#mithra creation

[beloven]

☆ DECEMBER '23  -  NOVEMBER '24 BIRTHDAY

together with you,  through song and dance,  our melody shines on.

[pyrrhiccomedy]

So I’ve tracked through the tags that Bellefluer has always planned to kill Bastion, but I’m so curious! What are the deets! For what purpose, to what end! If she wants to end this history how does his death help her?

Bellefleur wants to do more than end this history: she wants to end all histories. She wants to bring about the final victory of the Emperor-Wolf, and drop the curtain on the universe.

How does she plan to do that (and what does Bastian have to do with it)?

To understand Bellefleur's plan, you have to understand (as she does) the actual purpose of the universe as conceived by the Glory itself. (And I'm going to have to be a little evasive here, because Emily hasn't worked out everything going on with this stuff yet.) The Glory has no will, per se: but the exhalation of the Glory at the dawn of the Anthelion history created the entire architecture of the universe as we know it, as if it were a natural and inevitable consequence of the Glory's emanation.

Into that universe, the Glory projected - well, it's called a lot of things across many cultures. A son, let's just say. Bastian understands it to be Lucifer: the greatest of all the Glory's creations, the one most like the Glory itself, but a being of dynamism and will and preferences, set to rule over everything in existence. Another way to think of it might be to just say that the Glory - which is in completeness and totality in a way that may preclude it from holding anything as prosaic as an opinion - created a projection of itself that was separate from itself, metaphysically incomplete in a way that would allow that projection to distinguish between itself and the universe around it.

And then the Glory asked his son - this projection, this emanation - a question.

Bastian doesn't know what the question was. But only Lucifer - as he calls this creation - can answer it. And Lucifer can't, presently, answer the question, because Lucifer no longer exists.

In the moment after his creation - right after hearing the question - the son of the Glory discovered darkness inside of himself, and expelled it to the depths of Mithra, the gravitational nothing at the bottom of creation. That darkness embodied itself as the Emperor-Wolf, but it's hard to say that the Emperor-Wolf is anything. It is nothing: it is the void: it is the negative image. It is the nihilistic howl of unmaking. And for the rest of the Anthelion History, the Emperor-Wolf planned its revenge against (as esoteric scholars in the world of Heretic call what was left of that son of the Glory then) the Sun-In-Glory, for presuming to define and create his perfect Self as one without a shadow.

The Emperor-Wolf created the Rending - an annihilating force of hatred and destruction - and hurled it out of Mithra into the heart of the Sun-In-Glory, and killed him.

And then a new history turned over, and the Rending did not kill the Sun-in-Glory, and this really pisses Bellefleur off: because the Emperor-Wolf had won. The Glory (if it is the Glory who determines the fission of a new history) had cheated. In this new history - the Pridian History - the Rending had shattered the Sun-In-Glory, but not fatally. What was left was

The Crown (the Sun-In-Rags, in hospice now under the care of the Madrugad, still in possession of the Voice of God)

The Mantle (the Pyre-Hawk, the burning beauty and joy of Lucifer)

The Body (Mother White, the strength and creative power of Lucifer, now undead and starving)

and the Blood, who is always mortal, and is...whatever is left of the Devil when you strip the rest of it away. The Blood is who the Devil is. What sort of person he is. Bastian is the Blood of his age. Christ was the Blood before him. There have been others.

What does all of this have to do with Bellefleur's plan?

Well, the universe can't end until the son of the Glory answers the Glory's question. That is - from the perspective of someone like Bellefleur, who is looking at everything on the grandest possible scale - the point of the universe. It is there to be regarded by Lucifer and inform the answer to the question, whatever the question might be. So to end the universe, first you have to put the Devil back together.

And that includes the Emperor-Wolf and the Rending, too! The part that Lucifer expelled from himself, and the part of that which the Emperor-Wolf fashioned into a weapon to be his active agent in the universe (mirroring the relationship between the Glory and Lucifer himself, if you like). Only when all six are one being again can Bellefleur hope for the histories to stop changing over. This project is known by esoteric scholars in the world of Heretic as the Reunification of the Sun.

But if the Sun is to be Reunified, it has to be determined: under which part?

The Emperor-Wolf and the Sun-In-Rags both want to 'rule' over the reconstituted Son of the Glory. Mother White seems to want that, too, if we can interpret "she wants to eat the rest of them" as 'ruling them.' The Pyre-Hawk doesn't seem to care who comes out on top, but has not joined its power to any of the others yet (and once did make a friendly overture towards Bastian, which he accidentally rejected because he didn't realize what it was): and then there's the Rending, who just wants to destroy everything, and maybe go on a date with the Sunflower King, but definitely wouldn't let any harmonious conjunction of the constituent forces of the Sun happen on its watch, unless perhaps it would leave the Emperor-Wolf, its father, ascendant.

That leaves the Blood.

The Blood always starts out as, BY FAR, the weakest of all of the parts of the Sun. But it's also the only one that isn't trapped. The Emperor-Wolf is imprisoned on Candle Lake, the Rending fell in love like a dipshit and is kept pacified by the sacrifice of the Sunflower King, Mother White is pinned down mostly-dead by the Black Captain and the Madderblade, and the Sun-In-Rags will die if it leaves the citadel of the Madrugad. (The Pyre-Hawk is just vibing. It's not trying to win.) So Bastian is free to act in a way that none of the others can.

Bastian intends to complete the Reunification of the Sun under his banner, and answer the question the Glory asked himself, once he figures out what it is, and how to make an answer. Bellefleur also intended that...up to a point. She had a great plan that would see Bastian conquer Mother White, the Rending, the Pyre-Hawk and the Sun-In-Rags before confronting the Emperor-Wolf (a plan which, to Bastian's great unease, his is probably still following). But Bastian intends to defeat the Emperor-Wolf: while Bellefleur planned to betray him and sacrifice him to the Emperor-Wolf, securing the final victory of the Void.

Bastian's still gonna have to confront the Emperor-Wolf eventually. And Bellefleur surely still plans to turn up when he does.

As for why Bellefleur wants this, I can't really say much. Why his wife who he loves meant to stab him in the back at the precipice of his triumph is a question that keeps Bastian up at night. She's angry at the Glory for the state of the universe, sure: but wasn't the plan for Bastian to change the universe? She saw the Emperor-Wolf with her own eyes in a moment of despair while on a last, desperate pilgrimage for meaning, but did that enslave her to his will - or did she genuinely find purpose in his nihilism? She was launched on this course after petitioning the Queen-In-Chains, but does that make her quest madness, or inspiration?

