#even if its the intention to talk about a deity or something

[sehetep-shenwer]

Repeat after me:

AI art is NOT devotional art

AI is not witchcraft

[buildingunderstanding]

What I've done is broken up what would be my altar space. I have one small box shelf with crystals on it, one shelf that has a few other items that are more miscellaneous, but still related to Loki or the family, on a second shelf along with non alter/offerinf items to help them blend in, then the space on top of my desk is where I keep all of my candles, so it looks a little less inconspicuous when I have one lit. I also just use generic scented candles. Sometimes I'll take a pencil or something and lightly carve something into the surface if the wax for whomever I'm lighting the candle for, sometimes I'll just hold that deity in mind when I light it, usually I try to light scents that remind me of them, but not always.

I know it's tempting to have the clear cut and aesthetic altar/shrine space, but your safety needs to come first. And even Loki who is hailed for helping us grow into ourselves and be who we truly are is going to understand that. I've prayed to him and asked him to help me blend in as he did when he disguised himself in the myths to speak to Freyja and learn about the mistletoe, and he did.

I have a couple fandom merch tin lunchboxes that I keep things hidden, something like that might work for you too. Your altar/shrine space doesn't have to be out in the open in anyway, for it to honor the Gods. Loki understands the need to hide in plain sight and also to truly hide.

Hi everyone, I have a small problem- My mum (who is a devout catholic) is slowly figuring out my altar space and has recently been confronting me on it and not buying my “it’s decoration” argument, so if there’s anyone out there who may be able to give me some advice on what to do, that would be really appreciated. The most recent was just now when she walked in and got mad about an offering I left, claiming that if it’s not “of God” it shouldn’t happen.

[allthatmay]

So, today my husband said, "Some people think Shanks is a radial leftist, but I think he's the most centrist character in the show. Dragon fills the role of the radial leftist/anarchist that people often attribute to Shanks."

And, huh, yeah. People do often talk about Shanks like he's an anarchist, but he's really not. I've always said that Shanks is a mediator, keeping a tentative peace between the pirate tribes and the government until the time comes wherein the One Piece can be claimed and the mysterious consequences can happen, but that means he is effectively playing the part of a centrist—straddling the fence, as it were. The key difference, I think, is that Shanks knows for certain that change is coming in the form of a rubber deity, and he is trying to guide it into place. All his work is done behind the scenes with very little violence if he can help it.

Now, it's easy to assume that Shanks' plans involve the complete dissolution of the government as it presently stands; that he is simply using his power & influence to mitigate harm for the many until the "real fight" can begin (and, with him having recently decided to chase the One Piece, now it has), but that might not be the case (and, even if it is the case, a lot of centrists use "mitigating harm for the many" as a reason not to take action against some truly heinous acts). The reality may be that Shanks doesn't see the need for the total collapse of the government, or perhaps he knows something about it that we don't (i.e. because he might be of Celestial Dragon blood). I don't really believe this is the case because, as far as I'm aware, Shanks hasn't ever shown any real support for the World Gov but he has shown, time and time again, that he believes in dreams, in people's personal willpower, and in the ability of anyone to become strong and change the future. But the truth is that we can't know his intentions for certain without Oda giving us more information, so my husband's assertion that Shanks is a centrist makes some sense.

In particular, Luffy is what makes this theory interesting: slap him in between Dragon and Shanks, and there's a very real dichotomy between the two "fathers" in his life. See, Luffy idolises Shanks and thinks of him similarly to a father, but he might realise as time goes on that he can't be like Shanks; he might realise that Shanks' ideals will only carry him so far. After all, what good is it to be a pacifistic when your enemy is a powerful government that is comfortable with mass murder?

(My rebuttal is that Luffy is the only one who can be like Shanks. He is effectively Shanks' dream: Shanks wants to be strong enough to do all the work himself, to suffer all the pain himself, and while he is one of the strongest men in the world, he simply can't do that; what he can do is only achievable through the support he has at his side. Meanwhile, Luffy has close support in his crew, and he has the Gum-Gum Fruit! He can literally become a godlike figure and shape the world around him! He can do everything that Shanks wants and needs and, as sure as I am that Shanks wishes he could have done it himself—I'm thinking back to his days with Roger here—he knows that it was never meant to be him.)

This is where Dragon comes in. Dragon, in direct contrast to Shanks, uses violence as a tool whenever he can. He's all about the greater good, for lack of a better term. His thinking is along the lines of, "People are suffering now and we can help, and we have no qualms in forcibly dismantling a government that uses slavery, genocide, and imprisonment to control its populace. We don't wait for the right time to act, we simply act." Do I think Shanks would approve of Dragon's goals? Yes. Do I think he would approve of Dragon's means in achieving those goals? No, but mostly because Shanks is very self-sacrificial and tries to take whatever suffering is necessary for change onto himself, relying only on his small, personal crew, whereas Dragon is happy to let other people martyr themselves for the rebel cause. He lets a small, amnesiac child join them, for crying out loud—something Shanks would never do, not even if the child proved very capable.

If anything is to come from this difference of ideals, I think it's that Luffy will learn from both of them and find his own way to the One Piece and into the world waiting beyond. Why? Well, because Luffy is all about freedom, and no one on the side of Dragon or Shanks is truly free. As for the world itself, it's hard to predict what will happen after Luffy's done with it because it's pretty dependent on Oda's philosophy. For instance, Oda seems to approve of monarchies, which is not something I would personally imagine remaining in a world without a governing body—but, hey, what do I know?

Of course, we all know that the true centrist in the show is undeniably Garp. He will let real, undeniable harm befall those he cares about in order to maintain the status quo, or to stop the government from toppling because [gasp] that would be the worst thing ever! He's a man who believes the government is essential and joins up in order to change it from the inside, only to fall short of his own expectations because he won't stand up when it matters most. Not even for the sake of his beloved grandson.

[tactical-jellyfish]

Breakup day drabble! (Part one: Johnny)

I missed Valentines day, I know. I planned to feed you guys but I ended up sleeping fourteen hours almost consecutively. Sorry gang, my bad.

This is gonna be a longer drabble, split into parts for each Tf141 member (and others, if requested and I can write for them), and one final poly breakup (separate from the others, obvi). I haven't fed y'all and I feel like an absent father lmao

Warnings!: Big sad. Yelling (it is VERY regretted), terrible boyfriends (all four of them are fumbling the bag like CRAZZYY)

Also I wrote this tired as fuck, so if I made any oopsies here, absolutely correct me <3

You've got no issue with a little fire in a partner. In fact, it's something you've come to seek out as you grew up.

It's only logical, isn't it? You need someone who can keep up, someone who's not going to be holding you back from getting orders out of the way.

Work hard, play harder.

Of course, you liked Johnny for many more reasons than just that one.

He was an absolute sap at just the right state of drowsiness, he drew you like you were a downright deity, he... he really fucking cared.

You didn't regret making it official, getting to know damn well that Scot was yours when the day was over and it was time to sleep.

That being said, every relationship has its rocky patches, and you've got the feeling you're about to be in the middle of an ugly one.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You don't regret making the call. Not even a little bit.

This mission wouldn't have made time if you hadn't buckled down and pointedly ignored both Johns in your headset calling you a moron in a strained whisper from cover.

The objective was secured. There were a good chunk less terrorists in the world because you put them down. A little gash in your side, but that's no issue, so you'd deem it successful.

Unfortunately, Johnny doesn't seem to think the same way. You can feel the roiling, stirred-up and not calming back down like usual.

You let him stew on the flight back to base, quietly bandaging your own wound with a small antiseptic wipe Gaz had wordlessly put into your hand when he first saw you trotting up.

Price is tired, but he's not as upset as he used to get over this sort of stunt from you. It's a fatherly sort of exhaustion, you're half-sure at some point he said that you're giving him gray hairs.

You earned three days' work cleaning the bathrooms for snorting, but no more. You would have earned many more days if you asked if he was finally going soft, even if he was.

Still, after a few hours, Johnny doesn't seem to have cooled down. He's pointedly silent, fuming in his little corner.

It takes a special sort of bitchiness to make Ghost look like a put-together, social man. You've long accepted that your man is a little bit of a child on occasion.

So, as any reasonable partner would, you leave it alone. Let Johnny sort though these feelings, because you know he doesn't want to hear it from you right now. If he wanted to talk, he could ask.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, lo and behold, it only took five hours.

The knocks on your door are familiar. A three-beat rap-tap-tapping. Firmer than usual.

"Luv? You ready to talk about it now?"

You open the door to a sight. Not a great one, mostly because you know it shouldn't make you giggle a little.

A grown-ass man. Not just that, a sergeant, pouting.

"Bayonet."

He must see the way your brows pinch at your callsign being used instead of your name, but Johnny doesn't do a thing to stop himself.

