#their ship name on my native language reeds as

[tiredaalienn]

Songs that fit them pretty well in my eyes

[nekoannie-chan]

The book of the dead

The book of the dead

Work Name/Title: The book of the dead.

Author/Artist/Creator: Annie/Nekoannie-chan/SharlotteMayfair

Fandom: Marvel, Fantastic Four.

Ship: Johnny Storm X Reader.

Tags: Halloween Horror Bingo 2024

HHB2024

Any personal tags: Book of the dead, probably end of the world.

A/N: This is my entry to @halloweenhorrorbingo.

Links: Wattpad, Ao3, Spanish version.

@saiyanprincessswanie

My native language is Spanish so I wanna improve my writing skills in English if you notice any mistakes, please let me know and I will correct them.

I don’t give any permission for my fics to be posted on other platforms or languages (I translate my work myself) or the use of my graphics (my dividers are included in this), I did them exclusively for my fics, please respect my work and don't steal it. There are some people here who make dividers that anyone can use, mine is not this type, please look for the other people. The only exception is the ones I gifted 'cuz now belong to someone else. Please let me know if you find any of my works on a different platform and are not one of my accounts. Reblogs and comments are always welcome.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Marvel's characters (unfortunately), except for the original characters and the story.

Add yourself to my taglist here.

My other media where I publish:  Ao3, Wattpad, ffnet, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter. 

If you like it, please vote, comment, and give me feedback to improve my skills and reblog.

Tags: @sinceimetyou @unnuevosoltransformalarealidad @navybrat817 @angrythingstarlight @shield”agent78 @charmed”asylum @pandaxnienke @real”fbi @Smokeandnailz @white”wolf1940 @tenaciousperfectionunknown @xoxonotme @bluemusickid @leyannrae @Harrysthiccthighss @Marvelatthisone @caplanbuckybarnes @sapphire”rogers @lizzieolseniskinda @notyourtypicalrose @hallecarey1 @nana1000night @talia”rumlow @writingshae @alexxavicry @azulatodoryuga @daemonslittlebitch @chaoticcollectivenightmare @endlesstwanted @chemtrails”club  @marigoldreamer @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @Here4thefanfics @theestorm @patzammit @kmc1989 @somegirlfromasgard @rogersbarber

The day had started like any other, with Johnny Storm, mocking you as usual.

“Come on, you know all that stuff is nonsense,” he said as he fiddled with a fireball in his hand.

“Johnny, do you really believe that after facing beings from other dimensions and realities, there is nothing beyond what you can see? “You replied, folding your arms.

“It's not that I don't believe in weird stuff, you know I've seen it all,” he said, extinguishing the small flame with a wave of his hand. I'm just saying that cursed books and stuff like that sound like the plot of a bad horror movie.

However, everything changed when Reed Richards led a mission. He had detected a disturbance at an archaeological dig in Egypt. Reed asked you to accompany Johnny to investigate, and although Johnny initially protested, he finally agreed.

As we flew over the dunes, Johnny kept making jokes about finding a cursed mummy or being haunted by some ancient spirit.

“Just make sure you don't light up near the relics, Johnny,” I said with a sarcastic grin. We don't want you reducing something millennia old to ashes.

“Relax, I always have everything under control,” he replied, leaning back in his seat.

Although Johnny took everything lightly, you knew that these kinds of artifacts were not to be underestimated.

The Egyptian sun beat down hard, and Johnny complained about the heat, which was ironic considering he himself could turn into a ball of fire whenever he wanted.

The head of the dig greeted them enthusiastically, showing us the latest finds: a series of subway tunnels that ran deep into the earth. The archaeologists had found hieroglyphs that mentioned an ancient sacred text, and Reed believed it might be connected to the Book of the Dead.

“This place is incredible,” you said as we walked through the tunnels. The texts tell of a pharaoh who tried to conquer death. The book we're looking for could be related to those rituals.

Johnny rolled his eyes.

“Sure, because nothing says 'fun' like a pharaoh obsessed with immortality.

