#Christian dogma exploration

[whereishermes]

Scholasticism in Medieval Paris

Scholasticism: The Gothic school of philosophy in which scholars applied Aristotle’s system of rational inquiry to interpret religious belief.  The University of Paris was the center of scholarship and teaching in the Gothic age. The professors developed Scholasticism, a philosophy that sought to prove the Christian faith using Aristotle’s reasoning. Thomas Aquinas was the greatest advocate and…

[taking-thyme]

🌅 Lucifer Deity Guide 🌅

Note: This is inspired by both my own experiences with Lucifer and the information I read on @scarletarosa's blog and her devotional guide to him. Please go read that one too!!

The divine rebel, Lucifer is the light of truth and divine wisdom; an ancient light which shines through the darkness, representing illumination. He is the driving force of innovation, liberation and transformation. According to Scarletarosa, who actively works with Lucifer and was told this by him, he was the first-born god of the Universe created by the supreme deity, the Source. He is so incredibly ancient and beautiful. Lilith was created to be his counterpart, the Queen of Heaven. However, Jehovah took the throne of heaven from Lucifer and cast him and his followers into hell. Most of them lost their connection to heaven and their energy became dark and intense. Jehovah claimed the throne of heaven and set himself up as the one true god, manipulating humans into betraying their original deities. Thus, Lucifer became the King of Hell and has been scorned by Christians for millenia. 

God of: Illumination, Light, Darkness, Change, Rebirth, Challenges, Innovation, Logic, Truth, Knowledge, Wisdom, Strategy, Persuasion, Revolution, Luxury, Pleasure, Freedom, The Arts and The Morning Star (“Morning Star” is another name for the planet Venus)

Symbols: Sigil of Lucifer, The Morning Star, Violins and Fiddles (instruments traditionally associated with him)

Plants and Trees: Rose, Belladonna, Mulberry, Patchouli, Myrrh, Min, Tobacco, Marigold, Lilies, Hyacinth, Sage

Crystals: Amethyst, Black Obsidian, Onyx, Garnet, Selenite, Rose Quartz

Animals: Black Animals in general, Dragons, Snakes, Owls, Eagles, Ravens, Crows, Rams, Foxes, Pigs,  Bats, Rats, Moths, Swans

Incense: Rose, Frankincense, Patchouli, Myrrh

Colors: Black, Red, Silver, Emerald Green, Gold

Tarot: The Devil

Planets: The Morning Star, Venus

Day: Monday and Friday

Consort: Lilith

Children: Naema, Aetherea and many others

How was he traditionally worshipped?

There is not much to say about how Lucifer was historically worshiped seeing as he wasn’t worshiped at all for a large chunk of human history. He seems to have been worked with in some capacity according to the Gesta Treverorum, written in 1231, which is where we first see the term Luciferian being used to refer to his worship. This was by a woman named Lucardis for a religious circle, who was said to lament to Lucifer in private and prayed to him. However, the term Luciferians was later applied to basically any groups Christians didn’t like and wanted to fight, as one might expect. However, the modern Luciferian movement also sheds light on how Lucifer is worshiped. For Luciferians, enlightenment is the ultimate goal. Their basic principles highlight truth, freedom of will and fulfilling one’s ultimate potential, and encourage the same in all of us. Traditional dogma is shunned because Luciferians believe that humans do not need deities or the threat of eternal punishment to know what is good and the right thing to do. All ideas are to be tested before being accepted, and even then one should remain critical because knowledge is fluid and ever-changing. Regardless of whether Luciferians view Lucifer as a deity or an archetype, he is a representation of ultimate illumination and exploration in the name of personal growth. 

Epithets

Phanes

The Morning Star

Light-bringer

The First-born

Prince of Darkness

Son of Morning

The Glory of Morning

Lord of the Lunar Sphere

The First Light

Offerings

Red Wine, Whiskey (especially Jack Daniels), Champagne, Pomegranate Juice, Black Tea (especially earl grey), Chocolate (especially dark chocolate), Cooked Goat Meat, Venison, Apples, Pomegranates, Honey, Good Quality Cigars, Tobacco, Daggers and Swords, Silver Rings, Emeralds and Emerald Jewelry, Goat Horns, Black Feathers, Seductive Colognes, Red Roses, Dead Roses, Crow Skulls, Bone Dice, Devotional Poetry and Artwork, Classical Music (especially violin)

Devotional Acts

Acts of self-improvement, spiritual awakening and evolution, knowledge-seeking and dedication to spirituality ; Shadow Work ; Working to overcome your ego to become wiser ; Defending those in need ; Working to better yourself without being too self critical ; Fighting against tyranny and bigotry whenever you encounter it

Altar Decorations

Black or Red Candles, Snake and Dragon Figurines, His sigil, Roses, Fancy Chess Boards and Playing Cards, Silver Jewlery and ornaments, Black feathers, Goat horns

Appearance

For me Lucifer usually appears as a tall light-skinned man with long fiery red hair (so red it looks like it’s been dyed), a sophisticated face with a killer jawline, passionate eyes and dressed in a fancy black suit. From all my experiences with him and what I’ve heard from other followers, it seems Lucifer and most demons dress in full suits and tuxedos. 

Personality

Lucifer is nothing if not charming. He’s a protector first and foremost - one that always works to help you better yourself, but a protector nonetheless. He feels like a protective older brother taking care of you while your parents are away. He is a very complex entity, deeply wise and eloquent. He is more serious than one might expect for a demon given their popular depictions in our culture as chaotic forces of evil, but Lucifer is full of courage and love. I often feel him with me even when I’m not doing things related to him. He is proud of his follower’s accomplishments and congratulates them on a job well done, though he also reminds them that the job is never truly over. Growth is constant. Lucifer is the epitome of growth, blunt and gentle at the same time, telling you what you need to do and giving you space to figure out how to do it. 

Lucifer values resilience, the pursuit of self-betterment, intellectualism, courage, open-mindedness and responsibility in individuals and wants to see his followers develop these qualities. He is constantly rooting for you to reach your full potential. He won’t hold your hand the entire way, but he will help you take steps in the right direction. Lucifer, like all deities, is different for everyone and will adjust his approach depending on your needs.

^ The Sigil of Lucifer

[ladyloveandjustice]

My Favorite Books I Read in 2023

I read a ton of good novels last year- 36 in all (and uh, 78 manga/graphic novels, but we'll examine that in another post). Here's a link to my Goodreads year in books (the manga is at the beginning, the novels start with Siren Queen) and my storygraph wrap up.  

I reread a ton of Discworld this year, and it's as spectacular as ever. But what about new reads?

Well, here are my favorite books I read in 2023!

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

This is an autobiographical memoir about the abusive relationship the author went through with her ex-girlfriend. It's absolutely gut-wrenching, and at times, achingly beautiful. Machado uses the house she shared with her girlfriend, which she calls the "dream house", as a back drop. It's a place she always wanted and also a place she became trapped in, Machado's language is beautiful as she explores the relationship from different lenses-- The Dream House as Lesbian Cult Classic, the Dream House as Noir, the Dream House as Creature Feature, the Dream House as Stoner Comedy....All facets of the relationship are explored in a way that grips you by the throat and makes you remember everyone who ever tried to suffocate you-- but it also explores the hard work of moving on, of picking up the pieces, of living and embracing tenderness along with hardship.

I especially related to Machado's struggle to talk about abuse between queer lovers because of her fears of giving homophobes more ammunition...and when she says "we deserve to have our wrongdoing represented as much as our heroism, because when we refuse wrongdoing as a possibility for a group of people, we refuse their humanity", I felt that deeply.

This wasn't just one of my favorite books this year, it goes on the list of all-time favorite books. I wish I had this kind of writing style. I'll be returning to this again and again.

