#Esoteric Oppression

[maggotwithanf]

as someone raised Roman catholic who very much is fucking not any more, the idea that anyone would ever convert is fucking hog wild insane to me. sorry bruh

[magdalene-spirit]

May eyes be opened

Clarity restored

And the truth be self-evident

The “I-me-mine” thought has no “rights”

Everyone’s birthright, is freedom

As what we all are, fundamentally & essentially

In truth

[psychotrenny]

It's really funny when people try to defend various forms of esoteric/"alternative" bullshit by saying like "we need magic because science is misogynist". Because that last part isn't totally wrong; even application of the scientific method doesn't create total objectivity and so the body of scientifically determined knowledge is frequently distorted by the oppressive ideologies of broader society. Like misogyny in science is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, but you can't address it by rejecting the scientific method itself. Especially because misogyny is a much broader problem, and it affects plenty of other bodies of knowledge. Including you know; the very esoteric bullshit people are trying to defend. Describing women as inherent homemakers doesn't get any better when you're justifying it as "Divine Feminine" rather than "Maternal Instinct". You are not escaping misogyny with Astrology

[prokopetz]

One of the pieces of feedback I'd received on the previous revision of Eat God is that the introductory text didn't clearly communicate what the game's big-picture deal is. I'm hoping this rewrite makes it clear!

(Image transcript under the cut.)

Introduction

Eat God is a game about being on the outside. It revolves around the Folk, beings who stand for every small, funny-looking creature in every game that insists small, funny-looking creatures are morally okay to kill, every goblin and kobold and imp, all reimagined here as members of the same impossibly varied, self-created people. Each player will take on the role of one of the Folk, different from any other, and navigate the world from their knee-high perspective.

Of course, player characters in Eat God aren't just any small, goblin-like critters. They're also God-eaters, practitioners of an esoteric discipline – part existential philosophy, part martial art – that comes with both fantastical abilities and big questions: namely, what does it mean to eat God?

Is “God” the systems of oppression we build to keep others down, and eating God means throwing off those chains?

Is “God” the culmination of an error in our understanding of reality, and eating God means finding another way to be?

Or is “God” just a great big tyrant in the sky, and eating God means exactly what you think it means?

As a God-eater, your journey to find out will take you from place to place, with each destination presenting potential answers, usually in the form of someone being ground under someone else's boot. Owing to your limited outsider's perspective, your interventions may not always help, at least not in the ways you intend, but they'll definitely ensure that those who benefit from the status quo are having a bad time.

Or, in less elevated terms, Eat God is a game about a bunch of gender-ambiguous muppety things with bullshit super powers wandering around causing problems on purpose. If you cause enough, you might even accomplish something.

[learnastrowallura]

10th house ruler in the houses

Ideal career <3

I have made a post about the 10th house if you wish to know more about it.

1st house: modeling, content creation (focused on YOU, your opinions, your reviews, your personality), leadership/innovative jobs, anything that makes you shine

2nd house: becoming a chef, taking on lucrative projects, huge focus on accumulating material wealth, staying authentic and true to your values and making sure it doesn't fuck w ur emotional stability and stuff- no sacrifices

3rd house: consider working in a family-run business, utilizing writing talent, maybe something debate related, teaching elementary school/little kids, something mind stimulating

4th house: stay at home mom/dad or working from home, babysitting, having a more obscure job and being private about job matters, having a job that allows you to be family oriented as well, providing for your fam being a motivation of urs

5th house: art, creativity, modeling/makeup artist, hair stylist, social media manager, going with the flow, innovation, laid back/light hearted when it comes to duty, being quite lucky in the career side of things

6th house: administrative work, athletic field, diet expert or nutritionist, doctor, being quite involved in your work matters on the daily and taking it seriously, work relationships (coworkers, subordinates, superiors) being relevant for better or for worse

7th house: tbh I'm drawing a blank on this one 😭 I'd look at the sign of the 10th house buuuuttttt anything/anywhere that you feel comfortable as/in for a while should be good. This also indicates maybe meeting someone special at work? 👀 or working together with/creating a business with your long term partner. Also be aware of how ur relationship with ur business partners goes cuz it's important especially deals involving contracts

8th house: accounting, investment, stocks, real estate, finance jobs basically anything that involves other people's money and also maybe inspector jobs, detective work esp homicide involved (ace attorney vibes lol), performing autopsies etc u get the idea and we could also add occult related jobs as well

9th house: spiritual work, teaching individuals esoteric matters, astrologer, tarot, palmistry readings, jobs that allow you or even encourage you to be like a forever student and stuff

10th house: traditional jobs, CEO, career success is important to you and you tend to prioritize it regardless of whatever else is going on in ur life, any jobs that requires a high level of achievement and handling pressure with grace

11th house: social media related, working within a group, collaborative effort, compromise, maybe prioritizing other endeavors centered around making an impact such as activism, vouching for the oppressed and volunteering

12th house: therapist, readings, helping people work through their issues and do shadow work, alchemy work aka turning pain into power, also helping individuals achieve balance in the mental as well as spiritual plane (feminine and masculine energy for example) etc

Of course this is very general!! You need to look at loaaaads of other stuff but yeah comment down below your 10th house placements