As we moved deeper into the ruins, the walls were covered with symbols you didn't recognize, but which radiated a dark energy. Johnny, who up to that point had been making sarcastic comments, began to get more serious.

“Hey, don't you feel like the air is getting... weird in here? “he asked.

You nodded, feeling how the temperature seemed to drop strangely, despite the heat outside.

Finally, they came to a hidden chamber. In the center of the room, on a stone pedestal, was a book, the covers of which were made of what appeared to be ancient leather, and on them were drawn intricate symbols that seemed to move in the dim light of our lanterns.

“That must be the Book of the Dead,” you whispered.

Johnny approached slowly, inspecting the book with a raised eyebrow.

“It doesn't look so scary,” he said, reaching out to touch it.

“Wait! “We don't know what could be triggered if you touch it carelessly.

“Okay, I'll let you handle it. But if anything goes wrong, I'll light up and we'll get the hell out of here.

You nodded and pulled out a pair of special gloves Reed had designed for handling mystical artefacts. Carefully, you lifted the book from the pedestal. As soon as you did, the air in the chamber seemed to thicken, and a faint whisper filled the space.

“I think we woke him up,” Johnny murmured.

Before he could respond, the walls of the chamber began to shake. The symbols glowed with an intense light, and an icy wind, impossible in that place, rose up around you. Then, you saw it. A spectre, a figure shrouded in shadows, materialized in front of you. Its voice echoed in your head.

[marylqa]

(Gavin Reed x reader)

Falling in love is for idiots

A/N: hii!! So it’s my first fanfic since 3 years I think? I don’t really know if I’m good at it, but I just felt like writing something cute! So, here it is, Gavin x reader fic *screams*. If you liked it tho, feel free to write me a request if you want to! I’m in mood for writing romantic stuff ;)))))). Sorry for any mistakes in writing, English is not my native language!

Anyways, enjoy!

*gif made by: koktis-absinthia

————————

requested: no

ship: Gavin Reed x Reader

fandom: Detroit: Become Human

words count: 1038

————————

To everyone’s surprise you actually have become a great buddies with a certain detective whose name was Gavin Reed. In spite of him being rude to one of the most precious androids, Connor, and let’s say a few more people you liked him, even too much. After all those cases you’ve been through together, after years of talking, laughing and saving each other while being on a mission, you haven’t realized that you had developed feelings for a certain asshole. Maybe it was because of him teasing you endlessly, or maybe because of him flirting with you for fun. And those were the words that hurt you the most. Flirting for fun. Only cruel people could do such a thing! And yet you had a crush of him. What you haven’t noticed was that you stared at Gavin. You could see his smirk growing when your cheeks started heating up, and so you became red as tomato. As you saw him approaching, you hid your face in your hands so it could cool down a little bit.

“Hey sweetcheeks, your face is such an updog when you blush!” He said. After looking at him suspiciously you finally decided to speak up. “First of all, I’m not blushing, it’s just really hot in here. Second of all, what’s updo-“ You couldn’t even finish your sentence because of his laugh. Honestly, he looked like he was dying because of lack of the oxygen. After few minutes, you realized what you have said and became even more red.

“Oh my god (y/n), I said that to make you smile a little, but not to make you look like a tomato!” He said. “Why Gavin, it’s such a romantic thing to say to a woman! That she looks like a vegetable! How sweet of you!” You jokingly said. “There it is, the smile I adore!” He commented. You rolled your eyes because of him flirting with you. “Detective (y/n), your heartbeat has increased. Is everything alright?” Connor asked. You glanced at him and thanked him for worrying about you and explained that there was nothing to worry about. Ignoring Gavin’s teasing you stood up to make yourself a coffee you missed so much. What you didn’t expect was to stumble over. With your eyes closed you prepared yourself to fall on the ground, but fortunately it wasn’t that hard. In fact, it was surprisingly soft. You panicked at the moment you felt a leather jacket under your hands and as fast as you could you opened your eyes unfortunately to see Gavin smirking at you. “I wish we could stay like this forever.” He said and winked at you. Of course, your face looked like a beet again, but you couldn’t help it. “I-I’m sorry Gav, I-I-“ You nervously stuttered “Ah never mind! Stop looking at me, geez” You got up from him saying sorry again and made your way towards the coffee machine. “Aw, you’re so cute when you’re embarrassed.” Gavin laughed.

