u/Intelligent-Wear4766

Sooooo anyone wondering why Lucien wasn't on that list for the snog, marry or avoid but like, Tamlin was and Lucien was not? 😂😂😂

Azriel was also there but with Tamlin making an appearance and not Lucien....feel like theres something about that 😂😂

I just want to take a moment to really reflect on the Rose necklace that was given to Elain from Azriel and the beauty of what this could be a metaphor for.

Interestingly, SJM could have had Az give any type of necklace. But, she chose a rose necklace that fractures white light (essentially a prism) to reflect multiple colors (typically a rainbow) so, I just want to take a moment to reflect on how beautiful it is that she chose a prism for Az to give Elain for his feelings for her. Rather than speaking, its giving.

Love is not uniform and thats exactly what the prism represents. That is why when a single white light shines through it, it fractures into different colors allowing true love to become a multicolored spectrum containing passion, vulnerability, tenderness and patience.

Prisms are a metaphor for seeing things in a whole different way, a change in perspective. Where Azriel lives in eternal darkness, Az and Elain together create the light allowing him to see in a spectrum of color where he once only saw darkness. He sees beauty, hope, joy, love and passion and I can't think of a better metaphor than that.

It also explains why he wants so badly to get the necklace away from him. He doesn't want to be reminded of the light of his life that he feels he is losing, though he never fully had.

I have a huge fear of snakes. I was almost attacked by a black moccasin when I was 7 leading to this fear.

I will say, that for most scenes in movies that show snakes they aren't as graphic but this cast did a hell of a fucking job!! I mean, down to the foreshadowing of the snake actually approaching from far away to the shot of it coming down the hole, to the sound of the snakes body hitting the wood, the slow buildup...I mean, it was so impressive.

But the downside is, because of how deathly afraid of snakes I am and how fucking great the scene was done...I haven't been able to sleep for 2 days because all I see is that scene 😭

I mean, amazing job to the Euphoria cast and directors but damn...I wish there would have been a warning to how graphic it would be 😂😂

Just came across this reel and immediately it gave Elriel!

The brown doe eyes. The hazelish eyes for the man and black eyes. It was just really cute.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZZgixnNYfl/?igsh=MXBlZXNyM2R1cW82Ng==

I know the bonus chapter has been hashed over and over again but there is something I need to say to get it off my chest because the fact that people do not know the difference between these, is baffling.

Lust-is a primal, self focused biological drive aimed at physical gratification.

Yearning-a profound and intense emotional longing or craving for someone or something that is currently unattainable.

Azriels sexual feels, are ONLY about Elains satisfaction. About how he wishes to feel her physically as she comes and he never once mentions how good it would feel for him to release but the pleasure he would get from HER release. Taking out the "self-focused" part of what lust is.

The yearning hes been feeling as told to us by his lack of sleep and heat because what he wants so dearly is out of his grasp. He hasn't even allowed himself the thoughts of what his life could be like with Elain because hes thought it hopeless to ever have. As he says they have never had touching like this, just hand grazing and lingering eye contact, something has been creating tension since book 2.

He isn't just lustful for Elain. He yearns for her but thinks he doesn't deserve it and so he allows himself to think of the only thing he might be able to have, even if its not all he wants.

I can't believe this even needs to be explained to people. I mean, cmon. Its so infuriating.

Has anyone heard of this? Yeah, me neither 😂

Just doing my usual research of mythology as I do from time to time. Eventually, I got to an evil Celtic thing, to muses that eventually, brought me to nymphs and to this term.

Nympholepsy is an intense, emotional frenzy or ecstasy brought on by nymphs when people spotted them causing that person to go into a state of possession or wild frenzy that took over the man.

Very interesting because I do remember Gwyn saying her twin sister looked more like their mom than she did (black hair, black eyes and webbed extremities) which really got me thinking...

What male would seduce a nymph that looks like that!? Lol. The fae males have all these beings to have access to and yet, they chose the nymph with the black eyes and webbed extremities!?

Anyway, there is another definition by the APA and no I definitely do not think Az is a pedophile so don't look at that definition 😅

I just wanted to share cause I thought it was wild. It was a term I had never seen before and especially, because sirens are most known for this I was very shocked to learn that Nymphs do as well.

Ok. I put this as a hottake because maybe I am alone in how I am feeling about it but I need to get it off my chest and I hope it doesn't offend anyone here because its not my purpose.

