#for a mountain stage and not for the final goal

[ywpd-translations]

Ride 763: The third year's start!!

Pag 2

1: Ten seconds until the start

Pag 3 /4

1: Let's run with everything we have!!

The last Inter High of the third year Sakamichi, start!!

Pag 5

1: Yeah!!

2: Let's go!!

3: Let's pour our whole guts into it!!

4: Yes!!

5: Let's go!!

6: Teh!!

Pag 6

1: The first day of the boy's Inter High competition in Fukuoka, starts now!!

It's here!!

Pag 7

1: All the cyclists are beginning to run, with the big bridge connecting Kyushu and Honshu through the Kanmon Straits in the back!!

Goo!

Waa, splendid!!

Do your best!!

Pag 8

1: The entrance of Kyushu, here from Moji city in Kitakyushu, going south, they'll fight for three days

Gooo

It's Sohoku!

Yeah!!

2: Waaaaa

The wind is so strong!

The cyclists are so close!

So fast!

Pag 9

1: Kumadai you can do it!

Fukuokaa!!

Their fight will unfold on the stage of Kyushu's nature!!

2: There are so many cyclists

Which team will win?

3: The one you need to pay attention to in the first place, is the one in the front with yellow jerseys

Pag 10

1: Chiba's representative, the two times in a row champion, Sohoku

The third year they call “Mountain King” took the top goal two years in a row!!

Huh... then it's decided already!!

2: Another one is the one with the blue jersey, Kanagawa's Hakone Academy

They were the team that kept winning before, and they're so strong they say that in that team “everyone is an ace”

Huuh... that's amazing too

Pag 11

1: Then there's Kyoto representative, with the purple jerseys, Kyoto Fushimi, who make the race unpredictable every time!!You can already feel their peculiar tenacity!!

They look scary

2: So those three!?

Well, yeah, but rumor has it that this year the mountain bike champion is participating, too

4: MTB!? The off-road one!?

That's right!!

5: And I guess the local Kyushu team won't keep quiet, and Hiroshima is strong too

There's a strong element of uncertainty in road racing

There are a lot of people, and the distance to cover and the time are long too

6: It's not the stronger one who always win

Huh

It's always been said that....

Pag 12

1: Until the finish line is crossed and the race is over, you never know what can happen during a road race!!

Pag 13

1: Hyoo... there's so many people, teh

2: They're all waving their hands, teh!!

Ahhh.... so many people, the scale is so different from the prefectural qualification, teh

3: What's wrong, newbie!! Hahaha

Ka-Kaburagi-san!!

4: It started

Huh!?

5: Finally, the Inter High!!

Pag 14

1: I'll show everyone here what I can do!! Take a look, newbie!!

2: This is the genius Kaburagi Issa's!! Super Special Strong-

3: Start Dash!!

Listen up, Rokudai

Yessir, teh

The red on the referee car means we can't surpass it

Pag 15

1: As long as that racket-like thing is red, this is a parade run

2: Until it gets turned round and becomes green, the race is in a neutral situation

Horuaaa

It means we have to run slowly and safely

3: There's no point in jumping ahead here

And if someone did that, he's just an idiot

Are you watching me, Aoyagi-san!! Haha

Teh... Aoyagi... san..

I'll surpass the care ahead of us!!

4: Once it becomes green, the speed will increase

Don't fall behind

5: Ye... yessir, teh!!

6: Hahaha I guess I left them behind of quite a lot

Waaa!? They're still right behind me!? Imaizumi-san, you're so fast!!

Choose a senpai to refer to

Ah.. huh... yessir, teh...

Pag 16

3: We've pretty much passed the residential area, teh

The parade will go on for a few more kilometers

4: Once we get on a wider road and can confirm it's safe, then there's the real start

Ohh

Pag 17

1: My first Inter High....

What on earth is it... the Inter High....

2: Ahh... my heart is pounding, teh...

Yeah, enjoy the scenery and the heart pounding while you still can

3: Teh!?

4: Once the race starts you won't have time to look at the scenery or take a breath

6: You- you have enough time to take a breath

Ro- Rokudai-kun

Don't bully the first year, Hotshot

7: Onoda-san!!

Pag 18

1: Only a little

3: Almost... none... the Inter High!!

I see... teh

Onoda-kun... you were even worst than Hotshot now..

Huh!?

The Inter H...igh sounds harsh

4: No, uhm

Uhm, it is

5: It's incredibly hard

It's so hard you could collapse

6: Your whole body falls apart and you can't even take a breath!!

Fall apart...!!

He's really putting the boot in...

Pag 19

1: But we run with all our strength

2: with everyone supporting each other

3: If we connect

Connect...

4: and we run until the end with all our might

7: When everything is over and we look back at it

Pag 20

1: We'll feel like it a really irreplaceable time

2: That difficult moment

Pag 21

1: When we were angry, frustrated, or when we smiled

We'll remember everything

2: Then, we'll think that we're happy we didn't give up

3: “Think”....

“Wish”....

4: That's....

Pag 22

1: That's the Inter High!!

3: If there are people who have “power” in their words

4: For me, it's this person

I've been thinking it since I've met him

5: Are you... in trouble?

Follow me

6: He usually seems unreliable when he talks, and there are times when he's awkward, but

… yes

Pag 23

1: His words always strike my core!!

Yessir!! Teh!!

That's right, Onoda-kun

You're right, Onoda

You can bet on it..!!

Yes!!

Pag 24

1: Thank you so much, teh

For bringing me, who didn't know anything, in such a brilliant and heart shaking world!!

Pag 25

1: Huh!? Everyone else too!! You were listening!?

Ah... uhm.. I was talking to Rokudai-kun...

2: Hahaha, we heard

3: And thanks to it, I'm all fired up!!

Don't get fired up more than this or you'll turn into ashes quickly

4: I-I'll run with everything I have, teh!!

5: So that you can fulfill

6: your dearest wish you told us about when we were coming here on the ship!!

Pag 26

1: “Dearest wish”

5: Yokosuka-Kokura ferry, off the coast of Kochi Prefecture

7: Well, the schedule after we arrive is roughly like this

Remember it yourself

Yes

Yes

Pag 27

1: Now if you get too excited you'll only get tired, and now it's okay to relax

Get a good night's sleep today, when you wake up tomorrow we'll go ashore

Yes!

2: Onoda, you want to say anything?

Huh!?

5: Let's... let's do our best

6: Yessir!!

Yes!!

On!!

7: Good night

Good night!!

8: Can I ask one last thing?

Pag 28

1: Earlier, Naruko-san said that our objective for this Inter High is to get our “third consecutive victory”

To be on par with Hakogaku, who is the only team to ever win three times in a row in the history of the Inter High

4: I agree, I also think we have to do it

But I there's one thing I'm curious about, and I don't think it's been asked yet

5: Onoda-san, what's your objective this year?

What are you running in the Inter High for?

[priestessofuniverse]

What do people think of you ?

Today's pick a card reading is quite simple. 👌 Pick a pile from the pictures , the pile numbers are written to the left . Follow that and find your reading below. Take what resonates, leave what doesn't. This is just a general reading and is meant for fun.

LET'S GET STARTED 💪✨️

Pile 1 -

You are revered as the pillar of discipline, hardwork and success . In simpler words you're someone who is willing to put in the discipline amd commitment required to achieve a goal. And guess what ? You achieve it too . No stone is left unturned by you when you're trying amd that's what makes people admire you . You're like a shining Star , invoking awe in people. You have a dream for yourself , a Vision that you aspire to be like or have and you're willing to do anything to get to that stage. (Pile 1 I love you guys) You guys are excellent motivators. People start to get their shit together when they see you succeeding in all your ventures.

Advice - Try not let this success get into your head . Stay grounded and humble. Keep yourselves aligned with your vision and you'll succeed at all that stops you . Do not hold on to your failures . Let go and fly high . ✨️

Pile 2 -

You are the very epitome of luck aren't you ? That's what people think. They think you're tremendously lucky. People see you as someone who is literally guided by the heavens towards your dreams and desires while they have to struggle hard. People see you as someone who loves to love and enjoys every little moment of all that life has to offer . People see you as someone who isn't willignto let their failures set them back and is focused on their goal. Most people see your successes but not your struggles . They do not see all the time you had to stumble to finally climb the mountain. But do not fret , their perception of you is quite right. You truly are divinely guided towards what's for you . So let go of all worries and let the divine guide you to all and more .

Advice - Ask and it shall be given. The Divine is with you . Do not hesitate to seek help or support from them . Your spirit guides want you to connect to them a bit more.

Pile 3 -

People believe you're a true leader who knows what to prioritize. You're able to lead everyone in an organized manner . The wheel of fortune helps turn all adversaries into your favor . Sometimes you may feel like you lack strength to go forward but you do not let people see that . You are a true visionary and guide , helped by the universe . People admire you and find your guidance to be quiet influential.

Advice - Do not let your fears hold you back. You truly have the world cheering on for you. 💓

I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THE READING.

LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS HOW MUCH OF IT RESONATED .

MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW FOR MORE READINGS.

[druidshollow]

iteratorsona ref finally!! meet slumber!

more art and info under the cut

he is named for the way that the world comes to a rest in the fall and winter (his favourites of the seasons). he was purposed for the great problem as all typically were, but he was determined to live an enriching life alongside it

his facility grounds are built in a place surrounded by rolling mountains and vast forests, both coniferous and deciduous. before the great equalizer, these lands would change colour drastically with the seasons, and inspired by this slumber's colour scheme too changes. far in the future these forests warp into rainforests due to the change in climate, but even as the world changes, slumber and his people continue to celebrate the seasons as though they still functioned like they did in the past.

to be sure the memory of those times stayed strong, massive murals, paintings and sculptures celebrating the different stages of the seasons were resurrected all over slumber's city, wonderance, resulting in it becoming a city of art. windchimes hang above many of the industrial areas to bring a note of music to the heavier sounds of machinery and industry.

slumber is interested in both flora and fauna, and is sure to keep many overseers for the purpose of exploring the world. far in the future once the ancients are gone, he purposes a slugcat named leaves blanketed by fallen snow, mostly for the company (its basically just my cat. shamelessly. lmaooo) but also to gather plant specimens.

he's trying to grow and cultivate different plants, mostly for something to do rather than for a specific goal. he just thinks theyre cool

sometimes slumber has trouble taking things seriously, and believes that even if they are striving for an escape there's no harm in enjoying their lives while they have them

[serafilms]

song 24! message in a bottle (taylor swift) + aang requested by @fylithia (spotify wrapped event)

but now you’re so far away and i’m down, feeling like a face in the crowd, i’m reaching for you, terrified

It’s been years now since the war ended. Years since you and your friends saved the world, defeated Zuko’s father and brought peace to the four nations once more. Ever since, everyone’s been busy trying to piece the world back together. Katara’s been staging a feminist revolution in the water tribes, Toph has been reinventing Earth bending, Suki taking the Kyoshi Warriors all over and recruiting, Sokka inventing, Zuko rebuilding a nation and Aang flitting all over the place.

