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transrightsyamaguchi · 6 months

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blue lock fic rec list #1 (?)

i always liked when people made long masterlists of fic recs but i haven't seen anyone do it for blue lock yet. at least not recently. so in the spirit of Be The Change You Want To See In The World here's my list.

not in any particular order just going through my bookmarks lol.

sound of breaking down. chigiri-centric, 4k words, rated T.

“Is he dead?” “No, of course not.” A pause. “I hope not.” “Yo, Princess, are you alive in there?” The door rattles. OR Determined to prove himself, Chigiri disregards his health and deals with consequences. None of it is pretty. Set during the neo-Egoist league arc. it's a sickfic. it's a really good sickfic. it hits all the beats i like my sickfics to hit and then some. it's a genfic which is a major bonus. no romantic subplot just chigiri being vulnerable and getting taken care of. there's some sweet moments between him and chris prince that made me melt inside.

2. the rituals are intricate, bro. karasu/otoya, 2k words, rated E.

Otoya offers to groom the homie's wings. Things escalate in ways he did not expect. this is by one of my beloved mutuals but i'd still be recommending it even if it wasn't. great title. there's an "it's not gay with socks on" joke in there. there's the ever-present Otoya Eita Sexuality Crisis. the porn is less sexy and more funny (as tabieita deserves).

3. six facts about lobsters. bachira/isagi, 4k words, rated T.

What it says on the tin. (In fine print: six facts about you.) can't remember if ghost is on tumblr or not but this is another mutual fic. it's a take on the 5+1 format, tracking the bachisagi relationship through lobster facts. isagi's autism radiates through the text. it's so cute and so sweet and so very bachisagi essence. as expected of ao3 user smallghosts (<- the bachisagi essence writer)

4. counting crows on the windowsill. kaiser/ness, 18k words, rated M.

“How much,” you ask, “would you let me do to you?” The feeling of vibration on your fingers comes again, and he is thinking, or perhaps toying with you even more. Your grip tightens on his skin, and Alexis twitches slightly in the grasp. More than once have people told you to learn some patience. “You already know my answer.” “Doesn’t mean I don’t like hearing it in your own words.” Inhale, exhale, and they all fall onto your skin. There is a chill in the room—it is rising up your arms, your neck—but the whole of you is hot. “If it’s you, I’d let you do anything.” Seven snapshots of life through the eyes of Michael Kaiser. this is a longer one but if you have time and you want to feel some Emotions read this one. nskins contain such multitudes and this author understands them so well.

5. shidou-ctionary. shidou/sae, 4k words, rated T.

Contemporary linguists agree that achieving proficiency in a new language requires between six months and four years of study. Itoshi Sae knows better. He has anecdotal evidence to suggest that a person can become fluent in a new language in as little as one week. A week of Shidou Ryuusei's attempts to ask Itoshi Sae on a date: a story in emojis. yet another mutual fic. i can't help it that my mutuals are all extremely talented and correct about everything. it's got some experimental formatting going on and (in my opinion) it looks best on desktop. ft. shidou being shidou and sae being smitten (in the emotionally constipated way that sae is smitten with shidou)

6. puppy love. kurona/kiyora, 9k words, rated G.

Jin doesn’t fight the small smile forming on his face. It’s been a long time since he meshed well with anyone. People tend to avoid him; he avoids them in turn. He stopped caring (or so he had told himself), but he doesn’t hate the weight around his shoulders—doesn’t mind it at all, really. He wraps his hand around Ranze’s wrist, and he laughs along with him. Kiyora Jin has a number of problems. A growing crush on Kurona Ranze is not supposed to be one of them. this was the inaugural fic in the ranjin tag and. not to pat myself on the back or anything. but i beta-read it hehe. another mutual fic. kiyora jin character study before kiyora jin was even a character, with an adorable little romantic subplot. somewhat negated by the Recent Developments in canon but it's still good!!

7. pink light. shidou/sae, 19k words, rated E.

Fifteen years ago, Shidou took a pass from Sae that shattered his knee and ended his career, and Sae hasn't been able to speak to him since - and Sae wants it to stay that way. Deserves for it to stay that way. Unfortunately, the world has other plans for him, courtesy of a little art studio a five minute walk from his new post-retirement apartment. this is not a mutual fic but i'm trying to change that. it's post-canon ryusae ft. cane user shidou (!!) and emotionally constipated sae learning how to live without soccer. not quite old man yaoi but it has the spirit of it.

8. year one. snuffy & lorenzo centric, 3k words, rated T.

"When's your birthday?" Snuffy asks him carefully, moving on to the next field. "Today," Don answers immediately. "Really?" Snuffy looks at him suspiciously. "No," Don replies without hesitation, turning back to a poster describing professional tooth brushing. Snuffy tries not to look at the tense faces of the receptionist and the surgeon peering out of the room. Snuffy's first year of parenthood. what is it about snuffy & lorenzo fics that just hit so different. i swear everyone who writes for them is a genius. this fic is short snapshots of snuffy and lorenzo navigating their newly-formed parent-child relationship and it's heartwrenching and heartwarming and poignant. this writer has a few snuffy & lorenzo fics and they're all wonderful. (she's also on tumblr and writes in-depth lorenzo meta so you Know she understands him)

9. pov: you just want the world to be quiet. itoshi brothers, 4k words, rated T.

his big brother and football have become the only hope to which rin can cling to dream of better days. without them, he only and just remains that little six-year-old boy destroyed by the senseless atrocities of evil hands. hesitated to include this one because the tags are scary but fuck it we ball i do what i want. it's a rewrite of rin's backstory with a darker spin on it and it follows rin and sae's relationship through that lens. as par for the course with pre-canon itoshi studies, it does not end happily. it's incredibly well-done and it will give you Feelings. (this is one of those cases where the author drops a life-changing bombshell of a fic on you and then you go to their profile and there's no bio. there's no public bookmarks. this is their only blue lock fic. they haven't posted anything in a year. who are they)

10. peak male living space. kunigami/chigiri, 3k words, rated E.

Raichi and Kunigami had met at university; playing on the football team, sharing many lectures, and living through the shitshow that was university halls together. It seemed only natural that they’d move in together, and it had been great for the past few of years… Until Kunigami’s new boyfriend asked why he never invited him over to his place, and he was forced to deal with the realisation that he and Raichi have the most boyish disaster of a flat. part of a series but it can stand alone. t4t kunigiri smut. kunigami and raichi are disaster roommates and bachisagi play wingmen. lionel messi makes a cameo in the form of a cardboard cutout. all the kunigiri fics in this series are good but this fic in particular is just so funny.

if you notice any ships or characters Conspicuously Absent it's because they were positively dominating this list at first so i'm planning to make a separate list for only them hehe

there are many more fics that made my soul ascend from my body so i might make another of these

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ceo-draiochta · 4 months

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Forgive me if this is a foolish question, but would you happen to know if there’s any sources out there on historical prayer behaviors? IE body position, gestures, etc. I don’t come from a religious background, so I struggle to know to go about praying even when I know what I want to say

Gestures and actions during Irish/Gaelic Pagan prayer.

