Phytomancer Recruits the Nature Spirits

[Phytomancer]

 

I am Phytomancer, worshipper of rain, mover of earth, protector of trees, and the priest of the urban forests. Rain gardens are my shrines, and parks are my sanctuary.

 

In the last challenge, I have recruited a few villains who enjoy the color green as much as I do. But villains have ulterior motives, and they are a bit spiteful. They don't make great minions.

 

Previously a minion myself, I need the part of the army that is more... loyal.

 

And I thought of the nature spirits.

 

 

The tales across nations mention the spirits of nature in some kind. They are mostly kind, protective, and loyal. Some of them are tricksy and crazy, but that's because people are trespassing their homes. I need to learn some woodland magics if I want to hang out with them and not get turned into a frog.

 

 

Anyhow, here are the woodland magics I plan to learn in this challenge.

 

Dimension crossing

 

Some say that the spirits live in different worlds that are parallel to ours. If I want to communicate with them, I have to cross dimensions with comfort.

1. Write academically for an hour 5 days a week

2. Write creatively for an hour 3 days a week

These include the preparations of writing, editing, active reading, etc. as well.

[Total-48 hours of writing in the challenge]

 

Illusion Weaving

To befriend the people and spirits around me while being comfortable, I must learn to weave the illusions of self that would become myself later on.

1. Start telling people I 'don't' eat bakery/ sugary food and avoid eating them in front of those people

2. Eat green everyday, and tell people I eat green everyday.

3. This is not about publicity, but I am thinking of adapting NoS diet seriously this time-- No snack, no sweets, no second, unless it's special (S days)

[42 days of greens/ 42 days of NoS (with 6 S days)]

 

Woodland Embodiment

To be the nature spirit's champion in general, I have to be stronger than them and one with them. The goal is achieved by working out and be in nature
1. Push ups and Chin ups 3 times a week
2. Jog/ hike/ sprint at least twice a week
3. Attempt to climb a tree AND hand stand for at least once a week

4. Muay Thai at least once a week
[Total 42 sessions of exercises]

 

Each week, I will face different kinds of nature spirits, and will have mini challenges regarding those spirits as well.

 

Let's start!

[DarK_RaideR]

Yay Phyto is back! Have a grrrrrreat challenge!

 

This makes me think of Gandalf in Woodstock, tripping on LSD for some reason... :/

[Xena]

I like it Phytomancer. The idea of telling people about the changes seems like a good healthy way to commit to them. Good luck!

[Teirin]

Consistent with previous work, and yet a lovely fresh take on all of those areas :-)  the NoS diet seems to work quite well.  Following, as always.

[Xena]

Can't wait to hear which nature spirits you have befriended this week.

[Phytomancer]

Consistent with previous work, and yet a lovely fresh take on all of those areas :-)  the NoS diet seems to work quite well.  Following, as always.

Thanks Teirin, NoS diet is a lot harder than I think.

 

 

Can't wait to hear which nature spirits you have befriended this week.

 

Haha. Thanks for catching up with me, Xena.

 

Week One: The Spirit of the Past

 

 

Week one is a slow start. During my conference trip, the doctor told me to stop the medicine for hyperthyroidism. The great news is that my cramps slowly disappear. The bad news is that the symptoms slowly crept back. My hands started shaking again. My hunger spiked. My excitement with work increased, and my focus goes backward. It's not bad yet, and I am put back on med in a lower dose. 

 

I also got so busy with work. Summer projects seem small, but they add up quickly. Also, friends seem to want to hang out more when it's nice out.

 

This week, we hang out with the spirit of the past... The spirit dwells on the story of those who pass by in the forest and reenact the past... So the mini challenge this week is just to stick with what I did last challenge. 

 

It's a little lazy, I know, but it's a late start. I'm gonna cut myself some slacks on that one.

 

Time for Muay Thai! Will update the record this week by tonight. The food isn't good, but the exercise is great.

