#FORGET A MONKS VOW TO CHASTITY

[bihanspookies]

YOU WANNA KNOW WHY MK11 KUNG LAO IS MY FAV

THIS IS WHY

I SAW THIS SMILE AND FELT MY SOUL ASCEND INTO THE HEAVENS AND MY FEMINISM EVISCERATE

This scene single-handedly rewired my brain

[alpaca-clouds]

Let's quickly talk about the Vows of Chastity

Another thing I have been asked about is the entire thing with the Vows of Chastity, given that a lot of the American Christian sects do not have that, while for the Catholics it is a really big deal.

So, generally speaking pretty much anyone who wants to really join the institution of the church (with a few rare exceptions) will swear at least three vows:

The Vow of Chastity

The Vow of Poverty

The Vow of Obedience

Details may vary depending on what order you join. After all, the Catholic church is basically divided into a variety of different orders, and some of them have additional rules. (Some orders have also stuff like a Vow of Servitude, or a Vow of Hospitality, and other specific vows. Though in Mizrak's case the Order of St. John had only those same three Vows, with them being fairly well known to not fully enforce the vow of Poverty a whole lot.)

If you now wonder, why the Catholics have this and so many other Christian groups do not: St. Paul.

If you are not really firm with your bible, there is the following thing you need to know. Generally speaking a lot of the bigoted stuff in the bible shows up in the old testament. Then Jesus comes around and is like: "Yeah, no, forget about that. We make new rules." Then Jesus dies, and then a guy named Paul shows up, establishes a lot of the basics for the church and he is like: "Yeah, actually, fuck other religions, women and gays specifically." And he also basically made rules for apostles, that then were turned into the rules for priests and monks. And from those writings come the three vows as above.

The Vow of Chastity originated with a Vow of Celebacy, which sounds like the same, but was not quite. See, the Vow of Celebacy was originally about priests and monks not marrying, because they are basically married to God. Of course, because back in the day you are not supposed to have sex outside of marriage, this meant automatically that you were not supposed to have sex. But of course this needed to be made a bit more... clear.

Now, as Maria so rightfully says in season 1: It is rather well known that priests cannot keep it in their pants.

I have grown up Catholic, with my mother being very, very active within the church. I mean, heck, I privately met one of the popes in my childhood, just for reference how much I got roped into the entire thing.

And what I can tell you from that is: There is a lot of stuff happening within Catholic organizations based on this. "Oh, this priest has had a lover." And: "Oh, did you know Priest XY is actually in a committed relationship with his housekeeper?" And: "Bishop XY has a child out of wedlock!" And of course the classic: "When those bishops went to the Vatican there was a gay sex party!!!!"

And that is without going into the entire thing with the rape happening under Catholic organisations.

Now, at the time when both Castlevania and Castlevania: Nocturne take place, it happened that adults joined monestaries and such, but for the most part people joined in their childhood or youth. The high positions in the Church were often taken by the third or forth child of some nobles (the first one has to marry well, the second one will be kept as a backup - given high mortality - but then, because nobility and clergy were very connected, the third son usually would become a bishop or something). And lower ranking positions within the church were often filled with both orphans, and the later surviving kids of poorer families that could not afford anything else.

Today, of course, things are different. Usually people - at least in western countries - joining the clergy actively decide to do so. Which leads to a very strong overhang of queer clergy. It makes sense if you look at doctrine: Being queer is a sin. But we know of course that it simply is something you are. So you never are able to live out your sexuality without sinning. You do not want to marry a woman, because you are not attracted to women. So, why not join the clergy? Then you do not have to force yourself to have sex with a woman. Though of course, you realize soon enough - as you visit priest school - that you are not the only person with that idea. And so you sit there in the secluded school, surrounded by a bunch of self-hating homosexual men. Welp.

Mind you: Within the Catholic Church it is a constantly discussed topic. Because while Paul definitely suggests those things in his letters, Paul technically is not a prophet (he never claims he has a message from God), and neither Jesus nor the actual prophets say that those vows need to happen. This is the reason why so many other flavors of Christianity allow marriage for priests and even open homosexuality. Not to mention that the church in general with all those riches is doing very well on the Vow of Poverty. Same goes with the question of women as priests. This is also fully based on the Paulus letters. There is absolutely a chance at some point a Pope will come around to say: "Yeah, actually priests can have sex now and also hooray for female priests!"

Of course - at the time of this show... Yeah, that had not happened. xD

[ramblinganthropologist]

I have a design for a character named Brother Cyrion the Silent. He's a transmasc dwarf monk who took a vow of silence (and jokingly a vow of chastity because he's ace) and he's basically a pile of cloth because he's got a really bad sun allergy and everyone thinks he's some scary broody monk but no he's literally sunshine just in full robes and face covering with a high fantasy white board to write out his thoughts. He 100% uses a straw to drink ale through his face covering and does the anime ducks his back to eat so you never see him.

There's tragedy about the vow of silence and the dampening spell he uses to silence his voice should he forget. The vow of chastity is just for laughs honestly, cracks him up that people think he's serious about it. His order thinks he's hilarious about that, THANKS BROTHER CYRION FOR BOOSTING THE RECRUITMENT NUMBERS.

