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strivingislam · 10 months

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Title: Exploring the Rich Tapestry of Islamic Knowledge: A Journey Through Faith and Wisdom

Introduction

Islamic knowledge is a vast and intricate web of spiritual, ethical, and intellectual insights that has enriched the lives of countless individuals throughout history. Rooted in the teachings of the Quran and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Islamic knowledge encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including theology, jurisprudence, philosophy, science, art, and culture. This article aims to provide an overview of the diverse realms of Islamic knowledge, highlighting its importance and impact on both individuals and societies.

The Foundations of Islamic Knowledge

At the core of Islamic knowledge lies the Quran, believed by Muslims to be the divine word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. This sacred scripture serves as a comprehensive guide to life, addressing matters of faith, morality, social justice, and human relationships. Understanding the Quran requires not only linguistic proficiency but also a deep engagement with its spiritual and philosophical dimensions.

Complementing the Quran are the Hadiths, which are the recorded sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad. These traditions provide valuable insights into the practical application of Islamic teachings and offer guidance on various aspects of life, from personal hygiene to ethics in business transactions.

Theology and Philosophy

Islamic theology, known as 'Aqeedah, delves into the fundamental beliefs of Islam. Scholars engage in discussions about the nature of God, the creation of the universe, free will, predestination, and the afterlife. Prominent theologians like Imam Al-Ghazali and Ibn Taymiyyah have contributed significantly to the development of Islamic thought, shaping the way Muslims perceive their faith and the world around them.

Islamic philosophy, on the other hand, involves the exploration of broader metaphysical and ethical questions, often in dialogue with other philosophical traditions. Influenced by Greek, Persian, and Indian thought, Islamic philosophers such as Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and Ibn Rushd (Averroes) made significant contributions to fields like logic, ethics, and epistemology.

Jurisprudence and Law

Islamic jurisprudence, or Fiqh, is the legal framework derived from the Quran and Hadiths that guides Muslims in their daily lives. Scholars of Fiqh analyze and interpret Islamic texts to provide rulings on matters such as prayer, fasting, marriage, inheritance, and more. The diversity of legal schools within Sunni and Shia Islam demonstrates the intricate nature of interpreting Islamic law.

Science and Medicine

The Islamic Golden Age (8th to 13th century) witnessed a remarkable blossoming of scientific inquiry and innovation. Islamic scholars made groundbreaking contributions to fields like mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and optics. Figures like Al-Razi (Rhazes) and Ibn al-Haytham expanded the frontiers of human knowledge and laid the foundation for later scientific advancements in Europe and beyond.

Spirituality and Mysticism

Islamic spirituality is epitomized by Sufism, a mystical dimension of Islam that focuses on cultivating an intimate and direct connection with God. Sufis emphasize practices such as meditation, prayer, and self-purification to attain spiritual enlightenment. Through poetry, music, and dance, Sufism has expressed profound spiritual truths that transcend linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Art and Architecture

Islamic knowledge has profoundly influenced the realms of art and architecture. From the intricate geometric patterns adorning mosques to the calligraphy that decorates manuscripts, Islamic art reflects a deep appreciation for beauty and the divine. The fusion of diverse cultural influences within Islamic societies has given rise to a rich tapestry of artistic expression.

Conclusion

Islamic knowledge is a treasure trove of wisdom that encompasses theology, philosophy, jurisprudence, science, spirituality, and art. Its multifaceted nature has shaped the intellectual and cultural landscapes of the Islamic world and beyond. By engaging with Islamic knowledge, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of the profound insights that have guided generations and continue to inspire a quest for truth, justice, and spirituality. Whether one is seeking answers to life's profound questions or striving for a meaningful connection with the divine, Islamic knowledge offers a boundless source of guidance and enrichment.

#islam #quoteoftheday #aesthetic #alhamdulillah #islam quote #beautiful quote #inspiration #life quotes #allahﷻ #prophet mohammad #article #Islam article

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angrylightgentlemen · 3 years

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Can gemstones heal?

For over centuries now, crystals have always been in use, be it as a decorative piece or an object of power. Many people believe that there is power locked within crystals and they can interact with the human body and their mind to ensure positivity.

Crystals and their perceived powers gained their popularity during pop culture, most notably between the late 80s and 90s when grunge, goth, and new-age cultures peaked. But the question is always prevalent, ‘If crystals really work and if heal’.

Gemstone is a cut and polished form of mineral crystal. Crystals are mostly worn like a gemstone on rings and they can add to beautiful ring designs.

If we look into the past, the magical properties of gemstones and metals were a very common thing. People were attached to the power of crystals and forces of nature.

However, after the emergence of Astronomy and astrology around the 3rd millennium BC and gemstones/crystals were considered knowledge – knowledge of the universe and our place in it. Which was greatly based on realization, observation, deep vision, and intuition. Humans then were receptive to these forces and they accepted to live with the “source” – nature, god, the universal consciousness.

Then came the centuries of religious dogma and restrictions, where people had to blindly believe whatever they were asked to believe without a question. Which led to the disappearance of ancient knowledge.

Finally, with the onset of the modern era of science and technology, the subtle perceptions of gemstones were gone.

If it is really effective?

According to scientific evidence, crystals do not have any mystic powers or attributes. Rather, the vibrations people claim to feel from crystals are more likely based on their personal experiences and intuitions.

There is a saying that positive power and thoughts can reduce the risk of disease. For example, Johns Hopkins made an observation that people with a family history of heart disease who also had a positive midset were one-third less likely to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular event within five to 25 years than those with a more negative outlook.

Additional studies have also found out that a positive attitude improves results and life satisfaction based on the conditions, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, etc.

So, perhaps the power of crystals could be the power of positive thought. The idea and belief in something to make it possible.

However, some studies suggest that crystals have powers to heal, and other ordinary and practical properties, such as water purifying and conduction of energy only when correctly utilized.

Though there is no scientific evidence, to prove the powers of a gemstone. We cannot say it does not exist. There are certain fields where science hasn’t reached yet. So, we can say that it’s all up to our belief. If you believe, it heals if you don’t, it doesn’t.

However, gemstones give a very brilliant and beautiful look to the jewelry. So, without thinking of the power or energy aspect we can use them for our jewelry. Jewel Smith is a jewelry store in California and they excel in birthstone ring designs. If not for the power you can get a gemstone ring as a fashion accessory.

#gemstones #healing stones #gemstones healing

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didanawisgi · 4 years

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The Fall of the Druids in Celtic Britain - Part 1

“Scholars and historians agree the invasion of Britain by the Romans in AD 43 proved to be the nemesis of the powerful, priestly class of Druids in British Celtic society. The Romans regarded the Druids as one of the main threats to the invasion of Britain because they incited rebellions and cause unrest among the Celtic tribes. The Druids, who were rumoured to have originated in Wales, were all but destroyed on the island of Anglesey by the Roman legions under the command of Gaius Suetonius Plautinus in AD 60.

The Welsh island was targeted because it was considered to be the spiritual home of Druidism in Britain as well as one of the main centers of resistance in the early years of the occupation.

The Druids were the religious leaders and scholars among the Celtic tribes throughout Britain, Ireland and Europe. Historians believe they flourished in these areas during the Bronze and Iron ages or possibly earlier.

Little is known of their customs and ways because all of their knowledge was memorised and passed down by word of mouth or in poems. Ancient Greek and Roman writers have provided historians with the only source of information about Druidism.

Diodorus of Sicily, the Greek historian, was one of the earliest writers to refer to the Druids in his accounts of Gaul. He wrote, "Philosophers, as we may call them, and men learned in religious affairs are unusually honoured among them and are called by them Druids". Julius Caesar maintained "the system (of Druidism) is thought to have been devised in Britain, and brought thence into Gaul".

The name Druid is derived from the Welsh words for "knowing, or wise one, of the oak tree". The oak tree was the most sacred tree in the Celtic religion as it was thought to be a doorway to the Otherworld or spirit world.

The Celtic priests were the guardians of the spirit realm. They could communicate with the ancestors and numerous the Celtic deities who dwelt there. The Roman writer Strabo said of the Druids "thank-offerings should be rendered to the gods, they say, by the hands of men who are experienced in the nature of the divine, and who speak, as it were, the language of the gods".

Their considerable knowledge and wisdom in all matters relating to both the spiritual and natural world justified their position as the intellectual elite in Celtic society. The Celtic tribes revered and feared them.

The Celtic religion was based on a respect for the mysticism and spiritualism of nature. It was, in essence, a religion of farmers and those who worked on the land. Agriculture was the most important industry for Celtic families, especially in rural villages, and a vital part of Celtic society because it represented wealth and prestige. A good harvest and healthy livestock together with an abundance of the land could only be achieved by appeasing the gods and goddesses of nature. The Druids ensured the balance of nature was kept by virtue of ancient ceremonies and rituals and in so doing the prosperity of the Celtic tribes.

Religious ceremonies took place in simple, open shrines in the natural surroundings of forest clearings, hilltops, shores of lakes, rocks, springs, peat bogs and other places considered to be sacred. Stags and bulls were among the animals which were also revered as were some plants such as mistletoe.

Gifts and offerings made in ceremonies by the priests in sacred places were believed to ensure a harmonious relationship between the supernatural and natural world. The Roman historian Pliny noted "Having made preparation for sacrifice and a banquet beneath the trees, they bring their two white bulls, whose horns are bound then for the first time. Clad in a white robe, the priest ascends the tree and cuts the mistletoe with a golden sickle and it is received by others in a white cloak. Then they kill the victims, praying that God will render this gift of his propitious to those to whom he has granted it" (Historia Naturalis XVI 249).

The religious calendar was dominated by the cycles of the moon and sun. Pomponius Mela, a Roman writer, said in AD 43 the priests "profess to know the size and shape of the world, the movements of the heavens and of the stars, and the will of the Gods".

The changing position of the sun as it rose into the sky was celebrated by the Druids in large gatherings. The winter solstice, spring equinox, summer solstice and the autumn equinox were important dates in the Celtic agricultural calendar in Britain. Other important agricultural festivals such as Beltane in May and Samhuinn in October were also observed.