What Bellefleur really wants, and if she can possibly be saved from wanting it, is a big question for the final act of the campaign, when we get there.

[tomose]

[A Magical Experience for You on a Starry Night] Chapter 1 Translation

FRAME-BOUND SNOW: Sweet dreams, White.

FRAME-BOUND WHITE: Sleep tight, Snow.

FRAME-BOUND SNOW: How fortunate we are to retire for the night in the comfort of our chamber; alas, at one point, I feared this wouldn’t be the case.

FRAME-BOUND WHITE: I echo the sentiment; spending the night out on a mission was the last thing I could have wished for.

Mithra and Owen simply had to stir up a frenzied skirmish close to sunset–tsk tsk. Whatever shall we do with those troublemakers?

FRAME-BOUND SNOW: The situation could have gotten out of hand if not for Oz. Bringing him along proved to be the right move.

On the topic of our pupil, I do believe he has also retired for the night—though no doubt far from a restful repose…

FRAME-BOUND WHITE: Bless his poor soul. Over a lengthy stretch of time, he had the world bent to his will, every life subdued to submission.

FRAME-BOUND SNOW: Oh, the humiliation. He stands as the world’s most powerful wizard; his infamy as the Demon Lord strikes fear in the hearts of wizards and humans alike.

FRAME-BOUND SNOW & WHITE: …Yet look at him now: stripped of his powers until daylight shines its rays upon us. Such a state proves tantamount to having all four limbs torn off, no?

FRAME-BOUND WHITE: Then again, are we in any position to talk? We find ourselves bound to this frame each time the night lowers its veils.

FRAME-BOUND SNOW: Never have I felt so deprived of freedom!

FRAME-BOUND WHITE: Never have I had to deal with such a headache!

FRAME-BOUND SNOW & WHITE: Will we ever see light at the end of the tunnel…

OZ: …

<<Vox N–

*snooze*

*gasp*

…

How I detest this bizarre affliction.

I don’t remember how I got here, but I suddenly found myself flying in the blue skies. Up here, the playful breeze tousles my hair, and the billowing white clouds are within arm’s length.

Setting my gaze above, I sped up my flight and used that momentum to do a flip midair. It was as if I grew my own set of tail and fins—like a dolphin swimming freely and without a care in the sky.

AKIRA: Haha! Now I know what it’s like to cast magic! How epic is that?

A field of blossoms caught my attention when I looked below my feet. Red, blue, yellow, green, and violet—a motley of beautiful flowers swayed with the breeze.

AKIRA: (I bet they’d make a beautiful bouquet.)

With a simple wave of my hand, the flowers formed a rainbow and floated toward the sky, making their way into my arms in a matter of seconds. No longer able to conceal my excitement, I gave the bouquet a big hug.

AKIRA: (Oh my gosh! I can use magic…!)

I’m a real wizard now…!

Huh?!

All of a sudden, a sharp burning sensation ran somewhere in my body. When I came to, I found myself in a completely different place.

AKIRA: Where am I…

Towering before me was a door—and then I realized, because of the rattling and vibration, that I was on an elevator.

AKIRA: Don’t tell me…

I looked down to check where I felt the burning sensation earlier.

AKIRA: A crest of black lily…!

The noise trailed off at some point and the elevator stopped moving. In the silence of the closed space, only the sound of my heartbeat grew louder.

AKIRA: (Oh, I see what’s going on. I was chosen as one of the Sage’s wizards.

Slowly, the door before me opened—

RIQUET: What happened next?

MITILE: Did you get to see what awaited outside the elevator door?

AKIRA: Sadly, no. My dream stopped there and I woke up.

One early afternoon, Shylock invited us to his bar to taste-test his newest cocktail creation.

While we waited for him to mix drinks behind the counter, I saw the opportunity to share the curious dream I had last night. Sakitty snuggled up to my neck as if to join my wizards in listening to my story.

AKIRA: It felt so real that I had to look for my crest as soon as I woke up.

SHYLOCK: Did you find it?

AKIRA: Unfortunately, no…

OZ: It would be stranger if you did.

SNOW: Far out and far-fetched. Entertaining yet ephemeral.

WHITE: Such is the nature of dreams.

AKIRA: Haha, you said it.

In any case, thank you for listening to me ramble. I’ve been itching to tell someone about my dream since I woke up; I feel so much better after getting it off my chest.

SHYLOCK: *chuckle* Understandable, given that the dream you had is intriguing and begs for interpretation. Perhaps… that dream might just be your very “wish upon a star”, Master Sage.

Shylock chimed in as he placed a glass each in front of us. The blue syrup filling them was glittered with shimmering bits.

SHYLOCK: Introducing my newest creation: Wish Upon a Star.

Of course, I made sure to prepare a mocktail version for our non-drinking friends. Enjoy.

RIQUET: So pretty…

MITILE: It’s like you enclosed sections of the starlit skies inside these glasses!

SNOW: How very tasteful. I see you kept the starry theme consistent, from the visual appeal to its name. I’m inclined to agree that this drink encapsulates Tanabata.

WHITE: If my memory serves me well, this so-called Tanabata is a make-a-wish festival originating from the Sage’s world, no?

AKIRA: That's right. As it happens, Shylock has made a couple of Tanabata-themed drinks in the past.

SHYLOCK: I have, yes. Like the previous ones, I harnessed inspiration from shooting stars—the result of which is my newly unveiled creation.

My dear friends, what are we waiting for? I urge you to have a sip while the stars in your glasses have yet to lose their twinkle.

SNOW & WHITE: Cheers!

AKIRA: Mmm, so good! It offers a mildly sweet flavor profile with an unexpected hint of bitterness…!

OZ: …Exquisite.

RIQUET: Oh! I feel something popping in my mouth! What is this, Shylock?

SHYLOCK: Your mouth is the stage and the shimmering stars sprinkled in your drink are the dancers.

As you savor the sensation, may I suggest… taking this moment to come up with a wish? Who knows? The stars might just grant your endearing request should they feel like doing so.

SNOW: Squee! Oh, you romantic, you!

WHITE: A wish, Ozzie! Did you hear that? What’s yours going to be?

