I Am Crafting! (Gaming Review of Minecraft on the PC)

(Minecraft logo from viewallpaper.com)

 

I’M BACK, AND I’VE GOT IT! I’VE GOT MINECRAFT (the PC version)!

So, Minecraft… I suppose this is a review of it and whatnot…

I like it.

I have done the basics. I have built multiple houses (my first few were made of dirt, then I upgraded to cobblestone), chopped down and regrew trees, mined the essentials (cobblestone, redstone, iron, coal, etc.), mined the good stuff (diamond!), I have burned in lava and fallen from great heights, slept in beds, crafted, gotten food from animals, farmed, made bread and cake, and explored (plenty of land to get lost in, and there’s more to be discovered!).

So, pros and cons. Pro- it is a game where you can build pretty much anything you can think of, has an endless landscape to explore and, once you download a few other things, you can play with friends in hosted games! So you can choose to go solo or play it MMO style- brilliant! It is also one of those games where, despite the fact that there seems to be not much going on in the game, it brings out the inner gamer in me. I find myself talking to myself/the game, huffing and puffing when I mess up or sighing in relief when I narrowly avoid dying. Also, it's great because it's on my computer- no need to buy and set up a game system. And, unless I want to play the game with others, I don't think internet connection is needed when playing in my own solo world (as long as you have already downloaded the game from the website onto your computer and in your files or desktop or somewhere that is accessible without internet, that is).

Cons- the PC version of Minecraft, I have found it to lag (the frame rate slowing down) quite a bit. Sometimes I have even lagged out and gotten the message “Out of Memory”. I’ve also found the maps in the PC version to be pretty unhelpful. From the gameplay of the Xbox360 version I have seen, their maps cover quite a bit more land than the PC maps. If you wanted to map out lots of your land, you would need multiple maps. Also, lava is now my friend because it gives off much better light (similar to daylight when near it) than torches; torches are not that good at lighting areas in the PC version. *Edit*: Sorry guys- my friend made me realize that the brightness on my computer was turned down, so it made everything, including torch light, a lot darker than it really is, so torches aren't that bad. Lava is still very bright though, if you want to take a risk and/or keep your screen brightness down, haha. When I am mining, the light is pretty dim and only reaches a few steps in any direction, though I have to admit, they can be seen from a distance in the darkness and come in handy for being landmarks and make me not completely helpless in the dark.

I have covered a lot of ground, but there is still much more to be done! I want to start a farm with animals in at least one of my locations. I have been putting it off because, except for chickens, animals are usually located within reasonable walking distance from my houses or off of my usual pathways. I tried leading chickens back to one of my houses- it did not go well… none of them made it home *sad face*. And except in the demo version, where I was brutally murdered, I have yet to play the game with monsters. I have wondered around freely, day and night with no opposition. Once I do some more exploring, build more houses and mining sites, and craft some armor and weapons, I will turn off Peaceful (the setting where the character’s food bar doesn’t deplete and his/her health regenerates almost instantly if death is not immediate) and switch to Easy (monsters will spawn and the food bar will deplete but not completely kill the character if it is empty).

So I give the PC version of Minecraft a B+ and I recommend it, but with warning- it is addicting. Although I can go days, sometimes even weeks without playing it, once I sit down and play it, I’ll start with one task in mind, one thing leads to another, and then boom- two or three hours have gone by. Even now, I want to go back and keep mining, haha (it's after midnight as I write this). So just beware. But as long as it does not interfere with my social life, my work, classes, and random stuff I need to do (or any of your major life stuff if you get the game), then we are all good. So there’s my input. Happy gaming!

 

ENDERMAN!!!!! Q.Q

~H.P. Echo~

I Am on Youtube!

Hey guys! It's here! check out my new Youtube channel, Disturbing the Universe with H.P. Echo. This is the introduction video for my channel. And since you all might have peeked at my entries on this written blog already, you know what's in store (talks about sex, bullying, homosexuality, bisexuality, religion, spirituality, etc.- all that good stuff), except my video series, my voice will literally be heard and I will include my own drawings (and my hand!).

Thank you, my loyal readers. I shall continue to update both my channel and this blog here. I would love it if you supported and/or checked out both now and again :) More soon.

Let's Rock the Socks of the World,

~H.P. Echo~

I Am Busy (yet again) But Have Some Good News!

Good grief!

Time has definitely slipped away from me. Since my last entry, I've packed up my room in college, come home, got a part-time job, and I have decided to start video blogging.

Yes, you heard me... or, read my words.

So I've been writing down some ideas for that, as well as research on how vlogging works because I have little experience with video cameras and no experience with uploading my own videos. I will continue to write here as well, most likely in sync with my video topics and postings.

