The 30 Day Russian Challenge starts today, July 1!
Are you ready to get a 30-day streak on @duolingo?
Share your progress with us at Russian Grammar - tag @russiangrammar or include the hashtag #30 Day Russian Challenge in screenshots of your streaks, achievements, or any interesting sentences you come across!
The 30 Day Russian Challenge starts tomorrow, July 1! The goal is to practise Russian every day for 30 days and get a 30-day streak on Duolingo. At the end, send us a screenshot, tag @russiangrammar or include the hashtag #30 Day Russian Challenge and we can include your name in our 30-Day Russian Challenge Roll of Honour! (We are open to suggestions…)
Just a reminder that the 30 Day Russian Challenge starts in 2 days! Beginning July 1, the aim is to get a 30-day streak on Duolingo and practise your Russian on a daily basis. We’re so excited to do this with you!
The 30 Day Russian Challenge starts in 3 days! From July 1, see if you can get a 30-day streak on Duolingo.
Share your progress by tagging @russiangrammar in your screenshots or posts, or hashtagging them with #30 Day Russian Challenge. We can even start a club on Duolingo!
If you’re looking for something to do this summer, why not practise your Russian with the 30 Day Russian Challenge? The goal is to get a 30-day streak on @duolingo, starting July 1, 2017.
If you succeed in getting a 30-day streak, send us a screenshot and we can include your name in the 30-Day Russian Challenge Roll of Honour. (Or something.)
Share your progress with us here at Russian Grammar and let us know how you get on!
3. What are your views on cursing, hexing, and binding spells? Has your view changed throughout your journey? Why or why not?
Personally, I value examining the moral compass of a person more than labeling a certain type of action. Just as stealing can be viewed in many shades of grey once you know the whole story, hexes and curses also exist within a narrative that is important to examine. I think there are valid reasons to use tools like that, and there are also petty or cruel reasons to do so.
Personally I’ve never found myself interested in learning or practicing harmful magic, my workings tend to focus on self-healing, but I don’t mind if others explore it.
2. What’s the biggest error or mistake that you feel you’ve made when working magick?
When I was 12 I was trying to be Christian, although retrospectively I had a very pagan way of doing that. I wanted to repent and become a better person, so I lit a candle and cut myself to give my blood as an offering and proof of the sincerity of my atonement.
That was a major error as it was rooted heavily in obsessive thoughts and mental illness. The best thing to come out of that is that when I did turn to the pagan gods I had the memory of that experience to guide me away from blood magic. For me, blood magic is too close to my struggles with self-harm and is not a magic I can engage with healthily. So, I learned from that error, but it was pretty significant. My first act of ritual and offering was rooted in illness. It’s not something I think I’ve spoke of before, and it’s definitely something I am uncomfortable with.
What has been your most influential resource in your study of the Craft?
I’m not sure I can identify a singular most-influential resource. So, instead I’m going to provide a thought-provoking resource I’m investigating currently! I’m really enjoying the book’s exploration of magical theory. Despite reading many overviews of magical theory I haven’t really gotten what I’d consider to be a firm grasp on it yet (aka I don’t understand it well enough to engage in discourse about it, apply it to varied scenarios, and break it down to teach it to youth). I feel like magical theory may be the next deep-dive I indulge in. This is helping me get a grasp of what key words and topics I will want to start my research with.
There’s going to be a lot more than just magical theory in this book, but I’m just at the start. I’ll keep y’all posted as it progresses through the Little Work, which Duriel defines as a bit of a play on “The Great Work”, and as the everyday magical practices/work that is needed to truly progress towards Great Work and/or a balanced, healthy, and powerful magical practice.
This piece was written before the challenge even started, but I found it went with the prompt well enough and actually wanted to share it.
I have been through a lot in my life, and one day sometime in… april? this year, I had a massive panic attack. Once I was calm enough, I wrote this. It was very therapeutic, and I want any of you who use self shipping as a coping mechanism to place yourself and your F/O into this piece if you can relate to it. We all need support when reminded of harder times, and sometimes that support comes from a fictional character.
