The Way of the Leaf: A Path Aimed at Stopping Violence, or Enabling It?

 *Contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time S03E04

Brief Synopsis

The most recent episode of Prime Video's The Wheel of Time is a visual wonder of storytelling. As it begins, we find our Group A (Rand, Morraine, Lan, Egwene, and Aviendha) making their way through the Aiel Wastes with their new companion guides. As they approach their destination of Rhuidean, a heavy trial awaits three of them. Rand, Morraine, and Aviendha enter the City of Clouds in order to prove themselves worthy of the Three-Fold Land's greatest titles. What happens next is nothing short of fascinating.

Rand's trial carries him through past lives; members of his bloodline spanning thousands of years. Each turn of the wheel reveals more about who he is and where he comes from. It's worth mentioning that each ancestor is consistently portrayed by Josha Stradowski, and he does a wonderful job of conveying so many different characters. I am an avid fan of spiritual journeys and past life regression, so watching Rand discover himself by literally becoming his past selves is exactly my cup of tea.

The biggest reveal (to me at least) is that the Aiel are actually the original Tuatha'an. Before they took up spears and became some of the land's greatest warriors, they were sworn to the Way of the Leaf and traveled alongside their fellow Aielmen with their wagons and songs. One of Rand's past lives, a carefree youth named Lewin, had his life turned upside down when he learned of his sister and her friend being abducted by bandits. Confused by his own family's unwillingness to try and rescue her, he set out with two of his friends to do just that.

By nightfall, they found the two young women being held in a camp. Their captors were asleep, but they were afraid to leave for fear of being caught and enduring more of the abuse they had clearly been subject to already. But their hesitation allowed time for the bandits to be alerted to the presence of their rescuers, forcing Lewin and his friends into a fight. They killed the bandits, but lost one of their own in the process.

When they returned with the girls, Lewin and his surviving friend were not greeted with a warm reception. Having broken their oath to the Way of the Leaf, the two boys were immediately shunned and exiled from their home. But with a heavy heart, they donned the masked visage we know of the modern Aiel and vowed to protect their people from danger, even if only from a distance.

The Way of the Leaf

More and more history of the Aiel were revealed, showing even more pain and suffering brought upon them despite (or perhaps because of) their peaceful ways. A particular saying rang out repeatedly: 

"We bury our dead, then we go on. What else is there?"

This particular philosophy has never quite sat right with me.

Those poor young girls were abducted and abused by simple men. Not soldiers, warriors, or deadly mercenaries. Their attackers looked to be sloppy town drunks who probably knew all too well how easy it would be to pick off a few Aiel for sport. There's no telling how long those women would have been held there, or if they would've been allowed to live after these monsters were done with them. And if they had been let go, would they return to the wagons? What would they be returning to? A supposed family that would allow the same thing to happen to them again if another group of men showed up the very next day? Because if so, then the bandits aren't the only ones to be held accountable for what happened.

It is the cruelest joke to surrender your fate to the will of whoever so happens upon you, only to call it "the will of The Wheel." The Way of the Leaf sounds wonderful in theory, but peace is not something that can exist undefended. There will always be someone or something looming in the distance, ready to strike when the opportunity arises.

What's the Solution?

The problem with these factions and philosophies is that those that come after its originators have been given no choice or knowledge of all else that exists. They are born into a way of life that says "this is our way. Comply or be exiled; tossed into the unknown." It's an unfortunate and cruel method of control, regardless of intention.

The Tuatha'an say folks leave the wagons when they turn twenty years of age. They experience the outside world through all manner of means; travel, setting sail, or even taking up arms. It is then that they decide if the Way of the Leaf is truly for them, and whether or not to return to the wagons. But I say that's too late.

When a group of bandits attacks and abducts a few of the Aiel/Tuatha'an, who are their victims? Are they grabbing women of an advanced age who know full well the possibilities of suffering they could be subject to under the Way of the Leaf? Or are they abducting woman who have probably yet to leave the wagons; women who know nothing other than the Aiel way of life?

These horrors then become the only thing they know of the outside world. What fear must exist within them at just the thought of leaving the wagons. Or even, what rage may build when they discover cities with enforced rules against such savagery. Or when they meet warriors, channelers, or other simple folk who actively stand up to such injustices. What does it mean then to compare all that possibility to the cruel fate you were forced into simply by birth?

