#deity of remembrance

[honourablejester]

PF2e Homebrew Deity: The Rememberer

Alright. This started because of the Grave Robber background in PF2e, because I had this idea for a grave robber character who is fine with stealing wealth or even bodies, because the dead don’t need those anymore, but has a habit …

If something is obviously a keepsake, a memory of love or loss, they’ll take that and bring it to a shrine rather than selling it or destroying it. As their … their code, their gesture towards morality, but also their genuine personal belief about what’s important. They will steal every goddamn coin in your grave and sell your body for parts, because you’re dead and you don’t need them anymore, but they’ll carefully carry out your engraved ring or cheap wooden locket or braid of your child’s hair and put them somewhere holy, put them somewhere safe. The memory, the echo of love and loss, is the sacred part, everything else is just materials wasted on people who aren’t using them anymore.

And with that in mind … I wanted a deity to bring those keepsakes to. A specific shrine for a specific god for this grave robber to leave their sort-of-apologetic offerings in.

A deity for remembrance, for the preservation of memory, a deity who values names and cheap lockets and ancient love letters, and all the little minutiae of lost lives that those in the aftermath cling to. A deity … who will remember those who had none of that, nothing to leave and no one to leave it to, who will remember you, will promise to remember you, even if you die alone and unmourned. And maybe a deity who knows, quite exactly, what that feels like. Thus:

THE REMEMBERER

Neutral Deity of Remembrance

Realm: Labyrinth of Memory

Worshippers: Those in mourning, those who counsel the mourners, as well as some historians, archivists and occasionally archaeologists

Temples: Shrines of Memory, as well as some archives, libraries and museums

Symbol: Votive Candle

Once, the nameless deity known as The Rememberer was a mortal being, aeons ago, in the earliest days of creation. That mortal being died. Alone, forgotten, with no one to mourn and nothing to mark their passing. No sign remaining that they had ever walked the world. And that, more than anything else, was their grief, the desperate wound in their soul. So deep was that grief that it moved their soul even beyond death. First a spirit and then, slowly, a deity, emerged from that grief. Nameless, for their name had been forgotten, but not motiveless. They swore that no other would endure what they had endured. They would remember, and mourn, for all who passed beneath their aegis, until time ran dry and the world fell silent. This is their promise, and the promise of those who follow them. To remember your name. To help preserve your letters, or the braid of your hair, or the locket you made for someone you loved. To keep echoes of your passing, and help the world remember that once you existed. And, too, to help those who have lost you. To aid in mourning, in grief, in the knowledge of loss. All of these are the promise and preserve of the Rememberer.

Edicts: Preserve items of emotional significance, help others to grieve and mourn, mourn and remember those you encounter who die unremarked

Anathema: Destroy keepsakes or memorials, offer cruelty in response to grief

Follower Alignments: Any

DEVOTEE BENEFITS

Divine Ability: Intelligence or Wisdom

Divine Font: Heal

Divine Skill: Occultism

Favoured Weapon: Dagger

Domains: Knowledge, Repose, Sorrow, Vigil

Cleric Spells: 1st Object Reading, 2nd Empathic Link, 4th Morass of Ages

(For DnD 5e, I think the Knowledge and Peace domains will work. Possibly Twilight and/or Grave, but they’re a bit more of a stretch. This is memory, not death, and as much as I adore the Twilight domain, the abilities don’t really gel with the Rememberer)

[college-calamity]

This is my alter for my first time participating in the Transgender Ancestor Rite

I’ve never conducted any kind of ancestor veneration or really a proper mourning ceremony before (I’m lucky to have not yet lost any people close to me). I invited Hermes to guide and accompany me through this.

I got a small bouquet of flowers along with the recommended glass of water as offerings and read out the prayer as I lit the candle. I read out a list of names of some of the trans folks who have passed in the U.S. this year. My heart goes out to all the other trans folks whose names aren’t or won’t be known, and to the thousands of other trans people across the world who have also lost their lives this past year.

I did not want this Trans Day of Remembrance to only be about grief, it did not feel right to me to not also celebrate the lives that were lived. For the restless souls seeking a simple, light-hearted comfort, I put on the movie “Nimona.” I especially wanted to play it for any who were lost before they had seen any kind of positive representation of themselves in the public eye. “Nimona” was so incredibly moving to me when I first watched it (it still is). The fact that such a beautiful, joyful, and heartfelt queer and trans film was so beloved it was nominated for an Oscar continues to leave me in awe.

I am slightly unsure if I did this the “right” way or something, but I’m confident enough the effort was ultimately meaningful. Partaking in this remembrance was grounding and gave me an appreciation for ancestor veneration. It made me feel more connected to the trans community even though I never felt any presences with me.

The dedicated rewatch gave me some peace and comfort, and I hope it gave that to someone else tonight too.

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️

[fernthewhimsical]

Ashkeeper

My personal pantheon started with a dream. I was standing in a field, looking towards a round white building. Huge with open arches, like the Colosseum (pic. 8). Inside everything was white marble. The floors and walls made from memorial plaques and tombstones. The only splashes of colour the flowers and candles that were left by some names. This was the Hall of Remembrance. The Hall was not filled with graves. The bodies were not there. These plaques and statues and stones were here for those left behind. A place to visit and remember. It was also not a place of mourning and sadness. Rather one of peace and a serene joy. People were walking around tending the markers, and people were talking to each other, and to the priests, sharing memories and stories of those lost.

This is where I first met the Ashkeeper.

They are the deity of death, who keeps the soul safe before they are ready to move on to whatever afterlife they choose. The Ashkeeper is also the deity of memories and remembrance. The things left behind in our world so people who have passed will not be forgotten.

