jay

Okay so basically—this method is called the Tai Method (I found it on Tumblr from @shiftingtai ), and it’s so good I had to share it.

So let me set the stage. I’ve been in this headspace recently where I feel like I need to put less pressure on shifting and just… do it. Like, shifting is something you do, not something you reach. You don’t need a huge routine or crazy method—just pure intention. Recently crashed out about this on a recent post.

I saw this post once (a TikTok slideshow, actually) about this girl’s dad who’s like a literal shifting master. And all he does is shift to waiting rooms—forests, beaches, empty fields—so he can think clearly when making big decisions. No method. Just closes his eyes, sets his intention, and goes. And I was like… excuse me?! Meanwhile I’ve been doing 2-hour routines for years???

So I was like, okay. Let me stop doing the most and try something simple. Just trust that intention is enough. And then—I stumbled upon the Tai Method. Here’s how it works:

Tai Method (asleep method, but can be done awake)

1. Focus on the darkness behind your eyes for ~30 seconds.

2. Focus on what you hear (CR or DR) for ~30 seconds.

3. Focus on what you feel (tingles, sinking, etc.) for ~30 seconds.

4. Repeat this cycle 4 times.

5. Fall asleep.

Just keep your attention on your senses, and try to observe rather than force.

So I decided to use it—no scripting, nothing fancy. Just a dream, a little Pinterest board with 33 pins (lol), and an idea for a waiting room I hadn’t even scripted yet.

My waiting room is basically a soft pink princess room with a big window overlooking a beach, where it’s always pink sunset hour and the waves are crashing in the distance. I’ve never tried shifting to a waiting room before, but I wanted a place to prep, observe my DR self, check over my script, and do whatever the fuck I want before shifting fully.

So it’s 1 AM, I’m tired, just got out of a shower, and I decide to try.

At first, it was kind of weird focusing on the darkness behind my eyes—it felt unnatural, like my eyes were in a weird position. So I opened and closed them a few times until it felt okay. Then I focused on what I was hearing, and then on my body. I was just observing—not affirming. Just noting: “I hear this,” “I feel that,” “I see this,” etc. And it flowed. Each sense sort of called me to move to the next.

At one point, I told myself, “I can hear the waves.” At first I couldn’t. But then… I could. I could genuinely hear the ocean. Like—on one side only. My left ear had a little pressure, and I could fully hear the waves just on that side. I even questioned myself like, “Okay but is this just my fan?” (Because it’s summer, and I sleep with a fan.)

But I know what my fan sounds like. I listen to it all the time. And this wasn’t that. This was different. And it reminded me of a time during the train method when I heard a train/car rush sound that I swore was from my CR—but later I checked, it didn’t match. It was from my DR.

So this time, I did the whole Tai Method cycle four times. I kept hearing the waves, even when I wasn’t focusing on sound. I saw the light behind my eyes change. I felt body twitches. I stayed present, calm, and intentional—and then I just fell asleep.

And Then? I Dreamt of My Waiting Room.

Not my Hogwarts DR. Not my Soccer DR. Not my Twilight DR. My waiting room.

And it wasn’t even the one I scripted—it was like a garden version. At night. Kind of abandoned and overgrown, with a TV in the middle of it (??) and I was literally watching Squid Game. Then I started planning for my Arcane DR inside the dream. Like… genuinely working on my DR plans in my dream.

Y’all. This method is SO EASY. I’ve been trying to shift for days, and all I’ve had are weird CR nightmares. This was the first time I actually dreamt about my DR. That means something.

Franky and Robin join the cuddle pile!! 🏴‍☠️💗💞

i asked myself how i’m supposed to wake up in my new reality, because this is honestly starting to get ridiculous. i already know how to imagine myself there, playing out scenarios and seeing it all in my mind. i know how to do all that and i know where i want to shift. but something about the how to actually wake up there kept taking over my mind.

then it randomly clicked when i thought about falling asleep. how would i even describe falling asleep? well, you close your eyes and then it just happens after a while. that’s it.

you literally pretend to be asleep until you are.

so what’s the difference between that and shifting? well, there isn’t one. at least not for me.

when i lay there at night, pretending, imagining that i’m there, that’s literally enough. there’s nothing extra i need to do to make it happen, just like there’s nothing extra i need to do to fall asleep. i pretend it, i become it.

i don’t need to overthink it anymore. i should just let myself assume the state (even with doubts), the same way i assume sleep. i don’t lay there affirming “i’m sleeping, i’m sleeping.” no, i let my mind drift. i let myself relax.

shifting works the same way by letting my awareness drift, instead of forcing it. i feel like once i stop trying to get there and simply just start being, that’s when it will happen. ‹𝟹

Doodles || Hawks

Loosely based on "A Gilded Cage is Still a Cage" by @cuspidgoddess (great work! I enjoyed it)

[Long; tldr at the bottom] Thoughts while I drew this, and disclaimer: I'm no author, just someone who can't shut up sometimes when inspired

Family LoV and complicated relationship with the HPSC. Not quite bashing like in the fic, but still shady and contributed to Keigo's lack of self-worth and tendency to keep a tight leash on his more mutant instincts until Tokoyami and the league encouraged him out of it.

