A Guide to Self-Reflection

Hello RCL Classmates! I have returned to an all-time favorite topic of mine. This blog (((as usual))) is a guide to self-reflection, using simple everyday pop culture topics to discover one’s individuality. It is designed to help you think about what is important to you, what you value most in life, how you view yourself, and so much more!

After you read, I encourage you to look up your “natal chart” (or your sign if you haven’t already) and give it a peak. You deserve some time to sit and reflect during your busy day today. 

There are a lot more to Zodiac Signs than meets the eye. Although as I mentioned in my previous blog, whether or not you believe Zodiac Signs are “real”, they are an excellent source of self-reflection. 

We have spoken about your Sun sign, relating to the date of your birth (Ex: my birthday April 16 is in Aries). 

But we have not spoken about your star or natal chart, specifically the “big three” which are your sun, moon, and rising sign. The rest of your chart is determined by where in the night sky the sun was above you when you were born. This is why you need to input your time and birth location to calculate your natal chart.

( Go ahead, text your mom and ask what time you were born. )

Every person has a natal chart, where every planet, moon, and celestial body is located in the sky when you were born. Each planet dictates a certain part of your being (how you communicate, how you love, how you fight). 

Ever heard of “ Mercury is in Retrograde?!” That comes from Mercury being the planet of communication. 

The “big three” are the biggest parts of what makes up your being.

The sun is your ego, identity, “role” in life

The moon is your subconscious, emotions, and how you think 

The Ascendant is your “mask”, outer shell, how others perceive you 

 

You can find your star or “natal” charts online using the link below (it is LENGTHY, but it is the best and worth the skim)

https://astro.cafeastrology.com/natal.php 

Or you can download the app “Co-Star” on your phone, for a briefer description.  

 

If you would like to know more about each planet, please comment and I would be happy to explain them in the next blog!

For now, here are the “big three” 

Sun Sign:

Your sun sign shows your character, personal identity, and ego. It represents your will to live and our creative life force. Who you are at your core. Just as the planets revolve around the Sun in our solar system, we derive our life purpose from the Sun in our natal charts. The Sun is the part of us that censors the rest of ourselves reasons things out, and makes final decisions. The Sun also gives clues to our overall vitality. The Sun directs us and can be considered “the boss” of our chart.

((EX: My sun is in Aries, I am fundamentally assertive and fiercely independent))

 

Moon Sign: 

Have you ever met someone with your same sun sign and found that person to be nothing like you? You probably have different moon signs.

The moon in the chart represents our inner selves, the way we think, and our emotions. The voice you use to talk to yourself inside your head, that’s your moon sign. Your moon sign reveals your unconscious, what goes on inside your head. It can give insight into the way you handle your emotions and fears; it can also give insight into the way you love and feel. 

((EX: My moon is in Gemini, my mind is very restless and I am constantly in an identity crisis :))

 

 

 

Ascendant Sign:

Your Ascendant or “rising” sign is how other people perceive you- your “outer shell.” It is the impression we have on other people and the way we physically look. Ask your friends about their first impressions of you, I bet they are closer to your ascendant sign than your sun sign. It can be the mask or costume we wear to greet the world. It is the prime example of “never judge a book by its cover”. It can also be your personal style and how you choose to present yourself. 

((EX: My ascendant is in Scorpio, I often come off as intense and passionate ))

 

Disney’s Female Heroines 

 

Good morning RCL classmates and welcome back to my passion blog! 

This blog is a guide to self-reflection, using simple everyday pop culture topics to discover one’s individuality. It is designed to help you think about what is important to you, what you value most in life, how you view yourself, and so much more!

 

After writing a blog about Disney Princesses, I decided to write about female heroines who may not be princesses, but still served as great role models in my childhood. Today I invite you to think about your role models as a child and how they relate to the values you hold dear today. 

Elizabeth Swann

Although Pirates of the Caribbean is often forgotten as part of the Disney franchise, I will never forget the impact Elizabeth Swann had on my character as a child. The movies themselves were very mature and meant for an older audience, but Elizabeth still managed to be an excellent role model. She had an adventurous spirit and wasn’t afraid of any man. She broke social boundaries and never let society stand in the way of what she loved. Although she was a bit reckless, she embodied what it meant to be adventurous and daring in the most gracious way. 