Brother Cyrion: *uwu*

[aqua-tophana]

This author seems to forget that there has ALWAYS been child-free by choice people in communities. All throughout the world and all throughout history. Yes, even during times of great population decline. The most notable CFBC folk that westerners would likely be familiar with are monks/catholic clergy and nuns - people who took a vow of chastity for their holy order and never procreated.

Even outside complete celibacy, people of the past had large families because they had to - to help with the farms/business, because so very many children never reached adulthood, and because they didn’t have reliable birth control. And even then, abortifacients in the form of herbal teas and poultices are mentioned in texts as far back as Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

Given the high mother and babe mortality rate, I’m fairly sure there would be many ancestors who would be amazed at the freedom and safety that not being forced to give birth would provide. There would likely be at least one many-greats grandmother who, in fact, did die for you, the reader, to be here. They would likely also understand the harsh reality of essentially being a serf in our modern capitalist society. They would not understand how disconnected everyone is and the lack of community most people experience today. Back then, “it takes a village” was true and accepted. The nuclear family didn’t exist and a couple or single parent would never be expected to both work long hours and raise a child on their own without assistance. Such an undertaking would be anathema to their understanding of parenthood, community, and work.

Historically, more people were born than had even had a chance to have kids simply because of the child mortality rate - you were more likely to die before you turned twelve than have kids for long stretches of human history. If you were female and survived to adulthood, you also had a high risk of dying during childbirth. Is being child free somehow an insult to all those dead women and children or is it an acknowledgement of the dangers of the world, including childbirth? I feel like modern people treat pregnancy like this neutral act, as if it causes no damage and does no harm to the mother. We’ve sterilized, even Disney-ized, pregnancy to the point that many people are entirely ignorant to the dangers and long-term effects that can happen during even “routine” pregnancies. Never mind the dangers of more obscure medical problems that could occur. Yet the US has the highest mother mortality rate in the developed world and seems intent upon increasing that number with its abortion and contraceptive bans - bans that even include ectopic pregnancies. There would be plenty of women and couples one thousand, five thousand, one hundred thousand years ago who, if they had the knowledge and ability to choose as we did, would choose not to have kids. Humans are humans, no matter the day and age. Treating our ancestors as some noble other who were concerned with their lineage thousands of years in the future is farcical. They were trying to survive, to live their best lives, to eat well, and find whatever happiness they could.

Moreover, CFBC folk are NOT causing human extinction. There are 8 billion humans on this planet and people are still having kids. It wasn’t that long ago that people were freaking out about over population and eugenicists were force sterilizing “unwanted” populations - in the US, that would be black and native women - without their consent. That the birth rate is currently going down right now isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It does indicate a global trend toward over-work/under-pay throughout capitalist society that is making entire generations of people unwilling to bring a child into a home that cannot feed it - not to mention the increase in natural disasters, war, political strife, etc. makes many people wary of bringing a child into the world. But this downward trend will also likely only fall to a level of equilibrium before leveling out.

No single family generic line is that important in the grand scheme of things. Some dying out in the next decades doesn’t really matter. One-third the population of Europe died during the Black Plague and they’ve since bounced back. Genetic data shows that humans reached an extinction-level genetic bottle neck FAR back in our history and we’ve sense bounced back.

The choice of a CFBC person to not create life when they know they can’t provide for them or give them a good life or want to break an abuse cycle or literally can’t afford one or during a time of famine/war are all valid and not-selfish reasons. Arguably, the choice to have a child just so someone will mourn you or take care of you or because of some grandiose and over inflated sense of importance for your own genetic lineage is selfish. Because it puts the wants and needs of the parent over the needs of the prospective child.

And none of this acknowledges the child free by force people. The ones that say “it’s too hard” or “I can’t afford a kid” are also saying “I’d have one if I could” - but our (USA) society is built to punish parents, especially mothers, for having children.

Assuming you even can afford a kid: The price of an easy, non-complicated birth at a (USA) hospital is +/-$40K, more if you need interventions. You have insurance? Good, you still have deductibles to pay, the only hospital with a maternity ward may not be in network, and your insurance may refuse to pay for the birth by claiming it was “medically unnecessary”. No nationally mandated maternity leave leads to being forced to use formula rather than breast milk because most jobs won’t let you pump during work hours, so your milk dries up. Formula is insanely expensive, to the point that it’s one of the #1 things shop lifted- because parents literally can’t afford to feed their babies. If you work, you need child care which runs in the tens of thousands per year, even for the bare minimum; some places run up to $60K a year. If you’re lucky enough to have one parent stay at home - likely the mother - her career ends. Just ends. Stay at home moms are the #1 most likely to be abused, to be trapped in a marriage and not be able to escape because after only five years all of her experience in the field of her choice becomes useless and she pretty much has to start from scratch, fighting for the same few job openings as the younger new graduates. If you have more than one kid, that’s more money for child care, tutoring, after school activities, sports, and that’s just the extras! Children need food and clothing and space - in a world where a studio apartment costs more than a full-time job at federal minimum wage, grocery prices are ever increasing, and clothing falls apart after three washes.