[Phytomancer]

Monday:

The beginning of the challenge-- I started my normal routine, but didn't get the gear moving until later in the day. I realized later that I should not wait for inspiration and just do it.

 

Food

Breakfast: Banana

Lunch: Spaghetti Squash ramen, pecan bread

Dinner: Broiled pork with peanuts, black berries

 

Exercise

30 chin ups

100 push ups

 

Writing: 1 hr of academic writing (Designing a rain garden counts as writing)

 

Tuesday

Breakfast: Bananas

Lunch: Baked veggies with bacon, sunflower seeds

Dinner: Beef with green pepper, white rice

 

Exercise:

2 mi run

 

Writing: 1 hr of academic writing. (Active reading of peer's literature review)

 

On Tuesday, I was still waiting for the blood results after I stopped taking the medicine. The symptoms started coming back, including the lack of endurance. The first time I had this disease, it was in winter. Now, in summer, I just sweated everywhere and became dehydrated very quickly. Not good for the run. My running partner felt triumphant that he finally could outrun me... so there was a good in that.

 

Wednesday

Breakfast: Leftover beef noodle with carrots and cabbages

Lunch: Baked veggies

Snack: Cookies

Dinner: Dinner party at friend's house-- Persian food! Koobideh, grilled chicken, greens, and basmati rice

 

Exercise: 30 chin ups and 125 push ups

 

Writing: 2 hours of academic writing (report for a new study with good results; Statisticia is smiling at me!)

 

Broke a no S day because I was really hungry. Went to the health center so that I could get my blood checked for hyperthyroid, but instead faced billing complications. But after that, I turned the frustration into productivity at the cafe nearby.

I wonder if sugar really help me focus. If that's the case, maybe I have to find a good source of sugar such as fruit to replace baked goods.

 

Thursday

Breakfast: Leftover noodle with cabbage

Lunch: Leftover BBQ from the day before and steamed spinach

Dinner: Hamburger and green salad

 

Exercise: Run 1.5 mi

 

Writing: Academic, 1 hr (more results report)

 

Finally get the blood checked and put back on smaller dose of medication. Had a 4 hr meeting, so I didn't have a chance for dessert. The running was almost good, but my running partner had some ankle strain from the day before, so we walked most of the way.

 

Friday

Breakfast: Kefir, banana (The goat milk kefir is quite interesting)

Lunch: Chicken quesadilla, green salad

Dinner: Indian vegetable curry, white rice

 

Exercise: 20 chin ups

Muay Thai

Warm up:

Tiger walk- 50 meter: elbow-punch, kick-hook, elbow-hook, kick-punch

 

Lessons:

Block punch/ Block kick (Use the attacks to block the opponent's attacks)

Punch-Kick (Use triangle walk to block series of attack)

Counterattacks (transfer the energy from the kick to destroy opponent's balance)

 

Play:

Front fall, side fall, front roll

Basic jujutsu throw.

 

Writing: 2 hours of academic writing (Literature review for the proposal)

 

Goal for Saturday: Go find friends on Nerdfitness and subscribe them all!

[Xena]

How long does it usually take for the medicine to relieve your symptoms? Hopefully quickly. The sugar kind of makes sense for your brain to work well. But yes, finding natural sources sounds like a good idea.

[Phytomancer]

How long does it usually take for the medicine to relieve your symptoms? Hopefully quickly. The sugar kind of makes sense for your brain to work well. But yes, finding natural sources sounds like a good idea.

 

Xena, I don't know. The doctor recheck the blood every two weeks after the change in dosage, so I think it's that long.

 

Saturday: Rest day!!

 

I didn't do much today. Talked to family, rented a car for a work trip to Indianapolis, and hang out with my friend.

 

Breakfast: Kefir, banana

Lunch: Grilled broccoli and other veggies, bacon

Dinner: Fried Perch with herbed rice, homemade guacamole, coleslaw.

 

Workout: none

Writing: 1 hour of graphic adjustment for my survey.

