#Reminders For Negative Perception of Past Experiences

[boyczar]

[seventh-district]

again and again i find myself lamenting that audio roleplay isn't taken more seriously by some people. like yeah, they often have a romantic element, and by nature they usually directly involve/address the listener- and i totally get that those things aren't to everyone's taste. no art or entertainment is universally appealing, and that's okay! but.. it still makes me a lil sad that the "cringe" reputation of asmr/audio rp precedes it. there's a whole lot of talent and creativity being poured into these audios by so many people that i feel goes unrecognized and/or disrespected simply due to the medium that the stories are being told through.

[itsrlymine]

There is No "In Spite Of". It’s Because Of. 

“I get what I want no matter what the 3d shows me.” “I have my man in spite of what I’m seeing. Omg, did he just lick her ti-” “I don’t care what my bank account says, I have 3 trillion in it anyways.” .......

Do you realize that instead of looking at the 3d and rationalizing what you are seeing, you can just decide it instead?? When I started this page, I didn’t say “oh well even though I have 5 followers, I actually have 1200.” NO! I said b*tch I have damn near 5k kiss my ass Tumblr notifications and look at that, I do. The 3d shows you what you say she does. Stop trying to be friends and put that b*tch her in the place tf!!!! If everything is what you say it is, then say what you need to say and know it’s true now. Stop being an attention seeking wh*re and continually asking the 3d to change bc she won’t listen to you! She’s gonna hear your miserable tears and give you more shit to cry about unless you decide you are crying about how you just got the most fire pipe/pus in the world! I’m so serious. Turn that inner frown upside down so you can turn your outer world around.  This is simple and if you want to argue it’s not, you can’t be shocked you experience that. Notice how you don’t need evidence of negative things to occur before you decide on whether or not they will happen. So why is it now the opposite for what you do want? You are the one providing evidence to yourself about whether or not something will occur, not the other way around. Who you say you are dictates what is around you. At this very moment,  you can say “I’m living my best life with my partner and I’m rich asf and I have a fatass house….” And the only thing that would make that not true is whether or not you choose to argue that. Yup. It’s that simple. Decide what you are seeing. Decide what the 3d is showing you because the 3d is you. Decide. Decide. Decide.  I’m not saying to ignore your feelings or emotions, though they don’t control the outcome. I’m saying that even if you are physically feeling something, change the meaning internally. It works every time.

You can literally sit and not drive a car for an entire month and a half and decide one day you are going to start driving again. Before you get in, are you questioning yourself on whether or not you can still do it??? If before the break you knew yourself to be an excellent driver, why would one month of not doing so shake your foundation? Some people never forget how to do things because they decide they can never forget. Everything is you. If everything is now, then you’ve already done it. You’re never “out of practice,” never “starting over,” because nothing was ever lost in the first place.  There is no time working against you. It’s just you vs. you. Your perception of everything and relation to it. If you’re thinking something outside of you is outside of you, how can you be shocked you can’t reach it? When you truly know something is done, you don’t stress about it or have to take deep breaths to “regulate” your nervous system. You just know. So before you opened your window to see the sun in the morning, even as you saw sun rays or the light from the sun but not the sun itself, did you have to meditate on the fact that “omg yes, let me breathe and just remind myself that I will see the sun bc it has to show up and I am gonna see it and it’s gonna be—“ NO YOU DIDN’T. YOU JUST KNEW AND OPENED THE DAMN WINDOW. JUST KNOW AND OPEN YOUR MIND’S EYE TO THAT WHICH YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE DAMN. How is anybody still asking if things are possible when that’s the reason way they exist? Possibilities exist because you do. You give everything life. Feeding old stories about why this and why that happened just resurrects zombies of your “past” that you don’t want to deal with so stop doing that. Stop trying to justify the 3d or accept crumbs when you should just accept yourself and the story you are telling because that is the ultimate truth. What you see, say or think inwardly IS what projects outwardly so what the fuck is going on within you? 

[whore4gwen]

Re8 Women dating HCs

Contains: Lady Dimitrescu, Donna Benevento, & Mother Miranda

WLW

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Tags: Light talks of manipulation, narcissism, and sadism, mental health issues, fluff, angst if you squint hard enough, possessiveness, slightly unhinged behavior, MY personal head cannons, very slight suggestiveness, Mirandas fucking God complex, isolation, religious elements, cuddling, poor perception of love, & tax evasion.

A/N: Im working on sm things rn it’s not even funny. Despite that, I desperately wanted to post something, so here’s some of my hc. No these are not all my hcs, these are just some of the REALISTIC ones I have. These are based on my own personal perception of these fictional characters. You are welcome to disagree with anything I write, but you’re not welcome to harass me about it. Please keep negativity to yourselfs. Anyways, please enjoy!

———————————————————————

Alcina:

-It’s not that Lady Dimitrescu is incapable of loving another, I just think it’s the way she would love.

-Carnal, possessive, dangerous, a little crazed even. Nothing about the lady’s love is sensual or soft. She’s powerful, domineering, and boy does she relish in it. Of course she’s aware of all the things she could do, all the things you’d let her do. So willing, so compliant, so easy to control.

-Alcina is a narcissist through and through. You will bend to her will, to her every need. You’re hers, after all. (We still love you thou)

-I feel like her love is very incessant, very smothering for lack of better words. She’s not exactly clingy, but she needs you around, she needs to feel your presence.

-Always, and I mean always watching you. Nothing you do will go past her. She needs to know exactly where you are and what you’re doing at all times.

-A bit emotionally manipulative. Of course she doesn’t see it that way, she just wants everything to go her way. What’s so wrong with that?

-I think for the most part she’s a little self aware about her flaws and what not, but I wouldn’t say this with 100% certainty. A big part of her doesn’t really see a problem with the way she is. It’s absolutely normal.

-But to be fair, it’s not like anyone would call her out.. so🤷🏻‍♀️

-Pet names pet names pet names. Alcina absolutely adores them. She only really uses your names unless she’s really pissed. In that case, run.

Donna:

-Shy. So incredibly so that you don’t hear her voice till weeks after working for her. And the way your jaw fell to the ground when you heard it had Angie belly laughing on the ground. If it wasn’t for her, you thought maybe you were hearing things.

-Forgets to eat often. She gets so preoccupied with her dolls, she doesn’t always take the best care of herself. So make sure you remind her to eat:(

-It’ll take AGES to get Donna there, but when you do, she is nothing short of the wait. Very passionate, and a little unhinged.

-Like Alcina, she’s a bit possessive.

-She finally found someone she was comfortable with showing her scare, you’re not going anywhere. You belong to her and that’s final. You’re literally stuck, so get comfortable.

-Values your opinion over everything. Her cooking, her sewing skills, her Garden. Donna swoons at praise. A light pink dusting her cheeks any time you compliment her, no matter how minor.

-Poor Donna has been alone for quite some time now. Touch starved as well as touch repulsed. Have fun with that :)

- Canonically, Donna has really bad mental health issues, which causes her to lash out and make rash decisions. She’s not abusive by any means, just a lot to handle.

-She gets into her own head a lot. Constantly convincing herself none of this is real. That one day she’ll wake up and you’ll be gone.

-I know she has manic episodes. Cannot convince me otherwise. Before you, they were almost unmanageable. Your first experience dealing with Donna during one terrified you. You were so worried about Donna, you had no idea what was happening.

-You tried desperately to comfort her. Unfortunately the voices were stronger than your weak attempts.

-After a while, she finally calmed down and explained that catastrophe as best as she could without scaring you off.

-At first Donna didn’t really understand the purpose of cuddling. It’s not that she didn’t want to, she was just truly confused. After having the significance of cuddling explained to her, she fell in love with it.

-Unironically, she’s the big spoon. She loves holding you, making sure you’re safe in her arms. Now, it’s the only way she can fall asleep.

Miranda:

-This bitch is so crazy.

-All shits and giggles aside, this woman is absolutely sadistic.

-Mind games are inevitable. Especially if she’s truly in love with you, in her dark and twisted way.

-Possessive asf.

-Did I already say possessive?

