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How To - Blog Posts
How To Properly Disassemble A Spell Jar
Retrieving the Reusable Ingredients and Getting Rid of the Rest
Reusable ingredients include crystals, shells, rocks, bones, and anything else that can be used again. Cleanse them in smoke or water and reuse them in your next jar.
Trash
Throw the contents into the trash or a dumpster, if you don’t want it near you.
Burying:
This is a more respectful way to dispose of materials, as long as it's safe to do so. Dig a hole at least half a foot, place the herbs that were used in the jar inside, and bury it in the ground. Make sure it's biodegradable and safe for animals before doing this!
Burning It:
Put the offering in a fire safe container (a pot, cauldron, etc) and safely light it. Make sure it's completely burned (don't let it out of your sight until the fire's out!) and then spread the ashes on the ground away from your house.
Releasing:
Release the materials into a body of water. Keep in mind that not all organic matters are safe for the water or for fish, so look it up beforehand
tip jar
Good news! You CAN rewire your brain. Through the same mechanism as forming habits, you can change your automatic thought patterns. When you catch yourself with unhealthy thoughts, STOP, and make a conscious effort to replace that thought pattern with a more beneficial/healthy thought pattern. Keep doing that whenever those thoughts occur. Slowly but surely your mind’s default voice will match what you’re teaching it.
Follow @productive-tips for more tips and content like this posted daily! Handpicked and curated with love :)
me: *writes fic*
me: great! time to post to ao3-
ao3 summary box: *exists*
me:
ao3 summary box:
me:
ao3 summary box:
me:
being a self-taught artist with no formal training is having done art seriously since you were a young teenager and only finding out that you’re supposed to do warm up sketches every time you’re about to work on serious art when you’re fuckin twenty-five
Hey! I just saw your reply to the post about knitting the national parks. If you haven't tried it yet, ladderback jacquard would probably be a really great option for managing those huge floats. Hope you haven't gotten a million of these, and good luck with your project!
(In reference to this post where I moan about liking the knitting pattern I’m doing, apart from the COLOUR FLOATS)
Oh my GOODNESS look at this:
That is QUIRKY AS HELL. Thank you so much!
However, while I wail and weep and moan, I don’t want to put people off this pattern entirely. “Great Basin” is not actually the WORST pattern in the world, and can be managed by wrapping colour floats every 4 stitches or so, in the Fair Isle method; we won’t die of doing this, nobody has ever died of doing this, and plenty of people with better brains can pull it off more gracefully than I have. Even I can do this, and I’m a hater.
Hang on lemme just curate my life pretentiously real quick, like a proper knitter, so that the parts of my life I reveal on the internet look desirable enough to make you think I’m a good knitter. OK. I’ve - I’ve got some wood grain visible, and a twee swan - I feel comfortable. I could almost do Instagram.
Here’s my messy backside 😌 you can see it’s irregular, and you wouldn’t say I was managing it gracefully, but it won’t kill anybody. I am a massive hater but the pattern IS technically workable and feasible. try Great Basin today!
I LOVE this new technique! thank you so much!
Somewhat on the vibe of "your glorious revolution doesn't exist," I want to talk to you all, especially the young folks, about effective anarchism.
Spoiler alert, it's not blowing stuff up or arson.
I am considered the most anarchical person of all among my friends. Granted, most of my experience has been wreaking anarchy against the systems present in my high school and college, but the principles are the same.
Practical anarchy is not the big, flashy, romanticizable thing people online make it out to be. It's more about the long haul - digging in your teeth and just being a menace that no one can really get rid of.
Everyone's "Why vote when you can firebomb a Walmart" posts (that they don't follow through on) are just not pratical because this is a surveillance society. With CCTV and DNA testing and cell phone cameras and GPS tracking, if you do something big like that, you are GOING to be caught; then that is the end of your anarchical career. And, keep in mind that you might get caught while you're setting up this big event - it's a crime to blow up a Walmart and also a crime to conspire to blow up a Walmart, so your career in anarchy might end before it begins, and then you are permanently out of the game. No matter what causes you were working for that inspired you to do something big and violent that you thought would get someone's attention, you now can't help at all ever again in your entire life. What you did will be a passing headline on the news, and then everything will go back to exactly what it was because big, acute actions can't compare in effectiveness to small, constant actions (just being a thorn in the side of the system, poking and poking, but unable to be dislodged).
