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queerregulusablack · 2 years

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Deaf!Regulus AU is a lot sadder than Blind!Regulus actually.

Regulus isn’t cursed deaf, he’s born that way, the inbreeding and his mother’s somewhat more reckless behaviour while pregnant with him causing it - after all, she’s already got her heir, and while Walburga doesn’t lose her mind and start hurting her children until Regulus is toddling, she lets loose a little more while pregnant with the spare - and from the first instance of her being told, the nurse smiling sadly at Walburga and offering her back her carefully swaddled youngest, she is... disappointed.

Walburga’s disappointment is sharp edged, and ruthless. Regulus learns to lip read as fast as he otherwise would have learned to talk because he has to, if he wants to avoid punishment; he learns to speak, too, diction and tone perfect, because his mother drills him in it, day after day, until you’d never guess that he’s actually deaf.

Orion is the one who learns and then teaches him sign language, and he and Sirius are the only ones who use it to speak to Regulus, before he starts at Hogwarts. It’s as much as blessing as a curse, because it’s French sign language, rather than the BSL he’s far more likely to come across while living in the UK, but it’s better than his entire family expecting him to communicate the same as everyone else, and punishing him when he doesn’t respond to conversation starters he doesn’t see.

He gets really good at knowing when Walburga is about to speak, and at keeping his eyes locked on her so he hardly ever misses her addressing him. Sirius adapts around this, when they’re children, waits until he’s sure their mother is finished before tapping Regulus on the wrist and talking to him.

This changes after his first year at Hogwarts, after he starts arguing with Walburga at the dinner table, and Regulus is so caught up trying to look between the two of them to keep up with the words flung back and forth that he misses both of them trying to drawn him into the conversation, gets a disappointed scowl from Sirius that hurts almost as much as the hexes from their mother.

When he starts at Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat speaking into his mind startles him so hard he almost falls off the stool, the first instance of something like hearing someone leaving him wide eyed, staring up at the brim; and McGonagall watched him with a concerned frown, even as the other students giggle at the dramatic reaction.

The only person who knows to make sure they’re in his eyeline when they speak to him is Evan - they’re cousins after all, have known each other since they were six, and Regulus told him he was deaf long before Walburga enforced the rule that he was to tell no one, that it was a shameful thing to admit - and Regulus quickly gets a reputation for being the rudest First year there’s ever been, flatly ignoring anyone who isn’t the professors or Rosier.

Until Pandora susses out that his rudeness isn’t intentional - not yet, the self defence of sharp words still forming - and makes it her mission to learn how to talk to him, and to make things easier for him in general, having decided Regulus is to be her best friend.

She learns sign language, makes Evan - and then Barty and Dorcas - learn it with her, and then they all learn BSL as a group.

(The first time Sirius spots Regulus communicating with his new friends by signing but can’t understand it, he’s so angry and hurt he can hardly breathe. He demands the Marauders as a group learn BSL, and never tells them why, and they don’t find out for years.)

The night Sirius leaves, Regulus isn’t woken up by the arguing, but does stir when Sirius shakes him awake, face covered in blood from his broken nose, eyes wide and frightened.

Sirius begs him to leave with him; Regulus tells him no, but promises to stop Walburga following him. Promises to distract her until he’s settled.

Sirius hugs him tightly, and whispers something Regulus can’t hear but can feel against his temple, and leaves.

(Regulus distracts his parents by finally telling everyone that he’s deaf at the first society event they attend after Sirius runs away. Rabastan Lestrange grabs him by the shoulder and demands that he pay attention, calls him rude; and Regulus sneers back at him, and replies in a carefully loud voice that ‘I’m not rude, I’m deaf. I’d imagine the rude one, Rabastan, is the one blaming the person incapable of hearing him for not responding to his words. You should be embarrassed.’

The delighted amusement at how thoroughly Regulus dresses down Bella’s brother in law is only just surpassed by the shock at the revelation. By the time he returns to school for his fifth year, most of the Pureblood children his age have been put through lessons in BSL; he starts communicating with his friends in the original French sign language again to keep their conversations private.)