"Are ye feckin' stupid, or jus' having a little craic on the clock?"

"Callsigns stay at work, Johnny. Unless you've got full intentions of this being a professional meeting."

That long-standing agreement was something you really did like. Johnny had agreed to use it a long time ago, and the only lapses (before this one, of course) were simple mistakes, easy to excuse and forgive.

"Och, this is professional alright, what the fuck were ye thinking?!"

His voice is raising, but it brings no fear, just annoyance.

"If I have to remind you, it worked. We wouldn't have made it back to Nik on the clock if I hadn't. No major injuries, either."

Johnny's starting to fume. His brows are knitting together, usually-bright face drawing down into some ugly mixture of anger and something else you don't quite have a word for right now.

"Are ye actually-"

"MacTavish, it fucking worked. I only take risks when I know it's something I can handle, and frankly, if you're upset about me doing my job, then you should handle it the way we agreed to handle it."

Calmly. Slowly working through the issue, training together, anythinig as long as it wasn't a screaming match or a contest. Not this.

"You're a fucking liability is what I'm trying to tell you! Your callsign is Bayonet fer a feckin' reason, you daft cunt!"

You're not sure who made him think he could talk to you like this, but he just. Keeps. Going. It makes your chest heat to a fever, though you keep your face measuredly ice-cold, flat so Johnny can't gleam anything from your expression.

"Ye're a gamble at best, a last resort, ye should'ave stayed off the line an' let someone else handle it! Ye got hurt because you dinnae listen to th' orders!"

Ohhhhh, that's not professional anymore. A slight on your own callsign, when he wasn't even there to see you earn it.

Asshole.

"Watch it, Soap." Is the only warning you can bring yourself to offer, glaring into those baby blue eyes with the vitriol provoked by the man before you.

"Nae, ah'm not gonnae watch it! Ye pull shite like this, an' I have to come o'er an' pretend I wannae patch yer stupid arse back up!"

You've never been in the business of cutting someone off before they can finish their sentences, but you're starting to doubt your ability to be civil.

Soap's refusing to meet you on any agreed-upon grounds, he's not separating your relationship from work and that's a slippery slope.

And you're fucking upset. This anger isn't something you can tamp down, it's the worst kind.

The sort that twists you in the guts and makes your eyes hot. The sort that makes a headache sparkle to life and the small wound in your side throb and ooze into the bandages a little bit more.

The sort that makes you want to scream. But you won't do that. Not to Soap.

"This isn't how we agreed to handle conflicts. Come back when you can sort your feelings enough to keep yourself from screaming."

Icy, you know it is, but Soap grabs the door before you can finish.

"Close this fucking door on me, and I will skin you." The threat rings hollow. Oddly similar to the sound of the plywood door sliding shut.

Soap moves his fingers away just before they gain a set of new joints in all the wrong places.

There's a frustrated growl, and a series of footsteps thumping away, in the direction of the gym.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You slept awfully that night.

The frustrated tears cleared easy, but the anger itself didn't, because really, how dare he. Showing up to your space, calling you a dunce, and breaking the most fundamental rule of your relationship.

Luckily, a small ping pulls you from the continuation of this spiral. A text from one Kyle "Gaz" Garrick.

What did you put up Soap's arse? Just asking.

You snort.

Nothing. Reckon he'd be in a better mood if I had.

The three dots appear, vanish, reappear before you get a response.

He's being a cunt today. Think you should steer clear.

That dampens the mood a bit, but again, it's not too far from your expectation. Johnny had his feelings big, and loud. It was honestly overwhelming sometimes, but you'd learned to handle it over time.

You hated it most when he made issues he had with you a team issue.

Girls' night then? I got that oil for your hair

...I'll bring the bonnets

You smile despite yourself, and rise from bed to get yourself ready for an easy day.

Unfortunately, the next notification is one you miss until you come back to your room, exhausted but satisfied after writing the mission's postmortem.

I'm done wie yer shite

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Most of the "girls' night" Kyle wanted to share with you is making sure you don't cry so hard you pull your stitches.

[trashmunson]

Boyfriend Eddie who is enthusiastic about his love for (going down on) reader, but shy. ((A/N: I’m aware it wasn’t released until 1990 but music makes me creative and it screams Eddie Munson.))

“Is there a song that reminds you of me?”

Your question was innocent, as far as Eddie knew, but the answer he had couldn’t have been further.

Since the moment he’d tasted you, on his own fingers after stroking your clit and fingering you through at least two orgasms before he couldn’t stop himself from indulging. That moment, your cum on his tongue, there’d only been one song he thought of when people asked Eddie about you.

“Tastes so good, makes a grown man cry.” Cherry Pie by Warrant

“No.”

“Nothing, really?” Eddie heard the disappointment and wanted to ease it, would have even if it wasn’t his fault. “Well there’s-“ he’s laughing already, nervous at what he wants to admit and it’s intriguing, obviously. “So there is something.”

“Of course there is but it’s not what you want to be told, sweetheart.”

“Spit it out, babe. Unless it’s a murder confession, I’m sure I’ll like it. Play it, if that’s better.”

“Cherry Pie. The Warrant song. You like it,” he starts humming it, tapping the beat on his legs, then the lyrics.

“She’s my cherry pie

cool drink of water

such a sweet surprise…

tastes so good,

Make a grown man cry

Sweet cherry pie.”

You look at him, recognizing the song as soon as he started and finding humor in the lyrics he remembered. You recognize it because Eddie is always humming it, listening to it, using his pencil while writing to tap it onto his desk.

“Interesting…” you hum, and Eddie’s in misery at your lack of reaction. “Play it for me?” Pointing to the stereo instead of his guitar on the wall; you have plans for his hands.

——————————————————————-

How soon after the record is spinning is Eddie in your arms, between your legs, was pretty spectacular given his usual finesse outside the bedroom. “Can I help with anything?” Blown pupils looking down at you before he’s grinding his teeth when his hips drop to yours. Its habit, dragging your core over the tent in his jeans. He closes his eyes, unable to look at you and prevent himself from cumming in his pants because shit he can feel how hot you already are, probably throbbing for him. He hates to leave his girl uncomfortable, so Eddie takes your hips in his hand, his rings wringing the fabric of your shirt up your hips, wanting to see your skin. Anything he could get with all these clothes on. Keeping the weight of his hips on you, Eddie rocked forward and waited for- there. You gasp, pulling him closer by the shoulders. You’re pinned beneath him, and he’s managed to not only target your clit through all your clothes but is now intent on using it solely to get you off. If solely included the absolute filth that Eddie always talked when you gave him the privilege of letting him touch you. Every day, he thanks every deity he can think of for you. Sometimes, he does it while you’re praising him like a god, and he wonders if it’s blasphemous.

“That feel nice, baby?” You whine and Eddie hums, music to his ears before he’s kissing your throat. Hot breath and nasty words pushing you closer to orgasm.

“I can tell, you’re already whining like you’re ready to cum. Still got all your clothes on, baby. It’s okay, sh… I’ve got you.”

“Eddie…” he’s right, you are whining, but he was on top of you, grinding his cock right into your sex, completely clothed, and he expected anything less?

“Patience, sweetheart, I always take care of you, don’t I?”

[starborncoven]

🖤 Protection Against the Dark Arts 🔮✨

Take out your grimoire, light a candle, and let’s begin with the fundamentals.

🌙 Chapter 1: Cleansings, Protections & Banishments 🌙

Before we talk about protection, let’s ask: What exactly are we shielding ourselves from? The unseen world is vast, and not everything in it has good intentions. Here are the five main types of magical and energetic disturbances you may encounter:

⚡ Spirits who feel wronged or restless. ⚡ Novice practitioners poking where they shouldn't. ⚡ The weight of broken oaths and unfulfilled promises. ⚡ Malicious intent from other witches (yes, even in WitchTok). ⚡ Astral parasites, low vibrations, and unwanted entities.

If you maintain a regular (but not obsessive) cleansing and protection practice, you’ll be just fine. But how do you know when you’re under attack?

🔮 Signs of Energetic Disturbance 🔮

🕯️ External Signs: A sudden streak of bad luck, patterns of misfortune that seem unnatural. 🕯️ Mental & Emotional Signs: Anxiety that appears out of nowhere, intrusive thoughts, nightmares where you are hunted, trapped, or tormented. If a spirit is involved, you may feel watched, drained, or uneasy in your own space. 🕯️ Physical Signs: Persistent headaches, fatigue that no amount of sleep can fix, nausea with no apparent cause. 🕯️ Omens: Recurring symbols in dreams—dead animals, shadow figures, places you cannot escape from. 🕯️ Intuition: If you suddenly feel compelled to cleanse or protect your space, trust yourself. Some witches even sense negative energy through scent—pay attention to what your body tells you.