Diodorus described their supernatural qualities as seers and prophets "These men foretell the future by means of the flight or cries of birds and of the slaughter of sacred animals, and they have all the multitude subservient to them". They maintained a high status in society as advisers to tribal leaders because of their gift of prophecy.

The training was long and gruelling. Novices entered the priesthood voluntarily or were sent by their families to schools and colleges that were supervised by the Druids. Students were required to spend up to twenty years learning and eventually became proficient in a wide variety of skills.

The task of learning knowledge and wisdom was difficult because everything was memorised and passed down in words, usually in poems, rather than written down. The Greek historian, Diogenes Laertius noted their knowledge was passed down by uttering "their philosophy in riddles, bidding men to reverence the gods, to abstain from wrongdoing, and to practise courage".

According to Julius Caesar, "They consider it wrong to commit all these things to writing... Presumably they do this for two reasons; first, because they do not want the details of their training to become common knowledge; and secondly, because they feel that once these details were written down those undegoing training would be less inclined to develop their memory" (Gallic Wars).

The most important areas of their expertise included religion, law, science (especially maths and physics), philosophy, astronomy, and healing. Julius Caesar , "they hold various lectures and discussions on astronomy, on the extent and geographical distribution of the globe, on the different branches of natural philosophy, and on many problems connected with religion".

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of the Druids as healers and physicians The grave the so-called "Druid of Colchester" is thought to be that of a priest or noble of the Catuvellauni tribe dating to between AD 40 and AD 60. The wooden burial chamber was discovered in the village of Stanway near Colchester in 1996.

The items found included "a cloak decorated with brooches and medical tools. Among the thirteen tools were things like a surgical saw, hooks, needles, scalpels, and sharp and blunt retractors. It is interesting to note that the kit looks more Roman than Celtic... Among the herbs, a cup was discovered with traces of Mugwort, a powerful herb the Celts knew very well. Druids may have smoked this herb to improve psychic powers and increase magical potency" (Ancient Origins).

Ancient authors noted one of their most important roles was that of judges and law-makers in Celtic society. Strabo, a Roman writer, wrote "The Druids are considered the most just of men, and on this account they are entrusted with the decision, not only of the private disputes but of the public disputes as well; so that, in former times, they even arbitrated cases of war and made the opponents stop when they were about to line up for battle, and the murder cases, in particular, were turned over to them for decision"(Geographica).

Julius Caesar said they punished "Any individual or community that refuses to abide by their decision is excluded from the sacrifices, which is held to be the most serious punishment possible". They seemed to have absolute power when trying cases and their judgements could not be reversed.

The Romans loathed the Celtic priests whom they thought of as sorcerers. Writers of the time confirmed Roman suspicions that human sacrifice was commonly used in rituals. The ancestors of the Romans had also taken part in human sacrifices but was considered barbaric by the time of the Empire.

Julius Caesar boasted he had witnessed numerous human sacrifices in rituals presided over by the Druids in Gaul during his conquest of the region."Others have effigies of great size interwoven with twigs, the limbs of which are filled up with living people which are set on fire from below, and the people are deprived of life surrounded by flames. It is judged that the punishment of those who participated in theft or brigandage or other crimes are more pleasing to the immortal gods; but when the supplies of this kind fail, they even go so low as to inflict punishment on the innocent"(Gallic Wars).

Diodorus of Sicily was one of the earliest writers to refer to the Druids among the Celtic tribes in Gaul. He also described how human sacrifice was used in their cruel rites. "They devote to death a human being and plunge a dagger into him in the region above the diaphragm, and when the stricken victim has fallen they read the future from the manner of his fall and from the twitching of his limbs, as well as from the gushing of the blood".

Archaeological evidence suggests there was some truth in the tales of Druids using human sacrifice as a means of purifying the land and so appease their gods and goddesses. Areas with water such as rivers, lakes, springs and peat bogs were considered to be especially sacred as water was thought to be a doorway to the Otherworld or spirit realm.

The most famous example of human sacrifice in Britain concerns the remains of the well-preserved body of a victim called "the Lindow man" II. The remains were found in a peat bog in Cheshire in England in 1984 and dated to about AD 60.

Archaeologists believe the victim was a young man of 25 years of age. It seems he was a noble because his fingernails were manicured and there were no scars on his body. The contents of his stomach contained mistletoe pollen which suggests that he was prepared as a victim before the ceremony. The Roman writer Pliny referred to Druids gathering mistletoe from Oak trees which was made into a juice and supposed to have healing qualities.

The evidence of the young man's ritualistic killing is that it was violent. A heavy blunt object was used to strike the back of his head twice, a twisted cord was used to strangle him and his throat was also cut. His body was naked except for a fox-fur armband. It seems he was placed or more likely thrown face down in a peat bog.

Most of the archaeological evidence suggests the Druids encouraged the Celtic tribes to make offerings in the form of weapons or other personal items in places they considered sacred. For example, the Battersea Shield was thought have thrown into river Thames in London possibly because of a victory in battle.

Swords, a fragment of a shield, two chains, iron wagon tyres, cauldrons, iron bars and animal bones were found in a peat bog in Llyn Cerrig Bach on the island of Anglesey in Wales. The Roman writer Tacitus refers to numerous Druids being present on the island when Gaius Suetionius Plautinus and his legions attacked in AD 60. Historians believe the items found were offering made in rituals performed by the Druids.

Julius Caesar and other writers of the time maintained human sacrifice was common in the Celtic religion. However modern scholars are of the opinion that human sacrifice was only performed by the Druids during times of crisis such as famines, invasion and war.

The ritual killing of the "Lindow Man” occurred between AD 60 and AD 61. It was a time of crisis and turmoil in Britain because the Celtic tribes were in open rebellion against their new Roman masters.”

#druid #druidry #rome #ancient #ancient briton #ancient rome

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sadrul-islam-sadi · 2 years

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sylviegionet · 4 years

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A Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern

Reviews 11/25/2020

Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern and an accompanying read A Halloween adventure with word maps and illustrations.

Get a copy at the bookstore sgionet.com Available on Amazon worldwide

Free printable bookmarks on sgionet.com

About the Book: What might happen to a young boy who fell asleep in a closet full of Halloween costumes?

If you like a dark folktale but a pleasant story, then you will enjoy Jack and Ony’s mystical journey.

Genre: Fiction: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Brothers, Friendship, Family, Folktales, talented boy and girl role models, ghostly forms, talking wildlife.

Mr. and Mrs. Lantern of 369 Hucks Hallow became enchanted by their boys who were Halloween fanatics.

About the author: Sylvie Gionet is a writer of fiction and an accomplished photographer. A Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern is her first children’s novel.

An honorable mention: She is a member of the Hamilton Mountain Writers’ Guild and the Hamilton Amateur Astronomy Club.

Coming soon: The Guardians of the Sun-Star and Moon-Star

Editorial reviews from Booksiren’s, NetGalley and Book Lovers

A Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern

by Sylvie Gionet

Booksiren’s review Oct 13, 2020. Editorial ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Halloween brings some serious adventure for the sibling pair in this atmospheric, deeply engrossing romp.

Jack and Ony are in great mood, and who can blame them, between testing their new patch of pumpkins and decorating their farm house for Halloween. But when Casey, a young witch, arrives on earth to seek the boys’ help, they see it not only as their chance to go on a superhero adventure but also catch the snoopy thief who is stealing the delectable desserts of the Halloween-land.

Gionet imbues her Halloween-time story in surreal, macabre atmosphere of Halloween, introducing an intriguing cast of characters, from the ghostly figure of Grim that holds scythe to Whimsey the fire ant, the fire-breathing Gecko, Golden Langur Monkey, and Eagle-Owl.

Fast-paced action blended with high adventure and gentle suspense will keep readers on edge.

Replete with surprising revelations and well-developed and memorable characters, this unpredictable, unrelenting adventure will satisfy Halloween addicts of all ages.

Rachel M, Librarian ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐NetGalley

Every autumn needs a new Halloween book, this is a great one! Beautiful art and fun story. Just the right amount of scary verses fun.

Catherine h, Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐NetGalley

I'm sorry, I couldn't get this read before Halloween! It was a fun read and not too scary, lots of laughs, too I think kids 4th grad to maybe 7-8th grades will enjoy it! Kids can read it anytime and enjoy it really, so maybe as a stocking stuffer to read next Halloween?!

Melissa D, Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐NetGalley

My stepson really enjoyed this novel and it wasn’t extremely hard for him to read, I would definitely buy this for him to read to his little brother again next Halloween

Thank you

Laura M, Educator ⭐⭐⭐⭐NetGalley

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I received and read this funny eBook on Halloween. I wish I'd had some kids around to share it with! As a middle school teacher, I think they would have loved it. Full of fun and giggles. It was greatly appreciated on a cold Halloween day, especially one that was as uneventful as this one in 2020. It brought Halloween into my home!

Kids R, Educator ⭐⭐⭐⭐NetGalley

“A Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern” by Sylvie Gionet is a chapter Halloween book, which parts from the standard Halloween picture book format. I can see how this can be a great whole-class guided reading story. Perfect for students in primary grades.

Kelli S, Educator⭐⭐⭐ NetGalley

I read this one with my ten and twelve-year-old kids. I personally didn’t enjoy it (I’m not a scary book fan) but they both loved it!

Kathy P, Educator ⭐⭐⭐⭐NetGalley

Halloween fun run amok but in such a good way. Jack and Ony are getting ready for Halloween, decorating their house, testing their new pumpkins and enjoying every moment in anticipation of the big day!

Someone is destroying ingredients in Halloween-Land (oh no!) but Casey the witch gets Jack and Ony to help her. These are their adventures y and experiences. This book certainly sparked my imagination and is a lot of fun. I read it to my 7 and 9-year-old grand babies and we laughed and got silly throughout the book.

Reviewer 627462 ⭐⭐⭐NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a sweet children's book. I really enjoyed the Halloween story and the setting was the good kind of spooky.

Chelsea J, Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐NetGalley

This was a really cute book. The two boys reminds me of my little boys also. This book is definitely great for autumn and a Halloween read. I love the cover also. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e arc for my honest review.

Sheila T, Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐NetGalley

This is such a cute Halloween story for kids. I love holiday stories, and this is a really good one. I loved the characters and the setting.