-Miranda is definitely stingy and will isolate you from your friends/family. Why do you need them when you have her? She’s your Goddess, she’s all you need. Never mind everyone else.

-Definitely the type to tell you to take a nap if you ever say you’re tired of her shit.

-You’re not going anywhere. Nice try, but no.

-I know this is obvious, but her God complex is really top tier. I mean seriously.

-Absolutely loves being worshipped, and not just in the bedroom, if you know what I mean. She wants to be put first, she wants to be your number one priority, your Goddess, your everything.

-She will find a way to incorporate her status & power in everything she does.

-She loves you, but you must always remember your place, under her. Figuratively and literally.

-Despite her cut off personality, she’s definitely a cuddlier. Especially after a long day of failed experiments and aggravating meetings.

-Like Donna, Miranda has been alone for almost a century. She’s so damn touch starved yet also incredibly touch repulsed at the same time. Have fun coping.

-Of course she threatened you if you ever told anyone thou. I mean can you imagine THE Mother Miranda being spooned? Imagine what the public would say.

-Fucking tax evader.

-After she gets Eva back, successfully, she lessens up, but only a bit. Like Alcina, she is the way she is and she doesn’t really see the problem with it.

I want all three of them so badly.

[vincentblogscyberpunk]

Exploring Spiritual Kin/Exo memories using Journaling

I have used journaling for the past couple of months, read through multiple books on spiritual journaling, and mastered a technique that's helped me with processing exomemories and recording them.

The benefits of Exomemory Journaling

Having a list of proof of memories when you may feel denial

Being able to map out memory timelines as you remember more details and memories over time

Being able to process exotrauma

Being able to map out positive triggers to feel like yourself more

Being able to map out negative triggers related to exotrauma

Validating your own feelings and experiences

Self exploration

Before we go in, it's okay if your memory is vague. It's okay if it doesn't align with canon of any fictional source. These are realities that we have transcended, so our physical brains may not properly translate the code within our souls. There are also so many realities and universes, that the fictional source here might not follow your life 1-1. Don't take it to heart, you are still you, and your life was still real.

First, you want to top this entry off with a date, time, and location. This is pretty standard for journaling, it helps you keep track and have a record

1.Starting Point (Skip this section if you want to retain the details of the memory and can be quite forgetful, come back to it after step 2 instead)

In this section, you want to write down what feelings you felt before this flashback and what feelings you felt during, and the feelings you feel now as you begin writing. Also write down what you were doing beforehand in detail such as where you are, what you were doing, what you were hearing and etc. If this flashback was not discovered through meditation and instead through a random hit of nostalgia, detailing your surroundings might let you find what triggered this flashback. Could have been a lyric to a song, a certain smell in the air, someone you saw might have reminded you of someone etc. These triggers are good to know as they can help align you more with your identity and past life, or maybe map negative triggers you should know about.

2.The Memory Itself

This section is more quoted from a book Journaling for Joy by Joyce Chapman

Close your eyes to get the full perception sense of the visual and sensory details of the memory. Where are you? What are you wearing? What lighting or shadows do you see? What sounds can be heard? What do you smell? Describe your body and how its reacting. Who else is there? What expressions lighten or darken their faces? What do you imagine they might be thinking, what is said? How is this different from or typical of other memories from that life? What is assumed and what goes unquestioned? If possible, does this connect to a period of time/date? What other memories does this connect to?

You want a full, detailed search of this memory to the best of your ability. Trust your gut, you may feel sometimes that you are fabricating some parts of the memory or it may have not went down the exact way you are writing down. That's okay, even if your mind is trying to fill in some spots and make sense of this memory through a translation, the theme around this memory is still real and even if this happened in another way that you can't fully see, it still happened. This is why journaling these memories are important, you may feel vague on the memory now, but later on it might get triggered again and you get the full story. Be patient with yourself.

3.Afterwards

You now have this memory written down to detail to the best of your ability, now let's analyze it using feedback statements. You can start this part with "I now realize that.." or "I learned that.."

What conclusions can you draw from this memory, and during this incident what did you draw from it then as compared to now? How does this memory affect me now?

What does this memory mean to me?

What emotions do I feel as I write these conclusions/questions?

Keep asking questions as they come to you, all the questions you have about this memory. you might not have all the answers now, but as you continue this technique those holes will be filled over time.

In my experience and the experience of many others, writing more has lead me to remembering more, and as I write one memory it may suddenly bring back another and another and another. It's great for self exploration.

A Quick Format

This format is for if you don't bring your journal with you, or are busy, and have a pocket notebook or phone to just jot it down real fast. It's supposed to be quick enough so you can deeply journal on it when you get the time or spoons.

1.What caused this Memory?

2.What was this Memory?

3.How do I feel/What feelings are rising?

4.Details you think are important to remember/write down real quick for later

5.Extra Thoughts about it

Conclusion

Anyways, I hope this helps you guys out as much as it's helped me. Would love to hear your experiences trying this out.

- Vincent Welles

[dekariosclan]

I had a thought about Gales reaction to/feelings about stretch marks on his partner. Not ones from pregnancy (I personally feel those are kind of different. I have a lot of them just from fast weight gain, and even after losing that weight seeing them seems to only remind me of my shame that I ever let myself go that much).

I feel like I already know the answer - he is so loving, and so truly does not care about physical “imperfections” on his loved one or things that may be outside whatever beauty standards apply in his world. If he knew his partner was insecure about them, he’d likely go out of his way to make them feel better about them. But I’m still curious how you would describe his thoughts on them, if that makes sense. Would he even notice them? What would they represent to him, if he knew they were from a time his partner was neglecting their health (or even being very lazy)?

I hope this isn’t a nonsensical ramble. I think I’ve lately found myself trying to change my own negative perceptions of myself by thinking through the lens of what Gale would see, so asking an expert like yourself for your take might help me get there on this topic <3

Not nonsensical at all anon! 💜 And I love your idea of thinking through the lens of what Gale would see—the world would be a much kinder (and chattier!) place if everyone did so.

Your thoughts about Gale’s response to his partner’s insecurities are spot-on. But he’d also want to reassure them (and you!) that there is nothing shameful about the fact that their body changed shape or appearance. He would hush any disparaging comments about ‘letting oneself go’ or ‘being very lazy’. He’d be very, very proud that his love was no longer neglecting their health, but he would not apply any shame or negativity to their bodily appearance, either in the past or in their present condition.

I honestly think a lot of people struggle to understand Gale’s way of thinking because we have been-force fed toxic beauty bullsh*t for our entire lives. By our society’s beauty standards, Gale is hot. And Gale had a hot Goddess girlfriend; therefore how could Gale love a non-hot person? I’ve seen countless posts about Mystra being his ex and how ‘my Tav could never compare.’ But we’re the ones who have it all wrong; in Gale’s eyes, when he falls in love with Tav, it’s Mystra who can no longer compare.

So I’ve come to think of it like this: we all know Gale loves and treasures books, right? If you try and destroy the Necromancy book, he gets mad. He geeks out thinking about shopping at Sorcerous Sundries. He has a massive overflowing library in his home in Waterdeep. In short, he absolutely adores, respects and reveres stories. And I think, when Gale looks at others, and especially at his beloved Tav, what he sees and values first and foremost is their story—because that’s what defines who they are. Gale doesn’t judge a book by its cover, he judges it by the quality of the writing.

So, to answer your question about how he would react to Tav’s stretch marks, and whether he would notice them, and what they would represent, I believe he would simply see them for what they are: A physical representation of a chapter in Tav’s life. Not an imperfection, not something shameful, but an experience that, like all the other chapters in Tav’s life, helped shape them into the wonderful person that Gale loves today. An experience that helped to write Tav’s story.

And in his eyes, what could be more beautiful than that?

[animecrazed]

The 500 yen piece in Akudama Drive Does Something To Me.

Because it’s literally $3.50. And yet, Ordinary Person is compelled to return it to a guy who tells her dropped change is bad luck. She doesn’t hand over the 500 yen piece and just get a replacement one when she doesn’t have the physical currency to pay for her takoyaki. She gets arrested for swindling the takoyaki stand out of $3.50.

