Child-of-the-morning-stars - Of Shadow And Light - Tumblr Blog

The most comprehensive link to donations, petitions, resources and information. Silence is compliance in violence.

Pride was always a protest.

ways to help protestors if you are unable to protest

everybody has to do their part. as a reference, this was posted on 1 june 2020. if any links are broken or direct to a place they should not, please feel free to add on with corrections. if there is new information with better knowledge, please feel free to share. thank you.

1. donate

do not donate to shaun king. he has repeatedly collected money to “support” black people, but no one knows where the money is.

BAIL FUNDS (ALPHABETICAL ORDER; NOT A COMPREHENSIVE LIST)

note: washington dc and new jersey have cashless bail systems.

bail fund google doc (also includes lawyers for protestors)

national bail fund network (directory of community bail funds)

community bail funds masterpost by @keplercryptids

resistance funds (google sheets; lists bail funds around the country)

nationwide bail funds (split a donation to the bail funds listed on the linked page with a single transaction)

atlanta bail fund

brooklyn bail fund

colorado freedom fund

columbus freedom fund

houston chapter of black lives matter

liberty fund (nyc based; focuses services on people from low-income communities)

los angeles freedom fund

louisville community fund

massachusetts bail fund

minnesota freedom fund (as of may 30, 2020, they are encouraging people to donate elsewhere since they have raised enough money; as of may 29, 2020, they do not have a venmo, as some fraudulent accounts have been claiming, source)

philadelphia bail out fund

richmond bail fund

MORE PLACES TO DONATE

note: more links are listed in the masterposts below.

northstar health collective (healthcare and medical aid for people on the front lines)

reclaim the block (aims to redistribute police funding to help the minneapolis community)

twin cities dsa (provides fresh groceries and hot meals to people in minneapolis)

2. educate yourself

it isn’t enough to sign petitions and reblog/retweet/etc. nonblack people, including people of color, owe it to black people to educate themselves and correct themselves and the people around them on anti-blackness.

note: more links are in the masterposts linked below.

resources and tools regarding racism and anti-blackness (google sheets compilation)

readings on society, racism, the prison system, etc. (twitter thread)

“where do we go after ferguson?” by michael eric dyson

official black lives matter website

3. give out supplies to protestors

people need supplies to protest safely, and even if they bring supplies with them, they can often run out. if you’re able, stock up and hand them out to people protesting. for more supplies to donate, see the “george floyd action” google docs link in section 5.

water bottles (dehydration and heatstroke are not things people should have to deal with alongside bastard cops. if the police in your area are particularly violent or known to use tear gas, get the ones with the sports cap/suction-thing/etc so people can use them as emergency eye-flushes.)

snacks (make sure to take into account that people have allergies of all sorts. foods will have a little label that says “may contain” and then list any potential allergens. write the allergens on the ziploc (or any container you use) in permanent marker, or better yet, write the snacks included in the pack.)

masks (don’t forget there’s still a pandemic going on. also it will aid in deterring facial recognition when the police try to track down protestors,  also part two, if the cops use tear gas, wearing a mask (with the combination of a scarf or bandana) will lessen the adverse effects. lessen, not stop.)

bandanas, scarves, etc. and goggles (ski goggles, swimming goggles, etc.) (see above for explanation on the scarves. same goes for the goggles. anti–tear gas and anti–facial recognition.)

clean shirts (for people who are heavily gassed. also helps deter recognition through clothing.)

wound care supplies (band-aids, packets of neosporin packets or a similar antibiotic, alcohol wipes, etc.; if you can, decant bactine into those little travel bottles.)

a sharpie or another type of marker (for writing bail numbers or emergency contacts on arms, hands, etc. it’s not enough to have your city’s bail fund number stored on your phone; the police won’t give it to you to look it up. give people a marker so they can write it down, preferably not washable so it isn’t easily removed.)

IMPORTANT: KNOWING FIRST AID

tear gas: if you’re hit, get out as fast and as soon as you can. take anyone you can with you. the longer you’re in the gas, the harder it will be for you to see, and it can irritate your airways, making it hard to breathe. if you’re hit, don’t run; it’ll only make things worse on your lungs. when you leave the area, take a cold shower. don’t use hot water (it will only reactivate the agent); don’t bathe (it will only spread the CS around). (source 1) (source 2) (cdc fact sheet on tear gas)

move them to a clean and ventilated area where it’s as safe as possible.

ask them if they’re wearing contact lenses. have them remove it. if they’re wearing glasses, rinse it with water.

solution of half liquid antacid, half water. spray from the inside going out, with the head tilted back and slightly towards the side being rinsed. if they say it’s okay, open the eye slightly while doing this. (source)

bullet wounds: the most important thing is to stop the bleeding. be sure to check for an exit wound and cover that as well. treat both wounds, but treat the worse one first.

stop the bleed (youtube video by uc san diego health)

first aid in active shooting scenarios

making a tourniquet (a commercial tourniquet is best, but improvised ones can work as well if done properly; the most important things to remember is that tourniquets are for limb injuries and are not meant for the head or torso and that they have to be very tightly wound on the injury.)

how to apply pressure dressings

miscellaneous

adult cpr tutorial (youtube video by cincinnati children’s; think of “staying alive” by the beegees or “uptown funk”)

4. be a source of information

be responsible with this. people’s lives are at stake. that being said, the media is a fucking joke and the best way to get accurate information in a grassroots rebellion is amongst ourselves. record everything, but if you are going to share any information at all, be sure to blur people’s faces.

signal (encrypted messenger app; messages delete after x amount of time): app store | google play

tool for scrubbing metadata from images and selectively blurring identifiable features

tech tips to protect yourself while protesting (by rey.nbows on tiktok, via vicent_efl on twitter)

cop spotting 101 (google docs)

know your rights (by personachuu on twitter)

NUMBERS TO CALL FOR ARRESTED PROTESTORS (ALPHABETICAL ORDER; SOURCES LINKED TO THE NUMBER)

remember to keep phones OFF unless absolutely necessary. cell phone towers, stingrays, location notifs can all be used to track you and other protestors. don’t fuck around. if your phone must be on, keep it on airplane mode as often as possible and only communicate using encrypted methods. no, snapchat doesn’t count. (a twitter thread on stingrays, for those interested)

lawyers assisting protestors pro-bono (by riyakatariax on twitter)

atlanta: 404-689-1519

chicago: 773-309-1198

minneapolis: 612-444-2654

5. miscellaneous links and links for protestors

masterpost of petitions to sign, numbers to call, places to donate, and more (carrd by dehyedration on twitter)

#blacklivesmatter (google docs by ambivaIcnt on twitter; includes information on relevant events, other masterposts, lists of petitions and donation links, how to protest safely and protests to go to, and more)

george floyd action (google docs; includes information on apps to download, supplies to buy and donate, places to donate to, protest safety, resources on unlearning racial bias, and more)

how to get out of ziptie “handcuffs” (by finnianj on tiktok, via katzerax on twitter)

how can i help? by @abbiheartstaylor

how to make a signal-blocking cell phone pouch

tips for protestors by @aurora00boredealis

twitter thread for protestors (by vantaemuseum on twitter)

also, if you’re protesting, change your passcode. make it at least 11 characters long and don’t use facial/thumb recognition.

