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pandoratheprocrasticreator · 1 year

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Im beating the dead horse with the stick i used to poke the hornets nest but theres an argument bouncing around against the censorship of morally objectionable material on fandom spaces like ao3. And it goes "these spaces were created for morally objectionable material in the first place. Where else are we supposed to put it."

And i agree! I think as long as whatever site ppl are using has a robust tagging system any kind of content should be allowed if it's legal to post. I think individual works should be appropriately criticized for bad or insensitive portrayals of morally objectionable content, and that a saturation of said bad portrayals in media can lead to wider romanticization and acceptance of said topics. Most individual creators however have very little control over how a wider audience would receive their work, even if the inclusion of objectionable content would require more scrutiny by both the creators and audience. Fandom spaces like ao3 specifically refuse to limit individuals from distributing their stuff as long as it's legal. All moderators of these spaces should do is offer people who dont want to see that stuff an easy way to opt out. Criticism towards the subject matter should be given on a case by case basis by its audience. If they changed that rule, ppl will just create another space run on this principle.

(In fact, I personally think its better if the "sickos" explore what they want to explore in fandom compared to making actual published works with certain morally objectionable topics. I can block someones omegaverse incest fic. I can't block an ad for a thinly veiled fetish film disguized as a hollywood blockbuster if it's printed on the side of a bus.)

But anyway yes sites like ao3 was made for ppl who wanted to post gross stuff without being harassed for it. yes its stupid that ppl are trying to harass "sickos" off the "sicko" websites instead of using the extensive block features most of these sites have. no i dont think posting morally objectionable content is harmful on its own but yes these topics should be portrayed more carefully and be subject to a lot of scrutiny when present in any artistic content. But like. I hope the ppl making this argument understand that a lot of people arguing for censorship in fandom spaces dont actually. Care. Where the "sickos" post their gross stuff. Bc they dont want ppl to post stuff they dont like period.

This argument assumes there will always be people who want to explore "bad" topics in fandom. So the solution is to let ppl who dont want to see that stuff to back out. But the people who oppose this wants the "sickos" to disappear altogether. They think if they yell about it hard enough and get enough sites to ban stuff ppl will eventually naturally choose to never think about morally objectionable stuff. Or at least never portray it in a way they dont like. This is why ppl who whine about ao3 "allowing 'problematic stuff' rarely talk about the tag blocking feature. Because it's not just that they dont want to see that stuff themselves. They dont want YOU to see it either. Or for the person to post it. Or even think about it.

And it's like. Wow youre complaining about seeing too many "problematic ships?" Babygirl the first thing i DO when i look up a new fandom on ao3 is to block all the lesbian x men, sibling x sibling, and child x adult ships i can think of. And as i scroll every time i see a bad ship i add it to the block list. What were YOU doing at the devil's sacrament?

#shut up pandora #im taking the bat that i swung at this hornets nest and using it to beat this dead horse #ao3 #hopping onto this discourse several months too late #perhaps this would shield me from the worst takes #yes fiction affects reality but its not a one to one correlation between seeing one (1) incest fic and kissing your sister yall buffoons #the actual way fiction affects reality is much more nuanced #and i am taking away the words normalization and romanticization until yall retake grade 11 english class #anyway my opinion towards ppl slamming ao3 for 'including problematic content' is #define problematic to me #and define all the nuances in fancontent that would make something problematic #do either of those definitions correlate one to one with the definitions that everyone else making this argument has come up with?#no?#we'll talk once yall come to an agreement on what exactly youre trying to make illegal to post #meanwhile dont fucking tell me what i can or cannot look at i am a fucking adult with critical thinking skills thank you very much #aame cant be said for some of yall lmao #not a pro shipper not an anti shipper but a secret third thing #an adult with critical thinking who likes practical applications over semantics #to be clear the tag blocking feature has its own drawbacks in that its annoying to have to block so many tags #but also that literally costs me like a few seconds at most im already looking at 50k slowburns #if youre going to throw a tantrum over having to control what you see on your own then idk what to tell ya #get someone to put a parental control on your youtube kids account or smth

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alexisomnias · 1 year

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— CUPID DON'T MISS ME. . . | twst

⤷ you pretend your going to kiss them, then fake out last moment before your lips touch DM: spontaneous post

characters | OVERBLOT BOYS (MINUS IDIA)

RIDDLE ROSEHEARTS

• honestly it was as regular as any other day, riddle was tutoring you for your final exam, while the spring outside was rolling along as it usually does. the sun was high up, shining its light on you both and he couldn't help himself but to stare at your feature while you worked away.

• he did this mindlessly, he doesn't even notice it until he blinked, realizing you were now close up, having leant forward. • right away he blushed, his skin turning a red akin to the paint he puts on his roses as his mind swirled. • he watched you lean in intently, as he freezes up. his mind weighing him down as his thoughts piled up like weights. piling at a pace he couldn't even catch up with. • this was supposed to be studying, supposed to be studying, WE SHOULD BE STUDYING!! *(｀Д´) • despite how his mind screams, his lips just tremble, his mind truly did blank when it came to you, vulnerability seeping through, into the something he only wished to define as love. • he thinks your lips will land, fully expecting the warmth of your lips on his so his mind sets off an alarmed confusion for when he blinks out an eye and sees you leaning back giggling. • his stomach churns with anger (and perhaps disappointment?) as you laugh. • "OFF WITH YOUR HEAD !!!" • the study session was awkward after that, but riddle wouldn't, couldn't deny how often his own eyes begun to drift to your lips.

✎ LEONA KINGSCHOLAR

• it was a pretty normal afternoon, you were hanging around leona in the botanical garden. the day was average looking, and in reality its no different from any other of the times you've hanged around leona, except for the fact he was actually awake this time. • no active conversations at all really, you'd state an opinion or narrate about something you saw and leona would either open an eye or make a noise of acknowledgment. • for now you've stayed silent for a while, and leona was beginning to get curious. he could catch on to the sounds of movement or pace, so curiosity peaked he opens both eyes to glance over at you. • what he did not expect to see was you being so close. he could feel a bit of warmth latch to his face (whether from nerves, or from your breath is the question), though his composure was not shaken as you begun to lean in. • a smug grin reached his face watching you lean forward, oh he dreamt of this for sure, letting you lean forward he shut his eyes to accept your lips. • when your breath hovered, he begun to grow impatient as he opened his eyes. hearing you laugh mischievous and back off from him left him feeling undone. • he let out a noise (perhaps a growl..?) of distain, and leant up and grabbed you by the cuff of your shirt before you could really get off and move back out of reach, pulling you into a kiss, the kiss you never finished. • "Haven't you heard of not poking the predator?" • your mischief this time seemed to backfire, but in the best way possible.

✎ AZUL ASHENGROTTO

• you don't really remember the exact reason why azul called you to his office, so while he rambled about whatever the actual reason he called you over was, you stared at his features bored. there must be something you can do to politely get him to shut his pretty mouth without using words, right? • the monstros lounge lightening hit his pallete perfect, the blue reflecting off his silver hair and beautiful eyes perfectly. • azul catches on to the grin arising on your face, and he clues in that you weren't listening at all, his brows furrow and his eyes narrow annoyed. • "were you even listening, you know it's incr- what are you doing!?" • the sudden pitch in his voice leaves a sense of accomplishment as you lean in close, using his (messy) desk to forward you more, and hold you up, you lean in close to his face. • to azul it seemed like a century as wordless stutters leave his tongue and his eyes frantically search everywhere without a direction. from your eyes, your lips, your nose, any distinctive features he sees, and were you always so ethereal!? • his entire body flushes over and it almost makes him look like a raw fish. • his eyes waver as you stop right in front of his face and his mind runs debating on whether he should lean first or you, and then his breath hitches once you back off. • he blinks softly before yelling, how dare you play around with me like that! • you can see why the leech twins enjoy getting under his skin so often, his face under the business mask is quite cute.

