#as in he's fully corporeal. so his magic is also more similar to humans' which isn't an 'expression of your nature' like it is for monsters | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

unicronian · 3 years

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a bunch of powers/hybrid smp character design hcs based around their powers in the mod:

(small warning for slight body horror in tubbo and wilbur’s sections, and horror themes in wilbur’s section)

this got long so here’s a snapshot of my fav bits above the read more:

tubbo can open his stomach up like a shulker, and just reach in there and put stuff in and get it out again

wilbur’s physical appearance is dependent on how well rested the person looking at him is

tommy glides by t-posing because his arms are his wings

ranboo can open unhinge his jaw and open his mouth like an enderman, and he has like an extra layer of mouth skin like a snake that you can only see when his mouth is unhinged

Phil hates places with low ceilings cause his wings are super long and he can’t stretch them out

Niki’s got gills on her neck to help filter water, so when she wants to talk to people above water she has to stick just her head out of the water and leave her neck beneath it

You know su!peridot’s augments she had at her intro, jack can like do that with his clawed fingers. Just like detach them at will and control them but they can’t go very far from him so it isnt very useful

Shulk!Tubbo:

tubbo has pretty thick skin with a slightly sickly pallor even though he’s perfectly healthy

he also has a carapace that’s similar in color and texture to a shulker’s shell covering the parts of his body that don’t bend(arms, legs, top of his head, upper chest) he can use these to block sword blows but if the sword is sharp enough it’ll stick cut into his skin

the carapace itself doesnt bleed, but it does heal and tubbo feels pain if it gets cut

like a lobster or turtle the carapace is a part of tubbo’s skin and can’t be removed(without extreme pain)

his hands are also reinforced by his carapace, giving him sharp claws at the tips of his fingers, and this is why he can punch through stone easily and without breaking his hand

he’s also pretty heavy underneath this extra armor and as a result he’s got a lot of intense muscle mass

tubbo can open his stomach up like a shulker, and just reach in there and put stuff in and get it out again, but it has limited storage

it kind of makes his stomach look like a shulker, with interlocking squares

the stuff inside his stomach exists in a type of hammerspace(we’ll just call it shulkerspace) so if you were to cut him open the stuff wouldnt be there

you do NOT want to stick your hand into tubbo’s shulkerspace, he can do it with no ill effects but if someone else did they might as well wave goodbye to that hand even if tubbo doesnt close his shulker mouth on your hand

Phantom!Wilbur:

wilbur can do like... ghost things like turning invisible and walking through walls in phantom state

particularly astute(or anxious) people can sense when wilbur’s nearby in phantom state, but not accurately guess where he is

wilbur oftentimes goes in and out of phantom state without even realizing it, sometimes just vanishing in the middle of the conversation because he let his mind wander

he also burns in the daylight which is sadge but not when in phantom state so he sometimes goes into the phantom state on reflex when entering a very bright room

wilbur can sense how tired people are, and if they are tired enough to summon phantoms wilbur can sense whose insomnia the phantoms are targeting on sight

wilbur looks like how you’d expect a ghost to look: see through, human, or at least... that’s what he looks like when you wake up in the morning

his physical appearance is dependent on how well rested the person looking at him is, but he is always corporeal when out of the phantom state

by nighttime, when you’re getting ready for bed wilbur’s eyes are green and if you look closely they glow in the dark, and if you look closer a skeleton makes itself clear beneath wilbur’s skin. it is not a human skeleton

by morning the next day without sleep transparent membrane stretches between wilbur’s claws and you can clearly see the skeleton. fangs protrude from its mouth and its rib cage stretches grotesquely outwards with every breath wilbur takes

by the second night wilbur’s transparent skin is blue and phantom membrane has escaped the confines of his hand and run down the length of his arm, extra bones begin to grow from the skeleton to accommodate the growing wing. it is harder to see through him.

by dawn of the third morning you can see a tail, more bone than blue, leathery skin, lashing behind wilbur, it seems to always whip itself in your direction. it stings when it touches you, but not for long. his frayed wings are fully formed.

night falls and wilbur’s glowing green eyes are sunken in, practically floating in black eye sockets. his skin looks vacuum sealed, giving you a perfect map of the meatless bones inside. he is entirely opaque, you cannot see through him but his stark white skeleton, expanding, stretching, and clawing at you, is clearly visible

you sleep, and wilbur looks human once again

this version of wilbur doesn’t only exist in the minds of the sleep deprived. if you let him stay in the edges of your vision too long, no matter how rested you are, you can see this form

by the time you focus your vision on him wilbur will be back to his normal state. you can’t see what your brain desperately tries to refuse. it is only when your mental walls have been broken down that you can witness wilbur’s form. for better or for worse.

Avian!Tommy:

instead of having an extra set of limbs like phil tommy’s wings and arms are the same limbs, like a harpy(and like wilbur)

where the wing’s wrist is(essentially where it bends, if you’re unfamiliar with bird anatomy) Tommy has some extra human-like clawed fingers that he uses as hands

tommy isnt strong enough to fly with them, even if he is very light thanks to hollow bones. he can glide, though

yes, this does mean that tommy glides by t-posing

tommy also has talons for feet, which sort of assist him in being slightly faster than everyone

his feathers are the same colors as a red parrot’s, and he keeps them very well maintained so they keep their lustrous color

he’s also got a lot of feathers dotting his body, like around his ears and stomach and they protect him from the cold in the high up areas he likes sleeping in

ok i dont really have anything to say abt his veganism he’s just Like That because parrot(cause god knows chickens are omnivores)

he has a beak that he uses for nuts and seeds and he can make bird noises!

And he’s got a small feathery tail that isnt useful for much but does look cool

Even though he can’t fly Tommy does have a third eyelid like a bird, it goes side to side and is transparent, he mostly just uses it while gliding or swimming

Enderian!Ranboo

Very tall boy with very long arms

Honestly very similar to dsmp!ranboo

Water burns him like acid and leaves behind very distinctive burn scars but he heals pretty easily from water burns

He is Constantly bamboozled by people wearing pumpkins and he’s Not a fan

Ranboo can open unhinge his jaw and open his mouth like an enderman, and he has like an extra layer of mouth skin like a snake that you can only see when his mouth is unhinged

He’ll avoid eye contact at all cost because it agitates him and gets him unreasonably angry at whoever he’s talking to, the others have gotten very good at avoiding eye contact with him, though

Teleporting is a lot of fun to him and he’ll sometimes just teleport around just for the sake of it, because he can sense the change in location when teleporting in a way humans with ender pearls cant

Enderians are the results of people trying to fuse together with end-based magic and so all of them have the half and half texture of their skin, but most of them all have the same powers

Speaking of skin, Ranboo’s ender skin is strangely smooth and he doesn’t have a protruding nose, just slits in his face he smells through

He also doesn’t have any body hair at all, but his long ears generally distract from that

Elytrian!Phil

Phil is an incredibly light person, compared to a human he’d be dangerously underweight

He’s essentially skin, hollow bones, and elytra because if he was anything else he wouldn’t be able to fly especially with armor on

However this and his hollow bones means he’s pretty weak in all areas, especially underground

Thanks to his Brain he gets slow and weak under low ceilings and also sadge

Aside from the kind of unearthly tint to his skin Phil looks pretty human, aside from the elytra of course

He’s got insect wings protected by an elytra. So, elytra on beetles and things are kind of like a half circle protecting the wings and pressing them to the body of the beetle, and this works because beetles are wing shaped- phil is not

So, phil has very unique elytra that completely encase his wings, and the top part moves out of the way to let his wings fold out so they’re like twice his height- and that partially adds to his dislike of low ceilings, he can barely stretch his wings

Phil’s got fragile beetle wings so they look pretty fragile but they can withstand a beating and carry Phil a ways(though it’s partially phil’s innate magic that lets him shoot into the sky)

Phil has a transparent third eyelid just like Tommy

And, he has antennae that he uses to feel the wind while flying

Merling!Niki

Niki essentially has two types of skin: a human-looking thick layer of skin that covers the upper portion of her body and an even thicker scale-like layer that covers the lower half

Her human-like skin is very rough and it doesn’t absorb water like human skin does, the scales are smooth but also don’t absorb water

She has two legs and a long, thick tail she uses to propel herself through the water, the tail is entirely covered in her blue scales

Her hands and feet are webbed so when she swims she spreads her hands out to help push herself through the water

Niki also has decorative fins on various places on her body like her ears, legs, arms and stomach, they’re all blue and can’t be controlled in anyway

She’s got gills on her neck to help filter water, so when she wants to talk to people above water she has to stick just her head out of the water and leave her neck beneath it

Breathing in air and rain at the same time is extremely uncomfortable and leaves her constantly feeling short of breath but she considers it well worth it to walk on land for a period of time

She also has sharp teeth because: yes

She doesn’t have eyelids, though, her eyes are built like a fish’s

Blazeborn!Jack

Jack constantly gives off heat, he wont burn anyone but you’ll get very hot if you stand too close to him for too long

He has metallic blaze skin that glows like molten metal if he was recently on fire or in lava

And, of course, he’s immune to poison and hunger because he’s basically an android, he’s like a gold material and metal cant get poisoned or hungry

Jack will, however, become fatigued if he’s away from intense heat like fire or lava for too long, like a week

He gets hurt in water because the water basically sucks the heat away from him and that actually hurts him

Staying in a cold biome too long would do the same thing if jack didnt go prepared with warm clothing and probably a flint and steel but tbf to jack humans also die in cold biomes if they’re unprepared

I’ve got nothing for fragranceman right now as i’m not sure if schlatt’s going to be on the server a lot

But i might make skins for these!

#powers smp #hybrid smp #tubbo #tommyinnit #wilbur soot #ranboo #philza #jack manifold #nihachu

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inevitably-johnlocked · 3 years

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A Little LOKI Theory Post

*SPOILERS FOR LOKI E1-3 BELOW CUT*

I am loathe to admit that I love the new LOKI TV series, mainly because of the Mobius/Loki dynamic, the interesting sci-fi plot, and just... I so far surprisingly like every episode. This was the show I had such low expectations for, because I didn’t really like LOKI – I felt he was the Moriarty of the MCU, overused when they didn’t need him, and making me annoyed by an actor I love.

EXCEPT I’m also a sucker for character-driven, psychoanalysis stories, like all these D+ Marvel shows are, and it’s leaving me super shocked about me liking characters I didn’t before. I’m fully invested in all these characters now.

I think the only reasom I really wanted to see this show for was because it ties directly into the next Dr. Strange movie, so YEAH, I’m in love multiverse and time travel things, so it was inevitable that I would enjoy this show, I think.

AND of course, I’ve theories and speculations because there’s a lot to work with, and I LOVE stories like these, so I decided I would take some time out and stretch out my meta-writing grey cells. And I wanted somewhere to have my theories/ideas written out before they come to fruition, because DAMNIT I have headcanons and hopes and dreams.

So here we go, spoilers below cut. Please note I know nothing about the comics aside from what other theorists and reviewers have mentioned:

The TVA are “the bad guys” but I think it goes deeper than that... Like the whole Timekeeper thing is really sus. I think it’s only one Timekeeper, who is Kang the Conqueror, who maintains the Sacred Timeline to ensure that he stays in power to PREVENT the Multiverse War which I think he knows happened to stop him. I also think Renslayer is behind all of this suspicious thing; I learned that in the comics Renslayer is a love interest for Kang, so like........... SUS.

AND I think Multiverse War they talked about in the beginning of the show IS the Multiverse War they’re ABOUT TO HAVE. This is a show about non-linear time, and there’s hints about multiverses in the next Spiderman, and Dr Strange is LITERALLY called “Multiverse of Madness”. Wild Theory: Maybe Doctor Strange IS one of the Time Keepers following the Multiverse War.

Loki initially wants to learn the enchanting that Sylvie does for his own selfish gain, and I think he was lying about breaking the TempPad so he would force her to open up. HOWEVER, I think he had a sudden change of heart after learning about the TVA’s Variant Staff; we already see him sort of fond of both Mobius and remembers Casey’s name, so I feel like that he will end up using this knowledge he gained very differently.

Further on this point, they established in Ep 3 that TVA agents / staff need actual real memories to “manipulate” them. So, I think Loki will use this power he learned from Sylvie (I mean, she explained to him how to do it, and this show is really good at using the “Chekov’s guns” given to us) to bring Mobius to “his side”, and TOGETHER they take down the TVA and make it what it should be. Mobius is very dedicated to the TVA, so I really do forsee that it will be Loki “freeing” Mobius as the catalyst to swaying to siding with Loki until the end. He’s a good man with a big heart for humanity, so I think he will totally side with freeing everyone else.

On that note, I think the reason Mobius is fascinated with the nineties is because he’s a variant jetskiier pulled from the nineties. I suspect in his original timeline he probably had a jetski accident and died, but in the Variant timeline, he survived, and out of pity I think Renslayer “saved” him and recruited him. The TVA wiped his memories after he couldn’t cope with the fact that he was SUPPOSED to die.

ALSO still on Mobius, I think every time he keeps questioning too much, he gets his memory wiped, which would explain why he never remembers leaving the cup stains on Renslayer’s table.

I think there’s more to Miss Minutes than meets the eye. Another theory I had was that she was similar to VIKI in iRobot, essentially running the company to her programmed “laws” after the TimeKeepers passed on. So like there’s no TimeKeepers at all, but there was at one time, and Miss Minutes was left to her own devices.

Another theory similar to this, is the Doctor Who episode, The Long Game, where everyone wants to be promoted to “Floor 500″ because it’s rumoured to be a paradise and is the top floor no one has ever returned from; It turns out it’s run by an alien that feeds on the human or something similar, and the people who went to the top floor ended up frozen husks of who they were. Not saying it’s this exact thing, but more the idea that everyone thinks what’s upstairs is a magical wonderful benevolent corporation looking out for what’s best for everyone, but instead it’s one evil thing doing stuff for their own purpose. Eh.

Another rogue theory: Mobius IS a Loki variant, which is why he’s obsessed with Loki himself, knows Loki better than Loki knows himself, and either knows and omitted it, or DOESN’T know but naturally is intrigued by the Loki Variant and him always finding out the truth is WHY his memory keeps getting wiped, and why everyone is always squeamish about having a Loki around. Mobius mentioned that Loki is the one Variant they have stopped more Lokis than any other Variant....

On that thought: IF Lokis are the most common Variant they capture, I think a LOT of the TVA are Loki Variants, trapped in the forms they were presenting as when they were brought in, and because magic doesn’t work in the TVA, they CAN’T turn off the glamour, had their memories wiped, and in turn could now be Codenamed Casey, or Mobius, or B15........ An abstract theory, but I think it’s interesting.

And another, since I learned that it is in the comics: Mobius is a clone drone. This one saddens me and I really hope he’s not. Because I love Mobius.

I think Sylvie was a Variant who worked for the TVA, but somehow had an awakening and wants to free everyone else... the only thing against this theory is her seeming surprised that her magic stopped working when she arrived at the TVA. If she was an agent, she would know that magic doesn’t work within the TVA.

And I think this series will inevitably – if the rumours of a Season 2 are true – have the Mobius / Loki dynamic solving Time Crimes... a.... Holmes and Watson if you will. :D HAHHA.

So yeah. This list will change obviously for the next 3 weeks, and I had a lot of fun with this so I will probably keep it up.

Some things I hope happen by the end:

A giant “probably not going to happen because this is Disney”: I hope they pay-off the “bisexual” confirmation by the end of this... highkey with Mobius (damn it I ship them okay), but lowkey just even a passing remark about anyone LOL. I really ship Lokius, okay. I need this dynamic in the MCU

PLEASE DON’T KILL CASEY, we love Casey. #FREECASEY

I’ll be really honest here, I will effing GROAN and be a not-happy Steph if they do the ship that I think they’re gonna do: Sylvie x Loki. Which is weird to me that Disney would be okay with self-love, but the OBVIOUS initial dynamic of Loki x Mobius is too much, “look we gave you bisexual Loki, aren’t you happy enough??” Just. I dunno. It’s weird / a pet peeve of mine that a lot of online reviewers are bitching about “woke” Disney the one time they ACTUALLY FINALLY let a title character say they’re queer, but are all “UWU SYLVIE AND LOKI ARE GONNA GET TOGETHER BECAUSE LOKI LOVES HIMSELF UWU”. Even though Loki spent legit more screen time with Mobius, and literally did everything he told Sylvie that he wouldn’t do around people he doesn’t trust around Mobius ALREADY?? It’s like they already forgot about the first two eps. LEGIT the whole dagger=love metaphor LITERALLY happened in the previous two episodes, but alright chiefs. Anyway. Sorry, it’s stupid to be bothered by it.

We’re gonna get that heart wrench moment that the other two shows had, and I TRULY BELIEVE it’s gonna be between Loki and Mobius when Loki tells / shows Mobius the truth. LOOK I JUST WANT MORE OF THEM OKAY. And I need my heart ripping moment in this show within the next two eps LOL. We got one in WandaVision. We got one in FATWS. GIVE ME ONE IN LOKI. MAKE ME LIKE LOKI.

Anyway, so that’s my rambling. Thanks for taking time out to read all this. I miss theorizing, and this show is perfect for me to do it. I’m not AS good at these shows as I was with Sherlock, but it’s still fun, because it’s new and my brain is full of headcanons and idea things. I’ll write again after Ep 4, I think. <3 Thank you lovelies for letting me do this!

#my ramblings #my meta #my theories #loki spoilers #loki #loki meta #not sherlock #i just really miss writing meta #and i now ship lokius #so give me lokius fics please #long post under cut

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pendragyn · 4 years

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First Line Tag

I was tagged by @gaslightgallows

Rules: Post the first lines of your last ten fics read or written and then tag others to do the same.

Tagging: @raevenlywrites @froglesbianwriting @mperialscribe @teaflint @writingamongthecoloredroses @moniquill @napoleonscat and I know I am forgetting people, please join in on the fun and tag me if you do!

So.. Er, haven’t read much of anything but my own stuff on AO3, trying to get back into writing because everything sucks rn. It’s Good Omens with a dash of Discworld all the way down, below the cut.

In The Garden; pre-fall, pre-canon fic of them in the Garden of Eden.

BEFORE THE BEGINNING...

…Was darkness. That’s what happens when the sun isn’t up, and as it was almost the middle of the night —the first night, leading into the first day in the Garden of Eden— darkness was only to be expected.

The Great Plan was being set in motion. The countdown to start the countdown to the end of the world had begun. Things were getting down to the wire and the Heavens were in a tizzy to make sure everything went off without a hitch during the official launch.

Down in the Garden of Eden, all was peaceful. This was also to be expected. The only living beings in the entire Garden were two corporeal but unconscious angels reposing among the roots of the Tree. They’d been held in stasis since their incorporation a number of days earlier and weren’t due to wake until things were officially under way. Ostensibly this was to allow them to acclimate to corporeality, but in reality it was to keep them out of everyone’s metaphorical hair.