You, on the other hand… What have you achieved? You went back to your village and spent some time telling stories of your adventures to children, then picking up odd jobs on fishing boats and cargo ships to hitch a ride to wherever your friends are off making history. You tell yourself you like the simplicity, like not having to worry about the fate of the world, but you feel like about as insignificant as a speck of dust at your biannual (twice a year) catch ups.

I’m like an old lady telling stories to relive her glory days, you think bitterly.

But you like reliving them. You miss adventuring and seeing the world with your friends. You miss when you were all just kids and there were no real titles or duties in the way (aside from your common goal of ending the war, of course). You miss when Aang looked at you like you’d hung all the stars in the sky, when he was just a boy who liked you but never said it, and when you liked him but refused to show it. Now you feel like you’re miles apart, like he’s on the top of the mountain and you’re left waiting at the base.

You still all write each other, Aang more than the rest but you can’t shake the feeling that it’s out of pity; it’s an obligation to you as an old friend. They’re busy now and that’s not their fault, and you all really would have no reason to go back to camping out. In fact, with the Avatar and Fire Lord especially, it was probably a security risk.

You’re too busy drowning in your own misery to notice Katara until she’s already nudging you in the arm. “Hey, why aren’t you over there with everyone else?”

Starting a little in surprise, you stare at her for a second before sighing as you kick your foot into the dirt and watch the dust rise.

“No reason,” you lie. Because I don’t want to talk to you guys. Especially Aang.

Your time alone has dulled your social skills, because Katara stares at you for a good seven seconds before you realise she expects you to keep talking.

“I think it’s just a little overwhelming to be around many people when I’m usually by myself.”

Her face softens and she reaches out to put her hand on your knee. “But it’s us. We want to make you comfortable and be around you. You know that, right?”

You nod, and she squeezes then releases you. “Let’s start small. Aang!”

Your chest flickers with panic as his bright eyes locate you instantly and he leaves his conversation with Zuko without a second thought. Katara takes his place, striding back up to the group as Aang stops right in front of you.

You feel your heart lurch at finally seeing him up close after spirits knows how many months. He's taller than you now, so it's not hard to avoid his gaze, but you can't tear your eyes away yet. His eyes sparkle at you and you feel yourself flush at how cute he looks with faint freckles dusting the upper part of his cheeks.

"Hey," he greets you softly, taking a seat beside you. "How are you?"

"I'm good," you find yourself saying, despite your mind being devoid of any thought that's not of him. His smile that's as sweet as ever, his eyes, his pink lips. How he's so, so out of your league.

Much like Katara, Aang seems unsatisfied with your short reply. "What have you been up to?"

Thinking about how much I love you. You can't say that, of course, so you babble on about the courier job you did a few months ago, which was great because you helped find a few new Kyoshi Warriors for Suki. When you look back at him once more, Aang has a soft look on his face, and a smile that seems to be there without his knowledge. Your face flushes, stomach flips and something akin to hope rises within you.

His cheeks turn pink when you've trailed off and he realises you're looking at him.

"Wow," he says. "That sounds really great."

You roll your eyes a little, feeling a sense of familiarity. "It's fine, you don't have to pretend you're interested. I know it's all boring compared to the work of the great Avatar."

"No, really," he insists, and there's an urgency in his voice, as if he needs you to know how genuine he is. "I think everything you do is amazing."

You smile. "Really?"

Aang nods down at you, eyes wide. "Well, yeah. I mean, it's you."

Embarrassed but pleased, you look down at your shoes before looking back up at him. "Thanks, Aang."

He grins at you, before glancing over to the others. "Wanna go catch up with everyone else?"

You take a look over at your friends. They look normal now, like a group of friends laughing, instead of the incredible figures they are. You nod at him and he extends a hand out to help you up. You take it.

You can't tell him how much he means to you, but you feel closer now. All you can do now is hope that one day, he gets the message.

[slugtranslation-hypmic]

Hey slug! Obviously it's a bit older now, but I was wondering if you might be able to translate Sougyaran BAM, from Kuko? I feel like I don't quite understand the TLs I have seen, so I was wondering if there were certain references or concepts I'm missing here lol

I saw the email notification of this request at the perfect moment. Too anxious to do work or anything else productive. Too caffeinated to sleep. Fuck it. Time to look at Kuukou for an hour.

Under a cut for length

Like a lot of Kuukou's... well, everything... this song is an eclectic mix of elements that can all more or less be distilled into these couple of bullet points:

Trying to fight the listener

Dropping powerful life advice or Buddhist teachings

Claiming his music is both a game changer and the kind of stuff that gets your blood pumping

Scatting, rhyming without meaning, or otherwise making wordplay

Outside of the parts that are straight-up nonsensical, the majority of the rap is very casual to the point of being rude. However, it's also interspersed with formal religious language. Again, both of these are how Kuukou talks, but I get why this would make it difficult for someone to translate.

I talk about this a lot whenever I translate anything, but an important (and maybe the most important!) part of any translation is determining the methodology, focus, and goals before you begin. I figure that if someone's asking me to look at song lyrics for songs that have been out for years, they probably care a lot more about the minutiae of what the character's saying than if I'm writing a rap as part of a longer work where readers aren't going to give it much attention. In that second case, it's probably more important to convey the appearance of a rap--rhyme, rhythm, what have you--and make sure I'm hitting the overall meaning rather than translate word-for-word. You know? The issue is, translating word-for-word would produce mostly nonsense on this one, since my interpretation of its meaning is largely coming from reading between the lines. There's also no real meaning outside of the four bullet points above. It's all vibes. So, this is a vibe-focused translation. When Kuukou says something with no meaning (that I can tell) outside of wordplay, I've exchanged it with a fresh wordplay. At the same time, since I assume the audience wants to know the minutiae, I put footnotes at the very end for the most curious souls. Finally, outside of wordplay moments, there is no attention paid to rhyming, rhythm, or line length.

Also I spent like forty minutes on it so it isn't a polished work of art or anything of the sort. Lyrics:

You wanna piece of this? That’s cool, tough guy. Bring it on. ‘Cause I’mma mess you up. Hmm? You’ve had enough? Yeah, bitch, I bet you’re fuckin’ SATIETIED. Who the hell do you think you are? Aw, who I am kidding? It doesn’t matter who you are. I’ve never met an ass I couldn’t kick! And while I’m here thrashing your sorry butt, listen up. I’m Kuukou from Bad Ass Temple, representing Nagoya, yo. And I’m gonna be world champion. Whazzat? Who do I think I am, some kinda fancy-pants hotshot? Nah, dawg. I’m a monk, haha! Get in the zone, do it or go home, this ain’t the scene you’ve known. [1] I’m a rebellious rhymer staging a revolution. C’mon, join me! Let me hear your voices!

“Enough determination can move mountains,” as they say. Yeah, a-a-a-and I’ve got determination for days.

San gha gharan bam! [2] S-S-S-Scatting n’ rapping, rapping with my razzle-dazzle tongue [3] Check, ch-ch-ch-check it, che-wa-watch out Gha bam! S-S-S-Scatting n’ rapping, rapping, BAT’s sexy leader [4] Kick, kickin’ kickin’ killer San gha gharan bam gha gha gharan bam gha gha gharan bam Gha gha gha gha gharan bam

Say what? Rules, rules, rules—who the fuck cares about rules? I’m the ruler now. A ruler and a schooler. [5] Yo, I’ve got that brand new music— When I ring this giant bell, people hear that shit far and wide. Beat it! And lyrics? You already know I spit so much fire they call me a dragon. I’m all about the impulses, the anarchy, let’s fuckin’ go! I’m a breath of fresh air up in this shit. Eight pulls, nine pulls, ten pulls—someone say temples? [6] If you don’t know already, then you oughta listen up. You don’t need any of these options. Go make your own. Paint that shit vibrantly. Go try something new! And if it goes so well you can indulge in some goddamn rejoicin’? Then hell yeah, now we’re talking.

Yo, man. The world’s all in how you see it, as they say, and don’t you ever forget it. A-a-a-and I may be a monk, but I’m not preachin’ just to scold you! [7]

San gha gharan bam! S-S-S-Scatting n’ rapping, rapping with my razzle-dazzle tongue Check, ch-ch-ch-check it, che-wa-watch out Gha bam! S-S-S-Scatting n’ rapping, rapping, BAT’s sexy leader Kick, kickin’ kickin’ killer San gha gharan bam gha gha gharan bam gha gha gharan bam Gha gha gha gha gharan bam

Yeah, life’s got ups and downs. You asking me, “Whatchu lookin’ at?” [8] Your ASS, lol got ‘em. Wassup, wassup, I’m a rhymer. I’m makin’ some good shit up in here. Hm? Ey, dance, dance over days when our hearts are aligned [9] Shoo bidoo doo bidoo Roo bidoo doo bidoo Tickili tickili tackili-tatt-too

Yeah! Haha! My rapping’s freakin’ EXHILARATORY. Hello! Aight, c’mon on, lemme give you some of this and wake you right up. Yo, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, ho!

Gharan bam gharan bam Gh-gh-gh-gh hey! Bring it on, tough guy! R-r-rapping, rapping, r-r-rapping with my razzle-dazzle tongue R-r-rapping, yeah, gh-gh-gh, hey!

Yeah, clear the scene, ‘cause I’mma reinvent the scene. [10] Yo, get outta my way. I’m Evil Monk, the dragon of Bad Ass Temple, you know. Rrrrrrah! [1] This last is literally "clear weather (空)" or "energetic vibes (空)." At face value, it appears to be nonsense for rhyming. However, at the very end of the song, Kuukou talks about "the vibes/the scene (空気)" changing and him changing it (which can also be read as the weather changing/clearing up), which makes me wonder if those two are related. Just in case, I wrote them with a possible connection in English too.

