#we of course want to be sensitive to the needs of humans and traditions of other cultures

[lani-heart]

|| series masterlist || next // previously

parings -> ( eventually ) enhypen x reader genre -> soulmate au, fantasy au, angst warnings -> none ( I think ? ) word count -> 2.4k

abstract -> After y/n accepted Yang Jungwon, Sunoo is determined to accomplish what he called operation: seduction.

y/n's perspective

Kim Sunoo is determined on what he calls – operation: seduction. 

He’ll come to my dorm room to walk me to the cafeteria and even carry my breakfast tray. He’d also do the same with lunch and dinner. In fact, he’d make sure I wouldn’t skip any of my meals. Also even made sure I had snacks and water to drink. 

He’d also buttered up my roommates… and brought them food and snacks. They also gossiped with him… he for some reason knew everything about anyone even what they rumored about me, Wonyoung, and Eunchae.

Of course that enraged Wonyoung even more… 

Out of the three known soulmates, Sunoo is their favorite. Jungwon of course is annoyed at the sudden thought that he was “losing to Sunoo” 

The two boys made it clear to me that they weren't interested in Sooha. Even telling me about how they talked about boundaries with her. 

I however still refused to befriend the girl. She knew that… Sunoo and Jungwon told me how badly she wished to befriend me and my friends but how she didn't understand what she did. 

It wasn’t her fault… but I couldn’t face her knowing she had Heeseung’s heart.

“y/n!” I heard and I dreaded everything about her. 

“Hello, Sooha,” I said and she smiled. “How about you eat with us, today?” she asked and I shook my head. “I’m eating with the Riverfield council today,” I said and she seemed disappointed but…

“Why don’t we all eat together?!” she asked and  I sighed. “That’s not a good idea… even you know they don’t get along”

and K doesn’t want to be around you because you don't choose him over them. 

“I know… I wish they’d get along,” she muttered and I sighed. “Hey! Why don’t you use magic?” she asked and she didn’t know but what she was doing was offensive. 

“You can make them get along… Does it take a potion? Ooh or maybe a spell–" "Shut up and do stuff for your own” Wonyoung said now angry… actually fuming. 

“W-what?” Sooha said caught off guard and shocked at her angry aura. “All you want is to ask y/n for a spell? For your own benefit? Witches don’t do favors… nor do we like requests. We practice magic for ourselves, not for your own desires” she ranted. 

“What, Wonyoung is trying to say… What you’re suggesting is offensive to any witch. For a vampire to ask a witch for help is very stupid. At the end of the day Sooha, lots of our species are enemies… werewolves and vampires… witches and humans… vampires and witches” I explained and her eyes widened. 

“But… your soulmates are Sunoo and Jungwon!” she said and I sighed. “You're asking me to perform a spell for you. Against their own will, and it's not my practice in magic” I said and she shook her head. 

“I didn’t know! I’m So–""You seem to never know,” Wonyoung said as she took me away from the girl. “You didn’t need to be mean,” I said and she sighed.

“She still doesn’t understand why you avoid her. Nor is anyone telling her. You secretly hate her and you’re caught pretending” 

sunoo’s perspective

Jungwon and I knew y/n didn’t like Sooha. She had every reason… four out of seven of her soulmates are in love with her. They’ll reject her for Sooha. 

But I didn’t expect Sooha to be so pushy towards her… wanting so badly to befriend her.

“I didn’t know it was offensive,” she said, explaining what she did to y/n. I didn't know it was offensive to ask a witch to do magic. Especially if you’re a non-magic user.

Does that mean I offended her when I asked her for that truth serum?

“She’s just being sensitive,” Jake said and I rolled my eyes. I get they didn’t like our soulmate but… they should respect that she’s a witch and their cultures and traditions are sacred. 

“I don’t even know what type of witch she is,” Sooha said. The boys were learning about y/n through Sooha…

I noticed Jay’s conflict between wanting to meet her and being faithful to Sooha. Even though none of us were together with her… not even them.

“Jungwon, what type of witch is she?” Sooha asked and his eyes widened. He didn’t knowingly don’t know… I never asked” he confessed and then her pink eyes landed on me. 

“Suno–” “Blood Witch” I said knowing that she wanted… “Blood witch?” she said confused and I sighed. 

“She comes from an ancient bloodline… An Ichor witch. They’re rumored to once have served gods and practiced magic through a gray spectrum of sorts” I explained and her eyes glowed. “Woah.. so she’s a lot stronger than I thought,” she said and I saw everyone look at me in shock… I was too when I learned about her. 

“Isn’t she the top student in the magic users?” Niki asked and I nodded. 

“She’s the strongest magic user. Many people say that she can do any type of magic but practice blood magic” I said and I noticed Jungwon shift around nervously. 

“What do blood witches do?” Sunghoon asked.

“They grant power in the blood. They excel in rituals, using their blood for benefit. They also are masters in control. With blood, they can control anyone and even make someone a puppet. They can also do linking magic where they can link your life to another’s or even paper dolls” I said and I saw them all turn a little fearful. 

“She can do that?” Sooha asked and I nodded. 

“The witches and other magic users have different specialties either by linkage or interests. Usually, lineage is the most powerful but y/n is a wildcard in magic” I explained and she nodded. 

“Do you know about asking witches for favors?” she asked and I shook my head. 

“Why would it be disrespectful though?” Jake asked and I didn’t know… I thought witches would often do favors for humans and other species like the werewolves when shifting or vampires with the sun.

“We’ll ask”

“It's rude… witches were often exploited and thrown to execution if they didn’t help humans. Other species would threaten a witch’s life and family if they didn’t comply,” she explained and it made sense. 

There were many instances in history when witches were tried for magic users in dark magic, which is now seen as discrimination.

“Also simply asking a witch to do something is suggesting we’re below another person…” she said and I felt my eyes widen. 

“What? In what way does that even make sense?” Jungwon asked and she sighed. “Magic users are creatures, often servants of nature. So if a human or a supernatural being asks for a favor in spells or potions it's offensive. You’re asking us to malpractice our magic for your benefit. In some instances, it isn’t but with Sooha she asked me to unethically control others' ' she explained and it made sense.

With magic users being executed for the past it made sense that they were seen as inferior. Especially when asking for wrongful favors and one-sided benefits.

“Did we offend you?” I asked and she smiled. “With the truth serum? Kinda… but it was natural problem-solving. I also thought it would benefit me and wouldn't harm anyone so it's okay” I said and I sighed. 

“We didn’t mean to offend you,” Jungown said as he kissed her head and she smiled. “You didn’t. It's okay, you can tell Sooha not to beat herself up for it. She didn’t know, '' she said and I nodded. 

“y/n?” I said and she looked at me with those pretty eyes of hers. “Why are you so close to Riverfield?” I asked and Jungwon also looked at her. We’ve been wondering about this question for a while now. 

“They offered help… werewolves are also creatures in the past who have been wrongfully killed so naturally witches and werewolves get along. It's a history thing… but EJ and K have been very kind and offered their help when it came to… us from a boy’s perspective” she confessed and I smiled. 

“It's just they’re our rivals,” Jungwon said and she nodded. 

“I know, but they understand my side of things when the Heeseung and Sooha situation was a fresh wound, '' she said and I knew what she meant. She saw comfort in them… but she was hiding something.

“y/nnie– oh… what are vampires doing here?” Wonyoung changed moods very quickly. She’s been enraged by Sooha. She was a witch who specialized in potions. So she has sought to brew potions and spells very often.

“We’re sorry for offending you,” Sunoo said and she scoffed. “Why isn’t Sooha apologizing then?” she said and I sighed.