I know so many of us want to live in light. We want to devote ourselves to lives of peace away from all the horrors of the world. But to do so is to deny the very nature of our existence. We are not creatures of light or shadow. We are all encompassing of both. Light, darkness, and everything in between.

The Tuatha'an and Aiel now exist as two sides of the same coin, yet they should be united. It's a beautiful thing to choose peace and unbordered unity. But it is an even more greater thing to know when and how to defend that peace.

Lewin's decision to remain at his people's side as a protector is one that should have been made long ago, and the two factions should have traveled side by side from that point on. It's a sad thing to see them so distanced, both physically and philosophically. I cannot help but imagine that is the very reason Wise One prophecy saw the full destruction of the Aiel should the Car'a'carn not arrive.

I'm on the Marvel Rivals Hype Train

 I may be a little late to the party (as usual), but boy am I loving this game!

Luna Snow is my current main.

Marvel Rivals has been out for a little while now, wrapping up their first season here in early 2025. Since its launch, the game has been quite the hit. Players are praising its character roster, variety, and overall accessibility of play. The interesting team dynamics and individual character abilities make for a pretty wide range of playstyles. Even playing as a healer doesn't necessarily make you a defenseless non-combatant. Each character has defensive, offensive and/or evasive options within their arsenal. That final hit that KOs The Hulk may come from the ice shard of an opportunistic Luna Snow.

Now, I don't normally catch on to new game waves, but for some reason this one kept pinging my radar. Maybe because it's Marvel, and I am an avid fan who gets instantly drawn in by the likes of The X-men and Fantastic Four. I grew up loving these characters, and it's always awesome to see them in new and exciting environments. I was obsessed with X-men Legends, and I was obsessed with the Marvel vs Capcom series. Give me a chance to throw down as my favorite heroes and I am in!

But maybe it was the actual gameplay that did it. Watching some videos and livestreams showed me early on that each character really is unique. No two characters feel exactly the same, even if they are of the same class. You aren't just dropping onto a flat map, vying for the same weapons and items to use. Every team configuration calls for specific tactics, positioning and combat awareness. For a free-to-play 6v6 combat game, this is quite impressive.

Who knows how long this hype train will last. In these times, nothing is certain. But as long as this game continues to roll out a steady stream of new and interesting characters and levels, I am happy to log in throw down.

*Marvel Rivals is available for FREE on PC, Playstation5, and Xbox Series X/S

Poem: I Can't Wait to Meet Me

 I wrote this poem while excitedly thinking about my future. I have so many high hopes for myself and enjoy the work that I'm doing to build the foundation that will lead to that brilliant future. Results are not immediate, but the most fulfilling goals are never short sighted.

Here's to the future me:

I can't wait to meet the future me.
He must be so happy and free.
To look at all this pain gone by
And see nothing but building blocks headed for the sky.

I can't wait to meet the future me.
Bruised and battered, but brimming with glee.
To know that the scars and tears will heal,
That the will to live is finally clear.

I can't wait to meet the future me.
Who smiles as he does what was always meant to be.
Though no one had supported or lent a hand,
He pulled himself together and can finally stand.

Head held high, shoulders relaxed,
I can't wait to meet me and finally ask:
How does it feel to truly be you, at last?

Short and sweet. What do you think?

Stopping to Smell the Flowers

 

Rebus stops to smell some flowers. Art by me.

There is so much happening right now! I mean, in general, sure. But just in my individual life I have so much going on. Sometimes I can get a bit overwhelmed with how much there is to do that I forgot to take a moment to breathe.

I am currently writing another book. I have 5 in the tank, all of which want to get written at once. Ideas for each one flood through my brain nearly every second of my day. I'm trying to focus in on one at a time, but sheesh! Working on one spurs new insight into the others and creates this constant reexamination of story, characters, locations, etc.

All part of the process, I suppose. And perhaps even a good problem to have. But I do tend to wander off into my writing zone and completely forget to keep up with other things. Like this blog!

I hope you enjoyed this short rant as confirmation that I still live!