Atlanta’s drarry rec list

Hey y’all I got bored and decided to make a list of my favorite drarry fics and by favorite I mean I think I felt my soul shatter when I read most of these. These fics just sent me to a higher plane, watered my crops, cleared my skin etc…

Trouble, My Old Friend by Tepre (Wc: 21042 | Rating: E | complete)

Harry goes rogue investigating an illegal potion and ends up at Draco Malfoy’s dodgy lab.

I genuinely feel like everyone should have read this fic by now but if you haven’t please go read it. If you have, go re-read it. It’s so damn good. The dom/sub vibes are on point and it’s one of my fave fics to re-read.

Keep reading

SkyKnit: When knitters teamed up with a neural network

[Make Caows and Shapcho - MeganAnn]

[Pitsilised Koekirjad Cushion Sampler Poncho - Maeve]

[Lacy 2047 - michaela112358]

I use algorithms called neural networks to write humor. What’s fun about neural networks is they learn by example - give them a bunch of some sort of data, and they’ll try to figure out rules that let them imitate it. They power corporate finances, recognize faces, translate text, and more. I, however, like to give them silly datasets. I’ve trained neural networks to generate new paint colors, new Halloween costumes, and new candy heart messages. When the problem is tough, the results are mixed (there was that one candy heart that just said HOLE).

One of the toughest problems I’ve ever tried? Knitting patterns.

I knew almost nothing about knitting when @JohannaB@wandering.shop sent me the suggestion one day. She sent me to the Ravelry knitting site, and to its adults-only, often-indecorous LSG forum, who as you will see are amazing people. (When asked how I should describe them, one wrote “don’t forget the glitter and swearing!”)

And so, we embarked upon Operation Hilarious Knitting Disaster.

The knitters helped me crowdsource a dataset of 500 knitting patterns, ranging from hats to squids to unmentionables. JC Briar exported another 4728 patterns from the site stitch-maps.com. 

I gave the knitting patterns to a couple of neural networks that I collectively named “SkyKnit”. Then, not knowing if they had produced anything remotely knittable, I started posting the patterns. Here’s an early example.

MrsNoddyNoddy wrote, “it’s difficult to explain why 6395, 71, 70, 77 is so asthma-inducingly funny.” (It seems that a 6000-plus stitch count is, as GloriaHanlon put it, “optimism”). 

As training progressed, and as I tried some higher-performance models, SkyKnit improved. Here’s a later example.

Even at its best, SkyKnit had problems. It would sometimes repeat rows, or leave them out entirely. It could count rows fairly reliably up to about 22, but after that would start haphazardly guessing random largish numbers. SkyKnit also had trouble counting stitches, and would confidently declare at the end of certain lines that it contained 12 stitches when it was nothing of the sort.

But the knitters began knitting them. This possibly marks one of the few times in history when a computer generated code to be executed by humans.

[Mystery lace - datasock]

[Reverss Shawl - citikas]

[Frost - Odonata]

The knitters didn’t follow SkyKnit’s directions exactly, as it turns out. For most of its patterns, doing them exactly as written would result in the pattern immediately unraveling (due to many dropped stitches), or turning into long whiplike tentacles (due to lots of leftover stitches). Or, to make the row counts match up with one another, they would have had to keep repeating the pattern until they’d reached a multiple of each row count - sometimes this was possible after a few repeats, while other times they would have had to make the pattern tens of thousands of stitches long. And other times, missing rows made the directions just plain impossible. 

So, the knitters just started fixing SkyKnit’s patterns.

Knitters are very good at debugging patterns, as it turns out. Not only are there a lot of knitters who are coders, but debugging is such a regular part of knitting that the complicated math becomes second nature. Notation is not always consistent, some patterns need to be adjusted for size, and some simply have mistakes. The knitters were used to taking these problems in stride. When working with one of SkyKnit’s patterns, GloriaHanlon wrote, “I’m trying not to fudge too much, basically working on the principle that the pattern was written by an elderly relative who doesn’t speak much English.”

Each pattern required a different debugging approach, and sometimes knitters would each produce their own very different-looking versions. Here are three versions of “Paw Not Pointed 2 Stitch 2″.

[Top - ActualJellyfish; Middle - LadyAurian; Bottom (sock version) - ShoelessJane]

Once, knitter MeganAnn came across a stitch that didn’t even exist (something SkyKnit called ’pbk’). So she had to improvise. “I googled it and went with the first definition I got, which was ‘place bead and knit’.” The resulting pattern is “Ribbed Rib Rib” below (note bead).

[Ribbed Rib Rib - MeganAnn]

Even debugged, the patterns were weird. Like, really, really nonhumanly weird.

“I love how organic it comes out,“ wrote Vastra. SylviaTX agreed, loving “the organic seeming randomness. Like bubbles on water or something,” 

SkyKnit’s patterns were also a pain. Michaela112358 called Row 15 of Mystery Lace (above) “a bit of a head melter”, commenting that it “lacked the rhythm that you tend to get with a normal pattern”. Maeve_ish wrote that Shetland Bird Pat “made my brain hurt so I went to bed.” ShoelessJane asked, “Okay, now who here has read Snow Crash?”

[Winder Socks (2 versions) - TotesMyName]

“I was laughing a few days ago because I was trying to math a Skyknit pattern and my brain…froze. Like, no longer could number at all. I stared blankly at my scribbles and at the screen wondering what had happened til somehow I rebooted. Yup, Skyknit crashed my brain.” - Rayn63

[Paw chain 2 - HMSChicago]

On the pattern SkyKnit called “Cherry and Acorns Twisted To”:

“Couple notes on the knitting experience, which while funny wasn’t terribly pleasurable: Because there’s no rhythm or symmetry to the pattern, I felt I was white-knuckling it through each line, really having to concentrate. There are also some stitch combinations that aren’t very comfortable to execute physically, YO, SSK in particular.

That said, I’m nearly tempted to add a bit of random AI lace to a project, perhaps as cuffs on a sweater or a short-row lace panel in part of a scarf, like Sylvia McFadden does in many of her shawl designs. As another person in the thread said, it would add a touch of spider-on-LSD.” -SarahScully

[cherry and acorns twisted to - Sarah Scully]

BridgetJ’s comments on “Butnet Scarf”:

“Four repeats in to this oddball, daintily alien-looking 8-row lace pattern, and I have, improbably, begun to internalize it and get in to a rhythm like every other lace pattern.

I still have a lingering suspicion that I’m knitting a pattern that could someday communicate to an AI that I want to play a game of Global Thermonuclear War, but I suppose at least I’ll have a scarf at the end of it?” -BridgetJ

[butnet scarf - BridgetJ]

There was also this beauty of a pattern, that SkyKnit called “Tiny Baby Whale Soto”. GloriaHanlon managed somehow to knit it and described it as “a bona fide eldritch horror. Think Slenderman meets Cthulu and you wouldn’t be far wrong.”

[Tiny Baby Whale Soto - GloriaHanlon]

Other than being a bit afraid of Tiny Baby Whale Soto, the knitters seem happy to do the bidding of SkyKnit, brain melts and all.