“It's annoying! Do you know how often people come up to me asking for love potions and potions to magically fix their appearances? Or soulmate spells?! Sooha and all the other creatures should know how offensive it is.” she ranted and I could see y/n agreed with her.

“Then ask me a favor” I suggested and her eyes widened. “I could do anything you’d like. I didn’t know asking for such things was bad. So for myself and Sooha, I'll do anything for forgiveness” I said and Wonyoung smirked. 

“I’ve been needing these crystals in the forest… they only appear at midnight and the academy doesn’t restock on them until the next few months” she suggested and I nodded. I then looked at my soulmate who only smiled softly. 

“I don’t need anything,” she said and I smiled. 

“Then, I'll just continue with my operation to seduce you!” 

Gathering crystals for Wonyoung was a lot harder than I thought… It took me all night so now here I was in the student council room tired because of those crystals. 

“You actually did it?” she asked, shocked. 

“I really am sorry. I know you hate Sooha, but she’s still my friend so I hope you can forgive her also.” I said and she scoffed. “I don’t like Sooha. I won’t ever especially with how your friends like her over your own soulmate” she said and I felt my eyes widen.

“Yes, I know all seven of you're her soulmates but I won't tell her. I want don't hear her crying over you guys” she said and I agreed. 

“You aren’t bad Sunoo… neither is Jungwon. The both of you seem to have some common sense even Niki seems to be possessed when y/n is around. She just hasn’t noticed it yet” she said and I nodded while laughing.

Niki was obsessed with y/n. 

He really wanted to talk to her but didn't want to push her.

“Be careful, vampire,” she said and I smiled. “Of course, witch”

 

“I should’ve been the one apologizing,” she said as Heeseung pat her head lovingly… idiot. “Don’t cry over the stupid little witch” Jake said and I scoffed. 

“Jake shut up,” Jungwon said angrily and he rolled his eyes. 

“I wanna be her friend… the vampires won't be my friend since I'm half human, and the humans are scared of me. K won’t talk to me anymore… and I selfishly offended y/n” she said with tears running down her cheek. 

“Why do you care so much about her?” Sunghoon asked and she smiled. “Everyone talks about her… she’s the smartest student in the bright sun. She’s also known to be friendly towards everyone even through the merge. She doesn't care if you're a hybrid. Everyone judges me for it… but she wouldn’t. I just wanted friends who were girls to accept me” she said.

I hate seeing her so sad… she was my friend. But I would never choose her over y/n, so I really wanted to tell her why the witches hate her so much.

“Sunoo… are you almost done with the cookies? Sooha could have some right now?” Jake asked and I shook my head. “Sorry Sooha, but I’m on thin ice with y/n. These are for her.” I said and her eyes glowed. 

“She likes sweets?” she asked and I paused before nodding. She was planning something. 

“Can you help me bake something for the witch council as an apology?” she asked and I sighed. Wonyoung won’t like this. 

“Sooha, you should find other ways to apologize. The witch council will probably not forgive you” Jungwon suggested and she pouted. 

“Why not?” Heeseung asked and I couldn’t believe they were that stupid. 

“How about this, i’ll talk to her–” “No you're not,” Jungwon said quickly. Heeseung shouldn’t be allowed near y/n…

“No… I need to apologize myself” 

y/n’s perspective

“So the announcements will start next week?” Jacob asked and I nodded. “Yes, so Chanhee you should work with Sunghoon, Maki, and Wonyoung about the script. Once you have it written, tell Wonyoung so she can take you to Liz for a look-over over” I said and he nodded. 

I soon see Sunoo from the corner of my eye come into the council room. 

“Do we talk to Sunoo and Niki also?” Kevin asked and I shook my head. “If you’d like you could, but Sunghoon should have all the information for his script so asking him would be fewer steps' ' I explained and they nodded.

“Thank you!” they said and I bowed as they left. “Sunoo,” I said with a smile as he chuckled. “For you,” he said as he handed me a picnic basket. 

It contained a bunch of snacks and even cookies. “Why?” I asked and he smiled. “For my operation: seduction! And because I needed to show you I'm sorry for offending you” he said and I smiled. 

“You didn’t have to,” I said and he nodded. “I did,” he said and I smiled. “Hey Sunoo?” I said and he looked at me with his sparkly eyes. 

“I accept Kim Sunoo as my soulmate,” I said and all at once I was lifted off the ground. “You mean it?!” he said and I chuckled. 

“Yes, operation: seduction was a success,” I said and he kissed me. It felt natural like I was where I belonged. 

“Should I feel jealous?” I heard him pull away from each other to see Jungwon. 

“You ruined my moment” Sunoo pouted and the younger vampire rolled his eyes. “Sure, hyung,” he said and I chuckled. 

“Now, we have to share her?” Jungwon asked and Sunoo scoffed.  “Don’t say it like that!” he scolded and the younger looked offended. “Don’t yell at me!” he scolded and I laughed.

I may not have all my soulmates… but these two were enough for now.

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[d34dlysinner]

Ohh then if you don't mind can i request some wedding day headcanons for Satan and Mammon? Sfw and nsfw too if you don't mind? Thank you! And please take your time!

(sure!)

MINORS DNI

Warning: spoilers main story chat 6

Satan:

Your wedding day was almost like some weird fantasy like quest. First of all Satan proposed six times, to which you had to say "yes" each time so the wedding could continue. This stage of the wedding and proposal part went easy and quick.

The actual wedding, which lasts six days, was the part that felt long. Of course humans have one wedding day which at times can already feel overstimulating, but six days where you had to do different thing on each day such as: Kissing the ass instead of the lips, solving 66 riddles from 66 demons you're close to. It was all a lot.

But the traditions aside, Satan was amazing each step of the ceremony. He helped you and even guided you when you were unsure of what to do. He was very patient during the first 6 days. He gave you a lot of compliments on your wedding attire and he himself didn't look bad either.

This soft attitude continued until it was time for the honeymoon. Let's say that he was at his limit and needed to have you that exact moment. He wasted no time shredding your attire and latching his lips onto your skin. His hot tongue touched every sensitive place on your body. You could feel him grinding against you as he started to unbuckle his belt.

"The wedding may have taken a short 6 days, but I promise you that our honeymoon will feel endless.", he says as he prepares your hole with his fingers. What he meant with his words didn't necessarily mean that he would have sex with you for eternity. He knows you have limits. He meant that he'll make you feel special every day as best as he can, just like during your wedding and honeymoon. To him, you were the most important thing of the days and soon the most important person during your entire marriage.

Mammon:

Marrying him meant that there was going to be a HUGE celebration.

As the king of greed he needs everyone present for the wedding.

The preparations to the wedding were all done by demons who atleast understood the Tartaros culture.

Mammon assigned a few demons to help you for the wedding. This meant that they'll pick out an attire (or actually multiple attires) for the wedding.

He wanted to show you off. He did this by dressing you in gold and other expensive accessories. It could go extreme to the point that the attire would actually weigh too much for you. At that point he'll take little bits of the load of you.

"It's our wedding day... We should be the main focus the entire time.", he says as he wanted you to look and feel like royalty. He wanted others to know just by looking at you, that you were taken by this powerful king.

The venue was like every building, decorated in gold. There were golden seats, gold food, gold lights. Everything was gold.

The ceremony went smoothly as there weren't as many steps for the ceremony. The reception definitely lasted way longer than the ceremony. Everyone was celebrating and Mammon was stuck at your side 24/7. Since you're each others possession he wants others to see and acknowledge this fact.

After the wedding and during the honeymoon you could feel your that your ass was slightly sensitive. Mostly, because Mammon couldn't keep his hands of you during the wedding.