⚠️ BUT REMEMBER: Not everything is an attack. Headaches happen. People get sick. A string of bad luck doesn’t always mean your neighbor Karen is hexing you. Most "curses" are self-inflicted by fear and suggestion. Before diving into spiritual solutions, check in with your physical and mental health.

✨ Protection Basics ✨

🕯️ The Sphere of Light – A simple yet powerful visualization technique. 🛁 Cleansing & Protection Baths – Water is a natural purifier. Salt, herbs, and intention amplify its power. 🧂 Salt – A classic, whether sprinkled at doorways, carried in a sachet, or dissolved in bathwater. 📿 Talismans & Charms – Protection jewelry, enchanted sigils, or blessed objects.

🏡 For Home Protection 🏡

💨 Smoke Cleansing: Use sacred herbs or resins—frankincense, myrrh, dragon’s blood, palo santo, sandalwood. 💎 Crystals: Tourmaline, obsidian, selenite, and white quartz create a strong energetic shield. 🔏 Sigils: Draw them on doors, windows, or mirrors—just remember to cleanse first before sealing!

🖤 Self-Cleansing Rituals 🖤

🕯️ Egg cleansings for absorbing negativity. 💦 Showers with salt or herbal infusions. 💨 Incense rituals to purify your aura.

✨ Banishment: When the Shadows Won’t Leave ✨

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, something unwanted lingers. When that happens, it’s time for a banishment.

🔥 Candle Banishing – A word of caution: Never leave a candle unattended, especially if you’ve added herbs or oils. Fire is a spirit of its own—respect it. 💨 Banishing Incense – Some of the best options include laurel, dragon’s blood, and frankincense. 🛡️ Divine Intervention – If you work with deities, call upon one aligned with protection and purification. 🌿 Banishing Herbs & Spices – Lavender, cloves, bay leaves, and lemon verbena hold strong purifying properties.

Curious for more? Our full 30+ page guide on protection, cleansing, and banishment is coming soon to our Ko-fi! 🌙✨

Stay safe, witches. The veil is thin, but you are powerful. 🖤🔮

[theflintwarlock]

Perfume and magic

Scent is just as much a form of self-expression as makeup or clothing. It says something about yourself and how you want the world to see you. It also helps set your intention for the day going forward. In this way, it is an excellent addition to your everyday magical practice.

Signature scents:

You'll see some talk in perfume communities about finding your 'signature scent', a perfume or cologne which you wear on an everyday basis, something that makes you feel more you. Some people swear by it, but I personally let my daily feelings, workings and emotions dictate what will be my signature scent for the day.

Finding a perfume:

One of the first things you do when finding a perfume, of course, is smell it. This will give you an idea of what you're going for, what scents attract you and feel comfortable to you. Are they light, heavy, musky or floral, masculine or feminine? There's a world out there to chose from of unique scents.

In your magical practice it helps to know what goes into a scent. Most perfumes and colognes have a breakdown on their box of what is in them, top notes, medium and base notes. These ingredients can be great for correspondence if you're big into herbal magic, or perhaps if there's a certain herb you work with regularly.

For example, I'm a big fan of the glossier "you" perfume, which is comprised of mainly base notes, including pink peppercorn. The pepper gives it protective qualities, but it's also floral and works with your own scent to create something alluring and perfect for glamour. Great for attraction magic.

Whatever you choose doesn't have to be expensive to be useful in your witchcraft, and it also doesn't have to seem "witchy." A perfectly modern body spray, when used with intention, can find its place in your practice. Hell, I sometimes use lynx body spray as a masculine glamour.

Using it with intention:

Putting on your scent with intention doesn't have to be a complicated process. It can be as simple as knowing that one of your perfumes has rosemary in it and you want a bit of extra protection today, or rose for connection to others, or pine for protection and energy. It's about being thoughtful about the process but also letting your intuition and nose guide you to what you want.

You can also dedicate a particular bottle for a particular purpose or deity: for example, I keep one of my colognes on my altar to Asmodeus so that when I wear it it helps bring me closer to him and keeps his infernal energies around me as a form of protection and glamour. This doesn't apply to just deities, however. If you have an altar for money or beauty, for example, you can add whatever bottle feels right to the display and use it to add to your workings.

Ritual uses:

As well as simple intention, scent can be a great and powerful addition to ritual magic. The energies you surround yourself with are important in a ritual, and the ones that you place on your skin are a powerful signal that can be used to boost your performance in a spell. In the same way incense or scented candles are used in rituals, so too perfumes or even room sprays have their place.

Glamour uses:

Perhaps the most obvious use of perfume that comes to mind when considering it's magical potential is as a glamour, and this is not without good reason. Glamours are chiefly about how others perceive you, and perfumes are a quick but effective way to help a person notice you with certain intentions. The right scent can draw someone to you, make you seem more powerful or interesting, or have a whole range of effects.

My favourite use of glamour magic when it comes to scent is to help make me seem more masculine. As a trans man, I find that wearing colognes is a gender affirming and simple way to help people perceive me more clearly as the gender I identify as.

I'm sure I'm not the only trans practitioner to use this method, but if you're non binary or gender fluid it can be great to experiment with different traditionally gendered scents and mix and match them. Floral and pine, sandalwood and roses, experiment! Find what works for you, and how you want people to perceive you when they're around you. Glamours are so much more than having people find you attractive as they're seen by many, and scent gives you a very real and immediate way to control how people are affected by your presence.

I hope this little guide is useful to some practitioners and helps you consider new ways to incorporate scent into your practice. Let me know if there is anything I missed!

[theheidfox]

Any tips for talking to Loki? I do talk to him sometimes, but I feel insecure in how I speak to him. Sorry to bother you, I just seek advice from the only person I trust with this

Hi!

First of all, it's never a bother to answer questions about the gods, the craft of pretty much anything - and i am honored that you came to me, thank you so much! 💕

From what I've seen in all my years of practice, Loki really is one of the easiest gods to reach out to, and I don't say it only from personal experience but from what I've seen from others that interact with him waaay into adult life (minding I talk to him since before I could form coherent phrases LOL). There are many different forms of worshipping or creating a relationship with your deity/any deity but my advice would be: treat it like any other relationship you are trying to build. You wouldn't cuss or be disrespectful to a new friend, would you? Not even in a joking manner, at least not until you know it's ok to do so (sorry, the way some people talk disrespectfully to Him bothers me A LOT, its a personal pet peeve).

If you feel like talking "out loud"/praying is something you struggle with, how about writting it down? Like you were writting a letter to a penpal, maybe? I feel like the most important part is being honest, and be yourself. Loki is not a god who demands or even expects much formality - only pure, raw, honesty.

I know gods can be intimidating, so take your time (i am completely terrified by Freyja for example - like, in a fangirl sense, beautiful women make me nervous). Maybe start just...telling him about your day? Or something you saw that reminded you of him? Maybe invite him for something fun?

Remember this relationship with you is new for him too and in my view, contrary to what the Christian god claims, gods are not all knowing all seeing all everything... they sense intention, so... just be yourself and I'm sure you're doing amazing. I'm proud of you.

[thejournallo]

Explain the basic: Offerings

Desclaimer: Everything I will talk about is information that I got from books and sites online and even videos on YouTube. In my years of practice, I learned as much as I could out of curiosity and what works best for me. I suggest you do the same by learning as much as you can on your own (I will be here making posts teaching this kind of stuff) from multiple sources.

Offering to deities and entities in general is a practice found in many cultures and religions around the world. Every deity or entity that you make an offering for has its own symbol. For example, Apollo is the god of the sun; music, art, and poetry; writing something or singing for him can be offerings. 

There are many religions that take on the act of offering as a sign of respect and devotion to that specific religion. Here are some examples:

Hinduism: Offerings (puja) often include fruits, flowers, incense, and food, placed before images of deities in temples or home altars.

Buddhism: Offerings may include candles, incense, flowers, and food, placed before statues of the Buddha and bodhisattvas.

Christianity: Candles, bread, and wine are common offerings, especially in the context of the Eucharist.

Shinto: Offerings of rice, sake, and other food items are made at shrines to honor kami (spirits or gods).

Paganism and Wicca: Offerings might include seasonal fruits, flowers, wine, and personal tokens, placed on altars dedicated to specific deities or nature spirits.

All these religions have common practices that we can see and see over time; all of those are not rules but more something you can do or not do. (Especially because no one has the same opportunities.)

Altars: A dedicated space where offerings are made. This can be a simple shelf at home or an elaborate structure in a temple.

Purity: Many traditions emphasize the importance of purity in the offerings, meaning they should be clean and handled with respect.

Timing: Offerings are often made at specific times, such as during festivals, holy days, or particular phases of the moon.

Intention: The mindset and intention behind the offering are crucial. It should be given with respect, devotion, and a pure heart.

