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goldafterglow · 4 years

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The scent (cologne, body wash, sweat, etc...) for each of the above listed man's, and why you think so. 💋

A/N: This is such an interesting prompt. Thanks for the thought generator anon💕 Also I just don’t even know what weird group of boys this is, I just know that I love them :)

Also some of these are literally just from my synesthesia like I can just smell these boys’ pictures; it’s ✨mental illness love✨

Send me headcanons!

Word Count: 862 bc ig I just don’t know how headcanons are supposed to work

Warnings: bad explanations lol, mentions of death

Carrillo:

so a bitch named @glowingpena made me realize that apparently Carrillo does smoke even though in my memory of the show he literally never touches a cigarette but whatever, I guess he smells pretty strongly of tobacco

Carrillo smells like a Dove soap bar. Not even men’s Dove, just like a normal ass bar of Dove soap because he doesn’t need men’s soap for everyone to know he is a man of authority. Idk what they had in the 80s, but this man uses a body wash to wash off his sins - even better if you do it for him because our beautiful baby needs a reminder that touch doesn’t always mean pain - and he smells strongly of it because he uses a lot of it. So he smells like that mild cinnamon-honey scent. I feel like Carrillo doesn’t really strike me as a cologne man because there’s a good chance he’s going to be getting sweaty that day anyway, but he does clean up.

Gustavo:

smoke and tobacco we been known

Gustavo just smells expensive. He’s got a lot of money to blow, and in the same way that it is very unlikely his wrist isn’t looking icey, his shelves are lined with luxury men’s cologne. If you were to bury your face in his neck and take in a lungful, you’d get Armani and cash. Also that bitter smell of gold from his chain if you’re close enough to him.

I don’t actually know how to place the scent of wealth. Men’s cologne scents are always weird, they’ll be like ✨night sky✨ or like ✨gravity✨ or some whack ass shit.

If we want a little of my bullshitTM: he smells like bad decisions and the rocks off the side of a river where he’ll leave you and your broken heart for one reason or another (probably bc he d*es but anyways)

Javier:

smoke again, I don’t make the rules I just enforce them

He smells like cheap cologne for sure. He puts a little bit on his collar, neck, and the insides of his wrists. And maybe he does the spritz and sashay

He picks his cologne carefully though. He smells like cloves and cardamon, a scent so spicy it stings your tear ducts but it’s good. Javier cares about how he presents, he just doesn’t really care about how much he paid for it.

He also smells faintly minty, like he was chewing gum a couple of hours ago, but never a couple of minutes ago. He strikes me as the kind of person that spends a solid 5-6 minutes brushing his teeth and staring at himself in the mirror.

And he definitely smells like super shitty instant coffee. It’s all they have at the embassy, and he’d probably lose his job if he didn’t overdose on caffeine some days.

Frankie:

this baby definitely smells not like laundry detergent but like dryer sheets. He just kind of smells clean. Especially if we’re talking post Colombia. He likes keeping it a little domestic after everything he’s been through, and for him doing the laundry makes him feel human.

He smells like sugar, like barbecue sauce. I just think that’s his natural scent. Like the sweetness of the icing on a cinnamon roll and peach cobbler on a summer day.

He smells like the leather of his pilot’s seat and a little bit metallic from leaning on the outside of his helicopter (since we’ve all decided that this muffin man gives copter tours for a living)

AND HE SMELLS LIKE DOG. He definitely strikes me as a dog man, and he always has a treat or two on the inside of his jacket pocket because he just can’t say no to his buddy, so that dog treat smell comes off sometimes.

Ezra:

Okay I’m going to try to not be canon here, because canonically bitch there’s just no way this man smells good. He’s literally in that fucking space suit all the time, and he gets so sweaty and worked up from digging. And he?? doesn’t shower?? Like there’s no shower in his tent, he can’t unsuit into a lake. Noncanon thots only.

I feel like Ezra’s natural scent is strong. The way freshly cut grass can hurt your eyes because it’s just filling up your senses and your pores to the brim until you hurt - he smells intoxicating.

He smells like books. If he had the chance to, he’d definitely stock up on his favorite literature, and the scent of the pages and the ink always seems to linger on him.

Whiskey:

He smells like smoke, but not like tobacco. He smells like charcoal and hickory and applewood. He’s a wooden man, and he just gives me wood vibes, you know?

He definitely throws some cologne on, and it’s gonna be a nice bottle too. He only owns one or two scents, but he makes sure he walks out of his home smelling like twine and spurs.

The felt from his Stetson. It smells intense.

Oberyn:

I never watched Game of Thrones but this man smells like sweat and fruit.

He is constantly eating (which is not my headcanon but I saw it somewhere and it makes a lot of sense), and the sweetness of grapes and berries gets on the skin of his chest.

And you can’t tell me this man isn’t always sweating. His pheromones poison the air before he even walks in.

When he bathes he smells like gold and expensive furs. A little bit like flower petals.

Max Phillips:

this idiot owns one (1) bottle of cologne and it cost him $3.5K

he fucking does it up with that shit literally catch him rubbing it like on his navel and his forehead like he’ll put it anywhere he will get his money’s worth before he ever admits that he got conned

On the bright side, he walks around smelling like a vanilla pod and grapefruit so maybe it was worth the investment????

He’s a vampire so when he doesn’t smell like luxury parfúm he smells like body wash because he doesn’t want to smell like human flesh and blood.

if anyone wants to be tagged in headcanons you can definitely ask, I just automatically assumed no one wanted to lmao. But tbh are these headcanons or a whole ass novel i can’t seem to distinguish the two

#iris answers #iris writes #headcanons #ok get ready for these tags #horacio carrillo #max phillips #oberyn martell #agent whiskey #ezra (prospect)#frankie morales #frankie catfish morales #francisco catfish morales #javier peña #gustavo gaviria #narcos

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seunqs · 3 years

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[ a long get to know me tag ]

tagged by: losers @woosohn @yeonjuins

what day is your birthday?

27th june! it’ll be on a monday next year

what’s your favourite colour?

blue! a rather specific shade of light sky blue but i also like dark blue! might be misleading because everyone would think beige/black since that’s the aesthetic i like + almost everything i own is black...

what’s your lucky number?

i don’t have one i think but i tend to say 7 if i’m asked?

do you have any pets?

sadly no >:( will get one in the future idc idc

how tall are you?

158cm tiny i wna be abit taller

how many pairs of shoes do you own?

off my head i think 3 pairs...? just 2 black and 1 white that i rotate depending on the outfit i’m wearing

favorite song?

asdjekw i don’t think i have one specific one but recently i’ve been listening to maniac by nct doyoung & haechan!

other honourable mentions: a book of love by ha hyunsang, wide eyed blind by saint raymond, irreplaceable by nct dream, lmly by jackson wang. that’s all i have off my head

favorite movie?

surprisingly i’m not big on movies... but i’ll always answer parent trap when someone asks! why do i sound like i always have prepared answers in my head for various questions... okay that’s bc i do.

what would be your ideal partner?

@june look away i already know you’re gna say this sounds a lot like someone..

shy... is the main characteristics lmao idky it’s not even like i’m outgoing but i tend to find myself liking shy-er boys over the outgoing ones! aaa those with very obvious leadership qualities and quietly cares and looks out for those around them :’) tsundere! i think shy may appear cold sometimes but i’m rly :’) when the shy ones become very affectionate in private or when you get to know them better :’) or shy with strangers but very goofy and silly with their closer social circle heh those that are more cat-like than dog-like, only approaches you when they’re comfy. okay also shy but willing to speak up when necessary! doesn’t let themselves get bullied for being quiet and also pls speak up for me i hate ordering food pls do it for me HAHAHHA also if they’re passionate about something they like/are good at! good listeners too heh doesn’t need to always have the best advice, just if they would sit with me silently and listen to me and give me a hug afterwards :’’’’’) i think i’m on the touchier side too so if they don’t dislike that it’ll be nice! OH someone who’s good at cooking too bc i hate cooking and the kitchen in general.. i’ll do the dishes though HAHAHAH ok that is all there is a certain idol in my head that is the embodiment of my ideal type and i hate him >:(

do you want children?

no... not so much bc i don’t find them cute or i can’t handle them but i think it’s a commitment that scares me! bringing up the child well with the right character and values ajksdbwkje i don’t know if i’m up to that HAHAHAH

have you gotten in trouble with the law?

nope @woosohn @yeonjuins pls be proud of my direct no why are the two of you.........

bath or shower?

shower! i don’t know if i’ve actually taken a bath before... probably when i was younger HAHAH i think i’ll get bored in the bath and i much rather be relaxing in bed than in the tub

what color socks are you wearing?

barefoot at the moment! the socks i own are mostly solid colour socks / simple cartoon or animal patterns but all ankle socks that can’t be seen with my shoes

favorite type of music?

i listen to pop, r&b and indie! that’s about all and favourite depends on the mood!

how many pillows do you sleep with?

just 1! and a bolster too

what position do you sleep in?

either on my back with hand over my head lmao or turned to either sides while hugging my bolster and face buried into the bolster

what you don’t like when you’re sleeping?

when it’s too hot! canNOT sleep if the weather is too hot. also if i get woken up rudely, by screaming or someone smacking me awake LMAO just tell me nicely to get up and i’ll be out of bed in 10mins pls give me awhile my brain is turning on HAHAHA

what do you have for breakfast?

recently i haven’t woken up early enough for bfast or my family is just about to go out to buy lunch by the time i’m up hahaha but on the days that i’m alive for bfast, iced coffee and any pastry sitting in the fridge! my family is big on pastries like croissants and cakes like banana and carrot cakes! so one of those but the iced coffee is a constant in my first meal of the day

have you ever tried archery?

nope and idt i’ll be good at it tbh....

favorite fruit?

strawberries, apples, peaches! there are some seasonal favs where i rly like them for a period of time and then suddenly not anymore but these 3 are the constants

favorite swear word?

hahahaha i dont think i have a favourite one..... but i say tf a lot and mf for kpop boys who make me more flustered than they should

do you have any scars?

i don’t think so! i have a few stretch marks around my waist and tummy tho

are you a good liar?

yes... HAHAH i used to get scolded so much for lying as a kid lmfao

what’s your personality type?

isfj-t has probably only dipped to isfp-t once but if not constant isfj!

what’s your favorite type of girl?

