#and that dragon and phoenix symbolise balance

[ofsappho]

Another treehouse ask!

So, I've been re-reading my favorite parts while wait for the next chapter and the ones I keep coming back to are the snippets of his proposal where he's gifting her two of everything.

I was wondering if we could get a further detailed director's/writer's commentary about all of that because you have so much symbolism, thought, and meaning behind your writing so I was wondering what made you choose to focus and point out the offerings like the tea and the jewelry?

HI ANON

Oh I’ve been waiting for someone to ask me about the proposal!

Buckle up because this is gonna be a long post. It would literally be essay length if I wrote full sentences so I’m just gonna do a list of each symbol and what it means, but no guarantees this won’t be long as shit.

I’m Chinese (and Filipino), and instead of going with a conventional Western proposal, I thought there was something very ancient + modern + romantic + regal + beautiful about the 过大礼 (Guo Da Li), the traditional Chinese betrothal ceremony. Morpheus is old fashioned and a ruler in his own right, and his last marriage would’ve been done in the customs of Ancient Greece, so it made sense to me that he would pick something equally distinguished/with equal history.

I modified it for the story and focused on a few specific items in the basket that I thought would be best for the plot. This is heavily inspired and not meant to be a 100% accurate depiction of this practice.

(Link on Guo Da Li components here)

In Chinese culture, even numbers are viewed as more lucky/prosperous than odd numbers, particularly in the context of betrothal/marriage. A couple is 2 people, so the number 2 represents their unity (among other things). The groom gifts two of every item to the bride and her family as his proposal to invoke that, to show his own wealth and ability to care for her, and to compensate the family for the loss of their beloved child (and show that he recognizes how much she is worth to them).

Morpheus isn’t just interested in pretty words and declarations of love - he intends to marry Reader and give her all that goes along with essentially marrying a King. (Think Hurrem Sultan going from slave to wedded wife of Sultan Suleiman, ruler of the Ottoman Empire). He wants to show her that he can provide for her and their child, he wants to flex his own wealth and power, and (very critically) he sees how important Willow and Diana are to her, as her family, and chooses specifically to propose in this manner that has him giving gifts to them, aka symbolically obligating him to them as he will be taking their beloved family member. He is also *linking their families together* by giving Willow and Diana gifts.

He did personally craft/obtain all of these gifts and all of this symbolism is, in canon, chosen by and made by him.

Alright on to the actual gifts:

The specific basket that the betrothal gifts are meant to come in:

Black wrapping paper - these baskets come in either red or black traditionally

Dragons and phoenixes on the wrapping paper - these motifs pop up frequently in Chinese betrothal ceremonies - The Dragon and Phoenix pair historically, symbolises royalty and the perfect harmony and balance between yin (female) and yang (male) forces. It is said that this coupling complements each other in creating matrimonial bliss and perfection - befitting of their status of a symbol of everlasting and harmonious love. The Dragon and Phoenix - the epitome of the perfect pair, symbolises that the couple will stay together through thick and thin, and that their passion for their significant other will never die. The custom of weaving these motifs into weddings is a way of blessing the newlyweds with both patriarch and matriarch luck, prosperity and fortune in their union, and numerous filial descendants.” (Source)

Basket is made without any nails or adhesive - the art of Chinese wood joinery, or making furniture by carving the pieces of wood so that they hold together without anything else joining them, goes back thousands of years and is the hallmark of Chinese furniture

Lotuses - “The lotus is also known as 莲 lián in Chinese and homophones to lian give it symbolic meanings: 廉 lián ‘incorruptible, modest’; 连 lián ‘joint, continuous, successive’; 联 lián ‘unite, join’. Another name for the lotus hé brings other associations through the homophones 和 hé ‘harmony, union’ so two lotus flowers symbolize the wish for marital harmony.” (Source)

Lillies - “The species of lily most prized in China is the ‘day lily’ (Hemerocallis) whose blooms only last one day. The transitory nature of the flowers is said to help you forget your troubles. Its rapid sequence of flowers makes it a symbol for childbearing and is therefore a suitable gift for newly weds.” (Source)

Chrysanthemums - “The chrysanthemum is a much loved flower in China and is often portrayed in pictures. It is a symbol of joy and a wish for peaceful retirement. It sounds similar to 居 jū ‘to reside, to endure’ and久 jiǔ ‘long time’.” (Source)

Willows - “The widespread willow is a very useful tree. It provides material for all sorts of purposes including baskets, ropes and firewood. It is associated with Spring and therefore also with romance. (…) When people left home they were often given willow twigs as a parting gift as li sounds the same as 离 lí ‘to part’. Willow will sprout readily from cuttings and so a tree can be planted to give a continual reminder of home.” (Source)

Pine needles and cranes - “The pine tree is one of the three friends of winter - together with plums and bamboo because it is evergreen and does not drop its needles. It is a favorite subject in Chinese landscape paintings. It symbolizes longevity, solitude and steadfastness; as the needles grow in pairs it is also a symbol of married bliss. With a crane a pine tree gives the wish for a peaceful and long life.” (Source)

