Claire Keane
Sade Olutola
NASA
Kiana Khansmith
2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
šŖ¼
One Nice Bug Per Day
will byers stan first human second
KIROKAZE
No title available
Keni
styofa doing anything
pixel skylines
todays bird
wallacepolsom
oozey mess
sheepfilms
trying on a metaphor
Kaledo Art
seen from Malaysia
seen from Bulgaria
seen from United States
seen from United States
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seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
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seen from Israel
seen from Malaysia
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@snortscraft
Astronomical Event: There's a "planet parade" where six significant planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) are aligning in a graceful arc across the night sky. This is a rare celestial event visible from many parts of the Earth. You can see some of these planets with the naked eye, like Venus and Jupiter, while others like Uranus and Neptune might require a telescope for viewing.
š„ā¤ļøāš„š„
No thanks.
musk is going to die in a Tesla explosion in 6 months after sticking his nose where it doesn't belong and we will never get a conclusive answer on whether it was a CIA car bomb or just a normal Tesla malfunction
Like to charge, reblog to cast
Donāt forget that the US civil rights bill only passed after six weeks of rioting that were the direct result of MLKās murder. Peaceful protest paved the way, but violent protest got it over the finish line.
Itās understandable why the state would not want you know that, but thatās also why itās imperative that you do.
king's family doesn't "believe" the FBI killed him, they know it for fact because the FBI admitted to it in a civil case brought against them in the early 90s. the court documents are a matter of public record. read them yourself. the king family won that suit against the united states fucking government for assassinating martin luther king jr
My theory is that ghosts get their energy by sucking the oil out of door hinges. That's how you know a place is haunted. Because the doors creak, even if you've just oiled them. The ghosts suck the oil out.
Taglocks
What is a taglock?:
An object or item that represents a person, group, or business. Essentially it's an item that's used to tie spell work, ritual or other magickal practice to a target. They're often used for positive and negative magick.
Why are taglocks used?:
Not all workings need a taglock. They're often used by practitioners who are doing their spell casting remotely, often for people who aren't present for their workings. They're often used for people who want remote spells done for them. For example you're doing a spell for a friend who lives in a different country, you'll often use a taglock to attach them to that working because they aren't present. This also applies to spell work and ritual who's aimed at a particular person that aren't present for that working because they can't be there or they don't want to be there. It can also be used for those who don't want to carry around those spell items, the spell will still influence them though they don't have the physical objects on them.
If you're doing a long term spell for yourself and you don't want to carry around those spell objects or item 24/7 then you'd want to add a taglock to attach the energy of that working onto you. This is often used in bags or jars that are quite bulky or difficult to carry around, but you want it to still continue to affect you though you aren't in it's energetic space. If you're doing a remote healing spell for someone who lives in a different country, and so if you're using a doll you'd want to add something into that doll that represents the person as a taglock so that working will manifest in their life.
What classes as a taglock?
They're an item that represents the intended target weather it's a person, group, business or company. They're an object that represents them so closely that you can use that as a replacement for their own presence for that working. In other words it's apart of them that is also separate from them. This can be anything from the mundane to the gruesome.
Types of taglocks:
There are two types of taglocks. For example the bodily objects that can be taken from someone, that's hair, nail clippings, saliva, urine or the very gruesome. The items are a representation of that person and are often given freely.
Other types are items used to represent a person that's not directly from them. That's full names, photos, signatures, and date of birth. You can also use items that belong to them. That's something of significance, pieces of clothing, or scraps of clothing, typically unwashed. You can also go for business cards, or logos that represent that company or business. The more personal you can get the more closely that working can attach to the person or the target. If you can use more then one taglock that's even better.
How to use a taglock:
Witch's bottles are one of the the oldest forms of taglock that's found in the UK or Europe, they are objects that are designed to act as protection for an individual or a home. They are seen as a scapegoat, they contain objects or items that represent you so closely that any spirits or spell work or negative energies that are aimed at you will instead be directed at the witch's bottle. They are an energetic duplicate of you. Traditionally what is used in a witch's bottle is urine, this goes back to hundreds of years, and are still often found today. You may also find hair, nail clippings, blood, saliva, red wine, vinegar, urine, pins or nails, and shards of glass. They're designed to attract the energy by using a taglock and then contain it and make it very rancid and horrible. Then once it's filled to compacity it will then break, which is a sign you need to make a new replacement. They are often used for a year.