Thank you for reading <3

Masterlist

Paid readings available

[tagamantra]

one thing i really like about buddhism--particularly mahayana buddhism--is that it understands context, so in my mind it's a very "human" religion. mahayana doesn't tell you to live up to impossible standards but rather, to actually attain what was once thought impossible through whatever means you have. by any means necessary is very applicable to mahayana buddhism.

in the lotus sutra, the buddha states something along the lines of "if a person needs an arhat to be saved, i will appear in the form of an arhat" and proceeds to list down several other forms they might take to save someone, right down to "if they need a common person to be saved, then i will appear in the form of a common person." now, buddhism has been soteriological from the start (it's all about emancipation from the wheel of rebirth after all) but that sutra passage only really served to highlight the major message of the entire sutra: the use of skillful means.

so to me this means buddhism accepts contexts. it doesn't require you to do 180,000 prostrations, it doesn't require you to be a perfect peerless meditative god, it doesn't require you anything that you cannot do at all. it doesn't matter: you will become a buddha all the same. that last bit makes it even better: since in buddhism emancipation means becoming a buddha, when sakyamuni "saves" you he only really supercharges your enlightenment so you can get to it easier, or if another buddha saves you (like amitabha) he whisks you off to his pure land sukhavati so that you can focus a thousand kalpas on just enlightenment without having to be hungry, thirsty, or oppressed.

the majority buddhism in my country is mahayana--it used to be some form of esoteric buddhism during the classical period but that has long since vanished away. though the fact that there has been avalokitesvara images found somewhere in batangas makes it a very spiritual thought to become a buddhist in a country that has partial buddhist roots.

it's mahayana because the buddhism that was brought back here during/after colonization was chinese buddhism. which is dominated by amitabha/pure land buddhism. now one of the most important deities/bodhisattvas in chinese buddhism is guanyin 觀音 (bodhisattva of compassion, who is a strange sinicized version of avalokitesvara). you'll still find her statues in the philippines, especially in parts most concentrated with chinese immmigrants. in one corner of binondo you will see a street shrine with guanyin, mother mary, and jesus christ beside each other, and with passersby offering incense to all three of them.

so since guanyin (who, by the way, is sometimes syncretized to essentially be "chinese mama mary" because religion in religious countries is very bumfuck evades taxonomy) is the most popular bodhisattva in the PH, when tibetan lamas arrived here to teach vajrayana, they adapted a lot of chenrezig rituals even though chenrezig isn't really overtly huge in tibetan buddhism. so now when you go to vajrayana pujas in manila, they almost always have some semblance of chenrezig invocation, and its common to have chenrezig pujas.

another upaya-kaushalya thing i noticed is that buddhism doesn't really do like mass every sunday. but since filipinos have been doing sunday mass for around 300 years now they adapted and now we have sunday pujas because the common filipino expects some sort of religious commitment on sunday

i think buddhism could be a huge boon to socialist movements. cutting through the ego, emphasis on emptiness (that is, nothing has inherent nature, which is essentially mystical materialism), and an emphasis on a sort of helping each other to gain merit would really benefit everyone. especially since unlike christianity they don't force other local religions or local people to change for them, but rather, they retrofit themselves into the local space, adopting the principle of skillful means to help everyone realize their buddhahood.

[enchanted-moura]

Esoteric texts like the Bible shouldn’t have been so idk mass produced. People can’t fucking read much less things with heavily layered occult symbolism. You have people whipping kids to death cause they don’t understand certain scripture and use it to justify tormenting and oppressing others smh😭

[0bticeo]

j. sims, e. bouchard| love is an open wound still raw.

part one out of four. (part 2.) (part 3.) (part 4.)

summary.

“one of your wounds has reopened.”

slowly, you glance down to your hand. there’s a small puncture wound on your palm, surrounded by the imprints left by your nails. it bleeds, red seeping out of the flesh in neat droplets of crimson. your fist tightens.

drip, drip. 

“it’ll heal.”

“it might get infected.”

“oh, and what are you going to be able to do about it?”

“i have a first aid kit.”

wc. 2.6

tw. worms, jon patching up reader's wounds, heavily implied that elias is having the time of his life watching them go at it, fluff (in this economy?? written by obticeo??? shocking), handjob, blowjob, overstimulation (so um. non sex averse jon.)

work at the magnus institute, they said. it’s a good idea, they said. you thrive on knowing things and burying yourself in niche research topics for days on end for hyper specific information. why not give the esoteric and supernatural a try?

you blame the decent paycheck for signing the contract so quickly. 

(there is, really, nothing to blame but your own, insatiable curiosity. an institute studying supernatural happenings. how is the damn thing even funded?) 

oh, it wasn’t that bad. not at first, despite your instinct screaming not to trust the devilishly handsome head of the institute and to run away. the archives were a mess, courtesy of gertrude robinson’s piss poor organization. you did not want to know what layed in the artifact storage department. you dutifully ignored the sharp, pinprick pain at your nape, the weight settling over your skin like an accusatory finger. you’re being watched.

again, it wasn’t that bad.

then there were worms.

your fingers clench, dig in your palms. even now, weeks after the flesh-hive broke into the institute, you can feel it. smell it. 

the scent of decay, flesh rotting away, peeling bit by bit from brittle bone, and maggots. so many of them, worms everywhere, stark white fleshy mass wriggling, crawling towards you, biting you until they burrow in your flesh.

you should’ve seen it coming, really, what’s with martin being forced to reside in the archives until further notice and the occasional worm managing to crawl its way in.

you hadn’t. 

