#a cosmic religion

[hplovecraftmuseum]

A primary difference between my evaluation of Lovecraft's fiction and the majority of his other critics and fans is that I have believed for more than 40 years that he was creating a RELIGION within his stories. This fictional religion began quite subconsciously at first, but by 1930 it had begun to be an intentional creation. Lovecraft had studied all the world's major historic religious beliefs. By the age of 8, however, he was a confirmed atheist/agnostic. Despite his lack of faith in any higher, controlling intelligence in the universe, HPL remained fascinated with all historic myths, fables, conspiracy theories (of the supernatural kind) and psuedo-scientific theories of creation or alternative realities. One might ask why an individual on the one hand so steeped in the principals of scientific method, strict rationalism, and reasoned evaluation would write for a lifetime about supernatural phenomena. If we study the Lovecraft revealed in his letters we find that almost EVERYTHING he wrote about in fiction was diametrically opposed to his personal beliefs and values. In THE CALL OF CTHULHU he tells of a gigantic and hideous monster - diety who is trapped in a city of bizzare and logically impossible architecture. Cubism and Futurism, two schools of Modern Art that had emerged during the early years of the 20th century are referenced too. Contrast these things to Lovecraft's stated personal values: As a child he had actually made altars to the gods of Rome. He was a lifelong aficionado of Classical Architecture. He despised Modern Art and modern literature. He was a firm believer in scientific method, but believed that science would never reveal any MEANING in the universe/ cosmos. Though Lovecraft evolved considerably as an individual over the course of his lifetime he remained outwardly a very conservative individual. I believe that one day it may be revealed that Lovecraft's fictional religion was something he worked on and developed in secret, perhaps hoping or expecting that its complexity and ultimately esoteric nature would never be fully revealed to others. Probably he recognized that any such fictional religious creation would be trivialized by others if It was discovered. Unfortunately that fear would be realized after Lovecraft's death. It is now known as THE CTHULHU MYTHOS. It should be remembered that in Lovecraft's day there were no "collections" of his stories available. If anyone wished to compare the background information in his fiction they would have to own a considerable collection of pulp magazines, privately printed fanzines and unpublished works in the hands of his individual friends. In many cases Lovecraft's most loyal followers were also fiction writers themselves and busy with projects of their own. Today we have a vast trove of Lovecraftian material that was unavailable to his early critics. Every few years another important source becomes available. HIPPOCAMPUS PRESS will release the complete correspondence between Frank Belknap Long and H. P. Lovecraft shortly. As Long was one of Lovecraft's closest friends and a fiction writer too we can expect that this fothcoming publication will give us even greater insite into the remarkable mind of the modern world's greatest master of supernatural fiction. (Exhibit 536)

[temptresstitania]

sub top temple acolyte who worships an ancient, eldritch deity, and the dom bottom lesbian priestess who channels the deity through them. they speak with a voice that is not their own, eyes rolled back in their head, and they bend the acolyte to their will, using them to sate a ravenous, otherworldly appetite. ❂

[not-so-superheroine]

Jesus is my older brother, not my dad.

other christians don't seem to feel the same?

am i missing something where he insists on such a thing except perhaps with actual little children?

[sremblingdesperatly]

Quite Angels? Part 1

1334 words

Note: There will be no lemons. I know this sounds like the opening to a smut novel but it is indeed not.

CW: Kidnapping, encagement, confinement, violence (kinda), bodily damage to mc, power imbalance, unsettling atmosphere, general ominousness, infantilization/objectification, angels and eldritch beings, religious themes (I am none religious but it I have religious trauma so a lot of my work features religon)

Suddenly I began to wake up, my face was hard on the damp ground as I lay there in a heap, with my many wings haphazardly arrayed over myself like a blanket. Which was nice as any exposed bits of my form were frigid, similar to tile on a winter morning. I shivered and tried to push myself back up off the ground, causing me to wake up faster. My head was pounding… Sitting up and resting my wings neatly behind me, I realized everything felt wrong. The strange feeling originated not from my surroundings which were mostly dark, dreary, metallic, and gritty, but the sensation of my very being was completely different. It almost reminded me of a dream, where I didn't quite ever exist. It wasn’t a bad feeling per se, it was almost warm and comforting, like the humid air, moggy and thick after a downpour. 

