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I definitely did not put ford there bc I’m an egotistical asshole. Also I need to learn how to draw a triangle hotter

through hardship, to the Stars!

On the first pages of Journal 3, just beneath the Vol. 3 label, Stanford Pines writes a Latin phrase: Ad astra per aspera!

[Image description: Cursive writing from Journal 3 reading: “Ad astra per aspera!”]

Oftentimes also written as per aspera ad astra, it’s most frequently translated as “through hardship, to the stars.”

Because we can see it the phrase written in Journal 3 when it’s found in Tourist Trapped, we can probably assume that Ford wrote it before falling into the portal, rather than after returning in 2012 (thanks for pointing this out, @eregyrn-falls!) But I think there’s a few different potential meanings of “the stars” that can fit into Ford’s story, corresponding to a few different points in his life.

To me, the thing that stars initally evoke most is the idea of the multiverse, the knowledge and the answers that Bill promised would be found beyond the portal. And in the same vein, reaching the stars can also be a metaphor for fame and success, not unlike Ford’s desire to make revolutionary advances in science, to be counted among the ranks of Newton, Einstein, and others.

It also makes for a parallel to the running Icarus theme in the journal, the theme of someone flying too high out of hubris — either towards the sun, or towards the stars — and tragically plummeting back down, ending up far, far worse than where he started from.

If we imagine Ford writing that line in the journal as struggles with the Grand Unified Theory of Weirdness and builds the portal, it’s painfully ironic. He’s so focused on the stars that are starting to seem within his grasp, so proud of overcoming the hardships and (perceived) betrayals of his upbringing, that he fails to see Bill’s treachery for what it is, that he aims too high and falls as a result.

But that’s a rather depressing take on what’s meant to be an inspiring phrase. So I’ve always liked to look at it another way:

“The stars” are set up as opposed to the “hardship” — they are the happy ending that awaits when the conflict is resolved, when the evil is defeated. They’re Stan and Ford’s childhood dream; they’re freedom from Bill.

Although… there might be another level of symbolism present, too.

[First image: Dipper pulling his hair up to reveal his birthmark in Double Dipper. Second image: Mabel floating in front of the portal in Not What He Seems.]

The Big Dipper and the Shooting Star. Ford’s family has a star motif.

For thirty years, Ford was alone, wandering the multiverse in a quest to defeat Bill. After finally returning to Gravity Falls, it wasn’t just Bill’s defeat that changed his life — it was also him learning to have a family again, to trust people again.

“From hardship, to family.” That’s a huge part of what Ford’s arc, and Gravity Falls as a whole, are about.

A family game

What if…

friends I need to find the comic strip where Stan tells Ford about the broken science fair project and Ford fixes it and the two were on good terms again, but towards the end it turns out to be Stan dreaming in his Stanmobile 😭

Someone help 😭

PLZ GO READ IT A TRUE MASTERPIECE

so Bill had read Statement Abnegation if you had't read it then GO AND DO IT RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW I'M SAYING- also ford had read it too.

happy mcgucket monday

This is literally them irl wdym

Square root of two

Heard this fandom likes ::checks notes:: code

Eng

Rus

Pt3>>Pt2

originally posted 2015-2016. stan and ford i made for the wayfaring strangers zine, and fids was for a zine i dont think ever ended up happening.

here they are all together! ⚠️

so glad to be fixated on this show again. 2017 me going craaazy

Do do do do do do do STEVE

Silly thing I made xD it really fits them three

our home in the past, present, and future. 🌲

individual under cut

Im rewatching gravity falls right now and this specific shot absolutely breaks my heart.

fiddleford in that old abandoned church that's collapsing on itself. the gaping black hole in the middle of it. the overgrown ivy. the stained glass above him, clearly once beautiul, now shattered and missing pieces.

man. it's a lot.

When the guy you have been obssessed with for more than 30 years and the guy you hate more than anything in the universe have the same face

Inspired by this comic strip

The mystery trio <3

Planning to make them into stickers/charms

I will personally carry fiddleford everywhere

Bill!

divorced triangle cope core

og audio

Perler beads I made when I first watched the show (8 years ago)

some screenshot redraws

beware the IMPOSTOR