Plum blossoms and cranes - “The welcome blossom of plum trees in late winter has made the plum tree a popular plant. It is one of the three friends of winter with the bamboo and the pine tree. It is also widely known by the character 李 lǐ which is made up of two elements ‘wood’ and ‘child’ suggesting the prolific fruits produced by the tree. 桃李 Táo lǐ ‘peaches and plums’ is a phrase to refer to school children. The four plants plum, bamboo, orchid and chrysanthemum represent the four seasons of the year - winter through to autumn (the 四君子 sì jūn zǐ four gentlemen). Because the flowers emerge before the leaves and it takes a long time to come into flower it is associated with longevity. It is often shown with a crane, another symbol of longevity (…)” (Source)

The caskets holding the tea, one of the traditional Guo Da Li gifts:

Both the caskets and the basket are based off of real antiques that I found online but have now lost the links for rip

Pomegranates - “The pomegranate fruit is brim full of seeds, and as seed in Chinese 子 zǐ also means children, it chiefly symbolizes a wish for many children. This can be emphasized by portraying children with pomegranates in a picture. The pomegranate is sometimes known as the ‘Chinese apple’. The first trees were brought into China from Afghanistan during the Han dynasty. It is an appropriate as a marriage gift with the inscription 榴开百子 liú kāi bǎi zǐ ‘the pomegranate brings forth a hundred seeds/sons’.” (Source)

Roses - “The Chinese monthly rose (月季 yueji) is famous for the fact that it blooms almost every month of the year. For this reason, the Chinese rose is also known as ‘the eternal spring flower’ (長春花 changchunhua), and is thus a symbol of longevity.” (Source)

Ravens and stars - personally representative of Morpheus himself

The tea:

Da Hong Pao is the most expensive tea in the world. Literally. Specifically, when it comes from the original grove of trees that grow Da Hong Pao leaves. Morpheus is flexing his wealth and influence that he can give her not just one casket of this million dollar tea, but two.

8 oranges:

8 is the specific auspicious number for couples (4 is an unlucky number)

Symbolizes good luck (source)

2 bottles of expensive ass whiskey:

“Gift for father-in-law: 2 bottles of hard liquor or red/white wine Symbolises prosperity and a harmonious atmosphere in the family” (source)

Whiskey is Willow’s preferred alcohol

2 pairs of dragon-Phoenix candles:

See above reference in the dragon Phoenix motif

“Lighting fancy candles is an indispensable part of traditional Chinese wedding customs. Often used in weddings, such candles are mostly adorned with patterns of dragons and phoenixes and flowers to convey good wishes for prosperity and auspiciousness. Therefore candle often used in traditional Chinese wedding is also known as dragon and phoenix candle. According to historical records, there were wedding candles as early as the Six Dynasties. They were used at weddings in the Southern Liang Dynasty (502-557) and became a custom after the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Wedding candles had played a significant role in the marriage ceremonies in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties (1600-1644). Thus, dragon and phoenix candles had witnessed countless marriages in centuries.” (Source)

Gold jewelry (copied from AO3):

Gold jewelry for the bride is part of the traditional Guo Da Li gifts

Reader's crown/necklace/earrings/cuffs are intended to literally be the jewelry found at the archaeological site of Troy as part of "Priam's Hoard." This treasure trove of beautiful gold artifacts predates the Trojan War period by hundreds of years. Morpheus does not dabble in reproductions, especially not for the woman he intends to take to wife. Yes, he used magic/his powers/the Dreaming to secure the originals. https://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-other-artifacts/treasures-priam-golden-riches-legendary-city-troy-003350

Dowry/bride price (copied from AO3):

“The tradition of Pin Jin stems from the Chinese belief that that when a daughter is married, she leaves the family while the in-laws receives her into theirs. Thus, Pin Jin symbolises the bride’s value to the groom’s family. It is also given to create goodwill between the in-laws.” (Source)

I deliberated for some time over how Morpheus would present her dowry. Gold bars are sort of ugly/modern/don't have that much pizazz. Instead, Dream reached through time and space and collected gold coins from throughout human history; Ancient Chinese coins, Ancient Greek (specifically Macedonian Greek) coins, proto-Indian (Kushan Empire, so 30-375 CE) coins. (There are other gold coins from other cultures, those are just the ones I point out specifically). Not only is Morpheus displaying his wealth, he's showing off his ability to acquire wealth that no mortal could. Every civilization that ever made gold coins is meant to be represented in her dowry, from every corner of the earth. Morpheus' powers are universal, not just restricted to Western Europe.

Reiterating that the point here isn’t that Morpheus is “buying” her. Her worth goes beyond words to him - he is willing to put his money where his mouth is (sprinkle sprinkle). He wants to show her and her family how much he values her in a real, tangible way.

#treehouse #dream of the endless x you #dream of the endless x reader #sandman #the sandman #dream of the endless #morpheus x reader #morpheus x you #lord morpheus #Morpheus #lord morpheus x reader #lord morpheus x you

[guzhuangheaven]

Can you please explain what those embroidered circles are on women's garments in Yanxi Palace? I notice they are prevalently placed on shoulders and the chest. Why is this?

