#°˖✧❀ ❛ peace on the mountains. ┊ main verse. ❀✧˖° | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

talonabraxas · 5 months

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Address to Venus By Lucretius

Delight of Human kind, and Gods above;

Parent of Rome; Propitious Queen of Love;

Whose vital pow’r, Air, Earth, and Sea supplies;

And breeds what e’r is born beneath the rowling Skies:

For every kind, by thy prolifique might,

Springs, and beholds the Regions of the light:

Thee, Goddess thee, the clouds and tempests fear,

And at thy pleasing presence disappear:

For thee the Land in fragrant Flow’rs is drest,

For thee the Ocean smiles, and smooths her wavy breast;

And Heav’n it self with more serene, and purer light is blest.

For when the rising Spring adorns the Mead,

And a new Scene of Nature stands display’d,

When teeming Budds, and chearful greens appear,

And Western gales unlock the lazy year,

The joyous Birds thy welcome first express,

Whose native Songs thy genial fire confess:

Then savage Beasts bound o’re their slighted food,

Strook with thy darts, and tempt the raging floud:

All Nature is thy Gift; Earth, Air, and Sea:

Of all that breathes, the various progeny,

Stung with delight, is goaded on by thee.

O’er barren Mountains, o’er the flow’ry Plain,

The leavy Forest, and the liquid Main

Extends thy uncontroul’d and boundless reign.

Through all the living Regions dost thou move,

And scattr’st, where thou goest, the kindly seeds of Love:

Since then the race of every living thing,

Obeys thy pow’r; since nothing new can spring

Without thy warmth, without thy influence bear,

Or beautiful, or lovesome can appear,

Be thou my ayd: My tuneful Song inspire,

And kindle with thy own productive fire;

While all thy Province Nature, I survey,

And sing to Memmius an immortal lay

Of Heav’n, and Earth, and every where thy wond’rous pow’r display.

To Memmius, under thy sweet influence born,

Whom thou with all thy gifts and graces dost adorn.

The rather, then assist my Muse and me,

Infusing Verses worthy him and thee.

Mean time on Land and Sea let barb’rous discord cease,

And lull the listening world in universal peace.

To thee, Mankind their soft repose must owe,

For thou alone that blessing canst bestow;

Because the brutal business of the War

Is manag’d by thy dreadful Servant’s care:

Who oft retires from fighting fields, to prove

The pleasing pains of thy eternal Love:

And panting on thy breast, supinely lies,

While with thy heavenly form he feeds his famish’d eyes:

Sucks in with open lips, thy balmy breath,

By turns restor’d to life, and plung’d in pleasing death.

There while thy curling limbs about him move,

Involv’d and fetter’d in the links of Love,

When wishing all, he nothing can deny,

Thy charms in that auspicious moment try;

With winning eloquence our peace implore,

And quiet to the weary World restore.

Venus Transit Pluto Talon Abraxas

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mannbhaavnii · 9 days

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𑚞𑚮𑚣𑚭 𑚝𑚭 𑚑𑚭, 𑚝𑚭 𑚑𑚭, 𑚑𑚢𑚱 𑚤𑚲 𑚞𑚩𑚭𑚪 𑚠𑚱𑚛𑚭𑚫 𑚠𑚤𑚨 𑚤𑚩𑚮𑚣𑚭𑚫 𑚩𑚆~

“My love, don’t go, there are raindrops (bullets) falling in Jammu’s mountains.”

This is one of my very favourite sad songs. It follows the story of a soldier who is posted in Jammu. His wife is singing for him, saying that it is raining (bullets) in Jammu and asking him not to go and leave her. This is what war does. It takes away people and peace.

The metaphor behind this song is that anyone listening will image raindrops falling, when in reality it’s not water drops but firing of guns.

𑚙𑚲𑚤𑚲 𑚠𑚮𑚝𑚭 𑚊𑚲𑚚𑚯 𑚢𑚲𑚤𑚭 𑚑𑚯 𑚝𑚂𑚣𑚴 𑚥𑚌𑚛𑚭, 𑚙𑚙𑚭 𑚙𑚙𑚭 𑚝𑚯𑚤 𑚢𑚲𑚤𑚯 𑚀𑚸𑚮𑚣𑚭𑚫 𑚙𑚴 𑚦𑚌𑚛𑚭

She says, “tere bina kaithi mera jee naiyo lagda”. It strikes the heart. “Tata tata neer meri ankhiyan ton wagda”.

“My heart is restless without you, so that warm water falls down from my eyes.”

𑚙𑚲𑚤𑚲 𑚠𑚮𑚝𑚭 𑚞𑚮𑚣𑚭 𑚢𑚲𑚤𑚭 𑚩𑚴𑚤 𑚝𑚭 𑚊𑚴𑚃, 𑚀𑚢𑚭 𑚠𑚭𑚞𑚱 𑚐𑚖𑚯 𑚊𑚲 𑚢𑚳𑚫 𑚙𑚲𑚤𑚯 𑚩𑚴𑚃

In the second verse, she says, “Amma Bapu chhadi ke main teri hoi.” She’s left her parents and family for him yet he has to leave her helpless here. And I can’t help but think of thousands of such people who have to lose their loved ones to war.

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tiianwens · 4 months

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verses for shizun.

Sisheng Peak — 1.5 (main) : second lifetime, the main events of the novel including CWN’s death and rebirth up until the recovering of memories of both lifetimes.

Wushan Palace — 1.0: eight years of imprisonment as imperial consort; this verse is unlikely to be used much (unless…) since he wasn’t allowed any communication with the outside world and was unable to leave the palace.

Nanping mountain — 2.0: post canon; CWN retains his memories from both lifetimes and leaves the sect to live a rather peaceful life with his slightly split-personality husband (and his husband’s insane alter ego).

#about.

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incendiorum · 4 months

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⌜❝ 𝙸𝙸. 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙿𝙴𝙽𝚂.

there is a story, a legend, even, of a scorned child who grew into an angry, vengeful adult. the story says that the child was unloved by their parents, that the village turned a blind eye to the abuse. that the child, upon becoming an adult, was murdered by an angry man for a reason lost to time. and the story goes that in the delicate gray space between death and life, the adult was offered an ultimatum by a god - die, or become powerful.

the adult chose power. and from the grave came a serpent hundreds of feet long, pale white and blood-red. a head like an viper, claws like swords, and wings that swept long and narrow like a falcon's. that venom dripped from long fangs and fire boiled deep in its throat. in the serpent's fury, it burned the village and everyone in it to the ground. and in the mountains that once surrounded the quiet place, it made a home.

for hundreds of years there are stories and frightening tales of a dangerous dragon hiding in the mountains. often, people say, it sleeps, but sometimes it wakes and flies from its lair to lay waste to anything it can. not a single knight has successfully sought and killed it.

there are rumors, that perhaps for the very few people the dragon favors, it changes - shrinks down into a beautiful person who could pass among anyone who walks. there are signs, argue other people, sharp teeth and serpent eyes that would never belong on a normal human.

but these are all just rumors, of course. monsters aren't beautiful.

more info about the verse below the cut:

you've heard it a dozen times from me but, at their core, io is very corruptible. and venadeus is a corrupting force. the circumstances of their death in this verse, plus the promises venadeus made to them when they were trying to decide whether to be resurrected or not, has made this, by far, the worst version of io that I currently write. morally corrupt, one might say.

why? because they thrive on creating fear. io sees the path to peace as forged in violence. if they're terrifying, if they're deadly, if they burn and raze an entire kingdom to the ground and lounge in the ashes, then who really wants to fuck with them?