These offerings can take various forms, each carrying its own significance and purpose. Here's an overview of the different types of offerings and the common practices associated with them:

Types of Offerings

Food and Drink:

Fruits, grains, and vegetables: Often used in offerings to symbolize abundance and gratitude.

Cooked meals: Specific dishes that are favored by the deity or entity.

Drinks: This can include water, wine, milk, or other beverages. In some traditions, alcoholic drinks like mead or sake are common.

Sweets and desserts: Cakes, candies, or other sweet treats, especially those that are traditional or culturally significant.

Flowers and Plants:

Fresh flowers: Often chosen for their beauty and fragrance. Certain flowers are associated with specific deities.

Herbs:: Sacred or medicinal herbs may be offered for their symbolic properties.

Incense and Aromatics:

incense: Burned to create a fragrant smoke that is believed to please the deities.

Essential oils: Used for anointing or in diffusers to create a sacred atmosphere.

Candles and Lights:

Candles: Lit to symbolize light, purity, and the presence of the divine.

Oil lamps: Used in many traditions, often with ghee or olive oil.

Objects and Symbols:

Statues or images: Placed on altars as representations of the deity or entity.

Jewelry or precious items: Offered as a sign of respect and devotion.

Money and Valuables:

Coins or currency: Offered in temples or shrines, sometimes used to support the upkeep of the place of worship.

Jewelry or precious items: Given as a form of sacrifice or in seeking favor.

Actions and Devotions:

Prayers and chants: Recited to honor the deity or entity.

Songs and music: Played or sung as a form of praise.

Dance: Performed in some cultures as an offering of movement and energy.

Conclusion

Offering to deities and entities is a deeply personal and culturally rich practice. It serves as a way to connect with the divine, show gratitude, seek blessings, and maintain a reciprocal relationship with the spiritual world. The specific items and practices may vary, but the underlying principles of respect, devotion, and intention remain consistent across different traditions.

[dreaming-tonite]

Batfamily members as fragrances I like

Dick

Literally my most favourite perfume of all time. The perfume that reminds you of an old school crush (you know which one, that one upperclassman everyone can’t shut up about who’s just so charming and so nice and smiles so wide), if there is a perfume for someone who you can’t help but like it would be this one. Bright citrusy top notes that aren’t quite as bright as him, subduing to the musky, warm scent lingering on your skin that your nose picks up when you almost forgot its there, much like soaring through the air on a summer morning before it starts to get warm. (Quercus by Penhaligon's)

Barbara

Everyone wants to be her but there is only one like her. First of its kind and an eternal classic, if being "it" is a scent then it is probably this one. Determined to a fault and tragically independent. You wish that she would need you but you are acutely aware that she needs no one. Soothing to the nose but keeps you at arm's length, the grassiness and woodiness almost make you forget that the herb and citrus are resting on the surface. (Jicky by Guerlain)

Jason

There is something odd (something inhuman, almost) about him that you cannot put your finger on and you are not sure if you have the bravery to find out. The product of what is real and what is artificial, the scent of someone trying to become human. Mossy, lactonic notes like someone who just crawled their way into the world with the boyishness of citrus threatening to resurface despite the other urges to contain it. Whether being near him would cause you your demise, you will never know. He is not bad, it is not his fault that he is destined to be a little twisted in every reincarnation of the story. (The Ghost in the Shell by Etat Libre d'Orange)

Cass

A half-burnt incense in the temple of a deity you do not worship. Smoke fills your lungs before you can look around to see if anyone is there and from the corner of your eyes, you swear that the lean shadow of a figure briefly flickers. There is no one there, only you and the gods above who may or may not have anticipated your arrival. Strong but not aggressive, warm but not inviting. The scent of wood and spices trailed behind the cuff of your clothes as you left. You could almost swear that someone is there guarding your every step until you finally disappear from their line of sight. (Serge Noire by Serge Lutens)

Tim

Charming and sophisticated but no one seems to grasp what is going on in his head. Such a complex scent profile that lures you in to keep testing it again and again even as the minutes start ticking away. Someone who always seems to be changing with the situation they are put in but also seems at ease no matter where you see him. Smart and witty, almost everyone who was asked would guess that he is way older than his actual age. Whether it is something intentional or not, the opinions are split. (Eidesis by Aesop)

Steph

I will literally die for her, actually.

Bike rides home with your friends. Chilled pink lemonade on a hot summer day. Free sorbet sample from that nice lady who works at the gelateria. All the good things you associate with being youthful and carefree, this is it. The girl next door went away to the city and now everyone is dying to hear her story. But even in a crowd of people who are all waiting to talk to her, she could still spot you from far away somehow and flash you a big grin. Bubbly, cheerful, someone who does not have to announce their arrival but you know they are here when the air gets a bit lighter and the music gets a bit brighter. (Pera Granita by Guerlain)

Damian

(When I say I tried this in the stores and instantly felt poor…)

Warm notes of saffron fill your head until the vanilla takes over and it’s as if it was there on your skin all alone. The epitome of a warm, spicy perfume, the smell of someone you saw in the depths of your dreams once and couldn’t manage to push out of your head, who stood far away in your vision and disappeared the moment you tried to go closer. Someone who jostled you with the initial intensity before the sweetness and petals slowly creep out. You wonder if you look harder enough, would you find him in the waking? (Cappadocia by Memo Paris)

Selina

The fragrance of a heartbreaker who you can’t help but want to know. The alluring notes of roses announce her arrival before you can see her, intoxicating and dangerous. Your head gets lighter when she leans in to speak into your ear, whiffs of cumin and spice tickling the tip of your nose. But no one could have her for more than a minute, and all that is left of her is the cedar and smoke burning into your brain together with her figure as she sauntered away. 100% would leave you crying if you get too close, 100% would try again if given the chance. (Rose 31 by Le Labo)

Bonus

Talia Al Ghul

Try it once and you will never forget it. The smoothness in texture compliments the slight bitterness that comes from the almond milk. Rich, tempting, and elegant in a way that makes your chest ache. It feels like she is doing you a favour just by looking in your direction, and who wouldn't go insane just to be close enough to smell whiffs of vanilla coming from her skin, honestly. (Rolling in Love By Kilian)

| I feel the need to say that all descriptions are not character studies but imagery based on the scent. Some might be more in line with the characters themselves but ultimately, my goal is to convey my impression of the fragrances |

[gryphis-eyes]

⊙ ἀγάπη, for you my true love

× who's your next girlfriend~

♤ Welcome to this pick a card~ im kinda doing this pac to celebrate the fact that im finally at peace with my sexuality (and I think that's exactly why I always feel conflicted about the love pac Ive done in the past lol) but I think we deserve more wlw in pick a cards. The person that will be represented in those piles can either be a cis woman or identify as a woman, Ive included the whole ’female spectrum”. In this pac I'll use the myths surrounding the dragon I'll pick to represent your next girlfriend to channel her personality and life story, hope you'll enjoy

Also it wasn't the intention but i did rant sometimes about myths don't worry i'm angry when it comes to dragon slaying lol

♤ Deck used : "oracle des dragons" by secret d'étoile & Illuminated Tarot (dedicated to Apollon, thanks for the gift of divination ⊙)

little note ; i only used court cards and major arcana, it is better to identify someone.

○ Masterlist

Choose a picture of my wife, Marie ;

♀ Pile 1

【Cards】 Tarasque & Dreki + The Sun

The first thing that came to my mind are those people who are really fond of the image of the divine feminine maybe it's something that trully changed their life and view of themselves for the better. She totaly got the vibe of a fertility goddess maybe she is even worshipping one, this woman truly feels like Hathor or Brigid because i've eard "she is like Hathor but in a forest". Please do take care of this sun goddess, this isn't a sun that burn but a sun who nurture and deliver a comforting warmth. Being blessed by their love is like being a cat laying on its back bathing in a warm sun ray (lucky you).

