Knock for much the same reason that one facet of Knock is wounding.

What commonality unites the qualities of pride, compassion, hatred, fear?—here I will note that Book of Hours (and Cultist Simulator, in less unsubtle ways) incorporates a number of Jungian concepts into its storytelling; the Archaeologist in particular is more or less explicitly tormented by their projected Shadow, in Jungian terms. The Shadow is an unconscious aspect of the personality composed of traits that are unwanted, that do not align with the aspirational ideal image of oneself, and which are therefore both repressed and projected outward, driving conflict both within and without. Confrontation with the Shadow is inevitable and may lead to either possession by it (which produces confusion, distress, emotional paralysis) or assimilation of it (which acknowledges and integrates the Shadow into the conscious self, a spiritual awakening).

The word Ereb derives from ἔρεβος (érebos), the ancient Greek for the darkness of Hades; and it's "the shadow in the soul's cellar," the intersection of Grail's "drowning waters" with the conflict and conquests of Edge—it is the Shadow, and so it is hidden or buried but must, sooner or later, be encountered. And so we might say that the Shadow will eventually, inevitably, perhaps violently, Knock. Note, also, the descriptions when strengthening Ereb with either Bosk ("the Wood is filled with shadows") or Skolekosophy ("...will unchain my Ereb"), and more generally Ereb's association with the unwritten, instinctual lore of the primaeval wood and the study of things that should not be studied. The Shadow comes Knocking, etc.

(I find Ereb especially interesting in relation to both Calyptra and the Corrivality, and will get into a deeper dive about this at some point in the future. For now: Westengryre is the affliction incurred by provoking the Mare-in-the-Tree. Sleep softly!).

Fet is "that part of us which walks in dreams," and its first aspect is Rose, its second Moth; and, as noted, I propose that the juncture in this conjunction is Sky. Why?

Sky concerns "matters of balance, harmony, and necessity." Moth is an unpredictable, wandering principle of chaotic yearning; Rose is "exploration, enlightenment, hope." Now think about Fascination: 2 Moth, THE HIGHER I RISE THE MORE I SEE; and if the Cultist succumbs to visions with three Fascination, this is their ending: "First it was the dreams. Then it was the visions. Now it's everything. I no longer have any idea what is real, and what is not."

Fet, the part which walks in dreams, which traverses the Mansus, has Moth aspect commingled with the aspect of enlightenment and exploration. Its malady is Gisting, the Rose aspect absent the Moth, and described thus: "As my concentration fails, a part of my soul flutters away, drawn by a distant half-imaginary light. [...] My fet is gisting - too loosely tethered to me - so that I glimpse the Mansus even in daylight hours. [...] In dreams I have visited the House behind the world... and some part of me is trapped there now, even when I wake." Whence does the Cultist's Moth-aspected Fascination derive? From the unmooring of Moth from their Fet.

To maintain one's Fet in good health—to walk the Mansus in dreams with the dangerous impulse to wander tethered safely to the skin of the world and the ways beneath it—what is required most of all is balance; harmony between the peril of Moth and the Rose which anchors the dreamer to the Wake. This is a matter of Sky.

(& of course, Rose and Moth together represent the nine divisions of the wind itself: the eight winds of the compass rose and the directionless, chaotic ninth.)

Health—Health is unusual in several ways, the most obvious being that it has three aspects rather than two. It is not a part of the soul per se but rather the dwelling-place thereof; its aspects are Nectar, Heart, and Scale. I believe that the reason for this is relatively simple. The aspect now called Nectar was once instead named Blood, and so we might consider that the first aspect of Health, the body, is the Heart-Blood, or the Blood-in-the-Heart. Or we might conceptualize this combination of Nectar-Heart as within-without, the lifeblood moved by the heart beating to protect the skin.

Then why Scale?

Well... Scale is the aspect of what is left, of what remains, of the old forgotten songs asleep in the depths of the earth which might yet be roused; and the Cross died not but passed within. Health has Scale-aspect because that is the last trace of the Carapace Cross, long-buried and forgotten but never quite gone. Hence my choice to route Nectar-Heart's union to Scale through Moon, the secret and forgotten things, rather than through Knock and Forge. Either is cogent, but I think Moon is the better fit.

Next! Mettle. Mettle is easy. Mettle is the "will; self-discipline; that part of us which makes the right choice" and "the capacity for meaningful choice," and it has Forge aspect with a lesser power of Edge. When subverting Forge lore or influence into Edge, the Cultist invokes the Lionsmith's rebellion at Issus: "The Hour called Lionsmith shattered his own sword to escape his master's dominion. All things can be overcome, with sufficient force. [...] I've shattered what I believed before. Thus have I subverted my Forge lore to Edge."

A small—but important!—detail I want to underscore here. In shattering his sword at Issus, the Lionsmith enacted a teaching of the Forge of days, that "the artisan may achieve their highest goal only by destroying their most precious tool." That is to say, the method used here to subvert Forge into Edge is not to conquer the Forge with the Edge but instead to reforge the Edge using Forge-techniques. One principle subverting another doesn't necessarily imply an adversarial relationship to each other; they are instead complements, or united opposites, or both. Forge-into-Edge is the clearest demonstration of this.

Thus, Mettle encompasses not just fortitude and conviction but specifically the will to change oneself—to break and be reforged—in pursuit of the highest goal. I would also submit that it is the part of the soul most in conflict with Ereb (the ego-ideal of the superego, if you want it in Jungian terms; that aspirational sense of self and identity which suppresses the Shadow). The drowning waters of Grail versus the consuming fire of Forge, the birth-and-death, end-and-beginning of Grail vs the metamorphosis and shaping arts of Forge; opposite and the same, passion striving against self-discipline, willpower striving to give form to unconscious desire, and so conflict arises from the Edge between them.

Phost is "the light within: sight, perception, inspiration" and "all the Glory's gifts." Its first aspect is Lantern, its second Sky. When afflicted, its malady is Fascinated: "My inner light gutters, then flares - I am snared in a dangerous fascination. [...] Phost is the brightest part of the soul - sometimes it can grow too bright for safety." Unlike the Cultist's Moth-y Fascination, Fascinated Phost has a small degree of Lantern aspect. It does, however, appear to be the same condition, hence "the HIGHER I RISE the MORE I SEE."

The discrepant aspect here may come down to a simple difference in temperament between the Cultist and the Librarian; one imagines that an adept must have a greater inclination toward Moth than a scholar—otherwise why seek what lies above and beyond the Stag Door? Thus Glory entices the adept but blinds the scholar. Or else, for the scholar, the danger of Fascination lies in what perilous yearnings might be enticed toward you, as Daymare insinuates, although whether the advice she offers Gwen is applicable generally or not is, given Gwen's particular circumstances, unclear.

In any case, Phost is the part of the soul afflicted by Fascination, and it seems reasonable to conceive of it as a counterpart or perhaps the fulcrum of Fet. Consider the Watchman's Paradoxes, a Lantern-Sky skill which can be committed either to Illumination or Nyctodromy:

From Light (Phost) Our dreams are shadows cast by the Watchman's light. So we perceive him even in our shadow. This is Illumination. From Change (Fet) We recognise the dream-places that the Watchman shows us, though we have never seen them before. Perhaps we were something else when we saw them. This paradox is fundamental to Nyctodromy.

If a dream is the shadow cast by the Watchman's light, or a place thereby illuminated, and Phost is "all the Glory's gifts," and the Fet is the part of the soul which walks in dreams, then it is—perhaps—Phost which illuminates the way, as an inner semblance of the Watchman's light, and keeps the balance between Rose and Moth.

Shapt is "eloquence and understanding; the door opens both ways." It has Knock aspect and a lesser power of Forge. It is words. It is speech: the first wound, the first sword, the first key. When afflicted, it develops the malady Acusis, "in which the door, Shapt, cannot be closed. [...] Every sound rings like a bell - every word scratches at my eyes or skin." Knock, absent Forge, soothed only by the silence of Winter. I get very excitable about Shapt and this is already a quite long post, so I will leave it at: Ebrehel is the Shapt of an Hour.

Trist is "the change and the longing," and its first aspect is Moth, its second Moon. Its affliction, Despairing, has Edge aspect instead: "Trist is already half a hand trailed in a river of deeper sadness. [...] Melancholy is the mist on the soul's waters. Despair is the wolf that prowls the water's edge." Trist is also implicated in the existence of what seems to be the most dangerous of the 'great shadows' that can be found in tombs—as described in 'The Barrowchild's Elegies':

The Barrowchild warns particularly of the 'avidity of trist', where a remnant-shadow's longing for change survives its sense of self and even devours its wist. That longing may draw the curious into the tomb, where the remnant-shadow changes so that it cannot be distinguished from its visitor - or that the reverse becomes true - and that it is never again possible to say whether it is the shadow or the visitor that exits the tomb.

ahem. Conceptually what this 'avidity of trist' describes is, in Jungian terms, possession by the Shadow. In Secret Histories terms, I believe that Ereb (fear) overtakes Trist, which turns to despair; the Mettle (will, choice, the determinants of self) is eroded or forsaken or otherwise lost, whereafter the despairing Trist provokes a complete obliteration of everything else that remains in a violent, agonized desperation to destroy the Ereb. & that's what a Wolf-Splinter is.

So the Moth aspect needs no explanation. Moon, however, is interesting, as is the juncture through Knock and Winter. Trist, the change and the longing, is melancholy... and Moon is the aspect of secrets, of nocturnal and forgotten things. Trist, I believe, is specifically the longing for what has been lost, after the changing, after something ends. Hence the danger of its avidity.

Last and not least, we have Wist; "the soul's memory, the true name scratched on its cornerstone, what remains after the rest has passed." It's the memory and the remnants. Its aspects are Winter and Lantern, and its malady, Shell-Crossed, has the aspect Scale, expressly because it's a surfacing remnant: "Memory crossed, hatched, lined, snapped. My thoughts are tangled and unfamiliar to me. Something of those who came before - the Carapace Cross - has always lingered in humankind. It's risen now in me."

The Winter-aspect is of course straightforward, given the Wist's role as memory-keeper for the soul. The Elegiast comes to mind, as does the nowhere-Hour called Snow (for death alters; Snow endures).

But why Lantern? Lantern is not an aspect frequently associated with preservation or endurance—quite the opposite, it purifies and it blinds. It begins to make sense if we consider this Lantern-aspect in relation to the Scale-aspect that emerges when Wist becomes Shell-Crossed, and that is, I think, the closest we have to a smoking gun in terms of Scale being a precursor to Lantern. What remains of the Carapace Cross now? Only light. This is why Shell-Crossed Wist is cured with Lantern; its Scale aspect is purified and therefore forgotten, all but the very last, inextinguishable trace.

(We'll discuss that more in another post.)

So!

