#and i’ll give you poems i associate them with

[oliveraiku]

“KUNIGAMI RENSUKE” - There’s holiness in a broken dream.

Rick Riordan, “Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curse” / Virginia Woolf, “Night And Day” / Ocean Wuong, “Essay on Craft” / @dvoyd, “thoughts of a stray iii” / Kaveh Akbar, “Calling A Wolf A Wolf” / Anne Carson, “Plainwater” / Michael Kinnucan, “The Gods Show Up” / Anne Carson, “H Of H Playbook”.

[amongussexgif]

Howdy folks. I’ve said I’d make a rant about this for a while. It’s time.

Let’s start with the basics. Mesopomatia is the earliest known human civilization. Humans existed before them, but this was the first “city”. They also made the first writing. This rant also kinda covers Sumerian tuff, because the two groups had a bit of a merging.

You know what transgenderism is. You’re on tumblr dot com. Chances are you are a transgenderist yourself

Transphobes often say that transgenderism is a “new concept” and that “nobody was trans 20 years ago”. For the record, you don’t have to go as far back as Mesopotamia. There’s Greece, Egypt, Hawaii, and tons of others I fail to remember. But yeah, we date back to The First City.

The First People believed in many gods, one of which you’ve likely heard of. Today’s subject: Inanna/Ishtar, The Queen of Heaven (I’ll be calling her Inanna, as it’s her original name). She was the goddess of Sex, War, and Justice. The most notable things she was believed to do were changing people’s genders and being an absolute queen. Like fr she slayed-

Anyways, the “transgender power” as I’m gonna call it because it's funny, is well documented in poetry fragments, with the direct quote “To turn a man into a woman and a woman into a man are yours, Inanna.” This was written by Enheduanna, Inanna’s High Priestess from Ur (Ur is a city).

Speaking of Inanna’s Priests and Priestesses, they were actually known for their androgyny. Poems and Dedications to Inanna often included them, with the direct depiction of the goddess transfer-ify-ing them. It’s unknown if these and the Gala are the same priests, so I’ll add a little space and talk about them for a bit.

The Gala were priestesses for Inanna created by the god Enki (who is really fuckign cool for non-trans reasons (might talk about him sometime)) to sing for her. Mourning Rites previously sung by women got taken over by the Gala, and as men joined, they adopted ALL societal roles and expectations of women, switching to female names and singing in the Sumerian eme-sal dialect, which was reserved for women trying to render the speech of female gods. The Gala looked after the sick and poor, and were highly respected by the rest of the Mesopotamian peoples.

Time to talk about the Pilipili! They were a group of cultic performers who worshiped Inanna, with the name coming from a person named Pilipili. They were raised as a woman (according to Mesopotamia’s gender roles), and were blessed by Inanna and given the name Pilipili. Inanna gave them a spear, an item associated very heavily with masculinity “as if she were a man” and they are only referred to as “The Transformed Pilipili” from that point on. “Spear'' is also thought to have phallic meaning here, which is even more directly saying that Inanna trans’ed Pilipili’s gender.

How about we move beyond the cult on Inanna now? A statue (or technically statuette but honestly whatever) found in the city of Mari depicts a singing woman. But wait! The name of the depicted person is “Ur-Nanshe”, a masculine name! This might mean nothing, but honestly, you’d assume transgenderism too if you met a woman named Steven. The statue has a soft face with traces of makeup, and it’s got tiddies!

A statue in the British museum (which for the record should not be in there. give it back) has a label translated as “Hermaphrodite of Inanna”. Hermaphrodite has a different meaning now, which a different translator, Cheryl Morgan, recognized, stating that “person-man-woman” would be more accurate. We don’t know specifics about their gender, but clearly this was a person outside of the gender binary who was not only significant enough to have a statue of them made, but also assumedly well-liked!

So, to summarize, Ancient Mesopotamia viewed genderqueer individuals as:

often blessed by the Queen of Heaven

transgender-ify-ed by said Queen of Heaven

well respected enough to be priests

said cult of trans priests was also said to be made by another god in devotion to Inanna

significant and well-liked enough to have statues of them

sounds like we should take some notes from our ancestors, huh?

[broomsick]

Hey norse pagans! *Leans close and whispers*

Reconstructing historical festivals and holidays is especially tough for us, isn’t it? Because there’s just so little evidence of anything, and even though Håkon the Good gave us a pretty good idea of some historical practices, it’s far from enough to have a clear idea of the actual celebrations, right? Plus, I bet your schedule’s tightly packed and that at least twice a year, you find yourself going: “Is it already [insert holiday]???”, and “crap, I forgot to prepare this or that for [insert holiday]”. Well my friend, let me tell you two important tips I’ve learned from years of trying to keep up with the proverbial wheel of the year. The first: holidays aren’t mandatory, especially not if you practice paganism alone, and especially since we know so little of holiday celebrations within germanic tribes, and during the Scandinavian Iron Age. Second *leans closer*: there’s nothing keeping you from making up your own festivals! If history hasn’t left us a lot of evidence on how your main deity/deities was worshipped, who’s to keep you from picking a spot on the calendar and going: “this day is all about [insert deity]”. You’ll have the possibility of listing out pre-determined rites and offerings. Are you going to sing songs? Recite poems? Decorate? Is there a symbol that’s prominent on that day? There are many ways to honor deities, and it’s fun to give oneself a chosen structure to follow when it comes to deity worship. Plus, it’s all the more rewarding to celebrate the seasons according the weather in one’s own area! I’m usually not in the mood to celebrate the coming of spring when it’s still -30 Celsius outside. In that regard, I give myself the leeway to diverge from historical practice and to celebrate the coming of spring when its does actually start to feel like spring! The crops are reaped a bit earlier than the 31st of October, in my area. For this reason, my Álfablót usually happens halfway through that month, and is spread out onto three days (the first for the ancestors, second for the álfar, and third for Freyr). So don’t hesitate to think up your own little holidays, and play around with the freedom it gives you! Just to give you guys a few ideas of where to start with this, I’ll add a little “holiday starter pack” right below!

Step one: choose the date! Is there a day of the week that’s associated with your chosen deity/deities? A season, or type of weather in particular? Maybe a time of day?

