Plus, 15% off all candles and tea lights in my shop in celebration of Imbolc!
I'll be running this sale until the end of the day Wednesday, February 8th!
Now, truth be told, Lore Olympus candles have been available in my shop since December, I just haven't had spoons to put together a proper announcement for social media. I did make a small post on my Instagram story at the time that I know some people saw, but this actual official post is LONG overdue!
ALSO IMPORTANT: I would LOVE to hear what other Lore Olympus characters people want to see candles of! Please feel free to comment or DM ideas for my next set of six ❤️
Lore Olympus belongs to the fabulous Rachel Smythe and is available to read on the Webtoon app as well as in print!
Some small life updates below the break, as well as some information on Imbolc and Lughnasadh. Warning: there's some discussion of chronic illness!
Now, I know I have lots of messages to return which I will get to here shortly now that I was able to get this post out finally!
I went into 2023 with the resolution to learn how to balance my spoons better, and January made sure to make that as difficult as possible, so I'm just counting January as a little 2022 encore and making today the REAL start of my year 😛 And really, the energy of Imbolc is very appropriate for trying to get a fresh reset on things.
I'm also still in the process of understanding the in's and out's of my relatively new chronic health issues, which I've posted about here a bit before. It's really easy to over-promise and under-deliver when your body is unpredictable and inconsistent, so there has been a big learning curve with figuring out how to manage my time and what my new limitations look like. And also managing my ADHD brain that wants to focus on things IT wants to focus on rather than what I need to focus on as a responsible adult with priorities.
There's ALSO been a learning curve to accepting that these chronic issues are, in fact, CHRONIC. It's been too easy for me to exist in this headspace of expecting to feel better with a little time, and letting that inform the amount of work I commit to. Kind of like saying, "I just need to get through this week and then things will settle down," and then saying that EVERY week. Accepting my new normal has been tricky, but I'm fortunate to have access to regular therapy which has been really helpful in shifting my thinking and learning how to balance my spoon-to-workload ratio.
My other big resolution for 2023 is to get on my social media game (here and other accounts I manage). That plays directly into finding that balance between my workload and my health.
I'm aiming to at least post more Instagram reels of the process/behind the scenes/time lapse videos, like I had tried to start doing before 2022 came for my ass. Eventually I'll probably also try to stream while I'm making candles if people would be into that. Additionally, I have plans for some raffles and giveaways coming up, and a March Madness bracket for a second round of Lore Olympus candles, so keep an eye out for that! I'd also love to hear if there's anything in particular you guys would like to see.
For now, I have spent my spoons working on this announcement, so I'm going to go recharge for a bit and then respond to the 4057.34 people waiting (way too patiently) for me to get back to them ❤️
Happy Imbolc/Lughnasadh to friends that are celebrating 🌼🕯
I probably don't need to do much of a run down on these Sabbats here on Tumblr, but I posted one on Instagram so I might as well include it here incase anyone is unfamiliar.
Imbolc is also known as Candlemas or Saint Brigid's Day and celebrates the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. The days are slowly getting longer, Winter is (hopefully) beginning to thaw, and the first blooms of Spring will be popping up very soon! It's an Imbolc tradition to light candles (hence the name Candlemas, and especially if they're white, pink, green, yellow, and/or lavender candles) to celebrate our emergence from the darkness of Winter into the coming light and warmth of Spring, and to honor the Celtic goddess Brigid!
Granted, if you're in the Southern Hemisphere, today would actually be Lughnasadh (also called Lammas) which is the turning of the seasons from Summer to Autumn. Candles may not hold quite as much significance in Lughnasadh traditions as they do in Imbolc traditions, but you can't go wrong lighting a candle to celebrate a Sabbat, especially one that marks the returning of longer nights and colder weather. Good colors for Lughnasadh are gold, yellow, orange, red, brown, and green, or anything that you'd associate with the sun, wheat, and the harvest season.
A giant thank you to @auspiciousotter for helping me brainstorm dialogue for this project, and for making me laugh out loud at 1am next to the wall I share with my neighbor 😂
This is amazing, you are amazing, these two doofuses are amazing, it's just perfect
I've risen from the grave, kind of. I just wanted to give everyone a bit of an update on what's going on on my end.
First things first, tw for mentions of chronic illness, my health/medical information, and COVID.
So I have Graves' disease which is an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid. To be overly simplistic about it, it makes my energy levels unpredictable and also affects my eyes/creates chronic migraines; I never know when I'm going to have energy, and when I do, I never know how quickly it's going to run out, and I have to be mindful of my screen usage because of my eyes.
This is something I only discovered at the beginning of 2020, so between that, a change in work, and the introduction of different meds, I'm still trying to understand what "normal" or "baseline" is for my body and what my new limits are since developing this disease 2 years ago.
As you can imagine, that makes trying to work, run an Etsy, make and ship candles, keep up with social media, and stay in touch with friends and family a lot to juggle. I'm also ADHD as hell, so things often slip through the cracks and as much as I try to avoid that, it's just the hand I've been dealt and I'm trying to reconcile that.
