Eight of Snakes

Aries / Aries, this year will not only be fulfilling, but monumental. This past year tugged you around and showed you the ropes and transformed you, but this year will be the catalyst for what you wish to achieve. You will embark on many different journies and trails to become who you are and it will make you different in the end, but better.

Taurus / Taurus, although this year you may have felt lost and unsure of where to go next, you still made it and feeling proud of yourself for that is not a shameful thing. However, this year will bring a lot of closure for you in a lot of things that have made you feel lost and uncertain of who you are. You will be on a journey of self discovery this year, and a lot of your questions will be answered. You just have to be patient an enjoy the ride.

Gemini / Gemini, this past year might’ve been a roller coaster for you, with a lot of ups and maybe a lot more downs than anticipated. However, this year will be all about self love for you. Learning how to take care of yourself and trusting yourself to get through even the hardest of situations. It’s not an easy task to become your own best friend, but this year you will realize that you are the only one who is stuck with you for the rest of your life, and you will find peace in that.

Cancer / Cancer, this year threw a lot at you and you may have had more successes than you realize. This year, your main focus will be to acknowledge how far you have come and embrace where you are now. Sometimes you may get lost in a seeming failure or something you might’ve done wrong, but you have to stop yourself in your tracks when you do this. This year will show an abundance of strength for you, and you will learn how to manifest it.

Leo / Leo, this past year may have felt really long for you, maybe because there was a lot packed into it, or maybe because there wasn’t enough. But now, you’re running towards everything you want this year, full force. Nothing can stop you. You will learn the drive within you and how abundant it is, and just how much you can take. Sprinting towards your dreams and everything that you want, you will not let anyone or anything stop you this year. You’ve had enough pain, it’s time to let the light in.

Virgo / Virgo, I sense that there was a lot of change for you this year and it may have knocked you down a little. This year, you will learn to accept that change and see it as an opportunity. You see, the bad things that happen to us are sometimes blessings. Although things can be hard, that doesn’t mean nothing good comes out of it. You are going to see the light at the end of the tunnel this year and it’s going to give you hope again.

Libra / Libra, this past year may have been transformative for you. You may feel like a different person than you were at the start. This year, you’re going to push away things that aren’t meant for you. You’re going to accept love as pure and innocent, instead of toxic and degrading. You’re going to learn what is best for you and in your life. You’re only going to accept things that bring you joy.

Scorpio / Scorpio, your passion and drive is undeniable and can be seen by everyone. However, it’s just as important to know when to slow down and take time for yourself. This year you need to focus on not going so fast, taking time to smell the roses, and enjoy the moment. This may be hard for you, but it is an essential key for your happiness. You’re so used to working hard and making things happen, but everyone gets worn out from time to time.

Sagittarius / Sagittarius, you might’ve had some big wins and changes this past year. I want you to remember those and feel pride in yourself. This year, you’re going to look back and the past and work through things that you’ve been ignoring. This is important for your growth, to acknowledge these things. They’re not going to feel bad and toxic anymore, but part of who you are and you’re going to embrace that more than ever. It’s important to look back sometimes and work through new things.

Capricorn / Capricorn, this year may be a big one for you. Everything you work hard towards will finally have meaning and you may be offered big opportunities. This is your time, don’t belittle the things you have done and remember just how hard you have worked at becoming who you want to be. It’s easy to get lost in it, embrace it as it comes.

Aquarius / Aquarius, this past year might have been more stressful than previous years. But this year, there will be relief. There will be things that come out of the woodworks for you, and it will be up to you to accept them as they come. Do not be too scared or not confident enough in yourself to do them, you can do anything you put your mind to.

“Seeking to create deep emotional bonds is a form of intimacy”

So the essence of grimdark is that everyone’s inherently sort of a bad person and does bad things, and that’s awful and disheartening and cynical. It’s looking at human nature and going, “The glass is half empty.” Hopepunk says, “No, I don’t accept that. Go fuck yourself: The glass is half-full.”  YEAH, we’re all a messy mix of good and bad, flaws and virtues. We’ve all been mean and petty and cruel, but (and here’s the important part) we’ve also been soft and forgiving and KIND. Hopepunk says that kindness and softness doesn’t equal weakness, and that in this world of brutal cynicism and nihilism, being kind is a political act. An act of rebellion. 

Hopepunk says that genuinely and sincerely caring about something, anything, requires bravery and strength. Hopepunk isn’t ever about submission or acceptance: It’s about standing up and fighting for what you believe in. It’s about standing up for other people. It’s about DEMANDING a better, kinder world, and truly believing that we can get there if we care about each other as hard as we possibly can, with every drop of power in our little hearts. 

Going to political protests is hopepunk. Calling your senators is hopepunk. But crying is also hopepunk, because crying means you still have feelings, and feelings are how you know you’re alive. The 1% doesn’t want you to have feelings, they just want you to feel resigned. Feeling resigned is not hopepunk.

