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There is a particular cruelty to political leaders placing the blame for structural problems that are well within their power to address on the victims. 

When Mayor Lori Lightfoot describes how the city will enforce a youth curfew by saying, “We don’t want to arrest children. If we have to, because they’re breaking the law, we will,” all I hear is a threat of more violence and a finger pointed at young people who deserve so much more freedom than our unequal city affords them.

Included in the list of goals 16-year-old Seandell Holliday wrote for himself in a mentorship program last year were pursuing his passion for music, taking care of his family, and living to age 21. Seandell, whose fatal shooting at Millenium Park last weekend sparked the mayor’s announcement of a new curfew for young people, had some level of personal understanding of a landscape of violence that was pervasive enough to question whether he would live just a few more years. 

That landscape is one that includes both the kind of interpersonal gun violence that ended Seandell’s life, and also the structural violence that keeps our city both segregated and profoundly unequal. It is not a coincidence that the neighborhoods experiencing the highest rates of gun violence are some of the city’s poorest, predominantly Black, and on the city’s south and west sides, impacted by massive economic divestment and neglect. 

At a rally and press conference about the city budget last August at Parkman Elementary in Fuller Park—which has sat empty since its closure in 2013—educator and CTU leader Tara Stamps gave an impassioned speech that has stuck with me. She referred to closed schools as “the physical manifestation of ‘I don’t give a fill-in-the-blank about you.’” 

The now-vacant school stands in painful contrast to the bustling police station across the street on 51st and Wentworth, where many of us have spent long nights waiting for the release of friends and loved ones. If “I don’t give a fill-in-the-blank about you” is the message an empty school conveys to young people, a fancy park with checkpoints and metal detectors underlines that message, and the police department empowered to criminalize youth drives it home.

Placing new restrictions on the freedom of young people—restrictions that will undoubtedly impact Black, Brown, and working-class families most—dramatically misses the mark. Curfews have been  shown to be ineffective as a violence prevention strategy, and they add to the overall problem by exposing young people to violent policing when enforced. Encouraged by the Clinton administration, juvenile curfew laws became popular in the mid-1990s as part of a tough-on-crime approach. The strategy sought to criminalize “superpredators,” a racist myth that did overtime to blame young Black people for social problems now exacerbated by decades of more divestment from public programs across the country. While Mayor Lightfoot’s rhetoric in 2022 may sound different than that of the architects of mass incarceration, imposing a curfew on top of pushing forward city budgets that underinvest in communities and overinvest in police ultimately supports the same status quo. 

At a balloon release for Seandell, one of his friends said, “Downtown was a place you go out and have fun. . . . Now you can’t go nowhere without having to fight for your life.” In addition to failing Seandell, who lost his life, and the young person facing incarceration for his murder, the city has failed Seandell’s friends and everyone in Chicago who feels there is nowhere for them to go. 

Criminalization as a response to violence shifts responsibility away from systems and places blame on those impacted by divestment, inequality, policing, and violence. It keeps people asking, “What’s wrong with young people or Black people?” and “Why are they breaking the law?” These questions hold the conversation about what to do back because they frame the problem as one of individual people’s actions and treat “crime” as a fixed category as opposed to something determined by political decision makers. 

Instead, we can frame the problem of violence as one that happens in a broader social, economic, and political context. We can ask, “What systems are making it that so many people are struggling? What investments do communities impacted by violence need in order to be OK?”

State Senator Robert Peters has led statewide violence prevention efforts that are rooted in the latter set of questions. “We need to provide for everybody,” he said. “And we need to see public safety not reliant on the old walls of segregation but a new public safety for all that says that Chicago belongs to everybody, Chicago belongs to the people.” 

Long-term solutions to violence look like uprooting racist inequality and ensuring young people and communities suffering from divestment have what they need to thrive. They look like reversing the budget priorities that have increased the police budget every year while money for social programs, schools, health services, and housing remain on the chopping block. 

One step would be investing in the Peace Book, a proposed ordinance driven by the vision of young people that would reinvest funds from police into youth jobs doing peacekeeping, restorative justice, and conflict mediation in neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence. Approaches to violence prevention that center offering young people community-oriented programming and jobs that provide some economic support have shown to be more effective than punishment and increased policing.

Miracle Boyd, a 20-year-old youth organizer with GoodKids MadCity, said, “A lot of people are in survival mode; they’re not living. We need to give life back into our youth and into the adults that are raising them.” Holistic and effective solutions to violence look like ensuring that Chicagoans of all ages have access not only to basic necessities to survive, but to the things communities need to live and be well: an abundance of places to gather, connect, heal, and engage with each other and the world around us. 

Another youth organizer, Assata Lewis, said, “Going to the parks on the north side versus the ones on the south side is like night and day.” An approach to public spaces and community programs that seeks to reduce community violence and structural racism would be one that values investing in neighborhoods like Englewood-—where life expectancy is a full 30 years younger than it is downtown—just as much as it does in tourist destinations like Millennium Park.

Harsh, sensational responses to violence may be politically convenient for city leaders like Lightfoot, who want to look like they are taking action, but it is this type of political opportunism that consistently presents us with false solutions. 