All of these conjunctions of principles within the soul track quite well with the positioning of Sky / Scale / Moon / Nectar at the corners around the 'inner wheel.' I think the elements of the soul provide a more comprehensive look at the way the principles interact with each other than do Cultist Simulator's subversion projects, which we turn to now. Briefly. (she says, lying.)

Lantern into Forge: "The magus Julian Coseley claims the Forge of Days split the Sun. Perhaps he was right. [...] Light yields to Heat."

Something interesting to note is that there is a recurring if rather subtle motif of the Sun's light—the light of the Glory, Lantern—being cold. Or at least, not very warm. Besides the Meniscate, whose light is that of a reflection because her domain is the Moon, all of the extant Solar Hours have Winter aspect, which is not particularly unusual in and of itself given the influence of the Intercalate. But the Medium's splendid memory implies that the Sun-in-Splendour, although brighter than the Madrugad or the Sun-in-Rags, was likewise chilly: "The Sun was brighter once - no warmer, but its light held colours we no longer see."

This contrasts the Wheel, as described in, for example, the Inks of Revelation commitment to Hushery: "...since the dawn times when the sun hung red and low and we felt its warmth like autumn." But even that suggests only a little warmth.

Lantern and Forge are similar in myriad ways—light purifies, light blinds; fire gives light and consumes knowledge; one is unmerciful, the other inspires unmerciful change—but one key enduring difference does seem to be that Lantern-light is cold, unyielding, whereas Forge-light burns, desires, consumes, destroys. In this specific way Forge holds more similarity to Moth and Grail than it does to Lantern... and indeed we do see Forge-Moth or Forge-Grail conjunctions here and there. Notably, Transformations & Liberations (Forge-Moth) and Numen: A Merciless Alteration (Edge-Forge-Grail).

Forge into Edge, we've touched on already.

Edge into Winter: "I am acknowledging the victory of patience over strength. [...] Patience defeats strength."

Just as the method for subverting Forge into Edge recalls the Lionsmith, Edge into Winter may—arguably—call upon the Colonel's understanding of victory through the cunning borne of experience. Or we might interpret the operation from the perspective that even the fiercest conflict must end in time, whether in victory or defeat; that even the strongest warrior must fall. The White waits west of the world, but she will not wait forever. In all likelihood both are true, or at least can be true. I would imagine there are different techniques drawn from either viewpoint. (& this, too, is Edge.)

Winter into Heart: "Winter's coming must yield at last to spring."

This operation, I find most interesting in conjunction with the description of Forge as "the winter that warms and the spring that consumes." On its face, it is reasonable to interpret Winter and Heart as opposite forces—silence and stillness, striving against the drums and motion of life—but... but. Winter is the principle of endings, of silence, and of those things that are not quite dead.

Consider the Winter-Heart skill Quenchings & Quellings:

Arts which quench fires and bring solace to the troubled mind. 'A true adept is never troubled by fire, nor by fever, nor by restless spirit'. – Ambrose Westcott Safety in Silence (Trist) Unwise words are dangerous. Mourn them, remember them, speak them not. This is Hushery. Safety in Oblivion (Health) Let the flesh forget disease, let the smoke forget the flame, let the troubled mind forget its pain: Preservation.

Ambrose Westcott was a metallurgist, an alchemist, a pyrographer—his area of specialization pertained to Forge, not to Heart or Winter. But Quenchings & Quellings is first and foremost a skill interested in regret and forgetting, and therein lies the connection: Regret is a Winter-Forge memory. "Every choice has its shadow."

I do not think Winter and Heart are opposing forces at all, but rather two sides of a three-sided coin. (If you'll pardon the tortured metaphor.) Winter ends and Heart renews. Winter remembers and Heart preserves. What's missing from these pictures? Forge, which destroys; Forge, which transforms. Not for nothing are these the principles of Calyptra; the Black Flower's Heart-aspect, the White's Winter-aspect, the Red's Forge.

Heart into Grail, we've already discussed.

Grail into Moth: "Even the Red Grail falls prey to the buzzing in the brain."

Obviously, little daylight exists between hunger and yearning; both are a form of desire. Moth and Grail are similar in their hedonism, their wildness, their violence; the Moth flayed the Wheel and the Thunderskin was flayed at the Grail's behest. (Much is made of the confounding question of whether the Moth or the Grail came first, feasted first, arose first. There are no end of contradictory answers, but the truth is really very simple. They are twins—triplets actually but we don't have time for that—born together.)

But do note the specific phrasing used here—that the Red Grail falls prey to the Moth. The Hour called Moth is a hunter. This is described, for example, when committing Horns & Ivories to the Bosk. So the Red Grail is an Hour which hungers and consumes, presiding at births and deaths in equal measure, and sometimes she falls prey to the hunter-Moth; there is some notion here of reversals, of the hunter-becoming-hunted, of hunger being what is preyed upon.

Here I will draw your attention to the Moth-Grail skill Resurgences & Emergences: "Birth and death are only directions. Between the two we find a crossroads." When Grail is subverted into Moth, this is the crossroads they approach.

& into Knock: "Place pressure upon a weakness, and rend the skin of the world." Any aspect studied with Knock becomes Knock.

Knock is a power of opening, of wounding, of breaching; but I think it is also—perhaps even more importantly—a principle of intersection. It is the joining-together which dissolves all boundaries. The reason it subverts everything is less that it's a cosmic skeleton key and more a question of Knock being the principle that understands everything to be connected to everything else, because it is the principle which connects all things. Nothing is truly separate, and nothing can be divided unless it was first joined.

It's the aspect of the Mother of Ants, who encircles, who arises from wounds, who spares those who are already harmed. Knock is the principle that both wounds and heals by wounding, the venom that is also the antivenin. If you've ever wondered why Sacrament Ascite is brewed from Glassfinger Toxin, this is why.

Now—finally—let's discuss my proposed operations of Sky into Scale, into Moon, into Nectar, back into Sky.

Sky into Scale: This one is actually quite open-and-shut. We'll start with the Ithastry commitment for the language Kernewek Henevek:

The Stars (Wist) A smiths' proverb in Brancrug: 'What starts in the sky, ends in the earth.' A story goes with it, that the village smith's anvil in the time of the Dewulfs was hatched from a meteor stone, and so every plough in the village knows something of the stars. Not many remember the story, but everyone remembers the proverb. It would probably count as Ithastry.

From the sky to the earth; as above, so below. Sky is "wind, storm, echo, song... matters of balance, harmony, and necessity." Scale is "hard without, hard within, hard to rouse, harder to subdue; what remains of the old powers of the earth." What's an earthquake if not a storm within the stone? Or is it a song that still echoes beneath the earth?

Both are precursors to the modern principle of Lantern; Scale, the principle of the Flint, is very closely associated with Forge—and in Lightning we find the conjunction of Sky-Forge.

There is also a whole tangent we could go into here about the birds and the serpents and the birds-of-a-scale, worms-of-a-feather. But I won't belabor the point. Next!

Scale into Moon: One could make an argument, too, for Scale into Nectar, on the grounds of stone-and-soil, fossil-and-seed, antecedent for the Winter-Heart relationship. However, that becomes more difficult when the relationships between the precursors and the modern principles is taken into account, and I think the similarities between Scale-Nectar and Winter-Heart are more accurately represented in terms of Scale-Moon-Nectar preceding the triad of Forge-Winter-Heart.

The Scale-Moon subversion also has Hill & Hollow going for it, in particular the Preservation commitment:

The ways of the hill-children and the gods-from-stone. Old paths, old secrets, the songs that still echo beneath the earth. How They Endured (Health) In the beginning, the Carapace Cross served the first Hours, the gods born from stone. When the gods-from-stone were defeated, where could the Cross go? Into the hills; into the Bounds; and into us. This is how humankind came to be, and in our most secret hollows, the Cross endures. This is a matter of Preservation.

(Note that 'the Bounds' seems to also encompass the House of the Moon, as per the Nyctodromy commitment for Hyksos.)

Scale is what sleeps, remains, what might be roused, while Moon is what is secret, what is hidden, what is nocturnal, and what has been forgotten. Scale endures and fades from memory; Moon remembers what was forgotten. The old songs that echo under the earth become the secrets whispered by the waves beneath the moon.

Like Forge and Winter, Scale and Moon pair the violent destruction of Scale (as a shattering earthquake) with the softer, gentle endings presided over by Moon (as the sea erodes stone). Next!

Moon to Nectar: Here, of course, the dual nature of Grail—the drowning waters but also blood—is worth noting. Both Nectar and Moon are far more strongly tied to Grail than to Heart. And of course, the Wheel, the low red sun, once had the aspect Blood; and it still turns inside the House of the Moon.

Speaking of the Wheel, while Serpents & Venoms is a Scale-Moon skill, it undeniably concerns the Wheel (which may, as we discussed earlier, have also been Scale-aspected), and its Hushery commitment has some interesting implications regarding the relationship between the Wheel and dreams:

The Last Sun (Trist) In the dawn times the sun was lower, so we gave it our blood. From our blood it knew us, and so it was kinder. Its serpents brought us its poisons to drink, and so we died. But we only died a little, and so we dreamed, and returned the next day to give it our blood again. Those times of peace persist in the lessons of Hushery.

In the Mansus as it exists now, dreams are shadows cast by the Watchman's light, or else illuminated by his light, but of course this could not have been true in the dawn time when the Watchman didn't yet exist. The Moon-Knock memory A Stolen Secret, "Something I overheard in dreams?", together with Moon's associations with secrets and nocturnal things, at least circumstantially supports the conclusion that dawn-dreams were illuminated instead by the Moon.

Thus, this interplay between the blood-drinking Wheel whose serpents opened the way each night into dreams beneath the light of the Moon, speaks to the interaction of Moon with the old principle Blood, and what traces of that remain between Moon and Nectar.

Blood drinks of life and gives death and the Moon heals in dreams; Blood brings the dawn and Night yields to day. Nectar is the principle of germination and of poisoned thorns and of renewal, and the Moon still remembers what it was.

Also, the Velvet. Just... the Velvet. Next!

Nectar to Sky: We return to Kernawek Henavek, but this time it is the Bosk commitment that interests us...

The Roots (Health) A farmers' proverb in Brancrug: 'What starts in the roots, ends in the sky.' A superstition goes with it, that before a child's first birthday you should leave her for a summer night sleeping in the roots of an apple-tree, to make sure she grows tall and straight-backed. Not many pay heed to the superstition now, but everyone remembers the proverb. It would probably count as Bosk.

...along with the Birdsong commitment for Leaves & Thorns:

Looking Up (Chor) The gardener's first lesson is this: look up. What starts as weather ends in the world, what starts as sky ends in the soil. This is what the birds know, and the birds know most things first.

As beneath, so above. What is a tree but a throne to birds, and what is Sky but a crown for birds? What begins in sky ends in soil, and so the first lesson of the gardener is to look up.

Nectar is the pulse of the seasons, the ripening, the wild vigor of new life. Sky is the principle of balance and harmony, mathematics and law—moderation, but also music. The wind in the branches, the bird in the nest, the lightning-strike that fells the tree and lets in the sunlight so that new flowers can grow. I rest my case.

