#at best they looked like a great value version

[idiosyncraticrednebula]

I'm glad the era of comparing any guy with mildly dark hair (sometimes they even scratched that) and a white shirt to Eric is finally over 💀

[bobzora]

there are some bits of what they did with the rooftop scene that i like and others where i was like :/ this isn't as good as it could be. and this is an important scene lmao

[messiahzzz]

i have seen several posts around that addressed how discouraging gale from taking the crown of karsus is “keeping him from realizing his true potential.” that tara is merely upset at his choice, instead of being utterly devastated at the loss of her little love. that it’s not a bad ending per se because to get there he didn’t need to sacrifice 7000 innocent souls in the process. gale isn’t continuing the cycle of abuse either, he still appears to love tav and does come back for them to offer them ascension. he wants them to be equal, so it can’t possibly be an unhealthy dynamic, right?

but what of gale himself, his own convictions, values, and everything he holds dear? everything flawed and human that shaped him into the person he is?

player: are you saying you want to ascend? claim godhood?

gale: no, not like that. i don't want to join them. i want to better them. a god's powers, paired with a mortal conscience, a mortal heart.

gale’s motivation for acquiring godhood is that he will able to aid mortals in a way no other god has ever done before. he won’t hide behind pretense nor require blind devotion of his followers. he will understand and be able to empathize. he wholeheartedly believes that he will be different - he will act.

gale: [..] the gods could aid us if they wished, but instead they cower behind ao. so let us act ourselves.

gale believes that by becoming a god he will kill two birds with one stone: aid mortals and acquire enough power to quash any of his insecurities and enemies in the process. that by ridding himself of every perceived flaw he'll finally feel like he will have enough to offer - maybe, just maybe he'll even be content. his flaws are merely holding him back from becoming the best version of himself, and by ridding himself of everything fallible, he will be whole. maybe this is what all of his suffering has led up to. maybe the orb chose him. maybe the reason he had to endure all the pain, isolation, and excruciating loneliness was so that he could realize that he was meant for something even greater. after all, power feeds ambition. and what is more powerful than a god? his convictions were certainly naive, he possesses enough knowledge to know better. don't get me wrong, part of him definitely wants to spite mystra a lil. but his intentions at that time were mostly pure. a reflection of his self-hatred and feelings of inadequacy.

player: this is wrong, gale. that power will corrupt you, even if you can seize it.

gale: it won't, i swear to you. it's merely a tool - a means to an end.

once we meet gale at the party in his new godlike form, it is apparent that even with all the power at his fingertips, he has reached no greater knowledge about himself. his insecurities are still as present as before, he merely is less subtle in his compensation - repeatedly highlighting his grandeur and how dull life on faerun is compared to the wonders of elysium. it is also genuinely crushing to see how little he thinks of himself even now.

gale: i was nothing. a drifting dust mote of a wizard, abandoned by my goddess, my powers lost, my reputation destroyed. and look at me now. i'm their proof.

any perceived dismissal of his Greatness™ is met with immediate disdain.

gale: a bold decision to treat a divine being with such cold indifference.

nodecontext: aloof, annoyed you weren't impressed with him

gale: you mortals do love to live dangerously, don't you?

nodecontext: the slightest hint of a threat - you've probably made an enemy here today. or at least, you've lost a friend.

he is still desperate to impress. emphasizing what an honor it is that a new-born god chose to bless their little soiree with his presence. gaze upon all his divine glory! gale has now become the embodiment of everything he criticized about the gods. his original intentions and plans are discarded and long forgotten. he assuages his erstwhile companions by telling them to simply pray to him, in case they should ever require aid. if they're lucky and their ambition pleases him, he might even deliver.

player: what does the 'god of ambition' offer to his followers?

gale: i 'offer' them nothing. i inspire them to seize their destinies for themselves.

player: interesting, so you help mortals help themselves?

gale: precisely. though that isn't to say i'm averse to the odd bit of direct encouragement.

gale: [..] my aims are set a little higher than offering cursory blessings to just any half-decent spellcaster.

gale: regardless, ethical quandaries are more the remit of my mortal devotees. they do love to talk, and faerun is starting to listen.

aiding "any half-decent spellcaster" is unbefitting of his status. he isn't concerned with questions of ethics and morality either. deeming such matters beneath his divine capabilities.

once gale has ascended and established his domain, what remains of the gale we knew? what of his mortal heart?

minthara: your ambition is not cruel, but you fear that if you indulge it, you will lose yourself in the mysteries of the weave and unravel the world.

minthara: you are afraid of so many things, and it is that fear that keeps you true to yourself.

gale did lose himself and ultimately became one of his biggest fears. considering that his existence as a being of pure ambition leads him to constantly seek out greater heights, it isn't farfetched to believe that raphael's prediction will indeed come true.

player[astarion]: ambition? finally, a god i can get behind...

gale: i assure you, this is merely the prelude to a far grander vision. elysium's in for something of a shake-up.

all that remains of gale is a thin veneer of the person he used to be. what he presents is a hollow echo of the old gale. he does retain some of his mannerisms and quirks, but he is definitely a lot colder and more condescending. if his personality already changed that drastically after a duration of only 6 months, what will he inevitability turn into when he has eternity at his disposal?

essentially, you are aiding gale in the eradication of himself. eradicating everything about him that made him into the loveable, charismatic, awkward, kind, buoyant person he was. everything about him that he perceived as defective, flawed, and lesser-than. before, his hubris was merely an expression of his own discontentment and low self-worth, but now he is hubris incarnate. all of his worst qualities have been amplified.

gale: i am ambition incarnate. as indistinguishable from that most potent sensation as mystra herself is from the weave. and word is spreading.

nodecontext: palpable, almost unsettling excitement from him - hint of megalomania

he put his trust in tav, trusting their judgment and relying on them to nudge him in the right direction. after all, they had plenty of opportunities to show him that they are an ally worth following and confiding in. but in the end, the prospect of what he could be, the things he could give them, the enemies he could yet conquer, won over the desire to simply accept him and help him rebuild a life on solid ground. tav denied him the unconditional love he craves most out of their own selfish desires.

tara: you were looking out for him. i expected better of you.

as i've already mentioned, gale desires nothing more than to be seen, accepted, loved, and valued. having a partner who wholeheartedly supports and believes in him is enough to make him feel content. most importantly - he just wants to live. to enjoy life with everything it has to offer. his ambition can’t be quenched because he hungers still. believing that only by acquiring more power will he finally be enough and reach said acceptance.

we see in his good ending that his own contentment was even able to influence and (temporarily) sate the orb's ever-present hunger:

gale: [..] or perhaps the orb's hunger was fuelled by my own, and my contentment influences it in much the same way.

gale: that's how i feel with you - content. it's a rather unfamiliar feeling, i must say. not something gale of waterdeep ever craved.

it is devastating that he doesn't reach the same feeling of fulfillment if he chooses to pursue godhood, and is instead compelled to continuously surpass his own accomplishments. not being granted rest or reprieve.

gale: i achieved everything we hoped i would, and still i'm not good enough for you?

gale pursuing godhood isn't evidence that he "has been evil all along" or that he "just waited to be unleashed" either. we can't diminish tav's influence in this outcome, they are after all an extension of the player. able to steer every companion toward a path of redemption or to enable them in their worst traits. fandom has already established that by letting astarion ascend you are actively supporting him in becoming the very thing he despises most, putting your own ambitions and idea of what you want him to be above his healing, this is no different.

tara: the gale i knew wasn't like this. he recognised his mistakes. he was contrite. all he wanted to do was live.

tara: unfortunately, he fell into company that turned his gaze towards foolishness. yes, i mean you.

player: gale is his own man, tara.

tara: false. he was mine. though now he belongs only to his own pride.

yes, the epilogue cutscene is beautiful and there is something bittersweet and romantic about his love for tav being one of the few emotions that remained a constant throughout the past 6 months. he didn't need to come back for them, but he did cause he loves them still. no matter how warped his definition of love may be now. while it is abundantly clear that tav ranks lower on his priority list than they did before, his commitment remains.

gale fears isolation, hoping to never return to the time when he was hopeless and alone, stuck inside his tower. by heading in this direction he is once again creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

tara: [..] if i pretended you hadn't turned tail on every lesson you set out to learn, i'd have no right to call myself your friend.

morena may as well have already resigned herself to her son’s death. elminster partly blames himself. for his lapse in judgment, as well as being the one who plucked him from obscurity in the first place. mourning the kind, bright-eyed boy who cried at the scorched roses in his neighbor's garden. tara won't be here anymore to care and look out for him either. he has lost his oldest and dearest friend, the one who witnessed his downfall from grace and never left his side. who believed him to be the finest mind AND the finest wizard she's ever had the pleasure to know. who was certain that he’d find a way out of any crisis no matter the circumstances. ...and if tav declines his offer to ascend with him? what does he have left?

gale: yes, i am rather radiant, aren't i?

tara: don't flatter yourself, gale. you've debased yourself in ways i could never have fathomed.

tara: goodbye gale, i hope the heavens are worth it.

gale’s godhood ending deals with the loss of humanity, the loss of oneself, and everything one holds dear. it is a devastating and bone-chilling narrative. it is a tragedy.

gale: i hope you don't think less of me. great ambition should not come at the expense of what you already hold dear. i see that now.

if gale could see himself, he would be horrified at the losses he deemed necessary to get here. he would be horrified at what he’s become.