HAHAHAH uh.... okay with all kinds i think? except people in general who try too hard

innie or outie?

innie. was this question necessary tho AHHAHAHA

left or right-handed?

right-handed

favorite food?

ramen! but i like lots of food lmfao tiramisu, pork belly, lots of noodles, also lots of rice, beef, cakes, ice cream, i think i’m more salty > sweet!

favorite foreign food?

japanese ramen, korean cuisine!, lasagne

are you clean or messy?

clean

most used phrase?

i think alot of keyboard smashes, lmao, wtf, HAHAHAHHAHA, sigh, i’m tired LOL

how long does it take for you to get ready?

depends! fastest i think i can get out of the house 20mins after i’ve woken up. longest probably an hour where outfit is taking a while and accessories needs to be chosen

do you talk to yourself?

in my head yes.

do you sing to yourself?

not often but i sing out loud for the family to hear LOL in my head very often a song is playing up there

are you a good singer?

nop. i don’t think i’m a BAD singer but wouldn’t classify as good either HAHHAHA

biggest fear?

wow so many things but i think biggest is complete darkness, i need to see and know what is going on around me. i sleep with a night light on heh

are you a gossip?

with closer friends yes def HAHAH my school culture tends to have lots of tea that my friends and i don’t like to get too involved in but we do talk about the gossips that goes around hahaha have also been in the center of gossip way too often

do you like long or short hair?

long! can’t imagine myself with short hair.. used to have reallllyyy long hair that goes beyond my waist and cried when i cut it to slightly below shoulder length. that’s the shortest i’ll ever go

favourite school subject?

wow nothing i don’t like school lmfao but humanities and language are way more bearable than math and sciences

extrovert or introvert?

introverted

what makes you nervous?

unpredictable situations, being alone in public (contradictory because in private i would strongly prefer to be alone but i don’t enjoy being alone in public i feel judged HAHAHA), also currently waiting on a reply for something and that’s been keeping me anxious the past 2 days :’)

who was your first real crush?

when i was 13/14, tablemate in school that was kinda shy and had very limited social circle but talked to me endlessly in class lmfao he apparently liked me too but we never dated and went to different schools at 16 y/o. we’re still kinda in touch though! we talked quite a fair bit last month just catching up but he’s more of an acquaintance now

how many piercings do you have?

2! just one normal lobe piercing on either ears, don’t think i’ll get anymore

how fast can you run?

back in school i used to be one of the fastest girls in my class LMFAO i could clock 12.5 minutes for a 2.4km run. stamina came from dancing since i had to run laps before dance class 2 times a week. but that is long in the past and now i get tired from climbing more than 4 flights of stairs pls spare me

what color is your hair?

naturally black but dyed brown! my hair has grown quite abit since i dyed it though now its black at the top and brown from above my ears onwards

what color are your eyes?

a very dark brown lmfao almost black

what makes you angry?

irresponsible people. just pushing responsibility to others or avoiding their responsibilities. don’t need you to do a good job with your responsibilities, just don’t make your issues my issues. and if its a shared responsibility like group projects, then do your part to contribute and don’t expect others to cover you

selfish people, in many ways. just being self-centred, not caring about how others feel, doing things for personal gain at the expense of others

speaking in a passive-aggressive/sarcastic manner. i say this even though i’m afraid of confrontation but i much rather someone outright tells me they’re unhappy about something or wants to get a point across. i hate when they talk about it sarcastically or tries to sugar-coat their words to make themselves look less aggressive about their words. tell me straight as it is, if you’re already gonna talk about something bad don’t piss me off with your attitude at the same time

do you like your own name?

rae is nice! has a very nice ring to it and looks pretty!

do you want a boy or a girl as a child?

i don’t.. want one.. but both have their good and bad i can’t decide.. i want a puppy

what are your strengths?

is this an interview question i have had a few interviews over the past weeks i am well-prepared for this HAHAHA

i think i’m pretty resilient! i bounce back from bad times pretty quickly or i psycho myself to see the situation positively. but it is ofc coupled with a lot of complaining to the people around me first

although i hate unpredictable situations and having to quickly adapt to new settings, i think i adapt pretty quickly too. flexible? easy-going? idk what’s the right way to call it but yeah something along those lines. good at it but i still enjoy my stability and calm don’t want to have to quickly adapt to new situations.

what are your weaknesses?

very emotional HAHAH used to be much worse but i often let my emotions rule my head. i think i’ve improved A LOT though i used to be so bad but i think i’m now able to make rational decisions even if im bawling LMFAO

this sounds like a compliment but i’ve been told this too often as well. i tend to be way too nice to people who don’t deserve it. even if the person doesn’t deserve it or they’ve pushed all my buttons in the wrong way possible, i would still try to be as nice and polite as i can. really helps with me working in the f&b industry lmfao.

what’s the colour of your bedspread?

dark blue / grey!

colour(s) of your room?

white & wood (throughout my house actually + green from the plants in the living room) @yeonjuins says i live in a muji showroom

#/#this took so long

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techmomma · 4 years

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So! You not really an alcohol drinker, or maybe you don’t like the stuff, but you’re out somewhere and trying to decide how to have some and not absolutely hate your drink either. Maybe you’d like to actually enjoy the taste of your drink! Even if you’re not looking to get drunk or even tipsy. Maybe you’re just social drinking once in a blue moon.

But being a newbie, or having only had terrible-tasting alcohol, you have NO idea what to get. Steph is here to help for newbies! Or people who don’t give a damn and just want to have a nice drink that actually tastes good for once, and not in a “oh this very bitter and tart wine is so sweet” way. I am myself now very sensitive to alcohol as a flavor, so the majority of these have Steph’s seal of “shouldn’t taste like trying to stomach down cold medicine and should actually be tasty to normal people who don’t drink alcohol”.

Please note to use this advice responsibly. This is not to help you get drunk, only to help you find a drink you probably won’t have to gag down and can thus enjoy the rest of your night if you’re choosing to partake in alcohol. Imbibing alcohol is a responsibility, and not one to take lightly.

“Girly drinks” are your friends. If you’re young or you don’t drink very much, your tastebuds are probably going to be oriented more toward sweet flavors and less toward bitter flavors. You’re looking for high sugar content baby. (And if you ARE looking to get drunk, this will get you drunk much faster than a whiskey, no matter what your hillbilly uncle says otherwise. that is the entire point of “girly drinks.”)

Most bars, pubs, restaurants and other places often have house drinks or cocktails in their drink menu that they make most often. You’re looking for drinks with ingredients like sweet fruits, like cherries, apricots, watermelon, mango, blue raspberry, lemonade, or novelty things like chocolate or butterscotch or cake or whatever. If anything, just ask the bartender or server if they’re not busy! The bartender will for sure know if it’s sweet, and can probably point you in the right direction if you tell them the flavors you usually like, or what you’re looking for. Yes, you’ll look like a newbie. That’s not the point. The point is to get a drink you’re not gonna gag on and that’s the price you pay.

Only somewhat related, but if you’ve never ordered drinks from a place with a bar, they’ll ask if you want to put it on a tab. That just means, “Do you want me to keep your order open so you can add more drinks later, or is this a one-time deal?” They’ll probably ask for a name then. If your friend’s paying, you give their name.

Typically, stay away from beer. Some rare people enjoy the taste of beer from the start, most do not. If you smell a glass and it smells putrid, steer clear of it. You ain’t gonna like it no matter what you put in it.

Most wines will also not be your friend. To those who do not regularly drink wine, it’s going to be impossibly bitter and feel like it’s drying your throat out despite being a liquid. (That’s the “dry” quality they talk about.)

On the contrary, however, wine spritzers, mixers, and punches? Those are your FRIENDS. These are legit going to taste like juice or soda or punch. They also tend to be lighter on alcoholic content (hence why commonly used for parties), and big on sugar. Spritzers are wine and soda, mixers are wine and some kind of liquor (usually a very sweet or fruity kind like a lemon or strawberry vodka), and wine punches can be as sweet or sour or fruity or tropical as you want. You’ll usually see them referred to as white or red sangrias.

Note: this is sort of why these can actually be MORE dangerous than like having straight-up liquor. These types of drinks with low alcohol and heavy sugar make it very, very easy to drink a lot of them, and have some extra surprise drunk times sneak up on you later because you drank more than you realized.

My rule for safe drinking? One drink per hour, follow with water. You will typically not get more than buzzed, and will stay sufficiently hydrated.

Spritzers, mixers, and punches are part of a larger group called cocktails. Cocktails being just “non-alcoholic drink + alcohol of some kind.” Rum and coke? Cocktail. Bellini? Cocktail.

Champagne cocktails are very often sweet, bubbly drinks. They are Steph’s fave for a reason. Mimosas are perhaps the most famous champagne cocktail. Those are made with orange juice and champagne. Can be surprisingly potent.

When getting cocktails with liquors/spirits, like vodka, rum, and so forth, you will want to stay away from particular ones that are known for very bitter tastes and hard kicks. A bunch also uh, in general taste like the inside of a barrel.

Typically, whiskey, gin, and tequilas are going to be very bitter and gross, and overpower whatever they’re put in. If you like really sour though, tequila goes well with margaritas, which are a lime drink that mostly covers the tequila taste.

