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comradekatara · 2 days

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please please please tell me about your avatar sokka au (only if you want) sokka as the avatar sounds SO interesting because it's just like. he's sokka and also how does aang fit into this...

@adeusdelta asked: Hey I just saw your post about the idea of an avatar Yue au. So basically I’m curious if you’ve ever talked the other possible aus you find more compelling (sokka, azula, etc.) and if you have, would you mind linking me to the posts? I’m curious to hear on your take on it!

so i have a post on this and how i don't really think that "other avatar" really work all that well, but i do think that sokka and azula would be the most compelling alternate avatars, simply because they both function as dark mirrors to aang in a way that would make the story infinitely more cynical. like sokka as the avatar with azula as a deuteragonist of sorts (the avatar and the firelord, edgelord version) is actually fascinating to me and i have been thinking about that concept specifically, um.... a lot. mostly because katara, still as the narrator, but instead of the object upon whom she has pinned all her hopes and dreams being this fantastical, mythical figure, it is instead her miserable bastard brother, is just an absolutely fascinating character study to me. her one thing, her one claim to specialness, is now wholly undermined by the fact that her brother is literally the most special person on the planet. her role as hero, discoverer of the avatar, teacher of the avatar, best friend of the avatar, narrator and catalyst of this sweeping tale of revolution, is basically just reduced to being "the avatar's little sister." and unlike aang, who is an idealist who wants to save the world out of a vision of hope and beauty, sokka is a cynic who wants to fix the world because he considers it his burden and his duty. he doesn't care who he has to hurt to get his way, and katara isn't powerful enough to stop him, she just has to trust that he'll make the right call every single time, because there is simply no one who can keep him in check (besides his past lives). it's terrifying. avatar sokka is lowkey a horror story.

more specific outline under the cut (in no chronological order; trust me, i tried to move my bullet points around so that they'd flow better, and this stupid fucking website wouldn't let me. whatever):

sokka genuinely hates being the avatar and considers it the greatest curse of his existence. he tries to advertise it as little as possible

nonetheless, word eventually gets out, as sokka develops a reputation for being ruthless, deadly, and unfuckwithable. he uses his reputation to control everything he thinks needs fixing, especially azula and the fire nation

azula watches sokka kill her father without blinking (he simply explodes his heart using waterbending) and immediately decides never to test her loyalty to him as his firelord

katara is rightfully wary of sokka simply accepting azula’s offer to puppet her, but sokka is just like “well azula is ruled by fear. before me her unquestioned loyalty was to ozai, but now that I have killed ozai, I have proven myself to be scarier than him and so she will devote herself to following me.” and katara's just like “um that’s literally sick and twisted????” she understandably doesn’t know how to feel about her brother killing the most powerful man in the world and puppeting his teenage daughter, but, admittedly she also sees the incentive.

eventually and azula and sokka just become actual friends. sokka uses logical proofs and verifiable data points to illustrate to azula why her ideology is dogshit. even though she’s still reasonably terrified him, azula actually gets to grow and learn and heal through her partnership and eventual friendship with sokka

for years azula keeps asking sokka to track down zuko so they can reunite. she’s like “i’ve followed your every order to the letter and all I ask in return is to reunite with my brother” but sokka only remembers zuko from that stretch between the south pole to the north pole where he was trying to hunt him down and capture him, so he is very dismissive of her requests. and azula keeps insisting that if he KNEW zuko he would love him because he’s such a sensitive sweetiepie, but sokka’s like “uhhh im pretty sure he’s a stupid bully” and largely just ignores her. finally he actually grows fond enough of azula to actually honor her request and track zuko and iroh down in ba sing se.

toph and katara are the only members of sokka’s team avatar, but he still knows yue, suki, jeong jeong, and pakku (he never meets bumi or piandao)

he finds toph before he gets to the north pole, so when they go to the north pole together he is basically just carrying her on his back the entire time. she hates it there and can’t wait to leave

azula never gets the chance to claim ba sing se, so iroh and zuko remain there indefinitely, since sokka is still under the impression that it’s a functional city state that requires no intervention until much later down the line

he figures out the presence of the white lotus through frequent communication with yangchen, his favorite past life. yangchen teaches him politics and airbending

he visits yue in the spirit world almost immediately after the war ends. he notes sadly that she seems somewhat terrified of him. she didn’t know that he was the avatar while she was still alive because he thought it best to keep it secret to everyone except those with a dire necessity to be in the know (obviously word has since gotten out)

he learned firebending first, then airbending, then earthbending, then waterbending. it’s in completely the wrong order, which yangchen chastises him for when she teaches him airbending in the spirit world

sokka doesn’t really waterbend much because he’s afraid of encroaching on katara’s domain. as for katara, she absolutely hates that the one thing that made her special in a way that sokka wasn’t is actually not even that impressive now and she HATES that the mystical figure she has been searching for her entire fucking life is HIM and she HATES that it’s not her WHY ISN'T IT HER…

