#visa problem solution

[astroshyamsundar]

Visa Rejected? How Astrology Can Help You Travel Abroad

Getting a visa rejection can feel like hitting a wall—especially when your dreams of studying, working, or settling abroad are riding on that single approval. After submitting all the documents, clearing interviews, and meeting financial criteria, a denial can leave you frustrated and confused.

But what if there’s more to it than paperwork?

Astrology has long provided insights into life’s major events, including foreign travel and settlement. While embassies may give standard reasons for rejection, Vedic astrology looks at cosmic reasons—factors you might never consider unless you’ve looked into your birth chart.

Why Do People Face Visa Rejections Despite Fulfilling All Requirements?

When you meet all legal and logistical requirements but still face delays or rejections, it’s time to look beyond the surface. According to Vedic astrology, your 9th and 12th houses—which govern foreign travel and settlement—play a crucial role.

Here are some common astrological causes behind visa-related issues:

Afflicted 9th House: If malefic planets like Rahu or Saturn influence the 9th house, foreign travel plans can be repeatedly blocked.

Weak 12th House: This house governs life in foreign lands. A weak or afflicted 12th house could indicate struggles with settling abroad.

Unfavorable Dasha (planetary period): Even a strong chart may fail if the timing isn’t right.

Retrograde Planets: Mercury or Jupiter in retrograde can delay approvals, especially for study or work visas.

This is where Visa Approval Astrology becomes a powerful tool—it helps you understand if the universe is supporting your efforts or silently saying “wait.”

Astrology Is More Than Prediction—It’s a Strategy

People often mistake astrology for just forecasting. But in reality, it offers solutions, timing, and corrections that can influence your outcomes positively. Astrology gives you control over uncertainty by aligning your efforts with cosmic timing.

How Astrology Can Assist in Overseas Travel:

1. Birth Chart Analysis

An astrologer examines key houses (like 3rd, 9th, and 12th), planetary aspects, and current Dashas to assess if you're astrologically positioned for travel. Some charts naturally show stronger foreign travel potential than others.

2. Timing the Application Right

Submitting your visa application during a favorable planetary period can significantly improve your chances. For example, during a strong Jupiter Mahadasha or beneficial transit, your luck with legal matters and travel tends to peak.

3. Personalized Remedies

If your chart reveals blockages, simple remedies like chanting mantras, wearing gemstones, or conducting specific poojas can neutralize the negative effects. These are not one-size-fits-all; they must be personalized by an experienced astrologer.

Which Planets Play a Role in Foreign Travel?

Understanding planetary influence is essential to knowing your travel potential. Here’s a simplified breakdown:PlanetImpact on TravelRahuEncourages movement, change, and foreign connectionsSaturnBrings delays but ensures long-term gains if favorableJupiterGoverns wisdom, legality, and foreign opportunitiesMercuryCritical for visas related to study, business, or communicationMoonRepresents emotional readiness and adaptability

When these planets align positively in your birth chart, your chances of approval improve. But when they're afflicted or retrograde, unexpected blocks may arise.

How to Know If You Should Consult an Astrologer?

If you’ve been facing:

Multiple visa rejections

Unexplained delays

Negative outcomes despite full compliance

Constant confusion about whether to apply or wait

then it’s time to look for a deeper answer. Consulting the best astrologer in Gujarat can give you more clarity than guesswork or repeated attempts.

Other Travel-Related Questions Astrology Can Answer

Astrology doesn’t just tell you if you’ll go abroad—it reveals so much more:

Which country suits your stars? Certain charts favor Western nations, others do better in the East or Middle East.

Should you settle permanently or return after a few years? The 12th house and 4th house give deep insight into this decision.

What type of visa is best for you—study, work, or business? Different planetary combinations support different travel purposes.

Understanding this can save you time, money, and emotional energy.

Astrological Remedies That Can Help

Not all charts are immediately favorable, but with proper remedies, many issues can be resolved. Some common solutions include:

Mantra Chanting: Strengthens weak or afflicted planets.

Donation: Giving on specific days (like Saturday for Saturn) can reduce karmic blocks.

Gem Therapy: Wearing a suitable gemstone after consulting an astrologer can boost planetary benefits.

Pooja or Havan: Rituals like Navagraha Shanti Pooja can restore balance.

These remedies are part of a time-tested system and have helped thousands find resolution in critical life matters.

Ready to Align Your Stars with Your Travel Goals?

If you’re serious about settling or traveling abroad, don’t leave it to chance. Let astrology become a part of your preparation—not just an afterthought.

With years of experience, Astro Shyam Sundar offers immigration problem solution, deep chart analysis, and effective solutions for travel-related blocks. Whether you’re applying for a student visa, a PR, or a job abroad, let your stars work with you—not against you.

Final Thoughts

Visa rejections don’t just block opportunities—they chip away at confidence. But what if the universe is waiting for the right time? Astrology allows you to act with awareness, precision, and confidence.

Book your personalized visa astrology consultation today with Astro Shyam Sundar and move one step closer to your dream destination.

[drainslo]

Brains & Brawn- Chapter 8: Karts

You were walking somewhere, anywhere that your feet would carry you. You fought the small amount of tears that started to roll down your face which threatened to become more.

You couldn't believe that Chishiya was willing to kiss you, but not mean anything by it. Your face was flushed with the humiliation of rejection.

Your vision was slightly blurry, which resulted in you almost stumbling into Tatta.

“Ah! I was looking for you,” he said awkwardly, looking relieved. “Hatter’s called an executive meeting right now.”

You thanked Tatta and made your way through the hotel to the upper floor where Hatter held his meetings. You felt a sense of deja-vu from the last time you had been there. The last time where this had all started, and you became entangled with Chishiya.

Hatter and the rest of the executives were already there. There were a couple of newcomers who were standing next to Hatter. It didn't escape your notice that they both had their hands tied behind their backs. Likely because they weren't immediately compliant with the Beach.

You took your place near the militants next to Niragi, who flashed a smile at you when you came in.

“You think Hatter got rid of that bastard?” Niragi whispered when you were close enough. You furrowed your brow in confusion, but it immediately became clear who he was talking about.

“Guess not,” he said when he saw Chishiya walk in casually. “Shit, hope he doesn’t take away your position.”

You smiled nervously back at Niragi but didn’t say anything as Hatter began the meeting.

“Executives! Glad you’re here! Now, I’ve called you all here because I’ve realized a solution to our pressing problem, and I also have a couple of new people here.” Hatter looked towards you and Chishiya expressively as you realized that one of the main points of this meeting was about both of you.

“So, from what I understand, you’ve been getting along swimmingly,” Hatter started with initially. You wanted to laugh at the irony of what had just transpired. If only Hatter knew that Chishiya didn't care.

You looked towards Chishiya to see his reaction, but he just blankly stared ahead of him.

“But, I think I’ve come up with a reasonable proposition. (Name) is one of the best executive group leaders at the Beach with the lowest casualty rate out of all of you, but Chishiya has never done so. Tonight, both of them will play and lead groups during the games. I’d also like to see Chishiya lead more groups.”

