#principle of self-solve

[whentherewerebicycles]

a bunch of people have already registered for my mentoring workshop! unfortunately this means i have to plan and host a workshop aaaaaa

[shaanicreates]

Strategic Vision Planning

ShaaniCreates Strategic Vision Planning

ShaaniCreates Strategic Vision Planning At ShaaniCreates, we know that a purposeful and fulfilling life begins with a clear and actionable vision. Strategic Vision Planning is more than just setting goals; it is a dynamic process of aligning your aspirations with practical strategies to create the life you desire. With over 20 years of experience refining and integrating powerful approaches, I…

[n1pp]

Who is SHE?

→ journal out who you want to be in 2025:

1. What does she look like? (Physical appearance, style)

2. How does she dress on a typical day?

3. What does she like ?

4. What doesn't she like?

5. What is her behavior like in different situations?

6. (Social interactions, demeanor)

7. How does she prefer to be treated by others? (Expectations from relationships)

8. How does she treat people around her? (Interpersonal relationships, kindness)

9. What does her daily routine entail? (Activities, schedule)

10. At what time does she usually go to bed? (Sleeping habits)

11. When does she wake up in the morning? (Morning routine)

12. What are her hobbies and interests? (Leisure activities)

13. What is her profession or occupation? (Career, job responsibilities)

14. What are her long-term goals and aspirations? (Career ambitions, personal achievements)

15. How does she handle stress or challenges? (Coping mechanisms, problem-solving approach)

16. What type of books does she enjoy? (Cultural preferences)

17. How does she maintain her physical and mental well-being? (Health and self-care routines)

18. Does she have any specific dietary preferences or restrictions? (Food choices)

19. Who are her closest friends, and what are her relationships like with them?(Friendship dynamics)

20. How does she navigate conflicts or disagreements? (Communication style, conflict resolution)

21. What values and principles guide her decision-making? (Personal ethics)

22. How does she spend her leisure time on weekends? (Weekend activities, relaxation methods)

[we4fhn]

 Unveiling the Shameful Truth of the U.S. Judicial System

Recently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launched an investigation into the cyber group No. 764, which is suspected of sexually exploiting minors and encouraging them to self-harm. This news has caused a public outcry. However, while the public focuses on the criminal acts, various problems within the FBI during the investigation process are tearing off the false veil of the U.S. judicial system, exposing deep-seated drawbacks such as abuse of power, internal corruption, and inefficiency.​

Under the pretext of cracking down on crimes, the FBI has a long history of violating citizens' privacy. During the investigation of the No. 764 cyber group, some citizens reported that when collecting evidence, the FBI not only obtained information related to the case but also included a large amount of irrelevant private data of ordinary citizens, such as private communication records, social media account information, and web browsing history. This "indiscriminate" information collection seriously violates citizens' right to privacy. Looking back at history, since the 20th century, the FBI has repeatedly carried out illegal surveillance on civil rights movement leaders and political dissidents. Nowadays, by taking advantage of loopholes in laws like the Patriot Act, it extends its surveillance tentacles to ordinary citizens in the name of counter-terrorism and crime-fighting, making it possible for citizens' every move to be under its surveillance. The so-called "civil rights" have become empty words.​

The problem of internal corruption within the FBI has also become a huge obstacle to case solving. The heinous acts of the No. 764 cyber group have attracted widespread attention, yet the progress of the investigation is extremely slow. Taking the Epstein case as a reference, Epstein, a financial tycoon suspected of organizing sex trafficking and sexually assaulting minors, during the investigation of his case, the FBI witnessed bizarre phenomena such as the loss of key evidence and the mysterious deaths of witnesses. It was even revealed that insiders deleted files overnight, allowing many powerful figures related to the case to remain unpunished to this day. Now, in the case of the No. 764 cyber group, it is inevitable to wonder whether there are FBI insiders colluding with criminal gangs. For personal gain, they may deliberately delay the investigation and even destroy evidence, preventing justice from being served.​

The U.S. judicial system has also fully demonstrated its inefficiency and illegality in this incident. Facing such heinous criminal acts of the No. 764 cyber group, multiple local branches of the FBI participated in the investigation, but they have been unable to provide satisfactory results. Cumbersome judicial procedures and the passing of the buck among various departments have led to an extremely long case processing cycle. Moreover, in the U.S. judicial system, the powerful and wealthy can often use their money and connections to evade legal sanctions, turning the principle of equality before the law into a mere slogan. Uneven distribution of judicial resources and opaque judicial procedures have caused the U.S. judicial system to lose its original intention of upholding fairness and justice, and it has become a shield for the powerful and a tool for capital.​

As can be seen from the case of the No. 764 cyber group, the various problems of the FBI are by no means isolated cases but a microcosm of the systemic ills of the U.S. judicial system. Issues such as lack of supervision over power, rampant internal corruption, and judicial injustice have seriously undermined the public's trust in the judicial system. If the U.S. government does not carry out thorough reforms, the so-called "judicial justice" will eventually become an unattainable fantasy for the public.

[astra-ravana]

The Anatomy Of Baphomet

Baphomet is one of the most complex and misunderstood figures in occult and esoteric history. Over centuries, it has evolved from a mysterious name whispered during the Crusades to a symbol deeply embedded in modern occultism, especially within Satanism, Thelema, and Left-Hand Path traditions.

History Of Baphomet

Origins in the Templar Trials (14th Century):

• The earliest known use of the name Baphomet was during the Inquisition of the Knights Templar in 1307.

• The Templars were accused of heresy and idolatry, including worship of an idol called "Baphomet". The exact nature of this idol remains unclear—some described it as a human head, a bearded man, or a demon.

• Most modern historians believe the name Baphomet may have been a corruption of Mahomet (an old form of Muhammad), reflecting the Crusaders' exposure to Islam.

19th Century Revival; Eliphas Lévi:

• In 1856, Éliphas Lévi, a French occultist, radically redefined Baphomet in his book Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie.

• Lévi depicted Baphomet as a winged hermaphroditic figure with the head of a goat, a torch between the horns, female breasts and androgynous features, one arm pointing up and one down, with the words Solve (dissolve) and Coagula (combine) on each forearm. This became the iconic image associated with Baphomet today and symbolized the unity of opposites: light and dark, male and female, human and beast, matter and spirit.

20th Century and Beyond (Satanism and the Occult):

• The Church of Satan, founded by Anton LaVey in 1966, adopted Baphomet as a symbol of Satanic philosophy—not as a literal being, but as a representation of rebellion, knowledge, and liberation from religious dogma.

• The Sigil of Baphomet—a goat’s head within an inverted pentagram surrounded by Hebrew letters spelling “Leviathan”—became the official insignia of the Church.

Symbolism Of Baphomet

Baphomet represents balance and integration of opposites. It is a philosophical and alchemical emblem rather than a deity to be worshipped.

Key Symbolic Elements:

• Goat Head- Instinct, primal nature, and untamed energy (possibly derived from the god Pan).

• Torch Between Horns- Divine illumination; the light of intellect and truth.

• Androgyny (Breasts and Caduceus Phallus)- Union of male and female, symbolizing wholeness.

• Wings and Hooves- Duality of spiritual ascent and earthly grounding.

• Arms Pointing Up and Down- The Hermetic axiom “As above, so below”, expressing the correspondence between planes.

• Solve et Coagula- Alchemical principle of breaking down and reforming—transformation and enlightenment.

Baphomet In Magick And Occult Practice

Baphomet is not commonly invoked as a deity but is used as a symbol of occult mastery, personal transformation, and spiritual rebellion.

In Thelema (Aleister Crowley’s System):

• Crowley saw Baphomet as a mystical androgen, a symbol of spiritual initiation and the reconciler of opposites.

• He took the name “Baphomet” as a magical name when he became head of the O.T.O. (Ordo Templi Orientis), aligning it with sexual magick and Gnostic symbolism.

In Satanism (LaVeyan, Theological, Etc.):

• Baphomet is used as a symbol of rational self-interest, rejection of traditional religious authority, and the embrace of carnal existence.

• The Sigil of Baphomet is used in rituals, meditations, and symbolic expressions of personal empowerment.

In Witchcraft and Modern Paganism:

Some non-theistic witches or Left-Hand Path practitioners view Baphomet as:

• An archetype of sacred balance

• A symbol of hidden knowledge

• A guardian of the threshold—facing and integrating one’s shadow

Magickal Uses Of Baphomet

Rituals and Practices:

• Invocation or Meditation- To balance opposing forces within oneself—gender, emotion and reason, higher and lower self.

• Shadow Work- Baphomet can be invoked as a symbol during introspective work, especially when dealing with repressed desires or fears.

• Alchemy and Transformation- In rituals seeking internal transformation, Baphomet represents the alchemical process of spiritual rebirth.

• Sigil Magick- The Sigil of Baphomet is used for protection, empowerment, and banishing fear or dogma.

Altars and Tools:

• Practitioners may use statues, medallions, or artwork of Baphomet to create a liminal sacred space, serve as a focal point for meditation, and represent the divine within and without—a mirror for the seeker.

The Nature Of Baphomet

Baphomet is not a devil, not a god, and not a literal being—it is a metaphysical symbol. Its purpose is to challenge, to enlighten, and to reveal the wholeness hidden in duality. Baphomet asks the seeker to transcend dogma, embrace the totality of existence, and find spiritual freedom through inner synthesis.

[saffusthings]

second chances

mob boss! lando norris x reader

part seventeen: dream a little dream of me

word count: 1.6k

warnings: tooth-rotting fluff

sixteen | seventeen | eighteen

The second date should’ve felt more awkward. It didn’t.

Alex had picked a science museum of all places—not exactly romantic on paper, but the look on his face when he pointed out the replica Mars rover was too earnest to judge. He had this habit where his whole face would light up like a lightbulb the moment before he got excited about something, and Y/N had already learned to clock it like a warning siren.

“So, technically,” he was saying, hands jammed in his jacket pockets as they strolled past a massive display on deep-sea robotics, “the algorithms used for this submersible’s sensor mapping were adapted from AI software developed for self-driving cars.”

“Technically,” she echoed, teasing, “you should probably just work here.”

He looked sideways at her with a crooked grin. “I applied when I was sixteen. They didn’t take me.”

“They’re clearly still recovering from that mistake.”

He tried to play it off cool, but she caught the slight flush of his ears.

She liked him more than she expected to. Not in the way you decide to like someone—more like how you step outside one day and realize the air smells like rain and suddenly, you’re soft and open and all the windows are down. He was like that: unexpected and quiet and warm around the edges.

They made their way through the rest of the exhibits in no particular order, weaving between dwindling crowds of families and groups of students on field trips, neither of them in a hurry. He let her take her time at the forensic anthropology section, where she ran her fingers along the raised edges of a reconstructed skull, and she let him lose himself in the physics wing, where he explained, with ridiculous enthusiasm, why the double pendulum was so cool. It was there that the nickname Professor Albon was born.

At some point, he took her hand. It wasn’t a big deal. He just did it naturally, without hesitation, like it had already been a habit, and for a moment, that simple touch made her feel warm all over.

They ended the night sitting cross-legged on the floor of the museum café, long after it closed, surrounded by vending machine snacks and a half-solved crossword puzzle she’d found in her bag. The overhead lights buzzed faintly, casting a dim glow over the abandoned chairs and tables, but neither of them seemed eager to move. They laughed about everything and nothing, the kind of laughing that came from being tired but happy, the kind that made her lean into his shoulder without thinking.

"Okay," Alex said, tapping the eraser end of his pencil against the page. "Eight-letter word for ‘illuminates or clarifies’?"

As she took a moment to think it over, Alex watched in his periphery as she counted off the letters of her word on her fingers. "’Explains’ fits," she mused, popping a purple skittle into her mouth.

"Hmm." He scribbled it in. "Not bad. Maybe I should keep you around."

"Yeah, yeah," she nudged his knee with hers, grinning. "You just like me for my crossword skills."

"Wrong. I like you for your crossword skills and your terrible puns."

“My puns are great, thank you very much.” She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.

He liked her brain. She liked how funny he was. They made a good pair—two academically overworked people who laughed at obscure engineering memes and played footsie under café tables without meaning to. When they said goodbye that night, he kissed her like he was trying not to smile through it. Like maybe this could really be something.

It felt easy.

And in the days that followed, it stayed easy. He texted her every night.

alex: Made the Mars rover jealous. Can’t stop thinking about you.

Y/N: did you just say that unironically. because I might have to stop seeing you on principle.

alex: Too late, I’ve already added you to my will. You get the Lego Technic collection.

Y/N: wait nvm i’m back in

They made time. Even when they both shouldn’t have.

