#light and dark... beginning and end of cycles... death and rebirth...

[torgawl]

just remembered diluc and crepus' names mean dawn and dusk respectively... biting my fist

[dollvls3]

sun in 8th house

celebs with sun in 8th house: Lana Del Rey, Sophia Loren, Emma Watson, Natalie Portman, Prince, The Weeknd, Monica Bellucci's, James McAvoy

The sun symbolizes the core essence of a person's identity. It represents your conscious self, ego and life purpose. The 8th house represents transformation and rebirth, the ending and beginning of cycles. It governs matters related to deep emotional bonds, shared resources and life mysteries.

The sun in the 8th house- is one of the most profound and transformative placements. This placement imbues individuals with intense and magnetic energy-. When the sun falls on the 8th house it lights up the areas of the themes associated with transformation, death & rebirth, intimacy, shared resources and the occult which make them central to the person's identity and life path.

Sun in 8th house individuals are often on a lifelong journey of personal evolution. Frequently experiencing periods of transformation whether through external crises, inner awakening's or both. Those moments of rebirth define their identity and often lead to self-discovery. Like a phoenix repeatedly shedding old versions of themselves to become stronger and more aligned with their true purpose.

Sun in 8th house native get attention without even realizing. Their mysterious aura and magnetic presence draw people in. Others may describe them as enigmatic or hypnotic. individuals with this placement are strongly drawn to hidden and taboo natures. Their natural inclination is to explore what lies beneath the surface, both in themselves and others.

In relationships, these natives crave depth, honesty and vulnerability. They. Superficial or casual connections don't satisfy them.

Individuals with this placement find themselves in positions of financial responsibility, whether managing others money or overseeing collective assets. It's easy for the native to find hidden opportunities in some areas, but they may also experience challenges and lessons tied to wealth, power and control.

The sun in the 8th house illuminates the hidden realms of existence, inviting it's native to explore life's mysteries, offering potential for deep transformation and wisdom. These individuals are alchemist of the soul, turning pain and darkness into strength, light and purpose.

[wingedblooms]

Void and Chaos

“My father was the Void, the Being That Existed Before. Chaos was his bride and my dam. It is to them that we shall all one day return, and their mighty powers that run in my blood.” (Apollion, hosab)

When these words spilled from Apollion, my first thought was of the Cauldron and Book of Breathings. Higher beings like Void and Chaos are forces—and might be part of the Forces That Be. Their union is described like a cosmic marriage, reminding me of another romantic scene:

I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her. Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. The only bridge of connection…that knife. (acowar)

@offtorivendell (here), @psychologynerd (here) and I have discussed how Elain and Azriel are opposing forces coming together in this scene (and let’s be honest, every scene they share together; it’s an established pattern). Throughout the Maasverse, when opposing forces meet in the space between, they create balance and harness power as @silverlinedeyes reminds us here. Azriel and Elain (and the three brothers + three sisters) represent cosmic balance when they come together, and are poised to help restore the current cosmic imbalance impacting their world.

Nothing (Void) into something (Chaos)

In acomaf, both halves of the Book of Breathings (and other Made weapons, namely the Mask 👀) repeat the same cycle that involves Void and Chaos, with pointed differences:

Unmade and Made; Made and Unmade—that is the cycle. Like calls to like. (acomaf, the first half—void)

-

Not as the voice of the second and final piece of the Book filled the room, sang to me.

Life and death and rebirth

Sun and moon and dark

Rot and bloom and bones

Hello, sweet thing. Hello, lady of night, princess of decay. Hello, fanged beast and trembling fawn. Love me, touch me, sing me.

Madness. Where the first half had been cold cunning, this box…this was chaos, and disorder, and lawlessness, joy and despair. (acomaf, the second half—chaos)

They express the same cycle but begin and end differently: Void begins and ends with unmade, and Chaos begins with life and ends with rebirth, which aligns with their roles in creation.

Ultimately, what we learn from these quotes, is that creation, or what Rhysand calls the chaos of Forming (acomaf), involves both nothing (Void) and something (Chaos). The mural in Spring reflects this union in vibrant color:

It began with a cauldron. A mighty black cauldron held by glowing, slender female hands in a starry, endless night. Those hands tipped it over, golden sparkling liquid pouring out over the lip. No—not sparkling, but … effervescent with small symbols, perhaps of some ancient faerie language. Whatever was written there, whatever it was, the contents of the cauldron were dumped into the void below, pooling on the earth to form our world… (acotar)

So does the Night Court insignia.

"The silver thread," Elain asked. "What is that called?"

The weaver paused the loom again, the colorful strings vibrating. She held my sister's gaze. No attempt at a smile this time. "I call it Hope."

My throat became unbearably tight, my eyes stinging enough that I had to turn away, to walk back toward that extraordinary tapestry.

The weave explained to my sister, "I made it after I mastered Void."

I stared and stared at the black fabric that was like peering into a pit of hell. And then stared at the iridescent, living silver thread that cut through it, bright despite the darkness that devoured all other light and color. (acofas)

And so do Azriel and Elain.

Void, icy and devouring darkness

People often made the mistake of assuming Cassian was the wilder one; the one who couldn’t be tamed. But Cassian was all hot temper—temper that could be used to forge and weld. There was an icy rage in Azriel I had never been able to thaw. In the centuries I’d known him, he’d said little about his life, those years in his father’s keep, locked in darkness. Perhaps the shadowsinger gift had come to him then, perhaps he’d taught himself the language of shadow and wind and stone. (acomaf)

Azriel’s black hair seemed to gobble up the blinding sunlight. (acowar)

Azriel silently faded into blackness—until he was my own shadow and nothing more. (acowar)

Azriel tucked in his wings and left without another word, stalking through the house and onto the front lawn to sit in the frigid starlight. To let the frost in his veins match the air around him. Until he felt nothing. Was again nothing at all. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

The pain that last quote delivers is so brutal every time. But it reinforces Azriel’s connection to Void, and it brings us to Elain. The person who makes him feel awake and alive and hopeful, to ask sacrilegious questions he has never dared to utter before. He is not nothing in her presence—he is more, he is something.

Chaos, blooming light and life

She loves to garden. Always loved growing things. Even when we were destitute, she managed to tend a little garden in the warmer months. And when–when our fortune returned, she took to tending and planting the most beautiful gardens you’ve ever seen. Even in Prythian. It drove the servants mad, because they were supposed to do the work and ladies were only meant to clip a rose here and there, but Elain would put on a hat and gloves and kneel in the dirt, weeding. She acted like a purebred lady in every regard but that.” (acotar)

The gates to her mind…Solid iron, covered in vines of flowers—or it would have been. The blossoms were all sealed, sleeping buds tucked into tangles of leaves and thorns. (acowar)

If Elain was a blooming flower in this army camp, then Nesta…she was a freshly forged sword, waiting to draw blood. (acowar)

The Cauldron seemed to realize what she’d done, too, as his head thumped onto the mossy ground. That Elain…Elain had defended this thief. Elain, who it had gifted with such powers, found her so lovely it had wanted to give her something…It would not harm Elain, even in its hunt to reclaim what had been taken. (acowar)

Her sister’s delicate scent of jasmine and honey lingered in the red-stoned hall like a promise of spring, a sparkling river that she followed to the open doors of the chamber. (acosf)

Soft steps padded from under the stair archway, and there she was. The Faelights gilded Elain’s unbound hair, making her glow like the sun at dawn. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

It was Elain who was gifted something by the Cauldron in the chaos of her own (re)Forming. And now that their fortune has returned—ie, they’ve been blessed by Fate—Elain may garden on a far grander scale. And she’ll have the help of her love interest and friends (and maybe her entire family).

Which brings us back to the beginning, to the Cauldron and Book of Breathings. In his bonus chapter, Azriel wondered if the Cauldron was wrong and he learns in hofas that it was, in fact, warped. But how was it warped, and for what purpose?

