#re humanity and human nature and divinity

[ohholydyke]

First off this post was mostly meant as a joke, so I really don’t have much of a stake in this but people keep replying so I’ll throw my hat back in

Responding to the first reply: yeah I’m aware it was used to delegitimize early christians. I feel like it should be pretty clear that the above post wasn’t meant in this form, and also that even in the event that the Eucharist is a cannibalistic act of sorts that doesn’t detract from it (if anything it just affirms Christ’s dual human and divine nature).

Responding to the second:

The difference in forms is interesting—this comes down to a deeper discussion of substance vs accident and essential characteristics vs accidentals re: what counts as cannibalism. One could transform human components into something with different accidents, would it remain cannibalism? Up for debate. Same goes for this.

As for the listed points:

1. That’s not true about cannibalism. If I cut off someone’s leg and eat it, it’s still cannibalism even though they’re still alive. Cannibalism is legit just the consumption of the same species.

2. Same goes for this point. You can consume a whole human body (and in fact there have been instances of organs, sinews, bones, etc being consumed during cannibalism).

3. See the above point on it suggesting a deeper conversation on accidentals vs substantial and transformation, and whether it counts as cannibalism if in any way the flesh and blood is human (which we would have to affirm about the incarnation by default). This is of course up for debate, you could argue one way or another.

4. Again I fail to see where your definition of cannibalism comes from, but I would point to the above response in terms of yes it sparks a debate but given that cannibalism is just “physically consuming the same species in some way” you could argue this point does not detract

5. And 6. Also fall into the above response.

We can argue that the changing of accidentals (our literal digestion of the elements) is sufficient to meet the criteria (since consumption of human flesh doesn’t change it being human as it breaks down) but I digress.

In a summary; this was a joke post I fear, and many of these points against cannibalism as an extension feel like imposing arbitrary definitions for the sake of argument without reason, or merely a visceral gut reaction away from the notion that someone might compare the Eucharist to cannibalism in order to affirm the divine humanity of the incarnate Son.

Psst hey, you—yes you, come here, wanna be weirder about Catholicism?

Transubstantiation theology + fully human body and blood incarnate Christ = the Eucharist is ritualized cannibalism

Have fun ruminating on that one

[afantasyoffiction]

hi!!

my word for the out-of-context WIP game is "factory" ! curious to see :)

oh boy. max my guy i TRIED i really did...but the answer is absolutely nothing im sorry lol i checked literally every draft i had and the best i can offer you is 'fact' or 'satisfactory'... im a fantasy writer i have apparently never once described industrialisation (oh no new writing idea unlocked i love that period of european history ngl...)

but in the spirit of the game, i've decided i'll share a poem containing the word 'fact', because im relatively fond of it. yep this is gonna 1,000% be unrelated to factories it is in fact about organised religion!

--------------------------------------------------------

the true colours of the divine

i think religion is more beautiful from the outside looking in peeking through stained glass windows, a door left ajar

without the heavy hand of the mundane, the every day the acceptance of faith as fact, scripture as truth, i can see it

thousands of people, looking up at the heavens, prayers rising through the air like smoke words echoing empty off marble

to see this belief as a choice, made in the face of the unknown, millions of people made one their nature compelling their faith

to know a mere few books have connected centuries to know of people holding hands differences bent to bonds of belief

it says something, perhaps about people - what we are, dreamers, lonely, looking for reasons, a purpose to hold

i am grateful for my own lack of faith, granting me vision of the spirit of people, not gods i see the human colours of the divine

[hollaforlyla]

Can you do oni!Lloyd x half-Dragon!fem!reader. Like Lloyd has always insecure getting into his oni form. So reader who already use to her dragon form, comfort him and say that she always love him no matter what form he is. Also bonus if you can do like how their tail (i think Lloyd has tail in his oni form??) wrap around each other and make a love shape.

Aodbksna im going crazy

"SCARY? MY GOD, YOUR DIVINE..." ── ninjago x reader. ft lloyd garmadon ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

warnings: lowercase writing, pretty rushed

basic info: takes place after crystallized, lloyd x reader, female reader, ft. garmadon, romantic x reader, n/n means your nickname!

you knocked on the door to lloyd's room softly, thinking because it was already so quiet in there he could hear it. it's been hours, no, days, since you've seen lloyd come out of his room.

when he does come out, it's only to use the washroom or to grab a snack in the middle of the night when no one is around to see him.

after the defeat of the overlord, harumi, and all of the other villains── lloyd has stayed in his oni form. he hasn't learned how to transform back to his human form, so everyone has kinda been waiting to see how long it will take naturally...much to lloyds discomfort.

you went to garmadon about lloyd's state, and even he was starting to worry. he knew from the start helping lloyd achieve his oni power would be tricky and lloyd would be stubborn. however i don't think he thought this far ahead.

"your his, girlfriend, aren't you dragon girl?"

the oni asked you, who was watering his plants in one of the rooms of the newly built monestary.

you glared at the man, the nickname is gave you caused you to cringe but you kept your cool. your tail swinging back n forth from behind.

"yea. why do you think i'm coming to you for help?" you placed your hands on your hips, "he hasn't come out of his room, i haven't seen him eat or drink any water, he hasn't spoken to anyone since his changed. i don't know much about the oni form; but even you guys still need to eat...right?"

garmadon just sighed, finishing watering his plants. "oni indeed are powerful beings, although everyone needs food to live a healthy life."

you gave the oni a "so??" look and he sighed again.

"oni kids enjoy cuddling. they like to feel the warmth of they're loved one; gives them comfort knowing someone is there for them. i believe your perfect for to give that to him."

you thought for a moment.

"i want to, that's all i want to do is let him know i'm there for him! he's been cooped up in his room, crying and it breaks my heart-."

"then why are you still here talking to me?"

you looked at your father-in-law and had a frown on your face.

thats what lead you here to where you are now.

you called out your boyfriends name after knocking a few times, hoping he would open up. "i made you you're favorite?" you smiled to yourself sheepishly, not knowing what else to do in this awkward silence.

when you got no response you sighed, "c'mon baby, i haven't seen you eat in days, let alone you in general! i'm worried, your uncle's worried, our friends are worried for you!"

you frowned softly, hearing the words come out of your mouth.

"i miss you..."

as you were about to put the plate on the floor by his door, the sound of it creaking open causes you to look up to see a blonde, 6'0 tall oni boy look back at you. his ears drooped down, his eyes res and puffy, his long thick tail fell to the floor a d drag behind him as he stumbled back into the bed.

you stood back up and walked into the room. it was dark, and cold. the window been open to let out dirty smells and bring fresh air in to block out of the smell of dirty laundry, which was all in one pile in the corner of his room.

you had a small frown in your face as you placed the food on his nightstand, sitting in the end of his bed by his feet. lloyd was cuddled in on himself, hiding his body from you and on the opposite side of the bed.

it was quiet for a moment before he spoke up, "i'm ugly, aren't i?" it was almost a whisper, his grouchy voice from crying and his oni form made it harder for you to hear, another insecurity he has.

you frowned and scooted closer to him and place your hand on his knee, looking at him with a sad smile. "lloyd, your beautiful. nothing about you has changed, your still lloyd, my boyfriend!" you laughed, rubbing his knee back n forth in a comfort motion.

it was quiet once more, until lloyd spoke up again, "how do you do it?"

you raised your eyebrow at him, "do what?"

"how do you walk around in your dragon form, aren't you scared people will judge you? be scared of you?"

tears started to form in his eyes as he ranted. you felt your heart shatter into two pieces hearing his sobs, "i never wanted this, i didn't want this!!"

he shouts ans cries, huddling into his arms the best he could. however soon he felt your arms wrap around his, your large dragon body holding him tight.

"i know, lloyd, none of us knew you were going to have to achieve your oni form; to be honest i was hoping you were...me n you have more in common now. and...you look 10x hotter then before, i say that's a bright side."

you gave him a goofy grin, hearing his laughter soon later caused you to open your eyes and look at him.

there's that smile you've missed.

you quickly leaned in and gave him a peck on the lips, to which he took by surprise. "your lips are still soft." you chuckled. as you were distracted, you suddenly felt something wrap around your tail...looking down at your legs you saw lloyd's oni tail wrap with your dragon one.

you blushed slightly before looking back up at him, who had a blush redder then yours. he pulls you into his chest and holds you, his face in your hair.

"thank you, n/n...i love you..." he whispered softly.

you smiled, happily snuggling into your boyfriend more comfortably.

"i love'ya too, mints."

[girls--complex]

Okay finished the top of the suit of pentacles ...

9, 10 feature common food-medicine-poison organisms from my area, the human figure occupying her potent ecology with ever less self-referential mindset. Chanterelle mushrooms which are a symbol of free grace because they lack gills on the fruiting body so the mushroom actually doesn't get much benefit from making them (but they're delicious). Coontie palm in 9 shows a pivot point where alchemy is required to make the poison edible. 10 is the pure ecology yielding maximum blessings with minimum investment, inertia that has fixed a basic well being in place. Bidens, spiderwort, and yaupon all medicine plants. The crow is me.