I really would like a good quality camera instead of my webcam, and I can get a camera from my college library... in late August or September, so I may just have to deal with it.

I have had my next entry in the works for a while now, and hopefully I will get that up within the next few days before work and physical life clouds my vision again (haha).

Sorry for the inconvenience yet again, peeps. I've seen the views my blog has been getting and I really appreciate you guys for reading and, believe me, I am in no way done posting- not by a long shot.

Feel free to drop some comments in my other posts (even if it's advice about incorporating video blogging or just to correct a term I got wrong or misspelled/misused)- constructive feedback helps me lots!

Happy Summer Solstice (and for those in the Southern hemisphere- Happy Winter Solstice)!,

H.P. Echo

I Am a (Semi) Gamer!

 (Picture of PS2 controller from Wikipedia.org)

 

Hello all! I’m alive and back again for another entry! And among all the more “serious” topics I have written about, I think it’s time for a more “carefree and fun” entry.

So, today’s topic is “gaming.” I consider myself a semi-gamer. By “semi,” I mean that I enjoy playing videogames (definitely more than doing a college paper) and absolutely enjoy watching people play videogames, but I do not play every day.

Via the computer:

I’ve played some MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online roleplaying games) such as Ragnarok Online, Flyff, and Runescape. I enjoyed Ragnarok Online quite a bit- I will download it to my new computer once I feel it won’t interfere with my college life and work and also after I find a good server. I’ve also played the demo of Minecraft on the PC and am working my way up to getting the game as soon as possible.

Also on the computer, I have also played smaller games, like stuff on the Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon websites (I don’t anymore unless I want the nostalgia). I have also recently played the horror game Slender (and yes, I did scream when he appeared killed me and my partner). Also on my list of things to play on the computer are Trouble in Terrorist Town and if I were ever given the chance to play some of the mods that people have created of popular games, I would because they look fun.

Via game systems:

I have played PlayStation games, like Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II (both are my favorite games of all time). I also own games like Mad Maestro, Crazy Taxi, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 1 and 2, and Thrillville. And I do play my brother’s games as well, including Tekken Tag Tournament and Tekken 4, and Spiderman. He also has Grand Theft Auto III- I’d like to try my hand at that sometime soon, especially since he has the cheats printed out from the computer.

Though I do not own the Wii or an Xbox, I have played Super Smash Bros Brawl, Modern Warfare 3, and Super Mario Kart with friends and relatives. If the chance should arise, I want to try my hand at the game New Super Mario Bros Wii U (I saw a couple gameplay videos on Youtube- it looks great and really fun to play with friends).

Which brings me to my next point: I love watching people play videogames. I know that it may sound weird and boring to not be a part of the action, but it is actually quite interesting. Watching my friends play games is not only like watching an interactive tutorial, it’s very hilarious. If you have friends or are someone who plays videogames a lot, then you know that the someone playing a game gets so involved with the game that they can do things like yell at the screen, talk to themselves, cheer, or do other things that you’d expect to happen at a football game, not in someone’s living room with a controller in their hands.

There are even channels on Youtube that are dedicated to this type of thing. Here’s a small list of channels that include gameplay with commentary and have made me, literally, laugh out loud, in no particular order:

·         Roosterteeth

o   They also have more specific, concentrated gameplay channels: Achievement Hunter and Let’s Play

·         Criken2

·         PewDiePie

·         Smosh/Smosh Games

·         Yamimash

Believe me, there are more channels, but I have not explored them yet. Each of these channels has videos that have at least 100,000 views- it’s insane. If you want a good laugh or just want to watch the videos for the games, I definitely recommend them.

So… yeah. I play videogames because they’re fun, they’re a great break from the real world (especially if I play with my friends), and it can be a good way to expel some stress. As long as gaming doesn’t interfere with someone’s life and duties (i.e. , ignoring family to play Call of Duty, missing meals or a meeting at work just to level up in League of Legends, etc.), I have no problem with it.

That’s all for now. Feel free to browse my page and posts- I have plenty up now. Again, thanks for reading! Leave questions, comments, and concerns for me (it really helps!).

May your games never freeze,

~H.P. Echo~

 

P.S: Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!

I Am Taking Back the Night! (Sexual Assault Awareness)

 

 (Picture of Sexual Assault/Violence Awareness Ribbon from dodlive.mil)

 

Hey all! H.P Echo here. My posting has been a bit unpredictable and erratic these past few weeks- I’m trying to do a better job for you, my readers.