Vodka and Rum are typically going to be stomached better, vodka usually being the easiest of all. Both tend to mix well with fruity girly drinks, the kind you’re looking for. Very potent, so imbibe carefully. In most drinks though, you’re still going to get that “cold medicine aftertaste” that clears your sinuses and sometimes it’s just too powerful for the drink. You can usually smell these pretty strongly before you actually drink, and that’ll give you a pretty good idea of the burn you’re gonna feel in a moment. Both are also good in sweet minty drinks, if you like those.

Surprisingly good drink for newbies: mead. It can be a little difficult to get a hold of, but it’s getting more popular. It’s made from honey, so it’s gonna be sweet usually by default. Peach mead? Hell yeah. Peach and honey taste.

Absinthe is actually very tasty, and no it will not make you hallucinate. It actually tastes a lot like licorice candy. Comes in fun colors, and with a sugar cube you dissolve into it on a special spoon. VERY hard to get in the US though, only a few bars sell it as a drink. Like I think it’s literally just a handful of bars across the entire fifty states that have absinthe and absinthe cocktails. If you’ve already tasted Jaegermeister, it tastes like that. I wouldn’t call it a newbie drink, but imo you’ll still enjoy your drink if George just feel like being special today.

Hard ciders have also been hailed as great for newbies, and usually very sweet. They’ve always been hit or miss with me; sometimes, yeah, they’re delicious, and other times they just taste like vaguely-fruity beer. Which is not great.

Beer, to me, tastes like old socks. So y’know, vaguely fruity old socks.

Stay away from most shots. This is usually pure liquor, and it is not pleasant. Especially if you have a small mouth like mine and sometimes can’t do shots in one go. Exceptions are novelty mixers, like those weird cake shots.

Cake-flavored vodka is not as good as you think it sounds.

So here’s some drinks that, as someone who’s tasted a bunch, I can tell you they’ll probably be easier to stomach. Some I actually enjoy as drinks.

Rumchata is horchata with rum in it, so a milky, cinnamon-y kind of drink. Good for newbies.

Kahlua & cream: coffee and cream drink

Mudslide: coffee and cream and irish liqueur; honestly best as a mudslide milkshake. holy shit. that’s heaven.

Bourbon milkshake: honestly if any place sells milkshakes and has a bar, you can ask to get a shot of bourbon added to your milkshake. VERY yummy flavor pair, especially vanilla milkshakes with bourbon.

White russian: kahlua and cream and add vodka

Red russian: vodka with cherry liquor

Dirty Shirley: grenadine (if this is listed as an ingredient that usually means a very sweet drink), soda, maraschino cherries, vodka

Bellini (bars that know what this is are sort of rare, you’ll probably have to explain it): peach juice and champagne

Mimosa: orange juice and champagne (acceptable for breakfast parties!)

Sangria (you usually can’t order this one from bars unless it’s like a special sangria night; this drink is usually found more at parties and social functions): fruit punch + wine + soda if the hosts are younger

Strawberry lemonade vodka: strawberry lemonade and vodka

Malibu cocktail: rum (usually Malibu Rum, hence the name), cranberry juice, pineapple juice.

Blue hawaiian: coconut creme liqueur, pineapple juice, white rum, blue curacao (blue-colored orange liqueur; it’s very fun to mix and also usually means a very sweet drink).

Mojito: rum, soda, lime juice, mint

Mai tai: pineapple juice, lime juice, orange juice, grenadine, white and dark rum

Lemon drop martini: vodka, triple sec (another orange liqueur), sugar and fresh lemon juice

Pina Colada: blended slushy drink made with creme de coconut, rum, and ice

Chocolate martinis: irish cream liqueur, chocolate liqueur, and vodka

Frozen daiquiris: slushy frozen drinks made with fruit juice and rum

Irish coffee: the one place where you actually might enjoy whiskey for those who don’t like it. It’s just that: coffee and usually a whiskey liqueur, like baileys. Creamy, warm, good for cold nights.

Peppermint schnapps hot chocolate: hot chocolate with a peppermint zip. If making yourself, make a big mug first and only add like a capful of peppermint schnapps, it can very easily overpower the chocolate taste. Also creamy and yummy for cold nights.

Hot buttered rum: an intensive recipe, but a very yummy, creamy, warm, butterscotchy drink that you stick a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of. Hard to get tastier than that. I’m very certain Butterbeer was originally based off of this.

There were a bunch of drinks that are typically considered “girly” for high sugar contents, but having had them before, they were just not sweet. Martinis are usually very dry and bitter no matter the fruit, long island iced teas only taste good if you like iced tea, cosmopolitans (cosmos) are heavy on the vodka flavor, as are watermelon vodkas and alcohol-infused watermelons, and a number of colorful, blended ice drinks that are usually listed are heavy on the alcohol burn, enough to drown out the flavor.

Hope this was helpful! Remember, yes, you might look like a newbie, but the bartender wants to help you find a drink just for you! Ask them questions (when they’re not busy), and they can totally help you out (most just like to help, but at the very least, helping you might mean some extra money at the end of the night). And if they’re real nice they might give you little samples so that you can have a taste for yourself before buying the whole drink.

#alcohol

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greeny-witchling · 4 years

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Moon / Luna Masterpost

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

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

The moon has been captivating people since the beginning of time. It’s guided our way on the darkest of nights and pulls at the tides as well as our emotions. There are myths and stories about the moon from every ancient culture, and it is still a central part of many pagan religions and spiritual paths. Here we break down the basics of lunar magick into easy-to-digest chunks including the moon’s phases, magical properties, correspondences, and more. Lunar energy is great for divination and dream work and to counteract Mars and Sun influences. Stones that correspond to the energy of the moon tend to be white and/or luminescent. Luna reflects the light of the Sun and is the closest sphere to Earth: the abode of physical form. It does not generate its own light as the Sun does, but serves as a filter for it, refracting and reflecting it in a coarser, more obfuscated manner.

The Female Body & The Moon

Just as the moon is reborn, grows, reaches its fullest potential, then wanes again, so do our bodies. For thousands of years, women have noticed their moon cycles (menstruation – the syllable men meaning moon/month) syncing up with the moon’s phases. This is lunar magick at its core. Just as the moon waxes and wanes, so too does the womb. This is why the moon is often associated with the Goddess in forms of neopaganism and Wicca.

The Triple Goddess & Our Lives

Wiccans associate the Triple Goddess with the moon’s phases: the maiden (waxing moon), the mother (full moon), and the crone (waning moon). We all go through these phases in our lives (both men and women) corresponding to our youth, adult child-rearing years, and our elder years. So we are all attuned to the moon phases and lunar magick, it’s just that most people don’t realize it.

The Moon in Mythology: Most Lunar deities in Western Tradition are female, though male lunar deities are found throughout the world as well. Lunar deities are often associated with Motherhood or the Sea.

The Moon in Astrology: As the moon moves across the sky, it passes through the various zodiac signs, primarily affecting our moods and reactions. Those who have a sun sign align to the water element will feel this effect most strongly. The moon travels through each sign every month, staying in each sign for up to three days before moving on. At the New Moon, she will be in the same sign as the Sun and at the Full Moon, she will be in the opposite sign.