The embroidered circles are called tuanwen 团纹 and is a type of decoration most often seen on jifu but can be on less formal clothes as well. Clothes usually have eight tuanwen like below, but sometimes can also have only two (one in the middle front and middle back) or four (middle front, middle back, two shoulders). They come in symmetrical pairs most likely because symmetry symbolises harmony and balance.

Tuanwen usually depict auspicious scenes or motifs denoting longevity or good fortune, or symbols of power to denote rank such as dragons, phoenixes and peony.

Crane - symbol of longevity

Phoenix and peony - symbols of the empress

Peony

Pair of butterfly - symbol of wedded bliss

Actually, now that I went back through the episode with Shui Ling Long, I understand the scandal a bit more now. Not only did Qianlong personally draw a flower on Shui Ling Long’s hand, he also gave her a riding jacket. The riding jacket 马褂 is a distinctly Manchurian piece of clothing and Emperors sometimes bestow yellow riding jackets to subjects who achieved exceptional merits. 

So by giving Shui Ling Long a riding jacket, Qianlong is making their relationship extremely scandalously public. The jacket is also bright red (or zhenghong) which is a very bright colour usually reserved for those of high rank. The tuanwen on the jacket depicts five-claw dragons, a symbol of the emperor and clothes embroidered with dragons are reserved for the emperor, empress and empress dowager only. The jacket is also decorated with peonies, more symbols of the empress.

This is of course why Rong Pei makes Shui Ling Long take it off after she’s kicked off the boat. 

#the story of yanxi palace #legend of ruyi #reference #history #ruyicostumes #yanxioutfits #notes on qing dynasty costumes #ask #Anonymous #clothing reference #clothing hair make up

[designresearchninasem2]

Japanese Art Developement and Methods

Today, traditional Japanese motifs, designs, and stylistic sensibilities remain popular sources of inspiration behind many  tattoos. Often, many ink artists opt to combine the old with the new to create pieces that range from playful prints and patterns to delicate works of art. Regardless of specific style, these Japanese-inspired tattoos have one thing in common: roots in Irezumi, or traditional Japanese tattooing. The number of tattoo parlors in Japan, while small, is growing, and the art form, characterized by whole arm, leg or even torso designs, of dragons, tigers, cherry blossoms, ect.. has spread worldwide.

The Traditional Japanese Tattoo “Irezumi” is the decoration of the body with mythical beasts, flowers, leafs, and other images from stories, myths and tales. Characteristics and content of irezumi art include:

Ryu (Dragon) 

Koi (Carp)

Tora (Tiger)

Karashishi (Fu Dog / Lion Dog) 

Hou-ou (Phoenix) 

Oni (Demon)

Zugaikotsu (Skull)

Hannya masks

Hebi (Snake)

Kiku (Chrysanthemum)

Sakura (Cherry Blossom)

Hasu (Lotus)

How has Irezumi developed?

Traditionally, irezumi were applied with hand tools — this was known as tebori. Today, the tebori technique is still favored among tattoo enthusiasts and traditionalists for its subtle shading, which can’t be replicated by the use of modern tools. The yakuza are also rumored to prefer tebori as a display of strength and endurance. But irezumi today refers to all types of Japanese tattooing.

Today, the artistic style of full-body irezumi or tattoo bodysuits has changed very little since the Edo Period.  The artistic and drawing style of irezumi are inspired by Japanese ukiyo-e, or woodblock prints. These prints were extremely popular and widely circulated during the Edo Period. Irezumi also often depicts recurring, distinctly Japanese elements, such as koi, sakura, dragons, Japanese demons (oni), court ladies, and geisha.

The irezumi Japanese tattoo is different from tattoos made in other parts of the world. It is unique owing to its rich colors, deep symbolism and, above all, the traditional tattooing methods, which have been cultivated for centuries.

Some deeper meaning into the Symbols:

A dragon, which is the symbol of water and rain, and not as one would think of fire, is the most popular pattern. It personifies generosity and knowledge. Another popular pattern is the koi. These fish are seen as symbols of strength and courage, since they are known for their tendency to swim against the current, upstream the Yellow River. Those who succeed in this difficult task are transformed into dragons, which is why the koi also symbolises perseverance and a change for the better.

The snake, which symbolises knowledge and wisdom, is also a popular theme. Skin shedding is interpreted as healing and regeneration. A phoenix drawn on one’s body symbolises rebirth and victory. A tiger stands for courage and strength. In addition, a tiger tattoo is to protect against misfortunes and evil spirits. A tattoo with a lion with pointy ears protects its wearer and is intended for people who value heroism.

Flowers is another, very popular theme for a Japanese tattoo. Lotus means understanding, knowledge and enlightenment. The frail cherry blossoms symbolise mortality. Chrysanthemums demonstrate perfection and longevity. Roses are associated with a new beginning and balance, but if they are presented with a stem, they are interpreted the other way round – as a symbol of recklessness and loss. The peony symbolises elegance, orchid stands for power and strength, and hibiscus for gentleness.