OZ: I have none to entrust to the stars.

RIQUET: Do you have a wish in mind, Mitile?

MITILE: I got mine figured out: it’s to maintain a fun and tight-knit atmosphere as we all live under the same roof!

RIQUET: Yay, we share the same wish! It’s like you read my mind! Hehe!

AKIRA: Wish upon a star… Hmm, let me think.

SNOW: Why, do you even need to think about yours? What of the dream you had?

AKIRA: Huh?

WHITE: As Shylock pointed out, perhaps you dream spells your wish to become a Sage’s wizard.

AKIRA: That dream is my…

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, recalling how it had felt to use magic in my dream.

The pleasant breeze tickled my body as I soared the skies with ease. With a simple wave of my hand, the flowers danced and formed a beautiful bouquet the way I had pictured it.

…Yes, and let’s not forget the sounds the elevator made. That very same elevator carried me to this world at the beginning.

AKIRA: Oh, good point… Rather than interpreting it a wish, I guess it’s more of a thought that occupies my mind at times.

I do often try to picture what it would be like if I weren’t the Sage but one of your fellow Sage’s wizards instead…

Slowly, I opened my eyes to survey the faces of my wizards.

Is this what it feels to be half awake, half in a dream? Strangely enough, I’m filled with the strong urge today to articulate the feelings I typically keep to myself.

As if the fragments of emotions in my heart decided to put on garbs of words and march out of my lips in a steady file.

AKIRA: You could say my desire to get to know you all better, not to mention my interest in familiarizing myself with this world and magic, keeps growing by the day. After all, where I’m from, “magic” and “wizards” are but fictional concepts.

MITILE: Oh, I do remember you saying wizards only exist in fairy tales in your world.

AKIRA: That’s right. Which was why I couldn’t believe my eyes when I first came here. I knew I was wide awake, but it felt like I was dreaming.

RIQUET: …Did you find yourself cast adrift at the time?

Like I did? He didn’t exactly put it into words, but I got the feeling that’s the continuation to Riquet's question. I could imagine him stretching his slim fingers to fiddle with the hem of his shirt in an attempt to summon courage.

I returned Riquet’s gaze as he awaited my reply. I gave my honest response in the form of a gentle nod.

AKIRA: Oh, absolutely. Being thrown into a world filled with unfamiliarity left me anxious. It didn’t help that I was on my own…

(At the time, I was under the impression I was all alone in this world. But now…)

I threw a glance in Shylock’s direction, who stood behind the bar counter. He was watching over me and the words I weave with an affectionate gaze.

[talonabraxas]

Aion - Mithriac God of Time Talon Abraxas Only once did Jung name a book after a god; this god was Aion. Aion-Khronos represents a father-god, Greco-Roman with Persian influences. His cult, Mithraism, (100 - 500 AD) was destroyed by Christianity. Jung said about Aion: “In the cult of Mithras there is the key god Aion. He is represented with the winged body of a man and the head of a lion, encoiled by a snake which rises up over his head. He is Infinite Time and Long Duration, the supreme god of the Mithraic hierarchy, and creates and destroys all things, a sun-god. As the lion-headed god with the snake around his body, he represents the union of opposites, light and darkness, male and female, creation and destruction. He is represented as having his arms crossed and holding a key in each hand. He is the spiritual father of St. Peter, for he too holds the keys. The keys which Aion is holding are the keys to the past and future. The idea of the key is often associated with the mysteries in the cave.��� In the Mithraic mysteries the serpent and the lion are opposites; to be entwined is to be devoured, to return to the mother’s womb. As a symbol of time, Aion has the zodiac portrayed on his body. Time is expressed through dawning and extinction of consciousness, death and rebirth, to come into being through ‘infinitely long duration,’ through repetitive transformations of the creative force, libido. As in the ancient moon mysteries, where Dionysus was sacrificed as the bull-god and son-lover of the Great Mother, symbolizing the sacrifice of animal nature, so in the Mithraic mysteries Mithra overcame his immortal brother symbolized as the bull, by killing, eating and integrating him ceremonially. Jung described Mithraism as a complete solar psychology, aimed at restoring the relationship between the mortal and immortal brothers: Mithra as consciousness and the bull as the instinct or archetype, the Self, similar to St. Peter and Christ. In the slow unfolding of this archetypal process, the cruel immaturity of the god, the cultural manifestation of the process, have to be suffered through by humanity over time. The chaotic times that we live in may also be seen against this background.

[databoyreekoo]

The True Dandelion [theory thread]

!Find the original twitter thread HERE!

Theory aside, I think Strel and Ava are both really good potential candidates of the True Dandelion’s identity. But...

From the beginning, Nomura has been setting up a grand reveal regarding Riku and what he truly is. I believe he may be revealed to be the True Dandelion. We know Nomura loves symbolism, and that he’s really inspired by mythology. Riku is a prime example of that.

Riku is symbolically tied to the following;

Dawn

[The] Sun

Halos

Hearts

Yellow (as well as purple and blue)

Dawn represents;

triumph over darkness

rebirth, regeneration, creation

unconscious into consciousness (awakening...destati?)

illumination and enlightenment

the beginning of salvation

Dawn is associated with;

Aries, The Ram

white horses (especially a chariot pulled by winged horses)

Note for later: Dawn is also connected to lightning/thunderbolts, also known as the celestial fire, which is a symbol of Zeus (Jupiter’s bolts symbolize chance, destiny and providence, said to be forces that will mold the future).

The Sun represents;

life, energy, will, earth and heart

the promise of salvation

the direct son and heir of the god of heaven

the guiding light

The Sun is associated with;

Apollo, Helios, Baldr and Jesus (sun/light deities in general)

Sun-heroes (Hercules, Siegfried, Mithras, etc.)

royalty

Pride (capital sin - superbia...y'know, what's written on the black box)

gold and yellow

tripods and discs

Apollo is the Greek god of oracles, truth, prophecy, light and the sun.

Helios is the Greek god of and personification of the sun, he is also the guardian of oaths.

Baldr is the Norse god of light, purity and the sun.

Jesus, a figure of Christianity, believed to be the son of god and the messiah (a savior of a group of people).

