Random

I've come up with a new aesthetic called Antiherocore. It's kind of a cross between dark royalcore, chaotic academia, and evil core.

Antiherocore is:

You regularly cross the line between good and evil or just never pick a side

You're in it for yourself - except for the occasional time when you meet someone you really care about, but that always leads to a dramatic angst-filled story line

You think long term and big picture, but you do make sure to also stay in the moment

You're either a loner or a second-in-command. You tend to be the lancer/loner on the rare occasion you're part of a team

Your love interest (or bff if you're aro) is your worst enemy and your character foil.

You're seen as a villain by many, but you have strong morals that you refuse to break UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES

You'll sometimes seek money or power, but your true motivation is something deeper. Something you're determined to achieve at almost any cost

You're extremely nice to animals and kids. You probably have a pet and/or younger relative whom you're close to and try to shield from anything bad.

You have a fascination with how people's minds work.

You love backstories

But whenever people ask yours, it changes every time

You're probably neurodivergent and/or part of the LGBTQIA+ community

You were probably once a beloved hero who pushed yourself so hard that you snapped

Or you were a villain/villain sidekick or henchperson who became disillusioned, but also had issues with the opposing side

You're chaotic neutral

If you try to take over the world, it's because you want to end war, poverty, systemic racism, sexism, and/or some other unacceptable yet all too common issue.

Characters who inspired Antiherocore:

Loki

Jason Todd

Catra

Catwoman

sports sapphics,

time traveling wlw,

murderous sapphics + dorian gray

bi women dating soft boys,

fake dating desi lesbians,

great gatsby retellings with queer asian girls,

f/f slavic enemies to lovers,

gay women + peter pan retellings,

grumpy/sunshine + lesbians of color,

bisexual con artists & trauma recovery,

queer tsoa inspired fantsay set in china

Every time I wrote your name, I lied. Every time I wrote your name, it was the truth.

It is a day off and we've managed to sleep in for once. I wake to the bright light of the sun already well into the sky, and sigh into the warm crook of his neck, arm slung across his chest.

Achilles is still asleep, face soft in that way I love, breath as light as a breeze. I watch the rise and fall of his chest as I allow my hands to roam, compelled in my relaxation to kiss at his shoulder.

I am barely awake and yet it seems I want him even in sleep. My warm delirium cajoles the movement from my limbs, though they protest their fatigue as I pull myself up so that I may bring my lips to his chest.

We’ve been together like this hundreds of times by now but it seems the novelty will never be lost on me. I revel in the warm sunshine of his skin as my palms trace the shape of him, unable to stop myself from leaning down to kiss his collarbone the second I lay eyes on it.

I pull myself up to hover over him now, nudging his knees apart to settle my hips between them, and reach down to take him gently in my hand as he finally stirs; a flash of boldness that draws the most gorgeous sleep-laden sound out of him immediately. Smiling, I lean in to kiss him, and his arms hold me close.

“What pleasant thing have I done to warrant such a lovely good morning?” His lips murmur the question into the shell of my ear and I can feel his rich voice vibrate through his chest. I curl further into him to press a kiss to his neck.

“Nothing in particular.” I continue to kiss that spot, the one I know he likes. “I only wished to wake you in a lovely manner.”

His hands roam over my back as his words coast breathlessly from him, “I’m glad you did.”

He kisses me, warm and pliant beneath my hands. This is the Achilles that no one knows about, the one that only I get to see, gentle and blithe. His smile, still heavy lidded with sleep and pleasure, is radiant.

We’ve long ago lost the need for words when we are like this; he brings his legs up to wrap around my waist and I know instantly what he means. I would not deny him for a thousand ships launched in my name.

It is perhaps foolish that I should feel such an instinct to protect him. Aristos Achaion does not need protecting, and the gods have doomed him regardless. I cannot stop that irreversible fate, a fact I’ve long had to learn to live with.

But pinned under me, hair tangled between my fingers and whispering my name in that way I love, as though saying it brings him joy - Pa-tro-clus - he is all the parts of him I love and none of the things surrounding him that I fear. He is all things warm and good and I would do anything for him.

It is in the middle of this, lost in the passion of our movement and these whispered affections, that Odysseus arrives.

“Achilles, it is mid-morning and we really must discuss-..... My apologies.”

My head snaps up to see Odysseus silhouetted in the tent’s entryway. I freeze, and almost move to pull away, but Achilles reacts first and holds me tight by my waist. I realize vaguely that the sheet we are under obscures the most obscene parts of us, but there is no mistaking what is happening. I look back at him, and his countenance is painted with annoyance.

“Odysseus.” His voice is terse, but he still holds me fast. “It is impolite to enter a man’s tent without announcing yourself first.”