(drip, drip. 

blink, and you’re bleeding in a safe room, jon’s palm pressing down your thigh as he wrenches away the worms digging in your flesh with a corkscrew. your leg aches. your wrist is a bloody mess. all you can do is try to bite back a scream and fail, miserably. 

blink, and you’re safe, three months later. on bad days you can still feel them crawl, burrowing deeper and deeper in you, hungry, so terribly hungry.)

today, the archives are silent. the others are still quarantined, so the only noise filling the room is that of your breathing and the click, click, click of your pen. 

no martin to bring you a cup of coffee with a sheepish smile, debating over the merits of tea over coffee. no tim to prank you with the false statement of joe spooky and his encounters with the horrorsTM, holding back his laughter as you squint at him suspiciously. no sasha to gossip with, to laugh, delighted, voice lowering in a conspiratorial whisper as she tells you the latest tidbit of info she found out about jon - your prickly boss! in a band!

normally, the usual hustle and bustle of the archives (and its rowdy archival assistants), is almost enough for you to forget the permanent, oppressing feeling that you’re being watched. it’s always there, at the back of your mind, pinprick pressure at the edge of your neck. eyes, thousands and thousands of them watching you, knowing you, how you wake up screaming, nails digging bloody trails on your skin to get them out- 

breathe. 

you’re in the archives. you’re at your desk, tightly clenched hands resting on a manila folder. before you is the portrait of the founder of the institute. jonah magnus, green-grey eyes boring down upon you. you look back, tired eyes dead and unblinking. 

the watch on your wrist tells you it’s five and a half in the afternoon, give or take. the sun is declining. you’ve kept the lights off. penumbra settles over you like a blanket and you lean back in your chair. you’ve been there for three hours and haven’t moved an inch. 

you should probably go home. you should probably quit, actually. go up to elias’ office and politely tell him that you did not sign up to have your life threatened by worms, supernatural or not. 

you don’t.

the manila file in front of you contains a statement regarding robert montourke, given by one of his jailers. you should probably find a tape recorder. maybe there’s a spare in jon’s office. 

so you get up and set about getting that tape recorder. a beat. you think you catch the contours of one of these wretched worms, fat larvae half crushed by a bow full of statements. blink and it’s gone.

you all but slam open the door, only to reveal the head archivist in the flesh. he startles, almost dropping the pile of statements he’s been neatly stocking away in a cardboard box.

“what- how long have you been there?”

you stare at him, blankly, hand still resting against the doorknob.

“i- three hours- sorry, i should’ve knocked-”

“yes, yes you should have!”

your shoulders tense. he’s glaring at you with barely concealed suspicion, and all you can do is fight back the creeping panic that settles over you, because you can remember being in this very office, half leaning over jon’s desk, laughing with him, before the wall broke and the worms-

“what are you doing here?”

you take in a sharp inhale.

“i was looking for a tape recorder.”

jon lets out an aggravated sigh.

“here, in the archives.”

“i-”

“you should still be at the hospital, resting-”

“i’ve been discharged three days ago.”

he scoffs, running a hand through his tousled hair. it’s grown, you realize. a few inches, now long enough to brush the sharp edge of his jaw. there and there, creeping up his neck, his fingers, his wrists, you can see the scarring tissue of his flesh, puncture wounds like many cigarette burns. worms.

you swallow.

you don’t realize he’s in front of you until he calls your name, tone sharper than his wit.

“i’m going to talk to elias. this is ridiculous, having you work while you’re barely healed-”

“like you’re one to talk.”

he glares down at you, a scowl twisting his features. you meet his stare, lone sailor in the eye of the storm. his gaze trails over your features, takes in the scars crawling up your forearms, the skin left bare by the rolled up sleeves of your shirt. his frown deepens.

“one of your wounds has reopened.”

slowly, you glance down to your hand. there’s a small puncture wound on your palm, surrounded by the imprints left by your nails. it bleeds, red seeping out of the flesh in neat droplets of crimson. your fist tightens.

drip, drip. 

“it’ll heal.”

“it might get infected.”

“oh, and what are you going to be able to do about it?”

“i have a first aid kit.”

with that, he moves behind his desk and opens a drawer with an aggravated sigh. he rummages through it, discarding stationary and a paperback of poe’s selected tales. he’s got taste, you muse, drawing closer, footsteps silent on the carpet. at last, jon pulls out a red box and motions for you to sit down on the edge of his desk. 

“give me your hand,” he mutters.

you extend your hand, slowly, holding it up by his desk lamp. his fingers come to cradle your wrist, brushing your pulse, pressing against the faint outline of the bone. your breath hitches. slowly, he gets to work, critical gaze assessing the wound. it doesn’t need stitches. small blessings. 

he pulls out a sterile compress and pours disinfectant on it.

“it’ll sting.”

he’s gentle, jon, the compress held firmly against your palm, but not harshly, no. you let out a low hiss, pain like an inferno setting your nerve ablaze. you think you see his frown deepening at the pained sound that manages to fly past your gritted teeth.

the compress comes out stained. finally, he discards it and grabs the gauze, carefully wrapping it around your palm. 

in the dim lighting of the room, you make out the sunken cheeks, the five o’clock shadow adorning his jaw, the exhaustion creeping in the deep green of his eyes. they meet yours. your heart skips a beat, then another. silence stretches, stretches.

he’s been watching you, you realize. 