“I cast on for a lovely MKAL with a designer I totally trust and became immediately suspicious because the pattern made sense. All rows increase in an orderly manner. There are no “huh?” moments. There are no maths at all…it has all been done for me. I thought I would be happy, yo. Instead, I am kind of missing the brain scrambling and I keep looking for pigs and tentacles. Go figure.” - Rayn63

Check out the rest of the SkyKnit-generated patterns, and the glorious rainbow of weird test-knits at SkyKnit: The Collection and InfiKnit. 

There’s also a great article in the Atlantic that talks a bit more about the debugging. 

If you feel so inspired (and don’t mind the kind-hearted yet vigorous swearing), join the conversation on the LSG Ravelry SkyKnit thread - many of SkyKnit’s creations have not yet been test-knit at all, and others transform with every new knitter’s interpretation. Compare notes, commiserate, and do SkyKnit’s inscrutable bidding!

Heck yeah there is bonus material this week. Have some neural net-generated knitting & crochet titles. Some of them are mixed with metal band names for added creepiness. Enter your email here to get more like these:

Chicken Shrug Snuggle Features Cartube Party Filled Booties Corm Fullenflops Womp Mittens Socks of Death Tomb of Sweater Shawl Ruins

Celtic Gods and Goddess

The Celtic world included Ireland, Britain, and a large section of the mainland

Aine: Goddess of love and fertility; encouraged human love; has command over crops and animals; daughter of Eogabail  

Amaethon: God of agriculture 

Anu or Danu/Dana: Mother goddess 

Aonghus: God of love; son of Dagda and Boann

Badb: Irish goddess of battle; could influence the outcome of conflict by inspiring fear or bravery in warriors

Balor: The one-eyed god of death, everyone he looked upon was destroyed

Belenus or Bel: Sun god; appears throughout the Celtic world in different forms; Beltaine celebrates him 

Boann: Water goddess; mother of Aonghus

Brigantia: Chief goddess of Brigantes tribe; associated with water, war and healing

Brigid/Brigit: Goddess of healing and fertility; said to help women during labor; possibly same goddess as Brigantia 

Camulos: God of war mostly worshiped in Belgium areas; said to wield an invincible sword

Ceridwen: Goddess of fertility

Cernunnos: God of wild animals, forest, and plenty; possibly also the god of death; known as the horned one

Cliodhna: Goddess of beauty; her three birds could sing the sick to sleep and heal them 

Dagda: The great god; could restore the dead to life

Dian Cecht: God of healing 

Don: Welsh version of Dana

Donn: God of the dead

Dylan: Sea god

Epona: Horse goddess

The Formorii: Sea gods; violent and misshapen

Goibhniu: Smith god 

Lir: God of sea, healing  and magic 

Lugh: Sun god (Ireland)

Lugus:  Sun god (France and Britain) 

Mac Cecht: God of eloquence

Macha: One of the war goddess

Manannan Mac Lir: Sea god; could stir up or soothe the sea

Manawydan: Welsh sea god, extremely similar to Manannan

Morrigan/Morrigu: Goddess of death on the battlefield 

Nechtan: Water god 

Nemain: Goddess of war

Nemglan: Bird god

Nodens: God of healing; owned magic healing hounds

Ogma: God of eloquence; creating of Ogham, the oldest writing system in Ireland

Taranis: Name means thunderer; Romans equated him to Jupiter; symbol was the wheel

Teutates or Toutatis: Romans equated him to Mars

**Not all inclusive 

All information gathered from “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of World Mythology by Arthur Cotterell and Rachel Storm 

My favorite witchy and spiritual podcasts

Working from home, I listen to a lot of podcasts. Here are my favorite top 3 at the moment.

Hippie Witch

At the moment I am listening to one of the episodes. Really charismatic, funny and open minded with a dash of skepticism cost makes my day a bit brighter. She does solo episodes as well as having guests. You will never be bored.

Your Own Magic

It should be called ASMR Magic, because the host has the most sensual and calm voice. It’s like honey dripping from a spoon to your cup of delicious tea. She is always travelling, letting us know what she’s up to most episodes. She has guests most of the time, talking about things like Reiki, Karma, Femininity as well as eating disorders, self love and money.

Mindfulness +

If you are looking for a daily mindfulness guided practice look no further. A short introduction about a new topic every episode and then a guided practice. Under 20 minutes for connecting with your body, mind and spirit.

Please share in the comments your favorite spiritual podcasts, I would love to check them out.

2015 H/D ERISED: WEEKLY ROUNDUP # 3

And here we present you our third week of hd_erised. Our fest is closer to the ending than to the beginning. Of course, we still have quite a lot stories and art yet for you, so no need to be sad just yet. :D

We certainly hope you’ve been enjoying all the stories and art. Please don’t neglect to leave a comment if you’ve enjoyed a submission. Comments are precious and our artists and writers will love you for it, will we.

Posting will continue later today. Please revise our third week for anything you might have missed, and check our Week 1 and Week 2 roundups for even more goodies!

ART

Just Your Average Saturday for fantasyfiend09 [PG]

Volatile Elements for potteresque_ire [PG-13]

Synchronicity for lokifan [PG]

FIC

Kissed for obliviateamores [R, ~12K] Summary: On the night of his Azkaban release, Draco Malfoy was attacked by a rogue Dementor. He survived but self-exiled to Muggle London, where he opened a late-night chocolate shop called Kissed. His only remaining link to the magical world is Harry Potter, who refuses to leave him alone for more reasons than Draco knows…and a Bertie Bott’s Every Flavored Bean will help him uncover the truth.

The Kaleidoscope Charm, or 50 Shades of Rainbow Magic for shiftylinguini [NC-17, ~27K] Summary: Getting Draco Malfoy as a boss was not the worst thing that happened to Harry; getting a crush on him was.

A Meeting of True Minds for indyonblue [PG, ~5,5K] Summary: Harry is an Auror called in to discover why Draco Malfoy has been sent a cursed mirror. But that’s not the real mystery…

Lose Not a Chance to Waken Love for persephoneapple [R, ~7K] Summary: When he keeps bumping into Harry Potter, Draco thinks chance is playing a cruel joke. Especially when he seems to be the only person in the Wizarding World who doesn’t look down on him entirely.

The Deeper Symbolism Behind Golden Apples for omi_ohmy [R, ~26,7K] Summary: When the Wizengamot insists Chief Auror Harry Potter pose for a statue for the Ministry Atrium, why are his friends reluctant to tell him who the sculptor is?

Almost Like Song for writcraft [NC-17, ~7K] Summary: They were once lovers, but Harry hasn’t seen Draco in years, so it’s a bit of a shock when he appears to warn Harry about an upcoming Auror mission.

Dear Uncle Plume for citrus_lime [NC-17, ~16,5K] Summary: Life after war is nothing like Draco expected. He only hopes he’ll survive it. Especially when his friends are less than sympathetic.

I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor for anemonen [NC-17, ~28K] Summary: Harry felt lit up from inside as soon as he entered the bar. There were blokes dancing together, their bodies close to one another, not keeping a wary distance as Harry was always careful to do when he was near another man. God, he wanted this – wanted it so much he could taste it, a metallic tang of heat and desire. He suspected nothing would ever be the same again – especially when he saw who else was in the room.

