Athan The Wizard

Stop trying to be virtuous. Obsession with moral purity is a trap.

No, really. Stop trying to be as morally pure and correct as possible at all opportunities. Accept and embrace that you will not always be the one who is morally righteous, that you do not have to actively agree with something to let it just be. That things do not have to be for the greater good, to be. You don’t need to constantly pass judgment or take a stance, some things can exist without your moral approval.

I think people who are overly concerned with seeming good, seeming politically correct, often sacrifice genuine efforts for optics. You want to feel morally pure by saying that violence is bad. But do you actually reduce any harm in the world by blanketly moralizing violence? Moral declarations are satisfying, but ineffectual.

Has your stance that sex work is harmful, degenerate and bad, saved a single victim? Has it liberated a single woman? Has it untraumatized a single trafficking victim?

No. Condemnation doesn’t heal wounds.

Become the most concerned with reducing harm where it can tangibly be reduced, not being as good and right as possible at all times so you can feel good and right. Instead, focus on authenticity, autonomy, and practical impact. Because the reality of the situation is you simply cannot be in the right all the time, and your attempt to will likely lead you to inaction when it is needed. Making grand moral statements about things doesn’t purify you in any way. It doesn’t save anyone from anything. And you didn’t achieve anything good by making that statement. All you did was pat your own ego. Thats it.

I made a very controversial post a while ago about demoralizing paraphilias, because to have a fetish is not to be an abuser. That post riled up a lot of people, understandably.

In light of the Kirk assassination, I’ve been thinking about that post a lot.

When I made that post, my boyfriend was actually the one to approach me with some questions.

“Is it wrong for a victim of CSA to hunt down and murder their abuser years later, if you remain firm on the idea that murder is bad? You say the state shouldn’t be allowed to execute predators, so should victims be able to get their own revenge?”

And I appreciated that question a lot. Because, yes, I do intrinsically believe that murder is wrong, not morally correct. But is shooting a nazi wrong? Is it okay for a child to kill a child rapist? (Outside of immediate self defence)

And my answer is, I don’t know. And I don’t have to. I simply would not stop a child from killing their rapist. And if I can sleep peacefully at the end of the day having made that choice, then that is fine to me, and I accept that.

That’s it.

If I had the power to prevent this act of violence, would I do stop it?

No. I would not. I would not dip my hands into that situation at all, because it does not concern or involve me. I do not have to make moral excuses for anyone.

Do I accept that that decision is not “morally correct”?

Yes I do.

To be a bystander in the face of violence is not morally virtuous. I accept that I do not have to be the virtue at all times. If a child wants to murder their rapist, I’m not going to say that child is morally right. I don’t have to. My main concern would be reducing tangible harm against victims where possible, which would probably include some form of intervention and therapy for a young victim.

It doesn’t actually have to be morally right for me to allow it to happen. I don’t have to make a moral stance about any of this. It’s not actually required. By my own standards, I can live peacefully with myself knowing that I did not stop a child from getting their revenge. The tangible harm that was added to the world by my inaction does not wear down on my conscience.

That’s it.

Is it wrong for a person to murder another person. I’d say yes, generally.

Is it wrong for a victim of abuse to murder their abuser? By the sheer act of murder being murder, I’d probably say yes to that too. Morally speaking, murder usually isn’t great.

But would I ever stop a person from destroying their abuser? No. I personally would not go out of my way to prevent that. I can acknowledge that murder in itself is probably morally wrong without feeling the need to prevent it from occurring in every situation, because not all situations are equal.

Would I blame an oppressed people for destroying their slave masters? No. I can acknowledge that murder is wrong while also acknowledging that the harm caused by slave owners exceeds the harm that would occur if they were executed. I believe that people deserve freedom. So no, I am not going to prevent the death of a slave owner, nor am I going to feel conflicted about it.

Would I defend a rapist from being murdered by the furious father of the girl they abused? No.

But does that make murder okay? No.

Murder doesn’t have to be okay for me to turn the other cheek and mind my business.

Gun violence does not have to be morally okay now just because a nazi got executed.