✎ JAMIL VIPER

• having you visit him during class at his desk became common for jamil, during your break time, showing up to his class and taking a seat on his desk as you ramble to him about whatever happened during class, positive or negative. • something that has become of schedule since the last school year, and jamil can admit it to himself (but not to others) that this arrangement of you visiting him makes him feel content, its nice to be sought after (even if he's not moving). • honestly he was expecting the regular, you show up, talk, then leave. • so why are you leaning in so close?! • jamil has enough mind to not lose composure, but he can't ignore the fast beat in his heart and how heavy his breath got as you move in your face close to his. • he fully expects a kiss, and who would he be to deny? • he didn't expect you to pull back last second, the call of the bell not too long after • he chooses (tries) to ignore your handsomely beautiful, yet puckish laughter as you rush out of the class with a wave. • he feels a wave of embarrassment brush over him as you leave, he's normally pretty composed, but the staring eyes (there were none, nobody in that class cared enough), and the fact that he wanted to kiss you leave him losing his cool, and in an attempt to redeem he pulls his hood over his head and lays his head into his arms patterning his breaths.

✎ VIL SCHOENHEIT

• vil schoenheit was no stranger to looks, looks of admiration, or lust. he received all with dignity from whatever fan of his he came across. picture perfect beauty for the camera he is known. • so for him to let someone in his life see the side of him that's not covered in makeup is a privilege, and yet he still doesn't for exactly know why it is you that is that special someone. • really you should know better, know well enough how to dress yourself in an neatly way, and yet here he is fixing your tie, and patting down your uniform. • a light scolding he leaves. one for you too remember, so admittedly when he catches you distracted by something, he's a bit irritate. • when he finds you slanting towards him, in a slow manner (it seems like forever) he's admittedly a bit shocked, but yet not against what's possible mixing in your head. he watches your eyes close intently, never losing his composure. sure his gaze might've drifted once or twice himself, vil knows a beauty when he see's one for sure. • and you happened to be the one in a million he sees. • vil himself does not close his eyes, his eyelashes instead fluttering down as he observes your expression, he devotedly looks to you as your face moves in front of his. a light flush catching his skin, completely opposing his calm state of mind as his own breath turns weighted and hot. his lips part ready to capture yours, but instead his eyes capture the slight tilt up in your lips. • his eyes narrow as he see's your eyes open, a teasing glint in yours, and he most definitely won't have that. • his hands clutch against your uniform as in a rough yet so delicate manner his lips mesh against yours. he feels your surprise seep into his skin, and he's left satisfied as he parts. • "Next time, have some confidence in what you wish to take, even if it is the act of stealing my breath away."

✎ MALLEUS DRACONIA

• listening to malleus talk was always relaxing you find, from how smooth and clear his voice is, to the tone of which he says it. such a shame, you only really see him before your due to head off to bed (though must admit, would you really head to bed on time?) • the moon was nigh to the middle of the sky, as the tall draconia rambled off to you about the different types of gargoyles found around NRC, every nook and cranny he could find a gargoyle in. you began to wonder whether malleus has ever played hidden mickey, knowing how many he's found so far. • you stare off, tiredness seeping into your figure as his words begin to jumble. you decided to leave him a surprise before calling off, "malleus, can you lean down for a moment?" • malleus lets out a small noise, sounding similar to a hum as he does so, a bit confused as his brows crease and face turns to curiosity. • you lean forward, towards the tall fae, your lips parting as malleus stays still, and if you looked a bit harder you could see him tense as he watches you lean closer in a mix of tension and interest. • you lean in, right in front of his face before singularly letting out a hot breath before giggling and leaning back, before you could wave him goodnight, you heard his voice echo. • "Are you really going to leave me here without pulling through?" • malleus draconia, future king of briar valley always gets what he wants, and currently he wants you to finish what you started, so now dear, where's his goodnight kiss?

#twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland x reader #twst x reader #riddle rosehearts x reader #leona kingsholar x reader #azul ashengrotto x reader #jamil viper x reader #vil shoenheit x reader #malleus draconia x reader #riddle rosehearts #leona kingscholar #azul ashengrotto #jamil viper #vil schoenheit #malleus draconia #suns pencil.

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cemeterything · 8 months

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how do you deal with. like. being out as transgender in public spaces?

school started this week and lots of my teachers have been kind enough to give opportunities to change your name and pronouns, and im agender so i use a funky little name and they/them pronouns. but i feel like, with such a negative experience with being out to people i don't know, that so many strangers all at once Knowing im transgender isn't a good thing. my classmates and teachers all know now that im not cis. when they call me by my preferred name i do a mental double take because only my friends call me by my preferred name. i feel like a spectacle. i feel like if i try to be comfortable as transgender in public then people will make fun of me for "thinking im the main character" or something. ive only dealt with bullying on the level of a few people at a time; ive always been friendly and confident around the people around me, but being publicly out has made me nervous and want to sink back into the background as much as i can to not rock the boat.

you always seem so confident when it comes to your presentation, in ALL aspects. and i know you are out as trans to a lot of people. how do you deal with hate/the idea you have a judgemental audience that in reality isn't there?

i wish i had better advice but honestly it's just. years of allowing myself to be the person i want to be and not letting other people's opinions of me discourage me from that. i learned the hard way that you will never be able to convince everyone to like or even accept you, and that it's not worth letting that define you. the people who really matter will love you more for being true to yourself than for trying to be what you think people want from you. it's hard, but it's like building up calluses on your hands from practicing a sport or a craft. the longer you live as yourself (as long as it's relatively safe for you to do so), the easier it gets to find joy in that even when you face opposition, and the stronger your sense of self-identity becomes. i hope knowing that helps a little.

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jinnie-ret · 4 months

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black friday

han jisung x plus size!reader

genre: angst, fluff at the end

content warnings: body size insecurities, reader talking negatively about themselves

word count: 1.8k

summary: it should have been a nice, fun evening out, but your insecurities win and jisung is just as upset as you are when he finds out why

Here it is, the first imagine of my 1K followers event, thank you so much everyone! Just to preface that everyone is beautiful. You are all worthy and the way your body looks does not define you. Be confident in who you are because there is a part of you that every single person out there will appreciate. I myself have gone through body image issues and I still do, so some of this is coming through my own experiences. Just because reader is plus size and feeling down does not mean this reflects how everyone plus size feels, again, this is just my own personal experiences mixed in. If you ever wanna talk then just pm me and love to you all <3

1K FOLLOWERS PLAYLIST 💚🖤

MAIN MASTERLIST

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It was just a dinner.

Just a fancy evening dinner party for JYP, and you were Jisung's plus one of course, being his girlfriend it only made sense.

The invitations clearly stated that it was a black tie event, meaning that you were to arrive formally dressed and that you'd probably expect a glass of prosecco to be handed to you upon entry.

Now that, didn't sound too bad.

What did, was the pressure of finding something new to wear, that you felt suited your shape. It was a difficult feat, you felt like. You'd only order from places guaranteed with a return policy, because you knew for sure that what would seem like a small thing to someone else, would make you wish that you never bought the item in the first place.

You had many memories of going clothes shopping as a child, and breaking down into tears in the dressing rooms because the top was too clingy or the trousers didn't fit right or the dress didn't look right on you.

No one should have to feel like that as a 7 year old kid. No one should have to feel like that, ever.

And when it wasn't just the clothes not fitting right, it was how they suddenly became itchy after, and you wanted nothing more than to get it off of your body, feeling hot with anxiety. But then there was the music blasting in the shop, and your mum asking you to show her your outfit even though your vision was so clouded with tears and you felt like you could barely breathe.

To put it simply, it was overwhelming. It was even triggering, sometimes, going shopping for something to decorate your body when it was the thing you hated the most about yourself.

Why should you like it?

Because of Jisung.

He never failed to bring you up after you hit your lows. Feeling isolated and barren in your thoughts, like you were curled up into a dark corner, locked away for no one to save you, and yet his hand would reach forwards and pull you out, being your lifeline. You needed your lifeline right now.

Doing your makeup helped for sure. It was a great way to make you feel confident yet you didn't feel like you needed to rely on it to feel pretty. You loved how your highlighter showed off your cheekbones and how your eye makeup made the colour pop out. Painfully, Jisung would always wonder why the same thing wouldn't apply with clothing. Of course, you had your casual style that you had gotten used to, but when it came to things outside of your comfort zone, you were nervous - like anyone else would be.

