It's been a while
Mar. 31st, 2022 03:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sleeplesspotatoI'm not sure if I can post regularly, but anyway it's good to be back, at least for now. ^^;;
Some things I've been doing:
- Revived my sketching habit: mostly figure drawing practice and studies, occasionally trying to relearn watercolors. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed this even if I repeatedly run into the limitations of my current level of skill.
- Got back to the Castlevania OT3 fanfic: I got stuck around halfway through chapter 3 and was blocked for a long time; recently I was able to pick it up again and filled out a beat sheet with most of the plot. I've signed up for Camp NaNo and will try my best not to fixate on scenes (which is why I usually get stuck) and hit my word count. Fingers crossed that I've prepared enough material to finally get me through this first draft. (The full plot might exceed the word count I set for Camp NaNo, but either way I'd just be happy to hit that word count.)
- Started growing some vegetables: I've been meaning to do this for a while; I finally got around to it, though most of the time I don't really know what I'm doing apart from following whatever guides I can find online. ^^;; Currently I have a tiny village of seedlings (and a weathered but ruggedly determined green onion grown from a root end) in pots.
- Got into Tarot: I wasn't a big fan of Tarot in the past; I've just always been aware of it thanks to my mother, who has been doing readings for years. Recently I found a couple of decks that I liked (one featuring watercolor cats, another inspired by Santa Muerte) and was able to get them relatively cheaply, so I started doing simple 3-card readings. So far it's been quite helpful -- my readings tend to surface what's on my mind, or what I'm aware of but am not paying enough attention to (or ignoring because of various reasons). I'm glad I got both decks. <3
Some things I've been doing:
- Revived my sketching habit: mostly figure drawing practice and studies, occasionally trying to relearn watercolors. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed this even if I repeatedly run into the limitations of my current level of skill.
- Got back to the Castlevania OT3 fanfic: I got stuck around halfway through chapter 3 and was blocked for a long time; recently I was able to pick it up again and filled out a beat sheet with most of the plot. I've signed up for Camp NaNo and will try my best not to fixate on scenes (which is why I usually get stuck) and hit my word count. Fingers crossed that I've prepared enough material to finally get me through this first draft. (The full plot might exceed the word count I set for Camp NaNo, but either way I'd just be happy to hit that word count.)
- Started growing some vegetables: I've been meaning to do this for a while; I finally got around to it, though most of the time I don't really know what I'm doing apart from following whatever guides I can find online. ^^;; Currently I have a tiny village of seedlings (and a weathered but ruggedly determined green onion grown from a root end) in pots.
- Got into Tarot: I wasn't a big fan of Tarot in the past; I've just always been aware of it thanks to my mother, who has been doing readings for years. Recently I found a couple of decks that I liked (one featuring watercolor cats, another inspired by Santa Muerte) and was able to get them relatively cheaply, so I started doing simple 3-card readings. So far it's been quite helpful -- my readings tend to surface what's on my mind, or what I'm aware of but am not paying enough attention to (or ignoring because of various reasons). I'm glad I got both decks. <3
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Date: 2022-04-03 02:10 am (UTC)Yeah, a notebook that's easily accessible definitely helps. Sometimes you have an idea that you want to get out right away!
For houseplants... easy ones, lol. A spider plant and a bunch of little spiders in cups of water until I have a chance to plant them. A pothos, which is the one that really wishes it had more light, I think. One that I call a "library plant" because I got a cutting of it from the library I used to work at, but it seems to usually be called a "radiator plant", or peporomia. It's probably the easiest plant I've ever kept! I also have a golden palm that I "adopted" out of the parking lot where it had been dumped, a couple little succulents, and a couple African violets.
Yes, the Elsewhere University artist! The art is really nice. It's fairly similar to a tarot deck, and there's an interpretation book as well. In this deck, the normal suits are replaced with seasons, and the arcana are replaced with other cards. Agreed, though - knowing too much about what the cards mean could actually make it harder. Though you can also interpret some of the meanings and imagery in a few different ways, which could work for character arcs or struggles.