To add on top of that, we've come to find out that the COVID vaccines interact with my autoimmune disorder in a funky way. Again, to be overly simplistic about it, my immune system essentially goes into overdrive after a COVID shot. Making all those antibodies ends up depleting any and all energy I have for several weeks after the shot. I get the usual week of body aches and such after my shot, but the extreme fatigue extends on for quite a while. And when I say extreme fatigue, I mean I've been sleeping for anywhere between 15 and 20 hours a day (even with caffeine and prescribed Adderall).
You can skip reading this bit here if you don't really care about reading more medical crap
I got my first COVID shot at the end of March 2021, my second shot on 4/20 (nice), and I felt just like this after that second shot. I went to multiple doctors and had a ton of different tests done, primarily on my heart. All we found was that my heart rate was a bit fast but not concerningly so, and that it tended to spike when I made small movements like getting up to go to the bathroom and things like that. The conclusion was just that the Graves' was flaring up and messing with my energy levels and that I needed to work on getting more exercise so I didn't get so easily winded.
I had kind of convinced myself that I had blown my symptoms out of proportion in my own head, I just had more adjusting to do to this new chronic illness in my life. After getting my booster shot on December 16th, though, I've come to realize that my symptoms just gradually faded away over the several months I was seeing different doctors and getting tested. My booster brought ALL of those same symptoms back and I'm now remembering just how bad I was feeling in May of last year.
It's worth noting that I'm someone that's had my own bad experiences in medical settings with doctors being ignorant/negligent/dismissive/condescending/biased/etc. However, I can say in this instance that there really was no way for my doctors to know what was going on in May 2021. I've since spoken to them after my booster and we're all on the same page about this being an immuno-response to the shot. That said, it also means that they're temporary symptoms and I just have to wait.
In the meantime, I've been taking antihistamines to help somewhat suppress this crazy immuno-response and it's been fairly helpful. It's basically taken me from 0% battery power to 5% battery power that keeps connecting and disconnecting from the charger because there's a short in the wire. So, ya know, improvement, I guess.
So what's on the agenda for 2022 after all this
I of course have things I want to accomplish this year and share with you guys, I'm just trying to figure out how to mitigate my self-expectations in the face of my complete lack of energy. I know overworking myself isn't going to do anyone any favors.
With that in mind, I've been slowly but surely working on a line of Witcher candles and Lore Olympus candles (which will also be available as soaps, bath bombs, and sprays). I'm also going to be adding a new product to my shop which is a 5oz version of all the available scents in my shop! I've been wanting to create a candle in between the size/price point of a full 11 ounce candle and just a set of tealights, which finally seems possible for me to do. It's going to be a little bit before any of these items are available though, because there's still a lot of work and product testing that needs to happen, but soon enough!
I'm also going to be opening tarot readings as well. I've been reading tarot since 2015, for myself and other people, but I've never taken money for it. That said, Etsy is my only form of income right now and I've been stuck deciding between putting that income towards bills or the supplies I need to release these new scents (and restock on supplies for Arcana scents). So a small extra source of income that doesn't have an overhead cost would be very helpful in keeping those projects moving.
I also have some (minorly) bad news...
The manufacturer in which I order my fragrance oils from has discontinued a few of the key oils I use, which means there will be some formula changes coming soon.
They discontinued the main oil I use for Volta's scent the week I started filling pre-orders, which was upsetting but workable.
Then they discontinued one of the key oils I use for Muriel's fragrance. I have some back stock, so that's still being used up at this point, but there will be a slight change there soon enough. BUT I have an oil blend ready to go to replace the one that was discontinued, and it smells incredibly close, so with any hope, the change won't be noticeable.
They discontinued the key oil I use for Faust's fragrance, but it was an easy one to replicate, so not the worst thing to happen.
The one that really hit me is that they discontinued the oil most important to Asra's fragrance. Trying to replicate that one is going to be difficult, and I need to order a bunch of sample oils to even begin trying to find a decent blend. I don't have a back stock of that oil, unfortunately, so I'm in a slight crunch with his scent until I make enough money to order the supplies I need. That one was a real blow, it was my absolute favorite scent for my favorite character, and I know it's going to be really tricky to get the fragrance close enough. But fingers crossed I'll be able to make it work.
I just want to keep everyone in the know about what's going on! I'm more active on Instagram than anywhere else, so it might be worth following me there if you're not already. I will post with updates about when tarot readings are open, and when the new candles are ready to drop.
A big, big thank you to everyone that's been checking in on me and that's been very patient with me as I catch up on messages and Etsy orders! I really appreciate everyone that's been so understanding and supportive while I've been a bump on a log this month.
Everyone, please stay safe. COVID is still making its rounds, and the flu is having a party at the moment as well. Get your shots if you haven't already and it's safe for you to do so, and drink lots of water!
