[plutau]

the ascendant & the imum coeli / part one

(part two)

part of how the ascendant manifests is due to the influences of the imum coeli (ic). the ascendant is our lens, our perspective on the world; the imum coeli is our family, our home, our roots. as we shape our lens, we seek out ways to compensate for the things we lacked from our imum coeli. this does not mean that everyone has a “bad” childhood, but rather that there is always something missing that encourages us to seek out our own path. 

it is not until we truly grow through the imum coeli, rather than seek ways to compensate for it, that we can grow into our midheaven.

aries rising: goal is to test their independence, seek self-confidence, and understand their own power; come off as bold and direct, seeking out ways to be noticed…

…with a gemini ic: to compensate for a childhood that may have restricted their movement in some way, on a physical or mental scale, that lead them to self-doubt and a sense of emotional isolation; to find confidence and direction.

…with a cancer ic: to compensate for a childhood that focused on the collective, where everything was done as a unit; to seek out ways that makes them an individual, and test the boundaries of the security they grew up with.

…with a leo ic: to compensate for a childhood where their self-esteem was predicated on how much attention and affection they received; to find their own confidence that doesn’t rely on a constant need for external validation.

taurus rising: goal is to seek means of self-reliability, to test their sense of self-worth, and understand the beauty in the world; come off as calm and patient, seeking out stability…

…with a cancer ic: to compensate for a childhood that may have been overly sensitive, or even emotionally volatile; to seek out ways to be a more grounded presence, and seek out paths that offer emotional stability.

…with a leo ic: to compensate for a childhood where their self-worth was reliant on how they could serve or entertain others; to become more self-reliant and build their confidence on the values they recognize in themselves.

…with a virgo ic: to compensate for a childhood that was built on perfectionism, feeling that despite all they did, they could never be enough; to seek ways to understand their inherent self-worth.

gemini rising: goal is to seek out mental and social connections, to test their curiosities, and understand their intelligence; come off as bright and anxious, seeking out multiple paths in life…

…with a leo ic: to compensate for a childhood that was overly reliant on external validation; to become more comfortable with their own mind and curiosities, and expand on their creative energy to gain internal confidence. 

…with a virgo ic: to compensate for a childhood where there was too much focus on a single path, or “one right way;” to build on their intelligence on their own terms, and free themselves to explore beyond the set boundaries.

…with a libra ic: to compensate for a childhood that was overly peaceful or diplomatic; to engage in the more chaotic side of the mind and think more for themselves, questioning the boundaries of what was deemed “fair.”

cancer rising: goal is to provide comfort for their loved ones, to test their emotional boundaries, and understand their vulnerabilities; come off as reserved and sensitive, seeking out trust with others…

…with a virgo ic: to compensate for a childhood that generated a sense of shame or guilt, where emotions were overly internalized; to become more secure in their own emotions, and provide an emotional soundboard for others.

…with a libra ic: to compensate for a childhood where personal emotions were set aside for overall peace; to understand that their own emotions are real and demand to be felt and acknowledged. 

…with a scorpio ic: to compensate for a childhood that was rife with emotional intensity, and perhaps called for self-protection; to nurture themselves and show gentleness with others, while creating emotional boundaries.

leo rising: goal is to test their confidence, to seek out grand endeavors, and to understand their leadership skills; come off as generous and energizing, seeking out attention and external validation…

…with a libra ic: to compensate for a childhood that left them overly dependent on the thoughts and actions of others; to branch out into their own creative endeavors and test their own boundaries of what they find beautiful.

…with a scorpio ic: to compensate for a childhood that made them unheard in some way, or otherwise put them in the dark; to become a light for others, perhaps with the hope that the light will reflect back onto themselves.

…with a sagittarius ic: to compensate for a childhood that weighed them with high expectations; to seek validation outside of the home, where efforts were not always acknowledged, and reach for excellence on their own terms. 

virgo rising: goal is to seek out productivity and routines, to understand their mind and body’s boundaries, and to test their emotional security; come off as meticulous and trustworthy, seeking out things to “fix”…

…with a scorpio ic: to compensate for a childhood that was disruptive and wrapped up in emotional intensity; to create routines and sink into intellectual pursuits to achieve a sense of stability and personal control.

…with a sagittarius ic: to compensate for a childhood that was flighty or otherwise inconsistent; to create control in the form of criticism and rigorous self-care, and create consistency in their surroundings through routine.

…with a capricorn ic: to compensate for a childhood where they lost themselves in growing up too fast, or taking on too much responsibility; to build self-awareness on a mental and physical level and realign with personal needs.