You flushed at the mention of your success rate in leading groups. Of course Hatter would consider this as a tiebreaker. But you had 5 days left on your visa, and you really didn’t feel like playing tonight.

“Hatter, I just played a game recently,” you said cautiously, not caring to mention that Chishiya was also in your group.

“Are you questioning my methods?” Hatter’s voice lowered dangerously, and you immediately regretted speaking out. Across the circle, An looked at you with pity in her eyes.

“Of course not Hatter. I look forward to playing,” you lowered your head submissively so he wouldn’t have reason to label you a traitor.

“Great! Now,” Hatter paused to turn his gaze meaningfully to the couple that were besides him. “I’d like to introduce you to some newcomers we have here. You said your names were Arisu and Usagi?”

The boy, Arisu, nodded fervently as he looked around the circle, his eyes settling on Chishiya. “You’re the one from the spades game!” he beamed in recognizing Chishiya like he could save them from their situation.

Chishiya didn’t respond but coolly watched Arisu. You thought that he looked as if he were making conclusions about something; he studied Arisu in the same way that he had watched people on the Beach from your balcony.

You knew that Chishiya was as likely to help Arisu as he was to be open with his emotions.

“Arisu also shows promise to be an executive, and he has brought the seven of hearts with him. I’ll have him go in a group with one of the executives today,” Hatter continued, ignoring the short exchange that just transpired.

A seven? You questioned how Arisu had even made it out alive of such a high ranked hearts game. But then again, Mira had cleared the nine of hearts somehow which earned her a highly ranked executive position.

Mira’s eyes gleamed, and she looked as if she were going to say something until a voice spoke up.

“He can come with me. I’m playing tonight,” An stepped forward without even glancing towards Arisu.

“Then that’s all settled? Executives are dismissed. I’ve already welcomed Arisu and Usagi to the Beach, but we have to go over some rules,” Hatter relayed to the rest of you, and you rolled your eyes at the mention of the Beach’s extensive rules.

You walked out silently, and didn’t feel like talking to Niragi. You hoped that Chishiya wouldn’t try to talk to you either. Or did you?

“(Name),” you heard someone behind you say. You swiveled around to find that it was Aguni addressing you.

“Yes?” you asked nervously. You couldn’t think of a reason Aguni had to look for you.

“Follow me,” Aguni said, and led you to an area where nobody could overhear you. You cocked your head to the side questioningly as you waited for him to speak.

“I think you should be careful around Niragi,” he said slowly.

“What?” You blurted before you could stop yourself. This was the second warning about Niragi you had received in a relatively short timeframe.

“Only regarding Chishiya. Try to keep the two separate at all costs, and don’t bring Chishiya up to him without warning.”

“Why? Did something happen?” you questioned, trying to figure out what had made Aguni get involved.

“I believe Niragi has taken a special interest in Hatter’s project with you two, and the relationship you’ve developed,” Aguni replied carefully. You felt that he wasn’t telling you everything based on his precarious tone.

“Alright,” you said finally. All these exchanges made you wonder how Niragi behaved when he wasn’t around you. It sounded like he became an entirely different person from whom you had once known him to be.

This was what the Borderlands was: it takes from you and warps the person you once were.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The evening came before you knew it, and you waited in a hallway nearby for Hatter to start and finish his evening rousing speech. You had been avoiding everyone by hiding out in the shooting range. You felt Chishiya wouldn’t dare come, and he didn’t.

You didn’t know if you were more disappointed or frustrated by him.

You paced in the hallway anxiously, until you saw Kuina approaching you. “(Name)! Are you alright? I saw Chishiya earlier today and-”

The feeling of evil jealousy reared its head in your ugly chest, and before you could stop yourself you spoke almost automatically.

“Chishiya this, Chishiya that. I guess it’s good he talks to you,” you laughed sardonically and immediately regretted doing so. Kuina didn't deserve your frustrations about Chishiya.

“I’m so sorry about him. You didn’t even come spar with me. Listen, (Name), I don’t know exactly what happened between you two,” Kuina pulled out a cigarette that you didn’t see she was carrying and lit it.

You waited for her to begin speaking again as she inhaled the smoke. She leaned against the wall and sighed before continuing speaking.

“I also don’t know exactly how Chishiya feels, but from what I’ve seen I definitely think there’s something. Whenever you’re playing games, he watches you until you leave. He lurks around or sends me to find out if you’ve made it safely back."

You stopped pacing in shock, and took a shuddery breath in disbelief. You wanted to start crying again from the ill feeling that arose when you thought of your dysfunctional relationship with Chishiya.

He does care.

There was an unusual silence, which made you register that Hatter's speech had ended. “I have to go,” you told Kuina and she wished you luck in your game.

You found a place to stand and waved for people who were in group 9 to come towards you. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Chishiya was leading group 10. He was talking with Arisu for some reason, even though you thought Arisu was supposed to be playing with An.

You didn’t realize you were staring at Chishiya until Niragi came up to you and tapped your head with the sniper gun he carried playfully, awakening you from your reverie. 

“Hey bitch! Daydreaming about someone?” Niragi greeted you.

“Niragi? Aren’t you supposed to be in another group?” You asked in confusion upon seeing Niragi. Occasionally the militants played together, but more frequently didn’t due to the power imbalance.

Hatter wasn’t very fond of a spades dominated player group, especially when you all had guns.

“Since Chishiya’s got to be in charge of one group, I don’t have to do so tonight. So I’ll stick with you, I’m sure to live,” Niragi smiled in amusement but you felt more panicked than anything. You would now see with your own eyes what the others said about Niragi.

Counting Niragi and yourself, there would be 7 people in your group playing that night. It was more than you usually had, and you felt the weight of the responsibility for keeping everyone alive drop on your shoulders.

Motioning for everyone to leave, you began to walk out towards the parking lot with Niragi chattering loudly about how many people there were to watch over. Before you left the Beach’s lobby, you turned back to see if what Kuina said was true. 

And you felt a chill run down you after you locked eyes with Chishiya, who was indeed watching you leave. 

You wanted to run over to him, and ask him why he kissed you. You wanted to ask him what you were to him. But most of all, you just wanted to talk to him again.

You tore your eyes away from him and focused back on the group you were with. You could now practically feel the burning gaze of Chishiya on your back as you walked out.

“Hey- don’t you agree that Hatter’s asking for a lot?” Niragi poked you in the side when he realized that you weren’t responding.

You sighed and clambered into the driver’s seat of one of the larger cars the Beach had to offer. 

“Hatter always asks for a lot,” you duly responded, watching Niragi take the seat next to yours. You turned on the music of the car as the other players crawled into the back, so that Niragi would get the message that you would rather be alone in your thoughts.

The poor quality of the music faintly played as you arrived at the game venue. It appeared to be either an arcade, or a go-karting site. It was hard to tell when the moss and rampant plants grew over the sign of the building.

