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talesofsonicasura · 4 years

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Stone and Dove

Hello folks and happy pride month! I was scanning through my Google Docs and had forgotten I written this story...or that it was perfectly suited for this particular monthly event.

My first story doing Male X Male pairing! This tale involves my first PlayStation 4 Game Knack and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Particularly, a Jojo OC on my @sonicasura account, Jodari Jonah so check that out when you can! No information about Knack is required! The story will explain some of it.

They say the dove is a symbol of rebirth. For when one life passes, it is reborn anew in a different form. A clean slate just like a pure white dove. Yet, sometimes, rebirth can be a chance to fix something before it could be broken. And to connect two hearts of two different worlds.

Doctor's Laboratory

"I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known. Don't know where it goes. But it's home to me and I walk alone. I walk this empty street on the boulevard of broken dreams. Where the city sleeps, and I'm the only one and I walk alone." A voice sang through the halls, rough, slightly rugged but rich with smoothness, balance of husk and baritone.

Walking the halls of the facility belonging to one Doctor Vargas, world renowned inventor for his research on relic fueled devices, was a strange man. He was bulky which was balanced by his frightening height of 7'4. Curly, messy black hair tied at the back with a large white bow of sorts resembling broken wings, one side with an aqua green stripe and the other a bubbly blue.

Heterochromatic eyes with the right blue and the left a verdant green but a line going down the optic starting from the eyelid to the bottom. A bisected line birthmark at the center of his face even going down his nose and lips. He wore a mismatched long coat, the right half a pure white with no sleeve revealing his ripen with muscle arm, black pocket, and featherlike ends, the left being pure black with a long sleeve, white pocket and flat end.

A gray shirt with a large V neck revealing large abs, hot rod leather pants and black boots. The biggest oddity was the nails of his right arm, they were of a stone. The ones on his left were normal as he was carrying what looked like a liquor bottle, which he was currently downing the contents merrily.

He was baffling as he walked through the humble abode like halls unaware of being on camera. The unknown man was wandering in a battle site, while the people on the other side of the glass walls were just baffled. "Um… Doctor, is he another one of your assistants?" "Who is he?" That guy wasn't in the meeting! I'm sure as hell would remember someone dressed like that! Is he literally singing Green Day while drinking vodka?!"

One of the onlookers, a large slightly portly man with a gray frohawk paired with a goatee, chocolate brown eyes and wore a white lab coat was more attentive on the stranger's hand. This man was Doctor Vargas himself, owner of this very facility. "His nails… they are pure red relics! Astounding." The man said while examining the stranger.

Mechanical clanking had the stranger look up from his bottle. Standing at the end of the hall were white and black humanoid robots with red visors for eyes but also wielding swords made out of pure plasma. Doctor Vargas quickly ran to his control console for the robots. "Oh no! I got to shut down before that young man ends up getting hurt!" Vargas exclaimed, ready to pull down the lever.

The lever controlled the battle site which would shut off both robots and obstacles meant for his greatest creation to power through, not an innocent human. Three words was the only thing that stopped him. "Don't underestimate me." Followed by the loud screech of shredding metal. His eyes widened upon the sight before him.

The robot that was ready to slice the stranger in half was laying on the ground. A large hole in its chest dripping out what looked to be alcohol from the damaged circuits. The man had the bottle of alcohol pointing at where the machine once stood, fizz foaming from the entrance of the vodka. "Wow! He...just busted a hole through the robot with a shot of alcohol!!!?"

It wasn't a lie either. Vargas had rewinded the footage on the small monitor of the control panel to the moment before his robot was shot. The stranger pointed the bottle of liquor before yellow electricity began to crackle around his hand. Next thing that happened was a small bullet of the liquor shot sparking with this same energy but it was also spinning!

The spinning orb tearing a hole through the metal circuitry by compressing it with pure rotation into the liquid itself. Sure enough, there was a little ball of metal at the center of the whole, circuits, wiring and liquor compressed into the tiny marble sized orb. "Black Hole Overdrive." Were the words that left the odd man's lips.

Black Hole Overdrive… Vargas didn't know how the young man manipulated the liquid to perform such a feat but it proved the stranger was very skilled if this was an actual technique. "A golem made out of relics?" The stranger said looking at the oddity that greeted him from down the hallway.

This oddity was a humanoid made out of pure relics. Ones acting as the main body were light tan to mimic skin color but also position to form the main body: tipless cone and flat cylinder for the head, cube relics stacked together to form arms, legs, hands and rounder ones to mimic muscles, the gold forming the gumdrop nose, large tusks, small teeth, tips of the ears, and joints from the sphere and triangular pieces located in the shoulder, knee, thigh and ankle areas. Red stone relics forming small wild hair, claws, front and back toes, even fuzz around the chin and on the arms and legs.

The main piece was the large dark gold orb at the center with an aqua blue core. From the two oval obsidian eyes and the red rectangular pieces forming the squinting eyebrows, it was clear the 5'11 golem was surprised by the stranger's appearance. "For something so strange, you are really adorable." The odd man said while giving the subject of his attention a subtle wink.

Vargas, who noticed the wink, almost burst out laughing from seeing Knack, the golem he created jaw nearly dropping to the floor. "This must be a battle site designed for you? Oh dear, looks like I ended up getting lost. Can you please escort me to the exit? I'll follow behind you without any interference." The odd raven asked politely.

Knack merely nodded to the man's request. The relic bound golem could easily protect the stranger from the Doctor's test drones. "Thank you. You're such a gentleman. My name is Jodari, Jodari Jonah. Time to move out, Red~" Knack's core immediately heated up by the raven Jodari's subtle greeting.

Jodari Jonah wasn't exactly normal was a simple thing for everyone to understand. The odd man sidestepped and easily avoided every obstacle that was designated for his golem escort. Leaping across electrified panels in a single step, walking past fast blowing vents undeterred and even dodging the attacks of various machines while drinking from his vodka bottle.

He kept his word of not interfering with Knack's progress while the golem ran the deadly gauntlet. Honestly, Knack was impressed on just how agile this human male was. The raven's presence was bizarrely soothing to him. Sunbathing on the beach or listening to the sound of nature type of soothing.

It didn't take long to go through the last obstacle and escort Jodari back to the human officials alongside the Doctor. One of the women, the chairwoman easily recognized by her well kept silver hair stepped up. "Most impressive Doctor. You call it 'Knack' is that right?" She asked.

A husky, smooth and a touch rough male voice joined in the banter. "Actually, I call myself Knack." Came from the golem, Knack sounding awfully cheeky. "So your name is Knack? Cute, suits a cheeky fellow like ya. 'Knack' for mischief, huh?" Jodari said, voice filled with merry. 'Is he really flirting with a being made of living stone?!' Being the thought of every guest in the facility. "Young man, how did you even get into this meeting?" Heterochromatic eyes bore into the woman as she flinched.

"Goblins didn't just destroy a high tech military base, miss Chairman. They flattened my village first as a mere test run." Any rebound died from Jodari's words. "My dear god. I'm so sorry." Vargas said only for the raven to wave him off. Jodari taking a swig of his liquor before pulling something out of his pocket.

"Don't apologize. You didn't do the deed, Doctor Vargas. For why I'm here is simple. I came to deliver schematics on the few weapons I stole from them bastards but I want to join the expedition." The young man said, handing the man a few pieces of paper. These pages detailed a few weapons from a blaster, mechanized spear and even a small tank.

"And how did you get these schematics?" Questioned a tan skinned man with combed brown hair, trimmed beard, brown eyes and expensive purple suit. "From their corpses, Viktor. Sketched down every single detail of the spoils once I put them in the dirt. Got a problem?" Jodari towering over the man with a heavy glare.

"You wish to join the expedition? Heh. All I see is a drunkard and as for Knack, he seems a little too delicate to me." Viktor said, walking back with nonchalance. "What are you getting at, Viktor?" Vargas questioned eyeing the billionaire industrialist with suspicion. "I brought a few security robots with me. If Knack can get by those, then he'll have a place on the expedition. Jonah can try too."

The golem in question walking up to one of the bots in question. It was cycloptic and humanoid from the built silver armor over the black exoskeleton. "Huh!" Knack barked, the robot flinching in defense from the hostility. Jodari let out a bark of laughter before downing the remaining liquor in his bottle. The raven immediately crushed the bottle with his bare hands before tossing a shard into the eye of Viktor's guard bot.

The shard spinning in velocity before drilling a hole through the green optic and back out hitting the wall behind it. Metal crashed onto the floor as the machine fell dead. Knack inspecting the damage and glass shard in awe. The golem let out a whistle in admiration. "Like that big red~? Call it the Drill Technique. A bit of rotation can turn even a fragile piece of glass into a drill capable of piercing tank armor." Jodari said, grinning at the stone ginger.

"Nice. Hope you can teach me later. Now let's take this to the garden, there's a bit more room. Would you like another escort, Jodari, so you won't get lost?" Knack asked the raven offering his hand. "You are such a gentleman! I would love an escort, Knack!" The odd raven said taking the golem's hand, but after giving him a teasing smack to the ass.

'So bold!!!' Everyone who just witnessed the scene couldn't help but think. Knack's chest orb was scorching hot after the smack. They thought the man was merely poor ass drunk after downing an entire bottle of pure Vodka but to Vargas and to some extent Knack, Jodari was as sober as if he was drinking water. No flush cheeks or slurs, the man was bold and had a thing for gingers. Male gingers because no one knew that Jodari Jonah, was a purely gay male.

The golem and odd man were alone at the moment. Their trial would be held through the maze-like garden, a maze that will soon be littered with machines belonging to Viktor. "Hey Jodari, are those nails of yours pure relics? My chest orb has been picking up on some for a while." Knack asked, the raven looking at said object of attention.

"Yep. I think I was born with them? I honestly don't remember anything past 5 months ago when pops found me, naked and no name." Jodari responded nonchalantly. "You have amnesia? I'm sorry for bringing that up." The relic golem was flustered from being carelessly rude. The raven merely waved it off.

"Oh don't frown, Red~! You didn't know, plus my amnesia never really bothered me. Why focus on the past when you have a future in front of ya? Pops did tell a nice 'wive's tale' once. He said that the nails of your right hand matches the one of your Soulmate. If you don't know, a Soulmate is the person you meant to bond with for eternity. A 'true spiritual marriage' to be appropriate." The golem's jaw dropped immediately.

"M-m-m-arriage?! Soulmate?! NO WAY CAN I BE YOUR SOULMATE! I'M NOT EVEN HUMAN FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!" Knack would continue if Jodari didn't put a finger to the golem's mouth, lips if you count the gold area around the opening of the two stone pieces that make up his head.

"Species doesn't matter to me. I wouldn't even care if my significant other was a goblin. Plus, even if you aren't my soulmate, you are a sweet gentleman and whoever gets ya is very lucky. Handsome face, your ears are cute, the nose makes ya adorable, and the teeth and claws just add the perfect amount of fierce to the incredible mix. Plus, I love strong gingers." Knack felt like his orb was going to explode from this sudden new emotion, felt like deep admiration but way different.

"Thank you. You look nice too. I, uh, like your eyes, they're pretty. And your bow is very nice, Jojo." It was Jodari's turn to slightly blush. "Jojo?" He asked, refusing to stutter like a schoolgirl. The raven wanted to put Knack through the hardcore school of flirting. Nicknames was step one.

"I took the first Jo of your name and put it together with the second one. Hence, Jojo, I figure you didn't want me to continue calling you Jodari since this... Soulmate thing." The redhead explained with sincerity. "How sweet~ You may call me Jojo then, Red. So Knack, before everyone else arrives, why don't we get to know each other's abilities first? Teamwork is a good key to winning battles." That the golem could easily agree on.

It wasn't much longer to reach their destination or everyone to arrive in order to spectate. The two males were starting to see why they seemed likely paired from that wive's tale. Their abilities were very similar. While Knack could channel Sunstone, Jodari had Hamon.

Hamon was a breathing technique that allowed someone to use their lungs to create an energy akin to sunlight, which was what Sunstones were, crystalized sunlight. With Hamon, he can supercharge any water like elements or good conductors like metal to unleash powerful and devastating attacks.

Knack could manipulate his parts to a large extent, shrinking by removing his parts, form a barrier around him, and even expel in a spray fashion or large clusters. Jodari had Spin, a technique that uses the state of perfect or near perfect rotation to produce energy with a lot of applications.

He could bound this energy to any object and fire them with destructive properties. It was how he could make that glass shard drill right through Viktor's robot that easily. Sphere shaped objects can produce more energy than any other one.

Jodari had one more ability but he wouldn't say anything about it. 'If we have cars thrown at us here, then I won't mind showing my ace in the hole in front of everyone.' Was the raven's response while blowing a kiss at the golem. It just made Knack really curious on what this hidden ace was but he wouldn't press on it.

The duo's goal was simple, defeat all the robots while making their way to the end. Apparently the industrialist had two different types of his guard robots which Jodari personally dubbed Goliaths. The thin human size versions which would wield rods, toss boxes or punch at them from what he glimpsed while he was lost in the lab.

He only saw one of the large models which reminded him of a walking fridge. They were very bulky from what the raven could glance, but it wouldn't make Jodari drop his guard carelessly. Apparently it was two bots from the first category that were their first opponents. One had no weapons while the other held a large black bat cops often used.

"Hey Knack, I'll take care of the stick on the machine. Will you be kind to deal with the other one?" Jodari asked before taking something out of his pocket. It was red plastic yoyo with a star on each side, the string was pure metal wire from the golem saw. "You got it." Knack said before reading himself for combat.

The rod wielding robot was the first to attack, leaping at Jodari with the intent of caving his skull in. With a flick of his wrist, Jodari launched the toy part of yoyo at the offender. The string wrapping around the rod tightly and with a gentle tug, sliced the black metal to pieces. "Hup!" And the raven delivered a spin kick to the machine, his right leg glowing a bright yellow aura.

"Shining Sunlight Overdrive!" Jodari's kick sending the robot flying back, his Hamon frying its circuits upon contact. "Raah!" Knack roared lunging forward at his respective opponent. His left arm reared back and claws open for a swipe. The bare handed Goliath went to respond for a punch, but Knack was quicker.

The golem quickly moved the relics of his body to the other side of his opponent's attack, then he brought down his claws on the machine's side. Metal tearing to shreds from red ancient stone piercing its surface, yet he wasn't done. His left arm which was cocked back into a fist upon reforming, Knack delivered a brutal punch to the same place.

The added pressure of his attack to the robot's damaged side was enough to tear it completely in half. Both halves crumpling onto the ground lifeless. "Nice job. Come on, Red~ Let's wreak some true havoc." Jodari said before rolling down his yoyo. He was performing the 'Walk the Dog' trick as they continued onward.

In all his life, Viktor had never felt so humiliated. He had gotten everything he ever wanted without a fuss. The best business dealer in robotics, from advanced airships to robots capable of eliminating any threat. Immense wealth and rich heritage from his noble lineage. But yet…

Here he was, watching his robots getting destroyed. Torn to pieces by the Doctor's pet project and a drunken man fighting with a damn yoyo! A child's plaything was smashing through thousands of dollars of advanced circuitry! However he couldn't deny that, they had his interest.

It was the man that interested him the most between the two. Jodari Jonah, he seemed capable of manipulating pure Sunstone energy without a care in the world. It was an easy feat as Sunstone energy was the same as electricity, conducting would end up in pure electrocution. However the odd man didn't seem affected. He needed more information.

"Black Hole Overdrive!" Jodari tossed a handful of water from his hand at the robot across the stream. Apparently the machines decided to use a blocked off path to chuck empty crates at the checkered pair. Despite it being cheap, it was a good tactic he had to admit. However the crunching sound of metal being compacted into a small marble was enough to explain the results.

Or the large cluster sunstone charged relics that decapitated the other opponent. The head landing in the water separating them with a nice splash. Taking a few steps back after reclaiming his parts, Knack leapt over the guards rail to the other side. "Woohoo!" As Jodari followed the golem with a large jump. The raven easily made it across the opposite rail while Knack grabbed onto the wall.

"Here you go!" Jodari said, helping Knack over the rail. "Thanks." The golem thanked, earning a smile from the young man. Following Knack since he knew the way, the duo encountered three more robots. Only one had a weapon which was another baton rod. Not so hard for the two males to destroy.

"Vibrant Drill Overdrive!" Jodari spun his yoyo into the chest with a bare fisted robot. The toy being charged with Hamon and a mixture transformed it into a spiral drill. This drill tore through the circuitry and metal plating with ease. He wasn't finished though. The yoyo ran a loop around the dead machine through the hole in its chest before effectively wrapping around. "Clutch!"

Jodari then turned at Knack. The relic golem was busy fighting the mechanical staff user but was unaware of the other robot to strike him in the back. "Crimson Revenge Overdrive!" Yelled the raven haired male before tossing the lifeless robotic shell at its former comrade. Mechanical junk began to spiral in vicious red into makeshift top, drilling into Knack's sneak attacker much to the golem's surprise.

"Be careful Red~ You're enemies won't play fair and square. Rather not have my new friend get hurt." Jodari responded softly with a small flirtatious tone. Knack merely gave him a smile and a thumbs up. Cheering could be heard from outside the garden. Apparently the Doctor's guests were enjoying watching the two gladiators wipe out their opponents in style.

Jodari wasn't just enjoying the destruction but he was enjoying the show the golem was putting. Seeing the golem bulk up with relics to increase his size was an incredible sight. He wouldn't lie that he liked guys who were bigger than him. After all, they give the best hugs and cuddles. And Jodari was just ready to give the now 9'7 golem a big ol' hug.