And if I am pleased that a Nazi was murdered, that doesn’t mean I am now in support of gun violence. Nor does it mean I think murder is now okay.

Having a natural empathetic response to violence is normal and healthy. You are naturally inclined to take a stance. But the reality is, your emotional reaction does not speak to the inherent ethics of the situation. Your human empathy can and will be hijacked to instil a state of complacency. You must be willing to use your discretion. We cannot be indiscriminate.

I can sit and debate about logistics all day.

“Well murder is only okay in this scenario because… and murder is only excusable in these circumstances because…”

And I can continue to contradict myself, because making blanket rules that don’t apply in all situations will always lead to an inadequate assessment.

Or, I can stop pretending to be a moral authority on anything. I can accept what I do and do not have control over and go from there. This is a rejection of categorical ethics in favor of situational discretion.

Is sex work work? Is sex work worthy of compensation and respect?

“Well sex work is bad but women who have no choice are okay but women who do it as a choice are wrong!”

I personally don’t give a single shit why any woman is doing sex work at any given moment. I am not desperate to moralize the act of sex work in itself. Sex work is a service just like massage therapy is. It is an occupation. Whether a woman is forced to or wants to be a sex worker is irrelevant to me because rape is not sex and trafficking is not work. I refuse to collapse rape/trafficking into the same category as consensual sex work. The separation is necessary to create space to advocate for both victims and voluntary workers without contradiction.

I want all sex workers to be safe and protected in their work regardless of their circumstances. I can debate all day about which sex workers are morally pure, and which ones are fuelling a harmful industry. Or! I can just focus on making the entire industry safer for all women and sex workers in general. I can stop telling women what they should and should not do, and start protecting women regardless of the choice they make. That is what saves victims and reduces harm. Making grand statements about the morality of the trade does not. And I’m not interested in debating it.

Is it more virtuous to destroy white supremacists? I don’t know. I am not inclined to make the statement that murdering any human is ever a virtuous action. I don’t have to. You don’t have to.

What I do know is that the destruction of white supremacy requires the destruction of its forefathers. There has never, in the history of mankind, been a revolution that achieved its goals through peace. Gay rights, women’s rights, slavery abolishment, these things all came from violent civil unrest.

When we try to make grand moral statements like “violence is bad”, we neuter ourselves of our ability to exercise just retribution. I can acknowledge and generally agree with the sentiment that assault is a bad thing to do to someone. And that sentiment should hypothetically extend to people guillotining the mega rich. But you could say that by the sheer act of being a billionaire, the mega rich have already slaughtered thousands, and that destroying one billionaire may save a thousand people. And I wouldn’t argue with you on that. I wouldn’t need to.

I am never going to assert that killing nazis makes you as bad as a Nazi. Or that killing rapists makes you a rapist. I do not think that malice and aggression towards fascism is a negative trait to have. In fact I think it is incredibly important that complacency is not encouraged. I do not think it is wrong to wish misfortune upon your oppressors. It is a healthy mentality to have.

But does that make it right?

It does not matter.

Will I excuse the murders of mega ceos because it benefits the greater good? No. I don’t have to. No one actually has to.

Moral purity does not save lives. It does not free slaves.

Lord Lucifer has really helped me dismantle the idea that aggression, anger, and even violence are inherently wrong and negative things to feel. They are in fact the fertile soil in which liberation is planted and grows. Those in power want you to hesitate. Those in power want you to debate about how right and wrong it is to fight back while they slaughter your peers in mass. The alt right are not having debates about how entitled you are to life and liberty. Do not make the mistake of assuming everyone is as good natured as you are. And do not assume your good nature makes you immune to complacency, it doesn’t.

The oppressors don’t hesitate to act with violence or coercion, while the oppressed are paralyzed by moral debates over whether fighting back is right.

Become far less concerned with being a good and right person.

Donate to charity because that’s the right thing to do ❌

What charity? If your concern is with just doing right, your execution will be lacklustre. What harm are you trying to undo? Which communities are you trying to support? Are you giving your money to real local mutual aids groups that benefit your community? Or are you donating to for profit mega funds that keep marginalized people in a perpetual state of need?