So today’s topic is sexual assault awareness. It’s a topic that people don’t like addressing, especially with their children, but needs to be addressed now more than ever- in terms of support, awareness (because there is no definite way to “prevent” it, unfortunately) and just overall help. I went to a sexual violence awareness candlelight vigil last week- as I have for the last few years- and it was very moving. Some people- women and men- volunteered to share their stories with us all as we stood in a circle, with our lit candles in hand and able to see everyone and anyone who spoke. There is still candlewax caked on the ground in the part of campus where we stood. And when we were asked to voluntarily raise our hands if we ourselves or someone we knew had been sexually assaulted, at least 95% of people raised their hands (mind you, there were 50+ people there that night).

Why is this so important to me? I will tell you.

I am a survivor of sexual assault.

I am just coming to terms with this, getting counseling for it, and still have trouble saying this. I’ve told few people about this, have gone in depth with even fewer. Not even my partner knows about this (though I am thinking about telling them), nor do my parents, any of my family, or my college friends (except for the few that I spoke to in private after the vigil). Even though I thought I ended it years ago, it turns out that it followed me through bad habits I picked up to cope with the psychological damage. I stopped telling my family things and kept quiet a lot of the time, sometimes turning to self-injury or unhealthy sexual relationships to cope when I felt like screaming and could not. I am seeing a counselor now and am actively working on healing from this, but it is a work in progress.

Before naming the monster and everything, I actually kind of subconsciously shied away from everything sexual assault and rape related, including my high school’s Take Back the Night rally, which consisted of marching through the street, protesting sexual and domestic violence, and a candlelight vigil that included people in the crowd stepping up and telling how sexual violence has effected them and/or a loved one. My mom pretty much made me go to one a few years back.

But now I go to these types of events of my own will. These events are very important to me, not only because I was once a victim myself but because I know that there are people- children included- that are in these types of situations and feel so alone and feel that there is nothing that can be done about their abuser. No one deserves this.

So what can we do to prevent this? Unfortunately, there is no way to “prevent” sexual assault. People convince victims that if they had or hadn’t done a particular thing or things leading up to the assault, but that does not matter or factor at all. The only one at fault in sexual assault is the perpetrator(s). But what we can do is shine light on this issue. The more aware people are about this, the more we can do to protect ourselves and others, and bring justice to those that deserve it. Educate your kids. Believe the person when they tell you something is wrong or that they are being abused or have been abused, even if the person in question is a child. I cannot stress this enough. I felt that I did not get the chance to tell my own parents, and feeling like I did not have the support and that they would not believe me, things spiraled down for me from there and the assaults continued. But again, remember that if something does happen, unless you are the perpetrator it is not your fault that this happened to you or your loved one.

What can we do for survivors? Again, believe them if they tell you they were abused. Listening to them and believing them- even if it is hard for you- is the most important thing you can do for them (after making sure they are safe from their abuser, of course). If they tell you their story and doubt that it is sexual abuse, help them to find the name for it. Listen to them. Support them. Do not doubt them. Do not bring them down in anyway (i.e. – telling them that it could have been prevented if they had done this or had not done that).

Whew, that was a long post. Remember though- sexual assault/violence isn’t just limited to happening just in April, so our awareness and education on this shouldn’t be limited to just this month either. My two cents for you.

Lighting up the world,

~H.P. Echo~

*Note: Forgive me for taking so long- writing this was not easy. Due to the sensitive subject and personal trauma while writing this, it took me awhile to write this post.

I Am Reviewing "The L Word"!

 (Picture of "The L Word" logo from Wikipedia)

Hey everybody! Sorry about the long hiatus, but I’m back! (Look out- I may start posting on Tuesdays since it suits my schedule more) So, if you guys have ever heard of the show “The L Word,” then you know what this post is about. For those of you who do not, I will give you a small summary (*note for all, this post may contain some spoilers! Continue at your own risk!):

“The L Word” is a series about the different yet similar lives of lesbian friends. While some characters are fully aware of, accept, and acknowledge their sexuality, other characters struggle with this. Nevertheless, each woman encounters issues of homophobia, relationship issues, other external issues, internal struggles, and life in general. Bette and Tina have a relationship together and are trying to have a child. Dana is an athlete who is "in the clost" and is trying to "be out". Alice is bisexual, comfortable with women and men, and acknowledges it proudly to her friends. Shane is a hairstylist and is not interested in lasting relationships. Marina is the owner of a cafe and has an eye on another character. And Jenny believes at first that she is heterosexual, but after a series of events she struggles with her desires.

... I'm not that good with summaries, but bare with me.

About eleven or twelve episodes into the first season, I have to say that I like the show and that I recommend it (there are sex scenes in it and strong language, so if that is an issue… perhaps there’s a censored one for you guys? Although censorship kind of defeats the purpose of the show… but I digress). It features problems specific to each person, to LGBTQ members in general, and to humans in general. In my opinion, it makes the show much more realistic and the characters’ situations more believable and relatable.