They live in graveyards and cemeteries (pic. 1, 4, and 9), but also in the box of mementos and albums filled with photos (pic. 7). They live in the spontaneous shrines of flowers and candles which we come together to make after and accident or catastrophe (pic. 3). The in memoriam murals to make sure we never forget (pic. 5). They are with us as we celebrate our various days of Remembrance, to keep the memories alive.

Photo's used: [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]

[altruprism]

mother’s daughter is SUCH an inej song it actually fucks with my head a little bit

[ask-the-pioneer]

// I'm fairly sure there is no Christmas in the Rain World universe. However, I can imagine slugcats celebrating some kind of holiday, probably based on the movement of celestial bodies, or seasons, perhaps a remembrance day dedicated to ancestors, or a local deity. You won't see organized religion in my AU, but spirituality does play a role in this universe.

One of these days I want to come up with a set of base concepts for things like... time, science, system of measurements, writing and literature, tropes, folklore, and so on. I'll admit it's not my forte, I like to think I excel at character interactions, depicting the raw emotion that feels believable. Inventing lore is a lot of work, but I have seen fellow RW fans come up with very compelling ideas for stuff like language, for example. I'm hoping to use some of that in my work, should the artist(s) give me permission. Fingers crossed!

[tiredwitchplant]

It's Time for Samhain! (Oct 31- Nov 1)

What is Samhain? In the Celtic calendar, Samhain marks the end of summer and the harvest season, and the beginning of the dark, cold winter months. It falls opposite Beltane on May 1, which represents the beginning of spring and the life-filled growing season.

It’s believed that the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest on Samhain. Historically, people were worried that they would encounter ornery spirits if they ventured outside on Samhain night, so they dressed as ghosts or wore masks to disguise themselves. Folks would leave treats on their front porch or place an extra setting at the table to welcome any friendly spirits who stopped by. You can see how these Samhain rituals easily morphed into our modern-day version of trick-or-treating in costume.

Nighttime bonfires were another of the long-standing Samhain rituals - this one was thought to help combat the impending darkness of winter and the fearful chill that accompanied the idea of roaming spirits. Because the veil between living and dead is believed to be the thinnest on this night, Samhain is also a powerful night for divination and spellcasting by candlelight.

Usual Symbols of Samhain:

Ale or Mead

Pumpkins

Skulls

Besom or Broom

Beans

Cauldron

Bats

Keys

Squash

Pomegranate

Nuts

Apples and Cider

Bones

Herbs and Plants for Samhain:

Rosemary – Associated with remembrance and is needed during this season in taking time to honor the memories of our ancestors and other lost loved ones. Can be used in an incense blend and at ancestor altar

Fall Flowers – Includes flowers like marigolds and chrysanthemums. Are associated with protection and chrysanthemums come in handy with connecting to the spirit world

Apples (the fruit, branches and blossoms) – Is considered sacred to a lot of gods. A good apple harvest means that the gods have shown the community their favor. You can use apples in different rituals, especially divination

Pomegranates – Is associated with the realm of the underworld and helps with communication with the dead. It is also associated with fertility of the fall.

Squashes, Pumpkins and Gourds – Is associated with abundance and provides sustenance for your family when the fields become bare and covered in snow. Is linked to psychic awareness and development and protection.

Mugwort – Is associated with divination and dreaming. Using Mugwort baths or incenses in the rituals can focus on treating depression, especially with the seasons changing

Rowan Trees – The branches and berries are a way to keep evil spirits out of your house and are associated with good health. If you plant a tree near a grave, it will prevent the dead from rising.

Sage – Is associated with cleansing and grounding. Is a great incense to cleanse your home to bring in the new and out with the old

Hawthorn – Has been associated with the gateway between humans and the spirit world. Is also rumored to an area where you can see fairies.

Crystals for Samhain:

Amethyst – Aids in opening one’s third eye and is valuable to be able to see Samhain’s spirits around

Black Obsidian – Is great for grounding and protect from evil spirits. Can be used in scrying when speaking to deities and spirits of Samhain

Citrine – Is used to honor the sun. Aids in prosperity spells and carries joy

Black Tourmaline – Wards off unwanted spirits from your property and can be buried into the ground to protect from psychic attacks and spirit intrusion

Orange Calcite – Orange is a sacred color to Samhain. This stone is associated with one’s sacral chakra and can cleanse and align reproductive organs, sexuality and get creativity flowing

Bloodstone – Known to heal cardiovascular illness and disease. Can help with ancestry links and work

Spirit Quartz – Is great in helping communicate with the spirits of Samhain and releasing old and toxic habits

Lepidolite – Used to appease the fairies that roam during Samhain

Serpentine – Is associated with snakes and aids in remembering past lives. Loki seems to like this stone and may be great to use for him if you work with him during this season

Dragonstone – Dragons are guardians of the earth, spirits of place, and connect us to Mother Nature. Helps say goodbye to the old years and our old selves

Skull shaped Stones – Since skulls are symbols of Samhain, skull shaped stone can help with symbolism during this holiday. They represent the life-death-rebirth cycle, wisdom and our ancestors

Spells and Rituals:

A Samhain Tea (Apple and Hawthorn Berry)

1 apple, sliced

2 Tablespoon dried hawthorn berries (or 4 Tablespoons fresh)

1 cinnamon stick

A pinch of cloves

4 cups water

Honey, to taste (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a small stockpot.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.

Strain the plant material from the tea, then transfer the tea into two mugs.

Enjoy one for yourself, and leave the other on your table or front porch to nourish any wandering spirits who may pass while the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest.

A Pumpkin Spell for Prosperity

A pumpkin

Some paint

Go to the pumpkin patch (or local store) and select a pumpkin. Or let the pumpkin choose you.

Bring it home and paint prosperity symbols on it – money signs, runes for prosperity or harvest glyphs (whatever means prosperity to you).

Then place by your front door to invite prosperous vibes into your home this Samhain season.