Donate to your local grassroots organizations because you want the homeless people in your city to eat tonight, because you genuinely care about these people. ✅

Give your local tweaker $20 so he can eat a meal tonight.

“But it’s probably better to donate to a homeless shelter so you know for certain the money won’t be spent on drugs!”

You don’t care about improving the lives of the real people around you. You don’t have consideration for the real people in your community. You care about feeling good about the things you’re doing because they seem morally superior. You care less about real impact and more about clear optics.

Can you extend your efforts to addicts and whores and lazy people? Does your empathy extend to people who don’t always do the same right thing? Can you forgive yourself and do better if you are wrong?

And if not, then what actually makes any of what you’re doing right?

My tldr is this:

You are going to be pronounced the villain one day. Eventually, you will have to accept something that isn’t virtuous to obtain real progress. You will have to accept that your team isn’t full of angels, but people who are complex and morally grey in all circumstances. You will have to learn where your empathy is needed, and when it is being manipulated. And you must be willing to remain firm on your convictions, even when you aren’t being deemed the “good guy”. Because being “good” for the sake of being good means absolutely nothing. It achieves absolutely nothing and saves no one.

Be smart, be patient and don’t rush to take a moral stance on every single thing that happens. Prioritize the tangible ways things can change rather than indulging endless hypothetical debates about how things should or shouldn’t be.

For saving seeds, the fruit should be fully mature for the seeds to be fully mature. Therefore, you can use seeds from a winter squash but not a baby zucchini, and the likelihood that the seeds of a tomato (or red bell pepper) will grow are much higher than for a green bell pepper. Unfortunately, many are either going to be poorly suited for your conditions, or hybrid, which we'll touch on later.

Stem cuttings are a great way to start many common culinary herbs! Especially basil!

Some tubers to consider starting from are sweet potatoes and actual potatoes.

And then of course, the bulbs! Green onions and garlic are your best bets!

These are outdoor plants and thus are Somewhat Fussy if you're going to grow indoors. Do not overwater them (eg, letting them sit in a tray of water for days) nor let them dry out completely. Try to keep them evenly moist, with thorough waterings that then pour out the bottom of the pot unimpeded. 

Given that they are outdoor plants, a south-facing window (assuming you’re in the northern hemisphere) or grow lights are your best bet. If they don’t get enough light, they will turn pale and stretch towards their light source. They won’t grow as quickly or as healthfully as they would with sufficient light.  

Examples:

Tomatoes & peppers! Tomatoes are the one that actually inspired me to make this because I saw this clip on starting plants from kitchen scraps, and they buried the whole dang half of a tomato! Don’t do that! What a waste of a tomato half! EAT your tomato! Take the seeds out! 

If you’re intending to grow these outdoors, start them about 6 weeks before your last frost. If you have not grown plants from seed before, here’s some information from another class I taught: https://tinyurl.com/seedstarting2020

If you’re intending to grow them indoors the whole time, you will likely need grow lights for both tomatoes and peppers, and they like it if you keep your house on the warm side. I would suggest growing them outdoors and buying seeds for a dwarf tomato if you really want to grow indoors.

The down side is that most are hybrid, so when you grow out the seed, it's not necessarily going to grow well, be productive, or taste good. Even if it is open pollinated, it's probably been bred to thrive in conditions unlike those you can provide. If you need a successful crop, I highly suggest buying seed, or swapping with a reputable source. Although if you like and can find yellow pear tomatoes, those are an exception to this entire paragraph.

Basil! Basil is a great one to do stem cuttings of, get it started indoors, and then plant out once night time temperatures stay above 50f (10c). I prefer to start them straight into soil, and seem to have a higher success rate this way. To do this, remove all leaves except the top bud, and bury the stem in soil up to just beneath that bud and firm gently. Keep the soil moist and the pot above 60f, and you should have a good success rate. This method works for mint, lemon balm, rosemary, sage, etc, as well.

Green onions- really easy, put the bottom inch or so in soil and they’ll grow very well for you. I prefer soil over water because a) the water gets stinky, and b) they grow better and stronger in soil.