Outside the home, public spaces have become more and more anti-children over the years. Children and teens have few to no third-spaces left to go to spend time together outside the house - no arcades, no skate parks, malls shutting down or banning anyone under the age of 18 being there without adult supervision. A group of teens hanging out in public is seen as suspect, a threat, something for the cops to get involved in and disperse (but its phones that are the reason kids spend all their time inside, right?). A baby or small child just existing in public is often treated as a nuance, and the parents the same for bringing the child out in public. Our government sends its “thoughts and prayers” as ever increasing number of children are killed in their schools while doing nothing about the root cause of the shootings. The police themselves are often the executioners should a child be not-white.

So yeah. A lot of people are saying they choose not to have kids. That it costs too much or takes too much time or is too hard or the world is too ugly. That they’d rather spend what little time and money they have on themselves. And they’re right. Our entire culture is sick. It’s anti-child and anti-parent in so many ways. Ways that are systemic, not personal. Ways that will need years to completely overhaul the system and rewrite the cultural norms.

Shaming people for acknowledging these issues and deciding not to perpetuate systematic cultural abuse onto an innocent child isn’t going to help anyone. Claiming child free people are causing “humanity’s extinction!” just reads as fear-mongering and uncalled for hatred towards people who literally haven’t done anything to you. If you want to see less people choosing the child free life, you need to look at and work against the root cause - class inequality, gender wage gap, wage stagnation, greedflation, out of control housing prices, the loss of community, loss of third spaces, aggression towards children and parents in public spaces, etc. These are all big, society-level, structural issues that are causing population decline around the globe. None of them can be fixed by one couple/person choosing to or not to have a child. It’s going to take group effort, society and community activism, to force the giant megalith of our world to change enough to create a world where no one will have to say “I can’t afford to have kids; I guess I’ll get a cat”.

Empowerment or Extinction? How the ‘Child-Free’ Movement Spits in the Face of Human Legacy

Why the Child-Free Cat Lady Is an Insult to the Human Species

Let’s cut through the fluff: the “child-free” movement isn’t a bold declaration of empowerment. It’s a neon middle finger to the billions of ancestors who clawed their way through history to ensure you’d exist. They didn’t survive plagues, predators, and brutal winters so you could decide, “Eh, I think I’ll just adopt a cat instead.”

It’s time for a reality check. Choosing pets over progeny isn’t edgy—it’s extinction on a personal level. And if that stings a little, good. It should. Let’s talk about why opting out of the biological relay race isn’t just selfish—it’s a slap in the face to everything humanity has ever stood for.

1. Our Ancestors Fought for Survival, Not For Us to Check Out

Imagine sitting down with your great-great-great-grandparents, explaining why their bloodline ends with you.

Their Struggle: They endured harsh winters, hunted with primitive tools, and lived through conditions we can’t even comprehend—all to pass on their genes.

Your Explanation: “Raising kids is too much work, so I adopted Mr. Whiskers instead.”

The Reaction: They’d blink. They’d stare. And then they’d probably mutter something in their ancient language that loosely translates to, “Are you f--king kidding me?”

2. The Biological Reality: It’s Not About You

Let’s be clear—reproduction isn’t about you. It’s about the continuation of your family line, your culture, your genetic legacy.

Nature’s Mandate: Every living thing on this planet is hardwired to reproduce. Even amoebas know the deal, and they don’t even have brains.

The Child-Free Trend: Choosing not to have kids because it’s “easier” or “more freeing” goes against everything nature intended.

SMH...Thought: If every generation thought like this, humanity would’ve ended the first time someone saw a saber-tooth tiger and thought, “Nah, not worth it.” Get out there and kill it for the tribe, ya p-ssy...!

3. Cats Won’t Remember You

Sure, pets are great. But let’s be honest: cats aren’t going to carry on your legacy.

A Harsh Truth: Your cat isn’t going to sit at your gravesite, telling stories about how you bravely binge-watched Netflix for seven hours straight.

Kids Are Your Legacy: They carry your name, your stories, and your history forward. Pets, on the other hand, will move on to the next bowl of kibble without a second thought.

Relatable Thought: A cat will ignore your existence while you’re still alive. What makes you think they’ll honor it when you’re gone?

4. The Myth of “Progressive” Selfishness

The child-free movement loves to brand itself as progressive, enlightened, and evolved.

Reality Check: There’s nothing progressive about opting out of humanity’s oldest and most vital role: survival.

The Narcissism Factor: Choosing yourself over your lineage isn’t bold—it’s selfish.

Dark Thought: Imagine marketing selfishness as virtue. Oh wait, that’s literally what’s happening. Is this what happens when women lead?

5. The Self-Test: Are You Spitting on Your Ancestors?

Here’s a simple way to know if you’re part of the problem. Answer honestly:

Would your ancestors be proud of the choices you’re making to preserve their legacy?

Are you contributing to the continuation of your family line or ending it for convenience?

If everyone made your choice, would humanity survive?

If your answers are mostly “no,” congratulations—you’re a walking extinction event.

6. Turning the Mirror on the Naysayers

You know what’s coming: the commenters who scream “misogyny!” or “don’t shame people!” whenever this topic comes up. Here’s why their arguments fall flat:

“It’s My Choice!” Sure, it’s your choice. But don’t expect applause for ending a lineage that spanned thousands of years.

