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The Legend of Medusa: Myths and Misconceptions
If you didn’t know, I’m very interested in Greek mythology – so much that I wrote a thesis on feminist interpretations. One of the biggest figures in Greek mythology that isn’t a god or a hero is possibly Medusa, the snake-haired gorgon who can turn people to stone with a glance. Medusa has become somewhat…
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My Tarot Reading Process: An Example
I’ve decided to start offering tarot readings here on my blog! I have 2 tarot decks and a set of oracle cards, and I think it’s about time I did some readings for other people. Many people have misconceptions about tarot or are concerned that it and other divinatory practices are scams; I want to…
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How D&D Made Me a Better Writer
For the longest time, I saw writing as a solitary pursuit. I pictured myself as an author working entirely alone, only interacting with people for book signings. I was always scared of criticism, even the constructive kind. I’m still in the habit now of submitting work without feedback because deep down, I’m afraid people will…
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Vampires from Around the World
The common perception of vampires comes from the European archetype of the pale, fanged, aristocratic monster. Count Dracula is usually the first vampire that people think of, but he’s not the original. Bram Stoker was influenced by John Polidori’s The Vampyre, a story developed at the same party of Lord Byron’s where Mary Shelley wrote…
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Creature Feature: Flamingos
Flamingos conjure images of tropical locations, beachside holidays, and quirky lawn decorations. But there’s more to these pretty pink birds than it seems. Tickled Pink You may have heard that flamingos get their colour from eating salmon. It’s true that they turn pink because of their diet, but they don’t eat fish at all! Flamingos…
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2 of the Best Queer Shows Out Now!
As I’m posting this, it’s IDAHOBIT Day (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia), and Pride Month is just around the corner! So I wanted to talk about two LGBT+ shows that I’ve really enjoyed recently. I’m grateful to live in a time where people of all genders and sexualities are shown on screen…
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The American “Fearsome Critters” and Other Tall Tales
I’m an Australian, and playing some good-natured pranks on tourists is a time-honoured tradition. Our most famous of these pranks is probably the Drop Bear, an aggressive relative of the koala that drops from trees onto unsuspecting prey. I was delighted to discover that we are not the only country that does this! It’s a…
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5 of the Most Bizarre Mushrooms
A while ago I talked about my new love for mushroom hunting and what exactly it is that I love about mushrooms, but today I’d like to get into the specifics of some truly bizarre species of fungus. If you didn’t already know that mushrooms are neither animals nor plants, here are five species that…
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Creature Feature: The Bearded Vulture
Yes, I know, I’ve already written about vultures here. But I wanted to give a shoutout to my favourite bird of all time: the lammergeier, or bearded vulture! This massive bird of prey with a 7-9ft wingspan lives in mountainous regions such as Africa, southern Europe and Tibet. Lammergeiers are Old World vultures, which means…
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Knitting for Chronic Pain and Mental Health
Having arthritis has me living like a retiree. I knit, crochet, cross-stitch, read, and drink lots of tea under a heavy blanket. Knitting for chronic pain is not a new or revolutionary idea, but it is something I’ve found incredibly helpful! I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition triggered by…