Can I Help You with Something..?

Original Meme/Shitpost by spooky-grimwhoire

I don’t know if I’m going to make enough money to pay off my bills this month. I already owe family a bunch of money, and I’m not keen on adding to that debt. I’m willing to take commissions! Pets, OC’s, video game characters, you name it!

Sketch-$5

Clean lines-$10 

Color-$15

 Cell shading-$20

 Soft shading-$25

I was cruising through the net, following the cold trail of one of the periodic “Is or is not Fanfic the Ultimate Literary Evil?” arguments that crop up regularly, and I’m now bursting to make a point that I never see made by fic defenders.

We’re all familiar with the normal defenses of fic: it’s done out of love, it’s training, it’s for fun. Those are all good and valid defenses!

But they miss something. They damn with faint praise. Because the thing is, when you commit this particular Ultimate Literary Evil you’ve now told a story. And stories are powerful. The fact that it wasn’t in an original world or with original characters doesn’t necessarily make it less powerful to any given reader.

I would never have made this argument a few years ago. A few years ago I hadn’t received messages from people who were deeply touched by something I wrote in fanfic. So what if it’s only two or three or four people, and I used someone else’s world and characters? For those two or three or four people, I wrote something fucking important. You cannot tell me that isn’t a valid use of my time and expect me to feel chastened. I don’t buy it. I won’t feel ashamed. I will laugh when you call something that touches other people ‘literary masturbation.’ Apparently you’re not too up on your sex terminology.

Stories are like swords. Even if you’ve borrowed the sword, even if you didn’t forge it yourself from ore and fire, it’s still your body and your skill that makes use of it. It can still draw blood, it can strike down things that attack you, it can still defend something you hold dear. Don’t get me wrong, a sword you’ve made yourself is powerful. You know it down to its very molecules, are intimate with its heft and its reach. It is part of your own arm. But that can make you hesitate to use it sometimes, if you’re afraid that swinging it too recklessly will notch the blade. Is it strong enough, you think. Will it stand this? I worked so hard to make it. A blade you snatched up because you needed a weapon in your hand is not prey to such fears. You will use it to beat against your foes until it either saves you or it shatters.

That’s not fic yet, but it is a story.

But the best stories grow. This can happen in the language of capitalism—a remake of a classic movie, a series of books focusing on what happened afterwards or before—or it can happen in the language of humanity. Children playing with sticks as lightsabers, Jedi Princess Leia saving Alderaan by dueling Vader; a father reading his kids The Hobbit as a bedtime story as an interactive, “what would you like to happen next?” way so that the dwarves win the wargs over with doggie biscuits that they had in their pockets and ride to Erebor on giant wolves, people writing and sharing their ideas for deleted outtake scenes from Star Trek and slow-build fierce and tender romance with startling bursts of hot sex between Hawkeye and Agent Coulson.

A story at its most successful is a fully developed fractal, retold a million times and a million ways, with stories based on stories based on stories. Fanfic of fanfic of fanfic. Stories based on headcanons, stories based on prompts, stories that put the Guardians of the Galaxy in a coffee-shop AU and stories where the Transformers are planet-wandering nomads and stories where characters from one story are placed into a world from another. Stories that could be canon, stories that are the farthest thing from canon, stories that are plausible, stories that would never happen, stories that give depth to a character or explore the consequences of one different plot event or rewrite the whole thing from scratch.

This is what stories are supposed to be.

Literature was once a communal act, too. Film as well. It’s only once we decided to extend and expand the idea of copyright and turn stories into primarily vehicles for profit that we rejected this communal structure. The literary canon shouldn’t be all dead white men. They didn’t build the novel. They didn’t build theater. They took what was already there and said “This is mine now,” and we believed them.

Creativity is communal. There is no such thing as the lone genius on a mountaintop. Ideas are passed around, handed back and forth, growing all the time. Fandom is what human creativity looks like in its normal form. Fandom is like this because humans are like this.