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao

A middle-grade novel about a Chinese-American teen who feels a bit alienated from his heritage, which becomes a bit of an issue once he finds out the First Emperor of China has possessed his A.R. Gaming Headset. Now he needs to close a portal to the underworld with the help of other kids possessed by emporers.

This was a whole lot of fun, and often quite poignant. I was unsure if I could really enjoy middle-grade books as an adult, and this absolutely proves I can. There's a lot of really interesting Chinese history blended with action-packed fantasy, and exploration of the complicated feelings a kid can have about their own heritage . The dynamic between Zachary and Qin Shi Huang was so entertaining with the Emperor being villainous, heroic, charismatic, detestable-- and Zachary realizing how his complicated feelings about him mirror his relationship with his culture at large. There was also a lot of fun with other historical figures, and Xiran's take on Wu Zetian is a joy. (Also, if you like Yu-Gi-Oh!, you'll probably like this, since Xiran says it was one of their influences).

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

Rose is young woman who's raised in a fundamentalist Christian household, and she's a devout, obedient daughter. But some weird things are happening. She's seeing a terrifying demon everywhere, insects are coming out of her mouth....and she's possibly having feelings about other girls. What's going on?

Yes, this is by the Chuck Tingle who makes all those Tinglers. But THIS one... will make you tingle with fear! It's a great horror novel! It's skin-crawlingly creepy at times, but also does a great job digging into how fundamentalist dogma harms queer people, and the hypocrisy of such beliefs. The conversion camp aspect is handled tastefully, and overall it was a great spooky read that's also ultimately very affirming, cathartic, and hopeful.

Qualia the Purple by Hisamitsu Ueo

You might go into this thinking it's just a quirky yuri light novel about a schoolgirl and her crush who sees everyone around her as robots (like literally, when she looks at someone she sees a robot instead of a human). But it quickly becomes surreal queer psychological horror steeped in absolutely wild applications of quantum mechanics and thought-provoking time travel.  Some of the quantum mechanics  exposition dumps were a bit much but I deeply enjoyed having my mind cracked open by this book. 

It's one of the most interesting takes of time loop stories I've seen. But it definitely covers a lot of rough subject matter, including a relationship with a serious age gap and extremely messed up relationships, so be cautious if you have triggers.

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

This book follows Miri, whose wife goes missing on a deep-sea submarine mission for six months. Miri thought her wife dead, but she miraculously returns one day...but her wife has changed. She's like a stranger. She may have bought the horrors of the sea home with her.

This is a gripping exploration of grief and loss combined with a delicious, slow horror that creeps under your skin. There's excellent Lovecraftian and body horror elements to the novel, but it works very effectively as a metaphor for a loved one going through trauma, and a relationship starting to crumble because everything seems different. A moment that really stuck out to me is when Miri copes with her wife's disappearance by frequenting an online community where women roleplay as wives with husbands missing in space. The way the online drama of the community interacted with her grief was  both funny and heartbreaking. 

This is another example of a book that makes me deeply jealous with its lyrical writing, and another one for the ever-lengthening all time favorites list.

Otherside Picnic Volume 8: Accomplices No More by Iori Miyazawa

The latest entry in a series about two girls exploring an alternate dimension full of creepypasta monsters, while also falling in love with each other. See my other reviews here and here.

This volume has the payoff to a lot of careful character work and relationship building, and it was completely satisfying. In fact, it was...show-stopping. Spectacular.  Incredible. I loved the exploration of how love, sex, and romance are so different for different people and it's impossible to put it in neat boxes. The frank and messy conversation our leads have about their relationship was perfect and so was that absolutely  bonkers, wonderful finale. This is another one for the all times favorite list, and I loved it so much I wrote a extremely long review/recap here. 

Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality by Eliot Schrefer

This was a well-researched, well-crafted, easy to read book that explores queerness (mainly homosexuality, bisexuality, trans and genderfluid expressions in animals, and even the question of if and how animals can related to gender) in the animal kingdom. Though it's definitely aimed at teens, I learned a lot from it (who knew female bonobos were such life goals) and it presented its information in a fun way. It included some interesting examinations of how proof of homosexuality and bisexuality in animals was historically suppressed and filtered through homophobic assumptions. If you want to learn a little animal science in an accessible format, definitely check this out.

Night’s Edge by Liz Kerin

The story follows Mia, a woman in her 20's living with her vampire mother. Her whole life revolves around not drawing suspicion towards her Mom. She also has to make sure to feed her Mom some of her blood every night--lest her mother fall back in with her abusive boyfriend and start hunting humans.  But when Mia meets a cute girl, she starts to dream of living her own life...

It was a really interesting use of vampirism as a metaphor for both living with a parent struggling with addiction and having an abusive parent. It's just a well-told, heartwrenching tale that got deep into the character's mindsets. I thought the ending was bit abrupt and rushed, but it did make more sense once I realized this was the first in a duology. It's a fascinating take on vampires, and I'm interested in seeing more.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

This novel follows a middle-aged Muslim female pirate living around the Arabian Peninsula. She's supposed to be in retirement, but wouldn't you know it, she's lured in for one last job! I she rescues a kidnapped girl,  she'll have all the riches she needs to set her family up for life. So Amina begins her adventure of fighting demons and monsters and ex-husbands. But the job might not be all it seems.

This novel is full of all the entertaining swashbuckling action and shenanigans that any pirate story should have. It's a rollicking good time, and feeds my craving for middle aged women going on quests and kicking ass. Amina's journey is a fun, wild ride full of dynamic characters and interesting mythology!

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Juniper is friends with a successful Chinese-American author, Athena Liu, and has always been deeply jealous of her. When Athena dies in front of her, Juniper decides to steal her manuscript rooted in Chinese history and claim it as her own. But plagiarism might catch up with her...

This is a strong example of a book I thought was really well-done, but one I'm probably never going to read again. The way it depicted Twitter drama is just too accurate and I got anxiety. It did such a good job putting you in Juniper's awful shoes so you can feel the pressure close in along with her. The book's commentary on the insidious racism of the publishing industry was effective, and it made a horrible character's journey fascinating to follow. I was so intrigued yet anxious I had to force myself to finish the last few pages.

Bonus read:

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldtree

A very cute novel about an orc named Viv who decides to retire from the violent life of a bounty hunter and run a coffee shop instead. She ends up getting a lot of assistance from a succubus named Tandri...and my, is that a slow-burn coffee shop romance brewing? This book reminds me a lot of various cozy slice-of-life anime, and it's nice to be getting more of that feeling in book form. I wish there was a little more specific to the fantasy world rather than making it a coffee shop that line up 1 to 1 to a modern day shop, but it was definitely a sweet read.

[olrastrologytarot]

Lucifer & Luciferianism

Lucifer, a figure traditionally associated with rebellion, light-bringing, and the pursuit of knowledge, holds a significant place in the belief system known as Luciferianism. Unlike the portrayal of Lucifer in mainstream Christian theology, where he is often depicted as a fallen angel and embodiment of evil, Luciferianism views Lucifer in a more complex and nuanced light. This essay will explore the origins of Lucifer as a symbol, the key tenets of Luciferianism, and the role Lucifer plays within this philosophy, emphasizing the themes of enlightenment, personal empowerment, and the rejection of dogmatic authority.

Origins and Symbolism of Lucifer

The name "Lucifer" originates from the Latin term "lux" (meaning light) and "ferre" (meaning to bring), translating to "light-bringer" or "morning star." In ancient Roman mythology, Lucifer was a name given to the planet Venus when it appeared in the morning sky, symbolizing the bringer of light before dawn. This concept of Lucifer as a light-bringer later became intertwined with Christian theology, where Lucifer was reinterpreted as a rebellious angel cast out of Heaven for challenging God’s authority.