You entered the building with the others, and as everyone grabbed a phone for registration you saw the go-karts lined up, ready for a race. You drew your gaze to the go-karting course that lay before you, and felt a sense of dread build up. There were around 20 of them lined up, which already was a difficult enough number to race.

The course also was redesigned to be abnormally more difficult than anytime you’ve ever raced. There were tighter turns, and the course appeared to be much longer. You hadn’t been go-karting frequently, and you hoped that the game’s rules weren’t impossible to clear.

“Racing! Sounds fun,” Niragi grinned at you while all you could think was how awful and not fun this game was going to be. “I bet I can beat you,” he continued and pulled out a pair of driving gloves from his pocket.

“How the fuck do you have those?” There wasn’t any way Niragi could’ve known that this game was centered around driving.

“Ah, don’t you think they make me look sexier? I was actually planning on driving us here, but you took the seat so I didn’t say anything,” Niragi flashed the gloves at you, and you shook your head in disbelief at his stupidity. Before you could say more, the chime of the game began.

GAME START

DIFFICULTY: FOUR OF HEARTS 

[KARTS]

NO WEAPON USE

TIME: 20 MINUTES

RULES:

PLAYERS MUST PICK A KART TO RACE IN. THERE WILL BE A 5 MINUTE PERIOD FOR PLAYERS TO GET INTO A KART.

AFTER THE PERIOD ENDS, THERE WILL BE A COUNTDOWN FOR PLAYERS TO BEGIN RACING. GAME CLEAR WILL BE FOR ALL PLAYERS WHO MAKE 3 LAPS IN THE GIVEN TIME PERIOD. 

WE STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO PICK ONE OF THE FIRST KARTS TO GET A HEAD START. HELMETS ARE PROVIDED ON A TABLE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROOM.

You watched as everyone in the venue either ran towards the first karts that were lined up on the course or went to grab a helmet. You gestured at everyone from the Beach to grab a helmet, but a couple went for the go-karts instead.

“Isn’t the helmet more important than the position? I’ve never been racing without one,” you said to Niragi as you both pulled one over your head. The helmets were running out quickly, and it soon became clear that there wasn’t enough for everyone.

“Doesn’t matter to protect your head, when you’re dead,” Niragi quipped and you both jogged back to the go-karts. You brought back a couple of helmets and handed them to the pair of Beach players who defied your instructions.

There were 3 minutes left until the race began. You strapped yourself into the go-kart and prepared yourself for the race. Why was the game hearts? You thought to yourself, bewildered by the suit of the game, but before you knew it, the game’s announcer spoke.

GAME START

A/N: Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out, I was so busy this week!! Hope you guys like it :) (also peep Chishiya will be more present in the next chap haha)

[beesmygod]

i dont have a solution to this problem. i have an idea, but its so contingent on people's willingness to do collective action that i might as well be suggesting people smash mastercard HQ by dragging the moon down from the sky: in the greek play "lysistrata", the women of athens ban together to deny their partners sex until the war is brought to an end. people who are willing to spend money on pornography are already demonstrating an undue level of support, possibly because some fetish content is lacking in quantity and quality. turn the taps off and point the finger in the direction of visa et. al. sorry. porn has been made financially unfeasible specifically because of these corporations you should give a taste of the true power of an unhinged porn enthusiast

[locksmithbostoniaca7]

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[mariacallous]

Many people are detained at U.S. airports for reasons they find arbitrary and mysterious. I got lucky—when I was stopped by Customs and Border Protection last week, after flying to Los Angeles from Melbourne, a border agent told me, explicitly and proudly, why I’d been pulled out of the customs line. “Look, we both know why you are here,” the agent told me. He identified himself to me as Adam, though his colleagues referred to him as Officer Martinez. When I said that I didn’t, he looked surprised. “It’s because of what you wrote online about the protests at Columbia University,” he said.

They were waiting for me when I got off the plane. Officer Martinez intercepted me before I entered primary processing and took me immediately into an interrogation room in the back, where he took my phone and demanded my passcode. When I refused, I was told I would be immediately sent back home if I did not comply. I should have taken that deal and opted for the quick deportation. But in that moment, dazed from my fourteen-hour flight, I believed C.B.P. would let me into the U.S. once they realized they were dealing with a middling writer from regional Australia. So I complied.

Then began the first “interview.” The questions focussed almost entirely on my reporting about the Columbia student protests. From 2022 to 2024, I attended Columbia for an M.F.A. program, on a student visa, and when the encampment began in April of last year I began publishing daily missives to my Substack, a blog that virtually no one (except, apparently, the U.S. government) seemed to read. To Officer Martinez, the pieces were highly concerning. He asked me what I thought about “it all,” meaning the conflict on campus, as well as the conflict between Israel and Hamas. He asked my opinion of Israel, of Hamas, of the student protesters. He asked if I was friends with any Jews. He asked for my views on a one- versus a two-state solution. He asked who was at fault: Israel or Palestine. He asked what Israel should do differently. (The Department of Homeland Security, which governs the C.B.P., claims that any allegations that I’d been arrested for political beliefs are false.)

Then he asked me to name students involved in the protests. He asked which WhatsApp groups, of student protesters, I was a member of. He asked who fed me “the information” about the protests. He asked me to give up the identities of people I “worked with.”

Unfortunately for Officer Martinez, I didn’t work with anyone. I participated in the protests as an independent student journalist who one day stumbled upon tents on the lawn. My writing, all of which is now publicly available, was certainly sympathetic to the protesters and their demands, but it comprised an accurate and honest documentation of the events at Columbia. That, of course, was the problem.

This past February, I booked a trip from Melbourne to New York, with a layover in Los Angeles, so that I could visit some friends for a couple of weeks. In that time, stories of tourists being detained in and denied entry from the U.S. had begun to regularly appear in Australian media. I began to think about what precautions I should take when crossing the U.S. border. I opted against taking a burner phone—a move that some legal experts had advised, in the press—believing it would provoke suspicion, and simply decided to give my phone and social media a superficial clean.

I designed my strategy around the understanding I had developed, after living in the United States for five years and travelling between the States and Australia time and time again, that C.B.P. was fundamentally unsophisticated and ad hoc in its methods, and that I would have to get extremely unlucky to be searched at all. I understood that, if I encountered any difficulty, it would be because the primary-processing officer at the end of that long line at LAX would notice that I had been a Columbia student, and ask to see my phone. If he searched through it, he would encounter the messy and personal digital life of a worryingly single thirty-three-year-old man. But he would not find photographs from protests, Signal conversations, or my Substack posts, which I took down in the week leading up to my flight.

But C.B.P. had prepared for me well before my arrival. They did not need to identify me at LAX as someone worthy of investigation: they had evidently decided that weeks before. My ESTA application—the system by which many tourists become eligible to visit the U.S. under the visa waiver program—must have triggered something on their end. Perhaps C.B.P. now has the technological dexterity to check the web history of every ESTA applicant. Or, perhaps, I was named in a list—provided by the far-right pro-Israel organization Betar US, to representatives of the Trump Administration—of visa holders whom it hoped to see deported. In either case, a U.S. government officer must have read my work and decided that I was not fit to enter the country. Because Officer Martinez had apparently read all of my material so long ago, he didn’t even know that I had taken all this material down. What this means is that, by the time a foreigner cleans his social media in preparation for a trip to the U.S., as much of our news media has been urging us to do, it may already be too late.