Now, here are some things I wish they would include more of in the series:

·         More racial diversity. Don’t get me wrong- there is racial some diversity. Of the main characters, Bette is half African-American, her heterosexual sister is fully African-American, Marina is Italian… but the majority of the cast is Caucasian. Does this imply that homosexuality is more acceptable for people who are Caucasian?

·         More bisexuals, trans* folk, and those who do not particularly identify with any gender or sexuality. I know that the show is called "The L Word", and that the words above don't begin with the letter L, but the producers have already  included characters that are not strictly lesbians (and let's face it, sexuality is not black and white). The producers do a good job by including Alice, a woman who accepts she is bisexual, and with Jenny, who is struggling with her feelings between men and women and is perhaps transitioning through bisexuality, but are those the only two sides to it (no pun intended)? And what about those who do not identify as either?

·         More economic (class) diversity. Homosexuality and otherwise does not only belong to or occur in those who are doing well in the economic world (i.e. - middle class citizens).

Just some stuff that I noted while I was watching (I think I mentioned in a previous post about how my Women’s Studies course now has me looking at media more critically… yeah, that’s why). But overall, I like it. It puts the spotlight on homosexuality and homosexual individuals for a change, instead of making it something to be on the sidelines with secondary characters or not existent at all- who doesn’t love that?

So if anyone is interested in watching it without downloading, look up the user Lezgirlslike on Youtube- they have the full episodes of “The L Word” on their channel (I’m afraid to link it because the user might get banned for copyright… so shhh).

Anyway, that is all for now. Stay tuned, folks. Even if I disappear for whatever reason(s) again, I will continue to post until I run out of things to talk about… which will not be for quite a while. So feel free to drop by and leave a comment or two! Thanks for reading and Happy belated Easter, April Fool’s Day, and all that good stuff!

Nobody’s fool,

~H.P. Echo~

I Am a Human Rights Supporter!

Hello loves! Sorry about not posting last week- midterms and sickness had me down for the count (I'm still a little sick but, hey, I can't let it get the best of me).

My topic today is human rights. This topic has actually been on my mind for a while now. On my way back from the store last week, my friend and I came across a few volunteers that were standing outside when one of them called to us, asking if we supported gay rights and wanted to contribute. Now, mind you, it was cold and a little windy- about 40 degrees Fahrenheit (and that's a generous estimate), and after being outside on the walk back to campus, I wanted nothing more than to get inside my warm building. But I decided to take a look. Long story short, I donated nine dollars to the Human Rights Campaign. (Also note that in addition to being bisexual and knowing that my rights could/would be affected if more people knew about my sexual orientation, I contributed because I am an LGBTQ ally and I support human rights)

So, human rights. What are they? According to businessdictionary.com:
The fundamental rights that humans have by the fact of being human, and that are neither created nor can be abrogated by any government
The Human Rights Campaign is a campaign that encourages and rallies support for equal rights in the LGBTQ community so that they match those of their heterosexual counterparts.

Basically, human rights are rights that belong to all humans, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, skin color, eye color, music tastes, and so on. Human rights are the base of equality and justice, but this concept has reached the entire world yet. It's seen in the places that do not allow their women to vote, work places that don't permit homosexual people to work under their employment, etc.

So why do I support human rights? Look at it this way- the way the world is today, I am the bane of society, plagued with many things that set me at a disadvantage. I am: a woman, an African-American/black, young, Wiccan, bisexual- and those are the main things. I know that even based on my appearance, people in the world will judge me based on what they know about people who look like I do- and that is without knowing what I am about. I support human rights because I know what it is like to be at a disadvantage for things that are out of my control, such as my race, my lineage, etc. After these prejudices are overcome in my own town, state, and even country, of course I want the same for everyone because I know what it's like. Anyone who denies a person or group of people certain things or choices that everyone else has is just... wrong. Just wrong.

Now to the nitty gritty: What can we do? Well, I've mentioned it before- it all starts with us. We enforce these laws and what is accepted by policing ourselves, inside of our societies. Try not to deny anyone anything based on race, nationality, appearance, religion- whatever- only deny their request if, and only if, it is not within reach or reason, or if it would be unjust to grant them their request. That said, do not deny the actual person- only their request. If we knew how powerful we were, things would be different. Much different, I'm sure.

So I will leave you guys to chew on that for now. As with most of my topics, there's always more to say here, so it's likely I'll come back to this in a future post. Later, peoples!

Cough cough,
~H.P. Echo~

I Am Aware of My Body and My Health! (Eating Disorder Awareness)

Hey guys, what’s up?

So, this week is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. The name speaks for itself- an entire week dedicated to making people aware of eating disorders like bulimia, anorexia, etc. This is for the ladies, the gentlemen, and everyone in between.