on top of that, io always thrives in destruction. it feels good to them. they're bitter, they're aggressive, and people matter so little to them that they don't find burning things to the ground a waste. no matter who occupies those places.

and, frankly, venadeus turned them into a living, breathing war machine and then let them loose on a world that scorned them. a god of violence is sure to pass it on to his children in every way he possibly can.

io in this verse also has complete control over how human or how draconic they want to look. it's fine-tuned and fluid. but there are three 'main' forms they favor:

that of a person. the only things that may give them away is the central orange hue in an otherwise gray gaze, and the pale scales that dot their body, often hidden beneath clothes. sharp canines are present, but they are certainly blunter than what appears in their intermediate form. while this a perfect form for mingling among humanity, io finds it incredibly uncomfortable and restrictive.

that of a dragon. several hundred feet in length. sinuous and lithe. they have four limbs, two falcon-like wings, and the head and neck of a horned viper. mostly pale white and gray in color, but the undersides of their wings are blood-red. a comfortable form. they default to this one quite often.

and finally, a form somewhere in the middle. human, vastly... kind of. more scales cover parts of their body, interlocking patterns on their arms, legs, hip and collarbones. the horns present in their full dragon form are also present here, sweeping out from under their hair. their wings are also present, hanging heavy from their back. canines are longer and sharper. the lurid central orange in their eyes is brighter and more obvious. this is a comfortable form. and one they show more often to people they trust and like.

#⌜❝ 𝙸𝙸. i’m the world ender & i’m back from the grave. ⟩⟩#𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙿𝙴𝙽𝚂 𝙰𝙱𝙾𝚄𝚃. this little beast was nature’s own error. grew like a tree; born to spread terror. ❞ ⌟#i just think dragon io has doom music running in their head like 24/7 u know #NOT to say they can't love and be soft because they CAN #imo the best kind of villains can #they just. also want to burn a lot of shit to the ground. u know.#normal stuff

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west1rosi · 7 months

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NEW HIGHLIGHTED MUSES PART TWO:

Lady Myrmadora Haen of Lys - Semi Canon. Myrmadora is the daughter of a Lysani Magister and her father's ambassador during her stay in Westeros. She is known for her rather scandalous clothes and open opinions about the Faith of the Seven. Like most Lysani Houses, she is descendant of the Valyrians who used Lys as a vacation location and speaks High Valyrian. Myrmadora has two verses, one during the dance and another during the main storyline. During the dance, Myrmadora remains impartial during the dance, although she prefers a woman in power. During the main storyline, Myrmadora is in Lys when Daenerys Targaryen begins to release the free cities.

Daemon Sand - Canon. The Bastard of Godsgrace. Damon is a knight and one of Dorne's finest swords. Close in age to Princess Arianne, he asked Doran for her hand but was rejected by the ruling Prince. Daemon was part of the entourage that accompanied Prince Oberyn Martell to King's Landing to take his seat in the Council. He assisted Oberyn during the combat with The Mountain. He has pledged himself to Arianne as one of her knights and worked during the Queenmaker Conspiracy to place Myrcella on the throne.

Ellyna Reyne - OC. Surviving daughter of House Reyne, her mother died in childbirth while in hiding up North with her family, the Cassels. Ellyna has always passed as part of the Cassel household and when the war broke through, she has been gathering support for her to reclaim her family's ancestral home. Due to her similar struggles, Ellyna is in favor of Daenerys Targaryen reclaiming the throne and she pledges her alliance to the North when they claim their independence.

Wylla Manderly - Canon. Is the second daughter of Ser Wylis Manderly and Leona Woolfield. As part of the terms of White Harbor being pardoned and returning to the king's peace of Tommen I Baratheon, Wylla is betrothed to Little Walder Frey, a squire of Ramsay Bolton. Wylla goes on to tell of the promises of loyalty House Manderly made to House Stark when they were exiled from the Reach centuries ago. Finally, her mother, Lady Leona, has to drag her from the hall.After faking the execution of Davos and releasing him from imprisonment in the Wolf's Den, the scheming Wyman reveals his true feelings about the Freys and calls Wylla brave.

Marlon Manderly - Canon. Marlon Manderly is a knight of House Manderly and cousin to the head of the house, Lord Wyman Manderly. He is the commander of the garrison at the New Castle in White Harbor. The frank Ser Marlon can be haughty and disdainful. His helm is modeled after the head of the Merling King, having a crown of mother-of-pearl and a beard of jet and jade. Marlon escorts Lord Davos Seaworth, an envoy of Stannis Baratheon, to the Merman's Court in the New Castle. Standing by the right hand of Lord Wyman Manderly, Marlon curtly questions Davos about Stannis's prospects. Wyman publicly orders his cousin to have Davos taken to the Wolf's Den and executed. The Manderlys secretly spare Davos, however.

Asher Forrester. Video Game Canon. Adapted to the show. The secondborn son of Lord Gregor Forrester and Lady Elissa Forrester. Much quicker to anger than his older brother, Asher's relationship with his father became strained and one too many mistakes resulted in his exile. His uncle, Malcolm, tracks him down in Yunkai and persuades him that House Forrester and Ironrath need him to assure their survival. He tries to father support from Daenerys Targaryen, even aiding at the release of Yunkai and Mereen but eventually sails home to get his family back and reclaim his ancestral home. Once up Norther, Asher is a supporter of Jon Snow and is among the lords proclaiming him King in the North.

#⸻ . ✷ ❛ artworks ❜ 〉mutuals can interact .#⸻ . ✷ ❛ out of character ❜ 〉the dead are coming .

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obscurecharactershowdown · 11 months

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Group E Round 2

[image ID: the first image is of Zinn, a creature made of a mass of dark tendrils and many eyes. the second image is of Leonie Beaumort, an anthropomorphic large cat resembling a mountain lion. she's wearing an 18th century dress with a pistol attached to her belt. end ID]

Zinn

(Note: The author mostly uses it/its pronouns to refer to Zinn but have used 'he' and 'they' a couple times.) Zinn is a creature called a Monstrum who is a type of alien from a world made out of light. Due to unknown circumstances their universe was breeched by enemies who devoured their peaceful existence. In turn, the Monstrum were exiled and stripped of their forms. Somehow, Zinn ended up in a Steampunk adjacent world and came to be lovers with a powerful human women called the Shaman Empress. Their relationship, while described as tender, may have been one sided. Zinn loved her dearly, only referring to her as "The Beloved' but it is implied that she used it for her own deeds/gaining knowledge and power. Monstrum drain energy from anything they touch so they are incompatible with the mortal realm. Zinn inhabits the Shaman Empress's bloodline and is passed down through generations to minimize(?) damages. Eventually Zinn gets passed down to the main character who. in simple terms, as not to get sidetracked, is a Girlboss, capital G. She is a descendant of the Shaman Empress, technically making them blood family. Which is kind of hillarious. Imagine this tentacle creature being like "Hello. Yes I am your great-grandfather. Let us kill and consume flesh". They pick up a rag tack bunch of other characters( not limited to a necromancer cat, a psychic kitsune child, a brooding guy with crow wings, gay furry tiger pirates) and they are so found family… image link Zinn, despite not being too well-versed in human culture cares for them all the same. It has so many funny interactions with the cast, particularly the Kitsune girl, Kippa (as it does not understand her cheerful and positive attitude). Examples: -https://64.media.tumblr.com/ab33f45b9506033cdec6a6a2a9d55655/baa027673994792a-2d/s1280x1920/fb57ea6a550181e49d588a60473f050fac30300d.pnj -https://64.media.tumblr.com/41f0c01fa1e8c4e9e7dda5bcb589f24d/38ba370cd51ca323-59/s1280x1920/c96e0a11d0c0ab8b92b14cbebccd276c0e2c3c8a.jpg -https://64.media.tumblr.com/4cc511e4b365359842c0a9825dc416d5/e4f6cb4faa1aa13d-8e/s1280x1920/9f0ca9abdb590fdaca5c7a93e230a79bfe32fd2d.jpg -https://64.media.tumblr.com/c32edb01ada4ebf159bbb70b5a00c36c/3bca30f2ba708ae4-c3/s1280x1920/6f04c20b2fe1e47c0898b513e71772f99581ea13.jpg Zinn also has that tragic sibling swag, accidentally killing its sibling. It has so much trauma, but for a space-alien-god is very withdrawn and weary of the world. Although it tends to act cryptic and not reveal too much. It seems like it used to be elitist but with time has come to appreciate the mortal world although it would never admit it outloud. ANYWAY. VOTE FOR THIS PATHETIC HORROR OF GUY. Monsterfuckers and monsterfriends assemble! (and go read Monstress! There are many queer characters and the lead is sapphic! also cool monsters, cool worldbuilding, and real world cultural references) TLDR: Its an eldritch god who misses its dead wife :( / There is something very wrong with them (affectionate)