But even though I felt that warm sensation, the room did not, it had decided, stubbornly to remain frigidly cold. I figured I should see where I was and I began to observe my surroundings. No longer distracted by how my thoughts felt. I saw that I was indeed inside a dirty, impure gold, birdcage that was almost tarnished looking. The walls of the room were a dismal grey brick and seemed if I touched them I would most likely freeze whole. 

My head turned left toward a rickety, wooden door as it was creakily being opened and in the process got caught on the stone door frame. I think they kicked the door open to get it unstuck, and in came a dark, cool-toned humanoid with tentacles where its wings should be. It strutted across the room in front of me as I sleepily squinted at it through the rusty bars of my cage.

“I assume you speak a common tongue?” The figure’s voice echoed, albeit not because they were loud or the room was very big, in fact, it was the opposite. 

“Uh.” I startled not expecting them to speak, much less say something I understood. ”Yeah, yeah.” 

“Oh good!~” They exclaimed eerily. “You can never truly know until you ask~….” They continued as they slowly approached my cage.

I backed away from the bars, and closer to the middle of the enclosure, to get away from this ominous entity.

“You know it's not often I find an angel down on the 3rd plane…” The character hung its arm through one of the rungs of my cage and used its other hand to emphasize its words. “May I ask what someone like… your wonderful self was possibly ever doing down there?”

I blinked at them still processing what they were saying “Oh yea! I was down there, you know, just looking around and uh collecting things…” They just stood there unmoving, waiting for me to continue. “Mostly just like plants, and flowers, and rocks and stuff tho. Heh heh, Nothing someone like you would be interested in!” I let a little too much of my way anxiousness at this situation show at the end of that sentence. 

“Why would you assume I would not be intrigued?” They began to back away from the cage and seemed content to observe me from a distance leaning most of their weight into one side of their hip with their arms crossed and an amused smirk on their face.

“Well, I mean, you uh. Just look like you have more important, evil, ominous, eldritch  things that you care about.” I blurted out and immediately regretted it.

“What’s that supposed to mean??!? I don’t think insulting your kidnapper is exactly your best tactic…” They seemed almost disappointed in me and rested their forehead on their fingers.

“I uh didn’t mean to upset you, sir! Ma’am! Perso-”

“ just… call me Oganesson. And don’t worry it’s fine, no harm done~.” They shrugged reassuringly, one of their tentacles mirroring each of their arms even as they continued to gesture. And I had to ask.

“Are those fake?” I hate myself.

They blinked in shock.

I facepalmed as I dug my hole even deeper. “Y-Your tentacles I mean.”

“No…?!??” They shifted onto their other foot and then after a brief reflection, began to pace to the left and right in front of my cage. 

Then they finally said, “You must not get out very much do you, little one?”

Just because of everything I’ve messed up I’m gonna let that slide. “Well, I do go out! Just not often and I’m tracked so I don't get lost, at least on the 3rd plane. In heaven, I’m a little less, restricted.”

They perked up whenever I said that. “Oh, so my suspicions were right? I didn't know angels could exist in the higher planes.”

“I mean here I am.” I need to get out of here “Why am I here?”

“Oh, I just like collecting curious, small objects to adorn my living quarters.” They stopped pacing and turned to face me. “You know those wings are very pretty… I would very much appreciate it if you would show them to me~.” They kept a respectable distance from the bars of my cage but continued to observe me.

I needed an excuse to get out of here, it’s so cold I’m shaking. “I don’t think I want to thank you very much, It’s freezing in here and they're the only thing keeping me slightly warm. Besides I don’t know if there’s enough room in this cage for me to do so comfortably”

“You say it’s cold?” They tilted their head in genuine confusion.

“YES, verymuchso!” Pull yourself together!!

“I don’t know if there’s much I can do about that… But maybe I’ll try to, if you make it worthwhile…” They said while tracing the outline of my wings from their perspective with their fingertip. “You know it’s not often one such as me sees anything like this~.” 

