#A transitional liminal time

[singthebody]

August has become a useless month and I don't know how to feel about it.

[utilitycaster]

has someone written a dissertation on the queerness of science fiction/fantasy about Fucked Up Spaces. Like the following books are all books that may or may not have some textual queerness but it's like queer people LOVE the weird liminal place that will kill you:

The West Passage

The Southern Reach Trilogy

Piranesi

I don't think the Phantom Tollbooth is remotely queer and it is for children but also like. I do feel there's something going on but also that might not be The Weird Space so much as portal fantasy, which Emily St. James has written about re: I Saw The TV Glow as trans metaphor made explicit.

there was a post whining about how D&D cannot have a narrative because it's just dungeon crawling and also how D&D isn't inherently queer and the latter is true though also true of many TTRPGs and the former is blindingly stupid but I would like to posit that dungeon crawling is a queer metaphor

space

[anendoandfriendo]

"Fuck your online discourse" actually, no, we do think the halloween DID flag shouldn't be used but it's not because of some bullshit like "waah it's just a recolor" it's because the system that created that flag is a huge fucking racist and ableist last we checked, and we never saw ant kind of apology for being racist and ableist to endogenic systems. We never saw them stop being anti-endogenic or anti-Black (because let's be honest, Black endogenic systems specifically would be the ones most affected and hurt by this).

Like, we know people have forgotten by now, but we were THERE just before TPA became a thing, when systems like The Entropy System were fully mask-off in their bigotry (we call anti-endogenics facsists because of the personal experience of having the not-pleasure of seeing shit like the above link lmao), and such other things. We used to be very visible on Twitter as an endogenic system who's seen this shit but it was kind of taking over 99% of our focus when we were working retail instead of working at home, so we ended up tapering it away.

[plentyelegant]

i miss s1 & s2 tua. fun eras I miss those

[steveyockey]

To be aware you might be trans but unwilling to do anything about it is to create endlessly bigger boxes within which to contain yourself. When you are a child, that box might encompass only yourself and your parents. By the time you are a gainfully employed adult, that box will contain multitudes, and the thought of disrupting it will grow ever more unthinkable. So you cease to think of yourself as a person on some level; you think not of what you want but what everybody expects from you. You do your best not to make waves, and you apologize, if only implicitly, for existing. You stop being real and start being a construct, and eventually, you decide the construct is just who you are, and you swaddle yourself up in it, and maybe you die there. There is still time until there isn’t.

This reading of TV Glow’s deliberately anticlimactic, noncathartic ending cuts against the transition narrative you typically see in movies and TV, in which a trans person self-accepts, transitions, and lives a happier life. Owen gets trapped in a space where he knows what he must do to live an authentic life but simply refuses to take those steps because, well, burying yourself alive is a terrifying thing to do. The transition narrative posits a trans existence as, effectively, a binary switch between “man” and “woman” that gets flipped one way or another, but to make our lives so binary is to miss how trans existences possess an inherent liminality.

Humans’ lives unfold in a constant state of becoming until death, but trans people are uniquely keyed in to what this means thanks to the simple fact of our identities. You can get lost in that liminality, too, forever trapped in a midnight realm of your own making, stuck between what you believe is true (I am a nice man with a good family and a good job, and I love my life) and what you know, deep in your most terrified heart of hearts, is real (I am a girl suffocating in a box).

And yet if you want to read the film as being about the dangerous allure of nostalgia, you’re not wrong. I Saw the TV Glow totally supports that interpretation, too! But in tempting you with that reading, the film creates a trap for cis viewers that will be all too familiar to trans viewers. Somewhere in the middle of Maddy’s story about The Pink Opaque being real, you will make a choice between “This kid has lost it!” and “No. Go with her, Owen,” and in asking you to make that choice, TV Glow is simulating the act of self-accepting a trans identity.

See, the grimmer read of the film’s ending truly is a nihilistic one. It leaves no hope, no potential for growth, no exit. Yet you must actively choose to read that ending as nihilistic. If you are cis and the end of I Saw the TV Glow left you with a gnawing sense of dissatisfaction, a weird but hard-to-pin-down feeling that something had broken, and a melancholy bordering on horror — congratulations, this movie gave you contact-high gender dysphoria.

In an infinite number of possible universes, there is at least one where I am still living “as a man,” embracing my fictionality, avoiding looking at how much more raw and real I feel when I “pretend” to be a woman. I think about that guy sometimes. I hope he’s okay.

Consider, then, my cis reader, that TV Glow is for both you and me, but it is maybe most of all for him. I hope he sees it. I hope he breaks down crying in the bathroom afterward. I hope he, after so many years locked inside himself, hears the promise of more life through the hiss of TV static.

Emily St. James, “I Saw the TV Glow’s Ending Is Full of Hope, If You Want It to Be,” Vulture. June 4, 2024.

[amourtality]

It’s crazy how the one year memories roll around and at the time things didn’t seem so bad but now you’d rather be set on fire than relive those times

[discodeerdiary]

Flirting is inherently liminal. Its purpose is to navigate the transition from a lower level of intimacy to a higher level. A lot of people don't know this, and they focus on the question "was this person flirting with me?" They end up shooting themselves in the foot because they looked too hard for certainty and gave up on possibility. If you demand to know for certain, then your safest options are "no they weren't flirting with me and I wish they were" (to avoid being a creep) and "yes they were flirting with me and I wish they weren't" (to get away from a potential creep). Both of these are decent fallbacks in a pinch, but if you make a way of life out of them you'll cut yourself off from countless opportunities for connection. So what's to be done? If you want to enjoy flirting, and be successful at it, you'd be better off abandoning, as best you can, the question "is this flirting", and replace it with "am I having a good time?" and "am I having my limits respected?"

[entities-of-posts]

would you agree with me saying that airports are of the spiral? sincerely, someone at the airport

Where Am I and What Time Is It and all the babble of Babel floating around, a place of transit where social norms erode, no one’s home but the site of many’s uneasy sleep. Liminal in the literal sense. They sell perfume and booze duty free because you are nowhere to owe a duty to. I swear I’ve been here before. How the fuck do I get to gate C54.

[too-much-tma-stuff]

Finally Getting Help (prt 6)

Masterpost

The Wayne family gathered in the family room once Alfred was done setting up the projector, somehow there was also a plate of cookies and a couple pots of tea on the coffee table. How he’d found the time they didn’t know, he always seemed to be doing just a little more than should be possible but they didn’t question it. 

Jazz seemed nervous as she plugged in her USB and accessed the power point on Ghosts and Liminality. The tidal page had a picture of Danny in his Phantom form standing with a group of others, a boy with gray skin and blond hair, a girl with green hair and skin, and a goth with purple eyes and a dark skinned boy who looked around Danny’s age, and Jazz with the title “Ghosts and Liminals!” 

The next slide had simple text: “What are they and How are they made?”

With each slide she read the text on the screen allowed and then added any context or anecdotes she thought of, or had prepared. 