Poppets or puppet are representational tool, it is designed to represent you or a target. It's very useful if you have a taglock of that person. It's either added inside the doll, such as hair, nail clippings, a photograph, signature, date of birth. The clothes of the poppet are often made out of the scrap of the persons clothes. Which is often unwashed and gifted to you. You can place items outside of the poppet as well. Often hair is added onto poppets of the actual person that it's aimed at. Some people will even stitch the photograph of the person on the outside of the poppet as well to represent that person. You can either put the taglocks on the outside or the inside of the poppet. Your personal choice. They're often kept for years and years. When not in use they are commonly wrapped in a black cloth and stored in a safe place, so they can be drawn out again if workings need to made again in the future. Often used in long distance workings.
Candle spells are a little different, you need to find something that isn't going to burn that isn't going to go rancid and is appropriate for that working. So you'll want to use a business card for example, by placing it under the plate or a candle holder. You can also use photos, full names, date of birth, or signatures. As always the more taglocks the better. It's worth playing around with them, but be sure to be safe about doing it.
Cursing By The Moon
Dark/New Moon: Ruined beginnings, job/financial loss, bad health, depression, hopelessness, despair, fear
Waxing Crescent: Destruction, ruined plans, weakness, illness, ruin, sorrow
Waxing Gibbous: Bad luck, arguments, tension, chaos, accidents, injuries
Full Moon: Spiritual warfare, psychic attack, hauntings and possessions, nightmares, legal issues, loss of motivation/will power
Waning Gibbous: Addiction, ending relationships, stress, panic, emotional breakdowns
Waning Crescent: Mistakes, humiliation, bad choices, betrayal, butt of the joke, loneliness
This witch is pro science, pro modern medicine, pro technology, while believing in herbalism, traditional medicine, and alternative healing.
FDA approved first, everything else supplemental, mundane before magic.
Me: nervous for an appointment
My body: letās shit! š
how you can help palestine
*i regularly update this post with any new info i find so please always reblog the original post*
Donations
palestine children's relief fund
palestine red crescent society
help bring down israel's weapon trade - palaction
save palestine - islamic relief canada
click to donate - arab.org
send medical supplies to gaza - palestinian american medical association
NOTE: journalists based in gaza are saying that donations are not going to help atm. what will help is a demand for ceasefire. so please contact your local MPs every single day demanding as such. palestine need a ceasefire right now, not money (i will update when monetary help is needed)
if you want to donate, do this instead:
help buy e-sims for people in gaza (you can follow this tutorial. if the simly app is not accepting donations or āgiftsā then you can check out holafly. those are the only two that are working well right now. if you would like to stay updated, please follow @/Mirna_elhelbawi on twitter)
support palestinians: buy a keffiyeh from the last and only factory in palestine - hirbawi
Petitions
petition to investigate war crimes committed by israeli military
demand ceasefire - amnesty.org
open call for immediate ceasefire
american government call for immediate ceasefire
american government to stop funding israeli military
ceasefire and increase humanitarian assistance - oxfam au
petition to get canva to address their pro-israel stance
they have been deleting private pro-palestine posts
location specific petitions
gaza call for ceasefire - oxfam (UK)
end israeli occupation - parliament uk (UK)
email your MP - medical aid for palestine (UK)
stop fuelling genocide - action network (USA)
ceasefirenow.com - jewishvoiceofpeace (USA)
call congress and demand a ceasefire - uscpr (USA - they provide a script of what you should say, so don't worry about it)
note: you can call everyday. they tally the number of calls per issue. so more calls = higher chance for them to take action. p.s. you mainly go to voicemail so donāt worry about phone call anxiety. fight through it just this once please.