[80slesbiab]

Kate McKinnon getting her hair pulled by a pornstar Nina Hartley

[philosophical-wanton]

I actually love this so much 😂

[lesmoans]

i will ALWAYS love this,, kate is adorable

[badgirlformasterjj-deactivated2]

PSA!

[kittyandbaggy]

😹😹😹

[foxyshadow]

That is absolutely the best reaction

[hedonist-woman]

Take notes, y'all. This really is quite sexy to do and receive.

[instructor144]

PSA.

[siriuslydandy]

YESSSS

[thoodleoo]

hades explaining that he’s the god of the dead, not the god of death

[moonlitlillypop]

Thanatos explaining that he’s the god of death, not hades

[moonlitlillypop]

Thanatos explaining that it applies to animals too

[mando-lore]

Poseidon explaining that he is the god of the seas and oceans

[sokkable]

NATLA will reportedly be darker, with more romance, sex, and blood

The source is not exactly trustworthy, so take it with a grain of salt

LMFAO I CANT

[carolinskyy]

They gonna make zuko the main character I just know it

[sokkable]

BET. You just know Zuko is gonna get way more screen time and that he’ll be likable and not too bad from thestart so his redemption doesn’t feel satisfying ✨✨. Also they’re somehow gonna paint Aang into a villain, as if it’s his fault the war happened 💫🧚‍♀️. Instead of Sokka being funny and clumsy he’s gonna be angsty and shielded 🥵. And Katara will be sweet 💕👩‍🦲 but also sassy 💁🏻‍♀️ cause she don’t need no man - except for Zuko 😣 who sweeps her off her feet 😱. Aang gets jealous 😡 and runs away 😖 and Zuko and Katara decide they can’t be together 😢 until the war is over 😒 because it’ll only cause trouble 😥… Aang comes back 😌 but is angrier cause he got rejected 🥺 and Katara makes this speech about how she doesn’t belong to him 😍. All the while Sokka and Suki get 3 smashing scenes per episode 😩.

[thecharacterchick]

Your Character’s Personality

Personality is the most important thing about your character.

So, whenever I see character sheets, most people just put a little paragraph for that section. If you’re struggling and don’t know what your character should say or do, what decisions they should make, I guarantee you that this is the problem.

You know your character’s name, age, race, sexuality, height, weight, eye color, hair color, their parents’ and siblings’ names. But these are not the things that truly matter about them.

Traits: 

pick traits that don’t necessarily go together. For example, someone who is controlling, aggressive and vain can also be generous, sensitive and soft-spoken. Characters need to have at least one flaw that really impacts how they interact with others. Positive traits can work as flaws, too. It is advised that you pick at least ten traits

people are complex, full of contradictions, and please forgive me if this makes anyone uncomfortable, but even bullies can be “nice” people. Anyone can be a “bad” person, even someone who is polite, kind, helpful or timid can also be narcissistic, annoying, inconsiderate and a liar. People are not just “evil” or “good”

Beliefs:

ideas or thoughts that your character has or thinks about the world, society, others or themselves, even without proof or evidence, or which may or may not be true. Beliefs can contradict their values, motives, self-image, etc. For example, the belief that they are an awesome and responsible person when their traits are lazy, irresponsible and shallow. Their self-image and any beliefs they have about themselves may or may not be similar/the same. They might have a poor self-image, but still believe they’re better than everybody else

Values:

what your character thinks is important. Usually influenced by beliefs, their self-image, their history, etc. Some values may contradict their beliefs, wants, traits, or even other values. For example, your character may value being respect, but one of their traits is disrespectful. It is advised you list at least two values, and know which one they value more. For example, your character values justice and family. Their sister tells them she just stole $200 from her teacher’s wallet. Do they tell on her, or do they let her keep the money: justice, or family? Either way, your character probably has some negative feelings, guilt, anger, etc., over betraying their other value

Motives:

what your character wants. It can be abstract or something tangible. For example, wanting to be adored or wanting that job to pay for their father’s medication. Motives can contradict their beliefs, traits, values, behavior, or even other motives. For example, your character may want to be a good person, but their traits are selfish, manipulative, and narcissistic. Motives can be long term or short term. Everyone has wants, whether they realize it or not. You can write “they don’t know what they want,” but you should know. It is advised that you list at least one abstract want

Recurring Feelings:

feelings that they have throughout most of their life. If you put them down as a trait, it is likely they are also recurring feelings. For example, depressed, lonely, happy, etc.