It wasn't long to reach the car lot. The car lot was the halfway point to the end of the garden. Knack had already trashed the robot there with a nice drop kick to the face. However, it seemed a bit too easy for the raven's liking. His suspicion was answered when two of those walking fridge Goliaths he spotted jump down in front of them.

Their hands were way too big to be a normal function, or the fact they were eyeing the cars parked here. "Son of a bitch! Guess I have no choice. Yo Knack, get behind me. I rather not accidentally hit you." Jodari warned. The golem was about to question the raven only to notice how different he seemed.

His eyes were hardened instead of the carefree brightness he saw earlier. A bright reddish violet aura burning around him. Knack didn't question Jodari's words and walked behind the man. "Everyone's got a fighting spirit. Some are weak while some are strong. However, for those whose spirit burns than the sun, it can take a physical form." The raven started.

Raising his right hand to his head and clutched it with his claws. A mad grin tearing across his face as the aura around him exploded in a large burning haze. "The Star! The 17th card of the Tarot Deck's Major Arcana. It symbolizes hope, optitism, and faith for those it blesses and despair to those who oppose it!"

"Take form, the spirit that burns brightly from my starlit soul! Roar to the heavens and show the light that survived absolute disaster! This is my true power! Behold my Stand: Star Platinum Ruin!!!" With a raise of his left hand to the sky, the world around Jodari exploded in a blast of light as a pillar of light shot skyward.

No one expected what would happen next. The violet aura around Jodari separated from bed taking an actual physical form. This aura soon took the shape as what you can describe as an ancient Aztec warrior. Skin a bright violet with a lavender inner tone across his large bulky frame decorated by golden wavy lines spanning down the chest, arms and legs.

Large mane of smoky black hair that waved constantly as if it was pure fire. Bright burning blue eye, a white loincloth but the biggest focal point was what the rest of his body and clothing were made of. They were crafted from pure relics and Sunstones. The left eye was black oval stone amongst the remaining white, ears were just like Knack's but attached to the head, two large gold tusks on the side of his plump lips, red string stone eyebrows paired with a gold circlet and a blue jewel to it but another on his forehead.

Gold and blue jewel necklace that made up part of the neck, two triangular blue jewels on the upper top of his abs, shoulder pads made of pure flat carved Sunstone with red and violet spikes jagged out of it, the center of the arms made out of block stone and gold relics, the outer sides having small wings made out of 6 purple, gold and red relic pieces before ending with yellow Sunstone knife like shards.

Right hand a full trapezoid tan relic with claws made out of red, violet and small gold pieces, left hand fingernails made out of red relics with a gold studded black fingerless glove. A kilt made out of jagged purple and red relics with pieces on the back floating separately, knees made out of tan and gold relics with an aquamarine jewel in the center, floating red back spikes, gold trapezoid shaped feet with three purple and red front claws and one back claw.

The spirit or Star Platinum was large, almost as big as Knack but a foot shorter but the golem could feel it. Immense power pouring from this entity but also some sort of connection. Almost if he was part of Knack himself. Then the entity spoke or to be precise, roared.

"OOORRRRAAAAAAA!!!!!" Star Platinum Ruin howled voice sounding like a mixture of both Knack and Jodari with a bit of static like distortion to it. Feeling threatened, both robots went to grab a car. Too bad they didn't realize how fast this new being was. One second, the left Goliath was fine, then the next it had a large hole in it with Star's arm through it. Knack pitied the second robot for what happened next.

"ORAORAORAORAORA!!" Came an onslaught of punches from the Stand. The bulky machine was form to pieces with every brutal punch, metal scraps flying everywhere until the machine dropped dead. The Goliath was reduced to nothing but few pieces of scrap metal. "Ora!" Star roared in triumph.

"Holy shit." Was all Knack could say at the sight. Jodari and his Stand looked at Knack, the raven had a smile while the hybrid had a look of curiosity on his face. "Come on, Red~ We still have halfway to go. Star Platinum Ruin will be fighting in my place for the rest. Wouldn't be fair to pull him back just for two robots, right, Star?" Jodari said looking at the spirit in question.

"Ora!" The purple goliath chirped with a nod. He seemed very pleased from the odd man's consideration. Regaining his voice from the huge surprise, the golem finally spoke. "Sure. You got it partner. I'll do my best to help out." Knack answered, earning a smile from Jodari.

Making it to the end of the garden wasn't hard with the inclusion of Star Platinum Ruin. The Stand, Knack believes is what Jodari called him, was insanely powerful. Star was fast, tearing apart Viktor's machines left and right with either his fists or claws. Not even one of Viktor's mechanical menaces could so much as touch much less hurt the violet skinned berserker.

He was kind to leave enemies for Knack to fight on his own while keeping the rest from sneak attacking him. Jodari was being his odd self… taking out a flask of alcohol (where did he even get that Knack would never know) and chugging it down while singing Camptown Races.

Finding the end of the garden didn't really take long. The key mark to it is the stone statue of a beautiful woman. A memorial crafted by the Doctor for someone he cared about the most but lost a long time ago. Knack had grown around 13 ft in size at the moment before looking at his strange human companion.

Jodari had stopped singing and drinking. The man merely looked at the statue with honest empathy before walking up to it, Star Platinum Ruin following. The raven stood in front of it before closing his eyes and placing his hands together, Star following suit. Knack knew what he was doing, Jodari was giving a silent prayer, a respect to the fallen.

It was a sincere and beautiful moment, however it became one that would soon rot. One of Viktor's robots had emerged in the garden and aimed its gun at them. It started shooting medium balls of green plasma with no hesitation. Quick to act, Knack ran over to Jodari and pulled him out of the way. A stray shot hitting the base of the statue.

Looks of horror spread on both the Doctor and Jodari, a loud cry of 'No' echoing from outside the garden. A cry came out of Jodari's throat, a phrase Knack didn't recognize. "Za Warudo Riwaindo(The World Rewind/Rewind The World)!!!" Everything around them suddenly greyed out before everything just stopped in place.

Yet, Knack, Star Platinum and Jodari were unaffected. Jodari was immediately shocked at what was going on but Star didn't seem to be. It's almost if the Stand knew...no he was doing this. Next thing other of them knew, their bodies began moving to previous positions, alongside everything else. 'We're...going back in time!!!' The golem thought in pure astonishment.

They then found themselves in their previous spots, 30 seconds before Viktor's robot appeared and attacked. Knack was stunned beyond belief but immediately shook it off hearing the familiar hum of circuitry. Without a thought, the golem spun around and delivered a Falcon Punch into the robot that would've attacked in the past.

The fist decapitating the attacker while it's head went flying to the opposite side of the garden. Jodari spun onto his feet looking up to see more of the drones, ready to drop down on them from the sky. Aiming the small flask of liquor and giving Star three metal ball droppings. "Blackhole Overdrive!!" A shot of spiralling alcohol came out of the flask like a rocket.

Star Platinum Ruin flicked one of the metal droppings with his finger, the item went airborne at the speed of a bullet despite the little movement used. The liquor shot tearing through the chest plate of one Goliath while the metal ball pulverized the head of the other. Both bodies of lifeless dropping down to the ground with a heavy thud.

Two more Goliaths, both with installed cannons came flying from the garden over to their current spot. This was the last wave of machines. "One more push, Star Platinum Ruin! Time to shine bright as the stars above! Knack!" The golem looked at the raven. "Toss me into the air!" Knack looked at Jodari for a moment before nodding.

Picking up the raven, Knack threw Jodari right at the two airborne machines. "Raise your graceful wings, my precious star!" The relic wings on the Stand's arms immediately spread forth, Sunstone energy began to channel between the pieces. What came from it was a large glowing pair of golden Phoenix Wings.

"Saki Spiral!" Channeling Spin into his flask, the raven sent it forward, Star Platinum following by tossing the two remaining metal bearings. The clear liquid created multiple spirals of Saki in two groups from the bearings that grew in the air and with a spark of Jodari's Hamon, they ignited into twin tunnels of fire. Star Platinum Ruin grabbed onto Jodari's arms as the young man shifted into a kicking position with a quickly growing rotation, the Stand sinking into his body with the wings now spread across his host's body.

"Ultimate Technique: Rising Phoenix Overdrive!!!" Jodari roared, now an angelic drill fire and burning rings, with all his might. The raven drilled through the robot in his range and tore a massive hole into it, however it wasn't what finished the machines off. The spirals of fire he created had grown in a viciously large vortex as they travelled, swallowing the remaining robots within its maw.

Using the wings of his Stand, the amnesiac raven descended down like an angel that flew out of battle in triumph, a large explosion of golden fire exploding in the sky. He stood up as the rest of his Stand dissipated before looking at Knack, with the biggest grin on his face. "That was a blast! Looks like we're in!" Knack couldn't help but laugh.

This adventure was going to be very interesting and very bizarre.

This is Knack if you haven't seen him.

#knack #jjba #happy pride 🌈#oc #jojo oc #jojo's bizarre adventure #joestar oc #jodari jonah #star platinum ruin #oc stand #male x male #sonicasura #story #crossover #lgbtlove #tales of sonicasura

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sizzleitupwithmaria · 5 years

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here you go @baura-bear (i’ve also definitely done these before but i know i’ve changed so)

1. coffee mugs, teacups, wine glasses, water bottles, or soda cans?

i’m kind of a hoarder so all of them?? but mostly mugs and water bottles

2. chocolate bars or lollipops?

CHOCOLATE

3. bubblegum or cotton candy

cotton candy slaps

4. how did your elementary school teachers describe you?

very shy but a good learner

5. do you prefer to drink soda from cans, bottles, plastic cups or glass cups?

soda sounds really unappealing right now so none?

6. pastel, boho, tomboys, preppy, goth, grunge, formal, or sportswear?

a combo of boho tomboy and grunge

7. earbuds or headphones?

earbuds

8. movies or tv shows?

i don’t have the patience for either, podcasts are superior

9. favorite smell in the summer?

i walked by this couple yesterday who had ice cream and just... the smell of sugared cream and waffle cones.... delicious

10. game you were best at in pe?

volleyball maybe, but i still wasn’t good at that

11. what do you have for breakfast on an average day?

a granola bar, which sucks bc my first period is choir this year so i won’t be able to eat first period!!

12. name of your favorite playlist?

“oh boy i’m pining for someone”

13. lanyard or keyring?

my keychain is so heavy that wearing a lanyard would slowly break my neck

14. favorite non-chocolate candy?

GUMMI BEARS!!!!!!!

15. favorite book you’ve read as a school assignment?

either romeo and juliet, to kill a mockingbird, or and then there were none

16. most comfortable position to sit in

i like legs crossed but i also like just the ideal Leg Bounce position

17. most frequently worn pair of shoes?

my grey converse high tops

18. ideal weather?

like... 60 degrees and mildly cloudy

19. sleeping position?

on my side or occasionally on my stomach

20. preferred place to write?

in a notebook, writing on my laptop gets old after a while

21. obsession from childhood?

MAGIC TREE HOUSE or dolls in general

22. role model?

eva fucking noblezada

23. strange habits?

i like to shake my foot when i see something i like (is this stimming? probably and i kind of like it)

24. favorite crystal

emerald but just bc it’s my birthstone

25. first song you remember hearing?

probably something off of rumors by fleetwood mac

26. favorite activity to do in warm weather?

i hate warm weather but i like shopping

27. favorite activity to do in cold weather

go to school?? i kind of feel like my outfits are the coolest in winter and that gets me a lot of compliments

28. five songs that describe you?

just pick five random queen songs and it’ll probably be pretty accurate

29. best way to bond with you?

literally just talk to me. i can ramble for hours about shit you probably don’t care about

30. places that you find sacred?

my bedroom and the two giant woods in my hometown

31. what outfit do you wear to kick ass and take names?

basically just blue jeans a flannel and a black tank top. not very cool but i feel nice in it

32. top five favorite vines

all i can think of rn is i’m gonna munch i’m gonna crunch so there’s that (stream revolution lover)

33. most used phrase in your phone?

fdhslfhdjslkfdk or any other keyspam

34. advertisements you have stuck in your head?

i have adblock lmao

35. average time you fall asleep

like 12:30 now that it’s summer

36. what is the first meme you remember seeing?

ehrmagerd or however you spell it

37. suitcase or duffel bag?

duffel bag

38. lemonade or tea

both, including when they’re combined (arnold palmers slap)

39. lemon cake or lemon meringue pie?

cake

40. weirdest thing to ever happen at your school

high school: this past year’s senior prank which did give me a mental breakdown but it was kind of hilarious

middle school: The Smell

41. last person you texted?

my dad

42. jacket pockets or pants pockets?

pants, i always feel like shit will fall out of my jacket pockets

43. hoodie, leather jacket, cardigan, jean jacket, or bomber jacket?

hoodie and cardigan, Maximum Coze

44. favorite soap scent?

i kind of like dessert scents

45. which genre: sci-fi, fantasy, or superhero?

none of them??

46. most comfortable outfit to sleep in?

my fav flannel which is very soft and underwear

47. favorite type of cheese?

the one that comes on pizza

48. if you were a fruit, what kind would you be?

....... a watermelon? i look pretty appealing from the outside but i’m actually 92% water

49. what saying or quote do you live by?

andre deshields’ three rules to longevity from the tonys :,)

50. what made you laugh the hardest you ever have?

i can’t remember but i’ve definitely peed myself laughing in like... elementary school

51. current stresses?

“am i waiting too long to snap back my crush” and “OH SHIT I HAVEN’T STARTED ANY OF MY ESSAYS”

52. favorite font?

helvetica or comic sans if i’m in the mood

53. what is the current state of your hands?

i last washed them like 30 mins ago, my left hand’s nails are painted black, and my right pointer finger is bleeding

54. what did you learn from your first job?

i haven’t had one yet lol

55. favorite fairy tale?

i have no idea

56. favorite tradition?

i don’t really have any noteworthy ones

57. the three biggest struggles you’ve overcome?

That Time In October 2017, The Week Of May 6 2019, and The Week Of Mamma Mia Auditions And The Week After (those are the official titles in my brain lmao)

58. four talents you’re proud of having?

i have a good fashion sense, people tend to like my art?? i’m good in a choir?? and i guess i’m a bit naturally smart

59. if you were a video game character, what would your catchphrase be?

something like “i’m gay”

60. if you were a character in an anime, what kind of anime would you want it to be?

some combination of yuri on ice and ouran high school host club

61. favorite line you heard from a book/movie/tv show/etc?

i particularly like that one dude in hp and the sorcerer’s stone that was described as a toothless walnut

62. seven characters you relate to?

uhh my mind is really drawing a blank rn

63. five songs that would play in your club?

like... a combination of 70′s queen, cousin simple, and memes that’ll make people go buckwild

64. favorite website from your childhoos?

girlsgogames

65. any permanent scars?

(small tw) i have a scar on my left middle finger from when i tried to change razor blades and i just noticed today i have one single self harm scar left on my left leg and nnnnnnnhhhhhhh

66. favorite flowers?

roses and ik ferns don’t count but ferns are v pretty

67. good luck charms?

i have the shittiest luck lmao

68. worst flavor of any food or drink you’ve ever tried?

i’m infamous for never trying new foods

69. a fun fact you don’t know how you learned?

idk, pretty much every fun fact ever?

70. left or right handed?

right

71. least favorite pattern?

like.... stripes of any kind make me look fatter than i am

72. worst subject

physical science, but it’s all bc of my shitty teacher

73. favorite weird flavor combo?

uhhhh fries and a wendy’s frosty?? or sometimes i squeeze a lemon into my coke

74. at what pain level out of ten do you have to be at before you take a pill?

hahahahahahaha i can’t swallow pills so i suffer

75. when did you lose your first tooth

i have no fuckin clue

76. what’s your favorite potato food?

fries!!!!! good!!

77. best plant to grow on a windowsill?

ferns or cacti

78. coffee from a gas station or sushi from a grocery store?

neither?

79. which looks better, your school id photo or your driver’s license photo?

my school id but only bc i don’t have a license yet lmao

80. earth or jewel tones?

earth

81. fireflies or lightning bugs?

fireflies

82. pc or console?

pc?? although all i play on is my laptop which isn’t technically a pc

83. writing or drawing?

neither rn, i’m feeling uninspired

84. podcasts or talk radio?

P O D C A S T S

85. barbie or polly pocket?

neither, i was a liv doll kid

86. fairy tales or mythology?

mythology but i can also dig some like... brothers grimm shit

87. cookies or cupcakes?

both but it depends on my mood (i could really go for a cookie rn)

88. your greatest fear?

experiencing eternal blackness after death

89. your greatest wish?

move into an apartment with my soulmate and act for a living

90. who would you put before everyone else?

nobody really rn

91. luckiest mistake?

coming out to my parents maybe? although it wasn’t a mistake, i would defo be in a bad place if i was closested at home

92. boxes or bags?

i have no clue

93. lamps, overhead lights, sunlight, or fairy lights?

fairy lights!!

94. nicknames?

none but if any future partners can come up with one for me i will marry them instantly

95. favorite season?

fall or spring

96. favorite app on your phone?

instagram or tik tok (KILL ME)

97. desktop background?

a nice landscape one of my fav artists painted

98. how many phone numbers have you memorized?

just my own lmao

99. favorite historical era?

60′s/70′s (i hate to be that bitch but that’s when music was at its peak)

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smokebreakblog · 5 years

Text

4/20 in Nashville...

