u/DareValley88

Looking for some advice. Due to a change in situation, I can only make it to the gym three consecutive days (fri/sat/sun). Given the four rest days, I'll have to go high intensity, but what split would be best?

PPL would fit nicely, but only hit everything once a week.

Full Body or some kind of Upper/Lower split would hit everything several times but risks fatigue by Sunday.

What would you do in my situation.

(Gym goals are general fitness & aesthetic upkeep, I'm not an athlete or competitor)

Looking for some advice. Due to a change in situation, I can only make it to the gym three consecutive days (fri/sat/sun). Given the four rest days, I'll have to go high intensity, but what split would be best?

PPL would fit nicely, but only hit everything once a week.

Full Body or some kind of Upper/Lower split would hit everything several times but risks fatigue by Sunday.

What would you do in my situation.

(Gym goals are general fitness & aesthetic upkeep, I'm not an athlete or competitor)

Theory time!

During the research I'm doing for the Harvest Festival event I mentioned in my last post, I read about Esus, a Celtic god known from iconography, literature and naming conventions. The etymology of Esus is richly debated, with several strong suggestions, including PIE *esu (good), *is (to wish), *eis (life/vital force), or the Latin erus (lord/master), and it's unknown if Esus is a name or a title.

The two surviving icons of Esus, one in France and one in Germany, depict him as a man with a axe or similar hand tool chopping, pruning or pallarding a tree resembling a willow. In both depictions he is accompanied by Tarvos Trigaranos (meaning literally "Bull Three Cranes"), a divine bull with three crane like birds on his back. On the French Pillar of the Boatmen they are beside each other, on the German monument at Trier the birds and bull's head are in the tree itself.

Esus is also mentioned in literature, Roman poet Lucan named him along with Taranis and Teutates in his work Pharsalia, where he described each gods' preferred method of human sacrifice, Esus likes them hanged from trees. This work has more than a wif of propaganda about it. Esus is also invoked in a remedy for sore throats by the Gaulish Marcellus of Bordeaux in The Book of Medicaments.

Outside of several personal names that invoke the god, that's about it. He doesn't seem to be one of the more popular gods compared to the others named in the poem, as far as we know. So here's the theory...

I read several suggestions on who Esus is, in regards to other cultures or time periods. The Romans associated him with Mercury, as they do. If the "Good" etymology is true, it could be a link with The Dagda. Three birds warning the great bull of Cooley is another Irish link suggested, with Cúchulainn cutting down trees in the same story. Odin is another prominent candidate, the association with trees and hanging from them in particular, but also noteworthy is the Romans also so Mercury in Odin (as they do), both being wondering clever gods.

But nobody considered Gwydion! Gwydion "born of trees" of the Battle of the Trees who sang his dead son pearched rotting down from a tree in bird form, the clever wonderer often compared to Odin. Gwydion is allied with Amaethon, the god of agriculture. Aside from being cattle animals, ploughs historically were pulled by bulls, and Amaethon kidnapped three animals including a long legged water bird. Of course I'm not suggesting a direct link between Esus/Tarvos Trigaranos and Gwydion/Amaethon, but a gradual evolution of the mythology.

On August 1st I'll be telling stories at a pagan event celebrating first harvest. Two short stories at the beginning and end, with a longer play like one in the middle.

So here's what I'm planning: The first short story will be Gwythyr and the Ant Hill, as it has harvest themes. The longer middle one will be The Battle of the Trees, acted out with various costumes by myself and maybe audience members if they want, with the audience using branches to make the trees come to life. Amaethon is the plough god and is a main character. Finally I'll be reciting a poem I wrote about Creiddylad, and discussing the thematic link with her story and Blodeuwedd (both have two lovers fightingfor her). This should connect all three stories as Gwythyr is part of Creiddylad's story and Gwydion is part of Blodeuwedd's.

What do you think of my choices? Do you have any better ideas or suggestions I need to add?

Who do you believe Achren is?

Also if you're in the South Wales area and are interested, DM me for details.

Firstly let me wish a blessed Summer Solstice in advance if you celebrate. How will you marking the occasion?

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In this regard, I'm looking for a bit of advice for my Midsummer celebration this weekend. My intention is to dedicate it to Lleu and Gwydion, which feels appropriate to me.

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However, I've only really prayed to them before, I've never "worked with" them before. With Lleu, I've never felt the same calling to that I have with other gods. With Gwydion, I have felt a pull and a great level of interest, but I also feel... Intimidated I guess.

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If you've worked with or have a relationship with either god, I'd love to hear from you.