she also hates that sokka lied to her about it for their entire childhoods because she assumes it was his patronizing way of sparing her feelings, even though he doesn’t think that being the avatar is anything remotely good, and only hid it from her because he was scared and ashamed. and he knows that eventually there will be a reckoning (in the form of somehow being a better firebender than zuko despite being completely untrained) but in the meantime he just wants katara to think he’s Normal

so at first he feels weird about waterbending because he sees that as katara’s “thing,” but eventually he starts doing shit with waterbending that katara literally can’t, and so (in his mind) it’s fair again. like he starts isolating individual atoms in H2O molecules to make H2O2 and shit, and katara’s just like "HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT." but then he starts bloodbending (he bloodbends azula, for example) and katara is like nvm i'm glad i’m a normie :)

he never meets hama but develops his own mode of bloodbending, he invents metalbending independently as a way to break free from handcuffs, and he develops all kinds of other niche sub-bending categories as well

sokka’s firebending is like azula’s on crack. he just shoots a tiny bit of fire out of his fingertips like a gun and hits someone right in their neck and they double over in pain and boom he’s won.

he starts off not really knowing any earthbending because he doesn’t exactly have earth at home, but then once he meets toph, he realizes the potential of the element and gets really obsessed with expanding that potential as much as possible

and air is his worst element. because it’s the element of freedom.

he has to reveal to jet that he’s the avatar because he accuses him of being a firebender. jet doesn’t believe him at first, but then he sees him go into the avatar state to hold back the water from the dam for long enough for the whole town to evacuate

when he first calls the kyoshi warriors a bunch of girls, kyoshi herself screams at him for like an hour. lesson learned.

he reunites with hakoda only after the war ends, at azula’s coronation. hakoda learns that he’s the avatar once ozai is already long dead. hakoda doesn’t recognize him at first, and instead assumes that he’s somehow kya’s long lost son that she had with a fire nation noble. he then immediately realizes how stupid that is, but is still completely shocked by the revelation of who sokka has become and what he even is.

katara goes back to the south pole to be with her family, but sokka stays in the fire nation to oversee azula, with toph at his side. when toph asks him if he doesn’t also miss his family, sokka very matter of factly states that as the avatar, what he wants doesn’t matter. he’s not a person with desires, but rather a servant of the world, a vessel through which peace can be achieved.

azula is a very good firelord. she is also unwaveringly loyal to sokka and will do anything to achieve his vision. sokka basically replaces ozai in her mind. but with more banter between them

she asks sokka if they can’t retrieve iroh and zuko from ba sing se, but sokka doesn’t really think that having more evil family around will be a good influence on her. he goes to ba sing se to scope out the situation for himself, and decides that they’re pretty much harmless, but that if azula wishes to see them, they must meet in a third, neutral location

zuko finally learns that sokka kills ozai, and is so enraged that he tries to fight sokka. it goes very poorly, but out of some faint fondness for azula, sokka doesn’t hurt him. iroh just expresses his gratitude and appreciation (on both accounts).

despite azula being their ostensible ally, katara cannot fucking stand her. the feeling is mutual

sokka and toph, however, get along fairly well with her, and mai and ty lee also (mai doesn't understand why the avatar enjoys her presence so much, but she doesn't take it for granted either)

a couple years after the war, sokka starts taking an interest in more global politics, widening his focus from simply the fire nation. he goes home for the first time, revisits the north, and starts to tour the earth kingdom in earnest. that is when he starts to learn of and work to dismantle the police state of ba sing se and other unjustly hierarchized social systems, such as in the north pole. the nwt in particular is a sore spot for him due to his relationship with yue.

sokka uses spies from within the white lotus to keep tabs on the white lotus so as not to repeat the platinum affair, which yangchen warned him about. eventually he stops trusting his own spies and sends toph in there instead.

sokka also develops a very tender affection for kuruk, who reminds him of hakoda and who is the only person who can even somewhat get through to him regarding sokka’s somewhat toxic, self-dehumanizing ideal of what and who he should be. he thinks kyoshi is sweet and admires her ruthlessness and similar approach to the self (as a vessel rather than a person). he dislikes roku and thinks he has no redeeming qualities, and tells him as much the first time they ever talk. he talks to aang sometimes, but seeking advice from a kid who was captured by firelord azulon and died in prison (yes) always hurts his heart.

he feels a responsibility to the entire world and claims that he must remain impartial in all matters, but he would still lay down his life for katara (or toph) if it came down to it. that childhood conditioning doesn’t go away, it just gets worse as his responsibilities grow.

in conclusion: avatar sokka is sooo sick & twisted that i can actually kind of justify it as a compelling AU. like, aang's role in it is somehow even more tragic, because this narrative would necessarily dial the cynicism up to 11. sokka and azula as the avatar and the firelord duo in question would be absolutely miserable, just as katara's narratorial status being undermined at every turn would be miserable, just as an aangless world would be miserable. and guess what. i <3 misery

#dragonsarecats #adeusdelta #asks #AUs #sokka #azula #katara #not tagging everyone else #i love misery and suffering and pain <33333 #hence why i like the kyoshi & yangchen novels #kuruk novel when........