Maaaaaaan, that was the dopest show I’ve had in my shitty lil career. One that was filled with Love, herb, alcohol, friends, vibes and ENERGY. The coolest aspect had to be getting to share a road trip with my Little sister (by a year). Getting to see her experience life outside of the village I’m from was dope enough for me...so if you want to read some deets, let me hear you say....JK, I ain't THAT corny...lets get it..

intro to it all, took shots of tequila with my cousins the night before...Not a good idea when you have to deal with Enterprise in the AM needing way more forms of ID and shit,,,that I don't have..caused us to get on the road wayyyy later than expected...which in then turned into Blind ass Christian, Driving in a four lane highway...With a downpour of rain...and a sister in the passenger seat thinking my vision is better than it is...but nonetheless we made it to Madison TN..Where we got to link up with some of the funkiest motherfuckers I've come to know. The Weird sisters..Sir Izaac (the guy shredding in all the videos I have, also my guest DJ).

We were met with a basement full of people putting in work on these big ass ring girl style cards for their set..in font of what had to be about 8 old style TVs, hooked up to a VHS player..which was playing the 98 olympics...We got stoned, we geeked out over a throwback eat N Park videos...and I ordered my fat ass some food, which resulted me putting IZ on to Lemon Pepper flavored wings..I know right? how doesn't he already know about that sacred flavor?? I”m just glad I was there for his first time...Pause..

Now Play..

fast forward to 4/20 and My soundcheck is at 4p....show doesn't even start till 9p..and bruv/Bruvette..when I tell you that I was so excited to have an hour to myself for the set, ya’ll need to believe me..because I’m used to shows where soundcheck is literally like 30 mins before the doors open...or in some cases while the people are coming in (Fuck me right??) anyways...the coolest shit happens...so at this venue, there's mad floors, different rooms..so like...upstairs there was like a wedding reception or some shit...nonetheless they were getting on with their event during my soundcheck one of the guest comes in...at the time I thought he was like security for some shit,...but no...he was a guest. so I start flexing and shit..rapping all crazy being all extra..feeling my shit..so like I open my eyes and look over and there’s like 4 of em...just chillin mouth open all sick..

“How it sound?” I asked

“Really fucking good bro”- in my best white dude voice.

after soundcheck we still had like 4 hours to kill...so instead of napping like I planned on...My sister wanted to go do some shit..So we walk down the road to this little jazz joint and come across a man playing the bass and crooning so smooth...Name was Shawn Munday. I kept it V PA and ordered myself a Yueng..and vibed the fuck out...

I wish we had more shit like that back home...

ANYWAYS...

doors open and the people start coming in...I remember looking at Izaac and asking

“yo how many people you think will be here??”

“Oh we’ll at least bring in 100.” he said casually..

I’m embarrassed to say I don't see many crowds like that...But thanks to The Weird sisters and The morning After Crew..I got a taste of big crowd energy...and yo I have to say..It felt natural as a Mf yo..It made me want to shed my existence as a little store manager trying to make it to Full Nomad until I get mine..The crowd listened to every word..I know this because f the many people I ran into trying to get a drink after my set reciting lines that they heard for the first time during a set that day...on 4/20 at that...and again..Im not talking my shi or flexing...I’m still high off the vibes..

SIDENOTE...You can watch the Live feed On my IGTV ----> [here]<-----

After the Weird Sisters and The Morning After Crew threw down and put the crowd into even more of a fit..I ran up to announce the after party one last time...we took pictures with people in the crowd, closed our tabs and packed up..I didn't drive btw...of course not I wanted to drink...so we run into this Lyft driver who was at the show,...who happened to be off duty...who happened to be going to the after party...so call me crazy, but I took that ride..Me, my sister and this dope ass dude who I will not name..but he did pass me a packed cone and showed love about the set. We get back to an after party that was actually pretty lit. handles of liquor, bong packs, doobs...L’s...Etc..we rode the waves into the wee hours of the night...and so this doesn't turn into a ramble...Im going to list a few things here that I feel people should Abide by..

Don't be the dick at a party that imposes on somebodys joint...You really bout to come through and like not even ask just look at me like yo let me hit that..My nigga I don't even know your name...Were you even at the show?? FOH

and that’s it...I was gonna smack that MF...but whatever, good vibes..not my crib..keep it moving..

In the end, my sister DID get to go kick it around nashville the next day..ate, laughed..made memories I don't need to share with ya’ll and I’m just happy I can do that with the music I make..That’s dope af to me..ont he last morning my sister and I packed a couple bowls...rolled a few for the road..wrote a goodbye note to the sleeping musical geniuses and hit the road..there is so much that I left out but that’s for us..go experience your own shit..It’s fun.

since we made it back...I’ve been having a terrible itch to quit my job and just attack this shit..but i need to calm my shti down real quick,...

Or do I?...

Until Next time...

P.L.G

Dowatchulike

-MULU

Now I leave you with this Gem...

Miss ya’ll.

#Mulu #Mulumusic #Nashville #Tennessee #Music #Hip Hop #Rock #Morning after crew #The Weird Sisters #High watt #On the road #Road Life #Observation #Journal #420 #Smoker #Funny #Jokes #Commentary

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passionate-baker · 5 years

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Italian Adventures Part II: Bologna

Finally, the time has come - welcome to Italian Adventures Part II: Bologna!

Boyfriend introduced me to the gorgeous city of Bologna not long after we got together, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s why it holds such a special place in my heart. On our first trip there, I fell head-over-heels for the city & ever more smitten with Boyfriend. We’ve been back a handful of times since that first visit, & every time - without fail - we dream of uprooting everything we have here in Dublin & running off to the Emilia-Romagna capital. It’s romantic, it’s quaint & peaceful, it miraculously remains somewhat untainted by tourism, and it’s the birthplace of one of our favourite meals: the mighty ragu.

Bologna is known as ‘La Grassa’ in Italian - which translates to ‘the fat’ in English - & it isn’t hard to see why: you will be extremely hard pressed to have a bad meal in the city. Although I’ve included a list of our favourite restaurants below, use that more as a guideline to get out & find the places that work for you; we’ve eaten at a hell of a lot more restaurants than are listed here, but these are our old faves. Wherever you find yourself, please don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy two dishes - tagliatelle al ragu & gramigna alla salsiccia - both of which are specialties of the city. You can thank us when you get home.

As with our Italian Adventures Part I: Florence guide, there is a huge amount of recommendations in this post. To make life easier, I’ve streamlined everything into six sections: Stay / Coffee / Eat / Drink / Museums + Attractions / Places to See + Things to Do. The difference between the last two sections is an entry fee; Museums + Attractions are all paid entrance, while the Places to See + Things to Do are free.

Happy travelling, friends!

S T A Y

Airbnb // we stayed in the most fantastic apartment on our last visit. The flat - Silent Bright Apartment - is located a stone’s throw from Strada Maggiore & was honestly the best Airbnb experience we’ve ever had. It was spacious and clean, it had a balcony, it overlooked the blazing rooftops of the city, the kitchen was extremely well equipped for cooking, the bed was amazing, and there was a bathtub in the bedroom. The location was about an eight minute walk to the main square in the city. Basically: it. was. perfection. Added bonus: there was a totally adorable turtle roaming free in the courtyard below! We named him Sporo and had a really hard time leaving him behind.

Albergo delle Drapperie // if you’re looking for something more central, you can’t really find anything better than this boutique hotel. It’s quite small, and it literally overlooks the bustling market stalls of the old town. If I remember correctly: the hotel is across the road from a beautiful flower shop (feast for your eyes), around the corner from Tamborini (feast for your belly), and a further few minutes walk from Osteria del Sole (feast for your Italian soul), which is kind of exactly where you want to be.

C O F F E E

Caffe Zanarini // for us, this is the Gilli of Bologna. The coffee is fantastic, the pastries are even better, and the space has that super Italian feel to it that just warms my heart. We normally nab a spot along the bar & enjoy our breakfast the true Italian way, but once in a while we treat ourselves to the somewhat extortionate prices for a table outside on the square. Let me tell you, it is always worth it, if even just for the people watching. (And pigeons.) A must-visit.

E A T

Trattoria Serghei // three words: gramigna alla salsiccia. After ragu (duh), this is the dish of Bologna, and Serghei do it extremely well. It’s a small, traditionally run family joint that we find ourselves returning to time and time again. The food is always exceptional. We normally go for the ragu & the salsiccia pasta dishes to start, and then share a big hunk of meat as a main - the last time, it was an insanely tender pork shank that was about the same size as Boyfriend’s head. Amen to that! A must-visit.

Osteria de Coltelli Da Biagio // a tiny bit further than some might be willing to venture, but the food is worth it. The dishes are on the larger, heartier side of things, and the meal as a whole was outstanding value for money! ... that said, we did notice the staff favoring the locals over tourists like us, but the quality of the food was high enough for us to let this slide.

La Capriata // wandering along a covered archway off Strada Maggiore one day, we stumbled across LC & decided to stop in for a lazy lunch. We ate in the most beautiful sun-drenched courtyard, surrounded by lemon trees. The food was outstanding. It was super fresh - we had an amazing caprese salad that was beyond delicious - and perfectly traditional; I had an unforgettable ragu with homemade pasta served in a Parmesan bowl. A bowl made of Parmesan = the stuff of dreams!

Pizza Regina // sometimes, you just need a pizza and you need it to be reliable. We opted for the less traditional take-out option and brought our meal with us to Osteria del Sole so we could have it with a beer. We ordered a custom made pizza - n’duja + mozzarella - & devoured it within five minutes of sitting down. It was amazing!

Lindt // I’m kind of a bit sorry/not sorry for including this in my list. Listen, just hear me out: we had delicious chocolate gelato in the most amazing chocolate hazelnut dipped cones and it was worth every single penny. I regret nothing.

La Sorbetteria Castiglione // for a more authentic gelato experience, we always trek a little bit out of our way and it never disappoints. Our faves are the pistacchio and nocciola!

D R I N K

Osteria del Sole // definitely one of our favourite places in all of Bologna. According to my notes, it’s the oldest osteria in the region - 1465 apparently! - and it is so bloody brilliant in it’s simplicity. You make your way through the market streets, buy some antipasti goods in the nearby market, bring it into Osteria del Sole, buy a drink to go with it, and have your lunch picnic style alongside locals at one of the long communal tables. It is fantastic. An experience not to be missed: a must-visit.

Osteria I’Infedele // a recent find. Similar in style to Osteria del Sole in that it was small, filled with locals, cheap & relaxed, but it had a more youthful vibe to it and a wider drinks selection of cocktails etc.

RosaRose // located on Via Clavature, this is a fantastic spot for people watching. Boyfriend & I sat outside for hours one evening, listening to a nearby street musician, soaking up the atmosphere, enjoying the free platter of food that came with our spritzs, watching the sky change from blue to pink to dusk. Perfection. To experience the true Bologna vibe, this is a must-visit.

Enoteca Italiana // a beautiful wine shop that has a small amount of barrels & stools for dining on. We enjoyed some wine with a delicious meat & cheese platter on one of our first visits, and have since returned for breakfast & coffee.

Bar Senza Nome // a fantastically vibrant bar, located on a buzzy street lined with heaps of similar places. However! This one, apparently, is the only bar in Italy that is run & managed by deaf people. It’s amazing! You go in & the walls are lined with how-to sign language photos for ordering your drink! If you aren’t brave enough, the barmaids read your lips and that’s equally as amazing. Such a fantastic experience. Added bonus: you can eat your weight in free monkey nuts while drinking extremely cheap spritzs! Probably our favourite bar in the world. A must-visit.

Birreria Popolare // a hipster craft beer place that was located conveniently near to our apartment. We were drawn in by the beer emoji sign out front, and we sampled some nice Italian beer. Added bonus: if you’re lucky enough to visit at the right time (we were), you get a free platter of food with your drinks!

Le Stanze // I kind of liked the thought of this bar more than I actually enjoyed our experience there. It’s located inside an old chapel from the 16th century, and there are original frescoes still lining the walls & the ceilings. It was cool to see the artwork, but there was nothing distinctly Italian about the place. It was overpriced, and too touristy for our tastes.

M U S E U M S + A T T R A C T I O N S

Palazzo dell’Archiginnasio // one of the most magical, dreamlike buildings I’ve ever visited - somewhat reminiscent of Hogwarts. Boyfriend & I spent ages wandering back and forth along the arched passageways, but the real draw (and the part you have to pay into) is the wooden Teatro Anatomico from the 17th century, where they used to hold anatomy lessons. Worth the €3!

Santa Maria della Vita // the lure of this church, although pretty beautiful in its own right, is actually a fantastic group of wooden sculptures hidden in the back. They charge a measly €4 to see the group, but it’s certainly worth it: the scene depicted is the moment that Jesus dies, and honestly they are some of the most expressive pieces of art we’ve seen.

La Due Torri // yes, it’s very steep, and yes, it’s claustrophobic.. but it’s worth it for the breathtaking views over the terracotta rooftops of Bologna. Added bonus: it’s super cheap! A must-visit.

Palazzo Fava // a renaissance palace & art gallery space. The very first time we went to Bologna together, we saw an amazing Edward Hopper exhibition here, so it’s definitely worth checking upcoming shows just in case!

Museo Civico Archeologico // fantastic archaeology museum to wander around if you find yourself looking for something to do. Particular highlights for us were the beautiful building itself, and the Egyptian exhibition.

P L A C E S T O S E E + T H I N G S T O D O

Market shopping // wandering along the tiny streets around Via Drapperie and Via Pescherie Vecchie, you get a real feel for the Bologna lifestyle. The flower shops, the fish stalls, the butchers, the cheese-mongers, we love it all. Our favourite places to stop into for some goodies are Tamburini & Simoni, both of which are reliably great. Definitely a must-visit.

Basilica di San Petronio // the central basilica in the middle of Piazza Maggiore. A beautiful internal space, much bigger than it looks from the outside. Note: if you want to take photographs inside the church, you have to pay a small fee.

R E L A T E D P O S T S :

Bremen, Germany // Paris, France // Amsterdam, Holland // Copenhagen, Denmark // Cork, Ireland // Edinburgh, Scotland // Westport, Ireland // Barcelona, Spain // Munich, Germany // Vienna, Austria // London, UK i - ii - iii // Florence, Italy

#bologna #travel #italy

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witchescompendium · 6 years

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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 8 TOOLS OF THE CRAFT:

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 8

TOOLS OF THE CRAFT:

The most common misconception witches have when they begin their journey is that they need to obtain all the tools of the crafted so often listed in rituals and books. When I began I know I was one of those who felt the need to rush out and try and find these items. However in the area where I live, those tools weren’t as available as they maybe in a place that has occult or Wicca shops. I began to make my own with things I had lying around or that were easily available to me, worried that they weren’t going to be as potent as the actual tools purchased. As my studies went on however I came to learn that making your tools actually is the better thing, however there will always be certain ones you will not be able to buy, but can use other meaningful things in place of something you purchase.

While many tools exist in a witch’s cabinet, the real tools exist within the witch themselves. Knowing, Visualization, and Will. However the equipment that almost every witch has can be as important, though truthfully the tools of the trade are merely objects until you supply the power.

These tools, once bonded to you, can be a valuable commodity; however a witch should never race out and start buying the first tools they see. THE TOOLS WILL FIND YOU WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT. As you look for the tools you think you need, the universe shall send you the tools that you Actually need. There are some who quite literally, will buy everything they see, as they feel the more tools they have the better and more skilled they will be. This is not the case, there are some witches who have no tools, minimal, tools or more than they will ever use. As for this last description this can be both a good and a bad thing, for if the witch has been drawn to these tools, without real reason for need, it could very well mean that the witch was suppose to have these in their possession to pass along to a fellow witch at some point in time.

Though it is easiest to buy your tools, and there are numerous shops, catalogs and websites available for this very purpose, it is more personal, and therefore more powerful, to make your own tools. Many people say they are not the crafty type and can’t make anything, so they elect to shop instead. Some people are extremely crafty and choose to make EVERYTHING they need, and even still there are those who choose to fall in the middle, making what they know they can and buying what they can’t. Truthfully there is no right or wrong way.

While having tools can help to better connect to the mentality needed to perform magic, it is not vital to start collecting from the start. BUT, once you have accelerated your study and are ready to begin, or furthermore, have started your second degree, a witch is expected to have at least their basic tool chest, not only for themselves, but for those whom they will be teaching. Having your tools at hand is for your and your student’s benefit, because to teach the craft you must have a working knowledge of the tools and how they work, to be able to teach about them. If you are a part of a coven it may be a requirement also to have your own tools at this point to be able to lead ritual as part of your work study, or completion of your second degree.

Ok so let us get to the tools of the craft.

1. YOU. You are the most valuable tool you will ever have. You are the magic and you are the reason. The tools will serve purpose in time, but it is you that will use these tools, give them power and give them purpose. It is from you the magic flows, the tools only direct it and help you to control and focus it.

2. BOOK OF SHADOWS. This I would argue is the second most important tool you need. The Book of Shadows is a critical part of a witch’s tool box. This serves as your journal, diary and reference book. In a witch’s BOS, is kept a record of your workings. Rituals for the Sabbats and Esbats, the rules and laws of your practice. You should have a section for spells, and perhaps potions, a section for dreams and perhaps divination readings. Along with this you may want to keep notes about the spells you have done, as to what worked what didn’t. What you may try differently next time. Your book is fundamental for being able to track your progress and growth as a witch. While many wonderfully crafted tomes exist for a witches BOS, I personally use a three ring binder, because the pages can be added easily and also removed, you can ad print outs if you chose, or hand write it. As it is a learning aid I recommend this to most people in the beginning reminding them they can always upgrade to one of the leather bound versions later on when they have fine toned their studies. (however the leather bound volumes can be quite pricey but ultimately it’s the witches call)

3. ALTAR: no matter if it is a table, the floor, a rock the ground, a book shelf, no matter the surface or shape an altar is a place where most of your magic and rituals will take place. (For more information regarding the altar and to know the difference between an Altar and a Shrine, see the lesson on Altars)

The following are in no particular order and some will have more of a description than others as is necessary.