[inbarfink]

So the thing about Tak’s Holo-Disguise is that it specifically might not be an example of Tak using more advanced technology than Zim.

The implication in “The Nightmare Begins” is that Zim maybe also have access to Perfectly Realistic Human Disguises, probably similar to Tak’s Hologram - but he intentionally rejected them because he saw them as too ugly. He deliberately chose his shitty little costume because he thought that was the only one that looked ‘good’.

And these terrible disguises are also pretty consistent with how the actual official Invaders disguise themselves. If anything, Zim’s got the best costume of the lot!

So with Zim dismissing the more realistic disguises as being ‘ugly’ and ‘stinky’ and those being… basically the most common insults he throws at humans. ..I think the implication here is pretty clearly that Zim’s (and the actual Irken Invaders’) disguises are bad because he doesn’t want to look too human because Irken Imperial Indoctrination has taught him every other species in the universe is revolting and so he cannot stand the idea of looking too match like the people he is trying to infiltrate.

So it is interesting that the one Irken who actually uses their advanced technology to actually look like another species is Tak. Maybe she’s just being a bit of a show-off overachiever. So driven by the need to prove how competent of an Invader she can be she decided to suffer through the indignity of Using a Competent Disguise. 

Or maybe there’s sort of an implication that Tak doesn’t really buy into Irken Ideology that much?

Like, obviously, she’s not, like,  some sort of anti-Imperial pro-alien advocate or anything. She’s still trying to gain the respect of the Tallest, she still wants to become an Invader, she is still willing to sacrifice an entire planet in order to achieve her goals. 

I’m thinking more, like, Zim is 100% a true believer in Irken Imperial Ideology. He wants to be an Invader at least in part so he could use his ‘amazingness’ to contribute to the conquests of the Irken Empire. And he legitimately believes the Tallests are superior beings worthy of his admiration. And he legitimately believes Irkens are superior to all other sapient beings in the universe in general and to humans especially.

Meanwhile, Tak’s main goals might just be to gain as much power and prestige as she can - no matter what or who stands in her way. If she lived in a society that valued dentists above all she would’ve become a dentist. But she was born in the Irken Empire, and the most prestigious not-height-dependent position available to her in Irken Society is the one of an Invader, so that’s what she dedicated her life to. Not out of any ideological commitment to help the Empire's conquests.

She tries to gain the Tallests’ favor because she knows she needs them to get ahead in life, not necessarily because she craves their tall, superior approval the way Zim does. She can kill a lot of non-Irkens on her way to ‘greatness’, but it’s more of a general callousness towards other people - rather than loyalty to the superiority of the Irken people. 

That might also explain why she’s the one Irken with the sense of individuality to customize her uniform

And design her own version of the Irken Empire Flag, based on her own look.

Because maybe she’s not trying to serve the Irken Empire, maybe she’s just trying to serve Tak.

[galoogamelady]

What’s Fallout like? Like I know I can google what kind of game it is but more than that what games would you compare it to? and is it more story-based or gameplay-based?

That's a difficult one to answer and I'm not sure I have the authority to do it lol

But I'll try!

The Fallout fandom is fairly complicated due to the IP being passed around and the lore/values of its storytelling being muddied over the years. That being said I think both old-school and new fans would still agree that the story is the most important element, as they're meant to be role playing games where you make decisions on often heavy matters (especially in the games of the original devs).

Fallout 1 and 2 are turn-based isometric rpg-s from the late 90s. If you like that type of gameplay, they're fantastic games and cult classics. They don't shy away from heavy themes.

Then the IP got sold to Bethesda and their version of Fallout is a FPS/TPS action experience, as seen in Fallout 3 and 4. The combat is fun but even the newest game is shit by shooter standards. If you played an Elder Scrolls game (like Skyrim), they're like that but set in a retro futuristic post apocalypse. A large slice of the fandom has only played these ones and skipped the original turn-based games.

Fallout New Vegas was made by the original team but using Bethesda's engine. Many fans would tell you that out of the modern titles, that's the one with the best writing.

Fallout 4 was a very popular title due to the scrap and build system. As you adventure, you can scavenge all sorts of trash and then build your own little settlements in the wasteland and populate them with settlers. Add mods to that, and the community really did some magic. It made people connect with the world of Fallout on a personal level.

The story in a nutshell: in an alternate timeline, survivors of a devastating nuclear war are trying to rebuild and make the irradiated wasteland of the United States liveable again but every group and faction has a different take on how society should be rebuilt. When the writing is done well, your choices have weight and it's impossible to be fair and please everyone. You get to discover a variety of different factors that lead to the Great War and you have to wager whether humanity is doomed to make the same mistakes all over again. Is there a way to avoid them? What kind of sacrifices does that require? Etc.

A lot of it is supposed to be a critical look at war, 50s Americana and the dangers of nationalism, rampant consumerism, xenophobia, etc.

Hope this helped a little! It's difficult to find two Fallout fans who are on the exact same opinion of all the games. I personally think, the fun part of the games is when you get to carve a little slice out of the wasteland for yourself and your community and the stimulating part is the overarching story and lore.

It's no wonder the original writers made The Outer Worlds too, which I don't consider a legendary game but the similarities are obvious in the themes.

[kakiastro]

Chiron: Past/Early life wounds that need Healing

Hey y’all! Today I’m going to discuss how you can start your healing journey by doing shadow work with your Chiron placement and house.

Shadow work is just a new age term meaning working on healing your traumas and starting your inner growth journey. We’ll always have shadow work because we’re constantly growing and changing into hopefully the best versions of ourselves.

Chiron can be a really great way to start this journey. Why? Chiron in astrology represents the wounded healer. Which means this is the area that we were hurt the most in past lives and in this lifetime during our early stages (childhood, early teen) years. Chiron is our greatest lesson. And through our healing journey, we can help others on there’s too.

To understand your Chiron; look at the description for your sign + house + degree sign. Break it down and start your healing journey.

Example: Chiron Taurus 9h 7°(libra degree)

Aries/1h

- in past lives, who you are as a person might’ve gotten wounded, demonized or shut down. This gives me wounded warrior energy. You’re a fighter and you may have lost some battles. In this life, people still put you down. You may have been seen as “too much.” To start this healing journey, ask yourself “who am I really?” Make sure this is who you are and not what you been told what to be.

Taurus/2h

-in past lives, your self worth, morals and values were wounded someway. You may have had money issues. In this life, this may have continued. Also people might of been mean to about your looks, may have issue with money and spending or you hoard money because you’re afraid you won’t make enough. Taurus rules the throat so you’re probably self conscious about your voice. To start healing this wound, tell yourself “ I am worthy and abundant.” Release this fear that you’re not worthy of owning nice things. You’re beautiful, and enough. Start listening to upbeat music to make you feel good about yourself.

Gemini/ 3h

-past lives, people didn’t listen to what you had to say. They didn’t understand where you were coming from so they told you to stop talking. This caused a deep wound. In this life, you might’ve been the child “talk too much.” Thus you were told to be quiet. You may struggle with collecting and speaking your thoughts due to the fear of being judged. To start your healing journey, start journaling. Write down your thoughts and feelings. start sharing your opinions, even if it’s small like discussing your favorite show.

Cancer/4h

-this is known as the mother wound. You may have been one of your ancestors in your past lives. You may have been hurt emotionally, they were never validated. You may never had that safe home space. In this life, you are the generational breaker in your family. How you feel is important but no one (especially family)ever made you feel safe. To your healing journey is really a special because your healing your bloodline. Finding or creating family/home that you can call your own. You have to get use to being the black sheep of your family. They don’t understand because they are carrying that trauma for several generations and here you are breaking that trauma. It’s like letting a toddler sit in front of the tv all day. When you shut it off to encourage playing outside, the toddler throws a hissy fit but you know it’s beneficial for them in the long run.

Leo/5h

-you were a star that shined bright but others didn’t like that and diminished your light from the world. The way you expressed your creative self was shunned. This can indicate having problems with children, maybe you didn’t like being around them or couldn’t have any of your own. In this life, you may have struggled as a child. Other kids didn’t get you. You struggled being openly creative. You may struggle with having the light on you. Well I’m here to tell you that the world needs your creative spirit. The way you express yourself help heal others. Start accepting compliments gracefully without acting weird about it. Surround yourself around children. they will bring out that fun inner child and you’ll learn to have fun.

Virgo/6h

-you’re re a healer and your healing abilities have been looked down upon. This is also a mental wound. You may have judged and may have had people be really critical of you. In this life, you may have developed perfectionist tendencies. You may work work and experience horrible burnout. You may have problems with co-workers. To start this journey, I just want to say that you don’t need to overextend your body to prove yourself. You’re perfect and the way you heal others is beautiful to see.