I understand and fully comprehend that writers draw ideas, inspiration and trauma into their writing to get through it.

I understand that what SJM went through was absolutely horrific, life-changing and traumatic.

These are all fair things and I don't want to take away from the fact that she felt those things, experienced those things and handled those things in her way as SJM because nothing or no one can take that from her.

However, listening to SJM say how she really brought in her trauma and the way she dealt with that trauma into Nestas position really angers me as it makes no sense for this character. I understand that Nesta went through alot and her "bitchy" exterior is more like a face she wears but SJM has said, multiple times, that Nesta isn't her and yet SJM used her experiences and then how SHE reacted to that expereince channeled into Nesta and it doesn't fit the character.

The whole, wanting to live through your trauma into a character is valid but she should have used all those feels into a character that was literally in the part (Feyre) rather than Nesta whom in no way can touch the outright horror of what SJM expereinced.

I get it. She was writing silver flames when all this happened. But, just because you are writing a certain book and feeling these feels in that moment, sometimes its not the time to channel into a certain character and I felt that big time in this book. I think its also why I felt emotionally detached from me because the actions didn't fit Nesta and I would have rather those thoughts have come from Feyre and her feels about it rather than Nestas POV who couldn't really ever understand, on the level where you actively are experiencing it, how traumatic it is.

Anyway, I am sorry if some people feel angered by my take here and to people that love Nesta. It just grinds my gears everytime I hear it and I needed to vent it somewhere.

Thanks for reading!

Anyone else been seeing these new social media warriors for the justification of the estranged parents?

​

I understand having a group that you talk about how it makes you feel and you have people to relate to you and thats totally normal even though those parents did it to themselves, they still deserve to try to be happy without their kids presence and I find that to be incredibly healthy.

​

What I don't find healthy are these new social media warriors for the estranged parent that literally give advice to trample on the child's boundaries out of the sake of the parent being happy and thats so wrong to me. They also are trying to take it a step further to take it to lawmakers to try and stop therapists online from using their freedom of speech just because they fully believe the problem is social media and not at all the parents who refuse to take accountability.

​

Really, really getting at me with them.

I heard this song not too long ago and I put it on my Elriel Playlist and everytime I hear it and the fact that its a male that sings one and the female sings the other half.

​

The song is called: Little Bit Better by Caleb Hearn feat. ROSIE

​

I met somebody, selfless and kind

She's got a smile even when she isn't fine

She can be hurting, but she's got enough love to fill up Tennessee

​

I met somebody, stays up at night

I see her worry and she sees all of mine

I met somebody, she really loves me, says I'm all she needs

​

And I

Grew up thinking I would have to

Fight

All of this alone

But now you hold me in the darkness

Hold me 'til it hurts less, you

Tell me that I'm alright

Show me where the light shines through

Please stay, love me through the weather

Please say this will be forever

Hold me in the darkness

Even when it's hard with you

It's a little bit, little bit better

​

I met somebody, gentle and smart

He underestimates the size of his heart

He can be laughing, but he's got enough pain to fill up New York City

​

I met somebody so full of scars

The world's on his shoulders, but he won't fall apart

I met somebody, he really loves me, says I'm all he needs

​

And I

Grew up thinking I would have to

Fight

All of this alone

But now you hold me in the darkness

Hold me 'til it hurts less, you

Tell me that I'm alright

Show me where the light shines through

Please stay, love me through the weather

Please say this will be forever

Hold me in the darkness

Even when it's hard with you

It's a little bit, little bit better

Oh-oh-ooh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, a little bit better

Oh-oh-ooh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

And I

Grew up thinking I would have to

Fight

All of this alone

But now you hold me in the darkness

Hold me 'til it hurts less, you

Tell me that I'm alright

Show me where the light shines through

Please stay, love me through the weather

Please say this will be forever

Hold me in the darkness

Even when it's hard with you

It's a little bit, little bit better

When Elain is taken by the cauldron, it is said that her hands are held by chains but she also has a gag in her mouth which is removed gently by Azriel.

​

No mention of what type of gag this is or the color. But, could that be the black blindfoldlike fabric he is keeping on his armor?

​

Is it possible, he kept it?