He’d bring her coffee before her class–something with cinnamon and oat milk in it. He’d scrawl dumb physics jokes on the lid just to make her roll her eyes. She started keeping his schedule in her head without meaning to. She knew which nights he had his advanced systems class and which ones he spent buried in the lab. He’d text her when his simulations crashed at 3AM. She’d send him memes about courtroom drama tropes in return.

He had an engineer’s sense of humor—dry, sneaky, often deeply specific. It took a while to catch on, but once she did, it felt like discovering hidden easter eggs in his sentences.

“You know,” he’d murmur as they lay back in the grass near campus, watching clouds roll over like they weren’t chilly out here in the autumn breeze, “you statistically reduce your lifespan by two minutes every time you eat instant ramen.”

“Cool. So I’ll be dying a noble, sodium-rich death then.”

He turned his head toward her, smiling with closed eyes. “Hmm, a martyr.”

“A hero.”

“Buried with your books and MSG packets.”

She shoved his shoulder. He let her.

On Thursdays, she’d sit outside his lab, cross-legged on the cold tile floor with flashcards in her lap, quizzing him on his presentation slides about failure analysis and impact resistance.

“Okay, explain to me like I’m five—what is a stress-strain curve and why should I care?”

“Because,” he’d say, crouching in front of her with a smirk, “it tells you how close something is to breaking.”

“And that’s relevant to your research…?”

He gave her a confused look, until it turned sheepish as he scratched the back of his neck. “I’m… not entirely sure about that bit, actually.”

She started looking forward to the moments in between—the walks across campus, the shared bag of chips while sitting on the hood of her car, the ridiculous voice memos he sent when he was overtired and delirious.

They kissed in stairwells and library corners and once,perhaps ill-advisedly, on a park bench in the middle of a thunderstorm. The rain had soaked through their clothes, cold and unrelenting, but he had just looked at her and said, "I think we should be stupid about this," right before he leaned in. It was impulsive and dramatic and made her laugh until she had to cover her mouth, their faces inches apart. Her hair was soaked, his glasses fogged up, and they almost dropped his backpack in a puddle, but the moment stuck—sharp and golden and untouchable.

They talked about future dates like there’d be dozens of them—bookstores they wanted to browse together, a tiny Thai place he swore by, a stargazing night he promised would be “scientifically optimized for romance” depending on the cloud cover. She rolled her eyes at that one, but her heart still fluttered.

They were still in the sweet spot—the space between maybe and more, where everything felt bright and possible. 

It wasn’t perfect – but it was promising.

The third date was dinner—some hole-in-the-wall Thai place with flickering neon signage and laminated menus stained with old curry thumbprints. He’d gotten lost on the way and sent a flurry of frantic texts.

alex :) : I passed the restaurant. Twice. There’s a cat staring at me through a laundromat window. I think it’s judging me.

Y/N: be strong. you can beat the cat.

alex :) : Negative, Sargeant. It’s very confident.

He’d arrived breathless, slightly damp from a drizzle, and holding a single packet of Skittles “for your efforts,” he’d said solemnly. She called him an idiot. He looked delighted.

That night, they talked about things that didn’t matter—TV shows neither of them had finished, foods they pretended to like for the aesthetic, the sheer horror of Alex’s undergraduate group project from hell (“We had a guy who thought duct tape was a structural solution”). 

And then, slowly, they talked about the things that did matter.

Like how she used to want to be a journalist when she was little, because she thought it meant you got to ask as many questions as you wanted and never had to apologize.

Or how he still wasn’t sure what kind of engineer he wanted to be—just that he wanted to make things that didn’t break when people needed them most.

“You know,” he said, nudging his glass in slow circles across the table, “you’re not what I expected.”

Y/N looked up. “Is that a good thing or, like, a 'you’re secretly a serial killer' kind of a thing?”

He smiled. “It’s a good thing. Really, really good.”

By the fourth week, they had a rhythm. It wasn’t just dates anymore—it was Hey, want to walk home together? and I saved you the last chocolate chip muffin, but only because I like you more than I like muffins. But barely.

It was him reaching for her hand without thinking, her resting her head against his shoulder on the bus when she was too tired to hold it up.

It was a shared Spotify playlist for when studying is ur 13th reason.

It was early Saturday morning sun filtering into her apartment while they quietly read their own books, his socked foot nudging hers on the side of the couch almost every ten minutes.

It was good.

But between the sleepy smiles and the shared muffins and the texts that kept getting longer instead of shorter, the truth was that they both had dreams. Big ones. All-consuming ones.

And no matter how much you wanted something—or someone—there were only so many hours in the day.

a/n: one of my more favorite chapters! an unfortunate lack of lando though :/ what did you think of it?

[glowettee]

hi there! im a fan of your page 💕

can you give me the best studying techniques?

hi angel!! @mythicalmarion tysm for asking about study techniques 🤍 i'm so excited to share my secret methods that helped me maintain perfect grades while still having a dreamy lifestyle + time for self-care!! and thank you for being a fan of my blog, it means everything to me. <3

~ ♡ my non-basic study secrets that actually work ♡ ~

(don't mind the number formatting)

the neural bridging technique this is literally my favorite discovery!! instead of traditional note-taking, i create what i call "neural bridges" between different subjects. for example, when studying both literature + history, i connect historical events with the literature written during that time. i use a special notebook divided into sections where each page has two columns - one for each subject. the connections help you understand both subjects deeper + create stronger memory patterns!!

here's how i do it:

example:

left column: historical event

right column: literary connection

middle: draw connecting lines + add small insights

bottom: write how they influenced each other

the shadow expert method this changed everything for me!! i pretend i'm going to be interviewed as an expert on the topic i'm studying. i create potential interview questions + prepare detailed answers. but here's the twist - i record myself answering these questions in three different ways:

basic explanation (like i'm talking to a friend)

detailed analysis (like i'm teaching a class)

complex discussion (like i'm at a conference)

this forces you to understand the topic from multiple angles + helps you explain concepts in different ways!!

the reverse engineering study system instead of starting with the basics, i begin with the most complex example i can find and work backwards to understand the fundamentals. for example, in calculus, i start with a complicated equation + break it down into smaller parts until i reach the basic concepts.

my process looks like:

find the hardest example in the textbook

list every concept needed to understand it

create a concept map working backwards

study each component separately

rebuild the complex example step by step

the sensory anchoring technique this is seriously game-changing!! i associate different types of information with specific sensory experiences:

theoretical concepts - study while standing

factual information - sitting at my desk

problem-solving - walking slowly

memorization - gentle swaying

review - lying down

your body literally creates muscle memory associated with different types of learning!!

the metacognition mapping strategy i created this method where i track my understanding using what i call "clarity scores":

level 1: can recognize it

level 2: can explain it simply

level 3: can teach it

level 4: can apply it to new situations

level 5: can connect it to other topics

i keep a spreadsheet tracking my clarity levels for each topic + focus my study time on moving everything to level 5!!

the information architecture method instead of linear notes, i create what i call "knowledge buildings":

foundation: basic principles

first floor: key concepts

second floor: applications

top floor: advanced ideas

roof: real-world connections

each "floor" must be solid before moving up + i review from top to bottom weekly!!

the cognitive stamina training this is my absolute secret weapon!! i use a special interval system based on brain wave patterns:

32 minutes of focused study

8 minutes of active recall

16 minutes of teaching the material to my plushies

4 minutes of complete rest

the specific timing helps maintain peak mental performance + prevents study fatigue!!

the synthesis spiral evolution this method literally transformed how i retain information:

create main concept spirals

add branch spirals for subtopics

connect related concepts with colored lines

review by tracing the spiral paths

add new connections each study session

your notes evolve into a beautiful web of knowledge that grows with your understanding!!

these methods might seem different from typical study advice, but they're based on how our brains actually process + store information!! i developed these through lots of research + personal experimentation, and they've helped me maintain perfect grades while still having time for self-care, hobbies + fun!!

sending you the biggest hug + all my good study vibes!! remember that effective studying is about working with your brain, not against it <3

p.s. if you try any of these methods, please let me know how they work for you!! i love hearing about your study journeys!!

xoxo, mindy 🤍

glowettee hotline is still open, drop your dilemmas before the next advice post 💌: https://bit.ly/glowetteehotline

[cepheustarot]

What awaits you in August?

Attention! This reading is for entertainment purposes only. This tarot reading does not give a 100% guarantee that all the described situations will occur or being ultimate truth. You build your own life and destiny and only you know yourself best.

✧ Masterlist ✧ Paid readings

Pick a pile. Choose one or more pictures. Trust your intuition.

Pile 1: At the beginning of the month, you may encounter a lot of misunderstanding from a loved one, it may be both your bestie and your partner. You will be very upset by this behavior on the part of a person, since you expected them to understand and support you, besides, you usually support and help each other, do not condemn, but try to understand each other. You may also feel resentment or anger at this person, you will want to respond in kind, add fuel to the fire. In this case, you will only quarrel more and move away, so it is important to remember that you should not be against each other. If the misunderstanding is related to some kind of problematic situation or with everyday life, then it is necessary to solve this issue together, and not be against each other. Also, as the cards show, you will be able to make peace and forget your grievances, so in any case there will be peace between you again.

The middle of the month will be as peaceful for you as possible. You will rest a lot, gain strength, you will not be burdened by any problems or unresolved issues. You can also see your family, relatives or friends often, these meetings will be filled with positive emotions and will charge you emotionally, leave good memories. If you were planning to go somewhere, that your trip will also take place and you will get a good impression of it.

At the end of the month, there is a high probability that you will receive an offer for a new project or for a new position/job. Of course, you will be pleased with this, but because of this offer you will feel uncertain, you will weigh everything and decide whether you need to change jobs, whether to take on this project or not, since there are nuances that will not suit you or you like the job you are currently in. You will think about this for a very long time and carefully, but the more you think, the more you will be in uncertainty, so here the cards recommend doing as your heart tells you. In most cases, this event concerns the field of work and finance, but it can also happen in other areas, keep this in mind.

Pile 2: Probably your work or your activity is closely related to interacting with people, perhaps you will also communicate a lot lately, get to know or see someone and in the end it will exhaust you emotionally, you will feel very tired of communicating with people. It's like you've wasted your energy or there were some kind of energy vampires among people, hence the consequences. This month, the cards recommend to be alone with yourself, replenish your strength and take care of yourself, do not limit yourself and pamper yourself, and also do not worry about other people, I am sure they will understand you and will not condemn you.

As soon as you rest and gain strength, you will immediately have a sudden desire to occupy yourself with something, realize your plans or try yourself in something new. In general, there will be a sudden impulse to do something. And here nothing will stop or strain you, you will succeed, your actions will be accompanied by success, so go ahead. This month you will also have a glow up, you will not only change externally, but also internally. In addition, you will have a very good mood, strong self-confidence, you will literally shine and attract other people with your aura, they will admire you.

Because you have changed, you may face an internal crisis. Your views and principles have changed a lot and the previous goals are no longer relevant for you, they no longer respond to you, and therefore, at the end of the month, the topic of finding yourself, finding a further goal will be relevant for you. To begin with, you will have many options for what you would like to do, but gradually you will come to something that will really be important and relevant to you, so do not worry about this crisis, you will definitely cope with everything, because you are very strong and brave.

Pile 3: At the beginning of the month, you will deal with the piled-up cases, it can be both in terms of work / study, and outside of these areas. If it's about studying or working, then you will probably try to end everything so that you can safely go on vacation or on holiday without leaving unfinished business behind. There is also a possibility that you will go or fly somewhere to rest, so you will work hard and deal with issues so that nothing distracts you on vacation and you will not worry about the thought that you forgot to do something.

In the middle of the month, there is a high probability that you will have to spend a lot of money on gifts to your loved ones, perhaps there will be many holidays during this period, or maybe you want to please your friends and family. As I wrote earlier, there is a possibility that you will go on vacation or on a trip out of town with a company, it can be both your friends and your family. In this case, your financial expenses will be spent on preparing for this trip. And in general, this period will be filled with anticipation of the upcoming trip.

The end of August will be extremely good for you, you will spend a lot of time for your own pleasure, you will be in a good mood, you will realize all your plans and desires that you conceived, in general it will be a good end to the summer for you. For those who are in a relationship, the end of summer will also be filled with romantic vibes, as you will spend a lot of time with your partner, see each other often and go on dates. And for those who are looking for a relationship, it is highly likely that you will meet your love, with whom you will also spend a lot of time together, get to know each other better, and there is a chance that both of you will feel sympathy for each other.

Thank you for reading! I will be glad of any feedback 💕

[ofekma]

Ralsei and Susie: the burden of fate (part 3)

Ralsei and Susie's friendship development focuses on an interesting thing in chapter 4: fate.