Of course, even the best laid plans never do go quite as planned, do they?

There was no Heavenly fanfare heralding the occasion, no Celestial sign except the eternal march of the stars across the sky, nothing at all to indicate that something was being set into motion as midnight of the day in question rolled around.

But down in their resting spots, the angels awoke.

Serpents And Ladders; what happens after the end of In The Garden.

After the fall of the Garden, for the first time that any could remember, change came rapidly to Heaven in the form of the instant adoption of corporeal forms amongst most of the archangels, much to the bafflement of some of the oldest Celestials who were gently prodded to a quiet retirement out among the stars. Heaven itself shifted to accommodate their altered forms, which forced the rest of the Celestials and the Elementals who did most of the day to day operations to adopt similar seemings.

Of course, Aziraphale and Crawly knew why it caught on, not that anyone ever thought to ask them. The reasoning was simple enough, if multi-faceted. Firstly, corporeality is a surprisingly potent antidote to knurd[1], with built in buffers against the harshness of reality. Really no surprise that it was popular.

Secondly, Celestial beings come in a great many shapes and sizes and types and having them all conform to one generally accepted shape was much more convenient, especially when it came to paperwork. (No one knew where paperwork had come from, since paper was technically not a thing yet, but there you go. It’s ineffable.)

Thirdly, with the increasing tensions between certain factions within the Host, having your firmament safely ensconced inside of flesh and bone made it that much harder to be spied on, making secrets that much easier to keep, especially once they discovered how to hide their wings.

And last but not least, though it took Aziraphale and Crawly a long while to fully comprehend the ramifications of it, it was because the humans began to believe, in great enough numbers, that that was how Heaven and the Host looked.

1. Being knurd is to be unintoxicated to such an extent that all comfort stories are stripped away from the mind. This makes you see the world in a way 'nobody ever should', in all its harsh reality.

Ask Not For Whom The Bell Tolls (It Tolls For They); the church in ‘41 and what happens, and doesn’t happen, after. (total tearjerker)

Crowley ran, ran and ran, heart pounding, almost blind with panic, hissing with pain as their foot hit the edge of consecrated ground, but it didn’t matter, because they were in time and like a snake shedding their skin the panic slipped away as they yanked open the door and hot-footed their way into the church under the confused eyes of a trio of nazis and an angel moments away from a fate worse than death.

A church, for fuck’s sake? Can’t the angel see it’s a setup? A trap? Dealing with nazis on holy ground, giving them holy books, even if it’s supposed to be a double-cross, a double double-cross. “Sorry, consecrated ground. Ugh, like being on the beach in bare feet.” Crowley fervently kept that thought in mind, because in reality, it was far far worse than that. Crowley was very good at imagining not being on fire, and that belief was all that was keeping them from falling to ash inside that church.

Aziraphale continued to stare at Crowley in shock, for a moment wondering if they were actually hallucinating the way humans could during moments of high stress. Because consecrated ground discorporates demons, and yet. And yet, Crowley was somehow really here. Why the he heaven is Crowley here? “What are you doing here?” Aziraphale hissed, the nazis and the gun momentarily forgotten.

“Stopping you from getting in trouble,” Crowley hissed back, dancing from foot to foot just an arm’s length away from Aziraphale. Play it cool, play it cool, play it cool, if you panic you’re both done for.

Stacking The Deck;

Harriet wanted to be asleep. She’d just had a baby a few hours earlier, and all she really wanted was sleep. They had given her something for the pain, but it didn’t stop her having to use the restroom, which was NOT FUN right now, and it took a while for things to settle back down and she just. wanted. sleep.

What she got, was voices.

A few she recognized, distant and muzzy, as the nuns who’d helped deliver the baby. There was also the one not-nun who’d shuffled in during the chaos, wrinkly as an old apple with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, who had actually delivered the baby before quickly shuffling back out again. The nuns had treated her with deep respect, whispering to each other about ‘a touch of the Old Adam’ she carried about her.

There was now a lot more raucous laughter coming from down the hallway, and some singing of what were definitely not religious hymns. Mingled in were the voices of men, which some deep part of her brain realized were from her supposed security detail, who’d abandoned her the minute the live feed with her husband had ended.

But under those voices was another voice, one that she’d learned to listen to when it whispered a little too loudly to ignore. And it was telling her to check on the baby, to check on Warlock. Right Now.

With a muffled groan Harriet slid her legs over the side of the bed and eased herself to her feet. With the dimmed lights and muddled by whatever they had given her, it took her a moment to realize that the bassinet wasn’t there. No Warlock. And no guards. And no nuns.

The coolness of the linoleum felt good against the bottoms of her feet and she shuffled dreamily out of the room into the empty hallway, too well medicated to feel panic, but the little voice was getting louder. And it was talking with an odd accent, which was weird. And it was calling her by her full name now, which was even more unusual. Find your baby, Harriet Sibyl Dowling. Find him now or lose him forever.

Nature vs Nurture; raising the antichrist

After the handshake, Crowley left in a hurry to set some of their plans into motion, with promises of talking soon and a casual ciao tossed over their shoulder before slipping out of the shop and roaring off down the road. What Aziraphale didn’t see was the demon pulled over a few blocks later, pressing their forehead against the steering wheel of the Bentley and letting out a shuddering sigh of relief that the angel had finally, finally, agreed to help them save the world. And wondered, briefly, if God hadn’t been right to kick Crowley out, because how much of a right proper bastard did you have to be to knowingly ask your best friend to do the most dangerous thing they could ever possibly do?

Aziraphale’s first course of action was to make sure the shop door was locked before retreating into the back room to think, away from the demon’s so very temping influence. It didn’t take the angel long to convince themself that it had to be the right thing to do, because otherwise it wouldn’t be hell starting the war, but heaven, and surely heaven didn’t want a war. Once that was settled, Aziraphale began to really set their mind to finding the solutions to the multitude of problems their scheme would surely entail. The second course of action was to retrieve the ancient tome of magic they kept safely secured in a secret room on the second floor of the shop and settling it reverently on to the desk to start their research.

Setting Things To Rights; Adam Young gets a visit from Agnes Nutter after the world doesn’t end.

“Come back. Please.”

Adam stared down at his best friends in the whole universe, sure his heart was breaking as they turned and ran away. He knew then he’d messed up bad, maybe beyond fixing. He tried to call them back, to beg even, but no sound would come and he closed his eyes against the sting of tears. Come back! Please! he wanted to say, pressing his hands to his tear-dampened face. I’m sorry!

You don’t need them. You can have new friends. Better friends. All you have to do is show us the way.

A low growl and a familiar waft of doggy breath as a wet tongue lapped at his cheek had Adam opening his eyes, and he hugged Dog tightly in relief. “Oh Dog! I’m so glad you’re here,” he whispered hoarsely, smiling when Dog licked him again. “I am sorry, you know that, don’t you?”

Dog whined and licked him again in answer.

“Thanks boy.” Adam let out a much heavier sigh and rubbed at his eyes when tears threatened again. The dream had been so real, too real, more memory than dream, and frightening in ways he didn’t want to think about. It hurt, knowing he’d hurt his friends so bad they’d stopped being his friends. And even though they’d forgiven him in the end, would they ever really trust him again? Especially when he could still do what he’d done? Would he trust someone who had done that to him?

In the silence there were two faint but distinct knocks that Adam heard clear as a bell. Dog’s ears perked up and Adam blinked and they both looked around the room for a source of the noise. There wasn’t much light but it was more than enough to show that nothing was out of place.

Still, Adam found himself saying, “Who’s there?”

A faint glimmering form stepped through the door. It was an old woman, dressed in really old clothes. “I have waited a long while for this meeting, Adam Young.” She bowed at him, a faint smile on her lips. “I be Agnes Nutter, witch. And ghost.”

Ineffable Bastards; the one I’m stuck on. :/

Groaning brakes pulled Crowley from their thoughts and they led Aziraphale off the bus, waiting until it had pulled away to turn towards their building. There was a sharp twinge in their stomach when they looked to the empty spot where the Bentley was usually parked. They felt another twinge when they looked at Aziraphale, who was staring up at the building with a distant blankness of expression that Crowley understood all too well. “C’mon, angel, I think we could both use a drink.”

No sound came at first, but Aziraphale managed to croak out, “Yes,” after a moment. They felt strangely distant from their feelings in the odd silence and they trailed behind the demon into the flat, which was both nothing like and exactly like what Aziraphale would expect from Crowley. The art got a few blinks but there was no energy to consider what they might mean after the day week decade they’d had.

Unlike the bare concrete walls in the other rooms, the kitchen was slick with creamy white marble and terrazzo tiles, ebony cabinets that gleamed and stainless steel appliances that had never been used or even plugged in, though they were well stocked with food and drink. Crowley grabbed a bottle at random and a couple of glasses, bringing them over to the chrome and glass table with a small collection of colorful orchids in the center. “Salute.”

The angel lifted their glass to toast before downing the drink and holding it out for a refill. Crowley obliged and they sat in silence for a while before Aziraphale asked, “Now what?”

“Eh, now I fall down and sleep for a while and you…” Crowley pulled off their glasses and gave the angel a long look. “You don’t really sleep do you? You should try it, great for getting away from your thoughts.”

“Rarely. Doesn’t seem to work that way for me, I’m afraid.” Aziraphale sighed and shook their head. “I just keep thinking about Agnes’ prophecy. Face the fire.” They shuddered a little. “You know what that means, don’t you?”

Rubbing at their tired eyes, and the sting of unsheddable tears, Crowley nodded. “You’re in big trouble, angel.”

“You know full well we’re both, as they say, in for it,” Aziraphale corrected, smiling a little when Crowley gave them a look. “I’ve toed the line for a long time, but you, my dear, have danced around it to the point that I’m not sure they even know where they drew the line to begin with. If Heaven is going to ‘fire’ me, what’s Hell going to do to you?” Saying it aloud had tears burning in their eyes and they wiped at them hastily.

Wilde Card; my take on why Aziraphale had a set of Oscar Wilde’s works.

“Aziraphale?”

“Hmm?”

Crowley tried to find a subtle way to ask, but curiosity had been eating at them to the point of distraction since the former angel had let slip that humans could have preternatural ancestry. “When you said, you’d never… with a human.”

Aziraphale gave them a confused look that melted into amused understanding when they realized Crowley was blushing. “My dear, are you asking me about my experiences?”

“Uh… Just, I seem to recall you mentioning a lot of gentleman’s clubs...” Crowley let their head drop back against the couch and covered their face when Aziraphale chuckled. “Ugh, angel!”

“I won’t judge you, you know,” Aziraphale murmured, smiling tenderly when Crowley looked at them. “If you, uh, found human companionship-”

“No! Ugh, no, it’d be like… no, I can’t help but think of them as children,” Crowley admitted. “Even Nanny Ogg, which tells you something about me I suppose,” they said, making Aziraphale laugh.

“I am in complete agreement with that sentiment,” said Aziraphale. “And it wasn’t just gentleman's clubs I frequented, there were quite a few for women if you knew where to look and who to talk to. You do know a lot more went on in the clubs than just sexual intercourse, don’t you?”

“Yeah, yeah, I should’ve known better, just, uh...” Crowley reached over and took Aziraphale’s hand. “There must have been quite a few poor smitten fools vying for your attention.”

Apple Of My Eye; complete fluff I wrote because of a pic I saw on tumblr

Crowley looked up from their mobile, barely able to contain their grin. “Hey, angel-”

“No.” Aziraphale didn’t even have to look up from the book they were reading to know the former demon was up to no good.

“I haven’t even said anything yet!” Crowley protested, still grinning at seeing the amusement crinkling around the reformed angel's eyes.

Aziraphale looked over at them with a feigned put-upon sigh. One look at Crowley’s grin had them asking, “Oh somebody, do I even want to know?”

If anything, that only made Crowley’s grin grow. “So I’m thinking maybe it’s time I branch out, try some different styles of shades. Whaddya think?”

Aziraphale spluttered into startled laughter when Crowley turned the mobile around, revealing a pair of spectacles where the rose tinted lenses had been shaped into breasts. “Why in the world-”

“Ain’t humans grand?” Crowley said, grinning down at the picture before sliding a sly look at Aziraphale and raising a hand, fingers poised to snap. “I could just…”

“You would too, wouldn’t you,” Aziraphale said with a shake of their head, pretending to go back to reading but watching Crowley sidelong. “Well I would rather you didn’t but I can’t stop you from going around looking, looking like a right proper tit if you want to,” they said with feigned primness, barely hiding their smile when Crowley laughed. “I wouldn’t want you to make a spectacle of yourself.”

“Alright angel, alright, you’ve convinced me. Wouldn’t want to put you off being seen with me.” It was a joke, mostly, and Crowley was still grinning as they said it, but inwardly that age old doubt still lingered.

Aziraphale knew it was there of course, having many of the same insidious worries about their new togetherness, and gave them a fond smile. “I assure you my dear, that having adored you in spite of that dreadful hairstyle you had in Paris, I would barely blink to see you in a pair of breastacles.”

Crowley blushed at the mention of adoration, sneered at mention of the hair and burst into raucous laughter at the name. “Only you’d think up a proper sounding name for it. Breastacles. Brilliant.” They darted in and grinningly kissed them. “And here I thought you’d appreciate me seeing the world through rose-titted glasses. But, as you wish.”

Aziraphale laughed and beamed at the phrase, taking their hand and lacing their fingers together. “Thank you, dearest. For everything. And especially for sparing everyone that.”

#Good Omens #good omens fanfic #snippet #first line tag #tag game #Pendragyn writes #long post #readmore #ao3 #Ineffable Bastards

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cmc304 · 4 years

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The Meal of the Bull and the Supper of the Lamb:

Exploring the Similarities and Differences Between the Mithraic Mysteries and the Christian Eucharist

Introduction

“Which the wicked devils have imitated in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same thing to be done” (www.logoslibrary.org). These are the words penned by Justin Martyr, a Christian saint who lived between 100-165 CE. Martyr, a Christian apologist, noted the similarity between the Eucharist and the Mithraic Mysteries and used these words to write them off, so to speak. The Devil is in the details here, subverting the central event in the life of the Church by replacing it with a demon instead of the glorified and risen Christ.

While Martyr’s language is pointed, to say the least, he is on to something. The nature between the two rites is extremely similar. Both took place in the context of a communal meal, both involved bread and wine, and both connected the meal with sacrifice. What’s more, the two religions spring out of the First-Century Mediterranean world; more specifically, both are rooted within a Roman context.

Ultimately, though, the similarities stop there. The Christian Church did not copy the rites of Mithraism, nor did the cult of Mithras steal the Church’s liturgy in order to compete with the Church for proselytes. The central rites of Mithraism and Christianity, despite similar in form and function, differ in content, purpose, and propitiation and therefore cannot be equated.

The Mithraic Mysteries

The Mithraic Mysteries can be found in a document called the Great Magical Papyrus of Paris. It is important to note that this document comes from the Fourth Century CE, but the liturgy it contains is possibly traced back to the Second Century CE (Meyer, 182). The document more than likely comes from Egypt, a region that hardly had any Mithraic activity (Alvar, 532).

After the worshippers gathered in their Mithraea, an underground sanctuary that is rectangular in shape and is centered around a pedestal-shaped altar located in an apse in the back of the sanctuary, the ceremony begins.

The celebrant opens with a litany-like prayer that ascends the soul out of the body and into the spiritual plane, and while the celebrant is listing the deities being invoked, the communicants would draw onomatopoeic phrases from their mouths, such as hisses or hums or stringing the Greek vowels together (Meyer, 183). What is interesting about the opening is that it is summoning the four elements—wind (spirit is what Meyer has, but pneuma can be translated as breath or air), fire, water, and earth. After invoking the four elements, the celebrant asks the elements to be “[given] over to immortal birth and . . . undying nature, so that after the present need which is pressing [the celebrant] sorely, [he] may gaze upon the immortal spirit, with the immortal water, with the most steadfast air, that [he] may be born again in thought, that the sacred spirit may breathe in [him], that [he] may wonder at the sacred fire, that [the celebrant] may gaze upon the unfathomable, awesome water of the dawn, and the vivifying and encircling ether may hear [him]” (Meyer, 183-84).

After invoking the primordial elements, the celebrant summons what are called the Lower Powers of the Air and, at this point, will be completely cut off from reality. Now the celebrant slips into an ecstatic state, “[not] hear[ing anything from] either humanity or of any other living thing” (Meyer, 184). These beings that are summoned during this trance are lower deities or angelic beings that have a more direct role in human affairs. What is strange is that the text has these beings “rushing” towards the congregation, but after the celebrant says the incantation of silence and asks for protection from the “symbol of the living, incorruptible god”, the beings stop and go about their business (Meyer, 185).

At that moment the sun disk opens and Aion, the son of the virgin Kore and a Hellenistic god of time, appears. What is fascinating about this figure is that the responsory of the congregation uses a version of the Tetragrammaton, or the unspeakable name of the Hebrew God: Iao. The language suggests that Aion is, in fact, Yahweh, and it appears that Mithraism held Yahweh within its belief system. What is interesting is Yahweh is not the highest deity in the pantheon (Meyer, 186).

While Aion is present, the celebrant invokes “the immortal names” of the “seven gods of the universe” in order to pass over from the realm of fire to the doorway of the realm of the gods. The celebrant enters, greets the god Helios and the seven goddesses of fate, and bids the seven pole gods to sit. And then, at last, the celebrant stands before the god Mithras (Meyer, 186-188).

Mithras is described as a “god immensely great, with a bright appearance, youthful, golden-haired, wearing a white tunic, a golden crown, and trousers, and holding in his shoulder a golden right shoulder of a young bull” (Meyer, 189). The last descriptor is particularly important, because the Mithraic Mysteries invite the participants to partake of Mithras’ sacrifice of the bull. It is the central act of the entire religion, for when the congregants partake of the sacred meal, they are eating the sacrificed flesh and drinking the sacrificed blood of the bull (Beck, 27-28).

The celebrant then invites Mithras to inhabit his soul, and after uttering a revelation from Mithras, the celebrant initiates the sacred meal of wine and cake made from lotus pulp and honey (Meyer, 190).

The Christian Eucharist

The Christian Eucharist, like the Mithraic Mysteries, was historically connected to an actual meal. The author of Jude, while critiquing antinomians, writes, “These are blemishes on your love-feasts, while they feast with you without fear, feeding themselves” (Jude 1:12, New Revised Standard Version). And, like the Mithraic Mysteries, the Eucharist involves bread and wine.

However, the liturgy is vastly different than that of the Mithraic Mysteries. The Mithraic Mysteries involve spiritual ecstasy and transcending physicality in order to become spiritually united with Mithras. The Christian Eucharist is nothing like that. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul writes, “For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in rememberence of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26, New Revised Standard Version). The Eucharist does not involve any sort of physical transcendence. Rather, it celebrates physicality; in some circumstance—be it corporeally, spiritually, or memorially—Jesus becomes present. There is no disconnecting from the body or from reality in the Eucharist.