Why, you asked yourself, why did it have to be him? Why couldn’t it be Connor? Brad Pitt? Anyone but Gavin! You finally took your cup with coffee and drank it. Man, how could people live without it? You thought to yourself as you took a sip and leaned against a wall.

“Damn it, I’m such an idiot for falling in love!” You angrily whispered, so no one could hear you.

“Yeah, me too.” You almost spit out your coffee not because of the words you heard, but because of who said that.

Gavin. Fucking. Reed. Smiling like an idiot at you, like always.

Maybe you could choke to death with your coffee and don’t have to explain yourself. Well, that seemed to be a good idea.

“Oh man, I have totally forgotten that I was supposed to show Connor photos of my dog! Be right back buddy!” You said to Gavin shyly, doing your best to avoid eye contact. As you walked towards your desk, Gavin took you by your wrist and pulled you closer to him. With your faces so close, you just couldn’t take a glance at him. “Why do you think falling in love makes you an idiot?” He asked softly, still not letting go of your wrist. You didn’t know what to say. Well, confessing to him was definitely what you couldn’t do. “If the person you are in love with doesn’t love you back, then what’s the point? I guess I think that it makes me an idiot because of imagining what if that person shared the same feelings as I do.” You said seriously, with your cheeks blushing. You backed away a little to get some personal space. Gavin was so stubborn, that he moved closer to you. “Hm, I see. Well, all I can say is that of course you’re an idiot, but a cute idiot.” He winked at you.

That damn smile. That damn, sweet smile that was making your heart skip a beat, that was making you want to kiss him. But of course, you couldn’t.

“Could you stop flirting with me for fun? It’s annoying.” You sadly said. “Who said that it’s for fun?” He asked. “Oh my god Gavin! Just stop. You do this with every girl, I know. It only hurts me more.” You did your best to avoid eye contact, so you closed your eyes. “But why does it bother you?” What a stupid question, you thought. “Well that, my sweet smartass, is because I like you.” You declared proudly. Proudly until you opened your eyes and realized what you have said. Oh my god, you were going to die of embarrassment you felt. Your career is over now. No wait, your life too. Great. It couldn’t have been better. Finally, you were ready to say something, but you couldn’t. You froze under the touch of Gavin’s hands on your cheeks. He pulled you closer to him and connected his lips with yours. As soon as you understood what was going on, you returned the sweetest kiss in your entire life. As you two were finished, Gavin took your face in his hands. “I’m so in love with you, (y/n)”.

————————

[itsediadmlove]

JONSA; the instrumentality of R+L=J

I must admit, as a jonsa shipper that I really like most of your metas on the subject. First of all, I would like to apologize for my use of english; I am not a native speaker and I know my use of such language to be far from perfect so please, if you finally take the time to read the post I am about to write and the reasons to write it, feel free to make any reference to any mistake you can find, it will be in my personal interest.

As I implied before, this is a jonsa post, but i believe it to be kinda different from the rest because I won’t be using foreshadowing from the books ( I don’t even know how to do it properly) nor the show. Anyone can find that on other amazing posts there are around which were made by people able to do them far better than myself. What is really important here is the structure of the story and how I’ve come to understand ASOIAF (books and show). The second reason why I will do it this way is because I agree with a full lot of people out there that at the end, every ship, from Jonsa to Jonerys it is nothing else than a whish, and when we hope something strongly enough we begin to project it under every light, for any excuses, seeing any quote or any passage as foreshadowing something. Please don’t get me wrong, I’ve learn from a full lot of metas; some of them are amazing and have brought light to some events. But the point for me is that no one at this point (except the obvious ones) know how this amazing story will end, that doesn’t mean that they’re not right: I’ve found around there people posting about R+L=J in the books for years, and then asking jonsa meta creators to find a quote that proves their theory to be true. My answer for such arguments is that nowadays, as long as the books go, there is not a single solid proof that R+L=J, just foreshadowing, and as the TV show confirmed, that never meant they were wrong.