It's funny because the two dragons that represent your next girlfriend aren't your typical dragons, they both don't have wings, they're peaceful unless disturbed and don't seek conflict (yes im on the side of the Tarasque fuck those peasants) in this oracle they're called Dreki and the author went on their interpretation of them but it's actually referencing to Lindworm who are dragons that are closer to snakes and who aren't dangerous at all as they feed on dead bodies or random animals. But for those two dragons, once they've encountered men Humans they're instantly considered a menace due to their appearance. The Dreki, as described in this oracle is a dragon that is almost invisible due to their closeness with nature and wilderness by that i can imagine that your next girlfirend is probably shy but i do think it's more about reservation wether they started doing it because of how the world treated them or just because it's their nature. Honestly i'm pretty sure that for most of you, your futur girl is so close to nature some are probably witches or at least worship nature or a deity/spirit who represent the element of earth, the forest and fertility (it can go from Artemis to Demeter or just the fairies). She is very patient and nurturing, probably have the cosiest home you'll ever go to or she has the power to make anyone feel cosy, i know she gives wonderful hugs but you have to deserve them because~

Let's get to the Tarasque side, you can consider it a dark side but i honestly think it's something she's grown into, the Dreki feels like their true self while the Tarasque is probably their "outside appearance". In its legend, the Tarasque attacked annyone who came to close to its territory, it was a furious and scary creature many talks about how terrifying she looked. Just with this part of the story i can see how the world have treated this woman, probably pointing fingers at her pointing out anything that made her different or maybe she's just not conventionaly attractive. Of cours the villagers (her whole surrounding) just wanted the dragon to be slain but one day Marthe (it can be you or someone who's a true friend to her) came in the town, she saw the potential of the Tarasque and not just a furious monster of devastation, lady Marthe appeased the Tarasque and treated it gently. Sadly once Marthe bought the Tarasque to the village those stupid monkey brained peasant decided to kill it in vengeance despite the dragon being now tamed and calm (i'll be salty forever by the way apparently this town sucks now SO GOOD FOR THEM)

With this part of the story i can have two scenarios , this is either the story of your meeting so you'll meet her when she will be in a really lonely place, probably stuck in the place that hurted them (because hey it's not that easy to leave). Or they've already been through all of this and now she is far from those people who harmed her but of course it has consequence on her and her personality so she might come off as rude people might even say 'rude' but don't be stopped by their tough exterior, it's not a mask but an actual outside image of them. Kind of like a bear i've heard, some will think about the fact that they're aggressive and dangerous but actually they're quite cuddly and protective, look at interpretation of the Bear card from Lenormand i feel like it does represent your person quite well or simply what bears represent in your belief system.

Be gentle, be patient because it's not a woman whom you can approach just out of curiosity you'll actually have to seek out in the forest to find her in their most natural habitat and who know maybe she'll charm you. la petite fille de la mer just started playing when i got to this part like wow she is so dreamy i feel like she could hypnotise you like the fairy she is~

my best wishes for you and the fairy princess

♀ Pile 1

【Cards】 Ladon & gargouille + The Sun

It's quite funny that you also got the sun to describe your woman but i sense her to be quite far from Pile 1's girlfriend. She strike me as the sun but in the way of Apollon who represent it, she got a bright side that is bold but warm, she inspire a lot of people as much as she intimidate them because Ladon is the dragon (a kind of hydra) who ended up being turned into the dragon constellation (what a star). And just like Apollon she also has a really dark side, a side of the sun that we often forget about, she is a furious & burning star alone but shining on the world both nurturing and devastating. Your girlfriend is kind of a punk i must say, probably very active when it comes to injustice that just make her blood boil. She probably made herself a lot of enemies but she doesn't care, yes she is alone but she is confident in it (tho i can guess that the loneliness can be heavy sometimes) i can also say that a lot of people probably hate her out of jealousy because she is free and independant while other people are probably too insecure to do anything she does. An other thing i got is that she doesn't care about dressing how she want or being provocative in general "just because she can" i've heard, after all gargoyls are made either scary or provocative in order to scare off evil (like the gorgon images) she assume all of her choices and so she doesn't mind any asshole who come up to try to put her down because if she ever falls on the ground she'll get up to go as high as the stars.

In the myth, Ladon has been slayed by heracles (it's an heracles hater account by the way) during his labours but thing is, Ladon's death has been quite the scandal and made the nymph really sad above of that the dragon was protecting the golden apple tree (thank you for being useless heracles). I can interpret this for your futur girlfriend as her being just protective and supportive of other women (the nymph) but probably about minority in general (the apple tree represent multiple things to protect that are all linked togheter), since the nymph adore Ladon to the point of crying its death she is probably quite popular amongs the girls. Now for the heracles part i think we can all imagine what he represent when you think about the image of your futur girlfriend, (cis)men 100% hate her for sure and some might have been pretty violent about it (what can you expect from such primitive creatures after all).

After being slayed, Hera took Ladon's dead body and made it into the now known as the dragon constellation and the nymph all cried the death of the beast. Your girl is alive don't worry i'm not predicting any death ! I can interpret this part of the myth as despite her being put down by abusive figure she has found the right people for her and who helped her being her true self or just going back to her true self after a big trauma (i mostly get woman figure or a group of woman at least). I can also imagine that as her having a big presence only and so a big supportive audience with some haters.

Your girlfriend actually remind me of Marie, the girl i picked for the 3 piles image so maybe you'd find her interesting maybe read her wiki page or read Innocent (her full name is Marie Joseph Sanson) tho be aware it's a quite violent and dark manga it's not for everyone/every age.

♀ Pile 3

【Cards】 Ouroboros & Quetzalcoatl + Judgement

What the hell ? What have you done to pull out some goddess like that i think you'll date a litteral dragon. This woman has experienced high highs and terrible "death moments" i'm definitly getting someone who's into witchcraft/spirituality but not your little crystal collecting girly oh no, here it's someone who's actively practicing it. Think of the women who worship santa muerte or who are following any chtonian or chaotic god or spirits (like dragons why not). This person kind of remind me of a female version of Griffith but before he became the most problematic character on earth. She looks angelic, like a savior she probably gives wonderful advice and help people get out of wild situation she if harsh in her messages if needed but everything she does serves the ouroboros (the cycle of life and death) most people have met her when being in very bad state as she came by to remind them about the cycle of things or just to shake their world a bit so they start moving again. Tho this angel might be a bit lonely since it's probably really hard for her to find people who match her energy, she isn't afraid of her solitude and darkness because she choosed it, she just fly high knowing that one day she'll meet people or at least someone who match her vibe or who is at least not coming to her while beging for help.

This person is a leader and a messenger she is probably really good with divination it might be her go to thing for everyday trial. Quetzalcoalt was against human sacrifice and with the ouroboros i can imagine that your next girlfriend probably have been through a long and painful cycle of self sacrifice, her surrounding has probably preached how wonderful and how you have no choice but sacrifice yourself for the sake of others and that you should just suffer in silence. Your futur girlfriend said no and stood up against this victim mentality because true freedom cannot be attained when being pushed down to the ground by people, her place was amongs the clouds in harmony with the element of air. She come and goes like the wind, i sense that she isn't particulary extraverted but she doesn't have problem when it comes to interacting with people so she probably speak to random people everytime she goes out however she is quite the loner or at least she is really distant from her friend group, maybe she is very different from them so despite getting along she can't fully give herself to her friendship like she wish she could.

Quetzalcoalt has been betrayed in his myth, again i always sense that your girlfriend's life trial has been made into whole cycle so she could observe and live the problem in all its angles. Has amazing as it sound, this person has suffered a lot through those cycles, yes they come out strong and still standing but don't understimate the pain she went or is still going through, after all Quetzalcoalt killed himself with fire and only his heart was left and became the morning star. I can interpret this has your person using their past experience to teach others about life's pain and how to overcome them but sadly no ones does it for her, it's like she is the first one who always step in dangerous zone to be faced with danger so the others don't despite her fighting to stop this "sacrifice cycle".

Despite being strong they probably needs some company to light up their day (wink wink)

⊙

[zarvasace]

I read your Linked Nexus AU fic about the Depths drive being on the fritz and Warriors thus being displaced, and if I'm understanding the mechanics correctly, the Depths drive essentially teleports the Epona (and everything in it), right? I thought it was supposed to generate a portal or something, but I'm having a hard time finding information about it on your blog.

AAAAHHHH okay okay I'm cool. Cool. Yeah I can talk about this a little! I don't think I've done so anywhere. (Hi gryphon!! Always nice to see you around!!)

I think the only hint as to the intended function of the Depths drive is in Input:

“Three. Two. One.” Something clicks under Sky’s hands, and the ship shudders beneath Twilight’s feet. A rumble of a frequency barely out of his hearing range ripples through the metal and plastic.  The world warps.  ... And then it stops, everything calm as they float in the Depths dimension, just enough time for Twilight to suck in a traumatized breath that tastes of soil and ozone before something else clicks— The sound starts up again, and seems to stretch even further. Twilight's hands are too large. He can’t breathe. A bright neon light bombilates into his head, a harsh crashing that fades a second later.  His head still vibrates a little when everything settles, this time in the real world again.

Also shout-out to the word "bombilate" there helping to describe a weird brain thing that happens to me sometimes that I inflicted on poor Twilight here.