Another moment of shock hangs in the air. Then, despite myself, I stifle a laugh. Odysseus is a respectable man, but Achilles had often remarked what a conniving personality he was. I realize with a thrill that this is his attempt to punish the general for taking up so much of his time. It is not as if this - if we - were anything he did not already know about.

Emboldened, I relax my position slightly, resting my weight on Achilles’ chest and allowing his arm to wrap further around me as I settle down to prop myself up by an elbow, chin resting in my hand so that I may smile directly at Odysseus. His face is carefully composed to not betray the embarrassment we both hope he feels.

“My apologies,” he says. “But the situation with the left flank will be dire by tomorrow if we do not modify our plans today. I had hoped you and I might discuss strategy over breakfast.”

“Yes, well,” Achilles runs a hand up my back casually as he speaks. “As you can see, we are in the middle of something. Or, rather,” he smirks. “Patroclus is in the middle of something. I’ll come talk to you later.”

What I would give to have a painting of Odysseus’ face in this moment. He is forever cool, but his face betrays just the barest hint of bluster.

“Very well,” he huffs. “Apologies again for disturbing you.” The tent flap closes with a flourish.

Silence for a moment, then I am unable to hold back my laughter any longer. Achilles laughs too, hearty and loud without a care for if Odysseus is still nearby.

“You are mad,” I say, wrapping myself closer to him.

“He annoys me sometimes,” Achilles sighs. “I do not answer him like a dog.”

I hum and resituate our position, wrapping a hand behind his knee to bring it further up my waist. Hands braced now on either side of his head, I observe, with rapt attention, the way his hair spills onto the pillow.

“You are lucky Odysseus deals in learning gossip rather than spreading it,” I say.

“I don’t care who gossips.” His voice is firm. “I told you, didn’t I? No one will ever make me give this up.”

He does this to me sometimes; says something so heart-wrenchingly wonderful that the force of it hits me like a spear to the chest.

“Nor will they make me give up you.” My conviction is ironclad as I lean in to take him again.

I’ve lived days and weeks without thinking about his destiny, but it is always there; looming on the horizon like an apocalyptic storm.

But here, alone together, I can shut it all out. I can fill my thoughts with nothing but the sound of his voice, the feeling of his body. He is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever beheld and I would fight the entire army of Troy a hundred times over to keep him.

He clutches me close, comes undone as he sighs beloved, and in his arms I feel bolder than ever before in my life.

——————————————————

Ao3 link, there will be other chapters: https://archiveofourown.org/works/34505767/chapters/85883488

Independent Energy

Independent energy is a type of energy that never loses it’s charge or can recharge on its own with little to no help from outside sources.

Personal energy is the energy that your body makes by itself. It is most commonly recharged by sleeping and calorie consumption and can be easily used as a source in most aspects of witchcraft.

Organic energy is derived from life. This includes humans, plants, animals, and some entities. These can be used as sources. Personal energy falls under this category but is distinguished for crafting purposes.

Rooted energy is the most common source to recharge from and it has a substantial or near unlimited amount of energy. This includes planetary bodies, the elements, and the weather.

Artistic energy is a non-sentient type of energy created by an artist. Despite being able to affect the emotions of those who view or listen to it, the energy itself is trapped within the original product. This energy can be duplicated and used as a source for other creations and magical purposes. This includes things like music, paintings, movies, or stories.

Dependent Energy

Dependent energy is energy that depends on other sources of energy to prevent becoming stagnant with usage over time.

Natural energy is stored in objects not created by humans. It is limited as a source and has to be recharged to keep its individual characteristics. This includes things like crystals, stones, and dead matter.

Manufactured energy is stored in objects created by humans. This includes things like paper, clothing, and machines.

Spiritual energy is created from organic energy sources or nature itself. They heavily depend on other sources of energy in order to maintain themselves. This includes once-living spirits, thoughtforms, and nature spirits.

Programmed energy is a non-sentient energy that is created for a purpose. It can be crafted from any energy source and needs to be recharged in order to continue doing its duty. It can be a free-flowing energy or it can be stored in a vessel. This includes things like spells, curses, and enchantments.

Emotional energy is a non-sentient type of energy created by emotions, thoughts, and words. If fed into, it can turn into an energy parasite. If not fed into, it will neutralize. It can permeate into the world around it or stick to its creator.

Parasitic energy is a non-sentient type of energy and is generally an outcome of sustained emotional energy. It feeds on and encourages the original emotions it stems from and is stuck to a host.

Seriously. I’ve seen a post like this before, but it needs to be said again.

