The Artist's RPG / Components: Connector

CONNECTOR

INTEGRATORS

SOLITUDE - REACH - PATHWAYS

We are not alone and that, in itself, should be taken as a sign that we are not supposed to act as though we are. There is more to connect with. To get lost in and find ourselves in. To bring out our best and to be enhanced by theirs. To make more of what we already are.

“Why be isolated when you could, instead, join in delightful company?”

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There is only so much that can be done when you stand alone. Only so many thoughts and feelings to have. And in some cases, that is okay. Tolerable. Some would even say preferable. However, there are cases where, rather than having a sense of wholeness, there is a sense of lack. And that lack can be debilitating, crippling, and even unbearably painful.

We are not alone and that, in itself, should be taken as a sign that we are not supposed to act as though we are. There is more to connect with. To get lost in and find ourselves in. To bring out our best and to be enhanced by theirs. To make more of what we already are.

Recognizing this may be the first step, mustering courage the second. It is an undeniable risk to become vulnerable enough to let others into our space or to go into others’ spaces. Who knows what awaits! But it might be a risk worth taking after all.

Not just anything would do, however. Just as you can be charged, you can also be drained. Just as you can be enriched, you can also be exploited. And just as you can be completed, you can also be broken. And some things aren’t so easily reparable.

Nevertheless, how wondrous when those who are meant to be together have been bridged. And more than that, formed bonds. Ones that beat the odds, surpass distance, and cause you to believe in destiny.

It's Simple, Anywhere, with Simple Tools in Hand

Alright, there’s a whole bunch of stuff to take in, sort out, and ultimately solve. Whether that’s personal issues or work matters. These days, though, you can pretty much work from anywhere, with various tools accessible to you, so there’s no valid excuse to neglect your duties or make progress with your projects.

If you have a neat and comfortable spot at home, that’s fantastic. But if you move around frequently or could use a change of scenery, work can come with you. If you have a laptop or merely a tablet with additional accessories (keyboard, mouse, etc.), you can easily get plenty done while out and about (given that there aren't too many or grave distractions). However, beware of completely trading all of your opportunities for required rest and whatnot - those are essential!

For me, with how hectic everything is, how much is already on my plate, and how stressed and overwhelmed I can be, I prefer to keep my toolkit simple. Choosing applications with a simple interface that make their use simple. Yet, still efficient and effective for what I do. For example, there is…

For handling information:

Google Docs, Sheets, Slides.

For proofreading/writing revisions:

NaturalReaders.

For making quick pictures (and even videos):

Canva.

For making quick videos:

Capcut.

For generating AI images:

Leonardo.Ai

For generating AI BGM:

Suno.Ai

This is, like, the bare minimum. Like, if free time is nowhere to be found and you must make the most of what little you have, as someone who makes content, they are okay to start with. They’ll let you put together what you must without much hassle. How nice it ends up being is on you. And if you are serious about getting into art, being an artist and making artworks, you should strive to have space to instead handle and master tools that let you get more personal, particular, and peculiar with your craft. (These are user-friendly, some to a fault.)

For ideas:

Lastly, I prefer NOT to use AI tools, such as the (in)famous ChatGPT, for research, as I cannot trust them for that, nor for fabricating my own material, because of numerous reasons, but they are undeniably handy for wording and ‘brainstorming’ (ask for lists with many options to pick from and for suggestions to consider), as well as coding (if you ever have to do some of that too). Or just for those instances when you already know the answer, but cannot bring yourself to type it out, and it is not mandatory that you do. Get it to spell it out for you, check if it is correct, and make adjustments (if due) before passing it over.

Again, much more advanced and sophisticated tools exist if you’d rather get artsy, but if all you can afford is to make your work presentable, these will do. So they’re recommendable solutions. 

Even in unideal conditions, tempting as it may be, don't skip practicing critical and creative thinking, though! (People are increasingly becoming dumber, lacking appropriate brain exercise and allowing brain rust and rot. Let's not join in that!)

World, You Can Do Better...

Fundamentally, I want and need a world that is based on truth and structured toward legitimate progress for humanity and humankind. I cannot exist in a world that is held in place by ignorance and deceit while accommodating and enabling vices above virtues. That is a world that kills my spirit and I will not play a part in my own undoing.

The Artist's RPG / Components: Globe

GLOBE

INTEGRATORS

WORLD - SOCIETY - LIFESTYLE

There are structures, rules, norms, and more that make up what this place is made of. Perhaps exclusively so. Limits, too, that we may be tempted to cross and venture out of. That we could or could not get past, regardless of our wishes. You are seeing how it is all shaped and, whether you realize it or not, it is shaping you.

“Is all you have seen all there is? Aliens exist! And hopefully, heroes too.”

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We all start somewhere. We are born or come into a place we haven’t been in before, or do not have, for one reason or another, a recollection of. It is unfamiliar, so we look around and step forward, gradually familiarizing ourselves with it.

There are structures, rules, norms, and more that make up what this place is made of. Perhaps exclusively so. Limits, too, that we may be tempted to cross and venture out of. That we could or could not get past, regardless of our wishes. You are seeing how it is all shaped and, whether you realize it or not, it is shaping you.