 

Kim Possible 

Kim Possible was the ultimate female heroine for young girls and was one of the best characters to come out of a Disney TV show. She was strong, brave, intelligent, and never backed down from a challenge. Kim had her flaws, she was wrapped up in school drama and set her standards exceedingly high for herself. However, these only made Kim an even better character because she was so relatable. Not only was she skilled in martial arts, had above average reflexes and strength, she also outsmarted her opponents when she fought them. She had a cheerful, optimistic and extroverted personality that was often extremely affected by the world around her. Things got to her emotionally, but she was strong enough to fight through them the same way she fought off her physical battles. Watching Kim Possible as a kid, I knew it was okay to be the crazy perfectionist I was and still be a super cool person. 

Megara 

I was always confused why Megara was not considered a Disney Princess as a child. Although I now realize she never became a princess until she married Hercules, I still consider Megara an excellent role model. Megara is not a heroine, she doesn’t save anyone or lead anything, she is not a hero. Yet she is a strong independent woman I always looked up to. Before Hercules, Megara sold her soul and offered servitude to Hades in order to save her boyfriend from the underworld. Her boyfriend cheated and manipulated her, and Meg was left a servant to Hades and despair towards all love or happiness in the future. She was broken, and as a young girl she taught me it was okay to be broken. When Meg meets Hercules she is hesitant at first, but his optimism and pure innocence allows her to give love a second chance. Meg is an excellent role model for young girls because she shows us it is okay to be broken, sad, and unhopeful at times. She also shows us there is light at the end of the tunnel and one day things will get better if you give them a chance. 

Hello classmates! For today’s passion blog we’re taking a bit of a diversion to talk about a series I am very passionate about: Harry Potter. Movie adaptations have gained popularity over the past few years, and even the most successful franchises don’t get everything right. Here are two examples of very small differences between the Harry Potter novel and movie, which made a huge difference in the message of the story. As you read, think about how minor differences between books or comics and a movie adaptation can cause misleading themes. 

The ending of the last book portrays the final battle between the light and the dark, ending in the death of Voldemort, the nemesis of Harry Potter. In the movie, Voldemort dies in a grand display of disintegration. His body begins to slowly evaporate into large flakes of dust which stretch to the length of the castle. Voldemort should not have had a grand supernatural death because he is simply human. In the series, Voldemort refuses to be mortal, he becomes so powerful wizards are afraid to speak his name, and he splits his soul into seven pieces to avoid death. However, despite his efforts, Voldemort is a normal wizard.  In the book, Voldemort dies a normal death, falling to the floor lifeless when his own killing spell backfires onto himself. Although the movie follows the story and Voldemort dies at the appropriate time, the way he dies changes everything. It is important to stress Voldemort’s mortality after he is defeated, to show even the most powerful people are the same as everybody else. 

 

A major argument between Harry and his best friend Ron plays a large role in Ron’s characterization. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are living in tents on the run during the reign of Voldemort. While desperately trying to find the means to kill Voldemort, the three friends spend months living on the land. During this time, Ron begins to get irritated with his mangled arm and poor living conditions. He begins an argument with Harry, explaining he thought they would be farther along with their plan, and is worried about their friends and family. This is where the book and movie begin to differ, each portraying Ron in a different light. In the movie, Ron tells Harry that his parents are dead, and he has no family, therefore Harry will never know Ron’s pain of worrying. In the book, Harry tells Ron his parents are dead, and Ron says he’s worried his family is going the same way. Although this may seem as a minor difference, the tone of the argument changes everything. The movie depicts Ron in an angry, spiteful, and negative light. While the book not only shows his anger, but also frustration and concern for his loved ones. The difference between the cruel movie Ron and the frustrated book Ron completely changes the dynamic of the three main characters for that scene and the whole movie.

 

Good Morning RCL Classmates (you can totally skip this part if you’ve heard it already)! This blog is a guide to self-reflection, using simple everyday pop culture topics to discover one’s individuality. It is designed to help you think about what is important to you, what you value most in life, how you view yourself, and so much more!

 

Today we will be looking at the lessons I’ve learned from a few of my favorite Disney Princesses. I had writer’s block for the longest time so today’s blog is a bit more lighthearted and fun! Think about the lessons you learn from Disney Princesses (even if those lessons are what NOT to do) and how the childhood lessons apply to your life today.

 

    Cinderella: Revenge is never the answer

Even though Cinderella’s step mother and step sister treated her as a house maid for her entire life, Cinderella never sought to take revenge on any one of them. She was kind, poise, and did what she was told. Although submission should never be the answer to maltreatment, Cinderella reminds us to remain humble and not seek revenge to those who wrong us. The truth will reveal itself, and those who give good energy into the world will receive that energy. 

