Unlike selfies, STEFDIES encourage the viewer to participate. The trend was started by artist and comic Stephanie Leigh Rose who is known for “dying” at famous landmarks to get her STEFDIES.

Rose told Bored Panda:

“The entire point of STEFDIES, is that the viewer is allowed to participate in the image-, whether that is by imagining the circumstances of the surrounding image, or in recreating the STEFDIES pose in their own photos. My long hair (and swimsuit in selected photos) would allude to the fact I am a female, but outside of a viewer coming to one of my gallery shows and meeting me personally, I prefer to keep STEFDIES neutral and free of age, nationality, politic, socioeconomic status.”

Aries, France

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmvmowFBThd/

“STEFDIES is a character of its own, and I invite people to connect with that, and interpret the scenes as they wish. Part of the joy and humor of STEFDIES, is no-one knows exactly what the hell is going on, and that’s pretty much a direct reflection of real life in general.

Unlike selfies, there is no preparing for a STEFDIE. “All STEFDIES images occur spontaneously in my daily life. The images the viewer happens to see are the 25% of images that are useable. This is why a STEFDIES image is the opposite of a selfie. A selfie has controlled conditions, specific lighting, makeup/hair/wardrobe, an agenda, and is focused on the individual personality- it is a contrived and manipulated image distorted to achieve a desired result. STEFDIES is the polar opposite- I get one chance to get the shot, if it doesn’t happen, c’est la vie. We have one life to live, and we don’t get re-do’s- and i would like to think i try to capture that feeling, that fleeting sense of life and its impermanence, in my photos.”

Cueva Grande, Canarias, Spain

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhoCsBAhMkv/

“There was an organic evolution to STEFDIES. The early STEFDIES photos were humor snapshots of my life, pretty much in times I was completely exhausted and amused by the situations I found myself in, and wanted to capture these moments in time, to be able to remember and reflect on those points in my life that seems utterly ridiculous.

So STEFDIES has always been a direct reflection of my desire to hold onto these seemingly minor or huge moments of my life, that I knew would be washed away to the ravages of time or memory, if i didn’t capture them in their proper moment. Never perfect, as perfection is not what I aim for, but merely the reality of the situation in all of its imperfections.”

Monopoli Cathedral

https://www.instagram.com/p/Be2gPpglg-u/

“As I posted some of these initial shots, I received an incredible response from friends and strangers alike, something in the ridiculousness of these poses, or the reactions of the passer-by. It brought them joy they wrote, it made their day a little bit brighter and brought them a much needed laugh. I realized I wanted to continue putting something positive into the world, while at the same time using art to synthesize my feelings and thoughts regarding our impermanence on this earth. The official STEFDIES slogan is ‘leave a mark.’ I’d like to think I’m doing that.”

UK

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaqN623AaWB/

“For me as an artist and individual, I push myself to take these photos (in the most uncomfortable of situations) as it allows me to participate in capturing a moment in time physically as well as mentally and emotionally. I have to totally commit to being ‘in the moment’ to get that one shot. I have to take myself out of my one head and get into the moment. Believe me, it’s really hard not to be present when you are face down eating dirt, and could be tempted at any time.”

Capo Circeo Lighthouse

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZYWEpJgIKE/

“I want to keep producing images that stir the imagination and produce joy for the viewer. I also want to continue to produce photos that are all age appropriate, and inclusive. For example, many school groups follow the STEFDIES series, as they considerate a good tool to teach young adults there are alternatives to the perfectionism of selfies and online culture.”

ARTHOUSE1

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWQaqaEAQby/

“STEFDIES welcomes everyone to participate, and doesn’t care about about status or perfection. I hope that STEFDIES promotes the idea of ‘everyone is prefect exactly how they are, and not a damn thing has to be changed.’”

The artist can’t remember when, exactly, she started taking STEFDIES. But, she thinks it was about eight years ago.

“As I mentioned earlier, there are many attempts but not all photos come to fruition. I would say [I took] over 1000 different images, but [only] a few hundred useable ones, and out of that only a handful that make it out on social media. One of my original intentions was to have a series of coffee table books that chronicle the STEFDIES series, so many images have not been released as they are being reserved for the book series.”

Corse, France

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVzrjGwgpuw/

Her message has caught on.

“STEFDIES has quite the following – as it should – they are super fun to do and always get a good laugh! We have a few hashtags people use – #stefdieswithme #stefdiesfan, etc. Many people will send me their interpretations of the STEFDIES pose, which I love!”