Self Image:

what the character thinks of themselves: their self-esteem. Some character are proud of themselves, others are ashamed of themselves, etc. They may think they are not good enough, or think they are the smartest person in the world. Their self-image can contradict their beliefs, traits, values, behavior, motives, etc. For example, if their self-image is poor, they can still be a cheerful or optimistic person. If they have a positive self-image, they can still be a depressed or negative person. How they picture themselves may or may not be true: maybe they think they’re a horrible person, when they are, in fact, very considerate, helpful, kind, generous, patient, etc. They still have flaws, but flaws don’t necessarily make you a terrible person

Behavior:

how the character’s traits, values, beliefs, self-image, etc., are outwardly displayed: how they act. For example, two characters may have the trait “angry” but they all probably express it differently. One character may be quiet and want to be left alone when they are angry, the other could become verbally aggressive. If your character is a liar, do they pause before lying, or do they suddenly speak very carefully when they normally don’t? Someone who is inconsiderate may have issues with boundaries or eat the last piece of pizza in the fridge when they knew it wasn’t theirs. Behavior is extremely important and it is advised you think long and hard about your character’s actions and what exactly it shows about them

Demeanor:

their general mood and disposition. Maybe they’re usually quiet, cheerful, moody, or irritable, etc.

Posture:

a secondary part of your character’s personality: not as important as everything else. It is advised you fill this out after. Posture is how the character carries themselves. For example, perhaps they swing their arms and keep their shoulders back while they walk, which seems to be the posture of a confident person, so when they sit, their legs are probably open. Another character may slump and have their arms folded when they’re sitting, and when they’re walking, perhaps they drag their feet and look at the ground

Speech Pattern:

a secondary part of your character’s personality: not as important as everything else. It is advised you fill this out after. Speech patterns can be words that your character uses frequently, if they speak clearly, what sort of grammar they use, if they have a wide vocabulary, a small vocabulary, if it’s sophisticated, crude, stammering, repeating themselves, etc. I personally don’t have a very wide vocabulary, if you could tell

Hobbies:

a secondary part of your character’s personality: not as important as everything else. It is advised you fill this out after. Hobbies can include things like drawing, writing, playing an instrument, collecting rocks, collecting tea cups, etc.

Quirks:

a secondary part of your character’s personality, not as important as everything else. It is advised you fill this out after. Quirks are behaviors that are unique to your character. For example, I personally always put my socks on inside out and check the ceiling for spiders a few times a day

Likes:

a secondary part of your character’s personality, not as important as everything else. It is advised you fill this out after. Likes and dislikes are usually connected to the rest of their personality, but not necessarily. For example, if your character likes to do other people’s homework, maybe it’s because they want to be appreciated

Dislikes:

a secondary part of your character’s personality, not as important as everything else. It is advised you fill this out after. Likes and dislikes can also contradict the rest of their personality. For example, maybe one of your character’s traits is dishonest, but they dislike liars

History:

your character’s past that has key events that influence and shape their beliefs, values, behavior, wants, self-image, etc. Events written down should imply or explain why they are the way they are. For example, if your character is distrustful, maybe they were lied to a lot by their parents when they were a child. Maybe they were in a relationship for twenty years and found out their partner was cheating on them the whole time. If their motive/want is to have positive attention, maybe their parents just didn’t praise them enough and focused too much on the negative

On Mental and Physical Disabilities or Illnesses

if your character experienced a trauma, it needs to have an affect on your character. Maybe they became more angry or impatient or critical of others. Maybe their beliefs on people changed to become “even bullies can be ‘nice’ people: anyone can be a ‘bad’ person”

people are not their illness or disability: it should not be their defining trait. I have health anxiety, but I’m still idealistic, lazy, considerate, impatient and occasionally spiteful; I still want to become an author; I still believe that people are generally good; I still value doing what make me feel comfortable; I still have a positive self-image; I’m still a person. You should fill out your character’s personality at least half-way before you even touch on the possibility of your character having a disability or illness

Generally everything about your character should connect, but hey, even twins that grew up in the same exact household have different personalities; they value different things, have different beliefs. Maybe one of them watched a movie that had a huge impact on them.

Not everything needs to be explained. Someone can be picky or fussy ever since they were little for no reason at all. Someone can be a negative person even if they grew up in a happy home.

I believe this is a thought out layout for making well-rounded OCs, antagonists and protagonists, whether they’re being created for a roleplay or for a book. This layout is also helpful for studying Canon Characters if you’re looking to accurately roleplay as them or write them in fanfiction or whatever.

I’m really excited to post this, so hopefully I didn’t miss anything important…

If you have any questions, feel free to send a message.