For me, this mistake was a disaster. Because I’d designed my strategy around passing the standard passport line, I was totally ill-equipped for what happened in the interrogation room. Though I did not know it then, I was participating in an interview that I was never going to pass. It didn’t matter that my views on Israel-Palestine seemed to disappoint Officer Martinez in their lack of divisiveness—I told him it is a conflict in which everyone has blood on their hands, but which can and should be brought to an immediate end by the dominant power. He asked if other Australians feel the same, and I told him that yes, most do. This seemed only to perturb him. When he ran out of questions about Israel, he disappeared into the back room to begin downloading the contents of my phone.

He was gone for a long time. I imagined him, in his office, using some new software to surface all the grimy details of my life. Though I’d deleted a lot of material related to the protests from my device, I’d kept plenty of personal content. Presumably Martinez was skimming through all of this—the embarrassing, the shameful, the sexual.

That fear was confirmed. Martinez came out and said that I needed to unlock the Hidden folder in my photo album. I told him it would be better for him if I did not. He insisted. I felt I had no choice. I did have a choice, of course: the choice of noncompliance and deportation. But by then my bravery had left me. I was afraid of this man and of the power that he represented. So instead I unlocked the folder and watched as he scrolled through all of my most personal content in front of me. We looked at a photo of my penis together.

When he was done, he disappeared again into the other room. I sat there, trying to understand why, despite my hard-won comfort with myself, and with sexuality in general, I felt so violated. I am proud of my life, of who I am. That didn’t seem to help. I realized then I had no privacy left for them to invade.

This time, Martinez was gone for even longer. After fifteen or twenty minutes, the person who had been left in the room to guard me, a lumbersome, goateed man without a name badge, turned to me and said, “God, dude, what do you have on your phone? This normally takes five minutes.”

This is when I truly knew I was fucked—not because the guard was telling the truth but because I sensed he was not. My feeling then was that he was playing his own part, a part designed to mount pressure, to intimidate.

When Martinez finally came out, he was bouncing toward me excitedly, like a kid with a lollipop. He said that they had found evidence of drug use on my phone. Did I realize that I had failed to acknowledge a history of drug use on my ESTA?

I moved, in seconds, from a desire to be amiable to a desire not to be found lying. In the gray zone between the arrival gate and passport control you are beyond the reach of the U.S. Constitution. You have fewer protections than a criminal metres away, inside the border. People with legal standing are much harder, it turns out, to abuse. In the C.B.P. interrogation room, I had not quite fallen to the level of statelessness, but I had fallen below the criminal.

Were I not fatigued from a long flight and from a long interrogation, and were I not stressed and scared, I would have recalled that my phone does not have clear evidence of drug use. A better version of me, the version I like to think I am, would have called bullshit on this bluff. But at that moment I could not account for every single one of the four thousand-odd photos on my phone. I imagined photographs that do not exist, messages that do not exist, proving that I was some sort of drug kingpin. So I admitted that I had done drugs in the past—in other countries as well as in the U.S., where I had bought THC gummies at a dispensary in New York.

Marijuana is legal in New York, but it is not legal federally, and so it seems that, in the eyes of C.B.P., I had broken federal law for purchasing legal weed in New York, and then perhaps again by failing to declare it on my ESTA. Martinez, who seemed now to be bubbling over with excitement, went back to his supervisor to, in his words, “pitch this.” When he came back, he told me I would be put on the next flight back to Australia.

Martinez and another officer took me in the back, pushed me against the wall and patted me down. Martinez made sure that I carried no weaponry between my penis and my scrotum. They took the shoelaces out of my shoes and the string out of my elastic pants, presumably so that I would not be able to hang myself. This struck me as overly cautious, but as I entered the detention room I changed my mind. We were so deep in the building, and so clearly underground, that the very notion of a window started to feel like something from a half-remembered dream. Three months ago, a Canadian woman was disappeared into the system for nearly two weeks. I did not know then whether I would be out in one hour, one day, or one month. When I was brought into the room, I encountered a young woman, in tears, begging the guard for information. He told her he had no information to give her and that none would be forthcoming. “That woman,” he said, pointing to a bundle of blankets in the corner, “has been here for four days.”

After that I started to spiral. We detainees were banned from talking to one another. There wasn’t anyone I could communicate with, anyway—a barrier in the room separated the men from the women, and I was the only man. There was food—cup noodles mostly—and a vending machine with M&M’s and Coca-Cola that we could use “if we had brought cash,” one of the guards told me. The room was so cold that all of us were wrapped in C.B.P. blankets.

The bulbs buzzed and the air-conditioning hummed throughout the day, or the night, or whenever it now was. I learned then that the detention room is a place where time itself is detained, that the clock behind the guard, who himself sits behind plexiglass, existed mostly to taunt us. We worked hard not to look at that clock, because, though the hands would move, we had no concept of what they were moving toward. The horror of the thing was that no one knew where we were, and we had no way of telling them. We were isolated from one another and also from the world.

It was then, some hours after first being detained, that I realized C.B.P. must be governed by some internal procedure regarding the distribution of information, and I approached the guard to ask if there was any way I was allowed to get word of my detainment to the outside world.

“You can call your consulate,” he said.

I exercised that right immediately. He dialled the number, and I stood there at his desk, talking loudly so that the others, who I doubted had been informed about their right, could hear me. The woman at the other end of the phone told me that in all likelihood I would be on a plane that evening, about six hours from then, and that, if I knew the number of any of my contacts by heart, she would notify them for me. That’s how my mother found out.

About three hours later, after I passed out on a cot in the detention pen, an officer shouted and woke me up. I was taken to another room and subjected to a second interview, one I did not know was coming, in which all the same questions of the first interview were repeated. I lost my patience with this new guy, Officer Woo. “If you are already going to deport me,” I asked him, “why should I answer any of your questions?”

He seemed shocked at that. “We haven’t decided if we are going to deport you yet,” he said. Then he paused. “But looking at your file . . . I can see why the other officer told you you were going home.”

This second interview had a “Groundhog Day” quality to it, except I was glad for the repetition. We encountered errors in Martinez’s notes. At one point, when I told Woo that the demonstrations at Columbia were “pro-peace” protests, he looked at me with real surprise. “I thought they were pro-Hamas protests?” he asked, quite genuinely. I was stunned by the innocence he brought to a question I found violently absurd. He couldn’t seem to bear the look I gave him then, a look somewhere between horror, exasperation, and fury, and, in embarrassment, he started to laugh.

