#godbothering

[suzirya]

I'm like if a girl was a continuously looping bloom and decay animation sequence. I'm like if my thought patterns hyphaed, mycelially. I'm like if a girl was a mountain-striding giantess. I'm like if a girl was a chimera. I'm like if a girl was a bunch of tea leaves left a minute or two past ideal in their steeping vessel. I'm like if a girl were the ember left on an incense stick when the flame sinks in. I'm like if a girl was "buy 10 for $10" on that fruit you go apeshit for in the grocery store. I'm like if a girl was 52-pickup played with a tarot deck. I'm like if a girl was a collection of cool rocks. I'm like if a girl was her own patron saint of integrity. I'm like if a girl were the priest's favourite sacrificial lamb. I'm like if a girl were an inward-looking oracle. I'm like if a psychopomp. I'm like if Girls Against God. I'm like if a girl transfigured. I'm like if a girl were a designated area of concern under remediation. I'm like if a girl were a hide-and-seek game with herself. I'm like if a girl were hallow(ed) on the inside. I'm like if a girl were the entire water cycle diagram. I'm like if a girl were a grown-ass woman who was a coyote. I'm like if a girl were wish full. I'm like if a girl were golden hour in a short-grass prairie in the mountain foothills and the path was riotous with dandelions. I'm like if a girl's shards were showing. Like if kintsugi. I'm like if a girl visibly mended. (Insp.)

[wakingfromthewater]

It's Advent 2, the first Sunday in December and I am not in service, I have not been in rehearsals since October, I am in the empty office playing O Magnum Mysterium out of the shitty speakers of my Dell because I can't remember the composer of the piece I want to hear only how the sheet music looks, I used to say that it's not Christmas until I hear this or sing that but the truth is that Advent means Christmas will come regardless of any of that. That you have time to decide to be ready.

[dovesndecay]

I got very pleasantly high, snuggled my cat obnxiously, put on my October playlist, and had a fucking epiphany about my story. Fuck me running I am putting so much shit on this character. I can't wait.

[sabakos]

The Thrush.

by Lydia Sigourney

"I'LL pay my rent in music," said a thrush Who took his lodging 'neath my eaves in spring, Where the thick foliage droop'd. And well he kept His simple contract. Not for quarter-day He coldly waited, nor a draft required To stir his memory, nor my patience tried With changeful currencies, but every morn Brought me good notes at par, and broke my sleep With his sweet-ringing coin. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Sometimes, a song, All wildly trilling through his dulcet pipes, Falling, and caught again, and still prolong'd, Betray'd in what green nook the warbler sat, Each feather quivering with excess of joy, While from his opening beak and brightening eye There seem'd to breathe a cadence, "This is meant For your especial benefit." The lay With overruling shrillness more than once Did summon me to lay my book aside And wait its close; nor was that pause a loss, But seem'd to tune and shape the inward ear To wisdom's key-tone. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Then I had a share In softer songs, that cheer'd his brooding mate, Who, in the patience of good hope, did keep Her lengthen'd vigil; and the voice of love That flow'd so fondly from his trusting soul Made glad mine own. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Then, too, there was a strain From blended throats, that to their callow young Breathed tenderness untold; and the weak chirp Of new-born choristers, so deftly train'd, Each in the sweet way that he ought to go, Mix'd with that breath of household charities Which makes the spirit strong. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀���⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀And so I felt My rent was fully paid, and thought myself Quite fortunate, in these our times, to find Such honest tenant. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀But when autumn bade The northern birds to spread their parting wing, And that small house was vacant, and o'er hedge And russet grove and forest hoar with years The hush of silence settled, I grew sad To miss my kind musicians, and was fain To patronize with a more fervent zeal Such fireside music as makes winter short, And storms unheard. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Yet leave within our hearts, Dear melodists, the spirit of your praise, Until ye come again; and the brown nest, That now its downy lining to the winds Turns desolate, shall thrill at your return With the loud welcome home. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀For He who touch'd Your breasts with minstrelsy, and every flower With beauty, hath a lesson for his sons, In all the varied garniture that decks Life's banquet-board; and he's the wisest guest Who taketh gladly what his God doth send, Keeping each instrument of joy in tune That helps to fit him for the choir of Heaven.

[power-chords]

I dunno what to tell you, man, sometimes people who do not share your religious beliefs write engaging articles in defense of socialism and publish books with inflammatory titles that are obviously in response to other books with inflammatory titles. If writing impassioned treatises on matters of personal faith and translating the New Testament counts as "forcing beliefs on others" then libraries and bookstores are unwitting Orwellian institutions, I guess.

[loving-n0t-heyting]

I don't think Reddit was ever meaningfully right-wing. What I think it once was was 4chan-y. Genuinely edgy and anarchic of spirit. It hasn't really been that in ages but that's where the Reddit atheist idea comes from

I think i see what yr driving at but yr gonna have a hard time arguing 4chan is not rightwing

Tbc for all my godbothering and leftoid woke sermonising i would be uncorking champagne if we got the old politically fringey socially maladjusted peach freezing reddit back. The shitlords to put up with are a more than a fair price

[legowerewolf]

Murderbot as Cinderella

So this just kinda happened.

Murderbot is Cinderella, obviously.

ART is both the Fairy Godbother and the pumpkin coach.

the evil family are The Company

the PresAux crew are, collectively, the Prince

You could probably draw lines between other CR companies and other attendees at the ball?

[leannan-sithe]

Terminology Options

For Godspousing and Spirit Partners

These are frequently used on our 4-year-old godspousing discord, some were developed / coined there, some are terms with existing history.