4. ALTAR CLOTHES: Tapestries, to scraps of fabrics to pre done altar or table clothes, these are merely to decorate the altar for spell or ritual but also to ad a mind set for ritual while aiding to protect your altar surface from ash, liquid or candle wax (to the best of their ability) I use scraps of fabric that I have left over from projects or raid the remnant bend at places that sell fabric. Also my personal altar has an altar cloth which is what is left of an old shirt that belonged to my great grandfather, it was something sentimental and personal to me which is why I opted to use it.

5. CANDLES: candles are a thing that there are several different opinions on. From taper, or chime, votive or jar, scented or not… And it goes on. I like to use candles for many different things, and different sizes and styles depending on the working. I like tea lights for luminaries, extra light, or for prayer requests. Votives are great for spell working as are tapers. Jar candles can easily be painted on the outside and used for your elements and God and Goddess representation on your altar and in your circle. I do not use scented candles as many experts will say and many books will say, the scented candles can interfere with the spell work. If you wish to make a magic candle or a scented candle dressing it with an oil works best. (See later lesson on Candle magic) Whatever kind of candle you decide on, you want to have a variety of colors, or solid white as it can stand for any color during workings. Candles are quite useful for light for spells and for representation. NEVER leave candles unattended, and always use caution and common sense when working with candles to prevent fires and dangerous situations.

6. CANDLE HOLDERS: If you have candles you’ll need candle holders, and you don’t need anything fancy or special. I have an eclectic taste so my candle holders are all different; they range from jars, to cups, to brass stick holders to glass. They can be of any shape or size you need, so long as your candles fit safely within. Also if you buy second hand or from a flea market or thrift store besure to cleanse them before use (See the lesson on cleansing)

7. ATHAME: The ceremonial dagger. Usually it has a black hilt and it double sided, but is dull bladed. The athame is used to direct and cut energy and energy only. It is for ceremonial purposes and is usually present in most all rituals to help raise the circle and cut it to release it. NOW some argue it HAS TO BE BLACK HANDLED, while others say it doesn’t. Mine is a rose wood handled narrow blade that belonged to a relative, it almost resembles a letter opener. The look isn’t so important as its ceremonial and magical purposes.

8. WAND: This is a tricky one. The wand can be solid wood, glass, crystal, fancy or simple. Thin or large. Some are tipped with stones, others just wooden. The wand is used to direct energy and is often used to direct the energy of the circle when casting it.

9. BOWLS: Glass or a natural material is best. Plastic is ok if that is all you have but isn’t preferred as plastic often contains chemicals and breaks down over time. You will use bowls to hold salt and water during ritual, or other items, such as herbs or stones, there is an endless use for bowls, you may eve use a bowl to substitute for the cauldron

10. CAULRON: A cauldron is a pot, usually cast iron, however the cauldron can be a simple cooking pot. Some witches still use cauldrons to cook or brew in, others use them to burn in. I recommend if you want to use your cauldron to burn in but want to also use it to brew, get two separate pots. I have a smaller one I picked up at a thrift store I burn in, and I have a nice pot if I want to make any type of potion or anything like that (the cooking one isn’t a cauldron as in a traditional cast iron pot, but it works nicely)

11. INCENSE AND INCENSE BURNER: Incense is used as part of ritual to serve as an offering, to cleanse the air and space, to represent the element of Air or simply to make the place smell nice. There are two different types of incense the type that you light that’s already processed (combustible) such as stick or cone form, and the type you have to burn on a charcoal block (non-combustible) The second being one of raw herb, resin and oils that you smolder on a special charcoal disc, (don’t use the kind of charcoal that goes into a grill, that’s not the same and is highly toxic) It is also wise to make sure that the room or area is well ventilated as the charcoal bricks can be quite potent as can the herbs and such which is burned on them. Even with regular incense. You want to be sure that incense is burned with care, due to allergies and fire risk. Make sure you have a safe incense burner. A heat proof container with sand or salt in it, can work well to absorb the heat of the coal, or the cone, or to help hold the stick of the incense stick. I have a candy dish that is filled with pebbles that I place my sticks in to burn them. There are several great incense burners out there designed for the different types, like simple wooden slats with a hole for the stick to stand in, or intricately carved statues to place cones in and then watch the smoke twirl out of it, and always the brass braziers with the mesh top to rest your coal on to burn your raw incense. Whatever type you do decide to use, be sure to be safe as incense will get very hot and can burn you, or things around it. Left unattended, it could be dangerous. So handle incense with care, much like candles.

12. BESOM: The Witches Broom, a broom is used for ritual cleansing, to sweep the sacred space to remove negative and or unwanted energies from the area. It can be a regular broom, or a traditional witches broom bought at Halloween. The Besom never really sweeps the ground, or so some people say. I do however and I also sweep the air around the space too, to make sure I get it all.

There are other tools that witches own, that may get used later in the advancement of the craft. Some are quite common others not, some for magical uses others more for ceremonial use. Below I will list these but only go into details for some. Remember you can find tools listed and explained in more detail or variances in many books and online. You don’t have to go just by what I have listed in this lesson.

1. SWORD: For ceremonial purposes, much like the athame it is often used to mark the circle.

2. STAFF:

3. MORTAR AND PESTLE: Used to grind herbs and ingredients for different recipes, for potions, teas, powders and such. They can also represent Man and Woman and the Great Rite. I also recommend here to have two mortar and pestles. One for herbs you know are safe for ingestion and one for things that are not safe for ingestion.

4. ROBES: Robes or a ritual outfit, these will help to set your mind to thinking “its time for magic, time for ritual” You can always wear every day clothes, but some people prefer and some covens require, you to put on a ceremonial garb to better attune yourself to the universal energies.

5. CORDS: For cord magic, or binding spells. Often in covens or self initiation rituals, a cord is assigned for each degree and tied around the waist often worn with the ceremonial robe.

6. STONES: From plane every day stones to different crystals which have magical properties and powers. Stones can be used to mark your circle, represent Earths Element, they can be used in spells, or for other purposes. Gem stones are absolutely amazing and offer many different properties, but are not a requisite and can get pricy.

7. HERBS: So many herbs so little thyme. (get it, bad joke) Herbs are used to make incense, powders, teas, and for other purposes as well. There are a variety of different herbs and places to find them, both locally as well as in bulk. Herbs, much like stones and oils, are primarily used in magical workings.

8. BOLINE: A white handled knife, sharp, used for cutting. Generally for harvesting herbs or for cutting up herbs, never to harm yourself or another living thing though.

9. OILS: Used for magical purposes. They can smell amazing, but can become really expensive quickly.

10. DIVINATION TOOLS: Tarot cards, crystal balls, runes I-Ching , scrying mirrors. There are so many different types, but divination tools have become synonymous with the craft. These are all tools for the craft, they do not substitute doing ritual, or count as doing magic, or performing something spiritual. Divination is merely asking for guidance. I also have to put my two cents in here and say, you have, HAVE to take everything you read in divination with a grain of salt. If you put whole hearted faith and stock into the readings and use divination alone to rule your life and make choices, then you’re really going to be missing out on a lot.

11. FEATHERS: Used in spells, or to represent the element of Air

12. SHELLS: Used in spells or used to represent the element of Water

13. BOTTLES: To hold water, oils potions teas. You want to again try and use glass where you can. You can also use them to make spell bottles or spell jars.

14. JARS: used Like bottles. Also for holding herbs. You want to be sure to use glass for herbs because the plastic will contaminate them as it breaks down over time and this can weaken the power of your herbs.

So in short there is a brief rundown of the tools that most witches have. Like I said you don’t have to race out and get them all at once. Make them, find them as the universe deems fit. But if you’re planning to teach, or lead a coven, then you should have at least the basics, and a working knowledge of what and how they are used.

NEVER use your tools for anything other than ritual purposes; otherwise it loses its purpose and magic. ALWAYS, keep an eye on candles and incense and again, read, do more research on the different tools, and never settle for anything that doesn’t feel right to you, be it information or the tools themselves.

And remember this last thing, you are the greatest tool you will ever possess, you are the magic, without you those material items, have no power.

#witches tools #wicca tools #wicca #witch #witchcraft #wiccan basics #witch basics #athame #wand #cauldron #magical tools #tools of the craft #thewitchescompendium.tumblr.com #spells #book of shadows

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lindoig8 · 3 years

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Monday to Thursday, 19-22 July

Monday

Packing up was a bit easier than normal today with no hoses to coil and most things not unpacked the previous evening – but the drive to Boulia was horrific. The road was another of the very common roads up here that are barely wide enough for a family sedan to keep all wheels on the bitumen. Yesterday was the last day of the annual Boulia Camel Races and hundreds of vans and campers were escaping, heading north on the road on which we were trying to head south.

The first half of the drive was a nightmare with us driving partly or completely off the road for more than a third of the time. The flood of escapee traffic must have become exhausted at about the halfway mark and the drive improved immensely after that. But there were also a lot of cars and utes heading north at an average speed of perhaps 140 kph, all stopping for nobody. We have been repeatedly told (by locals) that most locals drive that way and the tourists had better vacate the road when they appear over the horizon. We were often driving 3 to 5 metres clear of the road and were often at a complete standstill (I reckon we stopped way more than 50 times that day) to allow approaching vehicles to pass safely before we reached a culvert or road-sign, etc. On one occasion, we were stationery, at least 3 metres off the road, when one of these maniac drivers hurtled past and hit our car with maybe a hundred stones – one of which took a big chip out of our windscreen. We always have some windscreen patches in the car that are supposed to help prevent cracks creeping right across the windscreen and they seemed to have been effective for us on this occasion.

We arrived in Boulia just after noon and set up the van pretty quickly under some shade and had lunch. During the afternoon, we strolled the kilometre into town to get some brochures at the Information Centre. There were at least a thousand Little Corellas in the trees across the road from the Centre – the second time we had seen a huge flock of them in the past week. Later, I searched for birds in the bush across the highway from the caravan park but saw very few so returned to camp and Happy Hour for comfort.

Tuesday

We drove back to Dajarra via a completely different scenic route, and it was much more interesting. It was a rather circuitous back road, mostly gravel, but in pretty good condition and the scenery was much more varied and fascinating. The hills around here are always interesting, mainly low rises, but adjacent hills are often completely different. One might be a low symmetrically rounded buff-coloured contour abutting a plethora of jagged rocks, jutting at all angles, apparently defying the laws of gravity and completely expending the artist’s palette. There are perfect cones, low flattish mesas and improbably steep ones; some are plonked in the middle of 20 similar cones, others are lonely towers in an apparently endless plain. Some rank one behind the other, progressively climbing skywards, others are haphazardly dotting the landscape with no rhyme nor reason. It certainly gives one cause for thought – how did nature create such an infinite variety of shape and colour, and what forces worked to plant them where they are and consisting of such diverse structures and materials?

An example is Phosphate Hill – basically just a rural location, but literally two massive hills made of man-mined phosphate. They grew out of the landscape for many kilometres as we approached and the tiny mechanical shovels atop them looked like Tinker-toys. Another nearby example was Monument – just another location, but literally looking like a huge monument, spearing the sky. You can see it from more than 20 kilometres away and we got to within maybe half a kilometre – although we subsequently found we had encroached about 2-3 kilometres on forbidden mining land.

We had quite a few stops along the road looking at birds and plants and when we finally got back to Dajarra delighted with our day, we managed to pull in beside another van whose occupants agreed to share their power socket. I rigged up all our leads to enable us both to connect to a 15-amp supply only to find that their van was only wired for a 10-amp supply as were their extension leads – so most of my leads were redundant this time.

Wednesday

We drove back into Mt Isa (our third visit this trip), straight to ARB, and at last we got our load-balancing gear fitted. It is surprising how much difference it makes to the feel of our rig when driving – although some of the rough uneven roads around here still give me a few scary moments on most days. We needed fuel and a gas cylinder swap-over so we did those things before booking back in at the caravan park. Once the car was decoupled, we had lunch and went back into town to buy some groceries and other odds and ends. We even visited their tiny Bunnings here – one reason why we needed to leave the van back in the park – there is only first-come first-served street parking anywhere near it – nothing for longer rigs.

It took ages to get the van set up on the site we were allocated. We had previously booked to park on the site next door but they had put someone else on it so we got one with power but no water and no sullage outlet. We had to couple (triple?) three hoses together and connect to a tap 4 sites higher up to get water and we ran our sullage to a drain that had a grille cover so only half the water got into it and the rest ran onto our neighbours’ site: the one we had booked. It is a poorly maintained park although, in fairness, we heard that the current owners had purchased it when it was really run down only a few months earlier and they are working to bring it up to scratch.

Lots of parks are in need of urgent upgrades. There are probably hundreds of thousands more vans touring the country than when we bought ours and most of them are gigantic rigs trying to park on sites that were designed for vans not much more than half the current average – and the narrow internal roads don’t allow big cars with big rigs to manoeuvre onto such pocket-handkerchief sites.

Anyway, we were finally all set up for our one-night stay. It was very hot that day and we really enjoyed a coldie or two for Happy Hour before a wonderful cool shower, even if our neighbours had to endure/enjoy some of our soapy water.

Thursday

It was a very busy and productive morning with more cleaning, a load of washing, emptying and reorganising both the car and the van boots, refixing our rear numberplate (for the third time), and so on.

After lunch, I took the car across town to get the big chip in (or should that be ‘out of’?) our windscreen fixed. I think they did a good job and I almost got it as a freebie. I paid with AMEX and it seemed to go through OK but when I was putting the receipt away late at night about a week later, I noticed a cryptic message giving rise to some doubt about the payment. Sure enough, next morning I got an embarrassed call from the woman who had taken the payment asking if I would mind paying again because she had just received advice from the bank of a rejected payment. Of course, I paid by bank transfer within the hour and got a nice thank you email from her.

After the windscreen was fixed, I drove out to Lake Moondarra, about 20 clicks out of town and had my best birding experience since leaving home. Heather had elected to stay in the van but I enjoyed a fantastic couple of peaceful hours at the lake and saw at least 39 species, including 10 more for our trip-list and 2 for our life-list. It was really great and if we ever stay at Mt Isa again, I will definitely visit it again. As at now, our tally of different species for this trip is 186, of which 14 were lifers for us.

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transformedmind · 3 years

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The Donut Sin

I can often be found on social media sharing healthy recipes, exercise tips, and pieces of my weight loss journey in hopes that it will encourage others. After losing 140 pounds status-post bariatric surgery, I have largely changed my relationship with food. Food is no longer a source of comfort. I found that turning to food for relief in this way actually ended up hurting myself even more. I now follow a strict, low-fat and low-sugar, 3 meals a day, roughly 1200 calorie diet that is mainly protein. I’ve done fairly well with it, results themselves being evident.

However, I am still human. Which means sometimes I mess up.

Coming home from the July 4th fireworks last night, Ethan and I had a sweet craving. “We’ve got halo top ice cream at home,” we told ourselves. But that wasn’t enough. We craved something tastier than “just the stuff we have at home”; something worthy of a holiday. It’s all right to indulge on a holiday, right? It’s America’s birthday, after all!

Fortunately, or unfortunately, busy post-firework traffic kept us from getting to Sonic, one of the only restaurants still open after 10. We considered McDonald’s, but the parking lot was packed. “Let’s try the one by the interstate,” I told myself. But as we drove toward it… drats, it was closed! We had finally resigned ourselves to our already-at-home treat.

But then I saw it on the side of the highway: a gas station. Guess what gas stations have? An ice cream freezer!

I turned my blinker on and pulled in. “I’ll wait in the car,” Ethan said, trusting me to find something he’d like.

The ice cream freezer was right next to the front door. It had multiple delights: ice cream cones, Snickers bars, strawberry shortcake bars, ice cream cookies… I made my selection of two, completely ignoring any nutrition facts labels, and went to pay at the register.

While waiting in line, I saw another devilish delight. Something I haven’t eaten in well over a year, because it has absolutely zero nutritional value, and is literally the antithesis of my diet.

Donuts.

I knew I shouldn’t. I hoped the patron in front of me hurried so I wouldn’t have time to look at the options. But it was too late. I was in too deep. I had seen them all: mini donuts; devil’s food donuts; frosted donuts; cinnamon sugar donuts.

I stepped forward, laid my ice cream on the counter, which was already contraband for me, and quickly grabbed a bag of mini chocolate donuts, too. I paid the man, said I didn’t want a receipt or a bag, scooped up my guilty pleasures and ran out.

Ethan shortly scolded me when he saw the donuts, but then immediately opened them after he had finished off his ice cream. I also indulged in a few - who keeps count when they’re eating mini donuts? - and went to bed.

The next morning, there they sat on the coffee table. The evidence of our poor decision-making late at night. But now it’s the light of day, we’re well rested, and we can now make better, healthier decisions, right?

Right!

So we threw the bag away, right?

(I’m now thinking this would make a great Anakin/Padme meme.) The answer is, nope!

This morning we got up, sat on the couch, and opened that bag up again. Because even though we knew it was wrong… boy, it still tasted just as good as it did last night.

There are a few things I want to pick out from this story.