Rhysand said, “I heard a legend that it was written in a tongue of mighty beings who feared the Cauldron’s power and made the Book to combat it. Mighty beings who were here … and then vanished. You are the only one who can uncode it.” (acomaf, Rhysand to Amren)

As @merymoonbeam and I have mentioned before, the Asteri created the Book of Breathings to control the Cauldron. The Cauldron was sacred to the Fae, and it likely gave them power the Asteri could not initially control. It made them a threat. Remember, the Cauldron is Wyrd, and Wyrd governs the forces of creation (Void and Chaos). She is a Mother to all, a Cauldron brimming with life, and a weaver of Fate, according to the Under-King.

Mother, Cauldron, Fate.

She is not an actual goddess, but a force. And certain beings, like the Archeron sisters, are bearers or vessels of her magic and can wield it when needed.

When the Asteri claimed the power of Wyrd through the Book of Breathings, they were able to gain control over life and fate. And they used that control to feed their insatiable appetite for power. They twisted the natural cycle—life and death and rebirth—into one that served them.

In hofas, Azriel and Nesta learn that this control was never wholly uncovered or addressed. The Asteri’s secrets were buried in the land, forgotten. And so it is fitting for us to return to the beginning with Azriel and Elain, to unearth the remaining secrets and unravel the Asteri’s control over life and fate. To truly change fate, though, their union cannot just be one of magic, it must also harness the strongest force:

Through love, all is possible. It was an ancient saying, dating back to some god he couldn’t remember. Cthona, probably—what with all the mother-goddess stuff she presided over. Hunt had long since stopped visiting temples, or paying much attention to the overzealous priestesses who popped up on the morning talk shows every now and then. None of the five gods had ever helped him—or anyone he cared about. Urd, especially, had fucked him over often enough. (hoeab)

Love. It’s possible their union was always meant to alter life and fate through love, as so many (@icedflames, @elriell, @silverlinedeyes, and @offtorivendell) have theorized. Together, they might be able to swear something between their bodies and hearts and souls, binding the threads of gold that control their very fate, and make the impossible, possible. A cosmic love that restores balance and honors the joy and beauty Void and Chaos created when they first came together and formed the world.

Life and death and rebirth.

-

Thank you for reading my rambling love notes about cosmic forces and Elain and Azriel. Happy Elriel Month, friends! 🌸🦇

@elriel-month

May 1: Death and the Maiden

[thefadecodex]

In DATV, the concept of spirits evolving rather than perishing after corruption presents a profound shift from what was established in DAI. In DAI, when the Spirit of Wisdom was twisted into a Pride Demon, its redemption led to what Solas described as a form of death—a return to the Fade, stripped of its purpose and essence. However, DATV offers a more nuanced perspective: the potential for rebirth and transformation.

Rebirth: A New Purpose, A New Name

This revelation unfolds in the Hossberg Wetlands, where the side quest “Something’s Coming” introduces a haunting encounter with a Despair Demon called Despair Undying. True to its name, the demon reappears relentlessly, no matter how many times it is defeated, until the quest is completed. To resolve this cycle, players must collect three bundles of Broca’s Blooms—delicate flowers that only begin to grow after the side quest a specific side quest is completed.

Upon returning to the site of Despair Undying with the flowers, players find the demon is gone. In its place stands a spirit, Hope Unyielding. The transformation is not simply a return to what the spirit once was but a rebirth into something new. The dialogue that follows encapsulates this evolution:

Despair Undying: Light glimmers the surface. Flowers break through snow. Hope unexpected. I am such. Rook: Is Despair gone? Hope Unyielding: No. But nor was I forever.

This moment introduces a pivotal idea: corruption is not an absolute endpoint. A spirit can transcend its corrupted state, not by returning to its original form but by evolving into a new purpose. 

The Fade Codex speculates that Despair Undying may have originally been a Spirit of Compassion. The journey from corruption to rebirth could have catalyzed its transformation into Hope Unyielding, reflecting growth rather than mere restoration.

This shift in understanding deepens the metaphysical lore of spirits and their connection to purpose. It opens the door to themes of resilience, change, and the enduring possibility of renewal, even after profound darkness. In DATV, spirits are not bound to linearity—they embody the transformative power of the Fade and the infinite potential of purpose reshaped.

The Role of Broca's Blooms

At the heart of Despair Undying's transformation lies the quest "Something’s Coming." Broca’s Blooms, delicate flowers that thrive in adversity, symbolize life persisting in harsh conditions of the Blight. These flowers only begin to grow after players support the Grey Wardens fighting back darkspawn attacking the village and taking out blight boils. After this, broca’s blooms suddenly appear, which is confusing for everyone. By collecting three bundles of these blooms and bringing them back to the spirit’s location, players engage in an act of restoration—not through force, but through care and intention.

Broca’s Blooms are not simply tools; they are symbols. They represent the player’s willingness to interact with the Fade and its spirits on a deeper, more compassionate level. These flowers, growing in a place steeped in despair, signify the potential for renewal. They are proof that even in the darkest spaces, life—and hope—can find a way.

The Player’s Role: Patience and Recognition

Unlike the encounter with the Spirit of Wisdom twisted into a Pride Demon in DAI, the confrontation with Despair Undying does not end in violence or a 'death' so to speak. Instead, the resolution comes from understanding—an understanding that Despair Undying could not simply be destroyed, nor could it be forced back into what it once was.

When the player collects the flowers and returns, they do not "fix" the spirit. Instead, they create the circumstances in which the spirit can choose transformation.

This aligns with Solas's observations in earlier titles—that spirits are deeply tied to their purpose and the perceptions of those around them. This also aligns with comments made by Emmrich how surprised spirits (and maligned spirits) respond to kindness.

By bringing the flowers and offering a gesture of peace, the player helps shift the narrative around Despair Undying, allowing it to see a new path forward.

The Fade and the Cycle of Purpose

Spirits exist in cycles: they are born, they take form, they serve their purpose, and sometimes, they are twisted away from it. In DATV, the cycle does not have to end in destruction or death. The presence of Broca’s Blooms and the dialogue with Hope Unyielding suggest that the Fade is a space of potential. Despair Undying’s transformation was not about erasing its past or pretending its suffering never happened—it was about accepting that suffering and finding a way to grow beyond it.

This mirrors the philosophy present in many interactions with spirits throughout the series. Spirits are not inherently "good" or "bad"; they are shaped by purpose, perception, and choice. Despair Undying's choice to become Hope Unyielding represents a rare moment of agency for a corrupted spirit, facilitated by the player’s actions.

Why This Matters

The transformation of Despair Undying into Hope Unyielding redefines how we understand corrupted spirits in Dragon Age. It challenges the assumption that corruption is always final and that redemption must come at the cost of self-destruction. Instead, it presents a gentler truth: spirits, like people, are capable of growth, change, and transformation, given the right environment and care.

In the end, Despair Undying did not "die." Nor did it revert to something it once was. It evolved. And that evolution was made possible not by force, but by compassion, patience, and the willingness to believe in the possibility of hope—hope unyielding.

[ficnoire2]

A Little Oathbound Symbolism (SPOILERS AHEAD!!!)

Hey y’all!  If you’ve read Oathbound, how is everyone feeling tonight?!  If you are like me, you probably needed several mental health support breaks to cope with the yearning, reverence, heart-stopping terror, and that ending.  I loved the third installment of the series and especially enjoyed the new batch of symbolism Tracy poured into the pages.  That being said, let’s get into it! But first, some definitions and happenings.

Penumbra - a space of partial illumination (as in an eclipse) between the perfect shadow on all sides and the full light.  It is often described as a grey area. Shout out @medium-bloodcrafter-scion

In April 2024, there was a solar eclipse (the first I have ever seen). In 2025 there have been two lunar eclipses and in February a parade of planets was visible in the night sky.  A rare celestial event that won’t show itself again until 2040.