The Oni mask is an equally popular theme. It is a face of an evil spirit or demon, found in Shintō and Japanese folklore, and is associated with diseases, disasters and misery. A person who wears such a tattoo manifests their faith in demons which punish evil people around us.

Reference:

Joy, A. (2019).  Irezumi: Japan's Indelible Tattoo Culture. The Culture Trip. https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/irezumi-japans-tattoo-culture/

[wildtige429]

Septarian Gods

What? Every creature has to have a god. Like the tribes in our lands, we should be careful not to mess with tribal culture and their spiritual connections.

Phagetail Tribe: Dragoth (Velociraptor God of Death. Punishes those who brought injustice on Septarian kind)

Dragontail Tribe: Gairyu (Chinese Dragon God. Brings vigour and unleashing their inner dragons)

Snaketail Tribe: Suspira (Titanoboa Goddess. Is said to make the guilty crazy by glancing into her eyes while holding them with her muscular body)

Hottail Tribe: Ferno (Haast Eagle God. His flames are a symbol of revival and rebirth, similar to a phoenix’s.)

Swifttail Tribe: Gale (Pterodactyl God. Brings calming winds and calming oncoming storms)

Wintertail Tribe: Howl (Dire Wolf God of the North. Controls the blizzards and maintains balance in the Arctic Wastelands)

Ivytail Tribe: May Kamandag (Megalania God. Known to have a body and blood that acts like poison and dubbed the Father of Venom.)

Rippletail Tribe: Ruc (Megalodon Goddess. She provides protection onto the Rippletail tribe and guides their souls to the afterlife)

Monkeytail Tribe: Hutan (Tree Creeper Lizard God. Commands the beasts and provides protection of the forest and its inhabitants. Said to drag unwanted poachers into the trees to be devoured at night)

Metaltail Tribe: Herakles (Sarcosuchus God. Symbol of strength, courage, and warrior’s honour and pride. Brings faith to his followers to be motivated to fight for their people and their god)

@lynea-kureji, @julayla, the praying statues of the following gods are in Egyptian or Aztec style. And the priest would wear a mask or a skull of the following animals that symbolises the gods)

[frankcjlongbottom]

THE BASICS:

Full name: Frank Christopher Jude Longbottom

Name origin: Frank, German origin. Christopher, Greek/Latin. Jude, Latin. Longbottom, Anglo-Saxon.

Name meaning: Frank, ‘Frenchman or Free man.’ Christopher, ‘bearer of Christ.’  Jude, ‘praised.’ Longbottom, ‘a topographical surname for someone who lived in a long valley or dell’

Nickname: Frankie, Daddy Christmas

Nickname origin: Frankie is almost exclusively used by first his father and now just his Uncle Algie.  Daddy Christmas was strictly forbidden from use within Auror Headquarters and has been henceforth used by anyone daring enough to earn the wrath of the Senior Aurors (read: everyone.)

Do they like their nickname?:  Frankie holds a sweet kind of nostalgia for Frank, so he indulges it. Daddy Christmas thoroughly delights him.

Age: 23

Birthday: 25 November, 1954

Blood Status: Pureblood

Patronus: Crane. Symbolising everlasting love and youth, the crane is the faithful companion of those who adhere to ideals of grace and balance under pressure. They supposedly bring good fortune and speak to a perseverance of character, manifesting for people with focus, concentration and fidelity.

Boggart: The Dark Mark. A symbol of terror, of death and of a Death Eater victory, of which there have been far too many already, in Frank’s eyes. The very sight of it makes him sick to his stomach and more and more often of late it visits his dreams, the sickly light of it looming over his home or his mother’s home or the order’s latest safe house. It seems that however much he refuses to acknowledge that the Order might just be losing the war, every Dark Mark that is cast in the sky takes them one step closer to Voldemort winning.

Wand Type: Applewood, Dragon Heartstring, 11 1/4 inches, unyielding.

Sexuality:  Heterosexual.

Relationship status: Married.

Allegiance in the war: The Order of the Phoenix.

#obliviate task001 #& development.

[rewriitethestory]

♪ LET’S TALK ABOUT WANDS BABY ♪

Muses like Rowena, Andromeda, Dorcas and Lily got their wands from Ollivanders so will have one of the three cores that he used but Mary went to a Welsh wandmaker, Marlene’s mother took her to see Mykew Gregorovitch as it was him she got her wand from and Teresa’s is from a wandmaker in Spain.

Teresa Gonzalez

Garrick Ollivander often found that those chosen by maple wands are by nature travellers and explorers; they are not stay-at-home wands and prefer ambition in their witch or wizard, otherwise, their magic grows heavy and lacklustre. Fresh challenges and regular changes of scene cause this wand to literally shine, burnishing itself as it grows, with its partner, in ability and status. This is a beautiful and desirable wood, and wand quality maple has been among the most costly for centuries. Possession of a maple wand has long been a mark of status, because of its reputation as the wand of high achievers. Traditionally, maple tees signify wisdom; balance; promise & practical magic.