He would apologise about that. Soon after he'll initiate some love making with kisses and hugs. He was very soft and very slow. He may have been patient during the entire ceremony, but right now he was going agonisingly slow with you. It was as if he wanted every nook and cranny, every mole, scar or anything on your body memorised by heart.

His big hands touched every sensitive part on your body. He kissed your lips so softly as if he could've hurt you. His hands travelled lower to your hole as he took his time preparing you. He didn't want you to get hurt after all. While taking him in he'll whisper sweet compliments in your ear while placing more kisses on your face.

"I have always been yours. I'm proud to finally call you mine too..."

[teaspoon-of-salt]

imo part of contemporary racist attitudes (from any side of the political spectrum tbh) towards east asia are a lineage from older orientalist beliefs that easia (particularly china and japan) is ancient and unchanging. orientalists of the 19th century saw our countries as places that were stuck in time, decaying through inertia and opposition to "progress" (which, of course, would be brought to them by opening themselves to the west).

modern-day east asia... enthusiasts [polite smile] i'd argue cultivate a descendent of that thought. those who don't assume easia is just like their home country instead treat easia like it's insular from history and the rest of the world, as though our countries have not been historically imperialised and are not bombarded (like the rest of the world) with western viewpoints and american mass media. as though we don't go through societal change through our own efforts and of our own accord.

but no - east asia is a holdout against the tide of modernity. culture is not the background and context against which we move, but traits of each individual's character. an unruly child isn't just upset because his parents aren't buying him candy, he is rebelling against confucianism, and his parents disciplining him is bringing him back in line with confucian teachings. we are defined by rules, philosophy, and tradition—the more ancient these things are, the more intriguing for our onlookers.

better yet, to be untouched by modernity is to be untouched by its discourses. you know, "japanese people don't care about political correctness, they just write what they want" and "actual japanese women don't mind being sexually harassed" and "japan is homogenous so you can't possibly expect them to be sensitive towards other races." japan is presented as static and unchanging—people don't care because this is how things always were, and this is how things will be forever. it's their tradition. it's their culture.

meanwhile china's rapid societal modernization post wwii is largely regarded in every aspect to have been brutal and barbaric. whether change yields positive or negative results it's viewed negatively, as though it doesn't matter how many years pass or how many steps are taken, chinese people are still backwards and regressive, always socially lagging behind the west. because that is apparently our culture.

and yes this comes from all sides of the political spectrum. the right-wing fanbase which idealizes the unchanging nature of japan, a "progressive" fanbase that assumes japanese people are so tied to tradition and an imagined culture that everything goes back to rigidity and long-established practices, often justifying harmful things in the name of respecting japanese culture. nothing and no one in china can't be explained by saving face and confucianism, which is at all times oppressive, evil, and a source of mystical guidance for chinese people.

being considerate and acknowledging that you might not immediately understand every cultural nuance is good, acknowledging that not every story needs to be personally relatable is good, acknowledging that people are influenced by cultures different from your own is good. but at some point it becomes ignoring the fact that asians are humans who are influenced by our culture in addition to personal experiences, feelings, traumas, ambitions, politics. like just think about how everyone around you interacts with culture and to what degree that informs their actual personality and deepest desires and assume that asians are the same as you in that respect please.

being an asian among easia "enthusiasts" is like there's always this interminable search for authenticity, for what is "traditional," for the "real" japan untarnished by these modern western ideas of feminism, and meanwhile many societal advancements for china are just... ignored (don't you know regressive china is so homophobic that disney can't even portray gay affection?). everyone wants to pull us back through time and explain us through adherence to culture and tradition, as though the modern day and just... simple human experiences don't matter or contribute to our lives. we just gotta be explained by something else, something that makes us other from the west.

[choclemon]

Wow, who's that handsome goofball??!

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 

Let’s kick off to a blazing start on this KNY writing blog with an in- depth character analysis of everyone’s favourite fire- type human...

Rengoku Kyojuro!

A.K.A. That one annoying weirdo who shows up for a single arc, makes the entire audience fall hopelessly in love with him forever, then dies! ~

Power move tbh.

[Insert gigantic disclaimer here that all the posts on this blog will be my personal headcanons. Interpretations always vary from reader to reader- so let me know anything you agreed with, or felt completely differently about; I love that kind of thing! This whole blog is basically just a self- indulgent space for me to analyse the crap out of this series for fun, so come join me in my spiralling demon slayer brainrot!! The more the merrier :D]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

No, but seriously, who is that guy?

Kyojuro is a shining mentor figure, courageous and supportive; a brash, unforgettable character lovingly crafted by Gotouge to make the Mugen Train arc as excruciatingly painful as possible.

The thing is, my kneejerk reaction when he first showed up in canon was: “this guy is dangerous”. Lurking beneath that amicable smile is a professional killer who will not hesitate. We were given a brief glimpse into this side of Kyojuro during his initial encounter with the Kamado siblings at corps headquarters; upon being confronted with the traumatised orphan boy and his demon sister, he was the very first hashira to object, calling for Nezuko to be beheaded and vehemently declaring “no trial is required!!”. Sure, he was far from alone in chomping at the bit for child murder back then, but that reaction was a telling indicator that Kyojuro’s particular brand of passionate loyalty is more than capable of driving him to make brutal snap decisions. Even if deep down he felt uncomfortable about the outcome, he acted rashly because the situation directly contradicted his even deeper- rooted morals. Had things been left to the flame hashira alone, the story of the Kamado siblings would have ended right there and then.

What would have happened if Kyojuro had been the one to discover them in the forest that fateful day instead of Giyuu? I’m not totally convinced, but I’m inclined towards that same bloody outcome he immediately called for before the trial. Perhaps Tanjiro’s tenacious defense of his sister would have persuaded him... but I suspect Kyojuro’s quick- fire judgement would lop that demon's head off “to protect the civilian from being eaten!!” before the poor kid even had a chance to explain who she was.

Love him or hate him, the flame hashira is an intense character who invariably leaves a lasting impression on the reader. In all his canon appearances, Kyojuro is unabashedly vocal about anything he feels strongly about, even to the point of rudeness- but still remains sensitive and attuned to the needs of others. He demonstrates an impressive capacity to change his opinion on the fly, yet stubbornly sticks to his core ideals- even if they sometimes get in the way. In other words, this is a character who gleefully contradicts himself at every turn... which of course makes me want to stick him under a microscope to study like a bug! 🧐

***continued under the cut***

I think Kyojuro is a highly emotionally intelligent individual who knows he’s fucked up to the bone as a result of all the pressure he’s under, but is reluctant to share any of this heavy emotional burden with others. After all, such a show of vulnerability would likely have been met with silence, rejection, or outright mockery by his family growing up. Shinjuro being a depressed alcoholic father with his own grief and self- worth issues is an obvious culprit here, but I’d argue Ruka inadvertently did a lot of harm too. By placing so much emphasis on the importance of using his strength to protect the weak and upholding the family tradition, she planted a brave, wholly self- sacrificing heroic ideal in her young sons mind. She was fully aware of the harsh realities he would face if he followed in his father’s footsteps, so in addition to preparing him to be mentally resilient, she sought to protect him from the temptation of misusing his strength and status as a hashira, instilling a sense of noble purpose in her son. In doing so, however, she failed to teach him an important nuance: when devoting yourself to a life shouldering the burdens of others, it’s vital that you take proper care of yourself too. Which can occasionally mean prioritising your needs over others, sharing your own burdens when they become too heavy.