Danielle L, Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐NetGalley

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Unfortunately, I thought it was a short children's book, but it ended up being a chapter book and that is not what I was looking for.

Lindsay D, Reviewer⭐⭐⭐NetGalley

From the description of the book, I was expecting a short story but turns out that this is a chapter book. I found it to be okay. The story is pretty out there but certainly a fun Halloween read.

Amanda L, Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.

I read this to my 8 year old son and what a wild and wacky ride it was. I wouldn’t recommend anyone to take this seriously, but it did prompt a serious conversation with my child to advise him not to associate with anyone who ever offers you Happy Jack pumpkin seeds and certainly don’t take them! That advice stands true to everyone I think!

This had Narnia vibes for me, with children knocking about in cupboards and ending up in different lands. In this case it is Halloween land- don’t get excited, there isn’t a talking Jesus lion, but there is a talking gecko that hiccups fire balls! Groovy right!

It’s a perfect October read for young readers. There’s more pumpkins and spooky folktales than you can shake a witches broom at! It certainly captured my son’s imagination. I just hope he doesn’t start climbing in the back of my wardrobe as I’m sure he’ll just end up disappointed with the tap shoes last used in 1999 and the giant feathered fascinator I wore to my brother’s wedding.

October 29, 2020 by Aimee Ann Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Action & Adventure

Halloween-land needs help!

Someone was eating the delectable desserts in the warehouses, amongst other things.

Luckily for the magical inhabitants of Halloween-land, Jack and Ony Lantern are Halloween fanatics.

When a young witch named Casey arrives on Earth one night to ask for their help, they know they will be the perfect superheroes for the adventure.

Put your Halloween costume on, grab a Halloween treat, and get ready for a ride to a land filled with Halloween madness!

A Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern is an adorable read that will keep young readers engrossed, enthralled, and enchanted until the very last page! A Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern is a book that is the perfect read for the Halloween period and will take its readers on a fun and entertaining journey from start to finish! The combination of the adventure-packed story, incredible literature courtesy of Sylvie Gionet, and the phenomenal characters make A Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern a read not to be missed! That is why I urge all readers to pick up this book and immerse yourself in it! However, if you need more convincing then read the rest of my review to hear more about this dazzling piece of literature!

A Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern is a charming Halloween story that will introduce the reader to Jack and Ony. Jack and Ony are excited for Halloween and have started decorating and getting in the spirit of Halloween! However, one day a young witch not from earth arrives and she needs Jack and Ony’s help. Jack and Ony soon jump at the opportunity to help the young witch and what follows is a spooky and spectacular Halloween adventure that should not be missed!

A Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern for me was adorable, captivating, and addictive right from the start and I felt this from beginning to end! Even though I am an adult, and this book is aimed at young readers! I felt this way thanks to the author and her unique premise as well as her bewitching literature. It is rare to find a Halloween novel that is refreshing, and it is even more challenging to discover a Halloween story that does not seem cliché and unlike all others, so that is why I am so happy to have found this wonderful book written by the talented Sylvie Gionet!

The story of A Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern is original and unlike anything I have read before. I loved the many themes and elements explored throughout the book, and all themes are explored by Gionet wonderfully, and she does this by lacing these interesting themes/messages throughout the text flawlessly and weaving them with the story. The result of this makes A Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern a highly addictive and fascinating read that is never once lackluster or predictable and thus should not be missed!

Sylvie Gionet is a phenomenal writer who is not only amazing for her ability to captivate the reader’s attention straight away, but she is also an excellent author for her ability to lace exceptional twists and turns throughout her story! That will, in turn, have young readers shocked but hooked until the very end! The combination of Gionet’s shocking twists and her explanatory powers will immerse the reader in the story and make them be able to visualize every detail, no matter how small. Which in turn will make young readers feel included in the adventure in the novel and will feel as if they are right there beside the characters in the book!

To conclude my thoughts on this wonderful book, A Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern is an exciting, compelling, and fun Halloween novel that will easily entertain readers for many days and nights and so I, of course, have to award this stellar gem of a book five stars! A Halloween Adventure with Jack and Ony Lantern is the perfect read for this time of year so be sure to have a read of the preview and read this book!

Thank you so much for reading book lovers! I appreciate it so much. Here is a preview of the book for all of you lovely readers to enjoy! Please have a read of the preview and if you find that you have loved what you have read then all you need to do is follow the links below!

Goodbye for now book lovers,

#reviews fiction fantasy childrens story adventure

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talabib · 4 years

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Qualities of Great Innovators

We all seem to know what an innovator is. But what’s been harder to define for thousands of years is how innovators actually come up with their ideas.

In ancient times, it was believed that creativity was not a human attribute at all but solely a divine one. The Sumerians, who are credited with a large number of technological and social innovations at the very beginning of human history, believed that the many creative achievements of their civilization were not due to their own efforts but rather were gifts from the gods. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, human beings were likewise not considered to be “creative.” They were makers and users of things that God had created in the first place.

Everything started to change with the European Renaissance of the 14th to the 17th centuries, and in particular with the birth of humanism. That’s when the belief began to spread that great creative or scientific accomplishments were the direct result of a person’s owns education and abilities rather than the work of some external divine entity. Suddenly, it was the human being that was the genius. And in this exciting new age, as rationalism slowly eroded the power of mysticism, people were encouraged to tap into their own intellectual and creative capacities in unprecedented ways. Thus, the Renaissance ushered in an era of unleashed human potential, producing a slew of technological, artistic and cultural achievements.

What we primarily want to understand is the innovative thinking patterns and dispositions that became so prevalent in the Renaissance period

Innovators know how to leverage resources

Innovators see themselves, and the world around them, as a collection of skills and assets that can be recombined or stretched into new opportunities.

Filippo Brunelleschi, for example, who is regarded as one of the seminal figures of the entire period, started out as a master goldsmith. But he also studied literature and mathematics and had a strong artistic leaning. Brunelleschi was able to masterfully leverage his portfolio of skills beyond metalworking into sculpture, clock-making, architecture, archeology, engineering and even ship design — in many cases achieving what had literally never been done before.

In 1410 Brunelleschi succeeded in inventing the world’s first portable clock. By borrowing and repurposing technologies from different fields, Brunelleschi was able to make a clock that was not only much smaller and lighter but, more importantly, portable for the very first time.

However, Brunelleschi is best remembered not for his contribution to clock-making but for his achievements in architecture. His major work was the huge dome of Florence Cathedral (known as the Duomo), which is considered one of the greatest engineering accomplishments since antiquity. Nobody had ever built a self-supporting dome before, and none of his contemporary architects had any idea how to do it. Brunelleschi had to rewrite all the architectural rules, inventing his own mathematical, structural and building solutions at every step of the project.

He was constantly trying to expand his portfolio of skills and assets and to redeploy them in new ways or new contexts. He proved himself a genius at leveraging his own resources — and those he discovered around him — to transition into different kinds of opportunities.

This attitude, the awareness of our limitless capacity for developing, stretching and synthesizing resources, is one of the recurrent thinking patterns we find when we study the mind of the innovator

Innovators understand the needs of the people

The pattern of thinking that is characteristic of Innovators is their seemingly insatiable curiosity for the world around them and their unshakeable belief that they could make the world an increasingly better place.

No figure from the period epitomizes this more than Leonardo da Vinci. Helen Gardner, in her book Art through the Ages, writes of da Vinci’s “unquenchable curiosity,” and we see this reflected in the 13,000 pages of his famous journals, in which he made a daily record — in notes, drawings and scientific diagrams — of his observations and studies. These notebooks cover a wide range of interests and phenomena, from human anatomy and facial expressions to animals, birds, plants, rocks, water, chemistry, optics, painting, astronomy, architecture and engineering.

Da Vinci’s acute observations led him to think about and try to solve problems that hadn’t been seriously considered before. Nobody, for example, was asking for a parachute, a car, a submarine, a hang glider, a diving suit, a helicopter, a calculator, or floating shoes and stocks for walking on water, but Leonardo da Vinci invented, or at least conceptualized, these things.

Da Vinci was able to spot unmet needs and innovation opportunities because he was vastly more observant and more engaged with his environment than others. He was focusing his attention on issues and frustrations that most people simply ignored.

Innovators figured out how to connect what was possible with what was needed. This, then, is the perspective or thinking pattern of the innovator — the desire to develop deep insights into all kinds of phenomena and to use new knowledge to solve problems, address needs and improve quality of life in completely novel ways

Innovators know how to challenge orthodoxies

Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when we think about Renaissance innovators is their contrarian spirit. It was a time when people began to ask skeptical questions that had never been asked before and to challenge deeply entrenched beliefs that had long been taken for granted. For example: Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler asked,“What if the Earth is not the center of the Universe? What if it revolves around the Sun along with the other planets?”

Machiavelli asked, “What if politics has nothing to do with theology or morality? What if it’s simply about using all means — fair and foul — to retain power?” Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti asked, “Why can’t a painting be less like wall decoration and more like a window into the natural world? What if we used mathematical and optical principles to imitate objects so accurately that they look entirely real?”

Amerigo Vespucci asked, “What if the Earth has a much larger circumference than we learned from Ptolemy’s cartography? What if these lands Columbus has newly discovered are not the Indies at all but in fact another whole continent — a New World?”

Almost by definition, these Renaissance revolutionaries were nonconformists who were willing to contest previously held truths — beliefs and assumptions that had been accepted as absolute gospel for perhaps a thousand years or more — and to reinvent their worldview completely from scratch. Many of them were branded as heretics or lunatics. Yet their propensity to break the chains of precedent and to challenge conventional thinking became the basis for a whole string of breakthrough discoveries and new philosophies that literally changed our world.

This capacity to challenge orthodoxies and to propose perhaps wildly antithetical alternatives is one of the fundamental driving forces for innovation

Innovators see the future in the present

Innovators understand change. They seem to have a knack for recognizing and harnessing the potential of things that are already changing, where others do not. They are sensitive and alert to the kinds of trends that — if scaled up — could profoundly impact the future or that could enable them to drive significant industry change.