I was put on a plane, eventually. It was indeed the next Qantas flight out, QF94 at 9:50 P.M. on June 12th, roughly twenty-seven hours since I’d first left Melbourne and twelve hours since I’d arrived at LAX. Two heavily armed C.B.P. guards led me out of the detention room and marched me through the bowels of the airport, and then, suddenly, into the bright lights of the duty-free shops, and then finally toward the gate, where, as I stood with guards at the head of the queue, I watched my compatriots board one by one. This gate at LAX is famous to the many Australians who have passed through it on their way home. The armed-guard act from C.B.P. was, I think, supposed to be a kind of shaming, but I felt such a surge of love and respect for my own people that I began to smile and joke with passengers as they passed. The guards did not like this.

When the plane was loaded, I was finally allowed on. The lead guard, Officer Liu, handed an envelope with my passport and phone to the head flight attendant, who, seeing at once what was happening, began to treat me with conspicuous warmth, and the guards, uncomfortable in their contrast, quietly disappeared.

Qantas itself no longer reflects the warmth of its staff—presumably at the request of C.B.P., the airline withheld my phone and passport from me until we landed in Melbourne. In this respect the airline is, in my view, carrying water for the Trump Administration. (Qantas did not respond to a request for comment.) Because I did not have my phone, no one—not me nor the consulate—had informed anyone in Australia that I was on that plane, and I landed back in my home country believing that I would have to make my own way to my house in the bush, nearly two hours from Melbourne.

Every year scores of Australians and thousands of others are denied entry to the United States. C.B.P. has full discretion, after all. There is nothing new about the U.S. ferociously, arbitrarily, and cruelly deploying that discretion in order to keep out people the government does not like. What is new is the politically motivated deployment of that power to exclude speech that the government does not want to hear.

When Mahmoud Khalil was detained, I wrote on my blog that the U.S. had pivoted to a new tactic, one I called “the deportation of dissent.” Then it happened to me. C.B.P. ostensibly marked me for denial of entry before I arrived. Its officers told me explicitly why I had been marked. Then it used the powers at its disposal to make sure I did not enter the country.

I do not yet know if I will be allowed back, or if I have been banned, as can happen to travellers accused of misrepresenting their experience with drugs. But I fear that writing about this, and speaking to the media, as I have done, will trigger further reprisals from the U.S. government. I’m afraid that I will be banned for good, if I haven’t been already, or that the information on my phone, which I handed over to them, will be used against me. But I was targeted for writing honestly about what was in front of me—the same thing I’m doing now. That is worth its price. 

[locksmithsandiegoca1]

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[darkmaga-returns]

Official economic data from any government is always treated with suspicion by anyone with common sense.  The US, for example, witnessed some of the most egregious statistical tinkering imaginable under the Biden Administration, not to mention outright lies and propaganda from the establishment media on the health of the economy.  To this day no one has been fired (or tarred and feathered) for hiding the reality of the stagflation crisis.  Any government or corporate economist that called the threat "transitory" should be stripped of their financial prestige and banished to a cash register at Arby's.

And let's not forget Biden's misrepresentation of the labor market, portraying millions of new jobs for illegal migrants and visa holders as if they were jobs benefiting American citizens.  In the US and across the western world, lying about the economy is generally seen by politicians as a temporary solution to secure reelection.  However, in China, lying about the economy is treated as a national security imperative.  If there's anything in the world that gives communists a feeling of existential dread, it's the fear that their ideological enemies will discover proof that communism doesn't work.

The Trump Administration's tariffs on China are not the initiator of the nation's troubles, they are more a bookend to a process of decline that has been ongoing for years. 

Overall tariffs on Chinese goods currently sit at 124%, but some goods will be taxed as high as 245%.  Trump has given a 1 month exemption on electronic parts and devices, perhaps to offer manufacturers like Apple, Nvidia and Microsoft time to arrange sourcing from alternative vendors.  The problem for Chinese manufacturers is not just the tariffs but the uncertainty of timing and sudden changes to policy.  They say no one is willing to make a big move on production or shipments until the trade landscape becomes more predictable.  This means most Chinese factories are frozen in stasis.

Trump's tariff actions are widely criticized by the media as erratic or poorly planned, but what they don't understand is that uncertainty is the real leverage, not the tariffs.  What seems like a spur of the moment decision or a sudden capitulation on Trump's part can be highly effective at throwing foreign governments and corporations off balance.  Globalism requires a perpetual status quo, change of any kind is like holy water to a vampire.

Chinese shipments are on standby and orders are frozen.  Nothing is moving.

[fake-f1-news]

BREAKING: Helmut Marko to Race For Red Bull

Red Bull driver development head Dr Helmut Marko looks set to drive for the team in 2025, shfnd understands.

"Many believe that I am far too old to be a racing driver. This is nonsense. Look at what Brad Pitt has achieved for Apex. Entering F1 at the age of 60, winning the Abu Dhabi GP, and helping them achieve a 1-2 finish in Australia, according to Apex's Twitter account. If Mr Pitt, a man of a certain age, as they say, can do it, then why not me at 81, an even more certainy-er age? I used to race in F1, after all. 53 years ago, admittedly, but still!"

"Just look at Mr Hayes' story. A man, forced to retire in the 1990's after a crash, returning to train a rookie driver. A rookie 33 year old... anyway, if he can return, 30 years after a career ending crash, then why can't I return, over 50 years after my own career ending injury? After all, F1 is much safer now than it was back then, regardless of how little Mr Hayes cares about that!"

"Some think that the real reason why our second drivers struggle at Red Bull is that they are put in the car too early, with only a handful of races at Visa Cashapp RB Toro Rosso Minardi AlphaTauri. Obvious poppycock, as we saw Lewis Hamilton fight for the title in his rookie year, and average driver Jacques Villeneuve win his 4th race. If the mastermind behind Private Paradise can win so early, why can't our talented crop of youngsters? Maybe that's the problem. They're all too young, lacking the mental maturity to thrive in a front running F1 car. The solution? Pop me, an octogenarian, in the car. Clearly I am the only one capable of taking on Max Verstappen in equal, possibly more equal from Max's point of view, machinery."

Concluded Marko Respect:

"As we saw in Australia, Lawson did an awful job. Out in Q1, with a laptime a second slower that what Max could do, before struggling like a Pokemon without any moves left to get through the field during the race, then crashing out. I almost thought Sergio Perez was still driving for us! Clearly it's up to an old man like me to show these embryos how it's done."

[incaseofart]

Surely Nothing Will Go Wrong

Chapter 1 - the Thot Plickens

Wendy (Void) and Kei (Shiroe) have been friends for quite some time. When Wendy's visa gets screwed up, Kei offers up a unique solution to keep them from having to leave Japan. The only problem? Faking a marriage with his long time crush might just kill him.

<<AO3 LINK>>

word count: 2.6k

content warning: nothing in this chapter, but the fic overall is rated E for Explicit

new chapters will be posted weekly!

[thailandimmigration]

 5-Year Retirement Visa

Thailand offers a 5-Year Retirement Visa (officially known as the Non-Immigrant O-A Long Stay Visa) for foreign nationals aged 50+ seeking extended residency. Unlike the standard 1-year retirement extension, this visa provides pre-approved multi-year validity, reducing annual renewal hassles. However, strict financial, insurance, and compliance requirements apply.