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my-soliloquy-chamber · 4 months

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Never has there ever been a ride or die like Barnabas.

#barnabas #ac odyssey #such unquestioning loyalty and acceptance

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vitanithepure · 9 months

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It's thinking about pixel people hours!

Don't you love Wyll for his unquestioned loyalty? Don't you want to cry seeing him unjustly punished for doing what nobody else had the courage to do?

Don't you just love Karlach for giving you the absolute 110%, all the time? And don't you want to cry when reality crushes that joy before your eyes?

Don't you love watching Astarion reinventing himself? Don't you want to cry when he goes through the motions silently begging you to see him?

Don't you love seeing Lae'zel trustingly, with you at her side, growing out of her cruel society? Don't you want to cry when seeing the fear of insignificance in her eyes?

Don't you love Gale for inviting you into his whole world, becoming part of it? Don't you want to cry when you realize you are perhaps the only reason he's still here?

Don't you just love Shadowheart, how she learns to question what was beyond any doubt before? Don't you wish to cry when she accepts the horrific truth, because now, at least, she knows it?

#wyll ravengard #karlach #astarion #lae'zel #gale of waterdeep #shadowheart #bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 spoilers

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greensaplinggrace · 2 years

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nothing will ever hit harder than realizing dutch was always like that. that he didn’t actually change or go insane. that he always had that in him - the cruelty and the violence and the bigotry. that in the end he was all talk, because back when things were good for him he could talk. he could preach and pat himself on the back for being so morally superior and he could stroke his own ego by ‘saving’ all the unfortunates, feeling unique because these outcasts weren’t accepted by anybody else but him. but it didn’t actually amount to anything.

all those things you once respected him for saying - calling the gang family and arthur his son and defending the native americans and telling the gang to never leave love aside and his support of equality and his criticisms of society and privilege and corruption and power - all of it comes to nothing. it means nothing. it becomes ashes in his mouth. because in the end he betrays his family and he abandons his son and he irrevocably harms the native americans and he does leave love aside, he does prove himself to be an oppressive white man when it comes down to it and he does revel in his power and his title and he does become corrupted as he demands unquestioning loyalty and faith in the same way those he claims to oppose do.

and goddamn he was always like this. but when it was good it never showed, not truly, not in ways that were noticeable. and he’s a tarot card because what he is now and what he was then are the same but when circumstances change so do the worst parts of you come forth. and your true self is revealed. and that’s what happened to dutch. and it hurts because everything he preached he betrayed and everyone who loved him and who he claimed to love he abandoned. and in the end everything he built and everything he said meant nothing. it was all for nothing. the people he used and abused and manipulated became nothing to him. and he’s just smoke. he’s not a martyr. he’s not a relic. he’s not like arthur or hamish or john. he’s just words in the fucking wind.

#dutch van der linde #rdr2 #red dead redemption #red dead redemption 2 #arthur morgan #ahskshsksh I AM SO ANGRY WITH HIM ALL THE TIME #i love him I hate him I want to beat his face into the ground #if he so much as looks at Arthur I will stomp him to death with my hooves #ugh #what a good character #anyways this is actually an appreciation post it’s just that it’s appreciation for the complex way he was written #and this the complex way he makes me feel #that’s the good stuff

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classic-callahan · 3 months

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i can accept a lot of van der linde gang headcanons but y’all cannot look me in the eye and tell me that sean “rebel stock” macguire would have the unquestioning and unconditional loyalty required to side with Dutch ‘til the very end. pls be serious

#especially after he started using the wapiti tribe as pawns???#sean might’ve sided with dutch for longer than some #but i cannot be convinced that he wouldn’t be riding with arthur/sadie/charles/eagle flies when it came to that oil refinery ride #my boy would’ve TORCHED the place #rdr2 #sean macguire #mine

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sneakyboymerlin · 2 months

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random ask inspired by your post about gwaine being merlin's ride or die and how he was the only knight who went to see merlin released in 5x07. first of all so many points being made. second of all your tags about how leon probably led merlin's arrest were validating for me personally as someone who has always found leon a bit annoying. or at least, who's always found the accepted idea that leon is like this beacon of morality and goodness as really boring, canonically unrealistic and unimaginative. this is an unpopular opinion but i do kind of feel like the fandom's idea that all of the round table knights love/protect merlin is somewhat exaggerated. and esp irt to leon, i think it's potentially interesting to explore the way his loyalty to the throne, his personal code of chivalry, and the ideals he likely grew up with as a noble-born child of uther's camelot interact with each other. then again i truly do understand why no one wants to give him much thought as he is basically just a piece of stale white bread.

Gwaine is Merlin’s ride or die! There’s truly no one quite like it besides Will or maybe Lancelot. But what makes Gwaine unique here is a combination of beliefs/behaviors:

Gwaine never knew about Merlin’s magic! He saw how special he was without his gifts and his destiny. He saw it before Arthur’s life was in danger, just from being around him under casual, non-life-threatening circumstances.

Gwaine’s loyalties aren’t divided—or at least, as far as they are divided, he’s already prioritized Merlin above his other loyalties (whether that’s Arthur, Eira, Gaius, and by extension, maybe the greater good…)

Gwaine always implicitly trusts Merlin, even when he himself doesn’t have all the information… even when Merlin admits to Gwaine’s face that he is lying to him. This is why he assumes that Merlin is right about Gaius in 4x07, despite having no evidence. It’s also why he lets Merlin go in the Valley of the Fallen Kings. And it’s why he was the only one who believed Merlin didn’t do it in 5x07, as evidenced by his appearance in the cells.

The only time Gwaine questions Merlin is when Merlin is potentially endangering himself. He doesn’t ask any questions about why Merlin needs his protection in the Valley of the Fallen Kings. He only asks what they’re there for when Merlin tries to send him away.

Gwaine is the only one who’s still alive when Merlin needs him 💀💀💀 so by deduction…

Anyways, 5x07 is one of those rare episodes where it’s actually interesting to look at Leon! (Non-canon events notwithstanding—I once played a good game of Merlin-themed DND where someone made Leon interesting which, in the spirit of this post, is an impressive feat).

Now, in my personal opinion, Leon’s significance is over-inflated by fandom in the sense that the attention and depth his character receives is highly disproportionate to what we see of him in canon. I think the reason that Leon isn’t included much in canon isn’t because he’s being screwed over but, simply, his characterization narrows down what roles he can fit into.

His unquestioning loyalty to the crown means that he’s unlikely to ever prioritize protecting Merlin, and it shows that he has no issue with the ban on magic. Therefore, he fits well in 5x04 when he worries that Arthur is risking too much on his quest, and in 5x07 when he has Merlin arrested on the word of his queen alone. These two episodes provide a great contrast to Gwaine’s respective roles in them, where he stays behind when Merlin is injured in 5x04 and releases Merlin from the dungeons in 5x07.

This is why I posit that Gwaine and Leon are the perfect foils to each other. Both of them are unquestioningly loyal, protective, and caring towards the person/people they prioritize. However, for Gwaine, that person is Merlin, a “mere” servant, while for Leon, it’s the royals.

Gwaine’s devotion is towards his best friend—one irreplaceable person—while Leon’s is more of a distanced loyalty that follows a line of heirs (though Leon does show some preference to Arthur and Gwen, despite his steadfast loyalty to Uther). Leon also strikes me as a very methodical, rules-adhering fighter, which contrasts Gwaine’s more resourceful, bar brawl-based style.

And let’s never let ourselves forget that Gwaine and Leon’s first-ever interaction was when Leon—under Uther’s orders—arrested Gwaine for protecting Merlin! It’s a miracle they can tolerate each other on quests and patrols.

This difference seems to be the source of their tension in 4x08 as well. Under Lamia’s enchantment, Leon calls Merlin “nothing but a servant,” which Gwaine apparently takes offense to despite also being enchanted against Merlin:

Leon: Why don’t you watch what you’re doing?

Gwaine: Why don’t you watch your damn tongue?

Leon: You’d do well to learn some manners.

Gwaine: Nothing I can learn from you, Leon.

At this point, Leon has said nothing in this scene for these remarks to make much sense. However, Leon’s last line before this is where he insults Merlin. And as we know, Gwaine is no fan of nobles who devalue people for being servants.

So, imo, if you want to bring out Leon’s full potential: instead of turning him into a clone of Gwaine, fans can take his loyalty towards the royals to the exact opposite extreme. As Gwaine takes Merlin’s side, Leon takes Arthur’s >:)

#leon critical #sir gwaine #bbc merlin #merlin meta

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convex-solos · 2 years

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hi. time to talk about some of my general takes on convex, the vex and vex magic because i need to share my ramblings with the world (beware this might be. kinda long.)

The Vex

i guess i should start with the vex? yes. so basically vexes are a hivemind: sometimes i just refer to them as The Vex because they are a single entity to me. vexes are hedonistic, they are greedy and vicious creatures who only seek satisfaction for their own needs.

they’re bloodthirsty, sadistic, power-hungry and they thrive in chaos. vexes need an evoker, or at least someone to leach onto, to be bid to the physical world. they can possess people and only have complete loyalty to themselves and their evoker, no one else.

they are driven by their desires and are very volatile, moody and can be quite frivolous sometimes. dealing with them is tricky, they’re easy to anger.

ConVex

scar and cub have precise motivations for making a deal with the vex and become the convex.

cub is kind of like marlow’s dr. faustus, who in order to have access to all existing knowledge he makes a deal with the devil. yeah that’s cub. he’s a magician in the renaissance sense of the word, he sees the world as something ruled by laws that he can understand AND bend to his will.

as of scar, he joins first and foremost because of cub, he’d follow him to the end of the world (and vice versa). but that’s not the only reason, because the vex promises scar that his life, already very precarious, will be sustained by vex magic and as long as he’s bound to them he will not die. he accepts of course but there’s a catch: scar’s life is entirely in the vex’s hands (why else would he be so loyal to them?). the vex have control over cub’s life as well, but that bond is a lot less constricting than scar’s.

they also both have a penchant for violence and pranks. so it all works in their favor (if you don’t count the dubiously consensual possession in S5). in exchange for their bodies (literally) and their unquestioned loyalty they will have unlimited access to vex magic and become vexes themselves. so yeah they accept.

i also have this idea in my head that turning into a vex hurt A LOT because their dna (code??) was completely rewritten. so it’s gory and not pretty. they also ate each other’s hearts at some point because of freaky cult-ish vex rituals i guess.

scar and cub are soulbound after becoming vexes. since they were originally humans they now both have a physical and incorporeal form and they bound each other to the physical plane.

the vex took scar’s right eye and cub’s left one and replaced those with Their eyes to stake a claim on them and to bind them to the hivemind forever. yeah it’s a cult i cannot stress this enough. once a vex, always a vex.

it takes a while for them to get used to being possessed (they never remember much) but it’s evident that after S6 they become fully in control of their powers and magic (the masks aren’t necessary for magic anymore). i like to believe that it’s because they have proven their loyalty so now they can be more independent from the hivemind, but the line between the vex’s will and their own becomes progressively blurrier.

Vex Magic

ohhh vex magic is fun to talk about. so.

cub stated that vex magic it’s inherently powerful, as it’s stronger the more you believe in it. it’s pure, raw energy that only chosen ones can control and manipulate to their will (e.g. convex).

scar and cub’s wings are illusions (unless they need to fly obviously) but if you try to touch them you will quite literally get electrocuted. they can phase through walls and can turn into actual vexes (tiny little guys <3). they have cold blood, which is blue, fangs, claws and their skin has a kind of ashy undertone.

scar is more magically inclined than cub, but the latter makes it up in physical prowess and fighting skills, they perfectly balance each other in battle.

vex magic is addicting, it tastes sweet and scar and cub are naturally attracted to it. all shiny objects, especially diamonds and crystals, have a very similar taste to it so that’s why scar is so fond of eating them (cub eats them too but he does it when he thinks no one is looking). the same goes for cake of course.

vex magic also works like poison: they can influence their “preys” with it and basically paralyze and then kill them. it’s overall a very versatile magic that can be used for anything and everything if they try hard enough.

so yeahhh these are some of my major headcanons/views on my favorite little guys, feel free to ask about them though i’d love to talk about this more :)

#convex #goodtimeswithscar #cubfan135 #hermitcraft #tw cannibalism #why are you as a man following another man into a cult ???????

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w0rped-moss · 1 year

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I’ve seen a lot of people bashing c!punz for not pulling c!Dream back, but I don’t think that’s fair.

c!punz’s love meant unquestioning and unwavering loyalty and devotion. and that definitely helped c!Dream keep from destroying himself and everyone else for as long as he did. c!punz kept c!dream grounded and determined to keep fighting for acceptance and friendship.

c!punz’s love meant never questioning c!Dream. it meant staying by his side no matter what. but all c!Dream needed was someone to question him.

it’s not that c!punz thought c!Dream was too far gone. It’s that c!punz never thought to ask or regret. He’s a mercenary. His job is not to regret what he does. and at least when c!dream went down, he went down with someone who loved him no matter what.

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hermeticphoenix · 3 months

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Pitfalls in Spirituality and How to Overcome Them

Spiritual communities and practices offer opportunities for growth, connection, and self-discovery. However, they are not immune to pitfalls and challenges. Recognizing and addressing these issues is essential for fostering healthy and transformative spiritual experiences. So let's explore the ten common pitfalls in spiritual communities/practices and how to address them.

1. Dogma and Rigidity

One of the most significant pitfalls in spiritual communities is the tendency towards dogma and rigidity. When beliefs become fixed and unquestionable, it can hinder individual growth and discourage open-minded exploration. To counteract this, cultivate an attitude of curiosity and openness to new ideas. Embrace diversity of thought and engage in respectful dialogue with those who hold differing beliefs.

2. Ego Inflation

Spiritual practices aimed at personal growth can sometimes lead to ego inflation, where individuals develop a sense of superiority or self-righteousness. To address this, cultivate humility and self-awareness. Recognize that spiritual growth is a lifelong journey, and no one has all the answers. Practice empathy and compassion towards others, recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of every individual.

3. Spiritual Bypassing

Spiritual bypassing occurs when individuals use spiritual beliefs or practices to avoid dealing with underlying psychological issues or real-world problems. To avoid this pitfall, prioritize inner healing and self-awareness. Be willing to confront difficult emotions and experiences with honesty and courage. Seek support from qualified professionals or mentors who can provide guidance and assistance on your healing journey.

4. Exploitation and Manipulation

Unfortunately, some spiritual leaders, influencers, or communities may exploit their followers for personal gain or power. To protect yourself from exploitation, maintain healthy boundaries and exercise discernment. Trust your intuition and pay attention to any red flags or inconsistencies in the behavior of spiritual leaders or communities. Seek out sources of guidance and support that prioritize integrity, transparency, and accountability.

5. Lack of Critical Thinking

Blind faith or adherence to spiritual teachings without critical examination can lead to susceptibility to manipulation or misinformation. To cultivate discernment and critical thinking skills, engage in independent research and exploration. Question assumptions and beliefs, seeking evidence and logical reasoning to support your understanding. Remember that spiritual growth involves ongoing inquiry and self-reflection.

6. Cult-like Dynamics

In extreme cases, spiritual communities can exhibit cult-like dynamics, where individuals are subjected to undue influence or control. To protect yourself from cult-like dynamics, maintain autonomy and independence of thought. Be wary of groups or leaders that demand unquestioning loyalty or obedience. Seek out communities that encourage free expression, individuality, and mutual respect.

7. Judgment and Exclusivity

Some spiritual communities may foster a judgmental or exclusive attitude towards those who don't adhere to their beliefs or practices. To counteract this, cultivate compassion and acceptance towards others. Embrace diversity and celebrate the unique contributions of individuals from all walks of life. Practice active listening and empathy, seeking to understand the perspectives and experiences of others without judgment.

8. Unbalanced Focus on Positivity

While positivity can be beneficial, an unbalanced focus on positivity can lead to the denial or suppression of difficult emotions or experiences. To cultivate emotional resilience and authenticity, embrace the full spectrum of human emotions. Allow yourself to feel and express sadness, anger, fear, and other challenging emotions without judgment. Practice self-compassion and self-care, prioritizing your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

9. Lack of Accountability

Spiritual leaders or communities may lack mechanisms for accountability or ethical oversight, leading to abuses of power or misconduct. To advocate for accountability and transparency, speak up against injustices or abuses when you witness them. Support initiatives and organizations that prioritize integrity and ethical leadership. Encourage open dialogue and constructive feedback within spiritual communities, fostering a culture of accountability and responsibility.

10. Cultural Appropriation

Borrowing or adopting spiritual practices from marginalized cultures without proper understanding or respect can be harmful and disrespectful. To honor cultural diversity and promote cultural sensitivity, educate yourself about the origins and significance of spiritual practices. Seek permission and guidance from cultural elders or practitioners when engaging with traditions outside of your own cultural heritage. Practice humility, recognizing that spiritual wisdom is found in all cultures and traditions.

When we recognize and address these challenges with wisdom and resilience, we empower ourselves to overcome obstacles, deepen our understanding, and cultivate genuine transformation. Remember, it's not the absence of challenges that defines our spiritual journey, but rather our ability to rise above them with compassion and determination. With each step forward, may we continue to illuminate the path for ourselves and others, forging ahead on the quest for truth, authenticity, and spiritual fulfillment.

#spirituality #spiritual knowledge #spiritualguidance #occult #magick #esoteric

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sokkastyles · 1 year

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Examining the way that various characters define loyalty. In “The Storm,” Zuko defines the plan in the war meeting as a betrayal:

Young Zuko[Zuko is shown standing up.] You can't sacrifice an entire division like that! Those soldiers love and defend our nation! How can you betray them?

Then, when faced with his father in the agni kai, defines himself as loyal to Ozai:

Young Zuko[Frontal shot; kneels on his knees and forearms, while looking at the floor.] I meant you no disrespect. [Gazes up at his father, tears shimmering in his eyes as his voice starts to waver.] I am your loyal son.

An idea that Zhao uses to question Zuko later, implying that Zuko’s status as banished means there is cause to question his loyalty:

Zhao: Prince Zuko, the Avatar is the only one who can stop the Fire Nation from winning this war. If you have an ounce of loyalty left, you'll tell me what you found.

It’s also Zuko’s association with Iroh that calls his loyalty into question, as Iroh himself is known as disgraced:

Zhao: General Iroh, why am I not surprised to discover your treachery?

Iroh: I'm no traitor, Zhao, the Fire Nation needs the moon, too; we all depend on the balance.

Iroh defines loyalty in an entirely different way, though.

Ozai: Iroh is a traitor, and your brother Zuko is a failure. I have a task for you.

Again we have the idea that Iroh is treacherous, but notably Ozai does not tell Azula that Zuko is also a traitor, but a failure. If Zuko were branded a traitor, Ozai would have to admit losing his control over him, since Zuko’s belief that he needs to regain his honor in his father’s eyes is what keeps him loyal. Better a failure than a traitor. No matter how much Ozai puts down Zuko, he needs Zuko to be his scapegoat, so he also needs to keep Zuko loyal to him. It also helps Ozai maintain his control over Azula as well, because Zuko serves as the example of what happens if you fail to keep being the golden child, and it’s how Azula defines herself, as not Zuko (until the end of the series, that is).

Azula: I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle. But Zuko, Prince Zuko, you're a lot of things, but you're not a traitor, are you?

Azula also needs to believe that Zuko wants desperately to come home, to be accepted back into the fold, and that’s part of why she needs him to side with her in Ba Sing Se. Zuko carving a life out for himself (with Iroh the traitor, no less) in Ba Sing Se is a threat to her entire worldview, because in order for her to be the golden child, Zuko has to be the scapegoat. If Zuko chooses to leave that dynamic, not only is it a threat to her superiority, but a threat to her belief that her father is right and good and that there is nothing better than the life she has with Ozai. Azula also tells her mother in the finale that fear is the only way to maintain loyalty, that trust is for fools.

Zhao, Ozai, and Azula define loyalty in similar ways, loyalty to Ozai, loyalty to the regime, unquestioning loyalty in response to control through fear of being branded the other and ostracized by the regime.

Both Iroh and Zuko define loyalty to the people of the Fire Nation rather than the Fire Lord. Zuko was against betraying soldiers who served his nation loyally. Iroh said that the Fire Nation also needed balance to be maintained. This is also why Zuko and Iroh have a better concept of statecraft and a leader’s obligation to the people of their nation than Ozai, Azula, or Zhao do.

#zuko #iroh #ozai #azula #zhao #atla meta

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running-with-the-feels · 4 months

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hello :3 you are. very very cool to me. and i love your mk content. i must ask you. do you have any jade headcanons? she is one of my fav characters and i don't see her enough :((

tysm! I have a few for her, but I don't know her character that well so this might be a short list

never wanted to be an assassin. Though she takes great pride in her skills and does enjoy kombat to an extent, Jade always secretly wanted to be a diplomat.

In her youth she was often punished by Shao Kahn for speaking out of turn bc she'd suggest diplomatice solutions to various problems, even though he'd use them later

Actually doesn't hate Mileena. She doesn't like her, to be clear, and they won't ever be friends, but as far as Jade is concerned Mileena is as much a victim of Shao Kahn as anyone else and while she has to be stopped as she's becoming him, if Mileena had a change of heart and tried to redeem herself, Jade would welcome her

Jade also secretly thinks that Kitana and Mileena are very similar as Mileena is only slightly more bloodthirsty than Kitana was when she was still under the sway of Shao Kahn's manipulations. She's never said this to the princess, however, as she knows it will not be received well.

Hates Kung Lao bc she finds him rude and disrespectful. She doesn't understand why Kitana tolerates him.

Indifferent to Liu Kang, but watching him to make sure he doesn't hurt Kitana

She and Kitana are ride or die, Jade was raised with the sole purpose of defending Kitana as a bodyguard, later becoming an assassin when Kitana was old enough to defend herself. Jade would do anything for Kitana and feel no remorse about it

Jade is also older than Kitana by quite a few years, and can actually remember bits of Edenia from before the conquest. She's not sure if these memories are real or not tho, but she clings to them regardless

She and Kotal had a secret romance in Shao Kahn's court as they didn't want to risk being used against one another. It was the court's worst kept secret but everyone just humored them as their loyalty to Shao Kahn was unquestioned at the time

Kotal showers her in gifts and affection and praise and she doesn't know how to accept it

Jade dislikes Skarlet bc while Kitana, Jade, and Mileena were raised by Shao Kahn (in as much as Mileena was raised by anyone) and thus indoctrinated in his cruelty from birth, Skarlet was adopted into the court in her early teens and had suffered bc of Shao Kahn's cruelty all her life. As far as Jade is concerned, Skarlet was the best person to try and break the system out of all of them as she should have been able to see that it was wrong where Jade and Kitana were blinded by manipulation. That Skarlet chose to uphold the system instead is unforgivable

That's all I can think of rn, but lemme know if you want more or if you have any hcs you'd like to share!

#Jade mk #mortal kombat #mortal kombat x #mortal kombat 11

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mibibosartblog · 8 months

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Jim accepts an offer of power and status by the Queen, in exchange for his unquestioning loyalty. Milla refuses to support him in this decision, and leaves. While Jim is now technically free to pursue a relationship with the Queen, he’s isolated in a world he has little familiarity with. For all his fame and influence, with the Terran Empire looking to him with bated breath, there’s something missing...

Sensing his need for comfort, Morph turns into a miniature Milla. That’s when he breaks. He screwed up. He screwed up bad.

This isn’t necessarily “canon,” for the moment just an idea I’m playing around with.

The background was supposed to be just a regular fireplace, but then it somehow turned into a flaming lotus/pinecone inside a forcefield? Still fiddling with a lot of ideas, definitely a candidate for a redraw. Admittedly this was initially Hellfire (HoND) inspired, like a “what if Jim turned into a REALLY bad guy?” but then it turned out sad instead. I think it works better, though.

#artists on tumblr #treasure planet #treasure planet fanart #Battle at Procyon #jim hawkins #self insert #morph

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class1akids · 1 year

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In reaction to a meta which I largely agree with in the sense that the kids can make a difference by acting on their true feelings, I also want to talk about why I believe they haven’t yet:

Let’s not forget that they are still literal CHILDREN (if that excuse works for the villains, it should not be forgotten when it comes to the hero kids too) who had no time to process the trauma of the previous war, the loss, the destruction, the feeling that it was somehow their failure too. So they are determined this time to make things right and bring back things, but even better - but they obviously have no plan of their own.

