A Collection of Curious Things

It’s been a while since my mythic literalism post. I wasn’t sure whether to keep posting here, but there’s some serious B.S. affecting the wider witchy community—and I’m done staying silent. If this post reaches even one person, it’ll be worth it.

This B.S. centres on a content creator called Azura Dragonfaether, and the threat she poses to the history of dragon magic as we know it. She must be challenged.

So who is Azura? Her earliest YouTube videos date back to 2012, where she focused on Wicca and paganism—covering topics from magic tools, meditation, to Draconic Wicca. Over time she built a large following, now sitting at around 191k subscribers, and expanded to platforms like TikTok. She also founded an online community called The Hatchling Clan, originally on Amino and later moved to Discord when Amino declined.

I discovered Azura about ten years ago when I first started my pagan path. I was a huge fan and genuinely found her content helpful. I even remember wishing she had an online community—then Amino happened. I was obsessed, and excited to interact with her directly. I met someone there who became a moderator in the Hatchling Clan, and they’re still my best friend to this day.

A few years later, something shifted. I was at university, watching one of Azura’s videos about the Fae, and I spoke to my friend about it. We both felt there was misinformation—or at the very least, that Azura was presenting her UPG as objective fact. That felt irresponsible, especially given how young and inexperienced much of her audience was. I made a diplomatic post on the larger Pagan Amino, never mentioning her by name. She exploded in the comments. I was blocked across every platform without any attempt at conversation.

I then decided to make a YouTube video about the situation. It didn’t gain much traction, though there were supportive comments alongside hostility from Azura’s fans.

Eventually, Azura went on hiatus, and time passed. I reflected a lot—maybe I should’ve tried to address it privately. Maybe we’d both matured. I had no way to reach out anyway, as I was blocked everywhere. That changed with TikTok. I messaged her, and in January 2025 she replied. She acted as though nothing had happened, greeting me like an old friend.

I was invited back into the Hatchling Clan on Discord and rejoined. I was happy—but cautious. Some things she said still gave me pause, but overall I thought she’d grown. She publicly came out as Muslim, which—good for her.

Then things escalated.

What I didn’t expect was that she hadn’t changed at all. If anything, things had gotten worse—or maybe she’d just learned how to hide it better before.

I became aware of another draconic witch, Merlyn (Alchemy of Spirit). Azura joined Merlyn’s Discord server, Dragon Academia, then abruptly left and made accusations shortly after.

Not long after that, Azura began claiming she had founded multiple draconic paths: dragon alchemy, draconianism, and draconic Wicca. These claims are retroactive and demonstrably false. There are receipts of her stating in 2024 that she didn’t know what dragon alchemy was—yet her “official timeline” claims she founded it in 2014.

She even attempted to copyright these terms, only removing the copyrights from her website after being publicly called out. A friend of mine made a TikTok about the dangers of copyrighting spiritual terms. Azura agreed with her—despite actively attempting to do exactly that. Once caught, she blamed it on her “team.” I’m not convinced.

Azura has also openly admitted to manipulating SEO results, and unfortunately, it’s worked. She repeatedly uses the names of other creators—people she’s no longer on good terms with—in her video descriptions. If you google “who founded dragon alchemy,” Google’s AI overview will claim it was Azura. That is untrue. This is history being rewritten in real time.

Naturally, people have pushed back. Azura’s response has been to redefine what it means to be a founder. In her latest video, she claims she’s a founder because she “organised and popularised” these systems. That is not what founding means.

Britannica defines a founder as “a person who creates or establishes something meant to last a long time.” Azura’s personal redefinition does not align with this. In a previous video (“How to Survive 2026 as a Pagan or a Witch”), she even encourages people to define their own language, framing linguistic consistency as a form of control. While language can evolve, it must remain stable enough for communication to function. If I call a table a table one day and a chair the next, language collapses.

This kind of thinking is dangerous. It mirrors the classic abuser tactic of redefining harm—“I didn’t abuse you, I didn’t hit you”—ignoring all other abusive behaviours. Redefining words to avoid accountability has real consequences.

I’ve seen multiple testimonies from people harmed by Azura’s behaviour. When they speak out, her fans swarm them. While Azura avoids naming other creators directly, she frames outside communities as unsafe or predatory while positioning her own as the only refuge. People fall for it because they’re searching for safety. The cult-like dynamics alone could be their own post.

So let’s recap: Azura falsely claims to have founded multiple paths, steals content, manipulates SEO to dominate search results—and ironically claims to have founded Draconic Wicca while openly stating she is no longer pagan, having converted to Islam. This is a form of modern colonisation. Historically, Abrahamic religions have suppressed pagan voices. Now we’re watching someone from an Abrahamic faith attempt to overwrite pagan history in real time. The irony is staggering, especially for someone who claims to care about minorities and cultural appropriation.

What adds salt to the wound is that her content is surface-level at best. I’ve learned very little about draconic paths from her videos, and some information is outright wrong. The “dragon paradox” she frequently mentions—dragons appearing across cultures—is not a paradox. A paradox requires contradiction. This isn’t one. And this is just an example of misinformation.