Key Features:

✔ Pre-approved 5-year stay (no yearly extensions needed) ✔ Multiple entries permitted (no re-entry permit required) ✔ Must maintain health insurance (Thai or international) ✔ Financial proof required upfront (no monthly income option)

2. Eligibility & Financial Requirements

A. Basic Qualifications

Age 50+ (no exceptions)

No criminal record (police clearance from home country)

Health insurance (min. THB 400,000 inpatient / THB 40,000 outpatient coverage)

Note: Unlike the 1-year retirement extension, the 5-year visa does NOT allow monthly income proof (e.g., THB 65K/month)—only lump-sum deposits or fixed investments qualify.

3. Step-by-Step Application Process

Option 1: Applying from Abroad (Recommended)

Gather Documents:

Passport (valid 18+ months)

Bank statement (showing THB 3M for 12+ months)

Medical certificate (no leprosy, TB, drug addiction)

Police clearance (FBI check for Americans, etc.)

Health insurance (approved by Thai General Insurance Association)

Submit at a Thai Embassy/Consulate (e.g., Los Angeles, London)

Receive 5-Year Visa (sticker affixed in passport)

Option 2: Converting from a Tourist Visa (Inside Thailand)

Must first obtain a 90-day Non-O Visa (based on retirement)

Then apply for 5-Year O-A Visa at Immigration Bureau (Chaeng Watthana)

Processing time: 4–6 week

4. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

A. Insurance Policy Rejections

Problem: Many international insurers aren’t approved by Thai authorities.

Solution: Use Thai insurers (e.g., LMG, Pacific Cross) or verify your provider’s eligibility.

B. Bank Deposit Timing Errors

Problem: Funds not seasoned 12+ months before applying.

Solution: Plan 1+ year ahead—transfer funds early.

C. Overstaying Risks

Problem: Lapsing insurance = visa cancellation.

Solution: Set��auto-renewal reminders for insurance.

5. Long-Term Strategy: Beyond the 5-Year Visa

A. Transitioning to Permanent Residency (PR)

After 3+ consecutive years on a retirement visa, PR becomes possible.

Requires THB 1.8M+ income, Thai language test, and clean record.

B. Elite Visa Alternative

If financial proof is an issue, Thailand Elite (5–20 year visas) offer easier terms (but higher cost).

C. Leaving & Re-Entering

The 5-Year O-A Visa allows unlimited exits/re-entries—unlike 1-year extensions.

6. Expert Recommendations

For Maximum Stability:

✔ Use the THB 3M fixed deposit (easiest to prove) ✔ Buy Thai health insurance (no approval risks)

For Frequent Travelers:

✔ The 5-Year O-A Visa is ideal (no re-entry permits needed)

For Lower Financial Commitment:

✔ Stick with the 1-year extension (THB 800K option)

7. Conclusion: Is the 5-Year Visa Right for You?

Best Suited For:

High-net-worth retirees who can lock away THB 3M

Expats who travel often (multi-entry advantage)

Those who despise annual immigration visits

Not Recommended For:

Expats relying on monthly income (only lump sums qualify)

People who may need to withdraw savings

Final Advice: Consult a Thai visa specialist to assess whether the 5-Year O-A Visa, 1-year extension, or Elite Visa aligns best with your financial and lifestyle needs.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Kelby Vera at HuffPost:

Vivek Ramaswamy got quite a strong reaction from conservatives when he tried to explain hiring trends across the tech sector in a culturally-charged social media post on Thursday. In an extended post shared on X, the tech entrepreneur wrote about how “top companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over ‘native’ Americans,” claiming the imbalance “isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation)” but rather because of differences on the societal level. “A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture,” Ramaswamy continued, before telling readers, “Tough questions demand tough answers & if we’re really serious about fixing the problem, we have to confront the TRUTH.” The CEO-turned-politician’s assessment? That “American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long.” Ramaswamy suggested that entertainment has had an outsized impact on shaping mainstream American values “at least since the 90s and likely longer.”

“A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers,” he claimed. Comparing and contrasting characters from several popular ’90s sitcoms, Ramaswamy went on to say, “A culture that venerates Cory from ‘Boy Meets World,’ or Zach & Slater over Screech in ‘Saved by the Bell,’ or ‘Stefan’ over Steve Urkel in ‘Family Matters,’ will not produce the best engineers.” His solution? “More math tutoring, fewer sleepovers. More weekend science competitions, fewer Saturday morning cartoons. More books, less TV. More creating, less ‘chillin.’ More extracurriculars, less ‘hanging out at the mall.’” While Ramaswamy’s point about pop culture seemed reasonable enough, the entrepreneur’s diagnosis veered into problematic overgeneralizations when he claimed the difference boiled down to families’ cultural and geographic backgrounds. “Most normal American parents look skeptically at ‘those kinds of parents,’” he wrote. “More normal American kids view such ‘those kinds of kids’ with scorn. If you grow up aspiring to normalcy, normalcy is what you will achieve.”

[...] Ramaswamy then tried to rally readers to help shift the status quo by envisioning a future where America “once again prioritizes achievement over normalcy; excellence over mediocrity; nerdiness over conformity; hard work over laziness.” While he pinned demographic disparities across the tech world on supposed cultural differences, the imbalance is more likely about dollars and cents. In 2020, a study by the Economic Policy Institute found that employers that rely on America’s H-1B visa program to recruit temporary employees with “highly specialized” skills and technical education often pay those workers well below the market wages. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Walmart, Google, Apple and Facebook have all made robust use of the program to fill job shortages. With President-elect Donald Trump preparing to implement a draconian deportation strategy when he assumes office next month, conservatives still seem to be at odds over how to approach the labor shortages troubling many of America’s biggest and most profitable businesses. Though Tesla CEO Elon Musk, like Ramaswamy, has vowed to be behind Trump’s harsh immigration policies, on Wednesday he posted that “the number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low,” and the country needs “to recruit top talent wherever they may be.”

DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy helped spark MAGA-on-MAGA violence over his X post on cultural differences on work expectations between native-born and foreign-born Americans.

[transpondster]

As of March 27th, 2025, the non-tenured faculty union, WOAW-UAW has gone on strike at Wellesley, marking an unprecedented time in the college’s history. This strike comes after the college’s administration refused to thoroughly engage in good-faith bargaining and come to terms on many key proposals from the union, especially regarding compensation and workload. Now, in an unsurprising turn, the college has begun to place the full strain of the strike onto the backs of students and tenured faculty, while dodging accountability entirely.

The Provost’s office emailed students a shocking update today: essentially all striking courses without a lab will only be worth 0.5 credit unless a replacement (scab) professor is offered. This ultimately means that many students are no longer at the minimum number of credits to be considered full-time students at Wellesley, let alone seniors who need credits to graduate. Any Wellesley student on financial aid who does not meet the minimum 3 credit courseload requirement will lose their aid, and international students could lose their visa.