A Malfoy with a lion tattoo for agentmoppet [PG-13, ~1,9K] Summary: On a drunken dare, Draco Malfoy stumbles into Harry Potter’s tattoo parlour.

Any Instrument for femmequixotic and noeon [NC-17, ~130K] Summary: Draco Malfoy wouldn’t go back to England for anything less than an exceptional case. Being asked to figure out why Harry Potter can’t control his magic might be exceptional enough to qualify.

Free Online Language Courses

Here is a masterpost of MOOCs (massive open online courses) that are available, archived, or starting soon. I think they will help those that like to learn with a teacher or with videos.  You can always check the audit course or no certificate option so that you can learn for free.

American Sign Language

ASL University

Sign Language Structure, Learning, and Change

Arabic

Arabic for Global Exchange (in the drop-down menu)

Intro to Arabic

Madinah Arabic

Moroccan Arabic

Arabe (taught in French)

Catalan

Intro to Catalan Language & Society

Intro to Catalan Sign Language

Chinese

Beginner

Basic Chinese I. II, III, IV , V

Basic Mandarin Chinese I & II

Beginner’s Chinese

Chinese for Beginners

Chinese Characters

Chinese for HSK 1

Chinese for HSK 2

Chinese for HSK 3 I & II

HSK Level 1

Mandarin Chinese

Mandarin Chinese for Business

More Chinese for Beginners

Start Talking Mandarin Chinese

UT Gateway to Chinese

Chino Básico (Taught in Spanish)

Intermediate

Chinese Stories

Intermediate Business Chinese

Intermediate Chinese Grammar

Dutch

Introduction to Dutch

English

Online Courses here

Resources Here

Faroese

Faroese Course

Finnish

A Taste of Finnish

Basic Finnish

Finnish for Immigrants

Finnish for Medical Professionals

French

Beginner

AP French Language and Culture

Basic French Skills

Beginner’s French: Food & Drink

Diploma in French

Elementary French I & II

Français Interactif

French in Action

French Language Studies I, II, III

French: Ouverture

Intermediate & Advanced

French: Le Quatorze Juillet

Passe Partout 

La Cité des Sciences et de Industrie

Vivre en France - A2

Vivre en France - B1

Frisian

Introduction to Frisian (Taught in English)

Introduction to Frisian (Taught in Dutch)

German

Beginner

Beginner’s German: Food & Drink

Conversational German I, II, III, IV

Deutsch im Blick

Diploma in German

German at Work

Rundblick-Beginner’s German

Intermediate

German: Regionen Traditionen und Geschichte

Landschaftliche Vielfalt

Gwich’in

Introduction to Gwich’in Language

Hebrew

Biblical Hebrew

Know the Hebrew Alphabet

Teach Me Hebrew

Hindi

A Door into Hindi

Business Hindi

Virtual Hindi

Icelandic

Icelandic 1-5

Indonesian

Learn Indonesian

Irish

Introduction to Irish

Irish 101

Irish 102

Italian

Beginner

Beginner’s Italian: Food & Drink

Beginner’s Italian I

Introduction to Italian

Italian for Beginners 1 , 2, 3 , 4 , 5, 6 

Intermediate & Advanced

AP Italian Language and Culture

Intermediate Italian I

Advanced Italian I

Letteratura italiana

Japanese

Genki

Japanese JOSHU

Japanese Pronunciation

Sing and Learn Japanese

Tufs JpLang

Kazakh

A1-B2 Kazakh (Taught in Russian)

Korean

Beginner

First Step Korean

How to Study Korean

Introduction to Korean

Learn to Speak Korean

Pathway to Spoken Korean

Intermediate

Intermediate Korean

Nepali

Beginner’s Conversation and Grammar

Norwegian

Introduction to Norwegian

Norwegian on the Web

Portuguese

Curso de Português para Estrangeiros 

Pluralidades em Português Brasileiro

Russian

Beginner

Easy Accelerated Learning for Russian

Advanced

Reading Master and Margarita

Russian as an Instrument of Communication

Siberia: Russian for Foreigners

Spanish

Beginner

AP Spanish Language & Culture

Basic Spanish for English Speakers

Beginner’s Spanish: Food & Drink

Introduction to Spanish

Restaurants and Dining Out

Spanish for Beginners 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Spanish Vocabulary

Intermediate

Spanish: Ciudades con Historia

Spanish: Espacios Públicos

Advanced

Corrección, Estilo y Variaciones 

Leer a Macondo

Spanish:Con Mis Propias Manos

Spanish: Perspectivas Porteñas

Swedish

Intro to Swedish

Swedish Made Easy 1, 2, & 3

Ukrainian

Read Ukrainian

Ukrainian Language for Beginners

Welsh

Beginner’s Welsh

Discovering Wales

Multiple Languages

Ancient Languages

More Language Learning Resources & Websites!

Last updated: April 1, 2018

Drarry Recs from H/D Erised

@hd-erised​ reveals are almost upon us! As always, there have been a ridiculous number of superb fics. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve stayed up till 4am (really, I have done all of those things while reading these stories). There are many, many fics from this fest that I’d rec enthusiastically - many of which I’ve recced here!! - and a few more I’m hoping to read before reveals. Among this incredible treasure trove, there have been a few that extra moved me and stayed with me, and I wanted to give them more formal recs before the fest comes to an end (and I’ll update with author info once it does - cannot wait to find out who these folks are!!!!) Absolutely recommend checking these out, and please remember to leave comments and kudos for these fantastic authors!!

Antediluvia - NC-17, ~57k - Everyone always forgets about the Merpeople. So did Harry until the day his, Lee’s, and Hermione’s Portkeys land at Reagan National Airport’s Arrivals dais. He’s just had to leave a job he loves and pack his entire life—literally—into his luggage. Then Malfoy and his subplots arrive, and suddenly, saving the world again, one Mermaid at a time, sounds like the perfect excuse to do something he’s always wanted.

This is one of the smartest, wow-est fics I’d read in a long time, and it blew me away, start to finish. It begins with Harry, Draco, Hermione, Lee, Padma, Blaise, and Narcissa being sent to the U.S. to resolve a dispute with Merpeople. As I wrote about a million times in the comments, JK Rowling could stand to take a few notes from this mystery author, as they develop a more complex and interesting mythology of American magic than anything in the extended canon, from the descriptions of different Mermish groups to the amazingness that is Kyle Malfoy. Every chapter, page, paragraph, etc., is filled with new observations that are funny and smart and that I’d like to keep forever. The politics of the story are dynamic and exciting, and the big reveal pays off with a bang. Through it all, Harry and Draco develop a deeper and deeper understanding of what they’re about and who they might become, individually and together, and their relationship comes together beautifully. Deeply interesting, deeply rewarding, and a lot of fun to read.

And, On The Other Side, A Welcoming Voice - PG, 39k - For twenty years, the official history has told readers that Harry Potter died at the Battle of Hogwarts. The next edition is going to require some significant revisions.