This is not a foolish question at all! In fact it is a great one. Honestly finding the right words is the hardest part. There is little in the way of documented proof of how pre christian Gaels prayed so reconstruction is necessary. This makes it tricky to find authentic sources, thankfully there is a few practice's we can reconstruct with a lot of certainty. (Sources in bracketed links)

Clockwise/Deiseal movement The act of moving in a circle in a clockwise direction (deiseal) is frequently seen to be auspicious and is used in many Irish Christian rituals. Many of these practices are still done today, especially at holy wells or other pilgrimage sites such at the various stations on Croagh Patrick (link). The opposite of this is anti-clockwise or Tuathal is frequently used in curses. This is a recurring theme throughout Irish and Scottish folklore and has been argued to be partially of a pre Christian origin(Link to book containing a chapter on the topic specifically chapter 10)

This is usually done at Holy Wells while doing the rosary. The well itself or an object near it like a statue, rock or tree is encircled by the worshiper usually 3 or 7 times while reciting the rosary. (link)(link)(link). And is a still living practice.

This clockwise movement was also used in medieval rituals, with supposedly in the Book of Fenagh, an inauguration ritual is described where a bell shrine was walked around a king and his solders clockwise. (in book chapter 10).

The use of the word deiseal and its association with blessing led it in the past to be an equivalent to "bless you" after a sneeze. (link). The sunwise or clockwise direction is synonymous with blessings.

Head down, eyes up The Carmina Gadelica contains a number of prayers from gaelic scotland. Many of which follow a standard christian practice and just as many are situational in nature like to be said while washing ones hands, however certain ones stand out as being representative of a greater traditions of actions due to their unusualness.

References to raising ones eyes (link) and leaving the palms open and outstretched are mentioned (link page 290)

Both women and men were said to curtsey with men doing a bowing motion much like a curtsey in that it involved the bending of the left knee to the side and the right one straight as a show of respect (link)

To summarise with a quote:

"So the lifting of hands, raising of the eyes, and the bowing of the head are all actions that could be done during our prayers. In raising our hands we show a gesture of giving, just as we ‘give’ prayers of thanks, or blessing, or whatever other purpose we might be praying for, especially since there seems to be a since that we’re meant to raise the palms up to the sky (or moon, more to the point) instead of simply holding our hands out, palms up. It’s less a gesture that might suggest we’re asking for a handout than it gives a sense that we’re reaching out." -An Introduction To Gaelic Polytheism by Marissa Hegarty

Curse pose While not involved with worship, poets when preforming a satire, often magical in nature were said to stand on one foot, with one eye closed, holding up one hand, and sometimes speaking with one breath. This seems to specifically used for cursing however.

What to incorporate into your pagan practice I would then recommend that while praying, walking in a circle in a clockwise direction with a bowed head, eyes up, while holding out your hands with the palms skyward would be appropriate. I like to have one hand over the other. After the prayer has concluded a curtsey should be done.

If anyone else has anything to add please do so with what gestures and actions you take during prayers. I hope this answers your question and that it was at all helpful.

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allthebrazilianpolitics · 1 year

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Brazil's new president works to reverse Amazon deforestation

Shaking a traditional rattle, Brazil's incoming head of Indigenous affairs recently walked through every corner of the agency's headquarters—even its coffee room—as she invoked help from ancestors during a ritual cleansing.

The ritual carried extra meaning for Joenia Wapichana, Brazil's first Indigenous woman to command the agency charged with protecting the Amazon rainforest and its people. Once she is sworn in next month under newly inaugurated President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Wapichana promises to clean house at an agency that critics say has allowed the Amazon's resources to be exploited at the expense of the environment.

As Wapichana performed the ritual, Indigenous people and government officials enthusiastically chanted "Yoohoo! Funai is ours!''—a reference to the agency she will lead.

Environmentalists, Indigenous people and voters sympathetic to their causes were important to Lula's narrow victory over former President Jair Bolsonaro. Now Lula is seeking to fulfill campaign pledges he made to them on a wide range of issues, from expanding Indigenous territories to halting a surge in illegal deforestation.

To carry out these goals, Lula is appointing well-known environmentalists and Indigenous people to key positions at Funai and other agencies that Bolsonaro had filled with allies of agribusiness and military officers.

#brazil #politics #environmentalism #environmental justice #indigenous rights #brazilian politics #mod nise da silveira #image description in alt #amazon rainforest

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satureja13 · 19 days

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Ostara/Spring Equinox Festival Part 2 It starts -> here

Ji Ho's plan was to sing a Siren's Song to make this festival less stressful/awkward for all of them. But before, he made sure that each of them agreed to this. Ji Ho still feels uncomfortable to influence the emotions and actions of his friends. He'd seen his grandfather doing the worst with these songs and he still fears that the Council made his grandfather influence him to put a spell on Vlad so they could get a grip on him and his powers...

The Easter Egg Hunt still goes on: (3) in the pic above (not the egg-like objects on the table). They are a bit hard to find but there are pics incoming where you can see them better. (2) In the pic below.

Ji Ho sang The Kilburn High Road from Flogging Molly. It doesn't matter which song he sings, he can weave his spells into every song.

'Toast to tears of time's past glories This ageless clock chime stalls Where to kiss the lips of that love forgotten To fly where no others have soared'

Arturo is watching them. But why does he look so sad and worried? Does he feel sad for them in general or does he know something we don't know (yet)? ö.Ö'

It's time for the ritual and Arturo gathers them.

Kiyoshi is inaugurating and blessing the sacred wellspring. The visitors will be able to fill their vessels here and take the healing water back to the mundane world to heal those who can't visit the Otherworld. (2)

Then it's finally time for some fun! They divided up into the least awkward groupings. Ji Ho and Kiyoshi, Jack and Jeb and Saiwa and Vlad. And Arturo retreated to celebrate with his husband Chánh. (2) (There are no eggs in the waterballoon bucket ^^')

Omg Ji Ho!

That hurt - but Ji Ho bravely rides it out. He takes it like a pro ^^' But I think Ji Ho doesn't mind to get nailed by Kiyoshi. He had a crush on him since he first saw him ;) (1) Already seen in yesterday's post)

Little Goat and his Bunny lookalike.

Jack and Ji Ho missed Jeb a lot and they are glad they can spend this evening together. They should meet more often to not trigger the happenings that might lead to one/some of them dying in their possible future should they not stay togther ö.ö. But I think they still live close enough (it's just across the bridge) to hopefully avoid it. (3) One of them we've already seen in yesterday's post.

The bunnies are searching for the eggs too 🐇

Valerian: 'Hey Jack! The egg is over there!' Bunny Jack: 'Thanks, Pal!' (They call the bunnies after their simlish alter egos and this one is Jack's because he has the same hide colors/pattern as Jack's horse Lunatic ^^`) (3) (We've already seen two of the eggs in yesterday's post)

TMI: While researching for this song, I found out that there is also a play 'The Kings of the Kilburn High Road'. It's about Six young Irish working men immigrate to London in the early 1970s. Six, like our Boys :]

From the Beginning ~ Underwater Love ~ Latest 🕹️ 'Therapy Game' from the beginning ▶️ here 📚 Previous Chapters: Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 17-22 ~ 23-28

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medievalistsnet · 7 months

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#open access #history journals #periodicals #medieval studies

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arcane-trail · 1 year

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Do Pagans Celebrate Christmas?