So what the Depths drive actually does is transport the ship and people into an alternate dimension where spacetime is not quite the same, then out of it again. The Depths dimension is meant to be truly alien and currently very unknowable—the people who made the drive know very little about it. They don't know if anything lives over there, or where the conditions do or do not spell danger for a ship, so... The solution was to let the drive linger there as little as possible. But because of the folded space and eldritch nature of the Depths dimension, you can travel massive amounts of space in an instant. Possibly even time. It's less of a portal and more of a "sucking the ship through a straw and spitting them out then doing it again"

(this is, unintentionally, similar to the way the Drift works in the Starfinder setting. Oops. But it isn't 1:1!)

I believe it's Four who mentions, in a fic I can't recall at the moment (a long walk maybe?), that the Depths drive seems to work on intention, and he kind of hates that. I don't currently have an underlying scheme for the way all this works, but I do know that the magic/energy of the Depths is guided by intention. That's why you can send manned ships in and get a good result, but drones can't usually go where their controllers expect. The Epona is usually guided by Sky, the pilot, who has such a clear idea and strong intention that they usually get where they need to go.

The Depths drive also works on some specific energy inside of it—as the drive is used, tiny particles of that energy go inert bit by bit. The more inert particles there are, the less predictable the drive's results are; that is, the less accurately it's able to read the intention of the most driven person in the vicinity. They can't jump accidentally, due to the way you have to charge the drive up, but they can go somewhere they didn't mean to (possibly with some meta fail-safes in place with regards to how close to a planet or other mass they can get.)

(I also have a tiny note in my head about how Hylians' and Deities' intentions are perhaps more likely to be listened to. Does this mean Four is last on its list? I think so! He might find it difficult to control a drive if someone else is ok the ship. Or maybe the drive energy likes him due to the amount of effort he puts into maintaining it. Haven't decided!)

Warriors getting yeeted out of the ship during a jump to another dimension entirely, and able to be located afterwards, is a bit of a handwavey thing for the purposes of silly crossover time. But I imagined that perhaps the drive read a secret but growing desire from Wars and acted erratically.

Sooooo there you go! Yay lore! Does that answer your question?

[lokilysolbitch]

okay i have some thoughts on the thing about "you can't call a deity your friend/bitch/girlypop" etc etc. i'm not really talking about the concept of if a deity can be your friend, but more the words/nickname aspect

i think, it is not as much about the words as we make it. like maybe there's a specific word a deity wouldn't like, in which case don't call them that

but like in the arguments between "you can't call them ____/ but i say it as a joke/well my deity NEVER lets me call them that so you can't either". its obviously intention but also your attitude and worldview.

you know how bitch is kind of being reclaimed but some people still use it as an insult, even if it's a joking insult?

like for some people bitch is a positive thing, maybe even something to aspire to

for some people it has lost all meaning, and it's meaning changes in the context

and for some people. it is still a mean word, and when they use it they're still using it to demote you jokingly.

like for me it's something to aspire to, and sometimes it's just a meaningless interjection. so maybe lucifer will do something that i like, and he knows i like, but i pretend i don't like it. so i'll go "😱bitchhhhhh" and he's fine with that. bc in my worldview a bitch is a positive/neutral status, and he knows this AND the humor in the joke is that i am pretending to hate a thing i like.

HOWEVER. if lucifer did something i didn't like. and i was mad and and tried to brush it off with a "ugh bitchhhhhh" the joke here is implying that lucifer is something negative. the humor in the joke lies in demoting lucifer. obviously denying someone the status they have is disrespectful. i can be as mad as i want, but i cannot say or imply that because i am mad, lucifer is unworthy of his status.

now this could be a subconscious thing that deities pick up on before you do. so maybe that's why with some people they are okay with it as a joke, whereas with others they won't allow it. it's like when someone says "wow you're so confident! i could never do that" which on the surface is a nice comment, but you can sense, even if the other person doesn't, that they don't think you should be allowed to be confident in yourself and they're surprised you managed to love yourself, because if they were you they could not imagine loving themselves. you know, that sort of thing.

so like, as you can see i don't capitalize deities names sometimes. it depends on the deity, usually the pattern is the better i know them, the less i capitalize their name. and sometimes it just depends on who is fronting, systemwise bc some alters are more formal than others

this isn't disrespectful and the gods know this. to me, personally, capitalizing a name does not show how much i respect a person. it shows in the way that i don't capitalize my own name either. of someone asked me to capitalize their name or if i wasn't as familiar with them and it's in a context where they probably would want their name capitalized (like in-person, for people online it varies more, i'll capitalize it because i know for them not capitalizing their name is disrespectful, and sometimes you need to speak other people's language of respect even if it doesn't match your own. this is all fine and chill

HOWEVER. if it is a consistent pattern that i capitalized the names of people i admired, and then when i wrote my deities names, i didn't. that would be a fucking problem

that's why what names and nicknames and behaviors are respectful are between the devotee and the deity. only the deity knows exactly what the devotee means, they see through culture and upbringing and can nail down exactly what your intention is. random people on the internet cannot

and sometimes a deity is meeting someone where they're at. people who call deities rude names on purpose may have been raised in a place where that's the only communication they knew, and they just haven't learned there's other options yet. other times the deity will bite back immediately. that's the deity's business

ultimately we as random people on the internet can't make anyone call their deities anything, but we can publicly discuss these things. i just wish some ppl weren't mean as hell about it lmao. you're scaring the hoes

i think this conversation can trigger christian trauma in people and you can tell once the conversations turns from "gods are powerful" to "we are nothing but worms" don't get me STARTED on the "we are just ants to them" rhetoric✋✋✋First of All okay you are disrespecting the value of ants Second of All have you realised the gods love you fr fr and you are not just some insignificant puny thing to them ??? they are literally teaching you your own power and how strong and important and valuable you are WHY would they turn around and call you a worthless insect what do you MEAN !!!!!

and usually if you are building a hierarchy between gods and humans and feel the need to demote a god to state your own power, it is probably because you are actually covering up feeling insecure. so if you want to be as respectful as possible to your gods, you need to realize how much respect you deserve and how much value you have.

there is a point where you no longer feel the need to figure out where your worth lies in comparison to a god. bc that doesn't matter. i follow my gods because i love them, and they're nice to me, and they walk with me because they love me and i try my best to be kind to them. i'm still a human, and that doesn't mean i'm worthless or sinful or dirty, it just means when i mess up it'll be in a human way, maybe because of flawed knowledge i have from a human experience, maybe because of my human nervous system that prioritizes perceived safety over kindness, maybe because i'm in a human body with physical limits. and maybe gods mess up in a different way than me. idk it's not my business. all i need to do is recognize that we work differently. the gods see different to what i see, they know different things than i do, they have different skills. it's like a human vs a cat. i know how to work a computer and a cat can easily fit inside a box half their size. and i don't worry about if a cat is better or worse than me. i just like hanging out with them, and i understand if they scratch me it's because they were just scared or overwhelmed or mad, but i still can't let them scratch at me. i might have to put them in air jail. or maybe i'm okay with it because i know they were playing and it didn't hurt much. or maybe they play too rough and i still need to put them in air jail.

um moral of the story is you're not a lowly human, you're a cat and your gods don't hate you but maybe they'll put you in air jail. and sometimes bitch is okay

[youremyheaven]

Any word of advice for Sun girlies how to protect herself from evil eye?

light bubble meditation!! always visualise a circle of light around yourself. one of the best ways to build your "aura" or cultivate magnetism is to have an energy shield around you at all times. it's not rocket science, just close your eyes and visualise light surrounding you and keeping you protected.

some of the next tips are a little out there but if you're so inclined do try them:

Basil/Tulsi is known for its cleansing properties and we use it a lot in India. I recommend putting a stem of basil in your pillow (my nightmares went away after I did this) or putting a stem of basil in your bra when you go out (or your pocket). It's a powerful remedy against evil eye.

Consecrate an object of your choice, preferably something small and dainty (a crystal, a sea shell, a pebble, a feather, you don't want to pick something that carries any karmic energy) by chanting to it, meditating with it and suffusing it with your energy. Then carry it with you everywhere, in your bag or purse or whatever. It's like a good luck charm that's custom made for u

Pray to your Ishta devata. Sally Kempton talks a lot about goddess worship and I suggest watching her videos or reading her book Awakening Shakti but this is life changing!!! Obviously its not wise to casually dabble in Hinduism and deity worship so please study them, read as much as you can and gather as much info as you can. You'll naturally feel drawn to one Goddess over others and praying to her will keep you protected. Bhakti (devotion) is the greatest armour. I have called upon the goddess during times of immense turmoil and she's always helped me navigate with grace BUT you should never make a deity feel "used". If you're praying, pray everyday, not just when something goes wrong. Think of it as a relationship you build with someone. You have to show up and communicate with them everyday, only then will they want to be your aid in times of need. Give thanks. Always.

Black thread. I guess this could again count as appropriating Hinduism but 😬 compared to deity worship, this is nothing. Here's an article explaining it. Basically, wearing a black thread on your left leg will keep nazar away.

