#meditation courses adelaide

[alyssamonah]

Transform Your Life with an Online Meditation Course

 Finding inner peace and tranquillity has become more critical in today's fast-paced and demanding world. Meditation offers a powerful tool for achieving a calm and balanced state of mind, but many people need help to incorporate it into their busy lives. Thankfully, the rise of online meditation course has made this ancient practice accessible to all, enabling individuals to transform their lives from the comfort of their homes. This blog post will explore how an online meditation course can positively change your life.

1. Discover the Convenience of Online Meditation Courses 

Gone are the days when you had to attend physical classes or retreats to learn meditation. Online meditation courses provide the flexibility to practice meditation at your convenience. Whether you're a busy professional, a stay-at-home parent, or someone with limited mobility, online courses allow you to learn and practice meditation whenever and wherever you want. You can embark on a transformative journey towards inner peace with an internet connection and a device.

2. Access Expert Guidance from Renowned Meditation Teachers 

One of the most significant advantages of online meditation courses is learning from experienced meditation teachers who may otherwise be inaccessible. Reputable platforms like Open Ground offer courses led by renowned experts, ensuring you receive the highest quality instruction. These teachers provide valuable insights, guidance, and techniques that can deepen your practice and help you navigate any challenges that may arise along the way.

3. Tailor Your Practice to Suit Your Needs 

Every individual has unique preferences and goals when it comes to meditation. Online courses allow you to personalize your practice according to your specific needs. Whether you're interested in mindfulness meditation, loving-kindness meditation, or breath awareness, you can find courses that align with your interests. This flexibility enables you to explore different styles and approaches, empowering you to create a meditation practice that resonates with you.

4. Build Consistency and Accountability 

One of the biggest challenges in maintaining a meditation practice is consistency. Online courses provide structure and accountability that can support your journey towards regular meditation. Many courses offer guided meditation sessions, weekly assignments, and progress tracking, keeping you engaged and motivated. Additionally, online communities and discussion forums allow you to connect with fellow practitioners, share experiences, and seek support, fostering a sense of belonging and commitment to your practice.

5. Overcome Stress and Cultivate Resilience 

Stress has become unavoidable in modern life, but meditation can be a powerful tool to combat its effects. Regular practice teaches you to manage stress, reduce anxiety, and cultivate Resilience. Online meditation courses equip you with practical techniques and practices to navigate the challenges of daily life with greater ease. By dedicating a few minutes each day to meditation, you can experience a profound shift in your ability to handle stress and maintain emotional well-being.

Conclusion: 

Embarking on an online meditation course is a transformative step towards creating a more peaceful, balanced, and fulfilling life. The convenience, expert guidance, personalized approach, and built-in support systems offered by these courses make them an ideal choice for anyone seeking to incorporate meditation classes canberra into their daily routine. Open Ground and other reputable platforms provide many resources to help you begin or deepen your meditation practice. So, why wait? Start your journey towards inner peace and well-being today by enrolling in an online meditation course. 

#online meditation course #meditation classes canberra #meditation courses adelaide #meditation classes sunshine coast

[bisexualbumblebee-writes]

Harry Potter OCs- Golden Trio Era

A/N #1: I decided to divide my ocs for Harry Potter since there are so many. Obviously this is the Golden Trio era but I will be linking the Marauders Era and the other ocs below.

A/N #2: Some ocs have two pictures. The first pic under each description is the oc as a student then the second is them after Hogwarts

Marauders Era

Others

OC Count: 16

Name: Mallorie Astrid Bishopp

Birthday: September 2

House: Hufflepuff

Status: Halfblood

Likes: Learning, adventures, having fun, teaching wizards about muggle stuff

Dislikes: Voldemort but who doesn't tbh, chess (difficult to remember the rules for her), pranks, lots of quiet

Personality: Cautious, gentle, kind, reliable, logical

Quirks: Squeaks when surprised (see extra info), twists ring on index finger when nervous, always has her grandmother's favorite quill to write with

Ship: Fred Weasley

Full name: Corinne Seraphina Alastair

Nickname(s): Cory, Lotus/My Lotus (by George), Little Red, 

Birthday: June 26, 1980

House: Hufflepuff

Status: Pureblood

Patronus: Fox

Likes: Animals, going to Hogsmeade, sweets, baking

Dislikes: mean people, Potions class (mostly because of Snape), fighting, death, pain

Personality: Caring, passionate, sensitive, strong-willed

Ship: George Weasley 

Name: Rayna Eloise Longbottom

Nickname(s): Raya, Ray

Siblings (if any): Neville Longbottom

Birthday: April 20, 1981

House: Gryffindor

Status: Pureblood

Patronus: Brown Owl

Likes: Commentating quidditch, reading muggle books, ballet, dogs, music

Dislikes: Most Slytherins, fighting, death, pranks, Snape

Personality: Strong-willed, melodic, genuine, sarcastic, funny

Ship: Ron Weasley

Name: Anastasia Lacey Lestrange

Nickname(s): Anna, Strange, Hiss

Birthday: January 24, 1980

House: Slytherin

Status: Pureblood

Patronus: Phoenix

Likes: Pencil/charcoal sketching, hanging out with other houses, meditating, watching quidditch

Dislikes: Her reputation (via mother), the outdoors, hot weather, tight spaces

Personality: Empathetic, reliable, funny, balanced, worldly

Ship: Harry Potter 

Extra info:

If you can't tell by her last name, Anastasia is the daughter of Rudolphous and Bellatrix Lestrange

She lives in her parent's home with a nanny named Elphie since her parents are obviously not there

Name: Sophia Christa O’Malley

Nickname(s): Sophie, Soph, 

Birthday: October 20, 1972

House: Gryffindor

Status: Pureblood

Patronus: Hare

Likes: Visiting home, windy days, grass fields, picnics, Bill

Dislikes: Hot weather, fighting, dolls, blood, cats (allergy)

Personality: Strong, intelligent, courageous, compassionate, sweet

Ship: Bill Weasley 

Name: Cassandra Adelaide Foster

Nickname(s): Cass, Cassie, Bug (by Percy)

Birthday: December 13, 1976

House: Gryffindor

Status: Pureblood

Patronus: Otter

Likes: Azaleas, gardening, playing piano, going to Hogsmeade, long car rides

Dislikes: Feeling pressured, smoking/cigarettes, losing, twin’s pranks, Chamomile tea

Personality: Cautious, intelligent, logical, funny, detail oriented

Ship: Percy Weasley

Notes:

Percy and Cass met during year 2 after Percy had stood up for her against a bully. Cass stayed in the hospital wing for the rest of the day with him after the bully beat him up

They stayed best friends for three years until he finally asked her out in year 5

Of course she already knew the Weasleys because they were friends, and they were so excited. 

Name: Cecily Ursula Sadler

Nickname(s): Cece 

Birthday: June 28, 1980

House: Hufflepuff

Status: Pureblood

Patronus: Arctic Fox

Likes: Pranks, the library, fantasy muggle books, the astronomy tower, dressy events

Dislikes: Most Slytherins, homework, lazy days, muggle slander

Personality: Mischievous, compassionate, stubborn, mindful, clever

Ship: Draco Malfoy

Extra info:

She was born a metamorphmagus

She often makes herself look like others to mess with people

She and the twins are literally best friends because of this

Name: Adora Louise Parish

Nickname(s): Deer/Dear, Doe (by Charlie)

Birthday: February 11, 1973

House: Gryffindor

Career: Dragonologist stationed in Romania

Status: Pureblood

Patronus: Hippogriff

Likes: Learning, dragons, Care of Magical Creatures (class), Honeydukes trips, nice quills

Dislikes: Slander of any kind, being rushed, Mandrakes, dark magic, lavender

Personality: Tranquil, clever, astute, calm, grounded, genuine

Ship: Charlie Weasley

Notes:

Charlie’s nickname for Adora is actually a reference. Charlie’s favorite dragon is the Hebridean Black and that dragon’s favorite food is a deer (it took Adora a hot sec to figure that one out)

Adora and Charlie met in Hogwarts (2nd year) and decided to go to Romania together but didn’t actually start dating until after arriving Romania

Her father is the Head of Body for Protection of Magical Species and that’s mostly where her love of caring for magical creatures comes from

Name: Calypsa Destina Trelawney

Nickname(s): Callie, My Star (by Luna)

Parents: Sybill Trelawney (mother), Higglebottom (father)

Birthday: July 7, 1981

House: Hufflepuff

Status: Pureblood

Patronus: Hare

Likes: Astrology, learning, muggle things, hanging out with Luna, star gazing

Dislikes: People trash talking her mother, bullying in general, Malfoys, Hermione