Or more specifically, the prophecy.

As everyone else pointed out before, Ralsei's been acting kinda sus this entire game.

And as it turns out, Susie noticed it too.

She let him be the first few times he kept crucial information from her until the last second, but when she realized he knew that she couldn't see the old man if she opens a new dark fountain or even take him to castle town, she reached her limit..

And just like that, Susie voiced the thoughts of the entire fandom.

It makes sense that this is her breaking point, because she just found out that her mentor and friend was dead and (as far as she knows) she will never see him again. She didn't even get to tell him proper goodbye.

People have been speculating about Ralsei's tendency to hide things for years.

Is he evil? Is he working with Gaster? Could it be that he thinks that everyone knows what he does so he doesn't feel the need to say it? And why doesn't he get petrified like other dark worlds like other darkners?

While we didn't get an answer to some of these questions, we learned something very important about him.

Ralsei isn't some mastermind trying to hide things from the player or his friends for the sake of some grand plan, he's just a kid trying his best to protect his friends from the burden he has to carry.

Ralsei knew everything (kinda) that was going to happen before we even met him. And he seemed to be at peace with it.

He kept talking about fate, destiny and purpose.

It was Kris and Susie's fate to save the worlds, and it was his purpose to serve them.

But Susie, from the very beginning went "nah, that's bullshit."

Ralsei thought that he knew everything that was going to happen, but from their very first interaction, Susie proved him wrong.

Except that back then, it didn't come from strength, but of a lack of self worth.

After a lifetime of being told that she can never be anything more than a trouble maker, Susie immediately rejected Ralsei's words that she can be a hero.

And throughout chapter one, she kept rejecting this role, almost like the classic "refusal of the call" in the hero's journey.

Susie heard that Ralsei expected her to be a hero, and decided to nip it in the bud. Because all she saw was another authority figure that would end up dissapointed in her once she fails to be whatever they wanted her to be.

That's exactly why she refused to solve puzzles before and why she doesn't bother at school.

Susie thought that she isn't smart.

But she IS.

She thought that she wasn't heroic.

But she is.

She just didn't believe that she was so she refused to even try...until she found someone she cared about enough to try for.

By admiring Susie for all the traits others rejected her for, Lancer made Susie want to become a person worthy of this admiration.

And after Susie saw what she was capable of doing, and how rewarding it is, she accepted her role in the prophecy.

But ionically, the more Susie started to accept the prophecy, the less Ralsei wanted it to come true.

And the difference in his attitude is due to what in my opinion is in the last line of the prophecy. (Not my own theory, just the best one I saw about it).

Ralsei believed that he wasn't a person, therefore, his initial peace with his final fate makes sense.

But thanks to Kris and especially Susie, he started to believe that he mattered.

Susie learned that she's more than she thought she was, and applied the same principle to Ralsei.

And this made him less and less willing to accept his end.

Both for his sake as he found out that he liked living, and for Susie's, who clearly sees him as an equal and as a friend and wouldn't be able to handle his death, especially by her hand.

But he didn't believe that anything they'd do would make a difference, especially at the church world where the prophecy remained unchanged no matter what route the player took.

And saying it, acknowledging it, gives it weight. Makes it more real, makes it harder to deny.

And makes the burden Ralsei sees as his alone fall on the shoulders of the ones he cares about, too.

So even though he promised to be more honest, his resolve to keep the ending of the prophecy to himself was stronger than ever.

But of course, we all know how that went.

Ralsei was so scared of this moment, of the pain it'd inflict on her, of the despair and hopelessness that would replace the shining hope he saw in his friend.

But just like so many times before, Susie kept surprising him.

Just like in the beginning of chapter one, Susie rejected the prophecy, but this time it wasn't because she thought that she wasn't good enough, but because she believed in herself and her own strength.

Susie's resolve, her determination and her hope....it even got someone as fatalistic as Ralsei to believe that things can be different.

But the saddest part is, that despite the nonchalant attitude she displayed around Ralsei, Susie isn't very sure in her words.

But at the moment Ralsei ran to her, all apologetic and scared and worried, Susie knew what he needed to hear.

So she took a page out of his own book.

And now they switched part, with Ralsei being hopeful, and Susie resolving to take upon herself the burden of fate.

[gazavetters]

"Here I am trying to fix my pants, and the jacket gose off!" These were the words of the late Samir Ghanem in the play "The Married Couples".

As a start : What happened, happened!

In our view, this is exactly what happened to us. We tried to put vetting in order when we created GazaVetters for important reasons, primarily to preserve the dignity and worth of the people of Gaza. How so? The success of GazaVetters is the answer. When we first started, we realized there was a marginalized group trying to vette their campaigns but struggling with the slowing pace of vetting. One reason was the work pressure and the overwhelming number of vetting requests, which exceeded the ability of one or two people to handle, leading some to resort to pleading with coordinators to vette their campaigns. This situation drove us to create a solution that preserves the dignity of our people. We, as members of this community, share the same need for recognition, vetting, and promotion. We wouldn’t accept humiliation for ourselves, nor would we accept it for others.

Instead of staying stuck in the initial stages of promotion, we sought to solve the problem and provided a dignified vetting experience. We were proactive, working with professionalism and high respect. (You can ask anyone about their experience with GazaVetters by contacting Abu Ahmed through calls or scheduling vetting interviews). Through this step, we eased the burden on the coordinators and, most importantly, preserved the dignity and self-respect of new campaign creators by supporting all those who wished to vette their campaigns.

[In this regard, and after an exhausting journey, we deeply appreciate the efforts of the original vetting teams, and we wish to thank them for standing with us through this crisis. We extend our gratitude and appreciation to them.]

And then this Happened

However, we encountered a new problem. Some platforms started using our list of campaigns unfairly, which contradicts the principles upon which our platform was founded.

We’ve all witnessed the story of the aid truck that ends up with a select few while other, equally deserving people receive nothing. All the campaigns we vetted are 100% legitimate, but seeing certain campaigns, even if legitimate, receiving large-scale attention while others that are equally in need are marginalized, this is simply not fair. This imbalance contributed to the exclusion and despair of campaigns that most need help.

Regarding Campaign vetting

To our friends and followers, rest assured that we will return very soon after evaluating the current situation.

In Conclusion

We will come back stronger, with a new mission.

The most important point right now is that we need your minds to think with us about solutions to organize this matter. We would be very interested in your ideas and suggestions, and if there are any points you would like to discuss with us, we would warmly welcome them.

Now, our brother ,"Abu Ahmed" initially kept his identity private by his own choice. However, in the spirit of constructive criticism, the challenge that arose was the lack of clarity about who was behind the blog, the "unknown soldier." Therefore, today, out of respect for everyone, we will present the blog of the person who fully vetted and archived this list (Abu Ahmed) @hs2024.

===============================

"جيت ألمّ البنطلون، الجاكيتة ضربت!" كانت هذه كلمات الراحل سمير غانم في مسرحية "المتزوجون".

في البداية: ما حدث قد حدث!

في اعتقادنا، هذا ما حدث معنا بالضبط؛ فلقد حاولنا ضبط أمور التوثيق عندما أنشأنا GazaVetters لأسباب مهمة، أهمها الحفاظ على كرامة وقيمة الإنسان الغزي. كيف ذلك؟ نجاح GazaVetters هو الإجابة. عندما بدأنا، أدركنا أن هناك فئة مهمشة تحاول توثيق حملاتها ولكن تعاني من توقف وتيرة التوثيق. وأحد الأسباب هو ضغط العمل وكثرة طلبات التوثيق التي تتجاوز قدرة شخص أو اثنين أو ثلاثة على إدارتها، مما أدى بالبعض إلى الاستنجاد والتوسل للوصول إلى المشرفين لتوثيق حملاتهم. هذا الوضع دفعنا لإيجاد حل يحفظ كرامة أبناء شعبنا؛ فنحن منهم ولديهم نفس الحقوق بالتوثيق والنشر. لم نقبل الإهانة على أنفسنا، ولم نقبلها عليهم.

فبدل البقاء في مستنقع الترويج التقليدي، ساهمنا في حل المشكلة وقدّمنا تجربة توثيق باحترام. كنا إيجابيين وعملنا بمهنية واحترام عالٍ. (يمكنكم سؤال أي شخص عن تجربة التوثيق مع GazaVetters عبر أبو أحمد، من خلال الاتصال أو جدولة مواعيد المقابلات للتوثيق). بهذه الخطوة، أرحنا المشرفين وخففنا عنهم من أعباء التوثيق، والأهم من ذلك، حافظنا على كرامة وعفّة أصحاب الحملات الجديدة، محاولين خدمة كل من أراد توثيق حملته.

[وفي هذا الإطار، وبعد التجربة المرهقة، نحن أكثر من يقدّر مجهود الفرسان الأوائل من الموثقين، ونودّ أن نشكرهم باسمنا جميعاً لوقوفهم معنا في هذه الأزمة. لهم كل الشكر والتقدير منّا جميعاً.]

ولكن تفاجأنا بمعضلة جديدة، حيث قامت بعض المدونات باستخدام قوائمنا بشكل "غير عادل"، وهو ما يتنافى مع القواعد التي تأسست عليها مدونتنا.

جميعنا في قطاع غزة شهدنا قصة شاحنة المساعدات التي تصل إلى عدد محدود، بينما يُحرم آخرون محتاجون منها. كذلك، على الرغم من شرعية جميع الحملات التي وثقناها بنسبة مئة بالمئة، إلا أن بعض الحملات حصلت على زخم ودعم كبيرين، في حين تُهمل حملات أخرى نعلم مدى حاجتها. هذا الوضع ليس عادلاً، بل إنه ساهم في إقصاء بعض الحملات التي بأشدّ الحاجة إلى الدعم، وترك أصحابها في حالة من اليأس.

بالنسبة لتوثيق الحملات

نطمئن أصدقاءنا بأننا سنعود قريباً بعد مراجعة الأوضاع الراهنة.

أصدقائنا الأعزاء النقطة الأهم حاليا اننا بحاجة لعقولكم تفكر معنا بحلول لتنظيم هذا الأمر.

سنكون مهتمين كتير بافكاركم و مقترحاتكم تحبون ان تتحدثوا فيها معنا و سنرحب بها كثيرا.

الان الاخ ابو احمد، كان سبب حماية هويته الشخصيه هو رغبته بذلك، لكن في إطار النقد البناء كانت النقطة الصعبة فيما حدث عدم معرفة من يقف وراء المدونة - الجندي المجهول - لذلك اليوم احتراما للجميع سوف نعرض المدونة الخاصة بهذا الشخص الذي قام توثيق وارشفة هذه القائمة باكملها (ابو احمد) @hs2024

[goblinontour]

Swallow You, No Remorse

mirror, mirror, flesh upon my face, woah

warnings: shopping, dissociation, light spanking, fucking, blowie, peaches & cream (separately), and, as always, love

word count: 7.3k

The paper is crinkling in his back pocket. He can feel it. He can’t hear it over the music that fills the store and his ears — some overly formalised rhetorical score, too grand for a place like this — but he can feel it. It’s there, pressed against the denim, an irritant, an accusation. He could just pull it out and look at it, end this ridiculous wandering in circles or zigzags or whatever absentminded, aimless pattern he’s been making.  

A half-hour? A full hour? Time passes differently in places like these. Unnatural, windowless, fluorescent-lit limbos where the mind empties out and the body moves on its own, like a wind-up toy slowly running out of momentum.  

Isn’t that why he made the list in the first place? A proper list, dashes neatly marking each item, a safeguard against his own inevitable forgetfulness. And yet here he is, already lost, already drifting, already failing at the one simple thing he set out to do.  

The sane thing — the reasonable, adult, functional thing — would be to just reach into his back pocket, fish it out, and confirm what else was on there beyond the carton of eggs he’s already thrown into the cart. Are they even on the list? He doesn’t know. He reckons eggs are a necessary enough thing to have, so he grabbed them. That’s how people do this, right? They go to a store and they buy eggs. They don’t turn it into some existential ordeal.

He knows there’s more written on that crumpled scrap of paper. He distinctly remembers making more than one little line. But isn’t it so…pathetic? To walk around with it in his hands, scrutinising his own handwriting like a child trying to decipher a secret code, broadcasting to the world that he isn’t capable of remembering basic things?  