Dabi spoils him and calls him pretty bird. At this point, it's a dabihawks headcanon that I'm sticking to.

searched google: "do hawks mate for life?" Answer: if conditions allow, then yes. OKAY THEN. Noted

It's hard to say what the future will hold what with Keigo's life being a complete mess, but he's willing to latch on to Dabi for as long as he's allowed to. Forever, preferably. If the way he melts into putty under Dabi's hands instead of flinching away from it is any indication. Tokoyami being the first person he allowed himself giving physical affection to and that was more of a paternal connection than the fluttery feeling he gets whenever he thinks of Dabi's blue, blue eyes.

Been enchanted with him since the early days when they've first met and Dabi finally looked at him with a less wary/hostile gaze. When the moonlight glinted onto his staples just right (blame his bird fueled fascination with shiny things), and the low, albeit sarcastic croon of acknowledgement from the man, he was completely gone. The chirp -with a pathetically pinning lilt to it- that rose out of him in response was embarrassing but worth it when it made Dabi chuckle.

He'd totally understand if Dabi woke up one day and decided he was more trouble than it was worth though. No, really. He'd probably cry and hopefully not pluck too many of his feathers again out of stress but he'll live. He's made of sterner stuff, been trained to handle sterner stuff. It's fine.

His handlers have always commented on how troublesome he was when they thought he couldn't hear him. The league told him they were lying though, that he was perfect just as he is and, obvious and ironic circumstances aside, made a great hero, but surely there was a kernel of truth to it? Not all of it could be lies.

Someday, he doesn't know when, but someday for sure, the growing affection he can see in Dabi's eyes will fade away and would be laced with annoyance the way some of the few, nicer handlers had during his brief time with them training pre-debut. It's inevitable.

Maybe Dabi would get annoyed with his constant chirping, trills and whistles. Maybe he'll get tired of seeing his bedroom cluttered with trinkets Keigo would collect, his closet with a significant amount of clothes missing and said clothes occupying the bed, arranged in a way that soothed Keigo's brain but probably disgruntled and looked like a mess to Dabi even if he didn't show it. Maybe he'll get tired of lugging him around and then tell him to use his legs or wings when both are perfectly functioning and aren't there for decoration. Keigo just can't help that he likes being carried around sometimes. Dabi indulges it but surely, he'll eventually reach his limit? Maybe he'll scratch Dabi's sensitive skin by accident too many times with his talons and stupid inability to NOT grip on things whenever he's excited or stressed and get a face full of flames for it. Honestly, he's surprised it hasn't happened yet considering how the man acts with other people.

Dabi's gentleness with him? Probably a fluke that wouldn't last. He figures he just looks too pathetic to get angry at. He figures the rest of the league view him similarly too and indulges him the same way one would indulge a stray, enough to feed it and keep it warm a few times but will ultimately move on to live their lives. Never mind that he's there to "spy" on them when he's doing a trash job at it. They probably already know but indulge him anyway out of pity. Whatever it is, Keigo is still grateful with the attentiveness and care they've showed him so far but will back away once he sees that he's overstayed his welcome.

At least he still has Tokoyami by his side who looks up to him and sees him like an older brother, maybe even a parent. Enhanced because of the mutant bird traits they share and the loneliness Tokoyami would see hidden underneath Keigo's smile.

Sometimes Tokoyami is swept up by Keigo's cheerful public persona when they're both out patrolling the streets and being bombarded by people, admittedly gets annoyed by it when sweet, doting Keigo turns into Hawks and makes him run after the hero like the early days of his internship when they weren't as close and misunderstandings were everywhere. But then he'd remember the sad tilt to his expression and the crushing hug before leaving with a red feather tucked into his pocket whenever they have to separate at any length of time. His own loneliness at not having anyone to welcome him back home making his and Dark Shadow's heart hurt.

Tokoyami still doesn't know what to make of Keigo's relationship with the league, dreads the aftermath of it all really if it turns sour (Dark Shadow is more optimistic than him and calls him out for his paranoia), but he'll always be in Keigo's corner. Just give him a few more years and he'll be strong enough to protect Keigo against any villain or hspc-shaped threats on his own and from the shadows, although he'll grudgingly allow Dabi to get a few hits in since it seems like he'll be a more permanent fixture in their life if the man has anything to say about it.

— There was no “oh my god i shifted” moment. it all felt very natural to me. You’ve existed in your dr since forever, your ‘cr’ mind doesn’t take over when you shift, hence why it’s so natural when you shift.

— There’s no right way to shift. I’ve shifted in different ways (sleep paralysis, lucid dreaming, just simply thinking about being there etc). You can shift in any way you like. my last shift i simply went to bed and it happened! Don’t get caught up with worrying if you’re doing the right thing and go with the flow.

— You most likely shift by allowing yourself to do it and not forcing it. That’s why people are more likely to shift on accident and not when they’re forcing it because there’s no pressure. You have either shifted or not. Decide you have and trust yourself.

— It’s the easiest thing in the world because you do it all the time. When you shift back it’s like “wait it’s that easy?”. Yes, you don’t need to affirm 500 times, visualise, meditate. It’s simply just deciding you are there and trusting yourself.

when i stumbled upon a fic by notmadderred of Moon Knight meeting the avengers, this image would not leave my head. honestly Clint and Steven gettin along like best buds is my favorite thing 

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White

Teamwork, acceptance and hope

Purple

OSDD/UDD Systems

Teal

PTSD symptoms and dissociation

Black

Newly discovered/questioning systems and hardships i.e. hard times and struggles. Struggling to cope with multiplicity and/or the trauma that can come with being a dissociative system Note: We have edited this post a few times since it’s inception to make minor edits to the phrasing of the post for clarity and inclusivity sake