“Historically speaking, animating female characters are really, really difficult, ’cause they have to go through these range of emotions, but they’re very, very — you have to keep them pretty and they’re very sensitive to — you can get them off a model very quickly. So, having a film with two hero female characters was really tough, and having them both in the scene and look very different if they’re echoing the same expression; that Elsa looking angry looks different from Anna being angry.” — Lino Disalvo on animating Frozen, explaining (essentially) why they removed all the female supporting characters and replaced them with men. [[edited for accuracy]]

yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

FUCKIN YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

no BULLSHIT I KID YOU NOT! Look what I found while walking Home…..

OH MY GOD

OH MY F*CKIN GOD

THIS POST FUCKIN WORKS?!?!?! THIS IS PAST A COINCIDENCE NO WAY!??! NO FRIGGIN WAY!!! 

Trump tax plan is funded by massive cuts to Medicare and Medicaid to help the starving billionaires. 

This simple, yet potent, spell dates back to antiquity and is a Halloween tradition among many witches.  To perform this spell, you will need three things: an ordinary mirror, a candle that has never been lit before, and a sincere wish.

Begin after sunset on Halloween night by lighting the candle with a match.  (If you desire, you may anoint the candle with three drops of your favorite ritual oil prior to working this spell.)  

Turn off all the lights and stand before the mirror, holding the lit candle in your power hand.  (The hand you normally use for writing.)  

Gaze into the reflection of your own eyes and clear your mind of all thoughts, except for those pertaining to your wish.  

Visualize your wish coming true as you whisper the following incantation:

Little ways to connect to the elements while you’re bedridden or stuck inside.

Earth:

Keep jars of dirt from special places.

Grow cacti or succulents.

Make a mini sand garden.

Hang macrame with crystals or stones.

Keep a bouquet of flowers.

Hang herbs from your walls/ceiling.

Get a little plant starter kit, keep seedlings by your window.

Keep some books on plants and geology around.

Watch nature documentaries.

Keep pebbles and crystals under your pillow.

Make a miniature garden/landscape using fake or real plants!

Reach down and feel the energy of the earth below you. Sometimes this is easier on the floor.

Burn candles that smell like the earth/forest/your favorite place.

Drink herbal tea.

Water:

Get a mini waterfall or fountain.

Keep plants that grow in water.

Get a water essential oil diffuser.

Make a spray from infused water.

Open windows when it rains.

Set up a bird fountain outside.

Fully savor your next glass of water.

Keep blues and sea green colors around.

Watch videos or documentaries on aquatic/marine life.

Watch the raindrops or condensation on your window.

Keep a bowl of water around. 

Listen to water/rain ambiance.

Burn candles that smell like the ocean or the rain.

Use a washcloth to wipe down your face/body.

Keep jars of water from your favorite places.

Air:

Open your window.

Use room spray/mist.

Burn candles that smell like the wind.

Hang wind chimes.

Listen to air/wind ambiance.

Get a small fan for some air flow.

Burn incense and watch the smoke move through the air.

Use your breath.

Hang feathers in your room.

Hang scarves and cloths around your room, watch the breeze sway them around.

Get some air plants.

Use an app that lets you see the sky/night sky.

Watch the clouds from your window.

Meditate, allow your senses to explore the air around you.

Fire:

Burn candles/incense.

Hang red or orange curtains.

Get a Himalayan salt lamp.

Use a wax melter.

Get an electric candle.

Use a heating pad or electric blanket.

Listen to fire ambiance. 

Use the heat of your body.

Watch gifs/videos of fire.

Keep a lighter nearby when you need a little flame. 

Place a little tealight in a fireproof vessel near your bed.

Feel the warmth and strength of the sun.

Build up energy with your hands, imagine it’s fire.

Drink tea with warming spices (cinnamon, cloves, etc.)