I tried to change the subject because I didn’t want to bang up my wings trying to open them against the metal of the cage “You know the other angels will come looking for me. And like you said I can exist here, so can they.”

They shifted their weight again as I continued “I’m a high-ranking angel! The highest in my field.” I started to approach the edge of my enclosure. “I'm sure they would loooove to mess up your little stone shack and destroy all your precious trinkets.” I need to slow down, I’m getting a little too cocky.

But thankfully they put a hand up to politely interrupt me “No need to make this personal…” They said almost chuckling at my audacity. “And respectfully I don’t think you're in much of a place to be threatening me.”

I grabbed onto the bars of my cage and stuck my head and some of my twisted torso through them “Oh really!~ You must not know the very might of heaven!” Their many eyes flash dangerously as a warning but I ignored it.

“If I had a few of my things, I bet i cou-” They rushed me and grabbed a little below my wrist almost pulling me halfway through the bars with their hand. Pain shot up my arm and a sound similar to pottery cracking continued as they spoke. 

“I Know The ‘Might of Heaven’ little bird! I just-” They backed away from me and let go of my hand, which showed the cracks in my arm. It almost looked as if I was hollow; like I was a porcelain vase with missing pieces. The area that surrounded it looked darkened as if it was burnt, they looked at the area, their eyes widening a little before they seemed to rationalize it.

“Well, being near an ancient, powerful, and (by heaven’s standards) evil entity such as myself could cause something like that to happen to weaker angels…” I rubbed my arm sorely as I watched fragments and dust fall from it onto the ground.

next

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

"The surface of the Earth is the shore of the cosmic ocean. On this shore we've learned most of what we know. Recently, we've waded a little way out, maybe ankle-deep, and the water seems inviting. Some part of our being knows this is where we came from. We long to return, and we can, because the cosmos is also within us. We're made of starstuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself." -- Carl Sagan

[ultravioart]

I have been going through Overwatch lore again, especially the video content, and I noticed that Overwatch is probably using 'sacred geometry' as a basis for it's scifi-magics?

(Please note I am not spiritual/religious and do not follow this belief. These are simply observations of what Overwatch has used.)

Shambali/Iris: uses chakra locations + 'sacred geometry' patterns in the Iris design. This part isn't that strong but it's notable. We do know Aurora's sentience is tied to quantum mechanics in lore, and we can make a guess omnic energy (only omnics can use omnic energy, not much is elaborated) is perhaps a 'scifi-magic' version of quantum mechanics (like how Tracer uses scifi magic time powers, etc). 'Sacred geometry' places a large importance on light as a form of conciousness, and Aurora's ascension involved her becoming light and becoming a geometric pattern. As seen with Sigma, Zenyatta floats with no explanation, but under 'sacred geometry' systems it makes perfect sense as Zenyatta tapped into his abilities through sacred geometry practices (meditation, etc).

Sigma: He is a direct reference to 'the song of the spheres' (hearing the melody of the universe by being able to sense 'sacred geometry') + his weapon's shapes represent 'aether' aka 'universe' according to sacred geometry/alchemy. Sigma has a singularity directly within his 'source' chakra location (explaining his mental state), and his gravity powers can be explained through sacred geometry spiritual practices (floating, etc). Sigma states 'the melody is a harness' backwards in his origin short, and sacred geometry seems to place importance on patterns, frequencies, and connecting with the 'vibrations' of the universe.

LifeWeaver: in his hero origin short, the 'flower of life' symbol is shown in his biolight tree. This is an undeniable explicit reference to sacred geometry, and it would make sense that his biolight tech works because hardlight tech can exactly trace (atomic level) the 'sacred geometry' of the universe to power healing.