(Next slide)

Ghosts:

Made of ectoplasmic energy and obsession

Made either:

when someone dies with strong enough desires

An idea gains enough traction to take on a life of its own

Immutable concepts and gods

Must be allowed to indulge in obsessions or they will cease to exist

All have basic abilities such as flight, intangibility, invisibility, and minor shape shifting

On top of basic abilities most will have additional powers based on their obsessions

Immortal unless killed 

Love to fight

Liminals

Made when a human is exposed to high levels of ectoplasm for prolonged periods of time

Have some ghostly traits 

Ghostly traits vary person to person

Less susceptible to human illness and injury

“The ghosts on the picture are Kitty and Johnny, we’ve had problems with them but would consider them friends now. They’re the ghosts of two humans who died, but there are others, Vortext for instance is the ghost of Storms. Those ghosts who come from ideas are called ‘neverborns’. There seem to be almost an infinite number of ghosts, however not all of them are interested in having anything to do with us so we tend to get the same faces showing up a lot in Amity.

“I don’t know how many liminals there are. I thought they might be new with my parents' research but as I look into it more I think there are more natural sources of ectoplasm then my parents thought.” Jazz explained before going to transition to the next slide.

“I have a question-” Bruce started before Jazz hushed him. 

“Wait till the end please! I might answer it without you having to ask,” She scolded, and he felt very much like a schoolboy again as his children snickered.

(Next slide including a image of the glowing green viles in the Fenton’s lab and a glowing green crystal)

Ghost biology 

Ghosts do not have any recognizable organs or bones

The only solid part of their being is their Core which is the source of their ectoplasm 

Any injury to a ghosts form not done directly to their core is considered minor and will heal

A healthy ghost is fully capable of mending any damage including removed limbs in a matter of hours or days depending on extent of the injury

All injuries not including the Core are considered minor 

Ghosts are considered young for at least the first hundred years of their existence and are often not considered adults until nearly 500

A caveat to this is ghosts are heavily driven by emotion and will often be the age they feel they are allowing ghosts to mature much more quickly, or more slowly

When this is the case ghosts are treated as the age they present and behave

Ghosts reproduce by shaping ectoplasm and Wanting a child badly enough

“Believe me it was incredibly scary the first time I saw Danny in his ghost form have something go right through his stomach. It took him a long time to convince me it wasn’t a big deal and it barely hurt. He does have to make sure he repairs the damage Before turning human again though or the damage can transfer over and I don’t need to tell you a hole in the gut is a lot more serious for humans!

“If I’m honest I only know ghosts that have stayed younger then they really are, for instance Youngblood who’s a few hundred years old and could be well on his way to adulthood if he wanted but has remained a child. I assume it can go the other way though, if a ghost is very mature for their age.”

Ectoplasm 

Ectoplasm is the energy that makes up all ghosts and the Ghost Zone itself. All ghosts can feed on the ectoplasm around them as well as produce their own by indulging in obsessions. The ghosts Cores produce the ectoplasm like a brain produces neurochemicals when exposed to the right stimulation.

Ectoplasm is a powerful source of energy but unstable. When it is stabilized into an ecto-crystal it is more stable and can be used as a power source safely by ghosts and liminals.

“Most ectoplasm is green like you see in the pictures. But it isn’t the only colour, some other ghosts produce different colours and it is highly tied to what emotion drives them. When it’s pure it usually smells like petracore but it can get pretty foul.”

(next slide)

What are Obsessions

Every ghost has one or more obsessions

They can be very literal things such as boxes, or ideas and emotions such as Love

In rarer cases they may have dual obsessions

Unlike for humans obsessions are very healthy for ghosts

Ghosts need to indulge their obsessions

Sometimes the way ghosts indulge their obsessions might seem evil, however it is almost always just amoral 

Obsessions shape every part of a ghost from their powers to thier physical appearance, to befriend a ghost you Must understand and aid their obsession

In very extreme circumstances a ghosts obsession may shift, sometimes this is healthy, more often it is a result of extreme trauma

“With my interest in psychology this was sort of hard for me to accept. From the outside the way ghosts obsess seems really unhealthy but it’s what gives them life. When not allowed to indulge in their obsessions ghosts will dysregulate and go to extreme lengths to try and get their obsession, if that doesn’t work they either go dormant if their core is still healthy enough or they will melt. 

“Ghosts change their obsessions very rarely, I’ve heard of it happening as they heal. For instance once a ghost has gotten revenge for themselves, if that was their obsession, their obsession might shift to avenging other people, or even protecting them so they don’t need to be avenged.”

(Next Slide)

Ghost Culture

The Ghosts have a monarchy

The title of the Ghost King is not hereditary but passed through trial by combat

Under the monarch is a council of being known as Observants, and powerful and old ghosts called Ancients 

Ghosts respect strength and value power and cunning in combat a lot

Ghosts bond with each other through combat and play fight with family and friends often

“I have down that the ghosts are a monarchy, and technically that is true but the current Ghost King was a tyrant who was locked away thousands of years ago. I’m sure as soon as someone shows up who’s powerful enough to beat him his court will be happy to pick up where they left off with a better King, or queen, though I don’t think the title has to change based on gender.

“I really can’t stress enough how violent ghosts are! Because nothing short of having their cores shattered can kill them, play fighting for them can look Very Much like a murder attempt to a human. A lot of the issues we’ve had with ghosts have come from them just not understanding quite how fragile humans, and for most of them they feel really bad once they know they actually Hurt someone by shooting them. It’s really best for everyone when they’re kept separate and Ghosts can happily tear each other apart in peace.”

Liminals

The result of long term low level exposure to ectoplasm, sudden high doses are almost always deadly

Liminals Can have almost every trait a ghost can, usually having a combination of a few

Commonalities between liminals include

Minor cosmetic changes such as: glowing eyes, pointed ears, and/or sharp teeth 

Increased stamina, strength, and aggression

Increased obsessive behaviour

Liminals sometimes develop powers shaped by the strength and type of obsession 

“Most of the people Danny and I know are liminals. I don’t want to talk about them in case they don’t want to be outed so I’ll talk about myself and my parents. We all had prolonged exposure after all. My ears are pointed,” She said brushing her hair back so they could see them, “And Danny is a little more then liminal but even in human form he has fangs. 

“My parents didn’t realize it but they could to the point they could subsist on their obsession without needing to eat or sleep as often as a regular human would. About a year ago I started developing the ability to tap into and feel other peoples emotions, I can feed on them a little too but I try not to because the Worst ghost we met did that and I don’t want to be anything like her.”

(Next Slide)

In conclusion

Ghosts are not evil even though sometimes their actions are hard to understand

Never get between ghosts when they’re fighting each other but it’s usually safe to yell at them to remind them not to break anything

Never get between a ghost and their obsession

Don’t drink ectoplasm unless you know you’re already liminal

“I have a feeling the section about liminals will be familiar to a bunch of you. I know Damian is liminal though I don’t know how he was exposed to ectoplasm and some of you,” Her eyes skirted across Tim and Bruce. “Are toeing the line. You’ll probably notice Damian and Danny getting really close, and they might get in some really vicious looking fights. I promise Danny is playing at least.”