Libra/7h

-people have abused your kindness for weakness. You may have been the type who didn’t confront people who were in power and tried to keep the peace. You may have had problems with marriage partners or business associates. In this life, you may have developed people pleasing tendencies, scared to get into new relationships due to past life situations. To help you understand how to heal this, I need you all to realize that it’s okay to disagree with people outwardly. You guys are so scared of confrontation that you don’t tell ppl how you really feeling and this is causing inner resentment. You may also with some Co-dependency tendencies that you need to work through.

Scorpio/8h

TW: SA

-people have betrayed your trust in past lives. You may have suffered from sexual abuse, or your sexuality was demonized by society. You may have been involved with the occult and punished for it. In this life, you may suffer from intimacy from people especially lovers. You may have a hard time really trusting people and opening up. I think this is one of the most painful Chiron placements because Scorpio is that deep inner wound. To start this healing journey, you need to understand that the world is not out to get you. You guys block so many of your blessings due to the fear of being hurt and betrayed. Be cautious of people but don’t push them out. Work on your intimacy, let your partner hold you hand and kiss you in public without feeling bad about it

Sagittarius/9h

-your ideals were not supported by people your past lives. You may have had problems with religious people. You may have had a different philosophy from others. In this life, I’ve seen it manifest in 2 major ways. You push your ideologies on people and not listen to theirs due to past lives of being rejected or you don’t share them at all. You may have a fear of traveling abroad because change scares you. If you want to start combating this then embrace all the changes. Share you ideologies and philosophies but please listen to others because it will expand your worldview on life. Embrace new cultures and let them inspire you.

Capricorn/10h

-just like how cancer is the mother wound, Capricorn is the father wound. You may have been an ancestor on your father side in a past life. You may have struggled in your career. You may have had bosses who were severely unkind to you. This could have damaged your public image. In this life, you may have problems with authority or you don’t like working for people. There’s a father wound that you need to heal. You are the generational trauma breaker for your father side. you may have abandonment issues. Standing up for yourself against your bosses will help with the start of your healing journey. Start being okay with realizing that not everyone is meant to be in your life long term. It has nothing to do with you either.

Aquarius/11h

-y’all were some rebels in your past lives. You were the ones who went against the norms of society. This caused you to be shunned by society and alone. This caused a deep wound because you wanted that community feeling. In this life, this has caused you to be severely antisocial. You may have been seen as the weirdo growing up and shunned. Here’s the the thing, you are a weirdo but you need to embrace this about yourself. The day you wake up and realize that life too short to care what “society thinks of you” is when you will start to really heal. Dye your hair different colors, buy that stuff animal, do that silly dance in the rain. In the words of Beyoncé “UNIQUE!” You’re and alien superstar

Pisces /12h

-this one’s tricky, your spirituality were demonized. You may have been sent to the psych ward in past lives. You have gifts that were not acknowledged or praised. This caused a deep rift between you and the divine. In this life, you may struggle spiritually on where to go. You may have used unhealthy substances to help you cope. You guys are really the biggest healers because you are connected to the divine. One of the best ways for you all to heal is listening to frequency music, go out in nature. Boundaries are a big one for you guys. Don’t let people gas light you, your intuition is never wrong. Meditate and remember who you are.

Thank you for reading

[juliametzgerart]

I have shared versions of this on other platforms before, so I might as well make a tumblr edition: here some tips for MtG portfolios I gathered and might be interesting for some people who follow me. 1. Since this is a trading card game, here comes the obvious one first: Always keep in mind that these are card illustrations, they have to be readable in super small. Which means that strong silhouettes and value structures are a must have. If you work digital, check the zoomed out version on regular basis, or even have some jpgs to check their thumbnails in your file browser. That can give you an idea about their readability. Traditionally you can of course take some steps back, or take some photographs to look at smaller previews on your devices. Also: print illustrations often come out darker than their screen versions, be careful with your darks! It's rather easy for things to go muddy, even if they look good on screen. In doubt, increase the brightness a bit. It's okay to have different versions for screen and print to meet their needs.

2. Be versatile about your topics and compositions. Zoom in, zoom out. Don't fall into the trap of your own comfort zone zoom level of showing things, or one way of doing things. It can be positive to offer purposefully unusual options.

3. Be aware of the focus. If you have a magician with a staff, ask yourself if the card is about the staff(artifact), the mage (creature) or perhaps even the spell. The composition and focus of the illustration should shift accordingly! Clear action is important for readability – since that is not just visual hierarchy here, but also storytelling. Which brings me to the next point: 4. Good narrative matters, but mechanics matter even more. So, again, be very aware of your illustration's focus. You can potentially add extra elements for the story to make it more fun, but it should not get too convoluted, and even less should it distract from what the card it actually about. If you come up with your very own ideas for a portfolio this is of course much more open than if you work from a description. But you can find a bunch of official MtG descriptions online which are super useful for training.

5. Show care. Plan the illustration, get the references in place. It's the best time to get good habits in place, and really finish the pieces. Don't make them weaker by going too fast, that is not convincing. It just lets people assume worse things for tight deadlines. This does not mean everything needs to be rendered to death - but shape design should remain thoughtful and purposeful even where soft and lost edges are used.

6. It's potentially okay to have your specific stylistic or thematic niche. It can mean less assignments at times, but can also mean more special ones. It's cool though for your voice to be visible as long as the other needs of the product are met.

7. Never stop using those references. Get them, make them, use them - take them seriously. (at least for any of the more realistic styles). It's one of the most repeated tips for any student to actually just use more references. They do a ton to get complicated things like anatomy and lighting right, but also cultural references and versatility. Many of the best Magic artists also make the best references – it's not a coincidence. Learn from the people who have already established themselves, they have great wisdom to share. 8. Your quality has to match the current roster. Yeah, sorry, no way around that one. You need at least to be as good as the currently "worst" artist in the roster to have a chance. And the ADs need to be sure that even on a bad day your art can meet their quality bar. Which is the reason why you likely need several art pieces at the required level, to prove it wasn't just some lucky fluke. Though once you're really there, that also means a bit less pressure to perform, since you're likely comfortable at your skill level and can only go up from there.

[elysiansparadise]

Placements that indicate being intimidating

In this post we will discuss the aspects or placements that make the native of the impression very intimidating. Even if inside they are very warm or welcoming, I will only talk about the impressions, the aura or their potential to be the epitome of this title, an intimidating person. You don't necessarily have to be the way we'll talk about later, you can just present yourself that way. With that explained, enjoy this post.

🟫1st house and 10th house also known as Ascendant/Rising and MC/Midheaven respectively are houses that show the way that we project ourselves to the world, our appearance and the first impressions that we give to others. 

🟤Fire Risings. They are people who project themselves in a very strong and imposing way. Things as simple as their gaze, the way they interact with their environment or those gestures they make without realizing it make them give the impression of being people you shouldn't mess up with. They are direct and do not hide their discontent or displeasure, they will let you know very clearly what they think and feel. Precisely this way of being and how they face their day to day can be the reason that others fear them in a certain way or that they earn the respect of others more easily.

🟤Aries Risings. One simple word, confidence. It doesn’t matter what this native is really like, or if they have insecurities about themselves, they are not seen. They project an unwavering confidence, an attitude of being the best or at least being the best version of themselves. They not only ask for respect, they earn it, through the way they address and value themselves. Their strength, determination, power, and even their good looks make them seem like people you can't easily take down. Regardless of whether you like them or not, it wouldn't do you any good to have them as enemies, the good part about this is that a lot of people pick up on this quickly.

🟤Sagittarius Risings. Don't be fooled by the millions of stereotypes mentioning their "bubbly and fun" personality, something you should understand is that this is not a side of them that they bring out with anyone. These natives tend to be very intimidating, since in many of them Pluto is in the same rising sign, giving their personality colder, harsher and more mysterious tones. They seem to have many things in their life, among those things a great self-esteem, a certain power or they can simply give vibes of being more superior than most people [even without pretending to be above people], they are their vibes.

🟤Earth Risings. They project themselves in a very professional way and stand out for having what we call a resting bitch face, they are not here to deal with nonsense, they take themselves very seriously and want to be taken seriously. Their gaze is heavy, it feels like a knife, it is penetrating and it catches you without leaving you with a possible way out. They are demanding not only with themselves, but also with the people around them, although it might surprise you that they do not put expectations of any kind on people. This boss-like attitude is what earns them not only prestige, but also the respect of others.

🟤Virgo Risings. Passing their vibe check is somewhat complicated, making them like you? Good luck with it. Or at least that's the impression they give. They are difficult people to get to know one hundred percent, and it is this reserved and analytical nature that makes them appear intimidating. It seems that their eyes see through your soul and uncover your intentions, you feel exposed to them, and there is the inability to lie to them. Maybe its the fact that some have Scorpio or Pluto in the 3rd which makes them communicate clearly and concisely. Do they agree with you? You will hear it. Do they disagree with you? You will hear it even louder. The way in which they relate to others is direct, they have diplomacy but they will not be afraid to call you out.