This is just the practical side of it too: think about the risk of hurting innocents if you really advocate for doing things like that. You think blowing up a Walmart would really make a dent in that big of a corporation? But if you intentionally or unintentionally kill a bunch of Walmart shoppers, that's going to devastate families that had nothing to do with whatever your cause is.
So all that big talk about violence and destruction: not practical, not effective, not ethical.
The only way I've started to change oppressive systems around me is by justing chipping away from within the confines of the rules of these systems, and/or only stepping just outside them (never breaking rules in a big way that could have allowed said system to easily and "justifiably" get rid of me).
So if you're going to be an anarchist, you need to consider:
Having the longest career in anarchism possible (i.e. being careful enough and judicious with your actions so that you don't get expelled from the system you wish to fight).
And then for any given anarchical plan:
2. Potential consequences.
3. Insurance.
I'll give you an example. I had serious beef with the culture of my college's science department. Students were constantly overworked, and if they expressed their misery outloud or reached out to any of their professors about their struggles, they got apathetic responses if not direct insults to their abilities or dedication. I had too many similar disparaging interactions with professors in one week, and I realized a lot of the responses I was getting were just the result of professors not really knowing how they sounded when they said certain things to students (ex: If someone says they're struggling with a course, don't IMMEDIATELY respond with "change your major," - you can give that as an option, but if you make it your first suggestion, the implication to the student is that if they're having any trouble with the course, they're not good enough for the program).
So I wrote up a flier of examples of good and bad ways to respond to students having anxiety with explanations and distributed it to every professor in the department. Everyone who knew about this perceived it as a great personal risk - that I would get in some kind of unspecified trouble or piss off an important professor, so before embarking on this project, I considered...
Potential consequences: I couldn't really think of any specific college or department rules I could be violating. People postered and handed out fliers in the department all the time. What I was doing fell pretty clearly under freedom of speech. I just shoved the fliers under professors' doors, so I didn't trespass in anyone's office. Worst I could think is that individual professors would get mad at me and make my life difficult, or I'd simply be told to stop fliering in the department.
Insurance: Just in case there were any consequences that I didn't think of and to insure me against the ones I had thought of, I didn't put my name on the flier. It was typed in Word, something everyone had access to. I came in to do it after professors had all left for the day but before I needed to use my ID to get into the building (no electronic record of me being there). I took the elevator to the first floor offices because the stairs require ID swipe after 5pm, but the elevators do not. I found out the building had no cameras by asking about it on the grounds that something of mine had been stolen a few weeks prior. I shoved the flier under the doors of dark offices and left it outside offices with lights on (so that no one would come out and spot me). And here's one of the most important pieces of insurance: I put up a few of the fliers on public bulletin boards in the building. This was important so that if I slipped up and said something that conveyed that I had knowledge of the content of the flier, I would have an excuse for that, i.e., I read it on the bulletin board before class this morning.
And then I did the thing. And surprisingly, it was incredibly well-received by professors. A few who knew that the flier must have been mine (because of previous, similar anarchical actions rumored to be associated with me) told me that everyone was RELIEVED that they finally had an instruction manual from the student perspective on what the hell they're supposed to say when one of their students is panicking. It sparked a real change in the vibe of the department and student experience. Had it instead pissed people off, I would have simply said I could not claim authorship of the flier but had read it and thought it contained good ideas then gone on creating more anarchy while angry people grasped at the zero straws I had left them to pin the action on me.
That's an example of a single action I took that was part of a much longer (~3 years) campaign of mine to change the culture of my department. Everytime I did something in that campaign, I made that consequences vs. insurance calculation to make sure they couldn't expell me from the program, the department, or the school before I succeeded.