The family was left silent for a moment, Bruce knew he was thinking about Jason. Who had died, been exposed to.. What certainly seemed to be something like Lazarus water and come back, obsessive, aggressive, and emotional. He wished he’d had this powerpoint a long time ago. It helped understand Damian too but mostly he was thinking about Jason. He needed to reach out again, maybe meeting Danny would be good for Jason?

“So uhhh, ya, that’s the end of the powerpoint?” Jazz said, shifting from foot to foot in the awkward silence. “Any questions?”

Next

[xuexing-lumi]

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞'𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 + 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 (𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞: 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬) Pt.2

This isn’t your average love reading. This is about the one, the soul who already exists in your energetic field, even if they haven’t stepped into your life yet.(Spoiler: yes, but not in the way you think).

🌸 before you dive into part 2... make sure you’ve read part 1 so everything clicks perfectly and you don’t miss any of the details ✨

📎 read part 1 here: How Does Your Pile Contact Their Soulmate?

trust me, it sets the mood just right for what’s coming next 💌 pink skies, soft energy, and deeper truths ahead 💕

Close your eyes, take a deep breathe and pick your piles.

𝓟𝓲𝓵𝓮 1

𝓟𝓲𝓵𝓮 2

𝓟𝓲𝓵𝓮 3

🌟𝓟𝓲𝓵𝓮 1 : Kunzite

Kunzite is a soft pink to lilac crystal known for its healing influence on the heart chakra, and most importantly, for its energy of receptive, childlike, pure love. It’s often associated with emotional vulnerability, spiritual awakening, and protection for those who’ve been hurt but still hope.

Part 2: How is Pile 1's Soulmate Doing in the Physical World Right Now?

(Seven of Pentacles, Six of Swords, Eight of Pentacles)

Right now, your soulmate is in a phase of deep evaluation. The Seven of Pentacles is a pause between planting and harvesting. In the physical world, they are likely investing their time, energy, and focus into something they care about deeply,this could be their career, studies, a personal healing journey, or even the slow, meticulous rebuilding of a life that once fell apart. They’re not rushing. In fact, they're exhausted from rushing. The kind of relationships or dreams they chased in the past may have left them drained, and this moment in their timeline is about intentionality. They are likely working hard at something but like they’re constantly questioning: “Is this worth it?” This applies not just to their job or health, but also to their emotional investments. Who they spend time with. Who they open up to. This person has become selective. Wise. Cautiously hopeful. They want a love they don’t have to recover from.

We saw the Six of Swords in your contact cards as well, which means that both you and your soulmate are undergoing parallel transitions. They may have just moved away from something emotionally painful similar to a breakup, grief, depression, toxic family entanglement, or even a version of themselves they no longer wish to be. Physically, they could be in a new city, a different job, or a quieter environment than they were in before. They are in a liminal space as a quiet chapter between endings and beginnings. It’s not glamorous. It’s not Instagrammable. It’s just real. A part of them still aches for comfort, but another part whispers, “I’m finally healing.” This card tells us they’ve released baggage, but they still look over their shoulder from time to time.

The Eight of Pentacles confirms that your soulmate is fully immersed in their self-betterment arc. This isn’t someone waiting around for love to fix them. They’re doing the hard work: improving their craft, learning emotional discipline, reparenting themselves, or healing their body. Whether they’re training for something, practicing new habits, going to therapy, or just trying to keep their inner world tidy AND they’re committed to the long game. This is a person who doesn’t want to offer a chaotic heart to someone ever again. They’ve done that. It didn’t end well. Now, they’re focused on becoming someone they themselves can be proud of before they let anyone new in. The way they’re showing up in the physical world is quietly consistent.

“You don’t have to be perfect to be loved.”

🌟𝓟𝓲𝓵𝓮 2: Pink Spinel

Pink Spinel is a stone of revitalization, emotional resilience, and regaining your spark after devastation, and we get a very specific kind of soul story.......this is someone who’s been cracked open and is trying to rise,but hasn’t yet let themselves fully break in order to heal properly.

Part 2: How is Pile 2's Soulmate Doing in the Physical World Right Now?

(Five of Wands reversed, The Tower reversed, and Queen of Pentacles reversed)

This person has been mentally and emotionally overwhelmed by conflict, but instead of confronting it or letting it flow through, they may be avoiding it, suppressing it, or trying to people-please their way out of it. In the upright, this card is chaos you can name: arguments, clashing egos, internal debates. But reversed, it’s messier like the chaos is happening inside. They may have just left a toxic situation or are still mentally trapped in one perhaps a job that drains them, a family environment filled with unspoken resentment, or even a friend group that subtly competes instead of supports. Either way, your soulmate is caught in a state of quiet combat. They're pretending things are fine on the surface, but their heart feels like a crowded, echoing room of arguments that were never resolved. They’re not just dealing with others like they’re at war with their own decisions.

This is the heart of their energy right now. The Tower reversed is a refusal to let go, fear of emotional collapse, and clinging to something that is no longer safe. Your soulmate is standing in the ruins of a situation that’s already cracked,maybe a relationship, a belief system, a way of living,but instead of surrendering to transformation, they’re resisting it. Why? Because letting go feels like death. And they’re scared of what comes after. They may be experiencing symptoms of burnout, insomnia, identity confusion, or sudden waves of anxiety. Their foundations what they thought was “stable”are crumbling.

In the reversed Queen of Pentacles, love becomes obligation. Care becomes exhaustion. They’ve poured so much of their soul into holding things together for others like friends, lovers, family that now they feel used, empty, and unworthy of receiving. They may even feel guilt at the idea of resting or putting themselves first. Their body might be showing signs: fatigue, hormonal imbalance, aches, disconnection from touch or pleasure.

“You’re not broken. You’re just tired of pretending you’re okay.”

🌟𝓟𝓲𝓵𝓮 3 : Rhodolite Garnet

Rhodolite Garnet ia a crystal of both the heart and root chakra, intensifies the theme of healing after manipulation, standing up for one’s truth, and learning how to love courageously again without self-betrayal.

Part 2: How is Pile 3's Soulmate Doing in the Physical World Right Now?

(Page of Swords, Ace of Pentacles, and Five of Swords)

Your soulmate is in a mental processing phase. They’re alert, curious, and perhaps even obsessed with understanding people like reading body language, observing conversations, doing their own inner research on who is safe and who is not. This person has been through something that sharpened their intuition but also made them slightly paranoid. They're wary of false promises and fake intentions. They may be someone who listens more than they speak. They might be a loner with strong online presence like scrolling through ideas, consuming a lot of information, but keeping their personal life private. In the physical world, they could be in a learning phase: a new job, new skill, or transitioning into a new role, but emotionally? They’re trying to figure out what love actually means when it doesn’t hurt.