🟤Capricorn Risings. They don't need you. Not you, not anyone. Only to themselves, they show that they fully trust themselves, that they know what they are doing and that each step they take is previously planned. Messing with them is something that many want, since despite not being confrontational, winning a debate or a fight against them can be a real futile attempt. No sugarcoating, they will tell you things as they think, they would prefer a thousand times to bury your feet on the ground than to make you fly in a sky of rather fanciful realities. If you believe that they are harsh with others, you should live a single day in their mind. They hate wasting time and don't mean to waste it on stupid things so taking the time to deviate from their own business is unlikely unless you mean something to their life.

🟤Leo Midheaven or MC in Leo degrees [05°, 17°, 29°]. Success and self-love are the two most important things in the life of this native, who strongly project themselves, who from the beginning make it clear to you who they are, what they want and what they don't want to deal with. King/Queen vibes, they may give you the impression that they internally judge/analyze you in depth, this placement along with Virgo risings has a difficult vibe check to pass. Despite attracting a lot of attention and being considered attractive, powerful and unmatched, they keep their distance from others, keeping a fairly large space, enough for you to respect their boundaries and not see them as "your lifelong friends". 

🟤Capricorn Midheaven or MC in Capricorn degrees [10°, 22°]. They cause surprising impressions, as many are intrigued by the question: "what’s going on in their minds?". They come across as very hard to read, strong, powerful and definitely people you don't want to let down. No matter their role in society or in their work area, they will always give the impression of having more authority than anyone in the room. They make themselves heard and respected. It will be hard to get a smile out of them the first time you meet them and very few things really surprise them. People do not want to let them down and everyone feels a need to assert themselves before these natives.

🟤Mars in the 1st or 10th house. Naturally, these natives have something known as a resting bitch face, they are very evident when it comes to expressing when they dislike something and they are very frank with their opinions, frankness that is linked in many things with an intimidating appearance and personality. They seem to go for what they want without hesitation and no matter who gets in the way, many times they also give the impression of having a lot of strength not only temperamentally, but also physically. In the same way, they give the impression of being very dominant and uncontrollable people, someone who, on the contrary, must lead and take charge of the situation. They experiment and explore as they please and their rebellious touch to their personality makes them seem somewhat indomitable. Their presence is powerful and they are not intimidated by anyone.

🟤Saturn in the 1st or 10th house. They project classiness and seem to be untouchable, they are very cautious and analytical people before deciding whether to have a friendship or interaction with another person. They seem to know more than the rest, they seem to have no desire to socialize with people and to be perfectly on their own. They hate the idea of ​​depending on someone, asking for help or showing any hint of vulnerability. They maintain a serene face even if there is turbulence around them, they seem to be immovable and difficult to provoke, but you quickly understand that it is not the best thing to provoke them. Many people listen carefully to what they say and they are the kind of people that even if they finish speaking, people keep silent waiting if they have something more to say, since this intimidating aura makes others think that they hate being interrupted.

🟤Pluto in the 1st or 10th house. With you there is a deep need to be authentic, to embrace the dark side as a human part instead of hiding it in an always happy facade, to achieve a lot and to progress independently. When we meet a powerful and ambitious mind such as this, someone with very well defined criteria and who hates wasting time with things that do not interest them, they can easily become intimidating people for others. This is not to mention the classic and that is that there is something in their aura that makes them not only difficult to read but also to understand. People tend to fear those things that they don’t understand or know and you are the clear representation of both. 

🟫Saturnian and Plutonian energy are both of the most imposing and mysterious energies. They share many similarities in terms of the type of presence that they make the natives have, along with the attitude and mindset.

🟤Saturn or Pluto dominance. We have the two most intimidating planets in astrology, two titans whose gaze cuts you in a matter of seconds. The way they address themselves and present themselves to their surroundings makes anyone nervous. Two titans that you would not want as enemies because they have an excellent memory in their favor, an intelligent mind capable of devising ways in which to make you have a really bad time if you did not touch your heart with them. Powerful and magnetic personalities, they always manage to have people admiring them and the peculiar way in which they act. These natives have been through many things, so you can hardly tricky them, and it is very likely that it does not even cross your mind to do so, because you do not want to arouse the anger that they keep in the depths of their being, that chained by the hardness that from young they began to polish.

🟤Saturn/Pluto in the 4th house. The expression of their emotional world is repressed by past experiences, it is very likely that people think that the native cannot be vulnerable to others, they can even classify them as cold or unemotional. But they are simply people who know how to put aside their emotions when it comes time to make an important decision, they do not get carried away by them or by desires or impulses and always put reason first and prefer to do "the most logical". When people see that they have this facility they can be surprised. They could come across as intimidating as you will hardly see them being led by the heart.

🟤Saturn in the 5th house. They have many filters in their personality and they don't show themselves as they really are, they seem to be very reserved and much more serious and critical than they really are. This aware and watchful nature makes other people feel like they are constantly being targeted. The personality and core of the natives is fused with the distant and distrustful nature of Saturn, while giving them a tough and cunning appearance. People may think that these natives are very demanding with people and that they have very high standards when it comes to surrounding themselves with others, when the reality is that they do not place expectations on others, because they know that they cannot meet them.

🟤Saturn in water houses [4th, 8th and 12th] or water signs [Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces]. These natives can give the impression of having complete control of their emotions, of not letting themselves be dominated or affected by anything or anyone, they can even be seen as cold, especially if it's making a hard aspect with Sun, Moon or MC. They give the impression of being unreachable, emotionally distant, or having no intention of bonding.

🟤Saturn/Pluto making hard aspects with Sun. Their personality is intoxicated with the mysterious waters of any of these planets. The native becomes demanding, skeptical, critical and distant in terms of interaction with other people. Those who know them know that they are people who do not fool around, that when they do not like something they will make it clear, and that they will never offer you a smile if they really dislike you. They will be obvious and they will be very sincere from the beginning. It is precisely their honesty and authenticity that can make anyone stutter, they know their power, they know their value, but best of all, they know the effect they have on people and use it to their advantage. Their personality is rather introverted and mysterious, they don't let anyone get close to them and they hardly find the right people to show their true selves. Meanwhile, the other people deal with that hardness that they have formed on their exterior, the one that without words makes you understand that they will not fall into your games and will not lower themselves to your level.

🟤Pluto in the 3rd house. Many times it is not what you say, it is how you say it, and more so in this topic since the way we express ourselves is what can make us fall into the limbo of being very intimidating or not. This placement of Pluto in particular makes the native very direct, they may not have much diplomacy and what they say sounds more like a conclusion than an opinion. Their words are not that common to hear but when they decide to speak, they emanate a lot of power, security and certainty through them. They are not people who openly talk about their emotions or who in general express any type of vulnerability with ease.

🟫7th house also plays a very important role in this theme, since it represents the way in which we unconsciously project ourselves to others. This house reflects the traits of our personality that we show to other people once they interact with us and the way they perceive us.

🟤Capricorn in the 7th/Ruler of the 7th in Capricorn/Saturn in the 7th house. The effect that the 7th house has is that it is a subconscious projection. Those with any of these are not intended to be seen in such a way, but people perceive them as serious, precise and somewhat judgmental. People feel that they have to meet some kind of expectation to like them or that it is very difficult to get the approval of these natives. They are not projected as very openly emotional people, and can be seen as somewhat cold and calculating, when the reality is that natives keep their distance between themselves and others for an idea of ​​quickly trusting others. They emanate toughness and even if this is not the case, they can give the impression of having had a somewhat tough life and as a result of it, they developed an equally tough personality and an unwavering demeanor.

🟤Scorpio in the 7th/Ruler of the 7th in Scorpio/Pluto in the 7th house. Something similar to the previous one happens, and it is that they project themselves as people with whom it is difficult to become intimate or as people with whom it is difficult to get to know well, they do not allow themselves to be vulnerable with other people and they project themselves as intense, powerful and very selective with people. In the case of these natives, other people feel that there must be something "unique" or "different" in them in order to get their attention or gain the respect of these natives. They appear to others as people who do not have a middle ground, as people for whom things are black or white, yes or no. As people with very strong opinions and feelings, maybe even stubborn and argumentative at times. 

🟤Mars in the 7th house. Again, these natives do not realize that they project themselves in this way, but many see them as very competent people, with a lot of potential and very sure of what they want from other people/from their relationships. They do not hesitate in social situations even if they prefer solitude, people hardly intimidate them and what’s more intimidating than a person that doesn’t back down? The way they control their temper seems too good to be true in the eyes of others, and deep down they suspect that when the native gets angry, they explode in an intense and excessive way.