Halos, also known as solar crowns, aureoles and nimbi/nimbuses, represent;

glory and virtue

supreme power and divine energy

spiritual light and solar powers

eternal life (for those who "conquer" themselves and remain steadfast under trial)

Another note for later: Halos denote holy or sacred figures, rulers, heroes and demigods. They are attributes of Zeus, Apollo, Helios, Dionysus, Sol, Jesus, the Virgin Mary and angels. In ancient Egypt, the solar crown was depicted as a disc framed by the horns of a ram or cow.

Heart represents;

love, love as the center of illumination, the center of being, will, understanding and truth

the sun

Bonus: Sankofa, an African word and symbol, represents the importance of learning from the past in order to build a better future.

Yellow represents;

dawn, sun, earth, sunlight, illumination

intuition, dissemination and benevolence

jealousy/envy, deceit, betrayal, secrecy, melancholia

Yet another note for later: Yellow is associated with Apollo and Leo, The Lion. It can also denote traitors and heretics.

Purple represents;

royalty, noble birth and sacerdotal power

pride, dignity, justice, truth, sorrow and love

Blue represents;

sanctification, time and space, revelation, eternity, devotion, the unveiling of truth, hope

I brought up the connection between dawn and thunderbolts, as well as Apollo, the sun and tripods. A sacrificial tripod actually appears in Olympus - realm and home of the gods - in kh3, decorated with suns and thunderbolts…it’s where Riku’s heart ends up.

Almost forgot to mention, tripods are a solar symbol associated with heaven. They were sometimes given as prizes… the three legs correspond to sunrise, midday and sunset; future, present and past, respectively.

I also brought up the connection between dawn, the ram (Aries) and Apollo…

The ram represents sacrifice and atonement, the opposite of what a scapegoat represents. End of Pain and No Name reflect this; similar, but in different ways.

The Dandelions were a group of exceptional wielders assembled by Ava, a task granted to her by the Master of Masters. The role of the Dandelions was to maintain the balance by collecting Lux (fragments of light).

With that in mind, the True Dandelion would need to have the same or similar qualities; exceptional abilities, an aversion or resistance to darkness, and a desire to maintain a balance.

Luxu describes the True Dandelion as a “seed of light to be sown into the future.” This light would need to guide the others as a beacon of hope.

Others have pointed out the similarities to when Ventus was wrapped in white cloth and the replica body delivered by Demyx.

However, the scene where Luxu places the True Dandelion in the pod reminded me of how Jesus is depicted as a baby; swaddled in white cloth and placed in a manger.

The Master is looking for wielders with strong hearts, able to trap the darkness without falling to it.

Riku is the only wielder out of the current Guardians that has this ability, which was brought up by YMX in khddd.

This ability of Riku’s was also brought up in coded. He was used as a shield to protect the journal data.

He also became a Dream Eater in order to protect Sora from nightmares.

This ability is framed as natural, instinctive, something second nature to Riku.

So many different symbols that connect to each other. There’s so much set up…both symbolically and throughout the games.

Regardless if he gets revealed to be the True Dandelion or not, Riku definitely isn’t human and is someone incredibly special.

Oh. And there’s a Jesus fish in the Book of Prophecies on the same page as a black crown (Oblivion or Kingdom Key; both connected to Riku).

ICTHUS

Iota - i - “Jesus”

Chi (χ) - ch - “anointed”

Theta - th - “of God”

Upsilon - u - “son”

Sigma - s - “savior”

“Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior”

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Richard Dawkins

Published: Apr 23, 2025

On April 18th, the New York Times published an article by Lauren Jackson called “Americans Haven’t Found a Satisfying Alternative to Religion”. It’s very long, but you can probably guess what she correctly lists as unsatisfying alternatives, failed attempts to fill the void of existential insecurity, the god-shaped hole: New Age “spirituality”, astrology, you know the kind of thing. She was kind enough to quote me, so I offer a brief response here.

I am sorry if there is, as she says, an “epidemic of loneliness”. But the remedy for loneliness is human fellowship, the warmth of real, live, flesh-and-blood companions and loved-ones; not prating in a vacuum to an imaginary friend for whose existence there is no vestige of serious evidence. Even an AI robot is better than that. At least ChatGPT exists, really talks back at  you, will actually hold a friendly conversation. But talk to the imaginary friend which is God (Allah, Virgin Mary, Lord Krishna, Thor, Zeus, Mithras, name yours) and the only reply you’ll get is conjured within your own imagination. You’ll be talking to yourself, which is really rather sad, and hardly an antidote to loneliness.

I feel I should qualify, even apologise for, the optimistic tone of what follows. Americans might feel anything but cheerful just at present. Of course I acknowledge this and sympathize. But it has nothing to do with the eternal cosmic angst that religion aspires to assuage, and which prompted Lauren Jackson’s search for alternatives. Moreover, I don’t want to downplay the anguish of the search, nor the epidemic of loneliness that she discerns, and I regret that I was a little facetious when she interviewed me on the telephone. My humorous frivolity went so far as to recommend golf as an alternative, and for this I apologise. I’m better at writing than speaking, so let me now try to express more seriously what I should have said to her. She began with a remorseful testament of her own loss of faith, so forgive me if I too bare my soul when I offer my personal non-religious alternative to religion.

There is joy in understanding, true joy, rising to little short of ecstasy. I suppose you could call it the poetry of reality. Peter Atkins concludes his lovely little book, The Creation, with a vision of the limitless future of science: “Complete knowledge is just within our grasp. Comprehension is moving across the face of the Earth, like the sunrise.”

You tumble into existence, open your eyes, come to consciousness, find yourself on a spinning sphere orbiting a nuclear furnace in one arm of a barred spiral galaxy, hurtling through spacetime alongside 300 billion galaxies. The fact that you exist at all is a piece of shattering good fortune. Not only did your parents chance to meet, not only did one particular sperm outrun 100 million rivals. The same massive luck attended every generation of your ancestors, back to a single Devonian fish and a greater distance beyond. Any slight deviation in what happened, anywhere, anytime, would have sufficed to throw your future existence off the conveyor belt of lucky contingencies. You certainly owe your existence to Julius Caesar, Napoleon, even Hitler, but less obviously to a humble peasant who didn’t sneeze at a crucial moment in some forgotten marital bed. You owe your life to a particular dinosaur, on a particular Jurassic day, who stumbled and failed to catch the ancestor of all the mammals. You are prodigiously lucky to be alive. So please stifle your entitled moaning. Revel in your own existence.