Step two: figure out the general “mood” of the holiday. Do you want it to be a time to party? To be grateful? To connect with loved ones? To be at peace? Or a time of self-reflection and silent introspection? (Every year, I dedicate a full day of silence to Víðarr.) What’s the goal of the holiday? What are you celebrating?

Step three: think of some ritual offerings! It’s no big deal if, for whatever reason, you can’t actually offer them up: the idea of these offerings will suffice to help you define this holiday better. Will you be offering a specific food, or drink? Or a particular craft, or a depiction of an animal?

Step four: will you be decorating? If so, what’ll serve as the theme for decorations? Are you going to buy them or make them yourself?

Step five: is there an activity, or activities that you would want to engage in to honor the deity/deities on this day? If so, what’ll it be? I love to cook to honor Freyr, for example (this year, I made a seasonal pumpkin soup in His honor)! You could also go swimming for Rán and Ægir, or take a walk in the woods for Jörð. What do you think would please the deity/deities this day is dedicated to?

Step six: will you be inviting someone, or people over? It doesn’t matter if they’re pagan or not: if you want to celebrate with friends or family, any excuse is good to invite people over! Still, even if you celebrate alone, you’re certain to have lots of fun! So don’t worry about this last step if you feel uncomfortable with it.

[imichelle-l-rigby]

Reflections: Cillian Murphy’s Limited Edition

Season 3, episode 10

✨the last one 😢✨

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*I am a music prof (predominantly classical vocalist), and I LOVE listening to Cillian’s music choices! That being said, sometimes I won’t like a song simply because of a vocalist (it’s a professional hazard - sorry!) 👩‍🏫

** The following are my own observations/opinions. We may not agree, and that’s ok! That’s what makes music fun! 😊

*** I wouldn’t say I’m well-versed in Cillian’s music preferences, but I do enjoy them (for the most part). I always wind up adding to my own playlists after listening to Cillian’s recommendations.

———————————————————————

OMG IT’S THE LAST ONE!!!!

🎵Set 1 (Wandering Star - Undenied)

Wandering Star: such an interesting mix of “folksy” with urban sound effects

fun fact, I always accidentally mispronounce “Portishead”. Idk why I can’t learn, but there ya go!

Undenied: again, this is has a blend of soft and harsh sounds, but I like how it’s completely different from the first song. The timbres/qualities are different, so it’s a fun experiment in how far you can go with a musical idea.

🎤Talking Break

Last show 😭😭😭😭

“A total pleash”

WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT’S BEEN 10 YEARS OF CILLIAN MUSIC?!?!

I love that he’s embraced the word “ain’t”

🎵Set 2 (Someday - When I Go Deaf)

Someday: ok but I’m loving the harmonies in this cover version 🥰

When I Go Deaf: ok, but the premise of going deaf - YES SIR I DO MIND!!! *PSA please take care of your hearing* regardless it’s a beautiful song about growing older and cherishing the moment and all that you have. That being said, I LOVE when the music goes from folk to rock 🤘😎

🎤Talking Break

Yes Cill - go for all the favorites! Love it!

FINALLY some more Bowie.

🎵Set 3 (I Can’t Give Everything Away - Fame)

I Can’t Give Everything Away: this is not the soundscape I think of when I think Bowie. And I like the disjointed melodic line in the title motif.

Fame: what a classic 😎 now even if I’m not the biggest fan of Bowie’s voice, even I listen to this a good deal because it’s just perfect.

🎤Talking Break

The way Cillian goes insane over “Fame” - the only version of fame I think he’ll ever like 😂😅

Yay!!! A John Lennon quote!!!!!!

🎵Set 4 (Perfect Day - I Want You)

Perfect Day: why does the tonality of this song refuse to be stably in a major key? 🤔 I don’t necessarily consider that a “perfect day” association - the way it keeps mixing major/minor refutes the “perfect” quality. I suppose it’s just a “wistful” thing, but still!

I Want You: YES I LOVE EARLY DYLAN!!! This is prob in my top 5 fave Dylan tracks. It’s so heartbreakingly beautiful, simple, and earnest.

Fun fact: “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” is my #1 Dylan song

🎤Talking Break:

Final reasonable question!!! 😢

I actually like this one - what song do you listen to on repeat?

Omg, of course he would listen to experimental loop music. 🤦‍♀️😅😂 ok, it’s official, he needs to join my music history class. 😂😂😂

🎵Set 5 (Jesus Going to Clean House - Ida)

Jesus Going to Clean House: ok, but can contemporary praise music be this groovy?? Please????

Let’s Go Swimming - Gulf Stream Dub: this sounds so water sports, and I have no idea why other than the name has convinced me this is music for the beach! 😅😅 the power of suggestion!

Ida: I can’t decide if it’s distorted accordion in the background, or a keytar or some other strange electronic instrument. I’ll have to do some research later!

🎤Talking Break

Exclusive ident - I shall miss you!

A poem!

No, Cillian, please make a dad joke!

Oh dear, I’m over 30. Let’s see how I respond to “forgetfulness”

… yeah. I agree 😬

An exclusive reading!

I really liked his thoughts on listening. Good selection!

🎵Set 6 (Coffee & TV)

Coffee & TV: I’ve said this before, but I find it odd that certain songs are produced in such a way that the vocals are subservient to the instrumental line. I think I hear this more in “alternative” sounding music. Maybe that’s a trend I’ve just never noticed!

🎤Talking Break

“Banal and unverified facts”

The way he says “palm trees” 😂 “pam trees”

🎵Set 7 (Saat Alfarah - Midnight)

Saat Alfarah: again, saxophones! Of course he loves this, and frankly, so do I! Idk what’s going on, but it’s got good vibes and it’s just fun! 😎

Midnight (ft. Raphael Saadiq): not my favorite, but it’s cool sounding, for sure. Also, when wearing my AirPods, the background pop sound almost seems like I can feel it reverberating through my skull. That’s weird.

🎤Talking Break

Irish music! Finally!

🎵Set 8 (Wishing Well - Satisfaction)

Wishing Well: it sounds all wishful/wistful, but the static buzzes definitely fight that.