[2] 僧伽藍 (sangharan) is a short form of 僧伽藍摩 (sangharama), a Buddhist temple or monastery. Bam is, of course, the sound of Kuukou throwing hands.

[3] 饒舌 (jouzetsu) is a fairly formal word in Japanese to refer to excessive talking. However, I was surprised to learn in the process of TLing this that it's also Chinese for rapping which appears to be how Kuukou's using it here. Also, if you're curious how English "jazzy" became "razzle-dazzle," I realized near the end of the song that I needed to start this word with the same sound as "rapping" (because he scats the j sound on jazzy and jouzetsu) whereupon I set out to find a good synonym. The issue is, I wasn't sure exactly how the lyric writers were using the term, so I put "jazzy" in an English-to-Japanese dictionary to get "loud, invigorating, eye-catching." Yeah, that's Kuukou all right. "Razzle-dazzle" is similar and starts with an r, so there we go.

[4] The lyrics say "xy な leader" (the な is just indicating that "xy" is being used as an adjective, btw) which I assumed means sexy... ekkusu ii said quickly sounds like sekushii. To be sure I wasn't barking up the wrong tree entirely, I ran a quick Twitter search on that line and found a very large number of Japanese Tweeters thinking the exact same thing I was. (It looks like Kuukou's VA once flashed his collarbone on this line in a concert, delighting scores of collarbone lovers everywhere.) That being said, searching anything on Twitter and finding horny Tweets isn't exactly a novel concept. Well, if I'm wrong about this, then at least I'm in the good company of all the thirsty Kuukou fans. Hahaha. If this seems OoC to you, I feel like it's here mainly for fanservice, not necessarily because Kuukou's trying to get some with the person he's beating up and/or preaching at. Although, idk. If you ship Kuukou with anyone, you could very well see some parallels...

[5] Literally "I'll beat up [everything] including the roulette board." Wordplay on rules (ruuru), ruler (ruuraa), and roulette (ruuretto)

[6] Literally "Terapii (therapy), terapii, terapii, tera (temple)-- Oh, the age of temples?" Wordplay/stupid joke

[7] I don't like how I worded this line, but I don't care enough to spend much more time fussing over it. Kuukou's making a joke that, as a monk, he delivers religious sermons 説法. However, in colloquial terms, a 説法 is a telling-off when someone does something undesirable. Kuukou, as a frequent doer of undesirable things, gets these from his dad constantly. Therefore, he's being like, "This isn't the LAME STUPID kind of 説法... this is the kind that ROCKS! *sick guitar riff*"

[8] These two lines seem like complete non sequiturs because they're paired together in Japanese for rhyming. (nami ga dekiru/nani ga mieru)

[9] I admit that I'm struggling to understand this line because the grammar is very irregular. Japanese Twitter is not being especially helpful here, as most Tweets featuring it are some version of "God, this damn song is stuck in my head."

[10] Literally "[Someone] changes the atmosphere/scene. The atmosphere/scene changes." See note 1

[talonabraxas]

The Capricorn New Moon on January 11 is the first New Moon of the year, and while this New Moon is ripe with fresh new energy, there is also the energy of endings attached to it too, thanks to Pluto, which is hovering at the powerful 29th degree of Capricorn.

Pluto will dip in and out of Capricorn until November 2024, when it will finally leave for good, but this is the last Capricorn New Moon where Pluto will be close, bringing a sense of closure and endings to this journey.

Pluto first entered Capricorn back in 2008, making it hard to remember life any other way! We have all grown so used to Pluto in Capricorn that we may find it a little more challenging to discern the lessons this vibration has been teaching us.

In Capricorn, Pluto has been guiding us to recognize what makes us feel stable and secure. It has been working on the deepest layers of our soul, helping us to transform and recognize our own power.

Pluto is considered the Lord of the Underworld, and while it has journeyed through Capricorn, we all would have been confronted with something from our own underworld. Something would have died, and in its place, something else reborn.

Pluto is our reminder that nothing lasts forever and that all things must eventually fade. But with every fading, with every falling away, something new is reborn.

As this is the last Capricorn New Moon with Pluto in Capricorn, it seems fitting that there is some rebirth that follows this transformation we have been moving through all these years. It seems fitting that perhaps the final layers are being shed, and we are now able to stand fresh and renewed in our true selves.

So, while this New Moon is very much about setting the stage for 2024, it is also about honoring the past and the transformations we have moved through. It is also about acknowledging what has risen up from our own underworld and how that has fuelled our own death and rebirth journeys.

This is a truth-seeking New Moon. One that allows us to really see things for what they are. While it can be easy to get caught up in new year resolutions and the welcoming of fresh energy that this first New Moon of the year brings, be sure to acknowledge and pay homage to the past, too.

Honor the road you have traveled. Honor the journey you have witnessed. Honor all the moments of death and rebirth that have led you to where you are right now.

Although this January New Moon offers some deeper work, there is also a way we can access its energy on a more practical level.

Capricorn is a grounded earth sign, so we can use this New Moon to create structure in our daily routine and take responsibility for all that needs to be done. It offers a wave of ambitious energy, too, helping us to feel determined and motivated to climb the mountain we wish to climb.

It is said that intentions or goals made on a Capricorn New Moon hold the promise of longevity. So, if there is something you really want to commit to for the long term, set your intention and then take a small action in that direction under this New Moon.

-Forever Conscious

New Moon In Capricorn Talon Abraxas

[madrabit]

Hello! You are the resident queen of Bo(Jan) so can I please request 22 for them ? :)

Oh god, idk if I deserve that title, but I 100% accept and appreciate it! 🥹 and ofc you can request that! I'm sorry it's taken me so long, tho. I promise I'm still writing the prompts, so everyone who sent me one will get it! And feel free to send me more!

Send me a ship and a number and I'll write you a kiss 🩷✨️

22. ... in a rush of adrenaline

Bojan always liked football.

He loved watching it, even played for a club as a child and was sad when he had to stop. Football made him feel excited. He could loose himself in a game, could feel like a little kid again as the players sprinted over the field, so close to scoring goals. It made him think about his own time playing. He was part of the little league, nothing exciting, just a bunch of under 12 year olds running after a ball, faceplanting the grass more often than they actually managed to kick or score a goal. But for him it had been everything.

The first time he really felt the rush of adrenaline was as he ran towards the goal, no one in his way. He had scored with ease, the goalkeeper not able to hold the ball, even if he hadn't been distracted by some relative calling for him. The cheering of not only his teammates but his parents, his father, made him feel so incredibly proud. The tingling feeling made his heart beat out of his chest, made him feel alive and his pulse was droning in his ears.

Over the years, the way how he got this feeling changed. During the winter of his thirteenth birthday he had taken up snowboarding, changing the kids ski for a snowboard, the rush he got from zooming down the mountain, his own capability the only thing preventing him from crashing was different to the feeling of playing football, but it was good. The following summer his parents had taken him and his sister to the sea and Bojan had finally gotten the chance to try surfing again, this time much more successful than the previous visits.

He had taken up more and more hobbies, his week stuffed with activities until a sudden timeshift in his Judo practice and him, Martin and Matic forming a band had put a stop to his little blooming soccer career. It was hard giving it up, but the thrill of being in stage, hearing the (albeit still rather small) crowd cheer, while he was singing his heart out and his friends were playing until their hands hurt, was the only thing better than chasing after a ball.

He had still sometimes played with his friends, kicking around a ball and when Bojan had randomly found a group of guys playing football on one of Nace's and his morning jogs through their little neighbourhood park in Highgate, he had been excited.

The guys had been quite accepting when he had approached them and it didn't take long for them to meet up semi regularly. Sometimes in the evening, other days just barely past noon. After the first few times, the others had joined in and soon the whole band had spent at least one day a week watching Bojan run after a ball to his hearts content. But not only that, sometimes his friends would join in as well, making him even more excited than just playing with a group of random strangers.

"Bojan!"

His head snapped into the direction of the voice calling his name. Jure was charging at him, followed closely by one of the guys playing on the different team, trying to take the ball away from the blond drummer without using an elbow or tripping him. The man, James, was persistent though, managing to take the ball and leaving Jure behind as he changed directions.

Bojan felt his pulse starting to pick up, blood rushing into his ear as he sprinted after James. It took a bit of work and about all of his skill to get the lead back, immediatelly turning in a sharp twist that almost made him loose his balance. Without hesitation, he made is way to the makeshift goal, dodging one of James's friends, Robert, who caught up with him unfairly easy, clearly having a very noticable height advantage, but Bojan kept the ball, firmly blocking every one of the tall man's attempts at getting it back.

A few more strides and Bojan would be close enough to take a shot, would be able to score and get the last point he and his band needed to win. Instead of a time limit, they had set a point goal, a much more achievable way of playing either multiple games in succession or have a longer, more drawn out match. That the team that lost the most games would be paying for the first few rounds at the pub they frequented after meeting at the park, was making things even more exciting.

Not that Bojan was really interested in that. The feeling alone made him giddy, the thrill of the game made his heart race in his chest in excitement and he could barely contain the sheer energy buzzing through him during.

Everything happened way too quick for Bojan to notice, his movements almost instinctive, muscle memory that he hadn't forgotten even if he hadn't been playing for a good while now.

He dodged another one of James's friends, a broad shouldered, tall man, ducking under the guy's arm to keep his momentum. And before anyone else could try to get in his way again, he took the shot, kicking the ball just right, the angle working perfectly.

Joy rushed through him as the goalkeeper couldn't catch, falling to the ground while the ball flew over him, untouched and unbothered in its path until it dropped to the ground and stopped moving.

Bojan let out a little happy scream, his eyes darting around the field and landing on Jan.

The dark haired guitarist was standing a few meters away, a big grin on his face and suddenly Bojan felt his heart speed up even more, could hear his blood rushing in his ear, his hands shaking. He was moving without realising it, running into Jan's direction.

Jan barely had enough time to react before Bojan jumped him, clinging to him as the shorter man wrapped his arms and legs around the slightly older like a vice. The speed with which Bojan had hit him almost made them topple over, would have made then fall to the ground, sprawled out on the slightly wet grass, but Jan managed to catch him, already prepared after having seen Bojan's excited face. Hands landed on the singer's ass to hold him up securely, even though Jan knew that the strong thighs wrapped around his waist were more than capable of holding him up on their own.

Bojan leaned forward, crashing their lips together in a heated kiss that the taller man very eagerly reciprocated. His lips parted as he felt Jan's tongue dart out, licking over his bottom lip and drawing a soft little moan out of Bojan. The sound got lost in the kiss and as he let a hand wander to Jan's hair, running his fingers through the soft, dark strands and messing up the little bun Jan had made earlier, the taller squeezed his butt.