“you didn’t have to do this, you know.” 

he scoffs, throwing away the stained compress.

“somebody has to take care of you, if you don’t do it yourself.”

you let out a dry chuckle.

“hypocrite.”

“i am not-”

“no? when was the last time you ate? have you slept in the past three days?”

with each question, you get closer and closer to him, until you’re a breath away from him, tired gaze boring into his. there’s defensiveness in his eyes, protests piling up in scathing retort on the tip of his tongue.

“why don’t you take care of yourself, jon?”

you see his shoulders tense under the white cotton of his shirt, fingers flexing, gaze flickering, looking anywhere but you. something like resignation settles over his features, clouding the blazing green of his gaze.

“it’s rotten work.”

“not to me.”

your hand finds the sharp edge of his jaw, palm like a balm against his cheeks. you feel him relax, leaning into your touch, lips brushing against your pulse. you drink in the sight of him, worn to the bone, scars etched in his skin, reaching for his soul. he’s soft, in the sunset, all ragged edges tiredly melting away as you take one step closer to him.

“please, jon. let me take care of you.”

a beat. he chuckles, the sound low and rich, vibration reverberating in your bones.

“i can’t stop you, can i?”

“no, you can’t.” 

you fall into his orbit, in the magnetic pull of him. your lips brush against his, brushing hesitantly against the chapped skin. you hear a startled little sound of a gasp, surprise dying on his tongue, melting as you press yourself against him, bandaged hand splayed over his chest. do not still, beating heart. it stutters under your touch, hummingbird yearning for escape. you’d cradle it in your hands and swallow it whole, his heart, keeping it safe.

as it is, you cannot turn bones and spread the open wings of his ribcage apart, so you settle for Knowing him, mapping out each prickly edge of him. 

your lips grow firmer in their relentless pursuit of his own. he nips at you, wounded animal desperate for respite, so you cradle him against you, kissing him over and over, until his mouth parts for you, until, finally, you share the same breath.

you melt a little against him, fingers digging in his shoulders for support. the world narrows down, optical adjustment until it’s only you and the warmth of his fingers on your waist, comet tail blazing a path of desire over your clothed skin. your knees go weak.

you pull apart for air, and it feels like losing a part of yourself.

jon looks at you, green eyes dark and heavy, lips kiss-swollen and red and so very inviting. 

more…

you don’t know which of you broke the silence. doesn’t matter when jon grabs the front of your shirt and yanks you forward until you stumble in his chest. doesn’t matter when he sits back on his chair, when he lets you straddle him, slender fingers coaxing you out of your clothes. 

he kisses you against, and he’s hungry for it, like he’s longed for this, longed for you, you with your mouth like an offering, so warm and safe against him. his hand finds the back of your nape, thumb pressing down, and you dissolve in a sweet puddle of need. he tastes like nicotine and tea, bittersweet in all the right ways, and it feels like a revelation.

your hands set about knowing him, wandering the paths made up by the dips of his ribs, the valley of his chest, going further and further south until your hands press against the buckle of his belt.

“yes- ah!”

you’re gentle about it, really. palming him, tracing the outline of him through his slacks, relishing at the deep, shuddering exhale of your name. his hand wraps around yours, dwarfing yours. your mind goes deliciously blank, his long, slender fingers pulling down his slacks just enough to free his length.

need burns in your mind. 

jon chuckles, low and teasing, something like mirthful amusement in his eyes.

“it’s not going to bite, you know.”

“i might.”

with that, you wrap your hand around his cock. jon hisses, hips bucking in your grip. pink dusts his cheeks like dawn rising as he watches you, like he’s committing you to memory.

(he is. he wishes you could see yourself, stark silhouette burned in his retina, clothes unkempt, shirt half-opened to reveal the tantalizing edge of your bra, lips kiss-swollen, eyes wide and dark, hands slowly pumping his length.)

he groans, head lolling back, his hand tightening on your hip.

“you’re a tease.”

“and you’re pretty.”

he gasps at that. you laugh, and press your lips to his, speeding up your rhythm until you feel him tense and writhe, hips jerking against you. beds of wetness drip down on your fingers. you bring them to your mouth and hum, tongue darting out, licking them clean. jon’s breath catches at the sight.

you want to taste him, you realize. know each and every part of him, so you slide off his lap and get on your knees, skirt riding up your thighs. your hands run up his shin, fingers dancing over his knee as they tread the path to his core.

your tongue flicks out against the flushed head, lapping at his pre. he shudders at that, a low groan leaving his lips. you feel him twitch in your grip and speed up, pressing fleeting, fluttering kisses against the soft, heated skin. when your mouth closes on his length and you taste and know him, static buzzes in your mind. 

a hand, broad and big and warm, settles on your head and pushes you closer, fingers threading through your hair. you whine. he’s big and heavy, filling up your mouth until all you know is him. your nails rake his thighs and he moans at that. you can’t help but look up through your lashes.