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction: it’s a little mind-boggling because the vocals do NOT follow the beat established by the backing track. I assume they were recorded separately. I really hoped I would like this cover, but… nope! 🙅‍♀️

🎤Talking Break

“And that’s a cover version!” Indeed, Cillian. Indeed.

Last Yorkshire Man!

Wait… did he just not reveal his identity?! Did I miss something???

🎵Set 9 (Sweet Leaf of the North)

Sweet Leaf of the North: ummm… I must say I’ve never been that impressed about a leaf. 😅 I don’t love his voice, but the vibes are cute.

🎤Talking Break

A favorite band, and his kids agree!

🎵Set 10 (A Cold Freezin’ Night - Blackbox Life Recorder 2f)

A Cold Freezin’ Night: I can appreciate this as a quirky twist on “electronic sounds as music” + experimental music, and I even appreciate the interplay between siblings (as an older sister with a healthy rivalry with her brother 😂), BUT. not my favorite.

I’m glad he explained about the siblings beforehand, otherwise I would’ve been MAJORLY confused and concerned. 😅

Blackbox Life Recorder 21f: still following the “electronic sounds as music” theme, but less experimental 👍

🎤Talking Break

Yay new music!

🎵Set 11 (Lately - Blackpool Late Eighties)

Lately: I like this. Soulful, atmospheric, and groovy. Just a fun combo.

Blackpool Late Eighties: dude, what a build up!! It certainly keeps you wanting more!

🎤Talking Break

NO IT’S ENDING 😭😭😭😭😭

Aww, he “did have a little cry” over Nina’s song!

“Mind yourselves”

🎵Set 12 (Wholy Holy - Stars)

Wholy Holy: YES! YES YES YES YES YES!!! ✨favorite song of the episode✨

Stars: Nina. No, no you did not just GO OFF on the piano at the end there! Dang!! She is just too good! What a great way to end the show!

———————————————————————

YOU HAVE MADE IT TO THE END! CONGRATULATIONS! 🎊🎉

Thank you so much to all y’all who kept reading these - I hope you enjoyed it! It’s been a pleasure (although a significantly larger project than what I expected at first), but I definitely had fun!

Tag list:

@iammrsrogers @deliciousnutcomputer @mariamoonie @brownskinsugarplum76 @look-at-the-soul @kj-davis @neverroad @teapothollow @thepurplearmyposts @possessedmarshmallow

[cinnbar-bun]

hello dear! just read your Crocodile fic and i am in love

i wanted to ask you a favor… if it’s not too much trouble could you please share some arabic poems with us? i love how they express themselves and the way they talk is so full of life, thank you in advance!

Oh this is such a lovely ask! I’ll be the first to admit that to be honest, I probably couldn’t give you really good recommendations. Most of my studies and degree work in literature comes from Arabic authors who have written about their experiences in English rather than literature/poetry in the Arabic language.

Obviously there are the rather “known” ones like Mahmoud Darwish and possibly Rumi (although it’s more Persian but, ya know-). I do recommend Maram al-Rasmi, she was one I found on my own. I’ll list Abdallah Zrika, Nazik Al-Malaika, Khalil Mutran, Ibrahim Tuqan, and Fadwa Tuqan.

As for what I have read, and I highly recommend their works if you are looking to read more Arab-English authors/poets (please read up on the content warnings- you can dm me and I’ll do my best to list them). Also apologies for the summaries below:

Naomi Shihab Nye: a lovely poet. Scared, Scarred, Sacred is one I’ve read a lot during my university studies.

Salt Houses by Hala Alyan. This follows four generations of a Palestinian family after the Six-Day war. I really loved this one and the relationship between the family, both in their dysfunction and in their bonding. There are lots of heavy topics in this one, especially since it is directly dealing with war and the generational trauma associated with it.

I, the Divine by Rabih Alameddine. I will be the first to admit that the way it’s set up and jumps around chronologically can be confusing and drag in the beginning, but after piecing together the story as it goes along, it’s truly a beautiful and unique story. It stuck with me in a way that I couldn’t really explain. Trigger warning for this one too the content can get heavy and graphic. I’m not gonna summarize too much I think you should dive head first into it.

A Pure Heart by Rajia Hassib. This follows two sisters, Rose and Gameela, who have distinct personalities and views on politics and culture. After Gameela’s death, Rose goes back to Egypt and looks through Gameela’s items only to discover how much Gameela hid from her family.

As a lit major I love answering questions like this so thank you for giving me the opportunity!!! I really appreciate the question and am so happy you took the opportunity to read my work and ask this. Have a lovely day, darling!!

[unrequitedloveletter]

okay! It’s that time of the year again! My account anniversary has technically already passed--it was technically two years last month I but didn’t actively start posting until the 27th of this month in 2021, so we’re celebrating in april--and both not passed yet, but I was like “two birds get to eat one scone” so we’re celebrating three weeks early. 

Anyway!! Characters to whom this event applies are the same as normal with a new addition or two: we’ve got Alina, Mal, Zoya, and Nikolai from Shadow and Bone, Kaz, Inej, Nina, Matthias, Jesper and Wylan from Six of Crows, Pin Hawthorne from Free Rein because I miss him, Joel Miller from the Last of Us, and because I haven’t written for them in a while and I cannot run two accounts at once for the life of me, Jayce and Viktor from Arcane!

The event, as per usual, is below the cut, and all I ask with this event is that, if you don’t want the reader to be gender neutral--as is my default because I typically write in second person--please let me know!

CONCERT LINEUP

BOYGENIUS

I’ll give everything I’ve got, please take what I can give- blurbs! Fluffy blurbs, to be specific! I’m putting a cap on these at 800 words and I’ll take just about anything, so long as its fluffy!

in another life, we were arsonists- word prompts! Send me any word--it can be the most basic word you’ve ever seen or something specific!--and I’ll write a fic using that word as the inspo

You could absolutely break my heart, that’s how I know that we’re in love- relationship angst! I’ll write nearly anything for this, even if it breaks my heart, makes me rethink life entirely, and ends up being a lot longer than I meant for it to be, any relationship angst is game, the goal here is to sob.

always an angel, never a god- angst prompts! The link for the prompt list is here, and you can send in as many prompts in combination with each other as you want!