& Fin. (ominously) for now.

I would apologize for the sheer amount of things I've glossed over things to the tune of "but we don't have time for that now" but in my defense, 1. I'M FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE (this post is 8.2k words long) and 2. I have half of a far more comprehensive disquisition regarding the various shadows-under-the-boat we carefully ignored in this post sitting in my drafts; perhaps a quarter of it is complete; it is pushing forty thousand words in length, so 3. It Will Happen Again.

Tune in next time for: VAMPIRE SUN, EGG MOON, & ...THAT GUY.

[thesensteawitch]

A Long Awaited Message From Your Spirit Guides 🩵🧚

Pick A Pile Reading

🩵(Left to Right- Pile 1, Pile 2, Pile 3)🩵

Hello, Senstea Souls!🦋🩷

This is a collective reading on a long awaited message from your spirit guides about a specific situation in your life. Take a deep breath and choose your pile/piles intuitively. Take what resonates and leave what doesn't. Feel free to DM me in case you want to book a reading with me.

Now go ahead and read your pile.

Also, thank you for all the reblogs that you guys do. I am forever grateful!🌻

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Pile 1

Tarot Cards- Ace of Cups, 8 of wands, King of swords, page of pentacles, 4 of Pentacles, ace of pentacles

Hello, my dear pile 1. Well for you I see that this specific message is regarding your health or some insecurities regarding your body. For a very long time, you have not been feeling good in your body. Some of you may even be going through some health issues. It has been pretty overwhelming for you to deal with what was coming towards you on the health front. Your spirit guides want you to stop thinking of the worst-case scenarios or look down upon your body in any way possible. Because your thoughts create your reality. But the good thing is that none of the worst-case scenarios that are playing in your head are going to come true. Nothing will come out of this worry but if you don't stop thinking of negative thoughts then you'll develop a pattern that will lead you to manifest worst-case scenarios in other areas of your life. So please, my dear pile 1, stop worrying. Rewire your brain to think of the best-case scenarios. The card here says, “You do not have to think specific positive thoughts about your body, but you have to not think specific negative thoughts. If you could never again think about your body, and instead just think pleasant thoughts, your body would reclaim its natural place of wellness.” I also sense a rigid mindset. Your energy is inflexible. I see two polarities but it's difficult for you to find a common ground between them. The two polarities confuse you. You must learn to accept both worlds and find peace in that acceptance. As much as gray there is in this world, it's equally true that black and white exist too. You need to ground your energy. Your root chakra may be imbalanced. Spend time in nature. Open your heart to the healing energy of the earth. Don't hold onto the idea that your body should be a certain way. You can't afford to do that! Don't think you have so less and hold onto it. There's abundance and soon you'll be shown the way. Give yourself a chance. Don't try to look too much into the way your body is. It is lovely the way it is. Once a doctor said to me, “Your heart is still beating, isn't it? Your lungs are still working perfectly fine, aren't they? That means you have a purpose to fulfill and your story isn't over yet. There's nothing wrong with you. You're perfect the way you are. There's no one else like you. God didn't make the exact same human as you and sent them to this earth in the same family as yours or the same environment as yours. You are unique!” Know that the universe will test you and will see if you've learned your lesson or not. So do not look down upon your body in any way. It's your safe abode. As soon as you let go of the insecurities you'll soon notice your creativity birthing out of your sacral chakra. You'll start expressing more and won't let anybody make you believe otherwise about your body. I also sense new opportunities in terms of healing and career are coming your way so keep your eyes open. Free yourself, free your spirit.

For any further clarification or to book your personal reading on this situation feel free to DM me.

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Pile 2

Tarot Cards- The Lovers, King of Pentacles, Eight of Swords, Seven of Cups, Eight of Pentacles, Eight of Cups, Two of Wands

Hello, my dear pile 2. Well, the first thing that I sensed is that some of you may be projectors by human design. Because the card here says, “The entire universe is being affected by what you are offering.” You have this sweet child-like energy but at the same time, you are a wise old soul. You may be seeing a lot of angel numbers, especially 888. I hear, “What comes down must go up.” Your life is about to change pile 2. Your guides want you to know that whatever decisions you are making right now are drastically shaping your future. Many of you are stuck between two decisions and your only way out is to take a balanced approach. There is strong water and fire energy in the cards. Opposing forces but very powerful. Both can cleanse and heal. Some of you are even going through a period of cleansing. A lot of negativity is being released from your life so don't hold onto your past. Your hard work will pay off and soon you'll find the clarity regarding a certain situation you're very confused about. All your long-awaited dreams are soon coming true. Your spirit guides want you to know that all the pain and confusion you went through was part of the plan only to bless you beyond your imagination. Your patience will reap rewards. For some of you, I hear that your patience will bring true love in your life. A time of celebration awaits. No one and nothing can put you down. Nobody will be able to stop you. I hear ‘Unstoppable’ by Sia. Being a projector you took in a lot of negativity from people's aura and now it's time for you to release all of that. It's time for you to come to yourself. Call all your power back that you gave away to others. I sense that some of you are even highly sensitive. You can easily pick up on people's true intentions. Don't underestimate your own power pile 2. You're gifted. Do not undermine your own gifts. The world needs someone like you. And you guys are soon going to receive a big boon and you guys are so intelligent that you will know how to make the best use of it. I sense strong psychic abilities in this pile. You are beyond beautiful, pile 2. I am in awe!!!!!! The only guidance here is to listen to your intuition and to leave the toxicity behind. Be it people or places. Those who can't reciprocate what you have to offer don't DESERVE to be in your life. Period. Protect yourself, you beautiful souls!

For any further clarification or to book your personal reading on this situation feel free to DM me.

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Pile 3

Tarot Cards- Page of Cups, 10 of Cups, The Lovers, 7 of Cups, 6 of Swords, Queen of Swords

Hello, my dear pile 3. For most of you, the message has something to do with ‘love’. I am even hearing, “To love, love, yeah. I needed to lose you to love me.” I also sense that fun times are coming for you but it seems that some of you are heartbroken about a situation or relationship that ended in your life. You are looking for closure. You need to make some adjustments in your life because what happened in your life happened to teach a very important karmic lesson. I also hear, “In this world, it's just us. You know it's not the same as it was.” Your card says, “Be easy about all of this. Life is supposed to be fun, you know. We want you to feel love for your life, for the people of your world, and most of all, for yourself. There is great love here for you.” Some of you may be moving places or recently moved to a different place and are feeling disheartened. The card wants you to know that love is everywhere you go. And I don't think that you guys are alone. There's someone still sticking around with you. It's time for you to explore what it truly means to love and feel loved. It doesn't mean that you're supposed to go on multiple dates but experience love in every way possible. Write someone a letter, paint, give someone flowers, or apologize to someone if any apologies are pending. As you embody love soon the romantic love will find you and it will stay with you for a lifetime. You may be tempted to go back to your ex or the person you broke up with. But please don't, especially with the same energy that you sent out previously. Do the right thing. There's no point in writing the same story over and over again. Don't start many things just focus on one thing. You may end up feeling tired or low in confidence at the end of the day as you may end up having high expectations from yourself. It's time for you to write a new story and not repeat the same old patterns. That's why your guides are asking you to make some adjustments in your life. Have fun with your work but don't end up burnt out. Forgive those who have left you and forgive yourself if something didn't work out. It's time to let go. Remember what's meant for you won't pass you by. So take things lightly and hold onto the spark of inspiration that you may get now and then. Keep your heart pure and don't let your love be overcome by any temptations.

For any further clarification or to book your personal reading on this situation feel free to DM me.

Below I am sharing the links to:

Booking Form

My Rate Card

[eatmangoesnekkid]

A Free Gift and Powerful Teaching Lesson Only to My Blog Readers- A Download on Natural Beauty and the Subconscious (I will only keep it posted for 2 days) —Many blessings —India

“The Radiance of Reverence: A Natural Beauty Ritual Guide for Energetic Hygiene and Self-Devotion” by India Ame’ye

We often internalize fears passed down from systems that were never designed for our liberation, wellness, or joy. These systems teach us that we’re not divine. That we’re not naturally beautiful. That we’re not radiant just by walking down the street. That we’re not worthy of love, goodness, or ease, just as we are.

But what lives in us (what we think, feel, and believe) shapes what we receive. As we age, the cumulative effect of chronically thinking in certain unconscious, low-grade patterns begins to shape our cells. Our self-concept. Our energy field.

One of the most common patterns is this: letting the past inform our present experiences and expectations. This habitual way of being imprints itself on our bodies. Our postures and our facial expressions hold the frequency of our thoughts and the emotions that ride alongside them. And over time, those frequencies become physical: tension, sagging, wrinkles, and pain. These are not just signs of age but also emotional and energetic residue that we rarely hear being spoken of.

But don’t get it twisted…my beauty practices aren’t about fighting wrinkles or chasing youth. That’s not what I’m here for. I am a natural woman. I adore what the body does as it ages. Wrinkles are sacred. They’re part of growing, witnessing, and living. They deserve our respect and reverence. Accepting them is part of holding alignment with life.

Resistance to what is—to time, to change, or even to gravity is a massive energetic downgrade. And over time, your face will show a pulled down the face, tightened jaw with buried adhesions, and dim eyes.

My work around natural beauty is not about erasing. It’s about connecting. Touching my body with intention. Loving on my female tissues. Keeping good energetic hygiene—in my thoughts, in my words, and in the way I perceive life and this body my souls live in.

What I’ve noticed as I grow older is this: good energetic hygiene softens the face. It keeps you radiant, magnetic, and vibrant, not because you’re avoiding aging, but because you’re aging well. With reverence. With presence. Our faces are designed to express emotion. But when we go unconscious to what we’re feeling—when emotions get stuck, they leave impressions. Those impressions can make us look hardened, closed off, less warm and, less approachable. Less womanly and less ourselves.

This isn’t about aesthetics inasmuch as it is about alignment.

And we especially possess a low-grade pattern of thinking when we allow the past to inform our current experiences and expectations of the world. Our posture and faces will hold the frequency of our dominant thoughts and the frequency of their accompanying emotions —and after many years pass they will create impressions that will look like saggy skin, more wrinkles, and bad posture (and all the tension-holding that result from having bad posture)! Don’t get it twisted—my beauty practices are not about getting rid of wrinkles or trying to look younger. I don’t go into my beauty rituals with those goals or aims. I am a very natural woman and adore what the human body naturally does. Wrinkles are a natural part of getting older and must be accepted, respected, and seen as beautiful for personal alignment. Resistance to what is IS a big energetic downgrade and our appearance will take a great hit overtime. My channeled work around natural beauty is not about getting rid of anything but about connecting to my body, loving on my female tissues, and keeping good energetic hygiene around me, in my thoughts in how I see my body, and speak about my body, and in how I perceive life.