australia call on israel to stop attacking palestinians - apan (AUS)
sign to send letter to MP for ceasefire - nccm (CANADA)
ceasefire now! - ijv (CANADA)
cessez-le-feu et un couloir humanitaire - le mouvement (FRANCE)
write to your dƩputƩ - assemblƩe nationale (FRANCE)
skydda civilbefolkningen i gaza! - mittskifte (SWEDEN)
singaporeans call for immediate ceasefire (SIN)
contact your elected reps and demand a ceasefire (GERMANY)
write to the EU demanding a ceasefire (EUROPE)
template of letters you can send (EU)
guide on how to contact your MPs in EU
multiple actions you can take to help palestine - plant een olifbloom (NETHERLANDS)
includes: links for donations, emails to MP, emails to media, links to petitions and demonstrations
den haag, maak nĆŗ werk van vrede in israĆ«l/Palestina - the right forum (NETHERLANDS)
Campaigns
friends of al-aqsa
ā„ UK-specific
urge your MP to speak up for palestine
hands off al-aqsa
stop administrative detention
petition for UK to stop arming israel
ā„ International
boycott puma ā email them to end their partnership with israel
boycott coca-cola
palestine action
join the resistance
islamic relief canada
urge your MP to rally for ceasefire
decolonise palestine
poster campaign to raise awareness on the war crimes being committed against palestinians | (very very important please share + read the sources provided)
text/call campaign for people living in USA
text CEASEFIRE @ 51905 to call for a ceasefire
text RESIST @ 50409 to send a letter to your representatives to pass HR3103āa bill that prohibits tax dollars from going to israel
download 5Calls app to contact members of your congress | (more info)
BDS movement
get involved in boycotting companies associated with israel
please let me know if you have any more links. i will add them in. and please reblog the original post!!
UPCOMING PROTESTS
PALESTINIAN LITERATURE READING LIST
autumntides
10h
"In the instance an employer makes an illegal request for a photograph as part of a job application, you may submit a complaint to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission." Successful violation fee collections are paid partially to the one who suffered the violation, which in many cases exceeds a year of work at these shit jobs. There's only two weak points to a corporation, and those are in the budget and in the supply chain. Hit them where it hurts.
Fucking word.
Learn your rights!
AUTO REBLOG IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS THE 1ST TIME AROUND.Ā It is important to KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
could u imagine if ppl talked about catholicism the same way they talked about likeā¦ indigenous pplās religionsā¦.
girl in horror movie holding a bible open: āaccording to legend, a mob tortured a half-man, half-god, and nailed him to a wooden cross, leaving him to starve to death. But days later, on this very night, they found he had clawed his way out of the grave. Now those who believe lie in wait for him to rise again, To honour him, they have weekly gatherings where they chant and sing, and at the end of it they eat his flesh and blood.ā
girlās friend: āwow.. thats so creepyā¦ā
horror movie jock: āitās only a myth, donāt worryā
I love the fact that this is insinuating that jesus is going to try to kill these kids
good friday the 13th
Props to Warrior Nun for finally giving Catholicism the Stargate treatment it deserves.
āWhat if the ancient Egyptians Christians had been visited by aliens?? What if the pyramids Vatican was some kind of ancient alien fortress? What if the crown of thorns that Jesus wore at the crucifixion was an ancient alien weapon? Itās been lost for centuries, but our archaeological experts have figured out where it is, and now we just have to rob some ancient indigenous tomb British museum traveling exhibit to get it.ā
š Witchcraft PSA: The Chakras & Cultural Appropriation ā
Warning: This is probably the longest post I've written so far, so be prepared for a VERY long read.
Disclaimer: I do not claim to be an expert, a historian, or a theologist. I am simply a witch, a student, and a POC living in the United States where many aspects of pagan spirituality are often appropriated from other cultures and perpetuated through simple ignorance. I'm sure this post will generate some type of controversy, but I do not mean to attack anyone or their beliefs with this post.
So. Here's the big one, guys. The post I've been dreading making but have really wanted to write for a while.
Cultural appropriation is one of the hottest topics in the modern witchcraft community, and the discourse about it on tumblr is far-reaching and incendiary at best. The problem: Where should witches draw a line between explorational spirituality and cultural appropriation?
I'm not here to lay down laws of morality. I'm not the cultural police. But I DID have a very eye-opening experience recently that led me to create this post.
I'm a white-passing minority, and I won't pretend that this doesn't lend me a degree of privilege in America. Especially as a witch, many doors are open to me. Just within the witchcraft community, I look white enough to be welcomed whole-heartedly into most neopagan circles. That's not to say that blatant racism is abundant within the pagan community, but we can't deny that many non-white cultural practices are heavily stigmatized. For instance, as SOON as any of my "light worker" friends hears that I have a family background in Santeria and Brujeria, the FIRST thing I hear is, "Oh, I don't mess with that dark stuff," or "Well, I don't like the idea of hurting animals and other people." And don't get me started on the ignorant conversations one of my dark-skinned, Vodou-practicing friends has had to sit through before.