This is a hopeful yet grounded card. Your soulmate may be manifesting a new lifestyle, new routine, or financial stability. There’s a desire in them to not just connect romantically but to build something real,something they can touch, taste, and trust.This card also suggests they are being given or will soon receive an opportunity that changes their direction. A job offer, relocation, new passion project, or even a surprising meeting could be the seed of transformation. Spiritually, this is the universe saying: “You’ve earned a clean slate.”

They may feel guarded, defensive, or even guilty for how they’ve had to cut people off. And this guilt becomes a block to love because part of them believes that protecting their peace made them selfish. But it didn’t. It made them free. Still, they're carrying emotional residue. Their mind replays old arguments. They wonder if they could’ve fixed things. They wonder if love always comes with pain.

"I want to start over… but it has to feel real this time."

✦ do you want a personal reading like this?

🌸 I offer:

Celebrity Tarot Reads (K-Pop, BTS, Actors) SP Manifestation Guidance Future Love + Shadow Work Spreads Moon-Coded Letter from Your Twin Flame Channeled Audio Readings + PDF Summaries ✧ First reading? Ask for a free pull!

—

📩 DMs Open: @xuexing-lumi Tumblr inbox

🖤 closing words from Lumi:

We ride or die, even through the mess. 💅 — Lumi, the Moon’s Bride 🌕💋

—

(ignore):

[astra-ravana]

The Witching Hour

The Witching Hour, traditionally believed to occur around midnight, is a time steeped in mysticism and associated with heightened supernatural activity. This concept finds its origins in various cultural and religious traditions, with the common theme being that the veil between the physical world and spiritual realms is at its thinnest during this time. This thinning is believed to allow for easier communication with spirits, heightened psychic abilities, and more potent and powerful magickal energies.

In folklore, it is said that witches, spirits, and other supernatural beings are most active during the Witching Hour, making it both a period of potential danger and great opportunity for those practicing the occult or esoteric arts. The term "Witching Hour" itself evokes images of secret rituals, whispered incantations, and unseen forces at play, capturing the imagination of those who explore the magical unknown.

Historically, the Witching Hour has roots dating back to medieval Europe, where the Catholic church declared 3 AM as the hour most associated with witchcraft and demonic activity, countering the time of Christ's death at 3 PM. Over centuries, the more generalized midnight hour gained prominence as the true Witching Hour, perhaps due to its symbolic representation of the transition from one day to the next, which associates it as a liminal space in time, or because it occurs during the darkest part of the night.

In contemporary, this period remains significant for those practicing witchcraft or other esoteric traditions. Modern witches and spiritual practioners often use the Witching Hour for spellcasting, divination, and meditation, believing the energies are more potent and conductive to spirit work and magick. This time is also ideal for introspection and connecting to one's inner self, as the quiet and stillness of midnight provide a perfect backdrop for deep reflection. Thus, the Witching Hour continues to captivate, symbolizing a powerful window of time for transformation, connection to the unseen, and unlocking hidden potentials.

[harridansibyl]

12th House Stellium Themes pt.2

Take what resonates, leave what doesn't

Purgatory

I saw someone describe the 8th house as death and the 12th house as the afterlife or purgatory and I really like that

a lot of the time it can feel like you're wandering through a thick fog, unsure of where you're going. Things can feel disorientating and dreamlike, or even like you're trapped

when I think of the 12th house, I think of liminal spaces. Liminal spaces are about transition and the 12th house can sometimes be described as the soul before it comes into the body to be reborn (1st house)

I often having reoccurring dreams about walking through empty, endless malls

Introspection

constant need to explore your deep inner world. Understanding your own psyche and pain, embracing the unknown

very comfortable with the darker aspects of life

can get stuck reflecting on the past and grief/loss. It can feel most familiar to you and like you can only shine your lantern backwards rather than forwards

learning how to take care of yourself and de-stress is extremely important (surrender is key)

Mental Health

feeling trapped or ignored in childhood which could lead to dissociation or the freeze response

might have felt unsupported or distant from mother/caregiver. She could've been too enclosed within her own struggles, leaving you to raise yourself

carrying over karma from past lives or having generational trauma

many difficult life experiences that could lead to things like mental illnesses, self sabotage, repeating cycles, hospitalisation, loneliness, withdrawal, addiction

bone-deep exhaustion, feeling the need to hibernate - insomnia, nightmares, hypersomnia

Healing Abilities

you've been through so much and you empathise deeply with others pain. You use what you've learned from your own experiences to help others

very forgiving, patient, and understanding. You make people feel seen and supported and you could have instances of strangers randomly opening up to you

attracting or being drawn to a lot of hurt or misunderstood people

feeling a strong urge to save people and to get rid of their issues for them, even to the point of neglecting your own needs or getting used by people

4th house/6th house people can also experience this

[starw0man]

Understanding the 8th house

The 8th house in astrology represents transformations, intimacy and intimate unions, liminal spaces, magic, the occult, massive changes in life, upheaval, death or change, rebirth, reincarnation, regeneration, surgery, psychology, joint finances, shared resources, taxes, wills, legacies, estate planning, and in-depth interactions. The 8th house deals with other people’s money and deals with generally unearned income that isn’t part of your salary. The 8th house also points to our inner fears and how we deal with grief.

Some people say the 8th house represents sex, but to me, it mostly represents intimacy and sex is more of a 5th house thing. The 8th house deals with showing our vulnerabilities to others and hoping that they still accept us for who we are and show their vulnerabilities as well. The 8th house symbolizes intimacy when it comes to showing your true self to your partner or loved ones. It shows you shedding your outer shell and showing your inner self.

The 8th house serves as an entryway into the spiritual realm. That’s why the 8th house deals with liminal spaces. It deals with the in-between when it comes to life and death, spirit world and our world. Liminal spaces also serve as transitions and showcase transformation, which is also tied to the 8th house. Entering a liminal space can transform you and turn you into someone completely different. Same goes to the 8th house and how it feels going through your 8th house profection year, or how it feels when you have transits in your 8th house.

The 8th house is associated with the sign of Scorpio. That’s why it points to intimacy, transformations, change, liminal spaces, rebirth, shared resources, and joint finances. The 8th house is where we seek transformation with ourselves and in our relationships. The 8th house also deals with rebirth and reincarnation which is associated with Scorpio. The 8th house in your birth chart can point to where you’ve experience the most change and transformation in your life.

Sun in the 8th house: You could have a mysterious aura or energy surrounding you. People could find you hard to read or to understand at first. You have multiple layers to you and you don’t uncover it for others, except for those closest to you, and sometimes even then, you don’t show all your layers. You might keep to yourself a lot and you might only have a few people you’re the closest to. You could be someone who is interested in occult practices and you could enjoy learning about it and maybe even dabbling in it. You could be someone who enjoys learning about psychology and how the psyche works. Your identity revolves around being mysterious and a very deep person. You could have experienced a lot of transformation and rebirth, especially regarding your identity and your ego.