And what I’m noticing as I get older is that good energetic hygiene actually prevents or softens wrinkles on the face and body, which helps you to stay more radiant, magnetic, and vibrant. Our faces are meant to express emotion but what happens is that we go unconscious to what lives in us  —how we are thinking and the emotions we moving through such that the emotions get stuck and create impressions in face that age us faster or make us lose warmth or look unpleasant or unapproachable, you see. 

 In other words, we can become less attractive and lose magnetism and warmth over time due to the cumulative effects of our own thinking which can cause our face to drop or sag unnecessarily. Because what we think and feel structures the muscles in our faces to imprint facial patterns that can decrease our natural beauty over time. But ��the opposite is also true. 

When we hold thoughts and feelings that “we are beautiful. We are magnetic. We are sensuous and alive from our tailbones to our hair follicles….we are the divine feminine” this pattern of thinking and feeling enhances our natural beauty over time. We must NOT allow emotions from the past or history to imprint our muscles and must be consciously releasing them through our bodies so that they do not get stuck in our face, hips, breasts, neck, and spines. This is why I twirl, shake, invert, undulate, skip, decompress my fascia and/or dance everyday in some way. When we do acts that release old emotion, and the effects of hanging on so tightly to history, our natural radiance increases which has been my secret now for a few years. And I’m just discovering language around what I have been doing.

So yes when I travel anywhere warm, I receive a lot of love and attention, including in European countries. I am never trying to “get attention” but it naturally happens. The sun heightens my radiance and I generally perceive myself as a divine woman, a divine being, non-arrogantly, as we all are. But most do not perceive their own divine nature because they have been trained to believe the lies, to live in the past, to live in lack thinking, and to find everything wrong about themselves and focus on it. This pattern of thinking and living produces an unattractive energy which affects how we look —our face, body, scent and energy. This teaching lesson moved through me after I commented on this dark-skinned woman’s post who was interrupted by an Italian man in Italy and told how beautiful she was, but the lessons here can apply to ANY woman of any ethnicity or female swag. Also of course she is beautiful —this isn’t about him, any of ld man, complimenting her. He is not in her league but nice guy. When im in Italy, im complimented by beautiful men that anyone woman who was interested in men would be attracted to. Here was my original response: 

Then someone responded with some foolishness…here is what she said and it is followed by my response

Then more foolishness and my response to said foolishness ✨🌹

Then the climax to the foolishness and my response follows!!! My response is an incredible lesson

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

^^^^ that is a major keycode, loved ones ✨✨✨✨✨

✨✨✨✨✨✨—below is the greatest point —here is what someone wrote in response, a direct message to me

Friends, what this person said is the power! It is true I am a Goddess but I don’t want to be part of the online performative Goddess clique, where women just call themselves Goddeses but don’t anchor into the frequency in real life. This is why I never call myself a “Goddess”—when you are a Goddess, you don’t have to name yourself such. You allow others to bestow the title upon you. You allow others to feel it. I live a very Devi life as a Devotee to Kundalini and the Vitality Arts. I allow others to feel it and name me as such which separates me from the performative crowd.

You must become different loved ones. How are you truly anchoring into the Goddess template and allowing your global world to be blessed by your presence?

If you would like to watch the reel, here it is! and share with me on This Post or in my inbox, how These words landed with you? This post was more so about the magnetism of beauty —Not about this man! Do you feel more empowered to tap into your natural beauty after reading this?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 𝗔 𝗞 𝗘 𝗧 𝗖 𝗛 𝗝𝗢𝗬 𝗪 𝗜 𝗡 𝗡 𝗜 𝗘 (@aketchjoywinnie)

*a sagging face is a sagging pelvic floor which affects the bladder, libido and sexual function. I care about these things. ✨✨✨✨

[savingsallow]

— (5) Sad Facts About Val

Things about my MC— Valentine Black —that make me question why I let my child suffer.

content warning: contains themes of trauma, grief, mention of loss of loved ones, nightmares, mental health struggles, isolation and emotional distress. please proceed with caution.

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1.) Recurring Nightmares

Val enjoyed a happy and healthy relationship with her parents despite their identities as dark wizards. The first four years of her life were filled with laughter and joy. In fact, many of her fondest memories are vivid, tracing back to her early childhood.

But that joy was short-lived.

Tragically, Val witnessed her parents' deaths while hiding in a cabinet, peering through a small hole. This traumatic event became one of her most haunting recurring nightmares, alongside the vivid memory of her best friend's lifeless body from her time at the Muggle boarding school.

These nightmares drive Val to avoid sleep whenever possible; short naps are the worst, bringing her the most haunting visions of her past. At night, she bravely travels into her dreams, seeking patterns and lessons, yet she always awakens in terror. To distract herself, she immerses herself in her projects and ideas.

Though her erratic sleep schedule takes a toll on her health, it has unexpectedly allowed her to excel in her studies—particularly in her favorite subjects like potions. She even created a potion fitting for her situation called the "Vitality Veil." As the name suggests, it restores natural vigor and creates a subtle aura of vitality that enhances one’s appearance and can last up to 12 hours.

Essentially, it’s a potion that makes Val seem put together, while in truth, she feels like a chaotic mess.

2.) Stealth Mastery

After being reluctantly adopted by her uncle, Val realized her freedom had limits. She has always resisted authority, never one to follow rules blindly. By day, she mastered the art of compliance, driven by a desperate need for her new family's approval; by night, however, she let herself roam free.

Val knows all the creaky floorboards to avoid, as well as the hidden passages where she can escape. She scours the house for a safe haven to dive into her latest obsession—be it a book about the universe or potion experiments.

House-elves often assisted her in sneaking around unnoticed. The house-elves of the House of Black, including Kreacher and Scrope, became her friends. Sometimes they'd play wizard’s chess together or cook meals for her as she immersed herself in her books and potions.

3.) Isolation

Val has never felt a true sense of belonging. Growing up in London, her extended family made it clear—especially during family gatherings—that she was a burden. Desperate for their affection, she felt the need to don a deranged mask, something she hated but believed was necessary for survival.

Feeling like an outsider in her family was compounded by her alienation in the Muggle world, where her peers considered her an oddball. This constant rejection cultivated a friendship with solitude. It spurred her obsession with researching topics of interest and experimenting with potions in her own unique way.

The closest companions she had were the house-elves, her stuffed animals (which Aunt Ursula eventually disposed of), and her best friend from the Muggle boarding school—who tragically passed away too soon. In the depths of isolation, Val found a friend in solitude, and beneath her facade of preoccupations lies a profound sense of loneliness.

4.) Silent Cries

Though Val has grown more comfortable expressing her emotions, especially at Hogwarts, she struggles to cry in public. It’s not that she doesn’t want to; it’s that she can’t bring herself to do so. Raised in an environment that viewed emotions as weaknesses, she grappled with her naturally expressive nature.

Her Aunt Ursula would lock her in her room for showing strong feelings, teaching Val to control her emotions too well—so well, in fact, that she finds it difficult to cry, even when the urge washes over her. Instead, she has learned to cry silently, in the quiet of night when no one can see.

Even after making friends in her fifth year and gradually opening up to them, Val has never shed tears in their presence.

One of the few times Val almost cried in front of her friends was when she witnessed Sebastian spiraling down a darker path in a misguided attempt to "save his sister," all while seeing Ominis worry for him as he used Unforgivable curses, a path he had vowed to abandon.

Conflicted and terrified, Val struggled to think of the next right steps to take to help her friends, all while handling her growing yet destructive fire magic and Ancient Magic, both of which were becoming unstable due to her involvement with the Dark Arts, especially the Unforgivables.

5.) Layers

Having endured so much, Val has constructed walls around her heart, protecting whatever happiness remains.

At first glance, one might assume she leads a lighthearted and comfortable life; many perceive her as a spoiled brat from the House of Black, underestimating her bubbly personality.

But beneath this facade lies a heart marred by trauma. Though she may seem like an open book, with her genuine remarks and emotional transparency, don’t be deceived. Beneath that cheerful exterior lies a guarded, wounded soul.

Her trust issues run deep; as a child, she invented her own alphabet so no one could decipher her journal entries. Later, at Hogwarts, she enchanted her journal, rendering her words invisible to others—only her whimsical doodles visible to the untrained eye.

Once she begins to share her secrets—like her treasured niffler stuffed toy—freely divulges her quirky ideas, lets you hug her, and miraculously allows you to witness her tears, then you have truly earned her trust.

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🥞 thanks for reading this rather angsty facts! ❤️‍🔥

🥞 non native english speaker, so teeny tiny grammatical errors are very much possible XD

🥞 casually lore dropping bc why not

🥞 leaving here more links about val in case you're a newbie to her lore:

✨ 10 Facts About Val

✨ Val & Hairstyle

✨ Val's Character Introduction

[yuesya]

In an AU where instead of Geto, it's Shiki who fall to the dark side;

How well would her friends and family take the news?

How scared are the Jujutsu HQ when the girl who can kill anything is now their enemy?

What would be her end goal? Classic stuff like kill all non-sorcerers? Or something else entirely?

Hmm villain!Shiki AU...

The easiest way I can see this happening would be if Shiki doesn't have any close friends or connections keeping her on the 'straight road,' so to speak.

In a world that's less kind, Shiki never meets Nanami Kento. Her parents sell her to the Kamo Clan after she wakes up from a coma with cursed eyes, and so one of the first lessons that Shiki learns in her childhood is abandonment.

The representative who arrives from the Kamo Clan to take her away is Araya Souren.

Shiki grows up with this man who is her teacher and father and jailer all in one. He tries to kill her, and fails. The second lesson that she learns is betrayal.

Once, Araya had spoken to her cryptically of his goals before.

To the end and the beginning, to life and to death. To the truth hidden within the core of this broken world… and the way to finally break free of this endless cycle of madness and suffering.

To him, the world is full of suffering and misery. He wants to 'break the cycle,' whatever that means, and apparently Shiki's abilities are the key to it.

Shiki doesn't care about any of that. Araya wanted to break the cycle? Well, then she'll just be part of it.

(Countless red lines beckon her, an allure that Shiki has no desire nor inclination to resist.

Destroy, destroy, destroy.

... It's not such a bad way to pass the time until her eventual death.)

'Shiki' probably becomes known as a fickle-natured globe-trotting curse user who spontaneously goes on murder sprees for seemingly no reason at all in this AU.

To (finally) address Anon's questions:

1: Shiki's family and friends from zenith of stars aren't emotionally invested in this version of Shiki.

However, Nanami probably experiences some sense of guilt and responsibility, when later investigations reveal that this is his niece. Even if he wasn't on good terms with his sister and brother-in-law, what happened to Shiki was... horrifying.

Shiki's parents are alive. They ended up using the money they got from selling Shiki to live a comfortable life, although their later years are spent in terror when they learn what their daughter has become. Their greatest fear is Shiki coming to kill them someday.