Bonfire Release Purification Spell

Paper

Pen

Source of fire (bonfire, fireplace, candle flame)

Gather your materials and sit by the fire.

Take a few minutes to just listen to the fire crackling.

Gaze into the flames and connect with this powerful element.

Next begin to think about what habit or person you are releasing this Samhain. Think about why you’re purifying your life from this thing or person.

Then write the habit or person down on the piece of paper.

Fold it away from you 3 times.

Hold it in your hands and allow all of the negative thoughts and energies inside of you to “drain” out of you and into the paper.

Then throw it in the fire and say,

“After this Samhain, never again. Never again. I release _________ from my life by the power of the Samhain fire. So, mote it be.”

How to Make a Samhain Altar

Beautiful autumn leaves or flowers that you collect on a nature walk

A candle

A mugwort bundle

A string of rowan beads

A bowl of apples or a small pumpkin

A hawthorn wand or bowl of freshly picked hawthorn berries

A picture of your ancestors

To make an altar, first find a corner of your home or a table surface where you can arrange a few treasures. You don’t need a ton of space. You could use the top of a dresser, the corner of your desk, an unused side table, etc. 

After you’ve assembled your altar, spend some time sitting quietly in the space. Light the candle and/or mugwort wand, sip on a cup of Apple & Hawthorn Berry Tea and meditate on this energetically powerful day. 

I could find specific written instructions for a crystal grid but I found a video!

Crystal Grid for Samhain

Let's get ready for Samhain and have a great and safe time!

[circeappxteer]

Hmm HMMM....

Sunday x Hermes!Reader (+ Memokeeper?) where Reader was from Amphoreus and been watching the whole shtshow the entire time while Sunday plotting behind the curtains. Because of Reader's frequent interventions just because they want to talk to Sunday or out of curiosity, he get used to their presence and became his trusted benefactor. A trickster of a being or deity they are, Sunday found them hard to understand. Even when they attempted to help him through his plans— also snapping him back to reality.

Now when Sunday finally boarded in Express, he found them in the same room as he. Awkward, yes. But oh? Reader is planning to visit their homeland? Land of Remembrance. He also heard of rumors that the people in there are already dead. With that, he finally question Reader's identity. Black Swan didn't even mention about them either being part of their religious group or sort. Even he already asked, she avoided the topic. What is their goal? He asked. They intervene in some parts of the events happened in Penacony and he simply thought back then that they're just some annoying bunch of Memokeeper. After all... Reader is just a type to send messages through certain individuals or people as they claimed to be.

I see slowburn here or already developed a relationship but Sunday seem to be more attentive to you now that he's free from his past.

[zhongrin]

the art of breathing normally

— or, the ways you make him breathless so effortlessly

◇ characters ◇ zhongli, childe, diluc, al haitham, wanderer, kaveh, kaeya

◇ tags ◇ fluff, angst, comfort, spoiler/hint of al haitham's character story 5

◇ a/n ◇ yes the title is taken from that one chapter title in “for better or worse” webtoon hehe i love dillon and cedric so much they’re cute

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡 ⬙ 𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡

zhongli finds it hard to breathe (in a good way) when you wrap yourself around him in one way or another. you can drape your arms around his waist, nuzzle yourself against his side, or even jump up to koala-hug him (although he will still scold you lightly as he drops everything in his arms in favor to support you - he just doesn’t want you to get hurt.)

but his favorite has to be when you lace your fingers between his own (preferably gloveless) ones, before tightly squeezing, a pressure not enough to hurt but strong enough to leave tingles upon his skin, making the geo markings along his arms pulse and blink in happiness.

he just loves to be reminded and reassured that you’re here. you’re right here in front of him and you are here to stay. you’re here for him with your tender love and warm smile. and you’ll always be here, etched permanently in his heart, the most unyielding stone eroded in remembrance of your beautiful soul.

it was a spontaneous decision on your part when you slip into bed with al haitham and offered to read his book for him out loud instead tonight. he ponders over it for a bit and decides to relent, wanting to know what is it that made you so hooked on hearing him read his books audibly on normal days. your voice fills his senses as he settles onto his pillow, and his lips tug on the corners as you stumble upon difficult terms you’ve never heard before. he decides to show you mercy by telling you the correct pronunciation, and you thank him before continuing, as cheerful as ever, unashamed of your lack of knowledge - it’s one of the things he adores about you, he thinks. this happens several times, and as he relaxes, your lover found his gaze magnetically straying towards you, examining your features as you read.

al haitham’s lungs seizes momentarily when your words falter as you sensed his stare, a patient smile full of such love and adoration blooming on your expression like the freshest bloom of the padisarahs in the garden. a memory lost to time resurfaces in his mind, and he feels himself reliving the hazy scene behind his closed eyelids. he can’t explain it but it feels familiar and nostalgic, yet it’s also foreign and different. when he feels your hand worriedly caressing the stray tear on his cheek, he could only smiles and thinks to himself -

ah. so this is what a peaceful life feels like.

childe’s breath stutters when you kiss his nose or his eyelids. there’s something so adorable and intimate about those two specific places. like a forgotten childhood memory and the intricate vulnerability of allowing himself to be cherished and loved, to know that you won’t ever harm him despite him having his guard down. surprisingly, ajax doesn’t need a lavish display of love despite his repetitively showy endeavors in telling the whole world that you’re his. he’s already content with your soft giggles and tender touches, hidden behind doors and under the blankets in the cold starless sky of snezhnayan winters.

as the trained warrior that he is, he can last a good few minutes underwater, yet one simple kiss from you effectively diminishes his lung capacity, making him gasp and gulp for air, like a fish out of water. he can run for miles and keep his regular breathing pattern, yet a single notion of your well-being put in harm’s way makes his chest constrict and his breath fall into disarray. you’re the bane of his existence and the deity of salvation in his life.

you steal his breath away and with it, a piece of his cracked heart.