zodiac: cancer metal: silver day: Monday other names: Luna, The Moon, The treause house of images tarot: The High Priestess (II) associations: 3, G, Gimel(Camel) mantric sound: „A” colour/s: white, blue, silver, rayed sky blue, cold pale blue, indigo numbers: 9, 81, 369, 3321 stone/s: moonstone, selenite, obsidian, silver, mother-of-pearl, aquamarine, gold beryl, topaz, emerald, clear quartz, coral, pearls planetary qualities: Cyclicity of manifestation. Waxing and waning. Liminal states. Potentiality of manifestation. Healing. Psychicism. Dreaming and sleep. Lunar Herbs: Lunar herbs tend to be juicy and lightly sweet and with a sweet (sometimes cloying) fragrance. Either they produce watery fruits, or they have succulent leaves or both. Many moon herbs relieve mild pain and/or gently induce sleep. Many moon plants open at night and close during the day or release their scent at night to attract nocturnal pollinators. Moon plants often grow near water. White or silvery plants tend to correspond to lunar energy and sometimes these plants bear the mark of the moon even more strongly. Sedative, hormone-balancing, tonic to the brain or stomach, narcotic or painkilling plants. Cooling and moisturizing plants. Plants with moon-shaped parts. Plants with high water content. Medicinal plants affecting the emotions, sleep, or the female reproductive system. Often have a rotten or sickly sweet smell . Herbal/Plant Moon Correspondences: vervain, moonflower, jasmine, lemon balm, cabbage, camellia, camphor, chickweed, moonwort, grape, lemon, turnip, potato, pea, cucumber, pear, peach, mountain ash, mango, wallflower, rowan, cactus, eucalyptus, coconut, lotus, myrrh, gardenia, sandalwood, orris, ginseng, Evening Primrose, Night Jasmine, melon, bitter, almond, agave, milkweed, passionflower(sedative), mallow, Willow(pain), poppy (sedative, pain relief), Gooseberry, Goat’s beard, Mugwort, Wild Yam(hormones), Iris, acanthus, adder’s tounge, alum root, arrowleaf, astible, banana, bear’s breeches, blue hibiscus, blue nepal poppy, blue water lily, califronia poppy, chamomile, clary sage, coral bells, cuckoo flower, devil’s trumpet, dog rose, flowering currant, flowering rush, fluellen, fungi, fuschia, gooseberry, green calla, hazel, heart leaf, heuchera, high malow, himalaayan blue hybrid blue, hydrangea, iris, italian aurm, japanese poppy, juniper, leafy vegetables, lettuce, loosestrife, madonna lily, moly, mouse-eared, hawkweed, mushroom, nigth blooming plants, norfolk-island hibiscus, oyster plant, peacenlily, wild pear, pickerel weed, pumpkin, purslane, ranunculus, round cardaom, St. John’s flower, saxifrage, sea holly, seaweed, soma, star anise, stonecrop, strawberry, geranium, sweet pea, tibetan blue, tomato fruit, tree anemone, watercress, water lily, water gladiolus, waterhyacint, white anthurium, white rose, wintergeen, yucca Lunar Fragrances- Incense, Oils and Fumigation Herbs: Almond, clary sage, Banana, Calamus (herb, essential oil), Camphor, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Dark of the Moon Oil, Dreamworld, Incense, Full Moon Oil, Leaves of Moon Incense, Melon, Menstrual Blood, Orris, Poppy seeds, Rose, Sandarac Storax, Sweet Virginal odors, Waning Moon Oil, Wintergreen, Yesod Oil Incense: Star Anise, Mugwort, Wormwood, Lavender, Mullein, Dittany of Crete, Jasmine, Camphor symbols: the high priestess (tarot card), the chariot (tarot card), bow and arrow, crab, cat, turtle, sphinx, owl body parts and disaeses: Lymphatic system; SAD, PMS, structural brain problems, like tumors drugs: Sedative, hormone-blanacing, tonic to the brain or stomach, narcotic or painkilling, juniper, pennyroyal, emmenogogues, valerian Animal Moon Correspondences: owls, rabbits, wolves, deer, cats, moths, bats, spiders, raccoons, opossum, cows, frogs, dogs, crabs Deities Moon Correspondences (of clairvoyance, divination, maidenhood, cycles, fertility): Sophia, Thoth, Blodeuwedd, Man in the Moon, Rabbit in the Moon, Khonsu, Sina, Gabriel, Aine of Knockaine, Al-Lat, Al-Uzza, Alcyone, Alphito, Anahita, Anat, Andraste, Anu, Aradia, Arianrhod, Artemis, Asherah, Atargatis, Callisto, Cerridwen, Ch'ang O, Chons, Circe, Coatlicue, Coyolxuahqi, Diana, Don, El, Hathor, Hekate, Hera, Inanna, Ixchup, Jana, Juno, Kali, Khensu, Kuu, Luna, Rhiannon, Selene, Siva Somantha, Tlazolteotl moon beings: lemures, ghosts influences: gratitude, friendliness, safe travel, physical health, wealth, protection from enemies, deception, illusion, women, emotions, healing, dreams, prophecy Moon Signs: The moon sign in your natal chart reveals your feminine side. It governs your deepest fears, your emotional needs and your intuition. Magick: Cycles, emotions, secrets, divination, divine feminine, your feminine side, the subconscious, dreams, and dream work, finding a path, hidden intentions, White tincture, Clairvoyance, Divination by dreams, Bow & Arrow, Controlling or working with cyclical events, Watery, cold, or static states, Good against Sun or Mars influences, Works targeting the emotions, astral travel, subconscious

Moon altar:

Moon altars are sacred, magical spaces that you create to honor and harness the different energies of the lunar cycle. Like all altars, a moon altar is a place where you can focus and direct energy through your witchcraft. You can perform spells or meditations at your moon altar or simply send your gratitude up to the moon for shining down on you night after night. I want to start by saying there’s no wrong way to make a moon altar. You can set it up inside or outside, elaborate or simple, and everything in between. Though there are certain magical tools that you can include on your altar to add power and focus, there’s no specific set of directions to set up a moon altar. That means you can get as creative as you like when setting up your moon altar. As long as your altar feels sacred, special, and powerful, you’re good to go!

Traveling Moon Altars: You can take your witchcraft with you wherever you go! A popular way to do this is to use a small drawstring bag, an altar cloth tied up to make a pouch, or an empty mint tin to store the magical tools for your moon altar. Put travel-friendly magical tools in your altar containers such as small crystals, tarot cards, birthday candles, colored ribbon (for knot spells or color magic), or any other objects that you feel belong in your moon altar. These altars are great if you love to go hiking and want to set up an altar outside under the moon. Stationary Moon Altars: This is what people typically think of when it comes to altars. These are the altars that are set up on a dedicated space in your home or outdoor area. Some witches will keep these altars up all the time; other witches will keep their tools in a box or drawer when not in use. These altars are great because you can deck them out with all kinds of trinkets and tools and not have to worry about losing or damaging these items during travel. Mental Altars: This is a more unconventional altar option that might appeal to you if you love visualizing. You can actually make a moon altar using only your mind. In your mind’s eye, visualize a sacred space in any location in the world and include any magical tools you’d like to use on your moon altar. Visualizing an altar is a great meditation on its own or combined with other moon rituals like taking a moon bath (in lunar light) or performing divination magic under the moon. If you don’t have the time or energy to set up an altar, you can sit outside under the moon or by a window and simply visualize your moon altar.

representing the moon on the altar: chrystals (Some witches believe that moonstone is best used during the waxing moon phase because all the other phases of the moon deplete or dilute its energy.), with plants, herbs, flower Candles to Represent the Moon: Any kind of candle can represent the moon because candles are tools that provide light. White tea lights are ideal for moon altars because they’re inexpensive, and they’re round like the moon. They also make black tea lights which are nice to use during the new moon. Use your moon candle for spells or divination methods like scrying and candle gazing. You can burn intentions with your moon candle if you like. You can also try lighting your candle for the waxing moon and full moon phases and keeping your candle unlit for the waning moon and new moon phases. Unusual Tools to Represent the Moon: egg, marshmallow, sugar or salt, ribbon, a mirror

Water of moon

associations: the chariot VII, Het, Homakhu, Apollo hte Charioteer zodiac: cancer stones: emerald, cat’s eye, pearl, moonstone, amber plants: lotus, moonwort, papaver somniferum, passionflower, water lily, white poppy, white rose colors: pale blue, viler, pearl, white, amber, dark greenish, brown, rich bright russet, maroon animals: crab, turtle, sphinx body parts: stomach beings: vampire scents: onycha, rose, lotus drugs: watercress magick: Power of casting enchantments; weapon is the furnace; figures are Populus and Via

Where my informations are from(for credit):

!Please look up the links, because some thins I already writed down before, that things have been left out. https://otherworldlyoracle.com/lunar-magick-beginners/ https://witchipedia.com/astrology/moon/ https://www.alchemy-works.com/planets_moon.html https://luxsaturni.com/planetary-magic/luna/ https://thetravelingwitch.com/blog/how-to-create-an-effective-moon-altar-for-your-magic

More articles and informations:

Luna I - Lunar Consciousness and Identity – Contemplation in the Sphere of the Moon Luna II - Correspondences in Luna – Altar and Physical Foundations Luna III - Symbolism in Luna – Meditational and Initiatory Foundations Luna IV - Lunar Magic – The Cyclicity of Manifestation Luna V - Continuance of Lunar Work - Eclipsing the Ego Luna VI - Lunar Astrophysics – Advancing the Art

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sirwaddlesesquire · 7 years

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Ch. 2 - Reasonably Priced ‘Two-For’ Deals (Love is Not Time’s Fool, Part I)

Craisinbee’s Family Bar and Grill.

Pacifica sighed deeply. She despised Craisinbee’s. It was hard to say exactly why, though such things as the false cheer of the wait-staff and the oddly dim-lit lobby came to mind. Regardless of the specific reason, it was simply just the kind of place one did not choose. So, naturally, it was the one place Mabel chose.

For what seemed like the hundredth time, the young woman ran a hand along her business suit, self-conscious about the contrast between her attire and the faux-memorabilia nailed to the walls around her. She had come to the restaurant straight from work, letting her secretary know that she would not be returning today. Pacifica was sure that she had merely imaged the chastising look on the secretary’s face. For if the secretary had truly thought to criticize a Northwest’s decisions, then they would soon have another thought coming.

Pacifica grimaced to herself. There she went again.

She seemed to constantly concern herself with the opinions and judgments of others, real or perceived. Whenever the young blonde had to make a decision, one of the first things she considered is what people would think of it. It was never the final factor in the choice, if she was being honest. But then, so long as she was being honest, it was probably more of a factor than it should be. Maybe those people were right to question her. After all, look where her decision-making had put Pacifica: inside a Craisinbee’s.

At that thought, the door of the restaurant swung open, and the other recent example of Pacifica’s decision-making walked through it: the Pines Twins.

Pacifica ducked a little and pretended to look into her half-empty gin and tonic. Keeping her head lowered, she glanced up carefully at the twins. Mabel and Dipper had been holding hands as they entered the restaurant, with the natural look of a couple that had done so a thousand times before. However, upon entering, Mabel had quickly dropped it and pranced over to the bar. Dipper, after looking around the room, had clearly spotted Pacifica and was walking towards her table. He was staring at her, a serious look on his face.

As the male Pines got closer, Pacifica wondered why she was trying to avoid looking up. What she truly so scared, or was she just embarrassed?

It had been two days since the ‘guest room incident’. Much of the contentment she had previously felt as she had drifted off to sleep that night had largely disappeared upon her waking up. The late morning sunlight had revealed the scene quite succinctly: two naked twins in bed with the heir of the Northwest family. As the trio found their clothes and dressed, the panicked timidity from Dipper, undirected bubbliness from Mabel, and reserved silence from Pacifica had resulted in very little conversation. Pacifica had been trying so hard to figure out, well, anything, that she hadn’t been able to attempt conversation. When any of the group had spoken, it had been light, inane, or offhand comments which carefully avoided the topic of the night’s events. Thankfully, the twins had soon been out the door, the final interaction an ‘until next time’ shouted by Mabel.

The radio silence between the two parties had finally been ended by a phone call from Mabel, inviting Pacifica to meet the twins at the nearby family-themed Craisinbee’s. Pacifica had resisted making the obvious ‘two for the price of one’ crack.