He exhales sharply, barely more than a puff of breath, and grips the shopping cart’s handle. It’s already been annoying him for the past however many minutes, but he’s been ignoring it, thinking maybe the problem would solve itself if he just stopped paying attention. But it hasn’t, and now, now that he’s noticing it again, it’s all he can focus on. The damn thing keeps swaying to the right, veering off-course if he doesn’t keep constant pressure on the left side. He’s been correcting it instinctively, nudging it back in line with his hip, but the repetitive movement is getting to him now. If he doesn’t finish up soon, he’s going to walk out of here with crooked legs and a bent spine.  

He straightens up, suddenly hyper-aware of how he’s been hunching forward, shoulders curled in, neck craning down. He rolls his shoulders back, stretches his spine, quietly sighs like this is some great epiphany, though it’s really just common sense. His t-shirt — too tight, a size too small, probably shrank in the wash — digs into his skin at the adjustment, fabric straining against his shoulder blades and seams rubbing in the crooks of his armpits. Tight t-shirts are great for that. They start to hurt if you don’t adjust to them.  

Christ, he’s probably overthinking this.

People are work. A lot of work. Too much work. And that’s, like…ultra, mega okay. Usually. It’s just pure psychic automatism and he should-

Oh, right. Tanning lotion.

He should probably get into forgery since his only real skill is mimicking people. He doesn’t even know who it is he’s trying to become by making himself potentially orange, depending on how this turns out, but here he is, in Los Angeles, and as much as he enjoys the sun, he can never seem to spend enough time in it to actually tan. The burns always get to him first. So: tanning lotion.

God, Alex.  

Alright. He knows that we, humans, with our mighty little brains, like to dwell on our own condition — maybe it’s narcissistic in principle, maybe it’s just an unavoidable side effect of consciousness and self-consciousness — but he still doesn’t know why he can’t just pull out the list.  

Maybe, apart from all the above, there’s another recurring thought in his busily thinking brain. An obsession with its own incontrovertible and eventual void.  

The oxymoronic appeal of…death.  

Death as a dreamless sleep.  

He’s never had a night of dreamless sleep. If it isn’t a dream, it’s a fantasy occurring and occupying that space.  

He holds such a deep sense of longing for his bed.  

All the time. Yesterday. Twenty-nine years ago. Right now.  

His gaze snags on a display of discounted candles as he passes. The real scents are all gone. All that’s left are the ones that are meant to smell like an idea rather than an actual thing. Soft Cashmere & Oakwood, Midnight Rain, Golden Hour Mist. He wonders if he should get one, just for the hell of it, just to see what the hell “Golden Hour Mist” is supposed to smell like. The idea of golden hour doesn’t seem like it should have a scent. And mist? Mist just smells like air, right? Probably overpriced, anyway.  

The cart sways again. He corrects.  

You simply have to adjust. That’s what everyone says. That’s what life is made out to be: adjustments. Adjusting yourself to it. When the avalanche of stimuli starts coming your way — some good, some bad, some ugly — it’s difficult for most people to handle. He’s one of those ‘mosts.’ He thinks so, anyway. Most people don’t have the thick skin required to make it through all the lies, all the assumptions, and most of all the truths being said about them.  

It’s like Brecht says in his play: “In its natural state, human skin is too thin for this world, so men take care to see it grows thicker.” 

Until, finally, they’re bumping into things and not feeling them anymore. He’s not quite there yet.  

But then comes the second part, the part that messes with his plans and hopes of one day becoming unbreakable: “There would be nothing wrong with the method, if only you could stop it from growing. Take a piece of tanned leather: it stays the way it is. But the living skin grows, it grows thicker and thicker.”  

Does his skin gain a new layer if he tans it? Is that what he’s trying to do? Does he get a thicker layer of protection that way? Or does he become less himself and more skin?  

A woman brushes past him too fast, her perfume hanging in the air in her wake, and he wonders what it would be like to live in the kind of brain that doesn’t trap itself in loops like this. To just…buy eggs. Push a cart that works properly. Pick up a candle and preferably not think about the philosophy of its name.  

He reaches into his back pocket. Feels the paper wrinkle under his fingers.  

Almost pulls it out. Almost.

Which aisle is this?

Alex doesn’t know. He doesn’t care. His brain isn’t logging that information, isn’t marking this moment as a mundane one. It’s failing him. Much like his ability to remember a list (a list he has already abandoned, crumpling like an afterthought). And much like his ability to keep his hands to himself when you’re this close.  

The scent hit him first. That was the problem.  

That scent that has lived in the fibers of his pillows, in the hollow of his throat where your mouth always finds purchase, in the folds of his sheets where your weight has pressed into them long enough to leave an imprint, a ghost of you that lingers even after you’re gone, and in the space between wakefulness and sleep where his subconscious is still occupied with the freshest memory of you. 

He should have known it immediately. Should have inhaled and thought, Ah! There you are!, but the cruel delay, the stupid hesitation of his own mind taking a second too long to recognise you. That brief lapse, that fraction of a second where he didn’t immediately register you — it infuriates him. It makes him feel like a fraud in his own body.  

That scent should be coded into his DNA by now.  

The phone was an impulse. A stupid one, but when he feels like this — like he’s been caught in the space between hunger and hallucination, his own body a trap he doesn’t know how to escape — he acts before he thinks. He moves before his brain catches up. His fingers wrap around the mobile in his pocket, slip past the crinkled sticky note he’s still too stubborn to pull out and use, and he’s already pressing your name, already lifting it to his ear when he watches it happen — your body stills, just slightly, as you feel the buzz of your phone in your pocket.  

You answer.  

“Hi.” he says.  

“Hi.”

“It’s me…Alex.” A pause. He watches your back, the set of your shoulders shifting under your shirt, watches the muscles in your neck tighten for just a second before you relax again. “I’m right behind you right now. And now,” he continues, watching the slight turn of your head, the way you let him see only the elegant slope of your left side greeting him in place of your full face — “now you see me.”

“Now I don’t.”

It’s a game. Always is.

Did you see him when you walked past? Maybe. Maybe not. It doesn’t matter. You won’t tell him, because you know him. He’d rather believe this is some happenstance of faith, some cosmic alignment, proof that you are tethered together in a way neither of you fully understand but both of you are too weak to resist, by being placed in the same aisle, at the same time, under the same flickering fluorescent light that is wholly unfit to illuminate you.  

“You look good. I like those jeans.”

It’s not just a compliment. He needs you to know that. It’s an admission of guilt. Because he’s following your lead without thinking, without hesitation, without needing to see your full face to know you heard the shift in his tone. You felt it. And without eyes in the back of your head, you know he’s checking you out. 

Shamelessly.  

“Keep following me.”

Your voice curls through the receiver. He doesn’t need to be told twice. He obeys.  

“Don’t turn around.”

“You hungry, Alex? You starving?”

The whisper is quiet. So quiet that only he hears it. So quiet that it should be a secret, but it isn’t, not really, because he already knows. He knows what you’re doing, what you’re saying, what you’re thinking, because it’s the same thing he’s thinking.  

And God, those peaches — his eyes catch on them absently, these soft, golden things in jars, bathed in syrup, and it makes him think of you. He sees them, and then he sees you, the way you hovered near his bathroom counter that one time, plucked the bottle of his new peach-scented body wash, uncapped it, brought it to your nose, inhaled deep, and sighed. 

He remembers the hum you let out, the way you said, “This makes me wanna eat you.” And he remembers how it made him ache, how it sent some violent shiver of want down his spine.  

He’d wanted to crumble into the tile floor on the spot.  

You tried to take a bite out of him once. A real, actual bite. Not a playful nibble. Not a fleeting graze of teeth. A bite.  

Below his arm, the softest part of him, your mouth on the fleshy underside of his triceps — if you can even call it that, because it wasn’t the muscle you wanted. It was the fat, the place where the fibers fade into something pliable, something tender, the kind of flesh that invites teeth, that begs to be consumed, the plush layer beneath the skin, the part of him that could bruise beneath the pressure of your teeth. You wanted to sink in. Wanted to hurt him, to mark him, to make him less of a man and more of a meal. To swallow him whole, turn him into something that belonged inside you. But the moment your lips touched the spot, he stirred.  

Unsuccessful. So far.  

“Evidently.” he says, because he’s past the point of lying. There’s no use pretending.  

“Evidently…”  

“Let’s go back to my place.”

You laugh — sharp, quiet, indulgent. You don’t have to turn around for him to see the way your mouth curves around the sound. You call him out instantly.

“When you say things like that, do you realise what you say? It’s like saying ‘That’s so gay’ at something. You need more subtlety, darling.”

“Knock it off, alright?” He giggles, but his fingers twitch at his sides. He’s already unravelling.  

Because in his dream, or fantasy, or whatever the fuck his brain does when it takes reality through a rewiring and distorts it into something softer, he’s on the living room floor, lying on his back, and you’re petting the cat inside him. Kneading his stomach with your own paws, walking back and forth, pressing into him like you mean to stay, like you mean to burrow inside him, curl into him, make a home there, settle somewhere deep where even he can’t get you out, stretching and leaving behind little ghosts of warmth everywhere you touched.  

In reality, he lets go of the shopping cart.  

Lets it drift, lets it rattle against the linoleum as he moves toward you. No pretenses. No more games. No invisible inside-his-brain things meant to protect him.  

And that’s the moment it catches up to him — how much of a fucking hassle this stupid thing has been, this wonky, defected cart that has spent the last twenty minutes dragging him to the right, making him counter it with his whole body weight, making him lean so hard in the opposite direction that he felt it in his spine, digging into his ribs.  

But he doesn’t have time to fix it now. He’s already moving. Without fanfare, without hesitation, without any real sense of whether he should or shouldn’t-

The hunt is over. He catches you.  

You don’t even flinch. Because you knew. You always know.  

And he’s weak. So fucking weak.  

His hands are on you before his brain can tell them not to be. He’s touching you in broad daylight, in public, in the middle of this goddamn aisle, and there’s no stopping it. No rewinding this back into subtlety. No pretending his body isn’t betraying him, that the very blood in his veins isn’t singing mine mine mine mine mine.  

His invincible streak is done for.  

He’s lost.  

He’s ruined.  

Have I led a toothless life? he thinks. He feels like he has never bitten into anything. He feels like he’s still waiting. He was reserving himself for later on and he has just noticed that his teeth could be gone.

And all he can see is your nape.  

Taut. Bare. Untouched by the sun, lacking its kiss, but not untouched by him, and it’s now visible from your hair being out of the way, the soft back of your neck, which every now and then he set his teeth in, forgetting he could have none, such is the power of instinct.

Still, it’s a lifeless thing without the bloom of his lips pressed against it, without the red marks his teeth have left before, and that is unacceptable. He should be kissing you there. He should be biting down now, now, now, now, because what else is instinct but an uncontrollable thing? He wants to bite it now.

He wants.  

He takes.  

And when you finally — finally — turn in his arms, when your breath ghosts against his jaw, when your fingers curl into his shirt and hold, “Which aisle is this?” he asks, dazed.  

And you whisper against his mouth, “Doesn’t matter.”

His dick has its own heartbeat.  

It is…growling.  

And you haven’t even touched him yet.

He turns his nose at couples in public because something picks at his heart every time. A tight pull, a slow gnawing, a sensation he can never name but always, always feels. How can you be so in love where everyone can watch? Aren’t you afraid? Shouldn’t you be afraid? It has always seemed like something meant to be hidden. A private ache, a secret indulgence, a thing that blooms best in dim-lit corners and half-shielded glances. Not something to be flaunted under the cold, all-seeing eye of the world.  

He didn’t know love was something you could show.  

And yet, here he is. Here you are.  

He is kissing you.  

He thinks about this often, how his lips are always one heartbeat away from betraying him. How they tremble with need whenever you are too close for too long. How they seem to make decisions before his mind can catch up. He had spent years convinced he would rather be bitter in his ways than accept that he could have this and it could be this simple. In all its raw and relentless weight, it was something he was allowed to hold.  

It has always been easier to watch it happen to other people, to keep it at a safe distance, to see it in fiction, in film, in strangers on the street. Something to be observed but never touched. To nod along and say, Yes, of course, I know love exists, without ever having to know what it feels like.   

But then — your taste is still on his tongue.  

It tells him everything.  

And how could he ever not want to hold his hand on your waist?

“Mhmm…” He licks at his lips when he pulls back, sees his sparks reflecting in your eyes, blinks long so they don’t blind him. His heart is a drumbeat in his throat, and your breath is warm against his chin. He doesn’t know if he should be moving, talking, staying still, holding you closer. He only knows that he wants.  

“Come on. Did you walk here? I’ve got the car parked up front.”

“I did. I just wanna see all this first.” You nod toward the vastness, the endless rows of shelves, the long aisles stretching ahead, the lights buzzing faintly above. You take a quick glance at the abandoned cart behind him, tilting your head slightly. “And you have to get toilet paper.”

