Random

here’s my piece from the anniversary zine!! please go check it out as it’s full of amazing artworks and fics!!

you are not out of paper

you have so much paper

it’s okay to function as intended

you are not out of ink

i just refilled that cartridge last month

you can connect to that computer you’re supposed to connect to

​in western astro, it's all about exact mathematical degrees. but in jyotish, it’s called drishti, which literally translates to "sight" or "glance."

​in vedic astrology, planets literally have eyes. they sit in one house, but they stare at other houses across your chart. an empty house in your chart might look totally chill, but if a heavy planet is staring at it from across the room, u are going to feel its energy there.

​every single planet looks directly across the street at the 7th house from wherever it sits. but the outer planets mars, jupiter, and saturn are so heavy that they get "special" extra glances.

​🔥 mars (aspects the 4th, 7th, and 8th houses from itself): mars has an aggressive, protective stare. wherever mars is looking, u will experience friction, competition, and a massive drive to defend that area of your life.

​● jupiter (aspects the 5th, 7th, and 9th houses from itself): the ultimate blessing. jupiter's glance is literally made of pure grace. whatever house jupiter looks at gets protected and expanded. if u have a totally trashed or weak house, but jupiter happens to be staring at it, it gets saved.

​● saturn (aspects the 3rd, 7th, and 10th houses from itself): the strict teacher glare. saturn’s stare is actually way harder to deal with than the house it’s currently sitting in. wherever saturn is looking, u will experience delays, heavy responsibilities, and u will have to work 10x harder to get results there.

It’s empty.

Like eating air.

“Oh, your Jupiter is in the Fifth House? Wow. You must love art, music and theater. You enjoy watching movies and probably get along very well with kids. Have you tried singing or dancing? They could be great hobbies for you and good sources of luck!”

The fuck is that? People knew things like that about themselves since they were in nursery school. What value does information like that offer an adult who wants to learn about their destiny?

Meanwhile, traditional astrology gives you actual predictions and guidelines about your life beyond common sense:

“If your Jupiter is in the Fifth House, you are blessed with fertility. Even if conceiving becomes a challenge early on in the marriage, it will work out for you within a few years. You will have children who adore you and of whom you can be proud. You are lucky in gambling, but only when you’re doing it out of enjoyment, never out of desperation. Windfalls after all are a blessing, not a business. Fame and glory are in the cards for you. But they come too easily that arrogance is a possible side effect. Avoid this to retain your placement’s benefits.”

Now, that — that could help someone. Even if astrology turns out to be complete bullshit, the native who wants to have kids but can’t will still try their best, perhaps through medical help, because their astrological reading includes grounded encouragement. It even warns the native not to make a business out of gambling and to avoid arrogance. Again, even if astrology ends up being a lie, that’s still very grounded and concrete advice. All while actually letting the native know the purpose of their Jupiter placement, which is where their luck lies.

Modern astrology too loves giving advice.

But the way it does it sounds too profound that it ends up being shallow:

“You are a Pisces Rising. That’s a Water sign. So like water, let’s look at your flow. What helps your soul flow beautifully in this life? You must trust your intuition. You should follow your imagination. Develop your spirituality. But make sure you stay realistic and grounded. Like water, this is how you thrive in life.”

Did you see how useless that was?

It’s a Hallmark greeting card.

Follow your intuition and imagination but stay realistic. Be spiritual but not too much, stay grounded. Might as well say, “The sky is blue, but sometimes it’s gray.”

Meanwhile, traditional astrology says:

“Where is your ruler as a Pisces Rising? In the Ninth House? Focus on the foreigners in your social circle. Get to know them. They will help you soar in your career and reputation. When you have a choice between traveling by water or air, choose water. Your life can bring you more fun & adventure there. When you have a chance to get your master’s, grab it, along with any chances for international travel. Learn other languages. Because of your natural wiring, you will find it easy to do so, and you can make a lot of money out of it as a teacher or by moving to places where those languages are spoken. These are how you thrive.”

See? That’s what good advice sounds like. It’s tangible, relevant and actionable.

Honestly, modern astrology is why intellectuals look down on astrology. Personally, it’s why I rejected astrology too. That modern fluff is what was being paraded in front of me before my elders introduced me to the practice.

If you love modern astrology, will you choose to be offended by this post and stay in your restrictive paradigm?

