#my two cents

[symphonyofsilence]

Let the poor man rest.

[rymazzzz]

"Shifting is easy" and "yeah, right." Dilemma

(I've been meaning to talk about this for so long, experienced both povs, and thought this is a great subject to discuss + I'm also gonna state my bestfriend's experience (who's a shifter for nearly 7 years now, homegirl is basically my shifting Wikipedia and i love her sm, and she's super chill abt it (spoiler alert: that's the key)

Also I'm sorry if I sound a little harsh in this one, that wasn't the intention at all, if you find this to be demotivating or somehow controlling please do not take it into account, this is MY personal experience and the conclusion I shared with my bestfriends, i wanted this to be helpful for the people who think their issue is that they tend to overcomplicate things (aka me, that's what I do with basically everything in my life) maybe the way I kind of figured it out could be resourceful, but no more than that, it is personal, so take what resonates leave what doesn't <3

Let's get things straight, I know everyone just hates when someone pulls the "omg shifting is so easy, it requires nothing to shift, it's so effortless you are overcomplicating it, just let go, don't chase it" move.

And every time you hear it, you roll your eyes and think, "If it's that easy, why hasn't it happened to me yet?"

Some are good at hiding it, doubting in the shadows, and taking the time to reflect on their own journey, which is the best thing one can do.

And some project it outwards, horrendously so.

Both come from the same place:

Got every box on the damn list checked, yet no progress was made

Tried giving a shit, tried not giving a shit, still nothing happened

"So what's wrong with me?" You thinking that there's something wrong with you.

Been there, done that, cut the whole scene and remade it, shifted multiple times, and got the "ooooooh THAT'S what they meant"

Even though you hate hearing it over and over again, everywhere on the internet, from shifters, manifestors, spiritual people, everyone and their mom who has experienced it, the truth is :

Shifting is so goddamn easy.

And no, I'm not saying this to piss you off, I'm saying this because that's exactly the kind of mindset and frequency you should be aligning yourself with.

People try their best to explain this phrase without sounding "over the top" or "fake" but everytime they do, people with their victim card jump on them at the very moment, demanding proof, overly criticizing their posts, finding "holes" in the story they suppose "didn't make sense"

Let's all take some time out, chill, and rewind

The truth will always be: shifting is so damn easy (same with manifestation)

You shouldn't build your journey on someone else's, hell you should be off social media if you feel like it's draining you rather than helping you.

My irl best friend of 5 years has been shifting for so long, we were in high-school back when I first learned about shifting and shared it with my friends, she said "oh I thought everyone already does that?", everytime I vent to her about my shifting blockages, my doubts, she literally just says: "Rym it's so easy WDYM", always gave me the "you just have to know, and let go, why are you stressing yourself? WDYM blockages!!"

And that drove me INSANE!

She does not have a tumblr, or a tiktok, she didn't learn about shifting through the internet, she doesn't share shit about her drs (except to her besties AND YES THE TEA IS ALWAYS PIPING HOT), she doesn't know what a method is, she doesn't meditate or know what WBTB, the void, LOA are...

She just follows her intuition, and she shifts on command EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Another friend of mine said the same thing, they do it out of instinct because it is supposed to be natural.

Natural, what's the opposite of that ? Forced.

That's what clicked for me the first time I consciously shifted.

It didn't feel like I was *making* myself shift, I didn't waver, I just said I have my desire EVEN IF IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO ME, and it didn't appear and I still persisted and let go of the outcome *IDGF I HAVE IT*

And it happened, so easily.

Do not let yourself fall into despair, that's how it gets you.

My friends and I share one simple mindset, do not fall into despair, shifting is instant, manifestation is instant, only if you believe it to be that way.

Ignore the damn outcome, focus on your goal and the feeling of ACTUALLY having it right there and then, that will be your reality.

The huge contrast between old me who was so goddamn frustrated and thinking she was stuck in her cr, that something is def wrong with her cuz why the hell is it so easy for her friend? Maybe thats just how it is and it'll take time for her? Maybe bc she has ADHD ? Maybe it was this and that..? And the new present me who has became so comfortable in her own skin, in her mindset and who knows she shifts all the time, and she does it now whenever she desires.

Cut it off, nothing is wrong with you, you are not stuck, the only wrong thing about this is the way you feel about yourself!!! GET UP.

So instead of letting that insecurity multiply and eat you alive, or projecting it on other people and "cloaking" them, all for the sole reason of making yourself feel better (bc hey no one can prove shifting, maybe let's not base our whole belief system on other people ?)