Her entire arc is because she was such a weirdly moral person that she couldn’t spend someone else’s coin, even when he denied it, and even with the consequences of being arrested.

Her entire arc is because one man had a traumatic experience with picking up dropped money once in his childhood and has created his own mythos around how a loved one’s death is his fault. He is at fault for the loss of his home and his safety and the loss of his hand; and he thinks she is at fault for her descent into akudama status, because he warned her.

But Swindler puts a spin on the coin. She had to play on his sympathies to get him to take all of her money - except the coin - for her previous job. And he tells her that it wasn’t enough, probably because he is aware the moment he throws in with her to help these kids is yet another moment leading to a future he can’t escape. Where he will die to do what she’s asked of him. And now, the coin is a chance to rewrite his past. Dropped change got them both to here - and instead of it being a negative, Swindler turns it into a positive.

Her eyes have been opened. She can never have a normal life. But what is a normal life, if it’s built on the dehumanization of children? On the criminalization of anyone who the authorities decide is out of line?

This 500 yen piece has made her life the absolute worst. But this life is real. She is doing something of importance with it. She isn’t just going home and collapsing on her bed. She has a goal, a purpose, and her perception of herself and her space has been altered because of this experience. It changed her life. It’s leading to her death. She accepts it.

And $3.50 is such a small amount to take on a suicide mission for. It’s such a small amount that it is no more than a token. A talisman. An object telling Courier he belongs. That, yes, this particular coin ruined this one woman’s life in every possible way imaginable - but she sees the benefit of that tilt o whirl of an experience. She sees the benefit in taking something that is painful and seeing the benefits anyway.

$3.50 is such a small amount to take on a suicide mission for, but Courier is faced with certain death or allowing this chameleon of a woman to change his own myth about his life; allowing her to rewrite his own understanding of himself. $3.50 is the small, insignificant amount of money that connects these two characters. It’s the amount that changes someone’s perception of the world from nihilistic to a belief life can get better.

Courier passes the coin - the torch - to the kids when he hits the end of his line. He passes on the ability to make their own fate, the way Swindler made her own and gave him the chance to truly make his.

Courier takes the job in the finale because it is the language he understands. And he passes along the payment when he is finally able, with the knowledge he is dying, to do what he chooses to do without payment being the impetus for action. He chooses to finish the job on his own terms, no matter the cost. And the talisman, practically worthless, is passed on to the next set of people who need the chance and the permission to full throatedly go after their own desires.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Brother looks at the coin before proclaiming he and his sister will escape. It’s no longer a sign of bad luck or an obligation to others; a debt to be repaid or payment for a job. It’s the reminder of the sacrifices that came before, yes; but it’s also a reminder of how one can choose how they live. How they die. What they choose to believe in and pursue. Brother and Sister are the biggest akudama there are; because they have chosen to remake themselves in the images they decide upon. And the coin, the one chaining Courier to his beliefs about himself and Swindler to Courier, is no longer something dragging its holder down but an object encouraging its holder to look ahead.

[elicathebunny]

learning to let go of lingering negative emotions + Entering a calm state and regulating emotions.

(@anitalenia for the divider ౨ৎ)

Holding Grudges and struggling to let go.

Holding a grudge can affect you in many different ways ...

✦ Mentally:

Increased Stress: Constantly thinking about past experiences can keep your body at high-stress levels, leading to high cortisol and other stress hormones. Over time, this can contribute to anxiety.

Heightened Anxiety: Holding onto a grudge can lead to feelings of anxiety, as you may constantly worry about encountering the person you're resentful towards or replaying the situation in your mind. This can create a cycle of rumination and distress.

Negative Mood: Resentment and anger are negative emotions that can change your perception of the world and affect your mood. Holding a grudge can lead to feelings of bitterness, hostility, and general negativity, making it difficult to experience joy or contentment.

Impaired Relationships: Grudges can strain relationships, both with the person you're holding a grudge against and with others in your life. It can lead to communication breakdowns, conflict, and social withdrawal, which can further bring up feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Impact on Self-Esteem: Holding a grudge can also impact your self-esteem and self-worth. It may lead you to question your own value, especially if the grudge is related to mistreatment.

✦ Physically:

Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Problems: Chronic stress and negative emotions can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, and other cardiovascular issues. Holding onto a grudge can keep the body in a constant state of stress, leading to high levels of stress hormones like cortisol, which can negatively impact the heart and blood vessels.

Weakened Immune System: Prolonged stress and negative emotions can weaken the immune system, making you more prone to infections and illness. Holding a grudge can activate the body's stress response, leading to chronic inflammation and a weakened immune response.

Digestive Problems: Stress and negative emotions can also affect the digestive system, leading to issues like stomach pain, indigestion, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Holding a grudge can increase these symptoms by keeping the body in a heightened state of stress, which can mess with normal digestive processes.

Sleep Disturbances: Negative emotions and stress can interfere with sleep quality and quantity, leading to problems like insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns. Holding onto a grudge can keep the mind racing with negative thoughts, making it difficult to relax and fall asleep.

Pain and Tension: Emotional stress and tension can manifest physically as muscle tension, headaches, and other bodily aches and pains. Holding a grudge can increase these symptoms by keeping the body in heightened tension.

Why might we struggle to let these feelings go?

Emotional Attachment: Negative emotions, like anger and hurt, can be intense and create a strong emotional attachment to the incident.

Need for Justice: We often feel the need for fairness or justice, and holding onto a grudge can feel like a way of ensuring the other person is held accountable.

Fear of Vulnerability: Letting go of a grudge might require forgiving someone, which makes us feel vulnerable and exposed.

Identity and Ego: Sometimes, grudges become part of our identity. Letting go can feel like losing a part of ourselves or admitting we were wrong.

Lack of Closure: Not having a clear resolution or apology can make it harder to move on, as the issue feels unresolved.

Recurrent Triggers: Frequent reminders of the event or person can continuously reopen the emotional wound, making it harder to let go.

Negative Reinforcement: Replaying the event in our minds can reinforce negative feelings and make them harder to release.

Low Self-Esteem: When we feel bad about ourselves, we might cling to grudges to deflect attention from our insecurities.

How can we try to overcome grudges?

Acknowledge Your Feelings: Recognise that you're holding a grudge and understand why. Reflect on what happened and how it made you feel.

Express Yourself: If possible, talk to the person you're holding a grudge against. Express your feelings calmly and honestly without being confrontational.

Empathy: Try to see things from the other person's perspective. Understanding their point of view can help you feel more compassionate and less resentful.

Forgiveness: Remember that forgiving someone is more for your peace of mind than theirs. It doesn't mean you condone their behaviour; it just means you're ready to move on.

Focus on the Present: Let go of the past and focus on the present moment. Holding onto grudges keeps you stuck in the past.

Self-Care: Take care of your mental and physical health. Exercise, meditate, or engage in activities that make you happy and relaxed.

Set Boundaries: If someone continually hurts you, it’s okay to set boundaries. Protecting yourself can help you let go of grudges while maintaining your well-being.

Seek Help: If you’re struggling to let go, consider talking to a therapist or counsellor. They can provide professional guidance and support.

How to enter a calm state.

Mediation: When we pay attention to our breath, we are learning how to return to, and remain in, the present moment—to anchor ourselves in the here and now on purpose, without judgment. This increased awareness allows you to recognise and understand your emotions as they arise, rather than reacting impulsively. Regular meditation trains your mind to stay calm and composed. This practice helps in regulating emotions and reducing the intensity of negative feelings like anger, anxiety, and sadness. As you become more skilled at meditation, you'll find it easier to maintain emotional balance and respond to situations in a more thoughtful and measured way.

Here are five reasons to meditate: 1. Understanding your pain 2. Lower your stress 3. Connect better 4. Improve focus 5. Reduce brain chatter

Journalling:

Emotional Expression: Journaling provides a safe space to express and process emotions. Writing about feelings, experiences, and challenges can help individuals acknowledge and make sense of their emotions, leading to increased emotional awareness and regulation.