The college’s solution, for the problem they artificially created, is allegedly to open up seats for students in tenured professors’ classes. This means that students will sign up to complete the semester in a course they did not attend for half of the semester, may have absolutely no prior knowledge in, and may not even be remotely interested in. On top of that, likely hundreds of seniors and students on financial aid will need to find open seats: these courses will likely become so crowded that it is impossible to gauge how these lectures could even continue to run, or how professors could handle this additional workload.

70% of tenure track faculty have also pledged not to scab union classes. I assume this solidarity extends to them refusing to open their current courses to more students. If this is the case, very few departments would be able to even offer open seats to students. The economics department is one of the few departments that has decided not to stand with the union and instead scab their courses, so perhaps we will all be taking Econ 101 together in a classroom where we can’t even get desk space.

Higher education in 2025. University administrations have always been slippery little shits but this it’s still discouraging to see a school that forced a strike tell students they have to bear the burden of trying to break a union.

[unpluggedfinancial]

Bitcoin’s Energy Usage: The Most Misunderstood Innovation in Human History

They say Bitcoin is boiling the oceans. That it’s an environmental villain. That its energy use is unjustifiable.

But what if the real crime isn't the energy Bitcoin uses, but the narrative built to demonize it? What if Bitcoin isn’t the problem... but the blueprint for the solution?

Let’s talk truth. Let’s rip apart the lazy headlines and go deeper. Because beneath the noise is a revolution most people still don’t understand.

Bitcoin uses energy. So does everything that matters.

The media loves to compare Bitcoin to Visa or PayPal, painting it as inefficient or unsustainable. But that’s like comparing a flashlight to the sun. Visa runs on the rails of a trusted, centralized system. Bitcoin is the rail. It’s the whole damn thing—a self-contained, decentralized monetary system that operates without permission, politics, or backroom deals.

Its energy use isn’t a bug. It’s the bedrock. Proof-of-Work ties digital value to physical reality. It makes Bitcoin incorruptible. You can’t fake a Bitcoin. You can’t conjure it with a keystroke. You earn it by anchoring to the laws of thermodynamics. It’s not "magic internet money" – it’s physics-backed truth in a world of fiat fiction.

Meanwhile, the traditional financial system gets a free pass. Nobody counts the fuel burned by fleets of armored trucks hauling cash. Or the skyscrapers lit 24/7. Or the servers running endless transactions across thousands of banks, hedge funds, and central banks. No one questions the carbon footprint of the military-industrial complex that keeps the petrodollar on life support.

Bitcoin replaces all that bloat with software. With math. With consensus instead of coercion. It doesn’t require tanks to back it up. It doesn’t need to spy on you to enforce rules. It just runs. Borderless. Permissionless. Unstoppable.

But here’s where things get interesting.

Bitcoin mining isn’t just not bad for the environment. It could be the greatest tool we’ve ever had for energy innovation.

Across the globe, Bitcoin miners are setting up shop where energy is cheap, stranded, or wasted. Remote hydro in the mountains. Natural gas flares in oil fields. Oversupplied wind farms with nowhere to send excess power. Miners turn this lost energy into economic value. They act as a buyer of last resort—a pressure release valve for unstable grids and a reason to build more renewables.

This isn’t hypothetical. It’s happening right now. In Texas, Bitcoin miners are helping stabilize the grid. In parts of Africa, they're jumpstarting economic activity by creating demand where there was none. This is not an energy hog. This is a global infrastructure upgrade wrapped in code.

So why the backlash?

Because Bitcoin exposes the rot. It shines a light on the inefficiency, the fragility, and the waste embedded in the old system. It asks uncomfortable questions. It refuses to play by the rules of fiat gatekeepers. And that scares people.

It forces us to confront the truth: that energy isn’t the problem. Corruption is. Misaligned incentives are. And Bitcoin is the first monetary network in human history that rewards transparency, efficiency, and truth.

We’re witnessing the dawn of a new era—one where money is no longer a tool for control, but a tool for freedom. One where energy isn’t rationed by bureaucracy, but unleashed by innovation.

Bitcoin’s energy use isn’t a moral failing. It’s the cost of freedom. The cost of opting out. The cost of building something better.

We’ve misunderstood the most important innovation of our time.

But the block clock keeps ticking. And history has a way of proving the truth.

Tick tock. Next block.

Take Action Towards Financial Independence

If this article has sparked your interest in the transformative potential of Bitcoin, there’s so much more to explore! Dive deeper into the world of financial independence and revolutionize your understanding of money by following my blog and subscribing to my YouTube channel.

🌐 Blog: Unplugged Financial Blog Stay updated with insightful articles, detailed analyses, and practical advice on navigating the evolving financial landscape. Learn about the history of money, the flaws in our current financial systems, and how Bitcoin can offer a path to a more secure and independent financial future.

📺 YouTube Channel: Unplugged Financial Subscribe to our YouTube channel for engaging video content that breaks down complex financial topics into easy-to-understand segments. From in-depth discussions on monetary policies to the latest trends in cryptocurrency, our videos will equip you with the knowledge you need to make informed financial decisions.

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Whether you’re a seasoned investor, a curious newcomer, or someone concerned about the future of your financial health, our community is here to support you on your journey to financial independence.

📚 Get the Book: The Day The Earth Stood Still 2.0 For those who want to take an even deeper dive, my book offers a transformative look at the financial revolution we’re living through. The Day The Earth Stood Still 2.0 explores the philosophy, history, and future of money, all while challenging the status quo and inspiring action toward true financial independence.

Support the Cause

If you enjoyed what you read and believe in the mission of spreading awareness about Bitcoin, I would greatly appreciate your support. Every little bit helps keep the content going and allows me to continue educating others about the future of finance.

Donate Bitcoin: 

bc1qpn98s4gtlvy686jne0sr8ccvfaxz646kk2tl8lu38zz4dvyyvflqgddylk

[alilarew23]

Ahhh I've been manifesting my SP, who is my situationship of almost a year, to ask me to be his gf and it's been going great, sometimes I wonder if he's actually in love with me cus he's acting like that, today we spent the whole day together, he called me "his queen" and bought me a huge pancake from a good restaurant.

But the problem is, he's an Israeli living in my country (in Europe). I don't think he can get sent back to Israel to be in the army, but it's possible he'll get a visa to another country, he's thinking a Canadian visa like his friend who's Ukrainian got when the war in Ukraine started. I want him to be happy and he would be over the moon if he got Canadian visa, but it means I would lose him forever. How can I manifest that it won't happen? Sometimes when I manifested things in the past, the opposite happened. Why is this happening now that things between us were starting to go so well?

girllll wym you wonder if he's "actually" in love with you?

he IS in love with you. you ARE a queen. you deserve pancakes served on a golden platter, slathered with the richest, most expensive maple syrup and butter every damn time you desire them. (goals. yum).

any time i read something like, "but the problem is," i'm tempted to be like, CiRcUmStAnCeS dO nOt MaTtEr, because they don't, but i also acknowledge we're all human and even if we know the law it's easy to occasionally get caught up in the machinations and be like whaaaaattttt thhheeeeee fuuuuuccckkkkkk. so, here's a hug, and now that we've soothed the human in you, it's time to remember, you are god.

and god knows only solutions, not problems.

but if you persist in the problem, god will accept that's the "solution" you want, and you'll manifest more of what you do not want.

so, with love, stop.

and now my question is, what do you truly want?

take circumstances out of the equation, and take FEAR out of the equation.

long before i knew the law i always used to tell myself to make sure whenever i was making a decision i was running toward something, not away from something else. meaning, move (in law terms, decide, assume) from a place of love, of truth.

so what is it?

come on, dig deep.

you can have anything you want.

anything!

the ending in which you and your BOYFRIEND, not situationship, are together, in love, safe, secure, fulfilled.

what's that look like? what's that feel like? where are you? how are you?

until you know your end, you cannot dwell there.

and until you dwell there, it cannot possibly reflect.

so do not waste another second.

go within. find your answer.