“Not Everyone Wants Kids!” That’s fine. But when your personal choice impacts the collective future of humanity, don’t expect a gold star.

“You’re Just Jealous of Our Freedom!” Freedom is great—until it leads to extinction. Then it’s just stupidity.

Mic Drop Thought: If you’re froggy enough to leap into the comments, bring logic—not emotional name-calling. Otherwise, you’re just proving the point.

7. What Humanity Loses

When people choose child-free lives en masse, here’s what we lose:

Cultural Legacy: Traditions, stories, and languages vanish with the people who carry them.

Family History: Every generation is a bridge. When you burn yours, the stories of those before you are lost forever.

Humanity’s Future: We’re literally writing our extinction story one “child-free by choice” Instagram post at a time.

Pets are People, Really?: Imagine humanity’s final chapter reading, “We chose brunch and cats over survival.” Embarrassing.

Empowerment or Extinction?

The child-free movement markets itself as empowerment, but it’s really extinction in disguise. While you’re busy building a life free of responsibility, humanity is losing something irreplaceable: its future.

So, before you proclaim your child-free lifestyle as enlightened, take a moment to think about the sacrifices your ancestors made to get you here. They didn’t endure hardship, starvation, and danger for you to check out because cats are “easier.”

Empowerment is great—but not at the cost of everything humanity has fought for.

Ready for more unapologetic truth bombs? Follow The Most Humble Blog for sharp takes, dark humor, and the hard conversations no one else will have.

[altarbirds]

really been living like a monk recently. every day is just

> seclude myself in prayer (train ride)

> walk up the mountain (try to run the three flights of stairs out of the station and remind myself of the frail, temporary nature of the body)

> transcribe holy texts by candlelight for seven hours straight (lectures etc)

> humble myself (look at grades)

> live on the eucharist alone (forget to bring lunch so i eat the stale protein bar i find at the bottom of my bag, it tastes like god because i am so hungry)

> consider vow of chastity (see arts students sucking tongue in public)

> go to confession (overshare to my theology prof)

rinse and repeat

[introversiontherapy]

The Meaning of Malgus

To say I’m a fan of Malgus is a severe understatement. To me, he is an obsession, a second job I do just for fun, I think about him right when I wake up and just before I fall asleep. I know I have a problem. With the newest update, I found myself thrown deeper into that hole. I am not ashamed to say that I cried while playing Secrets of the Enclave, it was a full-body cry that had no sound. I have NEVER cried like that for a fictional character before. I felt a little crazy, to be honest, and yes maybe hormones were somewhat at play, but it still makes me emotional whenever I think about his dialogue in the flashpoint.

I love writing for Malgus, which is kind of weird because most fanfic writers write for their OCs. When one writes for a character who is already established, it is not a mirror, there is a wall I can hide behind. I write for Malgus because I want to BE him. He embodies strength, resilience and bravery for me (he is also stupid and a coward). I connect with him on many levels because he is, at the core, a man, and we are nothing if not conflict.

I took some time to think about why I had such strong feelings after playing the latest update. I felt it in my marrow when Krovos pleaded for him to come back. He said the words “I will never return to the Empire!” those words fell with the gravity of a thousand galaxies, the boom of its impact shattered my heart. To quote the book “Deceived”, he says “I serve the Force. The Force is conflict. The Empire is conflict. The two are congruent.” For this man to go from saying that to saying he will never return, intense internal work must have beern involved. In Malgus 1.0’s mind, the Force and the Empire are of one entity. Now, it seems like there is a clear line separating the two. Or perhaps, the Empire is still conflict, just not one he wishes to participate in any longer.

He said movements are imprinted on the Enclave, especially if it is born of pain and anger. For a Sith to have said that, for his pain and anger to have been imprinted on a place that I equate to as an insane asylum, his emotions must have been catastrophic. I cried because, for someone this strong to have gone through such anguish, it speaks to me without words. I ached for him, felt sadness for him, shed tears and tasted salt, for a fictional character. His internal conflict of both strength and weakness is only one of the reasons why I am so drawn to him other than his outward appearance (only a select handful of people will understand his attractiveness). He cannot be a real person. Reality always disappoints.

So he has gone rogue, again. But he is not the betrayer he once was (in my mind, he never was). He is the true heart of the Empire, the essence of what it means to be Sith. He lives by the code like a monk, the vow of chastity in every sense, not just carnal, of one’s devotion to something bigger than just what you can see, forget the fact that he’s supposed to be the villain, his dedication to the Force is very admirable. Whatever they have planned for him, I want him to succeed this time. I want the devs to be brave enough for him to lead an entirely new generation of Sith, of loyal Imperials. He is the figurehead we need; resolute and steadfast. We need something this unwavering. The Empire of the status quo isn’t strong enough to counter a determined man with nothing to lose.

I don’t know the story to come but I do hope it’s something really big. He will gain the reputation he deserves through surmounting what so many think to be impossible (and not just coming back in what was basically a portable freezer). It would be an earned reputation befitting an icon.