If she had lived longer, perhaps Ruka would have corrected his path as he matured, serving as a backbone of motherly emotional support that would’ve allowed him to be a little more forgiving towards himself. Given that he was still very young when she died, it almost seems like the naive child Kyojuro internalised that straightforward “be a brave hero and use your strength for others!!!” lesson initially, and because it was the precious advice given to him by his late mother (and at the surface level it is sound advice), in his developing mind it grew into something almost irreproachable, an unbreakable life motto. Follow that up with a decade of grieving alongside an abusive alcoholic father who tells him over and over that he’s “useless” and will “never amount to anything”… it’s only understandable that he clung so hard to the memory of his mother’s shining hopes for his future. The recently- bereaved young Kyojuro would have quickly learned to be adaptable in stressful situations, smoothing over volatile arguments to maintain open lines of communication within his broken family. His mother’s words kept him motivated despite his father’s toxic criticism, simplifying the overwhelming pressure and conflicting expectations weighing on his small shoulders into an easily- digestible heroic ideal he must strive to become.

This brings us to the complication of Kyojuro being the eldest son throughout that early grieving period; he was uniquely positioned to prevent Senjuro from falling too far into the lonely emotional pit he suddenly found himself in. He couldn’t ask for mutual support in return; he would never expect that from anyone in the first place, let alone from the precious brother he was attempting to shield from the very same turmoil hidden within himself. There was a full ~6-7 year age gap between them, which would have only enhanced Kyojuro’s instinct to coddle his junior as much as he was physically able. When Shinjuro fell into his inevitable drunken decline, you bet the young Kyojuro did everything he could to redirect the brunt of the abuse away from his little brother, even taking responsibility for his father’s behaviour in public on his back too.

As Senjuro grew older, he’d naturally have become more capable of understanding his brother’s situation, so their relationship would probably have evolved into something more mutually supportive than the “reassuring mentor- student”, and I hate to say it but “replacement- father” dynamic we were presented with in canon. I’m sure they goofed off together plenty as normal siblings do, but for the most part- at least from the brief glimpses we were shown of them interacting- Kyojuro viewed his brother as a precious source of familial love and happiness (that he must work hard to raise well and protect at all costs!!! :>), while Senjuro deeply admired his older brother in return, leaning heavily on him for all the emotional and practical guidance their father was no longer able to provide.

At the tender age of ~13-14 post Mugen Train, Senjuro had to grow up fucking fast. I don’t doubt that one of the most agonizing things for him would have been the knowledge of how much Kyojuro had privately sacrificed for him growing up, but now that he was finally old enough to fully understand and support him in return… he was gone forever.

With the above mess in mind, what is the ever- suffering big brother supposed to do with all his bottled up trauma and insecurity? Kyojuro’s answer was simple: passionately burn right through it!!! Project a straightforward, irreproachably heroic persona to the world, wholly embodying the selfless ideal his mother encouraged him to be. He follows corps rules to the letter, becomes almost universally liked by his peers; after all, years of practice smoothing over awkward family interactions no doubt made him an expert at keeping everyone happy. Adopting a selfless, hard- working approach to life that must not be deviated from under any circumstances.

This is because Kyojuro is all too aware of the damage it would cause his loved ones if he were to let himself go, having witnessed and been a victim of Shinjuro’s violent depressive outbursts. In his determination to avoid falling into the same trap, he goes to the opposite extreme, throwing himself whole- heartedly into everything. Not just out of loyalty to the corps, his acceptance that a warrior could die tomorrow, or even the memory of his mother’s words; it’s because deep down he’s terribly afraid he’ll end up spiralling like his father if he ever puts in less than his all. His inner world is literally on fire; this guy is so damn passionate about meeting an impossible standard he violently rejects his own self. Kyojuro sets his figurative self- worth ablaze and uses it as fuel to help others even more! High- functioning depression, full power let’s go!!!

One other important thing to take into account is that the Kyojuro we first meet in canon is only 20- barely into adulthood- and over the preceding couple of years would have shouldered more responsibility than ever before by taking on the mantle of a hashira.

Perhaps I’m over- projecting here, but I can remember having a tendency to think in absolutes at that age, angrily shutting away childhood traumas and plugging the gaps with a confident front, all so I could focus on handling what were suddenly very adult- sized responsibilities. Acknowledging and processing my feelings was too dangerous to be worth the risk of burdening others; not to mention the prospect of being seen as anything less than perfectly self- assured at all times felt like a catastrophe.

Kyojuro’s selfless hero character archetype takes that very human response to the absolute extreme, since easing off training and “wasting time” taking care of personal needs in his profession would mean death; either his own, or that of the people he’s trying to protect. The smallest display of weakness is met with dire consequences. Not so different from the punishing environment of his childhood, right? Yikes, I’m starting to see a pattern here…  

The scene where his father rejects the news he has become a hashira is probably the clearest demonstration of Kyojuro’s immense empathy and his willingness to listen to others- and his careful avoidance of ever voicing his own needs. He accepts Shinjuro’s callous lack of support, knowing that trying to defend his position would only upset his father more, which in all likelihood would worsen the fallout later for him and everyone else involved with the household. He immediately proceeds to pour out all the reassurance he really, desperately needed to hear himself… to comfort his beloved little brother.

Even if he knew he was hurtling towards certain disaster on that train, I’m convinced Kyojuro wouldn’t do anything to save himself. This is a character who would solve the trolley problem by physically stopping the thing with his bare hands and getting run over in the process, simultaneously saving everyone and a random person that happened to jump off the bridge overhead at the exact same time, who goes on to have a change of heart after witnessing such a heroic display. All this without crushing the eggs of a dumb bird that made its nest in the trolley tracks ahead…

You get the idea.

Kyojuro was a man who truly didn’t care about himself. He expected to die young; probably to a demon in a grotesquely violent fashion. That that was the reality of his job, and it suited him. He kept himself functional by throwing 100% of himself into every day, using his warrior’s strength to protect the weak just as his mother taught him. After all, why even bother worrying about personal feelings, when you believe yourself to be utterly disposable- when your entire purpose in life can be boiled down to suffering so that others don't have to?

From Kyojuro’s perspective, examining those rejected emotions too closely only causes him further pain, and he would run the risk of overburdening others if they became so inflamed they were allowed to rise to the surface. That would distract from the mission at hand, and the consequences would surely be dire!! Yes, ignore them, squash that stuff back down right where it belongs- set your heart ablaze slaying everyone else’s demons instead! It’s the only way to live!!!

Of course, the one mentor figure left alive who was best placed to steer Kyojuro off this noble path of self- destruction… was trapped in the pit of despair that lies at the very end of it.

At least his kid died before joining him in that pit, right?..

Nah, I reckon Kyojuro spent his life there, with a beaming smile plastered across his face 😄

[i-hate-loving-nicholas]

My first impressions on Nicholas’ interview for Style Magazine - Part 1

First of all Nicholas is a human being who irradiates light, sensitivity and love! I wish I could have the áudios of this interview because I’m pretty sure I’d listen to it on repeat as he carries himself through the talk with so much class that it’s impossible to not feel enchanted by him.

I love how affections he sounds when he talks about his Greek ancestry. He always makes sure to highlight how his traits of being Greek shaped his personality and emotional being. He said in the interview how the Summer vacation in Greece with his Greek side of the family taught him about bonding and hospitality and that reminded me of my own summer vacation with my mother’s family! Those times were so important to me growing up and taught me to always be kind to people and cherish those precious moments.