Side points:

-Lily already knows BSL, and knows Reg is deaf long before anyone else. They keep each other company in Slug Club, gossiping in corners. Regulus has some of the best observational gossip to share; when Sirius and the rest of the Marauders figure out that their favourite gossip from Remus came from Lily who got it from Reg, they Lose their collective minds.

-After the start of Fifth year, when Remus has moons that leave him suffering from sensory overload, he sits in the back of the library with Regulus and takes sign language lessons from him. They don’t talk, and Sirius knows to stay away, and eventually Remus figures out that Regulus has access to the best hot chocolate, courtesy of being friends with all the House Elves.

-When James starts his pursuit of Regulus, he tries similar things to when he was pursuing Lily; namely, charming things to serenade him. It takes him an embarrassing number of attempts to realise just why it’s not even garnering Regulus’ irritation; Sirius laughs so hard he falls off his bed. James switches tactics sheepishly.

-Sirius and Regulus’ reconciliation is a stuttering kind of thing, but when he eventually apologises for the arguing and how it got Regulus hurt, he tells him to stop. Sirius absolutely should be sorry for how he treated Regulus when he wasn’t able to speak in support of him, but he doesn’t need to apologise for their mother. She was never Sirius’ fault.

#regulus black #sirius black #starchaser #jegulus #james potter x regulus black #headcanon #deaf regulus #not me promising a mermaid au and throwing out this instead #I am but a humble magpie I follow the shinies

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carolcooks2 · 4 years

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Welcome to this weeks edition of Saturday Snippets…we have had rain plenty of it and I am sitting here surrounded by scaffolding, a ceiling which collapsed under the weight of water and lots of workmen who are trying to decide where the water is coming in…They have found one but it doesn’t bode well… armed with mastic and tape because they won’t admit it is the roof which needs replacing I fear another bodge job…we shall see…gone are the days when I stress about it I will just move once this COVID thingy goes away…I am calm…

On a brighter note, my new laptop is out for delivery…I can’t wait to be able to just do..instead of either not being able to or working around it…changing browsers etc…

Sharks…Feared by many but an essential part of our survival…the shark plays an important role within the eco-system…Classed as one of the top predators they are an essential part of the natural order of marine ecosystems.

Not all species of sharks attack humans and when they do sometimes it is a set of circumstances like a magpie is said to be attracted to bright shiny objects bright colours or blood from an open wound attracts some sharks …

This video is beautiful and shows the trust between the diver and the sharks …

If I had known in March that this would be the last time I would eat in a restaurant for the foreseeable …I most certainly would have ordered dessert…

You have heard me mention that Thais love foraging especially my daughter law she must go foraging at least 3-4 times a week if not more…

These are the mushrooms she has foraged this week I think they like the weather at the moment as there seem to be a lot of mushrooms about… Tik my daughter in law is in her element she loves her mushroom soup and her mushroom dips…

Lets now pop over to Sally for her health column…

Taking supplements is something I don’t do and I actually know little about supplements unlike Sally and she will take you through taking supplements when and how to take. In this post, Sally is looking at the use of supplements, the ingredients you should avoid and which ones which are more easily absorbed by the body.

Wellness Corner. Smorgasbord Health Column – by Sally Cronin…

https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2020/08/11/smorgasbord-health-column-supplements-absorbing-the-nutrients-avoiding-the-additives-by-sally-cronin/

Over the years I have gathered many sayings along the way which I am sure many of you have however who would have thunk that ” I wouldn’t touch him/her with a 6-foot barge pole would become national policy but here we are!

As you know I am a supporter of looking after and nurturing our world…This is a great example and quite close to my home give or take a few hundred km…563 to be precise…

A beautiful example of a rooftop farm I can’t wait to go and see it!