Examples! THE HANDMAID’S TALE is arguably hopepunk. It’s scary and dark, and at first glance it looks like grimdark because it’s a dystopia… but goddammit she keeps fighting. That’s the key, right there. She fights every single day, because she won’t let them take away meaning from her life. She survives stubbornly in the hope that one day she can live again. “Don’t let the bastards grind you down,” is one of the core tenets of hopepunk, along with, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”  Jesus and Gandhi and Martin Luther King and Robin Hood and John Lennon were hopepunk. (Remember: Hopepunk isn’t about moral perfection. It’s not about being as pure and innocent as the new-fallen snow. You get grubby when you fight. You make mistakes. You’re sometimes a little bit of an asshole. Maybe you’re as much as 50% an asshole. But the glass is half full, not half empty. You get up, and you keep fighting, and caring, and trying to make the world a little better for the people around you. You get to make mistakes. It’s a process. You get to ask for and earn forgiveness. And you love, and love, and love.) 

And THIS, this is hopepunk: 

Guardians of the Galaxy: “Why do I want to save the galaxy? Because I’m one of the idiots who lives there?”

Thor Ragnarok: “Asgard is not a place… It is a people.”

Leverage: “Right now, you’re suffering under an enormous weight.  We provide… leverage.”

The Librarians: (“I have seen you all die so many times when it didn’t matter, I can’t let it happen now that it does.” “What do you need us to do?”)

Scorpion.: (”If you try to tell me about the greater good one more time, I will hit you.”)

Star Wars: (”There is good in him still.”)

Star Trek (the original universe): (honestly, there’s no one single quote, but like, the entire damn thing is solid hopepunk.)

It’s difficult in times like these: ideals, dreams, and cherished hopes rise within us, only to be crushed by grim reality. It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned my ideals; they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.— The Diary of Anne Frank

If a hiker gets lost in the mountains, people will coordinate a search. If a train crashes, people will line up to give blood. If an earthquake levels a city, people all over the world will send emergency supplies. This is so fundamentally human that it’s found in every culture without exception. Yes, there are assholes who just don’t care, but they’re massively outnumbered by the people who do. And because of that, I had billions of people on my side. Pretty cool, eh?— Andy Weir, The Martian

No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.— Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”— Fred Rogers

I believe in my fellow citizens. Our headlines are splashed with crime yet for every criminal there are ten thousand honest, decent, kindly men. If it were not so, no child would live to grow up. Business could not go on from day to day. Decency is not news. It is buried in the obituaries, but it is a force stronger than crime. I believe in the patient gallantry of nurses and the tedious sacrifices of teachers. I believe in the unseen and unending fight against desperate odds that goes on quietly in almost every home in the land.— Robert A. Heinlein

So I will shuffle and pull three cards for each sign, each card would be an advice for the signs generally for 2019 - part 1

Aries: The Hanged Man – This is a general reading, so many Aries I guess have made so many sacrifices, they’ve helped so much, but it is time to release that and leave it in 2018 or even further when it happened. This card is about releasing the past, getting over it. Reflecting on what happened, grasping all those lessons, taking in the experience and moving on. The fear is also left behind, it is time to put that energy into something worth, the present and building the future along the way.

The Chariot – A lot of Aries will be balancing things out, of course our patience is not our strongest suit, so they will want it right now. But putting some work onto balancing things out is not going to be hard for Aries. The Chariot is also a visionary, so many Aries might have visions for the future, for some goals, they might be ready to go after those goals in 2019. Just be careful of coming off too strong, rushing things, take that control you have the will power and you will see the results.

Queen of Pentacles – As I mentioned, some Aries will succeed in taking that control patiently, which will bring them success, prosperity and stability. Lots of maturing for Aries, focus on their career/studies, a more rational approach to things, more controlled behavior. Of course the fun of being the adventurer is not forgotten, they will not rush things when it comes to their goals though.

Taurus:

The Chariot – I guess similar to Aries, Taurus already have that patience and calm energy. They have a vision of their future I am sure of that, they want to find quicker ways to get there though, that is the challenge here. Let that balance flow, let that harmonious and controlled surroundings get you there.

The Emperor – Oh, this card tells me that Taurus are going to/should take more control over thei life in 2019. It is the Emperor, the ultimate control will be in your hands, make wise use of it. Also I see them being more assertive, getting to the point with their desires and goals. Just displaying a more playful approach, as in more fiery and sure, confident approach. Achieving that full confidence. They are going to be the authority of their own life. Be careful of losing yourself in the process and becoming controlling and/or cold.

Wheel of Fortune – What more can I say, 2019 will give you, your fruits, everything you deserve. You will attract your luck and abundance.

Gemini:

I got two 5’s, maybe be aware of the number 5, 25.

Five of Wands – Lots of competition, lots of conflicts maybe. Just be careful of not doing it out of malice, because I understand you got to stretch that huge mind of yours with debates. But these conflicts can also mean just fiery debates, arguments, proving your points passionately, because you are very passionate about your beliefs and you have no problem showing that, expressing that. For some Geminis it may be that a lot of potential partners are competing for you attention, or you are in that competitive spirit career/studies-wise, you want to prove yourself, make yourself noticeable. Again be careful of it going to a negative direction. Respect others and their opinions and views to get the same in return, but keep that spirit.