Tuileries Garden

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVmL_sZgyHO/

For those who want to join the movement, she says:

“Just have fun, and commit to the process! Don’t be afraid to look silly, and remember to be safe. Many don’t actually get the pose correct, as it requires the face to be completely flat on the ground (not to the side) but most people don’t like their mouth touching the disgusting items on the ground … and rightfully so. Just be yourself and that is good enough, and at the end of the day, incredibly interesting.”

Rome, Italy

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVa3RXiAzFj/

Golden Gate Bridge

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUZOX-hASus/

San Diego Zoo

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVuSPrNASP4/

Seine River, Paris, France

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWewwktgT_u/

Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkp5Ej1BCHY/

What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!

h/t Bored Panda, Instagram 

Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Sister Kate (Christine Meeusen) to pick her brain about the women’s work. As our conversation evolved, she dropped copious amounts of wisdom on the subjects of marijuana, the divine feminine, and how the mainstream media continues to re-hash a lie about cannabis being a “Holy Trinity.”

Watch the interview below:

A recap:

The Sisters of the Valley farm was founded in 2014, shortly after Sister Kate became known as “Sister Occupy.” During our interview, she relayed that she donned a nun’s habit in response to authorities declaring pizza (due to the tomato sauce) a vegetable. According to her, the development was further evidence of America being a conquered and oppressed nation.

She said,

“I learned from my travels in Europe that you learn to tell the difference between a conquered nation and the conquerers. Go to where the people are conquered, and you see a shabby version of the conquerers.”

After leaving Europe following a messy divorce, “America looked to me like a conquered people,” she said. “We dress like a conquered people, we act like a conquered people. Also, the sign of a conquered people is that you fight against your leadership instead of with it.”

“I was very disgusted,” she added.

When Sister Kate joined the Occupy movement, she felt as if she had finally found her “people.” Those she marched with encouraged her to follow through with her plan of donning a nun’s habit, so she did. “Within one visit, the Occupy movement had dubbed me ‘Sister Occupy’,” said Sister Kate. Before long, supporters began asking how they could join the movement she had inspired. Her response was, “No, you don’t understand! I’m an activist, anarchist, single nun!” 

But eventually, she realized something did need to be organized. “That led to about a three-year discussion before Sisters of the Valley was formed,” she said.

Before Sister Kate declared herself a nun, she spent most of her time delivering CBD oil to the sick and “raising, cooking and cleaning” for a family with six kids. Because of this, she already felt like a nun. As a result, she didn’t find the lifestyle transition too difficult.

Sisterhood and the Divine Feminine

In the interview, Sister Kate goes on to explain that though the women implement pagan practices into their ceremonies, they don’t align with any one religion. Rather, most of their inspiration is drawn from the Beguine nuns, who were the precursors to the Catholic nuns.

She explained that the Beguine nuns were self-empowered, spiritually empowered, natural healers, and scholarly women. Because of this, they were considered “dangerous” and many of them were burnt at the stake. The Sisters of the Valley look to the Beguine nuns as their role models, because they hope to empower new generations of women don’t degrade or cheapen themselves to get ahead.

Sister Kate added that now is a very important time for women in history. This is because change is not only desired by both men and women, it is needed. And finally, females have an opportunity to do better than their husbands, fathers, brothers, etc… This isn’t to say men aren’t needed — in fact, the contrary is true. For sustainable, positive change to result as is intentioned, men and women need to work together.

The REAL Holy Trinity

When the Sisters of the Valley began sharing their vision with the world, journalists were eager to interview the change-makers. However, one reporter made a mistake and wrote that the Sisters of the Valley consider the cannabis plant to be the real Holy Trinity.

As Sister Kate incredulously explains in the interview, one thing cannot be a trinity.

“I think it’s hilarious, because a newspaper reporter said the cannabis plant is our holy trinity. How can one thing be a trinity? No one in the media called him on it,” she said.

However, because the media wouldn’t stop “whispering,” she ended up inventing three traits that make the cannabis plant a trinity. Said Sister Kate,

“Because so many people have said that the cannabis plant is our holy trinity, I actually, in the last couple of days, came up with a cannabis plant holy trinity analogy. That is, that the plant is compassionate, it is cooperative, and it is intelligent.”

So there you have it.