It was still surprising to the blonde how big Gravity Falls had become in the past several years. While it would never be a true city, the recent expansion of the Oregon state highways had sent Oregon Route 27 straight through the heart of Gravity Falls. With the increase in traffic, tourists had followed, then actual new residents, and various businesses soon after. A miniature mall-zone had sprung up, and with it Craisinbee’s. Much to Pacifica’s chagrin.

She had been instructed to meet the Pines at the restaurant on Tuesday at 3:39 p.m. Pacifica suspected that Dipper was behind the day and the general time. The place was empty, and there would be no one to see the trio there or to overhear their conversation. That feature had the thoughtful and careful male twin’s mark all over it. She also strongly believed that Mabel was behind the location of the meeting and the suspiciously precise time. It seemed like exactly the kind of thing the female twin would find both amusing and of dire importance.

Pacifica decided that she wouldn’t be intimidated, and that the only way to get to the bottom of this … whatever … was to confront it. She placed her drink down and looked up, meeting Dipper’s eyes.

The young man blushed. Perhaps at the sudden eye contact or perhaps because he had been caught staring. Finishing the walk over, he sat down across from her. She took the opportunity to observe him.

Dipper Pines had grown up. His awkward features had disappeared with age and he carried himself well. He was mostly arms and legs, which were well shaped. His ears were still pretty big, but anyone would call them cute. He kept his hair shaggy and curly, with his bangs still covering his forehead. Even while he stared at her in concentration, his eyes were kind and Pacifica could see the intelligence behind them. His flannel shirt was unbuttoned to reveal the plain tee beneath it, the look casual but not sloppy. He was, Pacifica decided, quite handsome.

Pacifica’s scrutiny was ended by Mabel’s drink order, carried across the room by the female Pines’ boisterous nature. “He will have the light beer on tap, and I will have a Sex in the Puget Sound!”

That was not a drink Pacifica had ever heard of before. She shot Dipper a questioning look. Dipper chuckled affectionately in response.

“It’s a drink of her own creation. Combination of Sex on the Beach and a White Sangria. She invented it while we were…” A light reddish hue began to creep up the man’s neck and cheeks. Pacifica found it adorable. “… visiting Puget Sound.”

Mabel liked to invent her own drinks. Pacifica remembered something about that from way back. Plus, it certainly fit what she knew of female twin’s personality. The blonde nodded and flashed a smile. “Well, she isn’t going to be able to get that at Craisinbee’s.” There was no way the budget-conscious restaurant would carry materials such as peach schnapps or fresh fruit. “I seriously doubt that they have any of the right ingredients.”

The man across from her let out a full laugh. “Yeah, I doubt it too. But Mabel always seems to find a way.” Pacifica could hear the adoration in his voice, the underlying care he felt for his twin. The way his voice sounded caused something within her to flip.

Any attempt to figure out what exactly that feeling had been was interrupted by the appearance of Mabel. She had indeed managed to procure a ridiculously over-the-top fruity drink, the colors of the liquor even brighter than the silly umbrella placed on top. She handed her brother a beer, and sat down, placing her drink in front of her and maneuvering the straw to her mouth.

Now that both of the Pines twins were present, Pacifica could finally bring the pressing subject up. She would demand to know exactly what they had been thinking and what exactly it had meant. Knowing their motivations would allow her to devise the proper steps going forward to ensure everything ended up in the most productive and useful way possible. And maybe she could find out a little more about the duo’s ‘illicit’ relationship. She wasn’t immune to the allure of gossip, after all.

Mabel took a long, drawn out, slurp through her straw. When the slurp ended, Pacifica opened her mouth to say something. Mabel slurped again, interrupting her. When the sound ceased, the blonde again tried to speak. And the other woman’s noisy slurping again completely prevented it. At the ending of this sip, Pacifica furrowed her eyebrows, shooting Mabel a glare. When it looked like Mabel wasn’t going to take another sip, the young Northwest began to speak.

And was this time interrupted by Mabel sliding the drink across the table.

“Here, Paz!” The female twin exclaimed, her voice infuriatingly cheerful. “You have to try this!”

Pacifica did not want to try the drink. For one, there were important matters to discuss. For two, she was quite irked with Mabel’s loud drinking habits. And for three, a business woman such as herself would never drink such a ridiculous concoction! Never mind how sweet and tasty it looked, or how cute it was, or how Mabel was clearly enjoying it…

Pacifica reached for the glass, drew it to herself, and took a sip. And found she very much enjoyed it. It was amazing! She quickly took several more sips before pushing it back.

“This is good!” She said excitedly. “I wouldn’t have expected that!”

Mabel smirked. “Now you know how we felt two nights ago…”

Dipper choked on his drink. Mabel kept her usual grin on her face, her eyes looking pleased. And Pacifica? Pacifica immediately burst out in giggles. She couldn’t help herself. Dipper’s spluttering attempts to say something only caused her to giggle even harder.

It was just so ridiculous. The young Northwest had tried so hard all her life to live exactly correctly, to ensure that any outside observer would approve of her actions. It wasn’t so much a personal philosophy. Rather, it was just good business. Things were easier when they were simple and proper.

And then, a random encounter, a scandalous discovery, and a shockingly-pronounced hickey had seemingly undone all of that work in one fell swoop.

It was too bizarre not to laugh at.

“Yeah, that was pretty crazy. I’ve never done anything like that before!”

“Right?!” Mabel’s voice was excited. “Neither had we!”

Pacifica raised an eyebrow at her. Now that wasn’t exactly true, was it, Ms. Pines? Especially considering the familiarity with each other’s bodies the twins had displayed, something that Pacifica had observed first hand.

It could even been seen now, if to a lesser degree. At the moment, Dipper sat at an angle, his body turned towards Mabel. He rested one arm across the back of his sister’s chair, and when it wasn’t holding his beer, his other hand never strayed far from the table surface in front of her. Mabel sat close to her brother, her closer shoulder resting against his chest. While one hand was busy moving her drink from the table to her mouth, the other rested on Dipper’s forearm. When it wasn’t gesturing, of course.

The brunette blushed. “Well, not like that. Not with anybody else, I mean.” She admitted.

This was the perfect segue way for Pacifica’s questions. “Yeah, I’ve been wantng to ask about that. How long exactly has that been going on? If you don’t mind me asking, that is…” She added the last statement so as not to be rude.

Dipper cut in, his voice brusque. “Well, actually we do mind…” But he stopped when Mabel grabbed his hand.

“Here Dip,” Mabel said, pushing her empty drink at him. “Why don’t you get me a refill?”

Dipper looked at his sister, seemingly to protest. But Mabel batted her eyes at him, and he promptly stood up, took the glass, and stalked off to the bar. Mabel watched her twin go, a caring smile on her face. She then turned and looked Pacifica in the eye, giving Pacifica a chance to take a good look at her.

Mabel had grown up. Youthful cuteness had turned into a more mature set of features. She was several inches shorter than her twin, and her hourglass figure was evident in her full bust and her rounded hips. Her brown hair fell in easy curls around her shoulders. Framed by hoop earrings, Mabel’s face was soft but sweet, with a button nose and generous lips. Everything was lit up by the mischievous glint in her eyes. Mabel wore one of her outlandish sweaters (this particular one featuring a walrus wearing shutter sunglasses) and the trendy look would clearly make her stand out. She was, Pacifica decided, quite gorgeous.

Mabel leaned forward and motioned Pacifica closer conspiratorially. The blonde leaned in, curious to what the female twin had to say.

“Don’t mind old Dippingsauce there.” She said with a knowing tone. “He just gets worked up about things like this. They make him pretty uncomfortable.”

Pacifica looked quizzically at the brunette. “What, and you’re totally comfortable right now?” She asked slightly sarcastically.

“Well, maybe not totally.” Mabel allowed. “This is pretty bonkers crazy, there is no denying that. What I mean is Dipper just never quite knows what to do in situations like this. Ones where he can’t just create a plan and solve the issue like an equation. I, on the other hand, just don’t let it worry me quite a much.”

The female Pines began to look thoughtful. “It’s not that I don’t want things to go well or to avoid problems. But you can only plan or control so much, you know? Sometimes, things just come out of nowhere and you’ve got to roll with it.”

“That’s how we started out.” Mabel’s voice grew quiet. “Dipper forgets that sometimes. He’s so smart, what would he need to wing things for? He’ll never truly admit to himself that one time, he took a huge leap without any type of plan, and everything worked out. And worked out for the better.” The young woman shook her head slightly. “The silly goof. Little does he realize he’s being doing it time and time again since.”

There was so much adoration in Mabel’s tone. It was impossible to miss how much she loved her twin. The tone caused that something inside of Pacifica to flip again, a little stronger this time.

A sly grin appeared on Mabel’s face and she gave Pacifica a smug look. “And that’s where you come in Paz. You came out of nowhere, and we just rolled with it! Emphasis on the rolling!” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively before continuing.

“I know I don’t regret it. I’m pretty sure Dipper is the same way. I’m really just hoping that you don’t regret it either.”

Oddly enough, Pacifica found herself nodding in agreement. Not that she thought she could really consider anything further from this situation. She was just here for answers. After all, the aftermath was tricky, and there were a lot of considerations that she now had to take into account.

But, there was no denying that she had enjoyed the night. Letting go of all her concerns and just, as Mabel put it, rolling with it, had felt wonderful. Different, but wonderful. And there was something more here as well, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what. She dismissed this distracting thought for now.

“There are no regrets here.” The blonde grinned lewdly, suggestion heavy in her tone. “Though a big part of that might just be those delightful little hands of yours, Mabel. Or maybe the way Dipper looks if you touch him just right!”

