a question meme

Measi, a friend of mine on lj participated in this on her friend's lj, and now it is my turn to share the love.

Comment and I will give you 3 interests on your list and 3 icons for you to explain (and give me more to answer, too! *grin*)

Requirements: some sort of icon collection open to the public, and some interests listed.

She wanted to know about these icons.  Leaves, Lucivar and Tinkerbell.

fiveleaves1-1

The leaves icon is something very dear to my pagan soul.  I've always wanted a pentacle tattoo, and one using a deciduous leaf has always appealed, because they fit my 4-season annual rhythm.  This one in particular is a great visualization of the pentacle.  It's one I want to share when I post pagan journals.

Lucivar

Lucivar Yaslana is an awesome character in Anne Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy.  The icon itself is fantastically done by eurynomeschild on LJ.  I love Lucivar because he is the quintessential rough, beasty guy who's soft side is amazingly tender in contrast.  A common type in the books I read.  I use this icon when I feel raw, or any other emotion I associate with him.

OMGtinkerbell

I love this icon from Oh My Gods! comics.  The humor is SO Shivian.  It's a bit stark for my taste, but I do like to use it on humorous lj posts.  Reading the comic online really makes me giggle.  Not to mention that Shivian's tattoos are fucking awesome.

She also wanted to know about these interests:  Avatar the Last Airbender, Diana Pharaoh Francis, and Self-actualization.

I love Avatar the Last Airbender, an American 'anime' shown on Nickelodeon.  I find it to be a nice alternative to some of what is shown on Adult Swim.  The creators put a LOT of thought into the show, studying real martial arts techniques (Kung Fu I beleive) and it works really hard to have the moves appear well done in the programs.  The elemental qualities, the beauty of the drawing, the characters... what is not to love.

Diana Pharaoh Francis wrote Path of Fate, Path of Honor, Path of Blood;  This is a trilogy of books that had an ending I was NOT expecting, and were way more gut wrenching than I expected when I picked up the novels.  No formulaic fantasy here.  At least not as far as I am concerned.

Why did I put self-actualization on my interests list?  Because I am constantly trying to improve myself, to find approach the place where I am fulfilled and fulfilling.  It's a mission without a goal, really, if that makes sense.  Will I ever reach it?  Not possible.  But I'm definitely trying to put my energy into the path there.