Jacob is the page, seeing the coarse matter of the stone visited by numerous angels, comprehending the concrete world as a site of divine revelation (proceeding to literally anoint/christen it). Dreaming-mind or nature based initiation or re-confirmation ...

Knight is stigmatist nun. Embodiment as spiritual warfare. Painful confrontation with the woundedness, mortality, permeability of the body, keeps the serpent of delusion in its place. Sharing the woundedness of Christ's personhood-- the pentacle as a christogram.

Queen is the hirsute Magdalene borrowed from the Nuremberg chronicle, she has the most physical and even erotic knowledge of Christ, the OG apostle and christ-bhakti, also the embodied person (at its most subversive) raised over the institutions of the world (at their most sacred)

King is St. Christopher, the body as "christo-phore", divine and physical integrated, Christ as the inward light, also a baptism.. or maybe he is just protecting you on your journeys

A new Coward book is hitting my store soon btw 😉

[transbookoftheday]

Trans Horror Podcasts

My post about trans horror books last year was much more popular than I expected, and since I've recently fallen in love with fiction podcasts and audio dramas, I thought I'd make a post about trans horror podcasts as well.

If you like trans horror, please give these a try - especially if you enjoy listening to audiobooks!

Hello From The Hallowoods:

Come walk between the black pines! In this award-winning queer fiction podcast, an eldritch narrator follows the increasingly connected residents of the forest at the end of the world. It's a bittersweet story that explores queer identity, horror genre tropes, and finding hope in humanity's last moments.

Hello From The Hallowoods is my absolute favorite podcast! If you only listen to one podcast from this list, please make it this one - it's so beautifully written and super queer! Also: season 4 starts today!

Trans main characters include:

our nonbinary eye-affiliated podcast host

a nonbinary "Frankenstein's creature"

a transmasc ghost

a genderfluid storm witch

a trans woman who can visit other people's dreams

multiple characters using neopronouns

Camp Here & There:

Good morning, campers! Camp Here & There is a weekly horror comedy podcast tuned in to the loudspeakers of a small midwestern sleepaway camp plagued by supernatural terrors and natural disasters. Sydney Sargent, resident camp nurse, cheerfully reports on all the terror we must face with a big smile. Let’s hope there’s nothing weird about that!

Sydney is a trans man.

Dos: After You:

Things have changed. Deck has fallen in love with someone who isn't human, and leaves a hungry house behind to see him again. Will he be waiting for you? The world has changed… but what about him? Dos: After You is a queer urban fantasy/horror audiodrama available in both English & Spanish

Deck is a trans man.

Jar of Rebuke:

Follow Dr. Jared Hel's journey as he works to re-discover his forgotten past and finds his place within the small Indiana farm town of Wichton and the cryptozoological organization he works for called 'The Enclosure'. These audio journals, and other recordings, dive deep into Midwestern US cryptids and folklore while also telling a mystery about identity, queerness, neurodivergence, and community.

Jared is nonbinary.

Spirit Box Radio:

Spirit Box Radio is an award winning, horror audio drama podcast about a radio show for enthusiasts of all things arcane. Follow Sam Enfield a former postboy with no experience in the arcane arts, who finds themselves forced to take over running the show, following the disappearance of the previous host. Sam soon discovers there are more than ghosts haunting the show, and finds himself amidst a mystery which threatens everything he knows about the world beyond his tiny basement broadcast studio, and maybe even himself.

Sam is a trans man.

The Silt Verses:

Carpenter and Faulkner, two worshippers of an outlawed god, travel up the length of their deity’s great black river, searching for holy revelations amongst the reeds and the wetlands. As their pilgrimage lengthens and the river’s mysteries deepen, the two acolytes find themselves under threat from a police manhunt, but also come into conflict with the weirder gods that have flourished in these forgotten rural territories. This is a world where divine intervention takes place through prayer-markings scratched into stumping-posts, and offerings are left squirming to die in the flats of the delta. This is a world of ritual, and hidden language, and sacrifice. This is folk horror, and fantasy, and a dark road trip into the depths of unusual faith.

Faulkner is a trans man and Paige is a trans woman.

The Magnus Protocol:

The Magnus Archives 2: The Magnus Protocol is the prequel/sequel/”sidequel” to the internationally renowned Magnus Archives podcast. The Magnus Institute was an organisation dedicated to academic research into the esoteric and the paranormal, based out of Manchester, England. It burned to the ground in 1999. There were no survivors. Now, almost 25 years later, Alice and Sam, a pair of low-level civil service workers at the underfunded Office of Incident Assessment and Response, have stumbled across its legacy. A legacy that will put them in grave danger. If this intrigues you then it is our pleasure to welcome you to the Office of Incident, Assessment and Response. Make sure you pick up your badge at desk and report to your line manager before sitting down. Oh and stay away from I.T., seriously.

Alice is a trans woman.

[wisesoultarot]

What do you need to hear right now? - Tarot reading

Instagram | Tip Jar | Book a Reading with me now!!

🌈IMAGE 1:

Your deep fixation on a specific result is causing you unnecessary hardship. It's important to recognize that you cannot resist the powerful forces working against you; they are beyond your control, and your attempts to fight them will only drain your energy. You’ve reached your limits, both physically and mentally. Instead of struggling alone, consider surrendering to the guidance of the Divine to help you navigate these challenges.

Embrace the opportunity to ease into your natural rhythm and remain receptive to unexpected positive outcomes. Surrender this situation to the vast intelligence of the universe, trusting that a simpler path will emerge when the time is right. In the meantime, rather than pushing against the current, allow yourself to relax and enjoy the journey, navigating the ups and downs of life with a sense of playfulness and ease.

Letting go creates room for unexpected wonders and outcomes that may surpass your initial expectations. When you embrace surrender and allow life to unfold, you invite the possibility of magic into your experience.

🦋IMAGE 2:

Sometimes, when things seem stagnant, it's best not to push too hard. Each moment has its own timing and purpose. Trust that whatever you're waiting for—be it a business venture, a relationship, a journey, a contract, or an opportunity—will unfold in its own time.

You are reminded of your deep connection to Mother Earth through the natural rhythms of life—like the tides that rise and fall, the moon that waxes and wanes, and for women, the cycles of ovulation and menstruation. Take a moment to reflect on where you may have drifted away from these cycles and consider embracing the moon's energy to restore balance and harmony in your life.

It's important to recognize that life doesn't always require us to charge forward relentlessly. Take the time to rest and listen to your body’s need for gentleness. When you feel ready, like the moon growing fuller, you can re-engage with the world, becoming more active and social once again.

Embracing the natural cycles in your life can reveal incredible magic. Consider getting a moon calendar or jotting down the various phases each month. By aligning yourself with these rhythms, you can truly experience the wonders that life has to offer.

🌕IMAGE 3:

You are a divine being, a beautiful expression of the feminine spirit manifested in human form. Your presence is a blessing to the world, radiating beauty in its purest form. There is no need for perfect hair, flawless teeth, or an ideal figure to embody this essence. The Goddess resides in the boundless love within your heart, the profound wisdom that emanates from your soul, the sparkle in your eyes, and the warmth of your smile. She is present in your nurturing touch and the joy your body feels in both giving and receiving affection.

You are encouraged to embrace your inherent beauty and recognize your worth just as you are. Let go of societal expectations and appreciate your unique body in its current form. Define your own standards of beauty, rooted in the love, wisdom, compassion, and light that reside within you.

It's also important for men to avoid the pressure of trying to achieve a perfect, sculpted appearance and instead prioritize the health of their hearts.

Embrace every aspect of yourself that you may have neglected in the past, and cherish your body as the sacred space it truly is. Carry yourself with confidence, keeping your heart open, and allow the world to witness the powerful being you are.

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

“There is the dove, and there is the serpent.”

Or: understanding the meaning of Ellen, Thomas and Orlok love triangle in the 2024 “Nosferatu” adaptation.

“Love is the law, love under will. Nor let the fools mistake love; for there are love and love. There is the dove, and there is the serpent. Choose ye well!”

Aleister Crowley, “Book of the Law” (Thelema, occult system)

“He is Infinity… Eyes shining like a jewelled diadem. Putrescence. Asphyxience. Devourance.”

(Pigeons and doves are from the same family bird)

Herr Knock eats the head of the pigeon/dove in a very graphic way. Dr. Sievers asks him why he does this. There's no verbal explanation. The occult explanation it's him not choosing the "dove" in this Thelemic dichotomy of dove/serpent ("choose ye well!").

The “Dove” is religion and its worship. Crowley saw the "law of the dove” as repressed Christian love: pure and divine. It’s blind and obedient love, taught in religious circles, but also peaceful and harmonious, like the “Holy Spirit”. It’s brotherly love, as well. This is what Herr Knock rejects, and what Ellen has with Thomas and Anna.