At the end of season 6 I was quite hyped about Jonerys options. Dany was finally moving to westeros with her army, dragons, Dorne and High Garden at her back and Jon had just be named King in the North with the Vale bonded to him to some extent. Dany had left Naharis behind in order to be able to forge an alliance through marriage, but there were just 3 bachelors politically worthy of her hand: Euron, Sweet Robin and Jon Snow. Euron was out of question since she choosed to support Asha’s claim, and Sweet Robin... Well... Jon Snow was the remaining and perfect match allowing her to become Queen in the North by marriage, and tie The Vale to her claim along Dorne and The Reach; leaving Cersei with the ravaged Riverlands which are not really loyal to her nor the Freys, Casterly Rock and its bannermen who had fought several battles and lost a huge amount of men since the war begun, the Iron Islands (which are poor and divided) and some support from the Stormlands. It seemed good, yet Dany suddenly forgot why she let her lover behind and started to make demands as a stupid and spoiled teenager. I never got to understand why the idea never came to her or Tyrion’s  (who should be smart enough and keen to Jon Snow) minds, it was stupid at best.

When season seven came to an end I was extremely dissapointed with the season and needing more I started to read the books, and I’ve come to read them all 4 times since then. Then I started to wonder about the endgame, coming to a vague yet huge realasation: it’s all about R+L=J. Some would say it is obvious yet most of  people don’t come to fully understand such a statement. It is not about Jon becoming King because he is the true heir of Aerys Targaryen, ASOIAF is not this kind of story (Stannis was right about his claim from the beginning yet no one gave a shit) in fact your best buddy and your crippled ‘’prophet’’ brother saying you are and then your father’s best friend (Howland Reed) confirming it doesn’t make it a claim, but a rumour: it is people accepting it which makes it a claim (like Renlie’s, who never really had one). The point of George foreshadowing R+L=J it’s not just poetical, it must be instrumental for his story; useful for the endgame, and what makes me feel that way is the fact that GRR Martin has been spending time on this plot from the very Ned’s first chapter (I mean Robert’s quote about kings hiding under the snow  in the crypts of winterfell). We all know how long George takes to write a book and it would be useless to develop such a plot for no reason and spending years trying to show and hide the truth at the same time, chosing the right words, where to put them... R+L=J is essential to his story and that feeling is what made us aware that Jon would come back from death.

If Dany and Jon were about to rule together it wouldn’t matter whose claim is better; she holds the true power and not even the claim would matter if it isn’t his it whould be hers, so, if this was the outcome of all, why has GRRMartin spent his time in R+L=J’s plot; just to add drama to this couple? Just to add a little problem that they will eventually solve and live happily ever after? Sounds shitty and a waste to make it just a detail because if with this outcome you took R+L=J out of ASOIAF, there would be almost no difference but preventing an incestous romance.  

After realising this I started wondering how would it play out with Jon’s claim  being accepted. There are two possibilities: everyone respect him enough after the long night not to give a shit, or people would prefer him rather than the alternative. Right now, in the show Jon Snow is King in the North, but he is weak, He does not hold men of his own, nor a castle (Sansa is lady of Winterfell not him) he is king by deference, not by power but the wildlings and they were few enough before the battle of the bastards, he is a weak king and a king under the pretension that he is Ned’s Stark son, who he is not. R+L=J can do nothing but jeopardize his authority and once this happens he will be useless to Daenerys (even if she loves him). Then we have the southern lords, whose rights will be at stake if a military strong ruler would end at the Iron Throne (after all feudalism meant the power struggle of the local noblemen against the crown for their own rights and privileges). For them, someone like Dany is not a dream but a threat (she even admitted she wants to break the wheel). R+L=J gives them the chance to deny her claim in exchange for a king who holds nothing but respect instead of a foreigner who doesn’t respect anything but her own power and entitlement. You may think what you want but for me R+L=J being actually important makes Jonerys impossible, or better, making Jonerys the endgame makes R+L=J nothing but such a pairing creepy as hell.