Music…what would life be without music? I think everyone should have music in their

lives…

Today on August 15th, 1969…Woodstock began in a filed near Yagur’s Farm at Bethel,

New York. The three -day concert featured 24 rock bands and drew a crowd of more than

300,000 young people. This event came to symbolise the counterculture movement of the

1960’s

It was such a shame when Woodstock 50 was cancelled last year…There are some planned over the next few months at various venues but who knows if they will go ahead some have already been cancelled.

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended…six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated.

So what is this holocaust denial all about? Iran and others claiming the Holocaust is a myth…we must not forget or it will happen again and has in recent times happened again … There have been many recipients of The Nobel Peace Prize many deservedly so…some in my humble opinion not so deserving…Last year this lady was nominated and not selected…

Last year 2019 the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded the Noble Peace

Prize and deservedly so…Most who are selected for the award are high profile people or

Prime Ministers…BUT we should not forget to honour and remember brave souls like

Irena Sendler and all the children she saved from certain death or worse experimented

on…A brave lady indeed!

This week is National Afternoon Tea Week…Today is also National Lemon Meringue

Pie Day and National Honey Bee Day…

Lemon /Lime Meringue Pie.

https://carolcooks2.com/2018/06/19/lime-lemon-meringue-pie/

Honey Bees are precious and we need to nurture their surroundings and plant wild

flowers as if the bees disappear so will the human race …They pollinate much of our food

and without them …I don’t think I need to spell it out…

Did you know? It takes about 2 million flower visits by honeybees to produce 1 pound of

honey.

If bees were not around do you know how many foods we would lose?

Honey (obviously)

Tree fruits such as apples, peaches, apricots, plums, lemons, limes and cherries

Bananas, melons, mangos and papaya

Berries such as strawberries, blueberries, elderberries, blackberries, raspberries and cranberries

Onions

Almonds, cashews and coconut

Avocados

Beans varieties such as green beans, adzuki, kidney and lima beans)

Coffee (!!!!!!)

Tea plants

Vanilla

Sunflower and sesame oils

Tomatoes

Cucumbers

Grapes (and, therefore, wine!)

Cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, turnips and Brussels sprouts

Beetroot, pumpkin

Chocolate

Sugarcane

Agave (vital for tequila!)

So if you don’t eat any of those, no need to worry (!)

That’s all for today…Be well and stay safe don’t forego those precautions too quickly as many areas are seeing an increase in Covid-19 cases…It ain’t over yet folks…Better to be safe than sorry…xx

About Carol Taylor:

Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.

Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.

Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!

Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a fabulous week and stay safe these are troubling times xx

Saturday Snippets…

Saturday Snippets… Welcome to this weeks edition of Saturday Snippets...we have had rain plenty of it and I am sitting here surrounded by scaffolding, a ceiling which collapsed under the weight of water and lots of workmen who are trying to decide where the water is coming in...They have found one but it doesn't bode well...

#blogging #Honey Bees #Lime/Lemon Meringue Pie #Roof Top Garden Bangkok #Woodstock

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nuredinburhan · 7 years

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Multidisciplinary Creative; My personal branding thoroughly explained.

“Semiology therefore aims to take in any system of signs, whatever their substance and limits; images, gestures, musical sounds, objects, and the complex associations of all these, which form the content of ritual, convention or public entertainment: these constitute, if not languages, at least systems of signification.” - Roland Barthes

We are engulfed in the ether of signs and symbols and it has become instinctive to recognise the connotations of widely used symbols globally. It’s a language with no bounds that transcends linguistic barriers. I wrote a 1500 word essay on the semiology of the heart symbol <3 in the first year of studying BA Advertising in UAL;LCC (got an A, obviously) I found that there are little to no correlation between a symbol and their connotations. a better example is the use of the Swastika by the Nazi regime in Germany - initially it was used by followers of the Buddhist, Hindu and Jainism faiths, it represents the sun, another hypothesis reveals that the four arms represent the four elements of nature - the sun, wind, water and soil.

As a Creative, I try to incorporate strategy in all my work - to define an idea or brand through semiology, colour, typography, visual styles or whatever apt technique to effectively say more with less. As Hegarty would argue “Advertising is saying more with less” leading me to the relevance of this post:

The Magpie, a personal take

On a personal level the Magpie represents the darkest moments in my life, December 2014, London. I went through my first and hopefully last harrowing episode of Psychosis; a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality. In many cultures that episode would be described as a spiritual awakening, which makes sense given the experience I underwent and the battles i endured, am still endure and inevitably will fight and pray that I win! There I was at the beginning of the first term of the third and final year of university, which accounted to 100% of my degree. Passionate and ready to take on the world with each and every project thrown at me, I planned to apply every execution to a real world problem - i was adamant to make a change at the very least to my world, using everything in my power to effect change. To put my readers at rest, I managed to not only tame my demons but understand them and use them to my advantage in order to manoeuvre through life with my officiated diagnosis - I graduated with a 2:1, despite this crippling handicap. I won’t be explaining every thought and event that ensued as I reviled in the darkest depths in the chaos of my mind - one I hold dear is the countless sightings of a surprising amount of Magpies everywhere I went. It became my symbol of my moment of subjective reality for 3 months. I am an innately curious person, and so I researched the semiotics of the humble Magpie,as soon as the dust settled and i was able recoup, to better understand the occurrence - and maybe find out what it means, if anything at all.

Denotations of the Magpie

The Magpie is connected with a plethora of connotations, it’s best to define the denotations first; Magpies are birds of a Corvidae (Crow) family, including the black and Eurasian magpie, which is widely considered one of the most intelligent animals in the world. The only non mammal species able to recognise itself in the mirror test. Found in the temperature regions of Europe, Asia, western North America with populations also present in tibet and high elevation area of India and Pakistan. Magpies are believed to have evolved from a Jay-like ancestor and the 'pie' in Magpie and Treepie refers to the black and white or pied plumage of many of them. The common Magpie was originally known simply as 'the Pie', but in the 16th century the prefix Mag was added meaning 'chatterer'.The Magpie with its immaculate black and white plumage and green and blue gloss, is an unmistakable bird. In flight it can be easily distinguished by its long-tailed profile. In the open it flies, rising awkwardly, with quick flaps and glides - like a ragged kite. Among trees the species moves confidently, reflecting its agility. On the ground the tail is often held high as the bird 'kangaroo-hops' along. Both the European Magpies are highly social and tend to be found in small flocks outside the breeding season. Other species are usually found in pairs, or in small groups of 3 to 4. This applies to the Treepies as well. Large numbers of magpies gather in 'parliaments'. No one is entirely sure why, during the winter, these birds can gather in groups of up to 100. Gatherings possibly occur when a pair of magpies try to invade another pair's territory; the ensuing competition for breeding space may attract large numbers of magpie onlookers.

Cultural connotations of the Magpie as defined by www.druidry.org

China The Chinese traditionally see the magpie as a bird of good fortune, except if you kill one when misfortune will arrive. Magpie is a symbol of happiness in Chinese culture. The singing of a magpie foretells happiness and good luck. That's why it is called 'Happy Magpie' by Chinese people. The Manchu minority in Northeast China even regards magpies as sacred birds. Under the Manchu dynasty it also represented imperial rule. Legends concerning magpies are found in the historical records about Manchu. In both Chinese and Korean myths the Magpie Bridge joins the 3 bright stars of Aquila in the night sky, called the Cowherd, to Lyra, or the Spinning Damsel, across the river that is the Milky Way. This happens on the 7th night of the 7th moon.

Korea Koreans believed that magpies delivered good news and invited good people. The most famous painting related to a magpie is the one with striped tiger (ggach'i wha horangi minhwa): the magpie is happily chirping to a tiger. The magpie represented good news and the tiger symbolised good luck, since its pronunciation in Chinese sounds similar to good luck (bok). Another interpretation states that the magpie is the village spirit that announces good omens, and the tiger is the servant that does his bidding; another that the tiger is a yangban (aristocrat) and the magpie is the representative of the common people, scolding him for his insensitivity to their plight.

Mongolia The Magpie is a clever creature with control of the weather.

Germany In Germany the number of birds, according to tradition, indicated forthcoming events. One is viewed as unlucky; two brings merriment or marriage; three is a successful journey; four is good news and five indicates you should expect company.

France In Poitou there still lingers a trace of pie-worship: a bunch of heath and laurel is tied to the top of a high tree in honour of the magpie, because her chatter warns the people of the wolf's approach.

Scandinavia Under Christianity the same shift of superstition from lucky to unlucky occurred in Norse countries as across the rest of Europe. In old Norse mythology, Skadi (the daughter of a giant) was a priestess of the magpie clan. The black and white markings of the magpie were seen to represents sexual union, as well as male and female energies kept in balance. Later on in time, Scandinavians thought that magpies were sorcerers flying to unholy gatherings, and yet the nesting magpie was once considered a sign of luck in those countries.

Italy The Magpie features in a Rossini opera, ‘The Thieving Magpie’, or La Gazza Ladra. This opera tells the story of a pet magpie that steals shiny objects, resulting in an innocent servant almost being sent to the gallows after being accused of the magpie's crimes. The story echoes the common belief that magpies steal and hide shiny objects. In some countries it is thought to chatter in a way that sounds like human speech. For example, in Italy it is known as ‘gazza’, and has given its name to ‘gazetta’, the Italian for newspaper.

Greece It was sacred to Bacchus, the God of wine, so it became associated with intoxication.

Britain An old English tradition notes that if one magpie flies by, you should take your hat off and bow repeating this line : Morning/Afternoon Mr Magpie. How's Mrs Magpie and all the little Magpies? This will help assure your good luck throughout the day.

One seen flying or croaking around a house or sitting alone symbolises that misfortune is present. Should a flock of magpies suddenly abandon a nesting area then, like the crow and rook, death is present and hard times are ahead. To avoid bad luck it is said that taking your hat off to the passing birds will act as protection against darker forces. Perhaps these associations stem from the fact that it was the only bird that would not enter Noahs’ Ark preferring to stay outside. It is one of the very birds that also has black and white plumage, a combination of the sacred or holy colour (white) and of evil (black).

To have one perch on your roof though is supposed to indicate that the house will never fall down. According to tradition it would be best to rearrange a journey if you see just one. If one is seen on the way to church it signifies that death is present, hence some believe that it is best to cross yourself to ward off evil or negative energies whilst saying 'Devil, Devil, I defy thee'.

In Somerset, England it was once thought that to carry an onion at all times would provide protection against magpies.

In Scotland the magpie was once believed to carry a drop of the Devil's blood under its tongue which perhaps stems from another belief that the magpie was the only bird not to wear full mourning at the Crucifixion.

The following rhyme was popularised by a children's TV programme of the same name:

One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold and seven for a secret never to be told.

Legend also has it that when a magpie's mate dies it summons an assembly of other magpies at which the dead bird is honoured before a new mate is selected. In Celtic lore the bird was sacred to 'Magog.'

Australia The magpie is seen in a negative, aggressive light. This may be because the Australian Magpie is of the Shrike (an aggressive hunter) family rather than the Crow family.

Native American In general in Native American myth the Magpie is seen as the ally and helper of humans. They feature in legends from the Navaho, Blackfoot and Cheyenne

Magic Magpie: one of those clever birds that has shamanic qualities

Symbolism Related to the crow the magpie is an intelligent and adaptable bird. Ancient folklore associated with the magpie suggests that when two or more fly into one’s life good fortune is coming soon. Since magpies are opportunists and seldom miss a chance to get something for nothing, those with this medicine should pay attention to subtle omens that appear in their life then act accordingly so opportunities are not missed. The magpie asks us to wake up and be conscious in every area of our life.

Magpies are curious and have a reputation for stealing anything that they can carry away. They use whatever they find and teach us how to be resourceful. Magpie medicine people have the ability to succeed in life. Those with this totem are usually eclectic and able to draw on a variety of resources to assist them in their pursuits. Being able to adapt to different situations in a spontaneous way is one of the magpie’s strongest attributes. Those with this totem often find that their interests are varied which make master ship of any one thing difficult although not impossible.