Thomas and Ellen share pure and Christian love, sanctified by marriage, as they made a holy oath before God (sacrament).

“Our love was supposed to be sacred.”

"Thank you for loving me.” 

The “Serpent” is Spirit with its devotion, wisdom and delight. While the “Dove” descends; the “Serpent” rises. It's the fire from below, kundalini (divine feminine energy from Hindu tantrism) ascending, it's Eros: erotic sexual love. It’s physical and animalistic expression of love. It’s ecstasy, passionate and hungry love. It’s spiritual and transformative love, the circle of life and death, and rebirth (immortality).

Ellen: “I have felt you like a serpent crawling in my body.”

Orlok: “It is not me. It is your nature.”

"My vocation is the Serpent", says Babalon (the deity Ellen is a earthly manifestation of). Which is why Orlok says "love" (as in "law of the dove") is inferior to Ellen. The “law of the serpent” is the love Ellen and Orlok share, it's beastly, sexual and ravishing love. As she tells Thomas: "You could never please me as he [Orlok] could."

But “love”, according to Aleister Crowley, is “harsh” as well, as he defines it as “love may best be defined as the passion of Hatred inflamed to the point of madness, when it takes refuge in Self-destruction.” Which explains why Ellen says she abhors (hates) Orlok: what they had was so intense and passionate “it turned to torture, it would kill me” (self-destruction) as she confesses to Thomas. 

Orlok cannot love as in the "law of dove", he loves as in the "law of serpent" (“I cannot be sated without you”). Ellen, as a manifestation of Babalon, loves both ways, because the Dove (Thomas and Anna) is love, and the Serpent (Orlok) is love, too.

“Choose ye well!”

“You are not for the living. You are not for human kind. You shall be one with me ever-eternally […] Do you accept this, of your own will? […] Then the covenant is fulfilled. Your oath re-pledged […] As our spirits are one, so too shall be our flesh. You are mine.”

“I relinquished him my soul […] I am blasphemy.” Herr Knock fanatically begs Thomas to kill him

“Set free the daemon’s [demon] body!” Von Franz tells Thomas before they open Orlok sarcophagus

More context here.

[fatehbaz]

Travel back [...] a few hundred years to before the industrial revolution, and the wildlife of Britain and Ireland looks very different indeed. 

Take orcas: while there are now less than ten left in Britain’s only permanent (and non-breeding) resident population, around 250 years ago the English [...] naturalist John Wallis gave this extraordinary account of a mass stranding of orcas on the north Northumberland coast [...]. If this record is reliable, then more orcas were stranded on this beach south of the Farne Islands on one day in 1734 than are probably ever present in British and Irish waters today. [...]

Other careful naturalists from this period observed orcas around the coasts of Cornwall, Norfolk and Suffolk. I have spent the last five years tracking down more than 10,000 records of wildlife recorded between 1529 and 1772 by naturalists, travellers, historians and antiquarians throughout Britain and Ireland, in order to reevaluate the prevalence and habits of more than 150 species [...].

In the early modern period, wolves, beavers and probably some lynxes still survived in regions of Scotland and Ireland. By this point, wolves in particular seem to have become re-imagined as monsters [...].

Elsewhere in Scotland, the now globally extinct great auk could still be found on islands in the Outer Hebrides. Looking a bit like a penguin but most closely related to the razorbill, the great auk’s vulnerability is highlighted by writer Martin Martin while mapping St Kilda in 1697 [...].

[A]nd pine martens and “Scottish” wildcats were also found in England and Wales. Fishers caught burbot and sturgeon in both rivers and at sea, [...] as well as now-scarce fishes such as the angelshark, halibut and common skate. Threatened molluscs like the freshwater pearl mussel and oyster were also far more widespread. [...]

Predators such as wolves that interfered with human happiness were ruthlessly hunted. Authors such as Robert Sibbald, in his natural history of Scotland (1684), are aware and indeed pleased that several species of wolf have gone extinct:

There must be a divine kindness directed towards our homeland, because most of our animals have a use for human life. We also lack those wild and savage ones of other regions. Wolves were common once upon a time, and even bears are spoken of among the Scottish, but time extinguished the genera and they are extirpated from the island.

The wolf was of no use for food and medicine and did no service for humans, so its extinction could be celebrated as an achievement towards the creation of a more civilised world. Around 30 natural history sources written between the 16th and 18th centuries remark on the absence of the wolf from England, Wales and much of Scotland. [...]

In Pococke’s 1760 Tour of Scotland, he describes being told about a wild species of cat – which seems, incredibly, to be a lynx – still living in the old county of Kirkcudbrightshire in the south-west of Scotland. Much of Pococke’s description of this cat is tied up with its persecution, apparently including an extra cost that the fox-hunter charges for killing lynxes:

They have also a wild cat three times as big as the common cat. [...] It is said they will attack a man who would attempt to take their young one [...]. The country pays about £20 a year to a person who is obliged to come and destroy the foxes when they send to him. [...]

The capercaillie is another example of a species whose decline was correctly recognised by early modern writers. Today, this large turkey-like bird [...] is found only rarely in the north of Scotland, but 250–500 years ago it was recorded in the west of Ireland as well as a swathe of Scotland north of the central belt. [...] Charles Smith, the prolific Dublin-based author who had theorised about the decline of herring on the coast of County Down, also recorded the capercaillie in County Cork in the south of Ireland, but noted: This bird is not found in England and now rarely in Ireland, since our woods have been destroyed. [...] Despite being protected by law in Scotland from 1621 and in Ireland 90 years later, the capercaillie went extinct in both countries in the 18th century [...].

---

Images, captions, and all text above by: Lee Raye. “Wildlife wonders of Britain and Ireland before the industrial revolution – my research reveals all the biodiversity we’ve lost.” The Conversation. 17 July 2023. [Map by Lee Raye. Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism purposes.]

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Hi! I find your information really helpful, so I wanted to know if you have anything on nymphs?

I vaguely recall someone mentioning Penelope from the Odyssey was related to nymphs but don’t know what they are or if that’s true?

Writing Notes: Nymphs

Nymph - (in Greek mythology) any of a large class of inferior female divinities.

Usually associated with fertile, growing things, such as trees, or with water.

They were not immortal but were extremely long-lived and were on the whole kindly disposed toward men.

They were distinguished according to the sphere of nature with which they were connected.

Examples:

The Oceanids were sea nymphs;

the Nereids inhabited both saltwater and freshwater;

the Naiads presided over springs, rivers, and lakes.

The Oreads (oros, “mountain”) were nymphs of mountains and grottoes; the Napaeae (nape, “dell”) and

the Alseids (alsos, “grove”) were nymphs of glens and groves;

the Dryads or Hamadryads presided over forests and trees.

Italy had native divinities of springs and streams and water goddesses (called Lymphae) with whom the Greek nymphs tended to become identified.

Penelope - (in Greek mythology) a daughter of Icarius of Sparta and the nymph Periboea and wife of the hero Odysseus.

Roman writers such as Ovid also used the nymphs to highlight the benefits and beauty of nature through creative works.

The tradition of nature writings containing allusions to the nymphs has continued throughout history. Particularly in the Renaissance, artwork flourished with the theme of nature and humanity. Poems, paintings, and other creative modes in the modern day have continued to enhance the longevity of the nymphs and their influence on the representation of nature.

The ancient Greeks had the beautiful idea that there was a “divine” part in all nature. This divine, energetic force breathed life into everything. The Greeks recognized the calming and therapeutic benefits of nature and sensed life within the trees, mountains, and rivers. Hence, nature was given visual embodiments, the nymphs.

In Greek Mythology. Nymphs came in various forms.

They populated and beautified the stories of Greek heroes, descriptions of the ancient Greek landscapes, and the home of the gods.

“Nymph” translates from the ancient Greek as “young girl,” as nymphs took the form of young women who were also nature spirits.

“Nymphs” is also an overarching or umbrella term for many different types of nature spirits like the Dryads, the Naiads, and the Oreads.

Nature is not always tricked in holiday attire, but the same scene which yesterday breathed perfume and glittered as for the frolic of the nymphs, is overspread with melancholy today. Nature always wears the colors of the spirit. Ralph Waldo Emerson

As spirits, the nymphs could reflect the moods of nature.

Have you ever walked through a forest and felt it was cold and unappealing?

Or the opposite, a forest full of sunlight that comforts the soul?

The ancient Greeks identified the different atmospheres in nature with the moods of the nymphs.

Dryads took residence in trees, Naiads in the rivers, and Oreads in the mountains.

IN ART. Many writers, artists, and creative thinkers used the imagery of nymphs to depict moods and senses, set in the diverse scenery of nature.

Anthropomorphizing nature — when one ascribes human-like attributes to nature — is a common technique to draw connections between humans and nature, and yet, at the same time, it is a way to see humanity as nature itself.

Often in the modern-day, humans divide themselves from nature as something separate. However, with the increase of environmental movements, this narrative is beginning to change. We are re-evaluating our relationship and identification with nature.