Stress Reduction: Writing about stressful events or worries can act as a form of stress relief. By putting thoughts onto paper, individuals can release pent-up emotions and gain a sense of control over their circumstances, thereby reducing stress levels.

Problem Solving: Journaling encourages reflection and introspection, allowing individuals to gain insights into their thoughts and behaviors. This process can help identify patterns, triggers, and potential solutions to problems, fostering personal growth and resilience.

Self-Discovery: Regular journaling promotes self-discovery and self-awareness. Through writing, individuals can explore their values, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses, leading to a deeper understanding of themselves and their identity.

Physical Exercise: Regular exercise can help reduce stress and improve your mood. Activities like yoga, walking, or swimming can be particularly calming. Stretching is often associated with physical benefits like improved flexibility and reduced muscle tension, but it also offers numerous mental benefits. It helps to release physical tension in the muscles, which is closely linked to reducing mental stress. As your body relaxes, so does your mind, leading to a calmer state of being. Stretching enhances your awareness of your body and its movements. This increased body awareness can help you become more in tune with how stress and emotions affect your physical state, allowing you to manage your mental health more effectively.

Watch what you consume: Put down the phone and silence any distractions. Purposefully make your environment peaceful enough for you to have a clear mind. Don't disrupt your session, stay in this calm moment for as long as you need to to properly reflect on yourself and make a difference to your emotions.

Allow yourself to dig deeper into your emotions without rejecting any ideas:

Really ask questions to make the most of the state you are in. Don't reject or suppress any feelings that come up, accept them and use those thoughts to understand yourself better. This will help you let go or work out anything that is bothering you. Understand your triggers and why you feel this way by prodding yourself with more and more specific questions. This may be an uncomfortable process but by understanding what is blocking you from being completely at peace within yourself then it must be done.

example: I feel like this -> why do I feel like this? Well, because this happened -> Why does this make me upset? Because it reminds me of this -> Why can't I let it go? and so on.

[nico-esoterica]

❤️😭

I feel a psychic pull to make this so I'm doing it - If you have a celeb sp, esp a romantic one, and you're at home worrying if there's a 3p or if they have eyes for anyone else, know that'll be true if you keep entertaining that story :)

I struggled with that in the past. But, imo, that has to do with a combination of negative experiences w/ romantic partners, dating, and your own shitty perception of yourself. You should be actively creating the best self concept of yourself and how relationships go for you. You can revise previous situations so the trauma's gone, unfollow toxic accounts promoting negativity about relationships, and whatever you've got to do to maintain a GOOD story about love. Because what's in your tank (brain) is going to be where your mind rests when you're focused on other things.

There's no free will. So they're only going to show up how you WANT them to. If you assume they won't want you, that's also you choosing that. If you assume that social conditioning is gonna make them think you're ugly or unattractive then it's true, it will. Esp if your sp is a celeb or someone from a different culture. FUCK any limiting social 'rules.' You define them. Even if you've heard rumors, fan accounts, etc, you need to wipe the slate clean. If you WANT this person, then you need to tell yourself that they want you 1000x more. That they're obsessed and pining, looking up porn that reminds them of you, is the Gomez to your Morticia. This is your real life fairytale. All the real life groupie stories, minus the horror stories, all say the same thing. They describe how 'normal' it was to meet them and how they were just regular people behind the glamor.

You're manifesting people all the time. You think your boss is gonna be an asshole? They're an asshole. You expect your Mom to be a neglectful parent? You can change that but she's showing up that way. Your friends are always emotionally immature and disrespectful? Welp, might as well cancel those plans with em'. Your celeb sp is the same. They don't HAVE to be a repeat of your raggedy ex who couldn't even buy you McDonalds who lied and cheated all the time. They also don't have to be someone who 'always ignores you like all your old crushes always did.' Stop the narrative that all men, women, whoever, are universally difficult, disloyal, and they'll inevitably let you down. Stop parroting your miserable aunties and fave social media accounts who yap endlessly about how horrible the dating pool is. This is YOUR life. Stop giving your narrative to people who hate their lives and themselves!

There's no 3p. A third party doesn't exist. Keep telling yourself this and they'll evaporate. Your person will break up with them, things will fall a part, or they may never even have a 3p and it'll be confirmed that it was all just in your head. Your person just wants you even if they've never met you. They're going to FEEL intuitively that they need to stay single for you for some reason. Any potential partner is going to be incompatible until you're in the picture. I don't care how famous this person is. No ig model, super model, viral white girl with husky eyes, or anyone will be on their radar. Just keep that story straight and don't tell yourself anything else. But this is also why it helps TREMENDOUSLY to work on your self concept about yourself and relationships. It'll be less stressful and anxiety inducing.

Your celeb sp could be in your DMs rn stuttering and stammering complimenting you but you believe the miserable people, who are always cheated on, saying that they couldn't ever just want you.

We want you to stop getting that day 3 of Wands, 3 of Swords, Moon, 8/9 of Swords, Lovers/2 of Cups reversed, and other 'strife coded' cards in your tarot pulls! BECAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL. YOU'VE BEEN CALLED OUT!!!!

[reijisteacup]

The vampire Royals, ie Karl Heinz and his wives and his brother's reaction to Ichigo Momochi. You can add Azusa if something gets a lil shady

OOP A CHALLENGE!!!! I LIKEY <3

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

Karlheinz Sakamaki:

wait my fault....

Karlheinz finds Ichigo utterly fascinating, like a spiritual riddle wrapped in pastel lace and trauma. Her Kansai dialect and raspy voice break the mold of the refined, sterile image expected of vampire brides. She doesn't behave like a delicate noble flower—she's full of color, contradiction, and quiet resilience. He sees her as anomalous, and anomalies are always worth dissecting. Her blend of Wicca and Shinto, combined with charms meant to ward off negativity and attract love? Oh, he knows they’re powerless against him, but her belief in them — her conviction — draws his philosophical curiosity. "How fascinating... even after loss and fear, she still dares to believe in unseen forces. Even mine." Ichigo’s goals of studying parapsychology and anthropology amuse him. “So she wishes to study the dead and the mad, yet sleeps among the living myths themselves,” he murmurs. He may test her by subtly warping her perception — making her question whether her stalker is gone or if something worse now watches. Her hidden arms? Oh, he knows. And he knows why. But he won’t pry — not directly. Instead, he’ll orchestrate conversations or dreams that force her to confront what she buries. Would he use her trauma? Absolutely. Would he treat her with cold fascination, like a ghost in a glass box? Also yes. But underneath it all, he sees the spark that could awaken something long dead inside him: empathy. She might be the first “experiment” he doesn’t want to break.

Richter Sakamaki:

Oh, he likes her. Probably too much. Her voice? He calls it “raw honey over thorns.” Her clothing? “A sin wrapped in lace.” He’s a master manipulator and Ichigo’s softness, her sweetness, makes him see an opportunity. If he finds out about her past stalker, he might pretend to sympathize. “I, too, know what it’s like to be watched, to be hunted…” (He does not.) He may try to seduce or deceive her under the pretense of “protecting” her. He’ll say things like, “They don’t appreciate how rare you are here. But I do.” If Azusa shows up or gets too close, Richter will see him as a problem. "A broken doll guarding another broken doll. How poetic. How inconvenient."

Beatrix Sakamaki:

Beatrix is reserved, austere, and sharp-tongued — she’d likely see Ichigo’s fashion, voice, and theatrical behavior as immature or attention-seeking. However, her opinion would slowly shift. She hears Ichigo singing a Vocaloid song softly while organizing her charms and almost dismisses it… until she notices the subtle pain and yearning laced in her voice. That rasp? That raw, cracked vulnerability? It reminds Beatrix of her own youth before Karlheinz turned her heart to ice. If she notices the scars or Ichigo’s fear around loud, aggressive men, she might offer cold but practical advice. “If you want to survive in this world, girl, stop hiding your wounds. Wear them like blades.” Would she ever admit she respects Ichigo? No. But she might give her a black velvet shawl one evening and claim, “It clashed with my wardrobe.” (It didn’t.)