It only took once for Kolivan to realize when he was not welcome as a comfort. Eliza had flinched when he approached her, made herself so small and wouldn’t look at him, and he knew then and there that it didn’t matter how much she cared for him, he was intimidating her. It hurt, and he couldn’t deny that, but he also knew that she had been through many horrible experiences. He knew that for whatever reason, she did not need him right now.
Still, he had not wanted to leave her alone in her room as she was, barely keeping her eyes off of the floor and hands scratching at her throat as she struggled to breathe. So, he called Allura down, begged her, really.
Allura arrived to see Kolivan sitting on the other side of the room from Eliza, sitting with his legs crossed on the floor and making himself as small as possible. He looked a so much less intimidating like this, she thought, but she couldn’t fathom why he wasn’t trying to comfort the shaking girl in the corner. Quietly, Allura sat beside Eliza, making hushing sounds and trying to calm the girl down. It took a while to get the details out, but when she did, Allura understood. Intimidation was something hard to unlearn.
-
When Allura was gone, and Eliza could breathe again, even if it did still hurt, she finally managed to look over at Kolivan. He looked hurt and worried, but stayed where he was.
“I’m sorry-” She said, the first thing to spring to her lips. She was always sorry. Sorry for being a burden, sorry she had hurt him with her actions, sorry she hadn’t been strong enough to avoid becoming a victim, sorry that she was always-
“Don’t. Please.” His voice was soft, a whisper, and his tone gentle. It wasn’t a command. Eliza went to argue, but closed her mouth instead and watched him carefully move closer.
“Do not be sorry.” Kolivan whispered to her, “I did not realize what you had gone through. If you wish for me to leave, I will-“
“No!” She chokes on her words, heaving before she repeats, “No. Please… stay.”
He nods, shoulders relaxing, and she forces herself closer to him. He holds out a hand, hesitating, and asks if he may pet her hair. Eliza nods – she adores it when Kolivan pets her hair.
Even though she is prepared for it, Eliza still flinches when Kolivan’s fingers are almost touching her head. He stops immediately, and Eliza can’t help but blurt out once more, “I’m sorry.”
“Do not be.” He whispers, and Eliza is shocked to see concern on his face, but no offence. He smiles at her, tended and small but so him that it makes her take in a deep breath. The movement makes her head bump up into Kolivan’s hand, which remains with her afterwards. Gently, so terribly gently, Kolivan begins petting her head and playing with her hair, and Eliza takes three more deep breaths before her muscles finally stop clenching.
The shaking starts, then – the exhaustion from crying, the lack of air, and the reverb in her muscles from being stiff for so long is taking its toll. She feels like shit, but it’s still better than the breathless panic from before.
“Do you want to be held?” Kolivan asks, so quiet Eliza almost doesn’t hear him. She thinks about it, longer than she should, but he waits patiently.
“I… maybe.” Is all she says, and he nods, moving slowly until they are sitting side by side, his fingers still combing through her hair. His body language is relaxed and open, and even though she knows he is looking at her, he keeps his gaze on the wall to avoid staring. Eliza leans into his side, and then hiccups – but he doesn’t move, doesn’t trap her, and so she stays, shaking against him.
It takes minutes, hours, who knows how long before she finally lets herself relax into him, and all at once the tears are back. But now, the fear is gone, and she can close her eyes and cry into his chest without worry. He asks if he can hold her now, and she nods vigorously, only crying harder when his warm arms envelop her and he begins nuzzling her head.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry-“ She keeps repeating, but he shushes her quietly and pets her, riding out the wave of apology and tears. Empty exhaustion is all she feels when she’s done, and the cocoon of warmth Kolivan provides is a reassuring burrow compared to the harsh world outside of his arms. He’s still petting her and nuzzling her, and even purring deep in his chest where she can feel it easily.
“Tired?” he asks, and she nods once, “May I pick you up?”
Another nod, and he does as he said he would, still slow and predictable, giving Eliza time to shove him away or say something. She doesn’t, only burrows into his chest deeper as he stands and makes his way to her bed. The sheets are pulled back, and Kolivan sits on the bed to deposit her, keeping her warm until the last moment.