Magpies are extremely vocal especially in groups. They help those with this medicine learn how to use their voice to attract attention, attain desired goals as well as acquire respect from others. This applies only if this medicine is developed sufficiently. Otherwise the voice and its expression may need improvement for positive results to be obtained. Proper communication is one of the lessons that needs to be learned by magpie medicine people.

Although many in the Norse tradition associate the Magpie with Skadi, because of the similarity of the name, I associate the Magpie with Loki's daughter Hel. Hel is described as having a face that is 'half blue-black and half flesh (or white) coloured' - like the Magpie's colouring. She rules the lowest of the Nine Worlds, at the base of Yggdrasil, as mistress of the chthonic mysteries. Like Asgardhr, Helheim (Hel's home) cannot be reached directly from Midgardhr - one must ‘ride over a bridge’, or travel between worlds with the aid of one´s fylgia (usually a totem or sacred animal or Soul Companion and Guide). The bridge to Helheim crosses the river Gjoll and it’s guarded by the giant Maiden Modgudh. As Bifrost is fiery and narrow, the bridge to Helheim is icy and wide.

Helheim is also called Niflhel, meaning Misty Hel or Dark Hel, which refers to the Goddess´ primary aspect of concealment. Hel borders very closely on the world Nifheimr; it is located down and to the North, and it is the implied location of the venom-filled halls, on Na Strand, and home of the dragon Niddhogg, embodiment of the concealed powers of destruction/transformation. Hel is the hidden root to which all things sink, as all the waters wend their way to Hvergelmir, and from which all things rise again. Although the realm of Hel is described as horrible in parts - the lifeless, lightless, joyless dwelling of the dead. It is written elsewhere that Hel is brightly bedecked and hospitable. She welcomes those who die of sickness, famine or old-age and even Balder resides there after his death. This dual nature can be seen in the figure of the goddess Hel herself: She is half a beautiful woman and half a corpse, her concealment both that of the womb and that of the tomb. Hel receives those souls who cannot struggle through to Valhalla, but in time, as her name Mother Holle suggests, she bears them forth again.

All of this tells us that the Magpie can be a double-edged sword. It requires mastery of your magpie spirit to achieve things, unmastered it will be self-destructive. Gossip, or uncontrolled chatter, and an unreasoning attraction to shiny things - be it materialistic objects, people or an inability to concentrate - spells danger just as oratory, or controlled chatter, concentration and the quick opportunistic observation can be used to devastating effect.

Tokens and Artwork The Magpie is difficult to find - both in the wild and your local shop! In Korea they appear in artwork and there is Monet's picture 'Magpie in winter' but other than that they are few and far between. Your best bet is to try and find a feather and wear it as a token just as the Cheyenne do.

The Tao Ying Yang amulet would also be a good token as the Ying-yang symbolises the black and white of the Magpie and it's the sort of bright thing that would attract them. The number 7 is a significant number for Magpie people.

Sacred Times Spring and Autumn - the black and white colour of the Magpie represents the balance between light and dark that occurs around the equinoxes. Also the high winds and changeable weather reminds us of the stormy change that the Magpie can bring into life. Dusk and dawn are the times to see Magpies and, much like the equinoxes, they are times when the balance between light and dark is equal.

The other time is dawn and dusk - a time when you are likely to see Magpie's cleaning the road.

The Magpie by Robert S. Warshow

I walked one day In the Garden of Wasted Things, And there I found The bitter ghosts of all that had been spent unwisely, Or lost through brutal circumstance. I found the childhood That some labourer's child had never known; I found the youth that some young man had squandered; There I found some poet's genius That had gone unrecognised. I saw the ghosts of idle words, And small talk, That men had used to waste away the hours. I saw the hopes that had been smothered, And all the dreams That never had come true, And Laughter that had died for lack of bread. I met with all the lives that had been misdirected, And spoke with dreary shades Of loves that might have been, And songs that never had been sung. I met with all these ghosts, And many more; And each of them Sat silently in the shadows, Brooding over quirks of mad Creation, And puppets' dreams.