As you move through, within, or around, meeting characters, making choices, facing challenges, and overcoming obstacles, you are a part of it and further become more of it. Ironically, even as you try to be anything but it, because even that differentiation is forged from that place. You still came from it. And possibly, if you decide, you could go elsewhere. And again, it could leave a lasting impression.

Traveling across the globe expands your horizons as you get to witness and experience different ways of existing and co-existing. Agreeable or not, questionable or not, recommendable or not. And let’s not forget the souvenirs you could collect. It is enriching.

Yet, as varied and complete a globe may be, there are more out there, far away. Their configuration could be similar, and allow life, or so beyond what we know that it is difficult to imagine, and still allow life. What is it like over there? 

Could it be conceived based on what is here? Maybe not, but we can wonder and wander.

What Even Is All This?

So you’ve stepped into a world that’s pretty much a mess. Even worse, you blinked and, suddenly, it became. It seems impossible to keep up, let alone begin to figure out what it is all about. Pick your battles, though, because you cannot possibly cover everything at once.

Technology keeps advancing, at a rate that seems to quicken exponentially. Or maybe merely the releases do. Whatever the case, the world is changing, and that can work in your favor or against you. And you must keep up at least to the extent that it won’t render you obsolete.

But wait! Where is your childlike eagerness to wander off? To be curious about all that the world has to offer? Well, it may still be there, somewhere within you, but with the amount of responsibilities that you currently have, you cannot simply yield to that yearning.

The good news is that, although there is indeed much to get into and grasp, there is also much available that is ready for you to try and utilize. Paths have been paved, mysteries have been solved, cures have been found, monsters have been defeated, and, overall, plenty has already been illuminated.

The problem now, however, is how much of that gets buried under the mess. Misinformation and disinformation run rampant, along with bots, and all the spammers and scammers around that couldn’t give less of a damn. You might have to dig, discern, and become a curator. If not, rely on a trustworthy curator who skillfully does this. But even then, get involved. It is important for you to learn to distinguish between what is true and what is false, what is valuable and what is worthless, and what you just cannot really tell.

 AI is practically everywhere, forcing you to recognize that, yes, you have already stepped into a ‘futuristic’ era, as if straight out of a science-fiction movie. And this can be terrifying, to say the least. Photos, sounds, videos, all can be fake, fabrications posing as real humans. Algorithms feeding you content are… questionable. Connected smart devices and robots, pretty much normalized. Money still rules the world and a dangerously high percentage of people are morally bankrupt. Not only that, many even seem to lack the foresight (or care) to see that they’re leading to their own destruction. In that sense, the future doesn’t look too bright.

It can be fun to play with all these modern tools, but at what cost? Many of them weren’t made ethically, disregarding the harm they caused while being built and the harm they can cause you and your surroundings while in use. Until it affects them. And that’s just something to keep in mind so you don’t naively believe that everyone and everything has your best interests at heart. In fact, only a few do.

That said, this is indeed an astonishing time to be alive. Perhaps you are old enough to remember life unplugged. So you get to see the before and after. Quite a significant transition in history, if you ask me. It could be worse; you could be in a period completely devoid of humanity and human progress. And we are not, not yet.

Ascendant Overview

In the case of the Ascendant, it primarily affects your outer personality and initial approach to life. The Ascendant, just as it marks the zodiac point rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth, represents the threshold between the inner self and the outer world. Essentially, the Ascendant stands for the default mode of operating in given situations. And it is in and through it that adaptability, presence, and personal style develop.

What are Planetary Placements?

For context and more of relevance, please read about The Zodiac.

Planetary Placements

There is more to your astrological composition than what your Sun sign has to say. Typically, we only hear about our Sun sign, as if it is the be-all and end-all. And while the Sun, indeed, has a prominent role, there is still much else to factor into the equation. Numerous stars and placements make up what is called a Birth Chart.

Planets and more might be working with signs that are anywhere from very favorable to very unfavorable to their nature. However, interesting and even valuable traits can manifest from any combination.

For context and more of relevance, please read about The Zodiac.

Dumb & Awful

People think I'm arrogant and have a superiority complex when I snap at them for not being/doing better. But it's like... I'm dumb and awful AF, how can you be EVEN MORE DUMB AND AWFUL THAN ME, OMFG?!
Are we this DOOMED? 😫

What are The Odds?

Sometimes I don't know what's crazier, something extraordinarily exceptional happening by mere chance or by thorough planning...

Low Key Still Here

I have been far from in the mood of showing up in the flesh, and it’s looking like much of this year will continue to keep me in that state, but I’d rather not miss out on having a couple of ‘proofs of existence’ and markers of the passage of life, capturing what currently is and what later has been.

So, tired as I was (and still am), I pushed myself to do it, to go through the strenuous task of taking more selfies (hate to take them, love to have them). And also get to say Hi again!

I’m here, I’m around. Stressed, overwhelmed, exhausted, but still on this unbelievable ride that’s making me learn whether I like it or not. Much to process, but ignorance isn’t an option I’d take or recommend. Being a dummy? In this economy?! Can’t afford that!

Hello from your sleep-deprived student, dorm-room neighbor, self-proclaimed culture critic…