The dress looked stunning in the picture. On the model, not you, you thought. Why did it cling to you like that? Why did it show off your love handles? Why couldn't it have flown outwards instead of making you feel like you look like a rectangle?

In reality, none of those things mattered. It was your personality shining through that really mattered, because others would notice your melodic laugh and your kinds words much quicker than forming an opinion on your body. Again, these were all of the things Jisung would say to you but they never registered in your mind.

Smoothing down the fabric of the black dress, you bit your lip as you stared at yourself in the mirror.

"Ji! I so should have worn a suit, babe!" you call out twisting awkwardly on your heels just to check over every inch of your body in the mirror.

You heard him chuckle as he entered the bedroom, eyes widening as he looked at you.

"Babe, you look amazing no matter what, don't worry, yeah?" Jisung walked behind you, kissing you on the cheek as he scanned his bedside table for his cologne.

"I-i think this part doesn't look right though..." you frowned, pinching desperately at the smooth fabric between your thumb and finger, trying to stretch it out so it doesn't cling to you. You didn't even realise how hard you were biting on your own lip, breaking the skin as red pooled yet blended in with your red lipstick.

"Babe, you look sexy as hell right now, I'm serious," Jisung murmured into your neck as he wrapped his arms around your waist, trying to ease your worries. "The dress looks amazing on you, plus, your curves look great in the dress. There's nothing to worry about," he added on, knowing that you would end up comparing yourself to anyone else because you always felt like you were bigger than everyone, and that that was a problem.

Jisung waited for your response as he placed small gentle kisses on your neck, but you were clearly so anxious that you began to zone out.

"Babe, hey look at me. Look into my eyes," Jisung's arms tightened slightly, successfully gaining your attention as you blinked and looked at him in the mirror.

"Hmm, yeah?" you frowned, sighing and desperately trying to hold back your tears.

"There you are baby, listen, I love your body, I love your curves. And no one can tell me or more importantly you, otherwise. You look incredible in that dress," Jisung moved in front of you so you wouldn't look at your reflection anymore and instead focus on him and his words.

"I just want a perfect body, Ji, it's not fair," your eyes watered as you let out a sob, voice cracking.

"No, no, no, oh baby, it's alright, I've got you," Jisung cuddled you tightly against him, heart breaking at your cries. If only you could see what he sees and what everyone else did too. He smoothed down your hair, fingers twisting in your curls as he did so.

"I hate it, I hate it, Ji, I hate my body, I hate my skin-" you whimper into him, floodgates opened and no filter on the words that came tumbling out of your mouth now that you were in the comfort of the guy you loved the most.

"Darling, look at me, just breathe for a second, yeah?" Jisung reluctantly pulled away from you, wishing he could hold you in his arms forever and protect you from any harm the world would try throwing at you.

"O-ok," you sniffled and nodded, looking upwards as you blinked your tears away in effort of not messing up your makeup, like that would have made a difference.

"I'm sorry this dinner party has stressed you out so much, if you want we just have a nice relaxing night and-" Jisung offered another option, seeing right in front of him the mental toll that the idea of going to this event had taken on you. To him, you had seemed fine all week, so it must have been building up for a while.

"No, please don't. I... I want to go for you, I really do, it's just hard. I wanna be perfect like all your other friends," your shaky voice stopped him from carrying on as you placed a hand on his chest and adjusted the tie he was wearing, effectively distracting your own mind.

"Don't worry about my friends. Your body is none of their business. I'm sure they'd think you look amazing too. I know I could never keep my eyes away from you, I just wanna hug you and grab your love handles and kiss your cheeks and squeeze your-" Jisung rambled pressing little kisses all over your face to get you to laugh, and when he was successful, he let out a chuckle of his own.

"O-ok, o-ok," you pecked him on the lips before taking a few deep breaths and sat back in front of your vanity, quickly making a start on retouching your makeup.

"I wish you didn't worry so much, baby. I know I can't force you to see things how I do but if I could stop you from having all these thoughts in your head I would, you know that right?" Jisung stood behind you, mesmerised as you got yourself ready again, and he couldn't help but play with your hair.

"I know babe, I know- ow!" you winced, batting his hands away from your hair, "you tugged too hard," you wrinkled your nose at him.

"I'm bored, hurry up, I wanna take pictures of us for my Instagram story," he whined, shaking you gently by the shoulders. He was glad he had calmed you down and brought out your playful mood again, and for a moment he was worried about suggesting the idea of pictures when that's partly what you were stressed out about. He was relieved when that didn't throw you off.

"You always wanna take pictures of me," you shake your head fondly at him, putting your lipstick down and standing to grab your handbag.

"Of course I do! You're my girlfriend! Look at this picture," Jisung brought out his phone and quickly found a picture in his gallery, "I love this one here, because you look pretty like the sun. But then in this one here, you're pretty like the wind," he even zoomed in on your face, admiring you.

"Ji, babe, my hair has gone everywhere in that photo haha," you laughed when he zoomed in, seeing your face screwed up in the photo with your hair flying back behind you, some of it sticking in the air.

"Mmm, don't care, you're pretty to me no matter what. Now, come on, let's go," Jisung shoved his phone in his pocket and kisses you for a second, always having to do so after you freshly put lipstick on, a habit of his, you could say.

"Ji, you look so handsome tonight by the way," you scanned him up and down, a black suit and his fluffy permed hair with curls that still lasted from a performance the other day.

"Hey! We gotta go! Don't flip this round on me, you!" Jisung grabbed your hand and tugged you towards him, laughing at your blank stare at him. "We'll miss the whole event at this rate... don't look at me like that," Jisung stopped still.

"Like what?" you tilted your head to the side, eyes shining and staring right back up into his.

"Like..." he blushed, "come on, if we stay any longer I'm not gonna be able to keep my hands off of you," he turned around, intertwining his hand with yours and leading you out of the bedroom, turning the light switch off on the way.

"Wouldn't be so bad," you giggled, before he whined once more.

"Babe!"

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top listeners: @skz-streamer @kiraisastay @hannahhbahng @kpopmenace143 @sakufilms @kai-lee08 @arloo00 @dunno-wut-to-do @splat00z @cheesemonky @his-angell @turtledove824 @2minstan @royal-shinigami @yangbbokari

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msperfect777 · 10 months

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what exactly is consciousness (you)?

⭐️part four of the understanding consciousness & non dualism series

consciousness = your true & only identity; imagination; everything, awareness, the observer

consciousness is empty space, limitless, formless, infinite, everything yet nothing, the "thing" prior to any thought, freedom, pure happiness

words cannot describe consciousness exactly bc words are limited while consciousness is limitless -> the words "empty space" and "formless" are the closest ways to describe consciousness in words. consciousness is neutral. there is no "right" or "wrong" to your true self, consciousness has no opinion while the ego / mind does have opinions. all ideas of "up" and "down" and "pink" and "orange" are all imagined; they arent real but the ego / mind (which is also imagined and not real,) makes it seem as if they were real.

consciousness (imagination) is the real reality that is different forms of consciousness which make up "life". since everything is consciousness, reality is everywhere, everything is reality. its all the same, no separation, all consciousness / imagination. consciousness = reality

even the words "reality" and "imagination" do not describe consciousness exactly. you are just far too powerful to be fully described by limited words.

"reality has no qualities whatsoever. even to define reality as nothing it already is too much... because as soon as you say nothing, the mind instantly starts to conceptualize it and turns it into a finite concept. but lets just say nothing, because there is no better choice of words. nothing = infinite... so, because reality is not good nor bad... it has the capacity to shapeshift as good, or bad... according to your conception of it and definition. reality shapeshifts according to the seer, which is the absolute. you are god." @realitywarpingg (ig)

ego / the mind (thoughts, feelings, beliefs etc) has the ability to categorize things as good or bad while consciousness cannot. everything you are aware of right now is consciousness and its being judged by the ego even thought its all the same...consciousness. in the end, reality (everything, "physical world") is controlled by you (consciousness/awareness).