I have personally never had an eating disorder, nor personally known anyone with an eating disorder, but I am aware of how serious eating disorders can be- physically and mentally. I know that reading fiction books (or even non-fiction books or autobiographies) with main characters who struggle with eating disorders can never compare to experiencing it in real life, even with the small glimpse.

The problem is that eating disorders can be disguised as diets. Diets that start out regular can sometimes turn into eating disorders. And for those who live in societies that pressure people to look a certain way and weigh a certain number of pounds or kilograms, it’s astounding how more people are not aware of the dangers of dieting and doubting how far it can go.

Have I ever been dissatisfied with the way I look? Of course. Have I ever thought of myself as anything but beautiful? Yes. Have I ever tried to change the way I look? Sure. Have I ever tried to diet or police what I eat and how I eat it? Only calorie-wise. I realized that I sometimes eat over 3,500 calories a day (not healthy… maybe even for those who do extraneous exercise) in school when the average adult is only supposed to intake 2,100 to 2,500 calories, give or take a few, depending on the amount of daily exercising and such. But a “true” diet, such as one that cuts out bread or meals altogether? No. I see myself as a healthy, somewhat fit (martial arts and running, woohoo) young woman who can sometimes underestimate my worth based on beauty ideals that are not my own. Still, at the end of the day I do not attempt to change how my body looks by overeating or under-eating.

(Doctor-prescribed diets are another thing- those are really only for those who are in danger of complications with their health.)

Once we are aware, then what? The ideal thing is to promote that “healthy is in,” rather than a certain body type (i.e. – thin, athletic, thick, etc.). It will not be easy- society will always have its expectations, but the policing begins with us. What are our individual standards? What do we want for our kids and young people? Health begins not only with us, but it also begins in the mind. If children see or hear about “issues” with human bodies, they will begin to compare, contrast, put two and two together and look to us to see how we handle this.

That said, keep in mind that setting a positive example and explaining misconceptions to a few people can make so much of a difference. It starts with one. Thanks for reading, you’re all beautiful!

“Body, body, body language,”

~H.P. Echo~

I Am Busy! (Week's Hiatus Notice)

Hello my peoples!

Due to the busy happenings in my college life (assignments, projects, extracurriculars, down time, etc.), I cannot post this week. Sorry, but school work comes first...

Much of my project deadlines are for Friday and Monday, so I should be able to post as usual on the 25th (also be aware that some of these projects are continuous so delays may happen now and again, but rest assured that I will try my darnedest to post weekly among the craziness). I apologize if I inconvenienced anyone.

As usual, thank you so much for reading and for your patience!

Bring it on,
~H.P. Echo~

I Am a Feminist!

 (Feminist button bought from I <3 Female Orgasm 2012 event)

 

Hey guys! Welcome back!

So, as always, the title dictates. I’m a feminist!

Let’s jump straight into it with some Myth-busting Time:

1. Not all feminists are women. I know a good number of guys who support equal rights. If you support equal rights among everyone, guess what? You’re a feminist, too!

2. Men who are feminists are not all gay. See #1. Guys across the spectrum support equal rights.

3. Feminist women are not lesbian man-haters that want to rule over men. I cannot speak for all women, of course, but women just want equal rights. Sexual orientation doesn't matter. And ruling over men would create imbalance and the same problem of unequal rights would begin again. Besides, I’m bisexual- you know that to be bisexual, I have to like men to some degree (haha).

Now, you may have noticed that I keep throwing around the phrase “equal rights.” That’s because that is just what they are- rights that women want to be equal between all genders (women, men, and people who don’t label themselves as either). The more common phrase is “women’s rights,” but I think “equal rights” is the more politically correct term.

Think of it like this: “women’s rights” are not special rights. They are merely rights that women want so that they can be equal to men and have the same privileges. If you’re not convinced, think about the phrases “gay rights” or “gay weddings.” We don’t call heterosexual weddings “straight weddings” or their rights “straight rights,” do we? Neither are the rights of humans called “men’s rights” and shouldn’t really be labeled “women’s rights” either- they are “human rights.” See what I mean?

So why am I a feminist? Well, I could say it’s because I am a woman; anyone could argue that this makes me a feminist by default. But no, I don’t think I’ve always been a feminist. I mean- I’ve supported equal rights my whole life, but it was in silence and without full knowledge of what was going on. I actually took a Women’s Studies course last semester that changed my outlook on many things. I now look at things more closely, somewhat scrutinizing advertisements and comments for sexist assumptions and expectations (for both genders, too!). You would be amazed how many there are.

