Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social

Can't miss my annual Halloween post! This year my son requested Luigi from Luigi's Mansion. Work and life have been hectic, but managed to create a Poltergust 3000 that doubled as his candy bag.

November 1, 2025 at 3:49 AM

Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social

Millennial gamers at Costco

March 20, 2025 at 10:52 PM

Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social

Decorate a block for the baby......

Me: Say no more

March 16, 2025 at 8:08 PM

Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social

Anyone have a girl scout cookie link that sells these smore cookies?

March 2, 2025 at 8:32 PM

Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social

Back home from MagicCon Chicago.

As always it was an amazing weekend! Will share the few photos I have later.

Thank you to everyone who made the weekend great!

February 24, 2025 at 5:49 PM

Reposted by Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

ZBexx

@zbexx.art

Presenting: Chandra Carpenter 🔥 & Serra Lavigne ✨ your Planeswalker Popstar Princesses 👑

With @mythicmikaela.bsky.social

#planeswalkers #mtgcommunity #cosplaymashup #sabrinacarpenter #avrillavigne #popstar #heartcutout #mcchicago

February 22, 2025 at 3:46 PM

Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social

I'll be in Creator Central today with @birdsofmtg.com for some games!

February 22, 2025 at 4:37 PM

Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social

🎶That's that me Inferno🎶

Chandra Carpenter look today for day 1 of MagicCon Chicago

February 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM

Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social

First Chicago stop before #mcchicago

Found an appropriate pinball machine

February 20, 2025 at 10:05 PM

Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social

So excited to bring another cosplay panel to MagicCon Friday at 1pm!

Hope to see many of you there!

February 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM

Reposted by Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

Air Bubbles Cosplay

@airbubbles.bsky.social

On your mark, get set… RACE!

Who knew Marchesa drove around in style 🤣

The hips plate make her more aerodynamic

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social
#mtgcosplay #mtgaetherdrift #cosplay

February 3, 2025 at 9:31 PM

Reposted by Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

Van Quigg Cosplay

@vanquiggcosplay.bsky.social

So ready to get back to Chicago!! So close!!! #mcchicago
@creativekitty.bsky.social @mythicmikaela.bsky.social

February 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM

Reposted by Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

Zabracus

@zabracus.bsky.social

Another thing to look forward to at MagicCon Chicago!

I’ll be cohosting a Cosplay panel with the wonderful @airbubbles.bsky.social @magicmishamigo.bsky.social and @mythicmikaela.bsky.social

Join us Fri Feb 21 from 1-2pm to chat about the million different ways you can cosplay! #MtGFestivals

January 29, 2025 at 9:22 PM

Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social

Who has fancy-ish Chicago restaurant recommendations?

January 21, 2025 at 9:30 PM

Reposted by Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

Haiyue 😈🌹

@niphette.bsky.social

Hi everyone.

What I want you to take away from the VML news today isn’t disappointment, or anger, or despair.

It’s that ordinary people actually do have the ability to make a difference.

🌹

I have a multitude of deeply painful feelings about the VML coming to an end, which I know many of you share.

But what I want you all to take away from today isn’t disappointment, anger, or despair. If the VML has meant something to you, I want you to take this away: that ordinary people actually do have the power to change the world. Every single one of us has a sphere of influence, and we can actively make that sphere better.

It’s relatively easy for most people to see problems within their communities. It’s easy and natural to be angry about these issues, and to wish for something better. What’s harder is to understand what the root causes of issues are, where the pivot points lie, and to actually take action in an efficient way that has real effects.

It was also hard for us when we started out to see the path to our desired goal: a world in which you don’t even have to think about gender barriers in our community. A world in which there is no need for the VML to exist.

So we started with first principles. This was just before the pandemic, when the spectres of “special invites” to Mythic Championships, sexual abuse scandals, and the demise of Play it Forward were still hovering over the competitive space. Fundamentally, we took it to be true that:

- Cis men do not have a monopoly on talent or enthusiasm for Magic.
- People of marginalised genders face bigger barriers at every stage of engaging with Magic, from the first time we pick up a deck right up to the Top 8 of the PT.
- Creating a space where people are able to play with no barriers will bring out the best in them.
- Long-term engagement with Magic depends on support networks and validation.

