My top favorite shows

I recently came down with the flu and couldn't do much but sip tea and catch up on some shows. (which would be utter bliss, except for the constant coughing, aching and fever.) Anyway, I decided to make a list of some of my favorite shows
They're not very "mori like", but they're still good.


Anne with an E. I mentioned this show in an earlier post, but feel the need to mention it again.  The character development is PHENOMENAL!!!! I believe a second season will be coming out this year.

Pushing daisies. This show is about Ned, a pie maker, who can bring the dead back to life. I loved this show when it first came on, but it was sadly canceled.

The finder. This is one of those rare binge-worthy shows that makes you feel no guilt for watching the whole thing in a week. It's about a rather...er.. eccentric tracker named Walter Sherman. He can find anything!

Phsych is about a Shawn, "a psychic" that works with the Santa Barbra police to solve crimes.

The good place is jam packed full of moral philosophy. It follows Elenor Shellstrop, a recently deceased woman with a rather... colorful history. What will happen to her in the afterlife?

Gunsmoke 

The icy fingers of death: Gardening tips for winter

The icy fingers of death: Gardening tips for winter

     Well, the seasons have changed and I can safely say that winter is coming. Winter can be detrimental on plants depending on your location, so here's a little list of things to keep in mind. 

1. If your grass is looking a little patchy, put down seeds in the fall. This way they can germinate underneath the snow, and give you a full look come springtime.
2. Winter is the best time to take notes on future projects. Use late November and December to decide what you want to plant and how, as well as research new tips and tricks. 
3. Pruning decaying plants will help keep everything neat. If you need to cut any tree branches do it now. There aren't any leaves to get in the way, and it'll make your spring to-do list much shorter. 
4. Remove excess leaves or foliage around plants, and drain unnecessary water. (puddles) This step reduces the risk of rotting near the base of the plants, water born insects (misquotes) and pests.  
5.  Add mulch! Mulch will keep the solid warm during the harsh cold months. It basically gives the soil a season long hug. Ah, but birds may mess with the mulch, so keep an eye out for that.
6. keep an eye on the weather. If you have a lot of outdoor plants beware of the first frost. The first frost can do some serious damage if you're not prepared. 
7. preparing for the cold! You didn't think I'd say prepare for the cold without telling you how, did you? First up, cover your plants. Wrap the base of shrubs,  and trees with burlap and muslin. You can use these type of fabrics on other plants, but take into account the weight of the fabric and the strength of the plant. Some people cover there plants with plastic, but that locks in too much moisture and can damage the plants. In the event of using fabric and or plastic use discretion. This isn't one of those "one size fits all" solutions, so take the time to figure out which method is best for your plants.
8. climbers (plants that scale other plants or surfaces. Ex. ivy, vines, honeysuckle, morning glory...) should be secured with some sort of plant tie for extra support. (especially if you get a lot of heavy snow)

This list is primarily for flowers, but if you want a "Gardener's winter to-do" list for fruits or vegetables let me know by leaving a comment. I am still getting the rest of my social media together, but I'll try to include my handles in another post. 

This year is winding down.

Wow, I can't believe this year is almost over. I guess this is a good time to come back from hiatus, no?
I've noticed a spike in activity within the mori community, and couldn't be any happier. I've read interesting blog post, and decided to have a list of my favorites. (You know how much I love lists, right?) Now, these won't necessarily be posts that were written this year, just ones that I've managed to read this year.

Best of 2017 blog posts 

1. "when my heart aches" by dollmori.blogspot First off, let's talk about the layout of this blog. It's sooo pretty, and creative. (words can't express how much I love the lace trimming on the sides of the post) Now it's a straightforward lists of quotes (a lot of which I've never heard of, but also connect with.) It's a quick read, but well worth it.
2. books spotlight :The practical naturalist... by the plant that never blooms This is almost like reading through  Skimming throught some of the artwork and details presented in Chris Pakham's book The practical naturalist. The colors of each page are vibrant , and the commentary is very relatable. I too, buy books faster than I can read them. 
3. A deer a day by theforestmaid I thought this was a neat activity, and her art work is so good. There all pained, and each one gives off a different feel. I especially like the blue one. I hope that I can carve enough time out of my day to actually draw or paint #Adeeraday too.
4. I can't wear mori kei because...  There's no reason that should prohibit a person from wearing mori kei if they want to! This is a very clear, and enjoyable read that addresses some pretty common concerns of people who feel like they can't wear mori kei. Honestly, I didn't think I could wear it either, so reading a post that's this relatable was comforting.
5. strega- only for witches by Madame Chocolate  Now this post is in spanish, so let me cover the main points. 