I was so desperately wanting to see if he was going to elaborate more on the moment the teacher said he was not gonna be much in his life and he didn’t disappoint me! I work in the educational field and when I first read that he said he wasn’t cut out for school I got a bit disappointed because education is such a big part of my life and sth that I truly believe shapes and helps people on their journey. But also I know how failed the traditional educational system is and how it needs a reform urgently! I’ve ran into so many Nicholases in my course of teaching life and unfortunately we failed so many of them. Kids, teenagers who were so full of dream, expectations and the system shoves them because they don’t fit into their standard type of students we “should” expect. Well, seeing someone like him shining and bringing this problem into light is refreshing as we need changes and we need to acknowledge these creative, sensitive minds that we encounter on our places of work because these people matter and we need to help them to find their path in life. I’m so glad Nicholas found his and we get the chance to experiment this world with him.

Well, I’m gonna wrap this part for now because I started rambling about nonsenses (hahahaha) but I’ll be back with more impressions about this precious human that Nicholas is.

#i admire him more and more! #he’s so precious!

[weatheryear]

Mario

In the early age of video games, you had to look at the box art if you wanted any clue as to what was actually happening. The problem was how to make a few pixels a recognizable character?

Well, you comically over-exaggerate their traits, of course. And this is why Mario is over the top. Of course, in the end, all he is, is a man wearing a red shirt and overalls, with a monogrammed hat.

Monograms were the sign of chic, and most people only had 2 or 3 sets of clothes. My father was raised with the tradition of dressing up to go to the doctor. He couldn't explain the tradition to me, but it makes a lot more sense when you have 1 set of clothes not covered in shit from hard work.

But we also need to focus on the great lie about Italians, that they are "White". People for most of Human history, didn't hate people because of the colour of their skin, but because of their ethnicity. Most people hated their neighbours, whom they likely warred against, often for centuries if not millennia.

The Italians who settled in the US and Britain were poor, and would often come over as low-skilled workers. They didn't share the same values, culture, or work ethic of the WASPs. And that is what mattered the most for discrimination. Italians were treated incredibly poorly, along with the Irish.

And in fact, a fat Italian plumber from Brooklyn was the least likely person to be the hero. We've had female heroes, in Ellen Ripley, and Wonder Woman. We've had black heroes, as their civil rights march was well publicized, and so people actively worked to help them.

Italians? Yeah, well, the main attitude was fuck them. Until Nintendo decided to make one their hero, and likely the first recognizable video game character, of all time.

Well, what about Princess Peach? Isn't it demeaning for a genuinely sweet woman to need to be rescued?

You say the princess because she's a princess. Yes, she is more valuable than you, (man), because she's a princess. This is an incredibly simple way to set up and emotionally wrought narrative. Because, again, early video games had near zero resources to work with. It's really hard to compare them, as it's 10,000 times weaker than an apple watch.

As for why the man should be the hero and not the woman?

Men have more muscles for their height, higher muscle density, higher bone density, higher volume of oxygen, higher lactic acid tolerance, higher stamina, they run faster, and have arms that are roughly twice as strong. They not only have more testosterone, but are at least twice as sensitive to it. Peach should not be a hero. Unless you go the Super Princess Peach route.

Addendum

A year after Nintendo created Mario, they created Samus Aran. The twist of the first Metroid was that Samus is a Girl. Which every - single - feminist commenting of video games has to ignore. Samus was likely the second recognizable video game character, ever, and remains a fan-favourite to this day.

Doesn't this contradict what I said about Peach?

Well, Samus is genetically engineered, and given super-advanced technology, including power armour. Dread actually animated a jump pack, to explain why she can jump so high.

[burnwater13]

The Mandalorian, Din Djarin, interacting with the massif's that traveled with the Sandpeople on Tatooine. Images from The Mandalorian, Season 2, Episode 1, The Marshal. Calendar by DateWorks.

Grogu had been surprised to see how well the Mandalorian got along with the massiff’s that the Sand People had brought with them on their travels. He’d never really considered Din Djarin a ‘pet’ kind of person. He was barely a good ‘feed Grogu regularly’ kind of person! You shouldn’t have a pet if you don’t even remember to feed someone you’ve been sent on a quest over. 

He asked the Mandalorian about it when they were all hunkered down for the night. 

“When did I ever forget to feed you?” 

His friend sounded annoyed, but Grogu could hear a little tell tale sound of guilt as well. 

“When we left Gor Koresh behind? Buddy, you’d already eaten three dishes of dung worms and a bowl of broth with krill. That’s hardly forcing you to skip a meal.”

Grogu sniffed at the Mandalorian and turned away from him. Those dishes of dung worms were small and the krill had gone bad. He hadn’t even eaten more than half of it. He wasn’t a human. He didn’t eat like a human. He ate like himself and that’s what he wanted the Mandalorian to honor. 

“Come on. I try to feed you regularly and you turn your nose up at ration packs every time. I didn’t have that option you know. I had to eat whatever my squad leader put in front of me whether I liked it or not.”

Grogu looked at the Mandalorian over his shoulder and sighed deeply. Just because someone was cold and mean and cruel to you didn’t mean you just passed that down the line like it was bowl of hot sauce!

“Kid, I want you eat whatever you want, but I don’t always know what that is. Plus I have no idea how much you want. Two weeks ago giving you a big bowl of broth just produced a lot of burps. So I cut it back to a smaller cup of broth and you seemed to do better with it. Then there was that day you found that clutch of gorgs and you ate them all and then you didn’t want broth at all, but buddy, those gorgs didn’t really agree with your … ah… system. Good thing we were camping outside and not stuck in the ship.”

What! Now he was being scolded because one of his favorite foods anywhere didn’t agree with his digestive track! That was outrageous! What about that time the Mandalorian ate that ‘stew’ at the cantina in Mos Eisley? Grogu didn’t like to tell him that he didn’t need a map or an external sensor set up to find Din Djarin, no matter where he went. He reeked of the spices in that stuff and it was all Grogu could do to simply be polite about it.

“Listen kid, if you spent all your time in armor, you’d smell a little funky too. I had no idea that the stuff Peli recommended was anything but regular Mandalorian stew. It smelled okay. It tasted good. As I recall, you ate some of that stuff too. You don’t hear me complaining about it.”

Grogu shook his head and rolled back over to face away from his protector. They’d had disagreements like this before. They’d have them again. It was to be expected when two people from very different backgrounds and traditions had to spend all their time together, every single day, until who knew when. It didn’t help that they were both stubborn, strong willed, know-it-alls. 

“I understand. I do. You and I are very different people. We just have to make this work until I can get you back to your people, whoever they are. That’s what I’m tryin’ to do. Just get you back to where you belong.”

Wow. He had to go there. Of course he did. Din Djarin with all the sensitivity of a brick being dropped on your toe. Now Grogu knew how the people who raised krill on Sorgan felt when he told them they had to move. Uff. 

“Come on, kid. I didn’t mean it like that. Don’t you want to go back to your people? Don’t you want to do more of that Jedi stuff?”

Grogu didn’t know what to do. Should he sit up and start clapping or should he just grab his stuff and make his way back to Mos Eisley? Peli would never say something that heartless to him. Didn’t the Mandalorian know that he was the only Jedi left? They were all gone. The Empire had destroyed them all and they were chasing him to make sure they got the very last properly trained Jedi youngling. Everyone of his friends. Everyone of his masters. Even the librarian who pinched his cheeks. All gone. Wow. Way to go bounty hunter! Bringing him in cold even when he was warm.

Grogu began to sniff and then he began to hiccup. It was awful. Tears were leaving dirt tracks down his face. ‘Mando’ would probably tell him to just wipe them off and quit obsessing about the bad things that had happened and cheer up. They were on Tatooine. The fire was warm and he was safe, right then and right there. 

“Buddy, I’m sorry. I just want what’s best for you. I’ve never had any kids to take care of before. You’re the first. I’m gettin’ a lot of stuff wrong and for that I’m sorry. I’m not tryin’ to ditch you on someone else. I just want to find the people who know better than me how to care for you. Okay?”