"I scored", Bojan giggled as he pulled back a tiny bit, before he connected their lips again into another kiss, feeling Jan smile as well.

"You did, yes", Jan said softly, hoisting Bojan up a little more as he felt the smaller man slip a bit. Bojan gasped softly, his blood rushing through his body, heart skipping a beat, adrenaline still making him shake a bit. Even though Jan fondling his ass certainly added a lot. He tightened his legs around the guitarist's waist, pressing himself closer and was just about to deepen the kiss again, as someone called out to them.

"I wanna do another round, so stop eating face and let's play some more", James said, jogging over to get the ball and making his way with it over to then again, kicking the ball before him.

"You just don't want to admit defeat yet", Jure chirped as he snatched the ball from the British man, running away with it in the direction of the goal. James let out a surprised yelp, charging after Jure, who just quickly passed the ball to Nace.

"You better prepare to pay up later!", Kris, who had been lounging at the edge of the makeshift soccer pitch, said, then he got up and dusted off his pants, ready to join in this time.

Slowly, Jan let Bojan slide down, pressing a last little kiss to plush lips. The singer grinned at him, his body already buzzing with energy, ready to cjase after the ball again and Jan couldn't help but give him a little slap on the ass as the he turned to jog away.

Bojan laughed, his steps feeling lighter than before, and he was sure the next visit at the pub would be a rather cheap one.

[deng-yi-deng]

message from the scriptwriter of Till the end of the Moon 长月烬明 - 边距何妨

If Changyue Jinming is disassembled, what kind of script is it? It consists of three main lines: the mission of the heroine, the growth of the hero, and the game between gods and demons. The former two are intertwined with each other, and the latter emerges gradually, and finally climbs up the stairs with the audience, overlooking the Three Realms and looking back at the floating life.

(Google Translate with some corrections - very long post but really really interesting and worth a read. apologies for inaccuracies. link to original above.)

Changyue Jinming has come to an end, and it's the screenwriter's turn to be on duty for the main creation and sharing activities. Just for my job, I will chat with you about the adaptation of Changyue Jinming's script, which can be regarded as a belated work report from 2021.

1. All nutrition comes from the soil: classical culture and oriental mythology

Long before the birth of the Changyue Jinming project, the audience's complaints about xianxia characters were enough to (fill a channel?). Year after year, colleagues are working on the Xianxia project day and night, and the goal everyone is striving for is "different". This is also the most difficult problem that Changyue faced at the beginning. One foot of fertile soil supports one inch of seedlings. So the script went back, looking for the place of growth in the classics.

Our country has an extremely rich tradition of myths and ghosts, and it has its own style from time to time. Based on the original work (novel), the adaptation finally chose classical mythology as the nourishing soil. They are rich and intense, tragic and magnificent, full of primitive vitality, and an irresistible sense of destiny. This is the world that the script adaptation wants to build.

With soil, all details can grow naturally, such as:

In the first act of the story, the Demon God appears. How should the demons in the fairy world appear? Maybe he can fly, he can blink, or he can punch a mountain first. On a night when pulling my hair out, the document was typed and deleted, and finally, "In the purple sky, six black dragons drove a chariot, breaking through the clouds and passing by the sun. Jeweled bells at the four corners of the chariot swayed, The sound spreads ten miles", covered by the curtain, blown away by the wind, revealing the true face of the devil.

In this way, the demon god appeared on the stage with the dragon driving the chariot and riding the wind and breaking the clouds. The script wants to use the image of "Dragon Driving" to give the demon god the mystery of ancient times and the flavor of Chu Ci (Songs of Chu, a book of ancient poetry).

As for the image of Sangjiu, although it is a clam in terms of species setting, in the script adaptation, her image and aesthetic characteristics actually come from the dragon girl and the jiaoren (mermaid like creature). In classical culture, the images of Dragon Girls are constantly changing. They are heterogeneous, lower than the gods of the water tribe. They once offered pearls to the gods and were enlightened by the gods. They initially had the wildness of animals, and gradually evolved with the creation of classical literature to become beautiful, smart, and passionate.

Sang Jiu is exactly such an image. She is innocent and sentimental, but also has the vigilance of a small animal. She is not only a soft princess who holds her face up to the God of War, but also a vigorous girl with a longbow on her back and kills magic soldiers. During the days and nights when she married, like a jiaoren weeping pearl tears, she gathers them every night, tasting the bitterness of love.

The prop "mirror of the past" in the novel is adapted into the eyes of the god Jize in the script. The transformation of gods into things after death is one of the traditions of Chinese mythology. Just like those myths we have been familiar with since childhood, after Pangu died, his left eye was the sun and his right eye was the moon. Kuafu chased the sun and died, and his walking stick fell to the ground and turned into a peach forest. The ancients believed that when a tiger died, its eyes fell to the ground and turned into amber (tiger soul). When the divine body fell, Jize's gentle gaze turned into a divine mirror, illuminating the last hope with his spirit.

After all the creatures in the Mo River were slaughtered, Sang Jiu pulled out the water suppressing stone in the center of the river in extreme grief and indignation. "The water town stone, which is extremely heavy, rises from the bottom of the river. For a moment, the mud and sand in the river rolled, and the sand flew away." Sang Jiu turned the water suppressing stone into a sharp sword, killing Shangqing God Realm. It is remade into the (ocean god's needle, another name for Sun Wukong's golden cudgel).

Another example is the Tianzhu (Celestial Pillar) supporting the heaven and the earth, which is actually a complex of images such as Buzhou Mountain and wood. The script does not directly copy their names, but everyone will naturally think that this is the power of convention. The Spring Water Throwing Festival draws on traditional elements such as Nuo Opera and Tournament of the Gods.

2. Composition of the World: Human World, God Realm and Immortal Gate

The story of Changyue Jinming spans three distinct sections: the human world, the divine world, and the immortal's realm. Simply running the map will obviously split the story, so geography and time are used to weave them together in the adaptation of the script.

Geographically, the gods once lived around the Tianzhu, but now it is in ruins. The fairy gate is located in the human world, and practitioners have close contacts with ordinary people.

(1) The world of mortals

What is the human world like?

First of all, in terms of setting, it has a "king" and no "emperor". It must be set before the Qin Dynasty. The kingdom is divided, but the hearts of the people still yearn for unity. But it didn't land in any real dynasty or country, which is the inevitable result of fictional dramas. Secondly, its atmosphere and details must be separated from real life. It must have an ancient style and a floating mythological flavor. Therefore, the world view of the world is taken from a fictional classical myth:

In this world, there are demons, warlocks, magic weapons, and tyrants. There are princes and grandsons who practiced down the mountain, there are blood boiled in a cauldron, and there are prophecies about the return of destiny. There are immortals who fall into the mortal world and wander around the world, and there are magic weapons who leave the faction to help in the battle. The generals use immortal methods to fight against each other. In this world, the reference is the world view of "Investiture of the Gods" that everyone is familiar with.

The role of Pang Yizhi borrows some of Jiang Ziya's symbolic characteristics. They are all uncles who were driven down the mountain to do tasks. Jiang Ziya is confused about life in the world, and Pang Yizhi is also unreliable and cute. They are proficient in divination and bear a destiny that they don't know. Jiang Ziya was not destined for immortality, and in the end, Pang Yizhi also went to a similar fate.

Among the many characters who abandoned business and invested Zhou in the Romance of the Gods, Huang Feihu is the one who is most similar to Ye Qingyu. They are all relatives of the king, the town country and the Zhu country. Both have a father who is a veteran of the town. In the end, he was forced to have no choice but to defect to his former enemy with his family.

The contrast in the Romance of the Gods is the two princes Yin Jiao and Yin Hong. They once entered the mountain gate to practice, received advice, and obtained magic weapons, but they chose to be loyal to their father, King Zhou, and eventually died. Although Fengshen Yanyi has a critical attitude towards the second son, the script wants to use a more neutral attitude to praise and regret Xiao Lin's life choices. Camellia fell to the ground and fell into the mud, how can one not regret it?

In this world, the atmosphere of myth is like a shadow, just like the song sung by the crow and the news from afar that it relays. The smoke from the witch doctor's burning enveloped the palace, and the shadow of the demon lingered in the market.

In the capitals of Jing and Sheng, huge wreckage can be seen faintly in the distance. In the garden of King Jing’s Palace, there is a closer piece that was tied to a swing. The fragments that fell into the world, the traces of gods are everywhere. I saw some netizens asking what it is, but it doesn’t matter if you can’t see what it is. This weird spectacle itself has formed the atmosphere of this world and isolated it from the real history.

(2) The place of the gods

The fragments of Tianzhu are the hardware connection between the human world and the god world, and the dream of Prajna (aka Bo're) Floating Life is the software connection between the current human world and the god world ten thousand years ago.

The Prajna Floating Life narrated in the novel has only five episodes in the script, and it has to be divided into two parts with clear boundaries: the part of the battle between gods and demons, which bears a large amount of information and logic chains serving the whole play, Ming Ye's love story with Sangjiu has to be compressed into another part and cannot be unfolded, so the script is treated as a three-act drama structure, making it present the style of a short fable, and acting for the four audiences who enter the play.

The flavor of this ephemeral world, on the one hand, is composed of countless light and small fragments, such as the Qingluan (Blue Luan bird) car, the flying dance, and the fairy fruit tree. On the other hand, it is supported by the god system.

In classical mythology, gods present different styles, for example, the familiar job-type gods that constitute the management system of heaven, such as the Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother, the Three Officials, the God of Wealth, and the Elder Moon. There are also natural gods, such as Jumang, the god of wood, Gonggong, the god of water, Zhurong, the god of fire, Wangshu, the god of the moon, and Xihe, the god of the sun. The adaptation of the script chose the latter system, utilized their cultural elements, and at the same time avoided the names of real myths, and constructed twelve gods for the ShengQing realm.

The reason for choosing the latter is that the style requires a more distinct sense of antiquity from the gods and a more primitive source of power. They have the existence form of matter, natural phenomenon, and matter movement. Except God of War. Compared with other gods, this special position changes faster. If you are a god by battle, you will often die in battle. In terms of seniority, Ming Ye, who came to Shangqing alone from the East China Sea and was ordered in danger, is still a young junior in the eyes of his colleagues, but the duty is that the God of War must charge forward and die. The twelve gods finally died. They came from nature, and returned to nature. Gods are supposed to be ruthless, but when they sacrifice, they are compassionate. It is indescribable that a ruthless god, who was supposed to live the same life as the heaven and earth, died for the short-lived sentient beings.