Cordelia Sakamaki:

Cordelia initially treats Ichigo like an insect: an aesthetic bauble brought into Eden or the mansion for Karl’s amusement. A Kansai-accented, raspy-voiced girl in frilly skirts who collects plushies and sings about stars and heartbreak? Laughable. “You must think you’re enchanting with your witchy charms and dolly clothes… darling, you're a knockoff in a world of originals.” But deep down, Cordelia notices the tension in Ichigo’s shoulders when a man stands too close. She notices the way Ichigo’s voice catches when she talks about her past. She sees the long sleeves and immediately knows why they’re there. She doesn't feel pity. She feels power — and something much more dangerous: mirroring.

Christa Sakamaki:

Christa sees herself in Ichigo — too much, maybe. The plushies, the fantasy obsession, the spiritual charms — it screams someone who’s trying to survive her pain by crafting a new reality. And Christa, lost in her own delusions, becomes both drawn to and unnerved by Ichigo’s presence. She calls her “the dream girl,” both lovingly and fearfully. Sometimes she calls her Usagi instead of Ichigo, claiming, “That’s what you were supposed to be named, wasn’t it? I hear names…” She’s protective in a ghostly, unstable way. “If anyone hurts her again, I’ll make the walls bleed,” she whispers to herself — whether Ichigo is near or not. Ichigo might be one of the few people who treats Christa gently, never patronizing her. In return, Christa might give her strange cryptic warnings that end up saving her later.

Azusa Mukami:

Azusa recognizes the pain in Ichigo immediately. The long sleeves. The ghost of fear in her smile. He doesn’t ask. He just sits near her. “Your charms… don’t scare me. Pain doesn’t either. If… you’re scared, I can… be scared with you.” He gives her one of his plushes without explanation. It's frayed and missing an eye. She gives him one of hers — a pastel bunny named “Mochi.” If Richter or anyone starts targeting her, Azusa will quietly insert himself into every interaction. Not with threats, but with presence. He’s always there. Always watching. And if someone tries to hurt her again? Azusa’s violence is slow, quiet, and impossible to stop. “You already broke her once. You don’t get to try again.”

[stregajulia]

Why I don't have friends?

pile 1 - pile 2 - pile 3

DISCLAIMER.These general free readings are made in good faith for entertainment purposes.

How to pick a pile. When you have different cards to choose from in pile 1,2,3… look at each of those cards. Wait until someone reminds you of a memory. Perhaps a character’s outfit resembles one of your own. It is this pile that has its message. What if they all remind me of something? Go for the one with the strongest memory, one might look like her earring but another might be the favorite candy you got from your grandma when you vacationed at her house. But what if none reminds me of something? Take a deep breath and wait a little longer, without charging yourself or creating worries. Relax, some will awaken some memory in you, I promise!

Pile 1

Hello, little Cherub! When we start reading, we already have a clear answer: the reason why you have few friends is related to judgements, prejudices and realities that you believe to be absolute. For you, the world can be cruel, with petty, prejudiced and manipulative people. That's how you've seen the world until today, with these types of people always ready to take you down at any moment.

It is important to remember that, although there are reasons, this does not mean that the result will always be negative. If you have a closed mind and are very judgmental of others, this may be a reflection of past experiences, such as being bullied. Right? No. In the end you are also being like the people you judge so much. You always feel overwatched… overwatching others. The insights indicate that these perceptions may have been with you since childhood, creating a reality that you believe to be immutable, "all my friendships were like this, so all friendships ARE like this" and because of this, you close yourself off.

You also drink too much of the social media water, so you see gratuitous hate everywhere. You see that no matter what you are, it seems like the world hates you, too fat, too thin, you are a man, you are a woman, you have criticism and more criticism of who you are from strangers on the internet and you conclude again "the world is a trash". Do you want to make new friends? Absolutely! But you're soo scared of these"trash", right?

But the message is clear: this situation is not permanent. Just because you have few friends now doesn't mean it will be that way forever. The advice here is to be more authentic, open yourself to new experiences,. Start opening up to things you like! Cinema, food, dancing, things that you refuse to do because you think they are not for you. HOWEVER, don't feel like you're going to run amok like an addict going to all the bars and places that YOU KNOW are wrong! It's not about doing a 180º and saying that now you're going to be a "rebel", because you're going to MAKE A MISTAKE! Go to places that you can tell everyone and not being asshamed of.

Now, avoid the despair of accepting anyone just to avoid being alone. You will, unfortunately, first attract treacherous people and if you accept them on your path, you will return to the cycle of "the world sucks, people are mean and blahblahblah"…. You will meet them, but remember our good and old "nope". Use your judgment and avoid extreme changes in behavior without adequate planning. You're smart girl, stop acting stupid.

Pile 2

Hello little Cherub! Let's start by understanding why you have few friends. It's possible that this is due to significant changes you've recently faced, such as changing jobs, schools, cities, or even countries. These changes will naturally affected your social circle, right? In some cases, it's just a matter of appearance, major weight loss, an afro hairstyle, or even incurable diseases that change anyone's routine.

You may be finding it difficult to integrate into new social circles. It seems like every time you approach a new group, there's a big bubble that needs to be burst… you all speak the same language but why so diffent??? It's common to feel like your experiences and interests are different, which can make interacting and creating new friendships difficult.

Additionally, there may be personal resistance to making an effort to fit into new groups. You may question whether it is worth the effort to integrate and what the benefit would be. This lack of motivation can result in a more reserved or distant attitude, which can alienate potential new friendships. You want to go back to what you had before, your old friendships…

To overcome this, it's important to recognize that it's not necessary to form large social circles right away. Start small by establishing one-on-one connections, like a friend at work, school, college, or the gym. This can help build trust and facilitate deeper interactions in the future. Being social is healthy and necessary.

Now I need to give you an earful because you are behaving childishly on your behalf too. You know that child shouting "I don't want it" in the supermarket……….. it's you. Also, you're showing yourself like "I know that it's different but it's okay" or "fuck, I hate this"? You close yourself off so much in your reality that it's difficult to enter and understand the reality of others, so they throw a spaghetti party, they don't invite you because every day you say that you hate pasta, and then you find out that there was this spaghetti party and now you're super upset that you wasn't invited…

Avoid behaviors that can alienate people, such as being overly reserved or showing a lack of interest in social activities. Stay open to new experiences and encounters, even if they may initially seem uncomfortable. Openness can open doors to new friendships and a more diverse and enriching social circle.

Pile 3

Hello, little Cherub. Let's start reading by exploring the central question: why do you have few friends these days? It seems like you believe it is due to studies. You've dedicated a lot of time to this, whether on your own or because you're in college. This is your initial perception.

However, as we read deeper, we see that the true reason may be different. It appears that your romantic relationship has played a significant role in limiting your friendships. In this pile I'm not talking about marriage, but a long-term relationship. This relationship has taken up a large part of your time and energy, which ends up restricting your socialization opportunities.

Maybe you and your partner spend so much time together that there's no room for other friendships. As if you had to save all the energy you had left that week to spend time with them. And there may be issues of jealousy, both on your part and his, that make it difficult to get close to other people.

Do you want to have new friendships? Of course. You've always valued having friends around, and you've never been a lonely person. You always had several friends, someone to talk to and share moments with. However, now it seems like your partner is the only person you spend your time with, and that's something you've never done before.

The reading suggests that you have an upright and idealistic personality. Even when you saw wrong things, you did not allow yourself to be influenced by them. But you may now be falling into the trap of not realizing that you are also doing something wrong, like isolating yourself socially because of your relationship, or some really toxic shit, you know what I am talking about. Furthermore, you have this need to show yourself as someone "clean", without mistakes, always with the best and you know, even if unconsciously, that you are "dirty" and feel incapable of getting involved with people other than your boyfriend

The advice here is for you to have a clearer view of your current situation. Reflect on your relationship. Is it stopping you from living fully? Are fights and jealousy taking a heavy toll? Ask yourself where this insecurity comes from. Is it just a matter of jealousy or is there something deeper going on?