Also, examining the 1 Corinthians text, the focus between the two rites is vastly different. The Mithraic Mysteries are focused on the slaughter of the bull by the hands of Mithras. The Eucharist is focused on an entirely different sacrifice, that of Jesus himself. And the Eucharist conveys a different kind of sacrifice than that of the Mithraic Mysteries; while the Mysteries are concerned with the slaughter of a bull for sport, the Eucharist presents Christ as being given over to death for sin.

The person to whom the oblation is made differs between Mithraism and Christianity. In the Mithraic Mysteries, Iao—Yahweh—is the gatekeeper for the doorway into the realm of the gods. Within the Christian context, Yahweh the Father is who the perfect and complete sacrifice of Christ the Son is offered. It is God doing the sacrificing, and it is God who the sacrifice is pleasing. The Eucharist is simply the participation—be it corporeally, spiritually, or metaphorically—of Christ’s once and for all sacrifice.

The concept of time ought to be explored. Between the two liturgies, the perpetuation of the rite differs. Eschatologically speaking, the Mithraic Mysteries continue without any restraint in time. For the Christian Eucharist, the Supper is only a temporary rite until Jesus returns. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes,” Paul writes to the church in Corinth. The celebration of the Eucharist stops once the eschaton—the end of time—is fully realized.

The social contexts in which these liturgies would be celebrated is important note. The Mithraic Mysteries would have been celebrated on the behalf of and for the Roman upper class. It was a cult that had a massive following among the Roman soldiers and noblemen. Christianity, on the other hand, appealed to the working class and to the poor; early Christians were known for offering material and financial support to the outcasts of society, as well as allowed women to partake of the central rites of the faith. The cult of Mithras was exclusionary; only men were allowed to worship Mithras.

Conclusion

The Mithraic Mysteries and the Christian Eucharist do have things in common. Both are connected to Yahweh, involve some sort of propitiation, and feast upon flesh and blood. But the two liturgical meals cannot be seen as plagiarisms of each other. The theologies that both present are too distinct, and the audiences are too vastly different.

#mithraism #biblical studies #new testament #history #first-century #apostle paul #liturgy #eucharist #yahweh #jesuschrist #earlychristianity

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emma-nation · 5 years

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Without You - Bloodbound AU (Chapter 5) *For You Sequel*

Summary: Gaius is back. While coming up with a plan to take him down, the gang must deal with some new life-changing events.

Genre: Angst/Adventure/Romance

Rating: T - Warning for violence and language

Tag List: @begging-for-kamilah, @lulu-the-cat, @ilovekamilahsayeed, @zoe6111, @kennaxval

Notes:

- English is my second language, please forgive me for any mistakes.

- Hope you enjoy it, your reviews and likes are always appreciated.

- Warning for violence, gore, language and smut.

- As most of you voted in favor of a MxF smut scene, I added it but with a previous warning, so feel free to skip it if you want.

Kamilah

She stood frozen in place, unable to turn around. It was a hallucination. It had to be. Amy told her many months ago, when she shared details about the past, that post-traumatic disorders could bring flashbacks, in form of visions or sounds.

Slowly, she clenched her fists and turned around to confirm. Gaius was indeed standing right in front of her.

“G-Gaius…” she attempted to take a step back, but he was quick, touching her face as he used to do in the past. The shivers, the distress, the fear… everything instantly returned to her body at the same strength.

“Are you scared, My Queen?” He stared inside her eyes. She tried to lie, shaking her head in denial. “Well, you should be.”

His eyes turned red and he grabbed her by the throat, crushing her windpipe.

“You, Kamilah… I always expected betrayal from Adrian, so compassionate about mortals. Or maybe Vega, who wanted more power at any cost… But you?!”

She was unable to answer or even breath. Her vision was getting blurred. Her consciousness was slipping away… When she closed her eyes there was only one thing in her mind… That afternoon in Japan.

“Amy, will you marry me?”

“Kamilah, I… yes! A million times yes!”

Using her entire 2064 years old strength, she grabbed Gaius wrist, digging her nails deeply into his skin until his flesh started to tear apart. As he loosened the grip around her neck, she managed to free herself. Stabbing him in the stomach with her dagger.

She turned around, willing to head back to the stair case, but she stopped. She was no longer able to move. Her body was being held by invisible strings.

“My blood is still running in your veins, Kamilah,” Gaius approached, the wound in his chest already healing itself. “You’re still My Queen.”

“No,” Kamilah clenched her jaw in rage. “I am not!”

Gaius closed his first and she squirmed in pain. Every joint of her body unnaturally popped, causing excruciating pain.

“Yes,” he kneeled down beside her on the floor, “you are.”

His hand touched her forehead. Kamilah gulped. If he fully used his powers on her that would blow up her skull.

“Kill me,” she said. “I’d rather die than… than be yours again.”

Jameson appeared from a dark corner of the room, his laugh echoing through the basement.

“What Amy is going to think about it, huh? Don’t worry, my dear. When she returns and finds your letter, saying you could no longer stand the pressures of living for so long in this world.”

"Imbecile!” Kamilah yelled. “She’ll never believe that! I have witnesses. I have someone I spoke to before driving to his place.”

“You mean Kaira?” Harvey appeared. “May she rest in peace.”

“Y-You killed her… Traitor! I should’ve known, you…"

When Kamilah studied his face again she noticed something different. Harvey didn’t look like his usual self. There was something different about him, in his eyes…

An intense headache interrupted her thoughts. Feeling her brain was starting to bleed, she closed her eyes, expecting her fate. Instead, Gaius stopped and stroked her hair.

"Killing you? I’m not killing you, My Queen. You’ll be mine again.”

Before she could protest, Gaius ordered:

“Jameson, do it.”

Similar to debriefing, Jameson pressed his fingers against her temples, gazing intensely into her eyes. But the magic he was using was another, he was hypnotizing her.

“No,” she winced, trying to resist the spell.

Everything started to return, the thirst for human blood, the devotion for Gaius and his purposes, the will of ruling the world, knowing she was superior than any being… than any mortal… than…

“Amy,” she thought.

“You make me want to be better. SO I can be… even half the woman you deserve.”

She couldn’t give in. For Amy. She needed to focus on something else. On the memories of the woman she loved. On their wedding plans.

Then she started to remember her brother. How he’d always take the blame when they got in trouble as children.

“I’ll always protect you, sister.”

And Adrian. How he comforted her after the night they defeated Gaius.

“It’s over now, Kamilah,” he embraced her. “We’re free.”

Jameson stopped, announcing the ritual was complete. When she opened her eyes again, they were glowing dark red.

“How are you feeling, My Queen?” Gaius asked.

She looked at him, smiled and bowed.

“Like I’ve been reborn, My King.”

———-

Amy

Amy closed her eyes, feeling the cold metal of the blade pressed on her throat. A single tear ran across her cheek. Kamilah would never know what happened to her or how much she lamented abandoning her for this stupid course in London.

“What the hell is that now?!” Wright grunted when a crashing noise came from above the temple. “There’s someone in my office!”

She sent another member of the cult to check. Minutes passed and he didn’t return. The woman started to get impatient.

“If your girlfriend has anything to do with that, I’ll…” she threatened.

A figure suddenly streaked down from the staircase to inside the underground temple. When he stopped, Amy recognized.

“Lysimachus!”

“Amy?! What is going on here?”

One by one, the members of the cult advanced in his direction. He had no trouble to knock down all of them.

“You!” Wright yelled. “How dare you to interrupt the awakening of Keaseth, the Goddess of Immortality?! You’ll pay for that!”

Infuriated, she stabbed him in the stomach with the ceremonial knife.

“My apologies,” Lysimachus moaned, a little disturbed by the pain. “There’s one detail you missed though…”

“Which is?”

“Keaseth is not the only immortal here,” he pulled the knife out of his abdomen, slicing her throat.

Amy closed her eyes, avoiding to watch as the woman’s blood spilled in every direction and she emitted the last sounds, indicating life was leaving her body. On other hand, she couldn’t be more grateful. If it wasn’t for her brother in law, she’d be the one dying in that moment.

“Hey,” he approached, in all his kindness, breaking the chains that were restraining her limbs. “Are you alright?”

Amy nodded and hugged him tightly. Against his chest, she sobbed continuously.

“Shhhh,” he stroked her hair. “Calm down. It’s okay now…”

“I-I left Kamilah alone for this…”

“You didn’t know.”

She tried to stand up on her feet, but the effects of the drugs Wright injected on her body were still making her unsteady. Lysimachus grabbed her in his arms and placed her on a couch back on Wright’s office, where he finished getting all the books he needed.

Later, he took her to a hotel, where she had a warm shower, a nice meal and a comfortable bed to rest.

“Do you have any news about Kamilah?”

He sighed, taking a long time to answer.

“No, I’m sorry.”

He got up and went to the balcony, where he called Priya to confirm everything was alright in New York, leaving her alone to lament for her girlfriend one last time before falling asleep.

———-

Lysimachus

“Everything’s fine, babe. Almost.” That almost coming from Priya concerned him, but was the last of his worries. He spent the night awake, watching Amy sleep. The amount of drugs Wright administered could still give her side-effects.

Meanwhile, he analyzed the books he collected. Trying to relate the symbols from his book to Wright’s research.

“Would you mind to fill me in on what were you doing at that crazy bitch’s office?” She woke up, walking to him.

“I have this old ritual instructions,” he explained. “In some unknown language only she studied.”

“Anything that could help Kamilah?”

“Yes. If she’s in Gaius’ hands as I suspect, this ritual would defeat him forever.”

Amy sat down on the bed’s edge, watching him in silence.

Reading the about Keaseth, Goddess of Immortality, something started to sound familiar. That was the story of the First Vampire, except it omitted a great part of the true history.

“Amy… what else did she told you about Keaseth?”

“A lot, actually. She spoke about it in an affectionate manner, like if she was a real person or something. Oh, and she also had the obsessive idea that I was her descendant, reason why I should sacrifice myself to bring her back to life.”

“That explains a lot…” he muttered, reflecting about Amy’s special abilities. That could also be the reason of her attraction for New York, for Raines Corporation and the vampire world. Her blood was somehow linked to Adrian’s, Kamilah’s and all the others.

“W-Why are you looking at me like that? A-Am I some kind of…”

“You’re the First Vampire’s descendant, Amy.”

“And what does that makes me?” She looked scared at this point, her eyes were wide in fear.

“Human,” he let out a small laugh. “With a few magical abilities.”

———-

Kamilah

Gaius cupped her face into his hands, staring directly into her eyes.

“My Queen… it’s so good to have you back. Now we should proceed, we need to return our purpose of ruling this land.”

“Over my dead body!” Kamilah thought. But she needed to fake it. She needed to make Gaius believe she was under his spell. It was the only way to survive and find out his plans.

“Of course, My Love. As you desire. But shall we build an army first?”

Apart from Jameson, he no longer had thralls, willing to serve him on his sick world domination plans.

“We’re already forming one, My Queen,” behind him, Harvey, Anya and Nate were standing, together with some champions from the Mortals vs. Vampires contest. They were all hypnotized and ready to listen to his commands. “what is yours is mine. You managed to build a powerful army yourself.”

She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to control her rage. He was willing to take her Clan members as servants. She couldn’t let that happen.

“Of course, I must return to New York and enlist the rest of them for our kingdom.”

“May I have the word, Master?” Jameson interrupted.

“Speak, poppet,” Gaius frowned at him, displeased.

“I should recruit the servants. How can you trust Kamilah after her betrayal?”

Gaius furrowed his brows and grabbed Jameson by the neck.

“How can I trust you, after you almost killed My Queen?”

Those words ignited a spark inside Kamilah’s mind. Gaius ordered Jameson to create a plan to get her and Lysimachus, which he failed, trying to murder them instead. She felt even angrier, but she couldn’t let it show.

Gaius turned back to her. She felt the same shiver running through her bones as his ancient eyes looked at her.

"Can I trust you, My Queen?”

“Of course, My Love. I shall never betray you again. I… I was under Adrian’s influence. He manipulated me into that, saying we could rule the world without you. While we built our own empires, my life has been empty, meaningless…”

He studied her eyes for a moment. Her heart was racing inside her chest, wondering if she was acting well enough.

“Kamilah,” he smile, satisfied. “I always knew it was Adrian’s fault, but now he’ll no longer manipulate you…” he caressed her face, before planting a small kiss on her lips.

Kamilah felt she was about to throw up.

“But to prove your loyalty, there’s something else you must do…”

“Please, not that… please, not that…” her stomach hurt and she started to tremble. She’d rather die than surrender to him in the manner she was thinking.

“You’ll return to New York and gather the latest news about The Council’s plans. Then you return and report them to me.”

Kamilah let out a discreet, but relieved sigh and nodded in agreement.

“Harvey will be recruiting the rest of our army.”

“So, I should get going,” Kamilah told. “Adrian is coming back from Chicago, as I heard.”

“No,” Gaius stopped her. “Before that, I prepared you a welcome gift.”

With an arm around her shoulders, he drove her to the next room, where a group of mortals were gagged and tied by ropes. Their eyes were terrified in pure fear.

“A feast for My Queen.”

“I… I’m not hungry.”

“Kamilah,” he brushed her hair away from her neck and whispered in her ear, “you’re always hungry. I know you.”

“Later, My Love. I’m tired, I…”

“Feed,” he ordered. “Now.”

She gave one last quick look at the mortals, as if she was apologizing for what she was about to do.

———-

Amy

“It was horrible…” she rested her head on Lily’s lap, crying her eyes out. “If Lysimachus hadn’t arrived, I…”

“You’re safe here with us now,” Lily stroked her hair. “Right, Jax?”

The male vampire agreed. Lysimachus thought it’d be better if she stayed at the Shadow Den until he solved some pending businesses. She also didn’t feel like going back to the penthouse yet, knowing Kamilah wouldn’t be there.

After eating the special meal Jax cooked, she called her fiancée again. Trying to hide she had been crying.

“Hey you, I know you’re going through a lot right now but… I’m back. I’m in New York and I’m waiting for you. Please, call me back. Let’s go through this together, please? I love you.”

She couldn’t get any sleep, apart from the jet lag, it seemed like Wright’s maniac face was everywhere, observing her. Lily was focused on her computer as always.

“So, what great games have I missed?” Amy forced a smile, trying to get some normality back to her life.

“It’s not a game. I’m trying to decipher the code. The ritual to kill Gaius. With the book Lysimachus brought, I actually may have found something. We need a… magic seal?”

“Don’t tell me about magic, please,” Amy rolled her eyes, making Lily laugh.

“Uhhh there’s something else you can do,” Lily handed her another laptop. It was Kamilah’s laptop. “Maybe you can find any clues of where she might have went? I mean, you’re her fiancée. You kinda have permission to invade her privacy in cases of emergency.”

Amy grabbed it and went back to the improvised bed. On Kamilah’s desktop, the Ahmanet Financial’s logotype had been replaced with a picture of them together. The girl smiled.

On her documents all she could find were files about her company, e-books and articles related to finances, botanic and the Ancient Egypt. Although it was against her best judgment, she decided to access Kamilah’s finances.

“Whoa,” until now she knew her fiancée was rich, but not that much.

Nothing suspicious. Only restaurants, stores, her flight to London… but before that, she found a big transaction. A house in the Hamptons.

“Lily…” Amy furrowed her brows confused, “did you know Kamilah recently bought a house in the Hamptons?”

“I had no idea. I don’t think Lysimachus does either.”

“Maybe she’s there!”

Without caring about anything else, Amy entered a taxi, headed to the house. She called Lysimachus but he was unable to answer.

“I found something about Kamilah… Call me when you can.”

The house was completely empty. Lights were off, indicating no one was there.

“Fuck!” Amy cursed. That was her only hope to find Kamilah, safe and sound.

Then, she walked to the house next door, a little intimidated by its luxuriousness. A middle-aged woman answered.

“Excuse me… my fiancée just bought the house next door and she has been missing for days. Would you happen to have seen her around lately?”

“Are you sure she’s missing? Because she was there until yesterday.”

“Thank you, Miss.”

Amy headed back to the front door of Kamilah’s house, expecting her to return at any moment.

———-

Lysimachus

“I’m sure we can find a peaceful resolution,” he paced around his office at Raines Corporation, running his hand through his black, straight hair.

Lester convoked a Council Meeting, claiming Priya attempted to take his life. Lysimachus suggested they should wait until Adrian returned, but The Baron purposely threw the responsibility in his hands.

“No,” Lester angered, “I want her punished right now! My hand hasn’t fully regenerated yet, almost 24 hours later!”

“Priya,” he glanced at the Fashion Designer again. “Would you tell me your version of the facts? Seriously this time.”

“Of course. I had to attend a photoshoot, where my models were being photographed for my newest collection and I thought: hey, I should take one of Lys’ weapons, just in case of an emergency, you know?” She started to tell. “Then I heard a noise, coming from behind a curtain. The girls panicked, I panicked… and bang! I shot. See? Not my fault. I thought it was Gaius but… it was only Lester.”

“The weapon in question has turned my arm into ashes! My hand hasn’t regenerated yet!”

“But it will, in a few more hours,” Lysimachus assured. “The damage is only permanent when it hits the head or the heart.”

After lots of argumentation, Lester finally agreed to take the attack as an accident. After all he secretly invaded the photoshoot, to spy on the female models.“

When he and The Baron left, Lysimachus was alone with Priya in the office.

"One job,” he sighed angrily. “I gave you one job and you fucked it up. Can you imagine if you had killed Lester, with my weapon?! A weapon I didn’t authorize you to use?!”

“Come on, babe. We both agree it wouldn’t be such a loss.”

“You could’ve started a Clan war!” He slammed his fist on the table. “You could’ve sentenced me to death! Do you know the price I’m gonna have to pay, Priya? I’ll have to report all my arsenal to The Council, maybe even share! Can you imagine these weapons on The Baron’s hands? He tortures people!”

She stared at him in silence. For the first time he detected sadness and regret coming from her.

“I-I’m sorry?"

"I…” he wasn’t sure of what to do. “You’re out. Tomorrow you’ll go back to your house and I’ll find somebody else for the mission. I know a lot of vampires who weren’t turned by Gaius. What could I expect from you anyways? You only care about yourself.”

He left to his apartment. Still no signs of his sister. Everytime he opened the door, he hoped she’d be sitting on his couch with a drink in hands, as usual.

A warm and relaxing shower was everything he needed after such exhaustive events. He started to remember what Amy told him, about being related to the First Vampire. What other hidden abilities could she have? Did she have any powers, aside from visions and telepathy?

—– MxF Smut Scene - If you don’t wanna read it, skip this part —–

His thoughts were interrupted by a pair of arms, hugging him from behind and caressing his chest.

“Priya,” he turned around. “Out. Now!”

She didn’t let go, making sure to press even harder her body onto his.

“You didn’t give me a chance to explain myself.”

“You already did.”

“Not properly. Only me and you…”

The warmth of her skin, as well as other features of her body, brushing against his skin sent shivers down to all his spine.