[thewincestgospel]

Bless Me Father For I Have Sinned

aka stories where either Dean and Sam are Priest (or at least dressed up as priest)

Caught Between Heaven and Hell  by TheQueen (FaustusianSutcliff) Dean Winchester never thought of himself as special. He never liked his ability to see a demon's true face. And instead joined the church as a deacon. Boy king of hell, Sam, takes an interest in the deacon and as a result, heaven has to get involved.               

Confessions by sammichgirl Sam likes Dean dressed as a priest.  Dean likes Sam’s confessions.                

Faith, Love, and Sin  by deansdirtybb   The fire that killed Mary Winchester changed their lives forever.   Unable to handle raising his young sons, John tells Dean that Sammy died and gives the baby to family.  Dean is raised by Pastor John and enters the priesthood.  When Sam acts out so badly he runs out of family he is left to the care of Father Winchester and Pastor Jim at their reform school.  There’s an undeniable spark between Sam and Dean…and then they discover they are brothers.    

Forbidden Love by  annie46 Jensen Ackles is a successful businessman. Nothing or nobody can stand in his way. His life is thrown off balance when he meets trainee Priest Father Jared Padalecki and he realises that nothing in this life goes quite as planned.     (WARNING- Chapter 10 contains an attempted suicide)     

Forgive Me Father by kiraynn   What if Dean was the one who was going to turn evil? Learning of the probability, John sent Sam away six years ago to Pastor Jim in order to protect him. But Dean wants his brother back.

For you, I'll do anything by Tina_J2  Sam and Dean grow up on the street, which leads their lives to two very different directions.Prompts was: Can I ask for Mob Boss!Dean/Priest!Sam (still brothers)~ Maybe adding some sex toys like dildo. 

Have You Seen Him Whom My Soul by veronamay Matthew 26:41—"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (J&J fic)

Heaven's Full And Hell Won't Have Me  by whiskeydays   Knight of Hell Dean is on a killing spree throughout the Midwest when he makes a pit stop in a town that turns out to be much more interesting than Dean would have thought. Who is the mysterious Father Winchester and why does he seem to be immune to Dean's powers?              

Pray for Me, My Priest WevyrDove Father Sam is desperate for a solution to the church's financial woes; the church and adjoining monastery have been his home since he was orphaned as a child, and he would do anything to save it from being closed. His fervent prayers are answered when help comes from an unexpected source, but Sam soon learns that it comes at much too high a cost.

Preacher Man by alphvjensen “Forgive me, father for I have sinned. My last confession was…” he trailed off, chuckling a little. “Well, probably never… but I’ve been having impure thoughts about a boy…a man really. Only know his name and where he works but that doesn’t stop the thoughts. I bet he makes the prettiest of sounds when I’ve got my mouth wrapped around his cock. Does that make me evil…corrupt…tainted? Don’t wanna ruin my chances of walking through those pearly gates upstairs if you know what I mean, preacher man.” Sam could hear the smirk in his voice.It took him a moment to find his voice, longer than what it should have and he mentally cursed himself for allowing this man to have this power over him. He shouldn’t listen to him, let those words sink into his brain, settle in other parts of his body.“Well…” He had to clear his throat before continuing. “Thoughts do not make a man corrupt. You haven’t acted on these thoughts yet, have you?”  “Not yet, preacher man.” 

Sacrament  by  riyku   In Seminary, Sam cultivated a love of knowledge and of God, in exactly that order.  He was taught that vampires were real, that silver could take down a werewolf, and that belief could be a living, breathing thing.  In Seminary, Dean learned how to fight.  Most of all, Dean learned to have faith in his brother.  They were both introduced to the true meaning of war.  Now the war is finished and the church has disbanded their sect of elite warriors, leaving them to fend in an unfamiliar civilian society.  They are ragtag refugees of a war everyone tries to forget.  For Sam and Dean, however, the fight is far from over.        

Sins of the Brother  by  WevyrDove Dean and Sam are raised as Catholics. When their mother is taken from them by cancer, Dean loses his faith, while Sam finds comfort in it. As Dean struggles through his high school years, his relationship with his father deteriorates, and he leaves home soon after graduation. The next time he comes back to town, Sam is graduating from high school. Dean is shocked to see how much his brother has grown in the few years they have been apart, and finds himself thinking of Sam in inappropriate ways. He tries to push those feelings aside so he can take Sam on the road trip he planned as a graduation gift. But despite Dean’s best efforts, the two brothers end up in each other’s arms for one blissful night of pleasure. In the morning, Sam is gone, and Dean is heartbroken. Years later, they meet again; Sam has become the priest at their old family church, and Dean is determined to resolve the differences between them. Once more, Sam finds himself teetering on the edge of sin, and he must decide whether his own happiness or God’s calling is more important.     

Take Me There [Where the Kingdom Comes] by non_tiembo_mala Sam and Dean wind up crammed into a confessional while wearing their priestly getups, and Dean isn't one to let an opportunity pass him by.

A Thing For Collars by phantisma Dean convinces Sam to pull out the priest costumes to investigate a haunting at a monastery hosting a retreat, but when disaster strikes, Sam ends up believing he really is a priest…and Dean has to find a way to help him remember.    