NOVO AMOR

so, it’s probably nothing, but it’s been on my mind sometime and I can’t let it go- hug prompts! The link for those is here, and again, you can send in as many combinations as you want!

a dose, a moment to live in- small moments! Give me moments of time that can seem insignificant but are actually very significant to you and I’ll write a fic!

I can’t seem to let myself leave you, but I can’t breathe anymore- longfics! These ones will probably be four or five thousand words in length, and the only thing I ask of you is that requests for this prompt keep to my theme of angst or hurt/comfort with this event!

anchor up to me love- okay! kiss prompts! The link is here, all that’s required for this prompt is that you send along a kiss prompt and whatever else you want to add

CONAN GRAY

it’s not like the novels- titles! Come up with a fic title, provide to me any other specifics you have in mind, and I’ll use whatever you give me to write a fic!

I want a love like the movies- give me a trope/character dynamic from this list, a song (or a specific lyric from a song that you want me to base it off of, or even a poem, anything that is seen as art is acceptable here) and a time of day. I’ll use that to write a fic with a minimum of 1k words. 

maybe we lost all the love that we had, and I can’t pretend it’ll ever come back- give me a one-word emotion (yearning, joy, contentment, anguish, anger, remorse) and a prompt of your choosing (it can be from a list I’ve linked anywhere on my account/this post, or one you come up with!) and i’ll use that to write a fic or make a moodboard!

I wish that you would stay in my memories- give me something mundane and I’ll write a fic of the character you choose doing that thing!

SINGLES

felt like home- ships + moodboards!! Give me a bit about you, an activity you associate with spring, and I’ll ship you with someone from the Grishaverse or Arcane!

am I comfortable in silence? or is it eating me alive?- angst freebie! no prompts or specific angst necessary here, just hit me with your saddest ideas and I’ll probably write anything for this!

something is rotten inside of me. I have to find it and cut it out- go wild here! I’ll accept any combination of prompts, nearly any idea, concepts that you just want to discuss without them turning into a fully fledged fic, or just, if you want to say hi and shoot the shit about something, this prompt isn’t necessary but you’re welcome to use it if you need an excuse :)

mutual tags: @ell0ra-br3kk3r​ @b3kk3r-by-br3kk3r​ @sophierequests-trashblog​

[garden-ghoul]

happy gushiwensday thursday!! Let’s have a look at Su Shi’s “Hunting in Mizhou.”

Give me a moment---let an old man talk about his wild years. Hunting dog at my left, goshawk at my right, my embroidered marten-fur cap. We rolled a thousand strong over the hills and flattened them. At my word the city overturned itself to watch me, their governor, shoot a tiger like young Sun Quan. Wine-drunk, bold-chested, free and open; a little white in my hair isn't a crime. I'll carry a seal west to Yunzhong, watch me--- another Feng Tang rides to their aid. My carved bow will become a full moon, point northwest, and shoot the Wolf Star over Xia.

notes and original text under the cut!

江城子·密州出猎

老夫聊发少年狂，左牵黄，右擎苍，锦帽貂裘，千骑卷平冈。为报倾城随太守，亲射虎，看孙郎。 酒酣胸胆尚开张。鬓微霜，又何妨！持节云中，何日遣冯唐？会挽雕弓如满月，西北望，射天狼。

This was a fun one to wrestle with because there’s a LOT of historical references in it. I went for a vaguely “Anglo Saxon bragging poem” vibe, because that’s the kind of bragging poem I know.

an old man --- He uses an old man pronoun 老夫 right off the bat here. Baike notes that he was about 40 when he wrote it, lol.

My hunting dog, my goshawk --- the dog is rendered simply as “yellow” and the hawk as “blue,” I don’t know if this is a common phrase or what. If we didn’t have annotations I’d be so lost.

and flattened them --- I think it’s actually referring to “flat ridges/hills,” ie not very tall, but the braggart vibe goes well with exaggerating the power of your hunting companions.

At my word --- 报 is an interesting word here. If you interpret it as “repay” it’s kind of a pious governor thing to do, looking cool so your citizens can be proud of you. If you interpret it as “announce,” it feels more like he’s making everyone watch him. I chose the latter interpretation, since nowhere else in the poem does he think of anyone but himself.

their governor --- 太守 is specifically a provincial governor, but all I can find is that he was a governor of several cities? Which makes me wonder if this poem isn’t actually about himself at all.

young Sun Quan --- we’ve seen an emperor referred to as “XXX-lang” once before, which is making me wonder if this is a Thing, possibly to indicate that it happened before he was emperor? Anyway, Sun Quan famously shot a tiger from horseback. He also worked for Cao Cao for a while as, yes, a provincial governor!

I’ll carry a seal... to their aid --- This whole bit is a reference to Feng Tang, who argued with Emperor Wen of Han to redeem the governor of Yunzhong, Wei Shang, who had misreported some battle statistics. It’s interesting that in this poem about hunting, shooting, and killing, his idea of heroism here has more to do with loyalty or faithfulness. He’s not casting himself as Wei Shang! BTW this poem was written about two years before Su Shi was exiled. Lol.

point northwest... Xia --- ASTRONOMY TIME. So in China, in a stunning coincidence, the star Sirius which the Romans knew as the Dog Star is... also a dog! 天狼 the Heavenly Wolf is just northwest of the tip of the arrow nocked on the Arc of 9 Stars (I THINK this is the Chinese name of the constellation? It shares a lot of stars with Puppis/Canis Major). It’s therefore also associated with conquest and punishment of criminals, and according to Baike it refers to Western Xia, which was actually quite close to Mizhou and probably a thorn in the side of the Song Dynasty.

[slmcreative]

Now that the contest is almost over, I’d like to share my submission to the 2022 DBD Cosmetic contest. A bit more last minute than I would’ve liked, but it’s done! I made a skin for The Plague, inspired by Hel, a goddess of the dead in Scandinavian myth. She is associated with those who die of sickness or old age. She is described as being half alive and half rotting. (The dead half is described as being blue.) There’s a lot going on with her outfit so I’ll break it down beneath the cut. 