Leonie Beaumort

Beaumort is one cool cat! Struggling with an impoverished pre-revolution French life, she conspires to get revenge upon the officer who got her father killed. She takes no shit, even from her co-conspirators, and even ends up causing the French revolution in one ending. You don't get much more girlboss than that!

#obscurecharactershowdown #group e round 2 #obscure poll #zinn monstress #monstress #leonie beaumort #aviary attorney

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ednaeflowers · 2 months

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@lunarnoire

❛ all that purple and black is lame. is your father some gothic loser? endy-goth-mion. ❜

#lunarnoire #°˖✧❀ ❛ peace on the mountains. ┊ main verse. ❀✧˖°#>:) let the rise of endy-goth-mion be the start of a new era #e.ndymion who ? i only know endy-goth-mion. he is MY king.

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bedazzlingevagiatti · 11 months

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A History of Milhona (Eva and Mari’s Fantasy Verse)

ooc: I’m still forming this verse and the google doc based around this universe. I used a Fantasy Name Generator for most things here because I had writers block and liked what I wrote honestly. So it’s staying. I’m no fantasy expert, this is me winging it. Trigger warnings for a brief mention of past wars I haven’t exactly fleshed out yet.

Places

Milhona

is a vacation town in Aquareon. It is surrounded by hot springs/warm sands and a mountain range. The hot springs along with the taverns are the towns main income. It’s a hub for travelers heading in and out of Aqueareron.The town was used as a transport and a fort for soldiers during war. Most of it’s battle scars are long gone. The surrounding forest is a hub for some alchemists.

Lavender Oak Tavern and Inn

Aquareon

The tavern that Kymil Olomenorl owns. The Elf purchased and refurbished it after the last big war occurred and helped revive Milhoma, which was in shambles. Lavender Oak was associated with the hospital Kymil used to work at being a healer. The taven itself is rather rustic, old timey, with a small garden lining the cobbelstone walkways. There is seating outback enclosed by a brick fence lined with fairy lights. All of the bedrooms are located on the second floor, ranging from cheap to price. There’s a small kitchen and bar staff, a long with a steady flow of live music.

The country that Milhona is set in. It ranges from rural countryside to busy cities, to beach towns and sea ports. It has four seasons {frostwane, icecall, greenbirth, and warmcrest) followed by festivals marking the start of each new season. The country saw bloody battles in the past due to it’s resources, but they’ve since moved on from all that. The northern part of the country is cold, ranging from light spring temperatures to all year-round frozen tundras. The middle of the country is average to warm temperatures. The south is warm and tropical with a rainy season.

Tobedonite Village

A Village supported by the mine not far from Milhoma. Kymil’s friend and a famed blacksmith reside here. The mine is run by Dorian Southstone one of the Mining Company Families.

Pearlhorn Port

A major sea port in the south.

Mining Companies

Titan Hill - Northwest Tundra

Kalelian - Northeastern Tundra

Southstone - Midwest and southern territories

Boulderfield - Western Coastal Territories

People

Kymil Olomenorl - (they/them) Owner of Lavender Oak Tavern and Inn formerly a healer in the Royal Army, served his time, retired, and lived a quiet life. Kymil is haunted by what they saw on the battlefield and dislikes talking about it. The former healer heavily relies on potions to keep the memories away. Despite this, they are usually cheerful, constantly making others laugh, even taking part in the occasional prank. Kymil (and the few associates still alive) are Eva’s guide to Milmhona and most of Aqueareron. Kymil and the Olomernol clan were heavily sought after during the wars. Their healing abilities include raising moral and essentially putting a bandage over the horrific realities of war for a period of time. Leaving those feelings invincible and rejuvenated.

Rolim Olorie - (Yhri) Elder Elf that runs the Apocatheory/Potion shop and teaches lessons for intermediate and advanced levels. Yhir is willing to teach beginners but does not have patience. Yhir is quick to judge and deem who is worthy and who isn’t. Yhri helped start the Mages College, survived the wars of Milhona’s past, and like Kymil, Rolim wishes to live out a quiet life.

Lysanthir Wynfir - (they/them, She/her) A femme presenting Elf, takes no nonsense but enjoys casual banter with Kymil. Frequents Lavender Oak for this purpose and the food. They help keep the peace in Aqueareon after surviving the blood feuds and wars. Lysanthir met Kymil when they were wounded and brought to Milmhona during battle.

Seasons

Frostwane:

Akin to human winter. Temperatures drop in the normally warm and average climates. Snowfall can be experienced around certain areas. The normally tropical climates see more rain and sometimes ice storms.

Icecall:

Occurs right before winter something of a mixture of fall and summer temperatures almost all over the country. More of a cloudy time. It signals the end of farming season. Desert/Dry areas see moderate temperatures. Forest areas experience certain foliage that change colors. Mountain ranges see light snowfall. Tropical areas drop in temperatures. This is the end of severe storm season as well.

Greenbirth:

No snow or ice during this time. Thunderstorms are more frequent along with other severe storms. It's the rainy season in the desert areas. Festivals and other events fall during this time. Usually a time for weddings. Tourism booms as well. Eva visits Lavender Oak Tavern during this time.

Warmcrest:

The warmest time of the year. Desert areas are at hottest temperatures with little rain or cloud coverage. Tropical areas range from hot and humid to hot and arid. The forest areas are humid and rainy to sunny and muggy.

#||fantasy verse headcanon||#||milhona headcanon||#||aquareon headcanon||

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troytiwari · 2 years

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Govardhan Puja (or Annakut Pooja) is celebrated across Bharat (India) and Nepal (which was part of Bharat in ancient times) in commemoration of one of the great leelas of Lord Krishna in his child form. Then, what is the significance and what does it symbolise actually? Let’s have an indepth delving into the whole episode.

2. In retrospect: Govardhan Pooja is performed on the fourth day of Diwali by worshipping the heap of grains which symbolically marks the Govardhan Mountain. In ancient times, it was customary in the Gokulam to perform Yagnas in honour of Lord Indra with whose Grace there were seasonal rainfall due to which the crops yielded good harvest and the people were living in peace and prosperity. Lord Indra became egoistic as he thought that because of him, all the activities are being carried out promptly and regularly. The Lord incarnate thought for a while that unless and until the ego that has sprouted is extirpated, this will cause irreparable damage to the celestials. Usually, one may wonder why even in the celestial world, the ego is prevalent. It is usually not the case; but sometimes, this may give rise to such contretemps.

