The Feral Fairy Almanac

Leslea TashLeave a comment

open.substack.com/pub/feralfairyalmanac/p/feral-fairy-forecast

Cocktails & Caftans!

Leslea TashLeave a comment

Cliffhangers & Cocktails by the Caftan Coven

I was privileged to be interviewed by these two wacky writer witches, and it was pure joy. Go and check out their podcast! I reckon it’s on YouTube, too…

Top 5 Iconic Movies of the 1980s That Defined a Generation

Tim TashLeave a comment

The 1980s were a golden era for cinema, producing films that have stood the test of time. Of course I’m a little biased and yet these movies not only captivated audiences then but continue to influence pop culture today. Let’s take a nostalgic journey through the top 5 iconic movies of the 1980s.

1. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace

A young boy befriends a gentle alien stranded on Earth, leading to an unforgettable adventure. Spielberg’s masterpiece captures the essence of childhood wonder and the longing for connection. This movie didn’t pull any punches, there wasn’t a dry seat in the house when this movie played. It was the must see movie that summer.

Why It’s Iconic:

  • Became the highest-grossing film of the decade
  • Introduced the iconic phrase: “E.T. phone home”
  • Boosted the popularity of Reese’s Pieces

Legacy: Continues to be a beloved family film, inspiring generations of filmmakers.

🎥 Watch the Trailer:


📺 Stream Now:

2. Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson

Marty McFly travels back in time in a DeLorean, altering the course of his family’s history. This sci-fi comedy blends humor, adventure, and time-travel in a way that’s still unmatched. This movie had it all. Time Travel, a main character that everyone could identify with, and who wouldn’t want to drive the DeLorean into the future.

Why It’s Iconic:

  • Seamlessly combined time travel, teen drama, and comedy
  • Popularized the phrase “Great Scott!” and hoverboard dreams
  • Spawned a trilogy that became cult classics

Legacy: A fan-favorite that still screens in theaters and film festivals today.

🎥 Watch the Trailer:


📺 Stream Now:

3. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Director: Irvin Kershner
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher

The second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, this film deepens the saga with darker themes and one of cinema’s most shocking revelations. This movie was dark for it’s time, and the plot twist had everyone talking. This was before it was considered polite not to blurt out spoilers – after opening weekend that little secret was being talked about everywhere.

Why It’s Iconic:

  • Introduced “I am your father”—arguably the most famous movie line ever
  • Expanded the Star Wars universe with complex storytelling
  • Elevated sci-fi into serious film territory

Legacy: Consistently ranked as the greatest Star Wars film and a blueprint for sequels.

🎥 Watch the Trailer:


📺 Stream Now:

4. The Breakfast Club (1985)

Director: John Hughes
Starring: Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson

Five high school students from different cliques spend a Saturday in detention, discovering they have more in common than they thought.

Why It’s Iconic:

  • Gave voice to the teen generation with an authentic, raw tone
  • Featured the unforgettable “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” soundtrack
  • Pushed the boundaries of what teen films could achieve

Legacy: A defining piece of 80s youth culture and required viewing in film studies.

🎥 Watch the Trailer:


📺 Stream Now:

5. Ghostbusters (1984)

Director: Ivan Reitman
Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver

A team of parapsychologists starts a ghost-catching business in New York City, leading to hilarious and spooky adventures.

Why It’s Iconic:

  • Delivered blockbuster thrills with a comedic twist
  • Generated a massive franchise (cartoons, merch, sequels)
  • Made proton packs, Slimer, and Stay Puft pop culture staples

Legacy: Still spawning reboots and merchandise 40 years later.

🎥 Watch the Trailer:


📺 Stream Now:

🎥 Final Thoughts

The 1980s weren’t just about big hair and boomboxes—they were a golden age for cinema. These five films not only broke box office records but also left an indelible mark on pop culture. Whether it’s time travel, teen drama, or battling ghosts, the spirit of 80s filmmaking still echoes in today’s blockbusters.

Which of these 80s movies do you still watch on repeat? Or did we miss one that totally rocked your childhood? Drop it in the comments below 👇

10 Must-Have Templates for Obsidian Users

Tim TashLeave a comment

“Templates turned my chaotic vault into a well-oiled knowledge machine!”

Once you start using templates in Obsidian, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them. They save time, keep your notes consistent, and help you focus on what matters: your ideas.

Here are 10 essential templates that every Obsidian user should consider adding to their vault.

1. Daily Journal Template

Track moods, goals, and reflections daily with a consistent format.

# Daily Journal - {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}}

## Morning - Mood: ##Top 3 goals: ## Evening - Wins: - Lessons learned: #tags #journal #daily

2. Meeting Notes Template

Stay organized during meetings by noting attendees, agenda, and action items.