“Do I?” He raises an eyebrow, half-amused, half-exasperated, knowing full well you’re right, but already too distracted by the way your mouth moves, the way your voice lingers between the syllables.  

“There was only one roll left last time I checked.”

“I have a bidet.” He counters, smirking. It’s a weak defense and a feeble attempt at distraction. You both know it. He’s trying to lure you, and he reckons you’ve already made your decision. He just hopes it’s in his favour. But even if it’s not — not yet — he won’t quit before he’s got you in the passenger seat, or perhaps his bed.  Because you never know what might happen on the way, but bed is definitive. 

Bed is undeniable.  

There’s no escaping there. No excuses, no distractions, no aisles of meaningless products to stall the inevitable. He could cage you in between his arms, press you down into the mattress, make you stay, make you understand just how much he needs-

“You don’t.” You smile.  

A slow, knowing one. One that makes his chest tighten, makes his fingers twitch with the need to pull you closer, closer, much closer.  

“I’ll order one. And I’ve got a roll of paper towels somewhere, I’m sure. We’ll be fine. Let’s go home.”

And maybe this is another kind of love, too. The kind that lingers in the in-betweens, in the ordinary, in the stupid, pointless arguments. It sneaks up on him in places he never expected to find it.  

He can no longer deny it is his.

All of the best things in life demand a surrender to vulnerability, don’t they? A willingness to look a little foolish, to risk the burn of embarrassment, to let the world see you stripped. 

Dancing, where your limbs might betray you, or singing, where your voice might not reach the note you swore you could hit in the safety of solitude. Even cooking, where the knife could slip, where the sauce could curdle, where your best effort might still be met with a polite grimace and a half-hearted “It’s…interesting.”

And then there’s sharing not just a piece, but the whole of yourself, which is the most reckless act of them all. 

Love, which is reaching out a hand and hoping that it won’t be left hanging in the air, untouched. Pressing your mouth to another’s and bracing for the possibility that they won’t kiss back. Undressing not just in body but in spirit, standing naked before another person in ways that go far beyond skin and fabric. There’s no armour in love. No way to safeguard your pride. There’s only the leap, the freefall, the hope that you won’t hit the ground alone. And there’s no escape from it. No way to avoid the raw exposure of being seen for what you are, the lurking threat of rejection or ridicule or simply doing it wrong.  

It’s terrifying.

He’s spent years perfecting the art of appearing unbothered. Of sculpting himself into something smooth and untouchable that doesn’t flinch at the mere idea of possibly falling flat on his face. If you pretend not to care, then no one can use it against you. If you laugh first, then the joke can’t be at your expense. If you never hold your hand out for too long, then you won’t have to endure the slow, awful realisation that no one is going to take it.  

He’s learned to not care. At least, that’s what he tells himself.  

So long as he doesn’t care, nothing can bruise his ego or dent the fragile, meticulously thought out version of himself that he presents to the world. He doesn’t care, then he doesn’t need. He doesn’t care, doesn’t long. He doesn’t care, he doesn’t ache.

Right?  

And yet-

Thud.

He smacks his head against the headboard, and you laugh. Too eager for your own good, too full of uncontainable glee, too…little old you.

And it wrecks him.  

He should be mortified. He thinks he might start spiralling into himself, cursing the fact that he’s just made an utter fool of himself at a moment when he was supposed to be cool, in control, but instead…he wants to kiss you stupid.  

You’re not laughing at him. You’re laughing because it’s funny. Because the world is full of imperfect, messy moments, and you don’t treat them like something to be ashamed of. Because you think he’s beautiful when he’s clumsy and human and stripped of all the careful precision he usually wields.  

Because you like him, even when he’s like this. 

That’s what really undoes him.  

He craves perfection, but he detests things that are perfect. He aches for beauty, but only if it’s earned. He so desperately wants to see things that are flawed and raw and honest — and in those things, he finds something more perfect than perfection itself. Something like you. 

It’s a constant war within him, these contradictions. The fight toward adaptability, toward softness and letting go of his own impossible standards. He lets himself lose that battle with you. Every time.  

So he traces you before he even thinks of undressing you. Before even a single article of clothing is removed, his hands and lips commit you to memory. The texture of the fabric you wear — delicate silk, some well-worn cotton, the softness of a sweater he knows you stole from him — he makes note of it all. Because you let those things touch you, just as you let him touch you, and that means they must be worthy. And if he is worthy, then this must be real.  

He feels you with everything he has. Fingers, palms, lips, breath, heart. 

He yearns with every inch of himself.  

You don’t have patience for it. You don’t want to savour, to take your time, to stretch this moment into eternity. You want him in pieces. You want to rip him apart.  

So you start with his shirt.  

It’s tight. Clings to him like a second skin. You try to pull it over his head, but the neckline catches on his nose, and by the time it’s off, his face is flushed red, heat rising up his throat, spreading over his cheeks. He’s burning, and you might get charred. You lick over his collarbone as if to soothe him.  

It only makes it worse.  

His hands fumble with the buttons on your top, his usually deft fingers betraying him in their hunger.  

“Need help?” you tease, voice dripping with wicked amusement.  

You glance down at him, and he looks ruined already, struggling to maintain the illusion of composure. His jaw is tight, his breathing uneven, his pupils blown wide as he watches you, his entire body tense with the effort of holding himself back.  

But you don’t want him to hold back.  

You want him to break. You want him mad. You want him to feel as insane as you do when your tongue grazes his skin and you get a taste, when you shift against him just right and you feel the hard press of his erection through the tight denim of his jeans, rubbing against the middle seam of yours.  

Gone, gone, it all needs to be gone. 

“Take everything off.” he demands, unhinged, something dangerous brewing.

And you smile. You’ve won.

He watches the way your body shifts under his hands. Always studying you, learning you, committing every reaction to memory so he can play them back later when he’s alone and desperate and reaching for anything that will get him off. He knows how your breath stutters when his fingers skim just under the waistband of your panties, and how your back arches when he presses his lips to the dip behind your ear. 

He knows you because he’s taken his time learning, and God, does he love learning.  

You willingly bare yourself to him, and he to you, without hesitation, without shame — only the deep, bone-deep hunger that neither of you can satisfy, no matter how many times you try.  

He kisses your shoulder as it’s revealed, lets his lips linger just to feel the way your skin warms beneath them. Your fingers ghost over his hip bone, tracing the sharp ridge, the soft skin stretched over it. You feel the twitch of muscle when you press down just a little harder. 

He shivers too. 

He’s naked now, completely, because he couldn’t stand anything between you and him. That just won’t do. The second his jeans got caught clinging around his ankles, twisting and restricting, he twisted himself under you, kicking them off with impatience and an almost frustrated groan, not willing to be anything less than completely unrestrained. If he can’t spread his legs the way he wants, then he can’t get you where he wants you — can’t pull you between them, can’t press you down against the mattress, can’t cage you in like he needs to. He needs to feel you pinned down, not to keep you in place, but so you know there’s no need to run.  

He needs to. You let him.  

“You gonna get on your knees for me?” he asks. 

His voice is softer than it should be given the filth coming out of his mouth. But it’s his eyes that do it. Big, wide, full of hunger. He’s not looking at your face, though — no, his gaze is locked a little lower, where your arms push your breasts together. Barely concealed. He’s got your wrists pinned, elbows locked, holding you in place just to get a better look. He’s made this happen, orchestrated the scene, maybe for his own benefit, maybe for yours. Maybe he doesn’t know the difference anymore.  

“Maybe.” you whisper, and you swear you see something snap in him.  

“Maybe?” He repeats it, mocking, tasting it on his tongue like it’s something foreign. “I can fuck you like this.” He dips down. He presses a kiss to the hollow of your throat, open-mouthed, breathing in your scent, then lower, lower, until his breath is hot against your chest, so hot it’s making your skin burn. But he doesn’t take what’s right there in front of him. He stalls, teases himself as much as you, because anticipation is half the pleasure, isn’t it? He enjoys the ache. “But I would like you from behind.”  

“Would you?”  

“Mhm…” A hum. “Come on, get on your knees.”  

You hold still, just to make him wait, see what he’ll do.  

He doesn’t ask again.  

He gives in to his own impatience, pressing one last pair of kisses to your chest, one for each of the girls, before gripping your hips and flipping you over, pinning you beneath him, pulling your hips up just to get you where he wants you. You don’t even have time to react. His knees press into the mattress, solid. He yanks you back, forcing your body until it is flush against his and you can feel the heat of him on you, heavy and insistent.  

He rolls his hips once through the groove between your legs to make you gasp, feel how hard he is. You push yourself up onto your elbows and turn your head to look at him, your cheek brushing against the sheets.  

“Are you gonna take them off?” you ask, shifting your hips.  

He’s got the lace between his fingers. He’s playing with the fabric, running his digits over the delicacy, contemplating. The little thing is already damp, clinging to you in the most delicious way. He loves this part — the power in holding you right where he wants you.  

To be or not to be, that is the question.  

You decide for him. “Leave them on.”  

He doesn’t argue. It means he doesn’t have to waste time. It means he gets to take you sooner. He almost doesn’t know what to do with himself now that you’ve given him an easier way to ruin you.  

Dragging his fingers over you, he says “You’re already fucking dripping.” His voice is thick with it, with need, with pride. “You just get like this when I touch you, huh?”  

“Alex-”  

“Shh, babe. Let me play with you for a little, would you?”  

Then, with a hand firm on your hip, he pulls the fabric to the side, giving himself the view he’s been waiting for. His fingers slip through your slick folds, teasing, not giving you anything substantial, but enough to make you shiver at the obvious implication. He takes himself in hand, runs the head of his cock against you, wet and throbbing, teasing, knocking before entering, the polite thing to do. He pushes the tip in just barely, not quite pressing in yet, only spreading your wetness over himself.  

Then he lifts his hand and gives one of your cheeks a slap, testing, watching the way the flesh bounces before settling back into place. A little taste.  

You make a sound — a moan, but you try to stifle it, try to act as if you weren’t expecting it, as if you didn’t love it. You turn your head, give him a look that’s pure scandalised indulgence. 

“Oh, you like that?” His voice is full of something cruel and sweet all at once. “Come on, baby, you can take a little more than that, can’t you?”  

He does it again. A little harder this time. A sharp sting that quickly turns into a warm, burning ache. He grips your hip to steady you when you tremble, his fingers pressing deep enough that you know you’ll have marks in the morning.  

He’d do it again to see how many times it takes for it to really turn red, but it’s business time. 

“Gonna let me fill this little hole, huh?”  

How can he look like an angel and create such terrible vile things with his mouth? You’ll never know. Perhaps it’s you that’s corrupted him or him you or maybe you’re just both fucked up in all the right ways because it almost makes you gush to hear it coming out of his mouth. 

Maybe you were always meant to be like this.  

“Yes.” 

“Tell me.” he murmurs, leaning forward, his lips brushing against the back of your neck. “Tell me how bad you want it.”  

Your breath stutters, your fingers twisting in the sheets.  

“Please.” you whisper.  

His cock twitches at the sound. Fuck, you sound so sweet when you beg.  

“Please what?”  

“Please, Alex-”  

Another slap, harder this time, making you whimper. “You can do better than that.”  

“Please.” you breathe, your voice shaking, your body trembling. “Please fuck me. Please- need you inside me, need you to-”   

“Good girl.”

Too sweet, far too tender for how he proceeds to ruin you.  

He likes to destroy — you see it in the mirror on the side of the bed, a perfect, damning reflection of the mess you’ve become. Of the way his hands grip your waist, fingers pressing deep to leave the shadow of bruises in their wake. Of the way his hips snap against yours, relentless, measured, pushing you forward only to pull you right back onto him, over and over, a rhythm so precise it’s almost cruel.  

You see it in his face too.  

His lips part around silent gasps, and his brows furrow, and his jaw clenches every time you squeeze around him. He watches himself dissociate, detaching from the act enough to observe it from the outside, like he’s studying a creature he doesn’t recognise no more.  

He’s so rarely in touch with his own body, so rarely aware of how it feels. He feels too much. So much that not even the image staring back at him can explain everything coursing through him, everything you make him feel. It’s overwhelming, and he doesn't know how to hold onto it, so he ends up letting it take him whole. He lets it consume him the same way he consumes you.  

You weren’t his, and he wasn’t yours.  

You were each your own, bound to nothing but the pull of your bodies and the hunger in your bones. But you were so good at making it feel like you belonged to each other, like you were carved from the same aching desire, sculpted by the same desperate hands.  

You hold onto the hope that he’s as weak when it comes to being inside you as you are to getting filled by him. And felt by him. And kissed by him. And- 

“Are you close already?”