3. Then, how did Bal Krishna act? As Nandagopa was the Chieftain of Yadava clan, all the elders in Gokul assembled at his Palace for a threadbare discussion on the arrangements that should be put in place. Albeit a child, Krishna, in his anxiety, also was present and wanted to know as to what the important issue they are discussing. As if an ignoramus would question, the omniscient Lord eagerly asked his father as to why this Yajna is being performed and the purpose sought to be achieved therefrom. To this query, Nandagopa addressed his son like this, “Oh: Dear Child, Lord Indra has been made the chieftain of the clouds and at his behest only, we are receiving timely rains and to requite our indebtedness, we’re performing this ritual every year”. Lord Krishna thought for a while and addressed his Father like this, -

Oh! Dear Father, What you say is correct. I agree that Lord Vishnu (Narayana) has made Indra to perform the activities as you’ve narrated. But, why? Think it for a while. Lord Narayana is fond of Brahmins who always tread the path of righteousness (dharmic path) and also the animals especially the cows, etc. Hence, it would be a befitting tribute if we invite the learned pandits and perform Yagnas for the Lord Vishnu. Another factor that should not be lost sight of is to feed the cows to their stomach full. As the forests, trees and the rivers, etc. are the main sources of this, it would behoove us to convey our indebtedness by offering worship to the King of Mountains, forests and the Rivers. When the Child Krishna utters a suggestion, there would be no second word or objection. Hence, it was unanimously decided to act on the suggestion of little Krishna.

4. Was it carried out and the ramifications: Yes. The denizens of Gokul accordingly invited the Learned Brahmins who were well versed in Vedas, got the Yagnas performed, went to the nearby forests and the Rivers and offered their obeisance to them. Finally, they went to the Govardhan Gri (Mountain), offered their worship and returned back to their homes. Krishna then assumed the form of a mountain himself and accepted the villagers' offerings

5. Did that become the finality? No. When Indra saw all that was happening before his eyes, he called for the Clouds (Indra is also called under the sobriquet “Meghraj’] and Lo! there was thunderstorm throughout Gokul and with the alarming proportion of torrential downpour which was never witnessed earlier, the residents of Gokul immediately rushed to Krishna crying out for his succour. Even the cows and their calves were running hither and thither. Little Krishna was cool and composed and advised all the people and their cattle to come to the foothills of the Mountain, Govardhan Giri. The Lord assumed Vrat Roopa without the knowledge of the Yadava clan, who were none other than the incarnations of the celestials, and with no effort, lifted the entire heavy mountain by his little finger of the left hand and held it continuously throughout the days and nights for a week. All the denizens took shelter under its umbrage and there was plenty of food available to them which sustained them without any difficulty.

There was, in fact, terrific thunderstorms accompanied with gale and gusty winds. Due to the structure of Govardhan mountain, there was not even a single drop of rain inside and the water gushed out through the outlets on the mountains. As the Little Krishna was holding tirelessly the mountain for a week, people inside it were not feeling any discomfort and were, indeed, happy and comfortable. See the Lord’s unfathomable compassion!

When the clouds got depleted, the rain stopped instantaneously. The Gokul denizens were very ecstatic and surrounded Little Krishna and showered eulogies on the Lord. Nandagopa was also extremely overwhelmed with joy, now revealed the secret of the Sacred Lord He addressed them and informed them that when the Sage Garg who came for naming ceremony both Lord Krishna and Balaram revealed the secret of incarnation of the Lord. Really they were blessed. Now, Indra realised his folly and even if there were incessant rains for about a year, he cannot succeed in his mission. Wisdom dawned on him.

Now, it was the turn of Lord Indra who was counselled by Lord Brahma, the Creator to approach the Lord and seek his pardon. Indra along with Kamadhenu, the Celestial Cow, proceeded directly to the banks of the Holy Yamuna (Jamuna in North India) River and fell flatly at the lotus feet of the Lord and sought his forgiveness. The all-knowing Lord told Indra that due to the sprouting of ego which will, if not nipped in the bud, may ultimately lead to his downfall, he had to intervene and make him realise his folly; but the moment the ego was rooted out, he has become dear to the Lord.

Indra now wanted to make amends for his action and, therefore, made a supplication to the Lord that He should accept the title of “Lord of the Lords” (Devathi Deva). Krishna, with an inscrutable smile, now told Indra that if at all he wanted the title, let it be so; but, he never aspired for that. Indra, having been immensely pleased, now milked the teats of Milch Cow, Kamadhenu and along with the waters from various holy Rivers bathed the Lord with the same when there was a great assemblage of Kinnaras, Saaranaas and Gandharvas. There was a beautiful mellifluous musical concert by the Vidyadharas. Indra paid rich encomia on the Lord with the names of Govinda, Madhava, Narayana and Krishna. Thereafter, with a satisfied heart, Indra returned to his Amaravathi. Lord Krishna with Balarama returned to Ayarpadi.

Do you know? Even the Creator, Lord Brahma, was no exception to the leelas of Lord Vishnu. Once it so happened that Brahma, through his Maya, hid all the cows and cattle in a very gargantuan cave in the forest where they were grazing. The colleagues and the cowherd yadava boys were playing in the sand dune and when time was ripe for driving them home, one of them went in search of the cattle; but in vain. He promptly reported to Little Krishna who went in search of them but returned empty handed. To his astonishment, even his friends had vanished. For a moment, he thought that this act is not of human nature; but of divine celestial. He, in a trice, came to know that this is Lord Brahma’s mischief. He never went to him; but on the contrary, created through his Maya the same cattle – both cows and calves as well as cowherd colleagues. Everyone went home and this continued for about a year. No one noticed the difference nor were they worried about the missing cows or their sons as they were now with them through the illusion of Little Krishna.

When a year was drawing to a close, Brahma wanted to know what was going on in Gokul. To his amazement, he could not believe his own eyes. Everything was as usual and there were cows and calves. He immediately rushed to the cave where he hid the boys and the cattle. Everything was in tact. He rushed to Gokul and fell at the Lotus Feet of the Lord and addressed him thus, :Oh! Lord! When I was created through your navel cord, I could not see you. Now, I realise that you are the Supreme Lord and I have committed a blunder by hiding your cattle and companions. Oh! It’s my folly! Please forgive me.: So saying, he handed over the cattle and his companions. The cowherd boys were unaware that they were in the cave for about a year. Little Krishna made his Maya disappear and also forgave the Creator.

Okay Well explained. Now, I have a lingering doubt. Why is it called Annakut Pooja? Please listen. I’ll explain now.

Devotees prepare varieties of foodstuffs with grain and ghee and all kinds of milk preparations. The food is stacked like a small hill and offered to the Lord. Then it is distributed to everyone as prasadam. Hence, this festival is also called the Annakut Festival.

Annakut is celebrated on the fourth day of Diwali. Therefore, the rituals surrounding Annakut are closely linked with the rituals of the five days of Diwali. While the first three days of Diwali are days of prayer to sanctify wealth and invite greater wealth into the devotee's life, the annakut day is a day of offering gratitude for Krishna beneficence

Is the Govardhan Puja part of Annakut festival?

Govardhan Puja is a principal ritual performed during Annakut. Although some texts treat Govardhan Puja and Annakut as synonymous, the Govardhan Puja is one segment of the day-long Annakut festival.