Azura reportedly has press coverage coming out to “set the record straight” about her alleged founding of these paths. It’s been delayed for months but is supposedly dropping this month. In response, Merlyn has created a petition, which I strongly encourage readers to sign. It’s a clear statement that Azura does not speak for the dragon community. If you want to sign the petition, here is a link:

Here I will leave some links to support this post.

Azura’s video where she encourages people to define their own language: https://youtu.be/aJ8o7uuhQ_s?si=PwaZmJIH42ubC6ND

Azura’s video where she explains how she founded these paths even though she didn’t create them: https://youtu.be/4XbaINkgJmM?si=RJIiy6ck0IPZ9txe

Azura’s website claiming she is the founder of multiple paths

I’m on tour with my new book, The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI. Catch me in LA TOMORROW (Jun 19) at Skylight Books, and on SUNDAY (Jun 21) at Kepler’s in Menlo Park. After that, it’s Toronto, NYC, Philly and Chicago.

Back at the height of the blockchain bubble, I made a hobby of pointing out that crypto weirdos were palming a card. I used this formulation:

if: problem + blockchain = problem – blockchain then: blockchain = 0

https://pluralistic.net/2022/01/30/the-inevitability-of-trusted-third-parties/

You see, blockchain weirdos kept insisting that they could solve problems related to trust and institutional design with "smart contracts." Rather than having to trust a board of directors to steer an organization, you could just have a self-executing institution, the "distributed autonomous organization" or DAO.

So for example, if you want to buy a copy of the US Constitution at a Sotheby's auction, you could set up a DAO to raise and pool the funds, eliminating the need to find trustworthy people to receive, hold and deploy these funds:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ConstitutionDAO

However – and here's where the palmed card comes in – the DAO can't go to Sotheby's and place a bid on the Constitution. Instead, the members of the DAO have to elect a guy to receive all that cash, walk into Sotheby's, get one of those little ping-pong paddles last seen at the State of the Union in Chuck Schumer's withered claw (emblazoned with the brave slogan "You're hurting my fee-fees") and raise the paddle during the bidding.

That guy doesn't have to go to Sotheby's. That guy can simply walk away with all the money. Members of the DAO are trusting this guy with their entire collective treasury. Indeed, since the DAO has no corresponding legal entity, it might even be that members of the DAO can't sue this guy if he steals all their money – and even worse, without a limited liability structure, it might mean that everyone in the DAO can be sued for anything bad this guy does with the money.

Which raises the question: what's the point of building this insanely complex hairball of blockchain-based smart contracts to raise and hold the money if you're just going to hand it to this guy and trust him without limit? Why not just have that guy set up a Zelle account and a Whatsapp group? In other words: the problem that the DAO is trying to solve is the difficulty of trusting people with the keys to the kingdom, but no matter how much blockchain you sprinkle on this DAO, it ends with this one guy walking around with all your money, which he can steal with impunity if he so chooses.

Or, put more succinctly:

if: problem + blockchain = problem – blockchain then: blockchain = 0

Every now and then a difficult period like this comes along: so it's time to request some assistance.

I've kind of been neglecting my vision for the past year or so, aware that I needed new glasses (and to go have a consult for possible eye-related surgery), but putting it off... and now the situation has, as it were, come home to roost.

The other day, when I was typing something and then (to check it before posting) had to pick up the Mac and hold it up to my nose to see what I'd typed... I realized that if this went on much longer, even with dictation (because after you dictate, you still have to edit...), I wouldn't be able to write.

That would be bad.

I need to go see my Eye Lady, get examined, and get both sets of glasses re-fitted with new prescriptions. This—as usual, each time it needs to be done every year and a half or two years, due to Weird Eyes—is going to run into a low-four-figure-ish kind of money. And due to other recent unexpected medical expenses, right now there's not enough dosh around (or spondoolicks or whatever term you prefer...) to get things sorted.

Therefore: can I get people interested in keeping a writer, you know, writing (as I've got three novels working at once at the moment...), to consider doing one of these things?

(a) Go over to Ebooks Direct and buy a book. (Or a bundle. Or a gift card for somebody else who might like my work.) And if you do: thanks so much!

(b) Stop by my Ko-Fi and drop a little something in the pot. It'll be most appreciated.

And if you can't do either of the above:

(c) Reblog this and let other people see it?

^ Link to the OG post that explains everything. ^

We're getting VERY VERY worried about this, SO:

Anyone who donates $15+ can DM me + request a comfort character letter. No genAI trash, and written with great care by an actual person! It'll be about a page or so, you choose whatever (SFW!) topic you want.

You can choose:

Pretty much any of the bigger names from Supernatural

Any character from KPDH

The OG main cast from Teen Wolf

Main cast from The Dragon Prince

Stark, Rogers, Barnes from MCU

Barry Allen from The Flash

Any Hazbin main cast + Vees

Blitz Helluva

Any of the main cast from Animorphs

AND MORE. Take a look at our AO3 here, any POV character you see is fair game.