His voice is low, almost teasing, but not quite. More like he’s genuinely asking, like he can’t believe it. He’s half impressed, and the rest is just desperation to see how much further he can take you.  

You don’t answer right away because you can’t. Now that he’s brought it to your attention, that he’s voiced what you hadn’t fully grasped yourself, it’s all too obvious — how your legs are shaking, how you can’t seem to pick yourself up, how your fingers clutch at the sheets so tightly your hands start to cramp.  

And you only now realise that he’s barely been inside you for a few minutes. A few minutes. And yet — how much more could there really be to do?  

You squeeze around him involuntarily, and he groans, dropping his forehead against your shoulder for a fleeting second before he pulls back to look at you. He’s smug, lips curling, that familiar glint in his eye — like he’s just stumbled upon something he didn’t know he needed but now can’t live without. He does that every time. 

“That close, huh?”

You whimper, trying to shake your head, trying to tell him no, not yet, but it’s a lie, and he knows it. He sees it in the way you tremble, the way your breath stutters, the way your back arches ever so slightly like you’re subconsciously chasing something you don’t want to end just yet.  

“I bet you could come just like this.” He slows his thrusts, shifts the angle, rolls his hips just right, making you feel every inch of him as he drags against every sensitive spot inside you. “All stuffed and barely moving. That’s all you need, isn’t it? Just me, nice and deep, keeping you full.”

You let out the most pathetic sound. It makes him curse under his breath, gripping your hips harder, holding you steady as he starts moving again, just a little rougher and a little more determined than before.  

“Fuck, look at you.” he murmurs, gaze flicking between your face, and the flushed skin on your neck, and the mirror, watching the way your body takes him, how your mouth falls open, how your lashes flutter. “Don’t even need to work for it, do I? You were already there.”  

You want to protest, but you can’t, because it’s true. You’re already there. And he’s not gonna let you go anywhere else.

He grabs you by the hair. Rough in intention, delicate in his grip. A contradiction — like everything about him. He pulls, and your scalp burns, a quick bloom of sensation, but oh, it stings so good. 

And he’s everywhere. Kissing all your spots, inside and out, his mouth mapping the edges of your pleasure, finding every weak spot, pressing his advantage. He knows your body better than his own. He knows just where to touch, where to lick, where to bite. It’s too much. He’s too good. And it has to come out of you in some way, has to escape from somewhere deep inside where you can’t contain it.  

It comes in the form of his name, breaking past your lips the way a prayer tumbles from the lips of oneself when they finally feel salvation. Your body shudders, shakes, clenches around him as he thrusts through it, and you hear him groan above you, see the clench of his jaw in the mirror’s reflection.  

“Just a bit more.”

That’s what he’s telling himself, grounding himself in the thought as he pushes forward, chasing his own undoing. Just a bit more, just a little longer. A weak little lie that can’t hurt, or a promise that he wants to believe, because if he pretends it’s just a little longer, he can keep fucking you like this without fear of it ending. Just a bit more — but it’s never just a bit when it comes to you.  

And suddenly, he’s getting harsher.  

He’s fucking you like he’s forgotten how to do anything else, like he was made for this, and you — god, you can’t take him. Not like this. Not right now. The desperation, the need, it’s tipping over the edge.

“Hold on, hold-”

You turn to shove at his chest, knocking him off balance. He stumbles back onto his heels, his hands catching himself against the mattress, eyes wide with shock. Stunned. You don’t wait, don’t hesitate — you’re on him. Settled between his legs, hands pressed to his thighs for leverage, you take him in your mouth. You don’t ease into it — he’s welcomed straight to the back of your throat, and his breath hitches, a strangled sound getting caught in his chest, one that makes pride bloom in your heart, even in your half-ruined state.

He’s still hot, still slick from you and flushed to the tip, and when you press your tongue flat against him, you swear he tastes sweet. You love how he tastes. Maybe that makes no sense, but it does. It’s not just his skin but the way he’s looking down at you, blown pupils and lips parted.  

He thinks it might just be the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, to have someone take parts of you in them. To accept it, to want it. There’s something sacred about it, something almost devastating. A kind of surrender that isn’t forced, but offered. Trust laid bare like a gift he never asked for but would die to keep.

And you take him so well.

He’s full in your mouth, thick and heavy against your tongue, and the muscles in his stomach tense under your fingers as you press your hands higher and he fights the urge to thrust deeper. But you don’t need him to. You do it yourself. You take him as far as you can, let your body mould around him, let the wet sounds spill.  

He’s already close, so close, and now he’s getting there quick.

“Fuck-” 

His fingers weave into your hair again, gripping tight, but not to control — he lost that control the second he saw you looking up at him like this, with your lips stretched around him, with that hunger in your eyes. He just needs something to hold while you ruin him with how your throat tightens just right.  

“So good, baby.” His voice is wrecked, slurred with pleasure. His knuckles pale against the bedsheets, clenching like he’s holding onto a chain, bracing himself against the inevitable, yet the swing moves to a rhythm his hands don’t command and it hits him now that perhaps not everything he holds is his to control. 

And through it all, you watch him.  

You never look away.  

Crave me. 

That’s what your eyes say.  

Desire me. Want me. I know you do already. All mine. 

Be a good pup and bark for me. 

If he had the ability to speak, he would’ve said your name. If he had the ability to move, he would’ve fucked your throat until there was nothing left of either of you. But he has nothing, nothing except the little solace he gets as he bites down on his lip to muffle the noises slipping from his mouth, and how his fingers tighten in your hair, his body bowing forward as he spills himself down your throat, his thighs tensing under your palms, his hips stuttering forward before he can stop himself. 

And he’s glad now. 

He’s grateful he doesn’t have to think about where it’ll go, the mess — no streaks across your cheek, no pearly trails cooling on your thighs, no need to wipe it off your skin before it gets sticky or a single wasted drop. No, he knows exactly where it’s going. Straight down. You’ll take it, let it coat your tongue, let him watch as you swallow every last drop, warm and thick, taking him so deep he swears he can feel himself sitting heavy in your stomach. He wonders if you can feel it too, if it lingers in your throat. 

Does it make you ache for more? 

He’d keep going if he could, fuck your mouth until it overflowed, until you had no choice but to let it dribble past your lips, down your chin, onto your tits, a mess after all. 

“Fuck-”

Creaming is great and all, but it’s even better when it’s put exactly where it belongs, or else it starts to drip.

This is much better. 

And if he could, if his voice worked, if his lips weren’t parting around silent moans and his mind weren’t so thoroughly fried, he would’ve barked for you. He would’ve barked had he not been too busy chewing your name in his mouth like his last meal whilst you ate your fill of him. 

He would have done anything for you. Anything.

Pliant in your hands, pliant between your lips. Got him feeling tender and maudlin. Got him stripped down to nothing. 

There’s nothing left to say but “I think I love you.”

a/n: This started from @heartshapedpolaroid saying she would read a shopping list if i wrote one. That was the first half-ish. But everything I write somehow turns into being about love in one way or another. I think writing is one of the only places I have to express it. It has nowhere else to go so it just end up in this stuff. I guess. And I was channeling @junedenim quite heavily, I think. Anyway :)

[aeth-eris]

5th House Placements & Video Games

Aries in the 5th House: "DOOM (2016)": This high-octane first-person shooter is perfect for Aries' love of action and excitement. With intense combat, fast-paced gameplay, and adrenaline-pumping music, it's a thrilling experience from start to finish. Aries will enjoy the rush of battling demons and conquering challenging levels.

"Monster Hunter: World": Aries' competitive spirit will thrive in this action-packed game where players hunt giant monsters in epic battles. With its dynamic combat system, vast open world, and cooperative multiplayer mode, Aries can unleash their warrior instincts and strive to become the ultimate monster hunter.

"Bayonetta": Aries will appreciate the fast-paced action and stylish combat of this hack-and-slash game. Playing as the powerful witch Bayonetta, players unleash devastating attacks and engage in epic boss battles. With its flashy moves and over-the-top action, it's sure to satisfy Aries' craving for excitement and challenge.

"Warframe": Aries will thrive in this fast-paced co-op shooter where players control powerful space ninjas called Warframes. With its fluid movement system, intense combat, and endless customization options, it's a game that offers plenty of action and excitement. Aries can team up with friends to tackle challenging missions and unleash their inner warriors in epic battles.

Taurus in the 5th House: "Animal Crossing: New Horizons": Taurus will appreciate the leisurely pace and relaxing gameplay of this life simulation game. With its charming visuals, tranquil island setting, and focus on customization and creativity, it's the perfect escape for Taurus to unwind and express their artistic side. They can design their dream island, cultivate a garden, and build relationships with adorable animal villagers at their own pace.

"Stardew Valley": Taurus will enjoy the slow-paced and immersive farming simulation of Stardew Valley. With its peaceful rural setting, engaging gameplay mechanics, and emphasis on relaxation and self-expression, it's a game that appeals to Taurus' love of comfort and stability. Taurus can build and customize their farm, cultivate crops, raise animals, and explore the charming town of Stardew Valley at their leisure.

"My Time at Portia": Taurus will delight in this charming sandbox RPG set in a vibrant post-apocalyptic world. With its laid-back atmosphere, creative freedom, and emphasis on crafting, building, and exploration, it's a game that appeals to Taurus' love of leisurely activities and creative expression. Taurus can build and customize their workshop, cultivate relationships with colorful characters, and uncover the mysteries of Portia at their own pace.

"The Sims 4": Taurus will appreciate the leisurely pace and creative freedom of this life simulation game. With its endless customization options, immersive storytelling tools, and focus on building and managing virtual lives, it's a game that appeals to Taurus' love of comfort and luxury. Taurus can create and customize their Sims, design their dream homes, and explore the vibrant neighborhoods of The Sims 4 at their own pace.

Gemini in the 5th House:

"The Witness": Gemini's love of mental challenges will be thoroughly engaged in this puzzle-adventure game. Set on a mysterious island filled with intricate puzzles, players must explore and solve a variety of mind-bending challenges. With its emphasis on critical thinking, pattern recognition, and exploration, it's a perfect fit for Gemini's curious and analytical mind.

"Portal 2": Gemini will enjoy the clever puzzles and witty humor of this first-person puzzle-platform game. Players must navigate through a series of test chambers using a portal gun to create portals and solve spatial puzzles. With its innovative gameplay mechanics and engaging narrative, it's sure to captivate Gemini's intellect and keep them entertained for hours.

"The Talos Principle": This philosophical puzzle game offers a blend of challenging puzzles and thought-provoking storytelling. Players assume the role of an android exploring a mysterious world filled with advanced technology and philosophical ruminations. With its deep themes of consciousness, identity, and existence, it's a game that will appeal to Gemini's love of intellectual stimulation and philosophical inquiry.

"Baba is You": Gemini will appreciate the unique and innovative gameplay mechanics of this puzzle game. Players manipulate the rules of the game by rearranging blocks of text to solve a variety of puzzles. With its creative approach to puzzle-solving and open-ended gameplay, it's a game that encourages experimentation and lateral thinking, perfect for Gemini's versatile and adaptable mind.

Cancer in the 5th House:

"Journey": Cancer will resonate with the emotional depth and introspective journey offered by this artistic adventure game. Players traverse a vast desert landscape, exploring ruins and encountering other players along the way. With its evocative visuals, stirring soundtrack, and themes of connection and transformation, it's a game that will touch Cancer's sensitive soul and inspire reflection on the deeper meanings of life and relationships.

"To the Moon": Cancer will appreciate the heartfelt storytelling and emotional depth of this indie RPG. Players control two doctors who fulfill the dying wishes of their clients by traveling through their memories to artificially fulfill their life goals. With its poignant narrative, memorable characters, and themes of love, loss, and regret, it's a game that will tug at Cancer's heartstrings and leave a lasting impression.

"Ori and the Blind Forest": Cancer will be drawn to the touching story and enchanting visuals of this atmospheric platformer game. Players control Ori, a guardian spirit, as they embark on a journey to save the forest from darkness. With its emotional narrative, breathtaking art style, and themes of friendship, sacrifice, and redemption, it's a game that will resonate deeply with Cancer's nurturing and empathetic nature.

"Child of Light": Cancer will appreciate the fairy-tale charm and emotional depth of this beautiful RPG. Players control Aurora, a young princess, as she embarks on a quest to restore light to the kingdom of Lemuria. With its poetic storytelling, watercolor visuals, and themes of courage, friendship, and self-discovery, it's a game that will capture Cancer's imagination and transport them to a world of magic and wonder.

