a bit of school au
"Stop saying 15 year olds with weird interests are cringe, they're 15" this is true however you should also stop saying adults with weird interests are cringe because who gives a shit
To wit:
I want to share some wisdom from my high school art teacher.
In my AP Art class, there was a girl who was just starting to experiment with mixed media. At this point she was still playing around, trying to decide what direction she wanted to go with her portfolio. So one critique day, she brought in an abstract canvas with some rhinestone highlights and painted and real peacock feathers. She loved sparkles and peacock feathers so she thought she’d try introducing them a *little*. And after everyone had given some input, the teacher gave her his advice, VERY roughly paraphrased here:
“So here’s the thing… I do not like this style. These are just elements that do not speak to me personally, but I see that you like them, and you’re doing interesting things with them.
“My biggest critique is, I only merely *dislike* this piece. I want you to make me HATE it. Go crazy with the things that you like. Don’t hold back trying to make it palatable to people like me. Because I am NEVER going to like it. And if the audience does not like it, it should drive them crazy seeing how much YOU love it.”
Her portfolio was chock full of neon colors and glitter and rhinestones and splashes of peacock feathers and it was a delight. Our teacher despised every piece lol, but she got great marks and I think even won some awards. And more importantly, she was happy and proud of the results. Because she didn’t limit herself by trying to appeal to people who were never going to enjoy what she enjoyed.
Takeaway here: be as cringe as you want. Don’t limit yourself based on other ppl’s tastes. They’re not you, and you are incredible 💕
5th-6th century silver dove from the Church of St. John in Attarouthi, Syria.
The dove, with wings spread and feet tucked up as if in flight, represents the Holy Spirit that appeared over the head of Christ as he was baptized by Saint John the Forerunner (John 1:32). Early authors mention the presence of doves over altars in churches from Constantinople to Tours in France. This is the earliest known example of the type. Originally a small cross hung from the loop in its beak.
I think it's so important to have a "nature" calendar in your head, like a way of tracking time that's completely separate from anything work or obligation related, not holidays or anything stressful. For instance I look forward to august because at 8pm every night house finches hang around my window for a few weeks. In spring I love waiting for the magnolias to blossom. Just ways of tracking the time with zero stakes that's completely removed from life's zeitgeist and that you really look forward to
The Japanese traditional (old) calendar breaks the year up into 72 micro-seasons or kō each lasting just 3-4 days.
Each one is a tiny yearly event in the natural world, given its own little slot to be appreciated and celebrated.
Here’s just a few:
March 6–10 蟄虫啓戸 Hibernating insects surface March 11–15 桃始笑 First peach blossoms
July 12–16 蓮始開 First lotus blossoms July 17–22 鷹乃学習 Hawks learn to fly
October 18–22 蟋蟀在戸 Crickets chirp around the door
October 23–27 霜始降 First frost
I’ve always thought this was lovely, and I’d love to know what the micro seasons would look like for other countries.
“Our footsteps are blood and longing. Every time they rose they plucked us, hurling their love, hurling us, a rose to the winds.”
— Adonis, Beginning of Love (via pairedaeza)
imagine everything in life blossoming for you, suddenly and all at once