Christmas is a Christian festival (the hint is in the name), so it is not a festival that you would expect to see celebrated by Pagan communities, old or new.

But Christmas is a Christian adaptation of the Winter Solstice, which, in the northern hemisphere, is the shortest day of the year and usually falls around 21 December. For communities that observe the wheel of the year and the changing of the seasons, this is an incredibly important day.

It was around this time that ancient Pagans no longer had food to feed their cattle, so they would slaughter them and have fresh meat for the solstice. This was also the time when the beer and wine brewed earlier in the year were finally fermented, so there were lots of good things to drink. If that is not a good enough reason for a holiday, the moment when the days start lengthening was also considered by many Pagan communities to represent the sun’s rebirth.

So, if you look at the festival calendars of the Pagan communities of the northern hemisphere, most of them have a major festival around the time of the Winter Solstice. The existence of these festivals is also why Christmas falls on December 25th.

The Invention of Christmas

Christmas was invented by the Roman Catholic Church in the 4th century. Before this, Easter was the main Christian holiday.

The Bible does not mention when Jesus of Nazareth was born, but it does seem unlikely that it was in December. Temperatures drop as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) in winter in the area surrounding Jerusalem and Galilee. Shepherds were unlikely to be tending their flocks, and the Romans probably would have conducted their census in warmer months.

But the Church decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus in December to coincide with the major Roman festival of the Saturnalia. This is a week-long festival that occurred between 17 and 24 December to celebrate the fertility god Saturn. For all the reasons already mentioned, it was a major festival period in the Roman world.

The 25th of December was chosen as the actual birthday of Jesus, rather than another day during the Saturnalia, such as the day of the solstice, because this was the festival day of the god Sol Invictus. His temple was inaugurated in Rome on 25 December 274 by the emperor Aurelianus. It was probably not inaugurated on the solstice because this was already a feast day for Dionysus, Hercules, Adonis, and Mithras.

Sol Invictus was the most important god in the Roman Empire before its conversion to Christianity, so it made sense for the Church to conflate Christ with this deity.

The Christmas festival absorbed many of the customs of the Saturnalia and was exported around the rest of Europe with Christianity.

As Christmas spread, it also adopted other Pagan traditions associated with the Winter Solstice. For example, when King Haakon I of Norway converted his country to Christianity in the 10th century, he changed the date of the traditional Norse Yule celebration to coincide with Christmas. Many Norse Yule traditions were incorporated into Christmas. Similar things happened wherever the Church took its new holidays.

Christmas Traditions with Pagan Roots

So, which of the many Christmas traditions that we practice today have Pagan roots? Let’s take a look at just a few examples.

Gift Exchange

It was traditional to exchange gifts as part of the Saturnalia, but it was very different from modern gift-giving. It was traditional for Romans to give one gift to another person (kind of like a Secret Santa), and the gift was almost always a statuette of a god that could be placed in the household shrine.

This may also have been the origin of the nativity scene. The Romans renovated their household shrines with new divine images, and today families create nativity scenes each year.

Christmas Trees

The Romans would decorate their homes with evergreen trees during Saturnalia as part of rituals to ensure the prosperity of farms and orchards in the following year. This was very likely the origin of the Christmas tree.

Deck the Halls

In the Norse world, the Vikings would gather in their temples and long halls for the Winter Solstice. They believed that at this dark time of year, the veil between the worlds was at its thinnest, and dark spirits could cross over. Staying inside and together was a form of protection.

The Vikings would bring animals to sacrifice. The blood of the animals would be drained, and the meat sent to be cooked for the festival. Meanwhile, the blood of the sacrificial victims was smeared on cult images and the temple walls as part of a ritual of protection. This may be the origin of the idea of decking the halls.

Yule Log

The Yule Log also has Viking roots. The Vikings would select an oak log that would be burnt on the fire throughout Yule. The fire offered protection, and letting the fire go out was a very bad omen.

The log was specially prepared and engraved with protective runes. A small piece of the log from the previous year was kept to be added to the Yule fire the following year.

Santa Claus

The idea of Santa Claus is a Germanic-Norse tradition. They believed that during Yule, Odin, the most important god, led a group of gods in the Wild Hunt. They would rampage through the world, removing everything dead and no longer useful, clearing the way for new growth. One of the reasons that the Vikings stayed indoors at Yule was not to be accidentally caught up in the Wild Hunt.

But while abroad, Odin might also choose to visit household, leaving behind presents and good fortune. In the Volsunga Saga, Odin gives Sigmund a magic sword that helps him complete his quests. In the Saga of Hrolf Kraki, the king refuses gifts of hospitality, armor, and weapons from an old, bearded man missing an eye. This turns out to be Odin, and Hrolf later dies for lack of the weapons that he needs.

Santa’s reindeer also seem to be inspired by Odin’s eight-legged steed Sleipnir, which could carry the god anywhere in the Norse cosmos.

Christmas and Modern Pagans

So, does being a Pagan today mean that you can’t celebrate the festive season with your loved ones? Not at all!

For those who honor the wheel of the year, the Winter Solstice is an incredibly important time. It represents rebirth and renewal. Like the new moon, it is a time to set new intentions that will grow with the years. Some Wiccans celebrate the solstice specifically as the day on which the sun god is reborn.

But the winter festival has always been a season rather than a single day in Pagan communities. It has always been a time for feasting, rejoicing, and spending time with family and friends.

This means that Pagans can embrace the festive season without embracing the Christian religious beliefs associated with Christmas. Gift-giving, hall decking, and eating far too much are all respectable Pagan traditions.

You might find the perfect Pagan gift in our store.

[Read full blog post here]

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crossdressingdeath · 4 months

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I desperately want to know if Durge and Cazador ever crossed paths pre-game. I mean, the underbelly of the city knows Durge, but I don't know how aware of that side of things Cazador would be. He might also have associated with Gortash as part of the nobility and that could've led to him meeting Durge if Gortash brought them to events with him at times, but it's unclear. But it's very funny to imagine that they have met and Cazador learns that Durge is with Astarion and he's just like "...What."

Even better considering that undead (including vampires) can sense Bhaalspawn. Imagine what must be going through Cazador's head when his escaped spawn shows up back in town just in time for the ritual... accompanied by the freshly-inaugurated Archduke's old partner in crime, the murder demigod. This complicates things a touch!