Moon in the 8th house: You’re someone who is very private with their emotions. You don’t like it when everyone knows what you’re feeling or thinking. You’re very private and you keep to yourself about your personal life. You seek truth and knowledge, especially about taboo subjects or occult practices. You could be interested in astrology and you could find emotional comfort in occult or spiritual practices. Your emotions run deep and you could have a hard time letting go of things. You could especially have a hard time letting go of past emotional wounds. You crave intimacy and trust in your relationships. Your emotional experiences are deepened, and this could lead to overwhelmed feelings. You could have sensitivity in your emotional energy.

Mercury in the 8th house: You could be someone who seeks the truth and who wants to uncover mysteries and secrets. You could be someone who enjoys talking about taboo subjects, such as death, intimacy, finances, and mysteries. You could be interested in true crime or mystery novels and movies. You could enjoy listening to music that uncover your deep emotions and experiences. You could experience transformation in regard to how you communicate and relate to others. You could end up being an expert in occult or esoteric studies. You use your intelligence for research and investigation. You dig deep down into things and try to get to the bottom of everything. You could also end up being an anthropologist or archaeologist since you’ll be able to solve and analyze cases by digging deep down into each case.

Venus in the 8th house: You seek intimacy and vulnerability in your closest relationships, and you only shed your layers for those closest to you. You have a deep, intense, and transformative approach to love and intimacy. You have a strong desire for emotional connection on a profound level. You want to share your vulnerabilities and secrets with your partner. You could also have a strong attraction to taboo or mysterious aspects of your relationships. You often experience love with major intensity and passion, and you seek partners who can engage with you on a personal level. Relationships can be a catalyst for transformation and personal growth, as it can push you to confront deep emotions and insecurities. You’re attracted to people who have an enigmatic and alluring or mysterious personality or aura.

Mars in the 8th house: You could be focused on spiritual empowerment and the use of spiritual energy for personal growth and transformation. You can harness your inner strength for spiritual pursuits. You find empowerment through spiritual practices and you can engage in transformative experiences that require courage and determination. You seek spiritual truth and knowledge and you can be someone who’s very determined to learn more about spirituality and occult practices. You use your spiritual energy to overcome obstacles and challenges on your spiritual path. You believe in actively engaging with the hidden realms of spirituality. You want relationships that are deep and transformative. You’re not interested in superficial bonds and you seek partners who can match your passion and emotional depth.

Jupiter in the 8th house: You experience deep transformation and personal growth, which could be through a profound psychological breakthrough, a spiritual awakening, or a major life change that reshapes your identity. The growth you experience is very deep and far-reaching, and it affects the core of your being. You could often embark on spiritual journeys that lead to personal expansion and a deeper understanding of life’s mysteries. You may seek wisdom in the spiritual realms, and you could enjoy exploring different belief systems and philosophies. You can experience profound spiritual growth and enlightenment. You seek spiritual wisdom and understanding. You possess a natural curiosity and thirst of knowledge for mysteries, death, life, and transformation.

Saturn in the 8th house: You value harmony, peace, and balance above everything else. You are always kind to those who you meet, even if you don’t know them well or instantly connect with them. You have a flexible and understanding personality. You likely empathize with others and you’re able to adapt to any new circumstance. You could have an easygoing personality and you could enjoy spontaneity and adventure. You could deal with unpredictability, hidden secrets, suddenness, and connectivity with other realms. You prefer quality over quantity when it comes to your relationships and friendships. You could struggle at times to connect and form strong bond with others, especially if they’re not part of your inner circle. You could be slow to fall in love or to trust others.

Uranus in the 8th house: You are destined to explore freedom of expression through unconventional means, especially within the mysterious realms of the occult and life after death questions. You could find yourself irresistibly drawn to unique spiritual practices. You are able to bring about revolutionary change and you could experience profound personal growth. You’re able to see things from a fresh perspective and you have the ability to innovate things. You also have the potential for spirituality through acceptance and transformation. You could have unconventional approaches to practical matters, like managing shared finances and dealing with debt. You could find innovative solutions and strategies that don’t fit in with the status quo.

Neptune in the 8th house: You have a lot of depth, compassion, and a strong spiritual connection. You have an enhanced ability to accept and understand human aspects leading to spirituality. You also like to dive deep into esoteric aspects of life, and this can foster tremendous spiritual freedom, acceptance, and peace. You’re able to navigate complex terrains, such as shared resources, debts, views on death and rebirth. You’re equipped with faith and trust in the progression of life. You’re able to embrace uncertainty and imperfection. There are some challenges with this placement, such as having difficulty managing shared resources and debts as Neptune’s influence can blur the practical aspects of the 8th house. You could struggle with balancing practicality and spirituality.

Pluto in the 8th house: You have likely dealt with a lot of transformation throughout your life. You know what it’s like to rebirth yourself and reinvent yourself multiple times. You’re able to face insecurities and let go of attachments that are holding you back, and this ultimately brings growth and transformation in your life. You have a lot of resilience and you’re very intuitive. You also have a strong self-awareness. You could be a mystic or a healer. You could face intense and transformative events, especially surrounding shared resources, intimacy, and deep psychological change. You could have intense relationships with others and you may want to experience deep, passionate connections that challenge you to confront your deepest fears and insecurities. These relationships can be a catalyst for significant personal growth and change.

Chiron in the 8th house: You have experienced a journey of deep emotional and spiritual transformation. This placement motivates you to delve into the depths of your emotional self, bonds, and shared resources, where you might feel wounded or vulnerable. You could have experienced trauma relating to transformations or regarding intimacy and close relationships. Or maybe you have trauma in regard to debt or trouble with shared resources. You have profound healing and transformative potential. You’re able to turn your wounds into wisdom and become a source of healing for others. Through your healing journey, you may develop a profound understanding of the deeper aspects of life and human nature. You’re able to support others who are in their healing journeys, and this makes you an effective healer, counselor, or guide.

Lilith in the 8th house: You could be very familiar with the darker aspects of life. If you encounter something or someone who is superficial and doesn’t have the rawness of reality, you are not interested in it. You have the ability to notice things that others don’t. You could be very fascinated and interested in the occult and taboos. You are able to discover layers of existence that most people never have to face. You are very sensual and you enjoy being seductive as it is a source of power for you. You could experience issues relating to intimacy. You could experience psychological issues and painful memories, and that might make you unable to let go and enjoy sex. You know too well that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. You have experienced a lot of hardships and pain. You could have a very deep interest in psychology and you could especially be interested in discovering how the psyche works. You could be forced to meet your shadow self.

For the full post about the 8th house and the different placements, check out my Patreon (@starw0man4)

Do you have any 8th house placements? Let me know in the comments. I have an 8th house stellium so I’m very passionate and interested in learning more about the 8th house.