Like, what?
Because of this, I'm often the first person within my social circles to stand up for cultural barriers and denounce cultural stigma. Above all else, I try to respect the hell out of closed cultures and educate myself about cultural appropriation.
So, it was much to my dismay when I discovered that I have been culturally appropriating the chakra system for the last 11 years of my witchcraft practice.
The chakra system and its use in western occultism is one of the most heavily debated topics in the witchblr community. A simple search will yield dozens upon dozens of posts, each filled with witches claiming that usage of the chakra system either IS or IS NOT appropriation. For the most part, I've tried to stay out of this debate. I've incorporated the chakras into my practice since I began, but I thought my oriental heritage and my "thorough" understanding of the chakras made this okay. But, lo and behold, I was sorely mistaken.
So, after some deep research into this topic, and after talking to several Hindus and Buddhists, here's my attempt to shed some light on this issue.
What are the chakras (according to Western occultism)?
As a brief overview, the chakras are believed to be spiraling energy centers that exist within the subtle body. There are seven of them, and they lie along the spine in places where large amounts of nerves and vital organs exist. Similar to the way our brain is a large compilation of nerves, these chakras are believed to be the intersection points of energy currents within our spirit.
Each chakra rules over a particular psychological, physical, and spiritual state of being, and disruptions within the chakras are believed to lead to different types of mental, emotional, and physical illnesses.
These chakras are depicted as lotus flowers with varying numbers of petals, and each is represented by its own color. Each one also corresponds to a Sankskrit syllable mantra which is believed to activate the chakra when spoken aloud.
In order, they are:
ā¤ Muladhara - The Root Chakra - Connection to the Earth and the Self - Located at the base of the spine - Depicted as a red lotus with 4 petals - Mantra: LAM
š§” Swadhisthana - The Sacral Chakra - Connection to sexuality and instinct - Located near the sexual organs - Depicted as an orange lotus with 6 petals - Mantra: VAM
š Manipura - The Solar Chakra - Connection to will and identity - Located in the Solar Plexus - Depicted as a yellow lotus with 10 petals - Mantra: RAM
š Anahata - The Heart Chakra - Connection to love and relationships - Located in the heart - Depicted as a green lotus with 12 petals - Mantra: YAM
š Vishuddha - The Throat Chakra - Connection to voice and communication - Located in the heart - Depicted as a blue lotus with 16 petals - Mantra: HAM
š Ajna - The Third Eye Chakra - Connection to spiritual awareness - Located above and between the eyes - Depicted as a purple lotus with 2 petals - Mantra: OM
š Sahastrara - The Crown Chakra - Connection to Source/the Universe - Located at the top of the head - Depicted as either a purple, rainbow, or white lotus with 144,000 petals - Mantra: Silence
Along with these associations, each chakra is often associated with various crystals, herbs, and spirits.
What are the chakras within their original cultural context?
The concept of 'chakras' arose from a practice known as Tantric Yoga. This was a spiritual system that began to gain popularity in India and other eastern cultures between 600-1300 CE. Up until this point (and concurrently as well), most types of spirituality in these cultures was very transcendental - that is, they had a fundamental belief that the Divine was transcendent and inherently 'above' the natural world. Therefore, in order to commune with the divine, it was believed that the material world had to be renounced and denied, and higher states of consciousness had to be achieved in order to commune with divinity.
Tantric spirituality flipped the script. It adopted the idea that divinity was an inherent quality of the natural world, and that a person could freely commune with the divine by opening themselves up to the world around them through mindfulness and all-embracing compassion.
The philosophies and teachings of tantric yoga (loosely known as 'tantras') became extremely widespread throughout this period and dramatically shaped many emerging sects of Hinduism and Buddhism. As this philosophy spread, many different types of specific spiritual practices arose, many of which can be recognized in our Western ideas of holistic meditation - such as mantras, mudras, mandalas, and even modern Western yoga.
One such concept that gained popularity was the idea of chakras - focal points of spiritual energy in the body. However, these chakras were very different than what Westerners think of today.
There were a LOT of different traditions that arose from Tantric teachings, and each one had its own unique belief about chakras. The most obvious difference between these chakra traditions was that each one believed in a different number of chakras. Some systems had three, others had six, others had seven, others had nine, others had 10, others had 21, etc.