Ground Graphorn horn is used less in modern wand making due to the endangered nature of the species, so in any modern verses her wand will be a family heirloom that chose her. Additionally, as Graphorn are known for being aggressive and dangerous few wand makers have used it as a core. Wands with this core can be temperamental when it comes to choosing a witch or wizard but once their loyalty is earnt it is unlikely to change its mind. There are few cores which lend themselves to a larger range of magic; adept at both defensive and offensive magic, these wands have a natural talent for healing spells but can be turned to the dark arts quite easily, though it will not incline that way of its own accord.

Andromeda Tonks

Yew wands are among the rarer kinds, and their ideal matches are likewise unusual and occasionally notorious. The wand of yew is reputed to endow its possessor with the power of life and death, it retains a particularly dark and fearsome reputation in the spheres of duelling and all curses. However, it is untrue to say that those who use yew wands are more likely to be attracted to the Dark Arts than another. The witch or wizard best suited to a yew wand might equally prove a fierce protector of others. Where wizards have been buried with wands of yew, the wand generally sprouts into a tree guarding the dead owner’s grave. What is certain is that the yew wand never chooses either a mediocre or a timid owner. Traditionally, yew is symbolic of raising the dead; protection; strength & emotional maturity.

Phoenix feathers are capable of the greatest range of magic, though they may take longer than either unicorn or dragon cores to reveal this. They show the most initiative, sometimes acting of their own accord, a quality that many witches and wizards dislike. Phoenix feather wands are always the pickiest when it comes to potential owners, for the creature from which they are taken is one of the most independent and detached in the world. These wands are the hardest to tame and to personalise, and their allegiance is usually hard won. 

Dorcas Meadowes

The ash wand clings to its one true master and ought not to be passed on or gifted from the original owner because it will lose power and skill. This tendency is especially valid if the core is constructed of unicorn hair. Witches and wizards best suited to ash wands are not lightly swayed from their beliefs or purposes. The ideal owner may be stubborn, and will certainly be courageous, but never crass or arrogant. Celtic tradition states that ash trees symbolise protection, resurrection and renewal.

As a rule, dragon heartstrings produce wands with the most power, and which are capable of the most flamboyant spells. Dragon wands tend to learn more quickly than other types. While they can change allegiance if won from their original master, they always bond strongly with the current owner. Unlike most dragon wands, due to Hestia’s being from a Common Welsh Green it is harder to turn to the Dark Arts but it is still possible. It is also the most prone of Ollivander’s three cores to accidents, being somewhat temperamental.

Lily Evans

Willow is an uncommon wand wood with healing power, and Garrick Ollivander noted that the ideal owner for a willow wand often has some (usually unwarranted) insecurity, however, well they may try and hide it. Willow wands there have consistently selected those of greatest potential, rather than those who feel they have little to learn. In Native American tradition, willow symbolises inner wisdom; an open mind with the stability & strength of age and experience. In other traditions, willow trees symbolise love; divination; protection & healing.

Unicorn hair generally produces the most consistent magic and is least subject to fluctuations and blockages. Wands with unicorn cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts. They are the most faithful of all wands, and usually remain strongly attached to their first owner, irrespective of whether he or she was an accomplished witch or wizard. Minor disadvantages of unicorn hair are that they do not make the most powerful wands (although the wand wood may compensate) and that they are prone to melancholy if seriously mishandled.

Marlene Mckinnon

Hornbeam selects for its life mate the talented witch or wizard with a single, pure passion, which some might call obsession - more kindly - vision, which will almost always be realised. Hornbeam wands adapt more quickly than almost any other to their owner’s style of magic and will become so personalised, so quickly, that other people will find them extremely difficult to use even for the most simple of spells. Hornbeam wands likewise absorb their owner’s code of honour, whatever that might be and will refuse to perform acts - whether for good or ill - that do not tally with their master’s principles.

Marlene’s wand has a heartstring from a Chinese Fireball lending the wand to quick reactions sometimes casting the spell before the owner has finished saying the incantation. As a rule, dragon heartstrings produce wands with the most power, and which are capable of the most flamboyant spells. Dragon wands tend to learn more quickly than other types. While they can change allegiance if won from their original master, they always bond strongly with the current owner. The dragon wand tends to be easiest to turn to the Dark Arts, though it will not incline that way of its own accord.

Mary Macdonald

Rowan wood was a prized wand wood due to its reputation for protection and was noted by Garrick Ollivander to generally produce powerful, hard to break Defensive Charms. Ollivander, who had a nearly photographic memory when it came to the wands he had sold, could not recall a single instance of a wizard he sold a rowan wand to ever becoming evil or turning to the Dark Arts. Perhaps for these reasons, Rowan has become associated with pure-hearted wizards, though Ollivander noted that Rowan wands can also match or even outperform others in duels. Celtic tradition symbolises rowan trees as representing power; vision; balance; healing; mystery; inspiration; connection; protection; divination& transformation.