In the other hand; King Jon could marry a lot of women (at least in the books); Margeary, Val, Cersei (I know it’s almost impossible but I am just listing), Myranda Royce, Arianne Martell... But King Jon being a weak king will need a strong political engagement in order to get support and strength, and those kind of fiances are not  common: Myranda Royce is from a minor branch of Royce family and doesn’t exist in the show, Val is not even a princess just a free woman who doesn’t exist in the show, Margeary Tyrell would make a great option as long as she lives and is unmarried (not in the show anymore) as Arianne (a crybaby more concerned for her own rights than for Dorne itself who doesn’t exist in the show). As far as the show goes there are just 2 women that are not Daenerys that fit the role: Cersei and Sansa (Lyanna Mormont is not a valid option since her house is to little and unimportant and she is a child).  Just those 2... 

Lot of people would say Sansa is his sister (to some extent), but the truth being said she is not, they’re cousins: why? Because R+L=J. If Jonsa would be endgame, a possibility no one can confirm nor deny, R+L=J would have a double instrumentality and this is why Jonsa is my ship instead of Jonerys, because it makes the most important hide plot of ASOIAF essential for 2 reasons instead of completely useless. Some can say that it is unlikely GRRMartin to write such a farytailed story, but from my perspective, no matter how cruel, cynical and unfair the world of ice and fire is, his story is still a song.

[alloftimeandspacetosee]

As Ships in the Night

More of this storyline! It’s all being gathered under “The Birds” tag, if you specifically want it :3

 Just a quiet moment, this one! Mostly it’s Jay and Brith (her lucario) having a chat. Bird Man in the distance. Brith having misgivings about Soise (a zorua, and new addition to the team)

[1] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

~

I hold my hand up to halt Soise in her run, and she freezes where she stands.

Vulp and Glace run circles about her, inviting her to play, but Soise doesn't join them. I can see her tail twitching; she wants to, certainly, but she won't.

"Well done." I throw her the treat and flick my other hand.

Soise coils and jumps to catch the treat, then races off after Vulp and Glace.

It's quiet under the trees here, beside the pond. We might have startled away any wildlife, and we can't be seen from the main paths, so it's secluded. There's a faint path, but it's not well trod.

I flip my collar up against the chill breeze and sit down on the mat we brought with us. Not really the best time of year for a picnic, but- well. That just meant we were bound to be alone for it.

Brith sighs and I don’t think I’m meant to hear it, but Sesser cheeps at her and fluffs up against my neck.

“Are you still having problems with Soise?” I ask, not looking back at her.

“Not in the way that you imagine.”

“Brith.”

“Blue.” There’s gentle mockery in her voice, in the way she says my name, that I know she isn’t serious.

I twist about on the mat to look up at her, the basket still closed at my side. “If there’s something that needs done, I- as your trainer- should know about it.”

She’s leaning up against a tree, ostensibly on the lookout for anyone coming this way. “I don’t... can’t trust anyone that lies so fluently.” Her paws are crossed under her chest spike.

“I thought you were getting on with her.” I frown. They had been. Soise had been the one being cautious; Brith had punched her, after all.

“Hm.”

I throw a toasted roll at her. “That says nothing.”

She tilts her head sideways to snap it out of the air. “I find it hard to trust someone who lies so fluently,” she says, after swallowing.

I open the bag of seeds for Sesser and set it to the side, so she flutters down from my shoulder and gives it her undivided attention.

“You mean the illusion thing?” I find the thermos and pour out some hot chocolate, wrapping my hands about the cup.

Brith nods and comes to sit on the mat, reaching into the basket for more food. “It’s another thing I should be able to sense. My tribe has stories of them, you know. A name for these illusionists.”

“Oh?” I try not to sound too eager. Brith doesn’t talk much of her family.

“Korrealis,” she replies, finding a wrapped sandwich still steaming in the cold air. “Light player.”

I take a sip of the hot chocolate, but mostly I’m just holding it to warm my hands.