"reality is infinite imagination...you are dreaming. your whole sense of physical reality is deeply linked with the imaginary sense of 'otherness' that you have created. its deeply linked with the false identity that you have imagined which is: a normal human being being amongst many humans." @realitywarpingg (ig)

you see the "physical" world as separate and real bc of ego. is not real, there is no "physical world" and there are no "others." there is only you, consciousness, in infinite forms which you create.

imagining a chocolate cake in front of you = consciousness

seeing a chocolate cake in the "physical world" (which is not real) = consciousness

both chocolate cakes are consciousness but the ego & mind tells you that they are different and one is more realer than the other even though nothing is real to begin with bc everything is imaginary (imagination / consciousness)

#nonduality #nondualism #non duality #non dualism #manifesation #manifesting #law of assumption #consciousness #enlightenment #advaita #observer #spirituality #spirtitual

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justproshiprants · 8 months

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I am worried for how common the antiship mindset seems to be getting in fandom nowadays. It's definitely partly that a lot of antis just...don't even know what being proship is? A lot of them seem to think it's people who are into and create problematic media for the purpose of getting off, or equate the term with loli/shotacon.

Meanwhile, proship is often defined by proship communities as just being anti censorship and anti harassment. You're free to despise age gap or incestuous ships. But it's your job to block the tags and people so you don't have to look at it. You are a hypocrite and an ass if you look for content you know you don't like and then complain that you've seen content that you think is awful.

For a long time in fandom, that was how it is. People were free to have their opinions on ships, but you avoided content that made you uncomfortable.

But recently, there's been an uproar from people who think that this personal discomfort is something that means the people who create it are evil and that said content shouldn't have the right to exist. People who encourage harassing people over it. Some of these people are minors. Some of these people didn't even know the ship was problematic or didn't even ship it themselves.

I kind of dislike making the accusation, but it is a weirdly puritan mindset. It is an inherently fucked up belief to think that thoughts and actions are equal or that thought crimes exist. Thoughts and actions are not equal. Thought crimes do not exist. Fiction does not equal reality. When you have the tools to avoid content you don't like, and you instead choose to purposefully see that content so you can feel angry about it and justify harassing people...Maybe you should think about that a bit.

#I don't actually have anything against loli/shota or those who get off to “problematic” media as long as it's fictional btw #just saying that's not what being proship is #proship #proshippers please interact #fandom discourse

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oceane4loveu · 6 months

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wonyoung:don't compare yourself to others ♡

wonyoung's mindset emphasizes self-acceptance and confidence in one's own abilities. She knows her values and does not compare herself to others. How to have the same state of mind as her?

1-become aware of your value: remember that your value does not depend on your appearance, your success or the validation of others. each of us has our own qualities and talents that make us unique and special. take the time to remind yourself of everything you have accomplished so far, your strengths and everything that makes you unique and special.

2-avoid the pitfalls of social networks: social media can be a source of comparison and insecurity. but remember that the images and stories shared on the networks only represent a fragment of reality. Start to limit your time on the networks and keep in mind that each represents this best versions online.

3-love yourself: learn to love yourself and accept who you are. Compliment yourself, repeat positive affirmations to yourself in front of the mirror and fall in love with yourself. work on your self-esteem and try to do better than you were yesterday. Also surround yourself with positive people and start activities that strengthen your self-confidence and your self-love.

4-practice gratitude: focus on what you have rather than what you don't have. Get in the habit of writing down a few things you are grateful for. This will help you develop a possible attitude and appreciate your own journey without comparing yourself to others.

5-practice self-comparison: develop a caring attitude towards yourself by granting yourself kindness and compassion. replace criticism and judgment with understanding your imperfections and your errors.

6-focus on your personal goals: define your own goals based on your passions and desires then make a realistic action plan to achieve your goals. measure your success based on your personal projects rather than comparing it to that of others.

7-Avoid constant comparisons: It’s easy to get caught up in a cycle of comparison by looking at what others have or do. Focus on your own path and distance yourself from influences that fuel constant comparisons.

8-you are you, I am me: this expression from wonyoung simply means that each individual is unique and that it is important to concentrate on your own personal path. this implies not comparing yourself to others and not trying to imitate or follow the same path as others. wonyoung encourages self-acceptance and valuing one's own talents, qualities...she also emphasizes not being influenced by the opinions or expectations of others.

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the-music-maniac · 4 months

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Zoro has rapidly become my favourite character in One Piece and so I felt the need to write this after seeing one too many people misinterpret him as this alpha male type of dude purely because he's muscular and likes fighting. Don't do my boi like that, I actually think Zoro is a very good example of non toxic masculinity, and I will fight people over it. I've seen someone call Zoro a red flag. I will find you.

I've seen this happen quite often when it comes to characters with certain body types and defining traits, especially in shows with large followings like one piece, where people just tend to equate muscular + likes to fight + likes to drink to a certain archetype of personality without looking at the nuance? In reality, Zoro is a very likeable guy in my opinion (once you get over how terrifying he can be as an opponent).

Disclaimer: I haven't finished the entire show so feel free to write any rebuttals if you think I got anything wrong! Fandom debates can be quite fun.

I also mention Sanzo/Zosan very briefly so feel free to skip over that part if you're not into that ship.

The biggest thing I think people tend to forget is that Zoro is kind. And this one I don't understand how anyone can forget, because it's like an integral part of his character. Sure, his goal of becoming the greatest swordsman is not a path that's without bloodshed. He's not kind in an all encompassing, indiscriminate way, he's kind in a practical way, especially in the world he lives in with the type of life he leads. He doesn't have qualms about killing when necessary. But the motivation behind those actions are never cruel. He wants to be the greatest swordsman, but he's not amassing that skill because he wants power. He's doing it for love of that weapons style and for the childhood dream both Kuina and him had. Does he like fighting? Yeah, but I'm pretty certain it's purely for the competition of skill. And Zoro shows his kindness with how willing he is to help those who need it, in that he usually doesn't use his strength to take what he wants/hurt others but to protect. Even when he was a bounty hunter and earned his moniker of Demon of the East, he was just trying to survive. I'm not sure how people forget that he's a kind person when our initial introduction to Zoro was him agreeing to get tied to a post for a month without food or water to save a little girl and her mother. He's kind in the little ways as well, in that mundane everyday living type of manner, not just in the big, heroic "risk your life" type of way, which I think is important to acknowledge. He didn't have to tell that girl that her food was good. And Zoro is pretty damn good with children - we see that with Chopper, and we see that with that filler episode with Zoro babysitting and - I think there are some more examples but I can't recall them right now. That's a very big green flag in my opinion. The little gestures can matter as much as the big ones. As far as I'm concerned, those traits couldn't be further from the "alpha male" stereotype.

I've also seen people characterize Zoro as just a cool, quiet, man-of-few-words type of guy, and sure, I can see how he would give that impression if all you saw of him was random edits of when he gets serious but honestly, the man is pretty fucking sassy. He's also just - SUCH a 19 year old with all the antics he gets up to with the rest of the crew, and I'm aware he gets much more serious after the timeskip (I haven't gotten to that point yet in terms of watching but I don't care about spoilers so I know the reason behind it), but like. I don't think he lost his snark from some clips I've seen. Zoro is funny, and I think people ignore that too often for the cool guy type of characterization. Not that he isn't cool - Zoro has his moments but that's not all he is. The man gets lost running in a straight line???? He once almost got frozen in wax and decided his priority was to ensure he died in a cool pose. That type of willingness to be silly is not something you find in a stereotypical alpha male type of personality. Like, who are you kidding, he's lame af, unashamed of it, and it's fabulous.