as cliche and boring as it was, kaveh’s breath escapes from his lungs whenever you visibly express yourself near him. he’s an empath to the core and he absolutely adores receiving the waves of your emotions like he’s some sentient radio transceiver who’s so attuned to your channel.

you could smile and he would follow, his chest constricting with incomprehensible joy as he drinks the light of happiness like a withered plant that hasn't seen sunlight in days. he loves to listen to your cheerful voice, like your own devoted transcriber, ready to commit your words and etch them into his soft and overwhelmingly big heart.

you could cry and he would bawl with you while holding you close, his lungs seizing with thorny vines that wrap and threaten to crush them to mush with each pearl of tears falling down the puffiness of your eyes. somehow the sight hits him harder than when the realization of his father not coming back hit him, or that time his mother told him she was going to move to fontaine and remarry - oh, it’s so much worse, because he’s holding his entire world in his arms, and he resonates with your bleeding heart.

kaeya would never admit to it but you would notice that his breath hitches whenever you yank his shirt to kiss him. he can try to deny it all he wants, but he finds your assertiveness hot - there’s just something about having you reaffirming how much you can affect him.

it used to irk him, actually - no one should have so much power over him. his life is already crumbling enough as it is, why would he want someone to shake it all up and potentially make it all crash down? and yet, throughout your relationship, he sees you fix the cracks, changes the rusted nails out, and solidifies his foundation. you’re so patient, your touch firm and gentle, and with each fissure healed he finds himself laughing breathlessly… and he lets go of his inhibitions. you can steal his marred heart away, and take his breaths too while you’re at it.

diluc finds his breathing spectacularly failing when your finger brushes against his nape as you help him tie his hair into a high ponytail. he still does not understand why you prefer this hairstyle, but he understands fully that the lack of air in his voice when you worriedly ask if you’ve tugged on his hair too hard is, in actuality, caused by how he wishes he could spend the rest of his life with you. to be with you, just like this, tranquil mornings full of domesticity and love, a replica of the little bits of memories he remembers of his late parents when they thought he was still asleep.

he’s so in love with you, he burns brighter in your presence, and he doesn’t even care if it uses up all the oxygen in his lungs; for he is sure his love for you is an eternal flame not born from the borrowed power of the gods, but from the deepest part of his heart.

wanderer has no need for these two specific atoms chemically bound to form an oxygen molecule that these weak humans seem to need lest they keel over and asphyxiate. and yet he still feels something compressing itself into an ever-consuming black hole within his hollow chest whenever you touch his white wooden skin with the most tender of touches as if he was something to be cherished. as if he was worthy of your presence. as if he was human. as if you truly love him.

ridiculous, he hisses and slaps your hand away every single time. his throat clogs and his lips purse, his vocal chord failing to enunciate how foolish you are, and the feeling got worse when he sees you merely chuckle at his ‘prickliness’.

you touch him again with the same hands five minutes later, and he struggles to squash the urge to smile.

© zhongrin | 2023 ◆ no repost. reblogs much appreciated. feel free to reach out to submit suggestions, feedback, comments, or if you just want to talk!

◇ taglist ◇ @thestarsofenkanomiya | @genshinparty | @abyssmal-skies | @hamdehlesmis | @depressivecomforts | @sophiethewitch1 | @why-am-i-here-someone-save-me | @sunnshineflxwer | @heartonthemoon | @yuutasbabe | @percyval-archives | @carbs-need-more-love | @rebeccka | @queen-belial | @stygianoir | @silentmoths | @niktwazny303 | @dustofthedailylife | @herdrops | @diebischesther | @marina-and-the-memes | @angryhope | @mixed-kester | @shuangxo | @fiannee | @lordbugs | @anonymousficreader | @shizunxie | @ladylofspades | @sup-zfam | @ansy-tea | @irethepotato | @nachotrash | @algrimmammon | @sassy-cat-in-town

[trans-rite]

How to join the Transgender Ancestor Rite: an FAQ on our updated format

What is it?

an annual, non-denominational ritual honoring transgender individuals who have passed on

an act of solidarity with the lineage of transgender ancestors who have come before us and paved the way, as well as with the descendants who will come after us when we are gone

a chance to share tenderness and kindness with the restless spirits of transgender people who lost their lives to violence

an opportunity for living transgender folks, including those who have lost trans loved ones, to grieve, mourn, and pray

a labor of love from a multiracial group of trans spirit workers, each at various stages of study in ancestor veneration practices, who have been putting on this ritual since 2014

When is it?

the ritual should take place on or around the Trans Day of Remembrance on November 20th, preferably within a week

most of us do it at night but any time of day is fine

if you need to do it a little before or after the 20th, don't sweat it

Where is it?

wherever you are!

groups are welcome to host local events and inform us about them, but the ritual itself takes place in a location of your own choosing, usually at home

if you have access to a local TDOR event that could incorporate some or all of this ritual, you are welcome to bring it there

most of the organizers have historically been located in the northeastern US but you don’t have to be

Who is it for?

it honors everyone from this year’s Trans Day of Remembrance official list, as well as any other deaths of trans individuals from the year that participants wish to include

illness losses, violent deaths, suicides, and natural deaths are all eligible for inclusion

it includes, cumulatively, all transgender deaths from previous years as well, named on the TDOR lists and unnamed, throughout history

it honors and praises the trans ancestors, people who were alive both recently and longer ago, who feel themselves in connection with us, who have received the care and honor we offered through previous years’ rituals, who are bright and well and who can tend the line from the other side

participants can be trans or cisgender, of any or no denomination or faith

Does it cost money?

nope! this is an anticapitalist affair

you can buy incense and offerings if you like, but you don’t need to spend money to participate

Why are y’all doing this?