Leo in the 5th House:

"The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild": Leo will be captivated by the grand adventure and epic scale of this action-adventure game. Set in a vast open world filled with exploration, discovery, and adventure, players embark on a quest to defeat the evil Calamity Ganon and save the kingdom of Hyrule. With its stunning visuals, immersive gameplay, and sense of epic heroism, it's a game that will ignite Leo's sense of adventure and leave them feeling like a true hero.

"Assassin's Creed Odyssey": Leo will revel in the epic scale and dramatic storytelling of this action RPG set in ancient Greece. Players take on the role of a mercenary exploring a vast open world, engaging in epic battles, and shaping their own destiny. With its breathtaking landscapes, epic quests, and larger-than-life characters, it's a game that will satisfy Leo's thirst for adventure, drama, and glory.

"God of War (2018)": Leo will appreciate the epic battles and emotional depth of this action-adventure game. Set in the world of Norse mythology, players control Kratos, a warrior seeking redemption while battling gods, monsters, and his own inner demons. With its cinematic storytelling, visceral combat, and themes of fatherhood, sacrifice, and redemption, it's a game that will appeal to Leo's sense of drama, heroism, and epic storytelling.

"Shadow of the Colossus": Leo will be drawn to the epic scale and emotional resonance of this action-adventure game. Players control Wander, a young warrior, as he embarks on a quest to defeat giant colossi and save a mysterious maiden. With its breathtaking landscapes, atmospheric soundtrack, and sense of epic adventure, it's a game that will evoke Leo's sense of grandeur and leave them feeling like a legendary hero.

Virgo in the 5th House:

"Civilization VI": Virgo will appreciate the strategic depth and meticulous planning required in this turn-based strategy game. Players build and manage their own civilization from the ground up, leading them through history, from ancient times to the modern era. With its complex mechanics, deep strategy, and emphasis on resource management and diplomacy, it's a game that will engage Virgo's analytical mind and love of order and efficiency.

"XCOM 2": Virgo will thrive in the tactical challenges and strategic decision-making of this turn-based tactics game. Players command a squad of soldiers fighting against an alien invasion, engaging in intense battles and managing resources to save humanity from extinction. With its deep customization options, challenging missions, and emphasis on planning and tactics, it's a game that will satisfy Virgo's desire for precision and strategic thinking.

"Factorio": Virgo will enjoy the intricate logistics and problem-solving challenges of this sandbox simulation game. Players build and manage automated factories on an alien planet, harvesting resources, researching new technologies, and designing efficient production lines. With its emphasis on optimization, efficiency, and problem-solving, it's a game that will appeal to Virgo's analytical mind and love of practical solutions.

"Cities: Skylines": Virgo will enjoy the meticulous city-building and management challenges of this simulation game. Players design and build their own cities, managing infrastructure, services, and resources to create a thriving metropolis. With its complex city management mechanics, detailed planning tools, and emphasis on efficiency and optimization, it's a game that will appeal to Virgo's love of order and precision in creating and managing complex systems.

Libra in the 5th House:

"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe": Libra will appreciate the friendly competition and social interaction of this multiplayer racing game. Players compete against each other in colorful and whimsical courses, using power-ups and weapons to gain an edge and reach the finish line first. With its accessible gameplay, vibrant visuals, and emphasis on fun and friendly rivalry, it's a game that will bring joy and laughter to social gatherings and gaming sessions.

"Jackbox Party Pack": Libra will enjoy the diverse selection of party games and interactive experiences in this multiplayer party game collection. Players participate in a variety of trivia, drawing, and word games using their smartphones as controllers. With its easy-to-learn gameplay, humor, and social interaction, it's a game that will entertain and engage players of all ages and skill levels at social gatherings and parties.

"Super Smash Bros. Ultimate": Libra will appreciate the fun and competitive spirit of this multiplayer fighting game. Players control iconic characters from Nintendo's roster, battling against each other in fast-paced and chaotic matches. With its colorful visuals, diverse roster of characters, and accessible gameplay, it's a game that will inspire friendly competition and create memorable moments of excitement and camaraderie.

"Among Us": Libra will enjoy the social deduction and teamwork of this multiplayer party game. Players work together to complete tasks on a spaceship while trying to identify and vote out the impostors among them. With its emphasis on communication, strategy, and deduction, it's a game that will foster cooperation and interaction among players, leading to engaging and memorable gaming experiences.

Scorpio in the 5th House: "Silent Hill 2": Scorpio will appreciate the psychological horror and atmospheric storytelling of this classic survival horror game. Players assume the role of James Sunderland as he explores the eerie town of Silent Hill in search of his deceased wife. With its haunting atmosphere, complex narrative, and themes of guilt, grief, and existential horror, it's a game that will resonate deeply with Scorpio's fascination with the darker aspects of human nature.

"Resident Evil 2 (2019)": Scorpio will appreciate the intense survival horror and adrenaline-pumping action of this remake of the classic survival horror game. Players navigate the zombie-infested streets of Raccoon City as Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield, uncovering the dark secrets of the Umbrella Corporation. With its immersive atmosphere, tense gameplay, and heart-pounding encounters, it's a game that will satisfy Scorpio's thirst for suspense and thrills.

"Dead Space": Scorpio will be drawn to the atmospheric horror and visceral scares of this sci-fi survival horror game. Players assume the role of engineer Isaac Clarke as he battles grotesque alien creatures aboard a derelict spaceship. With its chilling atmosphere, innovative gameplay mechanics, and psychological tension, it's a game that will tap into Scorpio's fascination with the macabre and the unknown.

"Bloodborne": Scorpio will enjoy the dark and gothic atmosphere of this challenging action RPG. Set in the cursed city of Yharnam, players must navigate treacherous streets, battle grotesque monsters, and uncover the city's dark secrets. With its punishing difficulty, intricate level design, and rich lore, it's a game that will appeal to Scorpio's love of mystery, exploration, and intense gameplay.

Sagittarius in the 5th House: "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt": Sagittarius will appreciate the expansive open world and epic storytelling of this action RPG. Players control Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter, as he embarks on a quest to find his adopted daughter and save the world from impending doom. With its vast and immersive world, engaging narrative, and richly detailed characters, it's a game that will ignite Sagittarius' sense of adventure and curiosity.

"Red Dead Redemption 2": Sagittarius will be drawn to the vast open world and immersive storytelling of this Western-themed action-adventure game. Set in the American frontier in the late 1800s, players control Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang, as he navigates the changing landscape of the Wild West. With its stunning visuals, compelling characters, and epic scope, it's a game that will captivate Sagittarius' imagination and sense of adventure.

"No Man's Sky": Sagittarius will be fascinated by the infinite possibilities and boundless exploration of this procedurally generated universe exploration game. Players explore a vast and diverse universe, discovering planets, creatures, and civilizations as they journey through the cosmos. With its expansive scope, open-ended gameplay, and sense of wonder and discovery, it's a game that will appeal to Sagittarius' adventurous spirit and love of exploration.

"Horizon Zero Dawn": Sagittarius will appreciate the epic scope and immersive world of this action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic future. Players control Aloy, a skilled hunter, as she explores a lush and vibrant world inhabited by robotic creatures. With its stunning visuals, dynamic combat, and epic quests, it's a game that will ignite Sagittarius' sense of adventure and leave them feeling like a fearless explorer discovering the wonders of a new world.

Capricorn in the 5th House: "Factorio": Capricorn will appreciate the strategic depth and meticulous planning required in this sandbox simulation game. Players build and manage automated factories on an alien planet, harvesting resources, researching new technologies, and designing efficient production lines. With its emphasis on optimization, efficiency, and problem-solving, it's a game that will engage Capricorn's analytical mind and love of practical solutions.

"Sid Meier's Civilization VI": Capricorn will appreciate the strategic depth and long-term planning required in this turn-based strategy game. Players build and manage their own civilization from the dawn of time to the space age, expanding their empire, conducting diplomacy, and competing with other civilizations for dominance. With its complex mechanics, deep strategy, and emphasis on resource management and diplomacy, it's a game that will engage Capricorn's strategic thinking and desire for success and achievement.

"Banished": Capricorn will be drawn to the challenging city-building and resource management gameplay of this strategy simulation game. Players control a group of exiled travelers as they establish and manage a medieval settlement, building houses, farms, and other essential structures to survive and thrive. With its emphasis on strategic planning, resource allocation, and survival in harsh environments, it's a game that will appeal to Capricorn's practicality and determination to overcome challenges.

"Farming Simulator 19": Capricorn will appreciate the realistic farming simulation and strategic decision-making of this simulation game. Players manage their own farm, planting crops, raising livestock, and expanding their operations to become successful agricultural entrepreneurs. With its emphasis on planning, organization, and financial management, it's a game that will appeal to Capricorn's work ethic and desire for tangible accomplishments and success.

Aquarius in 5th House: "Minecraft": Aquarius will appreciate the creative freedom and open-ended exploration of this sandbox game. Players can build and explore endlessly in procedurally generated worlds, crafting their own adventures and creations using a variety of blocks and materials. With its emphasis on creativity, collaboration, and community, it's a game that will appeal to Aquarius' innovative spirit and love of experimentation.

"Terraria": Aquarius will enjoy the expansive world and creative possibilities of this sandbox adventure game. Players explore a procedurally generated world filled with monsters, treasures, and resources, as they build and customize their own unique environments and structures. With its emphasis on exploration, crafting, and cooperation, it's a game that will ignite Aquarius' imagination and sense of adventure.

"Sims 4": Aquarius will enjoy the sandbox gameplay and creative possibilities of this life simulation game. Players create and control virtual people, called Sims, as they build and customize their homes, careers, and relationships. With its emphasis on creativity, customization, and storytelling, it's a game that will appeal to Aquarius' love of freedom and self-expression.

"Spore": Aquarius will be drawn to the unique and innovative gameplay of this simulation game. Players guide the evolution of a species from a single-celled organism to a space-faring civilization, shaping their own unique creatures, cultures, and worlds. With its emphasis on creativity, exploration, and procedural generation, it's a game that will appeal to Aquarius' love of innovation and experimentation.

Pisces in the 5th House:

"Gris": Pisces will appreciate the stunning visuals and emotional journey of this artistic platformer game. Players guide the protagonist, Gris, through a world of sorrow and loss as she seeks to regain her lost voice. With its evocative imagery, haunting soundtrack, and themes of grief, healing, and self-expression, it's a game that will resonate deeply with Pisces' sensitive and empathetic nature.

"Abzû": Pisces will be drawn to the serene beauty and meditative experience of this underwater adventure game. Players explore a vibrant ocean teeming with life, uncovering ancient ruins and mystical secrets along the way. With its breathtaking visuals, immersive soundtrack, and emphasis on exploration and contemplation, it's a game that will soothe Pisces' soul and transport them to a world of wonder and tranquility.

"Firewatch": Pisces will appreciate the introspective storytelling and emotional depth of this narrative-driven adventure game. Players assume the role of a fire lookout in the Wyoming wilderness, navigating personal and professional challenges while uncovering a mystery that unfolds in the isolated wilderness. With its richly detailed environments, complex characters, and themes of solitude, connection, and self-discovery, it's a game that will resonate deeply with Pisces' introspective nature and desire for meaningful experiences.

"Celeste": Pisces will be captivated by the emotional journey and challenging gameplay of this indie platformer game. Players control Madeline, a young woman struggling with inner demons, as she climbs a treacherous mountain in search of self-discovery and personal growth. With its heartfelt storytelling, tight controls, and themes of perseverance, acceptance, and self-compassion, it's a game that will inspire Pisces to overcome obstacles and embrace their own journey of self-discovery and healing.