Moira: Honestly it's pretty funny, but apparently 'sacred geometry' also deals with genetics. Moira's character makes COMPLETE sense if sacred geometry is the sci-fi-magics system in Overwatch. Moira is wanting to 'evolve' humanity (a conspiracy followed by sacred geometry believers that humans are on the cusp of a spiritual evolution through frequencies/patterns in dna), and if Moira's work taps into sacred geometries, it explains why others were unable to replicate her experiments (as confirmed in declassified). If one meddles where they shouldn't and disrupts cycles, according to sacred geometry beliefs, they can become ill. Moira has been meddling, explaining why her arm is deteriorating. Reaper's powers are also explained, as how can Reaper's conciousness remain if his body and brain becomes a mist? If it's through genetics solely, sacred geometry would allow that. (I personally prefer the idea Reaper's conciousness has been recorded digitally and he lives within nanobots, which explains how Ramattra could have created failed recreations of conciousness in Wargod Ana, etc. It is canon that nullsector has created botched recreations of certain heroes like Ana, etc. But sacred geometry explains reaper within genetics alone.)

Ngl I never was a fan of overwatch having true magic/spirits because it ruined many aspects of the story ('Do omnics have souls' was a huge rhetorical question in Overwatch, but if Kitsune spirits exist then yeah no duh omnics do have souls lol.) Also confirming Shinto beliefs as the 'correct' religion is pretty awful to do in Overwatch since it's so focused on a global, diverse cast. I would much prefer no true magic/spirits which legitimizes all faiths as personal beliefs OR have a universal scifi-magics source which legitimizes all faiths as real and drawing from the same source. And with sacred geometry, it's vague enough to apply to pretty much any culture, as 'the flower of life' patterns has showed up in various cultural arts (... because its a combination of circles.)

Anyways, I will look through more lore to see if I can find more instances of 'sacred geometry' being referenced in Overwatch, but Sigma and LifeWeaver are the main supporting evidence pillars of this hypothesis! Then the Shambali/Iris stuff can be inferred. And Moira is a fun guess lol.

[tossed-bricks]

Does anyone see my vision. Some kind of a god loves you and they love you so much that when you die they bring you back. When you die you lose part of yourself to the very real death you suffered but they bring you back. And when inevitably you die again, they do this again. And one day there is a husk of a person, sitting upon gods palm, eyes glazed and hollow, so past being human that they can barely die anymore, and god loves them so much. Keeping the image of you like a doll or a trinket is better than the thought of existing without you, even if you truly died long ago. Does anyone see my vision.

[deservedgrace]

i try to be quiet about this and just let people enjoy things but holy shit i wish people weren't so evangelical about astrology. and part of what makes it so frustrating is that it's something i want to like and have put effort into trying to like it because it's honestly really interesting to me as a concept. i'm not the most knowledgeable about it, but i know more than a layperson knows about it.

i call it evangelical because i see so many parallels between the way some people interact with astrology and evangelical christianity. the big ones are, if it doesn't make sense or work out for you it's because of a flaw within yourself, never the system (you have to read the bible in this way, with this context, with this interpretation, you have to pray to god to open your heart, did you actually read with an open heart? -> you have to look at your rising sign, you have to check if you have any stelliums, you have to have an accurate birth time, are you sure it's accurate? have you actually seen your birth certificate?), overly identifying with things as an excuse not to take accountability or grow (i'm just a sinner & i'll always be a sinner -> i'm toxic bc i'm a gemini tee hee), and a refusal to accept that they might be wrong or that it might not work out for everybody (everybody outside the church is evil and led by satan -> "that's such a capricorn thing to do!" "i lied about my sign i'm a libra" "oh my god that's such a libra thing to do with your indecisiveness!").

and obviously, they're different levels of harm and impact how widespread it is within communities, which is partially why i try to just shut up about it. but fuckin hell, some of y'all make it really difficult lmao.

[surrealisticduvet]

jack kerouac -> secret catholic who self identified as buddhist

michael nesmith -> secret buddhist who self identified as christian

[starrsualideas]

What if people believe that God will save them, but in reality, He won't, and humanity must take responsibility for saving itself? Could it be that we're egotistical in assuming He cares specifically about us when there are countless other planets in the universe?