Burn incense/sage bc it purifies the energy of the space

SALT also cleanses. take a bath after mixing a few spoons of salt in the water and watch the effect it has on u.

The thing about evil eye is that it affects people who are spiritually fragile. They do not have an energy shield protecting them so they're susceptible to every kind of influence (they're easily influenced) and suffer the consequences of negativity more than others. Some people thrive in life no matter how much shit is thrown at them. Nothing affects them much. Others crumble easily in the face of even the smallest hardship or bitterness. That's bc they're spiritually weak. You have to build a spiritual base that is so strong nothing can shake you. Evil eye can't hurt you if your relationship with the divine is 💪🏼strong af bc God is bigger than any evil. And perhaps many of you dabble in astrology for fun and don't believe in God but vedic astrology kind of requires a relationship with the divine. Literally the remedy for any kind of issue in your birth chart is to pray.

I feel like many people have a passive understanding of prayer but it's a very purposeful exercise of faith. Finding time in your day and devoting it to God is a way to engage in conversation with yourself. If you hate/are afraid of God, that is a reflection of you and what you've been raised to believe. Once you really get into it, you'll understand that God is love and honestly prayer time is the happiest time of the day for me. My heart feels so full. Whenever I don't pray, I feel so closed off bc my heart is longing for that supreme love. You make your life feel purposeful by acting with intention and making the ordinary sacred and ritualising experiences. If you live like nothing matters, that's what will be reflected back. Your world and what you make of your experiences is a reflection of you 🫶 so make a temple of your mind

Sorry for long ramble but yk that's how I am by now 😌🤪

[l0stfoster]

okay it’s me that butterly anon, somethings just connected in my brain (cue the buzzfeed unsolved “I’ve connected the dots” meme)

so, from the master post, Johnny does speak w/ death, there’s specifically after Darry was supposed to die

but like, does death ever get pissed off (or protective, etc) when crap happens to Johnny?

LIKE WHEN HE GOT JUMPED

Cause idk, man, but now Bob ending up dead feels a little more suspicious

the guy who almost killed Death’s child getting murdered, by Death’s child?

AH WAIT (live connected dots moment) AND IF JOHNNY CAN SENSE DEATH

We know pony wouldn’t have drowned (Pony knows too) and Johnny didn’t, like yes sure he probably panicked (maybe he misread Bob’s for Pony? Idk) BUT it’s the fact death sense dude only killed his (basically) attempted murderer because he thought Pony was gonna die, even though he can sense death? And he didn’t feel Bob’s? Hmmmmmmmm (wondering if Death decided some revenge was in order)

(I’m probably wrong but oh well)

Butterfly Anon core

Johnny and Dath talk LET'S GOOO (I use they/them for Death bc. Cmon. It's fucking Death.)

- Death does get pretty protective of Johnny, however, they also know that there's not really much they can do to step in. The deities and above aren't exactly allowed to do that; they've seen the kind of stuff that occurs when you interact with mortals. - (This is a good time to mention that yeah, there are other deities, most of the stuff we talked about relates to Greek gods concerning Paul's witchcraft stuff.) - You're spot on with Bob's death ;) Death had a bit of revenge in mind. - Death's interference doesn't happen often, but it can occur. This is seen in how Dally's death was prevented (and later down the line, one for Paul) - Death occasionally gives Johnny false death senses. Sometimes it's to keep him on his toes (or to lightly mess with him, he does it because Johnny can't read Paul's death date), other times it's got its own intent. - Johnny got false flashes of Pony dying from the drowning. He didn't know that Pony wasn't able to drown but likely wouldn't have pulled the blade to get them off of him. It was only when he thought his best friend was going to die that he acted. - Death had to give him a little push, so to say. Death felt messy. As Timewing said: "crying death you manipulative bitch /silly" - He got flashes of Bob's death as he was stabbing him. - To an extent, this could also be viewed as a response to Johnny saving Darry from the car accident due to his magic. If he was going to save a life, he was going to take one as well.

[amarawritesforyou]

I Want U Around - Black Reader! x idol Kim Yugyeom

Title: I Want U Around

Main Characters: Y/N, Yugyeom, Jinyoung, BamBam (others may be featured as the story develops)

Reader Type: Black! Reader x Yugyeom

Synopsis: You moved to Korea so you could see the world, but Korea isn’t what you expected. It may be time to leave. That is until you meet Kim Yugyeom. A tall, sweet, and funny kpop idol. You are not a kpop fan, just an ex-pat living in Seoul.

A/N: I apologize in advance for any grammar mistakes. I wrote most of this three weeks ago and then life got really crazy. I’m sorry that it took so long for me to get this out. 

Anything in italics means it's a thought in Y/N’s head. *-asterisk denotes the meaning of a word or phrase. I hope you enjoy it and look forward to Chapter 2.

Chapter 1

You were staring out the storefront window into the busy streets of Seoul, waiting for the clock to finally say 5:00 pm. It was only 2:17 pm. Your stomach rumbled, reminding you of just how hungry you were. In a rush this morning, you left your lunch at home. A shame too because you finally got your neighbor to share her sundubu jjigae recipe with you and made enough to last for the next three days. 

You were very strict with your budget, something your parents instilled in you since you got your first job at 16 years old. So walking across the street to grab tteokbokki from the food cart was not in the budget, even if it’s only ₩6,500. You can almost taste the jjigae that’s waiting for you at home. Your stomach growled again, “I can wait it out. I don’t have that much time left of my shift.” You glanced at your phone thinking it must be at least 3 pm now. It wasn't. It’s only 2:20 pm now. 

You quietly sigh as your boss, Mrs. Jeong, is definitely lurking around somewhere in the store. Thankfully this is only your part-time job. Working at *Tyche, a luxury clothing store was to supplement your income while teaching. Korea was not what you thought it would be. You could hear the words your best friend uttered to you a year ago, “Y/N, if you really want to travel and see the world, you could teach English abroad.” It was a great idea and you were surprised you didn’t even consider that yourself. 

*Tyche is the Greek deity for fortune and prosperity of a city. 

It had been really hard trying to find a job out of college. Even your internship working on political campaigns had not helped you get your foot in the door. It’s a competitive and cutthroat environment and if you were being honest with yourself, it burnt you out. So what did you do? You got a TEFL certificate so you could teach English in another country while you figured out exactly what you wanted to do. 

Seoul is beautiful. It’s bustling with college students, ex-pats, tourists, doctors, lawyers, and there is a cafe on every corner. Occasionally you see crowds of people flock to a famous actor or idol. It’s hard being away from home. Being in a country where the beauty standard is the opposite of what you look like has its challenges. You’re not thin, you don’t have perfect pale skin, or silky straight hair. Your skin glows with melanin, you have some curves, and your hair is coily. Most of the time you braid your own hair or wear wigs. It wasn’t uncommon for people to stare at you in public places, ask to take a picture with you, touch your hair, and ask you to teach them how to dance. Microaggressions with no ill-intent behind them, but if you think about it too much, it can be exhausting.

“Maybe it’s time to leave Seoul,” you thought. “I could try China. Last time I checked, Beijing or Guangzhou are looking for English teachers,” your thoughts continued. But you were abruptly interrupted by the sound of the front glass doors opening and people talking. You looked up and saw three men. One was very tall, had dyed brown hair, broad shoulders, and a big bright smile. The other guy had a silver blue mullet, color contacts to match, and earrings decorated his lobes. The third guy was very clean cut, dark hair perfectly in place, and he looked athletic. The third guy was laughing at something his friends said. He was dressed very well. They were all dressed very well. After all, this store is on Apgujeong Rodeo Street and most customers look very put together. All three of these men had jawlines that could cut glass. 

Your Korean has improved so much and you studied hard before coming here. It was one of the reasons you were hired and you are the only non-Korean employee. You smiled and spoke, “Hello! Welcome to the Galleria. Do you have an appointment with one of our stylists today?” All three men turned to stare at you and you felt like a deer in headlights. These men were really gorgeous.

 The one with the dark hair spoke,

 “Hello. Yes, I have an appointment with… I think her name is Yi-seo?” 

“Oh yes, Yi-seo is one of our most talented stylists,” You walked over to the counter to check Yi-Seo’s schedule on the tablet. The dark haired man followed you to the counter while the guy with the mullet looked around the store. The tall one with the light brown hair was fixated on you. Your face felt flush when you realized he was staring at you. You looked into his eyes and smiled. He smiled back.

“The appointment is for 2:30 pm, I’m a little early,” the dark haired one said, pulling you from your gaze.

“That’s okay. I just need to check you in. May I have your name please?”

“Park Jinyoung,” he replied. 