What we need to engage in is the long-term work of building an equitable city where everyone feels like Chicago belongs to them, and making it so that it truly does. What if the city poured resources into communities: well-funded schools, grocery stores, health centers, mental health care? What if the city funded thousands of jobs that hired counselors, health-care workers, violence interrupters, and other community-oriented public safety jobs instead of police? What would a community full of physical manifestations of the message that the city does belong to us look like?

Asha Ransby-Sporn was a co-founder of BYP100, an organization of young Black people, and has been deeply involved in organizing against criminalization and policing in Chicago since 2013.

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Steve Scott directs a storefront production of Shakespeare’s wallow into the nature of unadorned power-lust and demagoguery. With a minimal set—a couple benches, steps with a recess to indicate the space for a throne—and little in the way of choreography or any other theatrical gimmickry, Promethean Theatre Ensemble leaves the Bard’s words to work their hard magic. Cameron Feagin commands the stage in the titular role, playing Richard as a self-aware villain, profoundly flawed but unable to stop himself from conniving his way to the prize he’s convinced himself should be his, despite all evidence to the contrary.

Richard III
Through 6/25: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 3 PM; Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard, prometheantheatre.org, $30 ($25 seniors/$15 students).

Putting on a play about a tyrant at this moment may either be too on the nose or just timely, depending on your point of view, but in either case, I was moved listening to Feagin reciting words that simultaneously bring Richard his greatest triumph and seal his fate. The Richards of our time possess neither his self-awareness, nor are likely to get their just deserts, as he does. The rest of the cast acquits themselves just fine, but it is when Feagin speaks that the play comes alive. I sometimes wished it was a monologue because, like every monomaniac, Richard doesn’t truly see anyone else except for how they may be of use to him. They’re all mere shadows next to his engulfing need for complete control. Evil is vanquished in Shakespeare’s play, but I didn’t walk out onto Howard Street feeling things would be OK. I don’t think I was meant to. There’s no way back from where Richard takes us.

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Steve Scott directs a storefront production of Shakespeare’s wallow into the nature of unadorned power-lust and demagoguery. With a minimal set—a couple benches, steps with a recess to indicate the space for a throne—and little in the way of choreography or any other theatrical gimmickry, Promethean Theatre Ensemble leaves the Bard’s words to work their hard magic. Cameron Feagin commands the stage in the titular role, playing Richard as a self-aware villain, profoundly flawed but unable to stop himself from conniving his way to the prize he’s convinced himself should be his, despite all evidence to the contrary.

Richard III
Through 6/25: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 3 PM; Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard, prometheantheatre.org, $30 ($25 seniors/$15 students).

Putting on a play about a tyrant at this moment may either be too on the nose or just timely, depending on your point of view, but in either case, I was moved listening to Feagin reciting words that simultaneously bring Richard his greatest triumph and seal his fate. The Richards of our time possess neither his self-awareness, nor are likely to get their just deserts, as he does. The rest of the cast acquits themselves just fine, but it is when Feagin speaks that the play comes alive. I sometimes wished it was a monologue because, like every monomaniac, Richard doesn’t truly see anyone else except for how they may be of use to him. They’re all mere shadows next to his engulfing need for complete control. Evil is vanquished in Shakespeare’s play, but I didn’t walk out onto Howard Street feeling things would be OK. I don’t think I was meant to. There’s no way back from where Richard takes us.

Read More

There is a particular cruelty to political leaders placing the blame for structural problems that are well within their power to address on the victims. 

When Mayor Lori Lightfoot describes how the city will enforce a youth curfew by saying, “We don’t want to arrest children. If we have to, because they’re breaking the law, we will,” all I hear is a threat of more violence and a finger pointed at young people who deserve so much more freedom than our unequal city affords them.

Included in the list of goals 16-year-old Seandell Holliday wrote for himself in a mentorship program last year were pursuing his passion for music, taking care of his family, and living to age 21. Seandell, whose fatal shooting at Millenium Park last weekend sparked the mayor’s announcement of a new curfew for young people, had some level of personal understanding of a landscape of violence that was pervasive enough to question whether he would live just a few more years. 

That landscape is one that includes both the kind of interpersonal gun violence that ended Seandell’s life, and also the structural violence that keeps our city both segregated and profoundly unequal. It is not a coincidence that the neighborhoods experiencing the highest rates of gun violence are some of the city’s poorest, predominantly Black, and on the city’s south and west sides, impacted by massive economic divestment and neglect. 

At a rally and press conference about the city budget last August at Parkman Elementary in Fuller Park—which has sat empty since its closure in 2013—educator and CTU leader Tara Stamps gave an impassioned speech that has stuck with me. She referred to closed schools as “the physical manifestation of ‘I don’t give a fill-in-the-blank about you.’” 

The now-vacant school stands in painful contrast to the bustling police station across the street on 51st and Wentworth, where many of us have spent long nights waiting for the release of friends and loved ones. If “I don’t give a fill-in-the-blank about you” is the message an empty school conveys to young people, a fancy park with checkpoints and metal detectors underlines that message, and the police department empowered to criminalize youth drives it home.

Placing new restrictions on the freedom of young people—restrictions that will undoubtedly impact Black, Brown, and working-class families most—dramatically misses the mark. Curfews have been  shown to be ineffective as a violence prevention strategy, and they add to the overall problem by exposing young people to violent policing when enforced. Encouraged by the Clinton administration, juvenile curfew laws became popular in the mid-1990s as part of a tough-on-crime approach. The strategy sought to criminalize “superpredators,” a racist myth that did overtime to blame young Black people for social problems now exacerbated by decades of more divestment from public programs across the country. While Mayor Lightfoot’s rhetoric in 2022 may sound different than that of the architects of mass incarceration, imposing a curfew on top of pushing forward city budgets that underinvest in communities and overinvest in police ultimately supports the same status quo. 