Innovators are not just better at picking up the signals. They are better at reading them. Their accurate powers of observation are matched by exceptional powers of reflection. They have a deep curiosity that makes them wonder where some nascent development might eventually lead, how it could potentially alter the current rules of competition, what kind of new value it might create for customers or what would possibly happen if this trend intersected with others.

Most importantly, they act on this vision before others do, usually because their rivals are still denying or discounting the importance of these change factors.

If we are going to learn to ride the waves of change, we first need to develop the ability to spot and recognize emerging patterns that can reveal where the world — and our business — might be or should be going in the future. We need to immerse ourselves in what is happening right now by making sure we stay closely connected with our customers, society and the rest of the world, and by keeping our eyes and ears open at all times.

That means regularly engaging in activities that awaken your curiosity by exposing yourself to new trends, impressions and perspectives. For example, conversing with people from different industries, demographic groups, geographies and levels of the organization. Or visiting new and out of-the-ordinary places; eating in new restaurants; following new fashions in clothing, music, sport, movies and theater; getting a close-up view of new technologies; and spending more time hanging out with teenagers and other people who seem to have their finger on the pulse of change.

Innovators repurpose, redeploy and recombine

Every company utilizes a specific set of resources (e.g., competencies and assets) to turn some form of input (e.g., raw materials, semifinished goods, information, ideas) into some form of output (e.g., a product or service) of value to others. Many of those resources are embedded in an organization’s own business model. Others are possessed by external companies that work with the firm at various points in the value chain as part of a larger business ecosystem.

For most of the industrial era, companies have predominantly asked themselves how to use the resources available to them more efficiently — in other words, how do we produce basically the same kinds of goods and services only faster, better and cheaper? But in today’s value-based economy, companies increasingly need to ask themselves how to use the resources available to them more innovatively — “How do we leverage existing skills and assets in different ways, different contexts or different combinations, in order to create new opportunities for value creation and growth?”

Nobody on earth knows how to produce and distribute carbonated soft drinks more efficiently than Coke. But the fact of the matter is that soda sales in the United States have been declining for the past 10 years (and are now falling globally), as people in general become more concerned about health, wellness and obesity issues.

So the focus at Coca-Cola is not on how to produce greater quantities of soda at lower cost but on how to use all available resources to offer customers healthier or trendier alternatives, such as fruit juices, water and energy drinks, not to forget Coke’s new “healthier” soda, Coca-Cola Life.

If a company is not capable of doing this — of using resources not just efficiently (for optimized production) but also innovatively (for new value creation) — it runs the risk of one day becoming incredibly efficient at producing what customers no longer want. Nokia and Kodak are sad examples of this phenomenon.

Business history teaches us that innovators often come to their breakthroughs by decoupling, remixing and stretching existing resources. They view a company not as a set of business units but as a portfolio of distinct, standalone skills and assets that can potentially be repurposed, redeployed or recombined in different ways to create new opportunities for value creation. In fact, they look at the whole world as a rich reservoir of resources that may be leveraged to make innovation happen.

Over the last few decades, the Walt Disney Company has continued to leverage its formidable skills and assets to open up new avenues of value creation. For example, the blockbuster movie series Pirates of the Caribbean had its genesis as a theme-park attraction at Disneyland back in 1967. This asset was repurposed as a feature film in 2003 and went on to become a major franchise, encompassing several more movies as well as novels, video games, media publications and additional theme-park attractions. The films alone have grossed well over $3.7 billion worldwide.

Where would Sir Richard Branson and Virgin be today if he had decided not to diversify but rather to focus his efforts solely on running the world's best record stores? His advice to other companies? “You shouldn't be afraid to diversify if you are in a position to do so, especially because nothing ever stays exactly the same. ... Whenever Virgin has money I always renew my search for new opportunities.”

Innovators know how to Innovate from the customer

More and more companies are learning to engage their customers in the innovation process. However, innovating from the customer doesn’t just mean “listening to the voice of the customer.” Why not? In an interview with BusinessWeek in May 1998, Steve Jobs remarked, “It’s really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

Nobody, for example, told Apple they wanted a translucent desktop computer, a cool MP3 player, an online music store, a revolutionary smartphone, an App Store or a tablet computer, but once Steve Jobs showed us these amazing things we realized we definitely wanted them — and needed them.

So the challenge is to try to understand the latent needs, wants and frustrations that customers can’t always articulate. The way entrepreneurs and companies get to these answers is not simply by asking customers what they want or by reading a market research report, but by trying to look at the world — and at their own brands, products and services — through the customer’s eyes (the fourth lens of innovation). They immerse themselves in the customers’ environment and observe how they behave and what they experience.

Whether through direct observation of the customer in his or her natural setting (perhaps making photo or video diaries), or mapping the customer experience at every stage of the demand chain, or trying to viscerally share that experience by using your company’s products and services yourself, the goal is to make the customer’s needs, problems, frustrations and feelings your own. This is how you generate the kind of deep customer insights that may trigger big new innovation opportunities. Your next step will be to start thinking creatively about how to address these issues before the competition does.

For most of the last century, corporate innovation was driven primarily from the technology side rather than the customer side. That is to say, in most large organizations it tended to start with technical R&D and engineering rather than with deep insights into customer needs.

But in today’s value-based economy, where global competition and overcapacity have given the consumer more choices and more power than ever before, a large number of companies from all over the world are now competing for the same customer’s money. Success has therefore come to depend on an organization’s ability to bring exciting and compelling new benefits to customers — or address their unmet needs — before the competition.

In many cases, it’s still the technology that comes first and the consumer application second, which can nevertheless work out just fine. But increasingly companies are starting from the other end, by first identifying an important customer need and then working backward to find a technical solution. The key point here is that both sides of the equation are vital, so the real challenge for organizations is how to get better at bringing the two together

#Qualities of Great Innovators

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theesotericecho · 3 months

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Quantum Eclipse: Navigating the Mystical and Scientific Realms on April 8th

Explore the April 8th solar eclipse with "Quantum Eclipse: Navigating the Mystical and Scientific Realms." Uncover the fusion of astrology, quantum physics, and rituals. Enhance your experience with our curated Amazon products. Join us on this journey!

Hello, neighbor! On a very special day coming soon, April 8th, we’re about to share in a magnificent moment together—a Total Solar Eclipse. It’s one of those rare times when the Moon dances in front of the Sun, and for a brief moment, day turns into night. It’s like the universe is inviting us to pause, look up, and witness a celestial ballet choreographed by the laws of nature itself. You…

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#Astrological significance of solar eclipse #Celestial event astrology products #Eclipse meditation guide #Eclipse viewing glasses Amazon #Mystical astronomy decor #Quantum healing tools #Quantum mysticism books #Quantum physics and spirituality #Solar eclipse crystals Amazon #Solar eclipse rituals #Spiritual transformation eclipse

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greeny-witchling · 4 years

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Sun / Sol Masterpost

! DISCLAIMER: The following informationc are may wrong. If you see any misinformations, let me know, but not in the harsh way please! The links where the infromations (mainly) are from, are at the bottom. There are everything assosiated with the sun, use, what is helpful !

Note: i’m starting to post things like this. Mainly about astronomy, green witchery, kitchen witchcraft, zodiacs and more. If you are intrested or it was helpful please let me know!

Probably the most popular of the planetary influences for the general population, Sun rules over prosperity and general protection. Choose Sun plants when you are looking for centering, doing money magic, or honoring aspects of the divine that are sun-associated. Sun plants often have sun-shaped flowers (daisies, for instance) or when ingested give a feeling of calm warmth (unlike the heating of Mars, which can lead to violent action).

Higher Self is the crystallization of a transcendental awareness that is a Fulcrum of Equilibrium of the Force-Form dynamics between Jupiterian grace and expanse and Martial tempering and rigor. Emanative from the Nondual and Eternal: Source Consciousness, Solar Self does experience duality yet is a Throne of Stability from which the Lunar personality can be forged and directed and from which suffering is mitigated through understanding some of the roots of attachment that give rise to Lunar mechanicity. But the Solar Fulcrum is dual-toroidal: from which causally antecedent Form-Form dynamics are expressed and through which the Force-Form dynamics of Venusian impulsivity and Mercurial patterning (the Lunar personality and, ultimately, physicality) are integrated and processed. Waiting to be explored are the astrophysical implications of Solar Self, the Sun in our Solar System, and their relationship to the collective consciousness of humanity.