he’s the picture of sin, jonathan sims. his pristine shirt is crumpled, haphazardly unbuttoned to reveal the knife-edge of his collarbone. his fingers tighten on the armrest, deliciously firm in their desperate attempt to find purchase as you bring him closer and closer to his release. and gods, the slow, sublime arch of his neck, the way his head lolls back in rapture as he comes again with a startled gasp-

you hum, delighted, swallowing every last drop.

ah, but you’re not done yet. you’re not done learning about all the sweet moans you can coax out of him, about what makes him tick and come in blissful rapture. so, you make him come. 

again, and again, and again, worshiping every precious inch of him as you go, sucking  bruises in the tender skin of his neck. mine. his moans fill the room, startled little gasp and desperate pleas for more, for you to stop because it’s too much, to please, please-

when you pull back, your breath catches in your throat. he’s a masterpiece of debauchery, glasses askew, tears of overstimulation trailing down his flushed cheeks, lips parted in harsh, ragged pants. 

you nuzzle against him with a coo, one hand slipping under his shirt, settling over his chest, over the thundering beat of his heart.

his hand settles on your thigh, his forehead pressing against yours as he desperately tries to catch his breath.

“w-wait… you didn’t get to… let me…”

“shh…” you peck his lips, the kiss sweet and chaste. “this is about you. for once in your life, let yourself be cared for.”

he nods, reluctantly, fingers tightening over your thigh in a promise.

“fine. but i’m treating you to dinner. that is non-negotiable.”

you laugh a little, smiling fondly up at him.

“boss’ orders.”

[starsnores]

i think the alternian empire is fucked up enough you could give them a new paint job and they'd slot into warhammer 40k pretty easy. The oppressive caste system, forced breeding, galaxy wide conquest. They enslave their psychics to power their space travel. The esoteric evil space clowns who worship laughing gods.

[flameswallower]

@librarycards tagged me to do a reading thing again; I'm just going to list books etc. which I generally liked that I read in the first half of 2025, and didn't already mention in this post. (Do check out everything mentioned in that post!)

some novels

Demon Engine, which I reviewed here.

Rouge, by Mona Awad (23). I listened to the audiobook! This is a pretty strange, surreal kind of vampire story which also involves a mother and daughter's shared obsession with youth/beauty. It touches on racism (especially internalized racism), emotional abuse, addiction, and repressed memories. Awad's language is poetic and colorful without being particularly ornate, and she excels at describing luxury and sensuality.

some short story collections

Eusect, which I reviewed here.

Shaky Pictures of Vanished Faces, by D. Matthew Urban (25) is the standout short story collection of the year for me so far. Urban's stories strike a bizarre existentialist tone somewhere at the nexus of Thomas Ligotti, Adam Golaski, and Thomas Ha. I especially liked "Exuviae," "Flesh Advent," "Winter Savory," and "The German Cousin." If you like horror fiction that can be intense and emotional while also being a little cerebral and esoteric at times, this is for you. Also if "reality and the narrative come apart like crumbly cheese as you read" is a genre of story that's up your alley.

some books i read that aren't out yet, but that rule and which i am psyched will come out later this year

Moonflow, by Bitter Karella, as endorsed on bluesky.

Black Flame, by Gretchen Felker-Martin, which I think is probably the best of her Tor books to date. It's one of those haunted movie books, but I think it does something special with the concept. Politically overt in a lot of timely ways, but mostly avoids preachiness (partly due to being set in the mid-1980s, a setting that feels more grimily realistic than nostalgic most of the time). Appropriately plays to the author's strengths in descriptive, cinematic writing-- think of it like a cross between Hellraiser and I Saw the TV Glow.

some individual short stories you can read RIGHT NOW

“The Smell of Night in the Basement” by Wendy N. Wagner (20)-- a vampire story that's also a story about how sometimes found families can be as abusive as, or more abusive than, the biological kind, and about what it takes to survive a terrible childhood.

“You May Feel Odd Or Different All Day,” by Cavar (24)-- more naturalistic fiction than Cavar's usual stuff, but with the same focus on bodily autonomy and on power dynamics between doctors and their patients.

“In My Country,” Thomas Ha (25)-- a beautiful parable for our times.

“The Avalanchist,” Anya Johanna DeNiro (25)-- a somewhat satirical literary sci-fi tale about a trans woman living in near-future Minneapolis and her encounter with a famous activist writer.

“Landline,” by Kelly Robson (25) -- you might kind of see where this one's going at a certain point, but god it's terrifying. nothing overtly awful happens on page, but definite heads up for gaslighting and harm to a child.

“Slowsand,” by Joe Koch (25)-- Joe, what the fuck? What the fuck is this nightmare where I'm being like stalked and buried alive at the same time, Joe.

an essay

"NECROMANHOOD," by Sir Inge (??)-- look, I don't know that I agree with every single thing here, but I love that someone is writing this kind of deliriously transgressive, colorful call-to-arms prose about trans men specifically, and picking apart the idea that choosing or accepting manhood, choosing or accepting forms of queer manhood that involve relating emotionally and sexually to other men, etc, is somehow inherently reactionary or retrograde or misogynistic or just not part of/relevant to any feminist project of destablilizing gender and eliminating its oppressive forms.

I also really like the appends/arguments from the author at another time.

[astrology-by-sita]

ON TAURUS RISINGS ♉️

This is a part of a series on the rising signs not necessarily in Zodiacal order.

Shout-out to my Taurus rising dad, a revolutionary.