2: Jujutsu HQ probably starts losing their minds when they get reports of a curse user whose cursed technique appears to be killing, of all things. They do their best to monitor her and estimate her travel patterns, and prevent her from crossing paths with Gojo Satoru.

If she and Gojo Satoru end up fighting... the end results would be catastrophic. They need to avoid that at all costs.

If she and Gojo Satoru end up getting along with each other... their combined strength would be enough to make the entire world kneel. They need to avoid that at all costs.

3: As stated earlier, Shiki doesn't have a particular goal in mind, aside from 'preserving' the cycle that Araya so abhorred and desired to destroy. She wanders the world sowing chaos to her whims, secretly hoping to find something that won't be fragile and ephemeral -as the red lines in her eyes indicate everything to be.

[tellmealittlelie]

New Things to Learn in 2025

THE ARTS:

Try Writing, by Kieren Westwood on YouTube: How to Start Writing for Beginners - Start Your Story

Try Bookbinding, by Four Keys Book Arts on YouTube: Bookbinding Basics: Chapter 1 - Basic Tools - Easy Options to Get Started Bookbinding

Photography Basics, by David Manning on Youtube: PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS in 10 MINUTES

Try Filmmaking, by Camp Films on YouTube: The Basics of Cinematography - Filmmaking for Beginners

Try Embroidery, by Jamie.Photo on YouTube: Hand Embroidery 101 | Beginners Guide to Embroidery, Stitch Tutorials, and Pattern!

Try Knitting, by RJ Knits on YouTube: How to Knit: Easy for Beginners

Try Crochet, by simplydaisy on YouTube: How to Crochet for Absolute Beginners: Part 1

Try Sewing (with a sewing machine), by coolirpa on YouTube: A Beginner's Guide To SEWING! How to use a sewing machine

Try Sewing (by hand), by Cutesy Crafts on YouTube: How to Sew by Hand for BEGINNERS!

FITNESS:

Try Yoga, by Yoga with Adriene on YouTube: 30-Minute Yoga For Beginners | Start Yoga Here…

Try Pilates, by Move with Nicole on YouTube: 30 MIN FULL BODY WORKOUT || At-Home Beginner Pilates (No Equipment)

Try a full body workout, by growingannanas on YouTube: 25 MIN FULL BODY HIIT for Beginners - No Equipment - No Repeat Home Workout

Try a Dance Workout, by The Fitness Marshall on YouTube: FREE 30 Minute Sweat Session | DAY 2 - January Challenge

DANCING:

Try the Waltz, by LearnToDance on YouTube: How To Waltz Dance For Beginners - Waltz Box Step - YouTube

Try the Swing, by Passion4dancing on YouTube: How To Swing Dance For Beginners (East Coast Swing)

Try “Club” Dance Moves, by Get Dance on YouTube: Club Dance Moves Tutorial For Beginners Part 1 (Basic CLUB DANCE Step For Guys) Heel in

Try Line Dancing, by West Coast Country on YouTube: Beginner Line Dance Lesson - Cowboy Hustle

SCIENCES:

An Introduction to Physics, by The Organic Chemistry Tutor on YouTube: Physics - Basic Introduction

An Introduction to Biology, by Wacky Science on YouTube: BIOLOGY explained in 17 Minutes

An Introduction to Chemistry, by Wacky Science on YouTube: GENERAL CHEMISTRY explained in 19 Minutes

An Introduction to Psychology, by CrashCourse on YouTube: Intro to Psychology: Crash Course Psychology #1

An Introduction to Cooking, by Home Cook Basics on YouTube: How to Learn to Cook | Cooking for Beginners

An Introduction to Gardening, by Dig, Plant, Water, Repeat on YouTube: Gardening for Beginners Series: Gardening Basics for Beginners

An Introduction to Herbology/Herbalism, by Honeystead on YouTube: Herbalism- How to get Started?!?

LANGUAGES:

Try a language learning app, Duolingo: Duolingo - The world's best way to learn a language

Learn Beginner Italian, by Italy Made Easy on YouTube: Beginner Italian Course Lesson 1 - The basics of learning Italian the right way

Learn Beginner Spanish, by The Language Tutor on Youtube: How To Pronounce Letters In Spanish | Lesson 1

Learn Beginner French, by The Language Tutor on Youtube: Master the French Alphabet in Minutes

Learn Bird Sounds, by Lead with Nature on YouTube: How to Mimic Bird Sounds

Learn ASL, by Learn How to Sign on YouTube: Learning ASL? Learn This FIRST!!! (10 Things You Need to Know About ASL)

FREE ONLINE LIBRARIES & TEXTBOOKS:

Internet Archive: Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

Project Gutenberg: Free eBooks | Project Gutenberg

Connect with your local libraries: Libby - Welcome

Free Textbooks: OpenStax | Free Textbooks Online with No Catch

~~~~

Original Idea by @hamletthedane

Please add any other resources you may have!

[hermitsmirror]

Tarot to Transform Your ... Problems?

<This is a snippet from the full blog post>

When I introduced a three-month small-group coaching program designed around tarot, Tarot to Transform Your Life, I designed it around embracing the full potential of tarot as a structure and support in mapping your life and specific projects you want to pursue.

It’s a tool to help you see yourself and understand what’s reflected; to help you articulate your strengths, weaknesses, and patterns of moving through the world; to help you identify opportunities and challenges through strategic forecasting and assess their alignment with what you know about yourself; and finally to help you use the lessons of the tarot structure to help you actually get things done in a way that’s natural and effective for you. And all the while, you’re deepening your relationship to tarot.

In short, Tarot to Transform Your Life is a program for exploring how to use tarot as a tool for inner knowing of the self, outer knowing of cycles and forecasts, and aligned activation between the two.

Surely, I thought, this is good and useful stuff for everyone, at least everyone who reads tarot.

But I marketed the program based on how I learned to use tarot to overcome a personal problem. I marketed it based on the main problem I had found in my evolving years of tarot reading: analysis paralysis and information overload.

I had just assumed that most diviners, like me, were good at collecting information from the cards, but they didn’t know when to stop, and eventually we all would learn that sometimes more is not better. Just processing the information is all we can handle, so there’s nothing left for acting on that energy.

At that point, what’s the point of forecasting? Sitting in the anxiety of what could be?

Anxiety around what’s coming is something I hear from clients who seek out predictive readings, such as my Portals of Being year-ahead readings and the month-ahead readings that are available to patrons over on Patreon (included monthly with Sovereign and Sage tier membership). Some want to know what’s coming so they can plan ahead to minimize the impact or set expectations around things that might not work out. Others want to know when something good is coming but get major anxiety when something bad is likely.

Well, wouldn’t you know it? When I opened the latest newsletter from Truity, there was a post about burnout by Enneagram type that resonated on both these fronts. According to them, overload and anxiety are key burnout triggers for Enneagram Types 5 and 6, respectively, in high-pressure careers. Others, such as indecision (Type 9) and neglecting their own needs (Type 2), are also relevant to the work we do in Tarot to Transform Your Life. In fact, it turns out that there’s something—no, there’s a lot—in Tarot to Transform Your Life for everyone who’s been slinging cards for more than a couple months.

(Full disclosure: I currently have zero affiliation with Truity. It’s just a website featuring lots of blog posts keyed to different personality types, but I started subscribing to their newsletter because they helped me understand my Enneagram type in a way that helped me think about how I move through the world, which none of my Enneagram-dabbling friends had done. I ignore most of their non-Enneagram content.)

Let me just say that I’m very excited to share more about the way that I think intentional use of tarot (or any form of multifaceted, structured divination) can help you transform your life, whether you’re an Enneagram 5 like me or not.

What follows is my take on tarot as a tool for managing the core trigger areas for each of the Enneagram types (at least as identified by Truity—I’m not the expert on Enneagrams). And if you couldn’t care less about Enneagrams, there are still useful considerations here about how to use tarot in general and about Tarot to Transform Your Life as a program. The Enneagram thing is a framework for organizing this post and providing coverage from outside of my own primary experiences.

Of course, if you don’t already know what Enneagrams are or what you are, it might be fun to read through this, go find your dominant Enneagram, and then come back to see how yours compares to your own findings. What parts of this seem most useful and relevant to you? And what should, based on your Enneagram?

Read on at HermitsMirror.com to learn how your Enneagram's core fear and overwhelm pair with transformative tarot.

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Papers for Week 16, 2025

Cortical VIP neurons as a critical node for dopamine actions. Bae, J. W., Yi, J. H., Choe, S. Y., Li, Y., & Jung, M. W. (2025). Science Advances, 11(1).

Confidence regulates feedback processing during human probabilistic learning. Ben Yehuda, M., Murphy, R. A., Le Pelley, M. E., Navarro, D. J., & Yeung, N. (2025). Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 154(1), 80–95.

Neural Encoding of Direction and Distance across Reference Frames in Visually Guided Reaching. Caceres, A. H., Barany, D. A., Dundon, N. M., Smith, J., & Marneweck, M. (2024). eNeuro, 11(12), ENEURO.0405-24.2024.

Bifurcation Enhances Temporal Information Encoding in the Olfactory Periphery. Choi, K., Rosenbluth, W., Graf, I. R., Kadakia, N., & Emonet, T. (2024). PRX Life, 2(4), 043011.

The origin of color categories. Garside, D. J., Chang, A. L. Y., Selwyn, H. M., & Conway, B. R. (2025). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(1), e2400273121.

Oppositional and competitive instigation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity by the VTA and locus coeruleus. Hagena, H., & Manahan-Vaughan, D. (2025). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(1), e2402356122.

Dissociable Effects of Urgency and Evidence Accumulation during Reaching Revealed by Dynamic Multisensory Integration. Hoffmann, A. H., & Crevecoeur, F. (2024). eNeuro, 11(12), ENEURO.0262-24.2024.

Allocentric and egocentric spatial representations coexist in rodent medial entorhinal cortex. Long, X., Bush, D., Deng, B., Burgess, N., & Zhang, S.-J. (2025). Nature Communications, 16, 356.

Limitation of switching sensory information flow in flexible perceptual decision making. Luo, T., Xu, M., Zheng, Z., & Okazawa, G. (2025). Nature Communications, 16, 172.

Sparse high-dimensional decomposition of non-primary auditory cortical receptive fields. Mukherjee, S., Babadi, B., & Shamma, S. (2025). PLOS Computational Biology, 21(1), e1012721.

Memory-based predictions prime perceptual judgments across head turns in immersive, real-world scenes. Mynick, A., Steel, A., Jayaraman, A., Botch, T. L., Burrows, A., & Robertson, C. E. (2025). Current Biology, 35(1), 121-130.e6.

Multisensory integration of social signals by a pathway from the basal amygdala to the auditory cortex in maternal mice. Nowlan, A. C., Choe, J., Tromblee, H., Kelahan, C., Hellevik, K., & Shea, S. D. (2025). Current Biology, 35(1), 36-49.e4.

Exploration in 4‐year‐old children is guided by learning progress and novelty. Poli, F., Meyer, M., Mars, R. B., & Hunnius, S. (2025). Child Development, 96(1), 192–202.

Aberrant auditory prediction patterns robustly characterize tinnitus. Reisinger, L., Demarchi, G., Obleser, J., Sedley, W., Partyka, M., Schubert, J., Gehmacher, Q., Roesch, S., Suess, N., Trinka, E., Schlee, W., & Weisz, N. (2024). eLife, 13, e99757.4.

Retinal ganglion cells encode the direction of motion outside their classical receptive field. Riccitelli, S., Yaakov, H., Heukamp, A. S., Ankri, L., & Rivlin-Etzion, M. (2025). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(1), e2415223122.

Dynamics of visual object coding within and across the hemispheres: Objects in the periphery. Robinson, A. K., Grootswagers, T., Shatek, S. M., Behrmann, M., & Carlson, T. A. (2025). Science Advances, 11(1).

Single-neuron spiking variability in hippocampus dynamically tracks sensory content during memory formation in humans. Waschke, L., Kamp, F., van den Elzen, E., Krishna, S., Lindenberger, U., Rutishauser, U., & Garrett, D. D. (2025). Nature Communications, 16, 236.

Information sharing within a social network is key to behavioral flexibility—Lessons from mice tested under seminaturalistic conditions. Winiarski, M., Madecka, A., Yadav, A., Borowska, J., Wołyniak, M. R., Jędrzejewska-Szmek, J., Kondrakiewicz, L., Mankiewicz, L., Chaturvedi, M., Wójcik, D. K., Turzyński, K., Puścian, A., & Knapska, E. (2025). Science Advances, 11(1).

A language model of problem solving in humans and macaque monkeys. Yang, Q., Zhu, Z., Si, R., Li, Y., Zhang, J., & Yang, T. (2025). Current Biology, 35(1), 11-20.e10.

Offline ensemble co-reactivation links memories across days. Zaki, Y., Pennington, Z. T., Morales-Rodriguez, D., Bacon, M. E., Ko, B., Francisco, T. R., LaBanca, A. R., Sompolpong, P., Dong, Z., Lamsifer, S., Chen, H.-T., Carrillo Segura, S., Christenson Wick, Z., Silva, A. J., Rajan, K., van der Meer, M., Fenton, A., Shuman, T., & Cai, D. J. (2025). Nature, 637(8044), 145–155.

[mmwfinal]

2.2. Fibonacci Sequence and Golden Ratio 2.3. The Fibonacci Spiral and Fibonacci Rectangle

[scrumptiousstuffs]

tell me your fav fic of each fk couples! and why u like it ☺️

Oh, what a fun ask!

For Akk/Aye (my babies!!! 🥺🧡🤍) - no 1 got to be Business or Pleasure by @firstkanaphans

It’s just so good. Even with it being somehow AU, Sarah has managed to keep the essence of what we know and love about Akk and Aye (Akk with his insecurities even as he successfully runs a law firm) and Aye being cheeky while he systematically seduce his way into Akk’s arm, apartment and coffee machine.

Also, the fiction itself has side stories - we have Aye’s viewpoint when he first met Akk and other shorter stories once they have gotten together (it’s just a fiction that keeps on giving!)

Personally, I will recommend anything by Sarah (I’m already looking forward when/if she does eventually write a KantBison fic for us). But some of her other works inc. Stardust (Akk/Aye with a baby and cat!), Best Laid Plan ( Akk asking Aye for “lessons”) and many, many more…

However, if I’m looking beyond Sarah’s writing, my pick will be the following:

Tales from the Realm (by Aka_nna) - this is an interconnecting series of various Thai BL series but the first 2 works in this series focuses on Akk/Aye. It’s fantasy and the amount of world building the writer has done is nicely done.

These Words inside (by KeeperoftheCottage) - it’s smut 🤣 but more than that, it’s how the writer interpreted Akk/Aye’s inner feelings and desire each episode

Turns Around the Sun (by KeiKatayama) - this author has written only 2 stories of Akk/Aye but both are good reads. It flips back and forth from present Akk/Aye as we see them in the series (just with the writer expanding on some of the scenes or what they think may have happened) and how it then connects Akk/Aye as they navigate their Uni days…

For Alan/Gaipa (despite only having 3 scenes of them together, I am truly impressed with the amount of fanfictions these writers managed to generate!):

My no 1 pick will be: Honey I’m home (by Sleepcatgif). This author also wrote another Alan/Gaipa fic called Encore (which is also good but my fav remains the above).

Honey I’m Home is slightly AU - Alan didn’t meet Gaipa in Mrs Hong’s funeral (and she is still alive). But, they are neighbours and through a series of mishaps with the help of a haughty cat and meddling Mrs Hong, the boys slow-burn romance is amazing to read. And the way Alan pines after Gaipa…exquisite 😉

Honorable mentioned: I love you, this is a new thing (by timetobodlygo) - they somehow find themselves fake-dating 😂 and again by Sarah: Divine Intervention (Mrs Hong matchmaking from heaven hehe)

As for SandRay…because of the nature of their storyline, most of them are quite angsty 😅. My favourite angsty fic (thankfully with a good ending):

Through all the stages I wandered (by kitsunemoon) - it’s about second chance and fate, and Ray and Sand who finally meet on even ground several years post-canon. I remembered reading this and got a little bit emotional. Ray feeling wistful of what could have been, and finally taking one last hurrah of going to music festival that Sand has always wanted to go as “goodbye” of a sort to the relationship he thought will never be rekindled again. I did said it has a happy ending right? 🫣

Honorable mentioned: Love Unscripted again by Sarah (I hope you are sensing a pattern here 🤣 - just go read ALL her fics)

Plus Hurt and grieve but don’t suffer alone (by lackadaisy) - angsty, hurt/comfort with a more in depth look of Ray’s alcoholism, his journey in rehab on the background of slow burn SandRay romance

As for KantBison…because it’s still airing, we don’t have as much fics. So, I’ll reserve my judgement until we have more of them!

How about you? What’s your fav?

[kckt88]

The Lost Dragon 2 - Younger.

Summary:

A glace into the childhood of Aemond And Vaelys.

Warnings - Fluff, Sight Angst, First Kiss.

AEMOND TARGARYEN x O.C -VAELYS TARGARYEN

Word Count: - 4000

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon or Fire & Blood characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used.

Comments, likes, and reblogs are very much appreciated.

Tag List - @jasminecosmic99 @kaelatargaryen @yesterdayfeelings-blog @immyowndefender @0eessirk8 @darylandbethfanforever9

Eight-year-old Vaelys Targaryen sat cross-legged in the lush gardens of the Red Keep, her silver-blonde hair glinting in the afternoon sun. Her small fingers deftly wove a chain of daisies, their white petals and yellow centres forming a delicate garland. Vaelys hummed a soft tune, the melody mingling with the rustle of leaves and the distant chatter of the court.

She was so absorbed in her task that she didn't hear the stern footsteps approaching. The sudden shadow that fell over her work made her look up, her violet eyes widening as she met the disapproving gaze of Septa Hilda.

"Princess Vaelys!" Septa Hilda's voice was sharp, cutting through the peaceful air. "What on earth are you doing on the ground like that? Look at your dress, it's filthy! This behaviour is most unbecoming of a princess and the future heir to the Iron Throne."

Vaelys blinked, glancing down at her dirt-streaked gown. She shrugged slightly, her small hands still clutching the unfinished daisy chain. "I'm making daisy chains for Uncle Aemond," she said softly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Septa Hilda pursed her lips, her expression growing even more severe. "Nonsense! Boys have no interest in flowers. You should be inside, learning your lessons, not out here making a mess of yourself."