- Chick

[babyanimalgifs]

A massive grouper (toilet on the left for scale) 

(via)

[terrible-tentacle-theatre]

You think you know how big it’s gonna be, and you’re wrong

[teratomarty]

This is gorgeous. I love to think of this big lad, living in his sunken flat.

[elodieunderglass]

It was nice of him to invite us in

[virgils-thundercloud]

Zuko: [filming] Sokka, I think you should play the role of my father.

Sokka: I don’t want to be your father.

Zuko: That’s perfect, you already know your lines.

[i-was-talking-to-momo]

Azula and Mai and even Ty Lee herself all seem equally shocked when Ty Lee betrays Azula and each of their reactions absolutely destroys me emotionally, but you know what no one talks about? ZUKO’s reaction.

So reviewing the situation:

Mai was fully expecting to die, and had accepted it. Azula was clearly getting ready to shoot lightning at her and Mai was about to die alone, so that someone who had already completely abanoned her once could survive, and she was absolutely pissed off by how unfair that was, but she still decided she’d rather be killed for helping Zuko than continue to sit quietly and be Azula’s puppet, and a split-second before she was killed, Ty Lee knocked Azula out and then Mai was alive and she wasn’t alone and, ugh, my entire heart is just shjddnnddjnd. Ty Lee didn’t even know if she would betray Azula until it was “act NOW or Mai is dead,” and Azula sure as heck wasn’t expecting both of her “friends” to turn on her at the last second, and she cared about and trusted Ty Lee way more than Mai, so Ty Lee’s betrayal just kind of shattered her and made her turn from anger to shock and sadness and she just yelled at the guards to take them away where she’d never have to see then again

But Zuko? He didn’t see this happen real time. He only saw Mai betray Azula, and he gets this really grim expression when he sees her, because he’s not stupid. He knows Azula’s wrath better than anyone else. He knows that Mai doesn’t have a way off of the island, or a way to escape. He knows that Mai is an amazing fighter and so strong, but he has every reason to believe that Azula would kill Mai for treason, because even Mai didn’t think she’d survive

But there was absolutely nothing Zuko could do. The gondala reached land, and waiting to watch would help no one, he needed to get Sokka and Suki and Hakoda to safety and make sure that Mai sacrifice wasn’t wasted and that no more of his friends died that day,

But I just,,,, this poor boy,,,

He got back home and Sokka had managed to rescue his girlfriend and they were being all cute and cuddly and Zuko?? Was convinced that Mai?? His literal best friend who he cares about so so much??? Had just died to save him??? After he specifically didn’t ask her if she wanted to join him on his quest because he just wanted to keep her safe????

And he couldn’t even talk to anyone about it because who was he going to tell?? Was he going to talk to Sokka or Suki and ruin their happiness and also put it on their consience??? Was he going to tell Katara who was still looking at him like she wanted him to die??? Was he going to unload his trauma on a literal 12 year old??

All he knows is that Azula shows up ALONE shortly afterward, looking even more feral and murderous than ever, and trying to murder him, which would remove any doubts that she’d definitely kill Mai, and all of Zuko’s reactions hit me so much harder when you realize that he thinks that Azula just murdered one of his only friends and he CAN’T let her kill any more of his friends

And then, when Mai comes back in the finale??? And he’s so happy???? I was always just a little confused by that, because he’s the firelord??? He could’ve easily just ordered her to be released? If he wanted her at his coronation he could’ve just asked??? But then I realized his surprise is just “oh my god you’re ALIVE” and I’m just djjdjdnd I’m not okay,,,,,,

[muffinlance]

OH SH--

[zukosturtleducks]

Mai is so fucking underrated i swear to god

[sparrowlucero]

“Dead Clade Walking” - a term for animals that are alive but from a functionally extinct species.

concept art 4 a horror comic about the dinosaurs that survived the initial meteor impact and are now living in a sort of last of us/annihilation-esque world

[blasting-silence]

Animals With Unusual Color Mutations ❤️

ʙɪᴄᴏʟᴏʀᴇᴅ ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴏᴄᴋ

ᴋɪɴɢ ᴄʜᴇᴇᴛᴀʜ

sᴘᴏᴛʟᴇss ᴄʜᴇᴇᴛᴀʜ

ᴘɪᴇʙᴀʟᴅ ᴄʀᴏᴡ

ʙʀᴏᴡɴ ᴢᴇʙʀᴀ

sᴘᴏᴛᴛᴇᴅ ᴢᴇʙʀᴀ

ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴢᴇʙʀᴀ

ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴛᴀʙʙʏ ᴛɪɢᴇʀ (sᴛʀᴀᴡʙᴇʀʀʏ ᴛɪɢᴇʀ)