The symbol on her deer skull mask is the Aegishjalmur, also known as the Helm of Awe or the Helm of Terror. This symbol can be found in the Icelandic Huld Manuscript and is mentioned in the Poetic Edda, the Codex Regius, and the Volsunga Saga. There are several versions of Aegishjalmur in the Huld Manuscript. One of them can be found on the forehead of the wolf skull on The Plague’s belt. 

The wolf skull on her belt is representative of one of her siblings - Fenrir. The Plague’s necklaces are: a serpent torc (Jormungandr, her other sibling); two bead necklaces with teeth (representative of the four survivors she goes against); and a pendant of Loki (her father). The Loki necklace is based on a pendant found in Denmark. 

You can see why I put this under a cut, right? Anyway, next up, the Younger Futhark runes. They’re from the Norwegian Rune Poem and describe the rune Kaun, which is also inscribed on the skull censer four times, but in Elder Futhark because it just looks better. Kaun translates as “sore” or “ulcer,” a fitting rune for the Plague. 

The Norwegian Rune Poem excerpt reads: 

Kaun er barna bǫlvan; bǫl gørver nán fǫlvan.

Ulcer [Kaun] is fatal to children; death makes a corpse pale.

Lastly, the Jelling knotwork on the robes. Full credit, although not required, goes to Jonas Lau Markussen. He doesn’t require credit if you purchase his work, which I did, but his stuff is so amazing that I had to give him a shout out anyway. You can buy his lovely pack of historically accurate knotwork styles for a tip of at least $5. 

[fcb4]

Israel, Palestine and the Two Ravens of Odin

“Then the carcasses of this people will become food for the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away. I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns…” -‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭7‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭

The two Ravens of the Norse God Odin are called: Hugin and Munin. The translation of these bird’s names both involve the ideas of: “thought,” “desire,” and “emotion.”

Ravens are often associated with being eaters of the dead. The unclean birds that devour the slain of battle.

A raven eating a corpse is a gruesome image. To stand and watch someone’s loved one being dismantled and consumed by black beasts is a horrific terror for the mind and heart. Yellow eyes, shrill squawking in the fields sown with hell and horror is a picture that reaches into the depths of one’s soul and unsettles and unmakes us. Our fragile worlds, without and within, are disrupted, darkened and devastated.

It is a cold and brutal reminder that war eats out mind, heart and…hope.

Death 💀 is the end of desire.

In war, all that we have hoped for in our earthly lives is savagely struck down. Dreams and visions, plans and promises ripped out of our chests and stream over the burnt earth with blood and gore.

The Raven eats the victors and the defeated alike. The flesh of soldiers and the flesh of the innocents caught between invaders and defenders.

All are food for the birds of the air and only the wise know that vengeance is not a crown of victory.

Lately I’ve been sitting with Hugin and Munin at the confessional of my soul listening to all they have seen.

Tales of Terror in:

Burma

Ukraine

Africa

and now Israel and Palestine.

I’ll never escape the image of someone’s daughter being shoved into an suv with bloodied pants from being violently raped by Hamas terrorists.

I know that more horrors are to come. Victims and victors all bloodied by the cycles of justice and injustice battering cities to ruin and rubble.

Truly the sounds of joy and gladness are silenced.

Years ago in the aftermath of an endless list of people and places ravaged by violence, I wrote a poem after trying to help my kids process the world they were becoming aware of in their young lives.

It’s a poem that will never truly be fully written because the list of events won't end until the Prince of Peace returns.

Yet again I share it here as a witness to the long defeat we all must walk until our judgments come to account.

Odin’s Eye

Last night,

after talking to you,

yet again, I wept.

Massacres, mayhem and madness,

like crows gathered above my heart.

Their twitching, golden eyes,

saw my fears openly,

pecked at my scars,

dug into my wounds,

exposing memories.

A Van Gogh slain in the streets of Amsterdam,

high school halls filled with the dead,

lady Liberty’s towers falling in fire and ash,

theaters of gunfire echoing from Colorado.

Elementary playgrounds of unimaginable horror,

nightclub music silenced in blood and tears.

Norwegian summer camp butchering,

Paris brought to her knees,

Iraq in rubble, her teashops blown open by the breath of Apollyon.

Fort Hood.

Boston,

San Francisco,

beheadings, shootings, burnings and drownings,

blood trails behind the horses of the apocalypse.

I am father,

protector, provider, way maker,

and yet,

how many demons can I swallow for you?

Two generations born,

and still the fires of gehenna

burn.

At the well of wisdom, I sit,

Odin’s eye staring back at me in the depths,

what sacrifice can I give to see a new future born?

What I have witnessed, darkens my vision.

I gouge out my eye to quench your fires,

while birds of prey feast on our sorrows,

again,

and again,

and

again.

[shepardlives]

*slams buzzer* Abby for all them!!!!

1. Canon I outright reject

That he does not exist and I cannot kiss him

2. A canon or headcanon hill I will die on

Abby is a big ol cat so expect cat behaviors

3. Obscure headcanon

Abby has to resist the urge to groom people constantly. He just loves his friends

4. Favorite line

“Nya :3c”

5. Best personality trait

Abby is very loyal, even if he can be aloof

6. Worst personality trait

Abby is very quick to cut and run because of his past, so it’s a lot of work to gain his trust and make him stick around

7. Age/height/weight headcanon

Abby is around 37, 7 feet even, and around 300 pounds

8. Unpopular opinion about them

The best love interest for Genji don’t @ me

9. Scene that first made me love (or hate) the

character

He popped into my brain because I was tired of Genji/l*cio

10. Best moment on screen (or in the book)

All :)

11. Faceclaim for the role

God I had a face claim but I can’t FIND IT if I find him I’ll edit this

12. Crack headcanon

Abby has a rough tongue like a cat but only Sometimes

13. Dumbest thing they've ever done

Genji

14. Most heroic moment

Abby has worked with overwatch to save a lot of people but he’s very proud of the times he’s saved kids

15. Worst thing they've ever done

He’s killed a lot of his fellow preds, either in the lab or because they couldn’t be saved… it still weighs on him

16. Deepest darkest secret they won't even admit

He doesn’t know that he wanted to be saved. It might have been better if he’d gone crazy and someone put a bullet in him

17. Quotes. sonas. poems. etc. that | associate

“Not a man like you”

18. What they'd go to see a therapist about

Probably the massive amount of mental and physical abuse they went through while being experimented on or the feelings of non-personhood

19. Vices/bad habits

Abby tends to smoke or scratch at his clothing when he’s nervous so he goes through a lot of clothes

20. Scars

Many

21. Drink of choice (not just alcoholic)

Abby likes iced mochas a lot. Usually this is just him adding chocolate milk to his coffee

22. Best physical feature

His muscles :^)

23. If they were a scented candle, what would

they smell like?