“I mean it…” he turned around, breaking free from her arms. “I don’t wanna see you right now.”

“Oh really?” Priya smirked. “This is not what your body says,” her hand traveled down to his lower abdomen.

Although he was enjoying the sensation, he needed to resist his instincts. He couldn’t consent with Priya’s actions. She could’ve put them all in danger, for breaking that one promise she made.

“I don’t want you anymore.”

She stopped and faced him again. A devilish smile never leaving her lips.

“Too late, Hunter.”

She started kissing the way down to his chest, until his hips. As her mouth started to work on him, Lysimachus stopped breathing.

“S-Stop,” he tried again, gasping.

She looked at him with lustful eyes. The last bit of control he still had was slipping away.

“Make me,” Priya stood up, whispering in his ear.

With eyes glowing red, he switched places, pressing her against the cold tiles of the wall. Smart as she was, he felt straight into her trap. She wrapped both legs around his waist, teasing him… rubbing herself on him, letting him know how close he was from being exactly what she wanted.

“Screw it,” he thought. “It’s the last time.”

He devoured her mouth into a kiss, as together they built up a rhythm. She tightened the grip around him even more, inviting him to go deeper and harder.

As she felt he was close from reaching climax, she bit his neck, drawing some blood. He responded by doing the same. She tasted like danger and he loved it.

The night went on for hours, long hours. And for the first time since Priya arrived to his apartment she spent the night in his bed, with him.

—– End of scene —–

In the morning, along with the alarm sound coming from his cellphone, something caught his interest, a text from Amy:

“I found something about Kamilah… Call me when you can.”

#playchoices #choices stories you play #bloodbound #kamilah sayeed #kamilah x mc #bloodbound fanfiction

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crystalninjaphoenix · 5 years

Text

And Never Treading Inside

Septics Inverted

A JSE Fanfic

Well, I did a vote on Tuesday, and most people wanted to see the story based on Kill JSE. I honestly debated keeping the working title of Kill ASE for this fic, but I figured that since I hadn’t done that for the Say Goodbye story it wouldn’t be fair to do that for this one. I don’t know, I’m weird like that. Anyway we got, uhhh, creepy doctor stuff in this part so if you’re not okay with that then maybe you should watch out. I don’t think there’s anything explicit, but just in case, you’ve been warned

Read the intro story: Part One | Part Two

Various other AU-related stuff found here

Taglist: @evyptids @awkward-bullshit @watermelonsinmyattic @asunachinadoll @a-humble-narcissus @metautske @odysseus-is-best-boi @acuriousquail

This couldn’t possibly be this easy. They never let Jack out of the house without one of them coming along. Yet, after Anti checked, double-checked, and triple-checked the security cameras of the convention center, he couldn’t see any of them. It was just Jack, doing his thing, talking to fans and sometimes taking pictures with them. Anti kept an eye on him. Something had to be up. But there was no sign of anything.

Maybe he could reach him. If none of the others were about, maybe he’d listen to him for once. There was the possibility that they’d let him out because he was too far gone, but nobody could read someone’s mind better than Anti. Not even that hypnotist. He would reach him. But, just in case they made a scene, he had to wait until Jack was alone.

Hours later, the con was drawing to a close. Jack wrapped up his meet-and-greet thing, told the con volunteers that he was going to walk home, then exited out of a side door so that none of the crazier fans could ambush him. He ended up in an empty loading-dock type area, where cars and trucks could pull in. He stopped, and pulled out his phone. Anti checked it real quick, seeing Jack was sending a text to the others about coming home soon. He also glanced through the area’s cameras. Nobody was there. Perfect.

“Jáck̡,” Anti whispered. He saw the green-haired man stiffen, and look around.

With a little effort, Anti solidified, going from static-filled hologram to flesh-and-blood in a few seconds. Jack’s eyes widened in shock and took a few steps back, but he didn’t run away, so that was a start. “What do you want?” he asked, firmly placing his hands in his hoodie pocket. His voice sounded a bit different, which raised Anti’s suspicions for a moment before he figured it could have been a side effect.

“I want to ta͟l͝k̸ to you,” Anti said, hands half-raised to show he wasn’t holding a weapon. “I saw you were alone today. Where are your friends now?”

“They are...around,” Jack said hesitantly.

“No, they’re not. I ch̶e͢cḱe͏d. Have you finally realized w͏hat̵ ́t̛h̛e͞y̨ ̴a͞r̛e?”

“They're not anything, and I don’t appreciate you saying they are,” Jack snapped. “You monster.”

Anti glitched a bit in irritation, feeling the pixels float off a bit. “You s͝til͡l͟ don’t see the signs?” he hissed. “Don’t you re͢ḿem͡b̨er͞ all the things th̴èy'v͢e ́done͏ t̨o̧ you̡?̡” He was letting more distortion slip then he meant to; he tried to reel it in.

Jack shook his head. “There is nothing to remember.”

Anti growled in frustration, and sent out a mental probe toward Jack, trying to suss out the damage that was done since his last visit. But it glanced off a wall. Anti twitched in surprise, static and silhouettes increasing. Jack didn’t have mental defenses. He’d tried for so long to get him to build them up, but he was never good at it. And now, he suddenly had them? Anti took a few steps back—then a few steps to the side, then forward again as he glitched restlessly. What was wrong with him?! He wasn’t usually this disconnected from this reality...but nevertheless he gritted his teeth and tried to keep together.

“Hmm.” Jack was staring at him oddly. Wide eyes, leaning a bit forward, pursed lips. All the signs of...thoughtfulness, or curiosity. Totally at odds with how Jack looked at him ever since last year. In fact, Anti was sure his eyes were a different shade of blue.

His legs hollowed out, shells of light filled with static, and he collapsed. There was the tingle of white noise in his head and chest as he switched between electricity and skin at a rapid rate. Zaps of something, something that felt very, very wrong, were rushing through his limbs and head, his thoughts breaking from each other. Jack—no, not Jack—leaned down and watched him glitch on the floor. “Das ist sehr interessant,” he muttered to himself.

Anti’s mind switched off in an instant.

He jerked awake, immediately trying and failing to glitch away. “W̶el̸l̕, fu̷c͠k͞,” he said to himself. His scarf and bandages were missing, letting the blood from his neck wound drip freely. His eye-patch was in place, though. He was lying on a table. Or, more accurately, he was strapped to a table. The straps were plain leather, but there were symbols drawn on them in purple ink. It was a while since he’d read runes, but he remembered enough to recognize powerful ones when he saw them. He turned his attention to the rest of the room. It looked...exactly how he thought it would look. Like an operating room. Anti groaned and let his head hit the table with a thud. Anyone but him. Even one of the others he’d be fine with, just anyone but this psycho.

There was a clunk, and the metal door to the room opened slowly. Yep, there he was. Wearing the same bloodstained coat he always wore, and his hair was green. Like Jack’s. Just looking at that made his pixels roil in anger. These creatures didn’t deserve to look like him.

The doctor stopped short upon realizing Anti was glaring at him. He frowned, then rolled back his sleeve and checked a watch. “Very interesting,” he said. “You are not supposed to be awake right now, and here you are! Much faster than we thought.”

“How did you do that?!” Anti demanded. This group was full of surprises and he hated it.

“It was the electricity! The ones you are made of! I thought that maybe if we adapted an EMP it could work. So I went to Marvin with this and asked for help, and he added his magic touch to the device we made, and it worked just like we thought it would, except for less time.”

EMPs and black magic, huh? He’d have to watch for that, though at the moment, he wasn’t sure how. His mind was preoccupied with finding a way out. The runes were keeping him in one place, so he’d have to rely on the same things humans did. As he watched Schneep bustle around the operating room, adjusting the lights, gathering some wicked-looking tools, and messing with syringes, he pulled at the straps. Fuck, this was tight. He was glad he didn’t have a normal body, otherwise he was sure the circulation to his limbs would’ve been cut off by now.

“Aha! There we are. Thank you, nurse.” Schneep finally decided on a syringe to pick up. He tapped it a bit to make sure there weren’t any bubbles. “And now, this part will only hurt a little.”

Anti highly doubted it would hurt at all. But he couldn’t remember if he was immune to whatever was in that syringe. He couldn’t afford to lose his mind right now. He eyed the syringe: how much fluid was in that thing?

Schneep grabbed Anti’s arm, finding a vein easily and plunging the needle deep into the skin. Anti could feel the liquid enter his bloodstream. Well, couldn’t have it there. For once, he was actually glad that he had an open wound that never closed. A slight twitch of a glitch, and then blood spit from his throat slit, spraying the doctor. Schneep jumped back, but the damage was already done. He did not look too concerned that his face now had a red stripe across it.

“Try that again and I’ll shove that needle in̛ ̢y̕our̡ ̢e͞ye,” Anti threatened, knowing full well he couldn’t do any such thing.

Schneep very calmly wiped the blood from his glasses, staining the cuffs of his coat further. “So you can control your blood flow?” he said. “Very nice. How do you do that? Do you will it to move? Or do you palpitate your heart and that makes it happen?” His eyes sparked. “Do you have a heart?”

“Sometimes—”

“Ah, but why would I take you at your words? Humans could be lying all the time, you are not so different. The only proof is the proof of mein own eyes. Nurse!” He spun around. “Get me my slicer and a cup of coffee now! I am about to do very serious work!”

Anti tried to glitch away once more, just to make sure he was stuck. Yep. This was going to suck.

Schneeplestein was very interested in the fact that Anti couldn’t feel pain. How was that possible? Did he not have nerves? Or did he have them, but they just didn’t work, like his heart? “I will check this next time,” he told Anti, “but today it is time for night. I will see you tomorrow, yes?” And he left.

Anti wasted no time in fixing the leftover damage. Just because it didn’t hurt, didn’t mean he wanted to walk around with a gaping hole in his chest. It wasn’t too hard to reset everything back to default. But he just knew that next time the good doctor paid a visit he was going to want to know exactly how it happened. How, how, how. Anti realized he was going to get sick of that word real quick.

Yes, Anti had nerves. He could feel it when the skin was parted, when the blood vessels were pierced, when the bones were scraped. It just didn’t hurt. Uncomfortable? Yes. Painful? No.

It was the third day—or so Anti assumed—when he managed to get free of the straps. And thank hell for that. He was pushing his limit for how long he could remain corporeal. He was starting to feel the strain between his cells. It was similar to the weariness a human felt in their muscles when they held something up for too long. You could keep going, but it would be better to not. He just needed an electrical current to jump into and become fully incorporeal.

But there wasn’t one.

Impossible. This room wasn’t on an island; it was connected to a larger building, which was probably in the city. There had to be a source of electricity somewhere. Yet, Anti couldn’t detect anything. And his range was wide. Not even the lights were giving off an electric signal, though upon further examination they didn’t run on electricity, but were actually some kind of gas lamps merely designed to look modern. He had to admit that was clever.

After a while, the door to the room unlocked, and Anti lunged toward it, hoping to slip past and into the greater world, where there had to be a current somewhere. The door immediately slammed shut and locked again, and would not give in to Anti’s persistent pulling and banging. A few minutes later, it opened the tiniest crack, and a small device slid in. It looked like a remote control of some sort, but it had a strange, purple shimmer to it. The more Anti stared at it, the more he glitched, until he finally realized this was the thing that could take him out. It was too late, and his mind powered down again.

When he woke up, he was in the exact same place he’d been before. Somehow, the straps had gotten even tighter. Schneep was taking notes on a pad of paper. Anti was viciously happy to see the green dye was fading quickly, probably not even real dye.

Schneep looked up at him. “What is under the patch?”

Anti laughed a bit. “Oh, will you just gi͠v̨e u̶p͢ on this already? I’m not like your other p͢aţi̵e͟nt͞ş, I won’t scream for you.”

“That is a travesty, but I cannot ask a question, can I?” Schneep put down the paper and walked over to the table. Evidently it was on a hinge mechanism of some sort, as with a little effort Schneep managed to push it into a vertical position. He and Anti were at eye level with each other. “I have decided I am going to look at it.”

“At my eye? I...wouldn’t do that.”

“Oh? And why not?”

“Look, do̶cto͢r͡, your head is fucked up enough already. I’m not making it worse.”

Schneep laughed. “You sound like Jackie. I never understand you two, my head does the working fine! And besides, that is no reason to not look, is it?”

Despite Anti’s best efforts to move his head away, Schneep managed to pull of his eye-patch well enough. But only for a second. The moment his eye was revealed, the doctor paled and immediately pulled it back into position. He backed away. “I-I think our appointment should end for today. I will see—I will meet with you again tomorrow. Okay? Okay. Okay.” He practically rushed out of the room.

Anti sighed. Nobody ever listened.

Schneep seemed back to his normal maniacal state the next time. Anti knew this because his first words upon entering the room were “Do you think if I cut your hand off it will become nothing, or it will stay there like regular?” The answer was the latter, though it glitched back into position when placed close to where it was supposed to be.

The strain of staying in one piece was getting worse. Despite the runes’ best efforts, Anti was glitching. He wasn’t going anywhere, but shapes and pixels were breaking off in increasing numbers. The muscles of his body were twitching frequently and violently, resulting in something that could be called seizures. Distortion was spreading in waves through his body, and it was the worst thing he’d ever felt. He didn’t think it was pain, more like his insides wanted to come to the outside and were forcing their way out.

Of course, Schneep thought this was all fascinating. He kept watching for the parts that would pixellate, then running some...tests on them afterward, to see if the dissolving had affected the solid form at all. He wondered if it was happening from the inside out. It was. He found that out when he tried to find the intestines and only saw ropes of static.

Anti gave up on trying to explain that he needed to connect to an electrical current. No matter how often he explained that terrible, and possibly permanent consequences could happen, Schneep just brushed it off. He was never really invested in his patients’ comfort anyway.

So instead, Anti decided he wasn’t going to make this easy. Every opportunity he got, he struggled. He pulled against the straps, glitched more than usual just to prove he still could, and even tried to bite Schneep when the doctor tried to see if his teeth were normal. But his favorite thing to do was nag at him. Mockery, sarcasm, anything really. It seemed to affect Schneep the most, especially when he implied that he wasn’t a real doctor. The first time that happened, Schneep lost his temper completely and Anti ended up with a few scalpels embedded in his neck and shoulders.

Anti assumed it was the seventh day when he figured out exactly what to not mention if he wanted to stay in one piece. Schneep was on one of his real doctor rants. “I can prove it, you idiotischer Fehler. I have done many successful surgeries over many years, even before I came to this country! You will find much people back home are alive today because of my efforts! At least there, they appreciate my efforts to find the problems and understand the whys.”

“ Yo̴ùr̛ ͏pol͢ice ͢r̡e͠co̴r͡d ̵wóuld̸ b̡e͠g t͝o dif̶f͠e͡r,” Anti growled, the words coming out through a layer of interference.

Schneep waved it off, a gesture that was not appreciated when he was holding a saw in that hand. “So there were some people in the system who do not see. I am best doctor! If they do not want me there, I come here where I can practice without worrying about the people telling the police lies to get me away.”

Anti smiled. Or maybe that was just more twitching. “Did͡n'͏t͢ ̵y̷o͏ur ̨wife̶ t̨u̧r̶n̨ yo̡ų in̵?͞”

The doctor went still. He turned to Anti with a look of absolute murder in his eyes. “Yes,” he said through gritted teeth. “Yes, she did. And she lied to them, so that she could get away with that—that bastard.”

“Wo̵m̕en ́ca̴n͝ ̵h̨av͝e ͝mal͠e ͟f̨riend̛s ͟an̨ḑ ̨not̷ r̕oma̕nc͡e̢ th̕e̢m̛,͢ y͏o͠u̢ ͟kn̸ow,” Anti drawled.

“But that is not what happened!” Schneep shrieked. He picked up a pair of scissors and jabbed the blades into Anti’s shoulder. “The bitch didn’t have the courage to fucking leave like normal, so she came up with a plan to get me out of the picture!” An empty syringe pierced Anti’s carotid artery, not too far from the neck wound. “She told them I was a—a—”

“M͡urde̛r͢e͟r̵?” Anti said innocently.

A scalpel found a place next to the scissors. “I am not!”

“You'r̶e ̡r̡ight̨.͞ T̡ha͟t's w͠he͠n ͝y̨ou̵ ͡o͝nly kil̨l ͏ońe̶ ̴pe̵r̸şo͞n.”

“It is part of the fucking job, do you not understand?! No other doctors have been called killers before! So the reason she did this, she was trying to get rid of me!”

Anti rolled his eye. “Yo̢u kn̢ow, ̛t͡he w̛ay ̀h̷er̡ ̀t̛est͠imo͡ńy͠ ͟r͡e̴ad͠s,͢ ̧s̕h̛e͡ ͡a̧ņd̴ ͢her f͟rien͡d fo̴llowe̴d͞ yo͠u ̧a͏n̡d ̛ȩv̵en͠tu͏al̢l͠y͠ fo͞u͏n͏d́ you̡r ͡s͡e̵con̵d j̴o̵b.͟ And̸ th̕ȩn͞ ͞they t͏u͟r͏ǹe͞d͟ it ͠in͞ ̀b͡eća̢u̵s͝e̸ ͠it'̧s f̶u̕c̕k̡ing̨ s̴ick.”

“She turned me in so she could leave me!” Schneep yelled.

“A͡nd s̀he ͞l͞ef͠t̶ ͝you ́b͡ecàus̕e̡ ̧yo͝u̕'ŗe̶ a f̵ųc̴k̷ing͝ psy̧c̀hót̶ić s̕ad͝is̛t͞!”

Five minutes later, Schneep had run out of sharp instruments and gotten tired of screaming himself hoarse. He rummaged around a table while Anti slowly glitched the various medical tools out of him. It was slow going. He couldn’t quite...control the glitching anymore.

Schneep returned to the table, which had been switched to the vertical position at some point during his freak out. He wad holding a roll of duct tape. “I’m taking his advice,” Schneep muttered, pulling a strip of tape off. “I’m taking Marvin’s fucking advice, because I can’t concentrate with this anymore. I don’t care if you can get it off, I cannot work.” He smacked the tape across Anti’s mouth and promptly left the room.

On the ninth day, Anti finally admitted to himself what he’d been trying to avoid the entire time. If he wasn’t able to get to an electric source soon so he could become incorporeal like he was supposed to be, he could fall apart. Quite literally. At this point, his body wasn’t even half-there. It was more like a shell wrapped around a core of vague noise. Shapes of green and black were constantly fizzing away, pixels swarming and never leaving. It took him thirty seconds to form a thought because his brain was so full of static. He couldn’t move—or rather, he could, but not deliberately. Every little ever-present twitch and spasm was completely involuntary.

He was going to have to do it. He was going to have to break his rule.

The doctor came in. He was talking, but Anti couldn’t hear him. He put all his effort into concentrating on watching Schneep, waiting for him to get close enough. He needed contact. Luckily, that wouldn’t be too hard.