Another thing, granted this is not a common opinion by any means, but on one instance I've seen someone act as if Zoro's some lady killer or some shit and I actually had to pause and stare at my screen in disbelief. Could I see women being attracted to Zoro? Yeah sure, I mean the one example I can think of right now is Hiyori (another example may or may not be me. But then again you knew that didn't you, considering this post is just one giant love letter to Zoro). But does Zoro purposely try to attract women? Uh no? I don't even think the man is straight. He's either aromantic/asexual (very ace of him to not give a shit about romance but leap up in two seconds upon hearing the word "sword") or just gay, cause he exhibits very little interest in romance, or very little indication that he finds women attractive. And I pinpointed attraction to women specifically just cause people tend to assume Zoro is heterosexual and have the audacity to get mad at you if you try to imply otherwise. Which to me is clearly heteronormativity speaking because where. Where is he straight, I don't see it. And sure is there a possibility he may be heterosexual and just unwilling to act on attraction because he has a different goal in life? Yeah sure, but you can't act like that's the only valid interpretation for him. But regardless, no matter what sexuality you headcanon him as, he's still very very far from "manly man with ladies swooning left and right into his muscular arms" type character. I mean if someone swooned into him I'm pretty sure he would catch them on principle without registering any romantic connotations whatsoever. (Note that these opinions do not stop me from being a Sanzo/Zosan shipper, but that's more because I find the concept entertaining. An argument could also be made that Zoro does pay the most attention to Sanji, even if it's to fight him). So yeah, another strike against the whole alpha male type of characterization. Zoro doesn't really give a shit about romance and even if he DID, I am convinced he still wouldn't treat a potential romantic partner as anything but an equal, doesn't matter if that s/o is a man, woman or non binary. And this segways into my next point.

Because Zoro has some very refreshing attitudes about gender, both his own and of other people. This doesn't just tie in with the sexuality/romantic partner thing, it ties into the willingness to be authentic/silly thing, and the "likes to compare skills through fighting" thing. I very much think that Zoro just doesn't really register gender roles much, or he does and he just doesn't care about it. And I'm aware this partially stems from a position of privilege he has as a guy - he doesn't need to care about gender roles and how people view him because he's a man. He wouldn't be short changed for anything if he doesn't notice. While the same luxury is not extended to individuals like Kuina and Tashigi, who were in a field of practice that looks down on them purely for being women. Having said that, Zoro literally just doesn't give a shit who he's dealing with, man, woman or any other gender. If you challenge him, he'll fight you. And the level of effort he gives that fight is usually dependent on ability and the situation. If you annoy him, he'll annoy you back. He has no qualms about snarking and yelling at Nami the same as he would with a male member of the crew. People in the past that have pointed out to him the difference in the way the rest of the world perceives men and women - like with Kuina and Tashigi for example - is met with confusion. And again, this is partially because Zoro has the privilege of not noticing, but honestly even if he did notice, I don't think his personal actions would change. And I find that refreshing. I love Sanji as a character, don't get me wrong, but his whole refuses to fight women schtick is something that annoys me (even if I do headcanon that it partially comes from a place of trauma). And moreover, Zoro gives me the impression of a person that doesn't give a shit if his own masculinity is "compromised", going by the stereotypical definition of the phrase. He does shit cause he feels like it, not cause it's the "manly" thing to do. Yeah, he happens to like drinking, working out - things that are considered traditionally masculine, but I get the sense that if he did have hobbies that were not traditionally masculine, he would just go ahead and do them regardless of what people think of him. His antics pre-timeskip wasn't exactly the epitome of manliness, it was silly and goofy and he has no qualms about it cause it was authentically him. And he wouldn't feel threatened if he were to do anything not in keeping with a "manly" image, even if he wouldn't do any of that of his own volition. Like the babysitting filler episode? The man was in a crop top that said "mama" on the front. I fully believe that if he lost a bet to Nami and had to wear a dress or some other traditionally feminine piece of clothing, or if for some convoluted reason Luffy ordered him to put on a disguise like that for some mission or whatever, Zoro wouldn't give a shit as long as it was comfortable and didn't obstruct his ability to fight. If someone made fun of him for it, he would probably bite back depending on how insulting the person is trying to be, cause not caring about wearing non masculine clothing doesn't mean he would be okay with someone looking down on him, but he wouldn't automatically equate the two to each other without that interference, and that association wouldn't be permanent. Would he choose to wear a dress on his own? Probably not. He does still have clothing preferences and they tend to be simple, practical and comfortable, and with certain clothing pieces, in keeping with his culture. Would he fly into an insecure rage about not being a girl? I don't think so. And that's so far in attitude from the whole alpha male thing that it's not even funny. The whole concept of an identity centered around being an alpha male reeks of insecurity, and Zoro is very secure in who he is as a person.

And this is also why I think Zoro would act differently in a romance than how "alpha males" would act, even if it's with a woman (I still don't think Zoro is straight btw, but just for conjecture). For one he respects people based on ability and if not that, determination and heart, so right off the bat he's not gonna treat his partner as lesser than him by virtue of being a woman. And I've noticed that a lot of heterosexual couples (not all, mind you, but a lot) seem to care more about dating a gender role than dating an actual person. By that, I mean individuals who pride themselves on being a model of masculinity however they define it - usually look for a partner to compliment them in that regard. I find this counterproductive, because your partner is not meant to be a tool/accessory to maintain your image, and also because being the perfect man or woman is too narrow of a definition, and it doesn't exactly leave you a lot of room to live comfortably as a human - with all your fallible moments that don't fit comfortably in little boxes. It's impractical and illogical. If you value maintaining the status quo and assigning responsibilities and roles based on arbitrary rules assigned by society instead of ability, if you care about that more than you care about helping your partner and maintaining a functional life, I don't think y'all are gonna last long. That's just my two cents. But for the reasons listed before, Zoro barely even registers gender roles, and he's a pretty "get shit done" type of person. He's not gonna give a shit. He'll do what he's able to do for the relationship, and he wouldn't feel insecure when his partner does the same, even if it doesn't fit into traditional roles. And considering Zoro's love of sparring/fighting I don't think he would get with a partner that isn't able to give him a run for his money anyways. Another thing that sets him apart from the alpha male stereotype, those guys are terrified of anyone challenging them for their position of "authority", however dubious that position is (and however stupid it is to care about notions of dominance for a relationship. Have y'all seen those interview videos with guys who actually believe that? "I can't date a girl that bench presses more than me cause that means she becomes the dominant figure in the relationship" excuse me what.)

This post is getting overly long so I'm going to end it there. Thanks for reading!

#zoro my beloved #roronoa zoro #one piece #sanzo #zosan #zoro x sanji #but only brief mentions of it #mischaracterization and my annoyance with it

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notastranger · 4 months

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Opinions Do Not Define Your Reality Wallpaper

#motivational #motivate #motivation #Motivating myself #motivating quotes #get motivated #motivational wallpaper #wallpaper #lock screen #lockscreens #opinions do not define your reality #reality #inspiring words #inspirational #inspiring quotes #inspiration

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dreamwritersworld · 11 months

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Disconnected. (Sully family x reader)

she may have seemed peaceful to Mo’ak on the outside but inside…Y/n was going through war. She never liked resting because her dreams always haunted her…

*y/n’s dreams*

The forest was filled with an Erie silence…water droplets falling onto the muddy floor..traces of footprints imprinted.

Mo’at’s voice caught Y/n’s attention…it didn’t terrify her own grandmother that her granddaughter was walking in blood..

“Do you blame yourself?”

Y/n was taken back and her voice hitched in confusion

“…what?”

“Well it’s quite common for someone like you to feel some kind of…guilt.”

“…what situation?”

The young girl never told anyone about her best friends death. The dead’s child family decided to keep it a secret and protect Y/n’s privacy.

“The accident.”

Y/n was suddenly pulled away back into darkness and drowning in a puddle of her best friends own blood, gasping for air. She yet again had another panic attack.

“Are you tormented by memories?”

Y/n’s final gasp woke her up.

The sudden shift back to reality felt sickening. She woke up to Mo’at arguing with Neytiri and Jake.

“How do you go about defining good and evil?!”

Jake was angry, you can hear it in his voice.

“I can tell you right now that child is more good than evil! You are more worried about your reputation than your own kids, and you know it. The same thing as worrying about other people’s opinion instead of your own child!”

“My kids come first to me-“

“Going from one child to the next? Instead of giving them proper time to grow and love them properly? Please.”

“We have a happy household.”