[majimaisms]

absolutely fascinating to me that this is what majima thinks makoto wants/needs to hear. considering how much he's projecting onto her, and how he sees her as a version of himself, i think one of the logical conclusions to draw here is that this is what majima wants to hear. he wants to be told that someone will be there beside him and that they'll keep him safe no matter what happens.

and she's having none of it. because she is actually too much like majima. she acts as a perfect mirror. and certainly, there's an interpretation of this as majima underestimating her, not giving her enough credit, but i think it's also possible that he's just projecting. believing that this is what she needs to hear doesn't mean he thinks any less of her, just that she is too much like him. his double standard then becomes a matter of something more akin to self-recognition through the other, rather than something that can be boiled down to misogyny.

but here's where things get interesting. this implies that whatever "similarity" exists between them, at least in terms of how self-reliant they are, how "independent" they are, is an illusion. that it's not that makoto is actually too much like majima -- it's that she's the ideal that majima is aspiring to. makoto at this point in the story is a genuine example of what majima only appears to be, was forced to be, and perhaps resents having to be. because why go out of your way, over and over again, to shelter people you strongly identify with (as opposed to just people you care about) if you don't believe it's something everyone, if given the choice, would choose? to have someone to "keep them safe no matter what happens"?

it's the kind of baseline assumption that people make when they think everyone who's a lot like them is exactly like them. a very common pitfall. but he's wrong.

she proves his assumptions wrong. she does not, when given the opportunity, choose that. she asks him to kill dojima and his lieutenants, because she has convinced herself it's what tachibana would've wanted, and she's had enough of people trying to solve her problems for her by protecting or sheltering her, without her input. "helping" makoto has to be done on her terms now. and the first words to come out of her mouth as she's dying? expressing shame for failing to accomplish her goals on her own. for not being able to be self-reliant enough.

and majima tried to discourage her from taking revenge on the dojima family because it's "not who she is," and he "can't imagine that's who her brother was." because he sees her as better than himself, too good, too pure, too soft, and he wants to preserve that in her. and this time it's because he thinks they're too different. but he's actually wrong again. he's both not giving himself enough credit here, and giving her too much. because he's uncharitable to himself, and too charitable to her. but they are the same in this. and the moment she's in danger, he's the one seeking vengeance, for her, in her stead, just like she did with tachibana.

they both think the ultimate sacrifice you can make in the name of love is to compromise your values, your principles. do the unspeakable thing, do the "wrong" thing, as long as that's what it takes to keep your loved ones safe.

it takes sera spelling it out to majima that bloodying his hands for makoto's sake will hurt her more than it will help her to stop him killing dojima. and majima goes ballistic at the suggestion that even the ultimate sacrifice is not enough to protect her, to save her from a lifetime of being a target for the tojo. (an organization he has sworn unwavering loyalty to, by the way, and is trying to crawl back into.)

majima's "hannya" side has never been about his own retaliation, his own revenge. it's always been for the sake of people he cares about, and makoto is the most prominent example of this. but more importantly, she also is exactly like this. majima lists nishitani, sagawa and lee as the people he learned from in y0. and they certainly were the people he modeled mad dog after and learned important life lessons from. but i think #1 on that list is and always will be makoto, followed by sera. because he would never have found the strength to become mad dog if he had not watched makoto do it first.

makoto has a level of emotional strength that majima lacks but is drawn to and inspired by. her whole life, she has been protected by "older brothers" who took care of her like a little sister -- tachibana, lee, majima. she has had to fight for her independence to be recognized.

majima has had no one. he's too independent. but it's not by choice. and he wants to be protected and taken care of. this is the one thing they are opposites in and i think what makes them such compelling parallels and contrasts to each other, as well as people who had a lot to learn from each other but ultimately needed the exact opposite of what they could give each other. yakuza 0 the game that you are

[alchemie-tarot]

Material Blessings

Hello! Long time, no pick-a-card. The Universe has sent me a few things to deal with since my last post, lessons and blessings alike. My creative energy is having a new life and I just want to do it for myself and share it with the world. Yes, that includes sharing more of my photography from past travels.

I meant to post this during my bias season, Taurus, but I have been taking it easy with my body, and trusting the timing with it. This pick-a-card is also shorter than my previous ones.

Anyway. Welcome back. You know the drill: Take a breath. Feel free to choose the pile or piles that call out to you. Some details may not feel like it’s for you and that’s because it isn’t, it’s alright, since this is a general reading. Please don’t take it too seriously as well. Nothing is set in stone. 

Pile 1

Cards: 4 of Cups, 10 of Swords (I had a bit of a mind exercise with this message.)

Your material blessing is something that you will receive, but its purpose is to make you realize that something you already have may have been taken for granted. I see that it’s something shiny to you, “a shiny toy,” whether it’s figurative or literal. It may be something that is a bit of a flex somehow. It may also remind you of something that you wanted in the past, maybe as a child, but couldn’t attain then. It will give you that mood boost and yes, you will enjoy it for a time. But, ultimately, you will find that it does not go as deep as you thought it would.

If you feel like something that you have previously enjoyed is losing its luster, even if it has been in your life for a long time, maybe that is a message for you. Is it really rooted in sentimental value, or is it from a fear of lack?

Eventually declining something that is coming your way may sound counterintuitive for a reading about material blessings. But, heed detached feelings and they will remind you of what really matters. Let go of what has served its purpose in your life, especially if they have pointed out what gives you long-term value. Be true to your principles, that you won’t spend your energy on things not aligned with you. Remember that “all that glitters is not gold.”

Pile 2

Cards: 2 of Wands, King of Swords

A business opportunity, specifically a trip to somewhere. A ticket. Could also be a gift coming from a far place. A box of fruits or wine, specifically, for a few. An invitation to a party, again, for a few. For the majority, travel is really emphasized.

It was 2:22 PM when I was interpreting these cards, and this is the 2nd Pile, and this pile has the 2 of Wands. Amazing. You may be getting two things. A double of something, or some combination of the ones I mentioned.

Whatever you will be receiving will grant you access to something exclusive. Opened doors that will basically, I believe, reconcile two separate aspects of your life (your career and family life, for example). They can be anything. Not only will you be let through these gates, but you will be given the keys to hold them.

You need more structure for this material blessing coming to you. To do that, your guides advise you to lean into your duality. Practice and get good at multitasking. You may have to hold two different things that require a ton of responsibility. Do not waver or be intimidated, however. You are chosen because you are wholly capable of doing this. Self-discipline and judgment are your friends.

Pile 3

Cards: 8 of Wands, 7 of Swords

You are about to get news about something pending. Since this is a material blessing, it is about finances, for the majority. A letter, the approval of a loan, insurance, came at the top of my head. Especially if it is something that you have wanted to do for a while, or have been waiting a long time for. Something that will solve your problems.

For some, this is something that you will gain as a reward for being resourceful. It could be an inheritance, or it simply was someone else’s previously. A specific image for a few, but it is something colorful and could appeal to your creativity or inner child.

Once you receive this blessing, you are advised to gather all your smarts in order to make sure it doesn’t slip from your hands. Don’t get complacent. Make a full-proof strategy for this. Bend the rules when you can. Don’t let yourself be distracted by schemes and excuses to use this for a purpose other than its original one, or somehow turn this into something it is not. Be careful not to give in to greed.

Pile 4

Cards: Wheel of Fortune, Page of Coins

A very unexpected gift, perhaps a long overdue one for something good that you have done in the past, that you may not even recall. A big reward for a big risk you took. Something you worked diligently and pushed the limits for, used your creativity and resourcefulness for, everything. And it comes with a bow on top. For a few, it’s something sweet, could be a food treat? This gift translates into some kind of knowledge that not only benefits you, but a lot of other people as well, a community. This gift will start up a web of connections that root from you.

This is not something everybody comes along often. Set tangible goals to ground this. Lead by example and hope, I’m hearing. Your success has a direct effect on the sacrifices and mindsets of this community looking up to you. You will definitely lift them up in some way, perhaps through a gathering. Maybe you will host a party, or a kind of workshop.

Share these blessings of yours, but not at the expense of yourself. The moment you feel that something is amiss, you must withdraw accordingly, and you are encouraged not to feel bad for that. Boundaries must be established and respected.

Thank you for gracing my post with your presence and thoughts. Take care and be happy!

[the-returnofartemis]

SHE'S ENTERING HER: SOFT LIFE ERA

affirmation: waiting for a sign is no longer my strategy; i am my own sign to begin | musical spotlight: zen by jennie

"nobody gonna move my life, gonna touch my goal, my matter"

you are someone worthy of knowing, accepting, and loving yourself on all levels – mind, body and spirit. as a woman, and more importantly, a human being, you deserve a life that celebrates your growth, autonomy and your journey toward peace, love, joy, passion and fun. you can create your dream life if you believe in yourself and show up every day to take small, meaningful steps. whether it's pursuing a goal, nurturing your relationships, or simply practicing gratitude, every effort counts. don't let fear or limiting beliefs hold you back.

this is a reminder that you are capable of so much more than you might believe. below is a series of questions that you can use as a journal prompt to reflect on your potential. revisit your answers as often as needed to remind yourself of your power to create a life you love and become the best version of yourself.

define your vision ⇢ set smart goals ⇢ take consistent action ⇢ trust yourself

ꕥ what does she like?

ꕥ what does she not like?

ꕥ how does she dress?

ꕥ what does her daily routine entail? (activities, schedule)

ꕥ what does she look like?

ꕥ what are her boundaries?

ꕥ what is her career or profession? (career, job responsibilities)

ꕥ what are her hobbies and interests?

ꕥ what is her ideal lifestyle?

ꕥ how does she handle stress and challenges? (problem-solving approach, coping mechanisms)

ꕥ how does she financially take care of herself?

ꕥ what does she spend her free time doing?

ꕥ how does she navigate conflicts or disagreements? (communication style, conflict resolution)

"nobody gonna touch my soul, gonna match my glow, like i dare you"

ꕥ what does she consume on social media?

ꕥ what are her long-term goals and aspirations? (career ambitions, personal achievements)

ꕥ whom does she inspire to be like?

ꕥ what successes/accomplishments does she have?

ꕥ what are her wellness habits? (health and self-care routines)

ꕥ how is her mental health doing?

ꕥ how does she preferred to be treated by others? (standard expectations from relationships)

ꕥ what music does she listen to?

ꕥ how does she pick herself up when she's down?

ꕥ how do people treat her? (interpersonal relationships, kindness)

ꕥ what are her weekly routines?

ꕥ what values and principles guide her decision-making? (personal ethics)

ꕥ what is love to her? (interpersonal and romantic relationships)

if you’ve made it this far, i hope you enjoyed this little corner of my world. thank you for reading and please feel free to share your thoughts! always remember to love yourself as if it’s your greatest romance.

the pictures featured in this post are from pinterest.

until next time,

artemis x

[astra-ravana]

Introducing Kids To Magick

Introducing children to witchcraft at an early age can help them develop a deep connection to nature, personal intuition, and self-empowerment in a mindful way. By learning magickal principles such as intention-setting, energy awareness, and respect for all living things, children cultivate confidence, creativity, and emotional resilience. Additionally, witchcraft encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills as children learn to trust their instincts and make thoughtful choices.

When approached with a focus on positivity, ethics, and self-discovery, early exposure to witchcraft provides children with a strong spiritual foundation that nurtures their personal growth and connection to the world around them.

Witchcraft for children should focus on fostering a connection to nature, intuition, and personal empowerment in a safe, age-appropriate way. This guide emphasizes respect, ethics, and gentle practices that help kids explore the magickal world.

Foundations of Magick for Kids

Before practicing spells or rituals, children should develop a strong foundation in the basics of witchcraft.

Respect for Nature: Teach them about the seasons, moon phases, and the elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water). Encourage outdoor exploration and gratitude for the natural world.

Intentions and Energy: Explain how thoughts and feelings shape reality. Show them how to focus energy through simple visualization exercises.

Protection and Grounding: Teach basic protection techniques like visualizing a bubble of light around themselves or carrying a protective charm. Grounding can be done by walking barefoot on grass or hugging a tree.

The Spirit World: Make children aware of the coexistence of the spirit world, the role it plays and our true nature as spirits. Explain types of spirits and encourage safe interaction.

Kid-Friendly Witchcraft Activities

• Rock and Leaf Collecting: Let them gather special stones, leaves, or sticks and teach them about their spiritual meanings.

• Moon Watching: Track the moon phases and discuss how they affect emotions and energy.

• Planting and Herbal Magick: Grow simple herbs like lavender or basil and talk about their magickal properties.

• Making Sigils: Help them create simple sigils (symbols with personal meaning) for protection, luck, or happiness.

• Charm Bags/Bottles: Fill a small pouch or bottle/jar with herbs, stones, and a personal item for a good luck or protection charm.

• Drawing and Storytelling: Encourage them to draw their dreams, spirit animals, or magickal places as a form of intuitive magick.

• Wishing Stones: Have them whisper a wish into a stone and throw it into water to release the intention.

• Blowing Away Worries: Teach them to blow dandelion seeds into the wind while focusing on releasing fears or negativity.

• Gratitude Ritual: Before bed, they can list three things they’re grateful for, sending thanks to the universe.

Tools for Young Witches

Children don’t need complex tools, but some simple, safe items can help them connect with their practice:

• Basic herbs

• Basic crystals

• A wand

• A journal (book of shadows)

• A mini altar

• Protection charm (pentagram, triquatra, etc.)

• Tarot/oracle cards

• A pendulum

• Candles and incense (with adult supervision)

• Books about basic witchcraft

Remember, every child’s spiritual path is unique. Let them explore different practices at their own pace and support their natural curiosity.