No Man's Sky Is My Happy Place

 

I always have a hard time choosing a game to play. Some take a lot of investment. Not only time-wise, but also in terms of focus. Sitting down to play Street Fighter 6, for example, throws me into a fast-paced mode of quick execution and reaction time. Loading up God of War or Ghost of Tsushima, on the other hand, frees me of intense button combo memorization, but thrusts me into deep storylines and engaging dialogue that that often make demands on me emotionally (I get into it!). Thankfully, when I just want to blissfully unwind at the end of a long day, there are games like No Man's Sky.

No Man's Sky is an incredibly vast open world (universe) game of endless possibilities. The generative model of the game produces galaxies upon galaxies full of stars, planets, and space stations for players to explore. Every planet never visited by another player you can discover, meaning you can name it (as well as its plants, minerals, and animals) and upload that information into the games core server. And this can go on and on. In terms of size, I could honestly play this game in single-player mode for years and never stumble upon another players discoveries. I could spend weeks on a single planet, just exploring its landscapes, mining minerals, trading with merchants and scavenging abandoned outposts. Of course, you are equipped with tools and a space ship to cut that time down exponentially if you so choose. There are countless missions available that will have you hopping across multiple planets and galaxies in a single play session.

It is the best casual game I have ever played, personally. The sheer size of it, as well as the ability of choice in play style and pace makes it an endlessly satisfying escape for those of us who love to just kick back and let the digital wind blow us in whatever direction we so feel in the moment. Who could say no to such freedom?

ATLA Live-Action: Not All Fans are the Same

 I'm a huge fan of adaptations. Honestly, I am. Unlike remakes, adaptations bring with them the excitement of change. They're not meant to be frame-for-frame, word-for-word translations of their source material. I often look forward to what kind of changes will come, with the hope that they will expand on what already exists and forge new insight into the original's world. But dammit, adaptations sure are hit and miss.

When the live-action Avatar: the Last Airbender series was announced, there was an incredible wave of excitement. Many of us were understandably wary, but things looked good at the start. The original creators were on board and Netflix's general reputation of quality content (however long they last) gave us some assurance. Things fell apart toward the end, however, when the original creators once again stepped away due to "creative differences" and the list of odd changes to the story and its characters signaled a lot of red flags. But many of us held out and gave the show a shot.

Now, there has been a great amount of discourse surrounding this show. New and old fans have been clashing online over just about every aspect of the new series. Whether in support of or against it, there are interesting points to be made on both sides. But there is one fundamental issue that sits at the source of all this. Not every ATLA fan is the same, and an opinion greatly depends on what it is about the original that they connect with the most.

For me, spirituality sat as the essence of the original series. It is what both drew me in and kept me watching season after season. The world of Avatar was so vast and everything within it held significance, but an underlying spiritual presence was at the core of it all. The majority of screen time followed our main cast of human characters, but the encounters with animals and spirits of the world felt just as important. In some cases, more so. They were given equal weight and treatment in terms of presentation and storytelling.

The new ATLA live-action failed to deliver on that depth of spirituality, which led to my personal disconnect from it. The show made many changes that I can forgive and adapt to, but this departure was too much. Two key moments in particular stood out amongst them all.

Toph learning how to earthbend from the badgermoles.

In the Avatar world, badgermoles are noble creatures. Their history places them as the inspiration of modern earthbending. They are blind, music loving beasts that would never hurt anyone unless provoked. Their movements are powerful, yet restrained. You can see how many earthbending techniques are derived from the way they carefully navigate their environments, shifting their weight around in order to manipulate the earth around them. It is one of the things I enjoyed most about the animated series.

In the live-action, however, it seems all of that was thrown away. What was a peaceful, noble beast is instead introduced to us as a savage attacker. The badgermole shown in the live-action angrily engages Katara and Sokka, unprovoked and snarling viciously until it is calmed. Then, when it turns to depart the scene, it throws its body against a nearby wall and claws away at it like a rabid dog.

The second most notable instance was the treatment of the ocean spirit in the season's finale (yes I stuck with it to the end). In the original series, this is one of the most iconic moments. After witnessing the murder of its partner, the ocean spirit takes control of the Avatar in order to enact its revenge. Using the Avatar as a catalyst, it takes on a massive form and lays waste to the fire nation forces. The most beautiful thing about this moment, is that it is done in relevant silence. After the initial line of "No, it's not over," the ocean spirit takes action with nothing but a powerful score backing its actions. As a spirit as old as time, there is a great level of reservation in its attacks. It moves gracefully through the northern water tribe's village, calmly and effortlessly laying waste to the fire nation soldiers in its path. I find it difficult to explain, but the power of this spirit is quite clearly displayed through its peaceful rage.