“I will work with her for your sake, but do not expect us to get along.”

I nod. “I wouldn’t intentionally ask you to do anything you don’t agree with.” I hesitate. “Is... there a chance of that?”

“Of my having to do something I disagree with?”

“Of there being trouble with Soise.” I shrug. “If she’s being difficult, or you’re having difficulty, whatever, please- come to me? Don’t try and sort it yourself, or just ignore it.”

“Pot.” Brith barks laughter at me.

“Brith.” I know I’m being a hypocrite, but only inasmuch as I never tell my human friends the true extent of my trouble. Brith knows everything, my team knows everything.

“Captain. I swear, I will tell you the minute that it affects my ability as a member of your crew.” She holds a paw over her heart. “Upon my honour and my name as Brith Khar.” She’s as serious as I’ve ever seen her. More serious.

I nod, not breaking eye contact.

For a moment, we are quiet and contemplating.

Then Sesser cheeps, furious, and we look over to see a spearow trying to dart in and take some seeds, a pidgey behind it.

“What-” I stare at them, not quite comprehending. Neither of them are native birds, although this being the town of the flying gym, anything is possible.

Brith tries to shoo them away, first with the palm of her paw and then the spike on her knuckles.

“Don’t do anything too much to them, the last we need is their trainers coming down on us.” I grab a handful of the seed and scatter it away amongst the trees. “Go on, bugger off.”

The spearow pecks at my fingers, and I allow the faintest crackle of electricity to gather around them, warning it back.

It hops away, but it’s still just as ready to attack. The pidgey seems almost ready to back it up, but also seems to be edging away towards the seeds I scattered, sensing an easier meal.

A two-toned whistle- one that seems almost familiar- sounds out across the pond, and both birds take to the air immediately.

I follow their flight back across the pond to where a man stands between the trees, hand raised to them. Or maybe in greeting.

We are sheltered amongst reeds and underneath the sweeping branches of a tree; he shouldn’t really be able to spot us.

I twitch a hand in a sort of wave and feel like an idiot if he doesn’t mean the wave for me. But he probably won’t see if he’s not looking. It’s fine.

“It’s fine,” Brith says, echoing my thoughts. “They can’t all be the thieving tricksters we were taught they were.”

“Yeah, see?” I drop my hand and glance over at her. “And if she is, we’ll learn her out of it.”

“Your grammar is atrocious.”

“I’m allowed to fuck it up, it’s my language.” I dig into the hamper to find something warming for myself besides the hot chocolate.

“Classy.”

“Shut up and eat your lunch.”

“Or what? You’ll fight me?” She’s teasing; I’m tempted.

“Maybe,” I sing out, around a mouthful of toasted baguette.

On the other side of the pond, that man’s still standing with his birds. There are more of them now, mostly Unovan. Again, I didn’t see where they came from, just that they’re there now.

Maybe the quiet of this end of the park is as good for training birds as it is for picnics on the sly. We can exist in harmony without ever knowing the other is there.

[insideanairport]

Nietzsche’s “Thus Spake Zarathustra” (part I/II)

❍❍❍

This is the best and most profound work of Nietzsche, yet the hardest to grasp. For beginners, I don’t recommend starting with this book. All of Nietzsche’s philosophical universe is condensed and packed in this work. I picked up this book first when I was still in Highschool. I didn’t understand a lot in the first reading of it. I also took some notes and moved on to reading other works by Nietzsche. Soon, I found myself reading all of his major works. Before writing this review, I looked back on my first notes from Thus Spake Zarathustra. I had to delete every single note I took at that time. My view has been changed completely towards Nietzsche’s work since the first time I read this book.

Where did Zarathustra come from?

If you have never heard of Zarathustra (Zoroaster or زرتشت‎) and have only heard it through this book, it means that you have spent too much time reading European writers. Zarathustra was an ancient Persian figure and the founder of Zoroastrianism religion. His most famous book is Avesta (اوستا) and along with it is the communal household prayer book called the Khordeh Avesta (خرده اوستا). Zoroastrianism is still practiced in many countries around the world, especially in Iran, Pakistan, and India. It is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions that remains active. 