“Stay.” She says. She doesn’t know if she wants to be alone or not, but if nothing else, Kolivan is so warm…
“Alright. Tell me if you need me to leave, alright?” Kolivan whispers, and Eliza nods as he nuzzles her face once more before adjusting himself in her tiny bed, folding himself around her once more. She stays there for what feels like hours before finally turning over, needing air and space but still feeling Kolivan’s body heat against her back.
“Is this okay?” He asks, and she mumbles a “mhm”. She needs space, but she doesn’t want Kolivan to leave her. Taking his hand, she maneuvers it until his chest is flush against her back, his arm holding her while she cuddles it like a stuffed animal.
“Thank you.” She whispers. Kolivan purrs and gives her a barely-there kiss on her head.
“I love you.” He whispers back, and Eliza lets out a final sigh at the words before falling asleep.
“You’ve never had a milkshake?” It had been Hunk who asked the question that led them here, with Kolivan devouring the drink before him with gusto. Elise and Hunk had teamed up and made gallons of the stuff in all kinds of flavors, which Kolivan and Antok greedily slurped up. Elise couldn’t stop chuckling at the scene as she drank her own and watched the two huge galra.
When she offered Kolivan some of hers, he leaned over and licked her lips teasingly before taking her spoon (They were too thick and creamy to use straws) and tasting the vanilla delight.
“It’s good.” He says, and Elise just kisses him again before stealing his spoon in retaliation. Soon enough, they have forgone formalities and are practically feeding each other, kissing and giggling between sips and nips.
Hunk and Antok left the room without being noticed.
The crisp air is cold against her skin, but Elise feels nothing but warmth. Kolivan is holder in one strong arm, keeping her huddled against his chest. A night like this was rare for them, and Elise was going to enjoy it to the fullest.
“Cold?” Kolivan asked. Sharking her head, Elise took another sip of the deep red wine she was holding and snuggled into him further. His fond chuckle above her made Elise look up to see Kolivan smiling.
“You look like a baby quallion clinging to its mother.” He whispered. When Elise laughed, the sound was cut off by the fireworks in the distance. They cast patterns of light upon the couple, and Elise couldn’t help but sigh at them, looking into Kolivan’s eyes as he said, “They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”
Without breaking eye contact, Elise leaned in until she was only a breath away from Kolivan’s face and whispered, “They truly are.”
Lips met and breath mingled beneath the sky as the two lovers embraced.
Day 01- Four films you’d pick as the TCM Guest Programmer Day 02- Film that got you interested in Old Hollywood Day 03- Favorite Actor Day 04- Favorite Actress Day 05- Actor or Actress you think is underrated Day 06- Favorite movie from your favorite Actor Day 07- Favorite movie from your favorite Actress Day 08- Favorite Old Hollywood couple Day 09- Old Hollywood stars you wish had worked together Day 10- Favorite movie Day 11- Team Bette or Team Joan Day 12- Favorite Barrymore Day 13- Classic movie you just couldn’t get into Day 14- A legend everyone appreciates, but you can’t personally stand Day 15- An Actor or Actress you’ve been meaning to give a chance, but haven’t gotten around to it yet Day 16- Favorite director Day 17- Favorite line from a film Day 18- Actor or Actress who should have won an Oscar Day 19- Who’d you like to party it up with in the afterlife Day 20- Favorite Silent film star Day 21- Old Hollywood couple you’d watch a sex tape of Day 22- If you could go back in time and trade places with an Old Hollywood star, who would it be Day 23- A film you think is underrated Day 24- Favorite film from Hollywood’s greatest year, 1939 Day 25- Which character from a film do you fantasize about being Day 26- Which unsolved scandal would you most like the answer to Day 27- Who’s death hit you the hardest and why Day 28- A movie you never expected yourself to enjoy Day 29- Who’s private lifestyle shocked you the most Day 30- Which 5 Old Hollywood stars would you invite to dinner