Lucifer in Christian Theology:

In the Bible, particularly in the book of Isaiah (14:12-15), Lucifer is depicted as a fallen angel who sought to ascend to the heavens and become equal to God. This act of rebellion resulted in his expulsion from Heaven and his subsequent association with Satan, the adversary. Over time, Lucifer became synonymous with the devil, symbolizing pride, defiance, and the embodiment of evil.

Reclamation of Lucifer in Esoteric Traditions:

However, in various esoteric and Gnostic traditions, Lucifer is reclaimed as a symbol of enlightenment and the quest for knowledge. In these interpretations, Lucifer represents the pursuit of truth, the challenge of oppressive systems, and the light of wisdom that guides humanity. This reinterpretation is foundational to Luciferianism, where Lucifer is seen not as an evil being, but as a symbol of individual empowerment and the search for enlightenment.

Key Tenets of Luciferianism

Luciferianism is a philosophical and spiritual belief system that venerates the qualities associated with Lucifer, such as enlightenment, personal freedom, and the pursuit of knowledge. It is not a religion in the traditional sense but rather a path that encourages individuals to seek their own truth and cultivate their inner strength.

Enlightenment and Knowledge:

At the core of Luciferianism is the pursuit of enlightenment and knowledge. Followers of this path view Lucifer as a symbol of the light of reason and intellect, guiding them towards self-discovery and understanding. This pursuit of knowledge often involves questioning established norms, challenging dogmatic beliefs, and exploring the deeper mysteries of existence.

Personal Empowerment and Self-Actualization:

Luciferianism emphasizes the importance of personal empowerment and self-actualization. It encourages individuals to take control of their own destinies, make informed choices, and cultivate their own inner power. This process of self-empowerment is seen as a form of spiritual evolution, where individuals transcend limitations and realize their full potential.

Rejection of Dogma and Authority:

A key aspect of Luciferianism is the rejection of dogmatic authority, particularly that which suppresses individual thought and freedom. Luciferians often challenge religious, social, and political structures that they perceive as oppressive or limiting. This rebellious spirit is inspired by the myth of Lucifer's defiance against the ultimate authority, symbolizing the struggle for autonomy and the rejection of blind obedience.

Ethical Individualism:

While Luciferianism values individualism, it also advocates for ethical conduct and personal responsibility. Luciferians believe in acting in accordance with their own moral compass, rather than adhering to external codes of behavior imposed by society or religion. This ethical individualism is based on the principles of self-respect, respect for others, and the pursuit of what is just and true.

Spiritual Transformation and Alchemy:

Many Luciferians view their path as one of spiritual transformation, akin to the alchemical process of turning base metals into gold. This transformation involves the refinement of the self through the integration of knowledge, the overcoming of personal weaknesses, and the development of wisdom. Lucifer, as a symbol of the light that guides this process, represents the alchemist’s fire that purifies and transforms.

Lucifer as a Symbol in Luciferianism

Lucifer in Luciferianism is not worshipped as a deity but is revered as a symbolic figure representing the ideals of the belief system. The qualities associated with Lucifer—rebellion, enlightenment, and personal sovereignty—are central to the Luciferian path.

Lucifer as the Light-Bringer:

In Luciferianism, Lucifer’s role as the light-bringer is paramount. This light is understood metaphorically as the light of knowledge, reason, and truth. Luciferians seek to bring this light into their own lives by striving for intellectual and spiritual enlightenment. This contrasts sharply with the traditional Christian view of Lucifer as the bringer of darkness and deceit.

Lucifer as the Rebellious Spirit:

Lucifer’s rebellion against God is reinterpreted in Luciferianism as a noble act of defiance against tyranny and oppression. Luciferians see this rebellion as a metaphor for the human spirit’s quest for freedom and autonomy. Rather than viewing Lucifer’s fall as a tragic event, they see it as a necessary step towards the assertion of personal will and the rejection of unjust authority.

Lucifer as the Promethean Figure:

Similar to the Greek myth of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods to give to humanity, Lucifer is seen as a Promethean figure who brings the fire of knowledge to mankind. This fire represents the spark of consciousness and the capacity for self-reflection, creativity, and innovation. Luciferians honor this aspect of Lucifer by valuing intellectual curiosity and the pursuit of forbidden or hidden knowledge.

The Role of Ritual and Practice in Luciferianism

While Luciferianism is largely a philosophical path, some practitioners incorporate ritual and ceremonial practices to align themselves with the energies and symbolism of Lucifer. These practices vary widely depending on the individual or group but often focus on themes of self-empowerment, transformation, and the invocation of inner strength.

Meditation and Self-Reflection:

Meditation is a common practice among Luciferians, used to cultivate inner peace, clarity, and self-awareness. Through meditation, individuals can connect with the symbolic energy of Lucifer, seeking guidance and insight on their personal path of enlightenment.

Rituals of Empowerment:

Rituals in Luciferianism may involve symbolic acts of empowerment, such as the lighting of candles (representing Lucifer’s light), the recitation of affirmations, or the performance of ceremonies designed to invoke personal strength and determination. These rituals are not about worship but about embodying the qualities that Lucifer represents.

Symbolic Alchemy:

Some Luciferians engage in symbolic alchemical practices, using metaphors of transformation and purification to work on their own personal development. This might involve ritualistic acts that represent the shedding of old, limiting beliefs and the embrace of new, empowering ones.

Conclusion

Lucifer’s significance in Luciferianism is profound and multifaceted, representing the pursuit of enlightenment, personal empowerment, and the defiance of oppressive authority. Far from being a figure of evil, Lucifer is revered as a symbol of the light-bringer, the rebel, and the seeker of truth. Luciferianism, as a belief system, encourages individuals to embrace their inner power, challenge dogma, and strive for self-actualization. By redefining Lucifer in a positive light, Luciferians find inspiration in the mythological figure to guide their spiritual and philosophical journey, emphasizing the importance of knowledge, autonomy, and ethical individualism.

[hplovecraftmuseum]

Part 1, The downgrading of CTHULHU as THE BIG GUY: Dude! Why are you upsettin' the apple cart? Why you trying to downplay Great Cthulhu's place in the realm of Lovecraft's fiction? Come on man, Lovecraft's legacy came to its first major era of notoriety during the 1970s. That was the time when the slogan "God is Dead" came to the fore. This was the time when the incredibly successful book CHARIOTS OF THE GODS proposed that "ancient aliens" were responsible for bringing advanced skills in architecture, levitation, telepathy, art and mathematics to the near Neanderthal species we know today as 'Homo Sapiens'. These space born aliens were not "gods" they were just creatures technologically advanced to an astounding degree in comparison to the puny human-animals native to the earth. Despite all their advancements these "space aliens" were not 'Gods'. There is no God? There can't be real 'gods'. We just threw Christianity out the window in the social revolution of the 60's - 70's. 'Creation' was a concept beyond human comprehension. The explanations for how life, time, and the material universe came into being as proposed by all the traditional religious beliefs in human history were illogical. None of them could stand the revelations of modern science. All established religions fell to pieces in the face of, Darwin's Theory of Evolution. None of the old dogma could bear the light of Einstein's ideas, none could stand up to modern scientific discoveries in astronomy, the atomic age, the electron microscope, advanced telescopes, or the landing of the first men on the moon. Cthulhu fits in perfectly with the CHARIOTS OF THE GODS revelations. Cthulhu is obviously just a 'space alien', a big, hulking monster from another dimension. He's a gigantic, naked, marauding tentacled dinosaur of limited intelligence who rose above the waves of the Pacific Ocean here on earth for a brief moment and then was rather ineffectual in surviving a storm and (earthquake?) that dragged his cosmic city and all his minions to the bottom of the sea once more! If we study H. P. Lovecraft's letters we find that he was personally a Mechanist/ Materialist. He did not believe in God, despised religion, and ultimately had absolutely zero belief in the supernatural. There was no 'soul' eternal or otherwise in his opinion, there were no ghosts, no such thing as 'demon possession', no real magic in the world. There was no way for humans to achieve 'godhood', advanced spiritual evolution, or any real advancement as a species. Our destiny is to eradicate ourselves, to fall victim to our own technological advancements. We are doomed! The top 2 paintings below were created by the Russian artist, explorer, and mystic, Nicholas Roerich. Though Lovecraft visited The Roerich Museum in NYC several times during his life, he and Roerich never met, never corresponded by letter or by any other method. Despite Roerich's mysticism Lovecraft was highly impressed with the Russian's art but had zero faith in his life of mystic quests. (Exhibit 514)