At a balloon release for Seandell, one of his friends said, “Downtown was a place you go out and have fun. . . . Now you can’t go nowhere without having to fight for your life.” In addition to failing Seandell, who lost his life, and the young person facing incarceration for his murder, the city has failed Seandell’s friends and everyone in Chicago who feels there is nowhere for them to go. 

Criminalization as a response to violence shifts responsibility away from systems and places blame on those impacted by divestment, inequality, policing, and violence. It keeps people asking, “What’s wrong with young people or Black people?” and “Why are they breaking the law?” These questions hold the conversation about what to do back because they frame the problem as one of individual people’s actions and treat “crime” as a fixed category as opposed to something determined by political decision makers. 

Instead, we can frame the problem of violence as one that happens in a broader social, economic, and political context. We can ask, “What systems are making it that so many people are struggling? What investments do communities impacted by violence need in order to be OK?”

State Senator Robert Peters has led statewide violence prevention efforts that are rooted in the latter set of questions. “We need to provide for everybody,” he said. “And we need to see public safety not reliant on the old walls of segregation but a new public safety for all that says that Chicago belongs to everybody, Chicago belongs to the people.” 

Long-term solutions to violence look like uprooting racist inequality and ensuring young people and communities suffering from divestment have what they need to thrive. They look like reversing the budget priorities that have increased the police budget every year while money for social programs, schools, health services, and housing remain on the chopping block. 

One step would be investing in the Peace Book, a proposed ordinance driven by the vision of young people that would reinvest funds from police into youth jobs doing peacekeeping, restorative justice, and conflict mediation in neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence. Approaches to violence prevention that center offering young people community-oriented programming and jobs that provide some economic support have shown to be more effective than punishment and increased policing.

Miracle Boyd, a 20-year-old youth organizer with GoodKids MadCity, said, “A lot of people are in survival mode; they’re not living. We need to give life back into our youth and into the adults that are raising them.” Holistic and effective solutions to violence look like ensuring that Chicagoans of all ages have access not only to basic necessities to survive, but to the things communities need to live and be well: an abundance of places to gather, connect, heal, and engage with each other and the world around us. 

Another youth organizer, Assata Lewis, said, “Going to the parks on the north side versus the ones on the south side is like night and day.” An approach to public spaces and community programs that seeks to reduce community violence and structural racism would be one that values investing in neighborhoods like Englewood-—where life expectancy is a full 30 years younger than it is downtown—just as much as it does in tourist destinations like Millennium Park.

Harsh, sensational responses to violence may be politically convenient for city leaders like Lightfoot, who want to look like they are taking action, but it is this type of political opportunism that consistently presents us with false solutions. 

What we need to engage in is the long-term work of building an equitable city where everyone feels like Chicago belongs to them, and making it so that it truly does. What if the city poured resources into communities: well-funded schools, grocery stores, health centers, mental health care? What if the city funded thousands of jobs that hired counselors, health-care workers, violence interrupters, and other community-oriented public safety jobs instead of police? What would a community full of physical manifestations of the message that the city does belong to us look like?

Asha Ransby-Sporn was a co-founder of BYP100, an organization of young Black people, and has been deeply involved in organizing against criminalization and policing in Chicago since 2013.

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Have you wondered what the best porn games are? Or, more specifically, the best free porn games? This can be daunting, given the sheer number of adult games that are being developed all the time.

Well, that’s where we come in! We’re taking a comprehensive look at 20 of the best porn games in 2021 so you know which games fit what you’re looking for, and which ones will just waste your time.

This article will provide a “best of” list, comprehensive reviews, an overview of our ranking criteria, and an FAQ section. (If you’re completely new to porn games, you might want to skip to the FAQ section first.) All right, let’s get right into it, shall we?

20 Best Online Porn Games of 2022

After much careful consideration, here’s our “best of” list:

Nutaku – best overallHentai Heroes – best for hentai fansProject QT – best RPGFap CEO – best clicker gameLifeSelector.com – best POV contentMeet And Fuck Games – best multiplayer gameCrystal Maidens – best gameplayPocket Waifu – best animated scenesThe Fister – best graphicsMerge Nymphs – best puzzle gameSex Emulator – best customizationPlayForceOne – most lifelikeUtherVerse – best virtual world3D Sex Villa – best 3D gameSF Girls – best Android exclusiveGirlvania – best lesbian content3DXChat – best VR optionFapTitans – best walkthroughsPornGames.com – best interfaceSummertime Saga – best free updates

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Have you wondered what the best porn games are? Or, more specifically, the best free porn games? This can be daunting, given the sheer number of adult games that are being developed all the time.

Well, that’s where we come in! We’re taking a comprehensive look at 20 of the best porn games in 2021 so you know which games fit what you’re looking for, and which ones will just waste your time.

This article will provide a “best of” list, comprehensive reviews, an overview of our ranking criteria, and an FAQ section. (If you’re completely new to porn games, you might want to skip to the FAQ section first.) All right, let’s get right into it, shall we?