Personality: Fidgety, curious, strange, kind-hearted, 

Ship: Luna Lovegood

Name: Dinah Lilac Fanley

Nickname(s): N/A

Birthday: September 14, 1981

House: Hufflepuff

Status: Pureblood

Patronus: Arctic Fox

Likes: Laughter, sweets, quidditch, DADA class, organization

Dislikes: Needles, spiders, thunderstorms, crowded places, failing

Personality: Childish, kind, peaceful, loving, careful

Ship: Cedric Diggory

Name: Jessica Doria Stix

Nickname(s): Jess

Birthday: May 3, 1981

House: Gryffindor

Status: Halfblood

Patronus: Eagle

Likes: Quidditch, rom-coms, dancing in the rain, bubblegum, roses

Dislikes: Blood status, loud music, death, Divination, feeling dumb

Personality: Romantic, passionate, caring, reliable, softie

Ship: Oliver Wood

Name: Charlotte Meredith Creevey

Nickname(s): Charlie, Char

Birthday: December 8, 1981

House: Gryffindor

Status: Muggleborn

Patronus: Sheltie

Likes: Magic, jello (orange specifically), nail polish, reading, spring time

Dislikes: Magic, lemons, Snape, heights/flying, feeling useless

Personality: Protective, passionate, kind, reliable, crafty

Ship: Neville Longbottom

Notes: 

She is the oldest Creevey, Colin is the second oldest and Dennis is the youngest

Name: Holly Rose Diggory 

Nickname(s): N/A

Birthday: June 12, 1979

House: Hufflepuff

Status: Pureblood

Patronus: Cheetah

Likes: Quidditch, camping, helping others, vintage outfits, dancing

Dislikes: Arrogance, nail polish, coffee, feeling weak, being rushed

Personality: Strong, wildflower, content, kind, calm

Ship: Viktor Krum

Notes: 

Holly met Viktor during the Quidditch World Cup at the beginning of GoF by protecting her from a Death Eater and their attraction only grew when he came to Hogwarts. He sought her out after Cedric died and practically held her up when her knees buckled when she let out an agonized sob

Name: Ophelia Selene Teagarden 

Nickname(s): N/A

Birthday: July 5, 1973

House: Gryffindor 

Status: Pureblood

Patronus: Tamaskan Dog

Likes: Quidditch, DADA, board games, swimming, summer

Dislikes: Bullying, Filch (gives her the creeps), losing, every-flavour beans, winter 

Personality: Brave, caring, fun, carefree, clever, loud

Ship: Nymphadora Tonks

Notes: 

She’s a chaser on the Quidditch team during Hogwarts

She and Tonks met via Charlie

Name: Chloe Daria Eratos

Nickname(s): N/A

Birthday: December 1, 1981

House: Gryffindor 

Status: Halfblood

Patronus: Mare

Likes: Ancient Runes, being right, exploring, her jacket, pink Azalea flowers

Dislikes: Heights, slander, repeating herself, clutter, hot weather

Personality: Intelligent, adventurous, chill, agreeable, polite

Ship: Ginny Weasley

Notes: 

Chloe absolutely hates heights, the only time she ever rode a broom because she wanted to was because Ginny was also on it

She’s at the top of her class for Study of Ancient Runes

Full name: Giselle Claire Arquette

Nickname(s): N/A

Birthday: September 12, 1978

House: Bellefeuille (Beauxbatons equivalent to Hufflepuff)

Status: Pureblood

Patronus: Gazelle

Likes: Traveling, dancing, adventures, crafts, pottery

Dislikes: Seriousness, dark, uncomfortable clothes, staying indoors, men’s cologne

Personality: Carefree, random, curious, adventurous, graceful

Ship: Dean Thomas

Notes: 

Giselle met Dean when he found her having trouble locating some of her classes. He later asked her to the Yule Ball 

#harry potter #harry potter imagine #harry potter imagines #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter ocs

[openground]

Discover Peace with Our Adelaide Meditation classes

Welcome to Openground, the leading provider of meditation classes Adelaide. Our specialized business focuses on promoting mindfulness and facilitating transformative processes in health, education, industry, and community development. We create a supportive space for individuals and organizations to come together and reconnect with their core values. Our offerings include a variety of services tailored to your specific needs, such as workshops, meditation classes, mindfulness courses, one-to-one coaching, mentoring, group facilitation, and organizational development consultancy. Our experienced and dedicated teachers lead all our courses, ensuring a depth of knowledge and a commitment to helping individuals and organizations achieve their goals. Our philosophy centers on understanding our clients deeply and providing best meditation classes in Adelaide. Visit us for more.

[healthbenefitness]

You can find the path to inner peace, mindfulness, and overall wellbeing with the aid of our revolutionary meditation programs provided here in Adelaide. We at Benefitness & Health Center are dedicated to helping you use meditation to create a balance between your mind, body, and spirit. In our meditation courses, you have the opportunity to disconnect from the demands of the day and re-connect with your inner self. Through the practice of mindfulness, you'll learn to appreciate life's simple joys, be present, and find clarity in the midst of chaos. Our team of knowledgeable meditation teachers wants to passionately communicate the transformational power of meditation to you. Regardless of expertise level, everyone can benefit from our classes. Under our expert guidance, you'll learn a range of meditation techniques, such as mindful breathing, body scans, loving-kindness meditation, and more. Contact Benefitness & Health Center right now to find out more information about the hours of our programs and meditation sessions. Our contact information is [phone].

Visit Our Website:Meditation Adelaide

#Meditation Adelaide

[artoflivingsydney]

Meditation Courses Adelaide – Art of Living

Many people in today's world are dealing with stress, anxiety, and frustration. Art of Living's Meditation Courses Adelaide aim to help people dealing with these issues by allowing them to let go of negative energies. It includes hour-long experiential meditation classes that are designed to energise minds, combat stress, and assist people in discovering happiness. Using a combination of yoga, powerful breathing exercises, meditation and practical wisdom, these meditation classes allow people to explore the laws that govern the mind and how they can affect a person's level of happiness. Learn the art of stress-free living today with Art of Living's meditation classes in Adelaide.

#MeditationCoursesAdelaide

[oh-take-this-longing]

how your muse responds to stress.

Adelaide is basically stressed all the time. So she handles stress, I suppose, just by being exactly herself. She's stand-offish, not particularly chatty, and very serious. That's all as much a coping mechanism for her as it is personality traits.

If it gets to be too much the ice turns to fire and the temper she tries to control gets control of her instead. She'll cry out in frustration, she'll become a bit melodramatic, she might even slap the person who pushed her over the edge. Afterwards, if her ego is hurt, she'll seethe.

Then, of course, be super embarrassed afterwards and build up the ice walls again.

But as for activities? She loves to spar and exercise to get some of the frustration out. She also meditates and practices calligraphy. She'd like to learn to play music as a form of relaxation-- but her attempts thus far have gone poorly (she doesn't have a good ear for it) and have been quite the opposite of relaxing!

She also spends time in her flower garden- which is maybe her greatest pride and joy.

She's a real sucker for beautiful things and is inordinately proud of her garden.

#Asks #Answers #Prompts #Charm-in-spades #Thanks for the Ask! #Look at me getting through these! #Stress #Flowers #Adelaide #FFXIV #FFXIV-RP #Balmung

[captain-onlineskills-blog]

Stress Management Training

Stress management training is one of the first steps that must be taken if you want to eliminate the stress in your life. Knowing how to combat stress is the first step toward success.

A great stress management training program will offer a variety of tools and techniques to help individuals deal with stress. The trainer can provide information on how to keep stress levels under control at work and home. Learning how to reduce stress levels will help you cope with the bad days when they might occur, and the good days when they don't.

There are different types of stress. Common stress may occur when something unexpected happens such as an injury, illness, an unhappy divorce, an unexpected increase in your monthly mortgage payment, or an unexpected vacation. This type of stress is not life threatening. But it can be disruptive.

If an individual is suffering from this type of stress, they can learn how to deal with the stressful situation. They can try to avoid the stress, they can use coping skills, or they can use relaxation techniques. In some cases, a combination of these techniques may be all that is necessary to handle the situation.

Another important stress management tool is daily reflection and active choice making. The individual can make the choices that will help them create a more positive, healthy lifestyle.

Using a variety of methods, a person's attitude and behavior will be adjusted. They will need to change certain habits to make way for new ones. Individuals have to learn how to become proactive in their lives.

Most businesses and corporations run short term stress management programs. These are designed to help people become more conscious of their thoughts and actions. It may require someone to spend a lot of time with their mind and body, but it will be well worth it when the situations occur.

It is important to keep a positive attitude, even in the face of daily life. Giving up may be the biggest mistake that a person can make. When you feel under stress, think about ways to cope with it.

An individual can find help in finding a variety of techniques for stress reduction. Meditation is one method. Daily exercise is another, while massage therapy can be helpful.

Stress management training should include information on what kinds of therapies can be used. Some people may benefit from hypnotic induction, while others may find that counseling is helpful. Counseling may involve learning more about how stress works.

It is also important to consider how a person's lifestyle affects stress. Alcohol consumption and drug abuse may lead to more stress than the other way around. Living in a fast paced world may contribute to stress and the need for the stressful situation to be confronted.

Having coping strategies to deal with stress is essential to living a healthy, happy life. Stress management training is a necessary step in taking care of your life.