Not just your existence but the existence of others to share your world and sweeten your time in it: fellow voyagers to smile at you, laugh with you, hold your hand along the pilgrim’s way through your personal slice of time. You and I are privileged not only to be alive but to inhabit the twenty-first century when so much is already understood. We who live after Newton, Darwin, Maxwell, Einstein, and their legions of clever but lesser-known followers, we are blessed with the opportunity to know so much. But also to know what we do not know, and so experience the joy of curiosity, of constructive wonder, the buccaneering adventure of the restless mind.

Who needs New Age spirituality (“sound baths”, “energy healing”, “astrology”), who needs to thumb-suck under a mental comfort blanket, who needs gods, when reality is there for the taking?

[thesilicontribesman]

Roman Relief Showing Mithras Killing A Bull As An Act Of Creation, Housesteads Mithraeum, Great North Museum, Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne

[bendersmind]

From an interview, rise a breakthrough

Well, isn't this a fun thing to discover; someone on reddit posted a translation of an interview from Sweden Rock Magazine in 2010 with some information I was missing. It's a fun read if you wanna take a look:

Anyway, I have some highlights to share that adds to my toolbox in terms of toying around with the lore as it stands . . . behind the cut (you knew it was coming, don't lie).

Keep in mind that all of this comes from the primordial band and might be retconned or invalidated by things that came after. All following opinions and discoveries are based almost entirely on this one interview with Papa I.

Alright, so RE: my previous post: Ghouls are definitely human. Diabolically inspired humans, but humans. At least, the Ghoul writer is. That being said, who fucking knows if they all are or if it's like a cambrion sorta thing.

According to the interview, there is more than one band that is part of the Ministry. Now how much that is "in universe" and how much of that is some cheeky "yeah, these dudes are also in other bands" stuff is up to you. I like to think that there is a Satanic string quartet somewhere that works parallel to Ghost.

There is also a mention that there may be other religious orders that mask themselves. I think this give all of those DeFroque fans a way to tie the dude into being more than just a one off joke for a video. So there you go.

Here is where it gets extra interesting, Papa I says the following when asked about his origin before Ghost:

“I cannot remember a time when I did not find myself part of the dark energy. That does not mean that I remember nothing from my past life, only that I cannot remember how I felt then. This is because it was a time when I did not know very much.”

So this opens up a little bit of wiggle room for how the Papas are woken up to their diabolic nature. It lines up with the idea that Nihil didn't know that he was an Emeritus like in the "Dance Macabre" video. It also implies that some Papas know their nature very early. "...when I did not know very much" sounds like Papa I felt the dark very early in his life.

We also get this from Papa I:

“The time at which Lucifer was expelled from heaven is not known, so it is difficult to set a date for its formation. But if we were to talk in more concrete terms, it can be said that the movement has been in existence for at least 1685 years - that is, since the time when the rules of the game were dictated in Nicaea.”

Now, I haven't written my whole theory about the Roman Mithra out. Nor have I delved much into my thoughts on how the council of Nicaea factors in to the Ministry's creation and history, but this tells us that the form we see it in NOW was dictated by the rules set forth by the streamlining of doctrine at Nicaea. It's interesting to note that this could mean that the Ministry looked different before then which opens a whole world of fun possibilities.

And a final little bit of fun from Papa I:

"...there is a god, Satan, a son, Antichrist, and a ghost in the middle that is the inexplicable - the fog.”

A clear unholy trinity is set forth: Satan, The Antichrist, and The Fog. Which I think is fun to flavor up some of the stuff floating around out there. It also gives me more context as to who/what the "fog-weaver" is in fucking "Secular Haze". That always bugged me and maybe it'll make more sense now.

So what does this mean? Fuck all; but it's a really fun interview and a bit of Ghost history that many may have missed.

Things to ponder: How much of this 15 year old interview is still relevant? Does this mean that my "Mystery Papa" theory is toast? How pissed am I that I had switched to Facebook in 2010?

[glitteringpoet1685]

P1 Artemy based on this statue of the Roman god Mithras slaying a bull.

I've not read anymore than the wikipedia page on it, so don't quote me on this, but it seems that one of the earlier interpretations of the image was that it depicted the killing of a 'primordial bovine' from which animal life was created, coming from the Zoroastrian creation myth, which gave me major Bos Turokh vibes. I also kept the snake in there cause Daniil Imao

[santoschristos]

BAPHOMET

Baphomet, which is a word that secretly has to be read backwards “TEM-O-H-P-AB”. It means in Latin "Templi Omnium Hominum Pacis Abbas", "Peace of the Father to all men in the temple."

We have to understand that when we address Baphomet, we are addressing the Cherubim that is mentioned in the book of Genesis as the guardian of the gate of Eden.

Baphomet is listed within the Gnostic Creed of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (the eccesiastical arm of Ordo Templi Orientis). The relevant article of the Creed is as follows: "And I believe in the Serpent and the Lion, Mystery of Mystery, in His name Baphomet."

Crowley said that Baphomet was representative of the Babe in the Egg, or the original being, which was bisexual, and symbolized "arcane perfection" (Crowley 1997). He further says of Baphomet, "this Goat is called also Strength, and standeth at the Meridian at the Sunrise of Spring, and it is his Nature to leap upon the Mountains. So therefore is he a symbol of true Magick" (Crowley 1995).

In The Book of Lies (1913), the 33rd chapter is entitled "Baphomet." It puports to transmit Templar Grand Master Jacques DeMolay's description of God under the figure of the double-headed eagle used as a symbol of Scottish Rite Freemasonry. It also alludes to "the GOD that is ass-headed," leaving it unclear whether Baphomet is to be identified with either, neither, or both the eagle and the ass-headed figures.

In the Book of Thoth (1981), Crowley identifies Baphomet with the Tarot card "The Devil" and attributes him to the Greek god Pan, the All-Begetter. In this context, Baphomet represents the "creative energy in its most material form...the divine madness of Spring" where he is exalted in the manifested, material world — a supreme appreciator of existence and the power of creation.

The name Baphomet was taken by Aleister Crowley when he became the Outer Head of the Order (or OHO) for OTO.

Many theories exist as to the origin of the term, including:

- Von Hammer derived it from the Greek words Baphe and Metis. The two words together mean "Baptism of Wisdom."

