#leyelle

[leyllethecreator]

Writing Tip #1: never underestimate the power of ugliness

Never underestimate the power of ugliness.

Uglying up your prose can be just as powerful as prettying it up.

Using words like bleeding, vomiting, to describe basic actions like water running out of a faucet can add a sense of violence or agony to a scene:

"Plunging his hands into the ice cold water vomiting from the sink..."

"Plunging his hands into the ice cold water bleeding from the sink..."

Using very ugly imagery to describe normal things can also work well in tandem with using prettied up (especially when it's exaggeratedly so) imagery for ugly things.

"Plunging his hands into the ice cold water vomiting from the sink, he wipes the last delicate dribbles of golden bile from his lower lip"

[arsanimarum]

Aaron Glanz Leyeles, autumn

[the-suniverse]

Leyel

[allwaysfull]

The Perfect Picnic | Hilda Leyel

[jouissanceangel]

my translation of "nokturn (adyektiven-etyud)" by arn glants-leyeles

[le-mur-st-etienne]

Tania Mouraud. Mars 2024. "Je ne suis pas né.e pour me soumettre", source: "Fabius Lind is riding the wind". A. Leyeles, Strophe IV, ligne 13.

Intervention dans le cadre de l'exposition monographique Tania Mouraud Medley, du 15 Mars au 27 Avril 2024. Galerie Ceysson et Bénétière, 10 rue des Aciéries, St Etienne.

[chronivore]

Halfling Name of the Day: Leyel Amagan

[pandaemoniumpancakes]

Homer's grace is unparalleled; it is Homer's!     The dignity, the full, childlike desire; The manly power, and the sublime heroics—     But even more rare is Isaiah! Homer—a wide pool, flowing and yet profound:     He bathes Aegean shores in the sun's high fire, Or strokes the ear with moonlight's silver vespers.     But the water of life is Isaiah. Homer—a field of brightness, a forest of fragrance;     Royal stags roam there; gently, birds rise higher; Young lambs leap to the singing of green earth;     But heaven's own eye is Isaiah.

Aaron Glants-Leyeles, from ‘Isaiah and Homer’ in The Penguin Book of Modern Yiddish Verse, trans. John Hollander.

                         ❧

“Homer danced on the hillsides with laughing nymphs;    His splendid creature, Man, plucked bow and lyre. But “Purge thyself of the buck's darkness, the deer’s”    So man must declare in Isaiah. Homer left Hector to the savage dogs,    Had Achilles rob him of his funeral pyre. Inferring the Fallen State from the infant's tear,    The bitter words rushed from Isaiah. How wonderful bearded Homer's gold and green,    His rare blue universe, crystal entire! But the world will only glow for the stranger among you   When victory comes to Isaiah.“

                        ❧

יאג פון זיך ארויס דעם חושך פון דעם באק און בער, “Purge thyself of the buck's darkness, the deer’s”—”chase out of yourself the darkness, from buck and from bear.”

נאר אונטערגאנג פון דער מלוכה—פאר א יתומס טרער—, “Inferring the Fallen State from the infant's tear”—”the downfall of the kingdom, from an orphan’s tear”

נאר ליכטיק וועט ערשט ויין די ערד—פאר תושב און פאר גר,/ ווען יובלען וועט דער מאן ישעיה, “But the world will only glow for the stranger among you/ When victory comes to Isaiah.”—”But light will first be the earth, for resident and stranger, when Isaiah rejoices.”

   ✼ חשֶׁךְ, darkness, obscurity. 

                         ❧

   “And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” (Isaiah 11:7)

   “Then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.” (Isaiah 35:6–7)

   “They shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.” (Isaiah 49:10)

   “We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them. In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.” (Isaiah 59:10-13)

   “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” (Psalms 23:2)

[darkdaysgeorgianbritain]

More Audacious Women in History Who Should be Better Known (Part 2)

More Audacious Women in History Who Should be Better Known (Part 2)

Here are 4 more women who were either entirely ignored in the past, or were acknowledged for just part of their life’s work. Blog selected from a new ebook by guest blogger Christine Hobson Self sculpture by Anne Damer Anne Damer – one of the first British women sculptors and the niece of Horace Walpole.  The idea of a ‘woman of quality’ taking up a hammer and chisel and wearing trousers for…

[alkcomics]

Been making an effort to listen to at least one new album every month for a while now. The first year anniversary of the pandemic hitting felt like as good a time as ever to take stock of what I’ve been digging and share it with y’all.

Seeing this all helps me really feel the passing of time, which has been difficult with the lockdown isolation and depression. Album names link to a choice song on Bandcamp (when I can) or YouTube (when I can’t) in case anyone else out there feeling like a sad zoo animal wants to spice up the cage for a few minutes.

Hope y’all dig. Cheers!

2019 New Music

September | Ahmed Fakroun | “Did you like the musical texture of the Land Down Under song but wished it were sad Libyan disco instead? Well have I got the album for you.” Seriously though, Njoom Al Leyel is probably the most gorgeous song in existence

November | Patience by Mannequin Pussy | All the feels of the Joan of Arc/Kinsella bros Philly emo scene; rad female vocalist and one of the last live shows I saw before the shutdown

December | Devil is Fine by Zeal & Ardor | High concept music project mixing American Black folk with black metal; totally delivers on the premise

2020 New Music

January | Jaago by Lifafa | Vernacular electronic music project of Suryakant Sawhney; chill vibes and gorgeous lyrics

February | On by Altın Gün | The 70s psychedelic revival in Turkish rock music right now is my jam, and I’d be wearing lines in the vinyl if I had a physical copy of this album (waiting til next Bandcamp day to order)

March | Grab that Gun by the Organ | This album fell neatly into my life from the first driving bass line. Dunno how I missed it when it came out. Equal thirds Screaming Females, Joy Division, and it’s own dang thing

April | Dust by I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness | The dark indie pop post rock of your dreams

May | Savage Times by Hanni El Khatib | Come for the punk bangers, stay for the disco tear-jerkers. Hanni El Khatib delivers again

June | Antiphon by Alpha Mist | My cousin rec’d Kamasi Washington and I realized I was woefully illiterate in modern jazz. Very chill jazz sophisticated through the lens of hip-hop; echoings of J Dilla

July | Windflower by Herb Ellis & Remo Palmier | Jazz guitar album from the late 70s I’d never heard; melodic and exuding the feelings of death and renewal that come with spring

August | Space Echo: The Mystery Behind the Cosmic Sound of Cabo Verde Finally Revealed! by Various (collected by Analog Africa) | So much good 70s electronica from Africa, and this is a fantastic compilation of different artists with a very insane backstory

September | Drowner’s Wives by Monte Luna | Old school garage heavy feeling; just some good dark psych metal

October | Conference of the Birds by OM | Not my favorite OM album but one I’d never gotten to hear before and perfectly emblematic of why I fucking love them. Search the reddit thread of stoned grad students pouring over the lyrics to add the cherry on top

November | The June Frost by Mournful Congregation | Textured metal outfit from Australia with the range of black metal but the tone of doom

December | Life Metal by Sun O))) | As someone put it recently, this album is the soundtrack to the big bang. Monoliths & Dimensions always overshadowed it before, but after really giving it the time of day I say why pit two kings against each other. I think actually they were talking about M&D with that quote. Y’all ever been sent that meme with Sunn O))) and a vacuum cleaner that’s all “where’s the difference?” Not to take the funny seriously, but the difference is my cats lose their g-damn minds when the vacuum is on but absolutely vibe when Sunn O))) blasts through the airwaves -- which, luckily for them, is much more often than when I vacuum

2021 New Music

January | Liberty Bell by DARKSIDE | Dark electrowave - not a genre of music I generally flock to but I could and have listened to this song on repeat for days

February | What’s Your Pleasure by Jessie Ware | 2021 is about trying to branch out more, and I also don’t usually gravitate toward pop... but you give me a new disco record titled from a Hellraiser quote and I’ll fucking stan

March | Veils of Winter by Blackwater Holylight | ‘Motorcycle’ starts out doom, then gets stoner psych, then goes full dark hippy butt rock guitar riff with dreamy vocal goodness. The rest of the album loses the butt rock but you bet your butts my neighbors are tired of hearing it

April | Celestial by ISIS | A standby of post-metal glory that I’d never really heard in its entirety til now. ‘C.F.T’ is my favorite, but as an avid Earth fan it’s the easy choice. Perfect soundtrack to the warming spring nights, which in the words of a dear friend, are ‘for acid and metal’

---

Ask box is always open if anyone’s got some good jams they want to share my way. Love y’all

[leyllethecreator]

Writing Tip #2: Sometimes you've just gotta be like Nike

The best cure for writers' block I've found is to keep writing even when you have no inspiration. Push through the garbage, and you'll often find that ideas start coming to you, but if you insist you're uninspired, you will be. This is part of the reason why it's so great to write to prompts. Game-fying the struggle gets you out of your head a bit.

Go for a walk and tell yourself you have to pick one random thing to write about. Open the dictionary, select a word off the page you opened to and try to do something with that. As Isaac Asimov said, sometimes doing something mindless like watching a movie helps.

Basically the more stimuli you surround yourself with, the more likely you are to find inspiration. You can generate that stimuli yourself just by yeeting words onto a page - you 100% can inspire yourself.

And remember that nobody ever said you have to keep the draft. If it's garbage, it's not like you suddenly destroyed your story idea for good - it's been poisoned by one bad draft and is dying of failure-itis.

I'm creating new prompts every week you can check out every Saturday if you're looking for inspo. I also highly suggest watching a show you like or a new show, listening to music or "the dictionary method" if you're ever feeling stumped.

[arsanimarum]

[Symmetry— anagram of mystery. / mystery of rhythm / on the other side of the seam / of time and space.]

Aaron Glanz Leyeles, si'metriye

[aheavenlylake]

There Is/To Have

There is no "to have" in Hebrew (Ivrit, עברית), so so instead one would use the combination of "there is" (yesh יש) and a conjugated form of the preposition "to" (le ל).

In Hebrew, one adds "to" (le ל) to any noun that possesses something.

i.e.,

A boy has a book. ➡️ (literally translated:) To a boy is a book.

Yesh leyeled sefer. .יש לילד ספר

If one is adding "to" (le ל) to an object that already has "the" (ha ה) at the beginning, replace ה with ל (this time pronounced as la).

i.e.,

The boy has a book. ➡️ (lit.:) To the boy is a book.

Yesh layeled sefer. .יש לילד ספר

Without nikkudot, it's hard to tell which pronunciation of ל is required. At that point one would need to rely on context. But here are both pronunciations with their respective nikkudot:

לְיּלד (leyeled); לַיּלד (layeled)

[tipsycad147]

Nettles

Common + Folk Names : Stinging nettle, wild spinach, bee sting nettle, devil’s leaf, hidgy-pidgy, hoky-poky

Planet : Mars

Element : Fire

Signs : Aries (Guardian), Scorpio (Guardian + Remedy), Capricorn (Remedy), Pisces (Remedy)

Moon Phase : Waxing Quarter Moon

Parts used : Leaves, seeds, roots, and young tops

Habitat : Just about everywhere.

Growing conditions : Grow in wet, rich soil – think compost heaps and old manure.

Collection : Cut three to four inches off the early spring plants. Seeds can be collected in the early fall when plants are brown.

Flavor : Salty, slightly bitter

Temperature : Cool

Moisture : Dry

Tissue State : Cold/Depression, Damp/Stagnation

Constituents : Amines (acetylcholine, histamine, serotonin), ascorbic acid, flavonoids, minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, silica, vitamin B, C, E, K, silicon, manganese, zinc, magnesium, chromium, protein, tannins.

Actions : Alterative, antihaemorrhagic, antiallergenic, anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, blood tonic, circulation stimulant, decongestant, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, immune-stimulant, nutritive, vasodilator, thyroid tonic, antiseptic

Main Uses : Herbalist David Hoffman has a wonderful quote about Nettles that I heartily agree with: “When in doubt, Nettles.” A wonderfully nutritive herb, Nettles has a nourishing effect on the entire body with a broad range of uses.

Nettles has an affinity for the blood. It moves stagnant blood, improves circulation, and is a rich source of iron. The herb is also useful in reducing blood sugar levels and balancing blood pressure. Use in cases of anemia and general weakness and debility. The herb helps alleviate heavy and prolonged periods, nosebleeds, and to stops excess bleeding both internally and externally. Nettle also has a strong relationship with the kidneys, stimulating sluggish kidneys, moving stagnant water, and generally cleansing the fluids of the body.

During pregnancy, Nettles, in combination with other herbs such as Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus), is a wonderful daily multivitamin for parent and growing fetus. Use in postpartum, too, especially if there has been blood loss. Nettles has an amphoteric affect on the milk supply meaning that it increases milk if there is too little or reduces it if there is too much.

For reproductive systems in general, Nettle root has been used to treat prostatitis, vaginitis, and vaginal discharges. If infertility is an issue, Nettles is almost always useful for nourishing and revitalising the body attempting to conceive. If low libido, erectile dysfunction or general sexual anxiety is present, Nettles helps to resettle and centre the nervous system (combine with Avena sativa for an especially nourishing brew). Use during menopause for nightsweats - take as a tea before bed combined with Sage (Salvia officinalis). The root reduces prostate enlargement.

Nettles are a strengthening herb to use when a person’s constituent is weak or weakened – when anemia is present or with a weak digestive system and especially during convalescence. Helps increase energy and overcome fatigue. Restores a worn-down emotional system. Nettles strengthens the kidneys and adrenal glands, activates the metabolism, nourishes the liver and blood, and improves elasticity of veins. The diuretic and anti-inflammatory actions of Nettles are useful in treating rheumatism and gout. The herb enlivens the immune system and has been used traditionally in the treatment of cancer. Overall, Nettles are great spring medicine - they help to brush off the heaviness of winter and enrich our bodies with an injection of Vitamin C amongst other nutrients. Include the tea in your morning routine and cook the young greens like spinach for your spring green meals.

As an anti-allergen, Nettles strengthens the outer membranes of cells which makes them less vulnerable to inflammation and allergic reactions. Nettles are used to treat eczema, hayfever, asthma, acne, and food allergies. Warm Nettle tea helps the body to release excess mucus from the lungs and colon and stops the cycle of mucous membrane hyperactivity.

Use externally as an oil or wash for bedsores, diaper rash, burns and wounds, brittle nails, and to treat the sting of Nettles itself. Traditional use includes hitting arthritic joints with fresh Nettles to alleviate pain and stiffness. Matthew Wood uses Nettles topically for muscle weakness of the inner thighs (especially for the middle-aged and older) to great success. I have found Nettles to be good (both internally and externally) for growing pains of all sorts, emotional and physical.

"No plant is more useful in domestic medicine."

- Hilda Leyel -

Magickal Uses : Protective powers employed to reverse curses and return negative energy to the sender. Use as a protective powder around the boundaries of the house and to keep away ghosts. Tossed into a fire it averts danger and combined with Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) it turns away fear. As a “carnivorous” plant it is used in purification baths to eat harmful energies. Used in wash to consecrate athames.  Lucky for fishing. Silver Ravenwolf suggests an association with the Greek Goddess Hekate and the Egyptian Scorpion Goddess Selkhet.

The Nettles Personality : The Nettles personality struggles to live in the moment. They are often dazed, brain-fogged, and worn down. Many are simply going through the motions of their day, the little pleasant details of life are simply a blur, and pass by unappreciated. There can be a lingering feeling of sadness, wariness, and uncertainty. The blur and sameness of it all can make a Nettles person feel like their are boundary-less but not in an expansive and blissful sort of way. They can get walked all over by others and begin to feel resentful for not being appreciated. Fortunately, Nettles helps to bring us rapidly back to the moment (think about how their sting does just that when you accidentally stumble upon them). For the muddled and unmoored a healthy re-centring can go a long way in helping them to feel better. In addition to re-centring, Nettles also helps us to set boundaries with our selves which, in turn, allows us to set healthy boundaries with others. With the heat and stimulation of Nettles, the fog can lift and the excitement of life come rushing back in.

Contraindications : Do not take root during pregnancy. Nettle Seed can be too stimulating for some. Avoid overstraining the kidneys by using Nettles for 3 weeks on and 1 week off.

Drug interactions : Use with caution with blood thinners.

Dosage : Leaf: 1 teaspoon per of 1 cup of water. 3 -  40 drops (1:5, 60% alcohol extract).

Remedies + Charms

A General Sense of Wellbeing Tea | Alexis J. Cunningfolk

Combine equal parts of the following:

Oats (Avena sativa)

Nettles (Urtica dioica)

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

Let steep for 20 minutes and then add in a generous amount of your milk of choice for a nourishing and relaxing brew.

Menopause Nightsweats Tea | Deb Soule

from The Roots of Healing

Combine equal parts of :

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Nettles (Urtica dioica)

Prepare as standard infusion and enjoy 1 hour before bed.

Electuary of Nettles | Elisabeth Brooke

from An Astrological Herbal for Women

Beat some dried nettle leaves into a fine powder and pass through a hair sieve to remove any large particles. To 25 g (1 oz) of powder, add 75 g (3 oz) clarified honey and mix well in a mortar. Store in an earthenware pot.

Dose: 15 g to 25 g (1/2 to 1 oz) to purge the body of phlegm.

http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog?offset=1491999120489

[askwhatsforlunch]

Ruth's Tropical Fruit Salad

“Phryne sighed and pushed away her fruit salad. ‘I couldn’t have another bite,’ she confessed. ‘I’ve never had a fruit salad with coconut milk--wonderful. That Mrs Leyel was a discovery.’ ‘Not just coconut milk,’ said Dot primly. ‘I’m sure that was rum I could taste.’ ‘Very Queensland,’ said Hugh. ‘Bundaberg rum.’ (...) Dot had allowed him to reclaim his hand, so Hugh sighed and had some more fruit salad. It was very good fruit salad, with pineapple and mango.’”

After Mrs Butler's Mango Sorbet, here’s another Summer recipe inspired by my reading of Phryne Fisher’s adventures. In Dead Man’s Chest, she, Dot, Jane and Ruth are holidaying in Queenscliff; but encounter mystery from the first, when the butler and cook of their rented place have vanished into thin air. To both her delight and apprehension, Ruth finds herself mainly in charge of the kitchen and does brilliantly guided by the knowledge she was taught by Mrs Butler and her avid reading of a Mrs Leyel’s cookery book. I couldn’t find Mrs Leyel’s recipe, but I imagine this must be very close to Ruth’s Tropical Fruit Salad. And it is indeed wonderful!

Ingredients (serves 4 to 6):

1/3 cup coconut milk

1 large passionfruit 

2 limes

2 tablespoons caster sugar 

1 tablespoon white rum

1 large ripe mango

½ pineapple 

¼ papaya 

fresh mint leaves, for garnish

In a large bowl, combine coconut milk and the pulp of the passionfruit. Grate in the zest of 1 lime, and squeeze in the juice of both limes. Stir in caster sugar and rum; set aside.

Cut mango either side of the pit, and, using a tablespoon, gently scoop out flesh, running the spoon between the flesh and the skin. dice mango into the bowl. Cut remaining flesh off the pit and add to the bowl.

Cut skin off the pineapple using a serrated knife. Halve and cut out hard centre of the pineapple. Dice into the bowl as well.

Finally, seed papaya, scoop flesh out like with the mango, and dice into the bowl, and stir gently. Chill in the refrigerator, at least an hour.

Transfer Ruth's Tropical Fruit Salad to serving bowl and garnish with mint leaves if desired, just before serving.

[weareinquisitor]

Booktrailer by Pepe Mediavilla for Alchemist Project

This is a trailer for Raquel Cornejo’s art book, Alchemist Project. The theme of it, in essence, in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by a tyranny that enforces itself through the use of homunculi. Three alchemists journey to find a book of alchemy in order to overthrow said tyranny.

Translated transcript for video below the break (I had to guess spelling for the names a bit, sorry):

The world that we used to know no longer exists.

Nothing is as it once was, everything has changed.

After the Cosmic Cataclysm, light became darkness, and the earth became an uninhabitable place. 

Liberty became terror, and terror now has a name: homunculi (echo).

Terrible creatures that came from the uncontrollable power of alchemy.

Led by the tyrant, Lisander Berengar, they have brought about a time of darkness, from which no one can escape.

But not everything is lost. In the darkest hour, there rose three names destined to change the course of history:

Leyel

Abel

Eva

Going forth from the Republic of the North, the last bastion of freedom that resists valiantly against Lisander and his creatures, they will begin a search to bring hope to a corrupt and condemned world.

The manuscript of Corpus Hermeticum must be found.

The time for change has come.

It is now the age of alchemy.