There it is, that same statement Neytiri always makes in different wording. All. The. Time.

Y/n was infuriated sitting there…her grandmother’s saw exactly what she was ashamed of. It brought Y/n to tears, she had to face her own reality.

“Well your kid doesn’t look very happy to me. Really?”

The was a sense of disbelief in Mo’at’s voice, anger and frustration to get snap on her daughter whom she never placed pressure on….

It was visible to everyone, Y/n was broken and she can only be pushed so much till she…well you know how her story would end if she was pushed further.

In that moment all of the screaming and arguing faded away while another’s mind watch Y/n from a far…watched how she cried in frustration unsure on what to do or how to feel when someone like her grandmother finally recognizes her.

Neteyam. Her older brother, he told the rest of the siblings he was going to make sure their home was clear but he lied. Curiosity took the best of him…and watching Y/n show real emotions sent shock waves.

*neteyam’s flashback*

Y/n was always so strange to watch. She was silent and you could never tell what she was feeling.

When I was upset…I usually blinked quicker or shifted but Y/n’s look never showed much. My own little sister was better at everything compared to me, my father just pushed past it. When I was younger and didn’t know better I just figured she was doing everything wrong but now…now I know that’s not true.

So every time father yelled or screamed at me when we were younger, I took it…but it never worked that way for Y/n at the time, when she was younger she couldn’t take it at all. The small tears would fall, the moment she turned around.

“Y/n! Wrong! Again! Are you kidding me? Do better. I don’t know why people don’t say you have confidence. You are the cockiest kid I’ve ever worked with and yet you do everything wrong.”

We watched Y/n train for four hours already…it was now about to be five. She continued but the blood on her fingers didn’t fail to fall like her tears once she looked down at her feet for a small breather.

How can I take it? I wonder. Y/n’s ‘tougher’ than I am. Why can I take it?…and Y/n can’t.

my mind pondered on all the right answers but…then I knew. Training was the only thing Y/n loved and now that passion was gone. Y/n loved training when we were much younger, it gave her thrill until now…

That was the only time I saw Y/n cry. I always believed Y/n was a perfectionist…but looking back at the way our father corrected her every time…it was him not her.

So there Y/n was crying while watching her grandmother reveal all her true emotions, for the first time Y/n looked and acted like a child….she resorted back to her younger self.

“You’re making her upset Mother! This is you-“

Y/n spoke up for her grandmother but it was clear in her voice she was exhausted and in pain.

“Im not upset because of grandmother. Im upset because of you. You did this! Throughout my entire childhood you have made me the outcast-“

“Really Y/n? Name one time! I outta tell you kid you better pick your words wisely before your grounded.”

“Again? Is this your solution to everything still?…you just don’t get it. You have always put me again my siblings and constantly perfect me on everything. You have said to me, to a child! the only reason I get complimented on doing everything right is because everyone is delirious. Who does that? You’re awful.”

“You leave right now Y/n! Now! I mean it. I will not have you behaving like this! It’s what you always wanted right?! Go!”

Y/n froze in place and her shoulders fell in defeat…this is what they always wanted, a reason to kick Y/n out.

Mo’at reached out for the now lost girl while her parents just watched.

“Y/n! Don’t disappear, do what you want, as long as you stay with me. I see you my grandchild-“

Those were the exact words Y/n needed until it was cut short with Mo’at falling in her arms. The young girls eyes looked back and forth directly at Mo’at before y/n’s body leaned forward with her grandmothers limp body, falling slowly down with her…letting out the most heart wrenching scream at her grandmothers blood leaking all over her and leaving a stain on her already broken heart.

“Nooooo!!”

Helicopters above shot at the area surrounding them while the village was screaming in the background. Neytiri’s cries were loud before Jake pulled her up to find the other kids.

War was starting. The humans have found their home. Y/n had nothing, nowhere to go. She just wanted a moment of silence.

Sobs were let out while she dragged her grandmother’s body with her sobbing in between rocks begging Eywa to return her.

Mo’at was the only person who understood her and at certain points of their life…they drank poison from the same vine.

!💓!

Going to be honest I don’t know if this is the last part :( I’m so sorry I haven’t been able to produce stories as quickly! I wanted the song to symbolize how mo’at and y/n’s relationship with their parents were very similar and how Y/n was ashamed and saddened by her mother exposing how she truly felt while still being happy that she was now recognized. “I love it and I hate it at the same time.”

I ALSO IMAGINED Y/N’s SCREAM SOUNDING EXACTLY LIKE ROCKET’S FROM GOTG 3

Tag list: @noodlesfics @eywas-heir @itshype @zatarias-pandora @yeosxxx @arminsgfloll l @tsireyak @neteyamforlife @aimsro @elegantkidfansoul l @goodiesinthecloset21 1 @nikotokitaswife @bucky1235 @detectivesparrow @kikosaurscave @ssc7514 @simp-erformarvelwomen @eirianna @ambria @im-in-a-pansexual-panik @lv9su @luciddasher @dakotali @httpjiikook @tainted-artist4161 @fanboyluvr r @bat1212 @ducks118 @midnightliacr @osakis-gf @briannalarae @thirsty4nonlivingmen @historygeekqueen @abbersreads @hoodiepandaninja16 @valovesyou @silentlyswimming @r3dc4ndy @onlytays @papichulo120627 @tsamiaxo @wwwellacom @dotheyevenknowmars @midgetpottermills @he110hon @hotdsstuff @heart-an0n @go-river-flows

#SoundCloud #angst #jake sully x reader #neteyam x reader #loak x reader #neteyam sully #neytiri sully #sully family x reader #avatar loak #avatar the way of water #sully family x daughter reader

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the-dixon-effect · 9 months

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Sweet Interruptions

A/N: thanks so much @matilda4eve for this request which you can find here 💕image creds @Emotionalady on pinterest | i had so much fun writing this and i really hope you guys enjoy because as usual i was up in the earliest hours of the morning writing this 😭

summary: Y/N and Daryl are both secretly pining for each other, and it takes all manner of 'interruptions' to bring them together.

era: season 3-4, prison era

pairing: Daryl Dixon x fem!reader

words: 2.3k

warnings: suggestive, Merle being annoying, basically no warnings ^_^

The Georgian wind was hot against your bare shoulders as you stood in the prison yard. It didn't go unnoticed by the other residents how, like always, you appeared lost in your thoughts as you idly gazed at the archer who was working a considerable distance away. Despite having spoken, maybe, two words to Daryl, you were already in deep. You watched his arms flex, those irresistibly tanned biceps contract and relax as if he were a sculptor shaping a beautiful piece of art, when in reality he was simply tweaking his motorcycle. You admired the way his unkempt chocolate hair framed his pretty face, and, when you caught sight of those gorgeous cerulean eyes that seemed invisible to everyone else, it felt enough to just look at him, without needing any attention from him whatsoever. You adored all of him, not just his appearance, and simply from observation you could tell he was a troubled man. How you dreamt of wiping away those tears you knew Daryl hid away somewhere deep inside, reserved for those cold nights spent alone. You dreamt of holding him tight, feeling his big arms wrap around your waist, kissing him anywhere you could reach and-

You were enraptured. And today, it would take some groundbreaking event to drag you from your wild imagination. Just the sight of him working on his bike had you rubbing your thighs together. You loved the way his brows furrowed in concentration, and you couldn't help but imagine him doing other things with those skilled hands.

With blown-out pupils and parted lips, you had lost all sense of where you were and what you might look like gawking at the archer. A forceful hand on your shoulder made you practically jump out of your skin as you took in your surroundings in an instant. You turned your body sharply to face whoever had, somewhat rudely, in your opinion, interrupted your typical daydreams. You recognized the woman and thank God it was a friend, not someone with too many questions about what you were doing, you thought, now considering that your staring might have been a little excessive. It was Maggie, and that familiar Southern drawl reached your ears before you could register the mischievous look she was giving you.

"Aren't ya 'sposed to be workin' out here?" she said, with a very obvious smirk painting the subtle lines on her face. When you realised that she could see straight through you, you decided it was no use denying your little crush any longer. Rubbing your hand on the back of your clammy neck, you spoke quietly, smirking a little yourself.