It's important to look at what's hidden, the things you might be pretending not to see. If you feel like you always need to appear perfect in the eyes of others, this may be stopping you from opening up to new friendships. No one is judging your character, but if you feel like you need to maintain a facade, this can be a significant barrier.

The final piece of advice is to examine your relationship honestly. Is it working for you? Does it need to be tweaked or maybe even finished? This is an answer you must find on your own. After this reflection, you will be in a better position to decide how to proceed.

That was the reading for you. Good luck and stay well.

(CC) Stupid Cupid Tarot Some Rights Reserved

[museofthepyre]

do you know what everyones problem with elijah is? Im new to to fandom and im so genuinly confused as to why people seem to like think elijah is the worst (as in evil) character in the series. like i dont think people find him poorly written, they just, dont like him? which is fine yknow like who you like, but then people act like jedediah is a flawed but good character? which confused me a lot since I actually dislike jedediah more, as he just hurts in a more personal way it feels like. Elijah was sweeping Sydney in with promises of love that he hadnt gotten from jedediah, sydney only accepted that because of the way jedediah had been shunning him for years. It really bothers me that people forgive jedediah for his bad behavior, but then crucify elijah for behavior that while yes was very bad, had been hurting syndey way less for way shorter, and the only reason sydney was that vulnerable was because of jedidiah. Im asking because i am genuinly confused and I cant find anyone talking about the why of disliking elijah, i dont know if im missing something because of personal bias (jedidiahs mistakes that hurt sydney hit much closer to home than elijahs) sorry if this is a bit rambly, Im just very disenheartened to see so many people say they hate elijah when I just dont understand why, you dont need to answer this ask btw its mainly just curiousity

I think you kind of touched on the answer a bit already- imo it definitely comes down to what hits closer to home for any given listener. We all have unconscious biases. We all consume media through the lens of our own life experiences, and… ok ramble incoming

Elijah and Jedidiah both think/ behave in ways that are profoundly human, they represent very real concepts (see my whole Jedidiah= unhealthily distant, withdrawn and cold attachment style, and Elijah= unhealthily obsessive, suffocating and intense attachment style rant). These aren’t your typical innately evil villains, they’re just unhealthy people with warped ideas of love. That is an all too common thing to see irl. I think because of that… many of us can relate one or both of them to people we‘ve known in our own lives… alternatively, we can relate them to ourselves. I’ve heard some people say that Elijah’s actions hit a nerve because of past traumas with toxic relationships… aaand I’ve heard people say the exact same thing about Jedidiah! I think Elijah receives more scrutiny because his actions were… well they were actions. Visible, overt, right in front of you. You can point at them, pick a line from the transcript and say “that right there is bad”. Jedidiah’s wrongs often came in the form of neglect and abandonment, an absence of action, that’s so much harder to pinpoint. Maybe he’s slipping under people’s radars? Maybe more people see themselves in him and have a sense of understanding (which is valid, he embodies some very relatable neurodivergent struggles). Maybe it’s because he steps up and works on himself by the end and we don’t see that from Elijah (yet). Maybe people find Elijah “worse” because he reminds them of a more common negative experience, I’m not sure. One could speculate.

I’ll speak personally as an example of what I mean: I am wayyyyyyy more upset by Jedidiah’s actions. And that’s because of… you guessed it… my own personal experiences and how they influence my perception 🎉🎉🎉 I’ve got BPD, and I have an all consuming fear of abandonment. The idea of loving somebody and then having them suddenly withdraw, avoid you, and treat you coldly all the while providing NO EXPLAINATION WHATSOEVER… just leaving you to spiral and pick apart your own behaviours under a microscope, thinking you must be the problem— it’s a major trigger of mine. I’ve lived it!!! I grew up with it!!!!! It hits a huge sore spot for me and I admittedly struggle to overlook that sometimes when I see him.

Conversely, Elijah… I unfortunately connect with in a much deeper way. My own default attachment style is obsessive, intense, and often leaves me tunnel-visioned and unstable (…BPD), and he speaks a language I understand? If that makes sense. I see so much untreated, pre-awareness me in him. I know what it is to be involuntarily engulfed by an all-consuming obsession/ delusion. He doesn’t scare me, because I know what he’s made of- I see what’s beneath it all when I look in the mirror. Or at least that’s the lens through which I interpret him, I’m sure many disagree and yk what? Absolutely valid!!!!

There’s no one correct way to consume media, yada yada you get the idea, CHNT is unique because no character is intentionally malicious or evil (not counting Adam maybe… Lucille you’re on thin ice) and it’s fascinating how there’s such a dichotomy between the love and hate for these two. I may have swayed a bit off topic I just have many thoughts. I might come back with more later.

Ok rant over 🪱

[kryptonbabe]

to a degree, if taste in art did not reflect a personality it would render the art meaningless. it's supposed to evoke a feeling. if there is nothing inside you that speaks to the art, it truly is just pure consumption and nothing beyond that.

Here are the posts about this for context. Yeah, of course one's taste in art might reflect aspects of their personality. That being said what we consider a personality is vast and multifaceted, your taste in art can reflect your fears, your desires, your past experiences (positive and negative), your views of the world - these can be intimate, or surface level. However I should say it at once: our actions and how we affect each other in real life are the only mesures by which we should be judged. To ponder over a disturbing theme is not the same as commiting a disturbing act. As Susan Sontag says in Regarding the Pain of Others: “Nobody can think and hit someone at the same time.”

Art can speak to facets of our psyches that are surface level, based on a recent experience in school you might look for a book on fishing, you never fished, you don't even intend, but your teacher talked about it in such a vivid way it spoke to you, so you borrowed a book, read it and never thought about it again. What motivated you then? Empathy for the dear teacher, a fleeting desire to experience that, a sudden curiosity?

On the other hand, art can speak deeply to us, as I felt when I first read Light in August by William Faulkner, a book dealing with parental abuse and race prejudice to a mixed race person, who was not a "good" person by the way. Still, my own past, as a mixed race person with some traumatic experiences made me really connect to the character, the book is also beautifully written despite its violence. Books like the Xenogenesis series by Octavia Butler also explore disturbing themes of violence and abuse in a graphic manner, and still, they can speak of a message that does not endorse these subjects. And I am fond of that kind of fiction, they open paths for me to understand my own traumas, intrusive thoughts and other undesirable feelings that have been part of my life for a long time. I developed coping mechanisms that take advantage of the fact that we are imperfect beings and there's acceptance in that. This is my experience however, there are no wrong ways to enjoy or appreciate art, even if those reasons are aspects of yourself that you're not proud of, a bad memory, a bad thought. According to E. H. Gombrich in his book The Story of Art:

“I do not think that there are any wrong reasons for liking a statue or a picture. Someone may like a landscape painting because it reminds him of home, or a portrait because it reminds him of a friend. There is nothing wrong with that. As long as these memories help us to enjoy what we see, we need not worry. It is only when some irrelevant memory makes us prejudiced, when we instinctively turn away from a magnificent picture of an alpine scene because we dislike climbing, that we should search our mind for the reason for the aversion which spoils a pleasure we might otherwise have had. There are wrong reasons for disliking a work of art.” The art objects he's talking about of course are not relevant, the focus is on our approach to a piece of art and how our prejudices can alter our perceptions of a given work.

I have't even touched on the matter of curiosity, the unconscious and the historical context of transgression in art - which is so interesting. We could talk about for instance if the philosophers and writers (Epicurus, Hume, Dostoievsky) who pondered about the problem of evil and wrote about it were all deranged human beings, if the researchers / teachers of literary studies who dedicated their lives to understand works of Marquis de Sade are all perverts. Why were they thinking about these things? Why would they dedicate so much time to make sense of those awful works of art. But then, why shouldn't we think about these things? They might be frightening, painful, uncomfortable aspects of life, but they are not going away any time soon. We do live in a society after all... and in that way we feel like part of its mess. We are not evil by nature like that silly Thomas Hobbes used to think, but we do have the potential for it and we often act on it, why? That is the place of science, philosophy and yes... art to answer. Until we find out, we keep trying.