-The following are some of the placements and aspects that make the person's aura or presence very strong and that immediately win people's fear or at least their respect.-

🟤A well-placed Mars [Mars in the 1st, 8th, 10th or in Aries, Scorpio or Capricorn]. It is normal to assume this, since the courageous Mars, due to its ambition and way of being, can be seen as intimidating quite often. These natives seem to have no filter, they simply release truths into the air, they prefer a thousand times to keep themselves honest and what they think before bothering to worry excessively about the public's opinion. These people do not fear a confrontation, be it physical or verbal, and they know how to defend themselves very well from others or defend those they love, but what they know best is to attack the jugular, attack those evident weak points that they know of their victim. But hey, in the best of the cases they make a very good and funny friend! Good luck bringing out this side of them…

🟤Mars-Saturn/Pluto tense aspects. Their temperament is strong and those who know them know that seeing it clearly can be a not so pleasant experience. These people don't give up easily, so if you hurt them or make them feel bad, they won't rest until you feel the same way, even if they have to wait a while. Their dexterity and that mind that when they want can introduce you to the deadliest villain should be reason enough for you not to even think of playing a trick on them. 

🟤Sun in the 8th house. They naturally emanate magnetism, they activate people's intrigue and curiosity, but at the end of the day there is something in them that makes people feel a barrier between them and the native, as if they couldn't approach them so spontaneously. Many find themselves gazing from afar at the native who seems to be doing everything right on his own. That "I don't mess with you, you better not mess with me" attitude is something that seems rational to natives but is slightly scary to the average person. Your intensity, your desire to feel powerful or achieve a lot on your own are things that people admire. They don't reveal much about themselves, while they seem to know so much about you and knowing that the native is in possession of such personal information provokes some caution or fear in others.

🟤Stellium in the 8th house or 10th house. Whether or not it is true, they project themselves as superior to the average person, either because of their sharp intellect, perhaps prestige or reputation, or even because of the maturity they have forged through experience. Speaking of reputation, it is normal for these natives to have one that indicates that they are unapproachable in some way, that they are very serious, demanding, mysterious or that it is even very difficult for them to like you. The truth is that this description is usually very accurate, but there is nothing like knowing it on your own... well, that’s only if you are not afraid to risk trying to dive deep into that heavily protected core.

🟤An afflicted Moon [Capricorn, Scorpio / placed in the 8th house]. What causes having the Moon in this cosmic state is that the person feels some kind of blockage when it comes to expressing the nature of this luminary. They have difficulty opening up, expressing their vulnerable and emotional side and, on the contrary, they always choose to appear strong and indestructible. Past experiences forge his cautious, skeptical and somewhat aloof nature. They are not cold but they can give the impression of being so.

[chocochipjewel]

Yapping about Belos and his ending excessively while also analysing him to the best of my ability under the cut

So given how much art of him I've reblogged by now, it really shouldn't come as a surprise that Belos is my favourite character from the Owl House.

I could talk about him for HOURSS but I just want to talk about 2 of my favourite moments of him to highlight the parts of him I love the most.

This moment in Hollow Mind, when he gets the key in his hand and you can see the light in his eyes. It's the only time his eyes have the distinct shine in them like every other character has all the time, and it's cause of the key he's holding. The key to the human realm is the only thing that gives him that shine cause it's the only thing he genuinely cares about. Everything he's doing is to go back home and revel in glory, which, while selfish, adds so much to his character. He's not doing this JUST for power, he became an Emperor just to tear his own creations down. I just find something extremely poetic about that.

And the second moment -

THIS MOMENT. THIS MOMENT IN KING'S TIDE AJDHSJSHSJS

I'm still mad these flashbacks were never brought up in any big way cause THEY REALLY SHOULD HAVE BUT AHSKSJS I'M GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF.

Belos reliving his worst memories was always a concept that was going to be interesting because it's an insight into what really gets into the head of our main antagonist. What does the guy who is everyone else's worst fear have to fear. And the answer is himself.

The 3 memories he sees are him approaching Caleb with the knife, the actual murder as pictured above, and the creation of the grimwalkers.

What really gets me is that his eyes are wide when he recalls the first memory, but they look smaller in the second memory (in the screenshot). Maybe it's just the angle but I always interpreted it as his expression shifting to be one of genuine sadness for this particular memory. Because the mere fact that his most personal crime is also his worst memory is such an interesting concept. How does he live with that sort of guilt and worse, keep doing those same crimes but WORSE?

All of Hollow Mind could just be here really and I wouldn't complain. It's THE episode for Belos fans that really allowed us to dig into him, and the mere fact that he's consciously scratched off Caleb from all the happy memories as if to justify his own fratricide is a level of desperate coping that I just find so very interesting ajdjhsjjs

Not to mention that his inner self is a child, which, while a pretence by him, could still say something about how in his head, he still has not grown up and is still playing pretend, still playing witch hunter with every version of Caleb he creates, still playing god to finally achieve a fantasy so very childish and so frankly basic that it makes anyone watching from the outside think "wait, that's it? That's all this is for?" AND THAT'S THE POINT

Cause none of this needed to happen. None of this has a greater value than Philip trying to chase after lost dreams. All the plans he made, all his great power and his great empire amounts to nothing because he himself plans to destroy all of it to chase that childhood dream. Just like Luz, he entered the Boiling Isles to find a home, only his home was Caleb and he was never willing to love new things in the Isles, while Luz loved so much she literally changed the lives of everyone she met by loving them. And unlike Luz, Philip never grew out of that mindset, only burying it in layers and layers of lies and half truths.

In general, his relationship with Caleb is for sure the most interesting part of his character to me. The fact that he both repeatedly murders and repeatedly creates new grimwalkers in an endless cycle and then hallucinates Caleb looking at him with disdain implies so much about his dependancy on Caleb and the deepest parts of himself that know what he's doing is wrong. The parts that have broken free from the layers and layers of cognitive dissonance and have accepted that he was wrong, without any more justifications.

And now, to 'briefly' rant about him in season 3

Thanks to Them was juicy for character exploration, but I wish we actually got to see him react to the human realm properly. It's everything he's wanted, it's the one thing that still brings light into his life but the world he returned to would absolutely hate him. He's done all this for nothing. I wanted so badly to see how he copes with his guilt then, but they were short on time so I get it.

For the Future's hallucination scene makes this even more interesting cause of the depiction of him actually seriously suffering from something like hallucinations. It was dark as hell, and it was really interesting.

And then... WaD. All in all, a great finale. The only real big problem I had with it was Belos' ending.

After so much buildup to his depth and his motivations and his guilt and all his lies slowly collapsing around him, after everything he did to so many people, he deserved a better death. I don't think he didn't deserve death, I just think it happened too quick. Where was the final cathartsis from all his victims shunning him (Luz staring was perfect don't get me wrong, but the whole Hexsquad deserved to be there). Where was the moment he would finally no longer be able to lie to himself and he would be forced to accept that he did EVERYTHING he did, made all those great sacrifices, tortured so many people, just to fail and be at his victims' mercy after accomplishing nothing?

I understand the finale was juggling many MANY characters and plotpoints, but that's not stopping me from wishing for a better ending.

I wish I had had the motivation to draw something for this like I'd hoped, but a brief description about what kind of ending I'd have wanted will have to do.

I wish Luz saw his memories in the place in between with Papa Titan. It would reinforce her arc of feeling like they come from the same place too, if she saw Caleb leaving Philip and Philip's original goal of just wanting to get his brother back. I wish Luz saw all his "sad" memories and really started to question herself.

And then I would have wanted Papa Titan to shoot that down regardless, and then explain that while Belos may have started out a victim of his circumstances as an orphaned child in a cult, the Isles gave him chances to change. Memories of Philip in the Isles seeing Caleb happy, being given chances by witches, being given so many chances to change, and rejecting them accompanying this scene would be ideal. Really hammer in that he aas responsible for his own suffering and that he has absolutely no excuse for what he did to all his victims.

And then, in the final death scene, as he claims that as humans they are better than witches one last time, I wish the ghosts of all his victims showed up to prove him wrong. Every witch and grimwalker who choose to be better than him before they fell. Every member of the Hexsquad who believed in him and his regime at one point. Every single one of them a reminder of how his lies can't even convince himself anymore.

And finally, his own brother, a fellow human, who appears before him. I imagine Caleb looking at him with pity, almost sympathy, before a quiet acceptance comes onto his face and he turns away from him. He walks towards the crowd and chooses their side, next to Evelyn. Neither Caleb nor Luz say a single word. There is nothing left to be said to him anymore. Every single person on the Isles, human or witch, has turned against him now.

If anything could break his will, I think this would be it. I imagine him phasing through his different forms, trying to find a way to justify himself in each one, gradually desolving into desparate screams, before the boiling rain melts him away like in canon (except without the stomping please).

Aaaand that's it, no more notes. Thanks so much to all the Wittebane fans in the community who have kept his fanbase fed when the show didn't meet our standards and who prompted the line of thought that led to this post.