• The post begins with Mai magi's (who is a popular tumblr user) thoughts on dark mori and how it no longer represents her as a fashion style. 
• The post quickly runs through her thoughts on strega as a fashion and how it pulls from the mori kei , and dark mori aesthetic.
• Strega, and dark mori are different. Strega also pulls inspiration from the occult, boho styles, and nu-goth. 
• While it (strega fashion) does have obvious goth influences, it's not considered goth because it lacks any relation to the music, and only relates to goth (a multi-facited counterculture sub-culture that has been around for decades) through fashion.  
• The post continues to explain that strega's values are in the complete freedom from any guidelines, save the inspiration of witches, whereas mori kei has a desired silhouette, and colors schemes. It is, in essence, its own style and should be treated as such.
• This post quickly addresses the waves of people expressing concern for strega's potential and or unintended cultural appropriation. Because it's name and symbols stem from religious roots, #strega seems more like a fashion fad, and ultimately upset some wiccans, and magic practitioners. (Not every wiccan or magic practitioner was upset, but the fact that even a few were needed to be addressed.)The word fashion was added to differentiate between the style and religion.     
• After mai magi's "strega fashion manifest" was created, the fashion began to morph from its original from (which was dark mori with over the top layering and skulls) to a whole aesthetic. The makeup, and hair became more elaborate, Ouija board tights and animal bones became more prevalent, and sub-styles of strega began popping up.           

These were just a few, but my are they gems! Why stop at just blog posts, let's do a string of "best of 2017"categories.

books

1. From here to eternity: where to find the good death by Caitlin Doughty. This is my new treasure. It basically follows Caitlin, a mortician and youtube personality, on her journey to "find the good death". She examines how other cultures view and interact with the concept of death and dying. Honestly, It's a refreshing read. I personally think America's standard of caring for the dead is too impersonal, so I would recommend this book to any one but especially the darkly inclined or the curious  
2. The picture of Dorian Grey. Yes, I've read this book many a times, but, but, but I find something new every time I do. This book follows Dorian, an incredible beautiful man who seems to never age, through his decent into darkness. There are all the lovely makings of a gothic novel in it. There are creepy locked rooms, mysterious paintings, romance and tragedy, fantastic mockery of the elite, stormy and winter nights, and death! 

songs

Now, I know I focussed a lot on goth music over the last few posts, but this is strictly for  Mori kei, and Dark mori.

Mori kei

1. Willow tree march by the paper kites 
2. through the pine forest by magpahi
3. Feels by son mieux
4. love prolog by sucrette 
5. 恋と口笛 by sucrette

Dark mori 

1.  don't look bak by AIHVHIA
2. cary on wayward son lullaby. Okay, this is a different version of this song, but I figured that it's too good of a song not to include it.
3. once upon a dream by lana del rey 

13 goth songs I wish were in Halloween movies

I thought that I should make a playlist of all the music I talk about on this blog, but realized that it's easier to just keep everything in one place. I know that these will probably never end up in a halloween movie, but I thought this was fun to make. Enjoy. 


13 songs I wish were in Halloween movies 

1. The smiths-there's a light that never goes out
2. The cure-lovesong
3. sisters of mercy -marian 
4. Aeon Sable- Dance floor Satellite
5. She passed away-Ritual 
6. She passed away- sanri
7. Drab Majesty - The foyer
8. Depeche mode -Strange love
9. enjoy the silence
10. Ministry- Everyday is Halloween
11. Bella Morte- Remorse
12. Clan of xymox- She's dangerous
13. a-ah- The sun always shines on TV

10 ooky sppoky plants to add to your garden

I would plant everyone of my favorite plants if I could have a garden the size of a country, but I can't and so I won't. Instead, I'll be listing different types of plants that I wish I could plant. Maybe this will inspire someone else to plant them.

1. voodoo Lily AKA Devil's tongue. (amorphophallus konjac)  It's definitely an eye catching plant, with it's rich color and bulb of the flow can get pretty large. (Be careful, this is a very pungent smelling flower.)
   
2. Dicentra Spetabilis AKA bleeding heart. This perennial plant belongs to the poppy family, and thrives best in the spring. 
   