#bg3 #cazador szarr #durge

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risingoftime · 1 year

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𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕼𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖓’𝖘 𝕮𝖔𝖓𝖋𝖎𝖉𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖊 | 𝖘𝖍𝖚𝖗𝖎 𝖔 𝖗𝖎𝖗𝖎

"I am the Queen of the most powerful nation in the world, and my entire family is gone. Have I not given everything?"

summary: Shuri is to be enthroned as Queen of Wakanda and doesn’t know if she will be able to bare the weight of the crown without her mother’s wisdom. She seeks out Riri’s guidance and warmth to thaw her frigid heart.

word count: 2.5k

warnings: death, grief, angst, hurt!shuri, loss, hint of friends to lovers, fluff, anxiety, wakanda forever spoilers.

a/n: This is definitely something that I’m not used to writing. But I hope y’all like it as much as you like my other fics! I’ve been struggling with major writer's block :|

➴ feel free to send me more thots

RIRI’S POV

I stared after her as she glided down the staircase. Shuri’s dress cascaded behind her like a black pool of water. It was made of the finest silks, held by gold rings and an encrusted black panther head with fangs on her chest. The dipped fang dangled in between her breasts against her bare skin. I tried to gulp down the lump in my throat, but my mouth became dry when I focused on the cutouts that exposed her dark skin. Okoye sure knew how to pick a dress. Shuri had tried her best to fight her way out of it, but it was clear that this was the dress. She had exclaimed that the outfit had fit too tight, too provocative, just too much for her. Yet as I watched her approach her subjects, all the nerves she had exhibited earlier were untraceable across Shuri’s posture. Her stride was regal, almost identical to Queen Ramonda. The people of Wakanda silently watched Shuri in awe. They had never seen the Princess in this light. No, not their Princess, their Queen. I was not able to be in attendance during Shuri’s inauguration amongst the Wakanda Council. Not only because I had school, but I wasn’t allowed. The ritual had been private, a sacred ceremony to officiate Shuri’s place on the Wakanda throne. Outsiders were not welcome. However, when Shuri insisted I attend the Public Crowning of the Wakandan Queen, I couldn’t refuse.

I stood off in the distance at the side of the balcony with Agent Ross to obtain the perfect view for the event. Out of sight from curious onlookers but close enough to make out every detail. M’Baku held the crown in his hands as if it was a delicate flower, and tiny beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he walked towards Shuri. He had argued with Okoye for days that placing the crown on Shuri’s head should be him. Shuri told me that he yelled at Okoye and told her “she hadn’t become the general again until a couple of weeks ago.” This struck a chord with the Dora Milaje, leading to both groups almost getting into a physical altercation. Shuri had to break it up in the end. They settled it over a coin toss. I couldn’t hold in my laughter at the audacity of it all when we’d been on the phone. Imagining the mighty M’Baku keeled over a coin in anticipation was enough to elicit a giggle out of her.

“I present to you, Shrui Udaku, the Queen of Wakanda.” As M’Baku gently settled the gold crown atop Shuri’s head as his voice boomed loudly across the silent crowd of Wakandans.

The sea of people began to bow down to one knee, row by row, like a wave. I was in complete awe to see the power that Shuri held. She was now the sole leader of a whole country. I fell to my knees but kept my head raised to see only Shuri left standing and staring at me. A hint of a smile on her lips. She was breathtakingly draped in black and gold. I couldn’t help but feel special amongst all the people in front of her. She chose to steal a glance at me before she bellowed for everyone to rise.

The Dora Milaje raised their spears, and the Jabari tribe beat their chests in triumph, celebrating the new ruler of Wakanda. Shuri placed her arms over her chest as an “X,” yelling, “Wakanda forever,” and it wasn’t until she did so that I saw the tears flow from her eyes. They were leaving a streak down her perfected makeup—a sign of the girl who had nearly lost everything.

Shortly after the public inauguration, I returned to Shuri’s headquarters, where I stayed for the week. Desperate to change out of my heels, I mindlessly flung them on the floor to walk barefoot on the black marbled floors. My feet instantly felt soothed by the contact of the cold tiles. The only sound echoing is the soft padding of the soles of my feet, walking to sit at Shuri’s vanity overlooking the city of Wakanda. Shuri’s room was quiet and sombre. I bet I could hear a pin drop. At times it felt surreal to be in Wakanda, miles away from the loud streets of Chicago and the MIT students' crowds. When I first met Shuri and Okoye, I had been ready to throw anything to keep them from taking me away from the familiarity of my dorms. Although it had been months ago, I could recall the memory like it was yesterday. One would find it difficult to forget. When I first set eyes upon Okoye, she appeared viperous and ready to strike at any moment’s notice. I’m still surprised I was able to gain her respect. Okoye does not offer that to just anyone. Then again, I’m astonished about many things that have occurred these past few months.

The sweltering heat and sun from the ceremony had caused my dress to stick uncomfortably against my skin. I desperately needed to change into an outfit that allowed me to breathe. I fumbled with the zipper behind my neck, and my fingers struggled to pull down the clasp lock that kept the fabrics mended together. I am to be a scientist, and I still couldn’t figure out the intricacies of a simple dress zipper. Midway through my struggle, I heard my phone ping from a text by Shuri. We had unique ringtones for each other.

Meet me in the lab.

I looked at the clock to see not much time had passed since the public inauguration. Shuri should have been on the road for the parade throughout the city. That was the plan; she shouldn’t be in the lab. I made my way to the familiar doors I’d entered countless times to find Shuri sitting on the floor. Her dress puddled around her in a great heap of black silk. Once we made eye contact, Shuri was unrecognizable. The gold crown was still pinned to her head, and Shuri’s makeup remained perfectly painted on her face regardless of the tear stains. It pained me to see the softness in her eyes become cold and void. I’ve wished to keep the tenderness alive within Shuri, but since the murder of her Mother, Queen Ramonda, she hasn’t been the same. Shuri had become quick to irritate and rash. She still refused to tell anyone about the family member she had encountered in the ancestral plane. I knew better than to ask. The question always triggered an argument.

“Shuri, what’s wrong? What are you doing here? You should be with your people.”

“You are my people. That’s why I called you.” Her eyes remained trained on the ground. I’m convinced her glare could bore a hole in the laboratory floor if she wished. I couldn’t find the words to respond, unsure if I should correct her or scold her that she knew what I meant when I first said it. Deciding to remain quiet and listen was a safer option; once Shuri overcame her grief and anger, it was best to stay silent. I lowered myself to the ground to sit patiently in front of Shuri. Finally, Shuri released her lips from the tight line to speak again.

“Bury your dead. Mourn your losses. You are Queen now. Those words have haunted me for days as a prophecy I wished would not come true. I walked down these hallways a million times, feeling like a ghost in a shell. My insides cried for anyone to reach out and extract the pain that held my heart. But, instead, I’ve spent the remaining months making myself digestible for others to the extent that I no longer know what is left of me.

“The tears that have escaped me since that day felt like they would choke the life out of my soul. I would force myself to scream out from the empty cavern of my chest, yet no matter what I do, it’s as if it will never end. I wake up overtaken by a body that no longer knows rest, Riri. I don’t know how to cultivate the strength to be a Queen for Wakanda.” Shuri’s voice remained bleak as she spoke. I noticed the changes that had come over Shuri for quite some time but did not dare to look deeper. It wasn't easy to find the right words to provide comfort.

“To understand the depths of mourning, you must know love. The feeling you are experiencing is your yearning for your Mother with nowhere to go. It’s the final act of love. But she is still a part of you. Although she may not be present in the physical plane, she lives on with your ancestors. Or at least, that’s what Okoye has told me. She was quite brief with answering my questions.”

“Okoye has time to talk to you about Wakanda history?” Shuri asked.

“She doesn’t. I annoy her enough until she spares me some details.” The comment gained a full smile from Shuri. Her body language shifted slightly to face me onward, our knees lightly brushing against each other. I took this as a chance to use the light fabric of her dress to dab at her wet eyes, careful not to smudge her mascara. Thankfully her dress was black, and the action didn’t ruin it.

“That’s the thing about grief. It’s messy, and it gets everywhere,” I whispered.

As I was about to retrieve my hand back to my side, Shuri grabbed it to encase it into her own. Her skin was soft and warm while she traced circles on the back of my hand. She’s held my hand countless times, but the way she grasped it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I didn’t have to look up to know that Shuri was now staring at me.

“I’ve prayed to feel a release, and at times it felt like no one was truly listening. So, Riri, I’m thankful I have you in my life, especially now when I need to bring myself back to Earth.”

“I think this is the first time you’ve admitted that you like me around.” Then, slowly raising my head, I offered Shuri a toothy grin.

“But there’s no need to thank me, that’s what friends are for!”

Shuri’s lips pursed when I said “friend,” as if the word tasted sour on her tongue.

“What? Did I say something wrong?” I felt worried that I may have ruined the moment. It wouldn't have been the first time. Shuri’s mood has been unpredictable, and I could never be sure what I might have said to trigger a reaction.

“No, not at all. It’s just…”

“Just what? Come on; you know that you can tell me anything.” Shuri broke eye contact to watch our intertwined hands, twiddling her fingers as she did so. She often did this when she was nervous or agitated. I wanted her to spit it out, but considering she finally stopped crying, I didn’t want to welcome another onset of tears.

“I don't want to ruin the friendship that we have together. Still, I want to be honest with you and myself. I like you, Riri, more than a friend. I’ve felt this way for a while now. I guess by saying this, I’m wondering if you feel the same way.” Shuri stumbled over her words. They all seemed to come out quickly and jumbled.

I wasn’t oblivious to how close Shuri and I had become. I held her down when she took the heart-shaped herb. I have never been much of a fighter, but I fought for her and would do it again if I had to. She never had to ask because I would always be there without a second thought or doubt. Thinking back, Shuri has done the same. I can’t remember a night without not talking to her on the phone. I never thought about her busy schedule as an upcoming Queen because Shuri made time to pick up my calls. The stolen glances and shy touches were not in vain. Shuri had become a part of my world. Of course, I felt the same way.

Wrapping my arms around Shuri, I brought her close to my heart and said just that. Her body fit perfectly against my own. As I held Shuri close to my chest, Shuri began whispering a song. I didn’t understand the Xhosa language but a deep understanding capsuled in my mind of memories that would never be erased. Almost ancestral to a place that I felt akin to. It offered a tiny bit of abreaction that denied us. I felt her breath on my neck as she sang; it left goosebumps and a fluttering feeling in my stomach. Numerous thoughts clouded my mind. The outstanding one was the desire and fantasy of what it’ll feel like to have Shuri’s lips against my own. However, this was not the time. Not when she had a duty to fulfill. As if the Universe had heard her, Okoye burst through the laboratory doors.

“What is the meaning of this? Queen Shuri, the people of Wakanda await.” Okoye’s eyes were ablaze, and darted between the two of them. I became increasingly aware of how we must’ve looked at that moment. I opened my mouth to say something, yet Shuri beat me.

“I’ll only go if Riri comes with me.”

I attempted to separate myself from Shuri, but she didn’t budge. Okoye looked as if she was at a loss for words. Unsure if she should risk her position to oppose the new Queen. When she didn’t immediately speak it felt like my heart would beat out of my chest. The seconds felt like hours as I watched Okoye’s face slowly morph into a soft expression.

“As you wish, my Queen,” she sighed.

---

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timebegins-onopeningday · 6 months

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October 2023 New Works Round Up

Happy Sunday, everybody! It’s our inaugural new works round-up post, a mere two days after the soft deadline. Let’s do a round up of all the works posted to the collection so far* 🥳

*by Saturday night, when I drafted and scheduled this post.

AO3 | All works | Ask box

New works, in no particular order (link in titles):

spit it out on three by pamlipsestic | Oakland A’s, San Francisco Giants | Zack Gelof/Casey Schmitt

It was in the scouting report, and even if it hadn’t been, the neon yellow custom sliding mitt would've given it right away.

FIX ME A BLUE SKY by hualuo (baiyunli) | Philadelphia Phillies | Bryson Stott/Trea Turner

“Right,” says Trea, feeling like he missed several steps. You’re gonna be good,” promises Stott. “You’re Trea fucking Turner.” He squeezes Trea’s shoulder again, tips the bill of his cap down like he’s letting him in on a secret. His eyes brim with it, crescent moons shot through in hazel. “And call me Bryson, okay?” Trea Turner, on things (and people) he can't control.

our bodies to bargain by sorrellegiance | San Francisco Giants | Sean Manaea & Blake Sabol | neocities

This is a comic about places and going to them!

step by step by glowfruit | New York Yankees | Aaron Judge/Anthony Rizzo

Aaron's simple request for Anthony to teach him how to cook is not as simple as he might think.

what you want, what you got by powderblu (bluspirits) | Philadelphia Phillies | Brandon Marsh/ Bryson Stott

So yeah, Bryson is a gift giver. That's about the only explanation he can come up with for what's in front of him. Or: courting rituals, daycare edition

we all end in the ocean by Anonymous | New York Mets | Francisco Alvarez/Brett Baty

“Why don’t you come over here for a second,” Eduardo frowned, cringing as he approached Brett. The injury must have horribly deformed him, or something. I’m fine, you don’t need to carry me, he’d wanted to complain, but it was like Brett weighed nothing at all, and no matter how much he kicked and squirmed, Eduardo didn’t falter, carrying him over to the sink. What the fuck? In the mirror, staring back at him, was an orange cat. Eduardo raised Brett’s arm and waved. The cat waved back. Brett let out an ear-splitting scream and the cat in the mirror screamed back, fur puffed up all over. animal transformation au: baseball magic is real and the rays are petty

Unbuttoned by powerblu (bluspirits) | Philadelphia Phillies | Bryce Harper/Trea Turner

Bryce had always told him he'd look good in a Phillies jersey. Now that Trea's on the team, it's time to prove he meant it.

all play no skips by powerblu (bluspirits) | Philadelphia Phillies | Garrett Stubbs/J.T. Realmuto

Some people would refer to what he has going on right now as 'intangibles'.

If I’m not my body by planesandtrainingwheels | Toronto Blue Jays | Danny Jansen/Jordan Romano

He catches sight of the beginnings of a bruise that promises to be ugly tomorrow morning stretching across Danny’s thigh. “You’re insane,” he says appreciatively. Something in him itches to put his hands on it, to brush across the tender purple skin with his fingers - which isn’t a thought he’s ever had before. Oh boy. Danny grins. “Anything for you, Romy.” Or, Jordan Romano, Danny Jansen, and the mortifying ordeal.

The next round-up post will be posted sometime on Sunday, November 12, so if you need a new deadline, aim for the North American morning of November 11.

Under the cut: October Challenges for readers and creators + 3 questions for creators (for your WIPs or completed works) and a bonus side quest for readers!

October Challenge for readers: Before the November post, comment on THREE works you haven’t commented on yet! If you’ve commented on them all already….king shit, because it’s been two days. Go get a boba to celebrate and watch some postseason baseball.

Bonus Readers Side Quest: If the creator of the work allows it, create a moodboard for one of the works you enjoyed and post it on Tumblr. Tag @timebegins-onopeningday so that I can reblog and of course make sure you link to the work and tell the author too!

October Challenge for creators: Every week until the November post (on the 12th), do the following:

Writers, add FIVE sentences to your work.

Artists, spend FIFTEEN MINUTES on your work.

Podfic? Five minutes of editing or ten minutes of recording. Something else I’m not thinking of? Adjust accordingly to your medium.

Creator Questions: Answer in the notes, send an ask, or just post on your blog and tag @timebegins-onopeningday!

Which player in the work inspired you to put them in the boba shaker of baseball rpf and why?

What is one thing you want everyone to know about your work that didn’t (or won’t) make it into the final work?

Without spoiling anything, what part of your work are you most excited for people to experience?

That’s it for this month! I hope you all enjoy the works that have been posted - I’m still making my way through them, but I’m loving what I’ve read so far. Remember to leave comments if you read, and to treat yourself kindly as you create.

As always, ask box is open and anon is on. I can also be reached at rpfisfine@/gmail.com 🌞

#baseball rpf #fic rec #round up post

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desirepathzine · 4 months

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Is SAVED! by Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter a Christian album?

Yes? Sort of?

Hayter's musical career seems to always fling her at the foot of God. Her previous work as Lingua Ignota protrays God like a horrifying eldritch god of vengeance conjured by some ritual on All Bitches Die, a gleaming and gilded Catholic executioner on CALIGULA, and folkloric legend of the Pennsylvania landscape on SINNER GET READY. In 2022, Hayter announced she was retiring the Lingua Ignota moniker, and the associated back catalog, citing the emotional and physical pain of this powerful music, and the toll it was taking to write it, record it, and tour it.

As a vocalist and a performer, I have cannot fathom how Hayter completed even one of these Lingua Ignota shows. Her voice is a multi-faceted instrument of destruction, soaring high, screaming in pain, perfectly cracking with authentic imperfection, and I cannot imagine preforming the musically complicated and emotionally taxing music of Lingua to enraptured crowds watching your every move. I just missed my chance to see her while she was promoting SINNER GET READY (I mixed up the dates on my calendar and was ready to go the day after she had departed Nashville). While I was blissfully ignorant of missing the show, Hayter was haphazardly getting ordained in a hotel outside of Nashville in preparation for her next project.

In October of 2023, a few months after the very last Lingua Ignota shows in London, Kristin reintroduced herself to the world with that new title obtained in Tennessee, and released SAVED! as Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter.

Some of the tracks might be familiar tunes, for a variety of reasons. There are several old school hymns that I recognized from my Baptist upbringing. But Hayter had started performing some of this material while promoting Sinner Get Ready, and at a self-styled tent revival service at the first inaugural Perpetual Flame Festival, which marked the end of Lingua performances in the States.

Per Hayter, SAVED! was borne of a genuine attempt to find salvation through old time religion. Whether it 'worked' is up for debate, both in the album's narrative and in Hayter's demure and vague interview answers about her salvation. She built a doomsday cult bunker in the basement of her home, as featured on the album's cover and where the majority of the visuals for the record were filmed. She fasted before recording, blasted clips of revival sermons, and engaged in glossolalia, aka speaking in tongues, as part of the record.

It's much more stripped back than any of the expansive and grand Lingua instrumentation, mostly just Hayter and her prepared piano that was also used in previous touring, the inner strings of the instrument laden with chains and various other doodads that clang and whirr when she plays the keys. The lushly layered vocals are used sparingly. Perhaps most interestingly (and that's high praise on an album that regularly utilizes speaking in tongues), Kristin and longtime producer Seth Manchester recorded on tape, and proceeded to intentionally sabotage these physical recordings, stomping and smashing them, creating imperfections to further give these pieces a time, a place, and an irreplaceable atmosphere.

All of this makes SAVED! feel like a tape you found in the woods of a long passed tent revival, full of charismatic performances, blissfully imperfect voices, songs running into one another as the spirit moves, and maybe a snake handler or two. There are showstopping pieces like IDUMEA (the only track to feature synth) and I WILL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS, manic interludes of well-known hymns (PRECIOUS LORD TAKE MY HAND, NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS), interlaced with spine tingling interjections of tape damage and glossolalia.

Hayter's original works pair well with the much older hymns and traditionals. Album opener I'M GETTING OUT WHILE I CAN sets the tone perfectly, a march towards that imagined tent, inspired by the jovial piousness of the Louvin Brothers, as is ALL OF MY FRIENDS ARE GOING TO HELL.

I WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU is perhaps the closest a portrayal of the mission statement of the album: a bedridden narrator is beset by demons, that spill blood and inflict sickness, but finds release and freedom in celestial salvation. It's some of my favorite writing from Hayter on the album and maybe the strongest vocal performance as well, a technical feat. It never allows itself to become too beautiful, the song is always on the edge of complete oblivion from the keening feedback that appears throughout. It sounds like your ears ringing after an explosion. journey. MAY THIS COMFORT AND PROTECT YOU is a wailing prayer of protection, but it is external towards the listener as opposed to the internal reflection of its sibling songs. It functions almost as a benediction to the sanest part of the album.

But easily my favorite track on this album is THE POOR WAYFARING STRANGER, a traditional song that Hayter had been performing in her piano sets on tour. It is dark, moody, and she sings the third and fourth verses that are not heard as often but contain some of the most stunning lyricism.

So how does it end, this strange and beautiful tent revival in the woods? The closing track is the hymn HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING? Hayter's piano is unbound, all objects removed from the strings, her voice is in a comfy key that doesn't put her into theatrical strain, surely within the album's narrative all has ended well. But partially through the song's length, Hayter speaking in tongue rises, more manic and guttural than anywhere else on the record, and it is her alone, no archival sound, no crowd noise. Just her. Even after the song sweetly finishes, she is screaming, crying, voice rising and falling. At one point she chokes, coughs, inhales deeply, and falls right back into her trance. The tongues continue for roughly two minutes after any music has stopped.

It's a shocking, beautiful, and captivating finale to an album of interesting choices, one that sticks with the listener. I sat in silence for I don't know how long upon hearing it for the first time. Kristin had performed SINGING on tour as well, a light and airy hymn amidst the fire and brimstone conjured in either of her two sets on any given SINNER GET READY date. Her ability to transform it into a haunting album closer is incredible (the same can be said for NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS, which she sang a capella over the recording of Jimmy Swaggart's infamous apology sermon during those same shows).

It's an insane album, full of fascinating production choices, performed to perfection. But such wild choices on the heels of such acclaimed work can polarize an audience. Lingua Ignota was always an uncategorizable project. Black metal and harsh industrial fans gravitated in particular towards All Bitches Die and CALIGULA, while recently Lingua's name will occasionally be tossed in with Ethel Cain, fans seeing similarities between Cain's screaming pain on Ptolomea and the rural gothicism of SINNER GET READY. Indeed, Anthony Fantano of theneedledrop, perhaps the most famous music critic on YouTube, gave his audience a heads up towards Hayter's music when he awarded SINNER GET READY an extremely rare 10/10, exposing the album to legions of folks who otherwise would have missed it. To many artists, this would be a sign to stay the path, follow a proven formula, keep chasing an angle that is clearly connecting with people. But I have a deep respect for Hayter's commitment to healing, to finding peace, and pursuing something that is still fascinating without being as taxing to her physical and mental health.

SAVED! is so unlike those other records, it's a bold move. But it's on purpose. This music is not directly tied to the worst events of Hayter's life, that she chronicled so unwaveringly in her previous work, admittedly to her personal and physical detriment. And she also comments often on SAVED! being maybe a transitory project, a sound and character that may not stick around for long, but was cathartic for her to release and work on. It was her first album that she recorded with some stability, living peacefully in New England, spending time with her horse.

Not everyone who enjoyed Lingua has jumped over to following the Reverend. A friend of mine who enjoyed SINNER GET READY said that SAVED! just falls close enough to what actually was used in their church's worship services to the point where it was mildly triggering for them, more than the death and destruction of previous Lingua entries. Which brings me to my original question: Is SAVED! a Christian album? It is earnestly sung (by an ordained minister nonetheless, although Hayter is quick to mention that she did it on a laptop and it took like eight minutes). Of course it is far too horrifying to play for the congregation of any given Christian church.

I like that there isn't a clear answer to these questions. Like the album's conclusion, there's no correct way to feel about it, no correct meaning to infer, just what you bring to the table. And even if it isn't a journey you take repeatedly, it is one worth taking at least once. Look into Kristin's Rorschach test and maybe you'll see something you love, or something that horrifies you. There is only one way to find out.

#zine #essay #music #new music #lingua ignota #reverend kristin michael hayterr #saved!#experimental music

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lailoken · 1 year

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A while back, I was led by providence to discover the unmarred body of a dead black cat in special circumstances. This cat, which I call the Suttle Cat, was taken home and given a reverential burial as part of a larger ritual I had been led through by receipt of the Bone Mother.

The cat was lovingly interred in the earth, where I then exhumed its remains to discover what I was led to believe would be one particular bone that would stand out as special among the rest. I was unsure of what this meant, and frankly, I was worried that I simply wouldn't see anything that set one bone apart from the rest. However, while sorting the remains, I discovered one bone that had a sprouting bulb wedged within it, which to me seemed like a clear sign that I had found the bone I needed. The Suttle Cat was then reinterred for a final time—as the inaugural burial of a sanctified boneyard known as the Yarth in my tradition—and the chosen Bone was cleaned and incorporated into our Quietus Altar (wherein we worship chthonic spirirts, ancestral and paychopompic alike) to serve as a consecrated link to the boneyard in question.

I also took the bulb I found and planted it in a pot, purely out of instinct and curiosity. What I found, once the bulb had grown enough for me to identify it, was so fitting that it made me laugh out loud when I realized. The bulb I found in the bone of a dead black cat being used in a rite of chthonic magic turned out to be...a Calla Lily—one of the flowers most consistently associated with death and Funerary Customs in much of the west. It seems clear to me that this plant is one I am meant to share a lasting and meaningful spiritual relationship with.

#personal #witchcraft #traditional withcraft #wending way #death #tw: animal death #animal death #chthonic magic #death magic #yarth

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beardedmrbean · 3 months

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a grand temple to Hindu god Ram in the flashpoint city of Ayodhya.

He said it heralded "a new era" for India - the temple replaces a 16th-Century mosque torn down by Hindu mobs in 1992, sparking riots in which nearly 2,000 people died.

Top film stars and cricketers were among guests at the event in Ayodhya.

But some Hindu seers and most of the opposition boycotted it, saying Mr Modi was using it for political gain.

General elections are due in India in the next few months and Mr Modi's political rivals say the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be seeking votes in the temple's name in a country where 80% of the population is Hindu.

Critics have also accused the government of exploiting a religious celebration in a country which - according to its constitution - is secular. For Muslims, India's biggest minority, the event evoked fear and painful memories, members of the community in Ayodhya told the BBC in the run-up to Monday's ceremony.

Televised live, it showed Mr Modi performing religious rituals inside the temple's sanctum along with priests and Mohan Bhagwat, head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) - the ideological fountainhead of Hindu nationalist parties.

The complex history of India's Ayodhya holy site

Transforming a flashpoint holy city into the ‘Hindu Vatican’

"Today's date will go down in history," Mr Modi said after the event. "After years of struggle and countless sacrifices, Lord Ram has arrived [home]. I want to congratulate every citizen of the country on this historic occasion."

The temple has been constructed at a cost of $217m (£170m), funded from private donations. Only the ground floor was opened - the rest is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The construction work is part of a revamp for the city, estimated to cost more than $3bn.

The building of the Ram temple in Ayodhya fulfils a decades-long Hindu nationalist pledge. Many Hindus believe the Babri mosque was built by Muslim invaders on the ruins of a temple where the Hindu god was born.

The movement to build the temple helped propel the BJP into political prominence in the 1990s.

There was a festive atmosphere as tens of thousands of chanting Hindu devotees waved flags and beat drums - military helicopters showered flower petals on the temple. Saffron flags with pictures of Lord Ram line streets in the city festooned with marigolds, as do banners with the faces of Mr Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Some of India's biggest celebrities, including Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, attended.

Temple rises from ruins of one of India’s darkest days

Listen: The temple at the heart of Modi's India re-election bid

Transforming a flashpoint holy city into the ‘Hindu Vatican’

In many other northern cities Hindus lit lamps, and saffron flags carrying images of Ram are fluttering on rooftops, including in several parts of Delhi. Cinemas screened the event, and big screens relayed pictures from Ayodhya to town squares and residential neighbourhoods.

The ceremony, called Pran Pratishtha, which loosely translates from Sanskrit into "establishment of life force", lasted about an hour. Hindus believe that chanting mantras and performing rituals around a fire will infuse sacred life in an idol or a photograph of a deity.

Several domestic TV stations built huge sets by the side of the river Saryu, a tributary of the Ganges, just behind the temple, and provided wall-to-wall coverage of the event, some proclaiming the moment of consecration as the start of "Ram Rajya" (Lord Ram's rule) in India.

Hindus celebrated the inauguration in other countries too. Massive billboards of Lord Ram graced Times Square in New York, where a group of devotees braved the freezing weather to gather in the middle of the night.

Temples all across the United Kingdom - where Indians are one of the largest diaspora groups - marked the event. Colourful posters had been shared inviting devotees to honour the occasion and celebrations involved flowers, sweets and music. There were also some celebrations in Muslim-majority Dubai - where Indians are a significant population - but from Indian news reports these appeared more muted than elsewhere.

In 2019, the Supreme Court gave the disputed land to Hindus after a protracted legal battle followed the mosque's demolition. Muslims were given a plot outside the city for a mosque but have yet to build one.

One member of the community the BBC spoke to in Ayodhya ahead of Monday's inauguration agreed that Hindus have the right to build the temple after the Supreme Court gave them the site.