As for the setting of the demon god, the adaptation of the script liberates it from the framework of "a villain". It has no ambition, no desire, no likes and dislikes, no sorrow and joy, and it is not even a living body, but some kind of energy, or universal law. If all living beings in the three realms are immortal, there will be endless sorrow, resentment and anger. The accumulation of misery for hundreds of millions of living beings will take the form of demons and gods, which is irreversible. It's like a sick body with malignant sores, bright and festering. Even if the bones are scraped and dug away, it will only remove the incarnation of the appearance. The Demon God is like an invisible cloud, always floating over the world, and no one knows whether it will appear next time ten thousand years later or tomorrow.

In the battle of gods and demons, in order to avoid fighting all over the world without any support, the script delimits the battlefield in front of the Tianzhu. At this moment, the whole world is embodied as this huge divine pillar behind him. If the pillar exists, the world will be safe, and if the pillar falls, the world will be destroyed. The furious demon god showed his wrathful appearance, like (the myth of) Gonggong crashing into Buzhou Mountain and smashing the Tianzhu. The god perishes, turns into a war halberd, and supports the world again.

After the fall of the gods, in fact, an era has come to an irretrievable end, and even if Ming Ye is alive, he is powerless to change it. The essence of the contradiction between Teng Snake-Tianhuan and Ming Ye-Sangjiu is the reshuffle of power after the Great War. When the era of gods came to an end, the aristocratic forces Teng Snake immediately launched a counterattack. (?)

(3) Between man and God

After the Great War between the gods and demons, the collapsed pillars of heaven scattered across the world, becoming spiritual veins everywhere, and mortals gathered to practice, and fairy gates gradually emerged. The gate of immortality is outside the world of mortals, and the cultivators themselves come from the world. They are both troubled by the seven emotions and six desires, birth, old age, sickness and death, and they also have the method of detachment. Trekking from the mortal world to the immortal road is for practice.

Hengyang Sect and Xiaoyao Sect are the two sects where the protagonist belongs. In the adaptation of the script, Hengyangzong was endowed with some Mohist spirit. They have strict discipline, and they practice hard in the sect; they pay attention to the hardships of the world, and their disciples take turns going down the mountain to exorcise evil spirits;

At the beginning of the story, the Xiaoyao Sect was in a hurry, and the Hengyang Sect went up to the head and down to Li Susu, the younger junior sister, to rush to the rescue. But when the demon god came to Hengyang Sect, knowing that the strength of the two sides was extremely different, the disciples of Hengyang Sect still lined up neatly, "The disciples of Hengyang Sect are guarding the Mingwu Hall today, the sect will not stop, and the barrier will not be broken!" Disciple's spiritual inheritance of "go through the water and die, never die".

The spirit of Zongmen and the teachings of Qu Xuanzi's love deeply influenced Li Susu, not only made her " virtuous", upright and bright, and always insisted on kindness, but also made her persevere like iron and never give up an inch, even if her heart was broken and her body was crushed. Broken Soul also has to complete the task. Even in the deepest darkness, in the most painful despair, when all previous efforts have been abandoned and the heart is ashamed, I still choose responsibility.

The Xiaoyao School, on the other hand, infused more of Zhuangzi's spirit, and the whole school set the goal of being free and contented in life. When Hengyang Sect disciples study by themselves from five to nine, they are doing BBQ; when Hengyang Sect disciples are doing tasks, they are fighting Demon God Killer; They are all waiting for the occasional sun to come out and quickly dry the quilt and pants.

Cang Jiumin, who was blinded by happy education, finally got rid of the heavy shackles that could not be worn away by five hundred years of nether water, "Forget about things outside, and forget about yourself inside". He walked forward under the trust and protection of Master, and the clock stopped in his heart and finally started to turn again. Saving people with the God-killing Crossbow was a rehearsal of self-reflection, and after refining the Huxin Lin, Tantai Jin completely reconciled with himself, "Today I know that I am me", from a single thought of a god and a devil to a body of a god and a devil. Since then, all the coercion and temptation of monsters and the lobbying of ancient demon gods have lost their magical power. The fate of the world has thus changed.

Xiaoyaozong is shrouded in clouds and mists all year round, and the sun is not visible, but the junior brother Cang Jiumin is here to push through the clouds and mists, and suddenly see the light. Zhuangzi's " Heaven, earth and I were born side by side, and all things are one with me" is the state of the gods in the play.

3. Fate and Breaking Fate

The three magic weapons that appeared in the original work: Mirror of the Past, Qingshihua倾世花 (World overturning flower/jade), and Huxinlin护心麟 (dragonheart shield), their names are kept in the script, but their origin and function have been adapted. They constitute three intertwined long and short lines, connecting the past, present and future destiny.

In the catastrophe of annihilation, Li Susu was brought back five hundred years ago by the mirror of the past. She struggled to find Jize and witnessed the moment when Jize fell and transformed into the mirror of the past. Fate drew a circle at this moment, she found him, witnessed his death, and his death sent her to him.

Sang Jiu is enchanted, and the Tu Jin Teng Snake Clan refines the world-famous jade. Tantai Jin chose it because of the despair of quenching thirst by drinking poison, while Li Susu replaced it because of her unrelenting protection, and the inevitable fate of death will connect the two closely, just like Ming Ye and Sang who engraved each other with regret in Prajna Floating Life liquor. In the end, Li Susu turned the world-overturning jade, which was originally an evil thing, into divine marrow, and replaced Tantai Jin's evil bone with it.

And Hu Xinlin, originally from Ming Ye's heart to save the world, shaped the Buzhao Mountain full of fairy spirit, gave birth to the Xiaoyao Sect, and was brought to the world by Pang Yizhi, a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect. After changing hands several times, he was finally rescued on the wedding night. They killed Tantai Jin, let him come to Xiaoyaozong alive, and reshaped Hu Xinlin.

Behind the three artifacts are the eyes of Ming Ye, Sang Jiu, and Jize who have been watching silently through thousands of years.

In addition to magic weapons and artifacts, the script runs through a large number of prophetic plots, either solemnly revealed, or unintentionally joked, and finally confirmed one by one in fate. The sense of fate is creepy, but the adaptation of the play spends effort to create this sense of fate, not to promote fatalism, but just the opposite. The Three Realms are boundless, all living beings are insignificant, and a tragic fate looms before your eyes, even the gods who know everything cannot be shaken. The more indestructible and unpredictable fate is, the more shocking it will be to violate it and break it.

The old Clam King told little Sangjiu a short story about saving pigeons by cutting their flesh. It is intense, bloody and pure, just like the fate of the characters in the play. No one knows how much it will cost to get back a little pigeon. When the dove flies lightly with destiny, the scale of life and death rises, hypocrisy does not exist, only piety remains, cowardice dissipates, only bravery, hypocrisy is annihilated, holiness appears, and everything in the world is mirrored before.

Sang Jiu exhausted all her flesh and blood, and finally lost her soul, regretting for thousands of years. Mingye exhausted his cultivation base and lifespan, and his spirit disappeared into pieces and turned into dust and smoke. Then, the pigeon fluttered out of Prajna Floating Life and flew towards Li Susu and Tantai Jin.

In the first half of his life, Tantai Jin desperately wanted to live. His "living" was a life that even the bottom of Maslow's pyramid could not have. He had nothing but pain. For such a miserable life, death was a complete relief, and he almost relied on animal instinct to struggle and refuse. However, from the perspective of the audience, it can be clearly seen that his body and mind have reached their limits, like a person who has already stood on the edge of the roof, and a gust of wind can blow him down the abyss.

Then Li Susu came and pulled him back from the brink, again and again. If she was cowardly, she would not have come here at all; if she was partial, Tantai Jin would have been abandoned from the very beginning. If she has justice but no kindness, if she has kindness but no justice, the mission will fail.

It's like a small game where there are many options to break through. Even the gods don't know how many questions are left, where is the correct answer, can't be skipped, there is no shortcut, and the game over is a wrong step. Li Susu has no strategies or spoilers. Her conscience prevents her from attacking the innocent Tantai Jin, and her responsibility forces her to carry out the plan to the end. She can only stumble and fear in the dilemma of justice and righteousness. Dragging the little devil forward. Keep going forward, even if you are desperate, even if you are happy, even if you are completely desperate.

Until the end of the chapter on the human world, she was just the little girl who ventured into the world alone, the youngest junior sister of the Hengyang Sect. The Goddess bloodline did not give her supernatural strength, racial advantages, or even the golden fingers that all the protagonists have, but only gave her an extremely difficult road and a painful fate. And all of this, no matter it was five hundred years ago or five hundred years later, she must keep her mouth shut. Five hundred years ago, she had no one to talk to. When she returned to the fairy gate, it seemed as if she woke up from a dream. Li Susu, a disciple of the fairy gate, was no longer an innocent girl. Secretly, to bear the pain of heartburn alone.

In Susu's chest, there is a heart of iron stone that is always optimistic. This iron stone is both an epee and a strong shield, protecting the sweetheart but must kill him. Until the final chapter, when the God-slaying Crossbow was aimed at the fairy gate again, she couldn't forget her love for Tantai Jin, struggling and hesitantly unable to ascend. And after becoming a god in Nirvana, knowing everything, and communicating with his lover, there is only one way to go before him, which is to become an accomplice of his lover's suicide.

If everything is given, will the gods turn back?

Tantai Jin in the human world chapter may be the person who is farthest from the gods in this world. At least Susu knew where the direction was, while Tantai Jin didn't know anything.

He didn't know why he killed his mother, why he made others fear him, why he couldn't catch it all, and dissipated in his hands when he caught it. He didn't know that his tears would turn into bullets that shot him, and he didn't even understand what it was when the nail hit. The greater pain was that he knew all about it later. Li Susu's love is a thread that pulls him up from the mud and makes him fall back, carries him through the sea of ​​suffering and traps both of them. When he first came to this world, Tantai Jin was like a chess piece. Above the clouds that he could not know and touch, there was a giant hand of the game of gods and demons hidden, but when this chess piece miraculously broke free from the chessboard and fell to pieces... Afterwards, Tantai Jin became the chess player. He possessed the power enough to manipulate the fate of the world, and calmly chose the ending for himself and for the four continents and three realms.