So, I've spoken alot here about mythology but I want to take a moment to step out of that into ideas of yoga and kudalini. I know during the CHD interview, SJM spoke about partaking a lot into it and I know SJM draws from her life and it wouldn't surprise me if she wanted to incorporate this.

​

I want to say that this post is going to focus more on the relationship development rather than my other posts about how the story is going to evolve.

​

Twin flames are often complementary as its one soul split into two beings. One might represent light (Elain) while another will represent dark (Azriel) so they don't encompass things that are the exact same. This gives the ability of both partners to balance one another and make up for what the other is lacking. Their joining is typically extremely passionate but when unbalanced (such as they are now) can lead to issues or chaos.

​

We know Elain is mentally strong. SJM says that she harbors a different strength than her sisters. We know, based off the BC that Azriel is struggling mentally with his self image and we know that Elain struggles with voicing how she feels even if shes physically uncomfortable.

​

I think that Elain is that Twin Flame for the reasons I mentioned but then that leaves the Gwyn thing, whats happening there? So, lets break down the bonus chapter.

​

"Sleep, they seemed to whisper in his ear. Sleep.

​

I wish I could, he answered silently. But sleep so rarely found him these days. 

​

Too many razor-sharp thoughts sliced him any time he grew still long enough for them to strike. Too many wants and needs left his skin overheated and pulling taut across his bones. So he slept only when his body gave out, and even then only for a few hours"

​

It is said that a Twin Flame and/or a Spiritual Teacher can awaken the Kudalini. I think that Elain, being his twin flame, awakened it in him causing him to feel the physical signs of it awakening and hes been trying to ignore it, suppress it and flee from it causing physical distress (insomnia, extreme heat etc)

​

"Azriel couldn’t stop it. The envy in his chest. Of Cassian, and Rhys."

​

When parts of the chakras are blocked such as the heart Chakra, it can cause emotions such as envy.

​

"Elain closed the distance, and her breathing quickened as she again paused, now a scant foot away. She extended the wrapped gift, her hand shaking. “Here.” 

​

Kundalini awakening can cause shaking and again, twin flames can trigger this cause a surge of electrical energy. Elain is feeling it as well.

​

"He chuckled, unable to suppress the impulse"

​

When twin flames come together with heightened passion and kundalini awakening, it can cause the energy to look for a release this often comes in the form of laughing, crying or dancing.

​

"Until he felt nothing. Was again nothing at all."

​

A continuous example of suppressing.

​

"He’d been so vigilant about keeping away from Elain as much as possible, and had stayed up here to avoid her, and tonight…tonight had proved he ‘d been right to do so. "

​

More suppression.

​

"He aimed for the training pit, giving in to the need to work off the temptation, the rage and frustration and writhing need."

​

Desperation for release but is unaware of what he really needs.

​

"He found it already occupied. His shadows had not warned him.'

​

I believe his shadows didn't sense Gwyn because of her power.

​

"His shadows peered over his wings at her."

​

They are trying to determine what she is.

​

"She pointed with her sword at the white ribbon, which seemed to glow silver."

​

Having these visual indicators in kundalini, often mean the energy is moving towards the crown chakra

​

"He blocked out the bloody memory that flashed, so at odds with the Gwyn he saw before him now."

​

Again, dealing with blocking or suppressing trauma.

​

" Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music."

​

The recognition from his shadows, finally realizing, shes a spiritual guide. Reaching to her for help for their host, knowing she can help.

​

"She angled her head, hair shining like molten metal."

​

Hair shinging like molten metal has been a sign in many cultures, of something of an "Antenna Concept" and is viewed as an extension of the nervous system representing a strong, clear and unblocked channel and high vibrational energy.

​

"Azriel dipped his head in a sketch of a bow, something restless settling in him. Even his shadows had calmed"

​

Another sign of a spiritual guide. Instead of the passion and high energy flow we see in twin flames, spiritual guides provide an ease in just their presence.

​

"Azriel entered the warmth of the stairwell, and as he descended, he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer."

​

Spiritual guides can cause their subjects to hear singing or celestial music in their presence and is a form of clairaudience. Just further showing of Azs Kundalini awakening.

​

"Instead, he found himself at the library beneath the House of Wind, standing before Clotho as the clock chimed seven in the evening."

​

I believe this was a force of divine intervention allowing him to be at the spot he needed to at the time he needed to be which was during the time Gwyn was supposedly singing at this time.