The Alleyman's Tarot is very cool! I did not go for one of the "touched" decks, ha. It's interesting in the meta-plot way, giving you a totally unique deck... but I'm the same way where I tend to want to keep my stuff very pristine! It's a weird contradiction - I try to keep my stuff in excellent condition... but I also like things like used books and old decks of cards that have signs of wear.
I'm really looking forward to the Literary Tarot, too! I've loved the art for it - I'd already been following a couple of the artists for quite a while, so it was cool to see them commissioned by the same project!
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Date: 2022-04-03 09:01 am (UTC)Custom decks that riff off of the Tarot or other decks sound really cool; maybe someday I'll get one for myself. ^^ In terms of character arcs and struggles, you could probably go with the usual interpretations of the cards: for example, Aces refer to beginnings, Twos imply a choice, Nines mean you're almost at the end of something, Tens mean you're at the end, and so on. The Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings make for great characters since they each have their own personalities/symbolism -- there's also the option of inverting/reversing the card so you can get their negative aspects. The Major Arcana make for great thematic focal points, as well; The Devil in particular makes for an interesting and rather dark theme for characters since it refers to addictions and hidden selves that you have difficulty breaking away from. I guess the only problem if you want to use them for storytelling is that if you're shuffling the deck and choosing cards randomly, the cards will be talking about you; if you want to use them for a character or something else you'd have to single out particular cards. (Or maybe it's possible to do a reading for a fictional character? Maybe if they're real enough in your head? Haven't tried it yet though.)
Yeah, I also love old books and cards; I guess there's just a difference between natural wear-and-tear and the deliberate kind. I dunno, it just seems disrespectful in a way. ^^;;
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Date: 2022-04-04 03:37 am (UTC)Spider plants are wonderfully low-maintenance in my experience. My "library plant" is properly a "peperomia scandans". I don't know that I've ever seen the type for sale, but it is truly the lowest-maintenance/most forgiving plant I've ever had. And spider plants actually do quite well in water! Several of the little ones I've got have been living in cups for a few years at this point. (I keep meaning to get them planted for real, but never remember to buy potting soil!)
I haven't actually tried to do a reading for a fictional character, but I feel like it would be doable. Similar to doing a reading with a particular question in mind, or doing a reading for a friend who isn't able to physically touch the cards... My impression of tarot (which again, I'm FAR from an expert in!) is that it examines things in your subconscious, and that can be part of what interpreting readings is about - finding the things that you already unconsciously know brought to light. I feel like the characters I've created and the stories I've thought about and want to write are a part of my subconscious. It seems like a reading could help to reveal story arcs or character struggles that you haven't consciously considered yet.
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Date: 2022-04-04 04:41 am (UTC)Can you post pictures of your houseplants sometime? Especially the spider plants in water, that sounds really cute for some reason. :D
Yeah, it kinda makes sense that a reading for a fictional character could be possible; maybe you just have to focus on them really hard? When I do a reading while thinking about someone else the cards tune into that other person, so maybe it's possible for fictional people too. I'm not an expert either by any means, I just have a years-long affinity for it I guess. XD
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Date: 2022-04-05 01:06 am (UTC)I would think you would have to focus pretty hard, or have a somewhat specific aspect in mind when you did the reading in order for your results to be relevant. If I wind up ever actually trying it, I'll tell you how it goes!
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Date: 2022-04-05 01:25 am (UTC)I also encourage you to take photos of the readings if you ever do them. Or even if you don't, as long as the decks are in the photos, hee. Kidding aside, I hope you enjoy using the decks; they seem like the type made to be functional, and I kinda get the feeling that the cards would love to be used, if that makes sense. ^^;;
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Date: 2022-04-06 02:10 am (UTC)Haha, will do, if I ever do the readings! (I had a dream that involved me doing a reading for someone, I'm sure because we were talking about it!) I do think the decks would like to be used. I'm also of the "I want to take care of this and keep it in good condition!" mentality, and sometimes that goes so far that I don't even want to use the deck for its intended purpose! But if and when I do, I'll probably share something about it.