Sources

This brief scanned the following sources (title, domain, description):

Stress Management Workshops (workingmind.com.au) - Stress management workshops - supporting your staff to build resilience to workplace stress - Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Gold Coast

Mindfulness training for stress management: a randomised controlled study of medical and psychology students (bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com) - Distress and burnout among medical and psychology professionals are commonly reported and have implications for the quality of patient care delivered. Already in the course of university studies, medicine and psychology students report mental distress and low life satisfaction. There is a need for interventions that promote better coping skills in students in order to prevent distress and future burnout. This study examines the effect of a seven-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme on mental distress, study stress, burnout, subjective well-being, and mindfulness of medical and psychology students. A total of 288 students (mean age = 23 years, 76% female) from the University of Oslo and the University of Tromsø were randomly allocated to an intervention or control group. The control group continued with their standard university courses and received no intervention. Participants were evaluated using self-reported measures both before and after the intervention. These were: the ‘General Health Questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory Student version, Perceived Medical School Stress, Subjective Well-being, and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire’ and additional indices of compliance. Following the intervention, a moderate effect on mental distress (Hedges’g 0.65, CI = .41, .88), and a small effect on both subjective well-being (Hedges’g 0.40, CI = .27, .63) and the mindfulness facet ‘non-reacting’ (Hedges’g 0.33, CI = .10, .56) were found in the intervention group compared with the control group. A higher level of programme attendance and reported mindfulness exercises predicted these changes. Significant effects were only found for female students who additionally reported reduced study stress and an increase in the mindfulness facet ‘non-judging’. Gender specific effects of participation in the MBSR programme have not previously been reported, and gender differences in the present study are discussed. Female medical and psychology students experienced significant positive improvements in mental distress, study stress, subjective well-being and mindfulness after participating in the MBSR programme. NCT00892138

Managing Stress: – Create Calm in Your Career (mindtools.com) - Learn how you can clear away many of the things that upset you at work.

TGM (tgmstress.com.au) -

Corporate Stress Management Training & Programs (tgmstress.com.au) - We're only just beginning to understand the impacts of workplace stress. A recent survey has indicated that 29% of Australian workers frequently or constantly experience a high degree of stress related to their work,* while another study found that a majority of Australians who experienced stress reported some impact on their physical or mental health.** Clearly, this is an aspect of our lives that's worth paying attention to.

Stress Management Training Course/Workshop (paramountplus.com.au) - Learn more about managing stress and building emotional resilience. This training session is ideal for those with high pressure workloads or regular stress moments. Our training can be delivered anywhere in Australia including Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Melbourne, Geelong and Gold Coast.

Stress Management Training, Stress Management Workshops Melbourne (anxietyaustralia.com.au) - Join one of our stress management workshops in Melbourne, or help your staff deal with stress by having a group stress management training course.

Developing Stress Management Training For Employees (interact-intranet.com) - Sometimes the pressure of the workplace can be overhwelming. We've outlined some ideas for building a stress management program for your employees.

Enhancing Cardiac Rehabilitation With Stress Management Training: A Randomized, Clinical Efficacy Trial - PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00981253.

Resilience & Stress Management Course (odysseytraining.com.au) - Identify personal stress triggers & build your own resilience development plan. 1 day resilience courses in Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane CBD. Book online.

Improved Health And Coping By Physical Exercise Or Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management Training In A Work Environment (tandfonline.com) - (1992). Improved Health And Coping By Physical Exercise Or Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management Training In A Work Environment. Psychology & Health: Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 147-163.

Effects of exercise and stress management training on markers of cardiovascular risk in patients with ischemic heart disease: a randomized controlled trial - PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) - For patients with stable IHD, exercise and stress management training reduced emotional distress and improved markers of cardiovascular risk more than usual medical care alone.

Stress Management Training , Parkside, Running between 21st and 29th of January (events.humanitix.com.au) - Enjoy the Stress Management Training , Parkside, Running between 21st and 29th of January. Tickets are only $295 AUD + BF. Only on Humanitix

Stress Management Training - Billabong Retreat Sydney (billabongretreat.com.au) -

Stress Management Training Programs (hunterlink.org.au) - Hunterlink's Stress Management Workplace Training Programs provide the tools and resources to support your staff and leaders when they need it most.

training.gov.au (training.gov.au) - training.gov.au is the national register for training in Australia

Stress Management Training - Reboot Resolve (rebootresolve.com.au) - Conflict Resolution and Training

Enhancing Cardiac Rehabilitation With Stress Management Training (ahajournals.org) - Background Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is the standard of care for patients with coronary heart disease. Despite considerable epidemiological evidence that high stress is associated with worse health

Topics

These topics were mentioned multiple times across various sources:

Stress Management Training

stressor

time management

stressful situation

stress levels

stress response

heart disease

managing stress

control group

Fatigue

workplace stress

Duke university

relaxation technique

Burnout

treatment effect

effective stress

stress management techniques

Chronic stress

follow up data

mental health

excessive stress

wellbeing

Aerobic exercise

clinical trial

cardiovascular disease

stress hormones

Holmes

blood pressure

Melbourne

coronary artery

Questions

These are some relevant questions found across sources:

What is stress?

Why Prioritise Stress Management?

Why is stress harmful?

What is Stress Management? A Definition

How to Manage Stress

Why Train Staff In Stress Management

Why is stress helpful?

Why support your staff to reduce stress?

What can you feel?

What you'll learn

Statistics

These are some factual sentences found across sources:

The degree of exercise also predicted levels of the non-reactive mindfulness facet (β = .33, p < .001). (bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com)

The annual cost to employers for stress-related absenteeism has been estimated at upwards of $10 billion per year. (tgmstress.com.au)

Not only will giving your employees the ability to work remotely help them feel more relaxed, it may even boost their productivity by as much as 13 percent. (interact-intranet.com)

The estimated optimism for model fit was modest (17%), suggesting minimal bias from overfitting. (ahajournals.org)

#stress management

[jovialyouthmusic]

Secret Rendezvous with Bastien Lykel Crack Fic Challenge

Bastien finds Lady Adelaide somewhat of a challenge, and checks in with his mentor to make a report - and gets a surprise reply.

Word count 3244

A/N No smut as yet, but suggestions are made so No under 18s

2 Challenging behaviour

The following day Madeleine wanted to take a trip into the nearby town to meet a friend, and Bastien accompanied her at a discrete distance. He was secretly glad to be away from the manor and Lady Adelaide’s attention. He couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for her, and couldn’t forget what she had said to him the night before

‘Someone who’s built like you must have a strong sex drive’

Actually she was wrong, or at least at present he hadn’t really had much time for any ‘personal’ time with anyone due to the demands of his job. It hadn’t been long since his last trip to the Greek brothel where he had an arrangement with the Madam and spent a week there every year free of charge helping to train some of the girls in how to accommodate a man of large assets.

He followed Madeleine around from shop to shop and called the limo when she had finished. There was no need for small talk – she was an easy client to look after and he could concentrate on watching for hazards even though she was low risk. One could never be too careful – there was the possibility of her being a target for kidnappers who might hold her to ransom, though it was unlikely as Cordonia was an orderly and law abiding country.

The greatest risk to the wellbeing of the country was dissent against the King. He appeared benevolent on the surface, but Bastien was learning how ruthless he was with anyone who opposed him. Jackson held files on all the nobles listing their vices and scandals to use as leverage. Rumours of dissenting groups were not rife amongst the ordinary citizens, but he now knew that they existed under cover. He was not yet trusted with the less savoury acts of Constantine, the dirty undercurrents of his reign, but he had heard hints of detainment, forced exile and secret executions. As a King’s Guard he was sworn to protect the Monarchy, but he hoped he wouldn’t be called on to undertake tasks he found objectionable. The innocence and  idealism of his youth was taking a battering, but he had little choice but to adhere to his job. He just had to make a few mental adjustments to remain loyal to the Crown.

So, this job was easy. It was part of his training to be responsible for protecting a minor noble, and Madeleine was easy to look after. It was her mother who was difficult. She was an attractive woman, older than him of course, but thanks to his trips to the brothel he had learned that age was not a barrier. He had no preference – young or old, it wasn’t important to him, though when he came to think of it, he’d probably not go for anyone much older than Adelaide. The madam of the brothel had been an exception, being a good twenty years older than him, but with skills that obliterated any objections he might have had.

The rest of the day was uneventful. Madeleine begrudgingly took afternoon tea with her mother before retreating to her room to study. Bastien did his rounds again – it was not strictly necessary, just practice for situations that needed a higher level of security. His schedule allowed a good two hour break, and he decided to use the pool, having already made sure that the two ladies would not be using it.