So yeah, art can and will reflect characteristics of our existence, collectively and individually (as in what we can call personality), on the surface level as momentary interest or deep and emotionally, or yet as curiosity, intellectual concern, it might be instead an unconscious parts of our being (the Jungian shadow-self), who am I to pick and choose what moves others, people I don't even know and never met, towards any given art work? I don't even fully know my own self.

Sorry for the long ass answer, now let me just finish with another Susan Sontag thought, also from her book Regarding the Pain of Others: “Someone who is permanently surprised that depravity exists, who continues to feel disillusioned (even incredulous) when confronted with evidence of what humans are capable of inflicting in the way of gruesome, hands-on cruelties upon other humans, has not reached moral or psychological adulthood.”

[elisabethbabarci]

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

May my affirmations heal, awaken, and restore your soul within. You have the power to evoke forgiveness in every aspect of your existence. Give yourself the precious sacred gift of inner peace throughout your life.

My natural state is that of peace.

I choose to reclaim my inner peace, sovereignty, and power as I accept with patience, understanding, and wisdom that life is uncertain and I must embrace change.

With intention I liberate and emancipate myself from my experiences, processes, circumstances, and situations that are beyond my control.

With compassion and awareness I evoke self care and self love during my recovery.

With self respect, dignity, and honour I remind myself that I am not the body, I am consciousness.

I am progress in motion, and I choose to not foster a destructive environment where I maintain the rhetoric or belief to keep the pain alive within, as I acknowledge doing so, is regressive and harmful to my soul.

With each passing day, I learn to embrace self forgiveness by loving myself, as my experiences do not define me.

Breaking generational cycles, beliefs, patterns, and attitudes enables me to dissipate residual anger as my past circumstances or experiences do not have power over me.

As I seek inner peace, I enable self compassion, self love, self care, and self respect for myself and others.

I acknowledge and accept that I am processing my internal and external emotions of feeling intentionally wronged, harmed, hurt, or being a victim of endured suffering. I allow myself to heal and emancipate now.

I am more than my experiences as I am experiencing symptoms of a much greater root that is healing internally with every passing moment.

I recognize that I am safe and within a loving environment to make an intentional decision to release resentment, regret, anger, and negative emotions that may have consumed me at one period of time however, I have extracted the lesson to move forward with enlightened wisdom and strength.

I accept the process of life, and I embrace my natural transformation through catharsis and metamorphosis.

I accept my new awakening that I am liberated from behaviours, perceptions, patterns, cycles, feelings and emotions that are not aligned with my path.

I rise with every opportunity to become a stronger version of myself as I emancipate from stagnated perceptions and constructs that misalign with my moral and ethical principles.

Accepting loss does not constitute weakness or defeat, for it resurrects within me my inner power, to choose what I partake in.

I acknowledge the inner pain, as it enables me to evoke self reflection and deeper examination of core roots that I need to heal within. I am safe.

Practicing empathy enables me to consciously analyze a situation and reflect on my actions, thoughts, words, behaviours, and the impact it has on others.

The process of forgiveness enables liberation from stagnation and disturbance to establish inner equilibrium and tranquility.

Coexisting in perfect harmony enables compassion for others, respect, love, and community as we are all one, complete and whole. By seeing through anothers eyes enables me to gain deeper insight into the realm of higher conscious state of awareness.

Forgiveness then allows me to return to my natural state of peace. Securing a state of inner peace within myself enables and fosters forgiveness. I acknowledge and accept that both concepts are interconnected and promote divinity within.

There is universal power in compassion and love for another, which enhances the moral principle of interconnectivity, honour, integrity, respect, and virtue.

Forgiveness enables me to see beyond my fears, and to lead with love in every aspect of my existence.

Forgiveness is an inherent human right which is an essential element of benevolence.

Forgiveness is within my moral fabric of self, as I seek justice not revenge.

Embracing vigilance and prudence offers the ability to remain ethical in all pursuits, while governing my actions with fair impartiality and reason. 

With diligence, I observe and respect others perspectives as it enables me to become impartial during my recovery. 

Consideration of others feelings, thoughts, experiences, and trajectories enables myself to step outside of my comfort zone to observe the matter through another dimension. 

With care, perseverance, and motivation, I seek solutions which enables empathy, resolutions, and solutions. 

Self reflection fosters an internal dialogue with myself to observe and evaluate my actions critically, to foster and implement improvements of my behaviour, to enhance peace in all aspects of my life. 

As I encompass forgiveness, it liberates my soul within, from the confines of the illusion of control and fear. 

Forgiveness enables me the intentional decision to release resentment, residual anger, sadness and grief, and regret. 

I release residual energy that is holding me back. I am free to embark on my journey with ease, hope, and grace. 

I give permission to be gentle with myself through my recovery process. 

I forgive myself with patience, I forgive myself with time, I forgive myself with love, I forgive myself with acceptance, I forgive myself with care, I forgive myself with self support, I forgive myself with self compassion, I forgive myself with self love, I forgive myself with self empathy, I forgive myself with self respect, I forgive myself with understanding, I forgive myself with peace, I forgive myself with inner truth, I forgive myself now.

[studentinpursuitofclouds]

Hello, an anon with long question had arrived! 😭 I've brought some virtual foods and drinks so you won't be bored on what I'm about to ask you~~~ 🍔🍟🍕 🥤🧋

I don't know if this would interest you, but what do you think about the perception of magic in SVE? (I'm basing my question on my Farmer's lore below.)

My Farmer's parents despise magic, viewing it as a destructive force that can only harm others, based on their past experiences, particularly with Farmer's grandmother (RSV lore). Because of this, Farmer grows up avoiding magic and initially fears it due to his parents' influence. However, his views start to change over time.

Farmer sees Rasmodius using magic to protect Pelican Town, encounters the benevolent Junimo restoring old buildings, and witnesses a fairy enchanting his crops. In Castle Village, he observes battle mages using magic to defend the weak and elixirs with diverse medical uses. Additionally, magic has practical everyday uses. It can summon bubbles without soap, animate puppets for traveling performers, enhance sound for festivals, even had a very simple spells such as all-purpose cleaning, birthday reminders, or sweetening placebos spells for those who cannot consume sugar!

Ultimately, Farmer realizes that magic, like weapons, can be used for both good and ill. The witch who curses his plants at night is one of the proof of the latter. But alas, he understands that like weapon, when used by the right people, magic can improve lives.

... This turns out to be ramblings about my Farmer, and I'm sorry.

But in conclusion, how do different people's perceptions of magic affect their lives, just like Farmer's did? Are there others like Farmer's parents who hate magic? Or are there families who see magic as a special status, where greater understanding of magic elevates social status in the mage world? (It would be an interesting headcanon if either mages in the game like Ras, Lance, Camilla, or Jadu came from such families but disagreed with their views and chose to keep their distance from them.)

Dear anon, don't apologise for this, I love all your discussions and theories about my favourite game, especially this mod and your Farmer OCs 😭💕 And thanks for the virtual food! (gosh, I miss pizza so much! 🍕😋). Have a wonderful day! (Send you some virtual cookies 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪)

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First of all, thanks again for sharing your Farmer OC and his lore, it was interesting to read! We have quite similar views and headcanons on SDV/SVE/RSV lore, and I tried to describe all my thoughts about it here (apologise for a very, very long text 😅)

So, about your ask....

You're absolutely right about magic being both a tool and a weapon. There was an interesting quote I remember about magic, but I don't remember if it was a quote from a video game or if one of my friends said it to me when we were discussing game lore (not SDV). Basically, magic was compared to an axe, but it's up to the individual to decide whether to chop wood for the winter with that axe or kill their neighbour. It is the same with magic: it can be used as a useful tool in everyday life, or as a way to bring chaos and destruction - all depends on the person. But, as it often happens in fantasy world, people who are not familiar with the concept of magic at all, are afraid of incomprehensible power, and if they had negative stories in their past (witch curse, for example), they will definitely consider all those who are somehow connected with magic as evil.