- Many commentators have concluded that it is a deformation of the Latinised "Mahomet," a mediæval European rendering of Muhammad (مُحَمَد), the name of the Prophet of Islam.

- Idries Shah proposed that "Baphomet" may actually derive from the Arabic word ابو فهمة Abufihamat, meaning "The Father of Understanding," and associated with Sufism.

- Von Hammer also suggested derivation from the Hebrew Maphtah Bet Yahweh, "The Key to the House of God."

- Lévi proposed that the name was composed from a series of abbreviations: 'Temp. ohp. Ab.' which originates from Latin Templi omnium hominum pacis abhas, meaning "the father of universal peace among men."

- In The Amalantrah Working (1918) Crowley reached the conclusion that the name should be spelled BAFOMIThR, signifying "Father Mithras."

- More recently, Idries Shah has pointed to the Arabic Abufihamet (pronounced Bufihimat in Moorish Spanish), meaning "Father of Understanding.

Drawing design by Eliphas Levi : Baphomet (1855) Text from: Thelemagick

[jules-writes-stories]

HOW DARE YOU MAKe me fall in love with a snake like mithras, like... is not even funny???? i'm scared cuz of eris but your writing iS SO GOOD i can't help myself jules istg, i just love him. ♥️

Ahh! Thank you so, so much. Mithras is my special creation lol. I shamelessly adore him, so I genuinely appreciate your love for him! I feel like he would be flattered too… and as a thank you, he would learn all your secrets and bend you to his will. 🖤🐍

[beloven]

☆ YOU AND THE WORLD LOVED BY THE MOON,   5TH

good evening,  master sage   ...   thank you for coming into this world .

[pyrrhiccomedy]

Who has chained the Queen-in-Chains and to where is it that the chains bind her? Does she prefer to be chained, or would she rather be free?

We are all chained. To each and every other individual; to every moment in time, past and present; to every place we will ever see; to every star that will ever shine above us; to our descendants, to our ancestors; to our friends; to our enemies; to the ground beneath our feet; to the air in our lungs; to the cells in our own body, to the electrical impulses of our own thoughts, to the moment of our death and the moment of death of every living thing inside of us and every thought about us that anyone has ever had or ever will have.

Independence is an illusion: individuality is a conceit as childlike and fragile as the notion of linear time. We are, all, suspended in a web of chains, each one connected to infinite others: and the strains and slacks and ripples that pass between them make up the shining tapestry of our one, whole, undivided universe. There has never been an island. You have never been alone.

The Queen-In-Chains is the Second Hour, preceded only by the Madrugad. For just as before anything ever lived, the passage beyond Death was already waiting for them (the Madrugad's domain): before a single act was ever taken, the entire interconnected tapestry of creation was waiting to respond to it.

The Queen-In-Chains is the Hour of prophesy, navigation, madmen and oracles. Her chosen include physicists and the seers of Delphi. Only she sees every link, and to what they are bound: there is probably nothing, past or future, that she doesn't know. Only she has traveled from one History to another. Only she knows what happened to the angels. Only she sees plainly the vast, black hand that turns over the cards at the bottom of Mithra. Because nothing is, that is not bound: and nothing acts, that does not travel through the entire universe as a shiver.

To petition the Queen-In-Chains is to go mad; to see the chains; to know the future. Hers is the light amplified by the shattered mirror. Blessings again, and blessings again, and blessings again.

[tomose]

[Someday, in the Kitchen Where Echoes Smile] Chapter 2 Translation

CAIN: He probably wants to make up for what happened at our last mission.

Seeing Nero tilt his head in confusion, Cain explained in a soft whisper. Then, he shoots a sympathetic gaze towards Riquet’s direction.

CAIN: There’s this place selling these delicious apple pies at our mission destination. We had planned to swing by on our way back… But Riquet tripped in combat and it set us back a bit in wrapping up.

None of Central Wizards blame him for what happened, but he still thinks it’s his fault we had to call off our trip to the pie shop.

NERO: …

CAIN: If it’s no trouble, could you indulge Riquet’s request? To return the gesture, you can count on me to put my best foot forward in helping solve the anomaly.

NERO: *sigh*

Nero scratched his head, then eventually nodded in surrender.

NERO: All right. As long as the anomaly doesn’t cross the extreme danger line, we can do the cooking class.

RIQUET, SNOW & RUSTICA: Hurray!

CAIN: Appreciate it, Nero. You’ve got another eager participant here.

AKIRA: If you don’t mind, please let me join, too. I’d love to learn how to cook the proper way as I have been reliant on the magic frying pan all this time.

FIGARO: If Master Sage is coming, then I want in. What about you, Leno?

LENNOX: In that case, I’ll come too.

MITHRA: Count me in.

ALL: What?!

Everyone in the room was stunned by the unexpected participant.

Meanwhile, the said participant proceeds to move his mouth, all stained black from eating charcoal, in a leisurely tone.

MITHRA: Since you’re doing some cooking, that means I get to eat food if I come, right? I want to do something about this bitter taste in my mouth.

SNOW: That’s what you get for eating cooked tar.

NERO: Look, the main focus this time is the cooking part, not the dining part… Plus we’re not leaving right this ins–

MITHRA: <<Arthim>>

NERO: Hey, listen–

RIQUET: And there he goes! My word, he can be so fickle.

CAIN: I mean, I wouldn't say he's completely uninterested in cooking. He grills meat once in a while, right?

It's hard to tell if he actually understood what we’ll be doing and why, but who knows? He might enjoy the experience if he comes.

SNOW: In the unlikely event that he raises hell about not signing up for any of this, I shall take it upon myself to discipline him! So don’t stress yourself too much, Nerrie!

NERO: Talk about a tall order…

AKIRA: Umm… For now, let’s not worry about Mithra until the day of! Nero, thanks again for doing this.

Some days later, we all gathered again at the dining hall.

SNOW: Hurray! Today is the day we’ve all been waiting for! Cooking class, here we come!

FIGARO: Please stop hopping around. Don’t forget this still counts as an official mission.

MITHRA: Oh, does it? I thought you said we were grabbing a meal.

RIQUET: Nobody said having a meal was our main goal today. Depending on the situation, we could be concentrating on the mission, or we could be heading out for a mission-slash-cooking class.

If the latter plays out, a dining session is expected to follow.

MITHRA: Uh-huh…? That’s fine, I guess. As long as I can expect food.