# Meeting Notes - {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}} **Attendees:** **Agenda:** --- ## Notes --- ## Action Items - [ ] #tags #meeting #work

3. Project Overview Template

Keep track of project goals, milestones, and resources in one place.

# Project: {{title}} ## Overview ## Goals ## Milestones ## Resources #tags #project

4. Book Notes Template

Capture summaries, key takeaways, and favorite quotes while reading.

# Book Notes: {{title}} **Author:** **Summary:** --- ## Key Takeaways --- ## Quotes #tags #booknotes #reading

5. Idea Capture Template

Quickly jot down ideas with context and priority.

# Idea: {{title}} **Description:** **Category:** **Priority:** #tags #idea

6. Weekly Review Template

Reflect on your week’s progress, challenges, and plan ahead.

# Weekly Review - Week {{date:WW}}, {{date:YYYY}} ## Wins ## Challenges ## Focus for next week #tags #review #weekly

7. Task List Template

Organize your to-dos with priority and deadlines.

# Task List - {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}} - [ ] Task 1 - Due: - [ ] Task 2 - Due: #tags #tasks

8. Research Notes Template

Structure research findings clearly with sources and summaries.

# Research: {{title}} **Source:** **Summary:** **Key Points:** #tags #research

9. Meeting Follow-Up Template

Document post-meeting thoughts, decisions, and next steps.

# Meeting Follow-Up - {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}} **Decisions Made:** **Next Steps:** #tags #meeting #followup

10. Content Planning Template

Plan blog posts, videos, or other content with outlines and deadlines.

# Content Plan: {{title}} **Type:** (Blog, Video, Podcast) **Outline:** **Deadline:** #tags #content #planning

Conclusion

These 10 templates cover a wide range of use cases and will help you build a solid foundation in Obsidian. Customize them to your needs, and watch your productivity soar!

💬 Which templates do you use most? Got any favorites to share? Drop them in the comments!

How to Create and Use Templates in Obsidian

Tim TashLeave a comment

“Templates transformed the way I work in Obsidian — no more starting from scratch every time!”

If you’re like me, sometimes starting a new note feels like a blank page stare-down. Where do I even begin? That’s where templates come in — reusable note structures that save time and keep your vault consistent.

Let me walk you through how to create templates in Obsidian and ways to use them that’ll make your note-taking flow effortlessly.

Why Use Templates?

Templates let you:

  • Standardize note formats (journals, meeting notes, projects)
  • Quickly insert repeated info like headers, tags, or prompts
  • Keep consistency in structure and style across your vault
  • Save tons of time so you focus on content, not formatting

How to Set Up Templates in Obsidian

1. Enable the Templates Plugin

Go to Settings > Core Plugins and enable Templates.

2. Create a Templates Folder

Make a folder named Templates or anything you like in your vault.

3. Create Your Template Notes

Inside this folder, create notes with the structure and placeholders you want to reuse.

Example:

# Daily Journal - {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}}

## Morning Thoughts -

Mood: -

Goals for today:

## Evening Reflection -

Wins: -

Challenges:

#tags #journal #daily

4. Configure Template Folder in Settings

Under Settings > Templates, set the folder location for your templates.

5. Use Templates in Notes

In any note, press Ctrl+P (or Command+P) to open the command palette and search for “Insert template.” Pick the template you want, and Obsidian will insert it with placeholders filled automatically.

Popular Templates to Start With

  • Daily Notes — journaling prompts, mood tracking, task lists
  • Meeting Notes — attendees, agenda, action items
  • Project Templates — overview, goals, milestones, resources
  • Book Notes — author, summary, key takeaways, quotes
  • Idea Capture — quick note format with tags and priority

Using Template Placeholders

Obsidian templates support dynamic placeholders:

  • {{date}} — inserts current date
  • {{time}} — inserts current time
  • {{title}} — inserts current note’s title
  • Custom date formatting like {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}}

Using placeholders automates repetitive tasks so you don’t have to type the same info daily.

Tips for Template Mastery

  • Keep your templates simple and adaptable — you can always customize after insertion.
  • Use tags in templates to keep notes organized automatically.
  • Combine templates with daily notes plugin for routine journaling or planning.
  • Explore community plugins like Templater for advanced scripting and automation.
  • Regularly update templates as your workflows evolve.

Conclusion

Templates are like your note-taking shortcuts, making Obsidian faster and more consistent. Whether you journal, plan projects, or capture ideas, setting up just a few templates can save you hours.

Try creating your first template today — I promise it’ll be a game-changer.

💬 What’s your favorite template to use in Obsidian? Any cool hacks? Share below!