Five of Cups – Oh, some of you may be feeling underappreciated, like everyone is focused on your failures and not on your qualities. That made you feel a bit depressed. But 2019 is a year to change that, you have the power to take off that black cloth clouding your eyes, focus on accepting your qualities, making something out of those fruits you possess. 2019 will be the time when you find peace from that, when you accept you move steps forward. You shine!

The Moon – Again maybe it is connected, but those fears will be put to rest. Open your heart, do not be afraid to be vulnerable. Those fears and anxieties need to be put aside, focus on your intuition, you got this. Let it lead you, you will come to great things. The Moon will light your way through the darkness, bring you clarity and lead you to the next level/phase/direction. Let those walls down and follow it!

Cancer:

Queen of Cups – The strength you have gotten over this year and maybe the past few years has gotten you the ultimate level. The ultimate level of emotional maturity and strength, as well as stability. I believe you are putting your insecurities behind, slowly, it is a slow process but a sure one. You are dreamy, mysterious, very aware of emotions you might even feel and pick up energies from others. You might discover other psychic talents in 2019, but your emotional stability will bring you a step further. Those experiences definitely shaped you.

Page of Pentacles – Some of you might be starting projects, some may have already started, but 2019 will be an amazing start for projects/hobbies/your studies. Very prosperous, fruitful, you will know how to do this. Slow progress, stable with lots of dedication and devotion. Your hard-working spirit will definitely get you to the next level.

Strength – You have been so giving, caring and nurturing in 2018, the Universe will get that back to you in 2019. You helped someone, you were there maybe for someone, all of that will be received back x10! That strength is admirable.

Leo:

Seven of Swords – You have so many qualities that people want, you are naïve, you trust people blindly and you are generous. All of that can be used, be careful! This is a trickster card, a card of manipulation, of people trying to hide things from you. Just be careful with who you communicate, be careful of what you reveal because it is still an air card which means communication. Do not be so gullible and trust everyone, choose carefully who you let close!

Eight of Cups – Maybe it is connected with the card above, maybe not. But this is a card where you are leaving drama behind. You are releasing that, leaving in it in 2018, so you can be refreshed and ready to catch 2019. Someone/something disappointed you, you felt betrayed, it was emotional. Maybe it is just something that does not make you happy anymore, maybe you’ve outgrown these people and situations so you are ready to follow your journey and grow with other people. However change is good and welcomed!

Four of Wands – A lot of strengthening of bonds with your friends and family. Spending a lot of quality time with those you love. For some Leos maybe marriage on the way, for some of course this is general. But a lot of harmony and support from your closest ones in 2019. Your bonds will be re-newed, even stronger something will bring you closer than before. I know you will celebrate it and cherish it with your heart.

Virgo:

Two of Swords – Maybe 2019 will come too fast for you. The things that you left in 2018 will maybe be confusing at the start of the new year. You will be conflicted within yourself, but things will get clearer as the year goes of course. You will start to get explanations and you will get that necessary clarity in order to decide about this confusion and doubt.

Three of Cups – So many fun and exciting times are coming. You will be closer to your friends than ever, they will get the best out of you. I think you will even become more confident because of that support. Also a lot of eyes will be on you in the new 2019. Strengthening bonds with friends and close ones, with lots of fun and adventure along the way. I think you will be happy in your skin as well, during these times. Lots of new experiences.

reminder series: bleak yet comforting thoughts.

i specifically chose animals that are (or believed to be) extinct due to human influence: thylacine, great auk, baiji, west african black rhino, golden toad, dodo, passenger pigeon, and quagga. there are many other species i could have included. the plants are also based on extinct species, but i found much less information about extinct plants, unfortunately.

the text doesn’t necessarily relate to each animal or their extinction. it’s all basically the same idea: let’s all be nice to each other, because today, the universe is vast and incomprehensible, we are all suffering, we are all going to die, and we’re all in this together. for today.

i’m busy for a couple weeks with conventions, but after that i’m considering a companion series with ancient extinct animals, so feel free to send me your favorites :)

Excerpts from the Do-It-Yourself Guide to Fighting the Big Motherfuckin. Sad.

The Balance.

a tarot spread for mabon.

When you find yourself at a crossroad, and don’t know which way to go, search for The High Priestess.

You’re in a relationship and don’t know if you should stay with this person or leave.

You have to make a choice between one job or another.

You’re in school, and are torn between whether you should stay with your current major or choose another one.

Should you stay where you are or move to a new town?

When you can’t find a clear answer, shuffle your cards, turn them face side up, and seek guidance from The High Priestess. She is the first card of your reading. She is the balance between positivity and negativity. Struggle and tranquility. Darkness and the light. The two cards in your deck that precede her are the second and third cards in your reading. The two cards that follow her are the fourth and fifth.

Emoji spell for that thing you’ve been worried sick about to turn out infinitely better than you ever expected.