Unicorn hair generally produces the most consistent magic and is least subject to fluctuations and blockages. Wands with unicorn cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts. They are the most faithful of all wands, and usually remain strongly attached to their first owner, irrespective of whether he or she was an accomplished witch or wizard. Minor disadvantages of unicorn hair are that they do not make the most powerful wands (although the wand wood may compensate) and that they are prone to melancholy if seriously mishandled, meaning that the hair may ‘die’ and need replacing.

#hc. ┆ magic is all around you. it is woven into the very fabric of the world ❪ teresa ❫ #hc. ┆ at the end of the day all we have is who we are ❪ andromeda ❫ #hc. ┆ i guess some kids are just born with tragedy in their blood ❪ dorcas ❫ #hc. ┆ she has carried none else but hope in her heart ❪ lily ❫ #hc. ┆ you're holding it in your hands. your power. use it ❪ marlene ❫ #hc. ┆ never let the world tell you you're too small to touch the sky ❪ mary ❫

[toothiac]

Tattoo research

The history of tattooing dates all the way back to 3250 as a man, who was later named Otzi, was found fully preserved with a variety of patterned tattoos on his skin which shows that tattooing is in no way a recent invention but a very old practise which is packed full of history, experiments and meanings. Though it is opposed by certain religions such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam as these religions are traditionally against the practise of tattooing due to their beliefs, but however some religions such as Buddihism approve of tattoos and use them to showcase different buddhist symbols which show respect to the religion as a whole. Tattoos today are also seen as quite controversial even though the stigma behind them is fading for example some professional work environments won’t let you showcase your tattoos and will make their workers cover them up aswell as the belief that people with ‘extreme’ placement of tattoos such as face, hands or neck will never be able to find a job and are looked down on by a number of people.

Focusing in on dragon tattoos as my film of choice is ‘The girl with the dragon tattoo’ i feel like it is important that i research further into the meanings of dragon tattoos. To begin with i researched the tattoo design of the main character of the movie Lisbeth and tried to decipher further into her tattoo and i was curious to see what culture her tattoo design is from.

I found these of her tattoo as portrayed in the film online and it didn’t strike me as of Chinese, Japanese or Vietnamese background as those are the most popular styles of dragon tattoo designs that i had researched. These traditional asian tattoo designs all have positive connotations painting the dragon as a creature in a very powerful and posotive light, for example in Chinese culture the dragon symbolises wisdom, goodluck and goodwill and in Japanese culture the dragon symbolises balance (think of ying and yang in this culture the dragon is regularly seen with a phoenix representing this). However unlike in Eastern culture where the dragon as an animal is seen to have a strong wise and noble character in European culture the dragon is more seen to be evil greedy and dark. But overall you can definitely say that in both cultures the dragon is seen to be strong and intelligent aswell as an animal with great freedom. I have showcased a Japanese and Chinese dragon tattoo design below and you can definitely tell that the tattoo that Lisbeth owns isn’t of Asian culture because of the styling of the design

If the dragon on Lisbeth wasn’t of Asian decent i made an assumption that it must of been an european design instead. As the film and book is based in Sweden i researched Sweden dragon tattoos to see if there were any connections with the tattoo in the film, however as the film was a great success or as Swedish dragons weren’t apart of the culture there were no search results for actual Swedish dragon tattoos. Then i researched into English dragon tattoos and it was a success

These tattoos are all off the similar style as Lisbeth’s and the actual design came up in the search results aswell which leads me to believe that the tattoo on the character is an English design. Dragons in the medieval times in England were am symbol of the devil and the story with St George and the dragon starts off with the dragon terrorising the towns and country sides, bringing death and decay to the villages so it seems as dragons in England, opposed to dragons in eastern civilisations, are evil and have very negative cruel connotations to them.

[tipsycad147]

Capricorn December More About The Yule Sabbat

By shirleytwofeathers

The Winter Solstice or Yule is one of the Lesser Wiccan Sabbats, and it is also the shortest day of the year, and hence – the longest night. This usually takes place on December 20th or 21st, although it does sometimes occur on the 22nd or 23rd (check your calendar as it changes from year to year).

Other than the most common name of Yule, various other names for the Winter Solstice include:

Midwinter

Yuletide (the Teutonic version)

Alban Arthan (Caledonii Tradition, or the Druids)

Feill Fionnain (Pecti-Wita Tradition, which falls on December 22nd).

Yuletide lasts from December 20th through December 31st. It begins on “Mother Night” and ends twelve days later, on “Yule Night”, hence the “Twelve Days of Christmas” tradition. Alban Arthan, unlike all the others, is not considered a fire festival.

Some other names for this Sabbat that are used less commonly are: Sun Return, Pagan New Year, Saturnalia (Roman), Great Day of the Cauldron, and Festival of Sol.

Yule is a time of the Goddess of the Cold Darkness and the birth of the Divine Child, the reborn Sun God. It is a time of renewal and rebirth during Winter, and the turning of the Earth force tides. A time when the waxing Sun overcomes the waning Sun. In some traditions, this is symbolised by the struggle between the Oak King and the Holly King.