Tauruses are stereotyped as lazy, indulgent, shallow and only about money money money. This is a shallow pop astro interpretation. Taurus is the hierophant in tarot, the cleric, the guide. There is a very malefic star in taurus which is Algol. At its best this star makes you a champion of women's rights and the oppressed. At its worst it shows up in misogynistic men with the "Madonna-wh*re complex".

Taurus risings wish for one thing, it is legacy, as they have aquarius in the 10th house and aquarius is what you wish for. But in order to establish a legacy you have to get out of your comfort zone, innovate, do revolutionary stuff, think outside the box, have an adventurous spirit. Before the 10th house you have to get into the 9th house. Tauruses find it hard to do that.

They struggle with 9th house stuff as they have capricorn there (restriction) and they do not like to get out of their comfort zone, try new things, be open minded etc as they value comfort too much.

Venus rules 1h and 6h for them. They want to stick to the same routine (6h). Libra in 6h, Libra/Venus isn't find of change and 6h is routine. But how are they going to achieve the legacy they want? This way they remain stuck in the same rut, and then the pop astro stereotype becomes true - they become lazy and indulgent etc. They become selfish - their ruler Venus debilitates in the 5th house in Virgo, the house of indulgence in pleasures and ego.

But Venus exalts in pisces in their 11th house of community so not only they can establish the legacy they want but also become revolutionaries, heroes and leaders of their community if they step out of the comfort zone and put the ego aside.

They have sagittarius in the 8th house so they transform their lives (8h) as soon as they leave their comfort zone and start an adventure (sagittarius stuff). So Tauruses lead the masses after they first lead themselves out of the comfort zone.

Mars rules their 7h as well as 12h. For day charts especially this can be damaging to relationships, depends on overall condition of Mars and Venus too cause Tauruses are ruled by the planet of relationships herself. They might get into relationships with people who secretly dislike them, objectify them or treat them like property. Their 7h ruler exalts in 9h in capricorn so getting out of their comfort zone can also improve their relationships.

Tauruses should also check the condition of the Moon as its also their exaltation lord. Moon rules 3h so traditionally the 3h itself is the joy of the Moon. 3h can be linked to religion also same as 9h as religious processions walk through neighborhoods. So as mentioned before Taurus is the hierophant.

So they excel in occultism and esoteric studies as well. They can interpret religious scripture and be religious leaders. Also their sagittarius 8h helps with that cause sagittarius is religious and occult knowledge and this helps them transform their lives especially day charts as jupiter is their benefic of sect. Also check the condition of jupiter and saturn as well cause it rules their 9h, to see if they excel in these topics.

[strangelittlestories]

"You know what really bugs me about the Graduation?" asked Yuri, as she strapped a bandelier of herbal grenades to her chest.

"The oppression? The long, slow violence?" replied Brynn, fiddling with the twin spring-loaded athames hidden in their voluminous sleeves, "The binding of cosmic forces to achingly mundane purposes?"

"No. It's the lack of style."

"Really?"

"Don't get me wrong. I *hate* all that stuff." Yuri finished with the bandolier and began looking around the flickering magelight of the storage unit for the right wand. "Despise it. Oppose it with every radiant spark of my divine being."

"Right..."

"But the boring-ness really sticks in my craw." She flicked out a telescopic baton-wand, admiring the silver runes etches down its length. "If you're going to form an occluded arcane sect that controls society from deep within the esoteric shadows ... do it with a bit of flair, y'know?"

"So you could forgive the shackling of the limitless potential of the invisible self if they got themselves some black robes and dribbly candles?"

"No. Of course not. But that stuff ... it's too big. I know somewhere I'm positively *volcanic* about it.” Yuri flicked the baton-wand and it retracted to about the size of a laser pointer. “But the feeling's too deep, too much part of the landscape. So it just roils beneath the surface, slowly boiling the bedrock."

Brynn placed a can of quicksilver spraypaint in the middle of a charging rune. It hovered in the air, soaking up ambient mana. Then they sighed.

"I know what you mean."

"But the gormlessness of it? The sheer banality of the forces of ... not even darkness, but greyness! That I can grok. That is a grievance I can really sink my teeth into."

"Thankfully, we don't have to choose which grievance to address."

"No?"

"Nope." Brynn took a pair of kevlar tunics off a rack on the wall. They tossed one to Yuri. "We can bring ruin to the forces of institutional, incremental ruin *and* look good doing it."

"Yeah." 

Yuri shrugged on the tunic. For a moment it glowed, as her soul expanded to fill the micro-leylines that wove through the tunic, lighting it up like veins of magma through dark rock.

The corona faded, leaving her clad in sharp lines of deep midnight 

"Now *that* is *serving cult*."