There is a distinct technique used by capitalists to bypass the legal and contractual rights of workers which to my knowledge has no name currently - so I’m giving it one - Lunch Grinding.
Lunch Grinding is a manipulative erosion of worker rights both in and out of the workplace. It bypasses legal and contractual standards through informal social pressures which the bosses cannot be held directly accountable for.
Lunch Grinding is named after one of the most common examples. It begins by asking a few employees to skip lunch in order to finish a project. Workers who are already insecure about their position due to economic anxiety will see this as an opportunity to prove they are a good employee. Those who refuse to do so may receive blame for failing to finish the project on time.
The issue becomes compounded when the bosses begin to purposefully schedule less time to complete the same projects. A distinct class begins to appear ignoring their contractual right to a lunch break - who become hostile to those who refuse to work during lunch for being “lazy” or “the reason we didn’t finish on time.”
At this point the management no longer needs to influence anyone directly to work through lunch break, simply by keeping up the sense of constantly being a little late for the project they have ensured the lunch-grinders will apply pressure to their peers who aren’t working through breaks.
As workplace hostility increases towards the “unproductive” members who are expressing their formal right to a break - they will be replaced with new individuals who may not even realize they have the right to a lunch break because working through the hour has become normalized by their peers.
Thus formal written standards from contracts and legal code become functionally non-existent. After which a new standard will be identified by management for erosion some examples include:
+Accepting uncertain hours. +Working off-the-clock. +Staying “On-Call” at all times. +Finishing projects / responding to emails at home. +Never using time off or sick leave.
All of which are socially conditioned in the same format - starting with “The Good Worker” who does a little favor for their boss - and ending as a peer enforced pressure and a perpetual hostility from management claiming productivity isn’t as high as expected.
There is a distinct technique used by capitalists to bypass the legal and contractual rights of workers which to my knowledge has no name currently - so I’m giving it one - Lunch Grinding.
Lunch Grinding is a manipulative erosion of worker rights both in and out of the workplace. It bypasses legal and contractual standards through informal social pressures which the bosses cannot be held directly accountable for.
Lunch Grinding is named after one of the most common examples. It begins by asking a few employees to skip lunch in order to finish a project. Workers who are already insecure about their position due to economic anxiety will see this as an opportunity to prove they are a good employee. Those who refuse to do so may receive blame for failing to finish the project on time.
The issue becomes compounded when the bosses begin to purposefully schedule less time to complete the same projects. A distinct class begins to appear ignoring their contractual right to a lunch break - who become hostile to those who refuse to work during lunch for being “lazy” or “the reason we didn’t finish on time.”
At this point the management no longer needs to influence anyone directly to work through lunch break, simply by keeping up the sense of constantly being a little late for the project they have ensured the lunch-grinders will apply pressure to their peers who aren’t working through breaks.
As workplace hostility increases towards the “unproductive” members who are expressing their formal right to a break - they will be replaced with new individuals who may not even realize they have the right to a lunch break because working through the hour has become normalized by their peers.
Thus formal written standards from contracts and legal code become functionally non-existent. After which a new standard will be identified by management for erosion some examples include:
+Accepting uncertain hours. +Working off-the-clock. +Staying “On-Call” at all times. +Finishing projects / responding to emails at home. +Never using time off or sick leave.
All of which are socially conditioned in the same format - starting with “The Good Worker” who does a little favor for their boss - and ending as a peer enforced pressure and a perpetual hostility from management claiming productivity isn’t as high as expected.
Using Colored Gels in Studio Flash Photography
Colored gels — transparent color filters placed in front of studio flashes — are a hidden weapon in every creative photographer’s toolkit. They don’t just add color; they inject mood, depth, and storytelling into your images in a way that post-processing alone can never truly replicate.
What Are Colored Gels and Why Should You Use Them?