[Xena]

Hope you start feeling better this week.

[weaver]

All your food sounds so good!

 

I'm cutting down on seconds, too - a side benefit is that the leftovers can be turned into another meal, so it saves time/money as well!

[Raxie]

Sorry I missed your thread 'til now! Thanks for popping my mine and poking me   It's the start of week 2 and a new day.  Hope you're feeling better and ready for a new start this challenge.  I agree, I think you can totally cut yourself slack for last week.

[Phytomancer]

Hope you start feeling better this week.

I am, Xena, thanks. I feel that I am focused enough to get work done, but also excited enough to become productive.

 

 

All your food sounds so good!

 

I'm cutting down on seconds, too - a side benefit is that the leftovers can be turned into another meal, so it saves time/money as well!

I think so, weaver! When I was in the undergrad, I lost a lot of weight by using the strategy I called "packing before eating" ("Geb Gon Gin" sounds much better in Thai). I ate out a lot, and I packed half the food for later before I started eating. I actually might reuse the strategy.

 

 

Sorry I missed your thread 'til now! Thanks for popping my mine and poking me   It's the start of week 2 and a new day.  Hope you're feeling better and ready for a new start this challenge.  I agree, I think you can totally cut yourself slack for last week.

No problem, Raxie. I haven't been active, so it's only reasonable. Now it's a new week, and we can rock!

[Phytomancer]

Sunday

 

I spent Sunday driving to Indianapolis and performed 'Roof-hunting.' Last summer, I took pictures of rain gardens, this summer I do the same for green roofs and retention ponds. The difference was that it would be much briefer due to budget cut.

 

Breakfast: Leftover slaw, avocado, bananas

Lunch: Spicy sausage pizza

   I arrived Indianapolis late and was very hungry... It was a bad decision, but at least I didn't finish it in one go.

Dinner: Leftover pizza, dried mango

 

Exercise: 1 mi walk plus the walk from the hunt. 100 push ups, 30 pull ups.

 

Conclusion of Week 1

 

DImension Crossing:

- Write academically: 6/5

- Write creatively: 1.5/3

[i did say that finding material is a part of it-- Seeing Cloud Atlas carefully and watching Gone Girl counted as inspiration-- I give 50! credit]

- Total: 6.5/8

 

Illusion Weaving:

- NoS diet- 6/7. Slipped twice, but one S day, so I lost a day here

- Greens: still eat greens everyday 7/7

Total: 13/14

 

Woodland Embodiment:

- Bodyweight: 3/3

- Jog/Walk/ Hike: 3/2

- Climb/ Hand stand: 0/1

- Muay Thai: 1/1

Total: 6/7

 

The spirit of the past accept me, and I shall progress pass the edge of the forest to the next challenge.

 

[Phytomancer]

Week 2: Tengu

 

 

Tengu is a Japanese crow/ avian spirit. It likes high place, and at time would swoop down to catch humans and hang them in high places, waiting to feast them slowly. They are the protector of old forests and deep woods.

 

Since this week, I will begin by hunting the green roofs, and later on I will be camping at the Great Smoky, Tengu is the perfect weekly nature spirit.

 

Mini Challenge:

 

Tengu would only respect ones who could reach the higher places.

Spend 2 hours this week learning to climb a tree. This include researching how, practicing muscles needed, and trying it on a tree.

[Phytomancer]

Monday:

 

Full Green roof hunt. It's amazing how many green roofs there are in Indianapolis, and how people are excited about them. Some green roofs here are absolutely beautiful. 

 

Green roofs are more fun than rain gardens because it involved a lot of venturing into buildings, a lot of brevity and charm and the mercy of others' are involved in trying to get people to allow you to the rooftop. I went into a Community Center fire escape's hatch, climbed the window of a broadcast station for PBS, ventured into the radiology lab of a Cancer research center, and had a great conversation with this landscape architect in an Architecture studio hidden downtown. I also went into a Union Station-turned museum/hotel, where they had the railways intact and the sculptures of people in the past frozen in the hallway. The cement people are still departing from the platform, saying farewell to each other in the eternal moment of departure. I went to a richest neighborhood, the poorest one, and the cooperation where I was invited out.