Weird Smells? Go get your house inspected. You may have mold or a gas leak in your home.

Cold Spots? Again. Get your home checked out.

Creaking when no one is home? Your house/building is probably shifting. Get it inspected just to be safe.

Sibling or Child saying weird shit? They probably have an imaginary friend or are having fun. If it still freaks you out go to a mental health professional to rule out anything that could be causing them to say creepy-ass things. Better safe than sorry.

Hearing thumps? Check to see if any trees or bushes are hitting your house. Then check to make sure an animal you aren’t aware of isn’t making the noises. If you can’t find a cause, get it checked out by a professional.

Scratching in the walls? It could be a rodent. Get it checked out.

If you have checked all mundane reasons for what is being experienced by you or a relative/friend, then go onto spiritual reasons. You can always cleanse before you get things checked out there’s no harm in that. But to assume it’s always a spirit is dangerous. You could put people at risk especially if it’s rodents, a creaking house, or a gas leak. 

Because if it is those reasons then you can easily get it taken care of, but if you actively ignore it because you believe it’s a spirit then it’s all on you, not anyone else. 

First of all, what is a liminal space? A liminal space refers to a place or time that is in a period of transition between two phases. These are usually places where reality feels altered because you are neither moving forward or backward, like a rest stop. The word liminal originates from the Latin word limens, meaning threshold. These places often give off a sense that time stands still and that you are experiencing some sort of reality shift. 

        In magic and witchcraft these spaces are considered to be the boundary between our world and the other, it is known as “the in-between”. These places are considered areas of great magic because it is believed this is where the veil is thin. These places are great for divination, spirit work, meditation and astral travel; they are ideal for hedge witchcraft.

Times & Spaces of Liminality:

crossroads manmade or natural

river, creek or lake shores/ beaches

hallway/corridor/stairwells/landings/doorways

graveyards

dawn, dusk, afternoon, midnight

valleys

forest glades

many more!

      Samhain/Halloween is considered the best time to communicate with spirits and faeries because of its liminality, it is a time of transition between autumn and winter. Irish folklore tells that this is the day faeries and ghosts come out to play because of the veil thinning. The equinoxes and sabbats like Beltane and Imbolc are also days of liminality because the time of day and night are equal (equinoxes) or it is a transition between seasons.  

       Mental states of liminality are also times of spirit communication. While being in a meditative state we are in a state of transition between our concious and sub-concious minds, this is where we sometimes experience astral projection or messages from spirits. People often experience spirit while falling asleep because this is another state of liminality. 

     In my craft I often practice in liminality in order to connect with the faerie realms.

Lavender Lemonade

Nothing beats the summer heat like a tall glass of ice cold Lavender Lemonade! Not only will you love the refreshingly delicious taste it has to offer, but you may find yourself more relaxed since the mere scent of lavender has been shown to reduce anxiety. In addition, the odor from essential oils that are released from lavender blossoms may provide migraine and insomnia relief.

*************************************************

Ingredients

1/4 cup Dried Lavender Flowers

2 cups Boiling Water

1 cup Honey

1 tray Ice Cubes

1 cup Lemon Juice

5+ cups Filtered Water

Instructions

Put the dried lavender flowers into a bowl and pour 2 cups of boiling water over it.

Add the honey and then allow it to steep for about 15-20 minutes.

Strain out the lavender flowers.

Add ice cubes to a 2-quart pitcher.

Pour the honey and lavender mixture into the pitcher.

Add the lemon juice and top it off with cold filtered water.

To all those who need recovery after a psychic/karmic attack, feel as though you are powerless and you need that little extra magical push, or merely for those who have had a not-so-good day,

this is for you.

Take back what belongs to you, little witch. 

Your voice can mend. 

“Calling upon the powers from

North, South, East, and West,

The four corners of the Earth, I take my power back.

Forsake all who threaten to do harm upon me,

I signal the universe to protect me,

and sever me from their toxicity.

Grant me the power to rise above where they had thought I had been sent to fall.

I thank the powers of North, South, East, and West,

The gifts of the Earth and the stars above;

powers of earth, water, fire, and air

with good to all, 

reverse harm that has been done,

by the grace of my own magic,

this spell is done.”

*The following is optional as I am aware that not all witches have access to certain materials. However, making use of the following can accelerate and/or strengthen the intended outcome if you do possess them. You can always replace or add materials as you please; make my spell your spell.

Accessories:

-Sage/Perovskia/Palo Santo

-Hawthorn

-Onyx, amethyst, smoky quartz (regular quartz may suffice as well)

Candle Color(s):

-Black; for banishing and breaking curses

-White; purification from negative energies

Tarot Cards:

-Nine of Wands

-Chariot