AND MORE:

Sage, rosemary, and thyme (also any stemmed herb): just like basil

Lettuce, carrots, beets: you get the tops, but usually they’ll try to bolt. Easier just to buy seeds. If you want, I usually start in shallow water and then plant as soon as I see roots growing. Again, keep the soil moist, and for these ones, keep them in a cooler part of your house. But really, they almost always bolt in my experience.

Sweet potatoes: Get them in the fall, it takes months for them to start growing (unless you're somewhere warm apparently? ). They will sprout, grow roots, take slips to plant outdoors once night time temperatures study above 50f (10c)

Garlic, just grab a clove and plant in the fall. Boom. GARLIC.

Squash- you don’t know what you’ll get, because they might be cross pollinated with another variety or hybrids. If you do grow it out and it’s bitter, don’t eat it, it’s poisonous. If you want to know more, search “toxic squash syndrome”

Ginger: Plant the rhizome in summer, harvest before frost, or overwinter indoors with a lot of light.

Pineapple: Doable, but it takes three years to get a harvest. Plant in well draining soil, and give it as much heat and light as you can.

Just for fun: (Unless you’re in the tropics or have a lot of patience.)

Mango, avocado, citrus. Take years, and a different climate than I have to fruit. If you’re in the tropics, go for it, but know that avocado pollination can apparently be tricky. I am not in the tropics, so I do not have direct experience with this. Citrus I think I've read also don't come true from seed.

Apples, pears: take years, and don’t come true to type. You do not know what you’ll get, and you’ll probably get something that is not worth eating (but would work for cider). These do need a cold dormancy period in the winter to do well. Of course, you could plant them and then top graft if it does turn out they don’t taste good.

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ᡣ𐭩 Please support me by reposting, liking, following me. Neptune represents the unconditional and all things fantasy. It rules over acting and the arts, however it also rules over illusions and addictions.

1st house This placement suggests a loss of identity of molding yourself into what the other party wants.However, this placement can also make it challenging to establish a clear sense of self, sometimes leading to confusion about your identity or a tendency to project an idealized image. Nevertheless you appear as a mystery but at the same time highly empathetic and vulnerable. Neptune is like a sponge and it wonders and it’s mythical. 

2nd house your relationship with money and possessions can be quite fluid, and almost freel. You might have an idealistic view of wealth, perhaps seeing it more as a means to achieve spiritual or charitable goals rather than for personal gain. There could be an element of uncertainty or even self-deception when it comes to your finances, making it challenging to keep a firm grasp on your resources. It's important to be realistic about your financial dealings and to avoid schemes that seem too good to be true. You might also find value in intangible assets or derive a sense of security from creative and spiritual pursuits.

3rd house this placement suggests that your communication and learning styles are deeply influenced by intuition and imagination. You might be highly empathetic in conversations, often picking up on unspoken cues. However, your thoughts might sometimes be a bit scattered or vague, making it difficult to express yourself clearly. There's a potential for misunderstandings or a tendency to idealize your relationships with siblings or close relatives/ your school days may appear as a haze. You might also have a talent for creative writing, poetry, or spiritual teachings, and enjoy subjects that delve into the mystical or philosophical.

4th house your home life and family roots can be tinged with an air of idealism, mystery, or even some confusion. You might have idealized memories of your childhood or your parents, or perhaps there's a sense of sacrifice or illusion surrounding your early environment. Your home might be a sanctuary for you, a place where you can escape and dream, or it might feel a bit chaotic or undefined. There's a deep need for a spiritual connection within your home. It's important to establish clear boundaries within your family and to create a home environment that fosters clarity and peace, rather than allowing for escapism or disorder.

5th house your creativity, romance, and self-expression are imbued with a dreamy and idealistic quality. You might be drawn to artistic endeavors that allow you to express your deepest intuitions or spiritual insights, such as music, dance, or photography. In love, you might tend to idealize your partners, potentially overlooking their flaws or getting caught up in a romantic fantasy. It's important to approach creative projects with discipline and to be realistic in your romantic expectations. You might also find great joy in working with children in a compassionate or healing capacity, or in creative activities that involve service to others.