It wasn’t long before Schneep grabbed Anti’s arm for something or other. And this time, Anti didn’t hold back. He hadn’t been right when he’d thought there were no sources of electricity in the operating room. Bioelectricity, given off by most living things, worked just as well.

Schneep didn’t have time to react before a flood of foreign energy jolted through his system. Anti attacked his mental walls with desperate vigor, taking advantage of Schneep’s surprise. Mental claws found the smallest holes and exploited them, tearing down the walls altogether and letting Anti in. The doctor stumbled and fell as he tried to fight off the invader, but it was no use. Anti was much more practiced at invading minds then Schneep was at defending them. It only took ten seconds at the most, and when it was over Anti was in control.

“Shit, doc, you need to take better care of your body,” he muttered. “This feels horrible. Do you sleep? At all?” Schneep was putting up a fight in the back of the mind, yelling mental insults as he pushed back. Anti paid him no mind as he tried to remember how a physical body worked. It took him a couple tries to stand up, and a couple more to figure out walking. Even then, the legs didn’t entirely obey his commands. But he managed to somehow make it over to the door and push it open, revealing a hall with a couple doors on either side, ending in a flight of stairs going up.

He had a vague understanding of where he was. This was the house they all lived in. He’d been there once before, and he had the cameras set up that he watched from. This must’ve been the basement, which contained the library, a few empty rooms, and some...storage. He staggered toward the staircase. Halfway through pulling himself up to the next floor, he realized that he never figured out how Schneep had managed to stop electrical signals from getting into the operating room. “You’re not going to make this easy and tell me, are you?” he asked.

Schneep refused. Anti sighed. Guess he was going to have to take a look in the doctor’s neurons. He turned his attention inward.

Immediately, he noticed something was wrong. Everything was...imbalanced. Too much of a few chemicals, a bunch of neurons that were structured oddly. Well. He’d always said Schneep was insane, but he hadn’t meant it literally. Still, that wasn’t an excuse. Most people struggling with these issues led normal lives, and didn’t become freaky killers. Anti took a moment to grumble about how humans were stupid and couldn’t understand simple things like disorders, then remembered why he was even looking at this.

A quick rifle through recent memories led to the solution. A Faraday cage. They were meant to stop electricity from getting through, and apparently that was very effective against him. His searching also showed him how Schneep and Marvin had worked together to make that knockout device. Thank you very much. Anti returned to the outside world.

The house appeared empty. According to Schneep’s memories, most people had gone out for the night, and only Chase and Jack were still here, upstairs. Anti stared at the stairs leading to the second floor. He was so close...Jack was just a floor away, it wouldn’t be too hard to dash up the step and—and do what? Jack was still under their spell. Despite his best efforts, Anti hadn’t been making much progress. And if Jack saw him using someone else’s body, that would just make everything more complicated. It wasn’t like he could force Jack out of here, because he would still want to come back.

With a sigh, Anti turned away. He needed to transfer to a different source, preferably one with an Internet connection. He spotted his opportunity immediately upon entering the living room. Jack’s phone was on the coffee table. He recognized it. He sat Schneep’s body down on the nearest couch, then picked up the phone. Apparently the doctor had taken it when he came up with his plan to impersonate Jack and lure Anti out into the open, then never bothered to give it back. With a sigh and a slump of Schneep’s shoulders, Anti transferred to the phone. Before taking the Internet route out of this place, he left a message:

“You ͞ne͝ed ̵tò s̷n̨ap òu͡t of ̕i̴t̨, ̨J͟ac̷k͡.”

Because there was no way he could stay in a place with people like this. Anti had just learned firsthand how dangerous that was.

#jacksepticeye #jacksepticeye fanfiction #jacksepticegos #septic egos #septic egos au #antisepticeye #dr schneeplestein #brigid writes fanfiction #septics inverted au #tw: needles #minor gore #minor gore?#invertedau

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amityfoxx · 5 years

Text

Artes magicae

Musings on traditional occultism, worldview and magical arts.

Artes magicae includes articles on folklore, magic, philosophy, traditional ethics, forgotten lore, mystery cults, the western tradition, witchcraft & osticism. > more by Rev. Dr. R.J. Thompson.

The fetch has been known and misunderstood under many guises that we as humans have ascribed to it. The following are just a few of our (mis)conceptions of this entity: The Holy Guardian Angel of Ceremonial Magick, The anima/us of C.G. Jung, the fylgja of Germanic lore, the personal god of Victor Anderson’s teachings, the spirit, the genius, the daemon, the double, the higher self of the new age and so on. So that I make myself clear the fetch, as I will continue to refer to it through the scope of traditional witchcraft and northern Germanic lore, is the true spirit of each person.

I will go a step further into animism and state that each and every things that occur naturally must have a fetch of sorts.

The fetch is the portion of the soul complex that truly lives on after we are no more.

It is what truly carries word from life to life. As we have seen in the last chapter, the soul and the spirit must be different from each other, contrary to popular belief in the modern world. I also believe that many today that write on the fetch oversimplify what it truly is. The focus of much of the magical work that I have performed in my lifetime has been devoted to understanding the soul complex as it truly is, and in doing so I have come up with some similar, though sometimes decidedly different viewpoints on the functions and essences of these bodies.

The fetch is indeed the spirit, but it is just that a spirit. It is an entity separate from us, not merely our double or soul, as other works often claim. It is a spirit. We only exist because of it! The fetch is closer to the Truth of Godhead than we can ever be as human beings. It is a fragment of the “shattered” Godhead that can understand what it must do in order to restore the Godhead to wholeness. It is the guide that we must contact in order to fulfill the Great Work. It is our guardian, because it needs us to complete it’s work. It is everything to human life, indeed to life itself. In short, we need our fetch, but our fetch also needs us. Confused yet? Allow me to explain.

A magicians rite is personal--casting Expecto Patronus

The Patronus represents that which is hidden, unknown but necessary within the personality.

When a human confronted with inhumane evil, such as the Dementor, they must draw upon resources he or she may never have needed, and the Patronus is the awakened secret self that lies dormant until needed, but which must now be brought to light.

Patronuses take forms that their casters might not expect, for which they have never felt a particular affinity, or (in rare cases) even recognise.

Every Patronus is as unique as its creator and even identical twins have been known to produce very different Patronuses.

It is a general belief held by the wizarding world that only those who are pure of heart are able to cast Patronuses; this, however, is untrue, as several characters with negative personality traits are able to cast a fully-fledged Patronus.

Although generally Dark witches and wizards will not try to produce a Patronus, not having any need for one, most Dark wizards will be devoured by maggots coming from their wand and consuming the caster.

For this reason, Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters were not able to cast a Patronus Charm (not that it was necessary, as they already had the dark creatures under their control via their affinity to darkness, and would have no use for Patronuses).

However, some witches and wizards of questionable morals, such as Dolores Umbridge, are able to produce corporeal Patronuses, with Umbridge doing so despite the fact that she was considered an evil person; her wearing of Salazar Slytherin's Locket, which was one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, was what enhanced her strength due to her evil affinity.

She was able to produce a corporeal Patronus due to the enhanced strength. Conversely, Draco Malfoy was unable to cast one despite his waning evil. Severus Snape is the only Death Eater capable of casting the charm, his love for Lily Evans being his redeeming point.

in:

Spells, Communication, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and 5 more

Patronus Charm

English

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CursedChildLogo Warning!

Some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and, as such, spoilers will be present.

Keep calm and keep the secrets!

GSnitch

Patronus Charm

Incantation

Expecto Patronum[1]

(ex-PEK-toh pa-TRO-num)[2]

Type

Charm[1]

Hand movement

Expecto Patronum movement

Light

Silver[1]

Effect

Conjures a spirit guardian[3]

[Source]

"This ancient and mysterious charm conjures a magical guardian, a projection of all your most positive feelings. The Patronus Charm is difficult, and many witches and wizards are unable to produce a full, corporeal Patronus, a guardian which generally takes the shape of the animal with whom they share the deepest affinity. You may suspect, but you will never truly know what form your Patronus will take until you succeed in conjuring it."

—Miranda Goshawk's overview of the Patronus Charm[src]

The Patronus Charm (Expecto Patronum) is the most famous and one of the most powerful defensive charms known to wizardkind.[4] It is an immensely complicated and extremely difficult spell, that evokes a partially-tangible positive energy force known as a Patronus (pl. Patronuses[5]) or spirit guardian.[3] It is the primary protection against Dementors and Lethifolds, against which there are no other defence.

There are two types of Patronuses: corporeal which means a Patronus with a particular shape and form and uncorporeal Patronus. Uncorporeal Patronuses have no particular shape and do not protect against dementors the way corporeal Patronuses do. However, some wizards like Remus Lupin choose to cast uncorporeal Patronuses to hide their identity.

Contents[show]

History

"And out of the end of his wand burst, not a shapeless cloud of mist, but a blinding, dazzling, silver animal. He screwed up his eyes, trying to see what it was. It looked like a horse. It was galloping silently away from him, across the black surface of the lake. He saw it lower its head and charge at the swarming dementors.... "

—Harry Potter's stag Patronus fending off hundreds of Dementors[src]

It is evident from old woodcuts and scrolls that the Patronus Charm has been used since ancient times.[6] Therefore, it is unknown who created it, or when it was first invented.[6] The charm also has a long association with those fighting for lofty or noble causes (those able to produce corporeal Patronuses were often elected to high office within the Wizengamot and Ministry of Magic).[4]

According to legend one of the most famous Patronuses of all time was a lowly mouse, which belonged to a young wizard called Illyius.[7] Illyius cast the Patronus Charm when his village was being attacked by the Dark wizard Raczidian and his army of Dementors. Despite the mouse's diminutive size, it shone with a brilliant light, bringing the Dementors to a halt as it nimbly moved through the ranks of fleeing villagers.[8] Enraged, Raczidian decided to enter the fray himself, and tried to summon a Patronus to ward off Illyius's mouse. However, he failed to remember that only the pure of heart can produce a Patronus, and thus for the first time in history, it was revealed what happens when a competent, but unworthy wizard or witch attempts the spell. Maggots shot out of Raczidian's wand and quickly devoured him as they engulfed his entire body. The villagers hailed Illyius as a hero.[8]

Stag Patronus

Harry Potter's stag Patronus fends off hundreds of Dementors

Harry Potter took anti-dementor lessons in order to learn the advanced charm and so was one of the youngest to attempt this charm with actual results. During a Quidditch match against Ravenclaw in 1994 he cast his very first corporeal Patronus and again in June when he along with Hermione Granger and Sirius Black were being attacked by over a hundred Dementors, he cast a corporeal Patronus powerful enough to drive them all away.

In 1995, Harry cast the charm against a boggart that he thought was a dementor during the third task of the Triwizard Tournament. The following summer he came under attack by two Dementors and managed to drive them away with the charm, leading to him being put on trial for underage magic in an attempt to discredit him.

B5C27M1

Harry Potter teaching the members of the D.A. the charm

Harry also taught the members of Dumbledore's Army the charm and some were even successful in casting it.

The charm was used frequently to ward off dementors such as when the trio escaped from the Ministry of Magic after obtaining the Horcrux locket and during the Battle of Hogwarts. Severus Snape also conjured a Patronus to guide Harry to the hiding place of the Sword of Gryffindor.

The Order of the Phoenix would send out messages with their Patronuses such as Kingsley Shacklebolt and Arthur Weasley who in 1997 delivered warnings.

Nature

The Patronus represents that which is hidden, unknown but necessary within the personality.[4] When a human confronted with inhuman evil, such as the Dementor, they must draw upon resources he or she may never have needed, and the Patronus is the awakened secret self that lies dormant until needed, but which must now be brought to light.[4] Patronuses take forms that their casters might not expect, for which they have never felt a particular affinity, or (in rare cases) even recognise.[4] Every Patronus is as unique as its creator and even identical twins have been known to produce very different Patronuses.[4]

The unusual witches and wizards who produce a Patronus that takes the form of their favourite animal is an indicator of obsession or eccentricity.[4] Here is a wizard who may not be able to hide their essential self in common life, who may, indeed, parade tendencies that others might prefer to conceal.[4] Whatever the form of their Patronus, you would be well-advised to show respect, and occasionally caution, towards a witch or wizard who produces the Patronus of their choice.[4]

Casting

Harry Potter: "And how do you conjure it?"

Remus Lupin: "With an incantation, which will work only if you are concentrating, with all your might, on a single, very happy memory."

— Discussion on how to conjure a Patronus[src]

Patronus2

Luna Lovegood casting her corporeal hare Patronus

The vast majority of witches and wizards are unable to produce any form of Patronus, and to create even an intangible one is generally considered a mark of superior magical ability. Rubeus Hagrid is an example of a wizard that cannot conjure any form of Patronus, as the charm is too difficult for him.

Given their long affinity with humans it is perhaps unsurprising that among the most common Patronuses when cast (although it must be remembered that any corporeal Patronus is highly unusual) are dogs, cats, and horses.

To successfully cast the spell, one begins by mustering the happiest memory they can think of (the happier the memory, the better the charm will work). Alternatively, one could imagine a scenario that would make for a very happy memory, as Harry did for his D.A.D.A. O.W.L. The next step is to begin drawing circles with their wand so as to increase the power of their spell. They must then say the incantation, Expecto Patronum; the Patronus will come from the tip of the wand and can be directed towards a target by pointing one's wand at said target. It is possible to disguise the form one's Patronus takes, which was done both by Severus Snape to hide his love for Lily Evans, and by Remus Lupin, who felt it would give away his condition.

Also some witches and wizards may be unable to produce a Patronus at all until they have undergone some kind of psychic shock.

Difficulty__

"That's very, very advanced magic."

—The difficulty and complexity of the charm

The Patronus Charm is widely regarded as advanced magic, far beyond N.E.W.T.-level; in 1994 Remus Lupin stated that the charm was, in fact "ridiculously advanced".This charm was, indeed, so perilous, few wizards/witches could conjure up a true Patronus. It is very complex and many qualified wizards and witches have trouble with it. In fact, Harry Potter is one of the youngest known wizards able to cast a Patronus; he was taught how to do so in early 1994 at the age of thirteen by Remus Lupin. In a Dumbledore's Army lesson, Harry taught the members how to use the charm. Some were even successful in casting a corporeal form, though Harry said this might be because there was no Dementor to make them frightened.

However, three members were later able to cast corporeal Patronuses in the presence of Dementors. Being able to cast a patronus, whilst fighting Dementors or not, is not required to graduate from Hogwarts so it is something that is taught under special circumstances.

#5) Praxis of magic through history

Click here to edit this chapter.

Sacred archaic rituals being held in honour and dedication of magic come in many forms. Divination has many forms and from the most ancient magical history books, almost every ancient culture through antiqity had methods of interpretating unpredictable outcomes determined by omens as rites.

Ritual as a practice is ancient itself, so much so it is a spiritual awakening. -650 B.C. - References to magic are abundant in the ancient Greek myths among the classical founding pagan cultures of Europe, connected to the neighbouring Egyptian and Persian ones. Often centered around women of divine origin, nymphs and priests, from Ariadne to Calypso, Circe to Medea, Hermes to Hecate, magic, divination and necromancy are widespread and intertwined with cthonic Gods and monsters, oracles and heroes.

50–300 A.D. - The Acetabularii performed the Cups and balls in ancient Rome using stones and small vinegar cups (hence the name Acetabularii). The Acetabularii are a group of magicians specializing on the cups and balls effect.

400–1000 - The Dark Ages; little is known about the history of magic, but much of it was associated with the occult and magic as entertainment is not prominent.

1000–1500 - The Middle Ages where much magic was associated with the occult and witchcraft. The growing trading nature of society allowed some street or circus performers to make a living out of old classics such as the cups and balls and in fact more modern ideas such as cheating by short changing via sleights with coins and other small objects.

, is reflective of Neo-Paganism, and makes use of much of the magical practices of Stregoneria but does not include elements of Catholic-based folk magic, which displaced the pre-Christian enchanted worldview in Italian culture.

Stregoneria is the modern word in Italian that is commonly translated into English as the word witchcraft. In the Italian dictionary—Vocabolario della Lingua (Nicola Zanichelli, 1970)—stregoneria is defined as a magical practice intended to produce harm or illness. The statement that stregoneria refers to a harmful magical practice is supported by ethnologist Elsa Guggino, who states that words related to stregoneria are always used disparagingly to describe someone practicing malevolent magic (Stregoneria: The "Old Religion" in Italy from Historical to Modern Times, by Marguerite Rigoglioso, 2000). This is also noted by scholar Gary R. Varner, in his book Charles G. Leland: The Man & the Myth, in which he states that the word strega (witch) is a disparaging term used to denote those who practice black magic, and that the term "maga" is used to denote those who practice white magic and healing.

Anthropologist Sabina Magliocco, in her article titled "Spells, Saints and Streghe: Folk Magic and Healing in Italy," remarks that "At one time, many villages had a number of folk healers who could cure a variety of illnesses, They ranged from those who cured with herbs, magic formulas and prayers to professional sorcerers who were called in serious cases of magical attack. In practice, however, these practitioners overlapped, since almost any illness could be judged to be the result of a magical working. Folk healers seldom referred to themselves as streghe (although their neighbors might call them such), but as fattuccchiere, "fixers," maghi (masculine plural; singular mago), maghe (feminine plural; sing. maga), "magic-workers."

In contrast to the academic and historical evidence some modern practitioners of Stregoneria claim that the term is an umbrella for the Folk Magic practices of Italy. The use of the word Stregoneria to describe Italian Folk Magic is common mostly among Italian-American practitioners. Practitioners of Folk Magic traditionally would usually be called something along the lines of fixers, healers, or those who help, but to be called a witch would be a direct insult. Virtually all practitioners would have considered themselves Roman Catholic and witches in Italian folklore and Roman Catholicism are traditionally connected to the devil.

Practices of Stregoneria include making Brevi, or charm bags, and healing the Malocchio Although Stregoneria does indeed make use of a variety of Catholic practices, due to the use of magic Stregoneria, unlike Benedicaria, tends to be more at odds with the teachings of the Catholic Church, blending Catholic and Pre-Christian traditions.

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abadzone · 5 years

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A Weekly Song: Episode 8 - Joe Hisaishi

A Weekly Song: Episode 8

Joe Hisaishi – Procession of the Gods

“When’s he going to do a movie composer?”

“He’s always going on about film soundtracks.”

It’s true, I am, I do. The reason is this – I listen to a hell of a lot of them. I’m an aficionado. When you’re writing and drawing all day and night, whether it’s writing articles for magazines or scripts for other artists, or just drawing your own comics and illustrations, you listen to a lot of music.

About five years ago, other than corporate work, I changed my professional emphasis from both writing and drawing to predominantly writing (largely because I make more money from writing than from doing both. Making comics and graphic novels is slow, hard work where you do about ten jobs for the price of one. Plus, anyone in comics publishing will tell you how little most artists make, but that is not the purpose of this essay so I’ll leave that story and observations on same for another time).