Humanity’s Illusion of Divine Rescue: A Call for Self-Reliance in a Vast Universe

The belief in a higher power, particularly one that intervenes in human affairs, has been a central tenet in many religious and philosophical traditions throughout history. People have often turned to God in times of need, placing their faith in the idea that divine intervention will save them from the struggles and challenges of life. However, what if this belief is misguided? What if, in the grand scale of the universe, Earth is just one of countless planets, and humanity's assumption that God cares specifically about us is nothing more than an expression of our own ego? This essay explores the possibility that God might not intervene to save humanity and that humans must take full responsibility for their own salvation. By examining themes of human responsibility, the ego of anthropocentrism, the philosophical implications of divine distance, and the need for humility in the face of a vast universe, we can better understand the role of self-reliance in the human experience.

Human Responsibility Over Divine Intervention

The idea that humans must save themselves is deeply connected to the concept of personal and collective responsibility. Throughout history, many religious traditions have emphasized the need for humans to work in partnership with God to bring about salvation or to create a better world. However, in many cases, this partnership has been interpreted as humans relying on divine intervention to solve their problems. This belief can be comforting, as it allows individuals to feel that a higher power is watching over them and will ultimately make things right.

However, the concept of divine intervention is challenged by the reality that humans often face struggles and challenges without any apparent divine assistance. Wars, natural disasters, pandemics, and social injustices persist despite prayers and pleas for divine rescue. This suggests that humans cannot depend on God to solve their problems and must instead take full responsibility for their own actions and the consequences they bring about. Rather than waiting for a higher power to intervene, humans must work together to address the pressing issues of the world, such as climate change, inequality, and global conflicts.

This shift from reliance on divine intervention to human responsibility emphasizes the importance of agency. If humans are to save themselves, they must be active participants in shaping their own future. This requires individuals and communities to take responsibility for their decisions, actions, and the impact they have on the world around them. The notion that humans must save themselves challenges the passive mindset that often accompanies religious faith and calls for a proactive approach to solving the world’s problems.

The Ego and the Anthropocentric View of the Universe

At the heart of this issue is the human ego and the tendency to view the world—and the universe—through an anthropocentric lens. Anthropocentrism is the belief that humans are the most important entity in the universe and that everything, including God, revolves around us. This perspective has shaped much of human thought and culture for millennia, leading people to assume that Earth and humanity are at the center of God’s plan.

However, as our understanding of the universe expands, this assumption becomes increasingly difficult to justify. The discovery of countless other planets, stars, and galaxies has shown that Earth is just one small part of a vast, possibly infinite, universe. In this context, it seems egotistical to assume that God would focus all of His attention on one planet or one species. The idea that Earth is the center of divine concern is not only self-centered but also diminishes the vastness and complexity of the universe that God, if He exists, may care for.

By recognizing the possibility that Earth is just one of many planets, humans are forced to confront their own insignificance in the grand scheme of things. This realization can be humbling, as it challenges the long-held belief that humanity is special or chosen. Instead of assuming that God will save us because we are important, we must acknowledge that we are just one part of a much larger cosmic puzzle. This shift in perspective encourages humility and a broader, more inclusive understanding of the universe.

Philosophical Implications of Divine Distance

The idea that God might not save humanity raises important philosophical questions about the nature of divine care and involvement in the world. Traditionally, many religious believers have viewed God as a personal, caring being who is intimately involved in human affairs. This belief is rooted in the idea that God created humans in His image and cares deeply about their well-being.

However, what if God’s care is not as personal as we have imagined? What if, instead of being focused on the affairs of one planet or species, God’s concern spans the entire universe? This perspective aligns with the deistic view of God, which suggests that God created the universe but does not intervene in its day-to-day workings. In this scenario, God might be more like a distant creator who set the universe in motion and allows it to unfold according to natural laws.

This concept of divine distance challenges the traditional belief in a personal God who intervenes in human affairs. It raises the possibility that humans must navigate their own challenges and find their own solutions without expecting divine rescue. Rather than viewing this as a loss of faith, it can be seen as an opportunity for humans to exercise their free will and take full responsibility for their actions. In this view, God’s role is not to save us but to give us the tools and the autonomy to save ourselves.