There are so many of you all who inspired and made my fandom experience fun and created so much out of just Philip, Caleb, and Evelyn (and all your OCs of course!!) so I'm just going to shoutout the ones I remember off the top of my head -

@talisman975

@jess-the-vampire

@calebsrottingcorpse

@owlyhouse

@anona1-mous

@captainmera

@moonmeg

@azure-blaze92

@a-magpie-in-the-bi

@a-magpie-in-gravesfield

This is no particular order and I'm surely missing more so this is by no means exhaustive, but this is just a shoutout for those who kept this fandom going. Y'all are the real troopers for sure.

That's all I got, but I'm posting some old Belos art soon! Cheers all, and may the terrible awful no good goo babygirl keep inspiring us for all the great art <3

[why-what-no]

Being Alicent’s Daughter Would Include

Pairing: Alicent x Daughter!Reader

Warnings: Allusions to violence, misogyny

Notes: Alicent is literally my baby. So is Rhaenyra. But right now Alicent gets the spotlight

When Alicent was pregnant with you, there was a slight bitterness when she thought of becoming a mother once more

It wasn’t your fault, she knew that. And she knew that she would love you more than anything, just like she did for her other children.

But the sight of her husband everyday, of the thought of raising another child who looks so much like a young version of her former dearest friend, hurt her in ways that she wouldn’t fully let herself understand.

After all, the crown needed heirs. That was her job. And she fulfilled it best that she could.

When you were born, as she expected, she loved you the moment she laid eyes on you. Used to the birthing process by now, she would normally hand her children over to the maid to be cleaned

But with you, her fourth, she couldn’t resist holding you just a bit longer.

Having another girl filled her with happiness, but also fear. Knowing that you would befall a fate similar to hers. Not everyone can live as Rhaenyra does, she thought bitterly.

One future for you would be to be betrothed to Aemond. Alicent knew he would be a decent husband to you, unlike Aegon to her sweet Helaena.

The other voice in her head, which sounded suspiciously like her father’s, knew that a Targaryen princess would be a good bargaining piece in a political marriage benefiting the crown.

But Alicent ignored all of that. For as long as she could keep you, you were hers. You were the small bit of light in Kings Landing. And she made it her mission to not let that light get extinguished.

She made sure that you had all that you needed and more growing up, keeping you protected from all the darkness and violence in the world outside the walls of the castle.

You were the baby of the family, always having either Alicent or Aemond or one of the very few others that she trusted by your side.

When you began to grow up, you did start realizing that the world wasn’t as godly and fair as your mother had led you to think. And she took this time to be honest with you about the world.

No matter what, you knew she loved you more than anything. As you did with her. Even in moments where your values clashed, like when she turned a blind eye to your eldest brother’s actions, she was your rock. Your anchor, your protector.

She did all she could to raise you into a kind, respectable young woman. And as you grew she was so proud of the woman her daughter was becoming.

She hoped you would live a blessed life. To marry someone you truly loved and have many happy children. To make a friend who knew and loved you more than any husband would and get to stay with them for your whole life.

There was still that sadness when you would look at her and all she would see was Rhaenyra. When she would remember the joy she took thinking about them flying away on dragon back together

The traitorous part of her that wanted to visit Rhaenyra. To show her what you have become. She had thought when she was little that she and Rhaenyra would raise their children together.

But now there was a great invisible wall between the two woman. And it burned Alicent when ever she tried to touch it or even think of it.

So instead, Alicent ignored it. Putting her full energy into you and your siblings. Pretending that it didn’t matter when her husband would talk with pride about Rhaenyra’s sons and say nothing about that amazing daughter that Alicent had given him.

Still, Alicent made sure to love you enough for the two of them.

Taglist: @icravethesmut

[bloomzone]

HOW TO CHOOSE FRIENDS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

"It's gonna be okay, like the hands on the clock they'll go in circles back to their places."

-seventeen

꙳. !˚Choosing friends is an important aspect of our lives, as the company we keep significantly impact our well-being, mindset, and personal growth.

by: 𖧷´ bloomzone 𝅄 ׂׅ

When it comes to selecting friends, it's essential to consider a few key factors First and foremost, look for individuals who share similar values and principles friends who align with your core beliefs and morals are more likely to provide supportive and understanding environment where you can thrive authentically.Another crucial aspect is mutual respect Seek out friends who respect your boundaries, opinions, and decisions. Likewise, make sure you offer the same level of respect to them (give respect to receive respect easy !). A healthy friendship is built on a of mutual understanding and consideration.Furthermore, consider the positive influence a potential friend has on you. Surround yourself with people who encourage inspire, and motivate you to be the best version of yourself. A great friend uplifts and empowers you, offering constructive feedback and your successes.Emotional support is also vital in friendships. Look for individuals who are there for you during both good and challenging times offering empathy, compassion, and a listening ear when you need it most (ikr it's hard to found them 😭) Likewise, be sure to reciprocate this support and be a source of strength for your friends.

Lastly, consider the impact of their company on your life. Good friends encourage growth, bring joy, and contribute to meaningful experiences Aim to surround yourself with individuals who contribute positively to your life and foster an environment where you can thrive choosing who align with your values, offer genuine support, and positively contribute to your life can lead to deep, fulfilling, and enduring relationships.

ıllı ⠀ : Surround yourself with friends who not only accept you for who you are but also challenge you to grow, cheer you on during your highest highs, and stand by you through your lowest lows. Remember, true friends are the ones who bring out the best in you, support your dreams, and fill your life with love, laughter, and positivity. Take care of yourself 143 ♡ ⠀ !!

[blackpilljesus]

I've not dated or had close relations with moids in years. I've been on the path to spending the rest of my days as a single childfree woman & committing to it as an osawoman. During this time here's what I've learnt, shorter version here:

This lifestyle is a privilege - being able to exist without having to directly depend on a moid romantically/sexually is a luxury. Know the privilege you have and how you can take full advantage of it and keep yourself set. We arent living this way solely bc we're smarter, we were just momentarily luckier. Most women are a political/natural disaster away from losing everything. Bear this in mind; along the way think of "what if" to best start preparing yourself.

Dont bother justifying your ways to people - Most wont and dont want to get it. Save your breath. By getting into back and forth arguments over not marrying moids & not having children you are digging a deeper hole for yourself by giving them more fodder to counter. They wont change their minds. End the conversation short & move on.

You cant save everybody - Ditch the saviour complex. We all get dealt bad hands in life; some worse than others. Other peoples lives arent your responsibility, there's only so much you can do because you've got your own issues too. Besides some are too far gone, you'll only end up drowning or being burned trying to save others especially if they dont want saving.

Recruitment is a waste of time - I often see extensive discourse around this topic w/ some women trying so hard to recruit others into this lifestyle or being separatists, wgtow, etc. All this does is waste time that can be spent on building instead. If some women dont get it oh well it's not the end of the world (although every woman does get it, they're just doing what they can t survive) it doesn't matter long term TO YOU because if you're serious you dont need other womens understanding/stamp of approval to build a network/resources for women; you can get started without them; heck some may join once they see the value like how so many women broke up with their partners after watching the barbie movie. Some women are more focused on recruitment than living the single childfree life they claim to be about and it consumes them - dont let recruitment consume you. Besides other women willingly engaging with moids buys you some time; those who know - know.

Most activism is a waste of time. Things only change when it benefits those in power but they will never relinquish their power entirely. It's great to put knowledge out there for others to learn but getting into discourse having to justify yourself & being swallowed by your activism will do more harm than good. Most activism is a stepping stone at most for the next chapter of your life. Learn to game the system instead of changing the system.

Focus on yourself. Everything as we know it is rooted in the system that has been perfected over the millenias. The problems of misogyny, racism, ableism, etc have existed before we were born and will exist after we die (part of why im not birthing into this mess). Trying to change it is a losing battle. This doesnt mean dont advocate or care about anything but look out for yourself first & be comfortable learning to existing between the cracks. It'll be quite the exercise tho as we've been socialised to prioritise others.

This is not a lifestyle one simply chooses it's something that chooses you. This isn't for everyone, those who know; know. If you require a lot of convincing or handholding then it isn't for you.

It gets lonely. Not because of not having a moidfriend; even when partnered with them many women still feel lonely. It's because most women are moid centric / obsessed and would want to be partnered with an xy someday or already are. Very few women truly commit to or understand this lifestyle irl tbh. Even my moots who are separatists or just single & childfree are halfway across the world. However that said, many women in the community can also be toxic; holding each other to high standards and there being constant bickering. You can befriend moid partnered women but be careful with them. We're surrounded by the system, existing out of core elements of it will come with a degree of isolation but on the bright side there's also peace if it all goes well.

Less is more. The less you say to others the less ammunition they have to hit you with. Bragging about this lifestyle to our predators will only make things harder because they've already got a huge upperhand. Too many of us moving in one go will bring unprecedented waves we're not ready to deal with. See 2, 3, and 4.

Ignorance is not bliss. Completely cutting off from xys including knowledge of their evil will make you unprepared should a threat strike. Not understanding moids nature is how some women think things are as easy as getting up and walking away without considering security & other factors then get suprised when moids strike. I'm not saying drown in true crime & xy evil but dont stray too far you lose touch of reality. Side note this is why women are gaslit about moids nature so that they dont have the chance to effectively prepare. Stay informed. I constantly learn from the women around me. Pay attention to xy motives & tactics. The power they hold, possible moves they may play etc. You wont be able to know/guess everything but stay in the loop nonetheless.