Or will you do right by yourself and venture into studying traditional astrology, which is designed to actually help with human lives?

engbel lavender marriage adventures continue. i have this hc that countries rather than having a "biological age" have more of a range of years they can pass as depending on the day, and they use them to their advantage.

Hetalia World ☆ Stars - Illustration 6 Original

It gives you a map of your destiny. If you fight it, you could still win but you will suffer a lot. If you flow with it, you will win quickly with the least amount of agony.

Your Glory

If your First House is occupied while your Seventh House is empty, it doesn’t matter if you’re the man or the woman in your life partnership. Or if you’re the older one or the younger one. You will be the more prominent partner. You will enjoy more fame, more popularity, a better reputation than your other half. But if your First House is empty while your Seventh House is occupied, you are meant to be the trophy wife. Or husband. Fight it or enjoy it.

Your Wealth

If your Second House is occupied while your Eighth House is empty, you are meant to make your own money. Check out the lyrics of Independent Women Part 1 to get a preview of your destiny. The people who love you will be proud of what you will achieve through your own hard work. But if your Second House is empty while your Eighth House is occupied, you can still make money, don’t worry. But the brightest and biggest gold you will ever have will come to you through a partner, a parent, a relative or a windfall. 

Your Brain

If your Third House is occupied while your Ninth House is empty, you will be book-smart. Someone who excels in school. Someone eloquent. Someone people think of when they hear “intelligent”. But you will be foolish in the bigger things in life. But if your Third House is empty while your Ninth House is occupied, you could still have book smarts, technically. But your true knowledge lies in the philosophical, spiritual and the occult. You’re someone people think of when they hear “deep” or “wise”.

Your Joy

If your Fourth House is occupied while your Tenth House is empty, you are meant to find true happiness in your private life. In your home, with your family, with yourself. Think Hobbits. The cherished memories you will have in old age are a movie, a book or a dessert you loved. But if your Fourth House is empty while your Tenth House is occupied, you are meant to find true happiness in your achievements. Your medals in school. Your awards at work. Titles and promotions. You will take pride in how you’ve conquered your world.

Your Identity

If your Fifth House is occupied but your Eleventh House is empty, you will define yourself through your likes, interests and hobbies. “I am a baker.” “I am a Potterhead.” “I am an artist.” This is how your soul identifies itself. But if your Fifth House is empty while your Eleventh House is occupied, you will define yourself through your politics, network and community. “I am a Christian.” “I am liberal.” “I am a feminist.” Your soul doesn’t think of itself as separate. It identifies as part of a tribe.

Your Existence

If your Sixth House is occupied but your Twelfth House is empty, you are a material person. You see yourself as a body that has a spirit inside. But it’s the body you prioritize. Health, fitness, financial stability. You will stay in a toxic job that pays well. But if your Sixth House is empty but your Twelfth House is occupied, you are an old soul. You see yourself as an immortal spirit that happens to have a mortal body. So you prioritize your wellbeing. Virtue, morality, tranquility. You would rather starve than work in a place that reeks of toxicity.

For a lot of charts, it’s not that clean. Axes don’t always behave as empty on one end and full on the other. In such cases, identify your stronger House. The one with more planets or the one with stronger aspects.

This page from one of my history books looks like a lesbian utopia.

Sight

small tables with chairs

decoration

a cozy couch

the counter with the baristas

a big menu on the wall

people standing around, sitting down and going in and out

a dog lying under a table

small children running around

a person waiting for their friend or date

people drinking and eating while typing on their laptops

Hearing

the sound of the coffee machines

clinking of glasses/mugs

the moving of chairs

colleagues talking about their job and tattling about the boss

students frantically searching for this one paper they need right now

friends telling each other about their days

a young parent trying to calm down their crying baby

the barista yelling out names for whoever's coffees are ready

people in line trying to decide what they want to order

an awkward first date at one of the tables and both parties just ask each other weird questions

the sound of typing from the students and some business folks

the continued opening and closing of the front door

the cars and noise from outside when the door opens

Touch

the stickiness of the tables

the warmth of the mugs

the delicious treat eaten by hand

the gush of wind when someone opens the door

Smell

the smell of the coffee beans

the smell of different teas

the smell of fresh pastry

the smell of hand sanitizer

the smell of cleaning products after the tables were wiped down

Taste

coffee

tea

other drinks

fresh pastry

cookies and cakes

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