If asked, he would have to say that swimming was his favourite pastime. He preferred swimming in the sea – he had spent years in foster care, and the family he had spent most time with lived on the coast. It cost nothing and he found it always helped to level out his moods. If he was feeling jittery it would calm him, and when he was despondent he found it invigorating, though as he grew older his moods had levelled out with the regularity and structure his job brought him. There was nothing quite like it – the smooth flow over his skin, whether the water was cold or warm, the resistance, the sensation of heaviness and lightness all at once. Diving under the water was peaceful and soothing, the return to the surface rejuvenating. The slow steady rhythm of the actual act of swimming was similar to meditation for him, helping to clear his mind and reset it to help solve problems or get fresh perspectives.

He stripped to his swimshorts by the poolside and neatly folded his clothes on a shelf. Although his taste in clothes was plain and tailored, he always wore patterned trunks, the more garish the batter, which acted somewhat as camouflage and hid the contours of his genitalia. He was in good shape, his abs flat and toned, so his chest and belly drew the eye away from what lay below his waist. He rarely swam naked as it was unwieldy – he preferred everything tucked away neatly. He wasn’t ashamed of his body, not by any means, indeed he took pride in keeping it toned and honed, but sometimes it meant he got some unwelcome attention. He had learned to diplomatically turn it aside when needed.

He chose to enter the water slowly by the steps at the shallow end. He was pleased it was a regular rectangular shape and not some fancy design that made swimming lengths near impossible. It also deepened to the far end, not enough for real diving, but enough to get out of his depth. He wanted to test whether he could swim a length underwater without coming up for breath. The water was pleasantly cool as he descended the steps, and he found himself just above waist height, the level of the water just covering his lower ribs. Around halfway along the pool it grew steeply deeper, and he held his nose and ducked under to wet his hair, ready to tackle the length. He never bothered with goggles or swim hats and was careful to wash and condition his hair afterwards, having a strict regime for hair and skin care.

He soon had the measure of the pool and steadily got in a few lengths before he tried holding his breath and swimming under the surface. As he broke up noisily he was aware that he was being watched. Lady Adelaide had entered and was sitting on one of the loungers. She clapped enthusiastically and waved at him as he shook the water out of his hair.

‘Very impressive Mr Lykel’ she said, and he was unsure as to whether she referred to his skill or his physical appearance. She indicated a jug and two glasses ‘I was going to have some lemonade, would you like to join me?’ He smoothed his hair away from his face and pulled at his nose and nodded his head side to side to clear his ears and nose of water.

‘Lemonade, Lady Adelaide?’ he asked and she grimaced

‘Well there’s just he teensiest bit of vodka in with it, you’d hardly notice it really.’ He had the idea she wasn’t going to leave any time soon and wondered whether to stay in the water and continue to swim, or get out.

Adelaide waited patiently. He’d have to get out of the water soon enough. God, he was gorgeous. He was good looking and she had seen straight away from his build that he’d be something to see undressed. How she wished she could will away those garish swim trunks to see what lay beneath. She had a pretty good idea after last night when he jumped in to the pool to rescue her in his briefs and shirt. He certainly was a shower, and if he grew more when erect – it didn’t bear thinking about, it just got her so hot under the collar. The chest and chiselled abs did not disappoint and might have been enough on their own.

She was determined to break him down – he was so stoic, so proper and so very formal. She wondered what had attracted him to the King’s Guard. Surely he couldn’t be a commoner with his manners and the way he bore himself, she thought. Surely it would be better known if he was the son of some minor noble – or perhaps he was from a foreign country. His accent was Cordonian but that meant nothing. She was very intrigued and wondered who she could ask to find out more – he would most likely be close lipped about his origins.

As it was, she gazed at the water starting to bead on his skin, the dark hair trailing down almost making an arrow that pointed to his groin screaming look here, look down. She sighed

‘Why are you afraid of me Bastien?’ she asked ‘Am I really so dreadful – am I too old, too ugly?’ His expression changed to one of surprise and a hint of sympathy.

‘I’m not afraid of you’ he replied ‘And you’re not old or ugly, Lady Adelaide’. He came to the steps and got out of the pool, retrieving a towel to dry off. She ogled him hungrily, but he stared her down and she looked away, ashamed. He sat on the recliner next to hers, legs parted, elbows on his knees. He dropped his head and looked up at her, eyebrows furrowed ‘I’m just trying to be professional, Ma’am. This is my first solo job, and Mr Walker will be assessing me’ Adelaide laughed

‘Your first? Funny how Jackson sends me the young novices – the good looking ones. Has he set you any tests yet?’ Bastien frowned in thought and shook his head. She leaned forward and lowered her voice. ‘I’ll tell you a secret, Bastien. He sends me the young good looking ones and waits to see if they crack – how long it takes me to bed them. He’s never told me so, but I worked it out myself. You know Frank Martin?’ Bastien nodded

‘Yes, he’s one of his top men despite being younger than most.’

‘Tell me, if you were a woman would you find him attractive?’ Bastien frowned

‘If I were a…’ his face cleared. Frank would never win a contest for best looking guardsman. He hadn’t been blessed with good looks – he had been a boxer and had received many blows to the head that resulted in a ruddy complexion, a nose that had been broken several times, and had what was called ‘cauliflower ears’’ Adelaide was grinning

‘That’s right Bastien, Frank was never assigned to me because I wouldn’t have tried to get him in bed – or so Jackson thinks. He doesn’t realise I don’t only go for looks, but you get the idea.’

‘You’re the test’ Bastien said, sitting up straight, realisation dawning. ‘It’s not been said in so many words, but to get personally involved with the person you’re guarding can compromise the job’ She nodded

‘Sadly now you know, you’re not going to give into my charms are you?’ She said ruefully and Bastien’s face softened.

‘I’m sorry Lady Adelaide, as I said, it would be best to keep things professional’ She took a sip of her drink

‘There’s no such desirable fruit as that which is forbidden’ she said. ‘For what it’s worth, you are the most desirable man he’s ever sent to me. I have no idea why I told you what I did’ Bastien smiled at her for the first time.

‘I really appreciate it Lady Adelaide, I’m determined to do well in the Guards. I had a difficult start in life – I never knew my father, and my mother died of a drugs overdose when I was a teenager. I have no family to fall back on, I was brought up by foster parents.’ Adelaide leaned over and squeezed his knee

‘I’m sorry to hear that Bastien. I think you’ve made a good start and I don’t want to jeopardise that for you’

‘You’re an attractive woman, your grace’ Bastien said, his expression softening ‘Don’t ever think you aren’t, but we have a professional relationship and I can’t go any further than telling you that.’ Adelaide looked down at her hands

‘Actually, you’re not here for me – you’re here for Maddie’ she said slyly. Bastien sat back in surprise

‘Yes, but you’re still my client’s mother’ he said ‘It wouldn’t be…’

‘Just how would Jackson find out if I seduced you do you think?’ she asked.

‘I would tell him’ he replied firmly. She pouted

‘Do you have to? Surely you can keep a secret – that’s part of your job too isn’t it?’ He shook his head

‘You’re presupposing that you’ll be successful in seducing me’ he said ‘and that I’d be willing to give in’ He was horrified to see tears start to her eyes.

‘You said I was attractive’ she said mournfully

‘Yes, but I’m not looking for a physical relationship right now’ he said swiftly, and Adelaide scoffed, quickly recovering.

‘Who said anything about a relationship, all I want is for you to screw me’  He put his hand over his face. He had to end the conversation; his free time was coming to an end, and he was getting cold.

‘That’s not what I meant. I need to concentrate on my job, not sleep with anyone who wants me’

‘So I’m just ‘anyone’?’ her voice rose ‘Who else is hitting on you – the maid – the cook?’ Her eyes narrowed ‘or do you prefer men – is it the gardener?’ Bastien got up and retrieved his neatly folded clothes.

‘My sexual preferences are not up for discussion’ he said ‘I have to get back to work’

‘I could tell him you assaulted me, you know’ she said as he walked away. He froze to the spot, then turned, fixing her with a fierce gaze, mouth tight.

‘I don’t believe you would Ma’am’ She looked down, ashamed for a moment, then tilted her head up and locked eyes with him, pleading

‘I’m sorry, is it such a difficult thing for you to consider? We could be discreet’ she said in a small voice

‘Ma’am you told me yourself you have lovers’ he said ‘I suggest you call on someone else and leave me alone’ With that parting shot he turned his back for the last time to go and get changed and patrol the perimeter again.

 Later, it was Bastien’s task to check in with his mentor. He used his cell phone outside in the grounds where he wouldn’t be overheard. It wasn’t of the utmost secrecy and didn’t need an encrypted line, but he liked to take at least some precaution after the nature of his employment after all. Luckily reception was good and the line crystal clear. His training taught him to listen for verbal clues as to Jackson’s mood or any duplicity (not that the head of the Kings Guard would have reason to lie to his staff) and also for any background noises that might give away his location or any other information.

‘Good evening Bastien, how are you doing?’ Jackson sounded relaxed and Bastien surmised he was home and off duty.

‘Very well sir, there has been one incident to report – I trust you received my statement by email’

‘I did son. Did you check the motion sensors by the pool?’

