My heart is broken for a nation full of such strong and loving people. I have friends in Ukraine, several of whom are married with little kids. I taught a class of middle school students there, so full of joy and excited to learn about the world. I met people who had fled their homes in the East, and been physically and emotionally traumatized by the war.
I wanted to share a handful of the photos I took in this beautiful country. My thoughts and my prayers are with everyone there, with those living outside of Ukraine worried for family members still there. May everyone stay safe, and stay strong. 💛 💙
In Finnish folklore, a person was thought to not just possess a single soul, but several different spiritual forces. All of which had unique roles in the whole being.
Henki was the literal life force that kept the body alive, as it was responsible for vital bodily functions and consciousness. This ancient word still appears in the modern Finnish expressions such as "henki pois" and "menettää henkensä" , both of which mean that someone has died. Traditionally, when a person passed away, it was important to open the windows of the house so their Henki could leave to the Underworld. Otherwise, the deceased would remain behind as a restless ghost that haunted the home.
Itse represented a person's identity; the self. It encompassed one's personality, temperament, and all the traits that made someone who they were. This belief was connected to the tradition of passing names down through generations. It was thought that the soul of a deceased relative could be reborn within a newborn child, if the child received that relative's name. Parents might therefore choose the name of a particularly brave, wise, or respected ancestor in the hopes that the child would inherit those same qualities.
Luonto or Haltija, was the part of the soul responsible for a person's health and well-being, sometimes thought to be an actual "guardian spirit". Illness, addiction, or psychological distress were thought to be signs that a person's Luonto had weakened or been lost. Some people were believed to be born with a particularly strong Luonto (vahvaluontoinen), enabling them to endure great hardships. While others were considered born "weak-minded" (heikkoluontoinen), making them more vulnerable to life's challenges.
Finally, Finns spoke of Etiäinen; the part of the person's soul that moved ahead in another timeline or layer of the universe. Etiäinen could appear as a premonition, omen, or the uncanny feeling of having already experienced a moment before it actually happened. People might hear someone's footsteps or voice before the person actually arrived, believing their Etiäinen arrived first. Even today, Finns sometimes say they get "etiäinen" which is the ominous feeling that something is about to happen.
In the context of Hetalia, I think this folklore belief would be a wonderful way for Finland to explain and construct his own immortality. It would make sense that he would believed his immortality or whole existence was the result of his multiple souls in action!
Many people are very fixated with the fact Stolas has a friend and I understand why. He's been so isolated, no positive relationships aside Octavia and his dysfunctional deal with Blitz. It's so good to see him connecting with someone else and expanding his circle.
But this is also a big deal for Moxxie. Sure, he wasn't as lonely as Stolas. He loves Millie and Blitz, but they are far more similar to each other than to him. Millie and Blitz are best friends for a reason. They both share their love for violence, and while they indulge Moxxie by watching musicals with him, they don't enjoy it at all. Now, with Stolas there, it's the first time Moxxie has someone with the same sensibilities and interests as him, a kindred spirit that will indulge him not only out of love, but out of the same passion for arts as he has. Vivzie said during an interview that Stolas was the piece that was missing in IMP and you have a good example as to why in this last short.
Man, that friendship was meant to be. I've always known their dynamic was gonna be something like we've seen today. I hope there is enough time to explore it more in the next season.
Gil: Be honest, are you dating me cause you're actually interested in me, or do you just want to fuck with your government?
Feliks: I don't think these two statements contradict each other