So what’s changed for me? I now profess that I am (take note of the button that resides on my bookbag above), indeed, a feminist. I choose not to laugh at sexist comments or illustrations (i.e.: pictures or comments telling the woman to get back in the kitchen). And I choose not to date (and attempt not to associate with) sexist people who do not change their ways (dated a semi-sexist guy that had like-minded friends. I will not be doing that again…). Even these personal little actions can make any a feminist. Even better would be doing community/feminist work. I have not yet worked up to that, but I have attended Take Back the Night events (community events of awareness and to support survivors of sexual assault, sexual abuse and rape) and this week I will be attending my first ever V-day event (and by “V-day” I do not mean Valentine’s Day, per se. Here, take a look: http://www.vday.org/home. It is kind of hard to explain, especially since I’ve yet to attend one. It seems to be similar to Take Back the Night, though. I’ll report back after I attend). Now that is a good way to spend a good Valentine’s Day… perhaps I’ll ask my crush to go?

As with most of my topics, this is merely the tip of the iceberg. But what would you take away from this if all I did was overwhelm you?

Thanks for reading- I really appreciate it.

Love abound,

~H.P. Echo~

P.S: Here is a little present for everyone, whether you’re single and ready to mingle, in a relationship, in a complicated relationship or whatever other relationship status Facebook offers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDMwpVUhxAo&list=HL1360640621

I Am a Solitary Wiccan! (Part 2)

Hola my peoples! What is up?

Sorry- I know it’s Wednesday. Things were hectic Monday and yesterday, let me tell you. But since my first class was cancelled, I can update now.

So I promised you guys more info about Wicca. But first, I must make this disclaimer: Though I wish I could, I CANNOT speak for everyone when I’m talking about this. Everything does not apply to everyone. I am only talking from my experiences, people I have encountered, and what I have learned along the way… now that that’s out of the way, let’s begin.

I chose to convert to Wicca because I felt that my beliefs did not align with the Christian way that I was born into. I believe in reincarnation (not the same as eternal life in the Bible, right?), spirits (seen/felt a few), the sixth sense (clairsentience, clairvoyance, clairaudience, etc.), and healing through meditation, stone and crystals, and chakra cleansing. And then there’s magic. I believe in that too.

By magic, I am not talking about Harry Potter-type magic- that stuff is Hollywood inspired. Real magic (usually spelled “magick” to avoid confusion with camera tricks and slight-of-hand magic, as seen with magicians) consists of working with nature and the universe in order to influence people or situations (generally in a good way- once again, can’t speak for everyone). For instance, the five points of the pentacle represent earth, air, water, fire, and spirit (no place in there for Satan- imagine that. Haha!).

And we do spells. Not like, “bubble, bubble, toil and trouble,” with a cauldron and bat wings. Spells are basically prayers and affirmations. And I’ll just say this now- I do not believe in using love spells! I’m sure with the right amount of influence, they would work like any other spell, but influencing someone against their will is not good. Which brings me to this:

“An it harm none, do what ye will” and the Three-Fold Law. The first is the Wiccan Rede, which basically states do what you want, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone or anything. And the Three-Fold Law is similar to karma- everything you do has a consequence, which can be good or bad. If you do something bad (mostly on purpose or for personal gain), it will come back to bite you in the butt three times as powerful (this has happened to me, not with magick but with relationships). If you do something good (especially when you’re doing it out of goodness and not for personal gain) good things will come to you (I’ve also experienced this). So basically don’t hurt anyone or anything for personal gain, you’ll be fine.

Also, being a “solitary” Wiccan, well… the meaning is obvious- solitary practice. It means that I do most or all of my worship and practices by myself. However, I am a part of my college coven here. We just get together to celebrate holidays, but I wasn’t able to make it for the only one so far. For Yule- which is basically Christmas for us- I celebrated by practicing astral projection, the ability to project my mind and body into the astral plane while my body remains motionless on the physical plane. I did this because it was a special day and I usually do not have the time to take some time and practice, due to being too tired or too restless. So it was a special day, even though I was not celebrating it with a group of people. And as I said before, it’s different for everyone- some feel comfortable practicing with a group, others like doing it in private. I’m one of the latter.

Alright, that will be all for now. I’m sure I’ll be coming back to this soon enough- there is so much to say about this subject. If anyone has any more questions or wants details from someone more experienced than I am, I recommend watching videos by Cara:

http://www.youtube.com/user/cutewitch772

She is a video blogger that talks about Wiccan matters and more, from celebrating Samhain and Yule to working with stones and crystals (my personal favorites). Later guys, and thanks for reading (as well as being so patient for this post)!

Adding a touch of love (potion) and understanding to the world,

~H.P. Echo~

I Am a (Solitary) Wiccan!

What’s up my peoples?