It's been a horrible year, this is the only incentive we've got the energy + strength to offer right now.

Thank you for taking a look, sharing, or any help. Our kofi link is here if you're feeling generous! We know times are fucking shit for everyone, so we appreciate any and all boosts.

anytime something goes wrong, say things like "ah well at least i'm beautiful and charming and everyone loves me." when you forget something, try "my big huge brain is so smart and thinking about too many other very big wizardly thoughts you wouldn't even understand." when you're frustrated by one of your symptoms, start talking like you're in My Immortal. "Life has come for me but my eyes are beautiful pools of gorgeous fire and my hair is amazing. I stuck my middle finger up at life and told it to fuck off and it did."

just... try it for a month or two. try saying the most absurdly self-congratulatory shit you can think of.

i know it's tempting to make suicide or self-harm jokes. and for me at least, a decade ago (!) when someone suggested i stop making those kinds of jokes, i was kind of at a loss for what to replace them with. i wanted to make light of these moments, but genuinely (at the time) my first thought really was suicidal ideation. there was a part of me that even felt like ... i was kind of "making light" of that voice. that if i could say i want to die lol, it would help take the sting out of that genuine (albeit passive) desire. like i could turn my illness into a joke.

when i started complimenting myself instead, it felt awkward and stupid. it felt really, really ironic. what i was actually saying was nobody would ever think this stuff about me, that's what makes it so fucking funny.

but. the effect was immediate. first thing i noticed was the people around me. when i dropped a glass and said ah my skin is too beautiful and sleek the glass has swooned and broken for me, other people were suddenly overjoyed to jump in with the joke. rather than making an awkward moment, we'd both start cracking up. ah princess sleek hands, i've heard of you.

i was 19. i hadn't noticed i'd been making others tense when i said i want it all to end. i know now that it's incredibly hard to know how to walk that moment - do you talk to them about your concern? do you potentially make them uncomfortable by asking if they're okay? do you ignore the situation? do you help them pick up the glass, or do they need to do it by themselves? are they genuinely made suicidal over this small moment? and most importantly, how do you - without professional training or supplies - actually help?

most people want to help you pick up the glass in your life, they just have no fucking idea how to do it. they don't want to make anything worse. they don't want to make assumptions about you. they love you, they're scared for you - and being scared makes people kind of freeze up. it's not because they don't love you. it's because they do.

now when something bad happens, my first thought is how can i make a stupid joke about this. it isn't my brain saying you're a dumb fucking bitch. i spend more time laughing. i spend more time being gentle with myself. i spend more time feeling good.

and the thing is - what's kind of funny - is that you'd be surprised by how many people agree with you. the first time i said i'm too pretty to understand that, someone else said to be fair you're the prettiest person in this room. i promise - you really don't know how kindly your friends see you. but they love you for a reason. they sort of reverse-velveteen-rabbit you. your weird and ugly spots fade away and you just become... the love they want to give you.

reblog this post if your account is a trans safe space or owned by a trans person!

Ideally I'd make a post like "It is pride month! Yay! :D" ...But it is getting increasingly hard to exist as a trans person, let alone celebrate it.

We should still celebrate it. That celebration doesn't need to be loud. It doesn't need to be noticed by anyone except yourself.

They want us to feel shame at who we are. They want others to fear what we are. Pride in yourself is the antithesis of shame. So please, now more than ever, make sure you celebrate pride. Celebrate you.

all systems I know seem to be doing happier post discovery and once theyre able to show theyre plural. like. my partners, the host has gotten a lot better since learning shes more than one and is then able to lean on other for help, i make sure to be kind and help anyone new who splits. like. they still struggle with everyday thigns n depression n stuff but thats both not linked to plurality and existed before discovery. my friends who found out theyre olural have also been doing better since, ive spoken to some of their alters and its like. nice to be able to talk to everyone for who they are.

and from my point of view THATS the plural future people mean. not like. 'oooh lets abuse children' its like. oh plurality n did and other systems are not evil and dont have 'evil alters' and that introducing yourself to someone might be 'hi, im [name] from [name] system, its nice to meet you!' without anyone giving you a dirty look. and i like that future!! i want that future for my friends and partners! and selfishly I'd also benefit from that future!! i could say 'im [name], my partners are all a part of [name] system!' without someone trying to tell me 'so you just have one partner then. because one body=one partner', i know i could say partners without needing to fear clarifying could equal danger for my partners! i could say partners instead of partner!! and maybe thats a bit selfish but also everyone is a bit selfish. idk

anyone whos misinterpreting your post has to be doing it maliciously if even singlets can see what you mean better than them lmao

this, this, this!

why would advocating for more inclusivity, understanding, and practical support for people who function as plural be harmful?

to interpret something like ‘the future is plural’ as promoting trauma requires starting from a deeply biased position. you have to already assume the worst possible intent and then work backwards from there. no one reacts this way when people say ‘the future is queer’ or ‘the future is female’ — except people who are already committed to viewing it as something wrong or threatening (bigots).

remember everyone...

thursday watch: the conditions for thursday are here, but a thursday incident has not yet been confirmed