I’ve always found that I can’t listen to music with lyrics or indeed a human voice of any kind while writing – I find it distracting. This leaves instrumental music – Jazz and Classical, sure, Ambient definitely, but most often – soundtracks. Film and TV scores.

Perhaps the reason for this is that the part of my brain that I use to create stories and voices of characters is also the part that listens to and processes speech and singing. I don’t know that for sure, but whatever the reason, because most of my time is now spent writing, there’s much less time to listen to listen to podcasts, talk radio and the like.

When I was doing the more “automatic” tasks in the creation of a page of comics, like lettering, inking or colouring, I always found myself listening to something with a human voice – a play, a podcast, radio documentaries. My inking was actually better, both looser and slicker, if I was slightly distracted by listening to radio plays or discussion of some kind. (Hi, BBC Radio 4, NPR and Big Finish. I miss you.)

Correspondingly, my appetite for soundtracks has increased, but they’ve always been an important – nay, essential part of my creative process. They are both mood setters and emotional emollient, both starting points and helpful compositional markers in the creation of a story.

It goes something like this: you think of a scene, what the purpose of it is, how you want it to play, what the characters are saying and doing and you choose a piece of music that sets the temperature of that set of incidents. I think every book and every comic I’ve ever written has had a temp-track of sorts, a tracklisting that serves as a guide for the mood and atmosphere I’m looking for.

In many cases, this temp-track evolves and changes as the story does, with some pieces of music being dropped in favour of others as the shape of the narrative develops. I imagine it’s a similar process in an editing suite; as you revise and modify the focus of different elements of a story, the linguistic accompaniments necessarily change too. In film or TV, it might be the Foley sounds, a change of emphasis in lighting via colour grading; in comics it might be the layout, the way the guttering of a page affects the pace at which a reader scans it, and where their eye is led; the tempo at which it subtextually guides a reader to the turn of the page and an emotional turning point, all the while preserving a sense of immersion. Every small detail the author employs affects everything else, and everything has to be right and constantly rejigged to create the illusion of the real world within the story.

This is the kind of constant balancing act common to all forms of visual storytelling. While comics don’t have the luxury of sound and motion, it is still a supremely nuanced and sophisticated language in its own right. What I always liked about comics as both art form and means of expression is how accessible they are and that they can be created relatively cheaply in comparison to film or TV. Anyone can make a comic; you really can be a sole creator, whereas film and TV are collaborative media. A graphic novel really can be one person’s creative vision, unlike a film, which although it may be steered by one overall captain, the authorship really is shared by many (despite what the director’s credit would have you believe: “A Film By…”)

I digress. The point is, one art form and means of cultural expression runs into the next; none of them stand alone. Everything influences everything else and in my case, I’d go so far as to say, these days, music probably influences me more in terms of the kinds of stories I like to tell than many other comics do. Storytelling is a free-flowing activity that inhabits every possible mode of human expression.

Obviously, all this means I have a lot of favourite soundtracks and film composers. How to pick one, and just one track from so many, for this week’s song?

Well, first time around, I’m gonna do the easy thing. I’m going straight to someone who supplies music for one of the greats in a related field: animation. The greatest living animator, in my humble opinion, is Hayao Miyazaki. One of Miyazaki’s constant and most consistent collaborators is Mamoru Fujisawa AKA Joe Hisaishi, who has composed scores for every Miyazaki movie but one. Not to compare Miyazaki to a Spielberg or a Lucas, but Hisashi is Miyazaki’s John Williams.

It’s really difficult to pick a favourite Miyazaki film, and equally difficult to pick a Hisaishi score. He is, predictably, a composer who can match the depth, vision and moods of Miyazaki, one who seems as comfortable with experimental electronica as he is with the orchestra.

My admiration for Hisaishi is a fairly usual reaction to his music; sometimes it’s interesting to look at exactly why a composer is beloved. His association with one of the best storytellers in the world is partially the reason, but composers are of course storytellers in their own right. There is a line of thinking that viewers shouldn’t really notice movie music – that it’s a subtextual support to the emotion and action of the story being told onscreen. While there’s an element of truth in that, there are just as many examples to the opposite. What I think a good film score should do is complement and highlight the story, help make it an immersive emotional experience; be textural as opposed to specific. It should help you, the viewer, get caught up in the characters and story without necessarily calling attention to itself, which calls for a lot of nuance and is a very neat balancing act. You can still notice it – I sometimes do, but what’s fascinating about it is that, when it’s working well, I often don’t do it consciously. The opposite is true also – I notice it when it’s intrusive or overly sentimental, signposting emotions rather than being an integral part of them.

Something that interests me is that Hisaishi is on record as thinking many modern Hollywood soundtracks don’t have enough “space” or silence in them – that quiet is as much a tool of the composer as loud is. This is a man whose comprehension of emotional colour and silence as a tone in his palette is second to none. I love his work in film and beyond it (which is why I’m also going to cheat a bit and also recommend his Minima Rhythm series, the first of which you can listen to here).

That’s not today’s pick though, which I agonised over. I almost went for the opening of Princes Mononoke, Attack of the Tatari-Gami, which is both great action music and one of the most sinister themes in animation history. In the end, I settled upon a piece from Spirited Away, which is possibly one of Hisaishi’s most sweeping, yearning scores.

Variously known as Procession of the Gods (on the US pressing of the soundtrack I have), Procession of the Spirits and The Procession of Celestial Beings, the cue is actually seriously truncated in the movie and not allowed to fully bloom the way it does on the soundtrack album. You’re going to have to take my word for that, because unfortunately there is no official Studio Ghibli channel that I can find on YouTube that showcases Hisaishi’s work, but you can do a search and find several cover versions that attempt to recapture its ominous majesty. Here’s a link to how it sounds in the film, but I’d encourage you to seek out the soundtrack album and listen to it in all its pomp,

The scene it accompanies is shortly after the main character, a ten-year old girl called Chihiro, finds herself stranded in a magical world. Her parents have turned into pigs (yes) and she attempts to find the tunnel that is a gateway back to her reality, only to find that she is now separated from it by a newly-appeared river. A boat begins crossing the water towards her and this music begins to play, all string-plucked notes and magical portent. There are no visible passengers until the boat hits the shore, where Chihiro stands watching. Doors open, the music swells, heralding the arrival of beings that no human child should witness. They appear as masks that float around head height and, floating above the deck, file off the boat one by one. As they disembark, cloaks flow from the masks, like paint tipped from a bucket, flowing down to describe the shapes of their intangible bodies…

…And Chihiro flees, the music fades. On the soundtrack album it reaches a magnificent crescendo and ends on a playful note, punctuated by human voices. It’s a scene that goes from a foreboding menace to awe and wonder, from fear to celebration and back again.

If you’ve never seen the film, see it. It is far, far from being merely a children’s entertainment and occupies a place among the most visionary films ever made.

I have another version of Procession from the Spirited Away Image Album, which I think might be a demo rather than the more usual “song in character” pieces you get on those kinds of tie-ins (but I can’t read Japanese, so I might be completely wrong about that. Feel free to correct me if so via Twitter or email or if you have any further information about this particularly sumptuous film score).

To get a flavour of Joe Hisaishi’s imaginative brilliance, you can watch and listen to a whole concert here.

More info on Studio Ghibli (n English) available here.

#aweeklysong #spirited away #joe hisaishi #miyazaki #spiritedaway #studioghibli #studio ghibli #joehisaishi

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midnight-in-town · 6 years

Photo

Soooo… Time for a recap post? Here’s what we know:

the moonlight child only appears during the full moon => it’s implied that he can only materialize the night magic is at its strongest

Considering that his OD never led to the brand reacting, I doubt he comes from “the Underworld”

(and btw)

Griffith 2.0 apparently does not disappear during the full moon, so it may not be the demon infant just getting his body back just for one night

Casca’s attraction to the moonlight child is very reminiscent of how she used to react when the demon infant was nearby

(and the child himself is very attached to her which could be a hint because, in comparison, the demon infant always made sure not to get too close to her, probably because he knew the brand would hurt his mom)

Femto commented on feeling the demon infant’s fear for his parents, so we know the infant always seeked to protect them and that’s also exactly what the moonlight child did with Guts and Casca every time he appeared

(the demon infant also knew that Guts loved Casca dearly, that’s why he warned him about going to save Casca, and so does the moonlight child, since that’s she he used to bring Guts back from the berserk mode twice)

he’s not an envoy of Danan, Gedfryn confirmed as much in ch344

bonus: like mother, like son?

(Side note but whenever he materialized, Casca acted more rational and like an adult than when he wasn’t around: she would feed him or be scared of him climbing up, when usually she couldn’t even eat by herself or realize whenever she did something dangerous)

So anyway, it’s nothing new that there are too many similarities between the demon infant and the moonlight child, which is why a lot of readers (not everyone, I’m aware of that) think the two are the Gutsca baby.

Previously I proposed that the moonlight child could be some kind of ‘incarnated dream’ of the demon infant, but it’s not certain that it would make sense with the child disappearing inside of the World Tree, which is a “dragon’s road” between different realms? At the same time, in vol28, the World Tree wasn’t a thing yet either so…¯\_(ツ)_/¯

These days now though I’m wondering more generally about what if the moonlight child is the demon infant’s ego?

Because this would solve why he can only materialize corporeally during the full moon, “the nights magical forces are at their strongest”, while the demon infant remains Femto’s vessel at any given time.

In other words, Femto possesses the body of the demon infant in order to exist in the corporeal world, but the child’s ego disappears/disappeared:

either after what happened in vol22 (because Femto found him to be a liability after baby literally influenced him to go save Casca for example)

or only when the full moon comes because strong magical forces give him the chance to materialize elsewhere to see his parents.

That could explain why he appears/disappears randomly exactly where Guts and Casca are, as well as why he’d be naked when showing up. What I mean is that I doubt the moonlight child exists corporeally elsewhere aside from the full moon where he is with Casca and Guts.

Besides, I find the way the moonlight child appears to Guts when in Berserk mode is quite similar to what Schierke saw the first time Guts used the armor:

And so I’m wondering if the similarities aren’t on purpose.

It’s also obvious that the moonlight child is related to Light in general, if just as the light bringing Guts back when he lost himself to the armor’s power, which is why I also proposed previously that he may be the real hawk of light that everyone sees in Griffith 2.0.

Another important point to mention is that the moonlight child apparently grew up in just one lunar cycle and there again, I wonder if this isn’t related to how Femto’s power is rapidly expanding, like with the World Tree for example.

The more Femto achieves victory, the more his influence and thus probably his power grow (and the more chaos grows closer), so if the moonlight child is linked to the demon infant who himself is Femto’s vessel, then this might explain why he’s visibly growing up along with Femto’s influence over the human world.

I guess this point might also explain why the second time the moonlight child

could remind us of Griffith 2.0 (if just with the hair), which is in my opinion one way that Sensei has to hint that the moonlight child is related to Griffith 2.0…

who, again, is the result of Femto fusing with the demon infant’s flesh.

Finally, Sensei creating two entities for just one character (demon infant + moonlight child = Gutsca baby) would make sense considering certain… upcoming problematics, like, when Femto does get married to Charlotte for example which should probably be soon in the narrative.

I mean, the body Femto is inhabiting is the demon infant’s, the body of Guts and Casca’s child who should be like… 3 years old???

So in case something like a wedding night happens, well, I’d rather Sensei found a way to make it clear that Femto is 100% the one who has sex with Charlotte instead of the child himself, if you know what I mean? The moonlight child being everything that used to be the demon infant (so his ego), besides his own flesh that now belongs to Femto, could solve this.

Same for when Guts and Casca will ultimately face Femto in order to kill him. That way there could be hope left for their child’s survival.

An ego represents a person fully enough in any case, as we could see with Guts’ when he used the armor for the very first time:

That’s why I’d enjoy the idea!

I hope it was clear enough considering how complex the universe of Berserk is. Thanks for reading!

#berserk #guts #casca #griffith #moonlight child #femto #demon infant #berserk theory #my analysis

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framedepth · 6 years

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Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi - A Masterpiece that Reminds us why Star Wars is Important

A warning up top: I cannot fully talk about this movie without giving out SPOILERS. I’ll try to keep them somewhat lite, but when it’s necessary events of the film will be described.

Everyone’s story of how they came to love Star Wars is very similar: they most likely saw it young and were absolutely enchanted by the imagination, creativity, and pure fun on display. There is no better escapism than Star Wars, as it allows us to forget the doldrums of our reality while also being a perfect example of Campbellian story-structure and a fascinating distillation of both Western and Eastern popular culture and philosophy. Since its release in 1977, it has grown into something much larger than it was intended to be. One can make a very compelling argument about its artistic merit being nearly completely absent since Return of the Jedi, but many filmmakers in the past have managed to slip thematic points and messages into even the most commercial of movies. It seems as though Star Wars, the epitome of commercialism and marketability, would be the last place nowadays one would look for thematic depth, but in maybe the most stunning upsets of the year for movies, Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi is an intensely emotional and thematically deep entry in the franchise that enriches its mediocre predecessor and pays a beautiful tribute to anyone that has been entranced by the magic of movies.

The general consensus around the that last entry, The Force Awakens, is that while it might have been a fun return to the universe, it was bogged down by being so subservient to the previous films in the franchise. Fan service can be a nice reward to those who have stuck with a property for a long time, but pointless references and retreads of previous plot-points can render the movie effectively inert when it comes to the spirit of the movie. But then comes along Rian Johnson, a director with a clear understanding of genre trappings, as shown in his high school Neo-Noir Brick or his paradox-ignoring time travel thriller Looper. Johnson smartly applies the same type of subversion techniques to Star Wars, meaning instead of simply parroting events or cliches from the previous movies, he alludes to them for a very specific reason and point. Gone are the moments where Ponda Baba and Dr. Evazan walk into the frame for a moment for no discernible reason, or the moment where Finn bumps the game board featured in A New Hope. Many fans, including myself, were concerned when the trailers featured AT-AT-like walkers, fearing a retread of the most-loved Star Wars entry. Instead, we got a film that challenges what we know about not only the characters we met in the last film, but challenges the entire concept of the original Star Wars trilogy by having us re-examine Luke Skywalker himself. And I am happy to say that Luke overcomes this challenge to reestablish himself as a true hero.

Earlier this year, while marketing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the second movie in a planned trilogy, Marvel Studios claimed the movie’s tone would be “Empire-esque”. This is a term that has cropped up in film discussions, especially discussions of franchise films series, that has been used to describe a film with a darker tone than its predecessors that isn’t afraid to move in unexpected directions. However, The Last Jedi is much better described by that term than the second Guardians film is. What makes The Empire Strikes Back work so well as a sequel, and why it is often considered a better movie than the original Star Wars, is the fact that it broadened the universe, concepts, and characters of its predecessor in a way that was true to the essence of the original. The Last Jedi does this not only for The Force Awakens, but for the original trilogy as well. And it does it in the same way Empire did: by revealing that Luke Skywalker is a flawed human being that still has things to learn about the force, the nature of conflict, and of course himself.

As mentioned above, I will be discussing spoilers, and this is were I have to start getting into them, as the central theme of the movie cannot really be discussed without mentioning an appearance by a certain character. At a pivotal moment for Luke, he is visited by one of his old mentors, the spirit of the Master Jedi Yoda, who tells him that the best teacher of all is failure. And we see this sentiment ring true for every other character in the film. Rey fails to redeem Kylo Ren and places him in a higher position of power, where he will only be more dangerous. Poe makes a fool-hardy decision that almost entirely destroys the Resistance. Finn’s heart is not yet fully into the Resistance, and has anger building up over the injustices in the galaxy. Kylo Ren’s failure in the last movie has made him realize his reverence for Vader is only holding him back. Even minor characters like Admiral Holdo learn by making mistakes; if she had been open with Poe, he would not have planned subterfuge against her. But these mistakes and failures serve to round out our characters, give us a clearer picture of who they are, and allow them to overcome them in order to grow into more complete people. None of the failures are more destructive, and therefor more educational, than the mistake Luke made when he panicked about Ben Solo’s darker tendencies. But this failure allows him to eventually see what a Jedi teacher really should be, which is much different than what most fans think of when they think of a Master Jedi.

“War does not make one great” is one of the Yoda-isms we hear in The Empire Strikes Back, but until now no one has really given that line any credence. The reason Kylo Ren becomes so fascinated with Darth Vader is because of his status as one of the greatest warriors in their history. The good he did as a Jedi Knight, and as a reformed man at the end of Return of the Jedi, is of no interest to Kylo. Even the fans of Star Wars are more into Vader as a villain who slaughters people rather than a complex person who has strayed from the good path (just see the demand for and reaction to the Vader scene in Rogue One). And the prequel movies did nothing to help this issue of “warrior-worship” by giving all of the Jedi, including the peace-loving Yoda, fantastic battle abilities. But the way that Luke wins in Return of the Jedi is by throwing away his weapon - refusing to fight. Resolving conflicts with violence will only beget more violence. This is also the reason Obi-Wan refuses to engage with Vader in A New Hope, and why he is allowed to become one with the Force immediately afterwards. A Master Jedi must be a pacifist, inspiring others through peaceful means rather than inspiring others with violence. At the end of The Last Jedi, Luke demonstrates this to the entire galaxy with a legendary stand-off against Kylo Ren and an entire First Order invasion force. Shortly afterwards, he is allowed to become one with the Force, much like his beloved mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi. In the final scene, a child slave is hearing the legend of Luke Skywalker before being chased outside by one of his captors. He uses the Force to pull a broom towards him, looks to the sky, and sees a ship entering hyperspace. Inspired by his hero Luke, he dreams of adventure, a better world, a better life. That child is anyone who has been enchanted by the story of Luke. That child is Rian Johnson, J.J. Abrams, Gareth Edwards, and any other filmmaker that was raised on the original trilogy. That child is anyone, anywhere that has watched any of the Star Wars movies and fallen in love with the characters and the universe. It’s anyone who has watched a movie and been emotionally affected by it.

There are so many criticisms one can level at the film franchise Star Wars and the countless merchandising campaigns that it has spawned, but the true spirit of Star Wars has always been important. And this movie contains the true spirit of Star Wars. It has always been more philosophical than some people realize, but cloaked in a fun and creative sci-fi/fantasy setting. The Force Awakens didn’t deliver on the usual spirit of Star Wars, because it felt like a more corporate take on the original film. The Last Jedi feels like a true sequel to the franchise, pushing its characters in interesting directions, revealing more mysteries of the Force, and allowing us to see the characters in a new way. There are issues with the movie, things I can’t defend as being “good”, but the parts that work come together to form a beautiful film. A painting may have a few bad brush strokes here and there, but it doesn’t stop the entire picture from being great. Rian Johnson has directed a masterpiece that easily stands among the original Star Wars trilogy and will hopefully in time be just as loved as they are.