 

I saw Indianapolis in the eye of the Ranger, and it was awesome.

 

Food

Breakfast: Bananas

 

Lunch: Indian all you can eat. It feels weird eating one place at the All-You-Can-Eat restaurant, but I was in a hurry anyway because I didn't want to waste sunlight.

 

I also gave myself a challenge and try to understand vegetarians... It was easy in the Indian restaurants-- I loaded up more veggies than usual and ate less because I had to avoid menus with meat in it. It was an interesting experience.

 

I am flirting the idea of vegetarianism and veganism because it is better for the environment-- whether it is good to human health is still in extremely violent, blood soaked, finger-pointing debate. Maybe just cutting meat intakes is good?

 

Dinner: Chicken and Mushroom Pizza (again?) This was a treat from the host I was staying with, but I only went for two slices, so all was well.

 

Workout: Walked. A. Lot.

 

Writing: 1 Hour of report; 1 Hour of Gone Girl.

[weaver]

Ooh, green roofs are awesome - your adventure sounds great!

 

I'm also thinking about / trying to at least reduce my meat consumption, mostly because of the issues with how animals are treated in big commercial facilities. I need to look more for some local free-range stuff!

[Tzippi Longstockings]

 

I am Phytomancer, worshipper of rain, mover of earth, protector of trees, and the priest of the urban forests. Rain gardens are my shrines, and parks are my sanctuary.

 

In the last challenge, I have recruited a few villains who enjoy the color green as much as I do. But villains have ulterior motives, and they are a bit spiteful. They don't make great minions.

 

Previously a minion myself, I need the part of the army that is more... loyal.

 

And I thought of the nature spirits.

 

 

 

The tales across nations mention the spirits of nature in some kind. They are mostly kind, protective, and loyal. Some of them are tricksy and crazy, but that's because people are trespassing their homes. I need to learn some woodland magics if I want to hang out with them and not get turned into a frog.

 

Anyhow, here are the woodland magics I plan to learn in this challenge.

 

Dimension crossing

 

Some say that the spirits live in different worlds that are parallel to ours. If I want to communicate with them, I have to cross dimensions with comfort.

1. Write academically for an hour 5 days a week

2. Write creatively for an hour 3 days a week

These include the preparations of writing, editing, active reading, etc. as well.

[Total-48 hours of writing in the challenge]

 

Illusion Weaving

To befriend the people and spirits around me while being comfortable, I must learn to weave the illusions of self that would become myself later on.

1. Start telling people I 'don't' eat bakery/ sugary food and avoid eating them in front of those people

2. Eat green everyday, and tell people I eat green everyday.

3. This is not about publicity, but I am thinking of adapting NoS diet seriously this time-- No snack, no sweets, no second, unless it's special (S days)

[42 days of greens/ 42 days of NoS (with 6 S days)]

 

Woodland Embodiment

To be the nature spirit's champion in general, I have to be stronger than them and one with them. The goal is achieved by working out and be in nature

1. Push ups and Chin ups 3 times a week

2. Jog/ hike/ sprint at least twice a week

3. Attempt to climb a tree AND hand stand for at least once a week

4. Muay Thai at least once a week

[Total 42 sessions of exercises]

 

Each week, I will face different kinds of nature spirits, and will have mini challenges regarding those spirits as well.

 

Let's start!

 

Looks great! I especially like the tree-climbing bit!

 

[Tzippi Longstockings]

I am flirting the idea of vegetarianism and veganism because it is better for the environment-- whether it is good to human health is still in extremely violent, blood soaked, finger-pointing debate. Maybe just cutting meat intakes is good?

 

 

Yeah, it sucks that all of us who want to eat better and more naturally get into these big arguments. do what feels right to you, regardless of ideal evolutionary whatever. To my mind, being mindful about where your meat comes from, if you choose to eat meat, has to be better than not.