Human Self-Reliance and the Need for Humility

If humanity cannot rely on divine intervention, then self-reliance becomes essential. Self-reliance is not only about individual empowerment but also about collective responsibility. As a species, humans must work together to address global challenges and create a sustainable future. This requires a shift in mindset from waiting for divine salvation to actively participating in the betterment of the world.

At the same time, the recognition of humanity’s place in the universe calls for humility. The vastness of the cosmos and the likelihood of other planets, life forms, and civilizations remind us that we are not the center of existence. This humility can be a powerful motivator for taking responsibility for our planet and each other, recognizing that we are part of something much larger than ourselves.

Humility also encourages a more ethical approach to human life. If we are not the center of divine attention, then we must focus on how we treat each other and the world around us. The notion that humans must save themselves reinforces the need for ethical behavior, empathy, and cooperation. It challenges the ego-driven belief that we are special or chosen and instead promotes a sense of shared responsibility for the well-being of all.

Conclusion: Embracing Human Responsibility in a Vast Universe

The idea that God might not save humanity and that we must save ourselves offers a profound shift in perspective. It challenges long-held beliefs about divine intervention and human importance in the universe, calling for greater self-reliance, humility, and ethical responsibility. By recognizing that we are just one of countless planets in a vast universe, we can move beyond the ego-driven assumption that God’s focus is solely on us. Instead, we must embrace our role as stewards of our own destiny, working together to address the challenges of our world. In doing so, we become the agents of our own salvation, shaping a future that reflects our collective responsibility and potential.

[willknightauthor]

Wraith: The Best Game That Never Was

It occurred to me that even among RPG nerds Wraith is more obscure, and that makes me sad. Like people know it existed, but even at the time it was an also-ran. Among insiders at White Wolf it was a darling, but it never took off, so they stopped its line half way through. Even in high school I had to buy the books used online.

Wraith is one of the most original and compelling approaches to the afterlife I've seen in any medium, but especially in an RPG. In many games ghosts feature as NPCs, but rarely do you get to play as them, and even more rarely in an interesting way that centers the subjective experience of being dead.

The first thing that grabbed me was the art, all faded gray-scale, scratchy, often grotesque and surreal. The cover is striking: stark gray bound in chains. All far bleaker and genuinely scarier than anything else put out by White Wolf. Turns out the art matched the vibe of the setting very well, because the ultimate conceit of Wraith is that if the living knew what the afterlife is really like, we'd all be even more terrified to die.

Wraiths are a violation of the laws of nature. Biological life is already an improbable struggle against entropy, but the continued existence of consciousness after death? An absolute affront to the universe. Reality wants you gone, but you can't be killed. That contradiction manifests as Oblivion: non-existence as a visible, active force; the Freudian death drive become physics. And it goes all the way down into your very thoughts.

The afterlife is a world of ideals, not materials. Your well-integrated mind shatters into pieces when you die, and your "physical" form is a manifestation of it. Your Jungian shadow-self, once an unconscious and abstract thing, becomes a real, tangible person living inside you. All your vices, your self-loathing, your misanthropy, your death drive, become a voice in your ear: your best friend and worst enemy, helping and tricking you, constantly trying to gain control.

But you can't be killed. You're already dead. Instead of death, you just decay, further and further towards becoming your shadow. Eventually all that's left is a nightmare of who you used to be, existing only to torment others and drag them down together into nothingness. The world is full of these monsters, the things that go bump in the night and terrify both the living and the dead.

But that's literally the tip of the iceberg. The thin layer of shadow reality is nothing compared to the much larger expanse of the Tempest: a cosmic plane of dream and nightmare, right on the edge of Oblivion. The deep underworld is Lovecraftian Mad Max: an infinite shifting desert of eternal night filled with screaming storms, incomprehensible monsters, and forbidden knowledge. Pockmarking it are islands of stability upon which societies are built--dysfunctional city-states desperately attempting to project power into a world constantly trying to swallow them.

However, if no-one can die, then every awful political trend and tyrant remains forever. And they all have a huge head start on you establishing political power. Their society is a veneer of modern industrial capitalism, layered on top of mercantile guilds, layered on top of feudal lords, layered on top of a Roman imperial bureaucracy, all built on the back of one ancient wraith: the ferryman Charon.