honestly this could take pages and pages about the importance of this work and of soothing the troubled dead and tending our ancestral line et cetera et cetera ad infinitum but the short version is

we gotta

our ancestors require it and we’re making sure they get it

Okay, how does it work?

during the ritual, you sit or stand at an altar, light a candle, put out a glass of fresh water, and read a prayer

you may also make any other offerings you feel called to do

if so moved, you read the names of the dead from this year's TDOR list and call on our bright and well ancestors to tend to these newly passed souls

all the people participating in all the different places in the world help create a rising raft of energy that is greater than the sum of its parts, delivering the restless dead among our line into the care of our bright and well ancestors, who, in turn, also care for us, the living

Prayers? I thought you said this was non-denominational.

prayers can involve divinity, or they can be kind and soothing words to say to the dead

you can look through our prayers tag to get ideas and inspiration, but feel free to find poems on your own and/or write something yourself as well 

you are welcome to include deity or not, as you prefer

the organizers of this ritual incorporate gods and spirits in our practices but you by no means need to

on the flip side, if you want your gods involved, feel free to do so in whatever respectful manner works for you

What do I need on my altar?

the basics are an altar cloth (white is traditional; a bandana works), a cup to be filled with water, and a new or dedicated candle (white is traditional here also but follow your instincts)

other great offerings include cut flowers, portions of your food and drink (though alcohol is not advised with restless spirits), tobacco, honey, pictures and/or names of the deceased, art, music, dancing, and any gender paraphernalia you think the ancestors might like

do not put pictures of living people on the altar

it can be as simple or ornate as you choose: the important parts are the candle, the cup, and the cloth

Isn’t it sketchy to be working with dead people?

a little bit

it is much less sketchy since our format change in 2022, at which point this ritual shifted from working directly with restless spirits (dicey) to interfacing with them only through our cadre of elevated bright and well ancestors who have already benefited from previous years' rituals

we advise that you cleanse or purify in whatever way you prefer, ideally before and after the working

if you’re in a Western (especially American Christian) culture that views death as The End and discussion of death as taboo, consider reading up on cultures where ancestor veneration is a normal part of everyday life (hint: it’s most of them)

Other questions? Send them in and we’ll answer them, and maybe add them to the list! If you post about the ritual, tag #troe2023 and we will check it out!

Thank you for joining us!

- Mod Alder and team

[saunne]

AMPHOREUS LORE - AGLAEA ANALYSIS

So, I think everyone saw it, but we were graced today with the drip marketing for Aglaea, a 5-Star Lightning unit on the brand new Remembrance Path. Hence the reason why I’m back from the dead, in order to dissect and analyze everything I can about this sliver of lore we were given.

1. Who is Aglaea in Greek Mythology ?

Aglaea (Ἀγλαΐα) can be translated to “splendor”, “radiance”. It is the name of the youngest of the Charites or Graces, minor goddesses said to be patronesses of amusement and festivities, presiding over things such as grace, beauty, adornment, mirth, banquet, rest, happiness, relaxation etc. Although there are many names associated with the Charites, it is customary to recognize three main ones : Aglaea (Splendor, Beauty and Adornment), Euphrosyne (Cheer, Mirth, Merriment and Joy) and Thalia (Abundance, Festivities and Banquets). 

The Charites also served as attendants for Hera and Aphrodite, Homer specifically associating them to the retinue of Aphrodite. There are also mentions of their involvement with the Underworld and the Eleusinian Mysteries (secret rites for Persephone and Demeter), although exact sources on this specific part are lacking. I’m still keeping it however, for some specific reasons.

They were said to be the daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, one of the elder Okeanides. However, according to the Orphic Hymns, their mother would rather be Eunomia, the goddess of good order and lawful conduct. Their godly father being Zeus, it could explain why Hoyoverse chose to make Aglaea a Lightning unit.

Another interesting fact is that Aglaea is sometimes equated with Charis and according to Hesiod’s Theogony, this would make her Hephaestus’ wife, following his divorce with Aphrodite. This is interesting for one specific reason : the automatons surrounding her in her drip marketing. Hephaestus was the Olympian god of fire, smiths, craftsmen and metalworking and some of his greatest achievements were the Automatones, animated metal statues of animal, men and monsters. Among these Automatons, we find the Kourai Khryseai (Golden Maidens) : woman-shaped, gold automatons serving as attendants for his palace.

2. What can we guess from her titles ?

In the drip marketing post, we were offered a gaggle of titles : Dressmaster of Okhema, Chrysos Heir, Weaver of Gold, Goldweaver, bearer of the Coreflame of Romance… Although they may seem a little obscure, they actually refer to quite a number of things.

Chrysos (χρῡσός) means “gold”, or in a more poetic sense, “something dear and precious”. However, it’s more the “gold” aspect which will interest us, notably because of Aglaea’s character design which is covered in it. Gold was primarily associated with deities, symbolizing power, authority, wealth and eternal life (think about the golden apples of the Hesperides).

This brings us to the title “Goldweaver”, which is also fascinating. In Greek Mythology, one of the well-known weaving myth is about the Moirai, the three sisters personifying destiny and weaving the fate of every being in existence. Being the weaver, Aglaea would be equated to Clotho, the Moirai responsible for spinning the thread, responsible for choosing when a person was born as well as when deities or mortals were to be saved or put to death, being able to resurrect people of her choosing (for example Pelops, Tantalus’ son).

However, another weaving myth is preponderant in Greek mythology : Arachne and Athena weaving contest, a long known cautionary tale about the consequences of hubris in the face of the divine. Athena and Hephaestus were considered as the great patrons both of the useful and elegant arts, as Athena was also the goddess of crafts such as pottery and weaving. Aglaea’s title as “Dressmaker” could be a reference to this, and more particularly to the Arrephoros, girl acolytes in the cult of Athena Polias, responsible for supervising the weaving of the peplos used during the Panathenaea. Or it could also be a reference to the Charites’ role as Aphrodite’s attendants, as Homer mentioned they were the one to weave and dye her peplos.