Once again there aren't many traditional songs or chants that can be used to invoke Magpie. I often use the trance method (as mentioned below) to fly across the otherworld.

Prophecy and Divination You can use the traditional nursery rhyme:

One for sorrow, Two for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for Silver, Six for Gold Seven for a secret never to be told

One for sorrow, Two for mirth, Three for a wedding, Four for a birth. Five for rich, Six for poor, Seven for a witch -- I can tell you no more.

For other tools things like mirrors that contain both dark and light, or other shiny objects would attract the Magpie spirit.

Dreamwork In dreams the Magpie will signify opportunities coming into your life. The number seen will help signify what you should expect.

Magic Circles When drawing the circle dress yourself in black and white and try alternate leg hopping (or visualisations as mentioned in trance below). You can dress in formal wear, a black bowler hat and tailcoat, with your thumbs in your waistcoat (just like in the old films), then bend yourself double, spread your arms out, spread your fingers wide and swoop round the circle to get that magpie feeling.

Trance I find that visualising the Magpie's movement, the way it hops, flexes its tail and flies is the key to trance work. The brightness of its beady eye will draw you in… If you have a magpie spirit guide, once you get used to the visualisation, it becomes a hop, hop, fly to shift into the magpie.

Healing

Fairy of the Magpie Bridge, Poem by Qin Guan (Translation by Kylie Hsu)

Among the beautiful clouds, Over the heavenly river, Crosses the weaving maiden. A night of rendezvous, Across the autumn sky, Surpasses joy on earth. Moments of tender love and dream, So sad to leave the magpie bridge. Eternal love between us two, Shall withstand the time apart.

The Magpie is a strong healer for relationships, particularly those emotional hurts. In Chinese legend a bridge of Magpie's is used for two star-crossed lovers to meet. It is the magpie's faithfulness to their partners and families which you can invoke to send a message to the Gods. Try burning this poem or a drawing of the magpie with incense to speed the message on its way.

Protection - Haiku by DaRC

Magpie meal awaits: Fast car - country lane - danger, Fawn dead on roadside.

Magpie's are excellent protectors and will call out their 'Caw, caw, caw' warning. So in that way forewarned is forearmed. They are also masters of evasion - often using the two of them to do the old 'one-two' on any opponent.

Invoke the Australian magpie for the fearless, aggressive aspect especially when protecting friends or family.

Conclusion

The system of Semiology is malleable, as illustrated by the misuse of the Swastika and the controversial definitions of the magpie. As is branding and the the definition of my creative personal brand, that this essay aims to define. It’s only been a couple of months since I began to openly speak about my experiences with my mental illness - no doubt with the help of Mental Illness Awareness week and many other organisations that have worked to shed light on the matter of mental health. Many of my family and friends and random people i have met have begun to be more understanding of the many conditions that many people are going through. I have accepted it as a part of me, as it has been ever since i could remember before I was officially diagnosed. That being said my mental illness is only a part of my over all eclectic identity as a person and a creative. It has changed and changed me since 2014 and taming my demons has made me stronger and appreciative of the experience - in that i can help others defeat their demons with an empathetic ear, while navigating this world as a divine being in the human experience. What it also means to me as a Creative is to remain steadfast to my Truths and the pursuits there of, to remain undefined or to embrace and not be constricted by the many confusions of connotations that it represents widely. I have taken the magpie as my logo for the reasons stated above, refusing to be pigeon holed or strictly specialising in one Creative discipline.

In order of most experience in years and works - (Fine) Artist, Art Director, Designer, Photographer, UI/UX - all of these disciplines compliment every idea and can have a part to be in every project that I undertake. I refuse to undertake a sole specialty as it constricts my view of the bigger picture, to go the whole nine yards and further still above and beyond, finesse in execution!

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