‘Yes sir, one of them was reporting a slight delay in response – just a second or two, it was possibly why the alarm didn’t go off promptly.’ He found himself standing stiffly to attention ‘It was my error in not checking it beforehand’

‘There are many sensors to check Bastien, had you been on site for longer you would probably have picked up on it before it was a problem. You responded promptly and Lady Adelaide was unharmed, so there will only be a very minor demerit’ Bastien’s heart sank. He had hoped to get a perfect score for the assignment – he knew already it was unlikely, but at least Jackson was lenient with him.

‘How are you finding your assignment son?’ Bastien broke out in a cold sweat. This was not a question he could answer by checking a bullet list. Walker was asking for a personal assessment, a gut reaction, and he was uncomfortable with this aspect of the job. He dug deep.

‘Overall it’s not difficult Sir’ he replied ‘There has been one challenge I did not foresee that has been a minor problem’

‘Please go on’ Jackson replied, and Bastien detected a slight hint of amusement in his voice. He cleared his throat

‘Lady Adelaide has been – she has made some inappropriate remarks and advances’ He was sure now that Jackson was stifling laughter as he heard muffled sounds coming from the other end consistent with the microphone being covered over. There was a short silence before his mentor replied, supressed mirth in his tone.

‘And how did you react to that, son?’

‘I turned it aside, naturally’ again the microphone was muffled, and Bastien took a leap of faith ‘I take it that Lady Adelaide is my test, sir?’

‘Test, son?’ his voice was a little strangled

‘Of my resolve. It would be unprofessional to react to the sexual advances of one of my charges, Sir’ Jackson now stopped any effort to hide his amusement and it was a while before he stopped laughing long enough to be able to speak again.

‘Son, this is Cordonia. There’s no need to deny that mighty snake of yours’ Bastien felt his cheeks burn. He hadn’t been able to hide his physical attributes for long at the Walker household. Bianca Walker had accidentally walked in on him whilst he was showering in the morning after staying over when he had babysat the Walker’s two children. The other recruits already knew how well endowed he was, so it was natural Jackson already knew. He sighed

‘Sir’

‘Really son, you show exceptional dedication to the job. It’s true I throw our better looking recruits at Lady Adelaide as a test, and you passed it with flying colours. It can’t have been easy after pulling her out of the pool’ he stopped to laugh again. He could hear Bianca’s throaty laugh in the background. Was nothing secret in the Jackson household? ‘So what have you told the lady in question to keep her at bay, son?’ he asked

‘That we have a professional relationship and I can’t allow her attempts to seduce me to succeed, Sir’

‘Bastien, you have to be the most well endowed recruit I have ever come across. Lady Adelaide’s sexual appetite is legendary, and I think you’d be foolish to turn her down. You have my permission to do anything you like with her – presuming you find her attractive. As long as it doesn’t compromise the job and you are discreet, you’re free to do as you please.’

‘I – thankyou sir’ Bastien gulped. He felt hot under the collar and his pants tightened uncomfortably. His head might be telling him to be restrained, but his manhood got the message loud and clear that playtime was imminent.

‘Okay son, thankyou for checking in. Enjoy your evening’ The line went dead and he had the impression his mentor was rolling around laughing at the other end. His shift was over, and he knew exactly where he was going next. 

He was going to make sure Adelaide remembered him for a very long time indeed.

3 The Lesson

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#bastien crack ship challenge #bastien lykel #trr bastien #bastien x adelaide

[alyssamonah]

How Silent Retreats Australia Impact Your Brain and Well-being?

Silent retreats have gained popularity worldwide as a powerful means of rejuvenating the mind, body, and soul. In the serene landscapes of Australia, where nature's beauty knows no bounds, these retreats take on a unique dimension. They offer participants an opportunity to disconnect from the noise of modern life, fostering introspection, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, and profound relaxation. But what are the precise ways in which silent retreats in Australia impact your brain and overall well-being? In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the science and experience of silent retreats to uncover their remarkable benefits.

The Art of Silence

Before we dive into the impact of silent retreats, let's first understand what they entail. Silent retreats are immersive experiences where participants voluntarily abstain from speaking and often limit their use of technology, creating an environment of profound quietude. This silence allows individuals to turn their attention inward and focus on the present moment.

Reduced Stress and Anxiety

Bold Claim: Silent retreats can significantly reduce stress and anxiety levels.

Modern life bombards us with constant stimuli and demands, leading to chronic stress and anxiety. Silent retreats provide a respite from this chaos, allowing the brain to relax. Research suggests that silence and meditation can lower cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress. This reduction in stress hormones can lead to improved mental well-being.

How it Works: During a silent retreat, the absence of external distractions helps reset the brain's stress response system. Participants often report feeling a profound sense of calm and relaxation.

Enhanced Cognitive Function

Bold Claim: Silent retreats can enhance cognitive function, including improved focus and creativity.

In our noisy world, our brains are constantly multitasking and processing information. It can lead to mental fatigue and reduced cognitive function. Silence, on the other hand, allows the brain to consolidate and process information more effectively.

How it Works: Silent retreats encourage mindfulness practices like meditation, which have been shown to enhance cognitive function. Participants often experience increased clarity of thought, improved problem-solving skills, and enhanced creativity.

Heightened Self-Awareness

Bold Claim: Silent retreats can lead to heightened self-awareness and personal growth.

Silent retreats offer a unique opportunity for self-reflection and self-discovery. When you remove external distractions, you're left with your thoughts, emotions, and inner world. This introspection can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself.

How it Works: Through meditation, journaling, and mindful observation, participants gain insights into their thought patterns, emotions, and behaviours. This heightened self-awareness can lead to personal growth and positive life changes.

Improved Sleep Quality

Bold Claim: Silent retreats can lead to improved sleep quality and better sleep patterns.

Many individuals struggle with sleep disturbances due to the stresses of daily life. Silent retreats can help reset the body's circadian rhythms and promote healthier sleep patterns.

How it Works: The practice of mindfulness and meditation during silent retreats can reduce insomnia and improve overall sleep quality. Participants often report falling asleep faster and experiencing more restorative sleep.

Stress Reduction on a Cellular Level

Bold Claim: Silent retreats can reduce stress on a cellular level, benefiting overall health.

Research indicates that silent retreats may have a positive impact on the length of telomeres, and protective caps on the ends of chromosomes. Shortened telomeres are associated with aging and increased stress. Telomere lengthening is considered a marker of improved cellular health.

How it Works: The relaxation and stress reduction experienced during silent retreats may contribute to the maintenance or lengthening of telomeres, promoting overall cellular health and longevity.

Enhanced Emotional Regulation

Bold Claim: Silent retreats can enhance emotional regulation and resilience.

The practice of mindfulness during silent retreats allows participants to observe their emotions without judgment. This can lead to improved emotional regulation and a greater ability to cope with challenging situations.

How it Works: Mindfulness practices help individuals become more aware of their emotional responses. This awareness can lead to better emotional regulation, reduced reactivity, and increased resilience in the face of stressors.

Strengthened Connections

Bold Claim: Silent retreats can foster deeper connections with others.

Ironically, the silence of these retreats can lead to more profound connections with fellow participants. When communication is limited to non-verbal forms, individuals often develop a deeper sense of empathy and connection with others.

How it Works: Silent retreats encourage participants to communicate through non-verbal means, such as eye contact, gestures, and shared activities. It fosters a sense of unity and connection among attendees.

Greater Appreciation for Nature

Bold Claim: Silent retreats Australia can deepen your appreciation for nature and the environment.

Australia's stunning natural landscapes provide an ideal backdrop for silent retreats. The immersion in nature often leads to a greater sense of awe and appreciation for the environment.

How it Works: Spending time in nature during silent retreats can cultivate a sense of gratitude and connectedness with the natural world. Participants often leave with a renewed commitment to environmental stewardship.

The Afterglow Effect

Bold Claim: The benefits of silent retreats can extend well beyond the retreat itself.

Many participants report an "afterglow" effect following a silent retreat. This lasting impact can include a continued sense of calm, improved mental clarity, and a commitment to ongoing mindfulness practices.

How it Works: The transformative experiences of a silent retreat often inspire individuals to incorporate mindfulness and silence into their daily lives. This can lead to sustained improvements in well-being.

Conclusion

Silent retreats in Australia offer a unique opportunity to unplug, reconnect with oneself, and experience profound changes in brain function and overall well-being. By reducing stress, enhancing cognitive function, promoting self-awareness, improving sleep quality, and fostering emotional regulation, these retreats have the potential to transform lives. If you're seeking a deeper understanding of yourself, a reprieve from the demands of modern life, and a journey toward greater well-being, consider embarking on a silent retreat in the beautiful landscapes of Australia. The impact on your brain and well-being may be nothing short of remarkable.

#mindfulness meditation adelaide #mindfulness courses sydney #mindfulness courses wollongong

[nuclearblastuk]

Kataklysm and Fleshgod Apocalypse To Be Part Of MTV Headbangers Ball Tour 2019!