Also, to everyone that makes Asra content in any way, shape, or form, I love you. You've kept me sane in the times where all I can do is hold my eyelids open and actively simp for a fluffy-haired magician, so THANK YOU (and please continue making more, thankssss<3)
THAT'S RIGHT, FRIENDS! It's finally here! The reason I've disappeared this week was so that I could be fully prepped to push these guys out today.
We've got SIX NEW SCENTS for our favorite Familiar friends! (Sorry, Camio)
Faust - Summer berries topped with whipped cream and snisses (snake kisses)
Pepi - Hot cocoa on a Fall day, fresh-baked ginger snaps, and an afternoon nap curled up under warm, cozy blankets
Chandra - Ripe passion fruit, an elaborate tropical garden, and saint-like tolerance for one's subordinates
Malak - A flight through the woods on a crisp Winter night, in retreat from ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE DEFINITELY TRYING TO KILL US
Inanna - Yule spruce branches, wood burning in the hearth, and the exhilaration of running freely through the forest
Mercedes & Melchior - Juicy pomegranates, fresh-cut roses, and kissing with too much tongue
They're meant to be complementary to the scents of their owners, but they're definitely all still unique fragrances. Tea lights have also been updated with this new set of scents!
BATH PRODUCTS!!!
Now you can put the candles on you
All 17 fragrances are available as soap, bath bomb, and spray options! If you want to smell before you buy but don't want to order tea lights, now you can get a set of sample strips! Or, if you're concerned about possible skin irritation with any of these new products, you can try a sample soap! If the soap doesn't irritate your skin, you should be fine using a bath bomb or a spray directly on skin.
The sprays can also be sprayed on clothing or fabric for a longer lasting scent, and without fear of staining!
The soaps have an olive oil base, but if you're interested in a different kind of soap base, feel free to send me a question!
I myself am usually very sensitive to fragrances (like I have to be careful about what laundry detergent I use or I'll get a full body rash), but I've tested all of these products on my own skin and have had no issues. Obviously everyone's skin is different, but to my fellow sensitive babes, I see you.
If you have any questions, concerns, or issues before or after ordering, please never hesitate to reach out to me!
And of course, a gigantic thank you to everyone that's been so, so supportive of the shop and myself. Seeing how much people have been enjoying candles has been so gratifying, and I hope you all enjoy these new products just as much!
that story is total bullshit and has no source. not one interview with mark bryan mentions this supposed workplace harassment situation. he literally just started wearing skirts and heels because he likes them, its not that deep.
can we stop acting like men need some kind of “gotcha” reason to wear dresses and skirts?? constantly trying to make up some kind of justification for a guy wearing a skirt just helps uphold the shitty idea that clothes are gendered and that people like mark bryan are some kind of mystical outlier for literally just wearing the clothes they want to wear
He actually stated in this interview (2020 in the Süddeutsche Zeitung) that he began wearing high heels because he got bored of wearing suits/ formal clothing.
He said that a friend commented on his legs which would look great in skirts so he decided to give it a try. That’s the whole story.
Mark Bryan ist Ingenieur, bekommt wegen seiner Instagram-Auftritte aber auch Anfragen für Model-Jobs. Über High Heels und Kleidernormen.
Clothes don't have gender, where whatever tf you want (aside from culturally appropriating pieces, or anything harmful towards marginalized people, ofc).
And yes, he looks fucking fantastic in heels, damn. Leg game strong.
I can’t wait for the fic that I’m going to write after this fic I’m not writing because I still have to finish another fic (which I can’t seem to focus on).
Romancing Julian??? Imagine this, it's not Valentine's Day. The cards spoke to you that it's time to lavish the one you love with personal attention and affection. You're like "yeah why not?"
Lit red candles around the dining room. Red flower petals spread on the ground on the way to the table. There's chocolates and a hot homecooked meal for Julian Our Beloved.
After a looooooong day, he comes home. He's like *sniff sniff* Oh??? He sees the red petals on the floor, he's like "wait...." He follows the trail and he sees you, all pleasantly smiling like his existance was more than enough to keep you happy. (Of course it is.)
You, being a cheeky little fuck, smirk and say "Hey pretty boy, come here often?"
Julian, surprised blush on his face, starts chuckling in disbelief. All this? For him??? All for him??? 😳😲😍😩
He manages to compose himself and put on his confident grin, saying "With you here, I might just call this my permanent home."
🍓🍅🍎🍒🌸🌹🌷🌺🌻🌼🌷🌸🌹🌺🌼🌻🍀🍁🌼🌻🌺🌸🌷
HOW DARE YOU BE THIS ADORABLE????
This for real is like taking that "flustering him with flowers" imagine and injecting it with steroids 😂 If you went out of your way to pamper him for a day, his brain would 1000% short circuit, he would not know how to handle all the sweetness, affection, and attention lmfao
Saw a post about reverse smokey eye. Decided it was Julian. Decided he should make a makeup tutorial about it.
Not sure if Portia invited him to film it for her YT channel, or if he was borrowing her makeup without asking and thought it would be funny to turn her camera on during.