This story starts with a fascinating premise, and it only gets more interesting from there. Draco is killed briefly and finds Harry on the other side, pushing him back towards life. When he says as much to Ron, the Auror on his case, they set out to figure out whether Harry – who disappeared the moment he defeated Voldemort – might be able to come back to them. The relationship between Draco and Harry, as they chat in between life and death, is warm and lovely, and the story is full of wonderfully creative, coherent magical theory, and chuckle-inducing observations about the state of the world. Beautifully done and deeply moving, with thought-provoking meditations that stuck with me long after I’d put it down.

Boom Clap (The Sound of My Heart) - NC-17, 40k - Post-war Hogwarts has been energized by its new teaching fellows program. Where once bitter enmity divided the wizarding community, Malfoy and Potter chummily patrol hallways together whilst Granger and Zabini seek lost parts of the castle at McGonagall’s behest and Chang supervises Quidditch when not lecturing in Charms. It’s a veritable wizarding utopia and life is predictable for the first time in years. Which is, of course, when everything blows apart as the result of a drunken dare and Malfoy’s life is ruined beyond his capacity to repair it. Ever. In a million years.

Draco and Harry’s push-pull had me on the edge of my seat more than once. The UST (and aching unresolved emotional tension) between them, and Draco’s longing, were resonant and beautifully done. I loved the construction of the teaching fellows program, which puts them back at Hogwarts with more maturity and perspective than we often get in eighth year fics, and some very moving interactions with students. Add in a fabulous cast (including maybe my favorite Cho Chang ever, a delightfully snarky portrait!Snape, and a Blaise and Pansy to die for), gorgeous writing, and some astounding magic (the room of requirement makes an excellent, moving appearance) and you have everything you need for a brilliant story, which this very much is.

Bound To You – NC-17, 28k - Hag magic is capricious and unruly, and Harry and Draco are bound to stay by each other’s side until they can solve the riddle. In between long car trips, misty rain, and midnight star charts, they begin to understand each other.

This story grows beautifully. It starts with real antagonism between Draco and Harry, and real mutual skepticism between them. As they’re pushed together, the growth of their relationship is halting and feels realer for it, and it’s accompanied by a quiet respect that feels substantive and makes the payoff all the more rewarding. Along the way, we see some truly exceptional magic. Harry’s job as a magical cartographer sets the stage for beautiful explorations of magical space, and those, as well as the car rides he and Draco spend together, suffuse the fic with quiet beauty. The ending brings unexpected pieces together fantastically well, with a great twist that sheds light on magical history and the nature of Harry and Draco’s relationship.

The Full Four Seasons - NC-17, 49k - Draco Malfoy just wants a quiet life. He has a successful business, a lovely wife, and a delightfully horrible circle of friends. He’s fine. Or, he was fine until Harry Potter thundered into his life with all the subtlety of a blast-ended skrewt and turned everything on its head. Now he’s beginning to wonder if ‘fine’ is enough, after all.

On top of overflowing with incredible UST, this a fantastic coming out story. Harry and Draco’s chemistry is, it quickly becomes clear, undeniable, but that’s only one part of the story. Draco has to grapple with whether coming out is worth the substantial costs, and his story rings true in a million different ways. The writing is gorgeous, the supporting characters pop off the page, and the story itself kept me up till 4am, absolutely captivated from the first word to the last.

A Ghost in the Garden – NC-17, 27k - That night Draco dreams, and he is the ghost in his garden. He is both silvered figment and his own solid and flesh face pressing against the window, watching. Spinning and spun, haunting and haunted. Turned and turning, an open mouth with no sound.

Ohhhh, this story! It got into my heart so very quickly and stayed there.  The atmosphere is incredible; every setting is beautifully drawn and immersive. It’s against that gorgeous background that we get a million fab tropes reimagined. This fic has case fic, auror partner H/D, forced proximity, forced bed-sharing, going undercover, pretend boyfriends – so many faves! And each of them done so that they feel fresh and original, and so that they contribute to an amazing, timely story that reveals quite a lot about how the wizarding world has changed in the years since the war, and how Harry and Draco find their way to each other in it. 

Lumos – NC-17, 42k - Harry never expected to spend eighth year listening to Draco Malfoy wanking.

This story does so much more than what’s on the tin! It starts with that classic, much loved, “Harry and Draco are back for eighth year and have to share a room” premise, but the relationship that develops between them grows as their physical relationship does. This fic has a million cool headcanons, the use of magic is beautiful and unique, and the writing is confident and sensual and an absolute pleasure.

!!!!

I took this from Twitter because it's no joke. A lot of witches tend to keep these lamps so I felt it would be worth bringing up. Please be careful and safe! Nobody wants to lose a fur baby.

Even if you aren't a witch, still please keep this in mind!!!!!

Resources for Hestia Devotees

Hestia, virgin goddess of the hearth, home, and sacrificial fire. Formal Pronunciation: EH-stee-uh [source]

The only traditional epithets: 

(1) Boulaia = “of the council”. 

(2) Prytaneia = “of the Prytanis.” 

Modern/UPG epithets

Resources:

Theoi.com

On what she presides over and sacred symbols

On first and last born

On Hestia abdicating to Dionysus

Hestia followers on tumblr

Helpful links:

On introducing yourself

Bedridden devotion to Hestia

Altar ideas: here / here / here

Devotional acts/honoring her: here / here / here / here

Morning ritual

Offering ideas: here / here / here

Crystals associated with her (UPG)

Ways to honor Hestia this holiday season

Prayers:

Historical prayer to Hestia

Guide the lost and those who have nothing

For mental strength

Strength in mental illness

For comfort and self love

For generosity and love

Guidance through hardship

May you always find a home

Helper of the homeless

Morning and evening prayer

Morning and night prayer

Hymn/prayer for prayer beads

Tea prayer/blessing

House blessing

Kitchen prayer

Devotionals and Hymns:

Patron of hometowns

Seeking guidance on paths

Helper of the homeless

Patron goddess

Hail Hestia

Hestia

To Hestia

Hestia’s home

Hymn to Hestia

Orphic hymn 84

Holy hearth flame

Hymn to Hestia-of-the-Cabled-Cardigan

Sigils and Emoji Spells:

My relationship with Hestia is strong (sigil)

My connection to Hestia is strong (sigil)

Sospidonum (sigil)

Hestia (sigil)

Emoji prayer to Hestia

To make your house a home (emoji spell)

Heal your heart and spirit (emoji spell)

Warm your heart and soul (emoji spell)

To feel connected to Hestia (emoji spell)

Updated 10/10/19

this is incredibly cool

Kenya Installs the First Solar Plant That Transforms Ocean Water Into Drinking Water, and It Could Be the Solution to the Global Lack of Water

Kenya installs the first solar plant that transforms ocean water into drinking water, and it could be the solution to the global lack of water:

FTA: “Kenya installs the first solar plant that transforms ocean water into drinking water, and it could be the solution to the global lack of water

The Earth is a watery place. In fact, 71 percent of our planet is covered in water [1]. Despite this, one in nine people do not have access to safe drinking water – that’s around 785 million people [2].

The trouble is, 96.5 percent of all Earth’s water is found in the oceans in the form of saline water, and is not drinkable for humans. That only leaves us with rivers, lakes, and groundwater to satisfy our water needs [1].

According to the World Economic Forum, the global water crisis ranks as the number four risk in terms of impact on society [3]. Let’s face it – humans need water to survive.