You will make mistakes be prepared to learn

It gets easier to control your attraction to moids overtime (if you're osa) as your focus is elsewhere as you realise there is a more fulfilling world out there beyond marriage & kids. Also life is just so much better. I know most women want the fairytale prince charming or an angel nigel but it's just not happening. Especially in a world like this. The freedom to be able to exist as a person & not a slave/punching bag for a rape ape is BLISS. You get so comfortable with it you wont wanna be with moids anyway especially when you see what other women go through. (Side note this is why women are pushed to being with moids as early as possible so this level of enlightenment is never reached & instead all women know + become accustomed to is suffering at the hands of moids).

As time passes and you mature into this lifestyle you can tell who's new and who's got skin in the game. I wont elaborate here as it'll digress and this note is long as is but those who know; know.

There's so much work to be done it'll last a lifetime. This lifestyle ain't easy. It strays from the norm so the typical guardrails that come with traditional options are out of the picture. The good news is that you can spend time crafting your own blueprint to follow or share with others who are willing. There's such little in terms of infrastructure & resources for single childfree women and yeah xys will likely try to destroy these things but at the same time if it can be done go for it and bear xy threat in mind we gotta start somewhere.

A purpose/guide is important. It's something that's going to guide your life through the ups and downs because it wont be a smooth ride but it'll be something that can make you in situations that break you. This isn't a "fuck you" to moids directly, it's about ourselves. Seeing this lifestyle as some type of "gotcha" against moids will only make things harder and lowkey misses the point of decentering them. I have my reasons for never getting married or having children that are solid (if you need inspiration checkout r/breakingmom on reddit). True comes from seeing something as bigger than yourself; find a purpose in this line of life to keep you going.

Invest in yourself. Personally, financially, etc. Pretty obvious but especially now that you're going to be more alone you need to be able to count on yourself more. With enough investment it can help other women too.

Invest in female network. No gyn is an island. Even though I'm not much of a social person the friends I have make my life better; they've been supportive but also honest. Also support female centric spaces online & offline; they're all that we have lest we be banished to the silo prison of the "nuclear family" or exploitative misogynistic communities.

Get comfortable disassociating/cutting people off. If you want to survive some things/people will simply just have to go.

You arent owed anything from other women, but you dont owe them anything either. The operating word here is owed, I aint saying women shouldn't help each other - I'm saying dont feel entitled. The feminist "girls support girls" schtick is bullshit. We're in a cold world full of ruthless oppression where everyone is just trying to survive however they can; in many cases it helps women survive when they turn on other women instead of on moids. Solidarity works because those who have solidarity politically speaking are people with power, it works in their interest to stand & work together as to keep + maintain their privileges in society so there wont be much female solidarity as in many cases it's not worth it to women long run. It aint right but that's how they perceive it so watch your back.

Everything is political. Always remember this. Many (privileged) people try to downplay politics & its effect but it runs our world which is why they want you blind to it. Pay attention.

There's merit to being around like-minded women even if it's just online. Like I said before it gets lonely. Very few women are willing to face & accept the truth about maIes. Being around like-minded women can be depressing sometimes as they drop blackpills bitter than you can initially handle but at least you dont feel so isolated/crazy.

[jointhepartypod]

Welcome to the World of Verda Stello! 🌱 🏴☠️

Campaign 3 of Join the Party is set in the world of Verda Stello, the great green ringed world. This fantastical land is filled with approximately human-sized plant and bug people (give or take some 2 foot tall fruits and giant vines) called the Greenfolk. The main source of life for Verda Stello is the Cascade, a massive waterfall that pours over the whole inner ring of the world.

Over time, the Cascade dried up, leaving all the Greenfolk scrambling for water. But the waterfall revealed the entire center of Verda Stello was a great salt sea, dotted with countless unknown islands, and a prophecy about an Infinite Lake that can save the world and a Salmon that grants your deepest desire.

This kicked off the Tide, a pirate era that has raged for 50 years. People are still searching for the lake and the salmon, and the Tide shows no sign of stopping now.

Find out more about Verda Stello and Campaign 3 here!

The Hothouse

Country’s Motto: Why Suffer When We Can Strive

Known for their ingenuity and extensive construction, the Hothouse is the technological hub of Verda Stello. Hothousers believe that finding the best way to do something is its own greatest reward (except for letting everyone know that you did it with a plaque or statue or signature). You might recognize Hothouse architecture with the incorporations of big windows or a solarium, amplifying the sun to do extra work for you. The ruler of the Hothouse is The Builder, someone who is recognized as the best and the smartest through a series of public and brutal competitions of mind and might.

The official Hothouse Flag was designed by the first Builder, Appleton the Original. The triangle represents the hothouse, as you might have guessed, but the doubled triangle is a symbol of so many values that Hothousers hold dear.  Appleton was known for his patience and care when erecting and planning the major monuments of the Hothouse capital, so scholars and politicians say the doubled triangle meant, “measure twice, cut once.” But it can be interpreted as broadly as “quality over quantity” or “do it right the first time,” as double-paneling the triangle is stronger than many triangles in a line. What is most intriguing is the intersection of the symbolic hothouse and the sun itself, putting them in concert, or at least as two parts of the whole. The construct is not subservient to the sun. In fact, they are relatively the same, as a sibling or partner encouraging the other to be better than they could have been alone.

Open Fields

Country’s Motto: Reap What Is Sown

The people of Open Fields feel the deep connection between themselves and the ground, giving themselves strong perseverance and belief. This allows them to stare at the strangeness of existence in the face, such as how they can harvest produce and greens for sustenance even if it looks exactly like them. Open Field families show this devotion by naming themselves after virtues (in a Puritan sort of way) and both fervently praying and farming.

Unfortunately, there is no definitive account of how the Open Fields’ flag came to be. Many leaders have invoked various legends and parables, usually involving a poor potato farmer, resistance of temptation, and then divine inspiration. One version of the story says the pattern appeared in a bowl of mashed potatoes, when the butter and the mash was swirled together in the bowl. Another version supposes the farmer tried to harvest one of his crop but could not, and only through the collective strength of the entire farmer’s family and friends did they put the largest tuber ever recorded, with the design outlined in the eyes of the potato. The only record of the creation and adoption of the current design comes from the journal of a monk known as Saying-Thank-You-Meaningfully-For-an-Unexpected-Gift-No-Matter-What-It-Is. It seems that Saying’s closest friend at the monastery made woodcuts as a hobby, and created the sun-on-top, shovel-on-bottom image. That night, Saying wrote in their journal, “Saw an interesting image today. Must be the divine.” The colors–especially the deep red, unique in the flags of Verda Stello–and how it became the symbol of the entire country, remains unknown.

Kingdom of the Crags

Country’s Motto: We Cover All

The Crags is the most Game of Thrones out of all of the countries. They find strength in dealing with adversity and sacrificing comfort for something greater. They explore their land, find the great thing that it does, and work with it (whether obsidian from lava or a fruit that gives you the strength of 10 in a mountain or a glowing mushroom in a crevasse). Over time, many families have formed into houses and territories, which has then led to a revolving door of kings and queens as the houses vie for power. As the Craggish saying goes, “Everyone has their purpose, and the royals are dying.”

The modern version of the Crags flag (say that five times fast) was established over six hundred years ago, at the signing of the Brevi Pax. Short for “brevi pax pugnantibus,” or “short peace between combatants” in middle Folkish, it was supposed to be a document that finally codified the system of governance in the Crags and illustrated all rights for Craggish citizens regardless of ruler. At the time of its signing, it was just Pax Pugnantibus, but the Brevi was added after Queen Opaline V was slain by her three sisters only ten days after the document was signed.

Although the peace did not remain, the rights of citizens stayed, as well as a specific agreed-upon design for the Craggish flag, The purple emphasizes the strength of the ruling families, while the white V and the black background stands in for the hard landscape where the people make their homes. There’s an interesting optical trick too; the sprout is in the dead center, but the crag makes it seem lower; what appears worse to others is exactly where the Crags knows is best.

Many of the sigils of the houses in the Crags use inversions or additions of this flag to bolster their claims for royal legitimacy, but they do not risk changing too much as would alienate themselves from the existence of the state. They are not above the kingdom and the Rocky Seat, as there would be nothing to rule.

Overstalk

Country’s Motto: Carry Your Roots

The future lives in Overstalk, but it might linger as more of a dream than actually getting it done. Overstalk is the home of the philosophers, a quixotic solarpunkish country. This led to a vibrant merchant culture, so you buy what you need since we’re philosophizing over here. The beating heart of Overstalk is the Stacked City of Skyreach (think the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, but a whole city), where radical but sometimes dangerous ideas flourish and fester.