Why Women Should Plant Cannabis To Eliminate Crime

In addition to sharing several compelling anecdotes from people who have improved their conditions with CBD oil and CBD-containing lotions and tinctures, Sister Kate relayed how women can rid the world of criminals by planting CBD-rich strains — which are legal in all 50 states. She said,

“Order from Attitude Seed Bank, out of the UK, strains of seeds that are meant to be under 1 percent THC and over 10 percent CBD. And every women should take the seeds and grow them inside and outside in their yard, and grow them everywhere… Because, one time a thief would steal that weed and try to sell it, and the thieves would be killed because they’re going to sell it like it’s going to get someone high. They’re going to sell it for $1,000/lb, and they’re going to get killed and bingo — we’ve just wiped out all the thieves, and we’re free to go forward.”

“So, my point is women need to grow this everywhere. And then dare the law to shut them down. Because all the laws were made for psychoactive cannabis, not for hemp,” she concluded.

Please watch the full interview above, as Sister Kate talks about many more topics, including why people should use CBD oil, why the nuns’ crops are legal in all 50 states and can be distributed to other countries, the organization’s plan(s) to cultivate marijuana in Canada, and much, much more.

It was an amazing experience connecting with this activist. Sister Kate is proof that one person can make a positive difference in the world. Hopefully, her efforts inspire you. Learn more by visiting the Sisters of the Valley website and Facebook page.

What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!

Agent Orange was discovered in the year 1943 by American botanist Arthur Galston. Between the years of 1962 and 1971, the US army “showered” the deadly chemical over Southern Vietnam as part of the military operation “Ranch Hand”, or “Trail Dust.” In total, more than 20 million gallons of Agent Orange was used. Sadly, Agent Orange did more than contribute to the deforestation of vast areas of land. It also contaminated air, water, and food sources.

History Rundown reports that in high concentrations, dioxin can trigger severe inflammation of the skin, lungs and mucous tissues. Sometimes, the toxicity can result in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary edema, and even death. The highly effective carcinogen is also known to affect the eyes, liver, and kidneys, and to cause laryngeal and lung cancer.

As a result of using Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, more than 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and at least 500,000 children were born with mild to severe birth defects. Additionally, 5 million acres of forests and millions more of farmland were destroyed. Agent Orange is said to have killed 10 times more people than all chemical weapons combined.

Because the United States didn’t “technically” violate international laws, as it signed defense treaties with Southern Vietnam’s government and its actions (for the most part) were in line with the defense treaties, there was no reprimand for using Agent Orange as a chemical weapon during the war. That doesn’t mean hundreds of thousands didn’t suffer — or continue to today.

Today, many Agent Orange victims live in Peace Villages, communities where workers care for them and try to give them a normal life. However, “normal” will never truly be possible for most, as mutations caused by Agent Orange still affect the people and the children of Vietnam.

As AllThatIsInteresting reports, those who can live in Peace Village are luckier than some of their siblings. Reportedly, some victims of the chemical agent are too deformed to even survive childbirth.

“There is a room at the hospital which contains the preserved bodies of about 150 hideously deformed babies, born dead to their mothers,” one charity worker said. “Some have two heads; some have unbelievably deformed bodies and twisted limbs. They are kept as a record of the terrible consequences of chemical weaponry.”

Veterans who served in the Vietnam war, as well, returned to US soil reporting unusually high rates of lymphoma, leukemia, and cancer. The rates were highest among those who worked with Agent Orange directly.

Following are 24 haunting images from the war crime the US got away with:

1) Three planes fly over Vietnam releasing chemicals.

2) Le Van O., a 14-year-old boy who was born without eyes because of the effects of Agent Orange.

3) An aerial photograph showing the effects of Agent Orange. The land on the left hasn’t been sprayed while the land on the right has.

4) Not all of the chemicals were sprayed from above. These soldiers are spraying crops from atop a vehicle, getting up close and personal with the dangerous chemicals.

5) A ten-year-old girl born without arms writes in her schoolbook.

6) A five-year-old boy, born blind and mute because of Agent Orange poisoning, sits at the barred window of an orphanage.

7) Soldiers down below help spray Agent Orange on the jungle, getting a dangerous dose of the chemicals all over their skins in the process.

8) 55-year-old Kan Lay holds her 14-year-old son, born with severe physical disabilities because of Agent Orange.

9) Tran Thi Nghien bathes her handicapped daughter, an Agent Orange victim who is incapable of bathing herself.

10) Hoang Duc Mui, a Vietnamese veteran, speaks to American veterans during a visit to Friendship Village, Hanoi’s shelter for Agent Orange victims.