Other bedridden witch posts:

Nature edition

General edition

Divination edition

Worship edition

Stale energy edition

What is a familiar? A familiar is an animal whom you have a spiritual connection with. A witches companion. You call upon them to help you with your practices. They can be physical or spiritual beings. They are healers and guardians but above all, a loyal companion. Provides the witch with psychic protection as well as negative energy. They do not have to be your ‘pet,’ any animal that you use symbols of can also be your familiar but on a more spiritual level. Animals are chosen as a familiar because of their connection with nature and innocence. They protect on many spiritual levels as well as the home and property of the witch. They become able to communicate together in dreams and during meditation.     

History of Familiars In Europe during the witch hunts familiars were thought of at demon like entities sent to do a witches bidding. It was believed that they were cats, dogs, and toads possessed by demons. Thus, during the witch hunt era many animals were hunted and slaughtered because of their connection with witches. Familiars were supposedly given to the Witches from by the Devil. It was believed that they were fed from the witches blood.

In some Scandinavian countries familiars were thought of as fearies, elves, pixies, dwarves, sprites, and elements of nature.

In shamanistic practices the familiar is in fact not a physical being rather it is a spiritual entity. It protects in the astral plane and from any psychic attacks.

In England and Scotland familiars took form of toads.

Familiar Misconceptions:

Not every witch has a familiar. In fact some are quite happy working alone. Some witches may even be allergic.

Cats are not the only animal used as a familiar.

No familiars are not possessed by demons or the devil.

Not all pets are familiars!

Types of animals to used as familiars: 

Any animal can be used as a familiar! The most common are cats (especially black) and dogs.

How you know it is your familiar and not just a pet:

It chose you.

You have a bond on a spiritual level.

You put more trust in it then anyone/anything else.

Takes an active role in your rituals.

Sits politely while you are casting being sure not to be a bother.

Loves to lounge in your magick work space.

You feel a boost of energy whenever they are near you.

Watches the window constantly watching for any unwelcome beings. 

Trails you like a shadow.

Hates to be separated from you

How to find your Familiar:

Cast a spell to bring clarity on your familiar.

Meditate on it.

Ask a form of divination about finding you familiar.

Ways to bond with your Familiar:

Provide it with a collar, halter, leash, etc that has protective crystals and herb sachets sewn into it. 

Carry a piece of a NATURALLY shed item from your familiar in a sachet or tied together with ribbon.

Provide them with the best food and housing you can afford.

Always place them before yourself.

Spend lots of time together.

Provide them with their own protection.

Speak to it.

Brush or stoke it. 

Treat them and reward them for their help.

Treat them with the kindness they deserve.

Honor them.

Provide them with an altar.

Give them offerings.

Familiar uses: 

Provide you with physical and spiritual protection.

Provide you the uttermost loyalty and respect

Benefits your emotional well being.

 Helps you connect with nature.

Enhances are physical and psychic abilities.

Protects home and property.

When to work with a Familiar:

When you want to attune with nature

Meditation

Healing magick

Dreamwork

Astral travelling 

Divination

Scrying

Spirit communication

Welcome them to join you when power is being raised and spells are cast. 

Respect a Familiar deserves:

Let it accompany you on its own accord and make sure it is willing to participate, NEVER force them to join in on a ritual. They are very sensitive to psychic power and vibrations. Treat them with kindness and the same respect you would give to a human being. Be sure to treat them as an equal and not something you own. This is very important if you want to create and maintain a connection with your familiar. Familiars are living beings and should never be treated like an athame, candle or an object for spell casting. Make sure to be cautious with the type of tools you are using during your casting with a familiar. Be cautious of candles or any toxic herbs!   

Names for familiars:

Instead of you choosing a name for them, ask them what their true name is.

References: Paganwiccan.about.com, pagancentric.org

What type of Familiar do you have?

I have a horse and a cat as my familiar! 

May the moon light your path!

☾ Moonlight Academy☽