[minty-the-witch]

Mental and Spiritual: Different Sides of the Same Coin

Howdy everyone! 

I’ve been MIA for a while because my life has just been absolutely crazy lately. I’ve bounced around from Airbnb and hotel with my family while our house is being repaired (from a house fire). I also changed jobs during this period. All this to say, my mental health has just been in the gutter as of late. 

I did some reflection, and I realized that part of my problem was that I was neglecting my spiritual side during all this chaos. I began by getting a new tarot deck from the local Barnes and Noble. Once I began doing readings again I immediately felt better, but I was still rusty when it came to the readings themselves. I was doing okay, not great nor terrible. 

Something I have always struggled with is balance. Balancing all aspects of my life has been a challenge. Sometimes I would go all in with my writing, and neglect other areas like my spiritual work. Other times I would hyperfocus on spiritual things and my “real life” would suffer. I still don’t know a very good solution, other than to keep trying. I started journaling, but it was hard for me to keep up with that too. I take my meds every day but sometimes it feels like that doesn’t help.

Obligatory I am not a professional, seek help if you feel you really need it. 

Spirituality has helped me so much, it’s hard for me to even explain. It makes me feel whole. Whenever I read a spiritual book, or meditate, or do tarot I find myself closer to peace. I believe that humans were never designed (or not evolved) to sit at a desk job all day or on your feet for 8+ hours at a tedious job. Whenever I’m at my fast food job, I don’t even feel like a person. My good friend has a job in her field (biotech) and even she is miserable working 9-5 every day. 

I feel like people have grown to cut out that spiritual side of themselves, for various reasons but for the purpose of this post I am going to blame late stage capitalism HAH! Our society does not put much stock into spiritual growth or health, or mental health for that matter. I think that both are absolutely vital. In my own experience, I think they go hand in hand. Two sides of the same coin. When my mental health is shit, my spiritual growth suffers. And visa versa. 

That is why I am making it a personal goal of mine to read more books and try to do one blog post a week. No idea what I will talk about, I don’t know that I have much to say - I’m definitely not an expert in the occult by any means. But I will give it a shot. 

What are some things to help rekindle the spiritual fire?

For me, my love is always tarot. I love helping people with readings as well as doing some for myself. It feels so magical to do. To feel that connection with the cards and the universe. I am not a tarot expert yet, but I feel the vibe of the cards to the best of my ability. By that extension, I would suggest doing something that helps someone else!

Another thing that helps me is a spiritual cleanse in the shower. I wash up with very strong intentions of washing away the dirty negative thoughts and energy. Then I will spend 5-10 minutes just standing or sitting under the water, meditating. I connect most with water (despite being an earth sign), this may not work for everyone. 

When I lived in a different neighborhood, there was a cute little forest park nearby. Whenever I was feeling negative I would go for a walk through the woods and just vibe out to the playlist of the day. I took in the energy of the forest around me. I grounded myself almost every time with this one specific tree that felt especially magical. (I even found little spirits there!) 

Something you can do almost anywhere is classic meditation. Although it's hard to do when you have company. My favorite meditative tool is the app Calm (I’ve also used Meditopia in the past). But there are free ones available too, like the app Moonly, and also if you have Spotify you can find good meditative tracks! It’s hard for me to clear my head, as I am an anxious person, but once I get in the groove of things it certainly helps. 

Speaking of groove, doing something you love that gets you in that flow state is always helpful for your mental and spiritual health! For me it's writing. Writing is a kind of magic itself, at least that is what my guides have always told me. The ancient Egyptians certainly believed so. 

The key with any of these things, is to have the intentions of rekindling your spiritual fire. If you just do these things without the aim of that connection, well it's just good for your mental health and there’s nothing wrong with that. Like I said before, I believe they go hand in hand. Having the proper intentions and confidence is half the battle in magic. 

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Trust Joe Biden

June 19, 2024

ROBERT B. HUBBELL

President Biden announced a significant modification to the pathway to citizenship for “undocumented spouses” of US citizens. Even the hard-to-impress headline writers at the New York Times described Biden’s action as follows: “The new policy is one of the most significant actions to protect immigrants in years.” (This article is accessible to all.)

Per the Times,

Under the new policy, some 500,000 undocumented spouses will be shielded from deportation and given a pathway to citizenship and the ability to work legally in the United States. It is one of the most expansive actions to protect immigrants since Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, was enacted 12 years ago to protect those who came to the United States as children. [¶] The policy aims to help people who have been living in the United States for more than a decade, building lives and families here. Even though marrying an American citizen generally provides a pathway to U.S. citizenship, people who crossed the southern border illegally — rather than arriving in the country with a visa — are required to return to their home countries to complete the process for a green card. To be eligible, the spouses must have lived in the United States for 10 years and been married to an American citizen as of June 17. They cannot have a criminal record. The benefits would also extend to the roughly 50,000 children of undocumented spouses who became stepchildren to American citizens.

The Republican response to Biden’s humanitarian plan descended to new depths of mind-blowing hypocrisy. As The Hill reported in its headline, Republicans slam Biden immigration order as election ploy.

“An election ploy?” Hmm. Remember that time—six months ago—when Joe Biden had successfully negotiated a bipartisan immigration reform package that was set to sail through the House and Senate? And then remember that Donald Trump asked congressional Republicans to kill the bill to preserve immigration as an election issue for Trump? See HuffPost (1/24/24) Trump Privately Pressuring GOP Senators To ‘Kill’ Border Deal To Deny Biden A Win.

So, in the absence of congressional action, President Biden is doing the only thing he can —use executive action to address areas of immigration policy within the President’s discretion. Biden wishes it were otherwise but has no choice. Rather, he is willing to work with anyone who is interested in finding solutions.

In announcing the new policy, President Biden said,

Folks, I’m not interested in playing politics on the border or immigration. I’m interested in fixing it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again today, I will work with anyone to solve these problems. That’s my responsibility as president. That’s our responsibility as Americans.

No, Joe Biden is not playing politics. He is addressing an intractable problem despite obstructionist behavior from Republicans. A lesser president would give up in defeat. Not Joe Biden. He is a great president and deserves to be re-elected.

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]