Grogu nodded his head. He wiped the tears away and pointed at the massiff that was snoring loudly near the Mandalorian’s feet. 

“I was here along time ago. My commander introduced me to the Sand People and they taught me the language and that’s how I made friends with the massiff’s. They’re good critters as long as you treat them right. Even when they snore all night long.” 

The Mandalorian laughed a bit and Grogu giggled. Like Din Djarin should talk! He was the Mand’alor of snoring!

“Mand’alor of snoring? Well, if that’s true, I’m honored. Would you like somethin’ else to eat?”

Grogu shook his head and climbed into the bounty hunter’s arms and snuggled against his beskar chest plate. He listened carefully, which wasn’t easy with the massiff snoring away, until he could hear his friend’s heart beat. Then he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of Krayt dragon steaks. Yum.

[discipulusmaleficus]

(suffered a whim and drafted a new, wordier post for the fundamentals of my Weird Magic System Nonsense (1, 2) bc I never bothered convert pt. 1 from handwriting to text and it's ugly. I do not promise this is comprehensible, coherent or interesting.)

Magic is not a solved science. It's difficult enough trying to integrate the different models and techniques used by various magical traditions throughout the world even without trying to throw quantum mechanics into the mix. Furthermore, for historical and cultural reasons, much of the magical community remains reluctant to entertain certain investigations.

(Besides, wouldn't want to make yourself redundant, would you?)

I have vague and silly ideas about it, though.

RE: MATERIAL AND EXTRAMATERIAL SPACE

Magic, like material matter, most likely takes the form of particles and waves (which are the same thing ;) ). (No I do not have names and basic properties for the fundamental magical particles and I am not going to. I was considering charges of hot/cold and wet/dry despite these not meaning anything relevant to our macro understanding of these things, though.)

Now.

As a rule, material particles live in the mostly-flat three dimensional space we are familiar with navigating, and do not have the magical energy to leave it unless charged by an outside force.

As previously noted, magic takes place in six dimensions. Anything not on the material plane is on the astral plane, making it much larger and more confusing to navigate.

Similiarly, as a rule, pure magic exists Around the material plane and will only ever -- usually never -- be briefly visible or solid from our perspective. It can, however, bond with and influence both solid and magical particles -- in fact, essentially every molecule has magical elements. Magic is prone to loosely orbiting the material plane, though this effect peters out the further you get from it. (Have fun getting lost in the void.)

Purely or primarily magical entities include ghosts, curses, most daemons, and abominations such that how best to describe or categorise them is a lively debate.

RE: SOULS OR AURAS OR WHATEVER

All living things have some biological systems that extend into the astral plane. In intelligent species, this is what we call the 'soul'. Its anatomy is complex, fluid and poorly mapped, and can vary on an individual basis far more than our physical forms. Certainly, though, it is -- in most people -- capable of forming prehensile appendages, of absorbing and channeling magical energy, and of something resembling sight, touch and taste. Good passive defence against hexes correlates with less sensitivity.

Magic as an activity is, at its core, simply the ability to make use of said extramaterial Bits to achieve useful work. Our minds aren't really equipped to comprehend the full picture here, so anything sensed spiritually is generally subconscious or translated into an easier-to-digest form which varies person to person. This is also, of course, why mages are so often reliant on visualisation, symbolism and instinct.

Although they can naturally be pried apart temporarily, damage or extended separation is liable to cause brain damage and no doubt any other number of lovely things. Getting lost outside reality will generally render your body a vegetable, although there are some isolated reports of such examples going on to recover and develop new, different identities.

Typically, even when astral projecting, it's possible to maintain enough of an umbilical cord that this isn't a major issue. Total separation releases energy and requires energy to undo -- which is part of why one can harvest energy from animal and human sacrifice, as well as why young idiot mages occasionally need help getting back into their bodies.

[elevatorladylady]

Critical Reread - ACOFAS Chapter 4

Join me for a critical reread of A Court of Frost and Starlight

Chapter 4 - F/eyre

“a faerie with skin like glittering onyx and eyes like swirling clusters of stars”

More “lesser” fae please. The high fae seem like supermodel humans with pointy ears.

“Inside the gallery, no fewer than five people were doing their best not to gawk at me”

“I offered a tight smile before continuing on.”

“No matter that I wanted to go in.”

F/eyre makes a big deal in ACOMAF about how no one seems to care when R/hysand walks around Velaris. Wonder why it’s different for her.

“though I truly loved to fly, the thought of exposing sensitive wings to the cold made me shiver.”

It’s not just that F/eyre has the luxury of flying with Illyrian wings when many woman don’t, but that she has the added privilege of deciding whether or not to have her wings at all, much less exposed to the cold.

“Few people recognized me while I strode by”

“A small mercy, though I certainly didn’t mind being approached.”

I’m confused now on how people actually respond to her in public, and how she feels about it.

“As High Lady, I hosted weekly open audiences with R/hys at the House of Wind. The requests ranged from the small—a faelight lamppost was broken”

Again we have some humble leader kind of stuff, but really not a great use of resources for the high lord and lady to be dealing with a broken lamppost.

“It had taken me a few sessions to get the hang of it—the questions he used, the way he listened. He hadn’t pushed me to step in unless necessary, had granted me the space to figure out the rhythm and style of these audiences and begin asking questions of my own.”

It’s so sad that nearly everything F/eyre knows how to do in the faerie realm is something R/hysand has shown her how to do. Has she shown him how to do anything?

“How he’d lasted so long without a team of secretaries assisting him, I had no idea.”

I have no idea either. Seems like a bad set up.

“When I’d asked R/hys about them, about why they had not been improved, he merely said that he had tried. But displacing people while their homes were torn down and rebuilt … Tricky.”

Pretty silly explanation as if places can’t be painted and repaired while people live in them, but we need Nesta to live in a trash pile in Velaris somehow.

“I’d begun donating a portion of my monthly salary—the idea of receiving such a thing was still utterly ludicrous—to rebuilding the Rainbow”

Again, this is something their deep coffers should be able to take care of.

“They’re living at a relative’s farm in the lowlands now.” She waved a hand toward the distant sea, to the flat expanse of land between Velaris and the shore.”

I have more questions about Velaris and the rest of the Night Court. They must know it exists and what of the lands bordering Velaris? Do they get similar protections or left to fend for themselves? A hidden city is quite a thing to write around.

“Oh—oh, I wasn’t asking after it for that reason.” It hadn’t even entered my mind. “Why not?”

Of course this random person would be thinking about F/eyre’s personal interests rather than thinking about her role as a leader of the city.

“I knew. I’d seen the lists of assets. I still couldn’t wrap my mind around the enormity of R/hys’s wealth. My wealth. It didn’t feel real, those numbers and figures. Like it was children’s play money. I only bought what I needed.”

Redistribute! The! Wealth! 

“Tradition. Around Solstice, we make a little visit to the Court of Nightmares to wish them well.” “Really?”

Seems normal to visit different parts of your territory during its biggest holiday, unless I guess you hate most of your territory.

/// are used to observe anti- etiquette. If you’re wondering why I’m reading something I’m critical of, it’s because I like being critical. Plus a ACOSF rewrite.

[xaltius]

The Ever-Evolving Battleground: Securing Our Digital Future

The digital landscape is a battlefield, constantly under siege by cybercriminals with ever-evolving tactics. As our reliance on technology grows, so too does the need for robust cybersecurity measures. But what does the future hold for this critical field? Let's explore the emerging threats on the horizon and the innovative solutions that will shape the future of cybersecurity.