The Holly King, represents the Death aspect of the God at this time of year; and the Oak King, represents the opposite aspect of Rebirth (these roles are reversed at Midsummer). This can be likened to the Divine Child’s birth. The myth of the Holly King/Oak King probably originated from the Druids to whom these two trees were highly sacred. The Oak King (God of the Waxing Year) kills the Holly King (God of the Waning Year) at Yule (the Winter Solstice). The Oak King then reigns supreme until Litha (the Summer Solstice) when the two battle again, this time with the Holly King victorious.

Examples of the Holly King’s image can be seen in our modern Santa Claus. He dons a sprig of holly in his hat, wears red clothing, and drives a team of eight (total number of Solar Sabbats) reindeer, an animal sacred to the Celtic Gods (deer). Mistletoe and holly came into modern Christmas celebrations through the memorialising of this battle. The holly with berries are hung in honour of the Holly King and mistletoe in honour of the Oak King. Although the Holly King and Oak King are mortal enemies at the two Solstices – Yule and Litha – it should be remembered that they are actually two sides of one whole, and neither would exist without the other.

Since this is a Solar Festival, it is celebrated by fire and the use of many candles or the Yule Log. The colours of the season – red and green – are of original Pagan descent. Symbols representing Yule include an eight-spoked wheel symbol, evergreens, wreaths, holly, mistletoe, Yule Trees (very similar to the familiar “Christmas Trees”), or a small potted tree, and Yule Logs.

The act of decorating the Yule Tree, wreaths of holly, and the exchange of gifts are also Pagan derivatives. The Yule Tree can be a living, potted tree which can later be planted in the ground, a cut one, or even an artificial one. The choice is yours.

Appropriate Wiccan decorations range from strings of dried rosebuds, cinnamon sticks, popcorn or cranberries for garlands to bags of fragrant spices hung from boughs. Quartz crystals can be wrapped with shiny wire and suspended from sturdy branches to resemble icicles. Apples, oranges, lemons, nuts of all kinds and cookies hanging from boughs and branches are strikingly beautiful; and can be real or artificial, depending on your taste. These natural decorations were customary in ancient times. The reindeer stag is also a reminder of the Horned God. You will find that many traditional Christmas decorations have some type of Pagan ancestry or significance that can be added to your Yule holiday.

Deities to honour at this time of year include all Newborn Gods and Sun Gods, and all Mother Goddesses and Triple Goddesses. Appropriate Yule Gods include Apollo (Greek), Ra, Osiris, Horus, (all three are Egyptian), Lugh (Irish-Celtic), Odin (Norse), Father Sun (Native American), and Jesus (Christian-Gnostic), to name a few. Goddesses might include the Morrigan, Brigit (both Celtic), Isis (Egyptian), Demeter, Gaea, Pandora, Selene, and Artemis (all five are Greek), Juno and Diana (both Roman), Astarte (Middle Eastern), Spinning Woman (Native American) and the Virgin Mary (Christian-Gnostic).

Ritually, you may want to light fires within the Circle (in the cauldron, for instance), light candles and carry them around the Circle or bring the Yule log into the Circle and include it in your ceremony. Bayberry candles can be burned to ensure prosperity, growth and happiness throughout the following year. These can be inscribed with runes for health and money, or whatever is desired before lighting. They shall be lit at sunset and allowed to burn until they go out by themselves. An old Germanic poem says “A bayberry candle burned to the socket brings food to the larder and gold to the pocket.”

Spellwork for balance, beauty, peace, and harmony are great to perform at this time of the Pagan year. Love spells and spells to increase happiness are also appropriate. Key actions to remember for Yule are introspection and meditation.

The most common colours used at this Sabbat are red and green, but gold and white are also quite appropriate. Stones to be used at this celebration include bloodstones, rubies, and garnets. Animals associated with the Yule Sabbat are stags, squirrels, wrens and robins. Mythical creatures associated with Yule are the Phoenix, and trolls. Herbs and plants that can be used include holly, mistletoe, evergreens, poinsettias, bay, pine, ginger, valerian, and myrrh.

The foods of Yule include nuts, fruits such as apples and pears, cookies and cakes of caraway soaked in cider, and (for non-vegetarians) pork are all traditional fare. Fine drinks for the Yule celebration or meals include Wassail (a hot drink made from wine, beer or cider, spices, sugar, and usually baked apples—served in a large bowl), lamb’s wool (ale mixed with sugar, nutmeg and the pulp of roasted apples), hibiscus or ginger tea, and apple cider.