​

"Something sparked in Azriel’s chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to  the House proper. How Gwyn’s teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason… he could see it.  

​

But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly."

​

Spiritual guides, have been known to spark images or spark energy. They have also been known to cause more activeness in the 3rd eye chakra, allowing for overlap into the mortal world to where images can actually be seen and then again, we see him ignoring it.

​

We also know that Gwyns singing aided in Nesta finding the harp and would align perfectly with this theory. Not to mention, Gwyn shows Nesta how to meditate stating that in her other temple they practiced it often.

​

Therefore,

​

Elain=twin flame

Gwyn=spiritual guide

​

​

​

​

I am going through the series in preparation for the 6th book.

This time, I am listening on audible instead of reading the actual books and omg I totally forgot how great the emotional pulls were.

I cried during the Lehabah scene and during Danikas appearance for Bryce making the drop. It was so moving and amazing!

Anyone else feel that way?

Lately, I've been thinking of the "like calls to like" as its a very large part of the 5th book in ACOTAR. So, I wanted to do some looking into that and I came across Empedocles philosophy.

His philosophy, combines the four elements (fire, air water and earth) with the dynamic and opposing cosmic forces. Leading him to the big philosophy of "Love and Strife"

He saw that the 4 elements were unreactive or unmoving by themselves and so they required opposing forces to create movement which he viewed, as love and Strife.

Love-is the force of attraction (Elain and Az are VERY attracted to one another), harmony and unity (all of which Elain and Az have together) it draws the elements together to create cohesive objects, living being and "Sphairos" (a perfect, divine, undivided sphere of pure unity)

Strife-the force of discord, separation and division. (I see Elain and Lucien in Strife.)

This all leads to the cosmic cycle which Empedocles viewed as a cycle where the universe oscillates between the total dominance of love and Strife.

There are 4 stages (kind of like the 4 stages of movement)

Stage 1 (rule of love): the elements are perfectly blended into a divine harmonious sphere.

This is where I think Elain and Az are sneaking around and enjoying one another causing harmony.

Stage 2 (incursion of strife): Strife enters pushing the elements apart and gradually creating the diverse individual things we observe in the current world.

This is where I believe something happens to Elain, Az or both of them. Obviously, the Strife in this scenario to me is Rhysand and Lucien since Rhysand was already trying to push them apart at Winter solstice.

Stage 3 (Rule of Strife): the elements are completely separated into distinct chaotic masses.

This to me seems like a journey of self discovery or where one has to rescue the other. They are completely on their own in the chaos of whatever is going on.

Stage 4 (Return of Love): Love slowly reasserts itself drawing the elements back together to sustain the world of living things.

Obviously, the finale where Elriel is endgame, coming to the closing of our story.

So, apparently, when I was doing my research earlier, I totally fucked up and got 2 guys mixed up 😂😂

I am so sorry guys.

Who I meant to talk about was Robert Schumann-Symphony no 1. Called "Spring"

Supposedly, he and his wife were star crossed lovers, with her father being against them (Obviously, Rhysand weighs heavily here to me) so lets just get into the parallels and im sorry again for writing about the wrong one 😂

Movement 1-walking at a somewhat majestic pace-very lively and fast: is meant to symbolize the awakening of spring and a summons to life. The music is filled with a sense of joyous and urgent awakening.

Movement 2-Larghetto: represents a deep tender and nostalgic movement. The violins represent a haunting, romantic melody that represents Schumanns longing for the spring. (Longing for Elain lol)

Movement 3-Sherzo-very lively and fast: alternating between a vigorous, syncopated, minor mode theme and cheerful rapid fire musical idea. Is called highly unusual.

Movement 4-Allegro-fast, animated and graceful: meant to represent spring in full bloom

Alright, so, what I find interesting is the reason he wrote this going back to being able to marry his wife but Elain and Azriel are also star crossed lovers. Additionally, this is a journey about Spring and it coming to full bloom. I think we can say with absolute certainty that Elain is going to be the primary focus here, probably from different POVs.

The other thing I find very interesting is he took inspiration from Adolf Bottger who was a German poet and this is the English translation.

Spring

Adolf Böttger

You spirit of the cloud, dull and drear,

Who over land and sea with threats appear,

To cover all, once more, with your grey veil

Causing heavens clear eye to pale,

Your mist billowing from afar

As if the night would cloak love's star.