The Rise of the Machines: AI and the Double-Edged Sword

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to play a significant role in both offense and defense in the cybersecurity war. On the one hand, AI-powered tools can:

Automate threat detection and response: Analyze vast amounts of data to identify security breaches and suspicious activity in real-time.

Predict cyberattacks: Machine learning algorithms can analyze past attack patterns to predict future threats and vulnerabilities.

Personalize security solutions: Tailor security measures to individual user behavior and risk profiles.

However, AI can also be a double-edged sword. Malicious actors can leverage AI to:

Craft more sophisticated attacks: Develop self-learning malware that can adapt and evade traditional defenses.

Launch large-scale automated attacks: Utilize AI to automate the process of identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities across multiple systems.

The Evolving Threat Landscape: New Frontiers, New Challenges

The future of cybersecurity demands vigilance against a constantly evolving threat landscape. Here are some key trends to watch:

The Internet of Things (IoT): As billions of interconnected devices come online, securing this vast network will be a major challenge.

Cloud Security: With increasing reliance on cloud-based systems, robust security measures are essential to protect sensitive data.

Social Engineering: Cybercriminals are becoming adept at manipulating human emotions and exploiting social media to gain access to sensitive information.

Quantum Supremacy: The rise of quantum computing poses a potential threat to current encryption methods.

Building a Secure Future: Collaborative Defense and Proactive Measures

In the face of these emerging threats, building a secure future requires a multi-pronged approach:

Collaboration: Information sharing and collaboration between governments, businesses, and individuals is crucial to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Proactive Defense: Moving beyond reactive measures, organizations need to prioritize proactive security measures like vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.

User Education: Empowering users with cybersecurity awareness training can be a powerful defense against social engineering attacks.

Continuous Innovation: Investing in research and development of new security solutions is essential to stay ahead of cybercriminals.

The Future is Now: The time to act is now. By embracing innovation, fostering collaboration, and prioritizing proactive defense, we can build a more secure digital future for everyone.

Want to be part of the solution? Xaltius Academy's comprehensive Cybersecurity course equips you with the knowledge and skills to combat cyber threats, protect sensitive information, and build a more secure digital future. Enroll today and become a cybersecurity champion!

[ice-jj-kiss]

I have a confession

.. but first let me tell you why I am sharing this confession. What inspired it.

So I woke up this Sunday morning really wanting to go to Church. There is this one Church in Harlem, one in particular that I use to pass by every day when I lived uptown, that I took note of and promised myself I would attend one day. That day wasn’t today. BUT the thought of it lingered throughout the morning. Then I thought about confession. I remember when I was younger being SO scared to go to confession and tell the priest all of my “sins”. Terrified. Everybody else was too. I was in line with the elderly group and you can sense the tense energy from us all. *Inserting this; I was going to emphasize that I am no longer religious but deeply spiritual.. then thought to myself… I don’t need to explain that because I don’t care to..I guess I’m already inserting it so whatever* ANYWAYS, back to my confession. You ready? You got your tea cup in hand? Okay. So. *kneels down on pugh* My confession is.. I’m a pretty sensitive human being. Especially when it comes to art. I cried at the screening for ‘Max Roach: The Drum also Waltzes’ when I stumbled upon it walking through Von King Park last summer. Later, I cried watching Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach perform ‘Tears For Johannesburg & Triptych’. Two weeks ago when I was visiting family in Florida, I started crying watching the Brown Skin Girl video (me & my little sisters favorite song) that we’ve seen a thousand times together. Oh my god. I started to tear up at my former job when this sweet woman I was talking to at the coffee bar was sharing with me her Thanksgiving/Indigenous Peoples Day tradition with her son. I thought it was so true and pure. I didn’t wanna make it weird so I was blinking a million miles a minute to prevent my tears from falling right in front of her. I’m not loud about it, or like, obnoxious with it. Obviously, being sensitive isn’t a bad thing. Duh. But it’s just something I’ve come to realize. And they’re not like sad tears either. Even when I hear/see the tragedies in my neighborhood, my country, in this world we live in. It’s more of an enragement. Peace & Freedom. Love & Community. Intelligence. Thirst for Knowledge. By Any Means Necessary.

I’m dying to go to an opera show. You know like the ones out in Italy? I’d be in the back tearing up. Or bawling. Like Lestat & Louis at the opera show (the Anne Rice version, of course). Lol. Corny. Was the tea hot or cold?

[dafriamaskurie]

Finding Inner Peace through Religious Tradition: Journey with Denny Ja

Of course, here is an article with a maximum length of 3000 words in Indonesian entitled 'Finding Inner Peace through Religious Tradition: Journey with Denny Ja':

Finding inner peace through religious traditions: Travel with Denny Ja In a busy and fast -paced life like today, finding inner peace has become increasingly important. Many people feel trapped in their daily routines that require them to continue to compete with time. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of this modern life, religious traditions are often a way for many people to find calmness and inner peace. One of the figures who have studied and practiced the tradition of religion in depth was Denny JA. Denny is a prominent intellectual and thinker who is widely known in Indonesia. However, behind his amazing intelligence, Denny also has extraordinary spiritual sensitivity. He believes that religious traditions can be a means to find true inner peace. Denny JA's journey in finding inner peace through religious traditions began in his childhood. Growing up in a religious family, Denny is often invited by his parents to attend religious activities. Through these experiences, he began to feel the strength and beauty that radiated from religious traditions. As we get older, Denny is increasingly interested in learning and understanding religious traditions more deeply. He reads a lot of essay poetry and articles, and often discussed with honorable religious leaders. Denny not only studied major religions such as Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, but also deepened his understanding of traditional beliefs in Indonesia. In his spiritual journey, Denny found that every religion has universal values that complement each other. He realized that the essence of religious traditions was to seek inner peace, develop affection, and live in harmony with fellow humans and the universe. From this understanding, Denny was inspired to apply religious values in his daily life. One of the religious traditions that most influenced Denny was meditation. Denny studied various meditation techniques from various religious traditions and practiced them regularly. Through meditation, he learns to focus on the presence at this time, calm a chaotic mind, and connect himself with a bigger one. Meditation has helped Denny find deep inner peace and overcome stress and anxiety in his life. In addition to meditation, Denny is also involved in social activities that are rooted in religious values. He is active in various charity and voluntary activities in places of worship, such as providing food to people who need it, teach children about moral values, and support environmental preservation efforts. Through these activities, Denny feels sincere happiness and deep inner satisfaction. Denny JA's journey in finding inner peace through religious traditions has given him a unique perspective on life and true meaning of human existence. He believes that every individual has the potential to find his own inner peace, no matter what religion or belief they profess. Inner peace is not a privilege that is only owned by a few people, but an achievement that can be accessed by anyone who wants to try.