[contemplatingoutlander]

"The narrative predetermines not only what information you receive, but how you interpret it and order it within the larger story. As Duncombe writes, 'We understand our world less through reasoned deliberation of facts, and more through stories and symbols and metaphors.' Received in a community of devotees, such stories and symbols often morph into esoteric codes only true believers can see, from 'Q drops' to signs that Louis Tomlinson’s baby is fake." [color/ emphasis added] --Aja Romero

I've often thought the way that extreme fans (or "stans") form communities centered around celebrity "narratives" and conspiracies is very much a similar phenomenon as what we see with certain Trump voters. Aja Romano does a great job of describing the troubling parallels between celebrity "stans" and Trump's MAGA followers. Below are some excerpts from the article:

It’s a common observation that modern-day politics increasingly resembles fandom: Both feature communities created around and united by passion, and both are often heavily fixated on a single public figure. [...] In both subcultures, the rise of social media echo chambers has fomented toxicity, extremism, and delusional thinking. [...] OUR EMOTIONS INCREASINGLY SHAPE HOW WE VIEW REALITY AND WHAT WE’RE WILLING TO DO TO PRESERVE THAT VIEW Applying the concept of a shared narrative to political activism imbues that activism with all the heady intoxication of a fantasy role-playing game, whether it’s a fantasy of progress or a fantasy of extremism.... [A]uthor Stephen Duncombe observed that Trump won the 2016 election not based on facts — he lied often — but upon his ability to create fantasy masked as truth. “Facts, it seems, are not things that are verifiably true or false, merely components in a story,” Duncombe notes.   [...] This distortion of reality is partly inadvertent slippage. After all, when all your friends are playing the RPG with you, it can be hard to re-enter reality. And when all your friends are creating the narrative with you, it can be hard to remember what parts are real and what parts you constructed together. That communal narrative is crucial connective tissue between politics and fandom; it unites people around not just a shared sense of identity, but a shared story and the idea that they’re building that story together. These narratives aren’t just entertainment. To their proponents, they have a higher moral purpose, whether it’s “draining the swamp,” rooting for your favorite characters in a series to get together, or freeing Taylor Swift from the oppression of the closet. [color emphasis added]

I highly recommend that you read the entire article at the link above.

.

[tengritexas]

Speechcraft101: Subtle Clues

This one is a favorite topic of mine! You see many pagans irl have trouble meeting other pagans (as it is a less common religion and people like to mess with people of witchcraft religions).

Pagans often try to signal to other pagans in public spaces like malls, or work so that other pagans can befriend them! How do they do this?

✨️Subtle clues my friend!✨️

Many of them where jewlery, hoodies, shirts, or bags that have pagan symbolism in them. Pentacles are most common but even if it "looks esoteric" itll probably work. As an example I have a Tshirt that is themed off of tarot cards though isnt really a pagan shirt.

As a result, sometimes pagans will say "hey I love the shirt! It looks like a tarot card?" And thus the conversation begins 😎.

There are other cultures that do this too as a way to signal to fellow members of a belief or practice. "Hey, lets be friends". Usually, they are cultures that stray from mainstream beliefs. It is also wise to point out not every culture that does this is good or bad.

Other non-pagan cultures that use subtle clues:

-college frats

-freemasons

-rosicrusians

-christians of oppressed countries

-metalheads

-native americans

Pretty neat huh?

[37q]

dense theoryposting but every time someones like "hey i cant read your senseless prose" or "this is incomprehensible can you translate for regular people" or "i dont think this kind of esoteric language is useful" i want so badly to trap them in a virtue signaling spiral with the crazy tranny defense like oh so transgender perspectives on social abstractions and their interdependent materiality is unintelligible ? you think that us trannies need to mediate and self-police our experiences with the oppressive structures of propriety and sanity ? and you chose to demonstrate that you default to a bad faith reading of the hysterical and cognitively erratic pseudo-woman whos one step away from a stint in an institution of your fantasy ? right so trans womens representation of our interiority is out of touch with reality and how we see & live in the world is so alien to you that it egoistically sunders the orderly social semiosis that you hold so dear ? ok

[olrastrologytarot]

Lucifer & Luciferianism

Lucifer, a figure traditionally associated with rebellion, light-bringing, and the pursuit of knowledge, holds a significant place in the belief system known as Luciferianism. Unlike the portrayal of Lucifer in mainstream Christian theology, where he is often depicted as a fallen angel and embodiment of evil, Luciferianism views Lucifer in a more complex and nuanced light. This essay will explore the origins of Lucifer as a symbol, the key tenets of Luciferianism, and the role Lucifer plays within this philosophy, emphasizing the themes of enlightenment, personal empowerment, and the rejection of dogmatic authority.

Origins and Symbolism of Lucifer

The name "Lucifer" originates from the Latin term "lux" (meaning light) and "ferre" (meaning to bring), translating to "light-bringer" or "morning star." In ancient Roman mythology, Lucifer was a name given to the planet Venus when it appeared in the morning sky, symbolizing the bringer of light before dawn. This concept of Lucifer as a light-bringer later became intertwined with Christian theology, where Lucifer was reinterpreted as a rebellious angel cast out of Heaven for challenging God’s authority.

Lucifer in Christian Theology:

In the Bible, particularly in the book of Isaiah (14:12-15), Lucifer is depicted as a fallen angel who sought to ascend to the heavens and become equal to God. This act of rebellion resulted in his expulsion from Heaven and his subsequent association with Satan, the adversary. Over time, Lucifer became synonymous with the devil, symbolizing pride, defiance, and the embodiment of evil.

Reclamation of Lucifer in Esoteric Traditions:

However, in various esoteric and Gnostic traditions, Lucifer is reclaimed as a symbol of enlightenment and the quest for knowledge. In these interpretations, Lucifer represents the pursuit of truth, the challenge of oppressive systems, and the light of wisdom that guides humanity. This reinterpretation is foundational to Luciferianism, where Lucifer is seen not as an evil being, but as a symbol of individual empowerment and the search for enlightenment.