Finally, Coreflame of Romance would have been the most obscure title, if not for all the previous explanations about the Charites’ association with Aphrodite. According to the Dionysiaca, there was once a time when Aphrodite attempted to weave better than Athena out of jealousy, aided in her endeavor by the Charites, Aglaea being the one passing her the yarn. 

3. What about Okhema and Amphoreus ?

Okhema is here referenced to be a city, but we already met that word, in a slightly different form : “Regret of Infinite Ochema”, the Trace material given by Phantylia. An Okhema (ὄχημα) is a carrier/vehicle for the soul in Neoplatonism. It is particularly important in Plato’s Myth of Er, where the main character recount his journey in the afterlife, including an account of reincarnation and the celestial spheres of the astral plane. A city named Okhema could imply either the “vehicle” aspect of the okhema, maybe being a moving city…. or since an okhema could be thought as a recipient for a soul, that the city itself could play a role in anchoring the souls of its inhabitants or allowing their travels/transport from one point/place/state to another.

We’ve got another thing about Okhema, the part “holy city kissed by dawn”. Many places could be considered “holy” in greek mythology. One of them is Elefsina, known as Eleusis and holy site of the Eleusinian Mysteries mentioned earlier alongside Delphi, where is kept the omphalos (the chinese name for Amphoreus is the word omphalos). However, the “kissed by dawn” was more interesting, as Greek mythology have a personification of the dawn in the goddess Eos, often equated with Hemera.  Eos’ myths are heavily connected to Aphrodite, in addition to her being the mother of the Anemoi, the greek gods of the winds and in the post, Aglaea said “the wind brought me news of you”.

About Amphoreus… we know next to nothing about it, except its moniker “The Eternal Land” and that it is “hidden away from outside observation, its presence only revealed by the light from the mirror of the Garden of Recollection” according to Black Swan. It was also mentioned that it was  “fettered by three Paths” and given the involvement of the Garden, it seems safe to bet on Remembrance being one of them. I think Amphoreus could honestly be a place filled to the brim with memoria, if not entirely dreamscape-like, similarly to Penacony’s Dreamscape.

Amphoreus reference the amphora, a container used for the storage and transportation of various goods such as wine and oil, in addition to being a common support for vase painting. One interesting thing is that painted amphoras were often used for funerary purposes, as graves markers or recipients for funeral offerings or human remains. Which is even more interesting considering that the post mentioned “the dying land of Amphoreus”, which leads me to think that one of the three Paths fettering Amphoreus might be Finality. 

As for why it’s dying, the answer is quite explicit when you know your mythology : “they will smite down the gods, return the divine fire”. This is Prometheus myth, and if we have Prometheus myth, we have Pandora’s Box in tow. And  tell me, what is a pithos if not a massive amphora ? In Prometheus’ myth, the gods didn’t take back the gift of fire, but what if they did in Amphoreus ? In addition to letting their Pandora release the curses of death, sickness and all other various evils to plague humankind ?

The idea of Remembrance and Finality being two of the three Paths in Amphoreus is even more endorsed by the mention of granting rebirth.  We know that Fuli’s realm “Eden of Blessed Insight” also known as the Pure Land of Recollection, serves to store memories that “shall serve to reshape the entirety of the world after its annihilation”. It’s basically backup data in case of inevitable doom, in order to recreate the universe as it once was. Aglaea having a “Mnestia” as Divine Authority is also adding to it, as Mnestia more than probably comes from “mnestic”, meaning “pertaining to memory”.

That’s one of the reason why I kept the information about the Charites being linked to the Underworld and the Eleusinian Mysteries, between the funerary amphoras, the okhema and Myth of Er and now that, it seems important enough to keep track of any references to death and rebirth. The aforementioned “Chrysalis” is also counting in said references, as it’s a common symbol for death and rebirth by metamorphosis/transformation.

I have another theory to talk about, but this is already long enough  I fear.

[justsomekpopstuff]

seventeen as greek mythology

A/N: this was an idea that I had ages ago and wanted to bring it to life. I didn't want to only do any of the basic Olympians either, so I really went IN on this. Feel free to disagree with how I place them, just don't be a jerk about it! Also, if any artists/edit makers want to use these placements as inspo for art and moodboards and stuff, please do! Just tag me in it so I can see it and give credit

current masterlist | fic recs

Seungcheol: Themis - goddess of divine law and order

Jeonghan: Prometheus - god of forethought and crafty counsel

Joshua: Metis - goddess of good counsel, advice, planning, cunning, craftiness, and wisdom

Jun: Horme - deity of impulse, effort, eagerness, and starting actions

Hoshi: Terpsichore - muse of dance and choral poetry

Wonwoo: Athena - goddess of reason, wisdom, intelligence, skill, peace, warfare, battle strategy, and handicrafts

Woozi: Euterpe - muse of musical poetry

DK: Helios - god of the sun and guardian of oaths

Mingyu: Hestia - goddess of the hearth, home, and domesticity

Minghao: Atraeus - god of dusk, stars, and planets, and the art of astrology

Seungkwan: Mnemosyne - goddess of memory and remembrance

Vernon: Pasithea - goddess of relaxing meditation and hallucinations

Dino: Morpheus - god of dreaming

[silverskye13]

Are saints allowed to serve their paladins, or is it mostly a one-way street? Are saints allowed to exist and act when unasked for?

Hmm. This turned a little rambling I apologise. Also I end up saying the word "domain" a lot, so in lieu of finding a good place to explain what I mean by domain, I'll just say it before the cut.