Krishna spent most of his childhood in Braj, a place devotees associate with many of Krishna's divine and heroic exploits with his childhood friends. One of the most significant incidents, described in the Bhagavata involves Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan (Govardhan Hill), a low hill situated in the middle of Braj Govardhan has since become a major pilgrimage site in Braj for devotees of Krishna. On the day of Annakut, devotees circumambulate the hill and offer food to the mountain—one of the oldest rituals in Braj. The circumambulation consists of an eleven-mile trek dotted along the way with several shrines, before which devotees place flowers and other offerings.

Families create an image of Giriraj Govardhan (the mountain) from cow dung, adorning it with miniature cow figures as well as grass as twigs, representing trees and greenery. In the days leading up to Annakut, fifty-six food items (chappan bhog) are typically prepared and offered in the evening. Someone from a cow-herding caste officiates the ritual, circling the hill with a cow and a bull, followed by families in the village. They partake in the sanctified food after offering the food to the hill. The festival often draws a large crowd, including the Chaube Brahmins of Mathura.

Krishna holding the Govardhan, a historic legend is depicted in many major Hindu temples complexes. This panel is from the Hoysaleswara temple, Halebidu Karnataka (c. 1150 CE). The stone block was carved to show the Krishna legend, and Indra behind it.

Several thousand years later, on this same day, Srila Madhavendra Puri established a temple for the self-manifest Gopala Deity on top of Govardhan Hill.

Shubh Govardhan Puja 🙏🏻 Shubh Nava Saal🙏🏻✨

#govardhan #krishna #vrindavan #mathura #annakoot #new year #lordvishnu #bhagvadgita #lord krishna

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lilyellowsongbird · 1 year

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Song Of The Day - Feb 20th '23

The Shrine/An Argument - Fleet Foxes

Those who know me define me by my love of two bands: Florence + The Machine and Fleet Foxes. One of those bands inevitably ends up as my top artist of the year. Usually, it's FATM, but Fleet Foxes is always a close second. To me, Robin Pecknold is just as mythic a figure as Jack White or Janis Joplin. Ever since I found them, I have been listening to them daily. I like refer to bands and albums in my own personal opinion, as I don't believe in ranking things. However, this is an object statement and I will scream it from mountaintops if I must: Helplessness Blues is one of the greatest albums of the twenty first century, if not of all time. It's an album I think everyone who is lost in this world should listen to, all you wanderers and college kids out there. Whenever I have to list my favorite albums, Helplessness is always near the top. It was one of the first albums I bought on vinyl. It has gotten me through years of mental health issues. There is always some comfort to be found in it. To me, one of the most defining tracks of the album is The Shrine/An Argument. It truly speaks to both the musical and lyrical prowess of Robin Pecknold.

The Shrine/An Argument can be divided into three separate movements. The Shrine, the opening portion of the song, is a philosophical description of a shrine. Robin sings about the hidden history of the shrine, the beauty ingrained in the structure. The intricacies of Robin's compositions aren't as evident in this section, but his lyrics stand out. This portion, though melancholic, is peaceful. The gentle, quick finger picking contrasts Robin's smooth vocals, which rise and fall like waves. Then we move into An Argument. Finger picking becomes harsh guitar strumming and pounding drums. The emotions in the lyrics come out in the instrumentals. They are powerful, reaching into you and forcing primal movements. Just as the title suggests, this section tells of an argument and the aftermath. Those moments of heartache when you're desperate for some relief. My favorite line in the whole song comes from this section: "In the ocean washing off my name from your throat". It's just so visceral, the imagery, the choice of words. In live versions Robin adds an extra verse, my personal favorite. The juxtaposition from this section to the final section is jarring. We go from loud, rushing water to still, soft reflection. The instrumental is just as simple as Robin's vocals. The song ends with a strange, chaotic woodwind section. Personally, I think it's a perfect ending to the strange, chaotic song.

I was lucky enough to see Fleet Foxes last summer. I went with my friend Kate to see them at the Caverns, a venue in TN. It was gorgeous. Settled in the mountains, surrounded by forest. We talked to some random dudes in the merch line. Heavy, dark storm clouds blew over us, just barely missing us. We caught the tail end of the storm and were covered in a gentle dusting of rain. Robin came out himself to announce delays, but promised that we would not miss out because of the rain. They had a day off the next day, so they would stay and play a few more songs. It was everything I wanted from a Fleet Foxes concert. A perfect venue, a perfect night. During the break between the main act and the encore, Robin came out and took requests. During the encore, they played The Shrine/An Argument. They played the extra verse that I love so much. It was one of my favorite memories during that summer, my summer of healing.

Listen to the song here:

youtube

My favorite live version: Live at Haldern Pop 2011

#music #opinion #nonfiction #folk #2000s folk #folk music #fleet foxes #the shrine/an argument #song of the day #Youtube

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mochiflxwer · 2 years

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what's dragon age

AHAHA....HAHAHAHHAHA....AHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHA

so I'm not well versed in all three of the games that are out right now since i havent played through the other two besides inquisition yet so my explanation will be based on what i know through that game and just gen knowledge BUTTT

the dragon age series is a fantasy RPG made by bioware (they made mass effect and like a million star wars games) and each game is set at different times, each going in choronological order, which is IMPORTANT!! because the dragon age franchise has a feature called "tapestries" which are something seperate to the games where you choose all the choices you made from your playthrough in the games, and these choices once exported will actually EFFECT the next game in the series which is really fucking cool

the games are set in a world called Thedas, and there are four main races of people which are dwarves, elves, humans, and qunari. you can play as three different class types: warrior, mage, and rogue, which all let you specialize in their own skilltrees with perks that you slowly gain over time by doing quests around thedas (in inquisition at least, this is all very classic rpg game stuff)

the world of thedas is VERY written out and developed, with almost every character you find having their own story and opinions on everything around them. there are a few main groups of people in these games: the mages, the templars, the chantry, the qun, the dalish, as well as different districts of people based on race. theres also the Circle, the Divine, etc. theres a LOT!!! And as you wander through the games you can unlock a lot of books , journal entries, notes, etc. that let you learn EVEN more about the world around you. There are also several books that go into HEAVY detail about specific and non-specific characters, regions, foods, wildlife, etc. (i happen to own two :]) there are also story-specific novels based around certain characters.

the most recent game, inquisition, has you set in the Frostback Mountains in Haven, where you have been captured as a prisoner after being caught at the scene of the murder of the Divine, who was killed by an unknown evil creature. You awaken in the prison with a bright green mark on your hand, which you find out can seal "rifts", tears between the living world and what is known as The Fade. You then go on a journey of rebuilding what is known as "The Inquisition", a group of people to bring peace to Thedas if something were to happen to The Divine. You learn about your past, make new companions, fight against demons and deal with the rising fear and lashings out of both sides of a mage versus templar war.