Why did we get donuts? It started with a desire. We had a desire for something sweet. I think there was some nostalgia for Independence Days when we were kids, linking fireworks to ice cream/tasty treats in our brains. That desire led to a plan. A plan that was initially thwarted by busy traffic, busy parking lots, and closed restaurants. Every avenue we could have taken to get to a restaurant for ice cream was essentially blocked.

We could have stopped there. But once that desire got deep inside of us, it had taken root. It wanted to be fed. It was so hungry, it was even willing to compromise. Gas station ice cream isn’t quite the same thing as a blizzard/McFlurry/Sonic blast… but we were willing to settle. Anything even remotely resembling ice cream would have sufficed.

Once we had made the decision to get ice cream, it could have even stopped there. But once I let go of that boundary that says I won’t eat something against my diet… the possibilities were endless. Nothing was against the rules. My mind (re: not my stomach) wanted sweets, and temptations abounded. The list of attempted justifications my mind set forth were endless:

“It’s America’s birthday! Calories don’t count on holidays.”

“It’s just this once. Just tonight. It won’t happen again.”

“You’ve worked so hard, and you haven’t had it in so long. You deserve this.”

“Look, it’s even on sale! It’s a sign.”

And that’s how my decision to go against my diet for ice cream, also led to my donut purchase.

What were the consequences of my decision? Well, not only did I go against my diet, but I also encouraged Ethan to break his. Sure, he could have refused… but I placed that temptation in front of him.

Okay so what, I broke my diet one - err, two times (last night and this morning). Big deal. So what, right? Well there are other consequences. I’ve likely either gained a pound or stalled in my weight loss (I know what you’re thinking, “boo hoo,” right?). I ate more than a day’s worth of calories, not to mention the fat and sugar content. Another possible consequence could have been falling ill. I could have gotten physically sick as a result of my decision, if my body had rejected it, as is easily possible after bariatric surgery.

But I didn’t get sick. And my clothes still fit. So what’s the harm?

Well, the harm now is that I have to essentially restart my diet. Because diets aren’t about the foods we eat, not really. It’s about our mindset. Our relationship with food and its purpose in our lives. That’s why I typically prefer to call it a “lifestyle” because it’s meant to be permanent, not a temporary fad. And now I have to make it through the next several weeks, knowing in the back of my mind I ate something bad and nothing too bad resulted from it.

What’s to stop me from doing it again? Or doing something even worse next time? Because often times it is like a cascade. Those with food addictions will continue to eat more and more, and can’t even consider quitting until they come face-to-face with serious consequences. And even then, if their addiction is too deep, it may be too late to turn back, at least of their own accord.

So why have I titled this piece, “The Donut Sin?” Well, when we sin, it often starts the same way. It starts with a desire. My and Ethan’s desire to eat something sweet was not in and of itself a bad thing. In fact, I would say it’s God-ordained, because He created us with the taste buds to appreciate sweet foods, and also created our neurologic pathways that lead to dopamine release - meaning, for most of us, we see eating something sweet as a treat, or “reward.”

Desires in and of themselves are not sinful. After all, even the Bible says God will give the desires of our hearts to those who delight in Him (Psalm 37:4). Many desires are universal, meaning all humans experience them. These typically include things like the desire to love and be loved, to feel wanted, to feel satiated/quenched, etc.

God made us to have these desires. He also created a way for us to achieve these desires: He calls on us to trust in Him. God created us with a need to know Him. We were made to be in relationship with Him. He teaches us through His Word that all our needs can be found in Him.

In Matthew 4, we read about Jesus’ experience in the wilderness. He fasted 40 days and nights, and he was hungry (v. 2). Satan used Jesus’ hunger and tempts Him to betray His trust in God by using His power to turn stones into bread (v. 3). But Jesus thwarted the temptation, stating, “Man shall not live on bread alone” (v. 4). Jesus was both man and God. Because He was man, He was tempted, as are we all. But because He was also God, He was able to subdue these temptations, and lived a sin-free life.

Satan is often referred to as the Tempter in Scripture. He also knows what desires we were created to have. And he tries to pervert these desires in ways that cause us to set our hearts on this world, rather than setting our hearts on God. He does this by using temptation. After all, he tempted Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3). “Did God really say…” and “you will not surely die…” he told her, encouraging her to doubt, setting his trap (emphasis added). We all know how that story ends.

When we are faced with temptation, we can do one of three things. First, we can give in. This is what happened to me. I had an innocent desire for something sweet. I was tempted with donuts (which it should be noted, I only saw because I put myself there in the first place) and gave in. Second, we can let it linger. Considering. Day in and day out, we can let it sit there. Looking at it from time to time. Occasionally reaching out for it, but no, deciding against it, pulling away. Friends, let me tell you, if you are in that metaphorical gas station and those donuts are sitting there tempting you, you need to leave. Because this second option always ends up with the same results as the first. If you allow temptation to set itself up in your life, your inaction by not tearing it down, will in fact allow it to grow. Unfortunately, because of the fall, we are all addicts. We’re sin addicts. And like my example of food addiction above, one sin can lead to another, and another. Oftentimes with growing consequences. Sometimes those consequences affect other people. When that temptation takes root, and our initially innocent desire becomes more important than our desire for God, we will let anything satiate it. I initially desired a DQ blizzard, but settled for gas station ice cream… close enough. Although we have a desire to be loved, and that desire can be fulfilled by God’s love, too often we allow Satan to pervert it, by convincing us that someone loving us on this earth is “good enough.” I’ve certainly been guilty of this in my life.

The third option when we are faced with temptation, is to turn to the One who was tempted and overcame it. We turn to God. We fill our hearts and desires from knowing and cherishing Him, by being in relationship with our Creator. In so doing, we destroy the temptation. Not only do we prevent it from taking root in our hearts, but we also often have to take physical action. We have to leave that gas station.

For those who may be thinking they are only tempted because God allowed it to happen, let me be clear: God will never tempt you. That’s what Satan does. We see several stories in the Bible where God tests the faith of those who believe in Him. Job comes to mind. But God will never encourage you to fall into sin. That is the complete and utter opposite of who He is. I could have said, “well, God let me walk right into that gas station.” And that would be right, He did. He didn’t strike me down with a lightning bolt to stop me. But do you know what He did do? He made traffic busy so I couldn’t get to Sonic. He made the one McDonald’s parking lot seem unappealing, and the second one closed. He put several obstacles in my way to stop me.

Friends, know this: if you turn to God when you are tempted, and ask that He keep you from falling, He will protect you. But if you keep running toward that sin, despite every obstacle put in front of you, eventually He will let you do it. That’s the beautiful irony of free will. We are free to trust in Jesus to break our chains that bind us to sin, but we are also free to sit there and continue to be trapped. God won’t force us. And unfortunately, many of us will choose to sit there, when the escape from our cage is so readily available.

A lot of times we will try to justify our sins, as I did. Well it’s just this once… I deserve this…

Sin is sin. It is dirty. It is unrighteous. It is an act of rebellion against God (Isaiah 66:24). There is no justification for it, despite our feeble attempts. Our Creator is yes loving, but He is also holy, sovereign, and just. To tell of only one part of Him is to miss how mind-blowing and awe-inspiring He is. Because He is holy, He cannot allow sin, which is unholy, to enter His Kingdom. Because He is just, He is the Judge, therefore the One who will determine our fate. The punishment for our sins? Death (Romans 6:23). An eternity apart from God. But if there is no justification for our sins, and because we are human and therefore can’t help but to keep on sinning, despite our best efforts… what hope do we have?

This is where Jesus comes in. God saw our sin dilemma, and sent His Son to solve it. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John‬ ‭3:16‬). Some might say, well why didn’t He just say sin doesn’t matter anymore, and let everyone go to heaven? Because He is just. There is no justice in pretending our moral failings simply didn’t happen. Imagine a mass murderer on trial, but instead the judge not only stopped the trial, but gave the mass murderer a mansion and a million dollars and a clean record. How would we respond to that? “That’s not fair!” True, it wouldn’t be fair. Because God instilled us with the same sense of fairness, or justice, that He also has.

When we read Scripture, we find that we are that criminal on trial. But God doesn’t just cancel the trial like the judge I described above. The trial still happens. But instead of us being found guilty, God declares His own Son, Jesus, as the guilty party. He stands up and pleads guilty, although He was guilt-free. He does this so we can be found innocent. And similarly to the judge above, God not only doesn’t give us what we do deserve (which is God’s mercy), He also gives us something we don’t deserve (which is God’s grace). But what He gives us is so much sweeter than a mansion and a million dollars… He allows us to live in relationship with Him, having His Spirit inside of us, with the promise we will live with Him in eternity. In effect, He does give us that clean record as the criminal above. Though we were dirty, He can make us purer than snow (Psalm 51:7).

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)

It’s true, eating a donut is not in and of itself a sin… but the mindset behind it could be. Let’s examine our hearts and minds today, and remember where our priorities lie.

#Bible #Jesus #Scripture #truth #donuts #sin #God #holy #righteous #weight loss #temptation #transformedmind

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stuartledrew · 3 years

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Neat Thought...

We're viewing our pasts, from our presents, as we step into our futures.

That is to say:

When I look at you, I'm seeing where you were, not where you are.

The speed of light Doppler effect...The “light barrier”/screen...Am I on yet?

Anyway...

Be nice.

Be happy.

Be you.

How?

We're a light/dark energy/matter, double rainbow...Well, we will be...

Once you find the “you” that you were born to be.

Balance, harmony, diversity, eternity...Life.

Or...

An eternal, double, infinite, single wave length (...-1.0.1...)...Life?...

Take your pick.

Some interesting things start to happen, when you think in terms of the speed of light, being directly connected to, the number of beings on the network. - Truly just beings there are.

The more of us who join, the more harmonic we become.

We begin to think as one mind, not the same thought, just the timing of...We begin to beat...And all time exists at the same time.

Just a thought.

https://stuartledrew.tumblr.com/

Another neat thought:

Given that I'm viewing my past on a slightly convex screen (time plane), with a very concave retina, + rod/cone placement + transmission speeds = 3D = Evolution (Hunting)

Oops...Got a bit lost there myself...

We're the present, a singularity of time.

We're centered.

So...

Simpler biology...Concave, to concave, flipped...

Anyway... Enjoy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAEppFUWLfc&list=RDMMNAEppFUWLfc&start_radio=1

“Stone walls do not a prison make,

Nor iron bars a cage.” Richard Lovelace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkgkThdzX-8&list=RDMMNAEppFUWLfc&index=2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTTAPCUtbc8&list=RDMMNAEppFUWLfc&index=5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpoP4YSFKGA&list=RDMMNAEppFUWLfc&index=4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZA5heWazIQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCorJG9mubk

P.s.

This will be my last post, tweet, comment...ANYTHING!!!...On this subject.

In 2008 I got a “tap on the shoulder”. That night I was run through the gamut...I was once Jesus...No, apparently I was Satan...Nope...Wait...I was God...Until I screamed out into the darkness, “NO!!! It just doesn't work!!!”. Then I got to thinking...

I told the doctor (I was “told” to), and ended up being diagnosed as schizophrenic, and being hospitalized. Tip, unless for some reason you wish to be hospitalized, don't tell a doctor that you were once god. Anyway, whilst hospitalized, I briefly lost my temper with my psychiatrist, and got assigned an interview with another psychiatrist, to confirm that I was bipolar too...WHAT?...

Anyway, at that meeting, things got a bit emotional. The psychiatrist's student, started crying and had to leave...And I got a confirmation of bipolar disorder...WHAT?...

I made an RCMP officer cry once too, a male one. He was left to “watch over me” in a room at the hospital, on one of the occasions that I had been told:

“This is a big thing! A REALLY BIG THING!!! You understand that, right? Well the only way they're willing to get you guys together, at the moment, is in a controlled environment. Get yourself checked in to the hospital.”...Phone RCMP...Say “This is Stuart Graham LeDrew I live at...I used to be god, and I fear that I may do harm.”...BINGO!!!...Hospitalized, but no meeting!...No kidding!...Nearly 13 years!...Anyway, back to the RCMP officer I made cry...We talked for a bit and I asked him, “If it isn't, EVERYBODY, what's the bloody point?”, and he began to cry.

Long story short:

Either I'm pure probability, and simply mad.

Or I'm right, and we all win!!! But if so...Where is she? It's the communications era! I'd have been there the next day. If I hadn't been told, that I have to wait here. Katy has to choose to come to me. I must just be mad! The next day!!! I'd probably have been arrested and detained, but I'd have had to!!!

The way I figure it...

If I'm just mad: I have hyper-inflated lungs, and COVID's on the rise, shouldn't be long now.

If I'm right: Maybe I have to go through all of them, one-by-one, for some reason, and I'm just losing again. C'est la vie.

If I'm, right, right: It has to work, first time. Otherwise, it's just a trick of sorts, possibly unjust, and personally unacceptable. Something may be back...BUT IT WON'T BE ME!!!

And I'm not “Going long”, that's just the same thing, a trick.

If anyone can hear me...You can't mess it up! Why? Because I'm still here!

HELP!!!

Or not...Your choice...That's the point!

Well, one more.

I WILL FIND A WAY!!!

I'm back, but then again, I did say that I'd find a way.

Perhaps it would illustrate my point, “Stuff like this doesn't 'Just happen'!”, if I give you a few examples.

I was 'told' to go upstairs 'right now!', and watch a video...”Which one? 'You will know.'. I did so. The video was:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCorJG9mubk

Which is basically a synopsis of this whole thing.

Then, one evening at 10:10 on the 10th, I wondered, “What is 101010 in binary?”. Turns out it's 42. Douglas Adams' “The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything”.

In the video, “This is the part of me”- Katy Perry, at 2:23 Katy is wearing a watch. It's 10:10, and the minute hand is pointing to the 10 on the outside dial. I only just noticed this fact, and I've been watching it for years.

I first encountered Katy with the release of the “I kissed a girl” video. I was walking through the living room, and the video for it came on tv...Our eyes met...I walked away thinking “Oh well, just another talented, pretty girl, they'll “throw away” in a couple of years.”. I mention this because as I said, our eyes met...Then, I walked away at the end of the video. But what happened between those two events...(blackout)? It was odd, but I didn't think much of it at the time (loads going on). Now, did I see Katy, then get my “tap on the shoulder”, or visa versa? I couldn't tell you, it was all too long ago now.

In late 2010 there was a forum called “The Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything”, upon which I was posting. It was the usual stuff...Drunks in Florida, “Killing time”, and people only interested in their own theory's. So there really wasn't much point, but one day, a 12.5 year old girl, posted a link to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw&list=PLNNEgHxrnU5xrECkqd-mbgyOf6X7_6W9p&index=95&t=0s

And asked, “Is this the sort of thing that you mean?”. I told her that it was basically exactly what I meant, but thought nothing more of it. That's not strictly true. What I meant by it was that I made no connection to Katy or the “I kissed a girl” video. I don't think that I even noticed that they were the same person. If I had, I'd probably have thought something along the lines of, “Oh, still going...Gosh!”. As to the song itself...That has saved me countless hours of thought...We're all on our own “perfect road” leading us all to our own “perfect door”. No need to keep 'checking'/cross referencing etc:. BRILLIANT!!! Anyway...

All of this had fallen into the background, for a couple of weeks or so. It was odd, but nice, a quiet mind. Then on 3/14/2018 Stephen Hawking died. Within 4 hours of his death I had a basic understanding of how all this works. I explained it all on physics forums. My model fixed all of the various problems/oddities in their model, but they would have none of it. Got banned!

Christmas 1987 my mother asked me what I'd like for Christmas. I usually got her to get me a record, but this year the really wasn't one that I had my eye on. So I said “Pop goes the world by Men Without Hats.”, because I thought that the girl in the video was cute. Turned out, I never really listened to it, I didn't really care for it much. But!!! Now, the anomaly in the video that has been bugging me for years becomes clear. What anomaly? What are those floating bubbles with the red bits on them? Do they mean anything? Because, again, the video is pretty damn on-the-nose!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zUUtf7gOe8

Or the video for “Imagine” - John Lennon, he was a tad over zealous, here and there, but, imagine. Why do they zoom in on the window that has “THIS IS NOT HERE” printed on it? I'm demonstrating that it isn't, so...

And finally, well for now anyway, in 1994 Elastica released “Connection”. Huge amounts of this process have related to music videos. “Connection” was one of those “instant fav's”. The original video is a masterpiece, but could cause epileptic seizures due to the quick cuts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY2s4hJ8kuA

“Another heart has made the trade, Forget it, forget it, forget it, I don't understand how a heart is a spade, But somehow the vital connection is made.”

I have to know this! How is a heart a spade? It's ridiculous! It could be anything! Oh well...

Then two days ago, for no reason the thought Juice Newton “Queen of Hearts”, so I played the video. 35 seconds in...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0DK-0fIKCw

I could go on. My day, everyday, is just a continuous “coincidence” stream. Stuff like this doesn't “Just happen”!!! Well technically it does, but...

I will find a way...I mean, what else ya' gonna do?

Especially after the most powerful moment of this whole thing...

The weekend before my birthday in 2017, Katy had a “Witness Weekend”, four days, on air 24 hours'ish, a day. I'm not entirely sure why I watched, Katy was “relevant” by then, “Firework” had saved me so much time. I watched probably 3-4 hours, or so, each day, but I have a problem with, “I may be wrong...”, so I didn't want to feel like a stalker.