A Saint's "domain" is the thing about the universe they've learned to manipulate, using the faith of the people that believe in them. For large gods who maybe always started as concepts [Order of Remembrance for example], the domain is a broad concept like memory. If memory is involved, it will pull apart the universe to affect it. However, if it wanted to do some kind of miracle [calling a paladin to capture someone maybe, or healing a terrible wound], if doing so would have no effect on its domain, it could not affect change. Smaller saints might have more niche concepts attached to them. [Ie, I have a headcanon VintageBeef's hels is a Saint of Slaughter/Butchery, and is best followed by people who do hoglin hunts in hels. His following is small, and he channels his power for only This Specific Thing, and can affect nothing else.]

I think it depends a bit on the deity in question, and how much deification they get, whether their power is a physical two-way link. Something they use with the same proficiency they put into others.

Small Saints who have basically no followers, and have little to no idea what they stand for, or why, are basically Just Guys. They are Guys powered by someone else's faith, who have interesting powers that manifest on occasion, and they have a habit of collecting very dedicated friend groups. But they are still, at the end of the day, Just Guys. They can act when unasked for, they can help their priests and paladins literally, physically, or do the miracle they want to do themselves, because at that point, everything about them is small and personal, and human. If your neighborhood pastor could work a miracle under a set of memorized rules, and sometimes shook your hand and let you do it too, they would be a Small Saint.

[That's not to say a Small Saint isn't still powerful. They are people who can mess with the weave of the world. Anyone not prepared for that is going to get the shock of their life. Anyone who isn't a Saint who is channeling that, is going to suffer consequences. It's just that, a Small Saint could maybe channel through one person at a time, and they might not even know how they did it. *Coughing noises, glances at plot*]

Medium? Saints? Saints that have a following, that have too many people to have an individual relationship with, get a little more unfathomable and constrained. At some point, messing with the universe has repercussions for everyone. If the Hermits had a whole city of followers, they would default to this. The world looks different to them. They can see the edges, where infinity and coding lies. In hels, a Saint who reaches that point stops seeing people as people, and they themselves stop looking and feeling like people. They can affect several people at once. They can justify things like punishment, and creating a moral code for people to follow. Being able to balance between the universe and hels is more important. They could still intervene on someone's behalf, but it's no longer a personal decision, and now something measured in loyalty, faith, prayer. You are one person, and your Saint is changing the world for a dozen of you, but power has limits.

[I imagine Evil X is somewhere around here. He has creative mode. He knows he can break the world to his will. But he also still has a physical body, and can just walk across the room and move something. He's still a person, he's just a person who's taken on the Uncanny, and knows there are no true repercussions to his actions. He's not a kind Saint, if he can rightly be called one. I imagine he was very destructive when he discovered his power, and had to mellow out over time. His domain has to do with chaos, and breaking things for the sake of breaking them. He had to learn it's a power he can use, not a power he has to use.]

Big Saints [and gods], get eldritch. They don't really exist as people anymore. Maybe they went on pilgrimage one day and never returned, but an echo of them has manifested as something people can tap into now. Maybe they stayed a person as long as possible, but at some point so much faith elevated them into something Different, a change a simpler more human them would have feared, but they no longer remember that simpler person anymore. Instead they are the impulses and principles they ruled themselves and others by, and their only memories have narrowed into parables and legends that only show hints of the person they used to be. They can give their power to a select few people willingly, but they no longer go out of their way to intercede in their daily life. They have gifted a piece of themselves to someone, because that person can be trusted to use it well, but they won't mourn that person if they leave. One person is small in the eye of the universal.

To me, Helsknight's Saint of Blood and Steel is a large, old Saint, with a congregation that deals best with the impersonal. They are people looking to be swords in the hands of the divine, so their Saint treats them as such. If the Saint had no congregation, as a deity always looking for a sword, they would act on their own until they found someone willing, but they would always be looking for a sword.

I also feel like some of how personal and two-way the connection is, is dependent on the nature of the domain.

Tanguish, if he ever becomes a true Saint with a following, doesn't know what his domain is. All he knows is, Helsknight promised to protect him, and so when he needed help, he Called, and Helsknight Answered. It was terrifying. He pulled a thread of the universe and used it to change what should have happened. If Helsknight were suffering, as someone who is human, who can't even see the threads they're pulling, Tanguish would do everything he could to help, and if he stumbled into his domain along the way, he would use it for that purpose. The power he has, whatever it is, can be genuinely harmful when used, because helsmets were not made to feel the full force of the universe -- something that already seeks to devour them on principle. He is someone who just found out that sometimes, seemingly randomly, he touches a person and they're struck by lightning. Whether they willingly touched him, and whether he would willingly take the lightning strike in their place, isn't exactly the current issue.

The God of Memory, whatever gives the Blue Lady her paladin powers, probably feels small and personal despite coming from a large idea and probably never being human. Its domain is Remembrance, and that implies something that tries to be personal despite how Eldritch it is. When its power is channeled, it always harms the channeler grandly and dramatically [the Blue Lady saying a small prophesy and being blinded by ink is a very light repercussion. It doesn't know what humanity is. It doesn't know what a body is. Or eating or drinking, or that someone who needs crutches to walk can't just drop them and not hurt muscle and bone. It just knows its will is needed so it acts. It is learning. It doesn't want to lose its followers, because it wants to form long, lasting memories of them. But it will break a lot of people before it learns limits.]

Meanwhile, the Saint of Blood and Steel definitely started as a person. They have an origin point [the plot will get there someday], they even have a Known Ascension. But they are a Saint to things like Vengeance and Justice, distant concepts that are best when they're not personal, a swinging sword that Exacts A Price. Channeling them will damage because the nature of the power is damaging, but they temper that by only calling people for a cause worthy of dying for. If there is a chance jumping off a cliff will break your legs, they will first guarantee there's a reason to get to the bottom. The Saint of Blood and Steel knows who they are, and knows that every knight or paladin or priest to pass through their halls is, almost certainly, doomed. They might have tried to save a few, long ago when they were something closer to human, but now they know a universal truth: whether they succeed or fail in saving anyone, whoever served them will have done it willingly, and there will always be someone along to replace them. When a sword is broken, you do not mourn the sword. You pick up another. Though you may grow melancholy for something cared for, now lost.