6th house your daily routines, work, and health can be influenced by sensitivity, intuition, and sometimes a tendency towards ambiguity. You might be drawn to professions that involve healing, service, or creative expression, where you can help others in a compassionate way. However, you might also find it challenging to stick to a rigid schedule or to define clear boundaries at work, potentially leading to feeling overwhelmed or taken advantage of. When it comes to health, you might be particularly sensitive to environmental factors or have conditions that are difficult to diagnose. It's important to establish healthy routines that support your well-being and to seek out alternative or holistic approaches to health if needed.

7th house your one-on-one relationships, especially partnerships and marriage, can be characterized by idealism, compassion, and sometimes a degree of illusion. You might tend to idealize your partners, projecting your deepest desires onto them, which can lead to disappointment if they don't live up to your expectations. There might be a spiritual or even fated quality to your significant relationships. It's important to see your partners clearly, with both their strengths and their weaknesses, and to avoid situations where boundaries are blurred. You might be drawn to partners who are artistic, spiritual, or in need of your compassion, and your relationships can be a source of profound spiritual growth.

8th house your experiences with shared resources, intimacy, and transformation are deeply imbued with a mystical or sometimes confusing quality. You might have an intuitive understanding of the hidden depths of life, including taboo subjects or psychological complexities. There could be an element of sacrifice or self-deception around shared finances or inheritances, so it's important to be clear and practical in these matters. In intimate relationships, you might seek a spiritual merging, but there's also a potential for blurred boundaries or a lack of clarity. This placement often indicates a strong connection to the spiritual realms and an intuitive understanding of life's mysteries, but it's important to remain grounded.

9th house your beliefs, philosophies, and quest for higher knowledge are highly intuitive and idealistic. You might be drawn to spiritual or mystical traditions, or have a deep yearning to explore the unseen aspects of life. There's a strong desire to transcend ordinary reality and connect with something larger than yourself. However, this placement can also make you susceptible to believing in unrealistic ideas or being swayed by charismatic but misleading gurus. It's important to discern what truly resonates with your spirit and to ground your spiritual pursuits in practical reality. You might have a gift for teaching or inspiring others through your unique spiritual insights.

10th house your career, public image, and life direction can be influenced by idealism, compassion, and sometimes a degree of ambiguity. You might feel a strong pull towards a career that involves service, healing, or the arts, where you can make a difference in the world. However, your career path might not always be clear, and you might experience periods of confusion or uncertainty about your professional goals. There's a potential for your public image to be somewhat elusive or idealized. It's important to define your professional goals with clarity and to maintain integrity in your public dealings. You might be seen as inspiring or visionary in your chosen field.

11th house your friendships, social groups, and aspirations for the future are marked by idealism, compassion, and a desire for universal connection. You might be drawn to groups or causes that promote humanitarian ideals, social justice, or spiritual unity. Your friends might be artists, mystics, or those who are in some way marginalized. However, there's a potential for blurred boundaries within your friendships, or a tendency to idealize your social connections, which can lead to disappointment. It's important to choose your associations wisely and to ensure that your ideals are grounded in reality. You might be a source of inspiration and healing within your community.

12th house its energies are amplified, as this is the house traditionally associated with Neptune. This placement suggests a deep connection to the spiritual realms, the subconscious, and the collective unconscious. You might be highly intuitive, empathetic, and have a rich inner world filled with dreams and fantasies. There's a strong potential for spiritual awakening and a natural inclination towards compassion and self-sacrifice. However, you might also be prone to escapism, self-undoing, or feeling overwhelmed by the suffering of the world. It's crucial to establish healthy boundaries, to find creative or spiritual outlets for your sensitive nature, and to engage in practices that promote emotional and spiritual well-being. This placement can make you highly compassionate and artistic, but it requires conscious effort to avoid feeling lost or victimized.

DISCLAIMER: This post is a generalisation and may not resonate. I recommend you get a reading from an astrologer (me). If you want a reading from me check out my sales page.