“Yes!” Mabel agreed, flapping her hand and clearly getting excited. “I love that look! And that thing, you know, that he does with his tongue…”

Pacifica couldn’t help it. She once more burst into a fit of giggles, immediately joined by Mabel. A pointedly cleared throat caused both ladies to look up and see Dipper standing there, his face red. The girls looked at him, looked back at each other, and promptly fell into another round of giggling.

Dipper sat down, clearly attempting to convey that the current discussion was beneath his dignity. As he did so, Mabel stood up.

“Do excuse me,” She said in an odd, over-the-top accent. “I am afraid I must attend the lav-or-atory!” She made the ‘y’ sound stretch out as she moved her hand in a dramatic fashion, resting it against her twin’s cheek. Pacifica did not fail to notice that the male twin leaned into the touch slightly. Mabel held the pose for a second, then gave an unladylike snort and flounced off.

Dipper watched his twin, and Pacifica watched him. When he turned to look at her, she paused for a moment, and then decided to be blunt.

“You don’t trust me.” Pacifica wasn’t trying to accuse him of anything. She just wanted to understand.

Dipper blinked, and then waited for a moment before spreading his hands out.

“Pacifica, the truth is, I don’t know you.” His voice was gentle. “The only times we ever really saw you were during those summers we visited here. And that was, what, a total of four or five times, tops? Even if there were a few instances where it felt like we got close, nothing really ever came of it, you know? There wasn’t exactly any follow up. From either of us.”

The blonde continued to listen thoughtfully. He was correct about that. She hadn’t ever really reached out to either twin, nor had they done so to her.

“Hell, we were just kids. What did we know?” The male twin’s voice began to grow wistful. “It’s crazy to think how much has changed. And in such a short amount of time. It feels like just the blink of an eye, right? Here in Gravity Falls. And within my own life, for sure.”

“God, my own life.” He shook his head ruefully. “It’s been pretty crazy, and it doesn’t look like that is going away anytime soon. And I don’t want it to. That’s why I try to plan as much as I do. I understand that I can’t solve everything, but having a plan ensures some order in the chaos.”

The young man smiled to himself. “Mabel forgets that sometimes. She’s so amazing, what does she need to prepare for? But the plans we laid have ensured time and time again that things go smoothly as often as they do, and she helps make them just as much as I do. It’s still hectic and weird at times, of course. And you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Pacifica found herself nodding. She could understand some of what Dipper was trying to say. She certainly wasn’t the same little girl she had been over a decade ago. Her life had changed a lot, and there was still a good amount of unknown in it. But she wasn’t sure she would have done much differently.

“The point being, Pacifica,” Dipper said, meeting her eyes. “Things are different. I have changed. Mabel has changed. It would be completely churlish of me to deny that you probably have changed as well.” His voice was soft for his final statement. “I don’t know you. But I would like to get the chance to.”

Pacifica smiled widely in response. Dipper’s statement had made her cheerful. “I would like that too.” She whispered.

Mabel came back just then, sitting back down beside her brother and taking his hand. Pacifica didn’t miss the squeeze Dipper gave, nor the one Mabel gave in return, the motion practiced.

“Dip and I have got a super crazy, major, nutso secret going here, Paz.” Mabel stated.

Dipper nodded. “And we’ve been dealing with it for a while. We’ll have to keep dealing with it. All of our lives.” He said.

“And now,” Mabel continued, “you’re kind of part of it. And we don’t know what that means!” Pacifica watched her poke her brother, teasing him. “I know that makes old worry-wort here get pretty worked up. And to be fair, it makes me pretty curious as well.”

The table was quiet as each party appeared to be in thought.

“So, what do you think?” Mabel finally asked, her tone serious.

Pacifica fiddled with her glass for a moment. What did she think?

She was pretty sure this wasn’t strictly proper. She was pretty sure this would be something that would be impossible to control. Or something that would be impossible to plan for. Or even something that would be impossible to just roll with. And yet, despite her previous stance, she was pretty sure she didn’t care about any of that. Simple was easier in business, but this wasn’t exactly business, was it?

Pacifica put her drink down on the edge of table, allowing the motion to produce a definitive clunk of glass on wood. She looked at the two twins with equal parts determination and nervousness.

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, actually.” She hoped they couldn’t hear the shake in her voice. “I even had a whole little speech I wanted to give you. But now, it doesn’t seem to matter.”

Listening to the two Pines had made her prepared remarks superfluous. The words they had spoken, and the sentiment they had conveyed had touched something off in Pacifica.

She still didn’t know all the details. She didn’t have the ‘when’ or the ‘what’ of the twins. But she was beginning to see the ‘how’. The twins worked because of Mabel’s charisma and ability to be extemporaneous and because of Dipper’s intelligence and ability to steer a course whenever possible.

And she could see the ‘why’. It had been evident from the moment they walked into the place. It had been present two nights ago. And it was present now in the way Mabel slowly traced her thumb along the back of Dipper’s hand. The Pines twins loved each other.

Pacifica made her decision.

She spoke, trying to keep her voice careful.

“I would like to become part of the secret. And maybe, we can find out just how I fit into it?”

Pacifica held her head up, hoping that she didn’t reveal just how terrified she was.

Mabel immediately smiled. “Paz, I am one million percent on board with this!”

Pacifica felt herself flush in gratitude. She nodded at Mabel and both turned to look at Dipper. Dipper cleared his throat, seeming to take careful stock of his words.

“I agree,” He said. “I would like that too.” His voice took on a more assured vibe. “Let’s do that.”

Pacifica felt pleased at the accord of both twins. Mabel continued to grin, and Dipper looked a little caught off guard, but glad. Pacifica ducked her head, suddenly shy, but unable to hide her pleasure. The feeling washed over her in a decidedly nice way.

It was time to go for the kill.

“And I think I’d like one of those drinks of yours, Mabel.” she said.

Mabel threw back her head and laughed. Pacifica found herself quickly joining in. Even Dipper chuckled. Any doubts Pacifica had completely vanished all at once, and the tension at the table disappeared instantly. She felt at ease for the first time since her arrival.

“What a wonderful idea, Paz, darling!” Mabel spoke once again in what Pacifica was beginning to suspect was an impersonation of a certain someone’s social class. The female twin turned towards the bar. “Oh barkeep!”

Dipper met Pacifica’s eyes. She smiled a small half smile at him, and he returned it in kind. He gestured at Mabel with his head, and rolled his eyes. His affection was evident, and it was clear he was extending the chance to join in to Pacifica. Pacifica gave a throaty laugh in response.

Between Dipper’s gesture and Mabel’s impression, the little something inside Pacifica did two flips this time.

#pinecest #pinescifica #love is not time's fool #wild nights #reasonably priced two-for deals

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appletable80-blog · 5 years

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March 14 Is 𝜋 Day, So Here Are 21 Pie Recipes, Because Math

[Photographs: Vicky Wasik, Daniel Gritzer]

Happy π Day! If you are a sweet and gentle and sensitive person, with an obsessive nature and a deep fascination for numbers and a complete infatuation with the calculation of π, March 14 is the day for you! And what better way to celebrate than by baking a transcendent(al) pie? Before you decide on a recipe, though, it wouldn't be irrational to think long and hard about the dough you'll use. Maybe you're most interested in a pie dough that's superfast and forgiving, or maybe you want a buttery, flaky crust that doesn't require a food processor. (See here for a little deeper discussion of the merits of Stella's recipe versus Kenji's.) Going gluten-free? We've got you covered there, too. Want whole wheat? Ditto.

Beginning pie-makers should check out our advice on the best pie pans and how to blind-bake a crust (and even more experienced bakers may want to consult Kenji's foray into pie myth-busting). If you've got the basic knowledge you need and are just looking for an Instagram-worthy way to dress up your creation, we've got step-by-step guides for making a pretty lattice top or an extra-fancy herringbone pattern. Finally, if you're carting your pie over to a friend's house for a π Day celebration (or, you know, any old special occasion), don't forget to pick up a carton of food-grade Epsom salt: When placed inside your carrying container, it'll help keep your crust from getting soggy in transit.

(I suppose some people—you know who you are—will insist on celebrating the day with a different sort of pie, and all I can say to you folks is that I think that's merely a figure of speech, but here, have some recipes.)

Now, onto the recipes. Not three, not 14, but 21 recipes for both savory and sweet pies, including chocolate cream and classic cherry, pie variations like cobbler and crisp, and more hot pies for all your π Day needs.

Sweet 𝜋

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

We're here to tell you lemon meringue pie is old hat, so why don't you give a lime meringue pie a try? The filling is all tart and creamy, sort of like a Creamsicle without the -sicle, and its zippiness is tempered by the graham-y whole wheat crust. Don't forget to save the zested and juiced limes to make a lime variation of fresh lemon syrup, which you can put to use in drinks or on top of pancakes.

Fresh and Creamy Lime 𝜋 Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

It isn't often that you can describe a sweet pie as "herbaceous," but that's exactly what this pie is, thanks to a splash of Fernet-Branca in the rich and creamy peppermint filling. Of course, you don't have to go with homemade Oreos for the blitzed cookie crust—store-bought works just fine—but do not skip the cocoa nib fudge topping.

Grasshopper Ice Cream 𝜋 Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

Normally I associate pumpkin pie with my relatives' terrible political opinions and dry roast turkey, but the first thing that pops into my head when I look at this recipe is "magic." It isn't because of the butternut squash bit, even though, yes, subbing in butternut squash for the usual canned pumpkin purée is brilliant. It's because of the homemade condensed milk. If you haven't yet made the sweetened condensed milk, go give it a whirl: There's a moment when the mixture starts to foam up and the liquid in the pot transforms that's a beautiful example of cooking alchemy, and it makes the whole process worthwhile. (A bit of advice: I strongly suggest using a scale to measure the milk's reduction.)