Deku returned to UA less than a week ago, the kids have been on endless patrols and let’s not forget - they did not call the shots for this plan. They weren’t even consulted on it. The people who cooked it up were: All Might, Hawks and Aizawa - two of them are their teachers they trust and especially All Might is the unquestioned moral authority figure of their lives. The Symbol of Peace - basically a demi-god of their society who is still perceived as someone who hasn’t done anything wrong, who still hasn’t really been challenged in the way Endeavor or Hawks have..

The kids were told of the plan one day before the actual fight when everything was ready - we still didn’t see much of what went down during the meeting, but we saw their faces after the debriefing - and it wasn’t happy.

Did they maybe argue? We don’t know yet. But even if they didn’t, I think it’s perfectly normal that they didn’t trust their own feelings in that moment. The people who sacrificed everything to protect them so far asked this from them. Let’s not forget, that from the perspective of these kids, All Might, Aizawa and Hawks are heroes who protected and saved them. Deku especially is carrying on his back the hopes of all of Japan and there is nowhere to hide from the fact that if he fails, it’s full destruction for millions.

As for Shouto, he didn’t ask his father to change plans because doing so would have increased the burden on Deku and the other heroes and his loyalties are rightfully split between his family and his friends. But let’s not forget the full month he was asking Endeavor constantly to go find Touya. The clock has been run down, they got their marching orders, and that was it.

All they could do was actually have some ideas for mitigating the harm - like Shouto who developed something that could stop Touya without burning him to death. Which was a hero solution - but still shows that he put a lot of thought into how he could deal with the situation doing right by everyone.

Now that the plan has pretty much fallen apart, they’ll get the chance to do things their way and act on their own feelings of empathy in a way it was not feasible for them while the pro heroes were calling the shots.

They have multiple allegiances and the tension between the duty and desire to save and protect civilians and their mentors and teachers, and their empathy towards their villains create a tension inside them that will explode into a paradigm shift when there is no hope anymore that it can be done the adults’ way.

They have to see first that no matter how perfect the plan is, the old way won’t hold up, before people will be open to accept the new way.

#just some thoughts #hero kids #todoroki shouto #midoriya izuku #uraraka ochako

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howieabel · 10 months

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“As a rule, white abolitionists either defended the industrial capitalists or expressed no conscious class loyalty at all. This unquestioning acceptance of the capitalist economic system was evident in the program of the women’s rights movement as well. If most abolitionists viewed slavery as a nasty blemish which needed to be eliminated, most women’s righters viewed male supremacy in a similar manner—as an immoral flaw in their otherwise acceptable society. The leaders of the women’s rights movement did not suspect that the enslavement of Black people in the South, the economic exploitation of Northern workers and the social oppression of women might be systematically related. Within” ― Angela Y. Davis, Women, Race, & Class

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winwin17 · 7 months

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Mogtober Day 5:

(a little late, sorry)

Prompt: Favorite Unit 919 member

I don't really make art, so this is just going to be a short discussion for this Mogtober prompt.

Anyway, favorite 919 member!

It's kinda hard to choose just one, because they're all so interesting or cute or funny. But for me, I think it narrows down easily into the main trio, since they're naturally the ones who get the most page time. Obviously Morrigan is one of the contenders, because she's the protag, and I also relate to her a lot, etc. I know Cadence is also a popular choice. She went from cold to warm in her friendship with Morrigan, and her unique knack of mesmerism makes her fascinating and even entertaining, especially since some of her actions are, well, morally gray.

But I think I'd probably have to say my favorite is Hawthorne. Yes, Morrigan is easy to like because she's the main character, but choosing her as such almost seems like liking yourself. And Cadence is easy to like because she's mysterious and a former opponent to Mog. But Hawthorne is just ... Hawthorne.

He's hilarious and delightful and full of never-ending enthusiasm, but not like in the annoying overly-sunny-disposition way, and his antics never cease to amuse. Unlike Morrigan, he has practically no fears, no inhibitions to do whatever he fancies or to keep him back from pursuing what he loves. And that kinda makes him complement her as a best friend even more. He encourages her and cheers for her, and genuinely never seems jealous of anyone. I like Hawthorne because he's all humor and pure childlike love and wonder and enthusiasm without being too juvenile for his age. When situations are awkward or there's tension in the Unit, that's when Hawthorne is going to pipe up with a humorous comment or observation. For people like Morrigan (and me) who may tend to a more melancholic temperament or hesitant, analytical outlook, Hawthorne is a great spontaneous counterpart that brings just the right amount of unpredictability and flavor to a friendship dynamic.

And maybe one of the most impactful things about Hawthorne is what Morrigan notices more than once - that being his unquestioning acceptance of her for who she is. He doesn't criticize her or become afraid of her when he learns about her backstory with Squall and his shadows. He doesn't desert her when he learns he's been best friends with a Wundersmith this whole time, even though it might have seemed to be the most self-preservation choice. His loyalty is just there, out in the open, not going anywhere.

So for favorite Unit 919 member, my choice is Hawthorne Swift. Gotta love him.

#nevermoor #mogtober #mogtober2023 #hawthorne swift #unit 919 #nevermoor unit 919 #morrigan crow #nevermoor series

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