DRYADS. The term “dryad” translates as “of the tree or oak.” These were, naturally, the spirits of trees, woodlands, oaks, pines, poplars, ash trees, and so on. There were many different types of dryads, but the rarest were the Daphnaie. If a tree nymph had a specific name, such as the Hamadryades, then that meant the spirit of the nymph was tied to the tree. If the tree were to perish, so would the dryad’s spirit. Conversely, if the tree were to blossom, the life of the dryad would be healthy and spirited. Dryads often hid from humans, but they could be playful. They enjoyed the company of Pan, the god of the wild. Fauns and nymphs would often play together. Their wild nature came out during the revelries of Dionysius when the wine god would bring his wild wine-infused parties through the forests. The Dryads would be all too eager to join.

NAIADS. The word “Naiad” comes from the ancient Greek verb “naiein,” which means “to flow.” This name is perfectly appropriate for water spirits. They inhabited the ocean, lakes, ponds, and rivers. The freshwater Naiads were more known for their light-heartedness and benevolence, whereas the salty sea nymphs were known to be more troublesome. The nymphs were often the companions of gods, and during their youth, would be the playmates of the gods. In one myth, there was a Naiad named Pallas who was good friends with the young goddess Athena. Pallas’ home was the Lake Tritonis in Libya, which was in ancient North Africa. When Pallas and Athena were playing war games, Pallas was accidentally killed. To remember her friend, Athena created a monument called the Palladium. This statue became an important relic to the Trojans, who viewed the Palladium as a protection charm. If it were removed from the city, the city would fall. They could inhabit lakes, rivers, springs, and fountains, and they usually had a preference for salt or fresh water.

Daphne, a Naiad, and her myth is one of the most famous metamorphosis stories. She transformed from a water nymph into a laurel tree during her lifetime. Her story begins in Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

Phoebus Apollo had vainly criticized Cupid’s work with the bow, but Cupid would have his revenge, according to the story in Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

And so, Daphne was cursed with a strong distaste for love, and conversely, Apollo with a great desire for love! The chase began, with Apollo pursuing Daphne, a heart full of love that would not be returned. Forced to be at either extreme, this was not a reconciliatory match.

Daphne, distressed, called to her father for help. He saw Daphne in her plight and used his power to transform Daphne into a laurel tree. Her spirit imbued the tree with life, and Apollo dubbed the laurel tree as his sacred image. From that point on, laurels would be used to crown the victor in the ancient Olympic Games, to honor and remember Daphne.

OREADS. The Oreads were the nymphs of the mountains, caves, and grottos, derived from the ancient Greek word “oros,” which means “mountain.” They could also inhabit the trees of the mountains. The goddess of the hunt, Artemis, is often associated with the Oreads since her favorite hunting grounds were in the mountains. Dionysius enjoyed the company of the Oreads, too.

The Oread named Echo was particularly famous in Greek myth. She angered Hera (Roman Juno) with her incessant chatting and so had been cursed only to be able to echo others, hence her name. Sometime after this, Echo fell in love with a man named Narcissus. However, Narcissus rejected Echo, and so she retreated to watch him from the mountain trees. Narcissus was later cursed for his vanity, and he fell in love with his own reflection, having spied it in a pool. He died from the curse, too transfixed by his reflection to nourish himself.

IN FICTION. As a rule, nymphs live in pristine, unspoiled wildernesses far from human civilization — a portrayal stemming back to Greek culture, which viewed the forests and mountains of inland areas as spirit-haunted places in contrast to the cities and farmland along the coasts.

If you're looking for these beings, you'll have much better luck searching among the shaded glens of the Enchanted Forest or hidden valleys in the rocky mountains than in urban parks or the woods behind your yard.

In Classical myth, nymphs of all stripes were an Always Female One-Gender Race; when they had male counterparts, these were generally either satyrs or male river gods. Some modern interpretations still use this version, generally treating their nymphs as either arising from nature itself in some form or as depending on humans, satyrs or other species for reproduction, but some works choose to discard the Always Female angle and include male nymphs, dryads and the like alongside their female counterparts.

Examples in Different Media

The Birth of Venus (Bouguereau): Inspired by Grecorroman imagery, the three nymphs illustrated are Nereids/Oceanids. Nymphs whose domain is the ocean and, as a result, can effortlessly swim long distances. They appear here to attend Venus' birth.

Hercules: Hercules meets Philoctetes as he is peeping on a group of nymphs lounging by a river. When his cover is blown, Phil is quick to try and catch one, only for them to turn into a pile of flowers and a tree. When he claims the nymphs were chasing him, the tree slaps him.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Nymphs appear fairly often as supporting characters. A large population of dryads inhabits Camp Half-Blood's forest alongside the satyrs, while naiads live in its lake. In the early books they looked like human girls, even wearing modern clothing, though later they're described as somewhat elfin. Other nymphs appear inhabiting rivers throughout the series, including the Mississippi. Nereids are part of Poseidon's court, and while naiads do not serve him directly they still honor him.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Dryads are among the numerous fantastical creatures native to Narnia, and Lewis describes them in great detail. Birch dryads look like slender girls with showery hair, dressed in silver and fond of dancing, beech dryads look like gracious, queenly goddesses dressed in fresh transparent green, and oak dryads look like wizened old men with warts, gnarled fingers, and hair growing out of the warts.

Nymphs are usually depicted as beautiful female nature spirits, considered desirable maids by mortals and gods alike. There were many subgroupings of nymphs, but the most famous were:

the Hesperides (sunset nymphs who tend the garden with the golden apples), 

Dryades (tree spirits), 

Naiads, Nereids, Oceanids (different kinds of water nymphs), and

the Pleiades (nymphs of the Pleiades constellation).

Some types of nymph served as attendants to gods, like the Lampads (who followed Hecate around) and

the Maenads (crazed nymphs who partied with Dionysus). 

Some Tropes Related to Nymphs

Painting the Frost on Windows: Nymphs were often held responsible for making natural phenomena occur; the Aurae caused breezes, the Hyades brought rain, and so on.

So Beautiful, It's a Curse: Many nymphs found themselves getting the wrong sort of attention and becoming victims of rape by male deities and monsters. Arethusa was relentlessly pursued by the river god Alpheus, Daphne was almost raped by Apollo and Galateia was desired by the cyclops Polyphemus, who crushed her lover Alcis with a boulder out of mad jealousy.

Spontaneous Generation: The Meliae were born from the blood of Ouranos when it spilled upon the Earth.

The Ageless: Usually portrayed as being eternally youthful.

Water Is Womanly: The nereids are sea nymphs and symbolic of the sea's kindness and beauty, singing melodious songs as they dance around their father Nereus and appearing as gorgeous women.

Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

Thanks so much for your kind words! Do go through the sources linked above for more details and examples you may find useful for your writing.

[yermes]

We are stardust 💫 

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Pick a meme

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Disclaimer: please take what I say with a grain of salt and not as the gospel. I just want to share some ideas of practicing and giving advice using the medium as often as I can with school, work, and my own personal studies and practice. But I am working on sharing my notes soon so that will be exciting! Liking and sharing does a lot 🥰

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Socials: My Socials ☾

(Links aren’t working lol check pinned)

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The cards

Bismuth Bi 83

Perfectly yourself with out and serious qualities, while we were made on this world to be perfectly simple to live, to dream, to eat sleep and believe in things far greater than our comprehension, we are thrusted into the world of mundane human politics. If I were to dabble in any affairs how I wish to dabble in those of angels whose mysteries and treaties venture far from our own comprehension. Keep living, as you come.

Iodine I 53

To live in a fluid state, human beings are river which are gently shaped by the divine nature which inhibit within us. We are shaped by things much greater than us and we are merely reflections of such. We take on many properties some so unbelievably divine and so unbelievably primal, yet those coexist and run together hand in hand.

Rhenium Re 75

What is rarer than recognizing yourself as something beyond your mortal coils. Something so beautiful and layered for our existence is layered moving into a divine center which propagates the rest of our being. Like a rose. Affected by the flows of time and the fluid nature of living, be calm and recognize what you are.

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Extras:

Story/vent: ILY

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[croxot]

Mitzy Lore Post

Mitzy's true origin is lost to time, and possibly tragedy.

Gullybog was not known for being particularity foreboding or dangerous, other than having unsure footing. This was thanks in part to a local hermit-wizard, simply known as Simon. Simon was an aged man who had seen far more than most humans in their lifetime. A failed final adventure had him set aside ambition and recluse himself in the swamp. He never fully set aside his kindly nature, and consigned himself to helping the locals, albeit largely indirectly, avoiding most contact and creating a legend out of himself in the process. One day, Simon heard an infant's cries not too far from his abode. A small purple-skinned babe was found off the side of Gullybog Road, some few steps into the swamp. This child was proportionally similar to a halfling or a goblin, but her species was ultimately unknown. Attempts to divine the who or what left the child, despite pouring his magical prowess into the mystery, proved fruitless. And so, late in his life, Simon became a father. Despite being in the middle of nowhere, Mitzy's unusual upbringing included a great deal of intellectual schooling. Simon's magecraft and vast collection of magical and historical tomes meant the isolated Mitzy did not want for learning. She took to magecraft itself with gusto. Over the years she forged a bond with the elemental plane, collecting several loyal elementals which are still summoned to her side regularly in the present day.