3. Mandragora officinarum AKA Mandrake/the devil's apple. These roots are members of the nightshade family and take about 2 years to bear fruit (If i remember correctly, don't quote me on that) They need full or partial shade to grow, and can grow up to 4 feet tall. (please keep in mind that these root shouldn't be consumed)
   
4. Datura trumpet flower AKA   is another member of the night shade family and grows in south America. It can grow up to 4 feet tall, and it's soft leaves and bright white flowers will give any garden a nice pop of color.
   
5. The mystic dreamer dahlia flower's stem and flowers have such a stark contrast, that it's hard to look away. The petals are light magenta, while the foliage is a deep red.  
   
6. Columbine Var Magpie. This is a very dramatic looking plant, isn't it?
   
7. A weeping willow tree 
   
8. Blue Chinese wisteria tree. These actually remind me of wisp spirits,
   
    
9. spanish moss. This will help give off that eerie abandoned feeling
   
10.  cobra lily 

Another music post.

Why don't I just put a few songs here so you can listen while you read. I'm actually liking this "what I've been listening to" type posts. Sure they're short, but It's a good way to just say "hey this music is out there if you're interested."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp3IoC01drc
Red queen's lullaby, Eternal snow, Larmes De La Lune, Mad Dance, and Luna are my favorites from this video. (If you speed Luna up to 1.5X it sounds like it should be on the Get Backers soundtrack)

I think it's pretty safe to say that I prefer atmospheric, and music that's more on the romantic side. Now, I didn't stick just with things labeled "goth" because there are plenty of songs under all kinds of labels that speak to me. They're fantastic, or dreamy, or are just odd. I never liked boring things, and I'm starting to notice that in just about everything I do. I want to reiterate that, yes,  I like pastels,  my little pony, and all things cute. However, since this blog is dedicated to my... err, darker interest  I'll avoid gushing over GOT7, Kyary pamu pamu and the addictive nature of Initial D's sound track.


Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey

Fist off, I was OBSESSED with this song when it came out. I sung it every chance I got. It's so pretty and so emotional. (Now I'm not fond of uncontrolled emotions, let's get that out in the open) Anywho, back to the song. There are strings, whispering ghosts like choir, dramatic percussion and large bells in the back. Yet it's a soft sounding song. It reminds me of cathedrals early in the morning.

Once apon a dream By Lana Del Rey

There's nothing more dreamy than a classical disney song  being covered by someone like Lana. No more explanation needed.


Body Electric By Lana Del Rey
last one by Lana Del Rey I promise.  There's something so... well i don't know wonderful and dark about this. Composition wise, I'm fond of any one who can make a song sound like a 007 theme. Lyrically...uhhh... mmmh. I'll have to warm up to the lyrics I guess.

I've also been listening to a lot of Clan of Xymox, and she passed away, but that needs its's own post.

Inspiration: myths, music, and magic.

I usually post music that is slower and calm so this is a warning that this song is nothing at all like that. Amberian dawn's River of Touni is one of those songs I can't help but love. Yes, the music is downright awesome, and beautifully composed (seriously, close your eyes and take apart the song. there are tons of layers in each of there songs that you'll miss if you don't really listen.) but the lyrics are connected to an interesting story. Take a listen.

River of Touni- Amberian Dawn Lyrics:

Along the black death-land river
The mother runs and tries to find her son
Searching for her lost hero she wades the river deep
to her belt in mud

Oh! Heavy-hearted am I
Tuoni has taken my son!

Oh! Heavy-hearted am I
Tuoni has taken my son!

Fear in her heart she calls her son,
as she rakes the Tuoni river and sees the black swan
Now she wades the river deeper to deathlands shoals and shallows
and finds her son

Oh! Heavy-hearted am I
Tuoni has taken my son!

(This is the EXTREMELY SHORTENED VERSION, and i implore you to look into and read about the whole myth as it is very captivating. I, however, will not be covering the story in its entirety because i'm opposed to lengthy posts. That being said I will happily leave links to some of the sources) 

This song centers around the mother of Lemminkainen. In Finish Mythology Lemminkainen was killed by a blind cattle herder, who he had insulted . The cattle herder proceeds to hack Lemminkainen's body into several pieces and tosses it into a river. His mother sifts through the river to collects all of her sons remains. She eventually finds all the pieces of his flesh and revives him using magic.



The reason i like this song is because the mother's anguish was expressed in very few words. "Touni", the deity that rules over the underworld, "has taken my son." might be the part of the song that made me say "hey, let's look at why this deity did that. Now, i'm not expert in myths, but i'm always up for learning more. If you have a favorite myth, a song tide to an interesting story, or some folklore you'd like to share, then feel free to share.