[irunevenus]

Druidry: The Modern Restoration of an Ancient Celtic Tradition

Druidry is a spiritual and philosophical practice that dates back to the ancient Celtic cultures of Europe, flourishing particularly in the British Isles during the Iron Age. The Druids, central figures in this tradition, were priests, poets, judges, and counselors to kings, with a deep knowledge of the mysteries of nature, law, and spirituality. With the arrival of Christianity, Druidry almost completely disappeared, but in the 18th century it underwent a remarkable revival that continues to influence modern spirituality.

Origin and History of Ancient Druidry Druidry is one of the oldest religious traditions in Europe, with roots dating back to the Celtic period, approximately 1200 BC to the first century AD. The earliest references to Druids come from Greco-Roman sources, which describe these spiritual leaders as wise men, magicians, and holders of vast knowledge.

The Druids served in a variety of roles within Celtic society: they were guardians of sacred rites, educators of the youth, lawgivers, and interpreters of the will of the gods. They were believed to have had a profound understanding of astronomy, medicine, poetry, and philosophy, and their influence was so powerful that even kings and warriors sought their advice.

The Druids' sacred sites included groves, stones, and other natural features, as they believed the Earth was alive and filled with spirits. To the Druids, forests were cathedrals, and trees, especially the oak, had deep spiritual significance.

The Decline and Revival of Druidism With the expansion of the Roman Empire, Druidism suffered a significant decline. The Romans, particularly Emperor Claudius, saw the Druids as a threat to their rule and actively persecuted them, banning their religious practices. However, it was the arrival of Christianity that dealt the final blow to the ancient Druid religion, causing it to disappear for centuries.

The revival of Druidry began in the 18th century during the Romantic period, when a renewed interest in Celtic cultures and traditions emerged in Britain. Groups such as the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) were founded, drawing on the limited historical information available and combining it with modern philosophical ideas and spiritual practices.

The Neo-Druids of the 19th and 20th centuries sought to recreate the rituals and philosophy of ancient Druidry, albeit with considerable creative freedom, as much of the original traditions had been lost. Today, Druidry is recognised as a legitimate form of alternative spirituality, practised by thousands of people around the world.

Principles and Beliefs of Modern Druidry While modern Druidry is diverse and adapts to the needs of its practitioners, it is guided by a few core principles that echo ancient Celtic traditions:

Reverence for Nature: Druids view the Earth as sacred and believe that all life is interconnected. Nature is a reflection of the divine, and seasonal cycles are celebrated as times of transformation and renewal.

The Tree as a Sacred Symbol: Trees, especially the oak, ash, and holly, are revered by Druids. The oak, in particular, is seen as a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds.

Personal and Free Spirituality: Druidry encourages individual spiritual exploration. There is no rigid dogma; Druids are free to seek and interpret the divine in their own personal ways, whether through the ancient gods, nature, or their own inner spirit.

Celebrating Seasonal Cycles: Druids celebrate eight seasonal festivals known as the Wheel of the Year, which include the solstices, equinoxes, and Celtic celebrations such as Beltane, Samhain, and Imbolc. These festivals honor the changes in nature and the cycles of life, death, and rebirth.

Poetry and Oral Tradition: Druidry deeply values ​​poetry, music, and oral tradition. Bards, one class of druids, were responsible for preserving history and myth through song and story.

Druidic Practices and Rituals Modern Druidic rituals are centered on nature and often performed outdoors in places such as woods, mountains, and water sources. These rituals include:

Druid Circles: Groups of druids gather to celebrate seasonal festivals and perform rituals that honor the Earth and the deities. They create a sacred circle, where the elements are invoked and intentions are manifested.

Rites of Passage: Initiation rituals, weddings (handfastings), birth celebrations, and farewell rituals for the dead are common in Druidry, each steeped in symbolism and spiritual significance.

Meditation and Spiritual Connection: Many Druids practice meditation, visualization, and nature walks as ways to connect with the divine and find personal wisdom.

Druidry Today and Its Relevance Druidry continues to grow as a spirituality that resonates with the modern desire to reconnect with nature and pursue a more harmonious and conscious life. In a world increasingly disconnected from the Earth, Druids offer a vision of spirituality that values ​​sustainability, respect for the environment, and the celebration of natural rhythms.

Through its rituals, philosophy, and practices, Druidry establishes itself as a bridge between the past and the present, connecting ancient Celtic mysteries with contemporary spiritual needs. More than a simple revival, modern Druidry is a living, breathing adaptation of an ancient tradition that continues to inspire and guide those seeking a spiritual path rooted in the Earth and the stars.

As interest in alternative spiritual practices continues to grow, Druidry stands as a powerful reminder that ancient wisdom still has much to offer the world today.

[alandemoss]

Matthew's Subtle Subversion

I have not, nor will I, watch the popular Christian series "The Chosen". The show, which draws from Mormon influences, was highly anticipated by several Baptists I know, and I find that rather odd. When I think of the title, I am immediately repelled by the concept of “the elect” as understood by Reformation, Calvinist, and Presbyterian traditions. Predestination, as they interpret it, is a grotesque, isolationist, and heretical reading of selective scripture. This doctrine renders much of creation meaningless, serving only to protect the fearful cultures it infects.

I am neurodivergent which has made me insatiably curious my entire life. Other traits of my condition include deep yet detached emotions, intense focus, thorough exploration of details, and a strong sense of justice. While these characteristics have served me well in work and hobbies, they have primarily led to isolation. Few people are interested in hanging out with someone who spends most of their time researching facts, history, and cultural patterns, writing poetry, or studying psychology. I rarely understand jokes, and flirting is utterly lost on me, despite my extensive research into these social skills.

However, after 46 years, I am finally ready to speak my truth and do whatever it takes to share my human experience. This begins with a hard truth about myself:

I hold deep contempt for the religious dogma I was raised in. It seeks to disallow my very existence, and I believe that such ideology should be eradicated along with all similar ignorance. Only recently did I come across a quote from a far-right "Christian" pundit calling for the elimination of autism as part of a sort of purification of humanity. My flat affect once led a deacon to suggest that I was possessed by demons and that I should learn my demon’s name for exorcism. This encounter occurred while I was volunteering at a nursing home, where the gentleman couldn’t see the "joy of the Lord" in me.

Autistic individuals like myself are often subjected to the harshness of righteous indignation, with little grace offered by dogmatic adherents. Pastor Rick Morrow of Beulah Church in Richland, MO, recently claimed that neurodivergent people are afflicted by the devil or perhaps simply not favored by God. According to Morrow: "Either the devil has attacked them, he's brought this infirmity upon them, he's got them where he wants them, and/or God just doesn't like them very much, and he made them that way… Well, my God doesn't make junk. God doesn't make mess-ups." Am I truly consumed by the demonic? This appears to be a clear case of projection—one that calls for serious investigation.