[DarK_RaideR]

Looks great! I especially like the tree-climbing bit!

 

 

 

(This is what happens when you spend too much time on Peachy's challenge thread)

[Neva]

I like your challenge, the goals and format.

 

Subscribing

[Raxie]

Seriously cracking up at the blood soaked, finger pointing debate description about vegan/vegetarianism being good for you.  I was a vegetarian for ~7 years, flirted with veganism for a long time, and now eat fish again but am mostly vegetarian still, with no dairy... but I do eat eggs (only if they're organic and cage free though).  It took me a really long time to come to a place that I'm comfortable with what I'm putting in my body nutritionally, all the morals of eating meat (factory farming vs humane raised, etc) and how it's affecting the environment.  You can't win em all for sure and I think everyone has to come to their own happy resting place amongst all of those factors.  But I've definitely had experience with people freaking out at me when I was a vegetarian (and I was NOT one of those people who would like try to convince anyone else to follow suit, so totally compeltely uncalled for attacks). And I've seen it the other way around, vegetarians freaking out at people eating meat saying it's going to kill them, or the animal was treated terribly, or whatever, everyone on both sides obviously wants the science to point in their direction.  Hence my chuckling at your description of the debate.  It is really ridiculous how defensive people get about this stuff sometimes, on both sides.  It's such a personal decision I can't imagine everyone freaking out about it is going to help anyone. 

 

Anywayyyyy.... I am totally loving the tree climbing mini challenge!

[Xena]

Seriously cracking up at the blood soaked, finger pointing debate description about vegan/vegetarianism being good for you. 

 

Not sure if everyone uses the same software to look at this site (phones vs. computer web browsers). When I click "go to first unread message", sometimes it messes up and skips a lot of stuff. This is the first thing I saw today...I had missed the reference and had to go back...I thought you actually got into a literal blood soaked finder pointing debate with someone!! I guess good thing you didn't (at least not recently).

 

I'm playing around with reducing meat consumption a little this challenge with the "meatless Mondays." I kind of like it, and I end up skipping meat for more than just Monday because I have leftovers. If you want to cut back, that a really easy way to do it.

[Rurik Harrgath]

Dimension crossing

 

Some say that the spirits live in different worlds that are parallel to ours. If I want to communicate with them, I have to cross dimensions with comfort.

1. Write academically for an hour 5 days a week

2. Write creatively for an hour 3 days a week

These include the preparations of writing, editing, active reading, etc. as well.

[Total-48 hours of writing in the challenge]

 

Illusion Weaving

To befriend the people and spirits around me while being comfortable, I must learn to weave the illusions of self that would become myself later on.

1. Start telling people I 'don't' eat bakery/ sugary food and avoid eating them in front of those people

2. Eat green everyday, and tell people I eat green everyday.

3. This is not about publicity, but I am thinking of adapting NoS diet seriously this time-- No snack, no sweets, no second, unless it's special (S days)

[42 days of greens/ 42 days of NoS (with 6 S days)]

 

Woodland Embodiment

To be the nature spirit's champion in general, I have to be stronger than them and one with them. The goal is achieved by working out and be in nature

1. Push ups and Chin ups 3 times a week

2. Jog/ hike/ sprint at least twice a week

3. Attempt to climb a tree AND hand stand for at least once a week

4. Muay Thai at least once a week

[Total 42 sessions of exercises]

 

Each week, I will face different kinds of nature spirits, and will have mini challenges regarding those spirits as well.

 

Oh gods, that is such a cool challenge theme, and I love the different nature spirits you're invoking so far!

Interested to see which other cultures you'll draw inspiration from next.

[Teirin]

You do the coolest research!  Have lots of fun getting into places and checking out their roofs :-)

 

Vegetarian and vegan recipes are pretty great. Though I admittedly frequently throw meat beside them      Happy researching!  The debates are indeed fierce.