20 Best Online Porn Games of 2022

After much careful consideration, here’s our “best of” list:

Nutaku – best overallHentai Heroes – best for hentai fansProject QT – best RPGFap CEO – best clicker gameLifeSelector.com – best POV contentMeet And Fuck Games – best multiplayer gameCrystal Maidens – best gameplayPocket Waifu – best animated scenesThe Fister – best graphicsMerge Nymphs – best puzzle gameSex Emulator – best customizationPlayForceOne – most lifelikeUtherVerse – best virtual world3D Sex Villa – best 3D gameSF Girls – best Android exclusiveGirlvania – best lesbian content3DXChat – best VR optionFapTitans – best walkthroughsPornGames.com – best interfaceSummertime Saga – best free updates

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Have you heard of Seeking Arrangement? They’ve rebranded as Seeking and are no longer a dating site for sugar daddies and babies. Nope, Seeking is now a mainstream dating site.

Seeking has been seriously blowing up of late. Just a few months ago, they had roughly 20 million members. Now? Try 40 million! When you add the fact that people in 130 countries are using Seeking, this is a dating app that may be rivaling Tinder before long.

While it’s true that Seeking Arrangement was focused on helping attractive and successful people meet up, Seeking now claims to be about “identifying what drives us and how we can live our best lives with someone by our side.”

In other words, Seeking is now for everyone, and this is a site that you may regret leaving out of your dating app repertoire.

So, read on to learn more about Seeking in 2022, including its pros and cons, how to sign up, how much it costs, how the platform works, handy tips, and more.

Pros

Super active communityIntuitive search and filtering functionsEnjoyable site design and interfaceThorough verification processGlobal availability (including languages)Certain discounts available

Cons

Somewhat controversialFake accounts and bots slip through the cracksInactive profiles still visibleCan get expensiveScammers

Registering on Seeking is relatively straightforward. You start by stating if you’re a man or woman and whether you prefer meeting men or women (or both). You’re then prompted to answer a few other questions, which helps the site calibrate its matching algorithms (ideally resulting in more successful matching). After a bit more personal information, that’s just about everything to get registered!

(Keep in mind that you may want to be careful about what email you use if you want to remain relatively anonymous.)

After completing the registration process, you’ll need to wait for Seeking to verify your account. This process generally takes 1-2 business days on average, but you may get a faster turnaround.

While it can be frustrating to wait, the account verification process is in the best interest of all the people trying to use the site legitimately. Unfortunately, some scammers and bots still manage their way through, so it doesn’t appear to be a perfect process.

Any Free Features?

If you’re worried about immediately shelling out a ton of money to use Seeking, luckily that’s not the case. Once you’ve registered and been verified, you’re free to start browsing around (see what we did there?).

This is nice because you’re able to get a feel for how Seeking works and what you can reasonably expect in terms of possible matches later on.

The downside is that you will be fairly limited with what you’re able to do. For example, you won’t be able to contact other members of Seeking for free.

Like many dating apps nowadays, Seeking wants to get you on their platform and get you thinking about all the beautiful and successful people you could potentially meet. This means that members will be more likely to open up their wallets in order to gain complete access to the site.

If you think that’s a frustrating business model, you’re definitely not alone. For better or worse, it’s becoming more and more normal in the dating site community. So, you may as well get used to it and at least enjoy the benefit of browsing for free. There are some sites where you can’t even do that without paying.

Seeking may also offer free memberships to certain clients that are particularly “desirable.” You can apply for the free membership once you’ve registered.

Setting Up Your Profile

After entering in your basic info as part of the registration process, you’ll be all set. And how Once you’ve registered and been verified, you can now set up your Seeking profile.

You’ll need to choose a username and upload a photo. We recommend going with something reasonably “adult” (as in not immature, like “sexgod69”). You’ll also want to choose a flattering photo. And please don’t be one of those people who uses a group photo on dating sites! Ultimately, your profile is a big part of your first impression, so take some time with it.

As part of your profile, you have the ability to list lots of information. You can add your height, education, relationship status, children, etc. There are a wide variety of relationship statuses you can pick, from “married but looking” and “separated” to “open relationship” and more.

You can also add your income and net worth, which may seem weird to you if you’re more used to traditional dating apps.

In order to try to make matching as seamless as possible, the profile set-up gets a bit complex. For example, you have to pick different “tags” that give more detail about what you’re looking for on the Seeking platform. Some of the tags include different character traits and preferences such as “flexibility,” “attentiveness,” “monogamous,” etc.

Lastly, you need to write up a little bio for the “About Me” section. It’s best to be honest but also modest, if that makes sense. You don’t want to sell yourself too short, but you also don’t want to be way over the top. So, keep that in mind as you try to craft a compelling little bio. Try to have it reflect who you really are. If you’re funny, be funny, for example.

How Much Does Seeking Cost?

As we said, Seeking can be joined for free. And, if you’re an attractive and/or quite successful individual, you may be able to get to use the site for free.

To actually become a verified member, however, you’ll have to shell out $50 for a background check. For this, you don’t have to verify income at least. Getting verified is a good way to make others feel like you can be trusted right off the bat, especially—let’s be honest—if you’re a man (and particularly an older man).

While Seeking memberships can end up costing a significant amount for men, many of these members come from wealthy backgrounds, meaning it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. If you’re looking to use Seeking as a mainstream dating site, however, be aware that it might end up costing you more than other dating sites out there.