Source: Citadel of The Dragons

https://shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/pagancalendar/category/december-days/

[art-now-italy]

Yin Yang, Polina Ogiy

Yin and Yang; Yin-Yang; JI In ancient Chinese mythology and natural philosophy dark (Yin) and its opposite bright start (Yang), speakers almost always in the pair combination. Yin originally meant, apparently, shady (North) side of the mountain, while Yang is bright (South facing) slope. Subsequently, when you distribute a binary classification Yin became a symbol of the feminine, North, darkness, death, earth, moon, even numbers, etc. Yang as, respectively, came to symbolise masculinity, the South, the light, the life, the sky, the sun, odd numbers, etc. The oldest of these paired characters, according to the Swedish sinologist B. Karlgren are shell-cowries (female) and jade (male principle). Assume that the basis of this symbolism are archaic ideas about fertility, reproduction and phallic cult. This ancient symbolism, which emphasizes the dualism of male and female, received an iconographic expression on the ancient bronze vessels in the form of protrusions and fallaciously volwaardig ovals. No later than the Zhou era, the Chinese began to consider the sky as the embodiment of Yang and earth is Yin. The whole process of the universe and existence was considered by the Chinese as a result of the interaction, but not the confrontation of Yin and Yang, who are committed to each other, and the culmination of this is considered to be a complete merger of heaven and earth. The system of Yin and Yang was the basis of ancient and medieval Chinese worldview, were widely used by Taoists, and folk religion to classify spirits, divination, omens, etc. In the system of digrams I-Jing, tri - and hexagrams Yang is depicted as continuous, and the Yin - broken line. Together they symbolize all the complementary opposites of the dualistic forces in the universe and qualities of human, animal and plant life. Yin always needs to go before Jan, because she symbolizes the primordial Darkness before the Light of creation — Feb. It is also the primordial water, passive, feminine, instinctive and intuitive by nature; the soul, depth, contraction, negative, soft and compliant. Fantasy animals (dragon, Phoenix and tiling) can embody both one and the other start, and means the perfect interaction of these two principles in their unity. The same applies to the Lotus. represents the perfect balance of two great forces of the universe, each of which has within itself the embryo of the opposite beginning. This suggests that in the universe there is only male or only female, but each of them contains spores of another, and that continuous changes occur. Both in the terms of the universal cyclic treatment and change. These two forces constrain each other in the confrontation, but not in antagonistic but as mutually interdependent partners. One of the principles is the essence, but only two find expression in manifestations began in the material world. Cantwell Yin-Yang (tai-JI) detainees depicted in the circle. Their figurative and symbolic image based on the circle, painting foreunity, from which the polarity of Yin/Yang is a philosophical concept represented by the philosopher Zhu XI (1130-1200). The separation of both poles is called the S-shaped bisect the surface of the circle, and Yin-half is attributed is dark, and Yang-half — light part of the circle. Only from this polarity is the creation of the five elements, from the interaction which stems the wealth and diversity of the world ("ten thousand things"). Important is the fact that as an expression of interdependence in Yang-divided parts of the circle should be dark, and Yin-parts — center light (depicted as circles). Thus it is emphasized that it is not about struggle and mutual hostility between light and darkness because of the desire to achieve dominance of one of the two principles, but rather the tendency to combine one another. In the ancient cave sanctuaries were canaliculus Yang - and Yin-stones, of which the first should be dry and the second wet. At the combination of heavy rains with the scourge awakened forces of the Yang-stone, and when drought and heat — the Yin-stone to achieve a harmonic balance. Yin symbolizes all that is dark and earth: femininity, the North, cold, shadow, earth, passivity, humidity, black color, valley, trees, night, aquatic and amphibious animals, most colors. even numbers; Yang symbolizes all that is bright, dry and high: masculinity, South, light, activity, dryness, Emperor; the active principle, spirit, rationality, height, expansion, positive, solid and unyielding. mountain, sky, heaven, sun, animals and birds; odd numbers; Basic values: the Cosmic Egg, the primordial androgyne, the perfection of balance and harmony, a Union of two natures unfinished part of the original whole, the passage through history, the suffering of separation, the search for perfection "I" - separated. Chinese symbol polarity, surrounded by the eight trigrams as a symbol of cosmic integrity. Yin-Yang is the Supreme and undivided symbol of unity and creative complementarity of opposites in the universe. Rough materials in China, the active, or male principle (Yang) is depicted as a white circle (representing the sky), while the passive female principle (Yin) — black square (earth). The white circle represents energy and heavenly influence, and the black square of earthly forces. The interaction concluded in their dualism, it is well-known symbol of Yang-Yin, a circle divided in half by a wavy line. White half (Yang) includes black spot and the black half (Yin) a white spot. These two spots represent the constant presence in the male-female and female — male. The wavy line is a symbol of movement and interpenetration, emphasizing — like the swastika — the idea of displacement, thus giving the dynamite and the complementary nature of this symbol. The law of polarity is the subject of reflection for many Chinese philosophers. They were taken from this character a number of absolute principles, which we reproduce here: (a) the amount of energy in the universe is unchangeable; (b) it consists of the sum of the two types of energy: one positive and active qualities, the other negative and passive; (C) the nature of cosmic phenomena is characterized by changing the ratio of the two present in them forms of energy. For example, in the twelve months of the year is present, in different proportions, a certain amount of energy obtained from six parts and six Yang Yin (13). Further, because of the qualities of their movement, as well as its shape, the cycle received the value of what is brought into existence, activates and animates all the forces involved in this process, penetrating it, including those that in other circumstances would oppose each other. As we have seen, this is the basic meaning of the Chinese sign of Ying-Yang

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