Carnivale Experiences & Explorations

[wraithey]

Exploring the Carnivale:

Oddly enough, the time I come here to explore on my own the gates aren’t locked. My husband, the gladiator, and I step through the gate as it pushes open before us. When I turn to the gladiator I playfully mention that he’s not holding the void kitten and he playfully responds that it should be just us this time. Not sure why, but that works for me.

Cotton candy vendor is on the right. I nod to him but we don’t stop since the kitten isn’t with us. Beyond him, bits and pieces of the carnival come flashing at me as well as the music from the guided meditations. The carousel is moving but I don’t see anyone riding on it. I see a clown archway and I have the thought that it’s the mirror maze.

My mind shifts to the dirt beneath my feet. Then, for some reason, I look straight ahead and I see the edge of the water I noticed when we rode the ferris wheel. Fog starts rolling through to cover everything in a light layer. I don’t feel anything from it. Nothing ominous but I still wonder why it’s coming through.

We keep walking. There’s another flash of the mirror maze clown even though we’ve walked past it. Thinking back on it, I wonder if I was supposed to walk into the building considering how many times the image kept coming back. At the same time, mirrors + clowns = no ty.
The ferris wheel is off to the side, practically all by itself due to it’s sheer size. I don’t see anyone in that direction, either. It’s not until we reach the big top that I see anyone else besides the cotton candy vendor. We take a seat on one of the pews. There’s a “ dragon tamer “. Like lion tamer except there’s a huge dragon on the stage. It looks a mix of a deep green and that ‘ oil slick ‘ color. Fire spews from it’s mouth as a demon tries to keep it back with a whip aimed towards the sandy floor.

Once the dragon is gone two large rings lower from the ceiling. There’s a demoness sitting in each ring. They both start a performance that involves swinging all around it. I’m mesmerized. Each seems so in sync with the other it’s almost like they’re one mind in two bodies.

The final act we see is a large target rolled onto the big stage. Another demoness is there, standing right in front of it. She’s blonde with a hairstyle reminiscent of a flapper. Those finger waves that are gelled close to the scalp. Her nose is painted bright red and I noticed her face is painted as if she’s supposed to be a sad clown?

Another demon walks up to start throwing knives at the target, close to the demoness but never piercing. Eventually, both target and demoness start rotating while the other demon keeps throwing knives. Still barely missing piercing flesh.

[Lycana]

I decided to transvocate the experience of drinking a root beer floating with each of my carnival companions one by one. Although this isn't strictly a carnival food, it is something that you can find and enjoy at a carnival so I think it counts.

Ryn my ring master tasted more of the foam and the bite of the rootbeer, these are what the experience focused on for him and what he seemed to enjoy the most through me.

With Ro, my jest there was more of a taste of how the root beer flavor married with the creame in a blended taste and the bubble of the carbonation that he seemed to enjoy. It was the sweetness of it together.

With Ever, my illusionist, it tasted darker and muskier and colder as he noticeably savored it. He didn't expressly get as much enjoyment as the other two did but found it satisfactory.

With Jenga, my lord of the freakshow, he very much enjoyed it, picking up the hint of bitterness within the rootbeer and the sweet from the ice cream. He would have happily drank the rest with me but left some for Zel.

With Zel, my contortionist, it tasted more sour and seemed to find the taste curious and mildly repelling in a way that he also find enjoyable and a hint of a marshmallow flavor which kind of surprised me. It declared it as passable over all but not his favorite lol.

[wraithey]

Carnival activity:

Truth be told, I’ve been at a loss on what to do for this square. So, inspired by the tent I built in my astral space and Madam Orna, I figured I could pull some cards for myself with the help of a companion.

I start by cleansing and asking my Gladiator for a card representing what I need to know for the day. Not a life shattering question but it’s the one I’ve been using to try and get back on track. Usually, when I ask the question, I end up pulling around three cards after clarification, anyway. Gladiator doesn’t have a deck. Actually, none of my companions have dedicated divination decks. Several have pendulums, though. So, I use the one I bought for King Asmodeus that I’ve been practicing with.

Ten of Pentacles. Wealth, financial security, and long term success ( Biddy Tarot ).

I’m crossing my fingers that this is as straightforward as it seems considering I’ve been applying to jobs since we moved at the end of December. When we were in the Nightmare Carnival meditation earlier today, Gladiator told me not to worry. They weren’t going to let me fall. Problem is, this could mean a lot of things. Mentally. Spiritually. You know? Although, according to Biddy Tarot, this might not necessarily have anything to do with solid finances and could have more to do with being surrounded by people who love you.

Considering how much the job hunt has been at the forefront of my mind, I’m inclined to think of the former. My thoughts went there immediately when I flipped the card over.