Try to eradicate it, it's not easy to reprogram old rooted beliefs, but what's easy is to plant new ones, everytime a contradiction comes up, say "fuck it, that's not mine, I do not claim it" and move the hell on, little by little you'll find yourself with a new system that serves you, and suddenly everything works in your favor, the text book definition of life on easy mode.

Happy shifting ~`•

[armandsdefenceattorney]

I may be in the minority here, but I honestly think IWTV and TVL were adapted really well.

When I first read Interview with the Vampire, I remember thinking, wow, this is depressing, heartfelt, and deeply sentimental. Then I read The Vampire Lestat and thought, wow, this is vain, performative, and absolutely dripping with yearning without ever actually saying “I yearn.”

I think the show ended exactly where it was supposed to. It leaves us asking questions and feeling like there are pieces missing from the narrative, just like the books do. That’s part of the point.

The characters are all vicious, lonely, traumatized, and completely fucked up. They’re people, but they also aren’t anymore. The ideas of “good” and “bad” don’t really apply to them because they’ve lost their humanity. They’re dead.

The only thing I wish we’d gotten more of is Daniel and Armand, but they’re barely in The Vampire Lestat anyway. Their story really belongs to Queen of the Damned, so I can’t exactly be mad about that.

If you’re bashing a show you once claimed to love because of its nuance and layers, maybe what you actually loved was the aesthetic of New Orleans and Paris, not the story it was telling.

[orchidsarchives]

im scrolling through the x reader tags on here and you guys are so mean to writers if you don’t like something don’t read it like it’s so frustrating to see so many people make memes about “cringey and shitty” writing and im so confused because last i checked you’re not writing any of your own stories so what gives you the right to be so critical the people on here are doing this for fun not everyone is gonna write professional award winning stories and it’s tumblr man like people write smut on here for the giggles its truly never ever that serious ALSO ALSO you’re reading fanfics bro this is as cringe as it gets so you can’t even be like oh you’re cringe for writing that babe we are all in the same place LOL the traction is already so low on this app and it’s so discouraging when every second post you see in the popular tags is about someone complaining and then you guys also complain about having nothing to read like yeah no shit bro no one wants to write when you’re being so mean

[sarafangirlart]

Being mad at Nolan for not casting Greek actors: normal, justified, valid and I agree and most of the castings are ass bc they were focusing on star power rather than casting actors who fit the characters.

Being mad at Zendaya and Lupita Nyong'o bc they’re black but taking no issue with the white actors who aren’t even Greek or even Mediterranean at all: racist and weird, at least Lupita Nyong'o is insanely gorgeous which justifies casting her as Helen, why tf is Tom Holland Telemachus?

[seventeenlovesthree]

Why Ragapom, to me, is a "soothing ship"

... Which involves both "survivor's guilt" AND the "pair the spares" trope (very akin to Madoka Magica). In my opinion, this is both, complicated AND offers a lot of healing opportunities IF they continue the way they were depicted from THIS point onwards.

But lemme start by displaying their respective perspectives first - which cannot be done without mentioning Jax. Obvious spoiler warnings from here on out.

Ragatha's stance - and development:

From the viewer's point of view, Ragatha starts the series just as Jax would have described her trope: "The positive one", trying her best to "hype up" Pomni and prevent her from succumbing even more to either anxiety/despair or even apathy. By being overly enthusiastic and encouraging, she attempts to get closer to Pomni by offering her a shoulder and safe space, but doesn't exactly reach through to her - and not being on the same page is a continuous theme for them: It's when Pomni is so overwhelmed by witnessing her first Abstraction that she (understandably) runs away instead of helping Ragatha; it's when Pomni tells Ragatha that she doesn't "have to hype me up, I am not a child"; it's when Pomni says to Ragatha that it's "okay to be a jerk sometimes", just to tell her to calm down once she tries to confront Jax; it's when Pomni tells Ragatha that she's "not big into sports" after getting asked "Did you really not like my softball adventure?"

After what happened to Ribbit, after being told by Jax never to mention her ever again - it's only natural that Ragatha would fear "failing" and even "losing" Pomni at this point. It's pretty clear that she's overperforming, trying her best to be the aforementioned safe space for Pomni - but is only able to do so "passively" by offering, but not interfering. Which, once again, is the same that presumably happened with Ribbit and Jax before; Ribbit grew closer to Jax, they eventually had their fallout and Ragatha couldn't actively do anything for either of them, couldn't approach Ribbit or be of support to Jax afterwards, having to fulfil her "promise".

Witnessing Jax easily approaching Pomni and spending time with her seemingly without effort is an obvious source of anxiety for her. Feeling guilty for what had happened before. Even with Kinger encouraging her to take things more easily, that relationships are a two-way-street and that "giving someone space should never be the same as giving up on them", she couldn't act on her own behalf yet.

If it wasn't for Pomni becoming more adaptable through interacting with others - this may never have changed.

Pomni's stance - and development:

As mentioned, Pomni wasn't susceptible to Ragatha's attempts to approach her. It actually wasn't until she found relatability and kinship in Gummigoo - that Pomni could see the other members of the circus as approachable. It wasn't until Kinger made her realize that "there is nothing worse than making someone feel unloved or unwanted" that she actually realized that her dismissiveness may have hurt Ragatha. It wasn't until Jax told her to let loose - that she could actually let herself be unhinged for a short amount of time.

Last but not least, it wasn't until her "fall-out" with Jax, the potential "loss" of a friend she had an easy time forming a "team" with, that Pomni bumped into Ragatha and mentioned to "talk after the show".

Most of their bonding afterwards happens off-screen - which may or may not make their intimate hug in episode 9 seem a little out of nowhere at first glance. But it kinda makes sense when watching their now-forming closeness as a direct response to both, their encouraging conversations with Kinger AND their guilt towards Jax. Because while Kinger's words may have influenced their perspectives, it's the lack of Jax' presence that helps them to find shelter and comfort in one another.

To go on a little tangent here: I mentioned Madoka Magica before and for good reason - in my opinion, every ship between the Holy Quintet can make sense under certain circumstances and especially in those universes where certain characters are "out of the way". For example, in a universe in which Mami has died/turned into a witch, there may be a possibility for Sayaka and Kyouko to get closer. In a universe in which Homura has died/turned into a witch, there may be a possibility for Madoka and Mami/Sayaka to get closer. In a universe in which Sayaka has died/turned into a witch, there may be a possibility for Madoka/Mami and Kyouko to get closer. And so on. That's exactly what I mean by both "survivor's guilt" AND "pair the spares" tropes, it's not exactly a bad thing, but it makes certain other combinations way more likely to interact.

It's not 100% dependent on Jax' presence of course, but with his absence, Ragatha - who has continuously TRIED to get closer to Pomni - IS, besides Kinger, the person Pomni WOULD try to get closer to. Because she may feel the same kinship in this situation with her as she felt with Gummigoo before. (This is sheer speculation, but Jax and Ragatha must have given "exes" vibes to Pomni, so she may have assumed Ragatha had known what it felt like to be ignored by him.)

After all, Pomni had made an effort to team up with Ragatha before - which was when Ragatha selflessly tried to save Kinger from Jax instead, sacrificing her own chance of having a moment with Pomni.

I was taken off guard by the "you have been my closest friend" line as well, considering how "out of sync" they appeared to be so often - but we've seen Pomni being adaptable to Gummigoo, Kinger and eventually Jax. All people she had felt a connection with, even if those had to "grow" first. So with the gentleness Ragatha offered her continuously - it's not even surprising Pomni could eventually grow comfortable with playing softball with her in the end.

Long story short and I hope that makes sense - it may seem a bit like they were a consolation price for one another, especially because they both, from their respective points of views, "failed" Jax. But with all these little moments they DID try to make an effort to take steps towards each other, the foundation is there. It may have been temporarily shaky, they may not see eye to eye on every level. But Ragatha's persistence to maintain her kindness paid off - and it eventually reached through to Pomni.

Pomni, who initially was in pain upon touching the glitched Ragatha - is now, after all this time, the one glitching, and getting touched in return by Ragatha. So if they continue to step towards one another - they can grow and heal together.

[belladonnabedlam]

To all the Noah Wyle haters, I’d like to present you with this gem.

The Red Line (2019)

Noah plays a GAY man with a BLACK HUSBAND and a bi-racial daughter. His husband is killed by a WHITE COP. When he does move forward romantically, it’s with a MUSLIM love interest.

This man has always been 2 steps ahead in terms of the political and social. Is he perfect? No. He’s human. But I don’t think he’s the villain some of you are trying to paint him.

[pinkelotjeart]

The one thing I’m learning from the Tyler Catastrophe thing happening online, is that the internet yearns for a lolcow.

Like sure, him defending Wilbur soot is weird, but c’mon, the only thing that makes people act like this is the most interesting controversy ever is just because he’s cringe. People going through his whole history on the internet and dissecting his past trauma and such, is JUST as parasocial as people are claiming Tyler is being.

Like I can assure you, this guy that makes jewellery and art and has a kinda outdated millennial vocabulary isn’t as interesting as y’all are portraying him to be.