Vaelys frowned, a stubborn glint in her eyes. "But-but-“

The septa shook her head, clearly unimpressed. "-Enough of this. Come inside at once, and let’s get you cleaned up. You have much to learn if you are to rule one day."

Reluctantly, Vaelys rose to her feet, brushing the dirt from her dress with one hand while holding the daisy chain carefully in the other. As she followed Septa Hilda back towards the imposing walls of the Red Keep, she cast one last, longing glance at the garden, where the daisies continued to sway gently in the breeze.

Vaelys sat at a small table in her chamber, the delicate embroidery hoop resting on her lap. The colourful threads and intricate patterns should have captured her attention, but her mind was far away from the neat stitches and delicate fabric.

Instead, her violet eyes were fixed on the window, where the clear blue sky seemed to beckon her.

Outside, the sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow over King's Landing. Vaelys could just make out the distant silhouette of dragons soaring high above the city.

Her heart ached with longing as she imagined herself among them, the wind rushing through her hair and the world unfolding beneath her.

"Princess Vaelys," came the gentle but firm voice of her septa, "You must focus on your embroidery. This is an important skill for a young lady of your standing."

Vaelys sighed softly, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the threads in her hand. "Yes, Septa Hilda," she murmured, though her gaze remained fixed on the sky.

She could almost feel the powerful muscles of her dragon, Archonei, beneath her, the thrill of flight making her heart race.

"Vaelys," Septa Hilda said more sternly, stepping closer and placing a hand on the girl's shoulder, "You need to concentrate. Embroidery requires patience and precision, qualities that are essential for a future Queen."

Vaelys nodded reluctantly, tearing her eyes away from the window and looking down at her half-finished work.

But the delicate flowers and leaves she was stitching seemed dull and lifeless compared to the vivid, exhilarating world she yearned to be a part of.

"Septa Hilda," Vaelys said hesitantly, "why can't I go flying with Archonei today? Just for a little while?"

The septa's expression softened slightly, but she shook her head. "You have responsibilities, Princess. Flying is a privilege, not a pastime. You must learn to balance your duties with your desires."

Vaelys bit her lip, nodding again, though her heart wasn't in it. She picked up her needle and tried to focus on her stitches, but her mind kept drifting back to the sky, to Archonei, and to the freedom she longed for.

Soon her thoughts turned to her uncle Aemond, and a deep sadness settled in her heart.

Aemond, unlike her and many other members of their family, did not have a dragon. The egg he had been given as a babe had never hatched, leaving him without a bond to one of the magnificent creatures.

Vaelys knew how much he longed for a dragon, how he often gazed at them with a mixture of admiration and longing.

She remembered the countless times she had seen him standing alone in the Dragonpit, staring up at the great beasts with a look of quiet yearning.

It seemed so unfair to her that someone who loved dragons so much should be without one.

Vaelys let out a small sigh, her fingers absently twisting a loose thread on her embroidery. She wished there was something she could do to help him, to ease the ache she saw in his eyes whenever dragons were mentioned.

The thought of her uncle, so brave and determined, feeling incomplete without a dragon, made her feel sad.

"Vaelys," Septa Hilda's voice broke through her reverie, "you must pay attention to your embroidery."

Startled, Vaelys looked down at the unfinished work in her hands. She tried to focus on the delicate stitches, but her mind kept drifting back to Aemond, and she was certain that one day he would have his dragon, if her Auntie Laena had managed to claim Vhagar later in life then there was hope that one day Aemond would be able to soar amongst the clouds.

Vaelys stood at the edge of the training yard, her cheeks tinged pink as she watched her eight-year-old uncle, Aemond, sparring with Ser Criston Cole. The clang of swords and the shouts of encouragement from the onlookers filled the air.

Aemond's silver hair, glinted in the sunlight as he parried and struck, his small frame radiating fierce concentration. Vaelys felt a swell of pride mixed with an unfamiliar fluttering in her chest. She clutched the edge of her dress, her fingers twisting the fabric as she watched him.

Ser Criston Cole, circled Aemond, his expression stern and critical. Vaelys didn't like the crispy man, as she and her brothers Jace and Luke secretly called him.

Criston was always strict and unkind to her and her brothers, though he seemed to treat Aemond and Aegon differently, almost favourably and Vaelys couldn't understand why.

As Aemond lunged forward with his practice sword, Criston deftly blocked the attack and pushed him back. "Keep your stance firm, young prince," Criston instructed, his tone harsher than it needed to be. "You must be steady and unyielding."

Aemond nodded, his face set in determined lines as he resumed his stance. Vaelys felt a pang of sympathy for him. She knew how hard Aemond worked to prove himself, especially since he didn't have a dragon of his own. She wanted to call out to him, to cheer him on, but she felt a strange shyness holding her back.

Just then, Jace and Luke came running up to her, their laughter and playful shouts breaking her reverie. "Vaelys, come play with us!" Jace called, his dark hair bouncing as he ran.

Vaelys tore her gaze away from the training yard and looked at her brothers. "In a moment," she said, her voice soft. "I want to watch Aemond a little longer."

Luke pouted but didn't argue. The brothers knew how much Vaelys cared for their uncle, even if they didn't fully understand why. They turned their attention to the sparring match, their interest piqued by the clashing swords.

As Criston barked another command, Vaelys' attention snapped back to Aemond. She saw the frustration flicker in his eyes, quickly masked by determination. He swung his sword again, and this time, Criston nodded approvingly. Vaelys' heart swelled with pride for him.

Ser Criston glanced over and caught sight of Vaelys watching. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he gave her a curt nod before turning back to Aemond.

"Crispy cunt," whispered Vaelys, her voice filled with venom.

Unfortunately, her words did not go unheard. Septa Hilda, who had been approaching to fetch Vaelys for her afternoon lessons, stopped dead in her tracks.

Her eyes widened in shock and disapproval. "VAELYS TARGARYEN!" she exclaimed, her voice carrying the authority of a thunderclap. "What did you just say?"

Vaelys spun around, her face flushing with a mixture of guilt and defiance. She hadn't meant for anyone to hear her, least of all Septa Hilda. "I-I didn't mean it," she stammered, but the septa's stern expression showed no sign of softening.

"Such language is utterly unacceptable," Septa Hilda scolded, her tone icy and severe. "A lady, especially a princess, must never speak in such a vulgar manner. What would your mother say if she heard you?"

Vaelys lowered her head, shame washing over her. She knew her mother would be deeply disappointed, and the thought made her heart ache. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Sorry is not enough," Septa Hilda continued, her eyes narrowing. "You will come with me immediately. You need to learn the importance of proper conduct and the consequences of failing to uphold it."

Vaelys nodded meekly, casting one last glance at Aemond, who was too absorbed in his training to notice the commotion. She followed Septa Hilda back towards the Red Keep, her steps heavy with regret.

As they walked, Septa Hilda lectured her on the virtues of decorum and the responsibilities that came with her noble status.

Vaelys listened in silence, the words washing over her like a cold, relentless tide. She knew she had made a mistake, and the weight of her actions pressed down on her like a heavy cloak.

When they reached her chambers, Septa Hilda instructed Vaelys to sit and write out a hundred lines: "A princess must always speak with grace and dignity." Vaelys obeyed, her hand aching by the time she was halfway through, but she didn't dare complain.

Vaelys stormed through the halls of the Red Keep, her face flushed with frustration. She muttered under her breath, her words a string of complaints about her stupid septa and the unfairness of it all. "Grace and dignity," she mimicked in a mocking tone, rolling her eyes. "I'll show her grace and dignity."

Lost in her thoughts, Vaelys didn't notice where she was going. She stomped around a corner and collided head-on with a solid figure. The impact made her stumble back, and she looked up, startled, to see Aemond standing before her.

“Were you following me again?” asked Aemond, his voice tinged with irritation.

"I-I wasn't following you," protested Vaelys weakly. "I live here too."

Aemond raised an eyebrow sceptically. "Really? Because it seems like every time I turn around, there you are and it’s annoying”.

“I didn’t mean-“ muttered Vaelys her lip wobbling.

"You know, Vaelys," he began tentatively, "Maybe you should try to find some friends”

Vaelys glanced up at him, her expression betraying a hint of sadness. "But I don't want to be friends with anyone else," she admitted quietly. "I want to be your friend."

Aemond's footsteps faltered, his brow furrowing in confusion. "My friend?" he repeated, his tone laced with disbelief. "Why would you want to be friends with me?"

Vaelys hesitated, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Because-because you're my uncle and-and I want to spend time with you” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aemond's brow furrowed. “-And what I want is for you to stop following me around like some lost puppy."

Vaelys felt a lump form in her throat at his harsh words, hurt flickering in her violet eyes. "I'm not a lost puppy," she protested weakly, her voice quivering with emotion.

Aemond let out a scoff, shaking his head dismissively. "Well, I don't need you hovering over me all the time, drawing your stupid pictures or making those ridiculous daisy chains-" he retorted, his tone sharp and final.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Vaelys standing alone in the hallway, her heart heavy with disappointment.

Vaelys rushed to her room, her footsteps echoing hollowly in the empty hallway. As soon as the door closed behind her, she collapsed onto her bed, her body wracked with sobs. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

She had thought that Aemond liked her drawings, the ones she had painstakingly crafted just for him. She had spent hours sketching portraits of dragons, other animals and making daisy chains to brighten his day.

Even though she was only eight, Vaelys couldn't help but admit that she liked Aemond. She liked his smile, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed. She liked the warmth of his presence.

She would often find herself lost in daydreams of a future where they were married, where they had lots of children, laughing, and playing in the gardens of the Red Keep.

But now, that dream lay shattered at her feet, broken by Aemond's harsh rejection. The realization hit her like a physical blow, leaving her feeling raw and exposed. She buried her face in her pillow, muffling her sobs as she mourned the loss of what could have been.

Yet in that moment of despair, Vaelys still clung to the only comfort she had left—the hope that one day, things might be different.

That one day, Aemond would see her for who she truly was, and maybe, just maybe, he would come to love her as much as she loved him.

Aemond sat alone in his chamber, a heavy silence weighing upon him like a suffocating blanket. It had been almost a month since Vaelys had stopped speaking to him, and the absence of her presence left a strange ache in his chest.

At first, he had welcomed the reprieve from her constant hovering, her incessant chatter, and her persistent attempts to befriend him.

She had always been so annoying, always following him around, drawing him pictures and making those stupid daisy chains. He had thought that her absence would bring him relief, but instead, it left him feeling oddly empty.

He couldn't shake the feeling of sadness that settled over him like a shadow, a nagging sense of loss that he couldn't quite understand.

He missed the sound of her laughter, the sparkle in her eyes, and the warmth of her smile. He missed the way she would shyly offer him her drawings, her face flushing with embarrassment as she awaited his approval.

He had never realized how much he had grown accustomed to her presence until she had stopped speaking to him altogether. Now, the silence felt suffocating, a constant reminder of the void that had opened up between them.

Aemond sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He didn't understand why he felt this way, why he couldn't shake the feeling of longing that gnawed at his insides, her absence had left him feeling strangely hollow.

As the days stretched on, Aemond found himself wishing for her to come back, to resume their awkward but familiar routine. He missed her drawings, her daisy chains, and even her incessant chatter. He missed her, more than he cared to admit.

Aemond stood at the edge of the training yard, his gaze scanning the scene before him. His attention was drawn to Vaelys as she picked up a wooden training sword, her eyes alight with determination. But before she could even take a swing, Ser Criston's stern voice rang out, cutting through the air like a whip.

"What do you think you're doing, girl?" Ser Criston's tone was sharp and disapproving, his gaze fixed on Vaelys with barely concealed disdain. "The training yard is no place for girls. Leave the swordplay to the men."

Vaelys froze, her face flushing with embarrassment as she lowered the sword, her shoulders slumping in defeat. Aemond watched with a pang of sympathy, knowing all too well the sting of being told you weren't good enough.

A sudden urge burst forth and Aemond found himself speaking up, his voice cutting through the tense silence. "If Vaelys wishes to train, then she should be allowed to," he declared, stepping forward to stand beside her. "It doesn't matter if she's a girl. She has just as much right to learn as anyone else."

Ser Criston's eyes narrowed in disbelief; his expression incredulous. "But-but she's a girl," he sputtered, as if that should be explanation enough.

Aemond's jaw clenched with frustration, but he kept his voice steady. "And what of it? Girls can fight just as well as boys, if given the chance. Vaelys deserves that chance. Look at Queen Visenya a warrior in her own right"