Bottom Line Costs

Current premium membership packages certainly aren’t cheap for the average person, but this isn’t an average dating site:

1 month premium = $90/month3 months premium = $80/month6 months premium = $70/month

As you can see, you’ll get a better monthly rate if you pay for more months up front, which is standard with dating sites (and a lot of subscriptions in general).

Using Seeking To Find a Hookup

Okay, so we’ve covered getting registered, getting verified, getting your profile set up, and the cost of using Seeking.

But what about the thing you’re actually interested in Seeking for? Dating, that is.

The simple answer is that Seeking may very well be a good option for finding dates. With its large user base of over 40 million people all around the world, chances are good that you can find some compatible people in your area (or who are close enough).

So, in general, it’s not that hard to get dates on Seeking. That said, it can be highly competitive—especially if you’re a young woman, thanks to the high female-to-male ratio.

One thing that helps you get matched up on Seeking is the fact that it has a sleek, modern-feeling interface. While some dating sites have an outdated or downright spammy look to them, Seeking has clearly invested in creating a good user experience when it comes to the interface and user friendliness.

Since browsing around is intuitive and straightforward, it doesn’t take long to start finding people to message on Seeking. You can even join “VIP rooms” if you opt for the Diamond Membership, which clocks in at $250 each month—nope, not cheap! These rooms, however, will help you get around the BS of scammers and fake profiles, since every member there has to be verified with a full background check.

Even the basic search functions are really helpful as well. Right away you can sort users into useful categories like “most active” or “new members.”

Keep in mind, however, especially as Seeking transitions into a more mainstream dating app, that not everyone will be looking to get down and dirty right away. There will be many people who want to build a relationship rather than simply casually hooking up. A good mentality to have is to simply view the site as a way to meet people, and then take it from there.

Does Seeking Work? Or Is It a Scam?

Overall, you could say that Seeking is pretty much as advertised. As it’s transitioning to becoming a more mainstream dating site, it will be interesting to see if its user base becomes more diversified.

With more than 40 million users, there’s certainly some people out there who you are likely compatible with. How much time and effort you have/want to put in and how much money you have will be a factor in how successful your search for dates is.

While Seeking is a legitimate platform with a global presence and tons of users, it’s also true that there are many unhappy reviews online. People using sites such as TrustPilot and sitejabber have given an average rating of just 1.5 stars out of 5 for Seeking.

That said, it’s important to remember that people generally go on these sites either because they’re incredibly pleased or extremely dissatisfied. This naturally means that reviews tend to be skewed. Nonetheless, it’s not exactly encouraging to see so many unhappy customers.

So, if you want to sign up for Seeking you may want to do your own due diligence by exploring online reviews like those mentioned above.

Here are some other tips to help ensure that you have a positive experience.

Be Upfront About Expectations

You’re going to want to be transparent on Seeking, which is really the case for any dating site. If you’re looking for casual hookups, say so. If you’re looking to build something more meaningful, make that clear. Beating around the bush and/or being openly dishonest will not get you anywhere good.

Be Authentic

Yeah, yeah, this is as cliché as it gets. It’s true in this case, though. If you aren’t really a While this is a bit of a cliché, it’s true when it comes to dating sites and builds on the last tip. You won’t end up with matches that are a natural fit for you if you’re not yourself.

Spend Time on Your Profile

Again, this is true of all dating sites, not just Seeking. Think of your profile as a kind of billboard—you’re putting yourself out there for anyone who drives by to see. This is your virtual first impression, and it matters in terms of how much attention you draw. You want to find a careful balance between intriguing and mysterious and open and honest.

In essence, you want to do your best to stand out, but your profile also shouldn’t be weird or off-putting. If you’re unsure about your profile, see about getting a second opinion from someone you trust. Above all, don’t lie. Boosting yourself by one inch of height (or length…) is one thing, but two or three or more will definitely be obvious. You don’t want to set yourself up to fail by being disingenuous.

So, is Seeking Legit?

Yes, overall Seeking is a legitimate dating site. Like many dating sites out there, you will find scammers, bots, and inactive accounts. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about that. As long as you’re careful and use common sense, you should have no problems finding legit matches on Seeking.

A Few More Tips

Before wrapping up, here are some more hookup site tips, which should apply well beyond Seeking. That said, they’re particularly pertinent to Seeking, so you’ll want to keep them in mind!

Beware of Scammers and Catfishers

Scammers definitely make their way onto Seeking, even though the site does a pretty good job at maintaining a legit platform. Unfortunately, pretty much any dating site you go to will have bots and fake profiles trying to scam people. In essence, these exist just to try to get people to spend money even though they are not the person they are pretending to be. This is known colloquially as “catfishing” and here it’s used for purposes of extortion.

In short, beware of scammers. If things seem too easy and suspicious in any way, it’s probably someone just looking to get money out of you before disappearing.

Keep an Eye on Your Bill

Seeking is in the business of hooking people up, but they’re also in the business of making money. Just scroll up and take a look at those prices. $250 for one month of the “Diamond” membership? The pricing is smart because they know their audience—they’re truly catering to upper-class people who average 6- or 7-figure incomes.