Chocolate, firewood, and tiger lilies

24. Most annoying habit

Abby doesn’t exactly keep normal sleeping hours

25. 3 things they'd want to take with them if they

were dropped off in the middle of nowhere

Abby actually struggles with the idea of keeping anything thanks to his upbringing- he’d keep a weapon but that’s about it

26. What they would do if stuck in an elevator

with insert character of your choice from the

same fandom]

If it were Cole, probably play cards. If it were Genji well. Depends on how long they were stuck

27. Their guilty pleasure

Abby loves reality tv. It’s terrible but he can’t stop watching

28. How they feel about insert character of your

choice from the same fandom]

Abby actually feels a lot of pity for reaper. He knows how that much anger and hurt can eat you alive

29. Eating habits

Abby is a fucking trash can and will eat whatever you give him. He’s very polite and won’t ask for seconds but he could very easily eat three plates of food

30. Sleeping habits

Abby sleeps very lightly and at all hours of the day. If he ever goes missing it’s most likely he’s found a quiet spot to take a cat nap

31. If the had a tumblr what would it look like?

Abby is very interested in robotics and other technological advances. He’d have a big STEM themed blog. Also lots of pictures of fish around lunch and dinner time

32. Something guaranteed to make them smile/

laugh

Abby loves terrible jokes: Reyes always got a laugh out of him when they were on missions

33. Something guaranteed to make them cry

Abby is pretty well regulated there so it takes a lot- but talking about his old family does the trick, always

34. How they react when they are feeling X

emotion (sad, angry, excited, scared, etc.-can

specify as many as you like)

Abby is very cautious- he’s big, he’s black, and he’s clearly not all the way human, so his emotions have to be regulated- but when he’s angry he’s furious. He tends to lose himself in it and the results are usually bloody

35. Their idea of a perfect day

Cat nap in the sun, a good workout/wrestle session with whatever tank is around, a hearty lunch, a walk/date with Genji, a good meal for dinner, and then cuddling until Genji falls asleep (zoomies at 3 am)

36. Their favorite season

Abby loves winter

37. What they really think about themselves

Abby thinks… he is an anomaly in a world that doesn’t always take kindly to those. He didn’t deserve what happened to him, but he wants a place in this world.

38. Favorite holiday

Christmas!

39. Favorite game

Abby isn’t much of a gamer but he usually tunes into Hana’s streams to see what’s up. He’d really like stardew valley if he tried it

40. Favorite book

As intelligent as he is Abby isn’t a huge reader. He liked the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe though

41. If they could have lunch with anyone in the

world (living or dead, from any fictional universe

or the real world), who would it be?

His mom

42. 3 comfort items

Sunbeams, hoodies, and a stress ball Zenyatta gave him

43. 3 favorite foods and 3 they despise

Abby is a trash can as mentioned but he doesn’t like cucumber. Salmon is his favorite fish

44. Their happiest memory

Meeting Genji

45. Their favorite celebrity

Hana Song

46. The person they most admire

Genji, for finding peace and acceptance in what he’s been made into

47. Their dream job

Abby would love to be a kindergarten teacher

48. Scariest moment of their life

See: his whole childhood in the lab

49. Favorite toy as a child

There was a desk in his room he played pretend with

50. A memory they've blocked out

Some of the more violent experiments, especially at first. Growing his tiger features (ears, tail, claws) weren’t exactly painless experiments

[oliveraiku]

your web weavings are AMAZING have you done shidou ryuusei yet? if not can i pls req him <3 thank u so much

“SHIDOU RYUUSEI” - Let Me Be Your Favourite Shade Of Violence.

Erica Jong, from Where It Begins; “Fruits & Vegetables: Poems By Erica Jong” / Richard Kadrey, from Sandman Slim; “Aloha From Hell” / Richard Siken, “Crush” / mine / Anne Sexton, “Hansel And Gretel” / Japanese Breakfast, “Boyish” / Yves Olade, “Beloved”.

[elytrafemme]

i’m gonna be real with you, i’ve saw like maybe two or three origins streams ;-; ooo, i would like to hear about them whenever if you’d like!! and if you don’t want them to to public or anything, you can always dm if you want to! gosh, i love headcanons, feel free to come to me and tell me about them anytime you wanna :D

poetry is so nice. i used to write poetry sometimes when i was in really bad moments of mental health stuff, so most of my poetry is really triggering probably. i totally understand you with feeling like characters are living and breathing people, i feel that so much. i had an oc who i adored some years ago and haven’t touched on her since those years ago. unfortunate, i miss her so much (her name is june btw). i miss writing, it’s one of the only things i’ve ever truly shared and created because i used to be good at it, but now i think i’ve lost a lot of that. the last thing i wrote was a short c!ranboo poem that i posted a few months ago (i think). and i completely get you, makes total sense. i think writing in that way is really nice

oh? that’s cool then! i don’t know if you remember, but someone asked you a bit ago what names you’d pick for cs!tubbo if his name wasn’t tubbo, and i can’t remember if that was on anon or not (i think it was, and that was me actually. so we have cs!tubbo and cs!ranboo, haha. mhm, i get you, but i wanted to! because the fic is genuinely so fucking incredible and i wanted to add to the lovely community for it, but turns out it was a guy in my brain. i haven’t seen her in a while…. she’s incredibly mentally ill so she’s weary of being around. but if i see them anytime soon, i’ll let him know you said that. i’m sure they would appreciate that. oh no, she’s fine with it. one of the names he goes by actually is mare, because of you, so i’m very positive they’re comfortable with being associated with you and everything? also please let me know if her using a name of yours makes you uncomfortable, he wouldn’t like to make you uncomfortable :]