 Light and Dark (Shadows)

“Shadows are birthed from both light and darkness, Briana Matthews.”

Erebus says this to Briana after a particularly cruel training session.  This series has played with duality from the beginning, and I love this turn of phrasing. No one is who they say or think they are (whether they are aware of it or not).  We, as readers, are left to ponder what the shadows may mean in and for a character.  When Erebus takes the chunk of Bree’s soul, the people she loves become a “Shapeless gray mass bathed in mist.”

“I am not a shadow.”  I shake my head.  “Take me back.”

Oh, but you are Bree. The parallels with the light and the dark with each of the boys mirror both sides of who Bree is.  In Bloodmarked we get Sel saying, “I am not born of shadows!” and when Bree is being pursued by Merlin in the dreamscape, she proclaims, “I am not shadowborn!”  After Merlin’s “There you are, little Cysgod.”

The Moon

In my reading, I found it intriguing that the moon is a feminine symbol representing immortality, enlightenment, eternity, and the dark side of nature.  The moon’s gravitational pull controls the earth’s tides (Nick and the water references associated with him) and determines the length of our days and our seasons.  It reflects inner knowledge and the realm between the conscious and unconscious.  It is a symbol of the soul (Otherworld). It reflects light.  Selwyn embodies these traits so effortlessly, just look at the pull he has had on the fandom.  Epic.

“The clouds shift overhead to reveal a bright crescent moon hanging low in the sky.”

A crescent moon can symbolize a transition from one phase to another, a transformation.  In the scene where Selwyn finally catches up to Bree and Nick, this is the moon described in the sky.  As we know, Selwyn is headed for his new destiny. He has transitioned (quite literally in death) to his new form, his more eternal state of being, the Prince of Shadows.  I believe that, going forward, this will be a period of growth, release, and change for Selly.

The Sun

“Nicholas Davis and Selwyn Kane. The sun and the moon. You are warmth and the light, and I am the bitter deep cold…”

I love this scene so much because it is a culmination of heartbreak and confession between both boys.  It also shows how they see each other through the lens of everyone else but are slowly coming to the place where they truly see each other. 

The sun is life, quite literally.  A masculine symbol of divinity, enlightenment, and order that sustains life and lights the way for spiritual illumination.  The sun represents the cycle of life with its rising (birth), its journey across the sky (life/living), and its setting (death/rebirth).  It follows the soul’s journey.  It is a catalyst for change and lights the way for enlightenment and self-discovery (Bree’s quest and his). 

“Your supremacy,” Nick says, brows tight.  “Your misogyny. Your racism. Your cowardice.  I only state out loud that which you enact in plain sight.  That which we can all see, if we can stand to bear witness.”  Nick seethes.  “Will you punish me for doing so?  Your chosen son?”

The sun is also a symbol of authority and hope.  Throughout this series, Nick is seen as the chosen one.  The golden boy who will lead the Legendborn valiantly into battle.  The way he uses his light to fight for a more righteous cause is masterful.  He illuminates all the ways the Order and the Regents are evil.  He casts light on all of the dark places they would like to remain hidden.  

Solar Eclipse

“Sel blurs in front of him in a blink, eyes flashing up at the taller boy.  He bares his fangs, words spiking between them with a hiss.” 

Tracy rarely misses an opportunity to show us the size difference between the boys.  Nick eclipses Sel’s form every time (he does this with everyone, really).  Across time, solar eclipses have been seen as a gateway for transformation and renewal.  The sun’s light is obscured, opening the door for revelation and insight.  It is described as a cosmic dance that shows its interconnectedness with all things, inviting change and bringing individuals to their highest selves. Nick and Sel are doing that dance in this scene.  While there is much to still discuss, these two cosmic forces align, one casting a shadow and the other illuminating the dark places. 

The Center of The Universe - Bree Matthews

“A soul like yours is something to kill and die for, Briana Matthews.  Your soul is the engine behind the power that could change the world.  Unparalleled, in this dimension or the next.  Beyond priceless…”

Valec says this with pure reverence and passion (with a hint of rage).  In this series, Bree is the center, the plan, and the action, and she inspires everyone around her to be their highest selves.  In relation to the boys, they are both sides of her, the light and the dark, the sun and the moon.  She is their world.  Earth is described as the cosmic cradle where life begins and thrives.  The minute Sel and Nick meet Bree, their trajectory changes.  Their destinies become something more.  Mother Earth is power, nurturing its inhabitants. 

“Honey wine. Amber.  Green things growing.  The tiniest hint of copper, like fresh blood.  Something else…” A deep inhale, and I feel him shudder.  “Power.” 

Earth is the concrete physical reality in which we all live.  It is this reality that Bree brought with her the minute she stepped on campus. Earth represents the balance of yin and yang (our sun and moon).  It ushers in harmony.  

“Epiphyllum oxypetalum.”  Hazel’s eyes have gone teary.  “More commonly known as queen of the night.  These flowers require regular sunlight to flourish and yet they only bloom in darkness, only one night a year…”  

“These flowers take faith, Bree.  Even when we can’t see their progress, even when we forget they’re growing, they bloom.  And they are worth the wait.” 

Hazel’s words could not be more impactful.  Much like this flower, Bree needed Nick’s warmth, his light, to flourish.  She needed his safety and protection to rest and meet the task she faced.  To bloom, she needed Sel.  He carried her through the dark places (literally and figuratively) to help her be her best self.  To help her flourish.  She is now giving that to both boys.  

King shit indeed.

Book three was so rich with themes and motifs.  I could not get enough!  Let me know your thoughts, I’d love to hear them!  

P.S. I think it is high time for a Nick Davis and Valec top moments.  Whew chiiiile, the material!

[santoschristos]

“In alchemy the egg stands for the chaos apprehended by the artifex, the prima materia containing the captive world-soul. Out of the egg — symbolized by the round cooking vessel — will rise the eagle or phoenix, the liberated soul, which is ultimately identical with the Anthropos who was imprisoned in the embrace of Physis.”

Carl Jung; Psychology and Alchemy Page 202.

Year of the serpent 2025

The order of the animal signs is fixed, with the Snake being sixth in the cycle, hence the Year of the Snake (shennian 蛇年) in 2025. Last year, 2024, was the Year of the Dragon (longnian 龍年) and 2026 is the Year of the Horse (manian 馬年).

The Orphic Egg, also known as the Cosmic Egg or World Egg, is a significant symbol in various mythologies and esoteric traditions, with a particular emphasis in the Orphic mysteries of ancient Greece.

In the Orphic tradition, which was a mystical religious movement attributed to the myths of Orpheus, the Orphic Egg played a central role in cosmogony (the origin of the universe). According to Orphic myths, the universe began with Chronos (time), who created an egg from which Phanes (or Protogonos) emerged. Phanes was a primordial deity of light, life, and procreation, often depicted with aspects of both genders, symbolizing the union of opposites and the source of all creation.

The egg represents the universe's potential before differentiation. It's an emblem of the cosmos in its embryonic state, from which everything in existence emerged. This symbolizes the beginning of all things from a single point of origin.

The Orphic Egg symbolizes the unity of opposites — male and female, light and dark, life and death. The idea is that from this unity, or from the potential within the egg, all duality and multiplicity arise.

Just as an egg contains life within it, the Orphic Egg embodies the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth. It's a symbol of eternal return, where the end of one cycle naturally leads to the beginning of another.

In a spiritual context, the egg can represent the soul's journey or the process of enlightenment. The soul, like a chick within an egg, must break through its shell (illusions, material attachments) to be born anew into a state of higher consciousness or divine understanding.

Art: The Orphic Egg art by Jose Gabriel Alegría Sabogal

[the-hermit-at-midnight]

Celebrating Samhain

Samhain, also known as Samhuinn or Calan Gaeaf in Welsh, is a time of profound transformation and spiritual significance. It marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is said to be thinnest.   