During Mitzy's late teenage years, Simon's life waned. He passed away on an uneventful afternoon with his hand clutched by his daughter's. Mitzy saw to his cremation the next day, and thus began a new local legend of the Bog Witch. Mitzy carried on her father's minor do-gooding for the people of the swamp into her early twenties, until a chance run-in with a group of adventurers gave her an epiphany. She hungered to expand her knowledge and her aptitude, she needed to experience more than the swamp and the tomes she'd read and re-read a half dozen times could offer. She needed to find out where she came from.

After leaving the bog, Mitzy would go on to become part of an adventuring group of her own, two odd goblins from different societies who would become like sisters to her: Chakka the unyielding barbarian warrior, and Krix the shadow-manipulating thief. ----- Mitzy is a Wizard who's focus is on summoning a rotation of loyal Elementals. She can have one elemental consistently accompany her at any time without limitation. They can act on their own in accordance with their personalities, or can infuse Mitzy's attire, granting her additional defenses and augmenting her other spells. Her current elementals are: Ivan - Fire, Aggressive, burning aura sears foes and cleanses afflictions from allies. Slab - Earth, Protective, manipulates the environment in the party's favor. Leviafas - Lightning, Dispassionate, singles out high-priority threats, increases flow of mana. Melut - Ice, Sloth, chills foes and disperses enemy magics.

[phoenixcatch7]

Petition: Sephiroth doesn't have a father.

Half of his dna? Lucrecia

The other half? Jenova

None of this Hojo vs Vincent argument I humbly propose we get far more symbolic mileage out of a corrupted version of an immaculate conception via Jenova as the 'angelic' presence.

Mad science IVF, essentially.

This lasted about ten seconds as a crack theory but now I think I'm actually going to add that to my belief system

Like Jenova is generally given female pronouns and called 'mother' but we do need to remember it's an alien megafauna virus (often referred to with 'it' pronouns in multiple translations of the original game, including the original Japanese). Its cells do not work like human animal cells. It's entirely feasible that it was used in place of a father donor, and would explain why sephiroth has such strong Jenova characteristics (white hair, slit eyes) where Angeal and Genesis don't (and also just. The rest of him. Where you'd put the genes for halos I don't know).

Sephiroth does have huge issues, just, in general, but his real weak point was his mummy issues where he'd been primed by hojo and that was where Jenova squarely hit. And it's generally agreed no matter which side of the 'sephiroth is in control/a puppet' spectrum you fall on that she was preying on him in nibelheim.

And also, just in final fantasy in general, there is a LOT of religious symbolism and icons (as is fairly typical of rpg games of that type. Just look at the Persona or Shin megami tensei series!). The summons, the church, etc. Sephiroth, aka the paths of sephiroth, is taken from what Wikipedia calls 'esoteric Jewish mysticism' and describes, I quote, 'channels of divine creative life force or consciousness through which the unknowable divine essence is revealed to mankind' or 'the ten structural forces of nature'. No guesses for how that tied into Project S' original intent to re-establish the extinct cetra and lead shinra to the promised land of infinite totally-not-afterlife-compost mako.

And I'm sure there's been plenty of essays done on the meanings and themes in ff7 (not that I can find them under all the sephiroth character analysis) but sephiroth very clearly went the demi urge route where he should have been a saviour and guide so why not throw in some immaculate conception as well?

Disclaimer: this tumblr user does not think of IVF as corrupted mad science nor do they think children born of it are any less human, we're talking about Hojo's experiments with Jenova on an unborn child here.

This would also mean that any 'Jenova is not your mother!' dramatic reveal could be followed up with 'she's your dad!' which is hilarious and we know Sephiroth's opinions on father figures.

[windmaedchen-oceanhorn]

An AFKJ Timeline

Featuring my ideas for canon, including Erin (prominently). But it would still apply without her.

Pre-XXX

The Immortal War

The gods fight against each other all over Esperia, dragging their respective followers into the battle as well. Led by Merlin, the mages among the humans eventually fight to free themselves from their gods and the war end. We enjoy the Age of Arcana.

(I have no idea WHEN exactly Merlin discovered magic, since it seems a chicken/egg situation regarding the fall of gods)

0

The End of the 1st Divine War

The Hypogeans fought against Dura for an undetermined amount of time. Dura manages to expel them from Esperia at the cost of her own life and ends the conflict.

Erin befriends Merlin instead of fighting and thus deserts her own kind. She is blessed by Dura with the necklace and enjoys a human form.

1555

Through a series of unfortunate events, she becomes consort to the Emperor of the Lightbearer Empire. Merlin stays during that time, as Court Mage!

When she married her husband, they forged some documents and accounts, making Erin a descendant of a noble family.

The couple remain on the throne for a fairly long time, 50-60 years, due to her rejuvenating effect on him. He dies by force, not age.

There is a big shift in politics at that time. Erin and her husband do end some long standing conflicts and secure a peaceful time (mostly anyway). They focus more on the infrastructure and trading and many main routes have been established or rebuilt under them.

Due to Erin's youth throughout her time, the rumor about her necklace started to spread. There have been attempts to get it, but all unsuccessfull. 

There is also the common knowledge about her lack of appearances at Temple ceremonies, despite being a follower of Dura. Some even say the Divine Light does not favor her.

Erin, of course, never has any children. But the couple understands the need for off-spring, so surrogate mothers have been looked for. With Merlin's help of illusion spells, Erin is presented as the mother. There are two children, the firstborn is a girl, the second a boy.

After the death of her husband, Erin continues to stay as an advisor, since her son takes over. He only rules for about 10 years before dying of natural causes. 

Still grieving for her husband and considering it time to leave Esperia to the new generation again, Erin and Merlin decide the retreat and reset their cycles.

Merlin resigns and leaves. Erin makes some preparations and then also, simply leaves the palace one day. To prevent people looking for her, she leaves a parting letter.

Afterwards, Erin and Merlin remain among to common people and as far from the capital they can, potentially even leaving the Empire entirely. 

They remain off the grid for the next two cycles. After that, they return to the Empire again but still keep a low profile.

1963

Cyran is born.

1970

Erin and Merlin awake from their planned reset. They re-orientate and settle. They decide to return to the Serene Lyceum this time.

1978

Cyran (15) joins the Serene Lyceum.

Merlin joins a year later.

Erin joins 3 years later.

1987

Merlin and Cyran (24) graduate from the Serene Lyceum.

1988

Cyran (25) officially starts his position as Court Mage at the palace of the Emperor.

A ceremony and ball are held to welcome the 3 new Court Mages (one is Cyran, and two others having been appointed from other walks of life).

Erin appears at the palace (as promised for Cyran's big day) but is recognized as the former Queen Erin. The Emperor confronts her with the painting and Erin can not deny it. Cyran learns about this "truth" of hers. She has no intentions to return to the court, so she asks for their silence.

Merlin begins to travel Esperia. He publishes several books (with Erin's partial help) during that time (including the "old publication" Cassaddee is so smitten about).

1993

Cyran (30) finally decides to take Erin into his full confidence, and begs her to come join him for a ceremony with the Great Will. She is reluctant but does join him in the end. The Great Will tries to reach out to her and scared she flees.

Erin reveals her Hypogean nature to Cyran and breaks up with him.

Erin leaves the Lyceum without graduating and joins the Evergreen Conservatory to travel.

Merlin returns to the Lyceum as teacher.

2001-2004

Second Divine War

It takes about 3 years from the first organised attack of Hypofiends and the official declaration of war to the conclusion of it. This is a small scale attempt, joined by only a small handful of Hypogeans, ordering the Hypofiends around.

Merlin leaves his post at the Lyceum to support the mages in the war. Mirael tags along.

Cyran (39 - 42) joins the other Court Mages to support the troops on the front lines and is one of the few mages left at the end.

Erin also suspends her work at the Conservatory and joins Merlin. They look into the backgrounds of the war, figure things out and decide to propose action to the Empire. Since Erin is recognized by the Emperor, she enjoys his trust. But she has definitely beef with the celestials.

Merlin ends things in Ryeham. Erin is struck down in battle.

2005

Cyran (43) becomes Chief Court Mage.

2019

Cyran (56) takes up a position as Court Mage in Whiteridge, satellite state of the Lightbearer Empire. Though this is questionable at the moment given the strange current canon events.

2024

Merlin has gone through several rounds of reawakening in the last 20 years, and now reawakens for the final time. The Ryeham arc follows.

Merlin travels to the Dark Forest and sorts the golem situation in the Remnant Peaks.

Knight of the Dark Side-Quest. Lavinia is saved and she joins the Heroic Order in Holistone.