Katy had a psychiatrist come in to the theatre, to have a session with. As the session progressed, Katy started to cry, and Katheryn came out. Our eyes met...And it was literally like a double laser out of her eyes! Then I knew! Her image was burnt into my soul...She must “Meet her Prince Charming!”, it doesn't have to be me, but she has to be happy...I hear tell...

“Friends describe Katy and Orlando, as 'More than in love'.”...

Then there's Daisy Dove...

I think it's wonderful. Orlando's a really nice guy (he played himself on “Extras” with Ricky Gervais), life's complex sometimes, and it's a big house...Anyway, I'm either quite, quite mad...Or right...

And it REALLY SUCKS not knowing for sure, for sure, because I am ya’ know?

#science #religion #life #love #eternity #smile

0 notes

tipsycad147 · 5 years

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For the Beginner Pagan, Wiccan, & Witch: Tips & Resources to Get Started

A question that is asked often in the pagan community is, “how do I become Wiccan/Witch/Pagan?” And while there are literally hundreds of online resources and books, the beginner pagan is seemingly more confused than ever. I receive emails every day on this exact topic. So, to simplify it for you and for me, I decided to write out all of my advice in one place. Here’s where to start in Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism, including beginner witchcraft books, pagan books, Wicca resources and simple steps to get you started on your unique pagan path.

DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you information about the paranormal and paganism.

For Beginners: Wicca, Witchcraft, & Paganism

Read & Study: Books and Online Resources

Keep a Record: A notebook or journal serves as grimoire or Book of Shadows

Get Outside

Practice: moon ritual, meditation, celebrate sabbats, divination

Altar Set Up: free & cheap ideas, tools, etc.

1. Read & Study

You might be tired of being told this, and I know it’s beaten into people’s heads when they first start out, but there’s a reason everyone gives you this advice. Wicca, witchcraft, and paganism are all separate (but sometimes combined) spiritual paths, and therefore you need to read to determine what’s what as far as the basics go. If you come to a FaceBook group or live coven and ask what’s the difference between Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism, they’ll almost always tell you that you haven’t done enough preliminary research. The information is out there. I promise. Use Google. It is your friend. The resources available to you for free are ENDLESS. When I first started, I didn’t have the internet. I had books from thrift stores. And I had my own drive and will to practice and forge my own path. The internet makes it SO easy for the beginner pagan!

Beginner Wicca Books

Scott Cunningham: Wicca: A Guide for Solitary Practitioners, Living Wicca, Earth Magic, Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Etc.

Raymond Buckland: Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft, Practical Candleburning Rituals

Lisa Chaimberlain: Wicca for Beginners

Beginner Witchcraft Books:

Marian Green: A Witch Alone

Ann Moura: Green Witchcraft, Grimoire for the Green Witch

Ellen Dugan: Cottage Witchery, Garden Witchery, Natural Witchery

Christopher Penczak: The Inner Temple of Witchcraft, The Outer Temple of Witchcraft, Instant Magick, The Witch’s Shield

Edain McCoy: Sabbats, , Celtic Myth & Magick, If You Want to be a Witch

Laurie Cabot: Power of the Witch, Celebrate the Earth, Laurie Cabot’s Book of Shadows

Judika Illes: The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells, Encyclopedia of Spirits, Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints, and Sages

Beginner Pagan Books:

Pagan Portals: The Awen Alone – Walking the Path of the Solitary Druid, Dancing with Nemetona, The Dagda

Joyce & River Higginbotham: Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions

Morgain Daimler: Irish Paganism

Trevor Greenfield: Paganism 101

Frank MacEowen: The Mist-Filled Path

DJ Conway: By Oak, Ash, & Thorn

Free Pagan and Witchy Websites for Beginners

thewitchymommy.com

witchoflupinehollow.com

thetravelingwitch.com

sarahfawnempey.com/

patheos.com/library/pagan

sacred-texts.com

otherworldlyoracle.com (shameless plug)

magicalrecipesonline.com/

pinterest.com

Something you might not have thought of – there are DOZENS of FREE pagan and witchy apps for mobile phones these days. Download a free moon app that tells you the phase of the moon and what astrological sign the moon is in. There are also rune apps to help you learn the runes, tarot apps, crystal apps, etc.

Beginner Witch, Wiccan, Pagan Topics to Study

When I say “study” in the above heading, I mean to read, write it down, and also practice what you study. The topics I typically suggest for people to study include:

moon phases and magical associations

the Wheel of the Year and sabbats

the four elements

gods and goddesses

ancestors

mythology

pagan history

crystals

herbs

These are some basic topics to learn. You will find other topics you’d like to study along the way. These just scrape the tip of a massive pagan iceberg of knowledge! Don’t just research and write these things down…get out of your comfort zone and PRACTICE them.

2. Keep a Record

In addition to reading and studying, you. Must. Keep. A. Record. This means using a cheap spiral notebook, a fancy journal, a composition book, whatever you’d like, to serve as your spiritual journal (a.k.a. grimoire or Book of Shadows). The Book of Shadows or grimoire is used to document your spiritual journey, as well as basic magical knowledge, spells, sabbats, etc. It can be as detailed and organised as you’d like. Or, if you’re like me, I literally just write things as I go along and flip back through my grimoire later. Not the most organised way, but hey, I’m a Sagittarius. Whatever works for you, do it. But WRITE it down! This way you can review your notes as well as have a chronological record of your journey.

3. Get Outside

In the majority of pagan paths, the focus is on Mother Earth. We read about nature, plan rituals to include nature, set up an altars to honour nature, its time to get outside…in nature! Get outside as much as possible – it is the core of your new path. Go for walks in the park or around the neighbourhood. Sit outside on your balcony while you drink coffee in the morning. Take a break at work and go for a walk. During your free time? Go outside. When you’re stressed out? Go outside. There’s so much to learn just from being outside and experiencing it with all of your senses. Watch for different animals and insects. Where’s the sun or moon? Do you see any special trees, plants, or flowers? Do you hear the wind blowing through the trees? Birds? What do you smell? Record any significant moments you have outside. Sometimes these moments are signs from the Universe.

The Author feeling like a dryad!

4. Practice

You’ll never gain experience with something unless you practice and actually get out there and DO IT. Right? Paganism, Wicca, and Witchcraft are the same way. A lot of people want to read and research and write about it, but are afraid to actually try it. Give it a try. While a new spiritual path or religion can be intimidating in the beginning, Wicca and Paganism are nothing to be afraid of. They are very active spiritual paths and you will be rewarded more if you get off the couch and practice something you’ve been studying!

Beginner Pagan & Wiccan Rituals to Try:

A simple candle spell

Make a protection spell bag

Make a magical herb-infused oil

Set up an altar to honour a new god or goddess

Divination like tarot, oracle, runes, scrying

Give offerings to your new god or goddess

Cleansing herbal bath on the New or Waning Moon

Plan and start a new tradition on the next Sabbat

Helpful Magical Tools for the Beginner Pagan

First of all, tools are there to help you direct your energy and amplify it. Some practitioners will tell you that tools have no power, that you have all the power. I’m not going to tell you that, because I am an animist and I believe herbs, crystals, animals, etc. have their own consciousness and when used in magic or ritual, their power is channelled to intensify it. That being said, you don’t have to have ANY tools at all. Your inner power and the universe is plenty! Keep in mind, most of these you can find in nature (in your backyard/forest/beach), or you can find them at the dollar or grocery store!

Candles: votives, tapers, bell candles, tealights, etc. (white is an all-purpose colour that can be substituted for any other colour)

Chalice: literally like a wine cup or stemmed champagne glass works great, if you don’t want to splurge on an expensive one!

Athame: I used an old wood-handle kitchen knife for YEARS. Doesn’t need to be fancy.

Bowls and Baskets: to hold offerings on your altar or to use when you harvest herbs and other natural items (Dollar Store and thrift stores or what you have on hand); bowls can also hold water and salt (to represent elements water and earth for Wicca)

Stones & Crystals: lots of people love crystals and stones but you don’t need to buy all the sparklies to use them in your magick or on your altar – simply use a river stone, a piece of coral from the beach, or a rock from some place you feel drawn to!

Herbs: grow your own easily in a sunny windowsill or in your own garden (all you need is a bag of soil and some seeds…truly) or buy from the grocery store (your kitchen spice cabinet is FULL of magical ingredients!)

Incense & Incense Burner: find sticks or cones and burners at a local store for cheap (5 Below, Health Food Stores, etc.)

Other Natural Items (FREE): feathers, branches, flowers, roots, seashells, pinecones, acorns, seed pods, etc.

5. Set Up Your Altar

You might be thinking, I can’t set up an altar! I don’t have the money! See the section above. Most of the items on your altar can be found in nature or purchased for cheap…or even made! You don’t need a huge table or cabinet. A shelf on your bookshelf will do. So will a part of your kitchen counter. IF you live with someone who doesn’t understand or condone your pagan path, you can always start a “portable altar”. This is an altar that is kept in a box under the bed or in the closet and can be taken out when you feel comfortable or taken to the local park with you, etc. No one will ask questions because it won’t be out for anyone to see it. AND you have the added bonus of travelling with it too (depending on the size of it).

I recommend deciding what you want your altar to do for you. Are you honouring a specific god or goddess? Your ancestors? Just the universe or mother earth? Are you forgoing the god/goddess thing altogether and just want to use it for magical endeavours? Figure out your purpose for the altar (this can always change over time, too). Then add things to it that suit your purpose. Items to represent the four elements (water, salt, stones, seashells, feathers, candles, incense, etc). Maybe a picture of the god or goddess you honour. Or a statue if you feel like splurging. Solely using it for magic or meditation? Candles, jars, bottles, mirrors, etc. can be placed on your altar. Literally WHATEVER you want to put on it, you can! No one’s telling you otherwise. That’s the great thing about Paganism.

It’s a Learning Process!

Again, this is practice, you don’t have to be perfect at any of it! You are a beginner, and even the most experienced witch or pagan still makes mistakes. We are human, after all. The point is that you acknowledge the mistake and try to learn from it so you don’t make the same mistake again. BUT even if you do, the Universe or your god or goddess will probably send some kind of sign to remind you to try harder next time! Any true witch will tell you that witchcraft and paganism are lifelong journeys that require lifelong dedication to self-education and drive. For those who have been pagans for fifty plus years, ask them and I’ll guarantee they are still learning! If you meet anyone in the pagan community who says they know it all, run away screaming. Follow your own path and take your time walking it.

https://otherworldlyoracle.com/beginner-pagan-wiccan-witch-tips-resources/

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theopenroadbeforeme-blog · 5 years

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Mountains are the sirens of geologic formations — luring in adventurers and enthusiasts with a rugged beauty that draws a veil over the hazards they contain. Soaring altitudes, inclement weather, and unstable terrain… these things and more have wrought tragedy upon countless backcountry explorers drawn inexorably towards the mountains. But there is one breed of peak that ups the danger ante to insane levels with pyroclastic flows, lava, and Earth-shattering eruptive force. Volcanoes.

All Nature’s wildness tells the same story: the shocks and outbursts of earthquakes, volcanoes, geysers, roaring, thundering waves and floods, the silent uprush of sap in plants, storms of every sort, each and all, are the orderly, beauty-making love-beats of Nature’s heart.” — John Muir

Guatemala has at least 37 volcanoes — the highest concentration in Central America. While many are dormant or extinct, there are several active ones, of which Volcán de Fuego is perhaps the most infamous. This is especially true in 2018 after a June eruption killed more than 150 people and displaced thousands. While that eruption was Fuego’s most powerful in over 40 years, the volcano is nearly constantly active, belching out smoke and fire day in and day out. Crazily enough, there are companies that lead tours up the adjacent Volcán de Acatenango and even onto the treacherous ‘Knife Ridge’ that is leveled at Fuego’s fiery gullet…

Kevin Sebold, photographer [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)%5D, from Wikimedia Commons

One of the most well-known of these companies is OX (Outdoor Expeditions). Their Double Whammy tour offers the chance to both summit Acatenango and walk along the Knife Ridge towards Fuego. After doing some research into their safety practices and watching some videos of the volcano in action, I bit the bullet and booked my tour. I would be climbing Acatenango and Fuego, making for one of my largest summits and my first active volcano experience, respectively.

Climbing Acatenango and Fuego

We set out early, meeting at the OX headquarters in Antigua at 7:00 in the morning to pack our bags and eat a quick breakfast. From there, it was just over an hour to the trailhead. The ascent was merciless from the get-go, with an exposed slog through cornfields comprising the entire first leg of the hike. Since the track starts at just under 2,500 meters in elevation, altitude is a factor, so we went slowly and took plenty of breaks to rest and hydrate.

After the sun-baked grind through the fields, entering the cool shade of the cloud forest was a welcome reprieve. Thick tree-cover hung with ferns and vines kept the sky from us, save for the stray beams of sunlight that dappled the forest floor. It was strange to think that we were on a volcano which had erupted as recently as the ’70s; indeed, it felt more akin to a rainforest far removed from any sort of life-purging flame.

The shift from cloud forest to alpine forest is sudden, as if all the lush vegetation mutually decided that none of it would grow higher than this elevation. But the shift in flora didn’t make for a barren landscape. The sweet tang of pine needles filled our nostrils, and alpine flowers blossomed in purples, reds, and yellows along the dusty path.

Solitary Volcán de Agua loomed in the distance, its 3,760-meter bulk dwarfing the surrounding hills. But not our Acatenango. Acatenango reaches a height of 3,976 meters, while Fuego tops out at 3,763 — give or take a few layers of transitory volcanic rock and ash.

After a lunch break during which we hoovered some fantastic sandwiches, we carried on as the first clouds of the day gathered around us. The wind picked up as well, and it wasn’t uncommon for a wisp of cloud to be harried past us before disappearing around the shoulder of the volcano.

When we (at last) reached our Base Camp, Fuego lay before us — a titan of smoldering menace intermittently shrouded in cloud.

Every few minutes, a puff of smoke would burst from its cone, roiling black and thick through the cloud cover. Occasionally, the spectacle would be accompanied by a low rumble, followed by the clattering of searingly hot stones cascading down Fuego’s flanks.

After a short break at Base Camp, two of us set out with our guide, Miguel, towards that rumbling, fiery giant across the valley. The descent down Acatenango was frenzied — a literal sprint down a steep slope with thick layers of fine, volcanic stone. After the first few, terrifying steps, the experience became exhilarating, feeling for all the world like cross-country skiing down a volcano. It basically was, sans any skis.

But that descent only meant we had to climb back up to reach the Knife Ridge of Fuego, and we set out from the saddle between the two peaks with weary steps. A sea of clouds broke against the flanks of Acatengo behind us, and the glow of the sinking sun tinged them with gold.

When we crested the ridgeline and saw Fuego smoldering in barely contained fury before us, I could feel a chill go through me — and not just from the cold! The path dropped sharply to either side, and Miguel made a point of showing us which way to fall if we lost our balance. “Don’t fall this way, you’ll die. If you fall this way, you’ll just slide for a very, very long time.”

Thanks, dude.

Other groups trudged behind us, and we all stopped just beyond a scattering of fresh rocks from a recent eruption. Because, you know… safety.

The sun dropped further towards the horizon, and we huddled on the safe side of the ridge to take shelter from the wind. I had a thermal layer, a fleece, and a windbreaker, but I was still freezing. Waiting became a war of attrition, and I alternated which hand I kept exposed to work my camera shutter as I tucked the other as deep into my pocket as I could manage. Miguel stood staring out over the clouds, oblivious to the elements.

In the distance, Volcán de San Pedro loomed over a cloud-covered Lago de Atitlán, where I’d spent the last few weeks staying in Santa Cruz la Laguna.

Darkness fell, and Fuego’s eruptions turned fiery, lending credence to its name. In Spanish, it literally translates to Volcano of Fire, while the Mayan name of Chi’gag translates to, ‘Where the Fire Is’. Apt.

We descended Fuego and made our way back up Acatenango in total darkness, picking our way gingerly down the steep slope and practically crawling the last several hundred meters up into camp. Dinner and a fire waited for us, followed by a cold, windy night on packed earth as Fuego rumbled and shook in the distance.

Morning came much too soon, as we all got up at 4:00 am for a pre-dawn ascent of the summit of Acatenango. Bleary-eyed and groggy from a restless night at altitude, we trudged up the slope as the sky began to lighten, cresting the rim of the crater just minutes before sunrise.

The sun rose just over the shoulder of Volcán de Agua, painting the clouds below and the neighboring peaks in soft reddish-orange light. Fuego sent up its regular plumes of ash and the occasional belch of lava, prompting cheers of “FUEGOOOOO!!!!” from gathered onlookers.

Lake Atitlan was visible behind us, with its vanguard of smaller volcanoes dwarfed by the shadow of Acatenango.

As we’d learned the night before, sometimes the easiest way to descend a volcano is to run straight down, so that’s what we did. A steep pitch covered in a deep layer of loose stone made for a surprisingly safe ‘ski’ slope. We took giant, leaping steps down, sliding up to a meter per step down the scree.

We took our time eating breakfast while Miguel and Milton broke down camp. When it came time to bid Fuego farewell, we waited for one last eruption before heading back along the trail. Behind us, the Volcano of Fire rumbled on, sending ash and fire into the clear blue expanse of the sky.

Review of Ox Expeditions

Climbing Acatenango and Fuego with Ox Expeditions has undoubtedly been the highlight of my trip. Not only was the experience extremely epic and satisfying, but the guiding expertise and overall organization of the trip by Miguel and Milton were exceptional. They handled our group of 14 with aplomb, easily adapting to the different hiking abilities present in our group. The food was better than I expected and having the crew set-up/tear-down camp AND prepare all the meals was a welcome surprise.