A pang of curiosity led me to search Google for any indication that Jesus’ disciples might have been autistic. My initial thoughts centered on Thomas, given his skepticism, his need for empirical evidence, and his relative obscurity among the Twelve. Peter also came to mind, given his staunch loyalty, even to the point of violence, and his strong sense of justice, qualities that Jesus regarded as foundational to the church.

Interestingly, "The Chosen" portrays Matthew as autistic. Having watched videos explaining the reasons behind this decision, I find myself in agreement. Matthew is portrayed as highly skilled with numbers, socially inept, clumsy, occasionally dim-witted, and consistently exhibiting a flat affect. He is also despised by many, as tax collectors were in that era. I believe Matthew likely harbored deep contempt for the religious hierarchy of his time, possibly using his position as a tax collector to exact a measure of justice for himself while undermining the religious authorities. Who could blame him, considering how poorly “weirdos” are treated within church walls? I would have, and indeed have, acted similarly on my own behalf and others.

There is a very real danger to the pursuit of happiness, freedom, and even the lives of neurodivergent individuals when zealots become convinced that God requires them to be healed—or worse, purged.

I have long felt a sense of distrust and distance from fundamentalist congregants. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always asked too many questions or, worse, involuntarily laughed at the absurdity of hierarchical leadership, antiquated ideas, and overly dramatic cultural condemnations. These, more often than not, are thinly disguised expressions of a preacher’s personal dislikes masquerading as divine mandates. I have tried to work quietly to subvert these toxic ideologies. A moderately concerned inquiry into the evolution of dogmatic theology reveals it to be nothing more than the wishful interpretations of lost souls. There is no grace, no love, and no good that comes from a spirit of zealotry. Zeal directed against one’s brothers and sisters breaks every commandment and the whole of love’s law.

I’m glad that Jesus saw Matthew. I have no doubt that I, too, would lay down my life to follow such grace. I pray that our friends lost to puritanical piety will once again rediscover His love.

[blacknikoj]

i'm a fan of most ( theistic / spiritual ) Satanist / Luciferian blogs ; i like the porny ones as well as the deeply serious ones and the ones that are all aesthetic vibes, everything but the nazi shyt and the glorification of genuine evil - sometimes, i'll see something on here that reminds me of why i left christianity to explore Satanism ~ i was propelled out of that dogma by a desire to live and die on my own terms, following the example of my god, but adulting in 2024 drains all my hope and energy, so i often feel Satan has abandoned me or never walked with me at all * i've been in the midst of a crisis of faith for several years now because my depression has gotten so, so bad, i can't imagine why someone like Satan would have any interest in me or my journey ~ i say all that to point out how often these blogs have been so precious to me, nudging me back toward my god's side, where i want to be - they remind me of what it was like when i was hopeful and energetic, eager to rebel against the oppressive religion i escaped ; Satan may manifest in a thousand different ways ( they might even be most proud of the atheistic members of our community ) and it's always a joy to read a gorgeous prayer or poem someone has written for them because it touches my heart, and i'm so grateful •

[justinsentertainmentcorner]

James Hibberd at THR:

Rob Reiner has shared the first trailer for his upcoming documentary taking on the rise of Christian nationalism. In God & Country, religious leaders and scholars, journalists and historians sound off about the threat of a movement that infuses Christian dogma with far-right politics. At the same time, the documentary seems to strive to make a distinction between the positive aspects of Christianity and the political-fueled variety.

“Christian Nationalism is not only a danger to our Country, it’s a danger to Christianity itself,” tweeted Reiner (A Few Good Men), who is a producer on the project and whose trailer (below) got him trending on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Friday. The trailer mixes footage of right-wing marches and the riots of Jan. 6 with various interviews. “This is not a movement about Christian values, this is about Christian power,” says one interviewee, while another notes, “Christianity at its best is committed to love and truth and justice. If we do this right, what a country we will be.” [...] “Christianity is in crisis,” Partland previously said about the film. “To be clear, Christianity is not the problem, and having one’s faith inform one’s political beliefs is not the problem. The problem is the intertwining of a Christian identity with a political identity such that it can be hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. The danger to democracy led me to explore this topic, but what I learned in the process is that the threat may be even greater to the Church itself.”

Rob Reiner tackles Christian Nationalism in his God & Country film that will come out early next year.

[candy8448]

Bigenderfluid rambles (aka: my gender journal)

My rambles and feelings about gender (Because ill clog up rambles masterlist with this stuff otherwise)

Update: i now have a bigender community blog @yourbigendergremlet where i will be posting all my gender rambles from now on, only my big rambles will go on here!

Coming out as bigender

Philladelphia XD

Im genderfluid! (bigenderfluid)

Hair euphoria

Chemical reactions

Help with gender identity exploration

Transgender paper analogy

Confusing cis friends

Chest dysphoria

Shaving for christmas (dysphoria & trabsphobia)

Dragon's Dogma and customisation (euphoria)

Dressing up fancy (more)

Pins and agender

Xe/Xer pronouns?

Pronoun/name check

Pronoun braclets

Partner terms

Manurisms

Neopronoun niceness

No one is straight

Achillean + Saffic flag

Confusing gender feelings

Queerphobia in my house & my fears part 2

My pronouns are she/he/xe

She/he/xe/xer flag

Xe/xer flag 💙💚

If this post gets 3000 notes, i will come out

My christianity vs my bigenderfluidity

I wish i had supportive family

I ordered my first binder!!!

🎶 Crush or gender envy 🎶

First binder just arrived!!!

Trying on the binder!!!!

Im genderflux! (Bigenderflux/fluid?)

My neopronouns 2

Prom outfit!!

After prom scare

Am i religious? (Lgbt+ ask game answer)

[elerrinacrownedwithstars]

Of the Silmarils, part 2: Fëanor and Morgoth

In his letters, Tolkien often talked about the Fall, and how he saw it as an important part of almost any story. The idea of Fall, and its incorporation in the legendarium, is one of the most blatant references to Tolkien's faith - although he interestingly differs from Christian dogma in seeing mortal death as a gift, not as a consequence of the Fall.

Just as interesting is how the Fall is a part of everything in Arda - and the way nobody embodies the Fall quite like the mightiest of Ainur, and the most gifted of the Elves. The stories of Morgoth and Fëanor parallel each other pretty much from the start, beginning with how they are described:

"To Melkor among the Ainur had been given the greatest gifts of power and knowledge, and he had a share in all the gifts of his brethren." - Ainulindalë, The Music of the Ainur "For Fëanor was made the mightiest in all parts of body and mind: in valour, in endurance, in beauty, in understanding, in skill, in strength and subtlety alike: of all the Children of Ilúvatar, and a bright flame was in him." - Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor

These two are the mightiest of their kinds, but whatever promise of greatness there is in their genesis, it ultimately fails. Both of them are exceedingly proud, which is their fatal flaw: humbling themselves is unbearable for them, and so they spiral down into chaos. Neither are "team players", so to speak, looking for no counsel from their peers, but wishing always to lead, and going alone to uncharted places to seek for knowledge that is hidden from others. Morgoth can't bear it when lordship among the Ainur is given to Manwë, and the seed of Fëanor's discontent may be seen in not being able to possess alone the paternal love of Finwë.

