My little place for anything and everything!

2.If you want somebody to come back, sweep salt behind them when they leave.

3.Don’t sweep over someones feet, its considered bad luck.

4.If a spirit calls out your name don’t answer back.

5.Watch who you let in your house, they bring their spirits with them.

6.Don’t tell people your plans, they may pray against you.

7.Don’t let anyone play in your hair, they can put their energy on you.

Today is the day. First day of college. Will I have to sneak myself around the edges or can I fly freely like a dove? They will be there, still watching me. Watching me seeing if I am okay, watching me seeing if I am happy. If I crack a smile the only thing they will want to do is put me down. I stared in the mirror, with my mum standing behind me saying ‘Everything will be okay, just walk past them and remember they are no better than you.’

Do you know me? Have you seen me? You can’t honestly think they are not better than me. They told me that and now I believe them. Each person, each sentence, each word and each letter. Which comes out their mouths to make them sound better. I stared in the mirror, to not see present but the past. The past of when I would be sitting in class. With hatred and disgust coming my way and the misery and doubt I have each day.

My sister, I love her dearly, she sticks up for me each day. But I can’t deal with her feeling the same way, so I just push her away. I can’t imagine her going through the things I go through. Even when I see how angry my dad is when he reports this all to the school. Too scared to tell my dad no, I stay quiet and let my sadness grow because now it will get worse that for sure I know. My dad is fuming, outraged, infuriated because the people at school choose to judge me for my colour. My colour, my weight, my looks and my name. Just because my parents called me Melissa, does it give you the right to mock and shame?

You judge me for my depression which you created in the first place. Now you have left me with an unstable mental state. To let me think that I can use other resources to take away the pain. Looking at how the redness flows down my arm, from my arm to my legs and… QUICK, hide it, mum is coming. I can’t let her see my blood flowing and running. If she makes it stop how else can I make the pain go away? You like this on my arms. It encourages you, I hear them say and update my spectacle and do my routine for you each day. Monday… knife to skin, Tuesday… knife to skin, Wednesday… knife to skin, Thursday… kni-…

I feel dizzy, lightheaded. Have I pushed it too far? Have YOU pushed it too far? Have you realised what kind of person you are? Have you realised what kind of HUMAN you are? I’m tired… my eyes are closing. I hear banging and calling but no strength in me to move. It’s too late and now my parents will see this and not approve. *BANG* the door slams open… but it’s too late… I’m gone now.

Bright lights, all white, am I going to heaven? The room is becoming more clear and vivid. Now I see my parents looking upset and disappointed. In shock, I try to move, but I’m stopped by a slightly blurred figure. ‘You cannot move now darling, you had a serious incident.’ 

Who is this? What is this? How much blood did I loose? I look left and right to see a blood drip and an oxygen mask. My mum sits there with a slight glisten in her eye like she’s trying not to cry. The slight bite in my dad’s lip makes me think he wants to eradicate. Rip apart all the evil souls which left me in this state. My sister is not here, 2:30 pm, she must be at school. I can’t believe I am sat here on a drip while she sits there at school. ‘Okay, I think it’s time for everyone to leave, she needs some rest.’

Yes, rest. Rest is what I need. I would rather be here right now then at school being bullied. The feeling of walking into the school like a wanted target. The snipers are ready. Ready to assassinate me and decapitate. Each bullet is a word and each word hits me hard. I wish it worked like a bullet and went straight through me and not leaving me scarred. But it stays put, lingering in my thoughts and feelings, it’s like I’m always being judged by the walls and ceilings.

I wake up… oh no… they’re here to get me. They can’t get enough of me at school so they decide to chase me? Chase me down to the hospital where I thought I would be alone. The doctor said I need some rest, give it a rest and leave me alone! Wait a minute… there is more… one… two… three and four. I don’t need you here, I- thank you… too scared to say it out loud. But I nod and smile to show that I’m proud. All different colours, red, white and pink. These flowers are so pretty but what made you think? Think that you were actually hurting me, emotionally and physically. Did I have to go to the hospital and nearly die so you could think responsibly?

I stared in the mirror, ready for college, looking at myself. Trying to love the new outfit and shoes I got out. But I can’t, I know that it will be mistreated and neglected. I never thought it would get to this stage where I hated what they hated. It’s been three months, have they found their maturity? Their self-respect? Their kindness and humanity? I hope that I will be able to stay in control of my feelings and sanity.

All I want is to live my life. Get to my goal, my target, my dream. Why won’t you let me? Yes, I am blaming this on you. You distract me and irritate me just because I am smarter than you. Well… I think I am. Is that why you judge me? Because I actually have a dream and an accomplishment that will satisfy me. You can’t be that pathetic. Surely that is not true. You can just leave me alone like the others from school? The others that actually felt sorry for me when I was stuck in hospital but the rest of you thought I was making a scene, a lie, the attention which was not acceptable.

I stared in the mirror, placing my hands on my face. Looking, then touching my stomach then my waist. Am I really that fat? That’s what you said to me at school. I thought I was average. I don’t know what the need is for these things.Why have you got to be so cruel? I am fed up of the torture and pain. Okay, game over, have you finished you’re game? I am afraid to go to college and it’s only my first day! Do you realise now how you made me feel? Others call me pretty, not fat nor unstylish but I run back to you and let you feed me with your repulsion. Why do I let this happen? Why do I make you feel prodigious? I can’t make you feel like you’re the better one. I have to stand up and be who I am. I hope you’re ready for me… because the war has just began.

If you’re a Norse heathen and believe that “race mixing” is bad

remember that many of the gods are born from interracial pregnancies between the Aesir, Vanir, and Jotunns.

If you’re a Norse heathen and are transphobic or homophobic

remember that many of the gods will alter their forms drastically, the most notable being Loki changing into mare and being impregnated by a male horse, and later giving birth to Sleipnir

If you’re a Norse heathen and fascist

remember that all deities deserve the same respect, even the disabled like for example Hödur

if you’re a Norse heathen and think being misogynist is cool

In any case, as far as the disabled are concerned, let’s turn to Havamal, shall we?

Now granted, people have translated Havamal in so many ways, although often the ultimate meaning is intact. Anyway, verse 71 says:

The halt can manage a horse, the handless a flock, The deaf be a doughty fighter, To be blind is better than to burn on a pyre: There is nothing the dead can do.

This may be referring specifically to warfare, but the main point is still discernable: so long as one is living, they still can play a part in this world. And let’s not forget that the book is ultimately a guide on how to be a welcoming, kind person, while not tolerating injustice (although admittedly, verse 75 is a bit sketchy, as is the distrust of women. It’s a product of its time.)

Aries: selflessness, dark features, working good in teams, sharing things

Taurus: familiarity, loyalty, tenderness, sharing relaxing/intimate memories

Gemini: the details (sparkly eyes, high fives, clumsy grins, sighs), mysteries

Cancer: comfort, the color blue, people with golden hearts and snarky humor

Leo: clumsiness, cute laughs, gentle physical contact, messy hair, confidence

Virgo: (falls with) time, suits & ties, ponytails, aesthetical prettiness, neatness

Libra: playfulness, kept promises, closeness, sharing secrets, caring words

Scorpio: winks, funny jokes, meaningful conversations, bright/shining eyes

Sagittarius: freedom, late night talks, cute smiles, good style, luscious lips

Capricorn: sweetness, cuteness, nice hair, passion, kind & hard working people

Aquarius: mind connections, friendship necklaces, super nice sense of humor