Nietzsche found out that before Manichaean and Abrahamic religions, Zarathustra was the first person who came up with the idea of Good and Evil. A philosophy that states human action fall in these two binary categories. Therefore, Nietzsche considers Zarathustra the first “moralist”. In the book, Nietzsche personifies himself as Zarathustra in order to present a critique of the moralist philosophy of Good and Evil, an idea that he continued in his next book “Beyond Good and Evil”. Nietzsche believed that since Zarathustra created the first notion of morality, he must have also realized his mistake. In his autobiography Ecce Homo, Nietzsche explains: 

“I have not been asked, as I should have been asked, what the name Zarathustra means in precisely my mouth, in the mouth of the first immoralist: for what constitutes the tremendous uniqueness of that Persian in history is precisely the opposite of this. Zarathustra was the first to see in the struggle between good and evil the actual wheel in the working of things: the translation of morality into the realm of metaphysics, as force, cause, end-in-itself, is his work. But this question is itself at bottom its own answer. Zarathustra created this most fateful of errors, morality: consequently he must also be the first to recognize it. Not only has he had longer and greater experience here than any other thinker – the whole of history is indeed the experimental refutation of the proposition of a so-called ‘moral world-order’ –: what is more important is that Zarathustra is more truthful than any other thinker. His teaching, and his alone, upholds truthfulness as the supreme virtue – that is to say, the opposite of the cowardice of the ‘idealist’, who takes flight in the face of reality; Zarathustra has more courage in him than all other thinkers put together. To tell the truth and to shoot well with arrows: that is Persian virtue. Have I been understood? The self-overcoming of morality through truthfulness, the self-overcoming of the moralist into his opposite – into me – that is what the name Zarathustra means in my mouth.” (1)

Walter Kaufmann argued that Nietzsche might have more in common with Zarathustra than we think. “The two figures also share a range of similar properties or powers, such as the ability to annihilate and create in the light of a re-evaluation of past thought, the disposition to be inspired through visions manifested in poetry, dance, and song, and the courage to act in accordance with all of these. Moreover, the ‘Three Stages of History’ that Zoroaster took to be embodied in the individual (as ‘birth’, ‘death’, and ‘beyond’) are mirrored in [Nietzschean] Zarathustra’s ‘Three Metamorphoses of the Spirit’ as Camel, Lion, and Child.” (2)

In this book, Nietzsche is literally preaching but also making fun of preaching and preaching mentality. The book is about a philosopher guy who is trying to “show” humans the right way of living, through Superman (Übermensch). The philosophy is a direct-antagonism to Christianity (not all religions) yet using its lingo. Nietzsche's philosophy starts with the harsh critique of Christian morality. Yet, at times it can be seen as a critique of all morality, or a universal morality (if such a thing exists). We know that not all Abrahamic religions share the same view regarding good and evil. For example, in Bahá'í Faith the concept of evil (devil) does not exist. Evil is interpreted simply as a “lack” of good/goodness. Just as cold is the state of no heat, darkness is the state of no light, forgetfulness the lacking of memory, ignorance the lacking of knowledge.  

Nietzsche’s love of the Greek tragedy, Presocratic Philosophy and art is a reaction to monotheism, rationality, and idealism (especially in Plato). He calls life an “activity”: A continuous adjustment of internal relations to external relations. He believes that life is something essentially immoral. In multiple occasions, he joins “God/philosophy” and “dance” to elevate the art and demote God. Quotes such as; “I would only believe in a god who could dance.” or “there is nothing to which the spirit of a philosopher more aspires than to be a good dancer.”    

Nietzsche and the East

The book is speaking of love, affirmation, and also about populism. Nietzsche might have read some Eastern metaphysics, Islamic and Buddhist texts, but definitely has read the bible a dozen times more. While the entire book is preoccupied with references and allusions to the Bible, there is only one reference to the Persians in “One thousand and one goals” where he says: “’To speak truth, and be skillful with bow and arrow’—so seemed it alike pleasing and hard to the people from whom cometh my name—the name which is alike pleasing and hard to me.” 