BraveTart's Butternut Pumpkin 𝜋 Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

Good old, old-fashioned pie; there isn't really anything like it. This one is a little different from others (and the one below) in that the apples don't get cooked before assembling the pie. Since it's relatively low-key, you can spend the time you save figuring out how to do one of those lattice-type thingies (or not, you do you). For whatever reason it just seems to me that if one were to try to make a lattice top, it would definitely be for an old-fashioned apple pie on the day of π.

BraveTart's Easy, Old-Fashioned Apple 𝜋 Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

This is the chocolate pie to end all chocolate pie, using a combination of Dutch cocoa and dark chocolate to create a filling that's rich and intense. Though the pie does involve a number of steps, the filling's not all that complicated to make, and it won't weep on you. A lovely layer of swirled Swiss meringue on top gets a nice toasty color from the oven, while remaining fluffy on the inside.

Double-Chocolate Cream 𝜋 Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

No need for canned condensed milk here; instead, you'll make your own version as you simmer sweet potatoes in a mixture of milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. The process results in a sweet potato filling that's fresher- and lighter-tasting, with an almost vegetal flavor, thanks to a generous dose of nutmeg. Don't forget to save the vanilla seeds to make a topping of Brown Sugar Whipped Cream, an elegant touch when dolloped onto the pie.

Silky Sweet Potato 𝜋 Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

A variety of fruits, both sweet and tart, form a colorful filling for this summery pie—but don't worry, you can totally use frozen fruit in the wintertime. This is another great opportunity for you fancy bakers out there who want to try out a lattice design to top your pie, but if you don't feel up for it, you can certainly just use a solid sheet of dough, cut to span the πr2 of the base. Do read the label on the tapioca starch you buy: Only starch made from real cassava will gel properly.

Late-Summer Mixed-Fruit 𝜋 Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

A galette, or freeform pie, is the perfect vehicle for fruit like peaches, which won't survive the long bake at high heat that's needed for a traditional pie made in a pie dish. It's also perfect for when you don't want to bother with careful shaping and fluting of that crust, since all you've got to do is pile the filling in the middle and fold the dough over, section by section. You can substitute other stone fruit for the peaches, or swap out some of it for berries.

Freeform Peach 𝜋 (Galette) Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

Nothing beats a classic like blueberry pie, and no blueberry pie beats this version. Using our handy ratio of fruit and sugar, you'll be rewarded with a filling that cooks up nice and thick—no more fears of getting blueberry soup—with a complexity of blueberry flavor from a mix of both cultivated and wild berries.

The Best Blueberry 𝜋 Recipe »

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[Photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt]

An improvement on another old standard. Here, the apple slices are cooked to 160°F (71°C), which helps them hold their shape even as they turn tender during baking. Cornstarch and sugar thicken the filling into a nice, gooey syrup, while a bit of lemon zest brightens up the flavor.

Gooey Apple 𝜋 Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

All right, I can hear you saying it: "This isn't π!" Not quite, perhaps, but it has the crucial elements, and it's a beautiful dessert to boot. Think of it as 1/π, an inverted π, if you will: a sweet, bright interior of peach slices in a rich syrup, with a moist and tender biscuit blanket.

Classic Biscuit-Topped Peach Cobbler Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

This may be one of the prettiest pies on the list, but it's also one of the tastiest. Pitted fresh cherries (you can use frozen ones, too) are lightly bound in a clear syrup that doesn't detract from the fruit's naturally sweet and tart flavors. With the right ratio of fruit to sugar, you won't have to sacrifice a crisp crust to get a nicely thickened filling. Hold on to the cherry pits to make a subtly cherry-flavored whipped cream to serve alongside.

Cherry 𝜋 Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

Who says pumpkin pie is only for Thanksgiving? It might even be extra appealing out of season, when you're not suffering from the pumpkin-spice fatigue of fall. Blending cream cheese with canned fresh pumpkin purée gives the filling a smoother, silkier consistency and keeps it less wet than typical versions, reducing your risk of a soggy crust.

Extra-Smooth Pumpkin 𝜋 Recipe »

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[Photograph: Yvonne Ruperti]

Here's another galette for those who just want a delicious pie, without all the fussy presentation. Sweet apples and tangy cranberries are a familiar fall combination, and they get a boost in flavor from a sprinkling of cinnamon; added richness from butter helps to balance out their tartness.

Rustic Apple-Cranberry 𝜋 Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

On this one, you got me: It isn't even close to being π. But it's so good, we couldn't leave it off the list—and it's easy. The crisp topping, chock-full of toasty pecans and scented with nutmeg, comes together quickly in a food processor, and the fruit base is nothing more than chopped apples tossed with cornstarch, sugar, salt, and a little whiskey.

The Best Apple Crisp Recipe »

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[Photograph: Aki Kamozawa]

This might be the dessert equivalent of Euler's identity, since it combines cheesecake and π in a way that is, quite simply, mathematically beautiful. It's more complicated than many of the other recipes here, but the result is a juicy filling of sweet-tart blueberries, covered in a light cheesecake topping and a delicately floral-scented streusel.

Gluten-Free Blueberry Cheesecake 𝜋 With Lavender Streusel Recipe »

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[Photograph: Ideas in Food]

What kind of pie roundup would this be without at least two ice cream pies? And this is ice cream pie to the nth degree, with caramelized condensed milk ice cream in a chocolate crust, topped off with a chocolate-caramel sauce and a chocolate–peanut butter ganache.

The Ultimate Snickers 𝜋 Recipe »

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Meat 𝜋

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

One of my favorite stories ever written features a relatively lengthy consideration of the pot pie, and it contains the accusation, perhaps unfounded, that commercial pot pie makers will gradually reduce the amount of meat in their pot pies as they gain in popularity. Of course, the only way to be absolutely sure that your pot pie has an ample amount of meat is to make it yourself, and here we have a fine recipe that will help you do just that; tender chunks of delicately poached chicken floating in a flavorful and thick sauce underneath a buttermilk drop biscuit top. There isn't much not to love about this recipe, but if you prefer individual pot pies, here's a variation that uses a flaky whole wheat pie crust that'll crisp up just as well on the top as it will on the bottom.

Chicken Pot 𝜋 With Buttermilk Biscuit Topping Recipe »

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[Photograph: Daniel Gritzer]

As good as tamales are, making them at home is a headache. Much easier is packing the flavors of a tamale into pie form. This tamal de cazuela features a filling made with chicken stock, black beans, and lard and flavored with smoky ancho chilies. Alternatively, consider this meatier version, filled with slow-cooked skirt steak, or this vegetarian pie.

Mexican Tamale 𝜋 (Tamal de Cazuela) Recipe »

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[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

There may be no pie, whether savory or sweet, that's as satisfying as a shepherd's pie—buttery mashed potatoes with browned peaks, crowning a mix of vegetables and minced meat. I love lamb (and it is called shepherd's pie for a reason), but this recipe will work just as well with less-traditional ground beef or a mixture of the two.

Classic, Savory Shepherd's 𝜋 (With Beef and/or Lamb) Recipe »

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[Photograph: Emily and Matt Clifton]

This is just like shepherd's pie, except the shepherd is a Brit and happens to herd fish. Firm, white-fleshed fish gets mixed with dry-brined shrimp and hot-smoked salmon in a very leek-y and creamy sauce flavored with herbs and anchovies, and all of it gets topped with mashed potatoes before getting baked in a hot oven. While you can simply buy hot smoked salmon at the store, smoking it yourself is relatively simple and can really cut down on the cost.

British Fish 𝜋 With Smoked Salmon, Shrimp, and Mashed Potatoes Recipe »

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This post may contain links to Amazon or other partners; your purchases via these links can benefit Serious Eats. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.

Source: https://www.seriouseats.com/roundups/pi-day-pie-recipes

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gossipnetwork-blog · 6 years

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Meet Rupi Kaur, Queen of the 'Instapoets'

New Post has been published on http://gossip.network/meet-rupi-kaur-queen-of-the-instapoets/

Meet Rupi Kaur, Queen of the 'Instapoets'

Rupi Kaur is too sick to get out of bed and wishes she had realized this a few hours earlier. Sitting on a king-size mattress in her Soho Grand hotel room, Kaur tells the story of how she almost lost her brunch all over actress Jennifer Westfeldt. “I knew something was wrong when I was talking to Jennifer and the green haze came over me,” she says in between sips of red Gatorade. “I was like, ‘You’re talking about something so deep right now, but the strawberries are coming back up girl, I gotta go.'”

Trying to keep fruit down isn’t exactly how the 25-year-old imagined she’d be celebrating the release of her second collection of poetry, The Sun and Her Flowers. It’s a celebration which kicked off the night before with a live performance of her work featuring Westfeldt, YouTube star Lilly Singh and fellow poet Chloe Wade. But this story of what was supposed to be a nausea-free victory lap, which she spares me the gross details of finishing, is just the kind of anecdote her 1.9 million Instagram followers would adore.

Since 2013, Kaur has been sharing poems about love, heartbreak and womanhood that perfectly exemplify the self-care movement. Most are bite-size affirmations, accompanied by Kaur’s own delicate line drawings, that go down easy when scrolling through Instagram. Kaur’s most-liked poem, which is just six lines and begins “how is it so easy for you/ to be kind to people, he asked,” earned over 240,000 likes.

Her poetry has gotten her more than likes, though. Her debut, Milk and Honey, has sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide since its 2015 re-release by Andrews McMeel Publishing. (Kaur self-published it a year prior.) In its first week of release, Kaur’s follow-up was duking it out for the top spot on Amazon’s best-seller list with Dan Brown’s latest novel. It would win the coveted spot atop The New York Times list for paperback trade fiction where it stayed for nine straight weeks before E.L. James usurped it.