If you’re reading this from Canada or the United States, you may not understand this crisis on a personal level. After all, you can turn on a tap and have safe drinking water instantly start flowing from the faucet. This, however, is not the case for billions of people living on other continents. One NGO (Non-Government Organization) is trying to change that.

GivePower 

Give Power’s mission is to install solar energy technologies that will bring essential services to developing communities in need [4]. Their most recent break-through project installed a solar-powered desalination system to bring clean, healthy water to the people in Kiunga, a rural village in Kenya [4].

With this technology, the salty ocean water will now be a viable source of water for the people living in this village. The system is capable of producing about 70 thousand litres or drinkable water every day, which is enough for up to 35 thousand people [4].”

GivePower

Do note that they are not yet rated on Charity Navigator

The Promise of Spring - Imbolc for Secular Witches

I am the spark before the fire From winter’s cold, I do inspire I am the promise of the Spring I am the tiniest of flames

-Kelliana, “Brighid’s Flame”

As we begin to come to the end of (an unseasonably warm) January, a tiny candle flame appears on the horizon. The beginning of February is marked by a number of “signs of spring” holidays, among them Candlemas, the Feast of St. Brighid, Groundhog Day, and of course, Imbolc.

Now, depending on where you live, Imbolc (or Imbolg) and the Feast of St. Brighid may be celebrated sort of interchangeably. In Ireland, the day is called Lá Fhéile Bríde and it is as much a celebration of an old Gaelic festival halfway between the solstices as it is a celebration for the nation’s other favorite saint. 

The religious and spiritual significance of the holiday is very entwined with the traditional activities we often see depicted online. The reed crosses, the dollies, the ceremonies, the offerings of oatmeal and milk - all of this is wonderful, but it can leave secular witches feeling left out in the cold.

So what’s a witch to do?

The main importance of the holiday, apart from venerating the blessed Brighid or the unconquered Sun, is hope. The glimmer of new beginnings, the warm hearth in the midst of winter, and the promise of renewal with the coming spring. It is a time to evaluate where you are, to determine what can or should be cleansed from your life, and to begin planning your way forward.

If you’re inclined to divination, cast your fortune for the coming season. Contemplate your path to personal growth. What obstacles are in your path? What is holding you back from flowering and how can you either conquer it or work around it? Where would you like to see yourself this year? What changes do you need to make?

Take a day to focus on self-care. Winter darkness can be hard on those of us with depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (amongst other things). A day spent doing things that make you feel happy, healthy, and fulfilled can buoy your spirits and help get you through that winter slump. Have a home spa day. Watch your favorite movies and eat your favorite foods. Curl up with a good book. Or, if you’re socially inclined, have an outing with friends or loved ones. Visit a favorite shop or cafe. Go see a movie. Plan a date with your sweetie or your bestie. Reconnect with yourself and with the wider world in a way that brings you comfort and joy.

Start on your spring cleaning projects. It’s a bit soon to begin airing out the house, despite the January warm spell (thanks a lot, climate change), but you can still begin clearing the clutter. Organize a closet or plow through one of those projects you’ve been putting off. Scrub down your kitchen and/or bathroom - they ALWAYS need it - or clean out the fridge. Do a few loads of laundry, or just pick up whatever clutter is keeping your space from feeling relaxed and harmonious. If you’ve been saying you’ll get around to it, consider this your Round Tuit.

If you’ve got a green thumb, start planning your spring planting. The gardening catalogs are starting to show up in mailboxes, and they can be treasure troves of inspiration. Places like Seed Savers and Burpee will even send you a free catalog if you just want to have a look. Look back on last year’s garden. What worked? What didn’t? What do you want to try growing again, and what new and exciting plants would you like to try?

Start a new project. If you’re crafty with yarn and textiles, make a stashbuster project with the odds and ends you’ve got sitting around. If you’re a maker of shiny things, pick up that special piece you’ve been waiting to work with and make something gorgeous. Brainstorm ideas for new artwork or sculpture or costuming. Fill a few pages in your sketchbook. Fiddle around with some writing prompts and see what happens, or pull out that old piece you’ve been meaning to finish. Find a creative outlet and let the ideas flow.

And if you can, watch the sun rise. There is nothing quite like the light of dawn on Imbolc day. There’s something peaceful about it. The sun seems to wink at you through the early morning clouds, as if to say, “Soon.”

Happy Imbolc, everyone!

Bigid’s Crosses for Imbolc, Photo Tutorial! (Part 1 of 2)

So I’m a day late for getting this up in time for Imbolc, but for you can make these any time!  They can be hung above your door to provide protection, given as gifts to bless and protect the recipient, leave it as on offering by hanging it on a tree and leave it to return to nature (if you plan on doing this, use wool, twine or cotton yarn instead of acrylic,) imbue them with specific intentions for the space you’re going to hang them, and whatever else you feel like doing with them!

So here’s how you can make your own!

Here’s a link to Part 2!

Keep reading

Reblog or your mom will die in 928 seconds.

I love my mom.

I am risking nothing

I AM SORRY FOLLOWERS, I LOVE MY MOMMY

Will not risk.

sorry followers :(

Specific Hozier Music Edits Masterlist

(I’ll update this everytime I post a new one)

• Shrike but you’re sitting by your open window during a thunderstorm

• In The Woods Somewhere but you’re actually somewhere in the woods during a summer night, sitting by a campfire

• No Plan but you’re sitting on an empty beach looking out on the sea

• Almost (Sweet Music) but you’re sitting on a porch during a thunderstorm

• Angel Of Small Death & The Codeine Scene but you’re driving through a snow blizzard at night

• Wasteland, Baby! but you’re driving at night through rain

• As It Was but you’re sitting on your windowsill, watching the thunderstorm that’s going on outside

• Sedated but you’re underwater

• Wasteland, Baby! but you’re right at the edge of a dark forest, sitting by a bonfire

• Run but you’re sitting by a lake. The sun just went down and you lit a bonfire to keep yourself warm

• From Eden but you’re sitting in a field by a small river. It’s a nice sunny day & the birds are chirping

• Arsonist’s Lullabye but you’re all cozied up in front of an open fireplace

• NFWMB (Acoustic) but you’re in the middle of a forest at night, sitting in the entrance of your tent in front of a bonfire

• In A Week but it’s coming from an unknown source in the distance; you’re laying in the middle of a field, insects are buzzing around you

• It Will Come Back but you’re sitting at the edge of a cliff looking out onto the ocean and the thunderstorm that’s raging in the distance

• Foreigner’s God but you’re walking through howling wind

• Work Song but you’re on an empty beach, looking out onto the ocean while the daylight fades

• Dinner & Diatribes but it’s playing at a fancy cocktail/dinner party

• Would That I but you’re sitting outside on a windy day enjoying the way the trees move and the leaves rustle all around you

• Movement but you’re lying on your couch next to an open window, enjoying the thunderstorm that’s going on outside

• Like Real People Do but you’re in the forest, actually digging up something (or someone?)