Dariush Ashuri the translator of Nietzsche’s work into Farsi believes that Nietzsche’s Zarathustra can only be understood in relation to his other works. Zarathustra is not simply a replica of proto-historical Prophet yet a complex iconic figure that bears the voice of Nietzsche and his entire philosophical works, which aims to change the entire vision of humanity about the meaning of being and life through “Transvaluation of all values.” (3)

The book as a whole is written at the end of Nietzsche’s philosophical career and the concept of maturity and prudent is also fitted into the thesis. The reversal of the wisdom is folly, Nietzsche is also interested to play with the two, similar to strategies that Hafez used, although less sophisticated. He is intending to elevate Dionysian philosophy and lower Christianity’s moral dogma. For that reason, I see the influences of Hafez on Nietzsche's work better in this book than others.

The notion of Journey and travel (distance and time) is persistence throughout the whole book next to the idea of repetition and Eternal return. Man is something that needs to be surpassed. Starting from the rosy dawn, following into the noon-tide in the town of Pied Cow, and finally the supper. Similar to the three stages of life: the camel, the lion, and the child. It seems like after reading a lot of Eastern metaphysics Nietzsche is intending to construct a cyclical time perception on top of the very Eurocentric and colonial Kantian perception of time and space. In regard to Europe, Nietzsche is not shy to admit his positionality. His work is from and about European culture, rather than a universal concept. At the end of Joyous Science he mentions that the goal is to emancipate from everything European: 

“If ‘thoughts on moral prejudices’ are not to be merely prejudices about prejudices, they must presuppose a position outside morality, somewhere beyond good and evil, a position to which we must ascend, climb or fly – and in any case, a position beyond our good and evil, an emancipation from everything ‘European’, understood as a sum of the authoritative value judgements which have become transmuted into flesh and blood.” (4)

Sa‘di and Hafez are the only Persian names of the Islamic era mentioned in Nietzsche’s writings. But, going back to the idea of journey and distance, I see Nietzsche’s philosophy closer to Rumi’s poetry than Hafez. Rumi (جلال‌ الدین محمد بلخى) wandered around middle Asia in his life, traveled from modern-day Tajikistan (or as some say Afghanistan) to present-day Turkey where he died. He lived everywhere in between and spoke multiple languages. Hafez on the contrary, similar to Sa‘di, Omar Khayyam and Attar of Nishapur, died in the same city he was born. Hafez’s poetry still has those transcendental elements which influenced Nietzsche yet missing those transformative parts beyond a hegemonic cultural domain. Maybe that’s why both Hafez and Goethe influenced their native speakers yet didn’t manage to connect in a deeper level with the non-natives as much as Rumi did. 

From a Middle Eastern perspective, finding Nietzsche in between the lines of Ali Shariati and Muhammad Iqbal can also be equivalent to reading Rumi and Hafez in between the burning lines of Nietzsche.   

بشنو از نی چون حکایت میکند وز جداییها شکایت میکند

کز نیستان تا مرا ببریدهاند از نفیرم مرد و زن نالیدهاند

سینه خواهم شرحه شرحه از فراق تا بگویم شرح درد اشتیاق

Pay heed to the grievances of the reed  Of what divisive separations breed

From the reedbed cut away just like a weed  My music people curse, warn and heed

Sliced to pieces my bosom and heart bleed  While I tell this tale of desire and need.

(Rumi, Masnavi, Translation by Shahriari, 1998)

"We have left dry land and put out to sea! We have burned the bridge behind us –what is more, we have burned the land behind us! Well, little ship, look out! Beside you is the ocean. True, it does not always roar, and sometimes it is spread out like silk and gold and a gentle reverie, but there will be hours when you realize that it is infinite, and that there is nothing more terrible than infinity. Oh, poor bird that felt free, and now beats against the bars of this cage! Alas, if homesickness should befall you, as if there had been more freedom there –when there is no longer any ‘land’!”  (The Joyous Science - Book III, 124 In the Horizon of the Infinite)

(Part I/II)

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