Key Tenets of Luciferianism

Luciferianism is a philosophical and spiritual belief system that venerates the qualities associated with Lucifer, such as enlightenment, personal freedom, and the pursuit of knowledge. It is not a religion in the traditional sense but rather a path that encourages individuals to seek their own truth and cultivate their inner strength.

Enlightenment and Knowledge:

At the core of Luciferianism is the pursuit of enlightenment and knowledge. Followers of this path view Lucifer as a symbol of the light of reason and intellect, guiding them towards self-discovery and understanding. This pursuit of knowledge often involves questioning established norms, challenging dogmatic beliefs, and exploring the deeper mysteries of existence.

Personal Empowerment and Self-Actualization:

Luciferianism emphasizes the importance of personal empowerment and self-actualization. It encourages individuals to take control of their own destinies, make informed choices, and cultivate their own inner power. This process of self-empowerment is seen as a form of spiritual evolution, where individuals transcend limitations and realize their full potential.

Rejection of Dogma and Authority:

A key aspect of Luciferianism is the rejection of dogmatic authority, particularly that which suppresses individual thought and freedom. Luciferians often challenge religious, social, and political structures that they perceive as oppressive or limiting. This rebellious spirit is inspired by the myth of Lucifer's defiance against the ultimate authority, symbolizing the struggle for autonomy and the rejection of blind obedience.

Ethical Individualism:

While Luciferianism values individualism, it also advocates for ethical conduct and personal responsibility. Luciferians believe in acting in accordance with their own moral compass, rather than adhering to external codes of behavior imposed by society or religion. This ethical individualism is based on the principles of self-respect, respect for others, and the pursuit of what is just and true.

Spiritual Transformation and Alchemy:

Many Luciferians view their path as one of spiritual transformation, akin to the alchemical process of turning base metals into gold. This transformation involves the refinement of the self through the integration of knowledge, the overcoming of personal weaknesses, and the development of wisdom. Lucifer, as a symbol of the light that guides this process, represents the alchemist’s fire that purifies and transforms.

Lucifer as a Symbol in Luciferianism

Lucifer in Luciferianism is not worshipped as a deity but is revered as a symbolic figure representing the ideals of the belief system. The qualities associated with Lucifer—rebellion, enlightenment, and personal sovereignty—are central to the Luciferian path.

Lucifer as the Light-Bringer:

In Luciferianism, Lucifer’s role as the light-bringer is paramount. This light is understood metaphorically as the light of knowledge, reason, and truth. Luciferians seek to bring this light into their own lives by striving for intellectual and spiritual enlightenment. This contrasts sharply with the traditional Christian view of Lucifer as the bringer of darkness and deceit.

Lucifer as the Rebellious Spirit:

Lucifer’s rebellion against God is reinterpreted in Luciferianism as a noble act of defiance against tyranny and oppression. Luciferians see this rebellion as a metaphor for the human spirit’s quest for freedom and autonomy. Rather than viewing Lucifer’s fall as a tragic event, they see it as a necessary step towards the assertion of personal will and the rejection of unjust authority.

Lucifer as the Promethean Figure:

Similar to the Greek myth of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods to give to humanity, Lucifer is seen as a Promethean figure who brings the fire of knowledge to mankind. This fire represents the spark of consciousness and the capacity for self-reflection, creativity, and innovation. Luciferians honor this aspect of Lucifer by valuing intellectual curiosity and the pursuit of forbidden or hidden knowledge.

The Role of Ritual and Practice in Luciferianism

While Luciferianism is largely a philosophical path, some practitioners incorporate ritual and ceremonial practices to align themselves with the energies and symbolism of Lucifer. These practices vary widely depending on the individual or group but often focus on themes of self-empowerment, transformation, and the invocation of inner strength.

Meditation and Self-Reflection:

Meditation is a common practice among Luciferians, used to cultivate inner peace, clarity, and self-awareness. Through meditation, individuals can connect with the symbolic energy of Lucifer, seeking guidance and insight on their personal path of enlightenment.

Rituals of Empowerment:

Rituals in Luciferianism may involve symbolic acts of empowerment, such as the lighting of candles (representing Lucifer’s light), the recitation of affirmations, or the performance of ceremonies designed to invoke personal strength and determination. These rituals are not about worship but about embodying the qualities that Lucifer represents.

Symbolic Alchemy:

Some Luciferians engage in symbolic alchemical practices, using metaphors of transformation and purification to work on their own personal development. This might involve ritualistic acts that represent the shedding of old, limiting beliefs and the embrace of new, empowering ones.

Conclusion

Lucifer’s significance in Luciferianism is profound and multifaceted, representing the pursuit of enlightenment, personal empowerment, and the defiance of oppressive authority. Far from being a figure of evil, Lucifer is revered as a symbol of the light-bringer, the rebel, and the seeker of truth. Luciferianism, as a belief system, encourages individuals to embrace their inner power, challenge dogma, and strive for self-actualization. By redefining Lucifer in a positive light, Luciferians find inspiration in the mythological figure to guide their spiritual and philosophical journey, emphasizing the importance of knowledge, autonomy, and ethical individualism.