• Work Song but sung by a woman/female!Hozier

• Run but sung by a woman/female!Hozier

• Take me to Church but sung by a woman/female!Hozier

• NFWMB but it’s playing from an old truck radio. You’re at the edge of a forest at night, cuddled up to your lover in the makeshift bed in the back of the truck, listening to the sounds of their breathing and heartbeat

• Better Love but you’re in the treetops of the jungle, listening to the sounds of the animals in the forest below

• Talk but you’re on a walk in a forest

• Cherry Wine but you’re in your hammock on your veranda with a glass of wine, listening to the rain and the insects in your garden

• Would That I but you’re cozied up in front of your fireplace after a long day

• From Eden but you’re riding your bicycle down a dirt path

• Someone New but it’s quietly playing through your headphones while you’re walking down a busy street; watching all the strangers around you going about their day

• Sunlight but you’re out camping on a hot summer night

• The Humours of Whiskey but someone is singing it while you’re on a walk, exploring a forest

• Be but it’s a hot summer day and you’re sitting by a river at the edge of a forest

I feel like, as witches, we all love the moon. We adore her, yes.

But I never hear y’all giving the sun the recognition it deserves?? Like, the moon’s light comes from the sun. The sun nourishes all life on earth. Without them, we would be nothing. We all use energy from the sun in some way, because at the bottom of the trophic structure are plants, which get their energy from photosynthesis from the sun. Which we either directly consume as herbivores, or that we get from animals who eat plants. Whose energy comes from the sun.

So, give the sun some credit sometimes. Worship them, praise them, give thanks for them.

Spell to Attract Love to Your Life

Sometimes, as humans, we just want a soft place to land - to be with someone that feels like home. When the yearning starts and the loneliness hits, this spell is here to signal to the universe that you are ready for it to send you in the direction of a healthy and happy love. 

What you’ll need: 

A Candle - in either a color or scent that you associate with love

A Sharp Instrument - to carve your candle with

Amazonite - for manifestation

Rose Quartz - for love

Labradorite - for transformation

A Cup of Your Favorite Warm Drink - this adds a personal touch to the spell, allowing the energies to really connect with you. 

What to do: 

Carve a personal symbol into your candle

I carved a bee - because it is something that is often associated with me. Just something simple, yet meaningful to you. 

Carve the runes Gebo (ᚷ), Wunjo (ᚹ), and Perthro (ᛈ) into your candle, alongside your personal symbol

Arrange your candle in such a way that the crystals are surrounding it

Light your candle

Hold your drink, while you stand in front of the lit candle, and repeat the following mantra: 

With reservation cast aside I ask that you no longer hide Search far and near - the earth please comb To find my heart’s safe, true home

Watch as the candle burns, eventually melting the runes and symbols carved into it

Sip on your drink as you watch the candle burn

Do this for as long as it feel right

As with any spell, make sure to practice proper self-care afterward.  I hope you enjoy! ~Mist 

A Whopping List of 160 Grimoire Prompts and Ideas

Alrighty, everybody, I’ve been working all day trying to compile this list together and it came out to be a staggering 160 prompts and ideas for your grimoire! Some of these are pretty vague and others are quite specific, but this is only to help you guys more with filling up your grimoires! So buckle up and get ready to go! 

(Btw since this post is SOOOO long it’ll be hidden :’) )

Keep reading

Predicting Your Sex Life with Tarot

THE PLAYERS

“What kind of lover are they?”

King, Queen and Knight of Wands

Fast and fiery

Very adventurous

Prone to angry sex

King, Queen and Knight of Cups

Love to be dominated

Very generous

They don’t have sex, they make love

King, Queen and Knight of Swords

Crave violent sex (could be consensual or abusive)

Emotionally detached

Tend to move mechanically

King, Queen and Knight of Pentacles

Delight in endless foreplay

Stare intensely during the act

Into sensual kisses, touching, whispering

STYLES

“What kind of experience will they give me?”

The Fool – Clumsy, awkward

The Empress – Woman worship (could also indicate pregnant sex)

The Hierophant – Missionary; robotic (could also indicate child abuse)

The Lovers – Gentle; honeymoon atmosphere

The Devil – Outrageously passionate

The Tower – Mind-blowing, life-changing

The World – Dramatic roleplaying, sex as a performance

Three of Cups – Group sex among people who know each other

Five of Wands – Group sex among strangers

Eight of Swords – BDSM (could be consensual or abusive)

ASPECTS

“Any conditions or situations I need to know about?”

Ace of Wands – This man is physically endowed.

Ace of Cups – There will be an abundance of squirting.

Ace of Swords – Condoms are a must.

Two of Swords – Prostitution plays a role.

Four of Cups – Asexuality is a factor.

Five of Cups – Erectile dysfunction could be an issue.

Six of Cups – Underage sex or incest could be involved.

Eight of Wands – Sex toys will be used.

Nine of Wands – Abuse could be an issue.

Ten of Cups – This could result in pregnancy.

EMOTIONAL PAYOFF

“How will it all make me feel?”

Two of Cups – Truly loved

Three of Pentacles – Adored and appreciated

Four of Swords – Very tired and satisfied

Four of Pentacles – Safe and cared for

Five of Pentacles – Neglected and unwanted

Seven of Cups – Overwhelmed yet unfulfilled

Eight of Cups – Disappointed and craving someone else

Nine of Swords – Abused and afraid

Nine of Pentacles – Worshipped and spoiled

Ten of Swords – Exhausted and in pain

Questions to Ask When the Major Arcana Appears

the fool - am I jumping into this too quickly? can I trust my gut? what do i hope to gain from this? is this in my best judgement to proceed? 

the magician - am I balancing parts of my life? am I focusing too much on the material world before me? am I properly utilizing the tools I have at my disposal?

the high priestess - am I trusting my intuition? am I allowing my imagination to roam free? have I grown out of touch with my spirituality? how may I further enhance my spirituality? 

the empress - how do I nurture others? do I, in turn, properly nurture myself? how do I express my feminine power? am I expressing myself creatively? 

the emperor - how am I handling authority in my life? how can I become a leader? am I taking strides to ensure material success? how do I express my masculine power?

the heirophant - am I honouring traditions? what can I teach others? what can I learn? how may I go about finding groups of likeminded people? where am I deriving my sense of security?

the lovers - are parts of me at war within myself? how can I unite very different parts of my life? what can I do to help build cooperation within my relationships? 

the chariot - how can I take control of my situation? how can I resolve my conflict? how can I tackles the challenges coming my way? which direction should I choose?

strength - how can I overcome my weakness? what makes me courageous in my situation? from where do I draw my inner power? how can I best work with my instinct? 

the hermit - what is driving me forward in life right now? where can I be truly alone? what do I need to reflect on? what wisdom can I draw from past experiences? 

wheel of fortune - what changes am I willing to except? how much of my life is left to fate? how do my every day actions influence the bigger picture of my life? 

justice - how can I make the best decision? how do I find balance in my life? what can I do to rectify my past mistakes? am I weighing all the pros and cons or am I overlooking something?

the hanged man - what should I hold onto and what should I let go of? how can I look at this with a new perspective? what am I willing to sacrifice? how do I let go of old habits and step out of my comfort zone? 

death - how can I use recent events to transform myself? what do I need to accept the end of? what will be born from the ashes? how can I mourn the ending of one thing and celebrate the beginning of another?