For Tantai Jin, the world is a dark swamp with no roads, it is easy to turn into a demon, but he didn't. He tried his best to fight against his DNA, trying to climb out of bad luck, and finally found that he was bad luck itself, and he had to give up his flesh and blood.

When Tantai Jin and Li Susu realized this, the pigeons flew over. Giving up flesh and blood is not madness, but supreme mercy. This game of the brave cannot be passed without being pure and sincere. Tantai Jin and Li Susu are each other's white doves, and countless living beings in the three worlds and four continents are all carried on the feathers of the doves.

So the little pigeon decided to smash the indestructible destiny.

Four, and the last few sentences

If Changyue Jinming is disassembled, what kind of script is it?

It consists of three main lines: the mission of the heroine, the growth of the hero, and the game between gods and demons. The former two are intertwined with each other, and the latter emerges gradually, and finally climbs up the stairs with the audience, overlooking the Three Realms and looking back at the floating life.

It is composed of many imperfect characters: in the rules of idol drama creation, soft and flawless characters are safer and more popular, but multi-faceted characters belong to this story and live up to the due drama space. These facets are bright and dark, each mirroring other aspects of the character himself as well as other characters.

Each of its episodes consists of 15-20 small plot points and 2-4 events. Every 2 episodes there is a fluctuation in plot, emotion or character relationship, and every 5 episodes will cross a stage, which is oversaturated The plot may break due to information loss in subsequent productions, but it is enough to guarantee roller coaster ups and downs.

It does not say that love can save everything. In the whole story, love is the most fragile thing that is always abandoned, but it is precious because of its fragility and immortal because of its ephemerality.

It is not about the victory of gods defeating demons, nor the victory of a certain protagonist. It is about many people who sacrificed their lives, devoted their wisdom, and devoted themselves to it regardless of the outcome. In the end, the river was diverted and the fate of the world changed.

It is a work with many shortcomings and many regrets. From scratch, all participants have tried their best, worked hard, and taken risks, and perhaps left a little "different".

Writing scripts is a very lonely job. Most of the time, hard work does not mean rewarding, but film and television creation as a whole is like a relay race. The author of the original author hands the first baton to the screenwriter. The baton was handed over to the director, actors, art, costumes... After finishing, the baton was handed over to editing, special effects, and post-production. Every great creation is equally important. Everyone handed over the club with all their energy, and ran forward exhausted, competing for the final tacit understanding and unpredictable luck. And this last stick is given to the audience. I have always felt that audience discussions, judgments, and secondary creations are not feedback from film and television works, but a part of creation, the one that lasts the longest. In the script, there are also some deliberately vague plots left for the audience to characterize, such as the farewell between Sang Jiu and Tantai Jin.

Since Changyue started broadcasting, I have followed up the discussions and criticisms of each episode. It is a very precious opportunity to go back from the last stick to the beginning. I have learned a lot by reflecting on the script and looking for the crux.

It is a great honor to be able to participate in this creation with all of you.

[x-endo]

ALIEN STAGE AUS

i wanted to show off me and my boyfriend's Alien Stage AUs because i think they're cool and deserve to be shown!!

tw for: dead dove do not eat! serial killers, child endangerment, codependent relationships, & other disturbing topics. also OC X CANON & most of the canon ships do not exist here. (only mizisua and maybe mizihyuna)

the ocs

Aero - Jude Kira - Nio

Normal World - final year of HS. all of them are a friendgroup!

ivan - rich. most popular guy in school, seemingly nice but extremely harsh with rejection - will be very mean to you. he will attack anyone nio asks him to if nio feels like watching a fight happen, no questions asked. likes to sing in his spare time. he's nice if you're nice, though. nio - ivan's boyfriend who is also known to be possessive of him. he's a mean "girl" trope, harsh, and likes to make fun of people he doesn't like and likes to instigate fights to watch for fun. extremely good singer, but only for his friends. can be friendly too though.

luka - rich. considered very handsome, but the one person who confessed to him in a different school almost got killed (luka lured them to the music room and beat them to near death). he got expelled for that, so he's in a different school now - but his rep followed him. aero - luka's only real friend seemingly. luka defended him from bullies as kids and got expelled over it. the first time luka got in detention, the next day Aero and Kira throw a desk out of the window to purposefully get excluded too so they can sit with him in the exclusion area. he helps them all with styling their hair and doing their makeup, which is his hobby.

till - known as aggressive but just gets easily overstimulated, has hypergraphia due to OCD, gets into fights but is generally nice if you're nice. prefers to spend his days in the music room to practice/write music. cares a lot about mizi as well as jude (but not romantically). jude - kind of closed off and shy, till's known boyfriend. he's nice to everyone, but is protective of till's wellbeing and helps him cope.

kira - rich, already an idol. everyone's friend, but a little cold to strangers.

mizi - the nicest in the group, sua's crush. she helps hyuna with her investigations sometimes.,

sua - goes missing during a getaway, but was mizi's crush before that. in an idol group with kira until her disappearance.

hyuna - already graduated. an amateur detective, especially of cryptids.

Horror movie - college they all go to a getaway in a cabin in the mountains and get hunted by a werewolf + serial killer alien in the area, a year after sua went missing in the same place. humans are dwindling after aliens took over earth.

all same backstories, the only additions/changes are: ivan, luka & nio are serial killers.

ivan - meticulous, plans well ahead, different methods, enjoys it immensely. kills aliens and humans allied with aliens. luka - opportunistic, always has his gear on him just in case. calls aero to help clean up. nio - mostly watches ivan, but likes to pick victims too. he's very impulsive, and anything can make him snap.

sua - werewolf in the woods around

Vampire

aliens = old vampires who take humans and turn them into thralls as kids. now the adult vampire servants each have their own mansion in the kingdom (like game bosses).

the vampire lord thralls: ivan - turned as a child, seemingly kind and always smiling, but quite ruthless if you cross him luka - bred as a vampire thrall, quiet and obedient, but alwaysy watching, always learning sua - turned as a child, obedient, secretly trying to find a way to escape kira - turned as a child, wants to escape

vampire hunters: hyuna - turned vampire as a child but escaped, now hunts them mizi - was saved by sua as kids and managed to escape, is trying to find her again nio - kills every vampire, but his goal is to get to ivan and be turned BY him

other servants: aero - luka's human servant till - a werewolf, kept as "entertainment". always trying to escape and find his friends. jude - till's "caretaker" (friend)

[four-loose-screws]

FE7 Novelization Translation: Book 2 - Front Cover & Introductory Pages

Happy 2023 all!

At a giant ~360 pages, this book alone is going to command almost an entire year to itself! Enjoy spending an entire year reading everything this novelized rendition of FE7's story has to offer.

Covers

Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade ~ The Binding Blade

Turmoil in Elibe

Book 2

By Masaka Kazuyoshi

Illustrated by Kaneda Eiji

Published by Square Enix

Eliwood leaves on a journey to follow the trail of his missing father, Marquess Elbert of Pherae.

Along the way, he joins forces with his friend Hector, next-in-line of Ostia; and together with their dependable allies, they arrive within Laus territory. However, they do not achieve their goal there, only finding themselves pursuing even more mysteries and continuing on their journey.

Eliwood, together with Hector, and Lyndis of Caelin…

Their journey is now on a course towards its final stage, where the remaining mysteries will all be revealed.

This historic turmoil that ripples across all of Elibe, and the first half of this story, will reach their climax here in this book!

Title Page

Fire Emblem

From “The Blazing Blade” to “The Binding Blade”

Turmoil in Elibe

Book 2

Table of Contents

Chapter 8: Noble Lady of Caelin

Chapter 9: Dragon’s Gate

Chapter 10: New Resolve

Chapter 11: Four-Fanged Offense

Chapter 12: Cog of Destiny

Chapter 13: Light

Continent of Elibe

Character Introductions

Fire Emblem: The Blazing Sword Book 2

Characters

Eliwood

[Lycian League・Prince of Pherae]

The main character of the latter part of this first story. He sets out on a journey to find his missing father, Elbert.

Marcus

[Lycian League・Knight in Service to House Pherae]

A senior knight of the Knights of Pherae. He risks his life to protect Eliwood.

Lowen

[Lycian League・Freshly Recruited Knight of House Pherae]

A fresh recruit of the Knights of Pherae. He is being trained personally by Marcus.

Rebecca

[Lycian League・Archer Living in Pherae]

The daughter of the village magistrate of a village in the mountains. She is traveling with Eliwood after he saved her village.

Bartre

[The Western Isles・Axe Fighter Who Boasts of His Strength]

Hired as a mercenary by Eliwood while staying at a village in Pherae. Honors duty and morality.

Dorcas

[The Kingdom of Bern・Powerful Axe Fighter]

Bartre’s partner. Currently working away from home as a mercenary to save money for his wife. Though he is a man of few words, he has a gentle and friendly personality.

Hector

[Lycian League・Next-in-Line of Ostia]

The second main character of the latter half of this first story. As Eliwood’s best friend, he rushes to his aid as much as he can. He joins Eliwood on his journey to find Elbert.

Matthew

[Lycian League・Spy of House Ostia]

He conducts work from the shadows at his lord’s orders. He is working with Hector, having taken a liking to him.

Oswin

[Lycian League・Armor Knight in Service to House Ostia]

A loyal retainer of Uther. He travels with Eliwood on his journey to watch over Hector.

Serra

[Lycian League・Cleric in Service to House Ostia]

Chases after Hector with Oswin to serve as a medic. A loud and self-absorbed young woman.

Guy

[Sacae Plains・Swordfighter of the Lorca Tribe]

A young man on a journey aiming to become a swordfighter of Sacae. He is indebted to Matthew.

Merlinus

[The Kingdom of Etruria・Traveling Merchant]

A wealthy merchant who travels across each region of the continent. Eliwood saves him when he is attacked by ruffians in Santaruz territory.

Priscilla

[The Kingdom of Etruria・Daughter of Count Caerleon]

She visits Laus, a territory of Lycia, for personal reasons, but the first time the marquess lays eyes on her, he prevents her from leaving (see Book 1).

Erk

[The Kingdom of Etruria・Mage-in-Training]

He is entrusted as Priscilla’s guard by his magic teacher. He dreads reuniting with one of his previous employers, Serra (see Book 1).

Lyn (Full name: Lyndis)

[Sacae Plains・Sword Fighter of the Lorca Tribe]

Main character of the first book of the first half of this story. After the inheritance dispute in Caelin one year ago, she was formally recognized as next-in-line to become the marquess.