"We did not accept that decision happily, but what can we do," he said. Another man said he was happy Hindus are building the temple - "but we are also sad because it was built after destroying a mosque".

The new three-storey temple - made with pink sandstone and anchored by black granite - stretches across 7.2 acres in a 70-acre complex. A 51-inch (4.25-ft) statue of the deity, specially commissioned for the temple, was unveiled last week. The idol has been placed on a marble pedestal in the sanctum sanctorum.

Thousands of police were deployed for Monday's event, despite Mr Modi having appealed to pilgrims not to turn up and to watch the ceremony on television. In many states a full or half day holiday was called, with schools and colleges closed and stock markets shut.

The build-up to a demolition that shook India

The man who helped Lord Ram win the Ayodhya case

But a sour note was struck with some top religious seers saying that as the temple was not yet complete, it was against Hinduism to perform the rituals there, and many opposition leaders deciding to stay away.

Some opposition-ruled states also announced their own plans for the day - West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she would pray at the iconic temple to goddess Kali in Kolkata and then lead an all-faith rally. The eastern state of Odisha (Orissa) unveiled huge plans to bring pilgrims to the Jagannath temple in Puri, one of the holiest sites for Hindus.

Authorities say they expect more than 150,000 visitors per day once the temple in Ayodhya is fully ready.

To accommodate this expected rush, new hotels are being built and existing ones spruced up as part of a major makeover and in recent weeks, a new airport and railway station have opened.

Officials say they are building a "world-class city where people come as pilgrims and tourists", but many local people have told the BBC that their homes, shops and "structures of religious nature" have been either completely or partially demolished to expand roads and set up other facilities.

#nunyas news #shocked they got this far with it #gotta be some super ticked off people

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celestesinsight · 3 months

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January 12, 2024!

For people of Odisha, nothing is more important than Lord Jagannath. And this could be seen in my neighborhood when all the residents gathered for welcoming the Srimandira Parikrama Arpana Ratha. We drew rangoli, and prepared offerings of arua chaula (white rice) and gua (betel nut). We had to wait for hours before the chariot could reach us, but it didn't dampen our excitement. Isn't that the whole purpose of special occasions, festivals and rituals? To bring people together, strengthen the community ties and celebrate the life!

Shreemandira Parikrama or Heritage Corridor will be 75 m corridor around the Meghanada Pacheri of Jagannath Temple, Puri. Yajna, anukra ropana and formal inauguration ceremony of the project would be held on 17th January, 2024. Arpana Raths are visiting door to door and collecting donations of Akshat (rice) and betel nuts from the people, which will be sent to Puri for the yajna and rituals.

#diary post #odiablr #desiblr #desi tumblr #jagannath temple heritage corridor project #srimandira parikrama arpana rath #lord jagannath #jagannath temple puri #puri #odisha

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allthebrazilianpolitics · 11 months

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São Paulo exhibitions offer a window on to a Brazil seldom seen

Otherworldly neon faces float among a profusion of shapes and curving lines on the vibrant canvas “Sky Bird Boa Constrictor” by Acelino Huni Kuin. The painting is a commotion of fish, multicoloured birds, leaves and scales, bordered by black-and-white zigzags. Relax your focus and the patterned body of the snake appears, winding itself through the work. The effect is both dreamlike and riotous.

Psychedelic depictions of animals, plants and people are a frequent feature in Mirações (Visions), an exhibition of artists from the Huni Kuin indigenous peoples at the São Paulo Museum of Art. Exploring the mythologies and ancestral tales of the Amazonian tribe, many of the works are inspired by the consumption of ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic drink prepared from jungle plants and used in shamanic rituals for centuries by native South Americans. In a curator’s essay, one of the artists, Ibã Huni Kuin, describes the process of putting the exhibition together as “working in the gallery with music and myth”.

The show is one of a pair that has inaugurated a year of programming dedicated to indigenous histories (or stories, depending on translation) at the cultural institute. This underscores a growing recognition of artists from Brazil’s indigenous populations, who were portrayed in idealised terms by the newly independent nation’s Romanticism movement in the 19th century and then studied as anthropological subjects. Their own cultural output was often not afforded the status of art, instead considered craftsmanship. Now, though, work by Brazil’s original peoples is gaining space in the country’s most prestigious galleries.

#brazil #politics #brazilian politics #indigenous rights #art #arts #museums #mod nise da silveira #image description in alt

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infodailyblog · 3 months

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Unveiling The Flower of Veneration Chapter 1: A Journey into Mystical Realms

Introduction:

The Flower of Veneration Chapter 1 emerges as a captivating literary endeavor that invites readers into a world where mysticism, intrigue, and profound revelations converge. Authored by the enigmatic writer, [Author’s Name], this opening chapter serves as a portal to a narrative that promises to enthrall and challenge the imagination. In this article, we will delve into the essence of The Flower of Veneration Chapter 1, exploring its themes, characters, and the mysterious tapestry it weaves.

Setting the Stage:

The chapter opens with an evocative scene, transporting readers to a world where the ordinary and the extraordinary coexist. [Author’s Name] skillfully crafts a vivid setting, establishing an atmosphere laden with a sense of wonder and anticipation. From the first paragraph, it becomes evident that readers are embarking on a journey that transcends the boundaries of the mundane.

Characters That Intrigue:

Central to the narrative are characters that captivate the imagination. Each one is carefully introduced, leaving a trail of breadcrumbs that hint at their roles in the unfolding saga. Protagonists are imbued with a depth that sparks empathy, while antagonists are shrouded in an aura of mystery, inviting readers to unravel the complexities that define their motivations.

Themes of Mystery and Veneration:

Mystery and veneration are omnipresent in this inaugural chapter. As the plot unfolds, readers are presented with enigmatic symbols, ancient prophecies, and arcane rituals that hint at a deeper, hidden truth. “The Flower of Veneration” seems to be more than just a story; it is a tapestry woven with threads of mysticism and reverence, inviting readers to question the boundaries between reality and the mystical.

Narrative Style:

[Author’s Name] employs a narrative style that mirrors the ethereal and otherworldly nature of the story. Descriptive prose creates vivid imagery, while dialogues are crafted with a poetic finesse that elevates the reading experience. The author’s unique voice invites readers to immerse themselves in a narrative that is as much about self-discovery as it is about the unfolding events.

The Promise of the Unseen:

As Chapter 1 concludes, readers are left with a tantalizing promise — the promise of the unseen. Questions abound, and the narrative invites readers to contemplate the significance of the titular “Flower of Veneration.” What lies beyond the veil of the ordinary, and how will the characters navigate the uncharted territories that await them?

Conclusion:

The Flower of Veneration Chapter 1 sets the stage for a literary journey that combines elements of fantasy, mysticism, and self-discovery. With its richly drawn characters, evocative settings, and a narrative that hints at deeper truths, this chapter serves as a compelling introduction to what promises to be an enthralling tale. As readers eagerly await the subsequent chapters, one cannot help but marvel at the skill with which [Author’s Name] invites us to explore the realms of the unknown and contemplate the mysteries that lie beneath the surface of our reality.

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