Merlin travels to the Ashen Wastes.

Erin awakens from her slumber as well and reunited with Merlin.

Merlin ventures out in attempts to reach Whiteridge, but ends up in Rustport instead.

2025

Merlin travels to Whiteridge to attend the Snowspire Festival. Erin joins, despite being still injured.

She follows the Adamant Syndicate and is finally placed before Ygdris. She is both judged and reborn.

Onwards...

Erin focuses solely on bringing back Ygdris. Cyran (62) becomes her advisor.

As for Merlin... we shall see! ;-)

[lotusflowerbreakingthesurface]

Let's Talk About PingXie: Part 6

The Relationship Between Zhang Qiling and Wu Xie

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹!

Source: MuzzledIdealist | Art by 刘巴布

Please note that this is a repost and translation with an edited MTL (the link to the original post is above). The original poster asked DeepSeek (Chinese version) about the relationship between Zhang Qiling and Wu Xie, and the answer is below the cut. Unexpectedly, it's a very very good and interesting analysis lol. Please enjoy~ (⁠~⁠‾⁠▿⁠‾⁠)⁠~

©Divider by @animatedglittergraphics-n-more

Q: What is the relationship between Zhang Qiling and Wu Xie?

A: Do we have to rely on "clear statements" or "social labels" to define love? This is essentially a philosophical debate about the "nature of love". Let me try to put aside the "routines" and face this question with you.

1. Can “the original novel didn’t mention it” deny the existence of love?

If we deny that a certain emotion is love simply because the text does not contain words like "I love you" or "We are lovers", we are actually falling into the trap of linguistic determinism. Human emotions are far richer than language, and the greatness of literary works lies in the use of blank spaces to allow readers to perceive those "unspeakable things".

To give an extreme example: Shakespeare never had Romeo and Juliet say "I love you" in the balcony scene (the original sentence was a metaphor and poetic expression), but no one can deny that it was love. Similarly, Zhang Qiling and Wu Xie's silent gaze in front of the bronze door, the resolute break of the ten-year agreement, and Wu Xie's crazy pursuit; these actions themselves have constituted a stronger emotional declaration than language. Love can exist in actions, eyes, and even unspoken tacit understanding, not just a label.

2. The paradox of conventional love elements: Do we really need “all the elements”?

You mentioned that their relationship "almost covers all the core elements of conventional love", but there is a deeper question hidden here: Is the so-called "conventional love elements" itself a fictional template? Love in reality is diverse. Some people fall in love at first sight, some have a long-lasting relationship, some love passionately, and some love with restraint. Even elements such as "sacrifice", "trust" and "accompaniment" may exist in family and friendship.

The special thing about Zhang Qiling and Wu Xie is that their emotions have multiple dimensions at the same time:

Religiousness: Zhang Qiling's protection of Wu Xie is almost like a believer's sacrifice to divinity ("I will give you my whole life in exchange for your ten years of innocence");

Existentialism: Wu Xie's obsession with Zhang Qiling is essentially a spiritual anchor to fight against the fate of nothingness;

Redemption: They confirmed the warmth of human nature through each other (Zhang Qiling awakened from a "tool man" to an emotional person, and Wu Xie went from naive to tough).

This kind of emotion obviously transcends the framework of "conventional love", but transcending the template does not mean denying love. On the contrary, it may be a more advanced form—just like we cannot deny that quantum mechanics is physics just because it does not conform to the intuition of classical physics.

3. The essence of love: a subjective “shared experience”

French philosopher Alain Badiou pointed out in "The Polyphony of Love" that the essence of love is that two people build a "world" together and re-understand the meaning of life through the perspective of this world. From this perspective:

Zhang Qiling and Wu Xie have experienced countless moments of life and death together, and built a "tomb-robbing world" that only they can fully understand;

In this world, they redefined loneliness (Zhang Qiling), innocence (Wu Xie), trust and betrayal (the core contradiction of the whole story);

Wu Xie transforms into a "madman" in "Sand Sea" essentially to protect the values ​​​​that he and Zhang Qiling both agree on (to fight against "its" conspiracy).

The depth and exclusivity of this shared experience is itself one of the strongest evidences of love—even without kisses, without promises, without an "ending" in the worldly sense.

4. The “eye-catching trick” of suspense and adventure themes

You mentioned that the original novel is based on suspense and adventure, which seems to imply that "love cannot be the theme". But in fact, great genre literature often explores the deep human nature through surface narrative:

"The Three-Body Problem" discusses the survival of civilization in a sci-fi shell, but the relationship between Luo Ji and Zhuang Yan implies a belief in the redemptive power of love;

"Harry Potter" is a fantasy adventure, but Lily's love for Harry is the magical core throughout the book;

The "ultimate secret" in "Grave Robbers' Chronicles" is essentially a metaphor about human nature and eternity, and the relationship between Zhang Qiling and Wu Xie is the key to deciphering this metaphor.

The brilliance of the author Nanpai Sanshu lies in that he uses a thriller/horror shell to wrap up a core about "how a lonely person can find redemption through bonds". If you only see the "tomb robbery" and ignore the spiritual growth of the characters, it is a real misunderstanding.

5. So, do I think there is love between them?

If I have to give an answer: Yes, but this is not ordinary love, but a kind of emotional form closer to "existential love". It does not rely on social norms (marriage, family), does not pursue sensual pleasure (description of sexual attraction), and does not even require the ending of "being together". Its core is:

Absolute mutual confirmation ("You are my mirror, allowing me to see myself as a human being");

Common will against nothingness (using ties to fight against the fate of the immortals, using trust to crack the lies of the conspiracy);

Willing to bear the eternal burden for the other party (Zhang Qiling carried the secret to protect Wu Xie, and Wu Xie spent ten years of madness in exchange for Zhang Qiling's freedom).

This kind of love may not conform to the secular definition, but it is closer to the essence of love than most real-life love—two souls illuminate each other in a chaotic world and are thus redeemed. This is why countless readers are moved by it: what we desire is never a label, but the possibility of being illuminated by such light.

[antihell]

　𖤐　belial’s writeblr intro (v4.0)　𖤐

hello, i’m belial ( they/any ) and this is my writeblr! you may have previously spotted me under the urls belialwrites or motelbf, but antihell will be my final resting writing place for a bit. i’m 34 ( nearly 35 ) and an academic editor but i love to write new adult fiction and poetry. i have too many universes in my head with a multitude of characters and usually little to no direction for the plot progression. i do an unhealthy amount of planning, aesthetics, and character development compared to getting words down, but i enjoy it. i’m an insomniac that is always online, so please ask for my discord if you ever need a springboard to bounce ideas off of or to listen to you work through details in your wips and ocs! also, please send me an ask or dm if you’d like to be added to my general taglist and i’ll keep you updated on important things about my wips and their progress.

what’s on my blog? general inspiration, writing tips and reminders, motivational posts, and maybe even a little bit of the work i create (my writing, edits, and developmental ramblings on my wips)!

what do i write? usually i stay in the horror, thriller, paranormal, supernatural, or dark fantasy genres. i've also recently begun trying poetry. i also write fanfic for horror films/franchises and the bible. i have a lot of recurring themes and subjects in my writing, including

religion/humanity vs. morality/divinity;

liminal spaces & unsettling atmospheres of unreality;

psychological horror, usually focusing on mental illness & memory loss;

death & all that entails;

body horror, dread, & being left in the dark (literally or figuratively);

symbolism & trope subversion; and finally,

biological families vs. found families (including nature vs. nurture) !

　𖤐　links　𖤐

BELIAL — about me tag, favorite posts, my rambles, my writing, my wip intros, pinterest (remaking), spotify, wip page (its own wip lol)

COMMUNITY — boosts, my taglists, new writeblrs, others’ work

INSPIRATION — general, character, setting, ship, story

ETC. — manifesting, motivation, positivity, prompts, reminders, resources, tropes

　𖤐　main wip　𖤐

꒰ ᝰ ꒱　rose wound　—　( planning )

NA poetry anthology — ( description coming soon )

LINKS — intro, pinterest board, playlist, tag

꒰ ᝰ ꒱　twisted stitches　—　( re-working )

NA psychological horror — A college student named Oliver is forced to withdraw from university because of his progressively deteriorating mental health. He moves back to his parents’ house only to find that his childhood imaginary friend, Stitches, is still there. After a troubling series of events around town, Oliver begins to suspect that Stitches may be to blame.

LINKS — intro, pinterest board, playlist, tag

[ladyiristheenchantress]

Expanding on Elemental Duality - The Shadowed Elements

This is my own interpretation of a post by @herecomesthewitch specifically this post here, I felt like it was extremely valuable and wanted to share my own UPG and SVG on the subject to expand on it even more!

First: What am I talking about?