No matter how large, or loved, or powerful a Saint is, the Universe will always be more so. It has to be. If every helsmet had to become a Saint to hold a fraction of the potential a Hermit has, and every Hermit has faith in the universe, in the fact that it exists, that it speaks to them when they fight the monsters in the world, that it loves them, the Universe will always be bigger than even the largest hels-born Saint could fathom.

[jollmaster]

hi! Since Andrealphus and Vassago are from the original Ars Goetia and aren't created by vivziepop, they're present in your rewrite ?

hi!

I haven't drawn Vassago yet, I apologize 🖤 but nevertheless, Andrealphus, commander of thirty legions

• his real name is Adramelech, the Glorious King

• thin-skinned, like all angels, with a big nose, diastema and let's be honest not-so-pretty skinny face

• mohawk, rings, black diamond earrings, sloppy but elegant clothes, reminiscent of peacock feathers, and contrasted by a cape of dressed donkey skin

• talks loudly and gesticulates

• archaically evil and hot: don't be fooled by Andrealphus' skinny figure, because he'll cut your face off and make you eat your own tongue

• one of those fallen angels who supported Helel's rebellion and were banished from Eden

• was a solar deity in Sepharvaim, mesopotamian city, for several centuries; ruled the city as a sun god along with his beloved twin brother Anamelech, who was a lunar deity

• Anamelech, quieter and more reserved, patronized artisans; Adramelech, more violent (this was something normal for sons of the sun that days), took human sacrifices and ate sacrificed roasted flesh

• brother was killed during one of the internecine skirmishes between demons, and Adramelech melted Anamelech's earrings into rings as a token of remembrance

• he still likes meat

[fernthewhimsical]

Prayer to Ashka

Lord of Remembrance, you who is humble and wise Bring us the memories, of those passed on Their voices, their joys, so they will not be forgotten You who guards their remains, and guides their shining souls We welcome your warm embrace, and the end of our existence We welcome your warm embrace, as we remember those we lost Lord of Remembrance, I love and honour you

[blasphemousclaw]

ok I’ve always thought it was weird that the Great Serpent was just a normal sized snake in Rykard’s opening art like imagine an ancient cult of volcano dwellers worshiping and sacrificing people to a serpent god thats just. a normal ass looking snake. nothing like the behemoth that is our God-Devouring Serpent. how lame would that be. but then I thought of an idea while I was trying to sleep and now I’m writing this

anyway we know that the serpent cult used to provide blood sacrifices to the serpent god:

“Curved sword fashioned in the image of an ancient serpent deity and tool of a forgotten religion practiced on Mt. Gelmir. Formerly used to offer up sacrifices, this sword restores HP upon slaying an enemy.” (Serpent God’s Curved Sword)

the religion of the Gelmir serpent cult is long forgotten, all that remains of them are their artifacts… the Great Serpent has likely not been venerated since the demise of the cult.

we also know that Rykard, as the serpent of blasphemy, is able to grow continuously because of his devouring of sacrifices:

“Rykard took the form of a giant serpent that he might devour, grow, and live eternally.” (Remembrance of the Blasphemous)

his hands also seem to be outgrowing his rings, the flesh bulging around the metal bands:

WHAT IF. the Great Serpent used to be a serpent of enormous size, like the size of the snake shed in the temple of Eiglay:

but since the demise of Mt. Gelmir’s serpent cult, and the subsequent demonization of serpents as “traitors to the Erdtree,” there was no one left to offer up sacrifices to the Serpent… so there was nothing to sustain its infinite growth, and it was greatly diminished in size and power. BUT now that Rykard has been devoured and merged with the Serpent’s being, he is provided plenty of sacrifices by Tanith to be able to grow eternally. This also gives the Serpent a reason to make a pact with Rykard, to attempt to regain its former power and finally fulfill its prophecy of devouring the world…

[ad-caelestia]

plutonian death magic [♇]

pluto, otherwise known as hades in greek mythology, is the ruler and guardian of the underworld.

ethically collect graveyard dirt and charge it with plutonian energy - may be used in spells that correspond with pluto’s energy, spirit work, or any act that includes honoring the dead

create a shrine or altar dedicated to a loved one who has passed on - add a symbolic representation of pluto for the protection of your loved one in the afterlife

create an amulet to represent an ancestor or loved one that has passed on and charge with plutonian energy - this can be worn for remembrance or to aid in contacting the spirit of this person

some ideas for this may include: the name of your loved one; a sigil that represents their name and your intention; some of their ashes (please don’t take ashes from a family urn without permission); graveyard dirt from the grave of your loved one (again, not without permission); herbs or crystals that correspond to spirit work and death magic (perhaps even your loved one’s favorite crystal or flower)

provide offerings to pluto for the continued protection of your loved ones in the afterlife

plant herbs and flowers that correspond with pluto

volunteer to work with hospice patients or to help clean up your local graveyard

provide food and beverages on your altar or sacred space

light a candle or incense of corresponding scent

leave corresponding crystals or herbs in an offering dish

leave offerings for your loved ones at their grave or on your altar

design a crystal grid using plutonian crystals to amplify corresponding spells or rituals

wear a crystal pendant that corresponds with pluto for the metaphorical death and rebirth of one’s self

use the death card in your tarot deck during spells and rituals that involve death magic

i typically do not work with any deities, but sometimes i feel it's appropriate to incorporate persephone as well.

⇢ i’d like to thank @death-witch-envy, who was a huge inspiration for this post and an inspiration for my interest in death witchcraft. ⇠

© 2024 𝚊𝚍-𝚌𝚊𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚊