The Holly King & the Oak King—you may have heard of these two mythical, pagan figures, but who are they and where do they come from? One of the trickiest things when it comes to modern paganism is understanding the origins of our rituals, folklore and belief. So today, I wanted to look at t
When you begin to realize the true weight of your actions....you will awaken to become the person this world needs you to be.Ikol to Emily Hayes in her dreams Ikol , which stands for the Intelligent Kinematic Operations Laboratory, is the overarching main antagonist in the Amulet graphic-novel series created by Kazu Kibuishi. It is a single, enigmatic being that serves as an embodiment of the amulet, mainly as a communicator between the stone and its keeper. Ikol is a very strong character and t
Photographs capturing the beauty of olden days.
I was cursed/blessed with the ability to see the good in everyone, and I mean everyone. This has gotten me into sticky situations in the past and if I’m not careful, could destroy my future. In our fiction we allow our characters to trust their gut instincts. But in the real world, do we always listen to our gut? Or do we make excuses? Thus, making it easy for psychopaths to lure us into their deadly web. Imagine, if you will, that you find yourself single after ten years of marriage. You’ve got a good job, are self-assured, and your peers consider you to be of above-average intelligence. You’re not really into the bar scene, but your girlfriends convince you that it’ll be good for you. Reluctantly, you agree. The night air is gorgeous tonight, around sixty degrees, low humidity, a full moon spreading its glow over the main entrance to Peter’s Bar and Grill. Seems like a decent place with upstanding citizens. You enter. Halfway into the night, a man approaches your table. Clean cut, short hair, none of those bad boy tattoos your mother warned you about. He offers to buy you a drink. At first, you hesitate. Do you want to accept a drink from a stranger? The man extends his hand. “I’m Greg. It’s lovely to meet you.” Aww, he seems sweet. He drags over a chair. Now you’re obligated to chit-chat because he bought the drink that you’re enjoying. Without warning, your friends storm the dance floor to give you two space to get to know each other. Your gut is warning you, “This isn’t right. You should leave.” But he’s so charming. It seems everything out of this man’s mouth is exactly what you’d longed to hear in your dead-end marriage. He buys you another drink, and then another, and then another. Each cocktail goes down smoother than last. You’re giggling like a schoolgirl at her first co-ed dance. From your peripheral vision, you catch a glimpse of your friends at a table by the door. For a moment, a tiny voice inside you says, “You should join them.” But Greg is so attentive and complimentary. You give him your full attention. You laugh at all his jokes, flirt a bit. The way he makes you feel…his laugh sends flutters to your belly, his smile warms your heart. After all you’ve been through, you deserve to be happy. The bartender announces, “Last call.” Is it really that late? Geesh, you haven’t been out this late in years. The notion tickles you. Being naughty is fun. With his seductive eyes and thick lashes, Greg convinces you to have one more round. What the hell? You only live once. The house lights brighten the bar. Everyone’s skin looks shockingly-white, their pupils dilated from the fluorescents. God, your makeup must be a mess. “Will you excuse me for a minute, Greg?” He pulls out your chair and you bustle into the bathroom to freshen up, praying to all that is holy that you’re not swaying in your heels. In front of the vanity you stare at your reflection in the mirror. What are you doing? You’re not a kid anymore. Knuckles rap on the door. A shot of panic strikes your core, and you call out, “Someone’s in here.” Footfalls fade into the background noise. You shrug off the paranoia and comb your hair, fix your bangs, and reapply your makeup, check your teeth for lipstick, and out the door you stroll with your head held high. On the way to the table you’re careful in your heels. One slip in the wrong direction and the night could catapult into one of the most embarrassing of your life. Sailing across the room and landing face-down in the hardwood with your skirt hiked up around your waist is not how you yearn to end your evening. At the table, you lower to your chair and steeple your hands over crossed legs, your foot playfully swinging one heel. Greg has his cell phone to his ear, and you can’t help but overhear his conversation. “I told you, I’d deal with her later. Why are you always all over my shit?” With an erect finger he punches the off button, clearly pissed off about something. When his gaze meets yours, his facial muscles ease. A warm smile toys with the corners of his lips. “So,” he says, breaking the awkward silence, “you ready to get outta here?” “Umm…” “I meant, I could give you a lift home. Nothing more.” You scan the room for your friends, who are nowhere. “Well, uh, sure. I think my friends deserted me anyway.” You lean forward and lower your voice. “Say, you’re not—” a nervous giggle escapes from deep inside— “a mass murderer or anything, right?” Greg waves a dismissive hand. “Be serious.” Even though that tiny voice inside notices he never answered the question, you accompany him to his vehicle, a newer model Mercedes with tinted windows. Hmm…he must have a good job. See? You had nothing to worry about. He really is perfect. A few miles down the road you instruct him to, “Take a right at the lights.” Gas pedal floored, he blows through the lights. You swivel in your seat and peer out the back windshield as the road sign gets farther and farther away. “You missed my turn.” “Did I? Don’t worry. I know a shortcut.” You take one last glance through the back windshield, every bone in your body screaming to jump from the speeding car. Perhaps you’re overthinking this. He missed one turn. No big deal. You face front because you don’t want to accuse the man that has offered to drive you home. You’re probably being paranoid again. Damn broken marriage. You’ve lost your drive for adventure, your ability to live free, wild, let loose and have a good time. When the Mercedes veers onto a dirt road through the woods, panic drums at your ears, blood sluices through your veins. Still convincing yourself that this is all in your head, you manage a confident front. “Where’re we going, Greg?” Slam. He backhands you in the face and shatters your nose. Whoosh. The entire world spins on its axis. Cupped hands over your nose, warm blood pours through your fingers. Over and over you tug the door handle. Locked. With a closed fist you pound on the passenger window. Solid. Greg grabs handfuls of hair and yanks your head backward. Eerily calm, he looms over your face like storm clouds over an unmerciful sea. “You aren’t goin’ anywhere, bitch.” He lets go, and you freeze. You can’t speak, scream, or cry for help. Why are you just sitting there? Run. Now. The headlights shut down. Robotically he slides the shifter into park and rotates toward you. He smirks—snide and cold—and your heart skids to a stop. A gazillion things race through your mind in the course of a few seconds. Why you? You’ve been good your whole life. How did you let this happen? Oh, no! What’s he gonna do next? The final question only lingers until the moonlight bounces off the sharp blade that Greg levels at your throat. Silent and swift, he draws the knife across your jugular. As your lifeblood spurts on the glass, all doubt washes away like watercolors left outside in the rain. This moment—right here and now—is your last. Let’s test your gut. At which point did you seal your own fate?
The gas holders form the background to this study of a gas street lamp. Not much has changed here since the photo in pic236 was taken, except the traffic moving along the tarmac, which has now replaced the stone sets. An early 1950's Ford Consul pursues an Austin FX3 taxi, also a product of the 1950's, while more taxis of the period and what looks like a Bedford lorry move in the opposite direction. Photo - John Gay (NB - to take a trip around the two mainline stations and view the vehicles, architecture and fashions of a bygone age, see the full "King's Cross in the 1950's" set of pictures by clicking this link..... www.flickr.com/photos/59082098@N05/sets/72157626070269684/ )
With their mild tang, sourdough pancakes are a tasty change from your usual breakfast short stack. You might worry that their flavor will be strong enough to clash with syrup or your other favorite toppings, but no worries: pancakes made with sourdough starter simply taste a bit richer and more nuanced than the norm. And sourdough waffles? They're perfect for either a drizzle of maple or as the base for savory toppings like fried chicken.
“We all owe something to Kertész,” photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson once said.
The master of dream therapy himself surreptitiously authored a secret book filled with his own ruminations, dreams, and hallucinogenic drawings.
One of my most favorite parts of the home renovation process is demolition. Follow along with us this week as I show our new home demo.
Never change, Sir Patrick.
(cover uncredited) You wouldn’t believe how much authentic ‘70s witch-smut books go for these days. I jumped for joy when I found a stash of them on my last visit to Hay On Wye, but my enthusiasm faded when I opened the front covers and saw the double figure price tags. I was under the impression that the market for these things in the UK consisted of me, about six other pale and reclusive bloggers and the bloke from Electric Wizard, but maybe I under-estimated their appeal. Anyway, this one went for a slightly more reasonable £3.95 – presumably because there are no boobs on the front and no illustrations within, but I like it all the same. Some great band name / concept album inspiration to found on the contents page: You’ll be happy to hear that Francis King also contributed a volume on ‘Sexuality, Magic and Perversion’ to the New English Library occult series. Well, I mean, of course he did. God bless you NEL.
The following posters, advertising Houdini's performances and various tricks, have been collected by magicians, friends, and fans of Houdini. Each colorful ad displays a different stage of his career, from the early days of performing in the circus to his spiritualism exposés.
The following is an excerpt from the book, Crystals, Gateways of Light and Unity. There are three main Grids that operate through and around Earth; the first we will look at is the Crystalline Grid, which links the Crystals in the Earth.
At exactly 8pm, on goodness knows how many Sunday evenings since 2012, the five sisters of the community of St John the Divine have gathered together in thoughtful contemplation.
We've put the flavors of rum and spice from Christmas' favorite beverage into a form you might not expect. These cut-out cookies are crisp at the edges and a bit chewy in the center.
The PrintThis photographic print leverages sophisticated digital technology to capture a level of detail that is absolutely stunning. The colors are vivid and pure. The high-quality archival paper, a favorite choice among professional photographers, has a refined luster quality.Paper Type:Photographic PrintFinished Size:18" x 24"Arrives by Sat, Apr 27Product ID: 4914597Related TagsTop, World Regions, Other Subjects, Travel by Style, Photography Collections, Photography Subjects, Falzone, Michele, Photography Collections, Artists, Artists by Name, European Nations, Monasteries, Art, Subjects, Travel (Photography), Jon Arnold Images, Collections, Religious Architecture by Subject, Corridors & Hallways, Architecture, Architectural Elements, Travel, Photography, Travel Art, F, Religious Architecture, Europe, Back to School, Portugal
The House of Romanov was the second dynasty, after the House of Rurik, to rule over Russia, and reigned from 1613 until the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II on March 15, 1917. DISCLAIMER: This is a human interest and culture page, NOT a political one. I do not care for your views and arguments on...
Explore Why Jane's 9395 photos on Flickr!
SPOTTED LINSANG or TIGER CIVET Prionodon pardicolor © Ch Boudet - Mammals’ Planet The Spotted Linsang is a linsang found in the forests of the central and eastern Himalaya. It is short, light coloured...
REJSER TIL THAILANDSe rejserThailandAt rejse i Thailand er næring for krop og sjæl. Thailand er et sandt overflødighedshorn af fantastiske og uforglemmelige oplevelser. Udforsk kulturen og skikkene hos lokale bjergstammer, send dine smagsløg på oplevelse i det vidunderlige thailandske køkken, slap af på kilometervis af hvide strande, hop fra paradis ø til paradis ø med lokal båd, trek igennem frodig regnskov, køl af i brusende vandfald, sejl i kajak iblandt mytiske kalkstensformationer eller klip cykelskoene i pedalerne og oplev det ægte og uberørte thailand i øjenhøjde. Vi har rejst og boet i Thailand gennem mange år, og deler gerne ud af landets hemmeligheder, skjulte skatte og små perler, samt viser dig nogle af de gamle klassikere på nye måder. Alle vores rundrejser er ment som forslag og inspiration, det er individuelle skræddersyede rundrejser, der alle er yderst fleksible og kan ændres, forlænges og forkortes, hotellerne kan skiftes ud, op og nedgraderes og I ... Read More
On January 10, 2016, as British music and pop culture journalist Simon Reynolds was completing the manuscript for his book on 1970s glam rock, came word that David Bowie — who catapulted to stardom…
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Aramgah-e Shah-e Cheragh (Mausoleum for Imam Reza’s brothers) in Shiraz, Iran. Images via ilefttorio2811, illuheaven, davidbarry1959
Heidi shares an extended description for the Writing oracle card from the Life Purpose Oracle Card Deck by Doreen Virtue.
[Notice: I originally wrote this post as one, but my husband, assuring me that it was very interesting, but too long, recommended that I break it into three parts. So that is what I did. I will pos…