ʙɪᴄᴏʟᴏʀᴇᴅ ᴄᴀʀᴅɪɴᴀʟ

ʙʀᴏᴡɴ ᴘᴀɴᴅᴀ

ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ᴇʟᴋ

ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴍᴏɴɢᴏᴏsᴇ

ᴇʀʏᴛʜʀɪsᴛɪᴄ ʙᴀᴅɢᴇʀ

ᴇʀʏᴛʜʀɪsᴛɪᴄ ʀᴀᴄᴏᴏɴ

ᴏʀᴀɴɢᴇ ᴀʟɪɢᴀᴛᴏʀ

ᴘɪᴇʙᴀʟᴅ ᴍᴏᴏsᴇ

ᴘɪɴᴋ ᴅᴏʟᴘʜɪɴ

ᴘɪᴇʙᴀʟᴅ sǫᴜɪʀʀᴇʟ

ᴘɪᴇʙᴀʟᴅ ᴅᴇᴇʀ

sᴛʀᴀᴡʙᴇʀʀʏ ʟᴇᴏᴘᴀʀᴅ

ᴇʀʏᴛʜʀɪsᴛɪᴄ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ʙᴀᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴊᴀᴄᴋᴀʟ

[that-twink-over-there]

Shiny Pokemon

[uristmcdorf]

@elodieunderglass

[elodieunderglass]

Oh yes!

[astroismypassion]

ADVANCED MEANINGS OF THE HOUSES IN ASTROLOGY 💫✨⭐️

Credit: Tumblr blog @astroismypassion

🌟 1ST HOUSE 🌟

path through life, basic self, early environment, beginnings, subjective self awareness, our effect on others, the way you operate, vitality, demeanour

🍒 2ND HOUSE 🍒

family life, food/drink, teeth, planning, work ethic, inner wealth, what you bring to the table, your unique talents, the will to live, self esteem, how you use your material goods, greed

📝 3RD HOUSE 📝

competition, your logical mind, aunts and uncles, local transportation, relativity, local culture, primary and secondary education, apprenticeship, modern means of communication and all practical things

💙 4TH HOUSE 💙

academic degrees, destiny, influence of the father, soul’s intention, your final years, home, both the home native comes from and the one the native will set up

🎨 5TH HOUSE 🎨

recreation, escape from responsibilities, the urge to produce, the urge to be special, the urge to influence, colour

🌸 6TH HOUSE 🌸

what you can control, what you must do, underling (a person lower in status or rank), competence, elegance, unequal relationships, boundaries, the body-mind connection, helpfulness, self-discipline, behaviour at work, minor obligations, servitudes, lower-ranking co-workers, minor illnesses

👥 7TH HOUSE 👥

projected self, concern for others, mutual relationships, mutual commitments, socialization, what we project onto others, desires, the native’s behaviour towards other people

💋 8TH HOUSE 💋

letting go, career change, regeneration and renewal, partner’s values, self-regeneration, cynicism, sizing people up, idle curiosity, people watching, late afternoon, happy hour, sexual self-esteem, sexual self-respect, sexual self-control, celibacy, masturbation, feeling relaxed, feeling at ease, mutual interest, interest rates, rate of exchange, energy exchange, energy regulations, reiki, suicidal feelings, losing interest in life, jealousy, as an indicator of life desires, gratitude, sponsorships, fundraising, patrons, child support, unemployment benefits, pension, buying time, emotional responsibility, emotional accountability, the ability to recognize other people’s gifts, talent scout, talent agent, longevity, vulnerability, psychological transformation

⛵️ 9TH HOUSE ⛵️

Luck, devotion, journeys of the mind, collective thought, foreign languages, risk, cultural exchange, mental exploration, in-laws, the understanding of abstract topics

🏆 10TH HOUSE 🏆

visible actions, taking power, boss, publications, honors, long-term goals, experts, men, masculinity, guides, influence of the mother, native’s social elevation as compared to his family background, potential fame

🏵 11TH HOUSE 🏵

side hustles, eldest sibling, income from job/career, winnings, love received, our role in groups, originality, eccentricity, sudden events, surprises, gains, native’s protectors, the place native occupies within the group

💜 12TH HOUSE 💜

retreat, release, self-sabotage, enlightenment, far away lands, asceticism, your hidden strength, old age, limiting beliefs, closure, solitude, service to humanity, retreats from the world, repressed parts of oneself, self-sacrifice, the final stages of a project, surrender, separation from society, imagination, creativity, arts, film, dance, poetry, journals, frustration, limitations, serious illnesses

LEARN TO LOVE YOUR PLACEMENTS it’s what you have to take from this post.