The administrative side of Ox was a little less organized, as my hike was rescheduled at the last minute — forcing me to frantically adjust some travel plans because of the inconvenience. That said, Ox made good on the snafu and organized my transport to Antigua AND comped my pre-trip night’s sleep in their dorm.

I’d definitely recommend them as a tour operator and would highly encourage you to use them for climbing Acatenango and Fuego when you eventually visit Guatemala!

What to Bring

Good hiking shoes. I use Merrell Moab or Chameleon hiking boots and have always been impressed with them!

A windbreaker. I use the Arc’teryx Incendo hoody and love how I can just stuff it into my pocket when I’m not using it.

Thermal layers. Bring these for top AND bottom, as it gets very cold up on the peaks — sometimes the temps are sub-zero!

Tough, breathable long pants. You’ll be sweating a lot, so jeans are a strict no-no, while the rough volcanic stone can chew up flimsy materials. Get something comfortable, tough, and protective for the hike up — I use Coalatree’s Trailhead pants.

A fleece jacket. Columbia makes great quality fleeces for affordable prices.

GLOVES! I forgot these and ended up having to put wool socks over my hands to keep them warm.

A warm hat.

Snacks. While lunch, dinner, and breakfast are provided, snacks are not; so bring some chocolate, nuts, berries, or your favorite hiking food to snack on during the many breaks you’ll take on the way to the summit.

Sunscreen. Needless to say, there’s not a lot of shade on top of the volcanoes, so you’ll be getting some prime exposure to the sun while at altitude — a recipe for a gnarly sunburn if you’re not prepared.

Things Ox Can Loan You

OX has gear to lend or rent for those who don’t have their own. Here’s all the stuff I borrowed:

Sleeping bag

Sleeping pad

Backpack

Eating utensils

More… check with Ox if there’s something you need. They might have it on hand for you to borrow/rent.

Hiking sticks are available to rent for 5 quetzales at the trailhead.

How about you? Have you ever hiked a volcano? If so, how was your experience? Would you do it again? Let me know in the comments below!

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Climbing Acatenango and Fuego Volcanoes with Ox Expeditions Mountains are the sirens of geologic formations -- luring in adventurers and enthusiasts with a rugged beauty that draws a veil over the hazards they contain.

#epic #great view #Guatemala #hike #lake #tour #volcano

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theconservativebrief · 6 years

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Before the invention of clothing, agriculture, and even the wheel, our ancestors were playing with fire.

How do we know this? In 2012, archaeologists announced they had uncovered traces of ash, burnt twigs, and animal bone — evidence of a controlled fire — while excavating a cave in South Africa. Those tiny fragments were more than a million years old and likely the handiwork of Homo erectus, a species that predates Homo sapiens (i.e., you and me).

Not only did this evidence suggest our ancestors invented campfire before they invented anything else (perhaps with the exception of stone tools), it also revealed that making fire was one of the very first activities to get us working together.

Yet this incredibly ancient practice of campfire making still remains mystifying to many of us humans. A few months ago, a group of friends and I shared a laugh around a campfire realizing none of us — college-educated adults — could explain what, exactly, fire was.

Considering fire’s importance in human history — and that it’s still how most of the developing world keeps warm and cooks food — we really should understand it.

Here’s a science-backed history and guide to the ancient practice of building a campfire, from its importance for human evolution to the chemistry of how it burns to this age-old fuel’s impact on our health and our environment.

Mathias Erhart / Flickr

“Campsites are in essence nests made by human beings,” the biologist E.O. Wilson writes in The Social Conquest of Earth. And nests are the first step to becoming a species whose members look out for one another. The earliest humans “raised young in the nest, foraged away from it for food, and brought back the bounty to share with others,” Wilson writes. The campfire is the origin of community.

It’s also possible that fire aided our cognitive development. In the book Catching Fire, biological anthropologist Richard Wrangham argues that campfires — and the subsequent invention of cooking meat and eating it — were the catalyst that allowed our ancestors to develop big brains. “The extra energy [in the cooked meat] gave the first cooks biological advantages,” Wrangham writes. “They survived and reproduced better than before. Their genes spread. … There were changes in anatomy, physiology, ecology, life history, psychology, and society.”

In these early days, it’s likely our ancestors didn’t actually know how to start fires. They only knew how to maintain them — after a lightning strike or spontaneous conflagration of brush got one started. Anthropologist Christopher Dana Lynn writes in the journal Evolutionary Psychology that inability to start fires put even more pressure on early humans to cultivate ingenuity and tolerance for one another:

The inability to start fires would have required groups to coordinate activities to access and maintain them. This continual cooperation would have put pressure on cognitive capacities for social tolerance, conceiving of others as collaborators in future cooperation …

Dana Lynn also hypothesizes that we may be instinctually comforted by fire; he found some preliminary evidence that suggests blood pressure lowers when we’re around it.

Fire would also lead to inventions like the steel mill and the steam engine, which would allow humans to literally reshape the world to their likings.

“Fire is the one [invention] that made us,” Adrian Bejan, a thermodynamics professor at Duke and the author of The Physics of Life, a new book on technological evolution, tells me. “Without fire you and I would be nothing today.”

rahul rekapalli / Flickr

When you look at flames, you are seeing the results of a complex chemical reaction called pyrolysis. You’re seeing wood turned into gas, gas ignited by heat, and light from the excitement of electrons.

Here’s another way to think about it: The entire process of a fire is about tearing a log into as many pieces as possible. The tearing releases chemical bonds, expending energy as heat and light.

But anyone who has tried to ignite a whole log with just a single match knows that it takes a lot to get a fire going. You can’t do it with a single match or spark from a piece of steel on flint.

You have to take a tiny bit of energy and transform it into a self-sustaining reaction. Each component of the wood has to absorb enough heat to begin the pyrolysis process.

Here’s how it goes: As plant fibers heat up, the plant’s tissues — mostly made out of a molecule called cellulose — start degrade and break down. As the tissue gets hotter and hotter, water is driven out of the cells, and they then break apart, forming volatile, combustible gases, “just like a burner from your stove,” John Bailey, a professor who teaches fire science Oregon State, tells me.

Igniting those gases releases some energy, which then can be used to break down more cellulose and generate more combustible gases and heat.

Here, from the textbook Bioenergy: Biomass to Biofuels, is a breakdown of the stages of pyrolysis. It starts with the evaporation of water out of the wood and ends with the combustion of wood gases. Bioenergy

All of this needs to be done in the presence of oxygen, as fire is an oxidation reaction. (The oxygen bonds with the carbon in the wood to form carbon dioxide, and releases heat and water along the way.)

The ignition of the gas continues the process of breaking down that log further and further. Inside that gas are actually hundreds of carbon-based compounds. Some of these form soot and then are broken down further in the flame. If a fire burns perfectly, the log will break down all the big molecules into carbon dioxide and water vapor.

But why does this process create light?

It comes from the electrons releasing extra energy — going from an exited state to a less excited state. (You know how metal glows when it’s heated red-hot? The same thing is happening in the flame, but instead of metal, it’s the tiny particles of soot absorbing the energy.)

Here, via the YouTube channel Distort, is a very cool look at how pyrolysis occurs in slow motion.

[embedded content]

Building a campfire only takes three ingredients.

Fuel: Twigs, paper, branches, logs, etc.

Oxygen: Free and always available!

Heat: A match should do the trick.

These three are called the “fire triangle,” and if they are kept in balance, a campfire will burn evenly and thoroughly. But if they are out of whack, the fire will sputter and fail.

Wikimedia Commons

Here are some general rules to get a good campfire going.

1) The first rule of building a campfire is to start small.

You may be tempted to start with big branches if you have a big fire in mind. But remember, a match or a lighter contains only a tiny speck of energy — just enough to bring small branches, pine needles, or other kindling to the critical temperature at which pyrolysis can occur.

As a campfire builder, it’s your job to coax that tiny bit of energy into growing, slowly and thoroughly. So start with some very dry kindling, some pine needles, and crumbled-up bits of your least favorite daily newspaper.

Also remember: Large pieces of wood have to absorb a lot of energy before they ignite. If there’s too little heat in the fire, they won’t catch. Too much wood will smother the flame from oxygen as well.

2) Use the driest branches you can find.

Be sure to find the driest pieces of wood for your campfire, as it will take extra energy to get wet pieces of wood to start burning. “If the moisture content is too high, an appreciable amount of energy is necessary to vaporize the water, reducing the heating value of the wood as well as decreasing combustion efficiency, which in turn increases smoke formation,” the journal Chemosphere explains. Wet wood will also produce more smoke, which is bad for your health and environment (more on that below).

“There are many stupid ways of making fire, but there’s one special way of making it which needs no explaining, because everybody knows it”

When the fire is hot enough — when there’s an inch or two of hot, glowing coals on the bottom — it won’t matter if the fuel is a bit wet. “If you build up a nice bed of coals, you’ve got the fire getting progressively bigger, you’ve got this big generating heat source now, then you can lay that big piece on there,” Bailey says.

3) Start with low–density wood.

The best woods to get a campfire going are something light, like pine or cedar. These will ignite the fastest. (Pine also has a lot of resin, which makes for nice crackles when in a fire.) Then move on to denser woods, like oak. These take a lot more energy to start burning and will burn longer.

When it gets going, a fire is like a living thing. It needs to be fed, sustained, and looked after, or it will die.

4) The best shape for a fire is one that’s as tall as it is wide.

You can find plenty of diagrams for building campfires: teepee designs, log cabin designs, elaborate plans for digging underground air-intake vents. But really, all these designs come back to one basic rule: Build a fire that’s as tall as it is wide.

This rule comes from Bejan, who thought of it while watching a mound of charcoal ignite in his backyard grill. He realized when a fire is built into a pyramid shape, it will burn the hottest for the longest amount of time. It’s the perfect trade-off.

Duke

“If the shape of the fire is extremely flat, shallow, then the fire does not draw [oxygen],” Bejan explains. “A flat fire means a puny, puny fire. The extreme is to have a skinny, stick-like pile. The skinny stick is burning all right, but it is so skinny, it’s surrounded by cold air; therefore, it is a cold fire. That, too, is a bad design.”

In the middle is “a very special shape where the cone is not too shallow, not too tall, and the answer is the base is as wide as it is tall,” he says.

Bejan published this finding in the journal Scientific Reports. To him, the universality of the fire shape is evidence that humans have an innate sense of physics. “There are many stupid ways of making fire, but there’s one special way of making it, which needs no explaining, because everybody knows it,” he says. That’s universal across human cultures, stretching far back to the beginning of time.

Yes!

If a fire burned perfectly, the log would be completely torn down into carbon dioxide and water vapor.

But most fires do not burn perfectly. And as a result, wood smoke contains a lot of pollutants: chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde, as well as fine particles that can irritate lungs and eyes. As Brad Plumer has explained, indoor air pollution from wood smoke is the deadliest environmental hazard on the planet.

But the hotter a fire burns, the more these toxic chemicals can get broken down into simpler, safer ones. Burning dry wood also helps keep these pollutants to a minimum. But no matter what, “you’re going to put out a lot of pollution when you burn a campfire,” Lisa Herschberger, an environmental research scientist with Minnesota’s pollution control agency, says. “I would stay upwind of it.”

Fine particles from the smoke and soot can be smaller than 2.5 micrometers — tiny enough to lodge themselves into the crannies of the lungs.

“The biggest health threat from smoke comes from fine particles,” the Environmental Protection Agency warns. “These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they can cause health problems such as burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis. Fine particles also can aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases — and even are linked to premature deaths in people with these conditions.”

The particles from wood smoke also can contribute to smog and haze. In Minnesota, for instance, where recreational outdoor fires are popular, Herschberger says recreational wood smoke accounts for around 5 percent of all the fine particles released to the air. “I call this a sizable contribution to air emissions,” she says.

In terms of carbon dioxide emissions, wood smoke can be carbon neutral if the wood you burn is replaced by new growth. “But it’s not a slam dunk,” Herschberger says. “It will be really important [for emissions] to learn how that wood was grown, how it was transported. It takes knowing the whole life cycle of the wood to know if you’re ahead or behind [on carbon emissions].” Burning dead wood also releases what’s known as black carbon, or soot, which has a greater warming impact than carbon dioxide alone, she says.

Another danger is when fires grow out of control.

On the small scale, fire is predictable. “If you build exactly the same pile of kindling and had the same temperature, you would get literally the same fire again. It’s just physics and chemistry,” Bailey says. But when it sparks into a forest fire, it’s an entirely different beast.

“The fuels get very complicated, and the temperature, wind speed, relative humidity varies,” he says. “Then you just have random stuff: a gust of wind, a pine cone rolling down a hill, a little stream flowing through an area. It makes fire on a mountainside absolutely magical, unpredictable.”

(Like dark magic? “The more you’re fascinated by fire, the more it moves from the dark to the light,” he says.)

With ongoing drought, climate change, and, ironically, a history of fire suppression, forest fires in the Western US have been growing bigger and more destructive over time.

A lot of these fires are started by lightning. But as Smokey the Bear has cried for decades, you can help prevent forest fires.

Bailey offers a few commonsense suggestions:

Don’t leave a fire unattended. Put out fires with water, or smother them completely before heading out of a campsite.

Don’t park a car on dry grass. Car underbodies can get hot enough to ignite fires.

Be aware of fire hazard warnings before lighting a fire in a forest.

monnibo / Flickr

A marshmallow is made up of gelatin and sugar. Sugar burns at around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. A campfire can top more than 1,000 degrees. That’s why it takes Jedi concentration to heat a marshmallow over a flame (but not too close!) so it oozes instead of cinders.

Original Source -> Campfires, explained

via The Conservative Brief

#IFTTT #The Conservative Brief

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mikeyd1986 · 6 years

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MIKEY’S PERSONAL BLOG 97, March 2018

On Monday morning, I attended my last Healthy Cooking on a Budget class for Term 1 at Balla Balla Community Centre, Cranbourne East. I missed out on the last two classes as I was feeling rundown and was also recovering from an ear infection last week but I was really glad that I could make it to the last class. It was only the 4 of us today with the others either busy, sick or turned off from the blustering, Winter-like conditions outside. So we ended up working individually for most of the class.

It was quite a productive class today with lots of food to prepare. We made a chocolate Easter cake with a dark chocolate butter icing, a melted chocolate “nest” and decorations plus pull apart herb and cheese bread rolls and a honey lemon chicken. Firstly, we combined 1.5 cups of plain flour, 1 cup of caster sugar, 4 tablespoons of cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon of bicarb soda, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 cup of water, 1/3 cup of vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar into a mixing bowl and pouring the mixture into a 20cm round cake tin.

The dark chocolate icing involved melting 180g of cooking chocolate over a saucepan and combining it with 200g of unsalted butter, 250g of icing sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk and whipping it up with electric beaters. Next we made the chocolate nest which was pretty tricky. We used a small ceramic bowl with plastic wrap as a template and piped melted chocolate over it with long strands to make it look like a bird’s nest. Getting it stuck was the hard part as the chocolate fragments break apart very easily.

Later on we fried some chicken drumsticks and thigh pieces in a frying pan until they become a golden brown colour. We then placed them into a roasting pan and added a mixture of honey, lemon juice and kecap manis over the top with slices of lemon in between the pieces of chicken. You can then add some streamed vegetables and white rice to make it into a meal. I always learn a lot during these cooking classes and slowly my confidence in the kitchen is building up the more I practice these skills. http://www.ballaballa.com.au/programs-activities/cooking-programs/

On Monday night, I went to my RPM class with Claire at YMCA Casey ARC in Narre Warren. It’s been about 3 weeks or so since my last RPM class and tonight it was good to finally try out the new release, number 78, which featured a couple of challenging tracks especially track five with up to 8 attacks which tired me out pretty quickly. The new release features tracks including Jamiroquai’s Cloud 9, The XCERT’s Feels Like Falling In Love and Ghastly & Matthew Koma’s We Might Fall. It was good to see Claire making jokes about burning off Easter eggs and Hot Cross Buns this coming week as motivation to keep pushing hard. http://w3.lesmills.com/israel/en/classes/rpm/music-tracklists/

On Tuesday morning, I had my very first Kinesiology session with Carolyn King at Empowerkin Kinesiology in Berwick. I’ve known Carolyn for a year or two now after reading her book “Empowered Happiness” and following her blog and Facebook page. Today was the first time meeting her in person after winning a competition for a free kinesiology session. I really didn’t know what to expect at all but I went in with an open mind.

Of course the moment I walked into her clinic, she instantly detected how nervous I was feeling. This was no surprise as it happens every single time I meet somebody new or have a new experience. Kinesiology is the science of energy balancing and combines several different areas including Chinese medicine, anatomy and physiology. After she asked me to fill out a new client form and I talked about my mental health issues and recent diagnosis of High Functioning Autism, she got me to lie down on the bed.

She started doing some energy readings through my right hand and arm whilst explaining what was she doing and picking up. The biggest ones were feeling overwhelmed, shattered (doing too many things at once), stressed and internally angry. She also used some essential oils on my feet, hands and back of my neck as well as giving me my first crystal, a black obsidian, which is said to be a protective stone which absorbs negative energies.

I found it very easy to talk to her despite being nervous and reserved as we have very similar backgrounds. Both being diagnosed with depression. Both worked at very stressful and demanding jobs for a long period of time. Both very sensitive, gentle and kind hearted people. So I knew that she of all people would understand what I’ve been going through with work, family life, friendships, money struggles, being worried about the future and where my life is heading.