About the question of how magic has affected people's lives and whether or not it's being treated as only evil... If you're referring specifically to the inhabitants of the Stardew Valley, dear anon, it's pretty ambiguous. Looking back at the vanilla lore, some villagers simply denied the existence of magic (Shane in his dialogue at the Feast of the Winter Star), some were frightened by the strange noise coming from Magnus's tower and showed fear and distrust (Marnie). And at the same time, no one had any preconceptions about the maze in Spirits Eve, which miraculously appeared in just one day. "Yeah, that weird ourple dude did it all," and no one would show any concern. Not even the same Shane (free food and pumpkin cider, so he doesn't care too much, I guess 🤷). Also the fact that almost everyone considers the life elixir a universal liked gift. I don't know if I can attribute monsters to this as well, because in my mind, where there are monsters there is dark magic, but maybe the inhabitants see them differently (like mutated animals or something).

As for the Expanded mod specifically, nothing much has changed here either in terms of the vanilla game's residents. But! Victor, our beloved spaghetti man, stands out among all of them. In his event we are already introduced to the fact that Victor openly and directly reveals that he knows for the existence of adventurer clans, and that they - attention! - use magic to fight monsters and to protect people. Also worth noting is his separate dialogue where he tells Farmer that the Ferngill Republic government want to cut down the magical forest here in order to find useful things that can help in the war with the Gotoro Empire. And, most interestingly, as I quote, "that wizard won't let them do it." "That wizard." A wizard! Not "strange man", but a wizard. So, he believes in magic, and he's a man from big city with modern technology. Victor is not speaking negatively about magic in these examples, but more angry at the realisation that the government is intent on greedily gnawing at any opportunity to achieve its goals, in this case at the cost of the unique ecosystem of the Stardew Valley. But Magnus isn't giving them that. This means that people (at least some) also realise that magic exists. I wonder though: if the local authorities respect Magnus's word that it's strictly forbidden to cut down the forest, or if they're just afraid he'll send them away with fireballs if they go into the Valley without asking? I'm leaning more towards the second scenario.

With the Ridgeside Village mod, coming to a conclusion about people's attitudes (both in Pelican Town and Ridgeside Village, and in the rest of the world) is a little easier. And it's all because of Gabriella, the main antagonist of the RSV mod. As far as I understood correctly, her goal is to wreak havoc in the whole world (for what purpose - Hell knows, probably for funnies or whatever), and her minions, soulless shel, faithfully serve their dark queen: killing local politicians (all politicians, not to be confused with the Cult of the Lady with the Red Tail), committing attacks, cursing forests and sources of magic, as it was with Spirit's Realm. Of course, ordinary people who are either victims themselves, or their family/relatives/friends who are affected by it, will see magic only in a negative way and consider it the source of all their troubles. And most won't realise that it's all up to the person (Gabriella isn't a person at all): magic is evil, period. No buts. Because for them, it's easier to deal with pain and loss, to protect yourself and your loved ones.

The moment where wizards and witches lead a rather secretive life from the rest of the (modern) population only adds fuel to the fire of the problem with distrust. Consequently, some magicians also distrust people due to this discrimination. And so the endless wheel of distrust goes on.

People like our Farmer, who in their work as farmer/fisherman/gatherer/adventurer/miner use both magic and modern technology, can be the ones who help these two different social societies find common ground. Or on the contrary, the Farmer will be considered an outsider everywhere, despite helping both modern society (improving Pelican Town's economy, rebuilding many important buildings) and magical society (protecting people from monsters and fighting renegade wizard/witches).

What about our SVE mages...

I used to hold the idea that Lance was NC/LC (no contact/low contact) with his parents for just such a reason. That he, a man with a "gift", was at odds with the views of his parents, who shunned magic like a plague. But over time, I like the idea of his parents being retired noble adventurers with magic better (*looking at my mutuals with their lovely headcanons 👁️👁️💕), so Lance had no problem with that.

Jadu on the other hand, fits more into the category of someone whose views on magic have changed over time. I think he suffered the same fate as Morgan, Magnus' apprentice, when they were taken away from their parents and not even allowed to contact them. Naturally, when you, a child, are taken away from your parents or guardian so abruptly, you're going to see wizards as a source of evil because they came to your home, almost forcefully and threateningly took you from your parents' nest and sent you to who knows where and who knows who, "to learn the arcane knowledge". Even in a fantasy world, that sounds very sus. The witches and mages themselves, under whose wing the young talents were given, can be both the reason for the child's revision of the concept of magic (magic not bad, but also good), and make the situation worse. Later, this can then lead to the formation of renegade mages, thirsty for revenge, they hurt ordinary people in the process of revenge, and the fear of magic in general will be even stronger.

I like to think that Camilla was so determined and opinionated that she wasn't the one they came for, but she somehow fucking came to the Ministry and was like, "teach me!" At least it's sounds funny 😅

Magnus, oh well... I honestly don't know, but he was probably taken into the care of a wizard when he was young to learn spells and alchemy to protect people and help adventurers with "monsters clean up".

Got a bit of a chaotic answer again, but I hope I've answered all the questions!

[lostsprite1985]

psychology 3 - the power of labeling

it's often said that labeling something imprisons it. putting emotions or behaviors in categories would reduce a person and their experiences.

this is only true in terms of a biased perception, when one good or bad trait consumes the entire view of someone or something (eg. horn effect, halo effect, fundamental attribution error).

but labeling emotions or behavioral patterns has the opposite effect: it is liberating.

because it's about what you make of your memories <3

studies have found (e.g. Lieberman et. al., 2007) that people who label the emotion shown in an image have a lower activation of the amygdala. the amygdala gets activated when a threat gets detected. something unknown is always perceived as a threat at first - this ties in with the negative bias.

every emotion we humans feel is nothing more and nothing less than a signal. emotions are very fast ways for our brain to transmit data (see Kahneman, Fast And Slow Thinking). if our brain now receives a signal which is unknown, our amygdala reacts and urges us to take action - in any form. this also happens when we experience a signal which reminds us of past situations which indeed had bad consequences for us - the often called upon psychological trigger.

as we grow up, we receive our first interpretations of these internal signals from our parents. this is called co-regulation and it occurs in mammals. for us humans, this can determine a person's attachment style. we learn to either be safe, anxious, avoidant or disorganized when we attach to another (Bolby et. al.).

again, these are categories. these are meant for us to better understand these states of how we attach, how we behave and what drives us. they are not fixed, boxed in, and forever determining our lives. one person can alternate attachment behaviors depending on the circumstances of a given relationship. someone who usually is anxious within one relationship, can be avoidant within another. the most important thing we need to know: we can learn to be securely attached even when we already are adults.

for secure attachment we need to find the emotional regulation inside ourselves. this is often called "becoming our own parent" by developing self-compassion. we can do this when we learn to better interpret our inner signals - emotions - and then regulate them.

because when we first label what we feel, our brain does shifts activation from the amygdala to the part of the prefrontal cortex which is tasked with language, meaning-making, and impulse control.

this is the exact spot where people with attachment issues, trust issues, bad live experiences and even trauma or abuse can take control. their articulated thoughts, their narrative, can change their reality.

this works because of neuroplasticity. neuroplasticity means the brain is not fixed in one state. in the past, it was assumed that learning (creating neurological connections) only happens to young people. and all we didn't learn when we were young can never be learned and nothing can be changed.

but we can unlearn and relearn and we can be in charge of this. this is what modern psychology and psychotherapy does. and this is what i did over the past years.

as i recently posted that i have an emotional flashback, i had one. but i was able to stay optimistic, because i also already had experienced that this is temporary. and i labeled it as it happened. i took away it's power. and it worked. i didn't get swept away by it, nor did i dwell on it.

it happened, it passed, it can kiss my ass :P

one last thing: taking control of the narrative isn't the same as dismissing reality or creating a fantasy version we can cope with. creating a narrative, reframing our memories, and labeling emotions and patterns is hard work. it is the creation of something new, rebuilding from scratch, so to speak. it is more than just coping and it is far from twisting reality or being delusional. for more information, just search the web, there is a ton of info out there, for free.