The Vow by annie46 17 year old Jared is bound for the church, it is his destiny.  He has to take vows of chastity, obedience and silence.  Young and alone he goes through the motions of living, wanting only to escape the life he has been forced into.  

21 year old Brother Jensen, has been a monk for most of his life.  He was taken into the monastery as a child and he owes the Brother’s his life. How can these two, very different, men survive, when they begin to become more than friends and the vows they have made become less important than each other….            

gif courtesy of homosmoosh

[touristhai]

DO’S & DON’TS IN A THAI TEMPLE

Here are the things to be mindful of when visiting a Buddhist Temple.

Thailand is filled with a rich cultural heritage. There are a plethora of experiences & attractions here that harken the intrepid traveler to unveil the history behind the land. From experiencing the spirituality brimming within the many temples in Thailand, also known as ‘Wat’ to simply admiring their tranquil beauty, there is much a traveler can do while visiting the many temples in Thailand. However, as guests of the land it is essential to be accustomed to the basic etiquettes one must observe inside a Thai temple. Please read on to see the list of things one should do & one should refrain from while offering worship.

Let’s start with the Do’s!

DO : Adhere to proper dress code.

To be respectful of the monks who have taken a vow of chastity at the Buddhist temples, visitors are required to wear clothes that cover the shoulders & knees.

Do note that at any Wat(temple), visitors will be expected to wear long pants, shoes or back-strap sandals.

For women, do note that leggings & tight pants are forbidden in temples, you may wear skirts, provided they cover your knee.

If you forget to bring the proper attire, rest assured that many temples do have unisex sarongs available for rent during your visit.

DO : Take off your shoes

According to Thai belief, the head is the most sacred part of the body while the feet are considered the unholiest part. It holds merit as one’s shoes become dirty and are hence unadvisable to carry inside the holy temple grounds. So please do remember to keep your shoes at the many shoe racks provided outside the temple before entering.

DO : Show respect to the monks

Visitors are encouraged to show respect to the monk in the temple premises. It is acceptable to greet or talk to them but please do remember that you should always mind your manners and keep your body’s position lower than the monk, you should lower your head slightly when passing them.

DO : Photograph respectfully

In most temples in Thailand, taking photographs is allowed. However, adhere to the following rules. A) Never take photos of worshipers B) Never take a selfie with a Buddha statue

C) Don’t pass in front of ongoing prayers

There will be certain sacred areas of the temple where you are prohibited from taking photos. There will be signs (in English and Thai) to guide you.

DO : Move around sacred spots in a clockwise manner

Circumambulation is an acclaimed notion of respect in most religions. While exploring the inside of a Buddhist temple, do opt to walk in a clockwise direction, keeping yourself right to the object of veneration in your surroundings.

DO : Give a donation to the temple

To keep the pristine Buddhist temples well maintained, donations by travelers is highly appreciated. It isn’t mandatory to do so however, if you wish to donate there are ample small donation boxes located around the temples.

Now then, let us examine the things one should NOT DO during their visit to a Thai temple. Read on below;

DO NOT : Use your index finger to point

In Thailand, using one’s index finger to point at someone is akin to “ordering” them to do something and generally considered rude. Be polite by holding out your hand with the palm facing upwards and point to the object with all four fingers facing forward.

DO NOT : Touch a monk ( For Women )

To hold true to their sacred vows of chastity and distancing from all manner of lust, tradition dictates that monks should not touch a woman. To help them honor this rule, female visitors should avoid sitting next to or touching a monk. Moreover, if women want to give something to a monk, they should either give it to a man to pass on to the monk or place it on a cloth to avoid direct contact.

DO NOT : Step on the raised threshold at the entrance of the temple.

Most Thai temple entrances have a raised threshold. They are traditionally considered to ward out evil spirits and are also considered to be the home of the guardian spirit. Remember to always step over it and never step on it. Placing your foot on the raised threshold of any temple in Thailand is deemed to be bad manners..

DO NOT : Sit with feet pointing at Buddha statues

As you’ve already read, Thai people consider the feet to be unclean hence pointing your feet at a Buddha statue is regarded as the epitome of disrespect. Make sure that you don’t point or put your feet up when offering worship, such acts are considered as a sign of rudeness. You should always ensure that the soles of your feet are not any Buddha statues when you sit or kneel in a temple in Thailand.

DO NOT : Turn your back on sacred objects.

Turning your back at sacred objects such as the Buddha statue, an altar is construed as a disrespectful act and should be mindfully avoided. Always try to approach any sacred objects facing towards them and when you wish to leave, simply step back a few meters slowly and then proceed out.

That is the general list of DO’s & DON’Ts one should observe while visiting any Buddhist temple. Please adhere to the points carefully, if you’re travelling with friends or family, ask them to do so too. Being respect of the culture & rules helps foster a good experience for everyone as you immerse yourself in the wonders of tranquility at these sacred temples.

For more information about Things to Do in Thailand and Thailand Travel Blog visit us at tourismthailand.in

[hxttrick-archived]

★ FILL IN THE QUESTIONS AS IF YOU ARE BEING INTERVIEWED FOR AN ARTICLE AND YOU WERE YOUR MUSE.

REPOST, DO NOT REBLOG!

Tagged by: @paindealt​ (thank you!) Tagging: Everyone!