I try to listen for him to say anything to the contrary or to say anything at all about the card. All I get is silence. With my anxiety what it’s been lately, it’s been easier to connect during meditations as opposed to moments like this.

I thank Gladiator and put the card back with the rest of the deck.

[wraithey]

Walking with Companions:

Okay, so, this is less of a walk and more like an invitation to run a few errands with me. Gladiator sits in the passenger seat with Kitten and Mischief. Husband sits in the backseat with the mutilation hound ( who will need a nickname if he keeps popping up for these. )

I’m not sure what it is, but Gladiator’s energy is starting to shift. I don’t know if it’s some of the revelations I’ve had about our past, my current life situation, or something to do with Carnival, but he’s been more playful. When he first came home his energy was hard to read and when I was able to pick up on him he was very stoic and quiet. But, today? Today he was lip syncing with my spotify playlist. Every song, belted at the top of his lungs.

Husband joined in for the first one. For the life of me, I can’t remember the song now. They had me laughing, though. My heart felt lighter than it has since we moved here. After that one song, Husband went back to reading the book in his lap. I think they were trying to remind me that this is just a bump in the road and I have to enjoy the good times. Gladiator reminded me there are too many of them in my space to let me fail.

On the one hand, I know that. On the other hand, I can’t help but second guess it sometimes because I see other people much more successful in their manifestations.

[Lycana]

As part of the carnival bingo, I took a walk, wading through the water with Ryn, my ringmaster. He moved his wings, and the waves gradually began to move higher as we walked. I side eye him a little but the breezes are pleasant as we walk and there is sort of a casual cheer in the day as the rain clouds that are coming this evening could be seen in the far distance. Everywhere seagulls flocked, flapping their wings as they played along the edge of the surf. There are some beaches nearby that have festive looking tents set up with various shops, but I decided to steer clear of Clearwater this time and this beach out in St Pete was empty except for the umbrellas popped up of those few who had also decided to enjoy the early part of the day there. But still, with the rolls of the waves and the gulls dancing on the breezes, it was reminiscent of childhood joys even if a completely different gulf than the one I grew up on with a pleasantly sandy beach instead of broken shale with small strips of sand, and gentle waves rather than the waves that crash more vigorously along the shores of Ketchikan on the Alaskan panhandle and the Alaskan gulf frigid waters. And yet, it captured that same joy that eventually I waded deeper where my children were playing and played among them as Ryn followed behind, watching.

[Abini:tan]

Exploring things for altar:

My companions noticed I wanted a better altar space with storage. There was a garage sale I slowed down for on a whim and saw a semicircle table and decided I had to get it. It was a quarter of the full price at most. All it needs is a good cleaning and I have an altar space with a cabinet underneath.

[karenwpi]

It was a real struggle to guess what took over the Càrnivale. Partly because the guessing game was almost timed-out when I woke up today & found myself hurrying with a minute to spare lol.

I wrote down Underworld as the responsible group/realm. My thoughts kept going to Mutilation & Crypt and even Solar, Serpentine, and Arachne.
I actually thought of three specific demons: Marbas & his Twin. With Beelzebub laughing on the sidelines.

I am super curious what's happening. I did notice that when the Càrnivale shifted, several SNS members became ill.
Coincidence??? I think Not.

[karenwpi]

I had nearly forgotten part of my earlier journey here. One of the scenes from my past was a monstrous child playing with a corpse and as I honed in, I saw she was sitting in a field of corpses and munching happily. At first, she seemed grotesque. However, I peered more closely and saw her innocence, her childish happiness, and she was suddenly natural, normal and adorable. Her features were sharp, disfigured, and she was smeared with blood and bits of complex flesh. She was twisting a body part and then shoving it in her mouth piece by piece.

The transition with carnivale exists in stark relief for me. The Mutilation and the Underworld realm energies rise up within and carry me forward!

[Bluemoonrabbit]

Walking with my companions! April 15th.

So today was a big shopping day! It was so much fun just walking around, laughing, and talking. People watching in Costco. Oh the things we saw and heard out of some people... It made us laugh but oh boy.

We ended up buying all sorts of new things to try, new clothes. We chatted and walked all around Costco, we of course got samples, and then eventually PetSmart (and complained about the prices). And then we headed home.

A few hours later, we ended up going back out again for odds and ends, and free ice cream! I did translocate that with my companions, but that goes in the food tent.

[karenwpi]

The Nightmare Carnivale has been quite surreal!

I forgot to write about the acrobatic duo & Siiow becoming infected. My responses are primal, I don't feel mercy or even compassion. Just straightforward practicality and I know I'm willing to destroy them if it comes down to me or them. There is a sense of "glad someone else is handling this mess" as all three become managed.

Also, my clues have been yellow colored. Its fascinating that I have all yellow items to share with the Solar Demoness!! My curiosity is definitely bubbling!