"It's not like I got something better to do," you said, blushing.

"Well," she began, stringing out the syllable in a playful tone, "you could be helpin' me insteada' standin' out here like a deer in headlights."

You hummed, "Or, I could stay right here." you said with a giggle.

Sure, everybody knew about your infatuation, and sure, Daryl had noticed too. Unbeknownst to you, he had caught himself stealing glances at you too. He noticed the little things, the kind of things any other lust-filled guy wouldn't see. The silkiness of your hair, the precious flare in your cheeks after spending a day in the sun, your beautiful wide smile, the way your cheeks crease when you smile, the gleam in those bewitching eyes when you're looking at him. You were so... sweet. That's it, sweet. If he could define your being in one word, that would be it. Sweet. So sickeningly sweet, Daryl concluded that he'd never met anyone so soft and pure in his life before.

Sometimes, he hated it. What was a girl like you doing in a world like this? Surely, he thought, it would catch up to you soon enough and you'd die at the hands of-

Daryl could hear his brother's voice ringing in his ears.

Ya gon' protect her, lil' bro? She sure needs it, pretty thing won't survive long on her own.

A part of him feared that the memory of Merle's cynicism was right. Except, unlike other times, he wanted to protect you. For the first time, the idea of making a girl feel safe didn't come as a burden. The desire to keep you from harm came unfamiliar to him. It was a strange feeling that, despite the barriers he built that were supposed to guard him from these superficial affections, began to pierce his thoughts and corrupt his selfish notions. It started in the daytime, when he found himself glimpsing at you from a distance, then thinking about you, what you might feel like under his hands, so deliciously forbidden. Then thoughts of you entered his mind at night, and waves of guilt didn't cease to wash over him every time he buried his calloused hands beneath the rough denim of his jeans.

Your presence was angelic, he couldn't bring himself to deny that. If only he could work up the courage just to talk to you.

She don't wantchu, baby brother! What's a cute girl like her gon' wanna do with ya?

Nah, this time, Merle was wrong. Daryl had seen the way you looked at him, the way the corners of your mouth tugged up in a slightly mischievous grin when the two of you locked eyes across the room, right? Yes. This time, his anxiety and self-consciousness were not going to get the better of him.

The next day, Daryl's fingers tightly gripped the metal hand railing of the prison staircase, threatening to turn white if he didn't loosen his grasp. He was staring you down, having lost a little bit of the sudden confidence he found himself equipped with yesterday. Maybe he should talk to Rick, or Glenn? They were good with girls, right? Perhaps they'd offer the right advice for Daryl's foreign predicament.

Before Daryl could consider what he might say to the more 'experienced' men of the group, he was approached by Glenn, who adorned a beige button-up, black jeans, and a grin from ear to ear.

"Hey, man, why don't you just talk to her?" without really registering Glenn's words, Daryl was more focused on the sight of you in the corner of the dining area. Perched on a rusty metal seat, he couldn't shake the notion that you appeared so... out of place. Surrounded by those sporting worn clothes and sullen dispositions, you maintained a distinct luminescence that Daryl could only pine-

Shit. She's lookin' at me. An' I'm lookin' at her. An' what the fuck is Glenn saying?

"Uh- uhh, yeah," Daryl drawled. He turned sharply, and hoped it actually was a question to which he answered appropriately. The last thing he wanted was for everyone to think that the stoic hunter was crumbling under the gaze of a dead-girl-walking. It seemed, however, that he was too late.

"Look man, she obviously likes you and- and this world's too unpredictable not to tell her the truth about how you feel. I mean, look at what me and Maggie have." Daryl nodded. He somehow couldn't meet the other man's eyes. He agreed, though, that Glenn was right. In a world where love seemed like the most unattainable possibility, one look around this new residency revealed that love, however frivolous (and, dangerous), was blossoming all around. Glenn and Maggie, Judith, Tyreese and Karen, and ever-observant Daryl hadn't failed to notice the stolen glances between Rick and the newcomer Michonne. Maybe, despite the world outside the walls, Daryl could let himself love you. And let himself be loved by you.

With a pat on the shoulder and a nod goodbye, Daryl was left alone on the staircase with a grip on the rail a little looser than it was previously. At least, if he couldn't man up and straight up talk to you, he could find a way to show his love.

Show, don't tell, he decided.

ONE WEEK LATER Daryl stood in the prison yard, one leg swung over the seat of his bike, lost in the fond memory of a conversation you engaged him in the other day. He struggled even to remember what you spoke about. His thoughts were clouded with visions of you, the way your mouth looked when you smiled and talked at the same time, the way your eyes widened a little and your pupils expanded. Was that... just for him? Oh yes, that was it. He was going on a run and... you needed a new jacket, since you lost the old one during the transition from the farm to the prison, and now winter was approaching. Daryl was uncharacteristically nervous about whether you would like it, whether it would fit. Your sweet voice immediately snapped him out of his anxiety (which he had no idea how to handle) when you held up his gift and thanked him graciously.

"Hey, Daryl, I was... uhh- since you're visiting that old mall, I was just wondering if you could maybe pick up a jacket for me from a clothing store... or something? I lost mine and it's getting kinda cold... Don't bother if it's too much trouble!"

"Yeah, yeah, of course,"

You tried suppressing a little bit of shock after he agreed without a snarky remark, or without an irritated huff leaving his thin lips. As you stood rocking on your heels, you couldn't help but blush at the fact that his reaction was different for you than for everyone else.

Before Daryl could register the presence of a woman beside him and cease his musing for another day, he felt a brush of distinctly soft skin on the hand that rested on the seat of his bike. He turned to face whoever had just interrupted his romantic daze, preparing to brush them off as fast as he could, but- It was you. And were wearing that jacket. The one that he'd given to you. He almost melted at the sight and he had to compose himself before attempting to address you. He couldn't avoid, however, furrowing his brows and softening his eyes in the way you adored so.

"Uh, hey," he drawled, as his eyes wandered the lengths of your body and took in the sight of you, standing so close to him.

"Hey Daryl, I just... wanted to say thanks so much! I really appreciate you going out to get this for me," you said, softly and dreamily. You paused for a moment, averting your gaze down at your feet, contemplating how Daryl's eyes hadn't ceased studying your image since you approached him.

"I just wonder if there's anything I could do to return the favour?" Your wide eyes seemed to be speaking a different language, and Daryl could interpret only this;

I see the way you look at me,

I know you want me too,

Come inside.

"Nah, dun' worry 'bout it. Glad you like it."

"Alright, well, thanks anyway!" In that moment, you searched every cell of your body for the courage you needed to do what you were about to do. Rising up to your tiptoes, you swiftly but softly pecked a kiss on his cheek and began to quickly stride back to the prison entrance, before he had a chance to berate you.

"Hey, Y/N," he called out. You hummed in response, realising that you hadn't managed to make it as far as you wanted. A wave of guilt rushed through you, suddenly. It's not a big deal, it's just a kiss on the cheek, right?

"Rick said something about wanting us to talk later, you and me,"

"Rick did? Why later, why not now?"

Daryl was lost. He hadn't planned what to say next in this conversation. In truth, he just wanted you to stay, and if that meant succumbing to stuttering in front of you, then so be it.

"I, uhh- I dunno', I guess he thinks there's... things we oughta' discuss?"

One corner of your mouth tugged up when you realised just how utterly clueless Daryl really was. "Yeah, like what?" Let's see how he plays this one out, you thought.

"I dunno', unspoken stuff, I guess?" It was clear Daryl didn't know how to operate when attempting to vocalize his feelings. His glossy hair was falling over his eyes and framing his pretty face so perfectly, in a way that caught the last of the sunlight and lingered before it disappeared behind the trees.

You couldn't help yourself.

Approaching the archer, you removed your hands from the back pockets of your jeans and held eye contact for a moment. When his thin lips pressed together in what you recognised as a smile, you leaned in, pressing one hand to the side of his face and feeling the warmth of his flushed cheeks. Rising to your tiptoes once more, you closed the small distance between the two of you and waited for him to return the sweet kiss. It must have taken him a couple seconds to register what was happening because, when he did, you relaxed into the beautiful embrace of your tongues.