Morgoth and Fëanor both also seem very jealous of what they consider their own. Interestingly, even the reason for why they Fall, respectively, seems to be in some kind of an inappropriate and jealous desire/love, even the Flame Imperishable itself:

"He had gone often alone into the void places seeking the Imperishable Flame; for desire grew hot within him to bring into Being things of his own, and it seemed to him that Ilúvatar took no thought of the Void, and he was impatient of its emptiness. Yet he found not the Fire, for it is with Ilúvatar." - Ainulindalë, The Music of the Ainur

"For Fëanor began to love the Silmarils with a greedy love, and grudged the sight of them to all save to his father and his seven sons; he seldom remembered now that the light within them was not his own." - Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor

These two passages are not maybe not entirely uniform, but I feel like there is something there. In the part 1 of my Silmaril posts, I speculate more on whether the Silmarils are somehow alive, and if this life is connected in some manner to Flame Imperishable; I intend to eventually explore the implications further from other perspectives. Nevertheless, both Morgoth and Fëanor form a desire, or attachment if you will, to something that is perhaps beyond even their deep understanding, and reaching beyond the boundaries of sub-creation, even at the mystery of Life/Light (which is the sole right of Ilúvatar); if you speak in Christian terms, they are toeing the lines of blasphemy, like man Fell by attempting to become like God. Eventually, it's through Fëanor's "greedy love" of the Silmarils that Morgoth is able to carry his corruption through.

Though Fëanor rightly and bitterly hates Morgoth for Finwë's murder and the taking of the Silmarils, his words against the Valar and rebellion essentially stem from Morgoth's own mind. This is interesting irony in the story of Fëanor. The seeds of dissent are present even before Morgoth's release from Mandos - although it seems to be implied in Of the Darkening of Valinor that the rift between Fëanor and Fingolfin might have been healed, if there had been more time:

"For Fingolfin held forth his hand, saying: 'As I promised, I do now. I release thee, and remember no grievance.' Then Fëanor took his hand in silence; but Fingolfin said: 'Half-brother in blood, full brother in heart I will be. Thou shalt lead and I will follow. May no new grief divide us.' 'I hear thee,' said Feanor. 'So be it.'

Another similarity is how both Morgoth and Fëanor are granted a chance to repent:

"... and he was cast into prison in the fastness of Mandos... There was Melkor doomed to abide for three ages long, before his cause should be tried anew, or he should plead again for pardon. " - Of the Coming of the Elves "The Silmarils had passed away, and all one it may seem whether Fëanor had said yea or nay to Yavanna; yet had he said yea at the first, before the tidings came from Formenos, it may be that his after deeds would have been other than they were." - Of the Flight of the Noldor.

In the previous part, I wrote about the second passage, and wondered if this moment of choice is indeed about more than just the Silmarils: a chance is offered to Fëanor to take another path, and had he chosen to give up the Silmarils, he might have received some grace from it (like Bilbo does when he gives up the Ring). In Tolkien's legendarium, being able to let go of the material world is always a virtue.

The Darkening of Valinor and the Flight of the Noldor show keen parallels between Morgoth and Fëanor, or we might say that Morgoth's theft of the Silmaril foreshadow Fëanor's own actions (and their consequences). Here is what happens:

Morgoth slays Finwë, spilling innocent blood at Formenos / Fëanor attacks the Teleri to take their ships, spilling innocent blood at Alqualondë

Morgoth takes the Silmarils, the greatest work of Fëanor never to be achieved again / Fëanor takes the ships of the Teleri, their greatest work that will never be achieved again

The Silmarils burn Morgoth's hands, and he's never freed from the pain of the burning; eventually, the weight of the Silmarils becomes a terrible burden / the Silmarils burn the hands of the last living Fëanorians and torment them unbearably; the Oath becomes a terrible burden

And so Fëanor's corruption is complete. Just like Morgoth, he sees only value in his own works, and wantonly destroys what others worked hard to create. It seems that this is an often overlooked part of the Silm: someone else's sacred property is wasted for the sake of Fëanor's pride and anger. Moreover, he deems that his right of ownership is more important than others' right to live. It is clear that at this point Fëanor and his sons forfeit their right to the Silmarils, which makes the second and third Kinslayings particularly terrible.

Fëanor's change after Alqualondë is striking. He now comes across not as just corrupted, but evil. It no longer feels like he is acting out of grief and rage. He abandons the host of Fingolfin to the bitter march through Helcaraxe, and does this after the Doom of Mandos has been uttered and Fingolfin and his followers cannot repent anymore. His order to burn the ships of the Teleri is truly chilling. This carelessness also extends to his own sons:

"And looking out from the slopes of Ered Wethrin with his last sight he beheld far off the peaks of Thangorodrim, mightiest of the towers of Middle-earth, and knew with the foreknowledge of death that no power of the Noldor would ever overthrow them; but he cursed the name of Morgoth thrice, and laid it upon his sons to hold to their oath, and to avenge their father." - Of the Return of the Noldor

Fëanor no longer cares about anything except for the Oath, and revenge. He knows there is no chance of the Noldor prevailing against Morgoth, and yet he calls for his sons to keep on going, even though it will cost them everything. I can't help but imagine the scenario where Fëanor does not die of his wounds by Balrogs, but somehow survives. This would surely be even worse than anything Morgoth managed to bring forth by himself. Between Morgoth and Fëanor, I think Beleriand would soon have succumbed into complete chaos and ruin.

The stories of Morgoth and Fëanor end echoing one another, just as they began. Eventually, Morgoth is brought down and the Valar cast him into the Void, where he will remain until the end of time. Fëanor dies and his spirit goes into the Halls of Mandos, where he will stay until the end. So the two of the mightiest of beings ever created by Ilúvatar are gone from the world, but their deeds are woven into the history of Arda in irrevocable ways.

To try and wrap up this post, I must say that in my opinion attempting to justify and explain away Fëanor's deeds is to undermine the tragedy of his story. Trying to take away the weight of his offences against his kindred and his own family is to dilute the devastation of The Silmarillion. The reader is meant to feel horror at the corruption of one who began with so much promise, and who had the ability to change the world for so much better; instead, his legacy is of ruin, violence and grief. This horror loses its teeth if you try to find ways to explain it away, or shift blame elsewhere (especially to the victims of Kinslayings). But this does not mean that nobody should like Fëanor: that is absolutely not the takeaway here. He remains an endlessly fascinating character, and being interested in his story does not require downplaying the nature and impact of his actions. Fëanor, as the mightiest of the Elves and one of the most complex characters to ever come out of Tolkien's imagination, can easily bear that weight.

It feels fitting to end this post with this quote:

"And [the Valar] mourned not more for the death of the Trees than for the marring of Fëanor: of the works of Melkor one of the most evil... The works of wonder for the glory of Arda that [Fëanor] might otherwise have wrought only Manwë might in some measure conceive." - Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor

[granulesofsand]

hey there, good timezone. wishing you well. i've considered this for a while but never quite committed to the concept because.. hoo boy. anyway:

tbmc survivor here. do you personally feel that understanding the perpetrating organization's ideology could be useful in communicating, understanding, and figuring out how to work with parts? and, when their dogma/ideology is so complex/layered, how would you go about tracking and understanding it? especially when there's an excess of unusual vocab and concepts to be unraveled.

many thanks.

Unraveling Dogma

That’s up to you. I can tell you how we went about it, and if any of it sounds familiar we can talk again.

We’ve found a lot of good in unraveling our group’s ideology and what each alter was taught. It’s been smoother with the higher ups; not everything they learned was bad, but they couldn’t change anything until they understood what the different pieces meant to them.

They listed the principles, picked them apart, and put something together that was safer. It took a while, several cycles of picking and assembling, but a good few have come up with a healthy practice.

Part of the time spent in the spiral will be learning more about the heftier concepts— you can probably find a few fundamental beliefs and work out from there. It’s a spiral because you’re moving in more than just the same circle, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

You’re probably going to find conflicts in what you experienced versus what they claimed they were doing. Groups tend to work like that, and even abusive groups with abusive doctrine stray every so often. There’ll be times when people placed power over procedure, especially if it’s an offshoot of a nonabusive practice.

There were likely tricks to convince you the group or an authority was all-powerful or capable of defying the laws of physics. Even if you believe in some of what you were taught, you don’t have to believe they did it (talking with deities, for example).