[royal-wren]

In honor of Pride, I'm going to list a few Hellenic deities to think of more actively during this time

Aphrodite: Historically known to be intersex and trans, especially under the name Aphroditos. Not to mention as a goddess of love, that means all kinds of love and expressions of it. Everyone in the LGBT+ umbrella can turn to her without worry.

Apollon: He is known for epithets like the Unshorn, and for literally wearing feminine clothing for the time.

Artemis: Known for embracing masculinity and more masculine traits like her interests, mannerisms, and appearance (attire). Also known to be aro/ace spec.

Athene: Most know her to lean more toward masculinity, but she's more an equal mix of both masculine and feminine (nonbinary by human terms). Also known to be aro/ace spec and wlw as well.

Dionysos: Like Apollon, is known for wearing feminine clothing for the time and occasionally a feminine appearance to match. Embracing the unconventional and what lies outside of society's standards and mentalities is his thing, and it shows with epithets like Androgynos.

Hekate: A goddess of the liminal (everything in between), boundaries, and transitions, of paths and crossroads (which are more than physical ones).

Hera: As a goddess of women, that includes every kind of woman no matter what, there is no room to try and exclude anyone from that. She's also a goddess of marriage and one to lean on for rights on that matter.

Hermes: A god of the liminal, the god of transitions, boundaries, paths, and roads, and a god of romantic unions, the god of fire - the literal and figurative sparks that ensue as a god of friction, a weigher of love like Aphrodite. Before the late Classical and Hellenistic periods was also known to be aro/ace spec as outside of cultic unions, a majority of his immortal (and deity) children are goddesses as well, and he has two nonbinary (one intersex) children, Palaistra and Hermaphroditos, and occasionally the father of Eros either by Aphrodite or Artemis (and no this is real, you're just not ready for this conversation on this information).

Leto: In worship, she has the cult epithet Phystiê (the Grafter) that relates to a myth of her helping Leukippe transition at the wishes of his mother to avoid death. With the grafter epithet, she has a festival in her honor, Ekdysia (Stripping (Festival)). One of her sacred animals is the Ichneumon (Egyptian Mongoose), which was known to be both male and female in an individual member of the species.

Palaistra: The goddess of wrestling and daughter of Hermes is nonbinary, being both genders at once and neither at the same time

The Erotes: It kind of goes without saying that they should be here for a month of love, identity, and acceptance.

The Kharites: As goddesses of joy, merriment, and festivity/celebration, it feels as essential to have them here as the Erotes are. During Pride, they will lift your spirits and cause you to cheer.

[paperultra]

the liminal space.

Pairing: OPLA!Roronoa Zoro x Reader Word Count: 1,575 words Warnings: Swearing, mentions of alcohol use [A/N: written with the cooper!reader from mise en rose in mind. i don't know where in the timeline this occurs, though. lol.]

cingulomania (noun): a strong desire to hold a person in your arms

Living in close quarters can really change how you see a person.

Roronoa Zoro, for instance, had always struck you as rather aloof, having traveled alone for some time before you joined him, and unused to physical affection. He never gave any indication that he was one to enjoy it, and he never sought it out from anyone. That certainly wasn’t odd. You respected his tendency towards personal space, subsequently believing that it extended to his sleeping habits as well.

So when you wake up, hardly able to breathe underneath the hulking mass of a snoring swordsman, you are more surprised than anything.

“Zoro,” you wheeze, patting his back with the hand that isn’t crushed between his chest and yours. Nothing happens, so you swat harder. “Zoro. You’re crushing me.”

His arms squeeze around you as he stirs, inhaling sharply next to your ear. You stop moving as he lifts his head and opens his eyes just wide enough to register you beneath him.

He pauses.

Good morning, sunshine is what you want to say in a cheeky tone. You want to prove that you’re unaffected by the warmth of his body pressing yours into the mattress, the sensation of his breath across your cheekbone and the way his gaze transitions from something bleary into something sharp.

The greeting refuses to leave your mouth. All you can do is blink.

The next thing you know, Zoro’s rolling off of you and out of bed with nary an apology, mumbling something about going to the bathroom.

You hum distantly in response and stare up at the ceiling as he shuffles to the door. Once he closes it behind him, you reach up and fold your hands over your eyes, cheeks hot.

Great.

—

It all started because you and Zoro could only afford a single bed at the inn.

(You use the term “afford” loosely here. The truth of the matter is that you grossly underestimated how much a room would cost, and the owner of the one place willing to lend you a room for half the usual rate demanded physical labor to make up for the rest. Given that Zoro would be spending most of his time hunting down a bounty, the majority of the unpaid labor fell on your shoulders.)

(But you digress.)

The room is small and bare, which is fine, because you and Zoro don’t have much between the two of you anyway. The only problem is that there is only one bed. Zoro had expressed no qualms about sharing so long as you didn’t disturb his sleep, and you had readily agreed, not wanting either of you to sleep on the floor.

After the first morning, you’re not sure if that was a lapse of judgement on your part or not.

Zoro doesn’t mention it at all before he leaves for the day, and you don’t, either. However, when he comes back in the middle of the night and you’re already in bed, squinting and shielding yourself from the bright hallway light as he takes his slippers off and walks in, he sits on the carpet just a few feet away from your side.

“What are you doing?” you ask as he proceeds to lay down.

“Sleeping.”

He closes his eyes and folds his arms behind his head. You frown.

“Why aren’t you sleeping up here?” No answer. You lift your head from your pillow, indignant. “Hey, don’t ignore me! I know you’re still awake.”

“I’ve had a long day,” he grumbles, “so I’d like some quiet so I can sleep. Thanks.”

You huff.

The thought that Zoro might actually be just as embarrassed flits briefly through your mind, but you extinguish it just as quickly. He’s never seemed like the kind of guy to be self-conscious about those kinds of things. A more likely reason is that he’s decided that he wants his own separate space after all and can’t be bothered to kick you off the bed.

So, you kick yourself off instead.

“What are you doing?” The phrase now comes from Zoro as you throw the covers off and grab your pillow, kneeling on the ground beside him. His eyes open and his brow furrows.

“Take the bed. I feel guilty.”

“I don’t want the bed.”

“Everybody wants the bed.” You lie down on the carpet and cross your arms over your chest, stubborn. “I’ve already slept in it. Now it’s your turn.”

“You’re an idiot,” Zoro says.

Neither of you budge.

The next morning, you decide that the first morning was in fact not a fluke, as you awake with your face smushed against his chest and the smell of steel in your nose once again. He’s not on top of you, at least, but the way he clutches you while you’re lying on your side, one ankle hooked over yours, is somehow ten times more mortifying. You wake him up in the midst of untangling yourself and pretend like nothing happened.

Who’s the idiot now? (The answer is both of you. Both of you are idiots.)

—

The third night, you and Zoro flop onto the hard mattress with twin groans, heads spinning and feeling overall miserable.

“That was the shittiest booze I’ve ever had,” Zoro slurs next to you, face down in his pillow.

“But you got a lead, right?” you mumble.