Uncomplicated and concise, Kaur’s poetry has been criticized for being too simplistic. Parody accounts have shown up on Twitter that intend to show how easy it is to write a Rupi Kaur poem – the gist being you take any conversation, format it in all lowercase and insert random line breaks. Milk and Honey officially became a meme earlier this year when people starting taking the text from Vine videos and stylizing them like one of her poems. Now there’s even a book called Milk and Vine that’s quickly become an Amazon bestseller since its October release.

Kaur doesn’t think her poetry is simple. To her, it’s straightforward. “It’s like a peach,” she says. “You have to remove everything and get to the pit of it.” Kaur – who moved from Punjab, India to the suburbs of Ontario, Canada, when she was three and a half years old and now lives in Toronto – doesn’t want readers to agonize over each and every word like she did when learning poetry in school. “I would have to pull out the list of literary devices my teacher gave me and my 10 colorful pens,” she says, her big, almond eyes getting wider. “It was like doing surgery on the damn thing.”

Instead, Kaur wanted to do something more accessable. “I’ve realized, it’s not the exact content that people connect with,” she says. “People will understand and they’ll feel it because it all just goes back to the human emotion. Sadness looks the same across all cultures, races, and communities. So does happiness and joy.”

Though she’s made her name with words, Kaur’s initial Instagram fame had nothing to do with her poetry. Three years ago, Kaur posted a shot of herself lying in a bed with her back to the camera, menstrual blood leaking through her sweatpants. Instagram removed the image – which was for a college assignment in which she was asked to “challenge a taboo” – two separate times for breaking community guidelines. The site eventually apologized and reposted the photo, but not before Kaur wrote a letter reprimanding them for trying to censor her. “Their patriarchy is leaking. Their misogyny is leaking. We will not be censored,” she wrote on Facebook, in a post that’s been shared over 18,000 times.

Kaur’s response went viral and soon she was doing interviews with The Huffington Post and Vice about the need to “demystify the period.” Talking to Kaur now, she says she wishes she never wrote that letter – curious, since that’s how so many people found her Instagram. “I think that day, this anxiety came upon me that’s never left,” she says, recalling how scary it was to get “that much hate literally from every corner of the planet.” While Kaur says she received overwhelming support from the letter – the most memorable, she says, was an email from a war general in Afghanistan – she also never experienced “so many people saying so many mean things and telling me they were going to kill me.” Still, she doesn’t deny that the strongly worded letter benefited her career: “They came for the photo, but they stayed for the poetry.”

Why they stayed is simple, according to Kirsty Melville, the president and publisher of Andrews McMeel Publishing, which had previously been best known for releasing Calvin and Hobbes. “She’s given voice to things that people may not have been able to articulate for themselves,” she says. “In this digital world where content marketing is this sort of buzzword, Rupi is the content and it doesn’t need the marketing.”

Kaur’s popularity on Instagram is part of a trend so prominent in publishing right now that it’s spawned its own genre. “Instapoets” has become the term used to describe a new generation of writers including Lang Leav, Tyler Knott Gregson, Nayyirah Waheed and Robert M. Drake, all of whom have landed book deals thanks to their respective social media presence. “We were told for so long that there isn’t a market for this, and there is,” Kaur says. “I’m seeing so many more poets who are getting published, which I hope isn’t just a trend that goes away.”

Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter have allowed more poets – especially those of color – to share their work with a larger, younger and more diverse audience, but not everyone loves the “Instapoets” nickname. “Personally, I think it is ridiculous that a social media platform is used to define a genre of writing,” says Leav, who has 393, 000 Instagram followers. After all, Leav released her first two bestselling poetry collections – her 2014 self-published debut, Love & Misadventure, which sold 10,000 copies in the first month, and Lullabies, which was published that same year by Andrews McMeel – without ever writing a word on Instagram. (She preferred Tumblr.)

No two Instapoets are exactly alike, but there are similarities between writers that even those in the community find worrisome. Earlier this year, Waheed, who self-published her debut, Salt, a year before Milk and Honey, accused Kaur of “hyper-similarity” after fans on Twitter and Tumblr made those charges. Waheed wrote in a Tumblr post, which has since been taken down, that in 2014 she emailed Kaur, “woc writer to fellow woc writer,” to share her concerns “in the hopes that upon awareness on their part. efforts would be made to cease and desist.” In the post, Waheed, who keeps a low public profile, rarely giving interviews, said that her concerns went ignored.

Kaur declines to comment on Waheed’s specific allegations, but when speaking in her hotel room says she believes some crossover between poets is natural when they have “similar experiences and similar ideas about the world.” She also wonders if some of the accusations of similarity between her work and others are a way of silencing women of color. “It’s like that scarcity complex,” Kaur says. “‘We already have one and it’s enough,’ as if we have to fight each other off now and I think that’s really dangerous.”

Over 900 fans came out to see Kaur read at the Tribeca event. John Halpern

Kaur certainly isn’t spending her time duking it out with other poets. She holds her own unique space in the literary world where her poetry readings are more like pop concerts. To launch The Sun and Her Flowers, she put on a special theatrical performance at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York City to a sold-out crowd of over 900 people willing to shell out $75 to $100 to see her.

In a nod to the book’s cover, Kaur’s fans – mostly women in their late teens and early twenties – took photos with gigantic sunflowers. Beyoncé, Rihanna and Drake played over the speakers before the petite poet took the stage in a dress that hit right above the knee. It was something that gave her pause, knowing that her Sikh father was in the audience. “It’s the shortest thing I ever wore in front of him,” Kaur says later. “I was like, ‘My legs! He’s never seen my legs before!'”

When Kaur speaks, her fans, which she says are “60 percent female and 40 percent everything else,” listen. They also whoop and holler when she delivers the climax of her most suggestive poem, Milk and Honey‘s “How We Make Up”: “Sweet baby, this is how we pull language out of one another with the flick of our tongues.” They snap their fingers in solidarity after “What’s stronger than the human heart/ that shatters over and over and still lives,” a line that found its way onto posters at the Women’s March in January.

“Whenever I read her poems, I have the same thought: ‘This is exactly how I feel but never knew how to say it,'” Lilly Singh writes in an email days after sharing the stage with Kaur to read selections from The Sun and Her Flowers. “Rupi’s words make people, especially women, feel safe and understood.”

Kaur has no problem connecting with her audience, but now she’d like the literary world to take her more seriously. She admits that her goal with her new collection was to improve as a writer and show “that just because your work is successful does not make it bad work.”

Kaur started writing Milk and Honey when she was 18. Now 25, Kaur doesn’t deny that she’s outgrown some of her early work, but isn’t ashamed of anything she’s put down on paper. “We grew up in a time with every single one of our moves being recorded and documented forever and in that was this idea that we can’t make mistakes,” she says, “but when that’s not happening you’re also not growing.”

The way she looks back at her life and lets her fans know it gets better is a big part of Kaur’s appeal, but some critics question whether the stories in her work are really hers to tell. Kaur’s been criticized for blurring the lines between her own experiences and the experiences of others when writing about the trauma women face – rape, sexual assault, domestic abuse – most notably in the Buzzfeed piece “The Problem With Rupi Kaur’s Poetry.” The essay makes the case that the poet’s “use of collective trauma in her quest to depict the quintessential South Asian female experience” is a way of forcing universality to reach a larger, more mainstream audience. It’s a dilemma that many writers of color face, knowing that sticking with specifics in regards to their own story could mean alienating readers.

Kaur tells me she writes about the South Asian experience – hers, her friends’, her family’s – because she doesn’t want to see these stories go untold. “I began writing pieces about violence at the age of 16 after seeing what the women around me were enduring and facing,” Kaur says. “It was my way of reflecting on all of these issues.”

With so little South Asian representation in entertainment, Kaur also understands how important it is for her to share these stories even if it may come with some backlash. “This name,” she says, pointing to the “Kaur” that appears on the binding of her latest book, which she pulls out from underneath the white comforter of her hotel bed, as if scripted, “is so important on a bookshelf. That’s the name of every Sikh woman. If I was six years old and I saw this in Barnes and Nobles, I would cry. I would sit there and be like, ‘If she can do it, I can do it.'”

With Sun and Her Flowers, Kaur’s still following her peach-pit philosophy, but she’s also getting at the core of who she is, delving deeper into her South Asian identity in a section of the book fittingly called “Roots.” The eldest of four writes at length about her parents, specifically her mom, whose struggle with being an immigrant is something Kaur admits she’s often taken for granted.

During her Tribeca performance, Kaur tells a story about how, as a kid, she would ignore her mom at the supermarket, too embarrassed by her accent to be seen with her. The anecdote acts as the perfect lead-in to “Broken English,” the standout of her latest collection in which she chastises herself and anyone else who’s ever been ashamed of their immigrant mother. “She split through countries to be here/ so you wouldn’t have to cross a shoreline,” she writes. “Her accent is thick like honey/ hold it with your life/ it’s the only thing she has left of home.”

The funny thing is, Kaur almost didn’t include this section in her book. “I thought nobody cares about this,” she says. “It’s not cool to talk about your parents.” But it’s the part that’s gotten the most feedback from fans who want to tell Kaur about their own mothers and how far they traveled for a better life. “When you start writing those other poems about your parents and all that, it’s like, how can you write about love and heartache?” Kaur asks. “That just seems so silly.”

For those who want it, there are still plenty of traditional love and heartache poems in The Sun and Her Flowers, but Kaur’s expanding on these topics. She’s now writing more authoritatively about the love and heartache that accompanies her mom and dad’s immigrant story and discovering that her specific experience of being a woman, being Punjabi and being a child of immigrants has universal appeal.

Knowing how far her reach is, Kaur doesn’t just want to write poetry, but prose, too. Back in 2015, she wrote 10 chapters of a novel that she’s still figuring out what to do with. She’s also thinking she might even want to give music a try. “It would be cool to write a song with Adele,” Kaur mentions with a chuckle. “You know, if she calls me up.”

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