Otherpartner

general term for an entity who is your romantic, s*xual, or otherwise intimate partner, where intimate does not include familial intimacy

can be applied to any entity (spirits, ghosts, heroes) not solely deities

useful when discussing groups, i.e. "What does your Otherpartner like?" when directed at multiple people.

capitalization is up to the user, but I find sometimes it differentiates Otherpartner as intentional word combination versus otherpartner as a typo

Compersion

a preexisting term - search for other definitions!

joy felt in polyamorous (or non monogamous) relationships when your partner is intimate with another person

applicable to godspousing due to shared partners and inherent polyamorous nature of god-relationships

Godbothered

preexisting internet term that refers to being "bothered" by a deity, in the simplest terms

although "bothered" can have negative associations on its own, godbothered is/was originally a neutral term

godbothering is commonly associated with the sense that Something/Someone is trying to get your attention, via divination, any of the "clairs" (seeing, hearing, sensing outside of IRL), or through media / social media

the term seems to be most commonly associated with tumblr pagans, where godbothering can occur through "dashomancy", where it is presumed the bothering god in question puts repeated signs/symbols on your dash (feed) to get your attention; the veracity of dashomancy is up for debate due to algorithm interference

Godbothered is often just a way to say, "I feel like something wants my attention and I don't know who or what yet" rather than any specific stigmatized/irritating actions

Here's a link to an older post on my blog about specific godspousing terms, like godpartner versus godspouse, or using consort or mate as word-endings!

Note: This post was not intended to be a all-encompassing list, but more of a convenient excuse to introduce others to useful terminology.

[dougielombax]

I am afraid of being alone.

Yes!

I’ll admit it.

Not that I ever doubted it.

But I’ve seen FAR too many people using someone’s loneliness as an excuse to badger them with proselytising.

Specifically with regards to Christianity.

(I can’t say the same for other religions due to demographics in my area, plus some other religions don’t proselytise (Judaism, Druze, Mandaeism, and Yazidism spring to mind))

ESPECIALLY with Christianity!

“Well, have ye thought about God? Jesus?”

“Oh dear. Well ye’ll be sorry when ye’s older.”

Fuck off with that shite!

Belittling condescension!

Talking as if we were lost, frightened, helpless children!

I grew up with it and found it lacking and offering nothing but unrequited obedience, shame at simply existing as I am, along with perpetual misery and an eternal fear of judgment and damnation.

And some people call THAT a new counterculture?! Be RID of it!

Fucking bullshit!

Keep your proselytising to yourself! That shit needs to end fucking yesterday.

The world doesn’t need any more missionaries!

(And no, cold, nihilistic, bullying, judgmental atheism isn’t the answer either. I tried it and was found wanting!)

Get in the fucking BIN with that shite!

That’s why I lost patience with (western) Catholicism.

To say nothing of Protestantism, most of it is dull, austere and demanding, and has stupid ideas about work ethic and the like. (Fuck Calvinism btw! A ghastly miserable thing!)

I want NONE of that!

Bunch of nasty, bitter, judgmental, miserable, godbothering old women!

Don’t try selling me any of that shite!

No I’m not bitter, shut up!

And don’t even get me started on school reunions.

[suzirya]

I just need everyone to know I could inflict such specific terrors on the Vatican chibi figurine stall at Italian comic con and quite frankly I should and it's also what I specifically deserve

[wakingfromthewater]

It delights me that Easter and Trans Day of Visibility are sharing a date this year. What a celebration of new life.

[kowase-kowase]

Non-Believer

Godbothering in my Sunday-best

I bash Bibles sidelong against my head

Oh Jesus the pain

The Lord cried in vain-

Prayed-for phantom,

By the dying light of the lantern

He and I were born again

Hellfire-flickering anointing oil

Brings Holy water to brimstone boil,

Holy Father- absolve me of my sin

Eternal afterlife, the sacrifice within,

I do not deserve this

I did not earn this,

Gutteral screams and silent hym

[loki-zen]

Really, I think Elder Price spoke for all of our existential crises when he sang

“Heavenly Father, why do you let bad things happen? More to the point, why do you let bad things happen to me?”

[pineygir]

A little #Easter #godbothering in#Walthamstow today 🐣🕊 (at Bakers Arms)

[murcielagobrujx]

I feel like this is pretty much what recently happened in my spiritual life:

Veles: *communicates with me through a fictional representation of Veles literally named Veles* Me: Wow I feel really drawn to a Trickster-type god rn. I think it’s… Veles: *waits in anticipation* Me: … Loki. I’m gonna start worshiping Loki. Loki: *pleased and LOL-ing* Veles: *stares into the camera like in The Office*

But jk, I’m incorporating both of them in my practice now lol instead of being willfully ignorant and pretending Veles isn’t poking at me and pretending I’m not interested. Because Loki has been godbothering me for a long time and I am drawn to Him (him? do Lokeans capitalize Loki pronouns? does it vary between people? I’m such a noob help me) and finally got over that hurdle and decided to accept my interest, but Veles is also trying to gain my attention and I’m drawn to Him (him? idk) too. So both. Both is good.

It only took me a while because I have weird angst about focusing on gods I perceive as associated with white people instead of exclusively with the culture/beliefs of my ancestors of color, which I’m also trying to practice. Especially when some Norse and Slavic spiritual groups are white supremacist groups. Yikes. (Though those groups tend to hate Loki it seems, so that’s one comfort.) But whatever, they’re open cultures, Viking and Slavic societies were not exclusively white either, and the shitty white people are wrong. And my other practices and deities are not incompatible. So yeah. Two more gods in my life, and they both give me lots of feels. I grabbed a bunch of library books for research and I might post some of my notes soon, too.

[dougielombax]

I don’t give a damn about so-called family values.

Family values is just a dogwhistle for anti-LGBT bigotry and other such authoritarian fuckwittery.

Usually spouted by terminally online middle aged divorcees with a podcast, or senile virginal godbothering fascists.