Credit: Tumblr blog @astroismypassion

[eclipsednodes]

SHADOW WORK SIMPLIFIED

What is shadow work?

If I had to describe shadow work in one word, it would be introspection. Introspection is the examination of your own mental state and is necessary in order to learn more about your fundamental nature. Although it may sound off-putting and even scary at first, shadow work is a necessary component in the process of healing. We all have aspects of ourselves that we’ve rejected and hidden away out of fear. Through shadow work, we’re able to reflect on our thoughts, emotions, and habits so that we can find the root cause of our suffering and heal ourselves. By reincorporating those aspects of ourselves that we’ve denied, we feel more fulfilled and can begin to love ourselves fully. 

Where does shadow work come from? 

The concept of the shadow self comes from Carl Jung who believed that our shadow self is the subconscious aspect, or “dark side”, of our personality that our conscious ego doesn’t identify with. However, I would like to clarify that “dark” does not imply or equate with bad. That which resides outside of our consciousness can be either good or bad, but aren’t inherently reflective of our value or “goodness” as a person. 

Although these repressed aspects of ourselves can manifest negatively, it isn’t because those parts of us are “bad”, but that the process of repression is inherently painful and toxic. This is reflected by Jung when he states, “Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is.” He believed that until we’ve merged our conscious and subconscious selves, that our conscious would be “the slave of the autonomous shadow”. This is due to the shadow self overwhelming our conscious selves by falling victim to our own self-imposed traps. 

Through assimilating this shadow self, not over-identifying with it, Jung believed we go through the process of enantiodromia, thereby integrating the subconscious by reincorporating our shadow selves into our personality and allowing us to solidify ourselves through wholeness. He best described this by stating “assimilation of the shadow gives a man body, so to speak.” However, don’t fall into the misconception that shadow work is a short-term practice. Shadow work is a continuous practice and integration of the shadow self is a will take place throughout your life.

How do I do shadow work?

In the last question, I identified that practicing self-reflection is a key component of shadow work, but what does that mean? What am I supposed to be reflecting on? Well, the first thing that you should focus on is being present throughout the day. Identify feelings that come up throughout the day and observe them objectively. What situation or interaction triggered these emotions? How did I react to those emotions? Were my emotions controlling me or was I in control of my emotions? Why did this situation or interaction cause me to feel this way? How did I cope with those feelings (self-harming, lashing out at others, communicating my feelings, journalling, etc.)? Did I punish myself for getting upset? If so, why? 

There are numerous ways to reflect on your feelings and experiences in order to get a better understanding of yourself. Through evaluating how you react to situations, which situations upset you, and how you managed those feelings, you’re able to build the foundation to understanding your emotions and bridge the gap between your subconscious and conscious mind.

Once you’ve done this, you’ll find that the emotions you feel in the present are reflective of unhealed emotions from your past. Perhaps the reason you feel that you’re unable to set boundaries as an adult is because as a child, your parents never respected your boundaries by going through your phone or diary, yelling at you when you said no to a request, forcing you into situations that made you feel you had no choice. 

By identifying the root cause of your emotional pain, you’re able to address it in the present and heal from the trauma. The simplest way that I’ve found to address them is through journalling. You can purchase a physical journal or even use your notes app, either way, you’re writing out your feelings and reflections to gain deeper insight. It’s important to remember that this looks different for anyone and that the best way to approach shadow work is by doing what feels most natural! You can choose to stick to self-reflective journal prompts, vent about whatever is upsetting you, write letters to whoever has hurt you, etc. Ultimately, you can guide yourself based off of what you feel you need and where you are in your journey.

What parts of yourself do you find yourself rejecting the most? Many of us have experienced the pain of rejection in some aspects of our lives and sometimes, it’s incredibly painful and leaves us with long-lasting wounds. We end up going through our lives carrying baggage that we don’t even know we have! Many times, I’ve found myself wondering why I felt so repulsed by aspects of myself and why I felt so strongly that they needed to be locked away forever. I couldn’t allow myself or others to see my truest self, my whole self, out of fear. I was scared of being rejected, shamed, humiliated by the people around me. I was scared of hurting other people by being myself and of being hurt by others. That’s no way to live, is it? When we tell ourselves that aspects of ourselves aren’t good enough, we end up going through life devaluing ourself. We’ve broken our own trust by rejecting ourselves, we’ve told ourselves that we aren’t good enough or worthy of love. In shadow work, you’re called to go inward and unpack everything that we’ve kept hidden for years and sometimes even decades. 