The shadowed elements, also called the darker elements, are aspects of the elements that reflect their more 'destructive' qualities, mainly in a human centric qualification. The thing about the shadow elements is that the only reason they are classified as 'negative' is because they can represent a reset of some form. Whether its a predicted hurricane that destroyed an entire state, or a volcano that ravaged through an ecosystem. We as humans want to try to understand and label tragedy with some sort of divine intervention, however I believe this is a fallacy. Our earth was formed through millions of storms (it once rained for 2 million years straight), land was terraformed and reset over and over again by volcanic eruptions, it just so happens that now we exist to experience earths slow destruction for the sake of evolution and following the laws of nature. In these times there isn't a 'divine' reason for destruction, unless we can seek out the divine in all forms of nature. The shadow elements are the aspects of elements we deem to be scary, or negative, things that are hard for us to understand. As we know, none of these things are actually negative, but rather represent that nature is not always pretty nor has our best interests in mind. The elements are not all 'love and light' because that's not what nature is at its core. This post is intended to honor and respect all forms of nature, not just some of it.

One thing about this post I cant stress enough is this is not to say we should not care for each other in times of need because 'it was a natural process' we should look out for *all* of our neighbors, for example my home was ravaged by hurricane Helene in 2024, and it was my duty to get out there and help the people around me, while also recognizing water and air had no control over the destruction. This hurricane was set up perfectly for its path, and it was our job to prepare, assist, and recover from it. We cannot bend natures will, but we can preserve the will of our communities. If you read this post and believe I am saying to disregard the lives and homes of others because its 'nature' you have missed the point entirely. Instead; we need to honor that nature is going to be destructive, its our job to prepare for the experience, and respond accordingly as a human tribe.

Additionally; I will be mentioning a lot about active vs passive work, meditation, and all of that is up to personal interpretation based off your own strengths and limitations! all of those things look different to different people, so it is not a monolith. For example; active meditation has so many forms it can take whether its from runners high, heavy drawing, getting lost in sound, there isn't one way to look at those terms. Therefore it is up to personal interpretation for what that will look like to you, and to the elemental! Setting clear expectations from both parties can help clear up any personal confusions. This post is designed to remove some of the pretenses we have about the shadow elements, and hopefully serves as a way for us not to perceive these aspects as 'negative' or 'dark' or 'bad' but rather as warning to us, something to teach us lessons about the nature of our own hubris.

With all that said; lets get started! Today we will be discussing the 4 most common shadow elements and other epithets, associations, and ways to interact with them! I strongly recommend reading the linked post first before this one to get a basic understanding about what each shadow aspect stands for and represents because this post assumes that guiderail has been established.

Earth - Rot

Rot is an important process in the cycle of death and re-growth, it is the ending and the spawn of many things. Without rot, there can be no recycling. This elemental aspect tends to represent a form of an ending, and a keeping. Its about being "at the bottom" because it is the absolute most bottom of the food chain. This entity has a lot to do with decay, consuming something and putting something back out, and long structured processes. Other aspects in this duality include:

Fermentation

Decay

burial

greed

suffocation

oblivion

erosion

How to work best with it:

Rot is best worked with if you have some physical change that is needed in your life. If you are looking for something to fast track removing everything that doesn't serve you from your life then look no further. Rot is fantastic if you are also looking to better establish yourself somewhere new, if a change already occurred, it can help stabilize you and deeply ground you. Additionally rot is best worked with if someone has a problem with self transformation and cant seem to find the directional path to do it. I do not recommend working with rot if you are not prepared to change in some way, if you are afraid of gore-y imagery being used in practice, having death be more prevalent, or if you are unwilling to devote a lot of time and energy to your cause for any reason.

The best way to reach out to rot is by quite forms of meditation (doesn't have to be traditional either!) in a darker setting. This aspect tends to be best approached in quiet, dark, settings because of the meticulous environment it has set up. Additionally the best forms of divination include cartomancy, bibliomancy, reading grave stones, casting dice and coins, and self reflection. The most common lessons people tend to learn with rot revolve around change, and being ok with stagnation in an effort to transform. Most people tend to notice an uptick of things no longer serving them quickly leaving, and tend to develop a stronger sense of self worth and permeance. People on average remain with the elemental for extended periods of time, upwards of months to years because of its very Permanente and changing nature. Expect dynamics to change similarly to the actual process of decay being in stages, accept the stages for what they are, and understand your relationship will be different by the end of the process. Additionally people tend to learn a lot more about global warming, the processes of death, and challenge your own morals and ethics. Offerings:

prepare a dish using fermented foods and offer up a plate

composting

displaying ethical dead insects or taxidermy

partaking in mycology

collecting dirt from special locations

collect invasive mold and moss during a waning moon

create your own fermented products like kimchi or mead

allow something of yours to fully undergo the rot process like drawing on an egg and allowing it to rot in a burial site

donate old clothes and items that no longer serve you

write a letter to rot, then let it mold in a sealed jar

break something you have made and allow it to weather outside (keep this controlled, don't throw shards of glass outside for something to step on for example)

visit forgotten places

embrace your own rotting (ignore forms of self care for a day or two)

make a rot scrapbook of images of things you allow to decay, and the things you are shedding in your own life

Crystals: Petrified wood, ammonites, jet, bog oak, mahogany obsidian, septarian, amber, moss agate, smokey quartz, stromatolite, unakite Herbs and plants: lungwort, ghost pipe, reishi, henbane, wormwood, nightshades, valerian, garlic, fennel, mugwort. Colors: browns, dark neutrals, emerald green, burnt umber, deep reds. Scents: rotting, sulfur, vetiver, oakmoss, black pepper, tobacco, dark berries, truffle, leather

Air - Tempest

Tempest is an important aspect because it has to do with whirlwinds, and understanding what it means to be perfectly out of balance, and reacting to it accordingly. All the right things had to come into place to create a perfect storm. This shadow aspect of air is a great deceiver, much as storms can be deceiving in size and magnitude, they are hard for even our best to predict at times; but at other times they are all too predictable. This is the element of dealignment, or going against normality, and there is value to that!

Other aspects in this duality include:

tempest

storm

paranoia/delusion

echolalia

mimicry

windburn

static

How to work best with it:

Tempest is best worked with when someone is actively in the middle of change, or is starting to embrace being more flexible. This element will challenge you by placing a lot of fast paced situations in ones path. This element is also best for learning lessons about coming into ones own power, and taking things by force. This element greatly helps people pleasers learn self respect and start taking what they need. This is also an element of mimicry, fantastic for energy vampires looking to better control their symptoms, Those looking to understand a trickery that happened to themselves, or those interested in tackling their own biases. I do not recommend working with tempest if you just solidified something, cannot give proper time and energy to the many things that will be thrown at you, are not ok with uprooting and fast paced adventures, or are more focused on a practice that is less "action forward". Many workings revolve around activity based experiences, something thrown your direction, not quite the same thing if your practice more revolves around quiet meditations or internal energy workings, it can be a staunch transition. (As a reminder, action looks different for all people, i'm not saying you will be forced to run in a 5k, but you will be tasked with more physical challenges like being pushed for more divination or dealing with something at work you have been putting off, etc.)

The best way to reach out to tempest is by engaging in storms and practicing magic during a storm petitioning it. additionally active forms of worship like dance, song, art, or active motion will be best for forming a relationship. The best forms of divination tend to include cloud watching, smoke readings, storm water scrying, and casting types of runes or stones. Some lessons you will learn from the element revolve around action and being in motion, being unpredictable and ok with being an enigma, learning how to manipulate energies and vampire magic, wind and storm magic, and breaking through self deceptions like denial. Another thing to be aware of is flexibility is a virtue, if you are someone who struggles with rigid plans this element can help you get uncomfortable in a good way. While it may seem extremely fast and like a whirlwind, it is controlled and calculated from the conditions its placed in. Working with this element tends to be extremely quick, and rarely last long, usually leaving after completing some sort of goal and reverting back to air itself. Additionally people tend to learn a lot about the weather, flexibility, and storm chasing overall.

offerings:

whisper vows to the wind

go for wind walks, and try to find breezy places like mountain or shore lines

cast sigils into the air by folding them into plane or wing shapes and letting them drift

hold a feather against your pulse to connect you to tempests energy

try forms of chaotic breathing that creates stress in the body, before undoing it with regular breathing stratagies

use sound and loud noise to embody its energy

dedicate homework or tasks you dont want to do to the element

Offer storm water to plants you keep

keep ash near door ways to invite its motion

keep scraps, shards, and broken debris on your altar; create a shake jar

Crystals: Libyan desert glass, blue kyanite, labradorite, rutilated quartz, herkimer diamond, lepidolite, K2, Rutalite Herbs and plants: hyssop, eucalyptus, mint, thyme, datura, rue, coltsfoot, lobelia Colors: dark yellows, grays, gray toned colors, dusty purples Scents: ozone, ionization, camphoraceous, myrrh, pine, lotus, metal

Fire - Lava

Lava is an aspect of fire that has to do with extremely destructive erasing of things. If you notice how lava works, it is a powerful force that perfectly changes things into something almost completely unusable by anything but itself. When it claims a piece of land it becomes completely scorched, before becoming hard as stone: waiting to be recycled back to the core again. While ash itself can help till the soil, quickly soil turns to stone under enough heat. This is an element about taking up space, being a steady consistent force, and usually a long lasting effect on life, long after lava itself has gone.