Historical and Cultural Significance

The origins of Samhain can be traced back to pre-Christian Celtic cultures. It was a time for honoring the ancestors, appeasing the spirits, and preparing for the harsh winter months ahead. Bonfires were lit to ward off evil spirits, and feasts were held to celebrate the abundance of the harvest.

Celtic Beliefs and Practices

The Celts were a polytheistic people who believed in a pantheon of gods and goddesses. They lived in close harmony with nature and had a deep respect for the cycles of the seasons. Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time of darkness and death.

According to Celtic beliefs, the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was believed to be thinnest on Samhain. This allowed spirits of the deceased to return to the earth and interact with the living. To appease the spirits and ward off evil influences, bonfires were lit, and offerings were made.

Celtic Festivals and Customs

Samhain was one of the two most important festivals in the Celtic calendar, along with Beltane. Both festivals were associated with fire, and it was believed that fire had the power to purify and protect.

Bonfires: Bonfires were a central feature of Samhain celebrations. They were believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits and to provide warmth and light in the darkness of winter.

Offerings: Offerings of food, drink, and other items were made to the spirits of the dead. These offerings were often placed on the altar or thrown into the bonfire.

Costumes: It is believed that the tradition of wearing costumes on Halloween may have originated from Samhain. People would dress up as spirits and demons to scare away evil influences.

Divination: Divination practices were common on Samhain. People would use various methods, such as reading tea leaves or throwing bones, to predict the future.

In modern times, Samhain continues to be celebrated by many people, including Wiccans, Pagans, and those who simply appreciate the rich cultural heritage of the Celtic people.

The Symbolism of Samhain

Death and Rebirth: Samhain is a time of endings and beginnings. It symbolizes the death of the old year and the rebirth of the new.

The Thinning Veil: It is believed that on Samhain, the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is at its thinnest, allowing spirits to cross over.

The Wheel of the Year: Samhain is one of the eight major festivals in the Celtic Wheel of the Year, representing the turning of the seasons.

Celebrating Samhain

As druid, celebrating Samhain involves connecting with the natural world, honoring the ancestors, and reflecting on the cycle of life and death. Here are some in-depth ideas:

Create a Sacred Space: Decorate your home or a special outdoor area with autumnal symbols such as leaves, pumpkins, and candles. Consider incorporating elements from nature, such as stones, feathers, or pine cones.

Honor the Ancestors: Create a memorial altar to remember loved ones who have passed. Light candles, offer libations, or leave small gifts.

Connect with Nature: Spend time in nature, such as taking a walk in the woods, collecting autumn leaves, or meditating by a body of water. Pay attention to the changing of the seasons and the natural cycles around you.

Divination: Samhain is an excellent time for divination practices. Try scrying in a bowl of water, reading tarot cards, or casting runes.

Feast: Enjoy a feast of seasonal foods, such as apples, nuts, and pumpkin. Consider incorporating traditional Celtic foods into your meal.

Rituals and Ceremonies: Create your own Samhain ritual or participate in a group celebration. You might include elements such as lighting a bonfire, offering sacrifices, or performing sacred dances.

A Samhain Ritual

Materials:

A small altar or table

A white candle

A black candle

A bowl of water

A handful of autumn leaves

A piece of paper and a pen

A small offering (e.g., a piece of bread, a pinch of salt)

Instructions:

Set up the altar: Place the white and black candles on the altar, representing light and darkness, respectively. Place the bowl of water, leaves, and offering on the altar.

Meditation: Sit quietly and reflect on the past year. What have you learned? What do you want to release?

Offerings: Place the offering on the altar as a symbol of gratitude and respect.

Divination: Perform a divination ritual, such as scrying in the bowl of water or reading tarot cards.

Release: Write down anything you want to release or let go of on a piece of paper. Burn the paper in the black candle's flame.

Intentions: Write down your intentions for the coming year.

Blessing: Sprinkle yourself and your space with the blessed water.

By delving deeper into the symbolism and traditions of Samhain, you can create a more meaningful and personal celebration that connects you to the ancient wisdom of the Celtic people.

[33-108]

Saturn/Shani—the most distant of the original 7 planets, slowest to move, weightiest in consequence-has long been associated with time , karma, and death. But Saturn is more than a mere harbinger of decay; in certain esoteric frameworks, it is seen as the Black Sun, the Sol Niger, the silent source behind all outward illumination.

In classical Western alchemy, the Sol Niger represents the phase of nigredo-putrefaction, the blackening,where the ego dies, and all constructed forms dissolve into the chaotic prima materia.. the raw, formless substrate-so that true transformation and rebirth may begin.

It is deeply Saturnian in tone: melancholic, cold, and stark. Yet in the Krama tradition there is a deeper, more expansive vision of this Black Sun.

Here, the blackness is not absence but overfullness. It is not decay but the uncontainable radiance of that which precedes and follows manifestation. Saturn as Black Sun is not merely the prelude to transformation, but the unchanging center of all transformation itself.

This is why Kali in the Krama tradition, is often depicted as the radiant void-the supreme śakti whose terrifying countenance is not simply an image of destruction, but of return: a return of multiplicity into unity, of time into eternity, of the false light of the manifest sun into the true radiance of the Black Sun.

She is not just a goddess of classical death, but of re-absorption. She consumes the world of name and form (nāma-rūpa) only to reveal the eternal prakāśa-vimarśa-the interplay of Śiva’s light and Śakti’s knowing.

This cyclical movement..of emergence and retraction is encoded in the sacred cycle of the 12 Kālīs.

Where the 36 tattvas which unfold linearly from Śiva-tattva down, the 12 Kālīs move in spirals, phases, and returns.

Each Kali is not simply a stage in cognition, but a contraction and expansion of Śakti’s pulsation/spanda. Their power flows from the center that is also the circumference, a center which is Śrī Kalāsaṅkarṣinī—She Who Draws All Time Back Into Herself.

These 12 Kālīs are interior flames of cognition that burn away layers of duality. Their progression maps onto the adept's descent into the inner void. They correspond not just to mental states, but to the tattvas themselves—becoming mirrors of the cosmos as it is drawn back into its source.

Each triad of Kālīs, often grouped in fours, reflects a deeper layer of retraction: the final stage, the last illusions of duality fall away-the adept confronts the final barrier between subject and object. This culminates in Śrī Kalāsaṅkarṣinī, the supreme goddess who draws even śakti into the unspeakable stillness of paramaśiva.

From this view, the Black Sun is that of total re-absorption into being. It is Saturn not as terminator but as originator-the sun before the sun, the nocturnal radiance from which all days are born.

The Saturnian light is not absent...it is so all-consuming that it appears as darkness.

It is not the nigredo of the fallen ego, but the absolute transfiguration that reveals there was never just ego to begin with.

Kali is both Saturn and Sun: prakāśa and vimarśa, the destructive grace that obliterates false self and reveals eternal light.

Not as a process of alchemical refinement alone, but as an ever-present truth: the Void is the fullness. The End is the Origin. And the Black Sun is the supreme blazing of Śiva’s unborn consciousness through the gaze of His eternal Consort.

[merymoonbeam]

Truth

just a compilation of quotes and some information. (Hofas spoilers but I cant add read more so just ignore the post if you want idk)

Mor quote from Acomaf:

She lifted the orb from its velvet nest. It was no larger than a ripe apple, and fit within her cupped palms as if her entire body, her entire being, had been molded for it. “Truth is deadly. Truth is freedom. Truth can break and mend and bind. The Veritas holds in it the truth of the world. I am the Morrigan,” she said, her eyes not wholly of this earth. The hair on my arms rose. “You know I speak truth.”

Acomaf Book Of Breathings

Unmade and Made; Made and Unmade—that is the cycle. Like calls to like.

Acomaf Book Of Breathings Prophecy

Life and death and rebirth

Sun and moon and dark

Rot and bloom and bones

Hello, sweet thing. Hello, lady of night, princess of decay. Hello, fanged beast and trembling fawn. Love me, touch me, sing me.