Check more: Finding inner peace through religious traditions: Journey with Denny Ja

[arisawati]

Understanding the deep meaning behind the 47th Denny JA choice: the wind that infiltrated the heart

In the course of life, we often go through various experiences that shape ourselves better. Similarly, the journey of an artist. Artists pour out their souls and minds into their work, trying to reveal a deep message through the medium they choose. One of the artists who has inspired many people in Indonesia is Denny JA. At his 47th birthday celebration, Denny JA presented his latest work entitled Wind which infiltrated the heart. This work captivates the attention of many people because of its uniqueness and beauty. However, behind its visual beauty, there is a deep meaning that Denny wants to convey to the audience. The wind that infiltrated the heart described a human spiritual journey in achieving inner peace. In this work, Denny JA uses various symbols and metaphors to describe the struggle and search for humans on eternal happiness. One of the symbols that often arises in this work is a tree that symbolizes life. Denny JA describes a tree with bright color and deep roots, reminding us that to achieve eternal happiness, we need to have a strong foundation and deep roots in this life. In addition, in this work there is also a picture of the journey to inner peace that is difficult and full of obstacles. Denny JA uses dark colors and blurred shapes to describe the uncertainty and conflicts that we often encounter in this life. However, through the touch of Denny Ja who is full of intelligence, we can see the small light that illuminates the way out of the darkness. Along with the development of technology, Denny JA also uses new media in his work. In the wind that infiltrated the heart, he combined traditional art elements with digital art. This reflects the view of Denny JA which is open to the changes and development of the times. He not only maintains the richness of traditional culture, but also tries to combine it with modern technology to create unique and spiritual works. Not only that, Denny JA also invited the audience to reflect on the meaning of life and deeper meaning. Through the wind that infiltrates the heart, he invites us to think about what is actually important in life and how we interpret our existence in a world full of busyness and anxiety. The work of Denny JA always shows a deep sensitivity and understanding of the journey of human life. He described life as a spiritual journey full of tests, but also full of beauty and hope. Through the work like the wind that infiltrated the heart, Denny Ja invites us to find meaning in our own lives and seek eternal inner peace. In the world of art, each work has a different meaning for each individual who sees it. Similarly, the wind that infiltrated the heart of Denny Ja. Everyone will bring unique experiences and understanding when seeing and reflecting on this work. Maybe for some people, this work inspires to pursue their dreams, while for others, this work is a reminder of the importance of maintaining a balance between the outside world and inner.

Check more: Understanding the deep meaning behind the 47th Denny JA selected work: the wind that infiltrated the heart

[blogaida2]

Appreciate the value of art in the 50th selected work of Denny Ja: “Don’t Cry Palestine”

In the world of art, the work that talks about social and political issues often receives special attention. One of the prominent and appreciated works is Denny JA’s selected work, entitled “Don’t Cry Palestine”. This work illustrates the sensitivity of artists of the conflict situation that occurred in Palestine, as well as inviting us to see and feel the impact.    In this work, Denny JA uses a strong art medium to convey a deep message. Through essay poetry depicting the view of the destruction of the houses of the houses in Palestine, it succeeded in describing the pain and despair felt by the Palestinian people. With a strong color and dramatic expression, this essay poem succeeded in creating a stunning atmosphere while arousing the feelings of the audience.    Not only using essay poetry, Denny JA also combines various other elements of art in his work. He used a collage technique by combining pieces of news and images that illustrate the conflict in Palestine. By creating a harmonious blend of images and text, Denny Ja managed to deliver a more complex message and inspire the audience’s mind.    In addition, Denny Ja also uses the art of music in his work. He created a music composition that described the atmosphere and emotions that occurred in Palestine. By using traditional Palestinian musical instruments such as Oud and Darbuka, Denny Ja created music that touched and captured the hearts of the audience. This music is not only a complement to his visual artwork, but also succeeded in describing the power and resilience of the Palestinian people in dealing with continuing conflicts.    Of course, this work is not only about the visual and musical beauty presented by Denny Ja. More than that, this work invites us to see and realize how important peace and justice in this world. Denny Ja wants to remind us that conflict in Palestine is not only a political problem, but also involves true human life. He wants us to feel the emotions and suffering felt by the Palestinian people, as well as reflecting on our role as humans who have moral responsibilities.    Through the work like “Don’t Cry Palestine”, Denny Ja illustrates how art has extraordinary power in delivering social and political messages. Art is not only entertainment, but also a means to inspire and drive change in the community. By looking at this kind of work, we are reminded to continue to care and be sensitive to important issues in this world.    We also should appreciate Denny Ja for his dedication in creating meaningful artistic work. Denny Ja has made a major contribution to the development of art in Indonesia and also made us aware of the importance of seeing global problems through art lenses. Karyakarya like this not only builds awareness, but also inspires people to do more and become agents of change.    In appreciating artwork, we also need to provide space for dialogue and discussion. Denny Ja’s work can be a starting point for discussing issues related to conflicts in Palestine. Through open and constructive talks, we can find solutions and move concrete steps towards peace and justice.

Check more: Appreciate the value of art in the 50th selected work of Denny JA: “Don’t Cry Palestine”

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My feelings on LGBTQ+

Sometimes I feel like I just need to vent my beliefs into the void, just so that people know what I'm feeling.

Today I want people to know what I'm feeling about LGBTQ+ stuff. My church's official stance is that there oughta be no sexual relations before marriage, and marriage is between a man and a woman. My church also maintains that there are two genders, regardless of what biology may say; it's a thing that was determined before we were born and will continue to be so long after we're dead.

And yes, I trust my church. Faith is a difficult thing to hold onto when everyone you see on the internet is telling you it's wrong, but I've just about managed to maintain it.

Of course, maybe before going further I ought to say what this does NOT mean:

This does not mean I hate everyone who identifies as Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, or whatever other words you may prefer to use. These people deserve the basic human rights to live in a society that loves and tolerates them in the same way that all human beings ought to love each other. The second-greatest commandment in the bible is "love your neighbor", after all; second only to loving God, who also loves everyone, by the way.

This does not mean that I believe that Men should not be sensitive, caring, concerned with their appearance, or any other thing that is traditionally associated with the female gender, or vice versa. There is a big difference between the roles God intended for men and women and the human traditions that have built up around those roles since the beginning of time.

BUT this does not, in turn, mean that I want to let you all do LGBTQ+ stuff. I won't hate you for it, but... I know that sexual relationships outside marriage between a man and a woman can only lead to misery; in this life or the next; and I want to tell you all so bad, but... I'm afraid I'll only be met with terms like "TERF" and "Transphobe". Look at JK Rowling, for example. Can anyone here actually tell me what exactly she has said that has made her the sworn enemy of the LGBTQ+ community?

“If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth. The idea that women like me, who’ve been empathetic to trans people for decades, feeling kinship because they’re vulnerable in the same way as women—i.e., to male violence—‘hate’ trans people because they think sex is real and has lived consequences—is a nonsense.”

She continued, “I respect every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them. I’d march with you if you were discriminated against on the basis of being trans. At the same time, my life has been shaped by being female. I do not believe it’s hateful to say so.”

That last paragraph scares me because she practically outright said that she would support trans rights and the people of the internet still hate her.

JK Rowling never said she hated Trans people. She wasn't funding any hate groups, she just expressed her belief, like I'm doing, and the LGBTQ+ community wants to destroy her for it.

That's why I'm terrified to put this post out there.

But one of the virtues I chose to write on Gad's sword was "Truth", because that is more important than popularity. If I can't be honest with you all, then it's as good as standing by and letting a blind man walk off a cliff.

From my perspective, anyway. Form yours, I might be the conspiracy theorist connecting unrelated threads in his basement, or the old guy shouting "the end is nigh" at the street corner.

By all means, call someone out for outright abusing LGBTQ+ people, or for slinging hateful slurs or doing anything un-christlike. Just also be aware that some of us are just seeing you guys walking toward a cliff, real or imagined, and we want to warn you before you fall off and hit rock bottom.

[tendercoretroglodyke]

I hope you all know that, while the covid-19 pandemic is of course a public health issue, it is absolutely an environmental issue as well. this pandemic was a direct result of the too-close interactions humans have had with wildlife. increasingly overlapping habitats, illegal wildlife trade, bushmeat trading and consumption, all cause us to get uncomfortably close to zoonotic diseases that are often far more deadly in humans than in the animals we got them from. illegal wet markets (those that sell wild animals) must be closed down and we need to change attitudes to discourage use of wild animals in traditional medicine or in black market exotic pet trading. if nothing changes (and you know it won't), our next pandemic will be soon and it will be from animals we are entirely too close to, and it could be far more deadly