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ᢉ𐭩 Please support me by reposting, liking, and following me. The place of the ruler of the 8th house can speak to where one experiences deep psychological processes, encounters significant changes, and manages joint assets or debts.

1st house These natives tend to be outcasted and viewed as strange, as they instinctively hold their trauma and emotional bonds tight to their heart. You may exude an intense or mysterious aura. Shared resources, debts, or significant life changes are integral to your identity, and you might experience profound personal transformations throughout your life that reshape who you are. This placement can also suggest an innate understanding of deeper psychological processes or an involvement with others' resources.

2nd house your personal finances and values are deeply intertwined with shared resources, inheritances, or the finances of others. You might experience significant fluctuations in wealth, often through joint ventures, investments, or unexpected windfalls/losses. There's a strong potential for gaining through legacies or partnerships, but also a need to manage shared financial obligations carefully. Your sense of self-worth may be tied to your ability to manage and transform resources.

3rd house your communication style can be profound, insightful, or even intense, often delving into deeper subjects. You might research hidden topics, engage in investigative journalism, or have transformative conversations. Shared secrets or confidential information might be a theme in your interactions, and there could be significant changes or transformations related to siblings, short trips, or your local environment.

4th house your home life and family roots are deeply connected to themes of transformation, shared resources, or legacies. There might be hidden family secrets, an inheritance related to your home, or profound psychological processes tied to your upbringing. Your family might deal with joint finances or significant life changes, and your emotional security can be influenced by issues of death, rebirth, or inherited family patterns.

5th house your creative expression, romantic relationships, and even your children can be avenues for deep transformation. There might be intense romantic encounters, shared investments or risks, or children who bring about profound changes in your life. Speculative ventures could involve joint funds, and your creativity might delve into dark, psychological, or taboo subjects. This placement can indicate a passionate and transformative approach to pleasure and self-expression.

6th house your daily work, health, and routines are areas where deep transformation occurs. You might work in professions involving shared resources, investigation, healing, or death. Health issues could be transformative or involve uncovering hidden causes. Your daily life might require you to manage others' resources or deal with intense, private matters. There's a potential for profound changes in your work environment or through your service to others.

7th house your significant relationships and partnerships are catalysts for profound transformation. You might be drawn to intense, deeply intimate partners, or your marriage could involve significant shared finances, debts, or inheritances. Issues of power and control can arise in partnerships, and relationships often push you to confront hidden aspects of yourself. Open enemies might also represent powerful, transformative forces in your life.

8th house You have an innate understanding of the hidden aspects of life, death, and rebirth. This placement suggests a natural inclination towards investigating mysteries, managing joint assets, and engaging in deep, transformative encounters. You are likely to experience intense emotional and psychological shifts throughout your life, often leading to profound personal growth.

9th house You might delve into occult studies, explore the mysteries of life, or experience significant changes through foreign cultures or spiritual journeys. Shared resources or inheritances could be linked to international matters or educational institutions. This placement suggests a philosophical approach to death and transformation.

10th house your career and public standing are deeply intertwined with transformation, shared resources, or crisis. You might work in fields related to finance, healing, investigation, or death. Your public image could be influenced by how you handle shared assets or inheritances, and your career path might involve significant periods of professional change or rebirth. There's a potential for powerful influence and recognition, often through navigating challenging circumstances.

11th house your friendships and group affiliations are avenues for deep transformation. You might share resources with friends, or your social circles could involve people who deal with profound subjects or hidden matters. Your hopes and wishes might revolve around collective transformation, or you could gain through unexpected sources connected to groups or networks. Friendships may be intense and involve navigating complex emotional dynamics.

12th house themes of transformation, shared resources, and hidden aspects of life are often deeply unconscious or operate behind the scenes. You might have hidden resources or debts, or deal with confidential information. This placement can suggest a connection to ancestral patterns or past-life influences that impact your ability to transform. Issues of intimacy and shared power may be experienced subtly or through spiritual means, often requiring deep self-reflection and inner work to uncover and integrate.

DISCLAIMER: This post is a generalisation and may not resonate. I recommend you get a reading from an astrologer (me). If you want a reading from me check out my sales page.