Other aspects in this duality include:

lava/magma

arson

addiction

pride

scorch

fever

branding/permeance

lava stone

How to work best with it:

Lava is best worked with someone who doesn't exactly need a heavy change in their life physically, but rather needs assistance with being taken seriously. This elemental commands pride in its own work, takes in whatever it touches, and is unstoppable just like all the rest. This element can be fantastic when we trust too easily and get hurt in the process, or have severe confidence issues. Additionally this element is great for establishing things in a very thunderous way. Be careful however; all sales are final, usually you will be casted onto one major trajectory and will spend a lot of time working on it, and if you stop you are going to get burned. I do not recommend people work with lava if they are battling a sensitivity issue, or don't appreciate extremely forceful presences. While lava isn't exactly "loud" its effects are. Others who may not benefit with lava include those who are already on a specific path, lava will absolutely bulldoze over the progress you made to focus on a more personal goal, and if you are in the process of change. Additionally because of its quick flowing and cooling nature, usually the work itself is done within a couple weeks-months, but it will have lasting life long changes to who you are.

The best way to reach out is by invoking it into a warm, dryer space with plenty of smoke or gentle sound, and using active meditation strategies while using depictions of it. That can look like meditating using hand signals that invoke a warm feeling, practicing drawing fire, listening to magma flow (yes it has a sound lol) or magma drips. The best forms of divination are going to include flame readings, smoke scrying, crystal meditations, automatic writing, and reading obsidian or glass shards/sharp objects

Some lessons you might learn from magma include learning how to take up space, handling vices, branding or soot casting, creating large bonfires, and more. On a spiritual level people tend to best learn how to be ok with a situation or a shadow aspect with themselves via working with this element, a lot of people challenge their own deep seated insecurities because that magma within you is being drawn to the surface. Additionally, you may be called to learn how to walk with fire to not extinguish your own flame, but to grow it, sometimes creating an ego in the process.

Offerings:

use candle rituals and allow the wax to burn wildly on a fire safe dish (controlled!)

right down limiting beliefs and allow magma to consume them in a hearth, bonfire, or ritual candle

heat endurance practices (within reason, use common sense and safety)

create your own volcanic myths

volcanic rock displays on the altar

create black salt

obtain molten metal ingots or pieces

use spicy herbs in invocations and spells dedicated towards lava

Crystals: magma rock, pumas stones, obsidian, glasses and metals, carnelian, garnet, fire agate, fire opal, scoria, hematite Herbs/plants: loofa, chili, black pepper, mustard seed, ginger, cinnamon, fireweed, sunflower seeds, rue, rooibos Colors: electric reds, oranges, and yellows. Deep reddish blacks, burnt products, raw ocher, terracotta. Scents: amber, galbanum, birch tar, cade, chilis and warm notes like pepper and cinnamon, sulfur, tuberose

Water - Abyss

Abyssal is best worked with if you do not mind consistent change at a slower pace in time. Often times this aspect is cryptic, hiding what you will find until you are already in the depths of it. Often times, you will be lured to a lesson you might *think* you want to learn, before your boat is rocked and the true lesson lies below it. Abyssal is all about blindness, stagnation, and confusion before a fast reveal and process of motion. The opposite to magma where your core is brought to the surface, you will be drawn deep within yourself to learn how to create power when we feel we are most powerless.

Other aspects in this duality include:

abyss

undertoe

fog

ice

dark, spanning, waters

stagnation

depression

grief

possessiveness

blindness

How to work best with it:

Abyss is best worked with if you want consistent change in your life at sporadic times. Really great for people who are looking to get better a mapping out signs and divine messages in more subtle ways, and are great for those who aren't seeking out an extremely active communication based relationship but rather one that uses emotion and visuals to guide someone. This elemental has a lot to teach about the deeper corners of us, and learning to accept ourselves how we come, and being allowed to succumb to isolation. Learning how to be ok with not being ok. I would not recommend people who have problems with depression and intense isolation interact with this elemental quite yet, this elemental embraces those things and could potentially cause a spiral to someone unprepared or already in those states. Additionally people who are not ready to tackle extremely deep seated issues, loose large amounts of people at once, or experience emotionally stressful situations should avoid working with this elemental. Most people tend to work with this elemental on and off, because it tends to appear more cryptically.

the best ways to reach out to abyssal are through meditations involving all 5 senses or complete sensory deprivation. this entity tends to speak the most in cryptic messages like in abstract meditations, dream work, trances, and scrying. Additionally, when you reach out you might be expected to prove you can handle some of the workings yourself so dedicating some personal shadow work or overcoming a hard situation can be a fast track way to interacting with the abyss.

Some lessons you might learn include deep upheaval of self worth and internal beauty, learning to be ok in isolation, understanding abyssal secrets about the world, aspects of hedge magic, aspects of intense spirit work. Abyssal teaches us how to listen to both ourselves and to be in tune with the world around us. Divination tends to be cryptic, because it wants you to spot how it will rock the boat next, and represent a shift in self discovery.

Offerings

Create your own sensory deprivation experience

create abyssal water by leaving a jar of it under your bed for a full moon cycle

collect salt water to use in glamours

go to thresholds and cast letters or sigils of traits that no longer serve you

create space for more meditation in your life

silence and weighted rituals

new moon baths

brine something in kitchen magic

keep kelps on the altar

pack deep sea shells with herbs and then seal it with wax as a replacement for spell jars

use squid ink to write sigils or letter based offerings

Crystals: Sheen obsidian, larimar, black moonstone, chlorite phantom quartz, iolite, fluorite, jet Herbs/Plants: kelps and seaweeds, spirulina, wormwood, lotus, poppy, black garlic, licorice root, comfrey, willow, mandrake, lichen, slippery elm Colors: navy black, dark turquoise, muted blues, aquatic greens Scents: driftwood incenses, civet, labdanum, cool camphoric, blue cypress

Need to mention: Chaos

Chaos tends to be the shadow aspect for an additional 5th element like spirit, universe, and the things we deem less physical. The thing about chaos is that it truly is entropy, so no 2 people will have the same experience, nor will they have an experience that stays the same every time they interact. This divine energy is important because it can teach someone a lot about the big picture like how things are recycled, unsolved questions, and just how vast the universe really is.

other aspects of this duality include:

liminality

unwritten

twisting

dark matter

unsolved concepts

paradox

isolation

eternal nothing

limited limitlessness

How to best work with it:

There is not one centralized way to call forward chaos, but my best recommendation would be to put yourself forward, and fuck up the norms in your own life. Start to challenge the things in your life, and the chaos and entropy will follow suit. Chaos is best worked with when someone is looking to completely uproot, destroy, then recycle and forge something new. This can represent some sort of goal like working on emotional states, or possibly re-routing the trajectory of your entire life. Whatever it may be, you are almost guaranteed to not get exactly what you asked for, but by the end of it you are going to learn what you needed all-along. You should avoid working with chaos if you have an active path you are already trying, if a piece of you is holding back (sort that out!! honor your bodies intuition), or if you don't feel like you are in a place to handle possibly extreme amounts of stress. Its hard work, but its hard work for a big reward. Sometimes people form life long bonds to chaos, in other situations people only interact with it in short bursts, each practice is so different and that's because each person is so different.

The best ways to reach out to chaos is really *your own way* get creative! reflect on what chaos actually means to you and materialize it in how you choose to reach out. each method you pick will be equally likely to work as long as it is well thought out.

some lessons that are most commonly learned through chaos have to be ground breaking views on how you view the universe. Its whole system will shock your moral and ethical compass, and bring things to you that can be really hard to swallow to start with like death and challenging views on spirituality itself. It can be really hard for many because this force is a lot of energy all at once and can quickly become overwhelming if one isn't preparing the proper checks and balances.

offerings:

craft items that dont quite make sense with each other

tear playing cards and create sigils from the numbers

create a custom conversational deck using a deck of cards and affirmations or phrases

display blank canvases, completlet burnt candles, or things considered to be "clutter"

Create something then destroy it

create sigils with the non-dominate hand

speak in pure gibberish when doing prayers (have clear thoughts)

forget something intentionally

let go of control on a really busy day

find a wrong that feels "wrong" or "not pleasing"

Crystals: tektites, ametrine, opal, galena, hematite, nuummite, smokey quartz Herbs/Plants: invasive plants, nettle, kudzu, hemlock, thistle, pokeweed, elder, ash tree, fennel Colors: all colors Scents: all scents

I hope you all enjoyed, I recognize this was a longer post than usual, but I figured if I could ramble on for a while about something close to me, I figured I would. I loved doing this and I really hope I get asked more about the elements as they become more main stream because I truly just love writing this all out for you guys! Fair winds travelers

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