Bring the parts of yourself that you’ve repressed to the surface and nourish them with love, allow yourself to see that ALL OF YOU is deserving of love and support. For you, that could mean unlearning your unhealthy beliefs about food or eating, allowing yourself to be emotional around the people you love (despite how much you were told that you were too emotional, a crybaby, too sensitive in the past), allowing yourself to relax without feeling guilty about not being productive because you recognize your needs (even though you feel your sense of worth is tied to being productive at the cost of your own health).

Common misconceptions about shadow work?

Shadow work is evil or bad, the shadow is evil or bad 

The purpose of shadow work is healing through working with your subconscious to release repressed aspects of yourself and heal from painful, traumatic experiences. Your shadow side is simply your unconscious and to believe that it’s bad is to believe that you are bad. It’s merely the part of yourself that you aren’t aware of consciously and shouldn’t be feared. 

Certain emotions are “bad”

When you let go of the idea that emotions are either good or bad, you’ll allow yourself to just be and stop putting so much pressure on yourself to feel “good” all of the time. Happiness isn’t a constant state of being so stop expecting to be all of the time, we have a range of emotions for a reason so stop being ashamed of them. Your feelings are natural and if you feel like they’re out of control and something to be ashamed of, there is nothing wrong with that! It’s okay to feel like your emotions are controlling you because that isn’t permanent. Your feelings aren’t permanent and are completely manageable with proper guidance! The reason you feel like your emotions are controlling you is because you probably don’t have the knowledge to cope with them in an effective and healthy way. It’s helpful to sit with your emotions alone and look at them objectively without placing any judgement on them, this will help you calm down and assess your feelings. From there, you can identify what you need to relax and recover as well as acknowledge to yourself that your feelings are natural. When you stop categorizing your emotions as bad, they’re no longer shameful to experience and therefore you can see with better clarity how to cope with them and move on.

I’ve already released it so…

Why am I still upset?

Why does it still keep popping up in my head?

Why haven’t I moved on?

Why am I not making progress?

With the rise of self development and spirituality, I find that more and more people are rushing to complete their healing. Healing is a continuous, life-long cycle and not a destination. Putting the pressure on yourself to reach the place of ultimate healing is not only toxic, but it impedes your ability to actually heal anything. Healing is about love, compassion, and patience and it’s not going to happen according to a timeline. Allow yourself the time to experience your emotions, see them objectively, forgive yourself and others and move on without the pressure of expectations. 

 Another reason that you could be experiencing this is that despite the work you think you’ve done, it hasn’t been sufficient. I’ve found that a lot of journal prompts provided online are surface level at best and can be more pacifying than revealing. If you’re not feeling anything while doing your inner work, you’re not doing it correctly. Ultimately, this is about uncovering what makes us UNCOMFORTABLE and moving through those feelings. When you allow yourself to experience the sadness, hurt, anger, and/or frustration than you’re telling yourself that these feelings are okay and don’t need to be suppressed. The reality is that no matter what you’re feeling, you are allowed to experience those emotions and it’s only human! Unfortunately, many people associate lower vibrational emotions as bad, but this is a huge misconception! Telling yourself that anger, sadness, etc. are “bad” implies that you shouldn’t experience these emotions and that you have to get rid of them which is not only wrong, but unhealthy. There is no right or wrong emotions so don’t buy into the belief that you should feel a certain way, simply allow yourself to be and you’ll find that it’s much easier to navigate your emotions and needs. The only way to make it to the other side is by wading through the water, be patient and know that you’re feeling exactly what you should be. When you stop censoring yourself, you’ll discover a newfound sense of freedom and wholeness. 

 If you find yourself circling back to certain topics, for example, your ex-boyfriend than perhaps there are triggers in your environment that remind you of the situation, you have more that needs to be addressed that you may not have been ready for or aware of previously (hence why shadow work is a practice that is ongoing), or they’re representative of a deeper issue that you’re repressing. Whatever the cause is, the same methods as earlier will apply and can be discerned through your own intuition. 

What are some basic journal prompts that I can do?

What feelings come up when you think of ____?

How did that experience make you feel emotionally? How did it make you feel about yourself? How did it make you feel about the other person or people?

Write a letter to yourself, your inner child, the people who’ve hurt you, and the people you’ve hurt. Express how you feel honestly, without holding back and then forgive yourself and the other person.

If you could say anything to yourself or another person for closure, what would it be?