“Yeah …”

You had been there in the bar when he’d gotten that lead, but you can’t remember what it was for the life of you. Another inn? Another bar? Ugh, you’re never drinking there again.

“I’m cold.”

There are blankets on the bed. Unfortunately, getting underneath them would require a lot of moving, and you are physically incapable of exerting yourself that much right now.

You shiver and turn onto your side to curl up. You’ll fall asleep at some point, anyway.

Zoro murmurs your name.

“Hm,” you groan, eyes screwed shut.

He doesn’t say anything in reply. But you hear the mattress squeak, the bedsheets rustle as he shifts closer, and your breath catches when the small distance between you closes. He does not wrap his arms around you, no, but your knees touch, and the heat from his skin melds into yours. You hear his breathing slow to a crawl.

Through your drunken haze breaks through a sudden need to draw him into you, to tuck your face into his neck and keep it there forever. You want – you want. But you’re exhausted, and your head aches, so you find yourself slipping into a deep slumber instead.

He’s already gone when you wake up.

—

A suspiciously lumpy gunnysack in the corner of the room catches your eye once you enter, hand over your mouth to stifle a yawn.

“What’s in the bag?”

“Eight million beri,” Zoro says from his seat on the bed. Cleaning supplies for his swords are strewn around him, and he sheathes the Wado Ichimonji as you close the door. “I ran into another bounty on the way back.”

“Eight mill –” You clear your throat. “Wow. That was pretty lucky.” Eight million beri. Sometimes you wonder if you’ll ever get used to how much bounty hunters can make. (God, that would’ve been more than enough to pay for the room.) “We’re heading out to a marine base tomorrow morning, then?”

“That’s the plan.”

He puts away his supplies, setting them and his swords against the wall near his pillow before standing up to pull down the sheets on his side. You turn off the bedside lamp and do the same, crawling in with a sigh.

The two of you simply lie side-by-side until you decide to break the silence with your big mouth again.

“Am I a burden to you?” you ask.

“No.” The plainness of Zoro’s tone is a small comfort, you suppose. “Why are you asking?”

“Well …” You already regret bringing this topic up as you trail off, biting your bottom lip. “I feel like I haven’t really done much. I mean, I help with navigating and searching crowds and stuff, and I’ve been getting better at fighting, but I can’t help you, you know?” You fiddle with your fingers. “You don’t actually need me.”

There’s a gap between you and Zoro that you’ll likely never be able to close. You had always known that, and so had Zoro; in fact, he had told you at the start that going with him was a bad idea, given your inexperience in bounty hunting and traveling in general. And although you’d like to think that your ability to read a map and fix things convinced him of your usefulness, there are times when you think Zoro regrets bringing you along. Like now.

Zoro grunts, turning to lay on his back. His shoulder nearly lands on your hands, and you draw them to yourself as you wait for his answer.

It is brief and straightforward.

“I’m not forcing you to go with me,” he says. “And if you were a burden, I would’ve told you a long time ago.”

“Oh.”

It is brief and straightforward, and yet, there’s a strange lump in your throat. You swallow it and nod, even though he cannot see you do so.

Nothing more is said. However, as the night goes on, you reach out, and you find him, and Zoro finds you, and the space between your arms fills up with warmth and an unspoken promise. And you sleep very well.

[kyhora]

FRAUD ANALYSIS

(SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO REMAIN BLIND)

"TRUST NOT YOUR EYES, TRUST NOT YOUR EARS."

MY OPENING THOUGHTS

I have... SO MANY THOUGHTS. There was a lot going on here with Fraud and it has absolutely surprised me in its presentation. I'll be talking about specific things to make it easier for me and for you, dear reader, to better understand and process what in the Hell is happening here.

PROVIDENCE

I was stupid and thought it was initially a seraphim because they have similar designs, but yk what Virtues look like Serpahims too so I dunno what I'm on abt LMAO.

I knew from the start the eye in the cover for In Absentia ΛΟΓΟΣ was related to an enemy after following the logic of Hear! The Siren Song Call of Death's preview with the Gutterman's shield. Despite that, oh my goodness this is a really sick design, the transparent, glassy feathers, the eye and how it looks like a slab placed onto the wings, it looks so WEIRD and I love it so much, for our third ever angel enemy, they delivered hard on its design.

I have seen some theories/speculation that Providence looks way too detailed/refined compared to other enemies, inferring that V1 is incapable of processing Providence's appearence. While I'm not opposed to the idea, I don't necessarily subscribe to it, I think Providence is just a really big model which leaves a lot of room for details to be refined. If V1 can process a Virtue, it can process a Providence.

It looks obnoxious with that magenta beam, I don't even wanna know what it does on Brutal LMAO. Surprisingly brittle for an 8th layer enemy though or maybe it retains similar damage multipliers as a Virtues which is why the Electric Railcannon did so much damage to it, idk. I don't have much else to really say about Providence other than the fact it's a visually impressive pain in the asshole, can't wait to see it for the first time and want to kill it harder than every other enemy in a Cybergrind wave.

FRAUD'S AESTHETICS

Fun fact abt myself: I REALLY FUCKING LOVE LIMINAL SPACES. I love liminal spaces with all my heart, they're a really cool form of atmospheric horror (don't confuse this with the backrooms, I hate that shit). Fraud basing itself off of liminal spaces is really damn neat and honestly makes sense, since Hakita even mentioned how during development for 7-1: THE GARDEN OF FORKING PATHS, he tried out stuff like myhouse.wad and ofc read House of Leaves. Besides his own inspirations, it makes perfect sense to use liminal aesthetics here, vaguely familiar halls and rooms met with a reality that defies logic, very fraud if I do say so myself.

Gonna post some pictues of rooms I really like and add any commentary if need be.

Really sick opening room, I love the weird wallpaper, the lamps, just everything here and how its placed is perfect. It perfectly gives off that liminal vibe that this layer is wanting to play into. I adore liminal spaces that feel like it was something built by something that doesn't know how to be human, it gives off such an errie vibe.

A friend on Discord found a theory on Reddit about this and omg it's actually kinda neat

I was squealling when I saw this for the first time. My friend in the vc I was streaming this too said it was all they could hear throughout the trailer LMFAOOO. If there is one thing I'll mention, it's that I think it's funny how apparently Fraud has television but Lust doesn't. What a bunch of bums /j. i do think Lust is more advanced and prolly have TVs, but this is our first official TV in ULTRAKILL

What a banger fucking opening. I adore this shot so much, and honestly it's reminiscent of those liminal space images of hotel hallways like these:

The transition of the hallway shifting to the checkpoint is so fucking awesome too. fun thing I noticed was that there was a low buzzing sound, like when you press yourself up to the walls of Limbo. Not sure if it implies anything or is an audio indicator of shifting realities.