“Thank you Mr. Park,” you said as you tapped on the tablet confirming Mr. Park’s arrival. The confirmation immediately sent a notification to Yi-Seo to let her know that her client is here. You noticed that next to Jinyoung’s name there was a gold check mark. The gold check mark is reserved for very important clients, which means they get access to the private lounge for the duration of the appointment. These guys must be actors, idols, or even chaebols.

“You and your acquaintances can follow me to the private lounge,” The three men followed you and you could feel the tall one’s eyes on you.

“I am sorry. I haven't introduced myself to you. My name is Y/N and I will be your concierge for today. I will be assisting your stylist Yi-Seo as well.”

“Hi, I’m Yugyeom,” the tall one said with his big smile, “and this is BamBam,” he said as he pointed to the man with the silver blue mullet. BamBam quickly waved at you before turning his attention to the rest of the lounge. It’s a posh room, with red velvet furniture, gold chandeliers, and spotless glass tables. Byung-ho, the Tyche security guard is standing in the room as well. You bow to Byung-ho and then turn your attention back to your clients. 

One of the glass tables has 2 bottles of champagne sitting in an ice bucket and several glass flutes. “Can I offer you gentlemen a glass of champagne while you wait for Yi-Seo to arrive?” All three of them nodded their heads and BamBam enthusiastically said, “Yes, please!” and continued surveying the lounge.

You went to grab the bottle of champagne to pop it open, but Yugyeom quickly walked over to you and said,

 “Let me get that for you.”

“Oh it’s no problem Mr…?”

“Kim. and I don’t mind at all. These corks go flying in any and all directions. I’m good at aiming at them so they don’t hit anyone. And you can just call me Yuygeom.”

You’re very capable of opening a champagne bottle, after all it’s part of your job. But Yugyeom is right, they are unpredictable and the champagne flows out quickly. 

Pop!

“Whew!” a startled BamBam said. You quickly grab the champagne flutes and take the bottle from Yugyeom. When you went to grab the bottle, your hands briefly touched and you felt a flutter in your stomach, and it wasn’t because you went without lunch. You looked up to Yugyeom and his cheeks were a little pink. Did he feel that flutter too?

You filled the champagne flutes and gave the first one to Jinyoung, the second to BamBam, and the last one to Yugyeom.

“Thank you, Y/N,” they all said, overlapping each other.

“You’re not going to have a glass?” Yugyeom asked

“Oh no, I can't, I'm working. Also, it’s just for our special guests,” you replied

“Oh right. So we’re special guests?” Yugyeom asked cheekily.

“Well they have to be special guests if they get to wait in the lounge and drink champagne,” you thought to yourself.

“Of course,” you replied. Yugyeom knows damn well that he, Jinyoung, and BamBam are special guests. “Maybe he’s just humble," you thought to yourself.

“Well since you can’t have—,” Yugyeom was interrupted by Yi-seo entering the room.

Yi-seo introduced herself. She is the epitome of the Korean beauty standard. Thin, glass skin, plump pink lips, and she’s taller than the average Korean woman. She has shiny, long dark hair with curtain bangs that frame her face. Her parents gifted her double eye-lid surgery for passing her CSAT. She looked like she could be an idol trainee. 

Even though Yi-Seo was at a higher ranking than me at the store, we became friends right away. Plus we both don’t like our boss, Mrs. Jeong. She was the first coworker to ask me out for drinks and from there our friendship blossomed. 

Yi-seo insisted that Yugyeom and BamBam sit on the large red velvet couches while she tended to Jinyoung. Yi-seo pulled out a clothing rack for Jinyoung to begin trying on clothes. Just one of those shirts could cover 6 months rent, but luckily the teaching organization pays for the accommodations. While Jinyoung was trying on garments behind a curtain, Yi-seo signaled for you to entertain Yugyeom and BamBam.

You weren’t sure what to do. Normally you’re alongside Yi-Seo but it looks like we have to improvise, as we weren’t expecting two additional guests.

You began to walk over to the couches were Yugyeom and BamBam were sitting. Yugyeom was on the left larger couch and BamBam was across from him in the smaller couch. You noticed that Yuygeom was talking to BamBam, but looking at you. As you approached, their voices quieted and Yugyeom glanced away and cleared his throat. 

Was he nervous? Were they talking about you? No, they have way better things to talk about. But that was weird, right? 

“Hello, Mr. Kim and— sorry I didn’t get your last name,” you said, facing BamBam.

Yugyeom interjected, “Oh, you can call us both by our first names.”

Are they trying to get me fired?

“Is there anything else I can get for you? We have an in-house cafe that can prepare light fares.” You reached down to the coffee table that is situated between the two men, grabbed two menus, and handed them each one.

“I can give you both a few moments to look over the menu.”

“Thank you,” they said in unison.

You took this opportunity to go to the bathroom, retouch your make-up, and check your hair. It’s not that you’re a vain person, but the job requires all of us to look well put together. Clean, crisp, clothes. Spotless faces and hair tucked away. You gave yourself a once over after reapplying lip tint and decided that you look good, then headed back to the lounge. 

Yi-Seo was helping Jinyoung remove a jacket and placing it back on the rack. Yuygyeom was standing tall, pouring more champagne into BamBam’s flute, and then more for himself. From behind, you couldn’t help but to stare at his shoulders. They were perfectly symmetrical and for the first time ever, you realized just how attractive shoulders can be. 

You grabbed the store tablet, opened up the app to order from the cafe, and walked over to the two men. Yugyeom turned around when he sensed your presence. 

He smiled and said “Hey, you’re back.” His eyes were dark, yet happy and alluring. He looked like a labrador retriever.

“Yes, have you had time to look at the menu? Is there anything I can order for you?” you asked. 

“Yes, could we have three coffees, one plain croissant, and two chocolate croissants?” Yuygeom asked.

“Absolutely,” you replied as you entered their order on the tablet, “Anything else?”

“No thank you, we’re good,” replied BamBam. 

You hit send, saw the order number 747, placed the tablet down, and headed to the cafe to pick up their order. 

Entering the cafe, you could hear a few of the women who work in the cafe excitedly gossiping. You walked up to the food pick up area and saw Do-yun. 

“Hey Do-yun, I’m here for order number 747,” you affirmed,

“Y/N, is it true there are kpop idols in the VIP lounge?” Do-yun asked.

Kpop idols? So that’s who those guys are. You know, the one Jinyoung did kind of look familiar. 

You have to be discrete about work clients and Do-yun knows this. You could both get in a lot of trouble for not following the privacy policy.

“Do-yun, you KNOW I cannot talk to you about VIP clients,” you reply sternly. 

“Awwhh,” Do-yun replied in a disappointed, whiny tone.

“But,” you said, and Do-yun perks up at the conjunction.

“They’re very attractive. There’s no way they are *jikjang-in,” you completed your sentence with a smirk and see Do-yun light up. You quickly shoot her a ‘be-quiet’ look and grabbed the tray with the coffee and croissants Yugyeon, Jinyoung, and BamBam ordered, then walk-off. 

There’s no way men that beautiful are sitting behind a desk crunching numbers all day.

*A jikjang-in is the equivalent of an American or Japanese salaryman.

You walked back into the VIP lounge and saw only BamBam sitting on the couch. Yugyeom was in a corner speaking quietly on his phone and Byung-ho stands statue-like at his post. You gently placed the coffee and croissants on the table, along with napkins. You glance up and see Yi-Seo is finishing up with Jinyoung. She places his items in a large bag with the Tyche logo, bows, and leaves the lounge. Jinyoung returns the bow and then walks over to BamBam to join him on the couch. Yuygyeom notices and quickly ends his phone call before heading back to the couch as well.

Since Yi-seo is all done with Jinyoung, that is your cue to leave. 

“It has been a pleasure to assist the three of you today. Is there anything else I can do for you?” you asked as you scan their faces. My God, they really are gorgeous. BamBam and Jinyoung smiled and glanced at Yugyeom, who looked nervous as he opened his mouth. No words came out and he began stammering. 

“What he means is thank you, Y/N. You made us feel very welcome,” BamBam interjected.

You bowed, turned on your heels, and began walking towards the VIP lounge door. It was time to get back to the retail floor. With your hand on the door knob, you heard, “Y/N, do you have a minute?” You turned around to see Yugyeom jumping out of his seat and rushing over to you.

Oh no, what is going on? Did I mess up their order? It was two chocolate croissants and one plain croissant with three coffees. Or what is one chocolate croissant and two plain?

Yugyeom was towering over you like a statue of a Greek God. He had taken his jacket off and he was wearing a sleeveless V-neck shirt. His muscles were showing and you could see that he had a few tattoos up and down his arms. 

Yugyeom ran his hands through his fluffy hair and opened his mouth. He was silent for a moment and then his eyes met yours. “Since you couldn’t enjoy the champagne with me, I was wondering… would you like to go out for a drink with me tonight?”

Chapter 2 coming soon