temperance - what led to the feeling of harmony? what can I do to hold onto it, grow from it, and become harmoniously whole? how do I remain patient through these experiences?

the devil - am I allowing myself to fixate unhealthy on something? what do I fear? am I too tied to the material world? how do I free myself from the bondage I have allowed myself to fall into? 

the tower - what have I been ignoring? why did I refuse to take action, what can I do to avoid this again? how do I free myself from my own ruin? how do I grow from this disaster?

the star - how am I using my gifts? what is inspiring me? what makes me happy and how can I embrace that? how can I continue on the right track to making my wishes come true? 

the moon - am I listening to my dreams, my feelings, my instincts? am I trusting them? how am I connecting to the invisible workings of the world? how am I using my creativity? 

the sun - am I approaching my problem with a positive attitude? how are my efforts being appreciated by others? how do I step into the spotlight to showcase my talents? 

judgment - how self-aware am I, truly? what actions have I taken that are wise? unwise? am I being honest with myself? what can I learn from my past and how can I grow? 

the world - how have my efforts payed off? how am I progressing in life, does it feel right? what in my life is coming to an end? what is beginning? what are my next steps? in what ways do I feel fulfilled? 

What Native people say about the use of sage: you can use sage, but you cannot smudge as nothing you are doing (waving sage around) is actually smudging. Smudging is a ceremony and you are, we promise, not smudging. Please buy sage from either us, or someone who sources the sage from us. White sage may not be considered endangered by the US government but corperate sourcing is making it difficult for us to source sage for our own religious purposes. Let alone to sell it.

What white people hear: never use sage ever, don’t ever buy it, don’t own it, don’t even look at it.

Look, y’all. There’s a couple of facets to my talk today.

1) Yes! You can buy sage! You really, truly can! Buy it from either native sellers (go to a powwow! Eat our food, buy our stuff, watch some dancing!) Or buy it from a seller who sources the sage from native people. Pick one. And no, buying it from 5 Below doesn’t count.

2) you CANNOT smudge. This isn’t just you “shouldn’t”— this is a YOU ARE INCAPABLE OF SMUDGING. Waving a sage stick around your doorways IS NOT SMUDGING. It is smoke clensing. Smudging, depending on the tradition and tribe, could easily have dancing and drums involved. You, as a white person, do not have the cultural BACKGROUND to even know how it works. At all. Period.

3) please, for FUCKS SAKE, stop making posts here on tumblr where you tell other white people about cultural appropriation and what they can and cannot do. Please stop, your license has been revoked because none of you bother to get the facts right. We native people are FULLY CAPABLE OF DOING IT OURSELVES. Consider instead: a) reblogging our posts where we talk about it! We’re here! We have made posts!! b) Making a post that states what we said and then LINKS BACK TO US. Screenshot with a link if you must. Stop centering your own voices in these conversations. You are already centered in everything, stop centering yourselves in a native space.

I’m tired of this nonsense, y’all.

Thanks for coming to my TedTalk ™

Transitions between the Wheel (For the four seasons)

This is from my personal practice with observing the wheel of the year and my focus on each transition between the sabbats. I honor the current seasons in between. Each transition has it’s importance to self care and managing the home and garden. I will probably add to this later cause some paragraphs I wrote I feel like are a bit vague. Some of these transitions are not meant to be 100% literal and static but I feel like they are good areas to focus on for that moment in the year.

Yule->Imbolc Resting

During the thick of winter when it’s too cold to do anything and always dark, it’s the perfect moment in the year to rest. The focus is on relaxing, taking extra time to sleep and care for the body especially to not get sick. Winter is also ‘spa’ season because the air is so dry and harsh it’s a good time to soak in hot baths and scrub away dead skin and moisturize with protective lotion. Do not try to make new plans, yet sit home, rest and reflect. 

Imbolc -> Ostara Cleansing

When winter thaws it’s a great time to clean the home and prepare for spring. Personally, I also like to do a body cleanse since I tend to eat a lot of processed (yet delicious ;-;) foods all year round. This also makes up for all the heavy foods I’ve been eating since Summer (all the BBQs) to Winter comfort foods. As I clean the home and get rid of stuff that has accumulated over the year, I clean the body. Also the focus is on cleaning the home as well. Breathing in the same air, especially if its full of dust, is really unhealthy and it’s good as the days are getting a little warmer to open up the windows for a few minutes to allow in fresh air to circulate. This is also the time of year I throw out old furniture, accumulated things and rearrange furniture in the room as well.

Ostara -> Beltane Sowing

Spring is a great time to germinate sprouts along with other seeds and clean the backyard or garden to grow plants. If you like to compost it’s a time to start mixing in the vegetable/fruit/plant scraps with the soil. Spring is also a great time to sow bigger changes in life as well. Something about the warm new season brings an air of flirtatiousness and ‘socialness’ that makes it perfect for making new friends or finding a partner. (Probably because people can finally come out of hibernation). It’s also a fantastic time to work on your image and portfolio and apply for long term jobs that begin in the summer or fall. Spring is the season for new beginnings and putting long term plans into action.

Beltane -> Litha Growing

A tradition I like to do on Beltane is repotting of plants and gardening. Repotting plants is a tradition I try to focus on every year because it’s very easy for house plants to die due to dead soil. Plus it makes the inside of the house super vibrant and lively to have fresh new soil in pots. From this point to summer solstice is the point of growth. Growth in the garden but also growth of personal goals. May and June feel like hectic months where there are so many events and opportunities to advance your work or change your social scene, that if I am not personally progressing, I focus all of my attention on my growth.

Litha -> Lughnasadh Thriving

Its the heat of summer! It’s time to get out and feel the intense hot energy and use its power to focus on goals and networking! Where I am there’s usually an exciting event every week where it’s an opportunity to make more connections and meet more friends but also since its warm and nature is so vibrant it’s time to take some days to relax and get away to enjoy the heat and life of nature. Go to the beach, go hiking, swim in a lake, sleep under the stars. Be active since the efforts will pay off. 

Lughnasadh -> Mabon Reaping

This is the time you earn what you’ve sowed both literally and metaphorically. If you have a garden its the time it will start giving back. If you are an active goer of a farmers market you will notice how beautifully abundant the stands are. If in Spring you’ve sent out tons of job applications, and in Summer got the job you’ve wanted and worked hard, then by now you should start seeing some results. If there are no results being seen it’s a time for reflection and re-strategizing. There is a second chance in this time to start again before the cold and the holiday season bulldozes through.

Mabon -> Samhain Harvesting/Gathering

This is the time to gather and harvest. Usually family tends to gather now since it’s the holiday season. There’s not much other than gathering to be done since family and holidays are bombarding you from all sides. Also there is an abundance of food. This is great to store for the next transition which is

Samhain -> Yule Preparation

This is the moment to prepare for winter. My warddrobe completely changes here, I take up knitting projects that were abandoned last Imbolc, and I store food and herbs for the winter to use. Also making preserves from things in the garden or hand knitting clothes make great presents for the winter holidays. This is also a time to prepare the garden for hibernation. Take in potted plants, harvest the last of the herbs and food (that are not potted). Make sure plants you do not want to die have a place to chill in the house.