So last week I was tackling bisexuality. This week, I’m tackling the religion that goes along with this symbol:

Picture of pentacle from netplaces.com

 

And that, my friends, is Wicca.

Now I know that at least one or two people who read this have probably been raised to think that this is an evil symbol and an evil religion- the path toward the devil himself.

While I can’t un-teach you, alter your beliefs or perhaps- heaven forbid- shake your faith, I can do a little teaching of my own and bust some myths for you.

When faced with someone who is Wiccan in your life- and actually, this goes for anyone who is different from you, religion-wise, sexuality-wise, politic-wise, etc. – here are basic ways to approach them respectfully:

Rule 1: If they are wearing a symbol that you feel offends you or you don’t quite understand, ASK THEM ABOUT IT. Ask them questions, but be nice about it. Instead of “aren’t you afraid you’re gonna go to hell?” ask “What does that symbol/phrase mean to you?” Phrasing matters.

Rule 2: Remember that these people are not just the symbol they are wearing or what the symbol represents. They are also friends, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, co-workers, mothers, fathers, students and, overall, human. Even if you two do not agree in the area in question, you both are human and therefore are similar in that way and maybe some other ways as well. Treat them as you would want to be treated or as you would treat another family member, co-worker, human, etc.

Rule 3: Taking this old-school- what your parents or family members might have told you as you grew up- “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” If you truly feel that you cannot find anything nice to say about whatever the person “is” or the path that they are on and feel is right for them, don’t say anything. Remember- you’re not perfect either and it is likely that people in your life have also tolerated an aspect that is a part of who you are.

Rule 4: It is possible to remain friends with (or related to) someone who lives differently than you. See Rule 3. Even if you don’t agree with your friend’s lifestyle, religion, sexuality, whatever, you can still be friends. And anyone who is different in your family is still your family. If anything, you don’t even have to address it all the time. After all, this difference isn’t the only part of them. Also keep in mind that if they are only recently coming out, they need support now more than ever.

And finally Rule 5: Keep in mind that every person is not the same! Reasons for changing an aspect of a life varies from person to person. What the subject at hand means to them also varies. Also, people’s decisions and lifestyle choices do not ultimately determine what they are like! I have met rude Christians, friendly Christians, friendly Wiccans, shy Wiccans, shy homosexuals, abrupt homosexuals, loud Hindus, quiet Hindus, etc. So ignore the stereotypes and get to know the person before deciding your feelings about them or (worse) spreading rumors.

So those rules aren’t just for when you meet someone who practices Wicca, those can be applied to for many things and to anyone who is different from you.

Since this post is getting kind of long, I’ll end it here. I’ll make this a multi-post because I’ve got more to say about this. Part two- in which I’ll explain what this symbol means to me, the basics about Wicca in general, and some myth-busting- will be up next Monday! Thanks for reading!

Nox,

~H.P. Echo~

I Am Bisexual!

Hey guys! Sorry I didn’t blog yesterday. I usually try to post every Monday (I’ve actually been thinking about posting more than once a week) but classes started yesterday, so I was gone most of the day. But since my schedule says I’m free now, it’s writing time!

So because you guys have been so patient, I will share something with you guys that few people in my life know: I am bisexual.

Now quite frankly, I’ve been questioning for years. I thought that being bisexual meant that you have an equal preference for men and women. Then I learned about this thing:

A colorful table  of the Kinsey Scale from Tumblr.com

This little wonder is called the Kinsey Scale. Being a zero on the scale means that you’re exclusively heterosexual, and being a six means that you’re exclusively homosexual. Everything else in between is basically where bisexuality, pansexuality, and etc. are (Except asexuality- that’s kind of a league of its own). I actually first learned about this in my women’s studies class. Since I was still questioning at the time, I took a couple of tests- one given to me by my instructor and one I found online- and came up as a 2, which seems about right. I have a preference for men, but I’m not exactly against liking/dating girls. But ultimately it’s on you- tests can be wrong, you know. But I do feel right about being a 2 on the scale.

Myth-busting time!

1. Being bisexual does not necessarily mean that we are up for threesomes! Trust me- I don’t like them. Quite frankly… I don’t like sharing my partner, you understand. Haha.

2. Being bisexual does not mean that I’m struggling to play for one team! I know that I am not strictly heterosexual or strictly homosexual. Yes, some people in those categories use bisexuality as transition into the other. I am not one of those people.

3. Being bisexual does not mean that I’m desperate! I’ve had a boyfriend and girlfriend at this point (not at the same time, see #1 above). I know that love is patient. Bisexuality technically doubles your chances at finding love but at the same time it does not. There are many factors that would make this difficult.