The games each are about 30-40 dollars roughly with DLCs included, which i personally believe are ESSENTIAL to playthroughs of these games as they are packed to the brim with lore as well as amazing cosmetics like armor.

allow me to find gifs of all my favorite characters from inquisition

THIS IS COLE. THE BLORBO. THE BABYGIRL. YOU KNOW HIM. YOU WILL LOVE HIM. YOU HAVE NO CHOICE.

this is The Iron Bull everyone loves him you will too it's just a thing everyone agrees on

this is The Iron Bull's little boyfriend Dorian he's an asshole but everyone likes him as well and he's fun

this is sera shes funny and silly and annoys everyone

this is cullen hes severely traumatized and is scared of love

this is. solas. anyways

THIS IS JOSEPHINE !!! YIPPEEE !!! EVERYONE CHEER !!!

this is cassandra men fear her everyone else wants her

this is leliana i lov eher shes so lovely

this is morrigan everyone agrees shes hot and mean

this is varric hES so special and fun hes an author of smut books cassandra reads all of them

thats everone i think im very passionate about this

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azgedaspy · 2 years

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VERSES BASED IN CANON

main verse: follows seasons one through five with a few embellishments. information revealed in later seasons, six through seven, does not apply. each season is one month long with a three month time jump between seasons two and three and a six year time jump between seasons four and five.

azencova: pre-series through season four.

space: the six year time jump between season four and season five.

five: season five; echo’s loyalty has evolved to include spacekru and their loved ones as well as azgeda/wonkru.

eden: canon divergent. clarke shoots mccreary and the missiles never launch. earth survives. wonkru and eligius share the valley under a fragile peace. echo and her family take eighty acres on the eastern edge of the valley. all is well... until a small, foreign expedition team shows up at the edge of the valley. who are they? where did they come from? and most importantly, what do they want?

alternate universes: divergencies from my main verse and canon

skaikru: echo was born in space and raised on mecha station. she served as a guard on the ark and continues to serve in arkadia. she was in the same cadet class as bellamy. delinquent: echo was born in space and was sent to the ground with the rest of the hundred. simulation: everything from canon was a simulation and skaikru echo wakes up on the ark.

the last of the human race: takes place after the battle at mount weather. version one: also known as “civil war au.” azgeda allies with skairkur and prepares to dethrone commander lexa. version two: commander lexa does not abandon skaikru in 215 and instead the arkers and the coalition take down the mountain together as planned.

time jump: any verse where echo is not in space during the six year gap between seasons four and five. bunker: echo lives in the second dawn bunker for six years. azgeda bunker: echo lives in the renovated alpha station bunker with 50 members of azgeda and 50 members of skaikru. the bunker was never damaged in 402. valley: echo lives in the valley/eden/louwoda kliron during the six year gap.

post-season five: verses that take place after the season five finale other than the eden verse. ark two: after mccreary’s missiles blow up the valley, the human race returns to space. some decide to take the eligius ship and search for a new planet while others return home to the go-sci ring. book two: alternate versions of season six and season seven. rarely used.

VERSES NOT BASED IN CANON

modern: her biological family died in a house fire and subsequently put into the foster system. in verses where she was adopted by nia, she becomes a lawyer who loves photography. in verses where she was not, she becomes an army soldier.

band: echo is a bassist in a band and also sings backup vocals.

werewolf: echo is a foster kid who ends up triggering her, unknown to her, werewolf curse. azgeda pack: echo joined nia's pack and serves her faithfully. based on tvdu lore.

hunger games: echo is a district two victor who now mentors new tributes. the hundred games: echo and all the other characters are placed in the universe instead of the original characters.

walking dead: to be announced.

dark angel: echo is one of the x5 series. her primary function is as a spy/assassin and she partakes in seduce and destroy missions when necessary. her identification number is x5-507 (subject to change). she escapes manticore during the 2019 fire.

#save.#verse.#001. headcanon ‚ she’s beyond your archetype.#002. azencova ‚ does she know that we bleed the same ?#002. space ‚ i found love where it wasn’t supposed to be.#002. main ‚ i have pasts inside me i did not bury properly.#002. eden ‚ the farmers will save the world.#002. delinquent ‚ your crimes have made you expendable.#002. season three divergent ‚ we are the last of the human race !#002. bunker ‚ death is the only enemy.#002. ark two ‚ a strange game : the only winning move is not to play.

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isorawrites · 21 days

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SACRED POSSESSION

“My sister and I, you will recollect, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two souls which are so closely allied.” — Arthur Conan Doyle | The Adventure of the Speckled Band (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)

SERIES: [ FFXIV: Chronogenesis » Tales of the Unknown ]

LINKS: [ Tumblr | AO3 | Ko-fi ]

STATUS: Complete (1 chapter—2 parts).

VERSE: 7th Astral Era—A Realm Reborn.

GENRES: Short Story, Family, Slice of Life.

SHIPS: Sora/Yiuno (implied), Yiuno & Yiuna.

MUSES: Sora Amariyo, Yiuno & Yiuna Reine.

WARNING ― crossdressing.

Sora Amariyo swept a stray strand of hair off her forehead as the chocobo carriage trotted through the woods of the Black Shroud. The wind against her pale face became colder as they continued their way to the Coerthas Central Highlands, where winter prevailed its terrain all year long. Seeing that this would be a long journey ahead, Sora turned to her other traveling companion, a Veena Viera by the name of Yiuno Reine.

Those who had heard of his name often described him as an enigmatic wanderer of the realm, a man of mystery who walked along the fine boundary of light and darkness. Though he’d been Sora’s guardian and protector for as long as the young Xaela could remember, no one knew why he willingly took Sora under his wing, given his notorious reputation of coming and going like the wind, leaving naught behind—like a ghost of the forgotten past.

Yiuno didn’t like being the center of attraction, and his dress sense clearly reflected that desire—of monochromic colors and minimalistic design. However, one thing that stood out from his seemingly mundane glamours was the leather-bound emerald necklace around his neck. While it’d appear worthless in the eyes of any jewelers and treasure hunters, Sora could tell that the accessory meant a lot to Yiuno; he often kept it close to him, and his normally sharp gaze would soften with fondness whenever he touched the crystal.

“A gift from someone dear to you? You’re always wearing that, even if it clashes with some of your disguises,” Sora spoke as she watched Yiuno fiddling with the green crystal.

“From Yiuna, my older twin sister,” the male Veena replied, looking up at Sora’s hard gaze with mild amusement. “Perhaps it’s a story I can humor you with until we reach our destination…”

Amongst the treacherous mountains and steep ridges, a small village existed in the heart of the valley. Shrouded in rolling clouds of icy mists and the shadows of uneven summits, this little settlement was undiscovered for eons, its people living in secluded peace far away from the chaos of the commonfolk. The villagers were a sight to behold: fair like the snow capes, graceful like the spring breeze, with their main characteristic being a pair of long, hare-like ears perched on top of their fluffy hair. Called ‘Veena Viera’ by the scholars of the outside world, little was known about their kind, for most curious souls who dared to venture into their territory never lived to see the next sunrise.

Similar to their sister clan, the Rava Viera, they followed a matriarchal structure to maintain order within their small community. Females stayed in the village and acted as the central pillar, just like the monarchies of the outside cities who focused on the politics within the walls. As for the males, they were stationed outside of the settlement as hunters and protectors, braving the dangerous mountains and harsh climate to keep their village safe from external threats. Both genders lived separate lives until the mating season; once every year, a representative or two would drop by to collect children who were assigned male after they had come out of their puberty, then they’d train them to be battle-ready to replenish their ranks. While the strict code and solitude lifestyle had ensured their continuous survival in peace, it wasn’t a sentiment shared by all.

In particular, two adolescents who often sneaked out of the village on every full moon, seemingly in search of something. One of them could be found standing under a birch tree; she wore the standard chest-wrap with armored lingerie covered with a translucent veil down the middle. However, she was fidgeting with her breastplate from time to time, clearly uncomfortable with the clothes she was wearing. She shivered a little as a cold draft blew through the valley, then she flattened the veil and tried to tuck the hem between her legs, a deep shade of pink coloring her pale cheeks under the glow of the full moon above her head.