So, just be aware that you may want to keep an eye on your bill to ensure that you’re not racking up more money than you’re trying to spend. You might want to take it slowly and go with a one- or three-month membership rather than a six-month one, for example. This way you can feel out the site. And hey, you might just meet someone who you want a more serious, long-term relationship with (though we must say that’s not the typical relationship sought after on Seeking).

Then again, you might not care how much the site costs you if you’re wealthy.

Matches Don’t Always Come Easily

While there are forty million+ people on Seeking, that doesn’t mean matches are guaranteed to come right away. There’s generally a lot of competition, especially for younger women, for example, and you may have to really work to stand out on such a large platform.

Ultimately, you’ll want to stay patient the best you can. Just because things don’t work out right away doesn’t mean that they won’t eventually. You may go on some awkward dates, but that’s often just a part of life. Sooner or later you’re likely to match with someone who you’re really compatible with. Just be sure to give yourself the time, which means don’t give up too soon and don’t force the issue.

Be Safe

It’s always advisable to meet someone in a public place for your first meet up. A coffee shop or restaurant is perfect, for example. This way you’re much less likely to face danger from people with bad intentions. This isn’t meant to scare anyone; it’s just meant to help keep people safe. In general, trust your instincts and you should be fine.

Final Verdict

So, is Seeking really worth it?

That comes down to you, ultimately. Your wants, your needs, your bank account, your age, etc. If you’re just an average Joe, you may want to stick to other dating sites.

All in all, Seeking has a massive customer base all around the world, an intuitive and user-friendly interface, and relatively reasonable pricing. It also has robust filtering and searching tools, VIP rooms, verified profiles, and other useful features. If you’re trying to find a date or maybe even true love, Seeking might end up being a good option for you.

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Throughout history, witchcraft has had a notoriously bad image. Most of the world links witches to Satanism and pure evil, and just looking into the past tells you how much of a bad rep witches have had, with the fatal witch-hunting and numerous trials where witches burned at the stake.

But in recent years, witchcraft has become popularized and romanticized through pop culture, like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and everyone’s favorite movie series, Harry Potter.

Wicca is a modern Pagan religion that incorporates witchcraft and has become an alluring belief system to many. Wicca has links to magic and nature, but not the wands and demon-fighting you see on TV. A key element of modern-day witchcraft is spellcasting, and one of the most popular spells is love spells.

Love spells are used to attract – you guessed it – love! These spells (and curses) come in the form of potions, written text, rituals, or using objects like candles or even dolls.

Intrigued? Keep reading to discover seven love spells and how to cast them. And on top of that, get ready to learn some tips about casting love spells and answers to frequently asked questions.

If you’d like to get a love spell cast for free, click here.

7 Best and Most Powerful Love Spells

Honey JarPink CandleGet an Ex BackMarriageNo-ingredientPoppetUsing Photography

1. Honey Jar Spell

The honey jar spell is probably the most common love spell people use to improve their relationship, intimacy, and connection with others. This spell is for couples already in a relationship to strengthen their bond and bring them even closer.

It earned its name because it represents something sweet. The honey jar spell uses the attraction between two people and grounds the love spell on this positive energy. This spell is said to create more sweetness, intimacy, and affection between two people.

How to Cast a Honey Jar Spell

Write the name of the other person on a piece of blank paper three times.Turn the paper 90 degrees and write your name three times, overlapping the other person’s name.Close your eyes and focus on what you want out of the spell.Next, while thinking hard about the goal, write the wish on the paper so that it circles both the names.When you’re done, fold the paper and place it in a jar filled with honey.Dip your fingers into the honey as you place the paper inside.Remove your fingers from the jar and say the following chant out loud: Just like this honey is sweet, that’s how he/she will be for me.Now, lick the honey off your fingers and seal the jar with the paper inside.Light a candle on top of the jar, but make sure you choose the right one. The candle color will vary according to your specific wish:

White: general purposes

Red: passionate love

Pink: loving love

Once the candle finishes burning, store the jar away where no one will be able to find it.Wait seven days, and light another candle on the same day of the week.Repeat, lighting a new candle once a week on the same day to truly get what you desire.

Final ThoughtThe honey jar spell is a basic love spell, but it only works if you release negative energy and thoughts. Stay focused on your goal, and use your purest intention to attract what you desire.

Try getting a Honey Jar spell cast by a professional for free by clicking here.

2. Pink Candle Spell

Candles are a crucial feature of love spells. They act as a medium driving strong attraction between two people.

In love spells, pink candles symbolize spirituality and love. They don’t generate any negative energy, which is the perfect reason to use a pink candle during a love spell. Pink candle spells make for very strong magic when the intentions behind the spell are pure and dedicated. If your love is pure and intentions are clear, the pink candle spell will get you the results you want.

How to Cast a Pink Candle Spell

Light a new and unused pink candle, preferably on a Friday night.Write your first name and the last name of the other person on a white piece of paper.Draw one circle around both names.Close your eyes firmly and envision the two of you together. Focus on the image. Get deep and visualize the love and happiness you will share.Repeat the following chant three times: Our fate is sealed. We are one so mote it be. It is done.Watch the pink candle until it burns out. (Don’t buy a large one.)Make sure you fully extinguish the candle before leaving it. You can pat the candle to put out the fire, but don’t blow it out, or you will break the love spell.If you want to invoke the strongest love magic, repeat the spell for seven consecutive nights.