Gels are sheets of colored plastic (usually heat-resistant polyester) that modify the color temperature or hue of your flash. Whether you’re aiming to create a dramatic cyberpunk portrait or mimic the warmth of a sunset indoors, gels can make it happen.
Here’s what they’re great for:
Setting a specific mood or atmosphere
Separating subjects from backgrounds
Creating visual effects without Photoshop
Adding color contrast and narrative depth
Still unsure? Check out this studio photography page to see how lighting shapes the final image.
Types of Gels and Their Practical Uses
CTO Gels (Color Temperature Orange) Warm up your lighting to simulate late afternoon light or add a sun-kissed glow to your subject. Great for skin tones and cozy vibes.
CTB Gels (Color Temperature Blue) Cool down your scene to mimic shade or nighttime. Use them when going for mystery, tension, or futuristic aesthetics.
Effect Gels: Red, Purple, Green & More Designed for pure creative impact. Whether you’re going for sci-fi, surreal, or just something bold, these are your friends.
ND Gels (Neutral Density) Reduce light intensity without changing its color. Perfect for balancing multiple light sources when one is overpowering.
Choosing the Right Gel Pack — What to Look For
Compatibility with Your Studio Equipment Make sure your gels fit your flashes — whether it’s round-head magnetic flashes like Profoto A1 or rectangular studio strobes.
Color Palette and Variety Look for packs that offer both essentials (CTO, CTB) and creative options. A good starter pack includes orange, blue, red, green, and purple.
Durability and Attachment Methods Prefer gels with magnetic or adhesive mounting. Cheap gels can melt or distort under heat and ruin your shot.
What Each Light Does
The blue background light separates the subject from the backdrop
The CTO gel adds a natural warmth to the skin tone
The purple rim light gives a cinematic edge
Balance is key. Always adjust your light levels to avoid overpowering your scene with too much color.
Creative Use Cases for Gels
Contrasting Colors in Portraiture Pair complementary colors like blue and orange to create visual tension and energy.
Faking the Golden Hour Indoors Use strong CTO gels with neutral flashes to simulate a warm sunset glow — anytime, anywhere.
Fitness and Sports Photography Drama Blue or red edge lights can highlight muscle tone and create a high-impact look — perfect for action shots.
Want more inspo? Browse some real-world gel photography in action on our model photography page.
Night Photography with Gels — Painting the Darkness
At night, gels become paintbrushes. Combine an off-camera flash with a gel and “paint” the darkness with vivid light.
Popular nighttime styles:
Cyberpunk urban vibes with blue, pink, and purple
Romantic tones using soft oranges or reds
Fantasy moods with fog + green or turquoise gels
Pro Tips for Effective Gel Use
Always use manual white balance — auto mode neutralizes your creative color work
Pre-test light angles and power — small tweaks make huge differences
Add fog or haze — gels shine through atmospheric elements beautifully
Combine gels with snoots or softboxes for light shaping
Experiment and Document — Learn by Doing
Don’t just shoot — study your results. Record which gels, modifiers, and camera settings you used. Build your own color recipe book so you can recreate magic when needed.
Conclusion: Gels Unlock a New Dimension of Creativity
Colored gels are more than accessories — they’re storytellers. They bring emotion, contrast, and dimension to your photography in ways that go beyond technical mastery. Whether you’re capturing an athlete’s power, a model’s mood, or the surreal glow of an urban night, gels can elevate your work to new heights.
So go ahead — experiment boldly. Color outside the lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I use gels with any type of flash? Yes, but make sure you have the right mounting system. Some gels are magnetic, while others use Velcro or clips.
Q2: Do gels affect exposure? They can. Some colors (like deep red or blue) absorb more light, so you may need to adjust your power or ISO.
Q3: How do I prevent gels from melting? Use high-quality, heat-resistant gels from reputable brands. Avoid placing them too close to hot bulbs.
Q4: Can I stack multiple gels? Absolutely. Layering gels creates new hues and effects but be mindful of how much light gets blocked.
Q5: Should I color-correct gels in post? Generally, no. The whole idea is to create color effects in-camera. Just tweak contrast and clarity if needed.