He tasted like pinewood, cinnamon, and stormy weather. It was delicious, and you couldn't get enough. When he allowed himself to place his hands on your hips, you felt the need for air rise up from the pit of your stomach to your throat. Placing your other hand on the back of Daryl's neck, you moved away slowly, not yet withdrawing from the closeness, and spoke,

"You can tell Rick that you're gonna come find me later."

#brandy writes #daryl dixon x reader #daryl x reader #the walking dead #daryl dixon fluff #daryl dixon x you #daryl dixon #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon x y/n #daryl x you #twd fluff #the walking dead daryl #daryl dixion imagine #daryl fanfiction #twd daryl #daryl twd #daryl dixon x female reader #fem reader #daryl dixon twd

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writerbuddha · 8 months

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Okay so I recently saw a reblog to Jedi Apologists refutation of the Jedi being a cult which talked about mindfulness as a bad thing with it’s emphasis on self compassion leading to narcissism (I’m paraphrasing). Anyway, this really didn’t sound right from everything I’ve read about it on various pro-Jedi blogs and have taken away from Star Wars itself. And we’ll when I looked up mindfulness some of the stuff I’ve found went into how the practice has been corrupted by Western capitalism and how Buddhists have criticised the way it’s used too.

So as a practising Buddhist how does Western mindfulness deviate from its Buddhist roots and how do the Jedi use mindfulness in the truest sense?

First of all, people have a tendency to forgot or to actively ignore that there is a difference between these four:

Mindfulness

Meditation

Mindfulness meditation

Being mindful of your emotions

Mindfulness in Buddhism

Mindfulness in Buddhism can be defined as maintaining a flow of voluntarily awareness or attention, holding, bearing something in mind, without distraction, without forgetfulness. This awareness, attention is non-judgmental, not filtering things through subjective opinions, or labeling things as good and bad based on like or dislike. But it entails you to have a clear view of what's happening in your mind, body, and environment, and you can recognize which ways of speaking, behaving and using the mind is conducive to your and to other's well-being, which are afflictive, toxic, harmful to you and to others, and you can do the sensible, compassionate thing.

Buddhist Mindfulness and Western Psychology - mindfulness versus meditation

In the context of Western psychology, "mindfulness" often refers to mindfulness practices incorporated into the Western therapeutic toolkit, most often mindfulness meditation. However, one must understand that even as all forms of Buddhist meditation involve mindfulness, mindfulness is not the same as meditation and not all types of mediation is mindfulness meditation. The Buddha taught his followers to practice mindfulness all the time. It should be clear that one can make Buddhist mindfulness a day-to-day activity, but it would be very difficult to stay in the state of mindfulness as it is defined in Western psychological context.

Mindfulness in the Western context is becoming more fully aware of the present moment and becoming more fully in the present moment, completely and non-judgmentally. It generally involves heightened awareness of sensory stimuli, e.g. noticing your breathing, feeling the sensations of your body, being in the “now.”

Buddhists define meditation as a tool used to habituate yourself to constructive, realistic and beneficial emotions and attitudes, to build up good habits of the mind. It's used to transform thoughts and views so that they are more compassionate and correspond to reality. Some forms of meditation are aimed to develop mindfulness. Whereas in the Western context, meditation is often defined as a set of techniques that are intended to encourage a heightened state of awareness and focused attention.

Therapies incorporating mindfulness practices include: Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT), Mindfulness-based pain management (MBPM) and Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MSBR).

The Jedi way: "Be mindful of your emotions"

The Jedi way of being mindful of your emotions in George Lucas' Star Wars is to hold your emotions in calm, non-reactive ("passive") and peaceful awareness. When you do that, you can realize: you are not your emotions. You are not your fear; you are not your anger; you are not your aggression; you are not your hate. They're arising within you, and when you're not mindful of them, you are pulled by them to places where you didn't really want to go. However, when one is mindful of their emotions, instead of being carried by them, one can recognize where fear, anger, hate, aggressive feelings are leading them, and can choose the light path over the dark path: to act with firmness, spacious clarity and compassion.

This kind of mindfulness practiced by the Jedi, the Jedi teachings of "be mindful of your emotions", "be mindful of your thoughts" and that one's mind should be where one is, in what they're doing, are very much identical to Buddhist mindfulness. But it should be noted that even though many Jedi - Qui-Gon, Yoda, the whole council, etc. - and even Jar Jar were meditating, this doesn't mean that they attempted to incorporate meditation into a therapeutic toolkit.

Western pop-culture mindfulness

The Western pop-culture mindfulness is to immerse yourself into the present moment, focusing your full and undivided attention to your experiences, whether it's within you or around you. It lacks the aim to discern what is conducive to your and to other's well-being, and it's just experiencing passively. Most worryingly, it's promoted as a way to increase the pleasures you receive from the present. Eat mindfully, get a massage mindfully, walk mindfully, have sex mindfully etc. And this is profoundly non-Buddhist, because it's all about squeezing out more intense and more lasting pleasure of the things that are coming and passing. When "mindfulness practice" is removed from other Buddhist teachings, guiding us to release our greed, anger, to develop empathy, kindness and compassion, and non-attachment, "mindfulness" could reinforce negative qualities. For example, if one fails to differentiate between self-compassion and self-indulgence, self-care and self-centeredness, they likely conclude that their narcissistic tendencies are self-compassion.

Most worryingly, mindfulness is conflated with mediation and is marketed as some kind of relaxation exercise or stress-reduction technique. But mediation was designed to gain insight and wisdom, not to relax. Also, it's popular to treat it as a tool or as a magical remedy for psychological healing, whereas it wasn't designed to be anything like that. It can powerfully support therapeutic processes, but one must know that Buddhist practice is not a substitute for, say, psychotherapy. And when pop-culture mindfulness fails to deliver, people often believe, what they did to themselves was Buddhism and mindfulness, whereas that wasn't Buddhism or mindfulness at all.

#star wars #george lucas #buddhism #mindfulness #psychology

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apolloslyrics · 2 months

Text

Pros and Cons of Having an Altar

Disclaimer: this post is based on my opinion, and should be taken with a grain of salt.

When I first started my path in paganism, I was taught that altars were 100% needed. For some, altars may be a comforting aspect of their practice, something to keep motivation, or even a way to show devotion. In reality, altars can be anything you want them to be.

For me, though, no matter what I tried, altars just weren't something I could keep up with.

This was something I didn't realize until now, and I needed the help of a deity to tell me (thank you, Athena!). Noticing the pattern of the love-hate relationship I had with altars was hard. When I finally saw, though, getting rid of my altar was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.

This is not to say that altars are not good, or not helpful. They can be anything for anyone. So, instead of telling you how altars are big, bad, evil places, these are my pros and cons to having one.

Pros (for me)

Showing devotion to a deity/multiple deities.

Having a reminder of your practice around.

Motivation for continuing your practice.

Having a space to keep your things.

Having a space to go to for prayer, deity work, spell work, etc.

Cons (for me)

Can be difficult to upkeep.

Pressure to do more/be at the altar more

Can be draining of energy

Might cause burnout

Time consuming to build, keep, etc

There are many more reasons as to why you should and shouldn't keep an altar, and ultimately, the decision is up to you. If you want to have an altar, but you don't think you can keep one, here are a few different ideas!

Devotional journals to deities

Book of shadows

Minecraft altar

Draw/paint an altar

Dedicate an item to your practice and use it

Use jewelry/clothing to create an altar (color magick, crystals, etc). This one is sort of like a bring-the-altar-wherever thing.

Imagine your altar in your head/Meditate

Music altar (playlists on spotify, YouTube, etc)

Pinterest board altar

Use a candle as your altar space; light it wherever you're doing work, praying, etc

Remember: your practice is yours. No one else can tell you what to do inside of it. Altar or no altar, deity or no deity, glamor magick or crystal magick, green witch or divination witch– all of these are what you get to decide for yourself. Don't let other people define you!

~ Sun/Jordan

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