AKIRA: (T-That’s it…?)

CAIN: Let’s hope our original plan goes through. After all, Chloe’s stylish creations deserve their time to shine.

LENNOX: Rustica, you were the one who requested our outfits, right?

RUSTICA: That was me, yes. Would you like to hear my pitch? I told him, “I am embarking on a quest to learn how to cook a delicious dish just for you. Would you be a dear and tailor the perfect cooking class attire for us?”

NERO: Sheesh, the expectations are off the charts. How am I supposed to deal with the fallout if it gets canceled…

SNOW: Oh, relax! First, let us head over to our destination!

MITHRA: …We’re here. This is the Town of Blue Scales.

ALL: Whoa…!

The scenery peeking out past the spatial portal took our breaths away.

You could mistake the great river for an ocean with how vast and powerful its currents flowed, summoning along a light, damp breeze.

In my arms, Sakitty twitched its nose at that distinctive marketplace scent–an aroma blend of vegetables, spices, and meat.

Although you could barely hear any hawking despite the number of carriages and travelers present, hushed chatter and laughter could be discerned from everywhere. The Town of Blue Scales gives an unusual impression of tranquil yet bustling at the same time.

RIQUET: Wow, look at all the stalls lining up the streets…

NERO: I know. Goods and commodities from all over the country are brought here for export.

LENNOX: I see a lot of carriages bearing the crests of the Central and Western merchant guilds around. Same with visitors from other countries.

CAIN: I gotta say, this is far from the bustling energy I had in mind for a port town. I thought it would be similar to my hometown…

NERO: Haha. Just so you know, this town leans on the livelier side by Eastern standards.

Here, it’s common for residents to stand around chatting with their neighbors. And given that it’s hard to keep track of all the foreigners visiting and leaving the town, law enforcement is fairly lax.

RUSTICA: The fish scale roofing lining the streets is a work of art. Was that also influenced by other countries?

NERO: Oh, that one? Nah, it's inspired by legends of Nadi the Great Fish.

AKIRA: Legend?

RIQUET: A legend you, say? Tell us more!

NERO: Whoa there. No need to tug at my sleeves, all right? I’m more than happy to fill you in. That said, I’m no expert myself.

From what I know, Nadi is said to be this ginormous fish living somewhere in this river.

A popular version of the legend tells us how a long, long time ago, Nadi took on a human form to warn the residents to flee from a coming devastating flood. The town was wrecked, but every single resident was safe thanks to that gesture.

There are other legends…but every single one is about Nadi watching over the town as it lived among humans.

AKIRA: Wow…! Considering how vast the river is, I’m not surprised a magical creature–or at least I’m assuming it is?–lives there.

NERO: Haha. At the end of the day, it’s nothing but a legend.

It is a fact that Blue Scales is a flood-prone area, so it’s no wonder that people capitalize on the legends as some sort of charm against water disasters. Think of Nadi as some honorary patron deity.

A warm, gentle smile graces Nero’s lips. I noticed he’s a lot more articulate today than he usually is.

Every time he finds these old and worn-out signages or large trees growing on the roadside, his eyes relax as if he’s walking down memory lane.

AKIRA: (…Nero seems fond of this town, so why did he have to leave? In just a decade, no less. He did mention once that he couldn’t stay in one town for too long due to his appearance, that could be why…)

FIGARO: Nero, could you lead the way to the haunted restaurant? Here’s a map.

NERO: Let’s see… *pause*

MITHRA: What’s wrong?

NERO: Nah, it’s just… Everything seems to have changed since I lived here. Mr. Shepherd, do me a favor and take over, will you?

LENNOX: All right. Master Sage, everyone, please follow me.

…We’re here. This is the restaurant in question.

We arrived at a restaurant situated in a corner of the town. It is decorated with the same blue fish scale roofing and simple beige walls you see everywhere in town. A small silver bell hangs on the door.

The place seemed fairly well-kept for an alleged haunted restaurant, but other than that, nothing was out of the ordinary. Yet for some reason, one look at the restaurant left Nero agape.

NERO: …No way…

AKIRA: (Nero…? What’s gotten him surprised?)

MITHRA: I can sense traces of the Great Calamity, although barely detectable.

SNOW: Indeed. A detailed investigation is in order, but as it stands, we are on track! To host the cooking class!

RUSTICA: Oh, I can’t wait! Why don’t we come inside and get right into it?

NERO: …

AKIRA: Um, is something the matter? Was there anything about the restaurant that caught your attention…?

NERO: …What? Oh, no, nothing like that. My memory might just be playing with me…

Anyway, after you, Sage.

The interior gave the same impression as the exterior.

The old bar countertop as well as the tables were marred with dents and scratches. The kitchen was lined with cookware.

I could easily picture a nice, cozy restaurant brimming with customers.

FIGARO: Well, would you look at that. Someone has been dealing with the upkeep. The report mentioned the place closed down a long time ago, so I was expecting it to be in a worse shape.

NERO: …You have got to be kidding me…

RIQUET: Nero? What’s— Whoa!?

The moment Riquet tilted his head, confused, white shadows wavered in the kitchen and on the bar seat before us.

CAIN: I'm detecting traces of the Calamity…

SNOW: Fret not. This is the phenomenon we talked about–what you're seeing is an echo of the past.

Eventually, the white wispy shadows took on clearer contours.

The one sitting by the counter seemed to be a customer–a good-natured elderly gentleman. And the other shadow in the kitchen, who I assume was the owner, serving a plate was–

ALL: Huh?! Nero?!

NERO: Ack…

Nero sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. Then, he looked around the room and let out an awkward chuckle.

NERO: Right… Uh, I’m still trying to process it myself…

So get this–this was the first restaurant I opened a long time ago.

ALL: !

Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise.

The shadows of Nero and the customer then suddenly disappeared, soon followed by excited reactions from us.

RIQUET: Your very first restaurant… Now that you mention it, your past self did seem to look somewhat younger!

NERO: You're imagining it. Also, I’d appreciate it if you stopped staring at me…

[wordsmithic]

Your book is inspired by ancient persia. Do you know any stories from ancient persia that deserve more recognition?

Also are there any modern books about this culture? Primarily about pre islamic counties and culture.