Reanimated three years ago, the iconic »MTV Headbangers Ball Tour« is set to haunt European stages once again in November and December 2019! After delivering all out thrash metal 2018, the fourth edition of the tour is nothing short of a breath-taking death metal package: The 17-show run will be headlined by Canadian melodic death metal heavyweights KATAKLYSM, who will be taking part in the tour for the second time after joining ICED EARTH, ENSIFERUM and UNEARTH in 2016. Presenting not only hits from their latest offering »Meditations« (2018), the quartet featuring Maurizio Iacono will of course also add some old smashers to their set list. Next on the bill are Knoxville, TN based metal squad WHITECHAPEL, followed by KATAKLYSM's label mates, Italian symphonic death metal giants FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE who recently unleashed their fifth, chartbreaking studio album »Veleno« (May 24, 2019). Opening support on the run will come from UK death metal act DYSCARNATE. Death metal maniacs, you cannot miss out on this tour! KATAKLYSM frontman Maurizio Iacano comments, "The campaign for »Meditations« has been incredible and what great way to finish it by headlining the »MTV Headbangers Ball Tour« across Europe with a killer and diverse line-up featuring WHITECHAPEL, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE and DYSCARNATE. KATAKLYSM has some of the wildest crowds in the world in Europe and we look forward to visiting you once more and laying down the KATAKLYSM hurricane, you know how we do it, let's make it memorable, get your tickets fast!" FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE frontman Francesco Paoli adds, "We're absolutely stoked to take part in this amazing tour. We'll have the pleasure to perform some songs from our new album »Veleno« for the first time, and also come back to places we haven't played for a very long time. The tour line-up is killer and extremely rich. We already shared the stage with all of these bands in the past and we do know they are, indeed, some of the best acts in today's metal landscape. If you are a metal fan you don't wanna miss this! We are ready, are you?" KATAKLYSM + FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE »MTV Headbangers Ball Tour 2019« w/ WHITECHAPEL, DYSCARNATE 28.11. D Leipzig - Felsenkeller 29.11. SLO Bohinjska Bistrica - Winter Days Of Metal 30.11. CZ Zlín - Hala Euronics 01.12. D Munich - Backstage 02.12. D Stuttgart - LKA Longhorn 03.12. CH Solothurn - Kulturfabrik Kofmehl 04.12. D Saarbrücken - Garage 05.12. UK London - Electric Ballroom 06.12. D Oberhausen - Ruhrpott Metal Meeting 07.12. D Geiselwind - Christmas Bash 08.12. NL Haarlem - Patronaat 09.12. D Hamburg - Große Freiheit 36 10.12. DK Aarhus - VoxHall 11.12. D Berlin - Huxleys Neue Welt 12.12. A Vienna - Arena 13.12. D Ravensburg - OberschwabenKlub 14.12. D Wiesbaden - Schlachthof

Info & Tickets: www.headbangersball-tour.eu

Order KATAKLYSM's latest album »Meditations« now: www.nuclearblast.com/kataklysm-meditations More on »Meditations«: 'Guillotine' OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQheV94Vl5I 'Narcissist' OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wALbFfJ8s_Q 'Outsider' OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLXeuSBjQMs '...And Then I Saw Blood' OFFICIAL VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-a5D7YIrdU 'Guillotine' OFFICIAL GUITAR PLAYTHROUGH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI4gaIJvCBY ----- Order FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE's latest album »Veleno« now: www.nuclearblast.com/fleshgodapocalypse-veleno More on »Veleno«: 'Sugar' OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmq3iyW02b8 'Carnivorous Lamb' OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RMEoOl80SM 'Worship And Forget' OFFICIAL TRACK VISUALIZER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx67BcnDk9c 'Healing Through War' OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mviUmbrvAP0 'The Fool' OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYJ4UmxGrIk ----- More KATAKLYSM live dates: 06.07. MEX Mexico City - Metal Devastation Mexico 11.07. D Neukirchen-Vluyn - Dong Open Air 19.07. S Gävle - Gefle Metal Festival 27.07. CDN Montréal, QC - Heavy Montréal »Meditations Over North America 2019« w/ EXHORDER, KRISIUN, HATCHET 04.09. USA Joliet, IL - The Forge 05.09. USA Cave-In-Rock, IL - Full Terror Assault 06.09. USA Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room 07.09. USA Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep 08.09. USA Denver, CO - The Oriental Theater 10.09. USA Seattle, WA - El Corazon 11.09. USA Portland, OR - The Bossanova Ballroom 12.09. USA Oakland, CA - Metro Operahouse 13.09. USA Los Angeles, CA - Union 14.09. USA San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick 15.09. USA Mesa, AZ - Club Red 16.09. USA El Paso, TX - Rockhouse Bar & Grill 17.09. USA Austin, TX - Come and Take It Live 18.09. USA Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Live! 20.09. USA Cincinnati, OH - Riverfront Live 21.09. USA Atlanta, GA - Slaughter-Que 22.09. USA Baltimore, MD - Soundstage 23.09. USA Brooklyn, NY - Market Hotel 26.09. USA Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance Theater 25.09. USA Reading, PA - Reverb 26.09. USA Worcester, MA - Palladium --- More FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE live dates: 20.07. SK Revištske Podzamcie - Gothoom 26.07. P Vila Nova de Famalicão - Festival Laurus Nobilis Music Famalicão 19.10. B Roeselare - Evil Or Die Fest 22.10. J Tokyo - Cyclone 23.10. J Tokyo - Cyclone 30.10. AUS Brisbane - Woolly Mammoth Alehouse 01.11. AUS Melbourne - Max Watt’s 02.11. AUS Adelaide - The New Dead Metalfest 03.11. AUS Sydney - Crowbar 04.11. AUS Canberra - The Basement --- More info: www.kataklysm.ca www.facebook.com/kataklysm https://twitter.com/kataklysmband https://www.instagram.com/kataklysmband https://www.youtube.com/kataklysm www.nuclearblast.de/kataklysm ----- www.fleshgodapocalypse.com www.facebook.com/fleshgodapocalypse https://twitter.com/fapocalypse https://www.instagram.com/fleshgodofficial https://www.youtube.com/fleshgodapocalypse www.nuclearblast.de/fleshgodapocalypse

#fleshgod apocalypse #katakysm #headbangersball

[lilblossomsworld-blog]

Hey for some reason tumblr isn't letting me message you so I'm doing This here. I'm a 21 yr old adelaide girl looking to get involved with witchcraft and I have no idea where to begin. Think I could join your fb group? My name is Nives (not comfortable giving out my last name yet but it's hyphenated and the initials are B-W) I can almost guarantee there won't be another asking.

Hey! I’m so sorry I haven’t replied sooner I’ve only just checked tumblr! I’m also in Adelaide :) but of course, join the group! (https://www.facebook.com/groups/312397419260060/)

BUTTT, It depends on where you'd like to start, Wicca, Paganism, or Witchcraft?I 100% recommend meditating as a start! I will be honest, meditating is so hard when you first start so don't get discouraged if you can't sit still or clear your thoughts. It takes lots of practice!! There are actually heaps of ways to meditate which surprised me when I first started. Youtube has a lot of guided meditations that take you through what to do, think, and feel. There's also a few apps that do this too (I know of Calm but some things you have to pay for) Start small!! Start with 2 or 3 minutes and let your body determine how you sit or lie down. Start by focusing on the breath - deep, slow. This kind of breaking slows down your heart rate, and puts you in a relaxed state and focuses the mind but know that your mind will have a lot of thoughts popping in and out, just let them flow and don't focus on them. Acknowledge the thought and let it flow down a river. Meditation is one of the basic tenets of spirituality, with practice, you will enter a state of deep relaxation, a place of calm and balance to align yourself with the natural forces around you. As you learn to still your mind and enter this state of relaxation, you are learning to focus your mind, becoming centred, balanced and calm, you are learning mental discipline. get you some lil crystal babies. Crystals work on a vibrational level, they have a very high vibration. Having a crystal on you or simply around you is going to help in raising your own vibrational level by reflecting light into your aura. Basically, they filter out stagnant energy. Each crystal has there own unique properties so you can use them for insomnia, depression, anxiety, etc.But like people, they need to be cleared of any bad or unwanted vibes and reboot. The full moon is the perfect time to clear a crystal's energy, refreshing the positive unique energies it holds.Crystals need care. Just like plants. You can’t just buy them and leave them. Dust them off every now and then, give them your physical touch, energy, charge them and cleanse them. They will enjoy the attention 💜💜There's honestly SO much to learn and I think that's the beauty of it. There is always knowledge and wisdom we're yet to uncover. If anything specific tickles your fancy let me know and I'll see how much I know about the topic, but as a guide here's some things:• The history of witchcraft • Types of witches (Green, Kitchen, Ceremonial, etc.)• Types of magick (White magick, chaos magick, etc.)• Types of spells (curses, jinxs, etc.)• Types of divination (tarot, scrying, etc.)• Talismans vs Sigils (and what each are)• Maybe some alphabets, if thats your thing• Witchy symbols• Deities (for pagan witches)• Personal correspondences (colours, crystals, flowers, herbs, oils) • Spell ingredients (and what they mean, and how to use them)• Tools (pentagrams, chalices, etc.)• The Elements (and their correspondences)• Spirits if that's your thing (and spirit safety)• Zodiac signs • Crystals • Moon cycles • Astrology • Herbs • Ancestors (and how to work with them)• Closed Religions and how not to appropriate them• Red flags in witchcraft • Lucid Dreaming/Astral Projection• Chakras/ Auras • Natal Chart (take note of your rising and moon signs, these are just as important as your sun sign, and is also helpful for finding your strong points within moon cycles) - I have the best website for this tooThere is so much more but It's honestly just research, all the time! That's what I love about it too, there's always some wisdom out there I'm yet to uncover. Hopefully this all made sense but pleasee ask any questions xx 💛🍃🌹💫

[delilahtypes]

Can Delilah Silent Retreat?