other names: The Sun, Microprosopus, The Lesser Countenance, Melech ("King") (מֶלֶך), sol kabbalistic attributions: Tiphereth ("Tiferet") ("Beauty") (תפארת) mantric sound: „I” numbers: 6, 36, 111, 666 zodiac: leo metal: gold day: Sunday animals: lion, sparrowhawk beings: Will o’the Wisp colour/s: yellow, orange, amber, rayed red, rich amber, golden yellow stone/s: amber, topaz, ruby, diamond, cat’s eye, chrysoleth, carbuncle, citrin symbols: lion, hexagram, sparrowhawk, dragon, head, heart, swan influences: renown, potency, success, fortune, tyranny, pride, ambition, masculinity, arrogance, bigotry, vitality, health, leadership, money, prosperity, empowerment, enlightenment, goals, generosity, spirituality, male energy, the gods, freedom, matters of heart, creativity, friendship, growwth, personal fulfilment, self confidence, wealth, individuality, energy power unpopular correspondences: Ego (“I”, me, pride, self-expression, selfishness, conceit, vitality), Honor (the father, men, nobility, power, will), Creativity (Actors and actresses, entertainment, hobbies), Children (holidays, sports, vacations, games, speculation), Pleasure (Love affairs, heart, constitution) (infromation from: mystic-bss) deities: Aditi, Ah Kinchil, Ama-Terasu, Apollo, Aten, Brighid, Dhatara, Frey, Helios/Sol, Itzamna, Lucifer, Mithra, Mystere, Nitten, Paiva, Ra, Savitar, Jesus Christ, Osiris herbs, plants: Acacia tree (seeds, resin), Angelica, Archangel, Arctic Poppy, Armenian Poppy, Ash, Birch, Bistort, Black-Eyed Susan, Blue Water Lily, Broom, Burnet, Butterbur, Buttercup bush, Calamus (seed, herb, essential oil), Calendula, Catechu, Cedarwood (herb, oil, seed), Celandine, Centaury, Chamomile (seed, oil, herb), Cinnamon, Citron, Citrus (oil, herb), Desert Cassia, Everlasting, Eyebright, Frangipani, Globeflower, Graveyard tree, Helen's flower, Heliotrope, Hibiscus, Hops (seed), apanese, calamus, Laurel, Lovage, Marigold - all kinds (herb, seed), Marshmallow, Marsh marigold, Mexican marigold, Meadow rue, Mistletoe, Mock orange, Moroccan Poppy, Mouse-eared hawkweed, Old man senna bush, Peony, Pimpernel, Poinciana, Potentilla cinqufoil, Pot marigold,Rosemary (oil) Rue (herb, seeds), Saffron, Sneezeweed, Spanish Poppy, St. John's wort, Sundew, Sunflower, Tabasheer, Tormentil, Viper's bugloss, Walnut, Wartweed, Winged Everlasting, Yauhtli, poppy, acacia ash sun plant qualities: Plants resembling the sun in shape and color. Plants that open to the sun and close at night. Medicinal plants affecting the heart. Plants that make one feel warm and relaxed. planetary gualities: Illumination. Resplendence. Inspiration. Leadership. Living. Loving. Ascendance. Dominion over aspects of Lunar Self and other domains of magic and manifestation. body parts: circulation system, hearth, blood, eyes, right eye, upper back, spleen, spinal clomn, thoracic spine diseases: hearth disease, allergy, dermatitis, skin cancer, sunstroke, fever, hearth attack, radiation poisoning, photophobia, chills, hot flashes, skin rashes, eye diseases, substance abuse when arising from self-esteem issues scents: all gloirous odors, Benzoin, Calamus (herb, oils), Cedar, Center Incense, Cinnamon (herb, essential oil), Clove (herb, oil), Citrus (oil, herb), Frangipani, Frankincense (resin, essential oil), Labdanum, Marigold, Oil of Sun, Olibanum (resin, essential oil), Resins of the Sun Incense, Rosemary (herb, essential oil), Rowan, Saffron, Tiphareth Oil incenses: Frankincense (Olibanum), Galangal, Abramelin Incense drugs: alcohol, tonics, antdepressants, Warming drugs, but not as much as Mars and not quickening like Mercury but instead relaxing magick: The Red Tincture, power of acquiring wealth; weapon is the lamen or bow and arrow; figure is the hexagram. Protection, prosperity

Sun phases:

Just like the moon, the sun has phases which can be used to tie in with your magical workings to add an extra boost of power. The sun measures time, where it sits in the sky denotes what time of the day it is, and a sun dial would be quite useless without the sun to cast a shadow! I also think that point between night and day and vice versa, that moment of hand over is quite special.

Sunrise – Basically when the sun wakes up and peers over the horizon. This phase is all about new beginnings, changes, health, employment, renewal, resurrection and finding the right direction. It can also be very cleansing. The morning – This is when the sun is growing in strength, so it brings the magical power for growth, positive energy, resolutions, courage, harmony, happiness, strength, activity, building projects and plans, prosperity and expansion of ideas. High noon – When the sun reaches its peak in the sky at midday – work magic for health, physical energy, wisdom and knowledge. It is also a good time to pop your tools or crystals out that need charging. (Note: some crystals can fade in strong sunlight so check first before putting them out). The afternoon – The sun is heading back down, and the energy now is good for working on business matters, communication, clarity, travel, exploring and anything professional. Sunset – As the sun takes itself off down below the horizon, work magic for removing depression, stress and confusion, letting go, releasing or finding out the truth of a situation.

Sun altar:

I always say that an altar is very personal, it has to be for you to be able to connect with the energy. You will know what needs to be put on your altar. If you aren’t sure then start with a guide or suggestions from others (books, friends, internet etc) but keep it simple and then live with it for a bit. You will find that you are drawn to add other items to it. My suggestions for a sun altar, you don’t have to use all or even any of these, in fact if you put everything listed on there it would be pretty crowded, sometimes less is more. Any spells you are working on can be popped on your sun altar to give them a boost of solar energy. Altar cloth; which could be a head scarf, a table cloth, napkin or bandana, it doesn’t have to be an expensive item. I like to use yellow and orange colours. Sun symbols – well that’s a given really, you can get all sorts of items, ornaments and bric a brac in sun shapes. Flowers – fresh, dried or imitation, go for sunny yellows, oranges and reds but any bright flowers will sit nicely. Fruit – oranges and lemons look fabulous on an altar, you could even dry some slices to decorate with. Crystals – go with whatever you are drawn to but if you need some guidance there is a list of sun crystals in this book. Candles – there probably aren’t many altars that don’t have candles on! Go with sunny or fiery colours.

other things:

Flame symbols to represent fire. Triskelion or phoenix images. Coloured ribbons. Circles and discs in yellow, brass, copper or gold colours. Equal armed crosses or the swastika. God’s eyes (see craft section on how to make one) Oak leaves and any fresh greenery. The Sun or Chariot tarot card. Antlers and horns work well to bring in the masculine energy of the sun. A wand, again for the masculine energy. Flower wreaths, I often use my flower circlets on an altar. Bees – not real ones obviously, how would you stop them from buzzing about? Honey – a little dish or pot full. If you are working with a solstice or equinox you can add in symbols and correspondences that tie in with the energy of the season.

Fire of sun

deities: bel, horus, demeter borne by lion, vishnu zodiac: leo stones: amber, topaz, ruby, diamnd, cat’s eye plants: Calamus root (seed, herb, essential oil), Cowslip, Hops, Marigold, Mexican Marigold, Mistletoe, Pericon, Sunflower, Yauhtli colors: gold, red, yellow, orange, greenish yellow, reddish amber, gray, deep purple day: Sunday plant qualities: Radiant, strong, and enriching plants. Plants resembling the sun in shape and color. Plants that open to the sun and close at night. Medicinal plants affecting the heart. Plants that make one feel warm and relaxed. angels and animals: Michael, lion, Cherub of Fire, Seraphim body parts: heart beings: horros, dragons scent: Olibanum (resin, essential oil), Marigold, Hops, Sulfur drugs: carminatives, tonics magick: Power with wild beasts; weapon is discipline; figures are Fortuna Major and Fortuna Minor

More information:

Sol I - Solar Consciousness and Self – Contemplation in the Sphere of the Sun Sol II - Correspondences in Sol – Altar and Physical Foundations Sol III - Symbolism in Sol – Meditational and Initiatory Foundations Sol IV - Solar Magic – Illumination and Transmutation Sol V - Continuance of Solar Work – Stabilizing Solar Consciousness Sol VI - Solar Astrophysics – Advancing the Art https://christopherpenczak.com/2013/07/29/planetary-magic-1-the-sun-success-and-health/

Where the infromations are from(just in case and for giving credit):

https://www.alchemy-works.com/planets_sun.html https://luxsaturni.com/planetary-magic/sol/ https://www.patheos.com/blogs/beneaththemoon/2019/05/sun-magic/

#baby witch #babywitch #witch #witchcraft #witchtips #cosmic witch #witch community #sun #sun correspondences #solar witch #astronomic witch #witches of tumblr #masterpost #witch masterpost #witchy #witchy infromations #witchcraft infromations #correspondence #planetary masterposts

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amieravenson · 5 years

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Magickal Month- April

Magickal Month April 2019 April is such an exciting month! This time last month, we were seeing the first flowers and signs of new life, but now we’re seeing the real greening of the world. The forests are iridescent green, the azaleas, phlox, red buds, and cherry trees are coming in, and those first signs of life have become a full-on explosion of color. I’ve been seeing the deep purple of hyacinths in important places, though they’re pretty much past at this point. The tulips and wisteria are getting ready to explode in a week or two. I really love Spring. The weather is still back and forth, and the cool days are mixing with days that seem unreasonably warm for the season. And here in the South, at least, the pine pollen is really starting to coat every single surface. So while we desperately want to keep the windows open and feel the warmer air, that’s a recipe for sinus disaster. Ahhh, the paradox of Spring. I’ve been seeing robins for a few weeks, and the hawks and crows that are around all Winter are still here, just more feisty. I just saw a squirrel chasing another one around the backyard, and that reminds me that it’s mating season. Where’s my husbear? The etymology of the word ‘April’ either comes from the Latin word meaning ‘to open’, or from Aphrodite (Roman Venus), to whom this month was dedicated. Both seem appropriate, as we get a little randy and find ourselves opening up to our world and our relationships. Go outside and experience some joy! Lunations: April 5- New Moon in Aries, 4:50am EDT April 19- Full Moon in Libra 7:12am EDT Astronomy: April 6- Kappa Serpentids meteor shower begins April 10- Jupiter goes retrograde April 23- Lyrids meteor shower begins April 24- Pluto goes retrograde April 24- Pi Puppids meteor shower begins April 30- Saturn goes retrograde Celtic Tree Month: Alder (Mar 18th- April 14th): Balance, reawakening fertility, accelerated growth (good time for business or creative ventures), harnessing your hidden potential, balancing practical and mystical, release, foundations, determination, confidence, facing things you’ve been avoiding. Willow (April 15th-May 12th): Resonance and harmony, creativity, fertility, feminine rights of passage, inspiration, love, love divination, sleep with a willow wand for vivid dreams, protection for underworld journeying, found near water, spring cleaning physically/mentally/emotionally/spiritually, letting go of the past. Holidays (non-Pagan): April 3: Isra and Mi’raj (Muslim) April 6: National Tartan Day April 14: Palm Sunday (Christian) April 15: Tax Day (a dubious holiday) April 20: First day of Passover (Jewish) April 21: Easter (Christian) April 25: Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day April 26: Arbor Day April 27: Last day of Passover (Jewish) Holidays (Pagan): April 1: Veneralia, celebrating Venus as the embodiment of love vanquishing Mars as the embodiment of war April 4-5: Greek festival of Hekate April 5-6: Mounikhion Noumenia- Greek festival honoring all gods and goddesses April 7-8: Greek festival of The Charities, goddesses of beneficience April 8-9: Greek festival honoring Aphrodite April 10-11: Greek festival honoring Artemis April 12-13: Greek festival honoring Posiedon April 14-25: Icelandic Summer Days Feast- honoring the gods, where petitions and toasts were made to them. April 20-21: Mounikhia- festival of Greek goddess Artemis April 28- May 5: Floralia- Roman festival of Flora, goddess of flowers April 30- May 2: Beltaine- Celtic festival of Blodeuwedd (goddess of flowers) and Llew (god of Oak)- celebrates love and fertility Themes for the month: Refreshing everything, renewal, growth and greening, clearing out our Winter homes from stagnant energy, leaving our cocoons and moving out into the world. Flowers, joy, excitement, celebration, fertility and creativity. General activities for the month: Getting outside! Planning and building your garden, yardwork, moongazing, birdwatching, shopping for summer clothes, spring cleaning, rebirthing yourself. Herbs I’m using: I’m really feeling connected to everything lunar right now. I’m using almonds, coconut, and vanilla in teas and desserts, and I’m adding mugwort to all my teas as well. After going within all Winter, I’m ready to connect to the magick of the outside world and nature again. Stones I’m using: Apache tears- to work through and clear away grief and mourning, salt- for cleansing and purifying, selenite- for more energetic cleansing and raising the vibration of a space. Goddess of the Month: We’re getting ready to move where we’ll be next to a swampy area that’s actually a slow-moving stream. I’m SO excited. So I’ve been looking at fresh water or river deities, and the Naiads came up in my search. I want to connect with this body of water, and I want to connect with the Naiads as well. I have the perfect place to leave offerings, I just need to figure out what they would like. 3 card reading:

April 3 card reading First, we see the 3 of Pentacles reversed. This is the card of working, collaborating, and being productive. So in the reversed position, we’re not going to feel like we’re doing good work. We may be too scattered, we may not have the resources we need, or we may just not be able to focus this month. There’s too much going on, and the distractions are making us veer from what we should be doing. Next, we have The Lovers. This is a really appropriate card for this time of year, as most mammals tend to ramp up their mating rituals around now. We’re too distracted by love, romance, and sex to keep our wits about us. That’s nothing to worry about, really. Everyone else is distracted too. And finally, we see The Magician. So from all this distraction and seeming chaos, we can make things happen. We can manifest magick, as long as we take this energy and use it instead of getting lost in confusion. This is the time to take control and create our reality. Use the energy of this crazy time to propel yourself forward! Our special guidance card is One-Ring Circus. Again, we’re looking at a crazy time of action and reaction. But you we can do it! We can harness all this energy and make it into something grand and beautiful. This is our time! The Clote (Water-Lily) By William Barnes O zummer clote! when the brook’s a-glidèn So slow an’ smooth down his zedgy bed, Upon thy broad leaves so seäfe a-ridèn The water’s top wi’ thy yollow head, By alder sheädes, O, An’ bulrush beds, O, Thou then dost float, goolden zummer clote! The grey-bough’d withy’s a leänèn lowly Above the water thy leaves do hide; The bènden bulrush, a-swaÿèn slowly, Do skirt in zummer thy river’s zide; An’ perch in shoals, O, Do vill the holes, O, Where thou dost float, goolden zummer clote! Oh! when thy brook-drinkèn flow’r’s a-blowèn, The burnèn zummer’s a-zettèn in; The time o’ greenness, the time o’ mowèn, When in the häy-vield, wi’ zunburnt skin, The vo’k do drink, O, Upon the brink, O, Where thou dost float, goolden zummer clote! Wi’ eärms a-spreadèn, an’ cheäks a-blowèn, How proud wer I when I vu’st could swim Athirt the deep pleäce where thou bist growèn, Wi’ thy long more vrom the bottom dim; While cows, knee-high, O, In brook, wer nigh, O, Where thou dost float, goolden zummer clote! Ov all the brooks drough the meäds a-windèn, Ov all the meäds by a river’s brim, There’s nwone so feäir o’ my own heart’s vindèn As where the maïdens do zee thee zwim, An’ stan’ to teäke, O, Wi’ long-stemm’d reäke, O, Thy flow’r afloat, goolden zummer clote! My personal tides: The changes we’ve been building up to are finally underway. We’ve just closed on our new place, and we’re excited and terrified about all the work that needs to be done so that we can move in and start our new life. So our whole lives are all about renewal, transformation, and a fresh start. We can’t wait! I’m looking forward to decorating, gardening, organizing, minimizing, decluttering, and creating a sacred home for myself, Husbear, and the kitties. My personal goals: In spite of all the work that I have coming up, I’m also excited about what happens beyond that. I’m looking forward to setting up my office to be a spiritual, inspiring place to write, create my tarot classes, do in-person readings, and reconnect with my creativity. I’ve been so bogged down with anxiety about this change that I haven’t been able to focus on building or creating anything new, and I miss that. Read the full article

#April #crystals #MagickalMonth #pagan #poetry #Spring #tarot #transformation #wicca #witchcraft

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cactusnotes · 4 years

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Christian Festivals

Christmas remembers the birth of Jesus, with the build up in Advent, and Easter remembers the events of Holy week, with the Lenten season preceding it in preparation. It faces different beliefs and practices depending on if it is from the Orthodox church, or Eastern Church. One key difference is in terms of the calendar, with the Easter Church being based on a lunar calendar, and the West on the Gregorian Calendar.

Christmas in the West, first. It is based around the Pagan Saturnalia festivals. Advent is the 40 days preparation. Adventus means coming, and is a time to reflect on both Jesus’ birth, and his second coming: ‘Paraousia’. They are reflected in colours, violet for the most part, bar rose on Gaudete Sunday. Each week has a different theme: hope, prophets, rejoice, annunciation (the angel candle) and finally Christ, on Christmas. One may have an advent calendar to count down, set up Christmas decorations, potentially fast, face penitence. From 17 to 23 December, the ‘Great Advent O Antiphons may be sung at mass, combined to form ‘Oh Come, O Come, Emmanuel’.

On Christmas Day, carol services and nativity plays are popular, to bring alive the date, some have Plygain services in Wales at midnight. Some will have Christingle orange, there are three Eucharists, and lots of gift giving. It therefore differs with the Eastern Church in terms of the focus on advent (four verses two), the date, and the Christmas service (carols and nativities compared to several liturgies and strict services). However, they align in terms of the focus on the incarnation of Christ.

In the Eastern Church, Advent is a time of fasting and going vegan. The second Sunday before Christmas is the Sunday of the Forefathers, celebrating the prophets, while the Sunday before Christmas is the Sunday of the Fathers, celebrating his direct ancestors. There is no focus on Parousia and red vestments are worn. On Christmas day--6th or 7th January based on the Julian calendar--and is named Theophany and Epiphany, and is an opportunity to celebrate eternal salvation, the nativity, adoration of the Shepherds/Magi and the baptism of Christ.

The eve service is long, beautiful, and has ‘solemn singing’. There is strict fasting, they have the ‘Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great’, Vespers (bible readings), the Hours (psalms) and Matins (‘Christ is born’ is first sung), and then the Joyful, Divine liturgy at midnight. They then visit each other’s houses, sing carols, but no gifts. They start with the salutation ‘Christ is Born’ and the response is ‘praise you him’. Then, a festive meal on white linen, reflecting the cloth in which Jesus was born, and maybe even straw, and a reflection, Christ’s birth means Christ’s death. Some will even walk to rivers and seas to make holes in any ice, to then bless the water.

The date of Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon or after vernal equinox, which is March 21 for the West, and therefore predictable. For the Orthodoc Church, it is based on astronomy and therefore cannot be calculated much in advance, and it always falls after Jewish Passover, also based on the astronomy of the moon, while in the West, Easter may fall before Passover. In common, the day is the most holy in the whole year, and both focus on the resurrection of Christ, however there are differences in the liturgical practice and more diversity in the West.

In the West, Lent is a memorial of Jesus’ 40 day fast, leading to 40 days of abstinence, starting with Ash Wednesday, where there’s no meat, purple vestments, a cross on the forehead of last year’s psalms, has the chant ‘Repent, and believe in the Gospel’. During Lent, people receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, pray both in groups and alone, do works of mercy and charity, and see the stations of the cross. Church decorations are put up: flowers, statues in purple cloth, no alleluias. The fourth Sunday of Lent is Laetere Sunday, where all wear pink, and is rejoice Sunday. Fifth Sunday is Passion Sunday, with the whole of the passion being read.

Sixth Sunday is Palm Sunday, the beginning of holy week, palm bought and used in Church. Maundy Thursday was when there was the washing of the feet, and people watch the host overnight. Good Friday brings the veneration of the cross at 3pm, so there is strict fast, liturgy, people kiss the cross, and there is no Eucharist. Holy Saturday has no mass, and the church is bare. Easter Sunday has three Eucharists at midnight, dawn and day, and everyone wears white vestments. A charcoal fire is lit, the church is dark, the Paschal candle is lit to the cry “The Light of Christ”. Inside, the mass is lit entirely by candles. The Story of Salvation is read aloud. The Triduum is the three days of holiness, from Thursday to Saturday. In the Lutheran Church, Tenebrae liturgy can occur.

The Eastern Orthodox Church’s Lent is the ‘Triodion season’, split into three parts, focused on repentance, with the colour being black. The key question is ‘are we willing to turn to Him?’ The Pre-Lenten season is three weeks before Lent, focused on humility. The prodigal son parable was read out, there is a meatfare sunday, final day to eat meat, the Sunday of Last Judgement. Cheesefare Sunday is the Sunday of Forgiveness. Great Lent is Lent itself, a time of spiritual preparation, going vegan, prayer, starting on Clean Monday, where it is full fasting. The second week is dedicated to St. Gregory of Palamas, the third and fourth week are for the veneration of the cross, the fifth week is the veneration of Mary (theotokos, Akathist Saturday) and the sixth week has Vespers Friday and Lazarus Saturday, Lazarus reflecting Jesus’ resurrection.