Sigils: How-to’s and Where-to’s
Sigils are little symbols that can channel intent to do spells or help in rituals. I find sigils are very low energy, and good for witches in the broom closet- or however you categorize being a secret witch. Stick these bad boys on the bottom of your shoe, as a doodle in a notebook, on a random sheet of paper, and no one will ever know!
There are several methods for making sigils. I’ll make a post covering each. Today, we’re covering the 1-9 Method! (If there’s an actual name for that pls tell me)
The 1-9 Method!
The 1-9 Method is a method where you assign each letter of the alphabet a number between 1 and 9 to make a sigil.
The first step is to take the alphabet and put it into a chart, with 9 columns, each labeled 1-9, so it’s organized something like this:
Once you get that all finished, pick a word or a phrase; I’m going to use “protection”.
This is where things get a little dicey. Some people say you have to drop all repeat letters. Some say repeats and vowels. I personally view that as garbage; doesn’t mean it isn’t a valid way to make a sigil. I just think that we organized the whole damn alphabet into 9 columns, so we should use the whole damn alphabet! I drop my repeats, so “protection” looks a like this:
Protection = Protecin
After that, we match every letter with its number on the table.
Protecin = 79625395
Now draw a circle. Divide it into 9 pieces, and start with your first number; in my case 7. Find point 7, and move to point 9, then 6, so on and so forth. Here’s how my circle started out versus how it ended:
I tried to include arrows, but it looks a bit confusing……. *sigh*
Hope you all learned something in my post! Have a fabulously magical day! 💜✨✨
Going to put all this in its own post too by popular request: here's how you make your own website with no understanding of HTML code at all, no software, no backend, absolutely nothing but a text file and image files! First get website server space of your own, like at NEOCITIES. The free version has enough room to host a whole fan page, your art, a simple comic series, whatever! The link I've provided goes to a silly comic that will tell you how to save the page as an html file and make it into a page for your own site. The bare minimum of all you need to do with it is JUST THIS:
Change the titles, text, and image url's to whatever you want them to be, upload your image files and the html file together to your free website (or the same subfolder in that website), and now you have a webpage with those pictures on it. That's it!!!!! .....But if you want to change some more super basic things about it, here's additional tips from the same terrible little guy:
That last code by itself is: <meta HTTP-EQUIV="REFRESH" content="0; url=001.html"> Change "001.html" to wherever you want that link to take people. THIS IS THE REASON WHY when you go to bogleech.com/pokemon/ you are taken instantly to the newest Pokemon review, because the /pokemon/ directory of my website has an "index.html" page with this single line of code. Every pokemon review has its own permanent link, but I change that single line in the index file so it points to the newest page whenever I need it to! While I catered these instructions to updating a webcomic, you can use the same template to make blog type posts, articles or just image galleries. Anything you want! You can delete the navigational links entirely, you can make your site's index.html into a simple list of text links OR fun little image links to your different content, whatever! Your website can be nothing but a big ugly deep fried JPEG of goku with a recipe for potato salad on it, no other content ever, who cares! We did that kind of nonsense all the time in the 1990's and thought it was the pinnacle of comedy!! Maybe it still can be?!?! Or maybe you just want a place to put some artwork and thoughts of yours that doesn't come with the same baggage as big social media? Make a webpage this way and it will look the same in any browser, any operating system for years and years to come, because it's the same kind of basic raw code most of the internet depends upon!
Brand new video about my housing situation, what I planned to do with the engines, how, why, & what seemed to have caused it.
Brand new drop!!! *Bwaaann bwaan bwwaahhh* it's how to solve the #Riemann #zetafunction w an explanation (but not the solve itself) #math
#milleniumpizeproblems
https://youtu.be/wKVuTRNYVNw
This time just the link. I'm testing to see if that actually shows the views on the metrics
hiya, i really liked the pyro piece ya made !! I was wondering, how'd you get the glowing effect on the beam coming outta their head?