Spirit of the cloud, in dim and damp display,

Why have you chased all my joy away,

Summoned tears upon my face

And light within my soul effaced?

Oh turn, turn your course away from here -

Spring now blossoms in the vale so dear!

The meaning behind the poem is meant to symbolize on the transition from the dark, winter to the reawakening of spring and how the spring is rejuvenating. Its also meant to symbolize a dull, Grey cloud or mist that hides the sky and chases away all joy and light but leading back to the end where nature reasserts itself. Elain is coming back baby lol.

The music is meant to symbolize this poem and to embody the "rush of spring which carries a man away"

Awwwwwww 🩷💙

EDIT: was also inspired by "Spring of Love" by Fredrich Ruckert which has like 400 poems 😅 written to his beloved while courting her. Super romantic and adorable.

Robert also used the poetry, to inspire a song he wrote specifically for his wife

https://www.classicallyabby.com/opera/the-truest-love-song-widmung

https://interlude.hk/schumann-liszt-widmung/

So, I did some searching for some symphonies and 1 specific called out to me.

Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5

The opening (part 1): introduces the opening funeral march (the 6th book is a gothic romance! Is it possible there is a death here!?) And a stormy vehement symphony (I was unsure what this meant but in symphony terms, it basically follows a temptous, violent and highly agitated musical landscape and a turbulent, desperate state of mind. Which, I feel, fits Gothic romance pretty deeply and would fit with the eye for Lucien)

The Sherzo part 2: follows a fast pace and features a playful, surprising, or dramatic character. This is meant to play a transition from the dark into the light leading to the hopeful, loving world of part 3 (remember, Elain is always the one whos thought to always bring hope!! I think this gives even more reasoning for the books and them sharing the light and dark components) the movement of the horn comes into play significant of shadowy night music leading through the psychological progression capturing the complicated perception of the human condition and struggle against fate (Mahler and his wife were starting crossed lovers who were kept apart by Mahlers father (in our case it would be Rhysand) so there is a struggle between how hes feeling and the fate of the bond that Elain has with Lucien and her own feelings as well!

The Adagietto part 3: scores intimately for only STRINGS AND HARPS!! ummm hello!? This acts as a beautiful, breathing oasis of calm and is also Mahlers love letter to his wife-then fiancee. Leading to the finale where its joy that is the final revelation leading out of the darkness from the musical beginning.

There are SOOOO many parallels between this and Elriel like its just too damn close to not be her inspiration.

Hey all!

Just wondering if anyone has given any thought to the Goddess of Hathor and Elain.

I recall that "joy" was heavily mentioned in the 5th book and the whole advertising with bloomsbury where it was said to "never feel bad for a moment for something that gives you joy" or something like that.

I recalled the purple and gold element whenever Elain makes an appearance and so I just wanted to see if this had any connection to Egyptian mythology.

Hathor came up. She is a sun Goddess of a sort but her name also means "temple of Horus" and if you remember, during the CHD podcast she was wearing a necklace with the eye and I couldn't tell if it was of Ra or Horus but considering this could be a connection, its interesting that Hathor fits here with Horus because Horus always did remind me of Azriel.

Hathor was the reason for why Horus was able to rise giving him life again and this would be an absolutely beautiful sentiment for Elain giving Azriel life in his soul as id imagine, he hasn't felt alive in a great many years...if ever.

Hathors instrument was the Sistrum and I can see the harp playing very easily into this type of situation. Furthermore, Hathor is known as the protector of Ra, turning into a monster to protect him at one point.

Spoilers for CC below

&gt;! If you recall, the Cauldron is corrupted by the Asteris power. So, if this is true, then its totally possible that the formed mated bond is meant to be a more protective symbolism as the Asteri used it to create monsters and such for protective purposes.!<

Ra always reminds me of Lucien and so, it makes me wonder if shes just meant to be his protector and not much more while being in love with Horus is her actual love calling.

I am not sure if any of you have heard of the story of "Ophelia" painting. Essentially, Ophelia goes mad by the loss of her father. She goes to pick flowers by a river and she accidentally slips in. Because of the many skirts of her gown, she starts to sink as shes sinking, she begins to sing and she ends up going beneath the surface and drowning to death.

What if, this happens in ACOTAR with Elain and Azriel has to venture to the underworld to get her back? Def fits the Gothic theme and the singing.