In the live action, the ocean spirit is presented as (once again) a shell of its origin. Aang is given the introductory line as if he has control of the situation and is choosing the bond with the spirit. Then, after bonding with the Avatar and taking its massive form, the ocean spirit is reduced (as with the badgermole) to a roaring beast, flailing violently in its rage. And as if the spirit were not present in the preceding scene, Princess Yue comments that, in its rage, it is doomed to walk the earth, forever searching for its love.

This is a spirit as old as time, with powers far beyond that of any of the characters we know. Its display of power was a testament to the underlying story of how separated the physical and spiritual worlds had become. There was a strong message within the way in which it took control of the mindless human war that had interfered with its peaceful existence. The ocean spirit having full autonomy and power over the situation was a key moment in laying the roots of future storytelling within the Avatar-verse. It, again, felt like a cheap dilution of what I believed to be an important aspect of the original show.

Now, I could honestly write a thesis paper on all the changes the live action made that took away from the original rather than add to it. However, as I stated earlier, the key factor in connecting with the new adaptation (or not) is figuring out what it is that drew you to the original series in the first place. For a lot of folks, so long as the bending looked cool, they were in. For others, all it took was the presence of a certain character. The pool of fans is incredibly large, but no two fans are the same. We all connect to the series in a myriad of ways and, therefore, our opinions would divert no matter what direction a new series or adaptation went in. The most important thing is to just let things be. If there are people who enjoy the new show, let them. And if some of us need to part ways with it due to lack of connection, let us be. There really isn't any reason for the combative discourse.

And who knows? Maybe another season or two will give this show the ability to grow into something we can all love and appreciate.

You Said What You Said!

Times, they are a-changing.

In the wake of the recent protests in response to an overwhelming public display of racism and police brutality, the world is in a state of transformation. Criminal officers are being charged. New laws are being written. Investigations are being launched into cases once swept under the rug. And one of the greatest elements of the climate today: people are showing their true colors.

There hasn't been a single day in the past two weeks wherein I haven't discovered at least one person in my network who clearly has never been a "friend" to me, no matter what social media analytics say. From the racists who counter the movement with #AllLivesMatter, to the racists who minimize the true essence of the protests in favor of the more widely publicized looting and destruction narrative, it seems that far too much of the world would rather spread more hate and confusion than acknowledge their role in society's aggression toward blacks.

But today, there are CONSEQUENCES.

My new favorite thing is watching racists lose their careers, scholarships, and overall livelihoods over the vile rhetoric they spread out into the world. From the racist TikTokkers, to the audacious radio hosts, it seems everywhere you look people are getting fired for their public comments and attitudes. And the post-exposure apologies are always the same. "Please stop hating on me." "My future is ruined. I don't deserve this." And yet, each time I wonder the same thing. What exactly did you expect?

The internet is one long receipt. It is a catalog of all that is, has been, and potentially will be. So when you get on here and call for the deaths of innocent black people under your freedom of speech, what is so shocking about discovering that people no longer want to provide you a platform in which you profit off of them? When you mock an entire culture with racial slurs and offensive imagery, why is it so offensive to you that your company decides to exercise its freedom by not employing racists? It is the greatest form of entitlement to believe freedom of speech equates to freedom from consequence. As if you're given the freedom to say whatever you want, and your victim is to just sit there and listen. Well, not in this world. If queer people can get denied a wedding cake for simply being who they are, you can most certainly lose your job for disrespecting an entire race or inciting violence against them. You will find no sympathy with me.

The answer is NO.

Save the apologies. It only proves to us even more that our lives mean less to you than material goods. You said what you said. Your racist comments are the most authentic part of you, and we do not owe you forgiveness. In the world we live in today, it is impossible for you to not understand the weight those words and images carry.

People are out there fighting for a better world. A world that actually includes benefits for your racist asses too. Because equality means we all get a fair shot. We all get treated the same, and we all support one another. A united force that works to take humanity, as a whole, to its greatest heights. If you're not down with that then you can, and will, be left behind.

#BlackLivesMatter