Hello anon! Apologies for taking a month to reply to this, but when I received your message, I hadn't written the whole story yet and I wasn't sure how many elements I would include. Now that I have finished my first draft, I can let you know for sure!

The plot of my wip; The Other Evil, is based on the Greek mythology story of Hades and Persephone but many elements of Persian mythology are mentioned since most of the book takes place in Iran. Many of the Iranian characters presented are Zoroastrian, and that is another reason to delve into the figures of pre-Islamic Iran, who are still talked about by modern Iranians.

Rashnu and Mithra

I'd like to connect Raphael with Rashnu, the yazata of Justice and Truth, one of the three judges of the underworld. There are a few hints that people see Raphael this way.

In the book, we get to observe the festival of Mehregan, and here the yazata Mithra is mentioned. Mithra is also an Afterlife Judge, and his duties are correlated with the light and the sun, truth and contracts, harvest and cattle. He is more complex than that but I have little space to properly present him here.

The Amesha Spenta

Image of the seven Amesha Spenta with prophet Zarathustra in the middle

The Amesha Spenta are seven divine entities emanating from Ahura Mazda, the God and Creator of the world. There are mentions of them throughout the book. An example is the mention of Spenta Armaiti, who is related to the earth and feminity.

The Fravashis

In Zoroastrianism, the Fravashis are divine, spiritual entities who serve as guides and guardians of individuals, communities, and even natural elements. The Fravashis connect humans to the spiritual realm and aid in the cosmic battle between good and evil.

In the book, some consider Niruvei (a creature I created) to be fravashis, but the Niruvei do not necessarily believe this about themselves, or they are on the fence about it.

Chinvat Bridge and the Two Realms

Depiction of a person crossing the Chinvat bridge

The fate of the dead is decided when they reach the bridge of the requiter - the Chinvat bridge. Crossing it will bring them either to the abode of light and song (house of song/praise/merit), or to the fall into an abyss of darkness, evil, and deceit (house of lies/abode of liars). In the House of Lies they will wait for the end of the world.

In Raphael's House there is the part which stands on the earth, and another part which is underground. The fate of people in each part is like the one in the House of Song, and the House of Lies underneath.

Mazanderan province and Divs

It's not confirmed that this is the same distant mythical area where heroes like Rostam go to fight Divs (demons) but that area had the name "Mazanderan" as well. Many modern people consider this to be the same, or overlapping area, so I wanted to play with this belief a little.

In the high mountains of Mazanderan live many Isior, a creature of my creation who eats Humans and has claws, large teeth, and talons. My main character, Ismene, would be considered a monster or a demon in this context.

Hero Rostam fighting the Divs

From that same area, it is said that the mythical hero Arash determined the limits of Iran by shooting an arrow.

Zahak - Fereydun - Mount Damavand

Fereydun defeats Zahak

After hero Fereydun defeated the snake wizard Zahak, he chained him in a cave within mount Damavand. When the time for the renovation of this world begins, Zahak will burst his bonds and ravage one-third of humanity and cattle.

Kind Hushang and the discovery of Fire

As the festival of Sadeh happens in the story, we hear about how King Hushang discovered fire. The King was walking in the mountains when he saw a black serpent and threw a stone at it. The stone missed and struck another rock instead. The impact caused sparks to fly, igniting a fire. Hushang recognized the fire as the divine gift it was, and declared its sanctity.

Jamshid, immortality, and the end of the world

Jamshid The Great, or Yima, was a legendary king. During his rule he invented the sciences, medicine, the arts and crafts, and introduced the Iranian New Year Novruzh. It is said he established the first Golden Age in Iran. Ahura Mazda gave him the power to reign over the angels and the demons, as well as a seven-ringed cup filled with the elixir of immortality, which allowed him to live long and observe the whole Universe through it.

But as Jamshid and the world got corrupted after a few thousand years. Then, the Creator decided to destroy part of the world with a deadly winter and frost. With God's directions, Jamshid created a huge cavern where humanity waited until the snow melted, and the waters left the land.

There is a conflict about immortality in my book. Jamshid's cup serves as a potentially historical reference for it.

Recommended books and resources:

There's a multitude of books about pre-Islamic beliefs of Iran. In my bookcase I have "Persian Myths & Legends: Tales of Heroes, Gods & Monsters by Shayani Sahba", and "Persian Myths & Tales: Anthology of Classic Tales" by Christine Ruymbeke. You can also visit eranshahr.com to learn about all the kinds and creatures of Persian folklore!

*** If there are any inaccuracies in the myths presented above or if I phrased something wrong, please message me and let me know so I can fix them!

[eirikrjs]

A Personal Party Problem

(This is the kind of post that would have been part of an ask or multiple asks in normal times)

One disappointment for me (and maybe only me) in SMT5/V overall is finding it difficult to round out a favorite but practical demon team. I like to use demons with personal significance and my ideal party would then be Cu Chulainn / Odin / Michael:

Cu Chulainn: his story made myth 'click' for me, among other things.

Odin: I was born on a Wednesday; Odin and Norse myth helped ease me into myth in general, with credit due to Final Fantasy's version as well.

Michael: I was also born on Michaelmas

I've been using Cu Chulainn and Michael since I got them in my Vengeance playthroughs. But the third?

It should be Odin, but the Ultra design assures my favorite deity is dead to me in SMT. I've accepted that Rune Odin will never exist again. Maybe it was always a hallucination?

Halphas might seem obvious, but I dislike that he's attuned for ailments.

Both Satan and Lucifer I found underwhelming in Vengeance.

Mithras, but it's always bothered me he's a Tyrant.

Zaou Gongen, but his cloth wraps look terrible on the new model because they're entirely stiff.

Look, it's entirely nitpicky, but as the 3D demon roster only keeps growing, I think being selective keeps things focused. Thus, Nocturne remains the only game where I can make my ideal party, aesthetics and all. Here's the ones who should be the obvious fill-ins, but they currently don't exist in 3D:

Stolas, the ultimate cute mascot for the occult and a reminder of why I find the silliness of Christian occultism so compelling.

Lham Dearg, my other go-to in SMT4

Bael, literally my face on the Internet. Maybe in SMT6 or Persona 6? Likely to show up first in Dx2.

Until then, I guess I'll continue using my Repel-all Mad Gasser. Almost finished my Vengeance platinum. Just gotta beat Canon Of Creation one more time (I'm doing so on Hard/Godborn just for the heck of it).