Acowar Elriel TT scene:

Elain looked up at Azriel, their eyes meeting, his hand still lingering on the hilt of the blade. I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her.Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. The only bridge of connection … that knife.(acowar)

Crescent City2 TT and Gwydion:

The male drew it, and Bryce flinched. Flinched, but—“What the fuck?” The knife could have been the twin of the Starsword: black hilted and bladed. It was its twin. The Starsword began to hum within its sheath, glittering white light leaking from where leather met the dark hilt. The dagger—.The male dropped the dagger to the plush carpet. All of them retreated as it flared with dark light, as if in answer. Alpha and Omega. “Gwydion,” the dark-haired female whispered, indicating the Starsword.(hosab)

Alpha and Omega meaning:

Alpha (Α) and omega (Ω) are the first and last letters, respectively, of the classical (Ionic) Greek alphabet. Thus, the phrase “I am the alpha and the omega” is further clarified with the additional phrase, “the beginning and the end” in Revelation 21:6, 22:13. The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet were used because the book of Revelation is in the New Testament, which was originally written in Greek.This phrase is interpreted by many Christians to mean that Jesus has existed for all eternity or that God is eternal. 

In Hebrew, the word emet (אמת, meaning “truth”), is referred to as the “Seal of God.”[8][9][10] [Cf. Isaiah 44:6[11]] The word is composed of the first, middle, and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The midrash explains that emet is made up of the first, middle, and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet (aleph, mem, and tav: אמת). Sheqer (שקר, falsehood), on the other hand, is made up of the 19th, 20th, and 21st (and penultimate) letters. Thus, truth is all-encompassing, while falsehood is narrow and deceiving.

Hofas Gwydion and Truth-Teller information

“The Starsword is Made, as you called it.” He waved an idle hand, sparks at his fingertips. “The knife can Unmake things. Made and Unmade. Matter and antimatter. With the right influx of power—a command from the one destined to wield them—they can be merged. And they can create a place where no life, no light exists. A place that is nothing. Nowhere.”

Hofas Gwydion and TT singing

Because the sword and dagger weren’t merely tugging now. They were singing, and all she had to do was reach out for them—

[candybowbeansies]

Red Spiderlily

warnings/notes: northern duke!au. this is dark, but can be read as dark romance ig. reader is implied to have been sent to their death in exile after being wrongfully? accused(ya'll committed it or not, up to you) of bad bad shit use your imaginations, arranged marriage(not forced, but can be read that way, just know that reader isn’t supposed to outright hate their husband-to-be), dark fairytales, regaining hope, and opening a new chapter in life. this is short af but i love shiggy so I may or may not expand on this.

New series anyone? Dukes of the North style, BNHA.

There were tales about the North, and the vicious eyeless demon who cursed its Dukedom with its eternal oppression. Hair damaged by winter’s neverending harshness, torn skin shamed by the moon. Harebringer of terror, an ugly creature shroud in darkness, bringing fear with him. But the moment that you, who had been accused of great sin and sent to marry into the Northern Dukedom-a so-called ‘flowery exile’ if you will, a complete mockery-had laid your eyes upon him, the so-called eyeless demon, you had realized he was in fact, no demon without eyes at all.

Silvery-white locks that bring shame to the brightest of stars shimmering on the surface of frozen lakes. Skin, though heavily marred, fairer than winter’s first snowflakes. Crimson hues, dulled and almost lifeless from the burden he was born to carry.

In the moment those hues met yours, you could tangibly imagine them lurid. Bright; full of luster, full of spirit, full of love. They reminded you of-

“Spider Lilies.”

“Pardon?” his rasp makes you jolt, realizing you’ve spoken out loud. Old habits die hard. The sight of his frown, of his browline furrowed in perplexion elicits a soft laugh from you. A small smile.

You were always outspoken, despite your family’s best wishes.

“Your eyes remind me of the red spiderlily. Keeper of death, taker of souls.” you begin, “He who drags his victims to their grave, he who protects their rotting corpses from Hell's hounds…” you trail off, watching his frown deepen in what you assumed to be disdain, though it only lasted a moment, “...posing as a purifying poison dyed by the crimson of blood.” 

His chin lifts and a brow quirks, regal in his glory, telling of his lineage; close yet so very distant Royalty.

“He who guides weary souls with his lurid hue to the cycle of rebirth.” you speak, your words, and the meaning behind them, oddly and darkly…romantic, in a sense.

“The red spiderlily.” you repeat softly.

Because the moment you were cast aside from all you knew, you were all but dragged to what they had hoped to be your damned grave; the North. And here, in a place meant for despair, where you had expected your end in nothingness, you encounter a reminder of a dark fairytale from your childhood that inspired what you thought you no longer had. Hope.

A silent understanding hung in the air, heavy. He lifts his arm, offering his palm, with a soft rustle of his heavy cloak and muted metallic chinks sounding from his armor.

Perhaps you did not fall in love with him at first sight. 

Yet, you knew this; he would not drag you to your grave an unwilling soul like they would in a heartbeat. The Duke-the man in front of you, would stay by your side and defend you to the bitter end. He would be that beautiful crimson hue that would lead you beyond to be born anew.

You swear you can already feel the warmth of the future.

You knock the ice from your bones, reaching for his offered hand without hesitation. He releases a soft huff, and you swear, you could see light in his eyes, only for a brief moment. As he turns, you step by his side, and he leads you to the next cycle of your life.

[ink-drenched-cat]

"The Guiding Star" AU

Sky cotl — as I have written

History=

Our story begins with the end of the world.

The planet, once densely populated, was hit by a devastating flood due to the ever rising sea levels, that were caused by the careless abuse of natural resources and the disregard for the planets climate and decimation of nature. As a result, most of the large landmasses were buried deep beneath the sea and only few of them remained on the surface; reduced to mere islands rather than the countries they once were.

The continent now known as the Kingdom in the Sky, is the largest of the remains and was soon turned into a refugee for many survivors of the great catastrophy. There are of course a few others great continents and several islands groups, but there isn't much known about them as contact became scarce.

Life was hard as they adapted to the lack of old technology and more and more knowledge was lost with time, but it wasn't all hopeless, as one day a star descended from the heavens in the form of a child. A child soon dubbed the name of "prince" from the bright glowing halo around their head.

What the survivors didn't know was, that due to the large loss of lives, the balance between life and death was disrupted and the Mega bird, the heavenly deity that travels through the cosmos and watches over all the souls, needed to take action.

To rebalance the natural forces, it sent down an Guide whose purpose was to relink the world to the birds influence and continue the cycle of life, death and rebirth.

Upon arrival, the four Elemental dragons noticed their presence and took them to the trials to test if they were worthy of the task.

Naturally, the "prince" bested them all and managed to obtain the dragon flames, which they gifted to six great leaders who took charge of their people and proved themselves worthy to carry the flames and find a new home for them to live in.

Together, with their new found powers, the "prince" and their followers ventured out into the world to built it anew. Alone the Prince the ascended the highest peak on Terra and reconnected the planet with the mega bird. The resulting blast of power, infused everything with light and lifted the land into the heavens to prevent such a flood from happening ever again.

Peace and harmony filled the land in its wake and new creatures emerged from the dephts, each having been grazed with the ability to fly except for those that rejected that power.

Soon, the leaders of the survivors split apart and created their own homes to live in. Daleth, as they were now called, settled on the Dawn Island, to serve as a welcome place for stranded travelers and survivors who hoped for a new life in the founded kingdom.

Ayin took claim on the daylight prairies and embraced the nature and harmony that they shared with the creatures. It was also the main port and took care of all the exports, making it a bustling hub for travelers far and wide.

Teth explored the cloudy forests that emerged all over the world and settled there to try and recreate the lost technologies, leading to the discovery of a rock called dark stone that absorbed the fire if placed near an open flame and transformed it into energy by doing so.

Sahmekh took off into the mountains and lived for the entertainment and enjoyment of the people, bringing life and joy to all around them and making sure that all were free from their troubles and sorrowful pasts.

Tsadi was never fond of heights and preferred to stay on the ground were they then began to create the industrial revolution, by cooperating with the findings of Teth and thus calling in the dawn of the dark stone age.

Lamed, one of the original followers, secluded themselves to a tower deep within the holy mountain and focused on the recording of history as well as the capture and preservation of the memories of the deceased.

Meanwhile the "prince" remained on the mountain, to keep the connection alive.

They stayed there for a long time, deep within meditation while around them grew a blooming paradise, filled with life and light plants that soon spread across the lands, while the spirits returned to the deity and the cycle of life and death started anew.

But, as time passed, the "prince" grew tired of their duties and more and more curious about the creations down below, so, thinking that no harm could be done by a quick trip there and back, they left the holy mountain and ventured down to a new, blossoming civilization — but not before crystalzing and anchoring the holy light they carried so that the connection did not fade.

Awed by the people and the things they came up with, the "prince" began to help them expand their knowledge of the world, by showing them how to collect memories, how to wield light or talk to the creatures around them. Fascinated by this, the people kept the "prince" earth bound and soon crowned them to be "king" as well as constructing a castle high above the clouds.

As they slowly grew older, the "king" began to forget about their previous duties, confident that the light would stay as it was.

Yet as time passed, a rift appeared between the tribes as the industrial ones grew too confident and greedy with the new technology and exploited the nature around them. Compressing creatures and plants to draw more light from them to use as fuel for their machines, while dumping the resulting sludge, filth and death into the soil.

This tainted nature and greatly angered the environmentalists, who tried to come to an agreement, yet the industrial ones would not listen. The conflict between them grew more and more until a civil war broke out, that finally drew the attention of the King.

Concerned about the actions of their subjects and the strange flickering in the light crystal, the King then secluded themselves to the castle and meditated to regain the balance within their heart before they would descend and clear the conflict themselves.

But no matter how hard they tried, the rift was too great. More and more were dying than it was natural and without a vessel to keep it in check the light grew fragile until it finally shattered into pieces despite the help of the elder spirits.

All of the accumulated darkness, negativity and death seeped out, no longer able to be contained nor purified by the crystal, and corrupted the "king" who was now trapped in a cataclysmic storm that laid waste onto everything in its path and closed the gate between the world and the Mega bird, dooming all the souls that died to stay there forever.

In the wake of the second Cataclysm, the darkness and filth spread, now that there was nothing to purify it anymore. All of the corpses were tainted by it and mutated slowly into dark dragons that stalked the remaining land and fed on everything that still carried light, while the few untouched areas slowly healed from the poison.

The elders who had helped contain the crystal were put into a deep sleep after the loss of the primordial flames and could no longer serve as an anchor for the spirits and thus, the cycle between life and death came to a halt.

Since no new connection could be formed until the old "prince" faded from the world, messengers were sent to the place as a hybrid between darkstone and light, with the flame inside them. And they would now guide the souls to their final resting place and the gateway, until the connection faded and they could be born anew.

-> did nor proof read. More incoming

[megyulmi]

Itafushi, or from darkness to light:

[continued from this post]

Megumi’s birthday is on Winter Solstice (usually December 21 or 22), the darkest day of the year. It is a day associated with 사유(死有) in Buddhism, which is the moment of death. Since Buddhists recognise that there is a continuous cycle of life, death and rebirth, in the moment of death, after the last breath is taken the individual is in an intermediate state between their previous life and their new life. Winter Solstice is seen as the message of the darkness, but it is also perceived as a messenger of Enlightenment, or to put it in another way, the promise of the return of the light as it is when things are at their darkest that the light is about to return.

On the other hand, Spring Equinox (usually March 21) represents new light and life and can be associated with 생유(生有) in Buddhism, which is the moment of birth. In Japan, Buddhist Temples perform the Higan-e Ceremony on this day. The word ‘higan’ is a translation of the Sanskrit word ‘paramita’ and it means ‘arriving on the other shore’. It signifies ‘getting across’. Buddhism teaches that the world in which we live, called the impure world (literally: ‘realm of endurance’), is a place of suffering. In this schema, the impure world is located on this side of the shore. The source of all suffering (the three paths of earthly desires, karma and suffering) is likened to a great river and the life condition of Enlightenment is likened to the other shore. We must cross the river to reach the pure land on that side of the shore.

From this perspective, Megumi and Yuuji are the end and the beginning of this continuous cycle.

[sapphoshands]

Happy Birthday! May I request a DVD commentary about Rio teaching Agatha how to fly with a broomstick, and possibly fundamentals of witchcraft on "you open always petal by petal myself"

again an extremely belated response! but thank you for this ask - it was fun to dig into you open always petal by petal myself a bit!

prepare to learn a LOT about the native foliage of connecticut in here, because boy, did i do a lot of googling :P 

Her mother’s coven always refused to teach her more than the very basics of her power. Any skill they thought she might misuse—anything that might make her more difficult to control—they hid from her. Agatha found ways around them, clawing knowledge from wherever it lurked, but the hexenbesen charm requires at least one other witch, if not a coven. She could not learn it on her own. And after she escaped the Salemites, her reputation preceded her. No witch would ever make themselves vulnerable enough to trust a broom made by Agatha Harkness, witch-killer—nor would anyone ever stoop to making a broom for her.

so, this story actually started with a somewhat less considered post i made after ep 5 that was just like, has agatha EVER flown with anyone other than rio? would anyone ever make a broom for her, or trust a broom made by her? i think it’s entirely possible she never has! which is heartbreaking, honestly. 

“The hexenbesen charm is about community, about selflessness. It is about thinking of the other, not of yourself.” Agatha must look nervous, because Rio smiles at her, a true smile, gentle and—Agatha barely dares think it—loving.

i wanted to give this line about selflessness to rio here so that it echoes forward to agatha saying it in ep 5.  there are so many ways the two of them have influenced each other *weeping emoji*

Next to the bush, a birch tree has splintered, one trunk lying fallen against its mates. It’s a decent size, and when Agatha lifts it, its heft is pleasant in her hands. The papery bark curls in stripes of dark and light, but the branch itself is smooth. [...] Several long thin boughs lie nearby, spongy and soft to the touch but still holding their shape thanks to moss and mushrooms. Agatha snags a creeper off a tree and secures them to the end of her branch. She remembers Rio’s vines with a pleasant shudder and wraps the rest of the creeper up around the branch, tying it off at the top. [...] On an older fallen log, one that’s nearly subsided back into the humus, a bright orange fungus sprawls towards the ground. Agatha lifts a few segments, carefully, and drapes them between the branches at the bottom of the broom.

okay, so, remember i said lots of googling about connecticut plants. everything i mention is native to the area. the broom agatha makes for rio uses a birch tree because birch is a symbol of rebirth and new beginnings - very green witch. i wanted the branches at the bottom to counterbalance that by being in the process of rotting and becoming another part of the life cycle.  the vines, well, that’s just a note about rio tying agatha up (see also Lulled in these flowers with dances and delight). and then the fungus is just another comment on life, death, rebirth, the ways death brings life, etc. i did all my early forest rambling and foraging in a very different environment, so i was thinking specifically of an orange fungus i was familiar with and then went googling for an east coast equivalent. and it turns out that connecticut is home to an edible orange fungus called witches’ butter. so clearly that had to go in here!

The broom Rio is holding couldn’t be more different to the one Agatha has assembled. Made from a dark, gnarled branch of knotty oak, it bursts into a riot of leaves and flowers at its end. Agatha can see honeysuckle twined amongst laurel, soft white petals peeking between sharp green edges. Dotted throughout, purple asters add a surprisingly whimsical touch.

rio’s broom for agatha is assembled much more deliberately. oak symbolises power and longevity: rio chose it because she wants agatha to have all the power her mother’s coven denied her, and also to live a very long, powerful, magical life (...careful what you wish for, rio).  honeysuckle is for happiness, sweetness, and love: it’s a little too nice for them, maybe, but this is early in their relationship and rio is perhaps a bit besotted.  it’s also balanced out by the sharpness of the laurel leaves, which of course symbolise victory, much as rio wants agatha to be victorious over the charm.  and purple aster is for enchantment - very on the nose, i know - and admiration - which rio won’t say out loud, because agatha will get flustered, but which she definitely feels.  all together, it’s basically about rio wanting to give agatha a gift of magic because she loooooves heeeeeerrrrr.

“Now, repeat after me,” Rio says. “Pro te, dilecta, aperio viam.” Agatha’s cheeks heat. “I bet you say that to all the girls,” she says, trying to cover the thrill that ran through her. Rio rolls her eyes, but there’s a little colour high on her pale cheeks, too. “It’s how the charm goes.” She smirks. “Quick, say it back to me. And walk deosil.”

i cheated a bit on the latin by putting commas in, i know, i know. rio translates it later, but roughly, the charm goes ‘i open the way for you, beloved.’ i originally had agatha and rio getting a bit more flustered about that, but my beta convinced me to dial it back, and i think this sassy flirtiness is much better.  

on the other hand, my beta also pulled me up on ‘deosil,’ but it’s the proper witchy word! (deosil = clockwise, widdershins = counterclockwise)  I tried to make it a little clearer later, but i wanted rio to use the right term.

“Now.” She grips the broom’s neck with both hands and cackles. “Run like hell, jump… and fly!” She races ahead into the underbrush. Heart pounding, hands shaking, Agatha follows her and gives herself over to the magic.

lillia would hate that i’ve got rio cackling here. culturally offensive! but what can i say. sometimes, rio cackles. also i wanted to make it clear how much agatha trusts her.

Agatha tips her head back and laughs with delight, and hears its echo from Rio in front of her.

they love each other *weeping emoji*

The silver birch shines in the moonlight, and so does Rio’s skin, pale and enticing. Her hair flows back from her face and her green cloak billows behind her. Agatha leans forward on her broom, entranced by the vision almost more than by her own first flight. [...]Then Rio tips her head back again, baring the long pale column of her throat, and Agatha feels a pull in her gut as strong as the wind in her hair.

just… thinking about the way agatha looks at rio when they’re flying in ep 5.

It’s true—Agatha feels like she’s been flying all her life. The broom responds to her wishes almost faster than she can steer it physically. With Rio beside her, haloed in the glow of a galaxy of stars, Agatha never wants to come down.

in my brain, flight is half physically controlling the broom and half the broom just responding to its rider’s desire.

Rio props the broom against the front wall and looks up, and Agatha feels the distance between them like a wound. She drops forward, arrowing towards the ground, and pulls up just in front of Rio. Her momentum carries her, half-controlled, off the broom and into Rio’s arms, and Rio staggers back against the cottage, both of them laughing.

ugh i just wanted to write something that had a few moments of sweetness in it! also note the cottage, which makes its return briefly in Rabbit Heart.

re fundamentals of witchcraft, i didn’t put a ton of that in here, but here are a couple of things:

Rio summons both brooms as she follows Agatha, leaning them up against the wall next to the door. It’s a bit strange, Agatha thinks, but then again, maybe it just makes sense not to leave magical objects outside for anyone to stumble on. Especially ones that are so attuned to the two of them. The idea of someone else touching the broom Agatha so carefully put together for Rio brings a possessive surge of jealousy with it.

so MAYBE all of this was just an excuse for some magical dildos, but that DOESN’T mean i didn’t think about the mechanics. my thought was that the hexenbesen charm requires the witch to put some of themselves into the broom they made because it was so deliberate an exchange. agatha doesn’t know that yet here, but she senses it. probably a side effect of this would be that malicious forces could use a broom to hurt the witch who made it.

“There’s something else you should know about magically-imbued objects like these,” she says, and though she sounds matter-of-fact, her lips curve in a devilish grin. [...] Instead of a broomstick, Rio holds a wooden phallus, bone-white and with striations of black from the birchbark. Long and curved with bulbous knots on each end, it gleams like Rio’s skin, and when Agatha lifts one hand to touch it, it’s just as smooth. She can still feel the magical energy humming in it.

instead, of course, this is just about playing with toys :) basically, having put a little bit of herself in the broomstick, it becomes sort of like a voodoo doll, so that agatha feels some of the same sensations as the broomstick/dildo does. not quite a magic strap, but… similar. >:}

Agatha has never been able to put words to Rio’s taste. Sometimes she thinks of saltwater; sometimes raspberry leaf, or nettle tea.

okay, this is just me being self-indulgent, but: saltwater, because it can’t support human life; but raspberry leaf, because it’s good for pregnancy, and nettle tea because it’s good for nursing mothers. life! cycle! 

[shuckinbeanz]

Red Spiderlily

warnings/notes: northern duke!au. this is dark, but can be read as dark romance ig. reader is implied to have been sent to their death in exile after being wrongfully? accused(ya'll committed it or not, up to you) of bad bad shit use your imaginations, arranged marriage(not forced, but can be read that way, just know that reader isn’t supposed to outright hate their husband-to-be), dark fairytales, regaining hope, and opening a new chapter in life. this is short af but i love shiggy so I may or may not expand on this because atp i've burnt myself out tryna get in the groove of my other wips :/ i'm probably gonna start a few new series too because i put those ideas on the back burner for a loooong time so yah

New series anyone? Dukes of the North style, BNHA.

~Masterlist~

MINORS ���� DNI! 👏 AGE 👏 IN 👏 BIO 👏 OR 👏 DNI! 👏 Head on over to @candybowbeansies please for my SFW pieces, or be blocked if you interact here! 😇

There were tales about the North, and the vicious eyeless demon who cursed its Dukedom with its eternal oppression. Hair damaged by winter’s neverending harshness, torn skin shamed by the moon. Harebringer of terror, an ugly creature shroud in darkness, bringing fear with him. But the moment that you, who had been accused of great sin and sent to marry into the Northern Dukedom-a so-called ‘flowery exile’ if you will, a complete mockery-had laid your eyes upon him, the so-called eyeless demon, you had realized he was in fact, no demon without eyes at all.

Silvery-white locks that bring shame to the brightest of stars shimmering on the surface of frozen lakes. Skin, though heavily marred, fairer than winter’s first snowflakes. Crimson hues, dulled and almost lifeless from the burden he was born to carry.

In the moment those hues met yours, you could tangibly imagine them lurid. Bright; full of luster, full of spirit, full of love. They reminded you of-

“Spider Lilies.”

“Pardon?” his rasp makes you jolt, realizing you’ve spoken out loud. Old habits die hard. The sight of his frown, of his browline furrowed in perplexion elicits a soft laugh from you. A small smile.

You were always outspoken, despite your family’s best wishes.

“Your eyes remind me of the red spiderlily. Keeper of death, taker of souls.” you begin, “He who drags his victims to their grave, he who protects their rotting corpses from Hell's hounds…” you trail off, watching his frown deepen in what you assumed to be disdain, though it only lasted a moment, “...posing as a purifying poison dyed by the crimson of blood.” 

His chin lifts and a brow quirks, regal in his glory, telling of his lineage; close yet so very distant Royalty.

“He who guides weary souls with his lurid hue to the cycle of rebirth.” you speak, your words, and the meaning behind them, oddly and darkly…romantic, in a sense.

“The red spiderlily.” you repeat softly.

Because the moment you were cast aside from all you knew, you were all but dragged to what they had hoped to be your damned grave; the North. And here, in a place meant for despair, where you had expected your end in nothingness, you encounter a reminder of a dark fairytale from your childhood that inspired what you thought you no longer had. Hope.