Each one approached the chakras a bit differently, and so each one believed in a different number of chakra centers.
What are some of the primary differences between Western Chakras and Tantric Chakras?
The most eye-opening difference for me was that Tantric chakras have none of the associations that Westerners believe in today. Original practitioners of Tantric spirituality did not associate specific colors with each chakra, they did not associate physical or psychological states with them, they did not associate any herbs or crystals or planets with them, and they did not even associate Sanskrit syllables with them. What's more, they didn't even believe they were located in fixed points on the body.
Loosely, they believed that the chakras - like all things spiritual - were very fluid. They could often be accessed through general areas of the body, but they definitely were not stagnant, fixed points. This also accounts for the varying number of chakras, because it was believed that the chakras would manifest in different ways depending on what traditional practice you used to approach them.
Many traditions did believe that these chakras could be depicted as lotus flowers with various petals, but these were not meant to inherently describe the individual chakra. Rather, these depictions were meant to serve as a visualization for a person to meditate on when trying to access a specific chakra.
Along with this, these traditions did not assign specific names or syllables to these chakras - at least not the ones we use today. Rather, it was believed that Sanskrit syllables carried an inherent magic or divine energy within them (similar to Kabbalistic views of the Hebrew language), and they assigned various letters and syllables to the petals of each lotus flower, which corresponded to various energies in nature.
The symbols, names, and Sanskrit syllables popularized in the West today don't even correspond to any kind of Tantric chakras. They actually correspond to the elements within certain traditions of eastern spirituality. They also are not meant to be uniquely associated with any individual chakra. Rather, these syllables were used in meditation to invoke specific elemental energies into different chakras depending on the situation.
If your tradition believed that the heart chakra could affect the relationships in your life, and your personal relationships happened to be very stagnant, you could vibrate the syllable for the Wind element and invoke that energy into your heart chakra to help your personal relationships become more dynamic. Etc.
This brings me to the final thing I'd like to talk about: Westerners are NOT using the chakras for their original purpose.
The only concrete associations that tantric traditions had for the chakras were deities. These traditions believed that each of their chakras was associated with a specific Hindu deity (though the specific order or deities listed varies between tradition and time period).
The original purpose of 'working with chakras' was to eventually invoke the energy of these specific deities into a person's chakras in order to become closer to these gods and goddesses and emulate their behavior and teachings in daily life.
How did the original concept of chakras get misconstrued in Western culture?
Oh, boy. This is a tough answer that's soaked in 1000 years of colonialism, racism, cultural and linguistic barriers, and simple misunderstandings.
But, simply put, the appropriation of tantric chakras can be narrowed down to four specific individuals.
In 1577, a spiritual teacher and academic named Purnananda Yati wrote a treatise of tantric teachings called the Shatchakra Nirupana, or roughly 'An Explanation of the Six Chakras'.
In this treatise, Purnananda lays out the modern framework we see today - six chakra centers within the human spirit, with an additional seventh chakra above the head that connects the spirit to the divine source. He based this concept off of an earlier writing from the 13th century, which also details this framework but openly acknowledges that this is just ONE tradition, and that many other traditions also exist.
In 1918, a British scholar named John Woodroffe translated Purnananda's treatise from Sanskrit into English, and unfortunately, there were many mistranslations in Woodroffe's version. This translation was what eventually gained extreme popularity throughout academic and occult circles in the West.
Throughout the 1930's, 40's, and 50's, the renowned European psychologist, Carl Jung (who you might recognize from your Psych 101 class), became fascinated with the idea of chakras and their relation to consciousness. Throughout this time period, Jung wrote extensively about potential connections between the seven chakra centers and various psychological states. This is where the chakras became associated with different states of being, such as instinct, will, and sexuality.
Finally, in 1987, an American occultist and spiritualist named Anodea Judith published a book entitled Wheels of Life. In this book, Judith talks extensively about the seven chakras, and even lists correspondences between the chakras and various herbs, crystals, elements, planets, tarot cards, deities, and archangels.
Her book became wildly popular within holistic and spiritual circles, and set in stone the way that modern neo-pagans view the chakras in the West.
So, are chakras part of a closed culture?
Yes and no.
Chakras as we view them in the West are, at best, a distorted and bastardized version of a beautiful, ancient belief. They were studied and theorized by many traditions for over a thousand years, and many of these traditions still exist today. Most commonly, they are still used in Shaivism, which is one of the most prevalent forms of Hinduism in the East.