WHAT A COOL ASS ROOM. I LOVED THE TRANSITION HERE SO MUCH, MY JAW DROPPED WATCHING THE WALLS SHIFT TO MAKE IT BIGGER. I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE IF THIS IS GONNA DO ANYTHING MORE THAN JUST THIS AS THE LAYER GOES ON. After seeing this trailer at least 50 times already, I'm curious about how this room instigates the combat, since there's plenty of shots that have V1 walking back to the room or walking into other rooms from the doors. Fun to think about the frustration of getting lost in this place, finding yourself back, and then BOOM ! ENEMY ENCOUNTER ! ! !

Such a banger shot too, I love these kinda infinite mirror-esque rooms for non-euclidian stuff. An interesting detail are that the lion statues actually have a lion head unlike the one Limbo. I love how much this feels like a hotel, it has that eerie transitional vibe hotels can have but has this "first class" vibe to it all.

Really fun shot too. Love non-euclidian stuff playing with gravity and such.

I know I already said my jaw dropped but like... MY JAW. DROPPED. I mentioned it to my oomfies before but it looks a lot like the The Empyrean from Dante's Inferno:

Will mention this here because I don't wanna post images that are basically the same; but the other side of the skybox is noticably darker. Maybe it's this layer's day/night cycle? Not too sure but feels logical to me. I love how this layer is leaning into the heavenly imagery, I'm so curious about what kinda lore bits we're gonna get, and considering how we got a new angel enemy, we hopefully probably get some new angel lore. If Virtues and Gabriel were the only angels to have resided in Hell, makes me interested in if other angels are coming down from heaven, either to help Gabriel, or avenge the council by killing him.

I love that we're jumping from rooftops to others, nice change of scenery from the claustrophobic, eerie rooms inside the towers. I am happy the layer is still paying homage to the "tower of lies" idea by having us climb up them, jumping between them, and all that stuff.

Once again with the nonsensical prop placement. Why does this room have tables and chairs when there's nothing to eat or any other reason to lounge about here. Really interesting environmental storytelling, I'm confused and I LOVE IT.

Doth my eyes deceive ?

A NEW HOOK POINT ? ? ?

Sick transition but what's with the door on the right ? I wonder if it means anything or is just a visual indicator for where to go... hrmmmm...

"I'M BACK IN THE FUCKING BUILDING AGAIN??????"

Cool transition to the TV again, but I love the sharp contrast of aesthetics here. Again with the nonsensical placement of props but at least all the props share a theme ? ? ? Makes me curious if the next level or the next segment of 8-1: HURTBREAK WONDERLAND is gonna involve the poolrooms. I really hope it does. It's a really cool liminal space aesthetic that I think would be reallly interesting see and makes sense to mesh in with the liminal space inspirations of Fraud.

If curious abt the poolrooms:

with all that trailer analysis done, time to yap abt my thoughts of everything we've seen with some theories and speculation of my own :3

WHAT IS EVEN GOING ON ?

In Dante's Inferno, Fraud has 10 blogias (circles) that had specific punishments for different kinds of fraudulant behavior, but here in this Fraud ? Is the punishment here that the sinner is in a non-euclidian hotel being driven mad by the isolation and non-sensical rooms? It feels too much like Limbo if that is what's being done here, and besides, there's smaller buildings, there's rivers, there's all sorts of pleasant stuff here, what if maybe Fraud had its own renaissance like Lust ? Maybe the angels are doing something here with Fraud ? I'm honestly confused by what is happening here, I have no ideas for what happened to this layer, but for now I have my other thoughts about the explanations for the aesthetics, potential stuff going, on so forth. Just thought I'd bring up my confusion since I don't really have many ideas for the punishments here.

THE INFINITE HOTEL

With Fraud's aesthetics, I believe Fraud is going to be a hotel and each level is us descending into the kinds of rooms that would be in a hotel, like how in the first level we're in the hallways of what is presumably the place where all the rooms, while the second rooms takes us to a place that resembles the pools of hotels (hence why I believe in 8-2 poolrooms), and etc.

I also kinda see Hilbert's Hotel/The Infinite Hotel Paradox to be a form of inspiration for this place, an infinite hotel, houses infinite guests, and since mankind is dead...

explanation of the paradox:

If we look at Wrath, it feels like the logic of the infinite hotel checks here too, since the river styx began to become bigger following The Final War, and instantly became flooded after mankind's mysterious, biblical extinction. After so many new sinners entered the layer of Wrath, the river adapted to be the ocean, nothing changed, just more people in it now, and how the Ferrymen have grown acustomed to the new environment as well. Fraud after mankind's extinction made there have to be more rooms, and yet, all the "guests" have been accounted for.

A FALSE PARADISE

An idea I have is that Hell Itself rennovated Fraud to resemble the Lust Renaissance, to cruely trick the denizens of Fraud that they escaped the layer and found a comforting place in Hell, and in their delusion, unknowingly still roam around the endless halls of Fraud, finding a twisted pleasure in the false senses of hope the sinners are under.

Idk if I really agree with this idea, because why are there statues of Providence, why is there such heavenly imagery in this layer if this idea suggests it wants to be like Lust ? Maybe it instead wants to be a false Heaven ? But if that's the case, why are the towers and their architecture anything but ? I am lost over what this layer is wanting to be, it's obvious that every layer had their own punishments, either the punishments were directly shown to us in the layer (like Heresy's coffins, Wrath's ocean, and Violence's trees), or at least were mentioned, like with Lust's winds. But here in Fraud ? I have no idea what the punishment is here. Like. At all. It leaves me curious for what's in store and what is going to be explained, or maybe some theories are gonna be absolutely banger, who knows.

NEW ENEMIES & LORE

Soooo new enemies are coming, I believe we are either getting one or 2, potentially a new husk and 2 new angels. We already got Providence, a new husk feels right since it's been a while since we got one, and I am a firm believe that the angel statue from Limbo and the other layers is gonna be either our new arm OR new enemy. Plz. Give us more Angel lore. I'm on my hands and knees, Hakita, I need to know what they're like. I know we're in Hell so Heaven has far less involvement than if it was the other way around, but I still have to know. I GOTTA KNOW.

SOON™ (this year)

Also felt like talking about this because it's weirdly kinda confusing ? ? ? Looked into the general "soon" of New Blood and at times it's basically like. TOMORROW ? To which I think is not gonna happen if we read the description of In Absentia ΛΟΓΟΣ and how Hakita says they're still working on it (the first level I'd assume), so I dunno if in ONE MONTH they were able to just create the entirety of the Fraud layer that fast, hence why the (this year) addition makes me feel like they're releasing it maybe before the holiday season ? Who knows ! :P With the understanding that Fraud had troubles in development which led to the ULTRA_REVAMP update, maybe production got much easier after the enemy rework ? I've no idea honestly. But whatever happens, I'm gonna be there the MOMENT it releases.

Yeah erm that's kinda it for now hope you enjoyed reading the delusion of a mad person that squealed like a pathetic person during the trailer and the preview they did before the trailer. If anyone would like to talk by all means, talk to me in dms or message @cyhora on Discord ! ! !