1. WHAT IS YOUR NAME? “Kung Lao. The Great Kung Lao. The best of the best. The White Lotus hero. The greatest Shaolin. Th--”

2. WHAT IS YOUR REAL NAME? "Kung Lao. Can’t get tired of hearing it, can you?”

3. DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU’RE CALLED THAT? "I’ll never forget, so you shouldn’t either. I was named after my ancestor, plain and simple. He reigned as champion after he defeated Shang Tsung, but his life came to an end when he faced against Goro. My family’s spirit may have been crushed by his death, but his legacy was bound to continue-- and it has within me. I remember asking my father one day about why, and he only told me that he knew I was special. I’m the Great Kung Lao’s number one legacy; no one within the family can top my skills.”

4. ARE YOU SINGLE OR TAKEN? “Single.” (This is verse dependent.)

5. WHAT ARE YOUR POWERS AND ABILITIES? "Of course I have a plethora of skills, but my favorites fall upon using my hat. I can do so much with my hat, like manipulation of its direction or allow it to spin around my body to protect myself; just call me the hat master. With Lord Fujin’s instruction, I learned how to teleport and how to create wind vortexes by using my chi, and I can never be more thankful for his teachings. Even my ancestor plays a part in my abilities; his spirit rests within me. I can call upon the Great Kung Lao to assist me whenever I need him, but I never truly need help. I’m constantly blessed that he’s there for me though.”

6. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES? "Brown hazel.”

7. HAVE YOU EVER DYED YOUR HAIR? "Nope. I rather keep its natural color.”

8. DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS? "What kind of a question is that? Everyone has a family-- in one way or another. My father Kung Peng, my mother Mao Xiang, my sister Kung Shi, and my nephew Kung Jin. While both sets of grandparents have been dead for some time, I have eight uncles, eight aunts, and twenty five cousins; isn’t that a big family? ....I wish I could talk to most of them. In the future, when I-- I mean my future counterpart died, I realized that the family has fallen apart, lost their status, moved on to America. I even heard rumors they wanted to forget I even existed! And my nephew-- it is crazy seeing him all grown up. I don’t know what to even say about any of it...but I can say that...that I miss Shi...”

9. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? "I have eight bunnies; five does and three bucks. My does are Xiao Xue & Qi Qi- both Hol/land Lops, Hua- who’s a Bev/eran, Yuming- one of my two Flem/ish Giants, and my special albino Himalayan: Xiaolian. My bucks are Bao- another Holl/and, Jiaozi- the American rabbit, and Xing- my other Flem/ish.”

10. TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING YOU DON’T LIKE. "Shang Tsung-- Oh, something. Disrespect towards the elderly.”

11. DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES OR ACTIVITIES YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? "I like to meditate, train, and practice swordplay. On some days, I’ll participate in playing soccer with other monks, especially when the weather is nice. When I am not in the mood for vigorous activity, I like to read or take naps, or spend quality time with my rabbits.”

12. HAVE YOU EVER HURT ANYONE BEFORE? "All in the life of a Shaolin. In other words, yes.”

13. HAVE YOU EVER… KILLED ANYONE? "Yes, but do not be afraid. We Shaolin call killing someone a drastic measure.”

14. WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL ARE YOU? "Do you mean my animality? A cheetah.”

15. NAME YOUR WORST HABITS. “I cannot think of a single one. People tell me that it’s my pride, my confidence, my ego; they think I brag; what is so wrong about a healthy confidence? ----Okay, maybe I come off as prideful. Hey, even I am not perfect. Also, my sleep pattern can be screwed up some nights, so I tend to nap during the day and that’s what causes me to slack during training sometimes. You better not tell my masters or Lord Raiden about this.”

16. DO YOU LOOK UP TO ANYONE? "Yes.”

17. GAY, STRAIGHT, OR BISEXUAL? ”I’m...bi.”

18. DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL? “Not exactly. I study and live within a monastery, and receive a monastic education as well as martial arts training.”

19. DO YOU EVER WANT TO MARRY AND HAVE KIDS SOMEDAY “Some day, but I am not yet prepared to drop everything and leave the temple. There is still so much I want to do and wish to achieve. ”

20. DO YOU HAVE ANY FANS? "I’m no movie star but I know I have fans-- tons of fans.”

21. WHAT ARE YOU MOST AFRAID OF? “I fear being unable to protect the Wu Shi. Again, I had to witness dead monks before me... The carnage must stop!”

22. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY WEAR? "All it takes is to look at me. The long answer would be something comfortable, not constricting to my form, but nothing too revealing. Sometimes, I will wear the classic orange outfit monks wear, but not always.”

23. DO YOU LOVE SOMEONE? “What do you mean by love? Romantic love or platonic? Platonically, of course I love someone-- more than one.”

24. WHAT CLASS ARE YOU? "The class of being the greatest, obviously.”

25. HOW MANY FRIENDS DO YOU HAVE? "I have many friends whom I consider allies.”

26. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PIE? "On pie itself or a specific kind of pie? Can it be mango pie? I want mango pie.”