Expect pushback from alters who were conditioned with all of it. Showing them new points to empower themselves where power was taken can help. Higher ups are often told they’re special or suffering for a cause; they might have to break down where they find meaning, but they can also build it back up.

The plain logistics with vocabulary and layers we did with charts and drawings. Every time we found a hierarchy, we drew it out separately. Every new word gets added to a list and a web connecting it to similar concepts.

Pull it apart and lay it out so you can see it, even if not all at the same time. We make books for our internal archive so others can learn without fronting, but that’s different for everyone too.

Researching other religions, starting with those entwined with that one, helps trace the origins of each bit. There’s a chance of finding other means of worship if you can trace the root

Our group was primarily dualist Christian, heavy belief in both God and Satan. Converts brought their previous culture with them, including some religious ties. The leaders prioritized power and balance, and thought their best bet was to trace those beliefs as far back as they could.

The end result was a convoluted and twisty belief system that sometimes contradicted itself. We learned about Crowley and sex magic and the Assyrian gods who used temple prostitution, and from that alone we got two of our higher ups participating in alternative methods.

You might be chasing word etymology and ceremonial history for a while. Ultimately, it’s good to have a better understanding of other beliefs. It might be too difficult to get into what your group had, but there is still benefit to exploring similar ideas and other options.

Grocery store school supplies are your friends. Get some 50 cent notebooks and pencils, get into it when you have a few hours free. It’s interesting if you can connect to it, and you can. Take notes on anything even vaguely relevant.

I’m not gonna lie to you, it’s hard. Sometimes you might end up learning a language to read old poems or counting in base 60 to understand numerology. It’s up to you whether it’s worthwhile for your system.

I do recommend it, though. With breaks and vacations where you hide the notebooks and do leisure activities only for a week. You get a lot of new information, even if it doesn’t relate back how you hoped. I cannot overemphasize the breaks, though.

Treat yourself and your system members well. Maybe pretend you’re an anthropologist. I believe you can do it, or I believe you can make the informed decision not to. Good luck.

[orthodoxadventure]

Howdy, hope you are well!

Why Orthodoxy? I don't know very much about Orthodox Christians.

Have a blessed day!

Sorry it took so long to get to your message! And apologies in advance if the following is a bit rambly or unclear. I struggle a lot with being concise.

Largely what put me off of Orthodoxy when I was enquiring into Catholicism, was that at least in Scotland, the Orthodox Churches here primarily conduct their Liturgies in languages other than English. It felt like they were primarily orientated at serving local Romanian or Greek or Russian immigrants, and didn't seek to expand those demographics. Which was fair. But at the same time, this put me at odds with what I felt was the universal (or, Catholic) message of what Christianity was. By and large, this was my own failing to conduct proper research. Don't get me wrong, at the time there was also logistical issues. When I was looking at converting into Christianity in general, I was in London for university. Which is a huge city with a range of Churches that serves various Christian communities. Whereas back at my tiny town in Scotland, there were only Protestant and Catholic Churches. The nearest Orthodox Church just simply wasn't commutable by public transport and I don't drive.

I was (and still am) very new to exploring Orthodox Christianity. A lot of my initial exposure to Orthodox Christians online, were largely negative experiences. Which I strongly don't recommend using as your basis of whether a faith is true or not, but they were my only real exposure to Orthodox Christians and I think their overzealousness perhaps muddied their intentions and the faith they were trying to relay to others.

I'm saying these things, because originally I was brought up in an atheist household. I converted to Catholicism in 2018/2019. I made that choice of Orthodoxy or Catholicism then, and it's something I'm returning to now. My initial exploration of Orthodoxy was admittedly extremely poor on my part. I let anxieties of bothering these people steer me away from really exploring it. And because I was learning about Catholicism, this naturally brought in a lot of misconceptions that some Catholics have about Orthodox Christians and I took these things more or less at face value. I was a very different person then in terms of how I approached educating myself. I was at a very vulnerable point in my life with regards to having extremely poor mental health issues and having no support network. I was desperate for community and a relationship with God. The English speaking Catholic Church nearby was therefore a much less daunting and accessible community for me. It was a lot easier for me to integrate.

I also have a lot of love and respect for the Blessed Virgin Mary, and with regards to Marian Dogmas put forth by the Catholic Church largely just took the position of "Well these are just so obviously true, how can the Orthodox say otherwise?" While never actually being brave enough to actually give much exploration into what the Orthodox positions on the Blessed Virgin Mary actually was. I was very caught up in the anxiety that I would learn the wrong thing, and by doing so offend her and by extension God. Over a period of time, I would learn again and again, through various accidental means that some of my misconceptions about Orthodoxy were simply that - misconceptions.

Something that I hold very closely to my heart was praying the Rosary after an extremely traumatic life event happened (or trying, I was mostly just crying and shaking). And I remember just feeling enveloped in the smell of roses. It was something so deeply warm and comforting. That whenever I smell roses, I always think of that singular event. For a long time I have prayed for her to be like a Mother to me, and to continually bring me back to her Son.

One of my other prayers that I held so dearly to while converting to Catholicism was praying that God would bring me to Him. And that if I ever strayed that He would guide me back. Over time, my exposure to Orthodoxy became something akin to being in a maze. No matter which way I took a path in life, re-treading old ground or exploring new ones, I felt like I was continually being brought back to the topic of the Orthodox Church.

You arouse us so that praising you may bring us joy, because you have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you. - St. Augustine

I'm in a city now where there is an English Liturgy offered, and the Romanian Priest that offers the Liturgy in Romanian is also extremely warm and welcoming - even going so far to get a translator for the sermon and conducting various parts of the Liturgy in English. For the Lord's Prayer, people from each community take turns in praying it out loud. Hearing the Lord's prayer in various languages that have come together under one roof to praise God is a lot more universal and welcoming than I initially thought or even knew about.

In some sense, I feel like a lot of the readings I was doing particularly around the Church Fathers and the early Church, pulled me towards Orthodoxy. And I'm in a much better position to be more open to exploring those things, and challenging my own misconceptions that I had about Orthodoxy. It was never a case of me waking up one day and deciding I didn't like the Pope or some other part of the Catholic Church. It was something I loved, and love, dearly. It was heartbreaking to feel the pull towards Orthodoxy, and it still is in a lot of ways. But I have to be understanding and open to the way that God leads me in my life. And this is the way I feel like I'm being led. And I'm in a much better position to explore that now.

Something you might find useful / interesting, if you don't have much exposure to Orthodox Christianity would be the following:

https://www.saintjohnchurch.org/differences-between-orthodox-and-catholic/

https://www.saintjohnchurch.org/teachings-orthodox-church/

Kallistos Ware also has two books: The Orthodox Church, and the Orthodox Way. Both of which are usually recommended to both inquiries and Catechumens.

[sonia-nicole-levi]

#book #release #buy #amazon #barnes #noble #Spiritual #Growth #Faith #Transformation #Journey #Interfaith #Dialogue #Personal #Development #Understanding #Authenticity #Diversity #Questioning #Mysticism #Kabbalah #Zohar #Bible #Wisdom #Beauty #Perspective #Exploration #Awakening #Islam #Judaism #Christianity #Spirit #Experience #Beliefs #Perspectives #Research #Encounter #Tradition #Resource #Reader #Question #Fulfillment #Traditions #Contemplation #Reflection #AdventistChurch #Adventist cult #African #Akasha #Allah #anointed #Apsu #Archons #Asherah #Astaphanos #Azazel #Baptist #believe #bi-racial #Bible #biblical #blessing #body #born #Cain #called #Christ #Christianity #consciousness #cortisol #created #creator #Cronos #culture #death #deity #demons #devil #divine #dragon #earth #Ein Sof #Elishcreationstory #EllenG #EnumaElish #existence #faith #fallenangel #Genesis #girl #Gnostic

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With engaging storytelling and insightful analysis, Levi challenges readers to question their beliefs and expand their spiritual perspectives. Backed by thorough research and personal encounters, the author explores the beauty, wisdom, and potential of Jewish Mysticism, Kabbalah, the Zohar, and the Bible, offering readers a fresh and profound understanding of contemporary faith traditions.