It sounds obvious now, but there were doubts and attacks on us from the start. This is always the case when you propose something that doesn’t exist yet - it’s easy to see problems, but hard to envision a different reality.

Step by step, little by little, we figured out how to start filling the gaps of what was lacking. We made professional, high-level coverage that effectively showcased how talented our players were. We talked Wizards into Set Championship invites. We gave people who couldn’t access regular events the opportunity to compete. And we created mentorship and testing team programs to help people learn to build the support networks that would carry over into mainstream events.

I’m not going to pretend it wasn’t hard. Every step, every detail was difficult. We also made many mistakes along the way. But through the dedication of our team members, and by being smart about which battles we fought and how we used our energy, we actually managed to achieve some of what we set out to do. The VML wasn’t started by people who were particularly established or rich or well-known, but we managed to see results far beyond what we thought possible.

And even in this world, against the backdrop of everything that is happening in the US and around the world, you are also capable of participating in change. It starts small - perhaps with just a few people, perhaps so small that it’s deep within your heart.

My friends, reject helplessness. Find connection with each other. Start building the world you want to live in, brick by fucking brick.

Love and solidarity always
HY

January 20, 2025 at 9:55 PM

Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social

💔

Sad to see it end.

The community is in a better place in part and it was amazing to see the VML grow from a small league to capping quickly every season.

Thank you to everyone who put in the work over the years ❤️

VML @vmlmtg.bsky.social · Jan 20

We are sad to announce that we have been told by Wizards that they will no longer support us with either funding or invites to Organized Play events.

Without this support - especially the invites - it is impossible for us to continue, and there will be no more VML seasons going forward.

We are sad to announce that we have been told by Wizards that they will no longer support the VML program with either funding or invites to Organized Play events.

Without this support - especially the invites - it is impossible for the league to continue, and there will be no more VML seasons going forward.

Over the past five years, we’ve radically changed competitive Magic for the better. When we started the program with 26 players back in Season 1, we never thought that we would end up having served hundreds of competitors and with over a thousand people in our community. We have sent cohorts of people to the Set Championships, Regional Championships, and Pro Tour. As a result of our program, representation of people of marginalized genders at the highest levels of play has multiplied from a handful at each event to over twenty who will play at PT Chicago. Several of our team members and players have gone on to be hired to work at Wizards.

We are also proud of the change we’ve created in the broader sense. The Magic community is a much more diverse, vibrant, and inclusive place than it was five years ago. The gender balance at in-person events has improved significantly, and the overall image of the game has changed for the better. We don’t claim to have caused all of that, but we are happy knowing our efforts have played a part.

We want to thank all the organizations who have worked with us and supported the cause: Good Luck High Five, Lodestone Coffee, NRG, Team Arclight, MTG Melee, BOP!, and the many wonderful creators, personalities, and players who have contributed.

To everyone who has been a part of the team here: you have all been brilliant, and without your passion and dedication we would not have made it this far. Every single one of you has gone above and beyond, giving your time and effort generously to the program and you should be extremely proud of yourselves.

Finally, to our awesome community: we’re sorry that we couldn’t keep this projec…

January 20, 2025 at 7:20 PM

Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social

Last year @inklincustoms.bsky.social beyond exceeded expectations creating a custom token last year. Highly recommend!

InklinCustoms 🔜 #NRGLAN @inklincustoms.bsky.social · Dec 16

Are you looking for a fun hand out at #MagicConChicago?! How about a custom token. I have two packages. They both include the digital artwork and 100 printed tokens. I can put all your info on the back. Let me know if you have any questions. DM or email at inklincustoms@gmail.com

December 16, 2024 at 10:10 PM

Reposted by Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

Nile (like the river)

@nilejoan.com

If you have any positive thoughts or experiences with this playspace, please share them 💚

The testimonials could prove very helpful

VML @vmlmtg.bsky.social · Dec 11

Unfortunately we have been told that there will not be space for us to have our Safe Playspace at future MagicCons. :(

December 12, 2024 at 1:49 AM

Mythic Mikaela - MTG Cosplayer

@mythicmikaela.bsky.social

Sometimes I can be super extra with gift ideas.

This year I started off with the idea of designing a 25 day Lego build. I ended up adding on making a Christmas Tree advent calendar to hold each days instructions and pieces.

And of course making just one wasn't enough.