Many of these living traditions ARE, in fact, closed. But more than that, to perpetuate (and worse, claim spirituality from) a distorted, white-washed version of an Eastern religious belief is just plain disrespectful and potentially racist at its worst.
That being said, though, there are certain living traditions which ARE NOT closed, such as the exceedingly popular Tibetan Buddhism. These traditions recognize many of the same teachings and are freely shared with people of any nationality or background - as long as you put in the work to learn about them.
The Main Takeaway
The chakras, as viewed in the West, are incorrect. This is not to disclaim any type of spiritual experience Westerners may have had by utilizing chakras in their practice, but I'm of the opinion that Westerners should recognize that the "chakras" they believe in don't actually have any basis in ancient spirituality.
That being said, the concept of a subtle body and energy centers within the human spirit is not unique to the Far East.
The concept of currents and centers of energy within the body can be found in cultures the world over, from India to Japan to Korea to Africa to the Middle East, and even among the Native Americans who never came into contact with these other cultures (as far as we know).
The human soul, the subtle body, and spiritual energy are concepts that supercede cultural boundaries, and if studying and utilizing them is an integral part of your craft, then I encourage you to follow your personal path and find connection with the Universe in whatever way you feel called to.
But. Perhaps developing your own unique system and beliefs about the energy centers within the body is the best course of action for us Westerners. Until we ourselves make the effort go join one of those (open) traditions, subscribing to the modern Western system of "chakras" is, in my opinion, cultural appropriation.
ā¢ ā¢ ā¢
Brightest blessings, and best of luck š
Shit I want to plant when I get a yard:
Lavender
Tomatoes
Green beans
Marigolds
Day lilies
Daisies
Aloe
Blackberries
Honeysuckle
Snapdragons, gladiolus, carnations, roses, morning glories, sunflowers, dandelions.
Also why are we punishing the Russian citizens for the actions of the government
Weāre not punishing the citizens, weāre punishing the government systems they use to make those payments so the citizens are more likely to take action like protest against their government instead of just saying ānot my problemā
Thrusting millions of people into poverty through economic strangulation is in fact targeting its citizens. It is delusional, calloused, and dangerous to suggest otherwise. It also almost always does not work. The US stealing 3.5 billion in Afghan assets and sanctioning Afghanistan hasnāt led to the people rising up and overthrowing the Taliban. Itās led to millions more people being plunged into poverty to the point that thousands of parents are having to sell their own organs to keep their children fed. Even if you think that the end result IS a popular uprising that result is reached through intentional mass emmiseration.
āMore likely to take action and protestā
People have ALREADY been protesting Putinās governmentāeven before sanctionsābut guess what, you canāt just fucking snap your fingers and overthrow a government. So now you have people still protesting but with less resources to survive and no job to return to. Congratulations?
Why is Russia punishing Ukraine citizens with an aggressive invasion of their country? Who is that helping? What homes and jobs and schools do they have to go back to? What about those who had to flee across international borders with nothing but their children and what they could carry, while risking being shot by Russian soldiers? Or shelled by Russian artillery?
They didnāt start aggressively invading a neighbouring country.
Acts of international aggression are not a purity contest, nor are they clear lines in the sand. War hurts civilians before it ever touches those in power.
The real question to ask in the wake of how unfair it all is, is: why are those in charge in Russia hurting the civilians of two countries?