Holy Pascha is Holy Week/’Bright Week’ and Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday has blessings of palms in the modern, the other days are ‘Holy and Great’, so HaG Monday is to remember Joseph and his coat, HaG Tuesday remembers the ten virgins who came prepared with oil to meet Jesus. HaG Wednesday remembers Jesus being anointed at Bethany. HaG Thursday is in memory of the mystical supper or the Eucharist. Friday is Jesus’ passion, strict fasting, three solemn services, like lamentations, and in the evening there is the lamentation of Mary over her son. The Epitaphios cloth represents Jesus’ burial, and it’s placed on the altar, sprinkled with holy water and rose petals.

Saturday is when Jesus is buried and descends to hell, resulting in strict fast. The day starts off as black and sorrowful, and half way through, the Gospel is brought out, the day turns white, joyful, fresh bay leaves are sprinkled across the Church, as a symbol of Jesus’ victory. The good news of his resurrection is proclaimed during the Paschal Vigil. This is at midnight, with the candle brought in, and there is Easter Matins, Easter Hours and Easter Divine Liturgy, then there’s blessing of the Paschal eggs, dyed red like Jesus’ blood, Agape Vespers being sung and ‘Christ is Risen’ is said.

#Religion and Philosophy / Cactus #Religion / Cactus #Easter #Christmas

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skeletonmob · 5 years

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An Extremely Long Post for the Shortest Day of the Year

My original plan was to release a demo for my visual novel today, since astrology and astronomy are major motifs and plot points throughout. But that’s gonna have to wait until the new year. So instead, here’s the intro of the game in all of its literary glory. Enjoy! Feel free to ask me questions if you want!

-----

I was anxious, I had never gotten my fortune told before.

I'd been working for the National Park Service for a few years now. Sometimes I'd be asked to inspect a local Khalahari ruin, but for the most part it was hiking trails and scenic overhangs. It was nice, but I wanted something more. I've always wanted to sail the seas, find buried treasure, or ride dragons, just like any other kid. I just wanted to go on some big, grand adventure, just to say I could. I've sort of achieved that, but I wanted to know if there was more. I wanted to know if there was some great adventure waiting out there for me.

After taking in the towering column of beige stone, I nervously stepped inside.

[scene transition]

A small magic shop greeted me at the front entrance, probably something to supplement this whole fortune telling business. Walking past the numerous books, crystals, and dried herbs for sale, I stepped through an archway of books. The rounded stairwell was painted a calming shade of blue, and was decorated with numerous paintings. Sunlight poured in from the windows, with faux gas lamps pulling the rest of the slack. After a decently long climb, I found myself at a set of carved wooden doors.

I cautiously entered. The room was cramped and adorned with a dragon’s hoard of junk. Paintings, maps, dragon skulls, decorative weapons, candles, all stuffed wherever they could fit. Bookshelves and colorful tablecloths lined the walls, along with padded chairs and a few display cases. In the center of all this was a marble statue of a woman, dramatically lit by light coming from the back windows. To the left you could see a door that led to a small kitchen.

"Ah, you must be Caelum!" A man stepped out from the back table. He was about average height and was wearing a bluish-mauve cloak that covered most of his face in shadow.

"I'm Corvus." He shook my hand.

"Mornin', so what's going on here?"

"Oh, this is just leftover from yesterday. It takes a while to clean up this sort of thing."

I helped Corvus move the statue aside and he pulled out a small, round table.

"So, what I had planned was to do a tea and oracle reading." He said.

"What's an oracle reading?" I asked.

"It's like a tarot reading but with oracle cards. Some say it's more accurate than tarot, but I'd say it's about the same."

“Are they really that different?”

“Depends on what deck you use. Tarot decks are all the same. They have the same suits, same messages, the only thing that really changes is the surface aesthetics. But oracle decks can be based off anything that draws upon the mystical energy of the universe.”

“Oh, cool.” My nerves started calming down.

“I can get a tarot deck if you want. Or we could do something completely different-”

“No, it's fine. I'm not familiar with any of this, so you lead the way.”

Corvus turned around and put a kettle on a small camping stove. It obviously hadn't seen the outdoors given the pristine condition it was in. Surrounding the stove were various jars of herbs and spices and another marble statue. This time of a priestess of some sort, her hands held out to receive whatever divine offerings you could afford.

Corvus rushed into the kitchen and rushed out with a small tin of loose leaf tea. Probably a sample from a local shop. He tossed it next to the stove and sat down. After a some moments of silence while he shuffled the cards, he split the deck into thirds and set them on the table.

"So I'm sure you have a basic understanding of how this works," he began, "This'll be a basic three card spread. This isn't a past, present, future spread, but just something to get a concise idea of the big picture. Just pick three cards and place them in the center."

[short minigame]

Corvus set aside the remaining deck and flipped over my cards, revealing three constellations, Corona Borealis, Cavalo, and Lepus.

“Oh!” His eyes lit up, “It appears your search for adventure will be very fruitful indeed! Luck is on your side. If you keep yourself motivated and keep pressing forward, you will receive great riches and fame! You won’t win the lottery or anything, but, you’ll make many new friends and maybe receive a promotion at work.”

“I doubt it, but that’s good to hear.” I commented, “So what will this adventure actually entail?”

“Since you’ve got Cavalo, I’d say it’s something that involves a lot of work and will be fairly fast paced.”

“Can you tell me anything more than that?”

“Nope, I think that’s about as much as I can gather from these cards. Which is why I also suggested a tea reading.”

Corvus got up and checked the kettle, which had come to a gentle boil. He turned the stove off and opened a small cabinet of teacups, probably set aside for this specific purpose.

“So, what kind of adventure are you looking for?” Corvus asked, “Even if you just have a vague idea, that would help focus the energy for the tea reading.”

I straightened myself and though for a moment.

“Well, I work for the National Park System, I’m one of those trail guides that give hiking tours of the area. So I’ve basically hiked through the entire Celestine Mountain region. If I were to go on my dream vacation, it wouldn’t involve anything like that.”

“You want something that isn’t nature related.”

“Yeah, or something minimally attached to it. I . . . well, it’s not my greatest dream, but one thing I’ve always wanted to do was sail along the Southern Coast. I’d get a sailboat or a small fancy yacht and drift from town to town. In the morning I’d explore the area, and at night I’d sail a little way outs, watching the moon and stars come out.”

“May I ask why you want to do this?”

“I . . . I don’t know honestly. It just always seemed like something fun to do. I think I’ve always been one try new things for the sake of it. I grew up in Rolha, over in the orchards, so that probably had something to do with it.”

“Do you have any plans beyond that?”

“Well, there’s a bunch of other stuff I wanna do. I definitely wanna visit the Khalahari ruins in Costervo, I wanna spend the autumn or winter in New England, cause that seems really nice. I don’t think it matters what order I do them in so long as I actually do it. If I were to go sailing first, then I would-”

[door slamming sound]

. . . . .

After a moment of bewilderment I stood up, walked through the kitchen, and peeked through the door. It was his bedroom. Corvus was lying on a thick pile of blankets, crying.

"Uh . . . what's wrong?" I asked, confused.

“Nothing, it’s just . . . sometimes I lose my nerve and need some time by myself.” He replied.

“Okay . . . are you alright?”

“I’ll be fine, just give me a few minutes. You can sit in the waiting room for a bit, I won’t charge you extra or anything.”

I stopped myself as I was closing the door. It always felt wrong to leave people like this, to leave people wallowing in their own misery. My mom was concerned with giving me an allowance, because a lot of the time I would give it to the first homeless person I saw.

“Hey, you wanna talk this over coffee or something?” I said, trying to think of some way to fix this.

“I hate coffee.”

“How about tea then?”

. . . . .

“Sure.”

I slowly closed the door and stepped back into the kitchen. Next to the pantry was a fairly small cabinet that, based on the smell, shelved all the tea. Searching the rest of the cabinets, I found a floral tea set and an electric kettle. So all I really need to do is to figure out how to open this cabinet.

[gameplay section]

"I made some tea if you want some." I said.

There was no response.

I gently shut the door and sat down at the table. I poured myself some tea and stared at it for a minute. I still wasn't sure if I was handling all this correctly. After a few moments Corvus finally stepped out of his bedroom and glumly plodded over to a chair.

"Sorry about what happened earlier." He said calmly, "I get overemotional sometimes and . . . it just helps to have a crying fit sometimes, y'know?"

"Yeah.” I said, even though I wasn’t that sort of person. “So what happened?”

. . . . .

“You . . . you just reminded me of my old boyfriend. That sense of adventure, that optimism. After high school he moved to Cabo Dourado to work. From there, I just started thinking about how everyone else went their own way, and how I’ve been stuck here.”

. . . . .

“Is this job really that bad?” I asked.

“No, but compared to working for some tech start-up it is. The actual work is fine, I find the culture and history of this whole thing really interesting, but sometimes it feels like I could be doing more. Sometimes it feels like there’s a better life for me out there, y’know?”

“Oh, yeah . . .” I whispered to myself.

. . . . .

“I got a new job, but now I’m even questioning whether that was a good idea. There’s just so much . . . I don’t know, just fuck me!” Corvus slammed his fists on the table.

“But why’d you come here in the first place?” I blurted out, trying to find some direction to lead this in.

Corvus sat up, took a deep breath, and sipped his tea. He meditated for a bit, trying to compose himself.

“I . . . For a lot of reasons, I guess, but I think one of the main ones was so I could say that I was apart of something. You know how when Wingspan or Snapshot were introduced, tons of business people were like, this’ll be the next big thing! I think that’s what attracted me to this place. Even if this ends up dying in five years, I can still say that ‘Hey, I was part of that!’”

“It seems a bit out of place for a math whizz like you.”

“Well, I first applied here to be an astrologer. I figured I’d have no trouble tracking the position of the moon and what not, and I do find basic astronomy interesting. Plus, it’s different than going into accounting or something.”

“I’m assuming you don’t do that anymore.”

“Yeah, I got ‘reassigned’ because I was ‘disrupting the energy of the workplace’. Personally, I think it’s because my presence ruined their jive somehow. People started acting passive-aggressive towards me when I came out. Not everyone though, just a handful.”

“You can sue them for harassment.”

“I know, but it’s wasn’t . . . You know how in pretty much every high school comedy there’s the alpha bitch and her clique? That’s basically what it was like.”

