Thousand Foot Krutch: War of Change (Official Music Video)

#CoSoMusic

https://youtu.be/HdnTSXUWd3E

Yay or nay?

#CoSo

"Happy Sunday, awesome people! Today’s agenda: maximum relaxation, minimal effort. Whether you're conquering the world or just conquering the couch, remember: Sundays are for recharging, so you’re fully powered for whatever Monday throws your way. Now go enjoy the day — naps are encouraged, snacks are mandatory, and the only rush allowed is for seconds at brunch!"

Ghostface Killah "Pair Of Hammers" ft. Method Man (Official Video)

#CoSoMusic

https://youtu.be/odICF74X2rE

The composition is dominated by cobalt blue, contrasted strikingly with red and accented by touches of yellow. The optical effect of these closely positioned primary colors enlivens the composition, enhancing the sense of direct observation and spontaneity.

#Arts

The model for this elegant painting of a French bourgeois woman sewing may be Aline Charigot, who later became Pierre-Auguste Renoir's wife. Renoir portrays this domestic scene—a middle-class woman embroidering—with vibrant colors, a light-filled atmosphere, and loose, expressive brushwork.

Due to perspective, the parallel cloud shadows will seem to point back to the rising Sun and a place due east on your horizon on the equinox date. But in this spectacular sunrise skyscape captured in early June, the parallel shadows and crepuscular rays appear to converge toward an eastern horizon's more northerly sunrise. The well-composed photo places the rising Sun just behind the bell tower of a church in the town of Vic, province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Of course, if you celebrate the astronomical change of seasons by watching a sunrise you can also look for crepuscular rays. Outlined by shadows cast by clouds, crepuscular rays can have a dramatic appearance in the twilight sky during any sunrise (or sunset).

#Astrology Astro Photo of the Day

The defining astronomical moment of this September's equinox is at 12:44 UTC on September 22, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving south in its yearly journey through planet Earth's sky. That marks the beginning of fall for our fair planet in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere, when day and night are nearly equal around the globe.

@elbutterfield Absolutely 😃 ❤️

His role in Vodou can be compared to that of death gods or psychopomps in other cultures, such as the Greek god Hades or the Egyptian god Anubis. Like these figures, Baron Samedi serves as a mediator between the world of the living and the dead, ensuring the proper passage of souls. His trickster persona, however, sets him apart, as he often defies the expectations associated with death and challenges the solemnity typically connected to it.

In reality, Vodou is a deeply spiritual and community-centered religion, with complex rituals and beliefs that revolve around healing, protection, and the veneration of ancestors. Baron Samedi, far from being a purely evil figure, is a guardian of the dead, ensuring that souls are cared for and that death is treated with the respect it deserves.

Cultural Importance and Misconceptions

Despite his prominence in Vodou, Baron Samedi is often misunderstood by outsiders, particularly in Western depictions of Vodou as a sinister or dangerous religion. The fear of Vodou stems, in part, from its association with zombies and dark magic, and Baron Samedi’s role in these practices has only fueled this misunderstanding.

His image is often invoked in Vodou ceremonies, particularly during funerals or when dealing with issues of death and the afterlife. Devotees of Vodou may appeal to Baron Samedi for help with healing illnesses, as he has the power to delay death or even bring people back from the brink of it. Offerings of cigars, rum, and black coffee are made to honor him, and his distinctive presence is seen as a guide in moments of life’s most profound transitions.

While these depictions often draw on his eerie, skeletal appearance and association with the dead, they usually miss the nuanced aspects of his character—his role as a protector, trickster, and figure of healing.

In Haiti, however, Baron Samedi remains an important part of Vodou practice.

Baron Samedi in Modern Culture

While Baron Samedi’s origins lie in Haitian Vodou, his image and persona have been widely adopted in popular culture, often in ways that distort or simplify his complex role. He has appeared in movies, television shows, music, and video games, often portrayed as a villainous or mystical figure. One of the most famous portrayals of Baron Samedi is in the James Bond film Live and Let Die, where he is depicted as an evil spirit of death.

This attitude aligns with the broader Vodou worldview, in which death is a natural part of life, something to be embraced and respected but not dreaded. For this reason, Baron Samedi’s rituals often include celebrations, drinking, and dancing, reflecting his role as a master of both death and life’s pleasures.

His association with fertility and sexuality also reflects this idea of rebirth, suggesting that life and death are interconnected.

Baron Samedi’s crude and often disrespectful behavior may seem shocking for a figure so closely tied to death, but it carries symbolic weight. In many ways, his irreverence toward death is a way of mocking it, of showing that death, though powerful, is not to be feared.

@NiveusLepus Sounds like an awesome experience! ❤️

He embodies both the potential for freedom in death and the terrifying prospect of eternal enslavement.

Symbolism of Baron Samedi

The dual nature of Baron Samedi—as a figure of both death and resurrection—makes him a powerful symbol in Haitian Vodou. He represents the delicate balance between life and death, underscoring the belief that death is not an end, but merely a transition.