Kent

[Lycian League・Knight in Service to House Caelin]

The new commander of the Knights of Caelin, whom Lady Lyndis trusts deeply.

Sain

[Lycian League・Knight in Service to House Caelin]

Kent’s partner and sub-commander of the Knights of Caelin. He can’t help but flirt with every girl he sees.

Florina

[Knights of Ilia・Pegasus Knight-in-Training]

A close friend of Lyn’s. Currently serves House Caelin. She was afraid of men and a crybaby, but now…

Wil

[Lycian League・Archer in Service to House Caelin]

A cheerful young man who fought with Lyn during the inheritance dispute one year ago (see Book 1), and continues to serve her as an officer.

Raven

[Lycian League・Mercenary Under Contract with House Caelin]

An aloof swordsman with a darkness in his eyes. His skills are so great that he can serve as Lyn’s sword fighting partner.

Lucius

[The Kingdom of Etruria・Raven’s Attendant]

A kind-hearted monk who fought with Lyn during the inheritance dispute one year ago (see Book 1).

Ninian

[Traveling Dancer]

A young woman who, alongside her younger brother Nils, has been saved by both Lyn and Eliwood (see book 1). She has the power to predict danger.

Nils

[Traveling Bard]

Ninian’s younger brother. He has the same mysterious power as his sister.

Isadora

[Lycian League・Female Knight in Service to House Pherae]

Commander of Eliwood’s mother, Eleanora’s, guard. She serves as leader of the Knights of Pherae in Commander Marcus’ absence. 

Rath

[Sacae Plains・Archer of the Kutolah Tribe]

A warrior from the plains and man of few words. One year ago, after seeing Lyn off in Caelin, his whereabouts became unknown.

Pent

[The Kingdom of Etruria・Count Reglay]

A sage who, as a high-ranking noble of Etruria, holds the position of current mage general. While working to excavate a magical artifact in the Nabata Desert, he is attacked by a group of thieves.

Louise

[The Kingdom of Etruria・Spouse of Count Reglay]

Pent’s wife. Though she is gentle and sheltered, she is also a first-rate archer.

Hawkeye

[The Missur Peninsula・Berserker from the Nabata Desert]

A large man of few words with a muscular physique. He guides those who enter the desert.

Athos

[?]

A mysterious old man who lives in the Nabata Desert.

Elbert

[Lycian League・Marquess Pherae]

Eliwood’s father, who suddenly went missing half a year ago. 

Eleanora

[Lycian League・Spouse of Marquess Pherae]

Eliwood’s mother. As she waits for her husband and son to return home, she prays for their safety.

Uther

[Lycian League・Marquess Ostia]

The new marquess of House Ostia, Lycia’s leading power. Hector’s older brother.

Leila

[Lycian League・Spy of House Ostia]

Currently infiltrating the mysterious “Black Fang.” Matthew’s beloved.

Desmond

[The Kingdom of Bern・King of Bern]

The King of Bern, a country proud of its great military might. He thinks little of his wife Hellene and his son Zephiel.

Zephiel

[The Kingdom of Bern・Prince of Bern]

An intelligent prince with all the qualities of a benevolent ruler. He works hard to gain his father, the king’s, approval.

Darin

[Lycian League・Marquess Laus]

A greedy marquess. He is plotting a rebellion against Ostia. He holds clues about the disappearance of Marquess Pherae.

Ephidel

[Mysterious Man Dressed in Black]

The mastermind controlling Marquess Darin of Laus from the shadows in Lycia.

Brendan Reed

[Leader of the Black Fang]

Leader of the “Black Fang,” an assassin organization, once known as chivalrous assassins.

Sonya

[?]

Brendan’s second wife. A bewitching beauty who ensnares men in her clutches.

Lloyd

[Leader of the Four Fangs, the Top Assassins of the Black Fang]

An exceptionally skilled swordsman also known as the White Wolf. He possesses the ability to make calm decisions, and is Brendan’s oldest son.

Linus

[Member of the Four Fangs, the Top Assassins of the Black Fang]

A hero also known as the Mad Dog for his fierce fighting style. He always works with his older brother Lloyd.

Jaffar

[Member of the Four Fangs, the Top Assassins of the Black Fang]

An assassin known as the Angel of Death, who completes his work with a lack of emotion unlike any other.

Ursula

[Member of the Four Fangs, the Top Assassins of the Black Fang]

Also known as the Black Crow. A cruel Valkyrie entirely devoted to Sonia.

Legault

[Ex-Member of the Black Fang・Thief]

Disgusted with the changes to the Black Fang, he decides to leave the organization. Also known as the Hurricane.

Nino

[Member of the Black Fang]

Sonia’s adopted daughter. Though her mother thinks nothing of her, she bravely acts bright and cheerful.

Limstella

[?]

Nergal’s loyal servant. Their gender and true colors are both unknown. They are gathering something for their master.

Nergal

[?]

The mysterious man that Limstella, Ephidel, and Sonia serve.

[stitchwitchsapprentice]

"From Scratch" Quilting

Wanted any easy place to return to where I could showcase my quilting process, especially since I haven't made it to any quilt shows since COVID. So here it is!

For my "Mad Hatter Tea" quilt, I worked with my comisionee to design a pattern that really fit the theme.

Then I went through fabric swatches, and added color. Obviously, we wanted this one to be very bright and colorful.

And here's the final result.

Other Quilts

These are some other quilts I've made in the past, though they use fewer techniques.

Simple Quilts

And these are some much simpler designs. This is the type of thing we usually include in our "sacred reading kit" giveaway on Reading Circle Temple.

The so called "Crazy Quilt." No pattern at all, but a good way to use fabric scraps. (This is actually the first quilt I made!)

The "jelly roll quilt" (named after the rolls of strips you can buy in the store). Most quilters will be familiar with this very simple pattern.

And I had to show my friend my modeling the one I made for my husband.

And the hankie-butterfly quilt. This one is a common pattern too, with variation. You'll recognize I used this technique in the Mad Hatter Tea Party quilt as well.

Current Projects

I'm currently in the process of finishing up a quilt-as-you-go that I'm titling "Red, White, and Moo." (I guess I should set a July 4 goal!)

Quiltography

I've also developed a hobby of quilting maps, which I will likely make into a larger quilt, once I have made enough.

This is a top-down view of a theater stage. The black lines toward the bottom are the black curtains, and if you look closely, you can see lights embroidered at the top.

This is the tram system in one of my countries, which is a very mountainous area. Hopefully the cameo from my cat makes up for it being messy and upside down!

[thislovintime]

Peter Tork, 1965.

Q: “Actually, I was going to ask you about your career before [The Monkees].” Peter Tork: “Oh, I was a folk singer. Before that I was in school, and before that I was in the bosom of my family. I was in New York singing folk songs on the Greenwich Village stages.” Q: “How did you end up going out to California?” PT: “‘37 Chevy. Broke down outside of Las Vegas. When it started to belch brown water out of the tail pipe I knew it was all over. We hitch hiked the rest of the way. I had a lady friend waiting for me, I thought. Turned out I was far more threatening in the flesh than at a calm, safe distance, so that didn’t last long. But she connected me to with the Golden Bear Cafe in Huntington Beach, where I got a job washing dishes. I did some work accompanying Steve Stills when he was with Ron Long and the Buffalo Fish. I accompanied this black trio called the [Apollas], on the stand-up string bass.” - Goldmine, May 1982

“Like many ‘heads’ of the sixties, Tork's introduction to the spiritual plane was provided by LSD. ‘I brought some of those sugar cubes with me when I left New York in 1965,’ he recalled. ‘I'd heard that they deteriorate at room temperature, so I took two. Acid does not deteriorate at room temperature.’ His trip was virtually a classic of the genre. ‘I looked in the mirror and saw my mother. I dove out the front door yelling and hollering in Long Beach at two in the morning. I fell into a pumpkin patch and I had my first experience. I finally had a sense of there being a cosmic pattern. I didn't see God in the sense that Jesus came to me, or I saw a man with a beard in a chair high in the sky, but I did have a sense of a driving patterned force being the sum total of all the benevolent intelligences now or ever on the face of the earth.’ Ultimately, Tork came to feel that the acid experience was a limited one. ‘I mean, it opens you up to the possibilities of living beyond your ego, but after a while you come back down and the chemistry you had before the acid trip is largely restored; your ego comes back. I particularly relate to what Ram Dass said, which is that in the throes of acid he was egoless, but as he started to come down his ego walked back in the door and re-fused with his body. That's why he decided to go to India, so he could have the acid experience without having to go through the return trip. In India they had techniques that they'd been developing for years, that made it possible for one to go into a post-ego state.’ Tork's trip, in a larger sense, reflects that of many sixties seekers who opened up to the possibility of possibility, the magic of rock 'n' roll and the magic beyond. Some of them are still out there, having missed the flight back, either accidentally or by design. ‘It is said in a certain school of esoterica that when you first get the hint of it the mountains are no longer the mountains and the moon is no longer the moon,’ said Tork, as the afternoon sun went down and shadows slanted across his room. ‘But when you get past it and come out the other side, with some journeyman mastery, shall we say, the mountains are all mountains again and the moon is a moon. ‘I think I'm at that stage with my life. When I first got the awareness of the extramundane, things just became all holy and completely beyond rational understanding. It was the first flush of acid, the first social explosion of the hippie era. “Everything is everything” and “Wonderfulness is wonderfulness” absolutely swamped the factual reality of a chair. Chairs were no longer chairs; they were imbued with mystery and magic. Having lived with that and taken a few hard knocks on the basis of overdoing it, I've entered what I call the tertiary stage of things. The first stage is where things are what they are. You've got goals and dreams and hopes, but there's no magic. Then you find the magic and it's all magic and nothing is real. Now there is reality and there is magic; they're both real.’” - When The Music Mattered (1984)

[westywrites]

Cypress Ascending - the Sphaera

A brief introduction (with pictures!) to the Gods

Long ago, this world was ruled by many gods. There was a god for each thing, no matter how insignificant. And the people worshipped whichever god they pleased. But a god of songbirds does not help humanity. And a god of rainbows should not be more beloved than a god of youth. 

So, the Sphaera formed - six gods united under a common goal, worshipped by those who sought the progress of humankind. 