So I started a meditation course 5 weeks ago that I’m absolutely loving. The Lifeflow Meditation Centre in Adelaide is just a wonderful place to learn, and I love their teaching style. It’s meditation taught for normal people by normal busy people.

They teach in a way that appreciates that everyone is different, giving you different techniques and helping you find a method of meditation that you connect with.

Also providing you with really practical and realistic ways to incorporate meditation and it’s techniques into everyday life, whilst eating food, driving the car or hanging out the washing.

Even just in 5 weeks, I have been meditating every day for 10-15min’s and I can’t get over the difference. I feel calmer and just more clear headed starting my day. I’ve put this into a new morning routine which I will tell you more about as I implement in the weeks to come.

I’m going away on one of their retreats this weekend.....the whole idea is to be as silent from after dinner on Friday until lunch on Sunday! No technology, no books, no magazines! Just sleep, meditation, yoga, more sleep, walks/runs on their property and journaling!

I’m incredibly excited but also a little daunted by the silence, I’ve never had silence forced onto me, so a little daunted by the thoughts and activity in my brain that will be stimulated with the space of silence.

But I’m open to embracing it, but definitely daunted nonetheless.

Wish me luck, I will report back on Monday!!

[om-shanti-shanti]

Would you ever consider opening a yoga studio? Do you have any plans for the future, other jobs you'd like etc. :) x

I have! Although I do feel adelaide has so many wonderful yoga studios as it is! But O have envisioned it many times. Maybe one day! As for other jobs I would love to study yoga philosophy and history. I also want to study more yoga courses some on meditation and breath work. 💕💕

[mikey-hill]

2017

Countries: three.

States: twenty three.

Road trips: nine.

Train journeys: four. Including the Crescent (New Orleans - New York) & The Overland (Melbourne - Adelaide).

Plane flights: way too many.

Months abroad: five and a half.

Months at sea: zero.

Highest elevation reached: Beartooth Pass, Montana - 10,947ft; closely followed by San Jacinto Peak, California - 10,834ft.

Favourite movies watched: Moonlight; OJ Simpson: Made in America; Paterson; Hypernormalisation.

Favourite TV series watched: Fargo.

Favourite podcast: The Daily.

Favourite gig: Peep Tempel at Golden Plains.

Favourite books read: Moby Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them by Donovan Hohn; Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy; and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

Books written: zero.

Favourite quote that I read: “I’m becoming a devout driftologist. The only essential difference between rock, water, air, life, galaxies, economies, civilisations, plastics - I decide, totally sober, watching the fog make pretty shapes above the trees - is the rate of flow.” Moby Duck, Donovan Hohn

Favourite joke that I made up: What do you call a rock that likes touching baby rocks? A pebblephile.

Favourite tongue-twister that I made up: My stubbed toe just stopped stinging (based on a true story).

Haircuts: zero.

Songs I learned to play on the guitar and sing: five. Two were to try to impress others. One was to console a friend.

My Dreamslate (inspired by Eddie White, projects I’m working on/want to work on): Idle Lands: Boredmeadows; Flotsam; 1, 2, 3 Birds!; Bombing Missions; Monsterswellen; Luck Rider; and Animaphonic Orchestra: A motion in the key of E.

Total solar eclipses witnessed: one. From Torrington, Wyoming.

Mass shootings narrowly missed: one. Las Vegas, by just a couple of hours.

Quote from a piece I wrote based on the above two categories: Earlier in the American summer, you and I drove north into Wyoming to see a total solar eclipse. Those two minutes of dark totality were the eeriest, most fascinating and startling moments in my life. The rare cosmic coincidences that cause that most unnatural of natural phenomenons are staggering to think about. We were lucky and escaped the ten minutes or so of coincidental darkness that eclipsed the lives of hundreds of people; folks who, when they died, were still digesting the breakfasts we maybe ate next to them earlier that morning. The celestial bodies of life and death slid silently past each other overhead, infinitesimally close, but not quite intersecting perfectly above us. 

Best purchase: A used Marlboro tent ($25USD in San Franscisco).

Email recipients I’ve disappointed: three.

Weddings: one.

Weddings of ex-girlfriends: one.

From my iPhone Notes and notebooks:

The world now lies waiting for you to lay siege. A femme fatale Khan - intelligent, kind and strong. You will found an empire. You’ve made one hell of a start with my white-flag-waving heart. For the card for Sarah’s graduation, drawing inspiration from her love of Dan Carlin).

Abruptly, it appeared. We all knew it was coming, but it was still a shock to behold. The conclusion to a four billion year old nonsensical experiment; a sudden exclamation point to finish a Proustian sentence. It was punctual too, just as the boffins had calculated. 4.13am GMT. It was almost a relief really, that it was here on time, to know that something still made sense. A writing exercise.

I want to fall in love with a girl who plays tuba. After watching a brass band at Open Studio in Northcote.

Coffee filtered through toilet paper doesn’t taste as bad as I imagined, nor as terrible as you claimed, on that bright Saturday morning on a red cliff top in Utah. A little sugar would have sufficed to cover the mild chemical taste. A dash of milk perhaps enough to elevate it to the level of the complimentary cuppa I drink now from a paper cup on a flight in another hemisphere and in a drastically different timezone. Plane scribblings.

Favourite pictures I made:

Worst picture I made:

Best moments of 2017: 21st August, the midday total solar eclipse in Wyoming; date night with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra followed by beers and pool at the diviest dive bar ever - The 12 Volt Tavern; watching Sarah Walker perform her poetry on a stage in Brunswick; watching Jenny marry her Brad; jumping up on stage with Nick Cave and Warren Ellis; driving to a pitch meeting in LA with Jamie Messenger and Dominique Holmes singing Boyfriend (Repeat) by Confidence Man; being told I was loved; homemade Sichuan; Jamie Messenger playing Piano Man on a grand piano at the Sonoma Film Festival (on the night he won’t remember, the night I won’t forget); walking Manhattan with me ol’ Ma and Pa, Sarah and Laura; that afternoon when we were tired, hot and dehydrated in Havana, Cuba and we found beer and fried chicken on the top floor of a crumbling Parisian building, the sun suddenly lost its vehemence, and your smile made it all worth it.

And of course this:

Worst moments of 2017: so many goodbyes. Quietly bathing in a public toilet in Utah while a garden wedding takes place just outside.

Goals for 2018: Keep traveling: visit China; ride the Trans-Mongolian railway. Finish my feature film script. Start work on a new short animation. Start up the illustration project. Read more books. Climb Longs Peak in Colorado. Turn my irrational fear of overtaking in a car into a rational fear of overtaking in a car. Write and draw more. Keep better lists. Meditate. Practice and perform the guitar more. Swim. See more live music. Drink a little bit less. Be a better friend.

And get even huger:

[saint-gallier]

There May Never Be a Show Like Rectify Again

DEC. 15, 2016

By Matt Zoller Seitz for Vulture

Note by me: may contain spoilers.

There has never been a TV drama like Rectify, which ended its run last night, and there may never be another. It is the product of a singular sensibility — that of actor-writer Ray McKinnon, perhaps still best known as the reverend on Deadwood who presides over Will Bill’s funeral — but throughout its run, it was clear that everyone who worked on it, from cast and crew to writers and producers, were on the same page, probably one taken from the New Testament. (The moving finale ended with a shot of an adoptive father and a mother who’d been impregnated by an absentee father contemplating a newborn in a sunlit field: a modified Jesus-in-the-manger image.) In telling the story of Daniel Holden (Aden Young), a convicted rapist-murderer from small-town Georgia released on a technicality, the show went against nearly every trend that had been established in so-called “quality TV” since the début of The Sopranos.