Also why are we punishing the Russian citizens for the actions of the government
Because we live under a system that conflates wealth with power, and power with the ability to compel others to do what one wants them to do, while remaining insulated from the consequences of oneās actions.Ā Ā
As a result, itās impossible to punish the rich and powerful without also punishing the poor and powerless a lot more.Ā Ā
Iāve seen a lot of posts and comments asking what the US/NATO/etc. should be doing instead, and the problem is that there are no good options.Ā Ā
The worldās options vis-Ć -vis Russiaās invasion of Ukraine are:
1. Do nothing.Ā Let Putin take Ukraine without international oppositionāwhich will lead not only to crimes against humanity in Ukraine, but is also likely to encourage him to keep going and invade other places that he feels like should be part of Russia.Ā Ā
2. Impose sanctions that cause real and immediate suffering to millions of ordinary people, in the hopes that eventually someĀ of the harm will make its way through the thick layers of wealth and arrogance to affect someone who has some influence over the situation.Ā Ā
3.Ā World War Threeāwhich will not only cause even more harm and suffering to the ordinary people of both Ukraine and Russia, but could also lead to global thermonuclear war, i.e., the end of human life as we know it.Ā Ā
These are all really, reallyĀ shitty options.Ā Putin has made it very clear that direct military intervention in Ukraineāboots on the ground, planes in the air, or ships in the seaāwill be considered an act of war, and if the US or any NATO country is at war with Russia, thatās World War Three.Ā Putin has also been conspicuously drawing our attention to his massive stockpile of nuclear weapons, and saying, more or less,Ā āDo you feel lucky, punk?ā
And option 1ālet him do itāhas a good chance of turning into option 3 eventually.Ā Thatās how we got World War II:Ā the rest of the world, desperate to avoid a re-play of the Great War, let Hitler take Austria, and then Czechoslovakia, in return for promises that he would leave the rest of Europe alone.Ā He broke that promise by invading Poland, andā¦well, we all have some idea of how that turned out.Ā Based on this historical precedent, letting Putin take Ukraine without international opposition would be a dangerous moveāeven leading aside any moral or ethical considerations relating to Ukraineās sovereignty.Ā Ā
So, sanctions.Ā Because out of a list of, I say it again, extremely bad options, itās the least-worst.Ā Ā
To be clear, the point of the sanctions is not to cause a popular uprising against Putin, as some have said above.Ā The point is to make the invasion as difficult, costly, and politically unpopular as possible, in order to convince Putin that the invasion isnāt worth his whileāideally, to pull back out of Ukraine, but at minimum, if Ukraine does fall, to quit while heās ahead and not invade Poland.Ā (Metaphorically or literally.)Ā Ā
Thereās no way to target the sanctions so that they hurt the rich and powerful while leaving the ordinary people alone, becauseĀ ārich and powerfulā meansĀ that you have the ability to pile up a bunch of other people between yourself and any inconvenience.Ā Ā
It sucks.Ā It feels shitty, because it is.Ā Ā And the whole thing is Putinās faultāheās the one thatās holding a nuclear missile to the worldās head while he makes us watch him commit war crimes in Ukraine.Ā He can stop any time he wants.Ā Ā
And thatās why he has his troll farms JAQ-ing off about the suffering of the ordinary Russian peopleāitās all about making it look like itās somebody elseās fault.Ā Ā
Hey y'all remember how Russian agents used misinformation on Tumblr posing as leftists to influence the 2016 election
I would also like to add that while yes, the ordinary Russian off the street definitely suffers under the sanctions, so does everyone else. The war affects prices and economies all over the world.
For example, eastern Africa has seen very bad droughts over the last years, and imports a lot of grain. Russia and Ukraine are among the biggest exporters of wheat; they grow 25% of all wheat globally. Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia in particular will be hit very hard if this war drags on. A country thatās bombed canāt grow wheat. Prices have already massively risen. Thatās just one example.
And there are attempts to target specific people, as in the truly powerful oligarchs, and their personal wealth. A whole lot of people had their bank accounts frozen and their property seized. There are attempts at really hurting (or at least annoying) the people who do have the power to do something, and whose support is vital to Putin.
I donāt want russians to suffer. I donāt want Russian soldiers to die in this pointless war, for that matter.
itās a shit situation, but make no mistake: this time there is 1 person responsible and thatās Vladimir Putin.
I simply couldnāt connect with my tarot deck. I tried for a couple years to understand each card. I thought about making my own tarot deck. Then, I learned more about Oracle cards.
I tend to go with the flow. So I decided an Oracle deck would be better for me. There wouldnāt be any rules to it. The cards would mean whatever I interpret them as.
I started by laying out what I wanted on each card. I did that on a plain sheet of paper. After that, I searched Pinterest for pictures that corresponded with my layouts. I made a collage on each card. I did this digitally on IbisPaint.
Once I had all the cards I wanted, I printed them out. I taped them onto blank playing cards I bought from Amazon.
There are 34 cards in my Oracle deck. I might add more if I feel like it. For now, Iāll just stick with 34. They look a bit tacky, but I love them. Spending so much time and effort on each card ensures that I fully understand each card. The images I chose are very personal and mean something to me.
Iām not comfortable sharing all of the cards in here.
