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Author Archives: Confanity
The esoteric meaning of nice weather
We’re a bit late on this one, but it’s appropriate because recent weather has had me wishing it were still cool and spring-like. 暑さ寒さも彼岸まで (Atsusa samusa mo higan made; “Heat and cold until the equinox”) Definition: Summer heat potentially lasts … Continue reading
How an undamped system is like the dampest system
This one makes me especially happy, somehow, because it sounds like some kind of crazy banjo. 波瀾万丈 ha.ran.ban.jou Literally: wave – large wave – 10,000 – measure Alternately: (Life is full of) dramatic highs and lows. (Life is) like ocean … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged drama, highs and lows, ocean waves, wild swings, 波瀾万丈, 波乱万丈
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Magic Monday – Gravestone version for (American) Memorial Day
Litany on the Stone There are certain ways of bringing the dead back to life or simply causing them to walk the world again, with or without a body. Most of these are disrespectful, disruptive of natural flows and cycles, … Continue reading
The warm and friendly heart of a fish
魚心あれば水心 (Uogokoro areba mizugokoro; “If fish-heart, then water-heart.”) Definition: If you show good will and courtesy, others will show the same to you. If the fish acts friendly to the water, the water will in turn befriend the fish. Breakdown: … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 魚心, fish, friendly, heart, reciprocity, water, 水心
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Technically this post includes all the other posts I will ever have made….
森羅万象 shin.ra.ban.shou Literally: forest – spread out / gauze – 10,000 – image / elephant Alternately: All of nature. Everything in existence. Keep in mind that the number 万, while literally meaning “ten thousand,” stands for any uncountably vast numbers … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Dhammapada, everything, Excel Saga, exitence, 森羅, 万象
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Magic Monday – Thaumaturgic Tuesday? – They’re the faces of the stranger, but we love to try them on
Animal Mask “Animal Mask” is a generic term used in Order record-books for innumerable spells in which the caster takes the form of… a wild animal. To prepare for this spell, the caster must first venture into the Dreamlands (in … Continue reading
Posted in Rules, Setting
Tagged Animal Mask, Magic Monday, polymorph, shapeshifting, YAOSC
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It helps that she didn’t need to deal with year-long leases.
One more thing for Mother’s Day. 孟母三遷 mou.bo.san.sen Literally: [Mencius] – mother – three – change Alternately: The importance of creating or finding an environment that aids a child’s education. Mencius’ mother, the story goes, changed between three different residences … Continue reading
Magic Monday – Mother’s Day Version
Birthing Charm A ritual beloved by midwives. When a woman is pregnant, the father creates a small stylized human figure and performs ritual actions over it for ten days. After it is complete, the man ceremonially presents it to the … Continue reading
Once a sparrow, always a sparrow!
Here’s the experiential equivalent to last week’s 三つ子の魂百まで. 雀百まで踊り忘れず (suzume hyaku made odori wasurezu; “The sparrow, until 100, doesn’t forget [its] dance”) Definition: What you learn in your youth stays with you your whole life. Just as the sparrow maintains … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged custom, 百まで踊り忘れず, dance, don't forget, 雀, habit, old grammar, sparrow
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