“Well, at least it’ll be nice to finally get away from all that.” I commented.

“That’s what everyone says.” Corvus sneered, sipping his tea.

“But it’s true. A lot of times, whether it’s clingy girlfriends or just the stress of modern life, it helps to physically distance yourself from all that. It helps put things in perspective. It might not be the solution, but it’s part of it.” I retorted.

. . . . .

“I guess so.”

The cloud of dread that hung over us slowly faded away as we finished our tea. Corvus poured himself his final cup and stared languidly at the table for a bit. I think he was trying to think of something to say but was still in a pretty gloomy mood.

"Do you want to have dinner sometime?" I asked.

"Why?" Corvus blushed.

"Just to . . . talk things over, I guess. I thought it'd be nice to do something together since nothing went according to plan today."

"Oh, sure, that's fine. Where were you thinking of going?"

"Capatin's Quarters, unless you don't want seafood. I'll have to see what day though, I don't have my schedule yet."

"No, that's fine. Wanna aim for happy hour?"

"Sure thing."

After finishing my tea, I thanked Corvus for his brief company and walked out into the cool afternoon sun.

[scene transition]

After sleeping I felt considerably better. I was still a little disheartened about what happened yesterday. The thing I was concerned about was the fact that I didn’t know where to go from here. I have tons of dreams I want to accomplish, but I don’t know how. I thought getting my fortune told would help get my bearings straight.

I finished my eggs and toast then went out to check my mail. I’m a trail guide, but instead of being assigned to a single park, I’m shuffled around to help pick up slack at other parks. I usually spend three to five days at one, then three to five at another. Despite, all the moving around, it’s pretty relaxed. However, this time I didn't find the usual stuff, just a wax sealed envelope and a small letter.

---

Caelum,

Smaragdus Silversmith, head librarian of the Library of the World in Ouroboros, has requested the services of the department. Specifically, they require someone with excellent communication and social skills, and considerable knowledge of the northern parts of the country. After reviewing multiple candidates, we have determined that you are the best fit for this job. Your current address and phone number have been forwarded to them. If either of those have changed, or you have any other questions or concerns, please contact the department using the information below.

Take care!

Diana – Management, National Parks & Wildlife Service

Prateado, S35PDC

112-3581

---

. . . . .

This felt . . . strange. It was not only sudden, but strange in general. I had been requested to help teach school kids about forest plants and basic first aid several times, but those had never lasted for over a month. I figured the wax sealed envelope would answer the rest of my questions, and instinctively opened it.

---

Dear Caelum,

For some time now the Lunar Society and I have had a strenuous relationship. I have blocked their many attempts to hold ‘spiritual healing sessions’ and other such nonsense at the library, but now they’ve suddenly altered their tune. Over the past few weeks they’ve been bombarding me with gifts and I’m unsure if they’re trying to bribe me or attempting to get petty revenge for a decades worth of disagreement. Which is why I'm asking you for help. I need someone with considerable knowledge of the area to help me confirm or deny my suspicions. Please come visit me, and I shall explain in more detail.

You should also receive a letter from the National Parks Service, either before or after this arrives, confirming the validity of my request.

- Smaragdus

Library of the World, Ouroboros N15O2E

Front Desk: 780-2357

---

I looked over everything. The envelope was addressed to me, so I was meant to receive this, this was the job he wanted me to do. I stared at the letter for a bit before my heart dropped. This was the same as those fantasy books mom read to me as a kid! Lots of stories started out with the hero getting a mysterious letter! But is this true? Was this the start of an adventure I’d always dreamed of?

I rushed inside and got ready for the day, anxious to find out if that childhood dream of mine would come true.

#asterism #visual novel #writing #writers on tumblr #astrology #astronomy #oracle cards #tyranobuilder #yule #winter solstice #witchcraft #witchblr #long post

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kyilliki · 6 years

Note

So launching canon and the Guide firmly into the dumpster for a minute: what do you think of the idea of Sulpicia being from the Indus Valley Civilization and Athenadora being from ancient Nubia (which stretched from lower Egypt to South Sudan)?

Ooh, I like that. Sulpicia being from the Indus Valley Civilization would make her ancient. (My frame of reference for that period is just ‘way back in the day’, but Wikipedia tells me the civilizational height was 2600 - 1900 B.C.E) And having a character who remembers her great and intricate people just… abandoning their cities for mysterious reasons would be absolutely tragic.

Also, Nubia’s such a promising setting! When I was a kid, I read a million books about the glory/wonder/mysticism of ancient Egypt. I’d love the narrative perspective of My Favourite Vampire Girl looking at the Egyptians next door and thinking of them as normal and sort of peripheral to her own life and culture in Nubia.

Personally, I’m fond of transplanting Sulpicia and Athenodora into Assyria and Babylon respectively. Like, I’m…. darkly charmed by the image of a tiny Sulpicia playing hide-and-seek in a hall decorated with scenes of severed heads brutal empire-building. Meanwhile, Athenodora would join the first religious order that let her study astronomy in peace. And, these days, every time some science journal published an article titled, “Man, the Babylonians Sure Were Good at Space,” she’d feel very flattered. Why, yes. She is amazing at space. Thank you for noticing.

#character: sulpicia #character; athenodora #asked and answered #i don't necessarily hate that the volturi are greek and roman #but there were other civilizations doing neat things at roughly the same time!#why not make them from there?#it's not like their culture really informs them in canon #it'd take no additional research #thevorpalbook

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recentanimenews · 6 years

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Meet the Magical Residents of The Ancient Magus' Bride (Part 3)

Welcome back to The Wonderful Worlds of Fantasy! This week, we’ll be exploring some of the more recent items and creatures seen in The Ancient Magus’ Bride. Whether it be large dogs, tiny faeries, or wandering evils, everything has a root that can be traced back to real life myths, so let’s get started!

Wands

As we discussed last time, both magicians and magi come with a large and diverse history of magic, astronomy, and the unexplained. One of their most critical tools, the wand, is so deeply ingrained in this history that it has a unique history of its own. Wands can come in all sorts of sizes and shapes – from a thin rod to a largely decorated sceptre – and have a variety of purposes. Wands can vaguely be traced to the Stone Age in the form of "sticks" – long rods wielded by figures of power as a status symbol. It then became a part of many cultures, ranging from the Egyptians, who used a wand to send the departed souls to the next life, to the Romans, who used it in their mythological stories (called a caduceus, which is now a common symbol for medical practices), to the shaman in Central and East Asia, who used it as a drumming stick for ceremonies.

The true mystical power of the wand seems to originate most from Paganistic and Renaissance movements, where believers of the practice used wands to cast spells and perform rituals. Though the wand (called an athame in these rituals) was used in a more direct, aggressive fashion, many of the concepts can be linked to modern fantastical uses of wand. For example, athames were carved from a branch of a tree and often decorated for the person’s specific nature or characteristics. At other times, they were commonly associated with a particular element, like air or fire. Shamans in East Asia also may have contributed to the magical nature of the wand – they used it for religious ceremonies as well as medical purposes.

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride, wands are used as a way to better utilize and access a magi’s magic. Elias possesses more of a cane-like wand, whereas Chise makes her own wand using her magic, hair, and a tree born from the corpse of Nevus, a very old dragon. Chise can perform magic with or without the wand, but it’s seen to help her out in sticky situations, like when she wants to return home or needs to transform into a particular creature.

Chimeras

Chimeras, unlike wands or magi, come from a single source: Greek mythology. The word comes from khimaira, meaning "she-goat" or the original "chimera." Originally a fire-breathing beast that was a combination of many creatures, the term now refers to any horrid creation that features multiple animal parts. In The Ancient Magus’ Bride, one such example is Cartaphilius’ projects, and Ruth’s beloved owner, Isabel. Cartaphilius originally makes chimeras for the sole purpose of experimenting with life and death and finding a way to live without constantly suffering.

In Greek mythology, however, the chimera is often imagined as a lion-like creature, possessing a goat and lion head, a lion body, and a dragon-like tail with a snake head attached. Anyone who saw the chimera was doomed to die a terrible death; it was one of the worst omens to have. It was also a representation of an unspeakable, yet nearly immortal evil: only true heroes could defeat it in battle. The story of Heracles is one such example, as he fought off and killed the Nemean Lion, an offspring of the original Chimera. It is only Bellerophon, a mortal son of Poseidon, and the assistance of Pegasus, who slays the Chimera in one of the most striking tales about heroism in Greek mythology. There are traces of Chimera possibly originating from the Middle East and in Egyptian history, but without further proof, the Chimera is wholly a Greek creation, now a fantastical reminder of the horrors of manipulation.

Leanan sídhe

The leanan sídhe is also a direct reference, this time to Celtic culture and mythology. Stemming from the Gaelic word leannan (concubine, sweetheart) and sídhe (of the fairy mound), the leanan sídhe is a woman from the fairy folk who comes to steal mortal men’s hearts away while also becoming their muse. Her power was often a double-edged sword, giving artists and writers the greatest imagination, but also inevitable suffering and madness. In return, she gains the truest emotion that she craves for all eternity. While not originally portrayed as evil or insidious, myths about the leanan sídhe appearing as a type of vampire no doubt stemmed from many fictional tales about artists losing themselves to madness out of creativity and unhealthy inspirations. This was especially popularized by the famous W.B. Yeats, who called the leanan sídhe a "bloodsucking vampire." From there on, this myth was passed on by other famous artists until it became a common belief.

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride, the leanan sídhe is a resident of Joel Garland's garden, taking on the form of a faerie vampire that can slowly suck the lives out of lovers in return for giving them great talent. She intentionally kept herself distant from Joel so he would not die an early death. Unbeknownst to her and Joel however, she still had an effect of making his garden bloom while also slowly draining him of life. After Joel passes away, she decides to remain in his garden, refusing to find any more lovers to ruin.

Next time: Cats? Banshees? Werewolves? In Part 4, we’ll be looking at more mystical creatures of The Ancient Magus' Bride and where they come from!

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When not finding ways to doom all her ships, Natasha can often be found on her twitter as @illegenes, or writing more about anime on the blog Isn’t It Electrifying! Feel free to swing by and say hi.

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