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  • Ariadne's Web: It's Elemental

    Greetings and salutations! After a timely detour to matters more personal for my last update, now I return - as promised - to The Elemental Pentology . Of course, all writing is personal and influenced by experience - either imagined or lived. And while The Menagerie was a very personal collection, The Elemental Pentology also had small glimpses of me within it; albeit the whole series was a very passionate advocate for my own pagan ideals. Part of this was the use of the elements to drive the story. And, by introducing one element in each book, I was able to cascade how the elements work together - like a Russian Doll - as the story continued. For those who are attuned to the natural world, we know that elements make up everything! So, I was able to use the elements to both highlight the arcane strength within them, while also demonstrating how their removal has hindered humanity's survival. I selected to start with Spirit, as I view it as the foundation element - it is the element which joins all others. It is also the element which appears at the top point of the upright pentagram. From Spirit, I have moved around the pentagram - moving down to Water, then Fire, across to Earth, then up to Air. Each book has the previous element(s) and the new one, until - by the final book - all five elements are together. At this point, we see the strength which is found in unity. The strength which comes from the five elements working together on a singular purpose. The notion of five elements isn't anything new - they've been understood for centuries, and worshipped for longer. However, most people tend to think of four - water, fire, earth, and air. Spirit is usually omitted, despite it being the one which holds everything together. This is, also, one of the reasons why I opted to start with Spirit, and why Katya hid so much initially; it took the other elements and the story's reveals to really understand exactly who she was. Spirit / Alabaster: Katya Iskralin is the embodiment of the element of Spirit. She is the oldest, and first, of the quintet and - spoiler alert - so much more! The element of Spirit is multidimensional, an essence which transcends the others, yet remains singular. Spirit is usually represented by a circle, an ouroboros, an equal-armed cross, or an infinity sign - it is a symbol of life's continuation from birth, to death, to rebirth. It is an element of enlightenment, of eternity, and connectivity. And while Spirit is beyond virture and vice, Katya definitely is not. Though, which one she is remains open to debate - I intended her to be morally grey! But, her behaviour aside, Katya does embody the quiet intelligence and unassuming power with a grace and power which indicate her connection to the element, and the world. She's just not always very good at sharing her knowledge with the people who need it! Water / Lacrymosa: The second sister is Talya, the element of Water. Not only is the element seen in the character, but is a character in itself with the weather taking centre-stage. Water is a feminine element, and one seen as a mediator, a compassionate and purifying force. It is quite an emotive element and one rooted in wisdom and reflection. There is forgiveness and receptivity, but also the possibility of indifference and depression; traits which became incredibly useful to drive the story - especially where Talya could remove empathy from the situation and take actions some would deem cruel. Talya, who is working as a therapist, is able to use her element to support and guide her clients, even as she struggles to handle her own revelations. Her character arc - from a woman who ends a relationship in a misguided act of sacrifice, to a woman who finds true acceptance and love - was one of my favourites to write. Fire / Torrefy: The element of Fire is found in Levka. She was a delight to write, because her character is so playful and passionate. As a masculine element, there is a forcefulness which runs through it. There is power, strength, and control - all traits which were vital to convey within the story, as everyone has both masculine and feminine within them. Fire is imbued with energy, with the breaking of barriers, and the asserting of one's will. There is a real sense of confident warmth and enthusiasm. The lust for life, and flamboyant desire to act on impulse, certainly made Levka a character who takes risks and enjoys her time; this also means her reactive nature can lead to entertaining diversions and possible errors of judgement. Despite this, though, Levka has a fierce loyalty which is unmatched. Her dedication and embracing of pleasure makes her a strong woman. Earth / Sempiternal: Calina Iskralin is the element of Earth, which settled the series back down following the more reckless exploits in Torrefy. Another feminine element, Earth is an enduring and stable influence. There is serenity and a sense of grounding, which is definitely needed as the events continue to unfold. Memory and rest are also key aspects of this element, which add to the sense of calm Earth exudes. Patience, dependability, and contentedness mix with possible rigidity and day-dreaming. Calina, as a scientist, has a wealth of knowledge she is aware she can't share, not without revealing the truth of who she is. She has patience and she acts in ways which demonstrate her understanding of those in her team, and takes actions which show how dependable and thoughtful she is. Her calm nature really demonstrates Earth as an element. Air / And Let Time Stand, Still: Finally, Zoya is the embodiment of the element of Air. The youngest of the sisters, yet a powerful element which adds to the dramatic conclusion. Air is another masculine element and is associated with enlightenment. While it is also related to the childhood years and spring, Air has a practical side which comes from intelligence. There is joy in this element, but also vices of frivolity and impulsivity. Air has a vitality to it linked to day-dreaming and communicating, but an imbalance can lead to stagnation. Another reason why I chose to place Air last is due to the youthful nature of the element which suited the youngest member of the sisters. Zoya also has a unique combination of qualities - working in law enforcement while also acting on instinct to take lives. She has an exuberance in her approach to life which has found means to co-exist alongside practicalities. But why use the elements? Why put those traits into a character and manipulate the expected strengths and weaknesses of each element? Why narrow the scope into the five common elements, and ignore elements seen in other cultures (e.g.: wood or metal, etc.)? All are good questions and... I can only return to my first point. This series is mine, therefore I come at it from a place of bias. This is my understanding, my faith, my lore. So, for me, the elements as goddesses who are attempting to correct the patriarchal damage done to their nature-based matriarchal society seemed a logical approach. Using the elements meant I had clear definition between each book and between each of the five goddesses. There was a risk, especially with such a large cast of characters across the series (and, believe me, the cast is large and complex to keep track of!), that the definition would be lost when the main character in each book was a 'strong female lead'. I didn't want to write a cliché, I didn't want to create a tokenistic gesture of a character - I wanted my characters to be themselves. To be a recognisable and defined person. So, having a structure to fit my characters to - that helped. I didn't stick to it too rigidly, there's still scope for misdirects and flaws. But knowing I had five elements to work with meant my main five goddesses already had a point of connection for readers. It also gave me something to play with and circumvent because... well, spoilers. Next time... I plan to continue my updates about this series - I've much more to reveal! My focus for the next blog will be around the use of the pentagram as a key symbol. Thank you for reading. To be the first to know when the next post is live, be sure to sign up for updates!