Those are my three truths for you. If I think of any more, I’ll either write them in or put them in another post; I’ll be coming back to this subject again because I’ve searched- there are not enough books, movies, or even write-ups like this by bisexuals, for bisexuals, about bisexuals. I want to make this kind of information more available to people like me who are out there and were as confused as I was.

That said, for my bisexual (or questioning) amigas, I recommend this site here: http://www.shybi.com/

This site has a lot of information and other bisexuals who know what they’re talking about. If you guys want to ask questions or just mingle, join the forums (listed along the top of the page). I’ve been signed up for a couple of weeks now- there are plenty of topics to talk about, and the ladies on the forum are pretty empathetic, friendly, and helpful- with all problems and such, not just stuff about sexuality. Definitely beneficial for those who are still in the closet. You’ll also find that a lot of the ladies on there also rank as a 2 on the Kinsey Scale.

For my bisexual (or questioning!) guys, here is the brother site to shybi: http://www.shybi-guys.com/

Because I’m not a guy, I haven’t really explored the site or the forum (listed on the left-hand side of the page), but if it’s anything like the ladies’ site, then it’ll be equally beneficial for you guys out there.

Alright this is a long post… so I’ll cut it now. I’ll being this back be coming back to this (*edit: my brain stalled when I was writing the part that's crossed out- ignore that) later. Thanks for reading people! Drop me comments and questions if you have any!

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeyyy sexy lady (or gentleman)!

~H.P. Echo~

*Update*: There is a fantastic new book about bisexuality called Bi: Notes for a Bisexual Revolution by Shiri Eisner! It includes topics such as what bisexuality is, biphobia, passing, bisexuality while being trans* and more. If you want to further educate yourself- or if you have a paper to write, I recommend checking it out!

I Am Resolving for the New Year!

Hola my peoples!

How are those New Year Resolutions coming along? Hitting the gym? Eating healthier? Being a better friend? Husband? Wife? Boyfriend? Girlfriend? Overall better person?

Now, I don’t usually do resolutions at New Year’s, since my year revolves around school and January is only the halfway point in the school year. So if anything, I make my resolutions at the beginning of each school year (toward the end of August).

I wrote these down as my resolutions and goals back in August to be done during my first year of college:

1. Get to know/ get along with my roommate- first and foremost

2. Make friends on my own [especially with my R.A (residential assistant) and the food servers in my dining hall]

3. Run at least a few times a week

4.Do projects at a productive rate (aka don’t procrastinate)

5. Check out the martial arts club

6. Check out the religious groups

7. Remain single for (at least) the first semester (hopefully all year)

8. Continue finding and working on scholarships

9. Remember: “Be civil to all, sociable to many, familiar with few, friend to one, enemy to none” (Benjamin Franklin)

10.Remember, in times of anxiety: “Peace, quiet, tranquility” (Starfire from Teen Titans)

11. Speak (my mind), be the “new” person I am inside and let her shine, and do something I thought I’d never do

 

Definitely a long list. But I’ve actually completed a few of them already; the ones that aren't highlighted have been completed (although obviously they’re all a work in progress). I’m pretty satisfied that I’ve done so many of these already.

But this year, I want to do something that I realized have not done in years, and I decided to make it my New Year’s Resolution since I had my “epiphany” just before Winter Break. And my resolution is this:

1. Treat myself better

I need to take care of myself and pay attention to my needs and feelings more. I do not mean this in a conceited way. I’ve been focusing on doing things with my life for the good of others before doing things for myself for so long. And the things that I thought I did for myself were really for other people and, to make it worse, those favors that I did only did harm to me, making me feel like crap. I want 2013 to be the year that this changes. I have a new college, a new start, a new life- now the only thing that I need to change is me and how I treat myself.

This means that I have to start putting my needs first before even thinking about helping others. Because if I can’t even help myself, how can I help others? I’ve been asking myself that question since August, and I want to get to the point where I do not have to ask this of myself anymore.

Seven days into the new year, I have already taken care of a few things- bought clothes and supplies for myself, tended to this blog and my art, and taken some time to just sit down and read books and watch my favorite shows and YouTube videos with my family. It’s a good start- but the real test comes next week when I am back on campus.

What are your resolutions? Do you make them for the new year or throughout the year and do you complete them? I hope you guys are doing the same and changing things for yourself to improve your life- not just at New Year’s but year-round. Don't just plan it- do it. Thanks for reading guys!

Resolving to end this post,

~H.P. Echo~

P.S- Since I’m not going to do the video thing, I’m thinking about putting together a little treat for you guys by animating a video. Don’t expect it to be anything fancy- I’m just playing around with DeviantArt Muro and randomly free-drawing right now because I need another flash-drive to put my pictures and videos on, and it will take a while, but it's for fun and I think it’ll be worth the time.