27. FAVORITE DRINK? "Tea.”

29. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE? "Besides the temple, there is the Kung family home, and besides that, I have a place where I train in seclusion, where I can view the mountains for miles and admire the scenery from the cliff side. It’s watching the sun rise and set, and gazing upon the moon in all of its glory that make it a nice place to be”

30. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SOMEONE? "I have a small crush, but that is not your business.”

31. WHAT’S YOUR DICK SIZE? "That’s REALLY none of your business! But if you’re so curious, I’m bigger than you-- is what I would say if I knew you had one.”

32. WOULD YOU RATHER SWIM IN THE LAKE OR THE OCEAN? "The lake, I suppose, but I prefer a river, to be honest.”

33. WHAT’S YOUR ‘TYPE’? "Back to this? What do you mean by type? Are you asking me because I said I had a crush? I shouldn’t of said that; just forget I said that, okay?”

34. ANY FETISHES? "UH-- EXCUSE ME?!”

35. TOP OR BOTTOM? DOMINANT OR SUBMISSIVE? "WHY are you ASKING me these QUESTIONS??! I am a monk! I took a vow of chastity! I can’t answer that kind of stuff when I don’t even know myself!”

36. CAMPING, OR INDOORS? "Finally changing that last subject! ---Both.”

37. ARE YOU WAITING FOR THIS INTERVIEW TO BE OVER? "You’ve been polite enough until you started asking me those risque questions, so yes.”

[adungeonaday]

Multiclassing... With Style

Your character is close to levelling up, and you’re thinking about taking a level in another class. That’s great! However, let us not forget that this is a roleplaying game, and therefore this new character development deserves some narrative attention.

The Guild of Fifty One Hands does share secrets with anyone off the street.

The Archfey Council will not grant to power of the natural world to those it deems unworthy.

The Circle of Seven will not train an unlearned plebe to manipulate the fundamental elements of the universe. 

You must first prove you are worthy of the powerful abilities associated with this new class. For each class (in the 5th edition PHB) you will find a list describing trials you may be set to prove your suitability for training.

Barbarian (1d6):

Survive a night in the gulch with only a spear

Capture a live bison (or similarly large beast) with only a rope

Cross the river at the rapids

Using only your bare hands, touch together the two ends of an iron rod

Turn the granite sculpture in front of the palace to face the opposite direction

Beat up a bear with your bare hands

Bard (1d6):

Compose a sonata in the style of a famous composer

Construct your own instrument

Perform at every inn Brognar Dovecap played at on his final tour

Recite the epic tale of Gray Wolf from memory

Sit through the entire 28 hour “Ode to Warm Milk”

Get a groupie

Cleric (1d6):

Translate a page of the Mad God’s Tome

Acquire the ingredients for incense and prepare it

Read the scripture cover to cover

Learn the fundamentals of the morningstar

Work for a time as a beadsman at the local alms-house

Finish all the paperwork in your to-do bin

Druid (1d6):

Learn the hunter’s last rites and perform them after slaying a bull elk

Allow a bird to nest in your cupped hands

Cultivate the notoriously fickle winter ivy without using magic

Earn the trust and friendship of a myconid colony

Return a defiled place to a state of natural health

Beat up a lumberjack

Fighter (1d6):

Learn the basic defense and attack forms

Win a medal in the King’s Melee

Apprentice under a blacksmith for a time

Learn the art of diplomacy

Read through Muin Wild’s ‘'The Art of Conflict”

Defeat the galloping hordes AND one hundred bad guys with swords

Monk (1d6):

Do 10,000 pushups

Learn meditation under a master

Give up your worldly possessions

Learn to perform a tea ceremony

Fast for a fortnight

Learn crouch with tigers and hide with dragons

Paladin (1d6):

Provide palliative care to the dying

Seek out a wanted criminal and convince them to amend their ways

Commit to a vow of silence, chastity, or poverty

Compose your oath and commit it to memory

Undertake a pilgrimage

Spoil a shady plan by being a huge stick-in-the-mud

Ranger (1d6):

Retrieve the herbal ingredients for an antidote before the poison overwhelms you

Capture and train a bird of prey

Climb to the peak of a mountain

Construct your own bow

Track down the cause of a blight afflicting the nearby forest

Escort some needy halflings to the nearest elf settlement

Rogue (1d6):

Steal the Red Wolf’s signet ring

Spring The Pig from the local jail

Brew a potent poison

Walk atop the city wall from one end to the other

Craft a set of skeleton keys

Go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line

Sorcerer (1d6):

Trace the history of the dragon bloodlines

Inscribe on your skin the tattoos of magic channeling

Read the Manual of the Planes

Pen a thesis on each of the four natural and seven supernatural elements

Construct a wand

Fetch water and perform other menial tasks for an Arcane Master without using magic

Warlock (1d6):

Retrieve a lost relic for your patron

Capture and tame your familiar

Perform a moonlit sacrifice for your desired patron

Craft your pact weapon

Destroy a relic belonging to a rival patron

Start a cult

Wizard (1d6):

Identify an artifact without the aid of magic

Master the process of growing crystals

Read through all seventy-seven tomes of Arcane Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of life, death, undeath, and false life

Perform the rituals required to convert a regular cauldron into a suitable potion brewing vessel

You put on your robe and wizard hat