Her meekness quickly dispersed when her long ears picked up a shuffling sound not far from her location; she drew out a dagger from the scabbard around her ankle, all poised in a battle stance. “Who’s there?” Contrary to her soft and alluring outward appearance, her voice was harsh and hoarse—she sounded rather masculine.

“It’s just me, silly.” A figure emerged from the bushes and brisked towards the anxious Veena. Once she stepped out of the shadow into the moonlight, she had a near-identical face as the former, wearing the same set of harness, with the only distinguishing feature being an extra braid running down the right side of her head. “Be careful not to speak aloud within the village grounds, lest someone else heard you and you’d be whisked away in a jiffy.” Although she was still smiling, there was a hint of sadness in her voice.

“I know,” the twin with a deeper voice sighed, sheathing her dagger before straightening up to face her sister. “But the elders are getting suspicious. They have been staring hard at my chest for the past few days and voiced dissatisfaction at my ‘stunned’ growth.”

“I’m sorry that I’m putting you through all this, [Yiuno], but… I can’t bear to lose you. You’re the only family I have. My precious little brother.”

Yiuno pulled her—his—twin closer into a hug. “You’re my one and only big sister, [Yiuna], as troublesome as you are. So, did you find what you’ve been looking for?”

“Yes,” Yiuna breathed, then she stepped back to pull out something from her pouch. “Give me your hand.” She placed an emerald shard in her brother’s palm. “With this, you can speak freely in the village.”

“A wind-aspected crystal?” Yiuno asked, raising the fragment to see it better in the light of the full moon. He could see the glow pulsating within the shard, almost like it was alive with some kind of power. “I’m amazed that you actually found one. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Oh, you’re such a worrywart for me, every single time,” Yiuna cooed with a chuckle. “You should worry about yourself first, and more.” She pulled off her hair ribbon and fashioned it into a chain around the crystal, turning it into a necklace before putting it around Yiuno’s neck. “With a bit of aetherial manipulation, this can change your current voice to make you sound more feminine.”

“Very handy,” Yiuno murmured, and he raised a hand to touch the shard. Closing his eyes, he concentrated for a short moment to charge it with his own aether. “Something like this?” His eyebrows arched at the voice that came out of his mouth—while it wasn’t as girly as Yiuna’s, it was passable, like the mature tone of a grown woman.

“Perfect!” Yiuna grinned with a thumbs-up. “Now that you can talk normally without straining your vocal cord… And I’ll think of something to fill your breastplate.” Her smirk widened at the look of embarrassment on Yiuno’s face.

“Do we have to go that far? You know that we can’t stay like this forever. They will find out about us sooner or later.”

“Let that be later, my dear brother—no, little sister,” Yiuna replied, adjusting her twin’s harness with a playful glint in her eyes. “Crafting a padded undershirt that matches your skin tone is child’s play, compared to searching the whole mountain range for many moons just for that one magic crystal.”

Yiuno pursed his lips at his twin’s nonchalant reaction, but he clasped a hand around the emerald shard with a small smile.

Thank you—my lovely, mischief-making sister.

If you like my work, please do

via my profile page — https://ko-fi.com/whyraven.☕ Thank you very much for your continuous support !!

#isorawrites #ffxiv chronogenesis #tales of the unknown #muse; noir #muse; argent #yiuno reine #yiuna reine #sora amariyo #status; complete #-- a realm reborn

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finishinglinepress · 3 months

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NEW FROM FINISHING LINE PRESS: GOAT FARM ROAD: Poems from the Adirondacks by Catherine Norr

On SALE now! Pre-order Price Guarantee: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/goat-farm-road-poems-from-the-adirondacks-by-catherine-norr/

Goat Farm Road: Poems from the Adirondacks presents a glimpse into #life being lived in a little-populated area of #Upstate New York, off-grid, in woodland and wildlife surroundings. The collection is an invitation to share the healing silence and visual delights of seasons and nature unfolding. Some lyrical selections touch on aging, brush with cancer and mortality. Others are lighter, more playful. A few haiku and tanka deliver quick snapshots of the author’s observations, while longer #poems provide inner meditations and reflections.

Catherine Norr (nee Smither) grew up in New Orleans, LA. She now divides her year between Upstate NY and Northern Arizona, and participates in a longstanding poetry critique group via Zoom. Norr’s #poetry publications include a chapbook, “Return to Ground” (Finishing Line Press, 2014) and in journals such as Avocet, Evening Street Review, Orion, Misfit; Stockade Spy and others. Essays were published in The Sun and online at the SVAN (Sacandaga Valley Arts Network.) She has been featured reader at Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, and founded and hosted the Open-Mic poetry reading at Arthur’s Market, Schenectady, #NY, among other active involvements with the N.Y. Capital District poetry community.

PRAISE FOR GOAT FARM ROAD: Poems from the Adirondacks by Catherine Norr

Catherine Norr’s new chapbook unveils quiet wonders along woodland roads through the Adirondack mountains. We are shown turtles hatching from their shells, leaves crackling with color, and the tangible silence of a quilted cloud. Even as a frightening diagnosis looms, these tanka, haiku, and free verse poems celebrate nature’s miraculous transformations.

—Jackie Craven, author of Secret Formulas & Techniques of the Masters and Our Lives Became Unmanageable

This lovely collection brings to mind the Japanese term shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, scientifically proven to be good for your health. If you cannot get to the Adirondacks, stroll through these pages, where you will find a similarly salutary peace and calm. Norr uses sequences of Japanese forms, both tanka and haiku, as well as free verse, to reach our destination, “Goat Farm Road”: “so far off the main highway / that a GPS shows it only as / leave the road —“. If you travel with her, “awareness alters as you pass through the veil” (“On the Road to Mountain Cabin”) to where “Wood Thrush melodies haunt the forest” and “deep breaths come easy” (“Spring Back Home Is:”). You will want to return again and again to this quiet place, and its feelings “tender, so tender” (“Seedling Reflects”).

–Barbara Ungar, author of Save Our Ship and After Naming the Animals.

Please share/repost #flpauthor #preorder #AwesomeCoverArt #read #poems #literature #poetry

#poetry #flp authors #preorder #flp #poets on tumblr #american poets #chapbook #chapbooks #finishing line press #small press

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tawakkull · 7 months

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ISLAM 101: Spirituality in Islam: Part 161

Sakr and Sahw (Intoxication and Sobriety)

In the language of Sufism, sakr (intoxication) means that an initiate is enraptured by the rays of the manifestations of God’s “Face.” His/her returning to his/her former, normal state is sahw (sobriety). These two terms are usually used together as sahw u sakr.

There is a relation between intoxication and absence. If the inner world of seekers after the Truth who feel intoxication is not satisfied with the Divine gifts, then they lack something in intoxication, and suffer irregular tides with respect to the state of absence. It is coloring, rather than self-possession, which is witnessed in their actions. For this reason, such seekers should be regarded as those who have perhaps feigned intoxication rather than being actually intoxicated. However, it sometimes occurs that the gifts come in showers and invade the whole being, with the result that then they do become fully intoxicated.

Intoxication sometimes arises from a strong belief, a considerable knowledge of God, and is balanced by fear and awe, making itself felt in a broader sense. As for the degree of intoxication which is felt by those who have advanced further on the way and who have approached nearer to God, whenever such travelers are honored with the light of the manifestation of the “Face” or with the vision of the “Face” beyond all concepts of modality, they immediately become intoxicated. The spirit overflows with zeal and joy and the heart feels excessive excitement.