At the foundation, in shadow and soil, is Life - the ever-present Haia. The mortal plane consists of the Stages: Infancy, Adolescence, Adulthood, and Old Age - or Taphla, Hedaph, Raishadin, and Eadim, respectively. Above it all, watching with light and clarity, is Death - Yarham - a benevolent god rarely seen by mortals. 

It was not hard to make the mortals believe that the Sphaera were the only true gods. After all, what is there that cannot be associated with Life, Death, or one of the Stages? Their sphere is enough to encompass the whole world. 

(These images were all made using this picrew, which is intended for creating feminine characters, so these are depictions of the Gods in their more feminine forms).

Haia - God of Life

pronounced hi-uh Colours: black, silver, brown Imagery: night time, the moon, shadows, agriculture (especially soil)

Haia - Life - is the foundation of the Sphaera. Their chosen heroes are champions of tough love. One cannot appreciate the day without the night; one cannot reap a harvest without getting dirty. Life requires balance and challenge. People pray to Haia for bountiful harvests; for courage through tough times; and for reassurance that all suffering has its place.

Taphla - God of Infancy

pronounced TAFF-luh Colours: light grey, teal and pale blue Imagery: winter, clear blue skies with white clouds, gentle rain, small animals, children's toys

The First Stage, Taphla is a guardian for infants and toddlers. People pray to the playful god of beginnings for matters of parenthood and family; curiosity and discovery; peace; sleep; and prophecy. Taphla's God-Touched heroes offer guidance and support during big decisions and life changes, and many serve in the mission to care for and educate the young.

Hedaph - God of Adolescence

pronounced he-DAFF Colours: green, vibrant shades of blue, pink, and yellow Imagery: spring, gemstones and jewelry, streams and fountains, the foothills, meadows

The Second Stage, Hedaph represents late childhood and adolescence. The heroes touched by the temperamental god of youth are associated with music, revelry, freedom, and play, but also violence, righteous anger, and mood swings. Youth-touched heroes serve diverse missions of justice, liberty, or entertainment. People often pray to the Second Stage to seek blessings for their celebrations and help with their children, or simply when they feel overcome by emotion.

Raishadin - God of Adulthood

pronounced raysh-din Colours: all shades of red, dark grey Imagery: summer, carpentry tools, machinery, cities and buildings, tall sturdy trees

The Third Stage, Raishadin presents the ideals of adulthood. The god of fortitude and rationality chooses heroes who can lead with a firm and steady hand. People pray to Raishadin for matters of business, finances, trades and crafts, or to ask for mental and physical strength. As the god of stability, Raishadin also receives prayers for help with romance, marriage, and other relationships.

Eadim - God of Old Age

pronounced AY-dim Colours: orange, soft pinks and purples Imagery: autumn, herbs, birds, mountains and cliffs

The Fourth and Final Stage, Eadim is a protector for the elderly, served by heroes who seek to bring peace, comfort, and calming advice. Those touched by Eadim are often doctors or healers. People pray to the sage god of resolution for wisdom and hindsight, as well as protection, warmth, and security.

Yarham - God of Death

pronounced YAR-im Colours: white, yellow and gold, the colours of flames Imagery: daytime; the sun, especially sunset; candles and the hearth; mirrors; paths and roadways

Yarham - Death - reigns at the top of the Sphaera, a quiet, benevolent leader. Few heroes are chosen by Yarham, and even fewer have actually seen the god of death. The rare death-touched heroes have gone down in history as revolutionary leaders who ushered in new ages of prosperity. People pray to the leader of the Sphaera for clarity or hope, and, of course, to honour the dead on their journey beyond.

Bonus: Cypress Schyley - ascending? - a mystery

Long ago, the world was not ruled by humanity. It was ruled by neither money nor progress. Nor even by dreams. The world was ruled by cycles - time looping in and out in spiraling waves. Nothing was destroyed and nothing was created. Everything that once was could be again. 

But that was long ago. 

The age of cycles was gone. The Sphaera and their God-touched eradicated the old gods, so they say. They freed humanity of the chains of worship for gods whose domains were all the insignificant things of this world. The past and future had been tamed by the Sphaera and their god-touched servants. 

Within a few generations, the old gods have become unknown to mortals - living or dead, it does not matter. All that remains is the Sphaera. 

But at the edges of society, there are those who protest the cruelty of the God-touched. There are those who believe knowledge should not be caged, only seen by the few the gods deem worthy. There are those who believe that the progress of humanity should not leave behind songbirds, rainbows, or any "insignificant" thing that shares the natural world. These resilient, dangerous few whisper of the Forgotten.  They dare suggest that, perhaps, it is time for old gods to be remembered. The time that was could begin again - after all these years, the cycle could start anew.

Maybe, they whisper, the Forgotten Gods never disappeared entirely. And maybe, just maybe, they did not die without a plan.

There, at the edges of society, high in the mountain fields, is a girl. Named for trees that never stop reaching. Raised by a man with ink and dreams and revolution in his veins. She is a lost thing that has been found, a forgotten thing remembered. 

She is Cypress. And it is time for her to ascend.

Cypress Ascending introduction post here and you can read more about the Sphaera here

Taglist: @ratracechronicler @lunewell @lady-redshield-writes If you’d like to be tagged in (likely infrequent) updates about this WIP - including mood boards, excerpts, and worldbuilding - please let me know and I’ll add you to the list!

[pcwt]

Tour de France Stage 12 Preview

The Route: 165km and 4,650m of vertical gain. Riders will be warm-up on rollers for the start as it’s straight up the Col du Lautaret and to the Galibier although it’s a climb that starts gentle on a big road before getting steeper and steeper, especially after the turning at the Lautaret. The HC point at the top is big goal for anyone with an interest in the mountains competition.

The Finish: the famous 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez. There are actually 23 to the finish once you include the extra two bends once inside the ski resort. It’s 13.8km at an average of 8.1%, but the main climb is consistently a steep 9-10%. The climb is regular and the famous hairpin bends matter, as they’re engineered and flat so that tourist coaches can pass with ease and so offer the cyclist a change in rhythm. As an engineered road it’s also got large rock walls to reflect the heat making it more of a furnace and the temperature is raised further by the dense crowds. The slope eases into town and there’s a final bend to the left and then the 220m finishing straight.

[mahayanapilgrim]

Transcendent Wisdom

Transcendent wisdom has three aspects, which are stages in its progressive realization.

First, the wisdom of the learning acquired through hearing the teachings;

Second is the wisdom that arises through reflecting on the meaning of these teachings; and finally, the wisdom that arises from meditating.

You, the practitioner, should first of all be like a bee going from flower to flower collecting nectar. At the stage when you are listening to and studying the teachings, learn all of them carefully, in both words and meaning. Then, you should be like a wild animal. Not satisfied with a mere theoretical understanding, go to live in mountain solitudes where vou can be free from all the bus involvement of ordinary life. Be self sufficient and firm in one-pointed practice, as you discover directly for yourself the profound meaning of the teachings.

Finally, as you put the teachings into practice and integrate them with your being, you should be like a peg driven into hard ground. Unshaken by thoughts during meditation, remain unwavering. Cut away all limiting concepts of existence and non-existence from within, and directly encounter the face of the ultimate nature of everything.

So here we have come to the very heart of the paramitas.

Wisdom is not only the most important of the six perfections, it is their very life-force. To realize wisdom is the ultimate goal; it is the reason why all the branches of the teachings are explained."

Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche - The Heart of Compassion - Instructions on Ngulchu Thogme's Thirty-Sevenfold Practice of a Bodhisattva

[worldly-diversity]

@delusionaid ○ 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕞𝕒 𝕒𝕤𝕜𝕖𝕕 𝕒𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 ○

          ⤷  『  ❛ we won’t forget each other, right? ❜  』

Aether smiled softly at the other's gentle and heartfelt question. Thoma had been a very kind and welcoming person right from the very first time Aether had set foot in Inazuma and met him. They had ended up going through quite a bit together, and Aether had even ended up staging a bit of a revolution against the Shogun on his path to an audience with her.

Answers had not been forthcoming in the end, but he'd made great friends along the way that he knew he could rely on if he truly needed them. He generally endeavoured not to require said help, but he knew he could ask for it without consequence and that was what mattered in the end.

Once he was finally ready to depart for his next destination, the rainforest of Sumeru, he found himself eager to leave the cluster of islands behind, but still a little reluctant to part with the friends he'd made. It was always like this, but nevertheless the experience was a struggle. In some places more than other, even.

Mondstadt felt like the home he could return to when he grew weary of the journey and where close-knit friends were eagerly awaiting his return.

Liyue was more calm in that regard, a place he truly enjoyed visiting for its soothing atmosphere and solid environment. It was the place to go when everything got just a little too much, to get lost up high in the mountains with the fresh air and scent of xinqing to meet him, and the whispers of old friends on the wind. Should he feel more social, he could descend into the streets and be met with a flurry of activity that proposed a thorough but enjoyable contrast.

Inazuma in turn was a place that had not brought him much joy. His initial prohibition of moving on to the mainland, the thunderous climate both literal and political, the way the environment itself had seemed pitted against him and the majority of the people not being very welcoming…

That had changed over time after he had successfully changed the Shogun's mind together with Yae Miko and everyone's hopes and dreams for a brighter tomorrow. Nevertheless, there was a much smaller group of people there that he felt comfortable with. It was more intimate in a way, and also precious in a different sense as well, as though the few friendships he had amassed here shone that much brighter in the face of the overall lack of engagement from the populace as a whole.

Who knew what kind of encounters Sumeru would have in store for him, and whether or not he would finally gain at least some hint that could carry his journey onwards for once. With rejection after rejection from the Archons who could or would not provide him with the information he so desperately needed, he was beginning to almost feel aimless. It wasn't that his goals were any less tangible, but that the lack of progress was making it so much harder to believe that the answers truly would come eventually…

Still, there was no use in worrying over it all so soon before his departure, and certainly not when his friends had decided to throw him something of a farewell celebration. To brood when they had all put in such efforts for him wouldn't be very grateful of him.

So finally he set his darker thoughts aside to offer Thoma a smile over his glass, touched by the other's words and attachment to him when they'd truly not spent all that much time together in the end. Nevertheless, Thoma truly was extremely likeable and Aether was pleased to have met him. Indeed, the other truly does have quite a Mondstadter's personality when you think about it.

"Of course not. No matter where I go or how long I'll be gone, I won't forget you." If anything, Thoma made it sound like he'd be going away for good, the thought eliciting a small chuckle. "I promise I'll come visit when I get the chance, okay?"