How have these situations and experiences impacted your mental health? How have they affected your belief system about yourself, other people, and the world?

What about yourself are you ashamed of? What about yourself are you embarrassed of? What about yourself makes you angry? What do you regret? Why do you feel this way about yourself and where do these feelings stem from?

What makes you feel most alone? What makes you feel most loved? How can you incorporate that knowledge into your life to make it better?

What’s the most hurtful thing someone has said or done to you? Why did it hurt you so much? How does it still affect you now? How can you heal from it and allow yourself to move on?

What do you need to forgive yourself for? What do you need to forgive others for?

Where do you feel you lack security in your life? Why? How does this impact your life and your relationships?

This is a list of generic prompts for you to start with, but feel free to message me if you need help with more specific topics or I can make another post altogether for journal prompts.

[deumnecavi]

“Healing is a continuous, life-long cycle and not a destination. Putting the pressure on yourself to reach the place of ultimate healing is not only toxic, but it impedes your ability to actually heal anything. Healing is about love, compassion, and patience and it’s not going to happen according to a timeline. Allow yourself the time to experience your emotions, see them objectively, forgive yourself and others and move on without the pressure of expectations.”

I’m somewhat familiar with shadow work and didn’t expect to cry reading this, but the quoted passage made me realize that I need to be much softer with myself. I am not mad for crying.

[whenerosmetpsyche]

do you have any tips for guessing a boy’s rising sign?

That’s a hard one. If you find yourself following them around and watching in awe, it’s masculine rising (or many masculine aspects). Telling them your life story, feminine (or many feminine aspects). Aries will feel rushed and forward. Direct. You’ll always feel like they’re in a rush to leave. Taurus feels laid back and sensual. They have soft features and nice voices. Gemini will leave you a bit dizzy with their talkativeness. They may be tall. Cancer rising feels like being gently hugged when you’re in their presence. Like hot cocoa. Leo has amazing hair and it’s like they have a gravitational pull towards them. They vibrate warmth. Virgos look younger, will be picky eaters, and will randomly point out things they notice about you or the situation. You may feel like they’re trying to handle you. Libra risings always feel a little too congenial to me. I get nervous when boys are overly friendly (they are great people, it just weirds me out in a boy). Scorpio risings have that quiet, stoic, but wise and intense look about them. Their faces are not expressive in any way. Sagittarius will have a reddish tint to their hair, roundish face, and a sociable, jovial way about them. A loud laugh and obvious sense of humor.  Capricorn risings will appear older (if young) or younger (if older). Their serious, sincere vibe can feel hyper controlled in a boy. Aquarius risings will approach you if intrigued and then flit off to someone else as they have a compulsive need to connect to everyone. Pisces risings have puppy dog eyes and draw you in with their earnest listening skills. You may notice that everyone instantly loves them, yet they don’t seem to care.

[astroismypassion]

This is such a good post!! 😆

Quality content👌🏻👌🏻

[benditlikekorra]

[x] Bonus:

[kaisketch]

I’ve been having bad days and drawing this helped me remember things.

I hope it helps you, too.

[butterflyinthewell]

I’m struggling hard right now. I needed this.

[alex-the-newt-deactivated202007]

Thank you

[lsosl]

Chidi Anagonye, the man who was literally killed by his indecisiveness, knew without any debate or advice that he was ready to move on, and was the first of the main cast to walk through the gate.

Jason Mendoza, the loud-mouthed dimwit whose idea of hell was a world where he was forced to be quiet and wise, spent thousands of cycles alone in contemplation of the universe, and sat patiently until he could provide his final act of kindness to the Not-Girl he loved.

Tahani Al-Jamil, the woman who needed constant validation for her achievements and talents, decided to spend the rest of (the foreseeable) eternity by sitting in the shadows and creating the simulations that would help others become their best selves.

Michael, a demon who by nature despised all of humanity, found his happiness in becoming a human, and in learning to grow and change for the better.

Janet, the AI who had no purpose other than to fein happiness and provide for anyone’s desires without question, learned to not only love but to think and feel for herself.

And of course, Eleanor Shellstrop, the woman who needed no one, who owed nobody anything, did not ever spend her time in the good place alone, and refused to walk through the gate until she made sure that everyone else she knew was happy first.

Each of them ended their stories with their original faults/sins resolving to become their greatest virtues, and these virtues became the things that gave them the peace to move on and be one with the universe. This show was absolutely beautiful and there won’t be anything quite like it.

[catchymemes]

Conditional Immortality of Lobsters

[guy]

this is metal af