Final Thought

Pink candle spells are very potent magic, and witches have used them for centuries. Have pure intention, and you will see your desired result bloom in front of your eyes!

Suggestion: Professionals can cast pink candle spells (or curses) for free.

3. Spell to Get An Ex Back

This spell is popular for those who regret breaking up with their lovers or want to rekindle a past romance. To perform this spell, seek the help of a professional instead of doing it yourself. Professionals can drive out any negative energy that could tear the two of you apart.

Casting a spell to get an ex back is meant to give you the energy and confidence to help you get it done. The most important thing to remember when rekindling a romance is to ensure that it isn’t forced. Love should never be authoritative – it should be mutual and emotionally accepted by both sides.

How to Cast a Spell to Get An Ex Back

Light a red candle and stare at the flame for two to three minutes. Look at a photo of your ex and visualize making up.Write your name and your ex’s name on a piece of paper and draw a circle around them.Drop honey on the names and chant the following incantation: I wish you come back to me with this spell to tighten up our connection forever.Meditate for a few minutes to calm your mind and let go of any resentment or negativity you hold.Blow out the candle.Tear the paper into small pieces and bury them somewhere in your garden.Repeat the rituals the next night with new paper and honey, but with the same candle.Repeat the spell for a third night.

Final Thoughts 

Getting an ex back is tricky business, especially if there’s negative energy and bitterness from either party. With the help of a professional practitioner, you can guarantee that the love spell will be gentle and accurate. For added potency, don’t let anyone know that you are casting this spell!

Kasamba offers professional love spell casting with a free trial and 50% off.

4. Marriage Spells

Marriage spells are for those looking for strength in their marriage or someone looking to get married. They reduce tension in existing relationships and allow two partners to reinforce their sacred bond, adding harmony and love between the spell caster and their partner.

While marriage spells may work for couples experiencing a rough patch, seek a professional practitioner’s help if you are on the verge of a legal separation, divorce, or annulment. White magic simply does not force others to love or have feelings that aren’t there. Going ahead without a professional and forcing it can cause the caster to experience a negative energy backlash.

How to Cast Marriage Spells

There are many marriage spells, ranging in intensity and power. Get professional help when casting powerful marriage spells.

Here is a beginner marriage spell for someone wanting their partner to propose or talk about marriage:

Get a plant called spathiphyllum – it should have white flowers to symbolize a white wedding dress.Replant the spathiphyllum in a new pot when you bring it home. The soil used to replant should be from a place where you and your partner have fond memories together.Place stones at the bottom of the pot for stronger magic.Write your desire on a piece of paper. Roll the paper up, tie it with a white string, and place it at the bottom of the pot. The paper should be under the stones and soil.After re-potting the plant, place it in a room where your partner spends a lot of time.Take a photo of yourself and another of your partner.Roll them up and wrap them separately in foil to protect your relationship.Place your photo on the right side of the plant and your partner’s on the left.Water the plant until it grows at least one new flower.Cut the flower off when it blooms, place it on a paper towel, and dry it.Divide the dry flower into three equal-sized parts.Place 1/3 of the flower in a cup, add sugar and natural tea, then stir the tea clockwise.Then, lean over the cup while chanting the following words: Be my husband! Be my husband! Be my husband! Or, if using the spell on a woman, chant, Be my wife! Be my wife! Be my wife!Offer the tea to your partner and make sure they drink every last drop.Repeat the ritual for the next two days for maximum potency.If your partner doesn’t start discussing marriage, wait until a new moon and begin the process again. Use one of the new flowers that bloomed while you waited.

Final Thought

Although this marriage spell is effective, some things can prevent it from working. It won’t work if you don’t see your partner every day, fight frequently, or have no respect for them and think you are above them. The spell works best when both partners truly love each other.

Spellcaster Special: 3 Free Minutes + 50% Off Your First Spell

5. No-ingredient Love Spell

Some love spells are easy with absolutely no ingredients involved. They use words, chants, imagination, and focus. These no-ingredient love spells are not restrictive, which means the spell caster has the ultimate freedom to choose how they cast the spell and its outcome.

You can cast these love spells for various reasons, whether to improve or spice up an existing relationship, attract a new partner, or improve self-love. They are simple and work effectively, putting positive energy out into the universe.

How to Cast a No-ingredient Love Spell

There are many no-ingredient love spells that all use the power of energy and manifestation. This particular love spell is to attract someone you already have a connection to:

Relax in a quiet room on a Friday night or during the full moon.Be open-minded, clear, and receptive – have faith in your energy and the energy of the universe.Sincerely think about someone particular you want to attract into your life.Imagine yourself with the person and visualize the love and happiness you wish to have between you two.Relax your mind, visualize you two together, and believe in the power of your love and energy.Once a month during the full moon, repeat the spell and you will soon see positive results.

Final Thought

You must love yourself before you can truly love another person. This love spell works beautifully to boost your self-confidence and self-esteem to attract the right person and relationship into your life.

6. Poppet Magic

Poppets are dolls that represent someone when casting spells. Creating a poppet of a person means you do to the poppet will affect the person it represents. A poppet typically uses cloth or fabric, but you can make it from any other material, such as wax, wood, or clay. Fill your poppet with magical items, such as herbs and stones, but include some paper and cotton as well.