11) A soldier, after spraying the land with Agent Orange, tries to wash himself clean in some of the very waters that he had helped pollute.

12) An American veteran shows the long rashes across his arms that he developed from working with Agent Orange. Under his clothes, the rashes cover half of his body.

13) A helicopter sprays Agent Orange.

14) Lt. Kathleen Glover comforts an orphaned Vietnamese child.

15) A man begs for money outside of a cathedral. He was born with a deformed arm because of Agent Orange, and it makes it nearly impossible for him to find work.

16) A group of American planes fly over top of the jungles and release chemicals meant to kill the trees underneath

17) A child born without eyes lies in bed at an orphanage that takes care of 125 children, all born with disabilities because of Agent Orange.

18) A helicopter sprays Agent Orange on Vietnamese farmland.

19) Nguyen Xuan Minh, a four-year child born with severe deformities because of Agent Orange.

20) A massive stack of 55-gallon drums full of Agent Orange waits to be poured over the people of Vietnam.

21) Nguyen The Hong Van, a 13-year-old girl who was born with skin disorders and a mental handicap. She grew up near a site where the army stored Agent Orange.

22) Military personnel demonstrate how to handle an Agent Orange leak, apparently growing increasingly aware of how dangerous the chemical they’d been using really is.

23) Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong poses for a photo with the handicapped children under her care. Every one of them was born with a defect caused by Agent Orange.

24) The third-generation child of an Agent Orange victim. Despite the generations between him and the Vietnam War, this boy still feels the effects and lives in a special village for Agent Orange victims.

Compared to Hurricane Harvey which “parked” in one place, Irma is “a whirling dervish” that has great potential to wreak havoc on Florida and Cuba over the weekend. Reportedly, Irma destroyed “95 percent” of Saint Martin, Barbuda, and the British Virgin Islands. Millions of people are now left without access to water, electricity or phone service. And, at least 10 are dead.

Because of Irma’s strength, a Hurricane Watch is in effect in the Bahamas, Cuba and the state of Florida. In the Florida Keys and low-lying parts of Miami-Dade County, officials have announced mandatory evacuation orders. Schools are closed, shelters have been set up, and 7,000 members of the National Guard will deploy to the region today.

Hurricane Irma is not the only natural disaster to be wary of. A new hurricane, dubbed Jose, recently strengthened to an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm. According to the National Hurricane Center, Jose has sustained winds up to 150 mph.

Philip Klotzbach of Colorado State University said this is the first time on record that two hurricanes with 150-plus mph winds are in the Atlantic ocean at the same time. Perhaps now people will acknowledge the stark reality of climate change and adopt sustainable habits to prevent future events from worsening.

Following are 45+ harrowing images of the destruction Irma has already caused:

#1 People Evacuating Their Chickens From The Florida Keys

#2 Paraquita Bay (Before And After Irma Damage)

#3 Popular Ivan’s Stress-Free Bar On Jost Van Dyke In The British Virgin Islands (Before And After Irma Damage)

#4 Beach Plaza Hotel In St Martin (Before And After Irma Damage)

#5 Dogs Take Refuge From The Rain As Hurricane Irma Makes Its Entry Into Samana, Dominican Republic, On Thursday

#6 Wind Swept Cars Are Piled On Top Of One Another In Marigot, Saint Martin, After The Passage Of Hurricane Irma

#7 Strange Scene Along The Coast Of Saint Martin After Roofs Were Torn Off Houses And Blown Off In To The Streets

#8 Aftermath From Hurricane Irma In Puerto Rico

#9 Smoke Rises From A Fire Amid Debris And Damaged Buildings In Marigot, Near The Bay Of Nettle, On The French Island Of Saint Martin On Wednesday

#10 Popular Honky Tonk Bar In Philipsburg St Martin (Before And After Irma Damage)

#11 The Hotel Mercure In Marigot, Saint Martin, Is Left In Ruins Following An Impact From Hurricane Irma

#12 Rescue Staff From The Municipal Emergency Management Agency Investigate An Empty Flooded Car During The Passage Of Hurricane Irma Through The Northeastern Part Of The Island In Fajardo, Puerto Rico

#13 A Woman Looks At Empty Shelves That Are Normally Filled With Bottles Of Water After Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello Declared A State Of Emergency In San Juan, Puerto Rico

#14 Luxury Yachts Were Destroyed And Sunk As Huge Waves Battered The Coast Of St Martin Overnight