A silent understanding hung in the air, heavy. He lifts his arm, offering his palm, with a soft rustle of his heavy cloak and muted metallic chinks sounding from his armor.

Perhaps you did not fall in love with him at first sight. 

Yet, you knew this; he would not drag you to your grave an unwilling soul like they would in a heartbeat. The Duke-the man in front of you, would stay by your side and defend you to the bitter end. He would be that beautiful crimson hue that would lead you beyond to be born anew.

You swear you can already feel the warmth of the future.

You knock the ice from your bones, reaching for his offered hand without hesitation. He releases a soft huff, and you swear, you could see light in his eyes, only for a brief moment. As he turns, you step by his side, and he leads you to the next cycle of your life.

[moontheoretist]

"The dual planets were intertwined in each other's tragic destiny, and a dead song was scattered amongst the Cave Where Light Hid. The song had no beginning and no end, had no sound and no echo, came from no singer, and was heard by none. It thus uttered:

Takamagahara endless like Izumo, for it was a paradise perfect in its place. Yet the sky turned dark and the great sun pulled the tides, and the Kami left numerous trails as if migrating. The Yaoyorozu no Magakami manifested and slaughtered without mercy, yet little did they expect their peerless authority to be stolen and taken. Izumo broke seventy-thousand-and-thirty-three warrior's blades, forging the majestic Sentinels twelve in number.

The first was "Truth," forged with the slain Sovereign of Revelation. It allowed mortals to comprehend all laws and order, to dissect all things and to recreate miracles. - (Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrscher of Reason / Truth)

The second was "Sky," forged with the slain Eternal Zenith. It could turn the sky into walls and fortresses and pose obstacles for the Magatsu no Morokami's steps. - (Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrscher of the Void)

The third was "Howl," forged with the slain Almighty Thunder. It could summon lightning to tear the sky, and the soaring meteors and thunder dealt divine justice. - (Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrscherr of Thunder)

The fourth was "Mist," forged with the slain Everbreath. It could make winds break and shear the land, for gales to rage forever unceasing. - (Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrscher of Wind)

The fifth was "Frost," forged with the slain Heaven's Winter Cloak. It could freeze and still the very order of time, to create boundless frozen wastes and stretch one moment into eternity. - (Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrscher of Ice)

The sixth was "Fate," forged with the slain Spurned Sister of Mortality. It could make flowers bloom and cover barren graves, for life and death to dance in a cycle and dissipate. - (Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrcher of Death / Rebirth)

The seventh was "Flare," forged with the slain Flamebringer. It could summon fires to burn down the very world, to torch the skies and to char the earth. - (Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrscher of Fire)

The eighth was "Thought," forged with the slain Wisdom Supreme. It could discern the past and future with the mirror of water, to tell truth from lies over years beyond reckoning. - (Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrscher of Sentience)

The ninth was "Root," forged with the slain Father of Lands. It could command islands to float into the heavens, for mountains and valleys to burst before armies. - (Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrscher of Earth / Stars)

The tenth was "Form," forged with the slain Nether Lord. It could make the masses join in unity, for endless forms to ebb and flow as one. - (Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrcher of Legion / Dominance)

The eleventh was "Bind," forged with the slain Omen Ward. It drove misfortune into a binding cage, for evil and demons to instantly vanish. - (Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrscher of Binding)

The twelfth was "Maw," forged with the slain Woes Eighty. It could corrode and age the very mortal world and make equal Kami and Oni, leaving an entity's four souls to be sundered in twain. - (Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrscher of Corruption)

Then the underworld was cleared out, the wars called to a halt, and the twelve blades broken and locked. In the emptiness the dead souls grew restless, and under the black sun two blades were forged as Bearers of the world's destiny.

One was named "Origin" and the other named "End," for all begun with humanity and shall end with Oni-kind. (Honkai Impact 3rd - Herrscher of Origin and Herrscher of Finality)

The sounds of lamentation ceased, and the dead flowers rose and fell. The losers returned to the void, and the winners... became null. The hobbling monk sang the song without a tune, for those who hold the power of Kami are walking backwards, towards divinity. Witnessed by the great sun, the land once named Izumo became completely devoid... of humans, Oni, and Kami".

The most interesting part is how the video described Herrcher of the Void's power set in comparison to Heavenly Principles from Genshin: "It could form a barrier from the firmament, and prevent the innumerable gods of misery from passing through". Which lowkey implies that Heavenly Principles is a Guardian of Teyvat that stops random Gods or beings from just entering this world willy-nilly.

[ancestorsalive]

"Spring Festival - how Slavs celebrated the arrival of spring

Slavs, like many ancient tribes, based their calendar on beliefs derived from observation of nature and the changing world around them. Every god, demon or other mythical being was in some way connected to the forces of nature and it's manifestations. Alienation with nature was therefore a chance to enter into a relationship with higher powers.

Slavic holidays were associated with these significant changes in nature, meaning the changes of the seasons. The merriest of them is the Spring Festival, heralding the arrival of spring and the rebirth of the world after a difficult winter period, when the night ruled the day and the world seemed to be drowned in a sleep.

An interesting thread is the name itself of Christmas, which can appear under two characters: Jare rywi waćto or Jare Gody (analogy to Generous Gody, which we have written about before). The word "jara" is derived from Prasłowian and means strong and strong. The same etymology has the name of the god Jaryła, also known as Jarowit.

Jare Festival is a celebration in honor of the god Jaryla and the strength and power of regenerating nature (both of these words come from the same core). You could therefore say that the name Christmas has a double meaning. And if we take into account that the Old Slavic spring was defined precisely by spring, we will see even better the multilayered etymology of this name.

As for the second member (of the year), it has its roots in Slavic expression meaning year. Years, for Slavs, were therefore, related to the transition from one year to another. In this case, we are talking about a growing year starting with the arrival of spring (unlike the solar year, started during the December Good Times).

Jaryło and Marzanna in the context of Jaryi Godów

Spring Holiday - Dreamy

The moment of the arrival of spring was extremely important for Slavs. It was from this moment that the day began to burn over the night and become longer. The victory of light over darkness was therefore an opportunity to cultivate many joyful rituals and traditions. Two Slavic deities are inherently connected to Jary iawi niet: Jaryło and Marzanna, symbols of the Slavic conception of fertility.

Jaryło (also called Jarowit or Jarun) is the personification of the vegetation cycle. A young man with a lush rag, traveling the world on a white nightingale with a wreath and a bunch of rye, is Young Jaryła, who was welcomed with the arrival of spring. He replaced the Old Jaryła, who was dug at the end of the summer, after all the crops were harvested.

Similarly is the case with Marzanna and Dzewanna. The first one was the lady of the winter world, and the spring gave her the ability to transform into Dewanna, who was her young incarnation. It was therefore necessary to make sure that Marzanna had gone to the afterlife and would not interfere in the beginning of the growing season.

The figure reminiscent of Marzanna was made of straw and wrapped with colorful rags and ribbons. Subsequently, according to Slavic custom, she should have been burned or drowned. The entire ritual was accompanied by singing, screams and noises that were supposed to drive the winter goddess into the afterlife. On the way back, after performing the ritual, I couldn't look back.

Breaking this ban was the onset of the rapid onset of disease. Touching the floating water on the surface of Marzanna threatened to dry your hand, whereas stumbling on the way back from melting or smoking heralded rapid death.

An extremely important custom, associated with Easter, was painting eggs. The egg in Slavs was a symbol of new life, energy and birth. Geometric patterns appeared on the eggs, flowers or the sun. During the holiday, our ancestors gave each other Easter cakes, wishing each other fertility and yield.

During Jaryi Godów, a number of cleansing rituals were also performed. For this purpose, they poured water (Dyngus), and also tasted with twigs (Smigus). Both of these rituals were intended to get rid of dirt and disease. Thanks to this, we could go into another year healthy and cleansed.”