Once you create the poppet, you need to connect it to the person it is supposed to represent. Use a magical link, such as hair, nail clippings, body fluids, or a photograph. Once you place the magical link inside, sew up the poppet and customize the outside to look like the person it represents. Add any defining features, scars, or tattoos for maximum accuracy.

How to Cast A Love Spell with Poppets

Have two dolls – one to represent yourself and the other to represent your love interest.If you can, fill the dolls with rose petals, rose quartz crystals, and love artifacts, transforming them into beacons of love energy.Chant something along the lines of, “I have made you, and you are (insert your love interest’s name).”Chant the same to label the doll symbolizing yourself.Use a pink ribbon to wrap around both dolls to tie them together.Envision the both of you together and happy.Let your love energy be put up into the universe, and let the magic happen.

Final Thought

Poppets can be used for love spells as long as you can consciously imagine it happening. Having a clear goal and the means to achieve it, your poppet’s energy combined with yours will give you results.

Kasamba can professionally cast Poppet Magic with 50% off.

7. Love Spell with Photography

Love spells with a photograph are effective ways to bind two lovers or spouses together. It strengthens the bond between a couple or reignites passion between spouses when one has lost interest in the relationship.

Using photography is a powerful binding spell, but it will only work on people who already have an established connection. You cannot use this spell on someone you have never met or do not have a connection with. Seeking help from a professional is recommended to make the love spell truly potent, but you can try this at home if you want to.

How to Cast a Love Spell with a Photograph

Wait until the clock hits midnight to perform this ritual.Take the photo of your partner/spouse and place it in front of you. Behind the photo, place a red candle.The red candle must be the only source of light in the entire room.Next, take a pen and paper and write down the following: Sadness, go to my lover (name of your lover). Go inside his head, so all he could think was me (your name), hugging me, kissing me, loving me. My words are strong and sticky.Take the paper and burn it with the candle flame. Make sure the smoke passes through the photo.As the piece of paper burns, chant the following incantation: The blood’s boiling, unable to keep still. What goes over the head comes into the head, when the fire appears behind the back, the heart of God’s servant (your lover’s name) excites.After the paper is fully burned and there is no smoke left, you have finished your love spell using a photograph!

Final Thought 

For your spell to work, the universe and the person you love must agree with your desire. Love spells with photographs are strong in that you can visualize your partner and the life you have in front of your eyes. If both the universe and your person are willing, your spell will succeed in bringing them into your life.

Now that you familiarized yourself with the most powerful love spells, here are some tips about casting them. These tips will help all beginners perform spell rituals effectively, without the fear of it backfiring.

You have to believe in the magicLove spells are powerful, but the key to making them work to their full potential is to believe in love magic. It’s easier said than done because most beginners have little faith in what they are doing.

Try focusing all your energy on your intention and desired outcome – don’t let yourself be bothered by any negative thoughts or distractions. Since magic is based on faith and spirit, you need to keep strong faith that you will see the results you expect.

Have realistic expectationsWhile you can believe in your magic and have faith in the spell casting, your love spell won’t work in unrealistic expectations. Love spells simply cannot make your celebrity crush fall madly in love with you – spells don’t work like that! If you are focusing your love spell on a specific individual, you need to have an established connection to that person.Have clear intent and be open-minded to possibilitiesAll effective love spells require clearly stated intentions, intense mental concentration, and, most times, physical materials. For your love spell to manifest accurately, you must be specific and have a clear intent.Love is a choice and should never be forced onto someone. When casting a love spell, focus on the qualities and values you want in a lover instead of stating someone’s name. Open your heart to possibilities, even if it’s someone other than your crush who doesn’t know you exist. Casting powerful love spells can potentially bring you closer to finding the love you deserve, sometimes in places you don’t expect!Know the limitations of love magicThere are indeed limitations to love magic. You can’t use white magic as love spells for negative intent. Spells should always be used for positive reasons, to enrich the caster and their love interest with blessings. Using black magic to break apart a marriage or strong union will backfire, inflict negative energy, and cause bad karma for yourself.Familiarize yourself with the best time to cast spellsThe best time to cast love spells is on Friday nights because Venus Day (Venus symbolizes adoration, love, and courtship) is a Friday. Another good time to try spell casting is during the New Moon because a new moon symbolizes turning new opportunities into reality.

FAQs about Love Spells

Q: Can I cast magic spells at home?
There are numerous spells you can do at home for love, luck, and finance. But some may require professional help because of the complexity of the spell or desired result. Just do your research first!

Q: Do love spells work?
Love spells work when you focus clearly on your pure intention and believe in the magic you are performing. You can only cast a great love spell when you have a strong mental focus and the physical materials or tools to help focus you on your goal.

Most magic spells do not work immediately. Not even the most powerful love spell is going to make someone fall into your lap! After performing a love spell and putting your intention into the universe, reach out to someone you’re interested in or join a dating app to hurry the magic along!

Q: Can love spells backfire?
Love spells can backfire if there is any lingering negative energy. If you have any negative thoughts or bad intentions when casting a spell, expect them to come back to you and not in a good way! Consider hiring a professional practitioner to cast spells.

Q: Are there magic spells to break up a couple?
Black magic spells to break up couples in relationships are notoriously negative and will give you bad karma. Some spellcasters claim to have spells or curses to end relationships, but these spells only work for lust and will not build true love, no matter how hard you try. Simply put, you can’t destroy true love, just like you can’t force love between two people.

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