Ser Criston seemed to consider Aemond's words for a moment, his expression still sceptical. But finally, he relented with a reluctant nod. "Very well," he grumbled, gesturing for Vaelys to resume her stance. "But don't expect any special treatment."

Vaelys' face lit up with a mixture of surprise and gratitude as she raised the wooden sword once more, a determined glint in her eyes.

Aemond felt an odd sensation fluttering in the pit of his stomach as he caught Vaelys' gaze across the training yard. Her smile, bright and genuine, sent a warm tingle through him, and he couldn't help but feel a strange tightness in his chest.

He had seen her smile countless times before, but this time felt different. There was something about the way her eyes lit up, the way her lips curved into a soft, affectionate grin, that made his heart skip a beat.

Aemond blinked, momentarily taken aback by the intensity of his own reaction. He had never felt this way before, this strange mix of nervousness and excitement whenever he was around Vaelys.

It was as if a fluttering flock of butterflies had taken up residence in his stomach, their delicate wings beating erratically with each fleeting glance.

He tore his gaze away, focusing instead on the training dummy in front of him, willing his racing heart to calm down. But no matter how hard he tried to distract himself, he couldn't shake the lingering warmth of Vaelys' smile.

With a shake of his head, Aemond pushed aside his swirling thoughts, determined to focus on the task at hand.

But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that Vaelys' smile had sparked something within him, something that he couldn't quite put into words.

Vaelys sat cross-legged on the soft grass of the gardens, a book on the Dragonlords of Old Valyria propped open on her lap.

Beside her, Aemond leaned against the trunk of the weirwood tree.

The warm afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the pages before them.

“Kostōba isse magic, se zaldrīzes lords hen uēpa valyrio issi ivestretan emagon gaomagon binding spells se horns naejot control pōja zaldrīzoti, se pōnta gaomagon zaldrīzes perzys naejot reshape dōron” said Vaelys (Strong in magic, the dragon lords of old Valyria are said to have used binding spells and horns to control their dragons, and they used dragon flame to reshape stone).

Aemond closed his eyes and sighed contentedly. Vaelys was very proficient in high Valyrian, and her voice was smooth and firm as she spoke the words of their forebears. In truth, it was rather enjoyable,

“Lentor belaerys istan mēre hen izulēpsa zaldrīzes āeksio families hen valyrio” spoke Vaelys (House Belaerys was one of the forty dragon lord families of Valyria).

“Did you know that Jaenara Belaerys and her dragon Terrax-“

“-Flew further than anyone had ever previously dared. She returned three years later after having found only endless jungle, deserts, and mountains. Jaenara declared that Sothoryos was as large as Essos and a land without end” said Vaelys smiling.

“I see you pay attention in your lessons” mused Aemond.

“Only the ones I find interesting” replied Valeys.

As they took turns to read, Vaelys found herself stealing glances at Aemond, studying the profile of his face as he concentrated on the text before him. He looked so handsome, she thought, with his silver hair catching the sunlight and his eyes shining with intelligence and determination.

Suddenly, Aemond looked up, catching her gaze. Their eyes met, and Vaelys felt her cheeks flush with warmth.

"Vaelys," he began tentatively, "Do you ever think about-our future? About whom we might marry one day?"

Vaelys looked up from her own book, her brows furrowing in confusion at the unexpected question. "I-I suppose I have," she admitted slowly, uncertainty creeping into her voice. "But why do you ask?"

Aemond hesitated, struggling to put his feelings into words. "It's just-I don't much like the idea of being married off to a stranger," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I want to marry someone I know and trust, someone like-like you."

Vaelys' eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks flushing with warmth at his words. "You mean-you want to marry me?" she asked, her heart fluttering with hope.

Aemond nodded, his gaze fixed on her with a mixture of longing and uncertainty. "Yes," he replied softly. "I've always felt a special connection with you, Vaelys. And I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else."

Aemond and Vaelys stood before the ancient weirwood tree, its weathered bark bearing witness to countless generations of vows and promises. The soft whisper of the leaves and the gentle rustle of the wind seemed to echo their heartbeat as they gazed at each other, their hands clasped tightly together.

"Vaelys," Aemond began, his voice barely above a whisper, "I promise to marry you when we come of age. I promise to stand by your side through thick and thin, to love and cherish you for all the days of my life."

Vaelys’ heart swelled with love and gratitude as she looked into his eyes, her own voice trembling with emotion. "Aemond," she replied, his voice filled with conviction, "I promise to marry you as well. I promise to protect you, to honour you, and to love you with all that I am, for as long as I draw breath."

Aemond's heart raced with nervous anticipation as he looked into Vaelys' eyes, a flicker of uncertainty dancing in their depths. He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry, as he gathered the courage to voice the question that had been weighing heavily on his mind.

"Vaelys," he began, his voice barely a whisper, "May I-may I kiss you?"

Vaelys' cheeks flushed with a rosy hue as she met his gaze, her own heart pounding in her chest. She felt a surge of warmth spreading through her at his words, a mixture of excitement and nervousness swirling in the pit of her stomach.

"Yes," she replied softly, her voice barely audible over the gentle rustle of the leaves. "Yes, Aemond, you may."

With a trembling hand, Aemond reached out to cup Vaelys' cheek, his touch gentle and tender. He leaned in slowly, his heart pounding in his chest, until their lips met in a soft, hesitant kiss.

Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in the sweet embrace, their hearts beating as one. It was a moment of pure magic, a promise of love and devotion that transcended words.

After their kiss, Vaelys couldn't help but feel a surge of playful energy coursing through her veins.

With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she flashed Aemond a teasing grin.

"I thought you always found me annoying."

Aemond chuckled, a warm smile spreading across his face. "You are annoying," he replied with mock seriousness, "But in the best possible way."

[numbersandnumerology]

What is Numerology?

In a universe governed by patterns, rhythms, and vibrations, numbers are more than just mathematical tools — they’re symbols with hidden meanings. Numerology is the ancient metaphysical science that explores how numbers influence your personality, purpose, and potential.

Whether you’re seeking self-awareness, spiritual insight, or simply curious about what your birth date says about you, numerology offers a powerful way to decode your life.

The Ancient Origins of Numerology

Numerology dates back thousands of years and has been practiced by many civilizations:

Babylonians and Egyptians used numbers in mystical rituals and temple architecture.

The Chinese integrated number systems into feng shui and medicine.

The Greeks, especially the mathematician Pythagoras, saw numbers as the essence of reality. His theory — that everything can be reduced to numerical vibration — laid the groundwork for modern numerology.

Despite its spiritual and philosophical nature, numerology has survived the test of time by adapting to different cultures and evolving with human consciousness.

So, What Exactly Is Numerology?

Numerology is based on the idea that each number has a unique frequency or vibration that affects reality. By assigning numbers to letters (usually through the Pythagorean system), we can analyze names and birth dates to uncover traits, desires, strengths, and life patterns.

In simple terms: numerology helps you read the “code” written in your name and date of birth.

The Core Numbers in Numerology

Numerologists analyze several key numbers, each revealing something unique:

1. Life Path Number

The most significant number.

Calculated from your full birth date.

Reveals your natural talents, challenges, and the journey you're here to walk.

Example: Birthdate: 04/06/1995 0+4+0+6+1+9+9+5 = 34 → 3+4 = 7 → Life Path 7

2. Expression or Destiny Number

Derived from the full name on your birth certificate.

Represents your true potential and the tools you were born with.

3. Soul Urge Number

Comes from the vowels in your full name.

Reflects your inner desires, fears, and motivations.

4. Personality Number

Based on consonants in your name.

Shows how others perceive you.

5. Birthday Number

The day you were born (e.g., 12th = 12).

Indicates an added layer of personality and strength.

How to Calculate Your Life Path Number

Let’s go step-by-step.

Example Birthdate: October 29, 1991 (29/10/1991) Step 1: Add each digit 2 + 9 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 9 + 9 + 1 = 32 Step 2: Reduce the result to a single digit 3 + 2 = 5 → Life Path Number: 5

Master numbers (11, 22, 33) are not reduced further, so if your total is one of those, it stays.

What Can Numerology Reveal?

Numerology can help answer questions like:

Why do I feel stuck in life?

What’s my natural career path?

Why do I attract certain people or situations?

What motivates me on a soul level?

What spiritual lessons am I here to learn?

It’s not just about fortune-telling — it’s about understanding yourself deeply so you can make empowered choices.

Numerology in Daily Life

Numerology isn’t just for mystics. Today, people use numerology to:

Choose baby names or business names

Find compatible partners

Pick favorable dates for events

Clarify career direction

Align with personal years or life cycles

Some also combine numerology with astrology, tarot, or crystals for a holistic spiritual approach.

Final Thoughts

Numerology is more than a set of numbers — it’s a mirror to your inner world, a symbolic guide that helps you make sense of life’s chaos and beauty. Whether you see it as mystical truth or a tool for reflection, numerology has something powerful to offer.

It encourages you to ask, “Who am I really?” And sometimes, that’s the most important question of all.

FAQs

Q1: Is numerology scientific?

No, it’s not science — it’s a spiritual or metaphysical system. Like astrology or tarot, its value lies in insight, symbolism, and personal interpretation.

Q2: Can numerology predict my future?

Not exactly. Numerology can highlight patterns, themes, and cycles — but your choices shape your future.

Q3: Can I change my numbers by changing my name?

Yes! Changing your name alters your Expression, Soul Urge, and Personality Numbers, but your Life Path Number (from your birth date) remains constant.

Q4: What are Master Numbers?

Master Numbers (11, 22, 33) are high-vibration numbers that signify greater potential, intensity, and spiritual growth.

Q5: How do I get a full numerology report?

You can either use online numerology calculators or consult a professional numerologist who can give you detailed insights into your entire chart.

[eatmangoesnekkid]

My One and a 1/2 Year Belly Dance Anniversary 🥰🌞🫶🏿💃🏿

Today through our dance lesson, we played in our low belly, the storehouse for generous life force energy and vitality in the female body. One thing I love about belly dance is that I get to meet layers of myself that I would not have known otherwise. Today was also a super sexy practice, as we slowed down our dance, and twirled in our bellies to my favorite Egyptian song “Habiby Ya Omry” by Amr Diab. I felt completely alive and activated and dare I say, powerful in my belly area as I was slowly moving my hips in circles up towards the sky, one after the other, and shimmying with everything I had left in me . And what you don’t often hear relates to the—the wetness…. I felt incredible levels of arousal in my body and this Melody of Love work is so rich that I want us to normalize feeling wet in our panties for no reason at all and be able to say that out loud. Wetness is actually a sign of healthy vitality and immense creative potential and NOT a signal to call that lame booty call.

I contemplate a lot on the belly, this portal of squishy divine energy because our belly is the sun that radiates our heart's desires out into the world. I realize that many women feel a sense of powerless, helplessness, or victimhood in the world and that energy lives deep in our gut/belly/navel area which can result in terrible digestion and even subtle or large fear around eating food or shining out light. We were taught that if we walked down a dark street, we could get raped or hurt in other ways, and while that can be true, it can also be true that if we were encouraged to have more self-awareness and decree our safety, nothing would have been able to bring us harm. If we would have been taught to walk down the street with that level of internal knowing, we wouldn't have to worry. We are not at the effect of anyone or anything when we believe we aren't. Our belly awareness helps to unlock the deep hidden childhood patterns that we may not realize that we are still repeating as adults and emanating unconsciously through our frequency, breathing patterns, how we make love, etc. When a woman works on her belly, draws closer to intimacy and connection with her belly, whether through breathwork, pilates, self-massage, belly dance, or simply speak life into her belly, all personal practice for me, a natural circuitry of energy aligns between her heart and mind and she begins to excavate all that deep fear and shines her light where ever she lands in the global world.

My movement geometries in today's saturday class were far more fluid and relaxed. I held a depth of knowing that I am now HER, one who cultivates her body and gifts, and dances from INSIDE herself without thought. The low belly is a little bit our sacral chakra but mostly our solar plexus that energizes our will, confidence, and capacity to show up and shine our light. It is purity of intention, self-awareness, depth of will, and quality of character. It is the energy that activates us loudly into action when we lack motivation when that other voice in us tells us to skip our workout for the day.

I highly recommend belly dance. Below is a video of some original belly dance from back in the day! How gorgeous and powerful!! One of my current dreams is to spend a few months in Egypt learning to belly dance with a grandmother or younger women who was taught by her own grandmother. Oh!

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