It was intimate rather than overwhelming, talky and meditative instead of busy and densely packed, drily rather than raucously funny, and more horrified by violence than fascinated with it. Scenes often played out at length, often in close-up, establishing a vibe more reminiscent of a filmed play than a traditional TV series or movie — although Rectify was also, at times improbably, cinematic, conveying subtle shifts in the relationships between Daniel, his family, and his friends through silent close-ups, wide shots that placed the characters in context of architecture or nature, split-screen effects and focus shifts that conveyed barriers that prevented understanding, and glorious bursts of sunlight timed to philosophical insights and affirmations of love and respect. The show’s spine was Daniel’s story, but it also showed how his alleged crimes and their aftermath affected the lives of his sister Amantha (Abigail Spencer), his mother Janet (J. Smith Cameron), her new husband Ted (Bruce McKinnon), Daniel’s stepbrother Teddy Jr. (Clayne Crawford, Jr.), his half-brother Jared (Jake Austin Walker), and Teddy Jr.’s wife Tawney (Adelaide Clemens). Other characters got pulled into the vortex as well, including Jon Stern (Luke Kirby), a lawyer for an Innocence Project–like organization, and the two key figures in Daniel’s prosecution, the now-senator Roland Foulkes (Michael O’Neill) and Sheriff Carl Daggett (J.D. Evermore), who succumbed to his nagging conscience and let the lawyer see files that appeared to exonerate Daniel.

The show took its time letting its various subplots play out — it took all season, for instance, for Janet and Ted to decide to sell their tire store to Rite Aid, and we saw them struggle with it in a series of conversations. Paradoxically, though, the show’s time frame was tight, and it often seemed to be devised with a poetic or even biblical impulse: the six-episode first season, which unfolded over six consecutive days, inverted the story of Christ’s death and resurrection, starting with a rebirth (Daniel’s release from prison) and ending with a figurative crucifixion (the beatdown that landed him in the hospital).

The same qualities that I (and others) admired ensured that Rectify would remain a cult item. Almost every time I praised the series on social media I’d get an instant pushback from somebody complaining that it was too slow or pretentious, or that “nothing happens.” Of course, plenty happened; it just didn’t happen in the obvious way that it happens on the vast majority of TV series, where characters barge into rooms and start explaining themselves to you, not in the searching, self-contradictory way they did it on Rectify, but in a boringly prosaic way, to deliver facts quickly and get us into the complications faster. A lot of the action on McKinnon’s series was interior, and the aesthetic found a way into that — not the only possible way, but its own stubbornly unique way, seemingly derived from the austere dramas of Robert Bresson, the language of Freud, and the Old and New Testaments (with a splash of Buddhism), and incantatory dialogue that channeled such masters of Southern American fiction as Flannery O’Connor (who, like McKinnon, pitted rationality against tribal reflex and placed spirituality at the center of her characters’ struggles).

Did Daniel do the deed? Probably not. McKinnon was adamant throughout the first two seasons that it didn’t matter whether his emotionally shattered hero was guilty of the felonies that sent him to prison — that the show was more about what happens to a man who has been away from the world he knew and suddenly has to re-enter it, but is barred from full participation because of the cloud hanging over his identity, and what his plight does to his family and community. In interviews, he often made it seem as if he was slightly frustrated by audiences’ desire to know for sure one way or the other (although he was always so polite that this never tipped over into open resentment).

But eventually, even he seemed to realize that “it doesn’t matter if he did it” was an untenable position, because it didn’t suit the temperament of the series. Rectify was always grounded in the emotional reality of its characters and our response to their troubles, and for that reason, it couldn’t keep treating guilt or innocence as an abstract concept that led the storytellers into other areas. Plus, the longer Young played Daniel, and the longer the writers wrote for him, the more obvious it was to viewers that he was too decent a person to have committed the crimes he’d been sent to prison for. If the show had reversed course and suddenly asserted that he did it, it would’ve felt like an arbitrary “twist” of the type that lesser series would attempt. And so plot developments that appeared near the end of season three and snowballed in the final few episodes of season four introduced new evidence, all but certifying that Daniel had been railroaded by the local district attorney, the sheriff, and other officials who got fixated on a narrative and bent facts to make them fit.

It’s only the show’s intuitive, empathetic relationship to its audience that makes Daniel’s (probable) exoneration feel like something other than a cop-out. We got the ending we needed and that was consistent with everything Rectify had shown us. Throughout the show’s run, there were moments when Daniel let us know he had the capacity for lethal violence. This was seen most recently in a season-four episode where Daniel demanded that a fellow inmate in a halfway house stop masturbating in front of him and seemed ready to kill him if he refused, although the coffee-grounds incident in season two was the most disturbing. But eventually it became clear that this was a response to the brutality Daniel saw and suffered in prison (including repeated rapes) rather than anything innate to his character. Daniel always was a searcher and a storyteller, and we could see this in his awed and fascinated response to art in season four — incarnated by his pregnant Nashville girlfriend Chloe (Caitlin FitzGerald), who came perilously close to the redemptive Manic Pixie Dreamgirl stereotype but thankfully never quite crossed over. Daniel’s mother even says after her Nashville visit that when Daniel was a child, he was so curious about the world that she expected him to become a writer (like Ray McKinnon, perhaps). Chloe’s warehouse-studio living space merged the show’s religious-spiritual elements and its belief in the redemptive power of storytelling and art: She makes sculptures there, but it’s also an oversize confession booth for her and Daniel and anyone else who wants to have a safe space to speak from the heart. The windows have mosaic-stained glass patterns, suggesting a church accessorized by a mid-twentieth-century modern artist like Piet Mondrian. When Daniel briefly seems to be on the verge of walking out on her (“Go to Ohio, have your baby, send me a postcard”), a circular stained-glass window halos Chloe’s head in the manner of a Renaissance oil painting of a saint.

Although the show distributed its attention democratically among its supporting cast, Rectify seemed to have special insight into Tawney, perhaps because of her deep spirituality, which unlike Daniel’s was specifically tied to organized religion. The loss, return, and daily maintenance of faith—and the more basic questions of what it means to have faith, and whether it’s the opposite of rationality or its ancient handmaiden: Rectify was fascinated by all of this, and Tawney became a particularly fruitful way to explore it. Daniel’s journey was always at the center of the show, and it was always compelling, thanks to the writing staff’s knack for constructing elaborate, at times sermon-like monologues and call-and-response dialogue exchanges for Daniel, and Young’s astounding facility for delivering them in a natural-seeming way (his deep voice seemed to be fighting its way up from a pit, and his eyes often got cloudy or teared up). But there were points when Tawney became a sort of second lead — especially in season four, which saw her bonding with the elderly, sick resident of a nursing home. She was so devastated by losing him that she vowed to join Doctors Without Borders and minister to the afflicted in other countries, like a missionary whose goal is to comfort rather than convert. Tawney’s mix of sweetness, empathy, and relentless self-inquiry put her on a track that often paralleled Daniel’s and illuminated the other supporting characters, who were all grappling with some version of the same question: Where do I go from here?

Even Tawney’s estranged husband, Teddy, seemed to absorb and learn from her: One of my very favorite moments on the show is the one where he accepts the inevitable and doesn’t just say he wants a divorce, but asks for it, phrasing it as a humble request (“Will you grant me a divorce?”) and then repeating it, turning a moment that’s usually marinated in failure and regret into a moment of generosity and mutual respect. (Here, too, the show brings its filmmaking “A”-game: Notice that after the request is granted, Tawney and Teddy are photographed only in isolated close-ups or with one of them out of focus, as if to confirm that they are no longer part of a couple.) What I’ll miss the most about this series is the gentleness it displays in moments like this. Even when it confronted upsetting subject matter head-on, it did it with compassion, curiosity about experience, and an abiding belief in the potential to transcend suffering, or at least get through the bad times.

#rectify #tv show #ray mckinnon #what a show

[sabine-abnashjot]

SLEEP RESEARCH DONE! A magical drive home, just then this morning at 7:30am and into the cosy bed!!! ◇ Bliss!!! ◇ Have an amazing day! ◇ If you don't know already: community meditation is cancelled for today. ◇ And divine chakra two - self awareness and deeper self love class is of course on! ◇ All about embracing change, flow, currency of money, your amazing creativity, union with self, sacral energies, water element! ◇ I love it!!!! Join us anytime! ◇ Thursday night class is 7pm in Norwood ....Sunday class is 4pm in Norwood. ◇ Class is 90 minutes! ◇ Includes breathwork, stretches, deep relaxation, meditation and of course kriya! ◇ Sacred time to yourself, to be held in a sanctuary for amazing self love, expanded awareness, in your own unique way!! ◇ Link in bio. ◇ All women's classes, with specialised focus on women's health, hormones, nervous system balance and entering deep healing emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually - to drop limitations and embrace your true divine self in the deepest way. ◇ 🙏🧘‍♀️💛 #selfcare #womensyoga #chakrabalance #relaxation #wellbeing #sanctuary #sacred #australia #adelaide #sleep #research #sleepresearch #womenshealth (at Greenhill Road, Adelaide) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9C7-mPjICW/?igshid=10tnr4vpkg98f

#selfcare #womensyoga #chakrabalance #relaxation #wellbeing #sanctuary #sacred #australia #adelaide #sleep #research #sleepresearch #womenshealth