HELLO I AM SO SORRY I AM REPLYING SO LATE hope you are well <3

i don't have all the energy atm to explain my full headcanons but basically i had a fic AU set in a modern, non-fantastical universe where the osmp cast lived in this smaller quaint town and eventually o!Ranboo left to move into the city after a natural disaster event happened in the other town and caused her some trauma. her relationships are generally strained but are better with some people than others but inevitably she is able to find her way home. there's more to it than that but that was my idea hehe

poetry is so so so fucking healing seriously, and honestly like! any kind of writing is so important to keep regardless of whether it fits on this metric of "good/bad", like. it's coming from the heart and your experiences and these characters that you connect to (june sounds lovely by the way, <3) and that's what's most important. i've had to give myself a lot of grace with cough syrup about whether or not i was writing it perfectly because, yeah, the first couple of chapters are objectively on the shittier end compared to the rest of the fic. but what matters is that it conveyed what i wanted it to, and it gave me a way to spend that summer, and it meant a lot to me.

i hope this isn't uncomfortable to say but the fact that your csranboo uses the name mare because of me makes me like, tear up a little. and yes, i remember that anon! i find it so interesting how many people have asked me about alternate names i'd give the characters for purposes of fictives because to be entirely honest i am so ungodly shitty with names that every time i flounder LMAO, but it's very sweet that people ask me haha . also tell your cstubbo i say hello as well , there are many brain guys in this community too and i think that's realy neat honestly

[justonemorechapternicercy]

So, I reached a milestone I never knew I ever would. Thank you, guys 💙

To celebrate it, I want to do a little ask game, if you are interested in it. You send me the emoji and the ship/character/something that it requires and I'll answer them.

Everyone who submits an ask, will be entered into a drawing of a personalized fic of 1000 words. (If you are doing it anonymously, send it with a nickname so I can distinguish between the anons.)

❔ questions: send me a question about a n y t h i n g (where I get story ideas, when will I write about something or another, personal questions, whatever you ask, I will answer)

🧠headcanons: send me a PJO character and a scenario/situation and I’ll write how they would react/what they would do

💤bed-wed-or-behead: send me three characters and I’ll choose who I want to snuggle with, get married to, or kill (if I don't know the characters, I'll go with the info I can gather from Google)

🤔this or that: send me two options and I have to pick one of them (can be about anything!)

🌙character association: send me one or two facts about yourself and I’ll tell you what character you remind me of

🎤quotes: share a lyric/quote you love 💙 (I may or may not give a ficlet or headcanon in return depending on my energy level)

✨ranking: send in 3 things and I’ll rank them (songs, artists, books, movies, anything you want…)

📝WIPs: I’ll share a bit of writing from one of my wips

🎨your art: send me something you’ve made (moodboard, drawing, poem, a bit of writing… I love seeing and sharing your amazing work! 💙)

[screenmaven]

Made for TV Movies - A Killer Among Friends

I started down the Rabbit hole on these type of movies the other day. First it started with a Frat College movie called Freshman Fall. I sometimes just pick something random and see where it takes me. We all remember those tv films from the 90s on network television or lifetime, that dealt with an either based on a true story plot line, or some suspense mystery drama. I’m probably just aging myself by saying this. None the less there are many good ones out there, and I will probably stay on this genre off an on, because I like real life things being told through movies. The reason I decided to write a blog about this film in particular, is because it struck up some emotions in me and was in some ways related to a tragic crime within my extended family in the early 90s. I don’t talk a lot about it, because I was in the fifth grade at the time, but that horrific incident was done by jealous crazy girls, and this film I watched today involved two.

I don’t think I’ll ever understand how people can hate others so much, just because maybe someone is more popular or sought after. So many crimes and betrayal have come from lovers or friends. There have been so many films and real life situations like this happen and it’s really sad. People get this mentality that if they can’t have someone, then anyone who gets that person is somehow an enemy, and this jealous rage comes about. The way I look at things is if someone doesn’t want you and wants someone else, let them go. No one is worth that kind of damage. We all have felt betrayal, but getting all cray cray is just insane! Don’t be on the 10pm news please. No thank you!

PSA: If you’re insanely jealous of a friend or anyone and have any ill harm towards them, you need to get help, like seriously! If you know someone who gives you these vibes, trust it and break away.

As girls if we’re honest, we all have gotten a little jealous at times over other girls who have had more, or maybe have made you feel inferior. This may have caused you a little resentment, but in both of these cases it is never okay to let those feelings be anything more than just flighty. Move past them and find love within yourself. You’ll see the world and people a lot different.

I don’t do that jealousy song and dance and don’t care to associate myself with anyone who does that type of thing either. I’ve had my share of people who have plotted ill will against me, and even one person in particular that stole a bunch of my poems and portrayed it to be hers. That’s a story for another day and boy do I have some stories.

In this movie A Killer Among Friends (based on a true story) several of the main girl’s friends are involved in killing her over stupid jealousy that involves their boyfriends or ex’s. In a series of events that play out horribly, I am pleased to say justice is served for the crimes. I love me some good justice! The diabolical nature of seeing someone so close to home being a bad person is all too true many times, and I think the actors in this film all did good portraying their characters. I however saw the culprit from the beginning, but not everyone realizes that, so I think movies like these give people a chance to spot these things from happening to others, or people we love. If you want to watch something in the crime drama genre that’s decent, give it a go. It stars Tiffani Thiessen and the late Patty Duke.

As for the other real life story I mentioned, (not related to this movie) that this film triggered memories for me is attached here in a link if you want to read about that. I didn’t want to really get into it, but always as a writer I like to sight my sources for why I write.

I also want to say that by sharing this additional link and story of Shanda is not to promote any type of crime or glorify it, I’m fully against that. I am sharing this with the intention to pay respect and honor to my extended family and to Shanda, and to shed light on the pain that jealousy and hate cause, and to prevent it from ever happening again.