But the Emperor has been missing for a long time, and the bureaucracy is so massive and old that it's rotting in on itself. Who knows how many are secretly succumbing to their own shadows? Their attempts to rule the rest of the underworld are always tenuous, like the last days of Roman Britain. It's a world eternally mid-apocalypse.

The problem with a world of thought and feeling is: how do you make things? What do you make them with? Sometimes the ghosts of physical objects make their way through, and they're mined like whale fall. Undoubtedly the Twin Towers were a huge boon to the dead, probably the site of an entire city.

But it's not enough. Wraiths are still people. They want clothing, and furniture, and buildings, and machines, and tools, and money. Where does all that come from? The only thing left that wraiths can touch: other people. Wraith society is built on a form of slavery more exploitative and horrifying than anything that's ever existed among the living. Slaves are valued not for their labor primarily, but for their use as raw materials.

The vulnerable newly dead are captured, dragged back to the capital, and molded in workshops and factories into goods for the upper classes. They claim it wipes out consciousness, and thus the finished product isn't suffering. If anything it's a mercy! To release them from the torment of the afterlife! And prevent them from becoming monsters! But when it's quiet, if you listen closely, some report you can hear it all whispering.

The bleak alienness of this afterlife to any human religion breaks the minds of many when they first realize they're dead. Some go into denial. Some reject their old religion. Some invent new religious explanations. And some try to twist their old beliefs into a shape that conforms.

The underworld is full of cults. Cults promising escape from the underworld. Cults claiming they know where heaven and hell are. (At best just projections of the collective beliefs of the living into the underworld.) Cults who claim they're building heaven and hell themselves. (These sorts of "afterlife lands" sometimes become tourist attractions.) But Oblivion is Oblivion. If you could describe its structure logically you would be contradicting its very essence. There is only decay.

Most people don't go to the shadowlands when they die. Where do they go? No-one knows. What happens when you're swallowed by Oblivion? No-one knows. Is there a God? No-one knows.

Just like when you were alive, you don't know what comes next, or why you're here. It's not real death, it's something in between. But maybe real death is just nothingness. Better not to risk it, then... even if that means clinging to the sands of Hell under the yoke of an eternal slave-aristocracy.

Maybe if you can figure out why you're here, you'll find a way out.

[princessnijireiki]

unfortunately, being burdened by excellence is real

[porphurios]

“To the man in the stage of purification the forms are differentiated, for such is the character of forms in the soul, which cannot apprehend simultaneously horse and man or in general more than one form; the [contemplative philosopher's] object, however, are undifferentiated forms, those in the intelligible world, which are inseparable because they interpenetrate. Hence the intelligible world has been compared to an egg [Orphica frg. 60]: as in the egg all the parts are undifferentiated and head and foot have no place of their own, so too on the intelligible plane all the forms are united inseparably.”

—Olympiodorus Junior, In Phaed. 4. 4.

[sremblingdesperatly]

Quite Angels? Part 2

802 words

Note: There STILL will be no lemons.

CW: Kidnapping, encagement, confinement, violence (kinda), bodily damage to mc, power imbalance, unsettling atmosphere, general ominousness, infantilization/objectification, angels and eldritch beings, magic, confusion, religious themes (I am none religious but it I have religious trauma so a lot of my work features religon) and strained semi-friendliness

Oganesson watched as I rubbed the area on my arm “Is that not… causing, more damage to it?” they asked inquisitively. 

“...yes but, it hurts.” 

“You know you’re only making it, worse?” They raised an eyebrow at me, seemingly confused by my nonsensical actions.

I look to the side sheepishly “I-I mean it does but…” Oh shit Seraphim are going to be piiiissed when they see this...

“But why?...” They sound almost defeated at my refusal to think as I itch and rub my wound, applying more pressure to the already weak, ruptured, and disintegrated spot.