  • Welcome to Ariadne's Web

    Greetings and salutations! I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you a little more about me, and also share some insight into my writing process. My plan is to create a new post at least every three months which will give you an update about my progress on new projects, reveal exclusive work in progress details, and provide some of my other thoughts too. While I've been writing for as long as I can recall, life really derailed my plans to get my words out into the world. I know my style, and the topics I write about, won't be for everyone, but I believe my voice is one that should be heard. I have lived in my imagination, I have danced to music alone, I have let my hands trace out the contours of people no-one else could see. I have watched events occur that were invisible to those around me. I have seen stars explode, galaxies stretch beyond the sky, and decay sour the air. This world I see, I want others to share. I want the way my skin chills to be felt by others. I want the way my heart races to pulse under your skin. The world is cruel, and kind. The world is welcoming, and barricaded. This conflict between light and dark, between life and death, is a cycle I have always been drawn to. I guess I have always been searching for the 'right' place to fit in. Some harmonious place where my unique self feels home. I found that in words, because life... not so much. One of the primary themes of my Pentology - which was released monthly from January to May this year after initially creating it over twenty years earlier - is that of contrast. Of how absolutes aren't actually absolute at all. And how the dark is absolutely needed for the light. I'm going to do a deeper dive into the bigger themes another time, but for now, let's talk monochrome and vectors... I have purposefully chosen a monochrome theme for my website, but also for my publications - the cover art, and internal art (in The Menagerie, due November 2024) is always predominantly black and white, and shades of grey. For me, the stark black and white adds emphasis to the themes within, and the division I have always felt within myself. The use of the alchemical symbols for each cover continued this theme of how a simple vector image can convey a wealth of detail - each elemental symbol a representation of so much more! A circle is not just a circle, but is Spirit, and the embodiment of life and death, of the complete cycle of divinity, of the strength of eternity. And likewise, the triangular icons for the other elements are enhanced with the colour image accompanying them to convey the theme. Of course, I had to use a little colour to ensure the element was also clarified - so Alabaster added grey, to suggest that maybe the 'bad guy' isn't the bad one... and maybe we're all morally grey. Water needs blue, fire needs orange, earth needs green, and we complete the cycle with more grey for air. At the core of it all, though, when viewed together and also on a bookcase (which still amazes me, that my words are there ... in a book... on a shelf!), is the monochrome stark black and white. For me black and white is a harmonious conflict, and it is a starting point for imagination to flourish. It is an evocative canvas my mind manipulates. I have more I would love to share with you... about why I chose the elements, why I chose five of them, why I chose the names I did, the themes, the arc... but, not yet. Not yet. Next time... I chose the name 'Ariadne's Web' for this for several reasons... one, my surname translates to the Russian word for spiderweb, but also because as you get to know more, you will see the stories I weave. You will understand a little more about me. And the threads will create a larger picture. Thank you for reading. To be the first to know when the next post is live, be sure to sign up for updates!

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