 

Jasmine: Never settle and never stop learning 

Jasmine is one of my favorite Disney princesses because she is always curious about everything and will never settle for less than what she thinks is right. Not only does she refuse to marry a prince simply because of his power, she also is hesitant to marry Aladdin because she doesn’t trust him! Not only is Jasmine a strong woman who knows what she wants, she is open to exploring and learning more about the world around her than in her little bubble of a castle. 

 

Belle: Be yourself 

We all know the cheesy ‘be yourself’ one liner that can be found on the wall of any kindergarten classroom, however, the lesson is drilled in our heads as kids for a reason. Belle stands out from the crowd, she is curious, smart, and compassionate. She loves to read and doesn’t let the rest of the town dull her dynamic personality. Belle doesn’t obey to the Beasts’ wishes to change her either, she remains strong and eventually her unique charm and intelligence pulls them together. 

 

Mulan: Don’t let other people’s expectations define you

This is one of the best lessons presented in all of Disney. All too often we are told by our parents, teachers, friends, anyone close to us who we should be. However, nobody can determine what is best for us other than ourselves. Mulan takes matters into her own hands and decides to ‘BE A MAN’ and join the war. She goes against social norms, the law, and her family’s wishes. Ultimately, she saves both her family and China. 

 

P.S. Comment your favorite movie, tv shows, and series! I will continue to write about my favorites but I would love to hear what you guys are into and base some of my entries off of that! Would you like to see more of movie series such as Disney, Star wars, Marvel? Or perhaps more kids TV shows such as Gravity Falls, Hannah Montana, Wizards,  Childhood shows? 

 

Good morning RCL classmates and welcome back to my passion blog! 

This blog is a guide to self-reflection, using simple everyday pop culture topics to discover one’s individuality. It is designed to help you think about what is important to you, what you value most in life, how you view yourself, and so much more!

Today I encourage you to look for these movie tropes in your everyday life, and recognize how the lessons implemented by these movies as children have affected you today. 

As defined by the The Art Direction Handbook for Film a trope is “a universally identified image imbued with several layers of contextual meaning creating a new visual metaphor.” In other words, a trope is a common theme in film that is universally identified and has been used in many storylines. Villains are everybody’s favorite, they keep the story interesting and at times are even more relatable than the main characters. We have a lot to learn from villains in both their failure and their success. Here are the two most profound movie tropes from villains that everybody can learn from. 

Never let other people’s expectations define you

This movie trope is relatable to myself and is often why people romanticize the redemption villains. There are two many times in life where we feel we are subject to somebody else’s expectations of us. Whether that may be a parent, a group of friends, mentors, teachers, or younger siblings. Although it is important to have a moral code to live by, living up to an expectation set by somebody else is crippling. No matter who it is, even if this person is very close to you, only YOU know who you truly are.

 I took the example of one of my favorite villains, Kylo Ren. Kylo Ren’s parents and mentors tried to turn him into the perfect Jedi, a soldier who follows orders, something he is not. Kylo had both light and dark in him, and instead of embracing it his mentors turned on him, and he became the villain of the latest Star Wars trilogy. Throughout the trilogy he had to learn that neither his light nor dark side mentors knew what was best for him, only he knew that. Ultimately, he chose to use his talents for good. 

Villains big and small, whether it be Thanos from Avengers: Endgame or Dr. Doofenshmirtz from Phineas and Ferb, all have one thing in common. They aren’t afraid to be themselves. No matter how absurd their ideas may be they choose to live the way that makes them happy, and that is something everybody can live by. 

 

Love is more powerful than fear

This lesson may surprise you, love and fear and common themes that battle each other in pop-culture. Although this lesson may seem obvious, as the protagonist always uses their love to defeat the antagonist’s fear, this lesson goes much deeper. In fact, this movie trope is a bit morbid, and may serve as more of a warning than a lesson. Take for example Hans form the movie Frozen, who charms Princess Anna into marrying him. If Hans had tried to take the kingdom by force, he would have failed. The kingdom was strong and the people loved their leader, fear wouldn’t have been effective. Instead, Hans used love as a weapon to marry Anna and take the throne for himself. 

Another example of using love for manipulation is Palpatine from the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Palpatine acquires his power by appearing as a well-intended senator of the government he is trying to destroy. In reality he is Darth Sidious, the leader of an evil empire. Palpatine uses his false persona of goodness and love to deceive the people into trusting him. He creates a bond with the protagonist Anakin Skywalker and manipulates him into turning to the dark side.