This discussion wont help me escape. I attempted to reroute the conversation “Well when the angels come to get me, they’ll see that you damaged me, they will take that as an excuse to-”

“What makes you so sure they won’t cut their losses? How do you know how they’ll even get here??? Do they even know how to get here? Or where you are?“ They seem to have calmed down from their outburst earlier but still are a little bitter, annoyed by my continuous reminder of the potential of their being consequences of their actions. 

“You did make one point. Where am I? And why is it so c-cold here...” 

They chuckled as their tone dipped down, their face portraying their smugness from how little I know about what’s happening. “We are on the 6th plane…. Did you not know??!? And about the cold… hmmm….. I… don’t think I can change that. It’s just, normal for here.” 

“W-What?!??” I paused in shock to reassemble my thoughts. “How is that even p-possible!” Damn I was really hoping they would fix the temperature. I'm practically shaking.

“Depends what impossibilities you're referring to?” They tilted their head trying to be playful? I think? But they accentuated the motion to the point of being…well uncanny, even to my eyes…  For the sake of politeness I’m… just going to ignore it.

“I um well, I know they will come for me. I’m a one-off, I'm too unique for them to discard.”

They seemed a bit surprised by my words but quickly continued “I’ve heard of the Godix’s past experiments with angels before… you do look a bit strange for an angel, specifically your, hmm… how do I put this…” They put a finger on their chin and looked down at me and smirked then pointed straight at the middle of my face. “hollowness. ”

Ok I’ve had enough of this nonsense. “You must not be very aware of how you come off are y-”

“I am ve-”

“No you’re not! You must be a very dumb or very lonely creature to keep me for this extent of time! EVEN daring to injure my divinely, perfectly designed architecture.” They recrossed their arms and looked at me wide-eyed with anger? Restraint? or frustration? Maybe confusion, or overload, either way I continued, determined to get them to understand. “Seraphim are probably addressing my guardian about my disappearance-”

“You have a guardian?!” They lost whatever emotion they were holding, trying to portray?? Or whatever their weird ass was doing.

“Y-Yes? Did you not fight them, see them, or at least knock them out?”

“N-No?!??” They seemed very confused, and now so am I.

“W-wait SO WHERE THE FUCK WAS EPHEL????”

“Huh, so you can swear.”

“Shut up.” 

They relaxed and laughed a little bit, they gave a seemingly genuine smile and their movements seemed less calculated than before. ”Such a spirited little thing… Tell me what is your name?”

Well that's kinda more than a little suspicious. “Uh huh… if I tell you will you let me go?” They seem to ponder on the thought for a second then they say “I will release you back to the 3rd plane where I found you. IF you promise to meet with me again.”

That’s REALLY suspicious, but I don’t really have any other choice… I sighed “Fine.”

They point at the lock and flick their hand to the side and the cage opens. I don’t know how that works but I’m too cold and tired off them, and too close to freedom to care. I step out of the cage and walk by them as they do a little mock bow/curtsy, I assumed the gesture was not genuine from the shit-eating grin plastered all over their face. I walked with them to the door that I saw them enter here earlier with. They proceeded to do some strange magic and then opened the door.

“Don’t forget your promise, little one~.”

I look tiredly back at them, I might as well tell them my name. “I am called Zeraphil by the way.” 

I walk through the door into the pure light and find myself in grass. 

I had forgotten how warm it was out here.

“YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Start /// Next

[chronicskillness]

"Allegory of purity and lust" 1881 Luis Ricardo Falero 1851-1896

[a-typical]

The efficiency of meat production in the US and around the world unfolds at the expense of animal happiness and dignity, typically without regard to their pain and suffering. An entirely traceable posture, given our ego and the widespread influence of this verse in Genesis:

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

With rare exceptions, in which a form of vegetarian theology recasts the word “dominion” as “stewardship,” this passage has for millennia offered divine carte blanche for humans to do what we please with all other animals on Earth—land, sea, and air. Since the 1970s, however, the ethics of animal treatment has birthed an entire subfield of academic philosophy and has become a subject of persistent activism. Even if you cared nothing for the environment you could easily justify not eating meat on these grounds alone.

— Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization - Neil deGrasse Tyson (2022)