#15 Broken Palm Trees On The Beach Of The Hotel Mercure In Marigot, Saint Martin

#16 The Aftermath Of Hurricane Irma On Saint Martin

#17 Aerial Photograph Taken And Released By The Dutch Department Of Defense On Wednesday Reveals The Damage Of Hurricane Irma On The Princess Juliana International Airport And Simpson Bay Beach On The Dutch Caribbean Territory Of Sint Maarten

#18 An Employee From An Electrical Company Works To Remove A Tree Felled By Hurricane Irma, In Sanchez, Dominican Republic, On Thursday

#19 Irma Ruined These Vehicles In St. Thomas

#20 Debris Is Seen During A Storm Surge Near The Puerto Chico Harbor In Fajardo, Puerto Rico

#21 Car Was Left Overturned After Hurricane Irma Devastated  St Martin

#22 Damaged Cars Are Seen On A St. Martin Beach

#23 The Flooding In St Martin

#24 An Aerial Photograph Taken And Released By The Dutch Department Of Defense On Wednesday Shows The Damage Of Hurricane Irma In Philipsburg On The Dutch Caribbean Territory Of Sint Maarten

#25 Princess Juliana Airport (Before And After Irma Damage)

#26 People Pick Up Debris As Hurricane Irma Howls Past In Fajardo, Puerto Rico, On Wednesday

#27 A Damaged Home In Marigot, Saint Martin, Is Left Filled With Sand After The Passage Of Hurricane Irma

#28 The Interior Of A Home In Marigot, Saint Martin, Is Left Filled With Sand Following The Passage Of Hurricane Irma

#29 A Man Walks Among Debris As Hurricane Irma Moves Off The Northern Coast Of The Dominican Republic, In Nagua

#30 A Woman Pulls A Travel Case On A Road In The Aftermath Of Hurricane Irma In Fajardo, Puerto Rico

#31 A Woman Pushes Out Floodwaters On Her Property After The Passing Of Hurricane Irma, In St. John’s, Antigua

#32 Piles Of Debris And A Boat Are Washed Up Onto Shore In Marigot, Saint Martin, After The Passage Of Hurricane Irma

#33 Cars Were Crushed By Flying Debris And Roofs Were Torn Off Houses On Saint Martin As The Storms Hit

#34 A Man Rests On A Cot Inside A Shelter Set Up At The Berta Zalduondo Elementary School During The Passage Of Hurricane Irma In Fajardo, Puerto Rico

#35 Shoppers Wait In Line For The Arrival Of A Shipment Of Water During Preparations For The Impending Arrival Of Hurricane Irma In Altamonte Springs, Fla.

#36 A Car Is Left Turned Onto Its Side From Hurricane Winds In Marigot, Saint Martin, On Wednesday

#37 Waves Crash Against A Seawall As Hurricane Irma Slams Fajardo, Puerto Rico, On Wednesday

#38 An Aerial Photograph Taken And Released By The Dutch Department Of Defense On Wednesday Shows The Damage Of Hurricane Irma On The Dutch Caribbean Island Of Sint Maarten

#39 An Aerial Photograph Taken And Released By The Dutch Department Of Defense On Wednesday Shows The Damage Of Hurricane Irma In Philipsburg, Saint Maarten

#40 Palm Trees Buckle Under Winds And Rain As Hurricane Irma Slammed Across Islands In The Northern Caribbean In Fajardo, Puerto Rico

#41 Dolphin Discovery Attraction On Tortola In The Virgin Islands (Before And After Irma Damage)

#42 A House Reduced To Rubble On The French-administered Territory Of St Bart, After The Passage Of Hurricane Irma

#43 The Grand Case Beach Club In St. Martin After Hurricane Irma

#44 Locals Walk Through The Ruins Of A Harbor Area On The Island Of Saint Martin After The Hurricane Left It In Ruins

#45 A Lone Police Car On Patrol During The Passing Of Hurricane Irma On September 6, 2017 In Fajardo, Puerto Rico

#46 Members Of The Civil Defence Run As Hurricane Irma Howls Past Puerto Rico

#47 A Man Carrying An Umbrella Walks Down A Street In Puerto Rico

#48 Families Gather At A Shelter In A Local Church During The Evening Before The Arrival Of Hurricane Irma In Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

#49 Wreckage In A Street Of Gustavia In Saint-barthelemy In The Caribbean

#50 Cars Are Left Piled On Top Of One Another At The Hotel Mercure In Marigot, Saint Martin

h/t Bored Panda