The historians of Overstalk delight in explaining the symbology of their flag to others, as the metaphor of each color and symbol were, if you will pardon the pun, dyed right into it when the Fourth Congress of the Representatives commissioned local textile artist Cablin Pogostemon to create it. On the left side, the yellow represents the warmth and energy of the sun (but modern philosophers would argue that the top band is ascribed to the mercantile success of the region). The cream is the color of a yellowing page of a book, representing study, while the gray is the smoke of incense, representing spiritualism. As the cream and the gray interest each other and the yellow, you cannot forget the mind for the spirit or vice versa, and they are both integral to day-to-day living (or for modern interpretation, business dealings). The right side is the vertical expansion of Overstalk, as high as the stars themselves. 

This is the only flag in Verda Stello to use green, which some suppose signifies Overstalk’s high view of themselves as compared to the other countries.

Maybe Cablin knew this when they designed the flag, as it came with explicit instructions to never be hung up-and-down, with the stars at the top. It is considered a deep political insult to hang the flag in this way… but it has been accidentally turned during some particularly prickly international visits.

[astrobiscuits]

Hiii! For my Solar Return Year I have: Sun in the 1st, Moon in the 7th, Venus in the 1st, Mercury in the 2nd, Mars in the 2nd :)

Hello, fellow astrologer :) i remember you from somewhere?...maybe it's just my mind playing tricks, idk

☀️ Sun in 1st house - this year is your year! You'll focus first and foremost on your wellbeing, on what you need and not what other people need. Depending on your Sun sign, you might start working out, a new project/business or something you've always been wanting to do.

🥰 Moon in 7th house - contrary to your Sun's position, this placements brings a heightened awareness of your partner's emotional state.

If you're in a relationship, this year you'll be spending a lot of time with your partner. You'll want to nurture them and the relationship and you might become a bit self-sacrificing for the wellbeing of the relationship.

If you're single, it's almost like you'll focus so much on yourself, just so you'll attract the perfect partner for you. You want to be the best version of yourself for when you'll get into a relationship. Once established in a relationship (there's a high chance you'll find a partner this year), your focus will shift onto your partner's needs and wants, making you an amazing lover to have.

💄 Venus in 1st house - this is usually an indication of having a glow up in SRs. You might decide to lose weight, start a new skincare routine, wear makeup more frequently, change your fashion style or get cosmetic surgery. If you've been struggling with low self-esteem due to the way you look, this year will be the end of an era 🔥🔥 You'll feel more confident in your skin, regardless of what you do. This is also a great time for getting into modelling professionally.

📼 Mercury in 2nd house - this year, it's highly likely you'll make connections with various successful people in your job industry that will prove to be pivotal when it comes to making money. You might meet someone who offers you a better job in terms of money or someone who knows someone rich that could help you.

If you're currently working, this year is one of the best years for asking for a raise. Unless Mercury is afflicted in your SR, you're gonna get that raise 100%.

If you're looking for a job with a high paycheck, getting into the PR industry would be a wonderful idea. Publishing a book, becoming a teacher (especially in humanities), a journalist, a reporter, a TV presenter, a radio host or podcast host are all great options for gaining financial freedom, but only if you can skip getting higher education in these domains (that is, unless you've got a benefic in your 9th house like Jupiter, then you can start studying and working at the same time in one of the previously mentioned careers).

💳 Mars in 2nd house - this year, you'll have the motivation to make lots of money through hard work (that is, if Mars is in Aries, Leo, Sagittarius or Capricorn in your SR). If Mars is not in one of the previously mentioned signs, you'll likely choose to invest your energy in high paying careers that are don't require as much effort.

During this year, your stability might be threatened by jealous men who might look to steal your money or dim your light in order to make you feel unworthy of yourself or your financial gains (yes, you might stumble upon misogynistic men who think that women shouldn't earn more than men just bc they're women). But don't fret! If Mars is well-aspected in your SR, you'll learn how to fight for your value!

[astrojulia]

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DISCLAIMER. These general free readings are made in good faith for entertainment purpose. I may have missed a he/she instead of them in the translation.IF WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SOULMATE YOU WANT TO READ SOMETHING ABOUT ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP, PLEASE READ THIS PAC

How to pick a pile

The pick a pile order is Pile 1 - Pile 2 - Pile 3. 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 - My Melody

(Four of Pentacles - Ace of Swords - The Watery)

You've already met your soulmate, and it's that person to whom you've had a strong emotional attachment since the first day you met. (There's an additional message here for many in this context: a soulmate is not necessarily someone with whom you have a romantic/sexual relationship). This person is someone you want to protect and share your new ideas with, as well as talk about your achievements and victories. You may also have fights and arguments with them for seemingly 'no reason,' and as a result, you end up getting hurt a lot and sometimes feel resentful about continuing to communicate with this person. However, soon after, they come back to talk again (to be honest, it's reminiscent of a relationship between brothers). So, yes, you've already found your soulmate, and they are a person who is still in your life.

Pile 2 - Cinnamoroll

(Five of Swords - The Star - The Maze)

You don't know your soulmate, and without a spiritual connection, it will be difficult for you to meet them. Yes, it sounds tragic and hopeless, something you don't want to hear, but for you to meet your soulmate, you need to pray to your god, deity, higher self, or the universe, so that a higher power can help you connect with your soulmate. The path between the two of you is tangled up, as if you really weren't meant to meet. Remember that a soulmate is literally your other half; it is not necessarily the great love of your life. Sometimes, it can be someone like your neighbor. I say this because I know that you came after a love and romance reading, so don't worry, your soulmate is not synonymous with your future spouse. So, I repeat once again, if you want to meet your soulmate, even if they are not your future husband or wife, resort to prayers and spells to seek a hand of spirituality.

Pile 3 - Hello Kitty

(The Well - Nine of Cups - The Sleep)

Your soulmate is someone you are destined to meet, but it will take you a long time to find them. Until you meet, you will develop many qualities such as humility, kindness, and empathy. You will become a much better person and, most likely, much older than you are today when you finally encounter your soulmate. I might even go so far as to say that you will already have had your first white hair by that time (don't worry, I had my first white hair when I was 20). In short, there are still things you need to do before you can meet your soulmate. It's important to deepen your understanding of yourself, create meaningful connections with others, and nurture your spirituality. Strive to be the best version of yourself, not in the typical inspirational coach talk kind of way, but in a way that you know in your heart that you are being true to your values and aspirations. When you do meet your soulmate, you'll recognize that you are already being your best self.

(CC) AstroJulia Some Rights Reserved

[mitskijamie]

Do you think Ted was a good coach?

Oof. Controversy!

This is a loaded question, because if you look at his end results, you can't deny that he's a "good coach" in the sense that he was able to completely turn the team around and take them to the top of the league. He was definitely doing something right!!

However I feel like I can't really call him a "good coach" with my whole chest because he doesn't know ANYTHING about the sport he's coaching, nor does he really seem to make any effort to learn (like, he doesn't understand the offside rule until 3 years after starting the job. Why?) He's certainly good as part of a coaching team, because he's excellent at building relationships and connecting with his players, but he would be nowhere without Beard, Nate, and Roy, because at the end of the day a team just can't be successful if their coaches don't know anything about the strategy/technique of the game.

Also, Ted's expertise is in coaching kids, not adult professionals, and that really shows in how he handles Richmond sometimes. His whole "winning isn't what's important, it's all about teamwork and having fun and being the best version of yourself :)" is a fantastic mindset for, say, the coach of a little league team, but (as Beard points out) not as wonderful for coaching professionals whose whole job is winning. They're not there to have fun and learn the value of teamwork, they're there to win. I get that the return to football as a fun childhood hobby is a theme on the show, and there's nothing wrong with that, but I feel like Ted doesn't always fully understand the gravity of the sport for people who are truly invested, and he doesn't always do a great job of balancing "having fun and growing as individuals" with like. Doing what these men are paid millions of dollars to do.

As a preschool teacher, I think the way Ted handles conflict is also very reminiscent of how adults handle conflict between young children, which is another thing that would make him a fantastic coach for a kids' team but works against him in a professional setting. In s2, for example, rather than just going to Roy as a superior speaking to an employee and telling him to get over himself and coach Jamie because he's a grownup and that's his job, he tries to get Roy and Jamie to talk it out and come to a resolution like they're two kindergarteners fighting over a toy. He was doing Social Emotional Learning on them, and even though it ultimately benefitted them as individuals, it was not the best or quickest way to deal with a workplace conflict like that between two adults. Can you imagine going to your boss like "hey, the person who's supposed to be training me won't talk to me at all or answer any of my questions and I'm kind of lost" and they were like "lol and what do you expect me to do about that? That's on you, I'm not gonna tell him what to do" insanity

TL;DR I think Ted is fantastic with people and that's a huge asset to him in coaching, but I don't think he knows anywhere near enough about soccer to be a bona fide "good coach" of a professional team. I also think the way he handles his players and their conflicts would be an asset to him if he were a kids' coach or a teacher, but sometimes is frustrating and infantilizing when applied to professionals