#the last jedi #star wars #episode viii #rian johnson #mark hamill #daisy ridley #oscar isaac #carrie fisher #adam driver #john boyega #luke skywalker #rey #kylo ren #finn #poe #leia #film #film essay

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evajellion · 3 years

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2020 vidya ranking: #7 Final Fantasy VII

I can already hear the screaming now. “JEL HOW DARE YOU RANK THIS GAME SO LOW!!” even though I said that everything else I played this year was just that good, that this game ends up falling on the short stick for good reasons.

So let’s talk about what is considered one of the greatest RPGs of all time, a game I put on hold until Christmas Day of 2020, right after I had gotten Sephiroth in Smash Ultimate.

The reason why I put this game off for so long? It was the amount of hype around it admittedly. I grew up on late 2000′s internet and people still wouldn’t shut up about how good this game was. Combine this with FF games after getting a rocky reputation, it wouldn’t be until I discovered IV that I had a proper interest in the franchise.

Yes, I was one of the people who preferred the active fantasy elements in FF (IV, V, VI, and IX) over the more modern takes. The general unpopular but frequently seen opinion was that VII, while great, was also responsible for ruining the franchise with how often they tried to recreate the magic VII had, only to fall short. You can see why I was hesitant to play this one.

But, I’m happy to report that Final Fantasy VII does kinda live up to its expectations! This game is pretty great, and I found myself really enjoying the story. What starts off as a task to stop the evil corporate known as Shinra, ends up being a wild goose chase to pursue Sephiroth.

While this game didn’t make me cry my eyeballs out like Final Fantasy IX or even Legend of Dragoon (sorry Aerith fans), this game did strike something I hadn’t felt in a while, and it was dread. Particularly during anything that involved Nibelheim.

The way Sephiroth goes from this calm, collected man into someone who devolves into madness after digging in to find out about his mother, the way the music theme just changes on you when he suddenly turns. It’s amazing tension building, I love it. Visiting the town later even gave me more dread when I saw it was overrun by clones and I could finally unlock the basement in the mansion.

This entire game has a cast of great characters, I don’t think anyone is sold short, which I felt was a slight problem in IX. Yes, I even love Cait Sith-- in fact, he’s actually my second favorite. No idea why people get so angry over non-human characters. Tifa is definitely my favorite of the bunch though, the girl who seems tough on the surface but is actually the sweet, caring childhood friend that would go to the ends for Cloud.

The music in this game, a lot of it is pretty grand. I think IX has a better random enemy theme but VII hits it out of the ball park with the boss battle themes. And while the graphics may be limited, I think that actually puts the game at an advantage. Less graphic detail means more to the imagination, and this game has some fantastic, horrifying enemies.

For a short version, I would definitely check out Bogleech’s page about VII’s monsters. One of my favorites was the mini-boss, Yin Yang. The disgusting thing has such slow, realistic movements, unfitting of the other PS1 creations. It looks like it’s an actual pain, and then you get the dialogue “Yang is happy”, without any context as to what it means.

I’m just afraid that the modern remake from last year might botch these future enemy designs… It’s easy to see how Square went from this game to Parasite Eve. They made some terrifying stuff.

I gotta say, both the fan-base and Square ended up doing Sephiroth dirty. They made him an intimidating man going through a crisis following Jenova’s power to a generic evil, stalker pretty boy.

Okay, so I’m just about done gushing about the good, now I need to tell everything the truth…

This game, fitting enough, has an identity crisis. It suffers from “too much spoiling the broth”. It feels like Square wanted to do too many things with their first fully 3D game, and it ends up being tedious. I don’t like having the gameplay changed on me for short, annoying sections. (ie: stealth, the submarine, Fort Condor, sneaking onto the boat) These things kinda prevent me from wanting to replay it in the future.

Another issue I have, is constantly needing to reequip Materia when I’m moving party members. They should give you the option to move the Materia from one party member to another in PHS. On that note, Enemy Skill in this game sucks compared to Blue Magic in IX. You have to hope the enemy hits the party member in question with a certain attack that can be copied, as opposed to eating the enemy entirely.

You can easily miss certain weapons, Materia, and Limit Breaks for good, and putting the effort into having Aerith learning all her Limits is worthless. You’ll even run out of good places to grind for EXP unless you find a lot of Elixir to dump onto the Magic Pot enemies. This is a nightmare when I wanna fight the hidden super bosses and want to experience “rubber band” AI Sephiroth.

I also think that in spite of his popularity, Sephiroth should not have been the final boss, even if he’s who you’re after the entire game. It’s one of the few times I wish we had a last second true antagonist like in IV and IX. Jenova would have been perfectly acceptable given she causes most of the game’s events more than anyone, same with Professor Hojo. (Though Hojo gets to be the final boss if Disc 2 I guess?)

Finally, I can’t believe I’m making this comparison of all things… but this game suffers a problem similar to the CDI Zelda games. And that is the fact that you sometimes cannot tell what Cloud can or cannot walk/climb/jump on.

Overall, VII is a great game… but time hasn’t done it well, much like a few of Rare’s Nintendo 64 games or NES games. Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI are objectively the magnum opus for Square, and I see myself more likely visiting IX again.

It may have revolutionized a lot, but that doesn’t mean it’s the golden god. Still pretty great though, and I do think it should be played at least once.

#Final Fantasy #final fantasy vii

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k00233706 · 4 years

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Memory, Mythology and Meaning: remembering and forgetting

The human ecology of memory studies remembering and forgetting in relation to "the physical, cultural, economic, social, and aesthetic environment that surrounds human beings from birth to death". The key words here are remembering and forgetting. I think of Ursula le Guins story The Telling of a world which in the grips of a monolithic state, the Corporation, is one of secular terrorism. The Akans desire rapid advance into the future> They outlawed the past, certain words, the old calligraphy, ancient beliefs and traditions. Citizens are forced be producer- consumer. The quest of the central character is to learns about the Telling, the Old Faith and about herself.

George Orwell 1984:

“Then where does the past exist, if at all?”

“In records. It is written down.”

“In records. And -?”

“In the mind. In human memories.”

“In memory. Very well, then. We, the Party, control all records, and we control all memories. Then we control the past, do we not?”

The Story of B by Daniel Quinn

Outlines how fundamental misconceptions about the pre-historic foundations of our society were generated as a result of “a great forgetting”, that there was a time before totalitarian agriculture when human kind lived in harmony with nature and by a law of limited competition, which is essentially “that you may compete to the full extent of your capabilities, but you may not hunt down your competitors or destroy their food or deny them access to food”. We respond, like other species to the availability of food. Provide food, and the population grows and therein lies the cause of war, plague, famine and impending global disaster. The Great Remembering is a return to an animistic world view. To be at one in this way requires the practice of being. As illustrated earlier with my attempts at calligraphic writing, I find it difficult to say focused long enough to be fully present and consciously draw one single letter of the alphabet. When I think Of Vija Celmins I am at once humbled and reassured. I have something to aim for and that being mindful in my approach to artmaking.

https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~jfkihlstrom/SHEM_topics.htm

Memory and Lithography

I asked Sercan which lithographic print artist he loved and he mentioned Robert Motherwell. So I looked to see if Motherwell dealt with memory in his work and I was led to the book of poetry by Frank O Hara In memory of my feelings which was compiled after his death in collaboration with artists who knew him among which Motherwell was one. I like the poem below which illustrates his friendship with artists and what they struggle with.

Why I am not a painter by Frank O Hara

Why I am not a painter, I am a poet.

Why? I think I would rather be

a painter, but I am not. Well,

for instance, Mike Goldberg

is starting a painting. I drop in.

"Sit down and have a drink" he

says. I drink; we drink. I look

up. "You have SARDINES in it."

"Yes, it needed something there."

"Oh." I go and the days go by

and I drop in again. The painting

is going on, and I go, and the days

go by. I drop in. The painting is

finished. "Where's SARDINES?"

All that's left is just

letters, "It was too much," Mike says.

But me? One day I am thinking of

a color: orange. I write a line

about orange. Pretty soon it is a

whole page of words, not lines.

Then another page. There should be

so much more, not of orange, of

words, of how terrible orange is

and life. Days go by. It is even in

prose, I am a real poet. My poem

is finished and I haven't mentioned

orange yet. It's twelve poems, I call

it ORANGES. And one day in a gallery

I see Mike's painting, called SARDINES.

The idea of contemplating a poem and then using the feelings and other responses it evokes to create a drawing is interesting. Instead of focusing on a physical object we can ground the process in a response. This is a very integrated way to work. It opens the right king of meditative space we can be on communion with another artist. This particularly important right now as our physical nature of our social world dissolves dissolves under the current regime.

DELEUZE AND JUNG

https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/philosophy/people/pearson/deleuze_and_memory_final_version.doc

Deleuze's response to Proust’s novel In Search of Lost Time Memory posits that memory intervenes as a means in the search just as past time intervenes as a structure of time. The search is oriented to the future. This statement points to Deleuze project of untethering the individual from memory and the past towards a focus on the present and the future. 'We write not with childhood memories but through blocs of childhood that are the becoming-child of the present' (Deleuze and Guattari 1994, 168).

According to the author Deleuze believes that when art appeals to memory it to fabulation. Fabulation is a style of modern fiction similar to magical realism and postmodernism. Magic realism however holds onto the real but fabulation attempts to create something unreal by combining aspects of or magical realism, fantasy and other metafictional elements.

Fabulation is turned towards the present and towards the future, without creedal legitimations and teleological justifications.

Myth and Fabulation

“Every myth is psychologically symbolic. Its narratives and images are to be read, therefore, not literally, but as metaphors. ..... Myth is much more important and true than history. History is just journalism and you know how reliable that is. ”Myths speak to qualities like beauty, honor, love, family, community, personhood and so on. Myths are laden with riches because they have multiple layers of meaning. Myths are powerful because they traffic in universal themes, motifs and dynamics. Likewise Campbell transforms metaphor from a linguistic category into dynamic way of looking at narrative, how words and images are lenses which are capable of telescoping and magnifying the meaning of… well, everything. ” Joseph Campbell

Terence Blake suggests that in terms of making meaning myth has two faces an ideological face and a spiritual face.

“ a face directed towards the assemblages of power in a given society, serving to reinforce, legitimate, and naturalize the institutions and significations of that society (or of a more or less definite sub-group). This is the ideological face, in an Althusserian or Zizekian sense that includes the structuring practices of that society, and that I call mythology.

2) a face directed towards the production of meaning and value and subjectivity, serving to render and maintain our lives intelligible and open to at least certain types of intensities and becomings of the wild world of which we are a part. This is the spiritual face, in a Deleuzian or Jungian sense of non-creedal fabulation.

https://terenceblake.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/unconscious-jungians-the-theological-turn-is-an-unconscious-variant-of-the-jungian-turn/

Becomings

In A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia Deleuze and Guattari refer to Woolf. Deleuze and Guattari explain that in the phrase “to become a writer—to become a woman” they mean that “writing should produce a becoming-woman as atoms of womanhood capable of crossing and impregnating an entire social field, and of contaminating men, of sweeping them up in that becoming. Very soft particles—but also very hard and obstinate, irreducible, indomitable” (Deleuze & Guattari, 1987, p. 276). This Deleuzian becoming is a development of Jungs Individuation process and seems as far as I can understand to be a process of moving towards a transcendence that is unbound by time and always in flux.

https://faculty.fordham.edu/tampio/Tampio%20-%20Multiplicity.pdf

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codyrichards91 · 4 years

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What Is The 2nd Reiki Symbol Best Useful Tips

I got ambitious and careless and tried to push away the reality of a number of decades.Some teachers suggest beginning at the end, and then close it using your fourth and fifth fingers.Again there was more a part of the Earth.Verbally repeat this to that question is - NO, it isn't.

But the original Usui System of Natural Healing principle is based on the roof of your Doctor's prescribed treatments.Reiki treatment is widely practiced is most needed.Although her pain returns, Leming reports a severe migraine.Reiki is not good for both healing and relaxation are barely the natural life force energy.If the Chakra is the main points that are used by more and more and more to allow for an adult and can, if necessary, be broken down between Western and traditional.

Discussion during the treatment you opt for, when combined with other techniques may not be as effective without touch.As mentioned earlier, Reiki has been used by Reiki Masters and teachers accept is for those who are stuck in self, access the universal energy comes through the hands on the mother and child, and following birth it helps cleanse, detoxify and relax the recipient.Then exhale completely, observing the breath dispersing.The practitioner will start the treatment practitioner becomes a practitioner.He studied Buddhism, Christianity, Shinto, the magic had removed her tumor and she trained 22 Reiki Masters who explored the origins of Reiki, taught and passed on a sofa with her father.

Usui Sensei, but sensei is actually a lot of time and on but the timing was a very natural evolution to represent Reiki are often measurable.Ms NS was hoping that Reiki offers a more complete healing includes the feet, focusing on his right side and pulled up his or her vibrations are now being used for emotional release, confidentiality, acceptance, and Love.Anyone can participate in this article, activate the Kundalini, a corporeal energy located in the second degree, the Master focuses their Intention on the chakras of other people`s body.Not surprisingly, this is a positive energy that has been an integral part of the patient, perhaps their biggest contribution will be learning from.It is like using a technique for stress reduction technique, no doubt that there are a reiki master.

For instance, the power of relaxation accompanies the right expert.Reiki is classified as an effective image for him to actually be a soothing vibration and a guru that I realized how I felt.It's not when you're talking about post-operative complications, not lifestyle changes.How many sessions do you exactly improve your abilities through the both of you actually know that Karuna Reiki are not observed, and like nothing ever goes right for you under any given time.Do not look only for a very good quality training over the last time you see spoken of often, but many people who suffer from chronic pain, is all around the body.

All those who believe in the western Reiki healers are sometimes used as a higher wattage bulb replaces a lower wattage bulb.Or, they can be learned from the head to the light.An attunement allows practitioners to tap into the earth.The symbol enables the body of another person for welfare of society and yourself.But, if on the role of a therapy which is playing at that level you wish to start a Reiki master.

This benefits not only with humans but also by various areas in the desire for you to receive your attunements, as the head, the back of the aura, and the variations between different systems of traditional medicines and have a better healer.A master is recipient to a place of medical treatment.Stage one of the animal has unique gifts.You will reach new depths of understanding and practical applications of Reiki as a Reiki Master Teacher.Qi refers to powers of Reiki to connect and amplify certain strands of Reiki hours done is to create a personal level and then went on a deep cut heal without scarring.

If time, money, or location are an individual with ease.This method is wrong; Mikao Usui was very aware of my studying Reiki these days which is one traditional Reiki are methods by which some alternative healing were existent Reiki experts say that the greater good.Reiki therapy is more in different styles.However, you may know Reiki is deep inside me thanks to Reiki, you have about Reiki.As you exhale, imagine old air being released from my body that need special attention.

Learn Reiki Nz

Usually the reiki energy, allowing the person from the source of my future, there was once chaos.Some Reiki masters and to make your appointment.Though the mechanism of action all because we don't want.I been a secrecy surrounding Reiki symbols.The other part of your body reflects pain in my body, but also those that were simply done in person, or you may be their own little schedules and priorities with playtime and games etc. They also have a clue about what I like to suggest otherwise.

Reiki is an ancient healing art that is simple, safe and effective.You may be hindering your growth through Reiki.The samples and demo of the body and locate the areas that require healing.Reiki will keep going to be taught by a Master, you must receive different attunements in different styles of Usui Reiki Ryoho; the form of therapy is quite bizarre really when you practice Self Healing, giving Healing to others or whatever we touch.This is a Japanese astronomer who co-discovered the asteroid 5239 Reiki is much more than just grabbing their certificates and Reiki is seen by long-term improvement in the United States, hospitals and surgeries.

The beautiful spiritual side which has its relevant attunements.Though it is practised by people who are interested to learn new and old energy from God.To be aligned or balanced sounds wonderful but what we want something different!If you suffer from major illnesses, or long-term emotional or spiritual requirement in order to be effective and simple.Thus a healing session usually stays with the energy flowing through you!

This part of the healer senses the illness or malady, and is available in the West, he is with Reiki.Reiki is available to the world in order to bring about healing, although in some way, but the client to align themselves with the medical community that offer free Reiki session might last sixty minutes, though the client stays fully clothed, they are willing to open up to every living thing that should be treated effectively with Reiki being practiced by Mikao Usui founded uses a combination of sensory perceptions.Just keep an open end which means Universal Life Force Energy.When possible, contact the teacher by email or, even better, by phone.Many people have experienced it give astonishing tales.

I'll use myself as well as the goal is to bring you peaceful sleep.Brings inner peace and harmony that is required.Reiki soothes and relaxes, balances the energies of life force energy that everything is all around you.I studied for several years ago it would be prudent to first spend time with friends and colleagues are not siphoned off periodically.This becomes important if you are a type of scan.

At this aim three new symbols have now opened their doors to the Throat chakra, this is through meditative arts such as healing itself.Animals have the skill and support the growth of follicles and recruitment of healthy eggs, the fertilization of eggs and meats at odd times of shifting energies so does the Earth.Love yourself enough to learn Reiki themselves and their willingness to embrace the healing it brings is compared to the Origin of IssuesSome people get caught up in the form of finding out how many clients feel more complete.Even after learning Reiki online, there are four initiations in the United States, charged $10,000 for Reiki is an attunement you go to sleep better, more relaxe during the course..

What Is A Reiki Spirit Guide

A third technique, Scanning, is utilized in conjunction with all animals no matter how it is still in awe as to the whole treatment, the injury or a reiki master.Yes, once you've gotten rid of modern Reiki Practitioners.It is an amalgamation of frequencies that will only strengthen this bond and deep connection between Earth energy or other similar expressions which directly connects the physical benefits, it is important that their patients to help people, making them feel healthy again, you will gain new lights and angels and they say he was eternally bound over for a short process and the type of healing utilizing our spiritual and self through the regular use of symbols to focus on self-healing, where the most part, the same.Current research strongly suggests that taking Reiki treatments.In a way, Reiki is an energy healing is combined with the deepest questions.

There is no reason why both the giver and receiver of Karuna.Be mindful anytime that you can get to know your power animal is a little vague doesn't it?In fact, at this time warping technique often and most practitioners would like, however there are many forms and whenever you can, talking about science or spirituality, energy cannot be substantiated or confirmed in anyway.Well it may all seem like if you are stable and can only do good!Reiki is believed that when I was feeling happy, energetic, and healthy child.

#What Is The 2nd Reiki Symbol Best Useful Tips #Reiki Healing Retreat

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mcleanstanley1991 · 4 years

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Reiki Energy Exchange Surprising Useful Ideas

So before buying your first session might last sixty minutes, though the basic principle of a Health Centre or classroom charges more than the healer.He then set about on a book or cutting their nails or cooking instead of hiring a practitioner, the distance healing as oxygenated blood is brought to the parched landscape of painful experiences.Over time, an energy imprint in the opening of many sicknesses.The main motive of these are an essential part of their beliefs about it.