Key Themes Explored in this Work Include:

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[soylent-crocodile]

Archetypes for Divine Obedience

Divine Obedience is a very fun and flavorful feat, allowing you to thematically and behaviorally tie your character to one of Pathfinder setting's many gods in return for a whole three course meal of new abilities.

Unless you take a certain trio of prestige classes, or one Cleric archetype, however, you are more or less stuck getting those abilities in the back half of your 20 levels of advancement. With all due respect to the Sentinel and Exalted classes, I do think that's a damn shame. Additionally, arcane casters are straight up just locked out of this system. I can see the idea behind this, but all the same, the distinction between science and faith is a relatively modern one, and a Christian one at that. These are two archetypes that expand the roster of Divine Obedience!

(Scholar by Dopaprime)

Deific Champion (Fighter Archetype)

Even outside of a formal church, there are loyal, devoted worshippers of gods who fervently follow their deity’s path and in return are granted divine power to augment their abilities. These are Deific Champions, forlorn wanderers and elite warriors of a god’s agenda.

Sentinel Blessing

A deific champion gains magical might from her connection to her god. At level 4, she gains Deific Obedience as a bonus feat. If her patron grants multiple boons, she gains the Exalted boons. Additionally, she gains them at an accelerated rate- at level 8, she gains access to her deity’s first boon, at level 10, she gains access to her deity’s second boon, and at level 14 she gains access to her deity’s third boon. She still must perform her daily obedience to have access to these boons, and she loses them if she loses favor with or faith in her god.

This replaces the bonus feats gained at levels 4 and 10

Devotion

A divine warrior’s devotion to her god is staunch and difficult to break. Starting at 2nd level, a divine warrior gains a +1 bonus on will saves against compulsion and charm. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels beyond 2nd.

This ability replaces Bravery.

Divine Scholar (Wizard Archetype)

Though many see the personal, scientific research of wizardry and the religious dogma of worship to be incompatible, this belief is not held by all. There are those who see the pursuit of arcane knowledge as an exploration of their faith; these are divine scholars.

Arcane Bond

A scholar of the divine must take an amulet as his arcane bond. This amulet takes the form of the holy symbol of his deity.

This modifies Arcane Bond

Domain

A divine scholar does not take an arcane school- instead, he gains one of his deity’s domains as a cleric. His spells granted by the domain are arcane spells. He still must take two opposition schools, but gets no penalty if spells in his domain belong to one of his opposition schools. If he stops worshiping his god or loses favor with them, he loses his domain, but not his other Wizard spells.

This replaces Arcane School.

Exalted Blessing

Additionally, at level 1, a divine scholar gains deific obedience as a bonus feat. If her patron grants multiple boons, she gains the Exalted boons. Additionally he gains them at an accelerated rate- at level 8, he gains access to his deity’s first boon, at level 10, he gains access to his deity’s second boon, and at level 14 he gains access to his deity’s third boon. 

He still must perform his daily obedience to have access to these boons and access to his domain. 

Learned Gifts

A divine scholar uses his intelligence modifier rather than his charisma modifier to determine the DCs of spell-like abilities gained from his Deific Obedience.

Minor Theurgy

At level 12 a divine scholar gains a mote of access to the powers of a cleric’s spells. When preparing spells, if he has performed his deific obedience for the day, he may, for each spell level except his highest, choose one spell from the cleric spell list to prepare. These spells are cast as arcane spells, and take two spell slots, as with an opposed school.

This replaces the bonus feat gained at 10th level.

[bluemooncove]

Alright, now if Crusader is going to be coming on as a character here it is important to understand at least one of the faiths of this world (As a reminder this a Henotheisticesque world). That being the Church of Trini ... okay, hold on I just realized that there is an actual religion using the name I had in my notes for this. The Church of the Three Formed God.

Now as a brief note before I continue forward. Like with cultures, none of the faiths within this setting are meant to be representative of real belief systems but they do draw inspiration from them. In this particular case references to trinity and gods physically incarnating will likely draw you to think of Christianity but their doctrines and practices are not meant to match theirs presently or within the era this emulates. Their involvement within crusades, however, are meant to be express perspectives on the actual crusades though.

The Three-Formed God (TFG) draws his name from the fact that three times in history he chose to physically incarnate as a living person within the world. Each form had been human and each had been male, however beyond that they lived quite different lives. While members of the Church, in theory, recognize each incarnation as an aspect of their God and revere each, the differing denominations of the church primarily devoted themselves to the dogma of one particular form. Benedictines, Jagwellian/Jaegars, and Valentinian/Valentines

Benedict the Savior was TFGs first incarnation within the world. In the earliest versions of the church doctrine had been set based only around his own teachings, yet he did speak of incarnating again. Benedict was a healer who came to the people of Dress-Livonia amid a horrific plague. It was through his godly healing that the people were saved and the Three-Formed God revealed himself to the world.

Benedict taught self-sacrifice and to care for others. The greatest of virtues are mercy and healing. Thus the faithful are taught to aid the sick and needy in whatever ways they can. A devotion of charity. Healers, be they magical or natural, are revered by Benedictines. Their temples often double as small hospitals for the needy. They do not view healing as necessarily being about just the physical. Healing can be towards the mind. It can also mean providing food or shelter to those that need it.

Jagwell the Warrior came second, 300 years later in lands now known as the Jaegar States. He came at a time when many of the faithful faced heavy persecution. Their emphasis on helping others was often extended to pacifism. In many lands where the faith had spread, they were controlled through violence. Jagwell put an end to this by leading his followers to fight for their faith and for justice.

He taught to stand for what is right and to oppose oppression at every step. Faith is a force to drive one towards action. In his own lifetime Jaegar acted to see the faithful liberated. In the time since his passing things have changed. Now Jaegars often lead crusades to spread the faith of the Three-Formed God elsewhere, battling those who follow faiths beyond their own. Whether this is something Jagwell would approve of or a bastardization of his teachings is something that has been argued heavily by scholars ever since. Regardless, a number of crusading orders exist to carry on his teachings. Their temples often double as training and mustering grounds.

Valentin the Philospher was the final incarnation to date. His appearance was roughly 320 years after Jagwell. This time he incarnated into the land of Esparda during a period without major crisis. Valentin was a philosopher and scholar. With no looming dangers to preoccupy him, Valentin spent his time exploring and studying the natural world. Many great theories of science were only introduced to Esparda by Valentine's work and much territory was mapped directly by him.

Valentinian dogma is based on following the path set by the man. They revere men of science that study the world around them and any who introduce new knowledge into their sphere. Their churches contain laboratories and often lecture halls. Many explorers have set off for new lands in Valentin's name.

Scholars suggest that each form was an exploration into an aspect of being humans. This is used to explain the differences within their teachings. The vast majority of the faithful agree that all three were incarnations of their god ... however there are those who recognize other incarnations as well. While not universally accepted there are a number of small denominations that recognize an additional incarnation among them. The most well known of these are those that revere Edel the Inquisitor, a heretical movement within the central Jaegar states.

While the primary denominations focus their dogma on that of a single incarnation it is not uncommon for two to overlap. Benedictine and Jagwellian tradition gives birth to knights orders that emphasize charity such as the Knight Hospitallers of real history. The union of Benedictine and Valentinian has led to advanced (for their time) medical institutes that study new ways of healing the body and soul. Finally when Jagwellian and Valentinian come together you get conquistadors, a group that has been gaining great traction within Esparda itself.