Until next time - screenmaven

Also if you’d like follow me on my socials (starrymayx), and feel free to send me any film suggestions that you may think I’d be into checking out.

[ghosts-and-blue-sweaters]

Cactus, chia, chamomile, papyrus :))

Hey, Foxie :D

something you’re currently learning (about)?

Mmm, I just recently learned how to play Losing Face on guitar :D And that’s been really fun to play!!

I wanna get better at Since I Saw Vienna and White Wine In A Wetherspoons, and also learn I’m Sorry Boris and For Memories! And perhaps La Jolla and Jubilee Line… what’s holding me back with those two is the wonky tuning :/

what’s an inside joke you have with someone else?

Hehe James Carol (aka James Marriott). Me and my sister make so much fun of him lollll

Don’t ask why we call him James Carol. I don’t remember.

what kind of things do you like receiving as gifts?

Little homemade things mean a lot! One of my irl friends gifted me an art piece she did of our friend group, and to this day I still treasure it very very much :D

And also art in general!! I looooooove it when people give me art they made, it means so much to me :’D I’m obsessed with all the art my sister has given me (SHE DREW SLEEPY BOIS AND THEY’RE SO CUTE) and one of my friends drew my bird OCs, and another friend did art for a DSMP poem I wrote, and I treasure ALL OF THEM :D I love it so much!!

if you put your ‘on repeat’ playlist on shuffle, what’s the first song that comes up? what do you like about it / associate it with?

YAYAY MUSIC ASK MUSIC ASK

I’m not gonna do the shuffle thing because my On Repeat playlist is BROKEN! But I’ll choose a song myself :)

Into The Open Air by Julie Fowlis!

It was always my favorite song from Brave, but only recently have I actually started listening to the song outside of watching the movie :) It’s so pretty!! The guitar and the singing and the lyrics and the meaning and… aughhh :’0

IT REMINDS ME OF WILBUR AND GHOSTBUR IN MY MODERN AU YES I KNOW I’M WEIRD!!! But like… aaaaaaaah!!!

[spectaculardistractions]

To José Rubia Barcia Mexico City, 5 September 1948 My dear Barcia, Thank you so much for your lengthy and instructive letter. Kenneth did indeed write back in similar terms to the ones he used in his conversation with you. I don’t think he understood Illegible, Son of a Flute because, although he calls it a striking script, he follows that up immediately with an absolutely standard critique of what he sees as its structural defects. You can’t just say of a poetic film like this one, that it lacks a climax, or that the plot is underdeveloped or too confusing. You can’t judge a naturalist novel and a lyric poem the same way. Still, I’m not about to start arguing cinematic technique with my good friend Macgowan. He thinks there is no chance of it being made in Hollywood anyway. And he’s passing me on to that poor man who made that appalling film Dreams That Money Can’t Buy. Said film-maker, Hans Richter, is a German of precious little talent who made a few vanguard films back in 1927 or 1930. I know him well, and the very fact that Macgowan associated that film with Illegible, Son of a Flute suggests he regards everything unusual as bizarre in the same way. As for a teaching job, I gather it might be possible next year, as long as I could get some additional income elsewhere. I’ve taken note, in case something comes up (although not as a Spanish teacher, of course). I’m finally going to make a film with Dancigers. I’m moving sideways here like a crab. I produced several of Arniches’s films, in 1935 and 1936 just for the fun of it and to earn some money. I didn’t even put my name to them. And now, 15 years later, it turns out I’m going to be directing El último mono by Mr Carlos Arniches ‘seriously’ and with my name on it. Well, at least as far as light work goes, it’s one of the least undignified. They are giving me 18 days to film it. It’s going to be a real mess! But I’ll fight like mad to add at least a little dignity to the mise-en-scene and script. I’ll be free again in January and if I haven’t spent all the money I earn, we’ll all go to Los Angeles. I’m now negotiating with an American company, who want me to film Falla’s Master Peter’s Puppet Show. The terms of the proposal they sent me the day before yesterday are a bit confusing and I’ve asked for clarification. They talk about sending someone down here to talk things over with me and I’ve written back saying that I would be more than willing to travel up to them. If they agree (and if they pay my expenses, of course), we’ll see each other soon. But if they want to see me and this ohso-Aztec of lands at the same time, I’ll just have to agree. One of the reasons I would really like to come up for a week is to see you, drink co-both (a little neologism) gallons and talk at great length as Evita watches over us with her enigmatic Oriental eyes. And that’s that! I completely agree with you about giving the script to Jay Leyda. He’s one of the most honourable and intelligent men in American cinema. As well as being one of my best friends in the world. He wrote to me six or seven months ago, and I haven’t replied. I hope I’ll be able to soon. I’m ashamed… Send my regards if you see him. And to the Edwins as well. What is Rolfe up to? Working still as writer for Warner’s? I gather from his letters that came to an end. As for the dubbing business you mention, it’s impossible. Reasons: I’m not – we’re not – businessmen and would surely get our fingers burned. I have only enough money to get me from one day to the next, and that’s only when I have some; recently, if it hadn’t been for a good friend or two, I would have gone hungry. However, if we can get a bit of capital to start it up, it would be worth thinking about. But where would it come from? They are still doing dubbing here and Dancigers is losing money on every film. The union comes up with more obstacles by the day. They’re trying to stamp it out. They are ferociously antidubbers. And speaking of Dancigers, he won an Ariel yesterday for best film of 1947. It’s pitiful, trying to copy the world’s great film producing centres by handing out Ariels and Oscars to the miserable little films they make down here. It’s insane. If I didn’t have to go to union meetings, I wouldn’t have anything to do with the film world here. That’s how I keep out of all the mess, envy, sycophancy, machinations, etc., etc. Who knows if we’ll see one another soon, perhaps? Warmest regards to Evita and you, Luis PS It would be good if you could send me the original for Cuadernos Americanos. They are very quick at processing them. Please hold on to the two copies of the Illegible, Son of a Flute script and the ‘Introduction’. I may ask you to pass one of them to a certain person soon.

Jo Evans & Breixo Viejo, Luis Buñuel: A Life in Letters