Sobriety means that the intoxicated ones return to their former, normal state. Like intoxication, sobriety is also an undeniable part of the journeying toward the Almighty. Whenever the Truth invades the very being of the intoxicated lovers of God the Almighty, who spend their lives immersed in spiritual pleasures in the valleys of absence, they feel as if they have immediately fallen into an ocean and have vanished like a drop into the world of feelings, or that they have been burnt away like a dried, flammable object and that their nature has changed. Furthermore, the ways and bridges of sensing are demolished one after another and He alone can be felt everywhere and in everything. There are many who see a relation between such a state and what is meant in the verse (7:143): As soon as his Lord displayed an exclusive manifestation for the mountain, He made it crumble to dust, and Moses fell down in a swoon (as if struck by lightning). Just as Mount Sinai, or a part of it, was rendered dust, despite its immensity, and just as Prophet Moses, upon him be peace, fell down in a swoon as if struck by lightning, despite his being one of the five greatest Messengers of God, people of ecstasy feel as if they have changed their nature, they take up different attitudes, act as if intoxicated and utter words that suggest intoxication:

O cup-bearer, pour wine into the cup, it is time to break the fast; Restore this ruin; it is time to display the favor we receive. (M. Lutfi)

This day Nasimi displays intoxication with the grace of the cup-bearer; I have always seen Mustafa in the wine which intoxicates me. (Nasimi[1])

There are many other words uttered that concern intoxication, but it is beyond the scope of this book to cite them all. Only consider that the famous Hafiz al-Shirazi begins his Diwan with the verse, Beware, O cup-bearer, bring a cup and pass it around!

Intoxication is a state in which one is enraptured with pleasures; of sobriety the main characteristics are knowledge and self-possession. A traveler is in waves of unintended, unpremeditated joy and pleasures in the state of intoxication, while in sobriety, he or she is conscious, self-possessed, and makes deliberate efforts to feel the All-Holy Truth.

Some consider intoxication to be when a heart boils with extraordinary joy and excitement in the moment when the person feels deeply the All-Beloved One. We may interpret this state as the human self being immersed in joy and pleasures in the face of the gifts coming from the Unseen World or when an initiate loses him or herself, being overpowered by love. If the human self gets intoxicated because of immersion in joy and pleasures, this is regarded as a natural state of intoxication which an initiate gets into. If love drives the person into intoxication, this is the state of intoxication into which God Himself draws him or her. However, whatever the reason for intoxication, the traveler to the Truth lives wonder-struck and acts in tides of zeal and joy. As seekers deepen in intoxication, they begin to wander in the valleys of amazement and astonishment. Sometimes their will-power may even break down, with the result that they begin to feel as if they were a shadow of the Light of His Existence. Those who have reached this point are called the “willed ones.” Their finite attributes are replaced by the manifestations of the Attributes of the All-Permanent One, and they become a polished mirror of the fact that he sees by Me.

Indicating this highest point, it is said in Thamarat al-Fuad (“The Fruits of the Heart”):

My voice, which sings like a nightingale, has been made to speak by Him; My eyes, which see, see by Him, and I have heard speech from Him. He has favored me with speech, with which He has brought mysteries to light. By the all-brilliant Light of God, my heart has been made extremely bright, And by the light of Muhammad, I have become one with a pleasant heart.

Some have disapproved the use of the word intoxication for a spiritual state as it celebrates a concept that is scorned by both reason and the Shari’a. But intoxication, which we can describe as the state of losing oneself due to the depth of love and ecstasy, is a metaphor used to express being exposed to or being favored with the rays or gifts of the Almighty which enrapture. Initiates enraptured by these gifts or rays cannot distinguish anything because of the depth of the waves of joy and pleasure in which they are drowning. In a hadith concerning repentance, God’s Messenger, who is the most advanced in reasoning and sensibility, tells us that a man of the desert expresses the excessive joy he feels with the words coming from his mouth unintentionally: “My God! You are my servant and I am Your Lord.”[2] This may be a good example of what may happen within the ecstasies that one experiences due to being favored by the Almighty’s stream of gifts.

There have been numerous people overpowered by this state, who burn with love and yearning. With his words, “O singer, play the instrument, for tonight I am intoxicated!”, Muhammed Lutfi Efendi, taking advantage of the permissibility of metaphors, declares nothing more than the joy and zeal of a lover.

As it has been to date, many travelers to the Truth will from now on murmur the same things each in their own style in the face of the Divine lights, colors and forms that they observe everywhere. In fact, when a heart falls in love with the Eternally Beloved One and is invaded by ecstasies, and in its conscience feels His company, only those who have Prophetic insight and resolution can save themselves from confusion. Other faithful lovers, who dive deep into the cataracts of love (or who flow abundantly like a river swelling with rains,) will sometimes overflow their limits; they will let themselves into the huge waves of love due to the rejoicing originating in feeling in His company, and always live in wonder, uttering “He!”

The feeling of absence that a traveler to the Truth has during intoxication is expressed by “He!” Although some suggest confusion, the following verses are beautiful in expressing this:

The lights of my eyes are He, and the direction for my reason is He; My tongue always utters He is He, and I sigh and groan with He. My heart goes on an excursion in He, the love of my soul is He. Those who are lovers and intoxicated are always with He. My soul has sacrificed itself in the way of its Beloved, Its union is with He, its parting is with He; And the cure for its afflictions is He.

Sobriety is the condition when one favored with knowledge of God comes to after having gone into an absence of feelings and consciousness, or, as with the Prophets, when one spends a lifetime in wakefulness and consciousness. It is the opposite of intoxication. The following couplet of Tokadizade Sekip is worth quoting in this respect:

The people of peace intoxicated with intimacy in Your Presence, Do not want to exchange their rapture with sobriety.

Intoxication is a state, while sobriety is a station and is more objective, secure, and straightforward when compared to intoxication. While intoxication comes from a subjective consideration of the Truth, sobriety is based on the consideration of the All-Exalted, Majestic Being known by His Names and outlined by His Attributes and Whose Essence cannot be perceived. From another perspective, an initiate is out of his or her senses when in a state of intoxication, but is sensible in sobriety. Intoxication suggests “self-annihilation in God,” but sobriety implies “subsistence with God,” which is subsistence by His Subsistence and is defined as “subsistence with God and being in His company.”

Some prefer intoxication to sobriety, yet this is the view of the intoxicated when overpowered by the state or induced by traveling through the valleys of coloring. There is absence in intoxication and in sobriety there is peace and rest. Sobriety is a few steps higher than intoxication. Intoxication means being overpowered by state; it is accompanied by coloring, and is the way of some saints, while sobriety depends on consciousness, is accompanied by self-possession, and is the way of the Prophets and the purified scholars. The Qur’an declares (15:99): Worship your Lord until certainty, which is bound to come, comes. An approach to this Qur’anic declaration is: “Continue on the way to God until you are fully awakened by death to the truth of the belief’s pillars, for traveling toward the Infinite One is endless.”

In addition, sobriety is closely connected with the consideration of life and requires strong will-power. While in intoxication, the considerations of one’s feeling annihilated in (God’s) Existence and one’s feeling annihilated in the Witnessed or in His manifestations, sometimes keep the will-power under pressure, there is in sobriety special assistance and protection that come from the company of God, such as that which is expressed in: He hears by Me, and sees by Me, and holds by Me, and walks by Me.

Our Lord! Grant us from Your Presence a special mercy and arrange for us in our affairs what is right and for our good!

May Your peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad and his family for ever. [1] Imadeddin Nasimi (1369-1417), Azerbaijan’s outstanding poet of the 15th century, wrote in Azerbaijan along with Arabic and Persian. He was very successful in lyric poems. [2] Al-Muslim, “Tawba,” 7.

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