She gave me a large amount of advice and suggestions which I gracefully accepted and took on board with me. This includes walking bare foot on the grass or sand (grounding), keeping up with my writing and creative projects (write and burn, appreciation journal), trying out a boxing class to release anger and negative emotions, making a list of everything I’m doing and ranking their importance, making and using a worry box and surrounding myself with a white bubble to help deal with protecting myself from other people’s energies.

Of course some people wouldn’t be as open minded as I am towards an alternative therapy like kinesiology and Carolyn herself admits that she’s not a doctor but I like giving new things a go and this has been in the back of my mind for about a couple of years now. It wasn’t a rash decision and really a lot of Carolyn’s suggestions do make sense and are helpful when it comes to improving my life. Whether you believe in religion, spirituality or energy is quite frankly irrelevant if you’re striving for positive change within yourself, which I am. http://www.empowerkin.com.au/kinesiology.html

On Tuesday afternoon, I had my second session for Phase 1 of my Employ Your Mind course at WISE Employment Cranbourne. Thankfully the office Ally and I were in held a lot more privacy than the one I was in last week (notoriously called “the fish bowl”) so I didn’t have the distraction of people looking at me through a pane of glass. This week we looked at what Cognitive Remediation does and I completed a Dialogue of Working Ability (DWA) self-assessment which looks at the strengths and weaknesses in relation to work.

It’s quite interesting doing self-assessments as it forces you to critically think and be honest about your skills in a working environment in a holistic manner. Sometimes it can be hard working out which number to circle but I just try to go with my gut instinct. It’s important because the results will allow me to set some goals for areas that I can improve on in the future. https://www.arbetsterapeuterna.se/Global/Forlag/DWA%20affisch%20COTEC2012.pdf

On Tuesday night, I went to my first YARDfit session for the year at The Yard Strength & Fitness in Pakenham. I noticed how exhausted I was feeling driving down the Monash Freeway with time not on my side as usual. But I was determined to make it to the class regardless as I haven’t been that active in the last couple of weeks due to personal illness (aka my annoying ear infection). It was a quiet one tonight with just myself, Rodney Millar and Mandi Herauville but that was fine by me.

We warmed up by doing a few mobility stretches (walking lunges, standing bear crawls, squat jumps, open the gates) and some agility work outside (suicide running drill, sprints) with some orange cones spaced out. It didn’t take long for me to feel puffed out and fatigued but I knew that I was rusty and out of practice. http://livehealthy.chron.com/suicide-running-drill-8784.html

Next we worked on some front squats which I’ve only attempted a couple of times last year. The toughest part for me is dealing with the pressure on my wrists as you have to keep the bar resting on your deltoids (shoulders) as well as your elbows lifted up. Then there’s the balancing act of having to squat deep enough without dropping the bar. It’s pretty tricky but I could feel myself improving a bit the more I practiced. I managed to do 3 reps at 35kg. http://www.stack.com/a/front-squat

Lastly, our “Wyk” Hero WOD (Workout of the Day) involved doing five rounds of the following exercises for time: 5 front squats, 5 deadmen or rope climbs and a 400m run holding a 10kg plate. We actually practiced doing some rope climbs before the workout, trying to get the foot and hand grip right and then doing a Tarzan swing on the rope. Considering I’ve never attempted a rope climb before, I picked it up pretty quickly. I did need a lot of chalk on my hands to prevent rope burn but oh well. https://wodwell.com/wod/wyk/

The most challenging part of the workout for me was the 400m block runs. Holding the plate was really awkward as I couldn’t get a good grip on it and had to keep adjusting it. Plus it didn’t take long at all for me to burn out and I had to walk parts of it. But hey at least I hung in there and finished it. I managed to complete almost 3 rounds in 15 minutes which I was very happy with. https://www.facebook.com/TheYardStrengthandFitness/

On Wednesday morning, Mum and I enrolled in a Basic Life Skills short course at Merinda Park Learning & Community Centre, Learn Local RTO 3952 in Cranbourne North. The pink form that we had to fill in was very extensively detailed. They literally want to know everything from my past education history to my driver’s license details, USI number, disabilities and health issues. Plus two pages worth of terms and conditions. But I’m sure that a course like this will be very helpful for my growth and personal development. http://www.merindapark.com.au/all-courses/

On Thursday night, I attended an Adult Aspergers social night held at The Nerve Centre in Blackburn. I was still feeling restless from working late last night and from all the Easter shopping I had to get done today but I felt that it was really important to come to this meeting tonight to try to mingle with a few of the other Aspies. Tonight we played some board games and I decided to bring scrabble as it’s a childhood favourite of mine.

Half an hour in and I could already feel my social anxiety peaking with around 10 other people in attendance. It’s like the classic social event where everyone else around you is clicking and making conversation and you’re stuck in the middle not really knowing what to do. However, I did make the effort to drive all the way out to Blackburn for this and wanted to stay for at least an hour. Once again, the men’s toilets would act as my “safe room”.

Thankfully I didn’t need it nor did I have to slip out and bolt for the exit. It only took Ann speaking up to get the ball rolling and suddenly we ended up christening my board game. Once we all started playing scrabble, I began to relax considerably. I was sitting at the table with Dave, Roger, Lachlan, Ann and the group’s organiser Colin. Being my third time coming here, I was only barely scratching the surface when it came to names and who these people were but these things take time.

It was fun with all of us trying to remember how to play the game and bringing back a lot of nostalgic memories. Some of the other members were chatting away and having some serious conversations about religion, politics, languages and history but I personally wasn’t interested. I think I was more proud that I actually managed to stay at an Aspergers meeting for more than 2 hours. I seriously didn’t think I could do it but I proved myself wrong. https://aspergersvic.org.au/events

On Good Friday, I participated in my very first research study at Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus. The study was to see how brain stimulation during sleep can help to affect memory formation. It was organised by Mr. Michael Barham, who is one of the principal researchers on the project. In some ways, it was a pretty daunting experience for me having never visited either Burwood or Deakin Uni before but I wanted to have an open mind and try it.

It took place in Building BC on Level 5 in two small rooms: one being a preparation room with computers and equipment and the other being the sleep lab. Michael explained everything to me and got me to fill out a consent form and several questionnaires on the computer about my background, how I was feeling and my handedness.

Whilst this was happening, Michael and the assistant were fitting an EEG (Electroencephalography) cap on my head and attracting electrodes to parts of my scalp. It was a weird feeling having wires being “twizzled” into my scalp with cool gel and pure alcohol added. Whilst it did hurt a little (mainly from the pulling of my hair), it wasn’t agonising and I figured that I could handle it.

Everything was going fine...until I had a sudden nervous reaction and began going pale in the face. The last time this happened to me was about two years ago after having a blood test at work and it’s far from pleasant. Michael and his assistant were quick to act, removing the cap, bringing me a glass of water and making sure that I was okay. I laid down in the sleep lab for a while to allow the blood to rush back. But ultimately I was feeling embarrassed and guilty about what just happened.

I had to withdrawal my participation from the study, though they still generously gave me the $20 gift card anyway. I think there was several things going on: general restlessness, not eating enough before the study, getting myself worked up and anxious internally, having to concentrate on the questionnaires during the prep. I guess it all got too much for me. However, I’m still proud of myself for making the effort to try it. https://www.facebook.com/CognitiveNeuroscienceUnit/posts/1688036141290041

Later that afternoon, I thought I’d give my friend Positivity Andrew (Andrew Hewitt) a surprise visit at the mental health facility that he’s staying at called Upton House in Box Hill. It’s been nearly 20 years since I last stepped into a mental hospital, the last time being to see my late Grandfather who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and depression (mental illness is literally all in the family). Thankfully the staff at Upton House seemed to be more friendly and positive than at that last place.

It’s not very often that I do spontaneous things like this but I genuinely care about other people, especially friends who are going through tough mental health issues. But Andrew was very happy to see me and I could tell he was grateful for my visit. He was staying in a casual family room with comfy grey sofas and a collection of toys in the corner. It’s always hard knowing what to talk about but I tried to embrace the awkwardness best I could. I love you Andrew! Stay positive, get better soon and get back with your bandmates in Distracted By Pink! https://www.easternhealth.org.au/site/item/102-inpatient-services-upton-house

On Good Friday night, I went to the Studio Opening Party of Aaron Petty’s new yoga studio called Level Up Yoga in Berwick (located above Personal Performance Training Centre). Considering this was a public holiday, this could have gone either way but thankfully there was about 18 students that turned up to tonight’s Vinyasa Flow class. It was good to see a couple of familiar faces tonight like Christian Reid and Daniel Cooper. Of course my social anxiety was lingering around like a bad smell. I can pretty identify most of my triggers now: meeting new people, being unable to breathe, sweating profusely, being in small spaces. But I tried hard to push all of these away tonight.

Aaron’s style of teaching yoga is very unconventional to most Traditional yoga teachers. There is a great deal of humour and unexpected surprises like doing an ice-breaking activity (Oh god!), forming a kum ba yah-like circle and chanting “Om” together, patting each other on the back and grabbing people from behind for support. But it’s all in good fun and not meant to be offensive or uncomfortable. These particular challenges are actually very helpful for me who struggles a lot in social situations and gets me out of my comfort zone.

Aaron’s classes are also very physically challenging especially with the lack of ventilation in the upstairs space. It didn’t take long for everyone to begin sweating on their yoga mats. We did many flowing sequences (Downward Facing Dog, Plank, Chaturanga, Cobra/Updog), Crescent Lunge into Arrowhead pose, Chair pose, Bridge pose and Pigeon pose. I struggled with balance and fatigue at times but never gave up. I think it’s also really important to have a laugh during your practice because that helps to curb the frustration of getting that “perfect pose”.

The addition of live musicians playing some chilled out yoga music was also a unique touch as was the presentation of the indoor plants and serving of tea. Aaron clearly went to a lot of effort for tonight’s event and I was really glad that I could be a part of it. https://www.facebook.com/levelup.yoga.berwick/

“In the dark I can feel the weight of the world. Pushing down on top of my shoulders. You think you're strong enough to carry it all? Go ahead, knock yourself out. I keep talking but no one listens. And I keep hearing things that I can't understand. And I see beauty in resistance. And I'm just trying to figure out who I am.” Michelle Branch - Knock Yourself Out (2017)

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kristinastorey27 · 7 years

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What’s it Really Like to Own a Cold Stone Creamery Franchise?

What’s it really like to own a Cold Stone Creamery Franchise?

Self Interview from former owner of a Cold Stone Creamery Franchise – Laurie Bennett

What type of experience did you need to start your Cold Stone Creamery Franchise?

I had a college degree in business and I had owned a clothing store for 5+ years when I had my first taste of Cold Stone with my husband. We loved it! My husband really wanted to go into business for himself and we felt Cold Stone Creamery was perfect. I already had a lot of business experience so it was an easy decision for us to make.

How much capital was required for the total business and how much cash did you need?

We were told (in 1996) the cost to build a store was $185,000 in the FDD and by Doug Ducey the Cold Stone President. However, we later learned those were outdated numbers. In actuality, it cost upwards of $325,000 to open a store and we had to learn that from the other franchisee’s that were in the system, opening stores and were finding out themselves. It was a scary time for all of us. Honestly, if we had known the true costs in advance, we would not have gone forward with a franchise. We simply could not afford to.

We ended up getting half way though our build out and learned from the actual invoices and existing franchisee’s that the actual costs were $325,000+. My husband and I were scared to death. We had a 2 year old and a new born, my husband was still working full time, I was running my clothing boutique and we were in the process of building our Cold Stone. I kid you not – we had to quickly sell our house to get enough money to finish the store. Honestly, I learned then and there the importance of doing a TON of due diligence when you buy into a franchise BEFORE you agree to invest.

Did you have to get financing?

The franchise was so new back then and we talked to a few banks but no one would finance that concept. We had $200,000 cash so we really thought we had plenty of capital since the FDD listed the high range to get a store open of $185,000. Turned out it was not nearly enough but we didn’t know that in the beginning.

What other franchises did you look at before deciding on the one?

Honestly, none. I had never really considered a franchise before. But I loved the Cold Stone product, environment and vibe and so did my husband. We stumbled onto it, loved it and went for it. We honestly thought we were getting in on the ground floor of something amazing. A few years later, after we knew everything there was to know about Corporate Cold Stone, we decided we needed to leave the system.

What was your worst customer experience?

We didn’t have too many but I remember one from the day we opened. One of our first customers came in and we were giving out free ice cream the first hour as a promotion. Yes…it was FREE and this lady still was complaining. My husband made her a super duper ice cream treat and mixed in her favoring things (according to her specifications). She took one bite and just about spat it in his face. She yelled out that she hated it. We went on to sell more than $5,000 of ice cream that day but it was a horrible way to start our business. Of course we laugh about that now but that day it literally broke our hearts.

What was your relationship like with the Corporate Franchise?

It started out really good but unfortunately, it turned downward after the first year. We had a very high volume store as we were in a very nice location in California. Because our traffic and sales (and rent) were greater than many other stores, our needs were very different. We needed to be highly efficient and that is how I like to work anyway. The franchise did not agree with us however. I would ask them for things like franchise approved ice cream cake boxes or to go lids for the ice cream – which seemed like must have items to me. Cold Stone Corporate would respond to my request by telling me, “no one else needs those things so you can’t have them.” It was an absurd way to run a business.

I already owned a clothing business so I knew that when I had a business problem, I found a solution to fix it immediately. Cold Stone’s philosophy was the opposite and that would have been nice to know before going into it. They down right refused to spend the energy or look into products the higher volume stores could use to bring up our efficiency and lower our cost of goods sold. Boy could they always seem to find the time to write me letters telling me I could not use “non” corporate approved products. Eventually they would agree to use more efficient products but they had to be dragged there. I thought they should be asking stores like ours for input and instead they threatened us and it felt very upside down.

Do you have any regrets?

It was a heck of a learning experience but knowing what I do now, I would not have opened a Cold Stone Creamery. My husband and I both had to work a million hours a week to keep it going. I had to neglect my clothing store (which provided us our livelihood) and I missed out on so much with my babies those first few years. The franchise had alluded to the fact that we would be hiring a manager to run the show for us and we would be overseeing things. Trouble was we didn’t feel we made enough money to pay a full time manager. My husband and I both worked 65+ hours a week and we were exhausted all the time. We were open 12 hours a day plus one hour of prep and one hour of clean. We hand made the ice cream, brownies and cones so it was extremely labor intensive. Just thinking about it now gives me the willies.

How many other franchisees did you speak to before buying in and do you think they were honest with you?

That is where I feel we really went wrong. I only spoke to 3 franchisees and one had not opened their store yet so they didn’t really count. The other 2 were vague and a bit strange and I could not seem to get straight answers from them. Turns out I was asking all the wrong questions. I honestly believed they were trying to keep new people out of the system because it was so great and they didn’t want to share the territory. Realistically, I had already made up my mind that I was going to open a store and so was not really listening. HUGE MISTAKE! Later, after I opened my store, they told me they had tried to warn me but I refused to hear. They were right. I took what they said and twisted it to suit my needs. Turns out they were leveling with me.

What was the most difficult part of the business?

At one point we had 22 employees all under the age of 17. For them, work is not a priority. It comes after homework, school, football, cheerleading, prom, partrying, movies, etc. The kids were great but they were young and Cold Stone Creamery is hard work. Our turnover was very high and we were constantly hiring and training. That for me was the hardest part of the business.

What do you wish that you knew before buying in – that you do know now?

As I said, if we had known the true cost, more about the corporate dynamic and the atrocious work load – we would not have gone through with it. But…we live and we learn and boy did we learn!

What did you like about the franchise?

I loved the ice cream – it was delicious. At our store we worked hard to make sure the quality was second to none and were very proud of that. I also really enjoyed the other franchisee’s. Most of them were terrific people and we were all in the same boat. We had no choice but to work together to find solutions, cut costs and grow sales. One time, after we had been open approximately six months, another franchisee sent 4 of his BEST crew members to our store to work so my husband and I could go eat dinner together. It was one of the nicest things anyone had ever done for us. It was an amazing gesture and we so appreciated it.

Would you tell someone else to open one?

I could not in clear conscience tell someone to open a Cold Stone Store. I know there was a class action lawsuit at one point and many franchisee’s sued the franchise as they felt they had been misled. That was years after we owned our store so we were not a party to that.

Hopeful franchisee’s would call our store on a daily basis and ask us if we like the franchise. We had to be careful what we said, and not make corporate mad, as they would retaliate on franchisees who did. Still, we needed to be honest with people so we had a saying, “it is the hardest work we have ever done in our lives for the least amount of money.” It was the truth. I’m sure we scared people off but we just wanted people to know the truth. If that still sounded good to them, they by all means buy a store. If not, they could move on.

How much work was required of you per week on average?

It never ended. I had someone watch my kids during the day almost every day. Then my mother and my husband’s mother would alternate evenings watching our children until 1am when we got home after cleaning up and closing. On weekends, my husband had to go back at 4am to start making more ice cream as our equipment and systems were inadequate for our volume. It was a tremendous work load.

Any words of advice to prospective franchisees looking into any franchise brand?

I am definitely not saying all franchises are bad. I am sure there are hundreds, if not thousands that are great. I just want people to know that when you buy into a franchise, you are buying their system, culture and integrity. If they are honest and forthright and the business model works, as long as you follow the system you should do great. However, if they are a misleading bunch and their business model does not fit your lifestyle (e.g. working 70+ hours a week) you need to ask enough questions in the due diligence process to discern that too.

from Business Opportunities http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2017/02/15/whats-really-like-cold-stone-creamery-franchise/

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