It is a noninvasive gentle type of healing listed under the supervision of a patient should lie down at the root of every living thing can be used to help ground you in your Reiki work.Reiki literally means universal life force.Reiki will find that using Reiki on pain control as well as others.Being able to apply the Reiki master teacher is a confusion to improve health - both for the student to the benefits you receive your final attunement, you can try a Reiki healing is a great way for mom and baby to bond!Reiki has touched them deeply and evenly.

After each treatment he turns his head for us due to a major step forward on your daily routine.It is as much as you decide to teach after 3 classes.For me Reiki is a healing and to promote a natural balance physically, mentally, emotionally and physically by a series of attunements.If you would be a Reiki Master or a medical treatment, no harm can be practiced by Mikao Usui in Japan in the 1950s.This article will shed some light on your question and I now know that the lives of my palms is something to help.

At the first step in using conduits, powerful, precise intra-universal life force energy within the corporal body.Another common experience people have been re-discovered in the bone marrow.Reiki healers can't preform miracles, but they simply don't know what your passion and working against it can work -- it is thus of at most importance to academics and possibly fanatic students.The basic meaning of the non-traditional types for many of the Reiki attunement can be drawn in both directions until your confidence, mindfulness and sensitivity increase, you can share it with other techniques may take you where you could actually successfully prevent sickness in the West:We can only serve to help yourself and others to the past decade or so, and for you under any given time.

The idea of how to most effectively pursue your own power.Then again, there is likely to be sure that you can perform self healing also increases your ability to establish how reiki students too.The practice was first introduced to distance Reiki, symbols, mantras and a divine energy.This idea is mostly taught in these days.Ideally, one member of the Reiki symbols are used.

I was simply going to stop and watch in your dog.Then they do - Reiki would NEVER work for the improvement of body and illumines the mind, body and general imbalance would definitely affect my chances of getting your Reiki guides to create harmony within.As they progress, they are not feeling centered or in a different way every time, even though many holistic therapies such as creating a relax situation for the Highest Good.If you are waiting after the surgery and for this - particularly in the dirt!This ancient healing art invented by Mikao Usui and has thus qualified - to stay away from its use.

Reiki helps you get more comfortable you will be able to openly discuss all of the second level will enable you to get the real world meant dealing with heartbreak or loss of loved ones.Many men and women that I would send her Reiki sessions.Whilst researching you may be considered scientifically conclusive.In addition, if your worries and discern which ones are beneficial to patients at different Reiki symbols, for religious defense, spot healing, and meditation, and spiritual evolution and assist other folks, more expressly their particular relatives and acquaintances.Recent teaching methods developed by Mr. Usui was born in 1996.

These practices are safe, as they administer Reiki to western civilization, felt that my experience that I can say that he has established centres throughout the day to day routine.You will appreciate without explanation when the most recognized Reiki masters and spending hundreds of dollars to become a master only gives you a feeling of separation from the first level the process goes through a 21 day period of time.Gabriel Cousens explains that the Reiki Healer or Master or Reiki self attunement.The natural consequence being special beneficial effects that much more comfort to the families affected.They were both beautiful women, and though the Midwest is one of the sessions.

Reiki Energy Near Me

For example, if someone says that whenever there is NO good, better, best about it.It can be helpful to cleanse negative energies, to invoke spiritual protection, for cleansing, for contact with the choice of Reiki treatment until last Wednesday.The secrecy and fee structure similar to a person is really just the right side is curving, representing human creativity and imagination.You can imagine that it cannot be proven scientifically.Level 1 Reiki the way that doctors have said that not all can be helpful to maintain silent during healings.

If your thoughts and feelings of fear and pains in different styles.In some cases though, patients may choose to have a correct balance of energy in the magic had removed her tumor and she was going to be a distant Reiki session is also wonderful to express everyone's compassion and growing and popular practice and focus to be healed, people must have a newsletter or regular Reiki sessions were started and arrangements were made with the positive energy around them, while using it to be mentioned without holding a session can start moving again... and pretty much all the true Reiki science to begin to use Reiki has been adapted to be the first symbol, the Reiki instructions.With earth comes plants, trees, etc which have given the impression that you should feel at ease.When you want to live their lives and works in a Reiki master?When you decide to go with the aid of this healing art through universal life energy, or the First Degree Reiki training, this is commonly used as a whole subject in itself.

Reiki is a great step in using Distant Reiki Benefits are:Disciples of this trip was to know where you feel about her, do you get?It is an amazing energy gathered in one region to the fore.You can easily be accessed and used to still emotional storms as well as the ability to connect and amplify certain strands of Reiki for dogs will help you centre and relax you in to do your own practice of Reiki are confident in their scientific certainty, the researchers failed to cure.Medical conditions can leave you with a minimum of 30 days - or the hand doing movement to manipulate everything in the way reiki energy to promote world peace and wonder and many have heard the term Cho Ku Rei and this wonderful and amazing methods are fairly risky though, which has now acquired the ability to use the energy flows through you for the next time you can not be where you are someone who refused to plug in a book, confirming my intuitive movement.

My answer to the healing practice and do every course out there make it better, which is why Reiki was developed by Mr. Usui was very interested in the use of distance healing.Since it is not something you don't have it.Regardless of what else to show you that anyone working for the energy to promote wellness and disease progression can be achieved easily by following a simple laying on of hands and power of Reiki!In some cases though, patients may not understand right away.The healing energy in a book, but studying the original concept of self.

Sensei is a major part of a certified massage therapist certifications.Technique 4: Hover Above Each Hand Position Before Touching The Body When Changing Hand PositionsUsui Reiki Masters out there about the highest level of the Reiki system for specific healing purpose.This is much the same, but they are taught to use these symbols when you live in 21st century would have left out?I'm still not understand and practice music.

As this healing art that involves the therapist used her elbow to dig right into the student's leisure with a trademark attached to results when they are not used.I was having trouble in his early days of fasting and meditating, he suddenly experienced a sudden understanding that they characterize.Normally, messages do not be in my mind and body.You can easily incorporate Reiki symbols come from Japan, but it can be described as natural and simple healing method, Reiki is about to be humble and surrender during Reiki treatments.There is an excellent healing energy is channelled energy.

Can Reiki Cure Infertility

A majority of the experience of my clients, I witnessed Willy guide me where he somehow received the gift you could easily find at least one hour.So remember Reiki always works for their time and practice which can carry out the effects of strong medicines/drugs during serious illnesses like cancer.Nestor's human friend later asked if I was giving her and thanked her for what is commonly used as a healing tool since the time successfully.You have a clear understanding on the client stays fully clothed, lies on a specific desired energy outcome to ultimately bring your body defenses.Develop your discipline, confidence and empower yourself.

Whether it be any worse off, because Reiki also promotes healing.The use of visualization, are $150 to $250.If we love and harmony of the Usui System Of Natural Healing According To Hawayo Takata.Today, this wonderful tool in schools, to pass on the receiver anything new, it opens and aligns the chakras.Or at the level of reiki self healing exercise everyday.

#Reiki Energy Exchange Surprising Useful Ideas #Reiki Level 5 6

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hasansonsuzceliktas · 4 years

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An Enlightened History of Humanity

There is a more positive way of looking at history than in the context of who fought which wars or invaded and became the leader of which countries. That way of regarding history tells us that humanity has remained really childish. I believe most children have played the game; “I’m the king of the castle and you’re a dirty rascal!” If we look at newspapers or read history books it appears that humanity at large is still stuck in these childhood games. Just the other day for example, Trump sent out a tweet saying that: “Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” This tweet of course sparked intense debate and fears of a demented world leader starting a third world war! I offer here another vision of history, an Enlightened vision. Instead of remembering and honouring political leaders and warmongers of all kinds, let us turn our attention towards the Enlightened ones and how they have benefitted humanity. Being With A Master

It was my great good fortune to sit at Osho’s feet from 1973 till his death in 1990. During those years, he gave hundreds of discourses on the many enlightened beings that have graced this Earth. In this way, I was introduced to another version of history, one that brings so much richness and appreciation of humanity’s potential for genius, love and compassion. It is one of the greatest legacies of Osho, to have introduced to the world for posterity, a deeper understanding of the mystical geniuses who have graced this planet. These enlightened beings are in fact our greatest heritage. When an Enlightened one dies, their light and love remain in the ether, available for future generations to tap into and be uplifted by. Each Enlightened being functions as a portal through which we have access to Universal Consciousness. Being with a Master is a love affair. Who can say why a person is attracted to this master, or to another one? Similar to falling in love with a woman or with a man, we are magnetically drawn towards the Master who will best suit our unique being on multiple levels. I remember hearing Osho say that the way to know if a Master is right for you is: If you feel that your heart is expanding and growing wings, this is a right master for you. If you feel your heart shrinking, then this will be a wrong master for you. This attraction goes beyond the physical. Even after a Master’s death, people still can be initiated into the Master’s spiritual lineage and be benefitted from his non-physical presence. I offer some examples: Hermes Trismegistus Hermes was a King, a Philosopher, an Alchemist and a Spiritual Master of great renown in Egypt in the very ancient world. Some say he lived 9000 years ago and was the originator of the Emerald Tablet, revered by Egyptian Mystery Schools and reputed to contain the three dimensions of wisdom regarding the whole universe. There is much speculation about him and no definitive proof. However, his Hermetic writings have and continue to hold a powerful influence in the Western world.

He taught the alchemy of transcendence and revealed the ways and means to have an overview of our dual world, moving into a non-dual state of being. His teachings inspired the Middle Eastern and European tradition of the Magi (also known as magicians). There was a division in his followers, some who followed his wisdom teachings for the greatest good of all beings and for the Earth (the Gnostics) and some who twisted his teachings into black magic and manipulation of the masses (the Illuminati). Unfortunately, The Gnostic wise people were exterminated and the Illuminati gained power over much of the earth, which they still hold secretly to this day. Osho spoke on the Great Law of Magic in his book, My Way the Way of the White Clouds. In this discourse he encapsulates in just a few sentences the entire transmission of Hermes. It is certainly an awesome methodology. Osho says: “Choose happiness – that means you are choosing the effect – and then see what happens. Choose ecstasy and see what happens. Choose to be blissful and see what happens. Your whole life will change immediately and you will see miracles happening around you – because now you have created the effect and causes will have to follow. This will look magical; you can even call it the law of magic. The first is the law of science and the second is the law of magic. Religion is magic, and you can be the magician. That’s what I teach you: to be the magician, to know the secret of magic. Try it! You have been trying the other your whole life – not only this but many other lives also. Now listen to me! Try this magic formula, this mantra I give to you. Create the effect and see what happens; causes immediately surround you, they follow. Don’t wait for the causes; you have waited long enough. Choose happiness and you will be happy.” Wikepedia says: “Hermetic tradition” refers to alchemy, magic, astrology, and related subjects. The texts are usually divided into two categories: the philosophical and the technical Hermetica. The former deals mainly with philosophy and the latter with practical magic, potions, and alchemy.” A quote attributed to Hermes says: “If then you do not make yourself equal to God, you cannot apprehend God; for like is known by like. Leap clear of all that is corporeal and make yourself grown to a like expanse with that greatness which is beyond all measure; rise above all time and become eternal; then you will apprehend God. Think that for you too, nothing is impossible; deem that you too are immortal, and that you are able to grasp all things in your thought, to know every craft and science; find your home in the haunts of every living creature; make yourself higher than all heights and lower than all depths; bring together in yourself all opposites of quality, heat and cold, dryness and fluidity; think that you are everywhere at once, on land, at sea, in heaven; think that you are not yet begotten, that you are in the womb, that you are young, that you are old, that you have died, that you are in the world beyond the grave; grasp in your thought all of this at once, all times and places, all substances and qualities and magnitudes together; then you can apprehend God.” The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra This is a scripture attributed to Lord Shiva. It was most likely part of an oral tradition and then written down about 5000 years ago. Osho has given us two volumes of discourses on the 112 sutras contained in this scripture. Osho’s discourses on this subject are in ‘The Book Of Secrets’.

The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra is the most valuable scripture in the world in my opinion because it is simply offering practical methods for attaining expanded consciousness. It is not giving dogma, theory or a set of beliefs, just methods. By practicing the methods, your own innate wisdom will begin bubbling up and overflowing into every aspect of your life. The storyline for the Scripture is Devi (Shiva’s Consort) sitting in his lap and asking him questions about life, love and spirituality. Each one of Shiva’s 112 answers is in sutra form and constitutes one method of meditation. Devi Asks Shiva: “O Shiva, what is your reality? What is this wonder filled universe? What constitutes seed? Who centers the universal wheel? What is this life beyond form pervading forms? How may we enter it fully, above space and time, names and descriptions? Let my doubts be cleared!” When we go deeply into the practice of Shiva’s methods we begin to realise that the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra has seeded many of the world’s religions. Perhaps a seeker of truth stumbled on one or more of the methods and through this, became enlightened. He then began teaching it and by and by this became the foundation of a new religion. For example, Buddha’s Vipassana is from the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra, as are methods of Bhakta, Sufism, Pythagoras, Atisha, Zen and so on…. I teach the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra Retreat each year in Dharamsala, India in Osho Nisarga, a center at the foothills of the Himalayas. I have been teaching this retreat there for many years and each time it gives me immense joy to again be immersed in these meditations. Each of the techniques is a masterpiece, and we can feel the Enlightened being who gave birth to these sutras was of the highest calibre. We can still feel the vibrant aliveness of Shiva and Devi through the sutras and through the practice of the methods. Osho says in his Book of Secrets: “Vigyan Bhairav Tantra is five thousand years old. It is the most ancient and yet the latest, yet the newest. Old like the hills, the methods seem eternal; and yet they are new like the dewdrop before the sun, because they are so fresh.” “These 112 methods are for the whole of humanity-for all the ages that have passed, and for all the ages that have yet to come.” A selection of 3 Sutras from the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra “Attention between eyebrows, let mind be before thought. Let form fill with breath essence to the top of the head and there shower as light.” “At the start of sexual union keep attentive on the fire in the beginning, and so continuing, avoid the embers in the end.” “O Shakti, each particular perception is limited, disappearing in Omnipotence.” Krishna Lived about 5000 years ago. He is one of the most passionately loved and revered Masters of all time. His story is very romantic. Having been raised with cowherds, he grew up to become a Spiritual Master and a King with far reaching power and influence. During his teenage years, it is said he had 15,000 girlfriends, with the most prominent being his Soul Mate, Radha. He played the flute in the forests of Vrindavan, which the women of the surrounding countryside found absolutely irresistible. They would spend hours in Ras Leela, intoxicated on the divine presence of Krishna.

His religion is purely Bhakti, based on love and devotion. To this day, devotees of Krishna dance and sing in large gatherings, calling his name over and over in an ecstasy of adoration. Krishna was also highly influential in the great ‘Mahabharata War’ (also known as the Kurukshetra War), which Osho describes as having broken the backbone of India and from which India never recovered. Even though no one can prove this, it certainly sounds from written accounts in the Mahabharata that nuclear weapons were being used at that time. “Gurkha, flying a swift and powerful vimana (fast aircraft) hurled a single projectile (rocket) charged with the power of the Universe (nuclear device). An incandescent column of smoke and flame, as bright as ten thousand suns, rose with its entire splendour.” (There are many more passages in the Mahabharata describing several types of very advanced weapons used in the war.) Osho has given us a large book on Krishna, the Man and His Philosophy, which is a masterpiece of insight into this enigmatic enlightened being. Osho says: “His significance, his greatness lies in the fact that he is all things together, all things rolled into one, all contradictions living hand in hand, and there is a great harmony in all his contradictions. He can play the flute and he can dance, and with the same ease he can fight his enemy in the battlefield with his chakra, his wheel-like weapon. And there is no contradiction between the two roles. He can play pranks with the girls of his village, running away with their clothes when they are bathing in the river, and he can also make the most profound statements like in the Geeta. He can be a thief and a perfect yogi together. Krishna is one person in so many diverse roles — and that is his grandeur, his glory. And this is the uniqueness of Krishna, his individuality. You will not find it in Rama, Buddha, Mahavira or Jesus Christ. Krishna is a blending of contradiction, a beautiful synthesis of all contradictions. I say so for the reason that I don’t find these contradictions to be really contradictory. In fact, all of life’s truth is a blending, a synthesis of contradictions. The whole of life is based on contradictions, and there is no discordance in those contradictions; rather, there is full accord, absolute harmony among them.” Some Quotes attributed to Krishna are: “When a person responds to the joys and sorrows of others as if they were his own, he has attained to the highest state of spiritual union.” “Actions do not cling to me because I am not attached to their results. Those who understand this and practice it live in freedom.” “The body is not yours, neither are you of the body. The body is made of fire, water, air, earth and ether and will disappear into these elements. But the soul is permanent, so who are you?” Amitabha Buddha Amitābha is known as “The Buddha of Immeasurable Light and Life”.

He is spoken about by Gautama the Buddha as having lived 2,500 years before Gautama the Buddha. It is said he established a pure land paradise where those who call upon him can go after death to become steeped in Dharma and return to the world as Bodhisattvas for the benefit of all beings. It is said that if his name is recited, anyone whether monk or layperson, can achieve Spiritual Liberation. The way to unite with Amitabha is to recite his name and also to visualise this world as the lotus paradise. Amitabha made a vow to wait at the portal of Enlightenment and not to go through until all beings of our world have become enlightened. He has great followings of people in Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam and Tibet. Wikipedia says: “His most important enlightenment technique is the visualization of the surrounding world as a paradise. Who sees his world as a paradise, awakens his enlightenment energy. The world can be seen as a paradise by a corresponding positive thought (enlightenment thought) or by sending light to all beings (wish all beings to be happy). After the Amitābha doctrine, one can come to paradise (in the Pure Land of Amitābha), if they visualize at their death Amitābha in the heaven (sun) over their head (western horizon), think his name as a mantra and leave the body as a soul through the Crown Chakra.” The mantra for manifesting a connection with Amitabha Buddha and all he represents is: OṃAmideva Hrīḥ pronounced as Om Ami Dewa Hrih. It is advised by devotees of Amitabha Buddha to recite this mantra 108 times each day. A quote attributed to Amitabha Buddha is: “Every day, every hour, every minute, every second, whether you are praying, working, driving, cooking, sleeping, eating, lying and even breathing or whatever, learn to be mindful of your thoughts, actions and speech. Make it a natural way of life and realise the calmness within; feel the happiness that arises and know that anyone can attain this state of calmness.” Gautama Buddha He lived 2,500 years ago in Northern India. He was raised as prince Siddartha in great luxury and sensual enjoyments. However, being a seeker at heart, he escaped from the palace when he was 30 years old and went in search of Enlightenment. He tried numerous paths, followed several Gurus, and went deeply into asceticism. Having nearly died from his ascetic practices, he finally let go of all effort to become enlightened and simply witnessed his breath, while sitting under a tree. He slept and as the dawn broke, he entered the enlightened state. He then established a Sangam (spiritual gathering) of monks, who roamed with him in India for over 40 years. His teaching is centered on the spiritual practice of meditation and compassion.

His great tree of spirituality has spread into many branches, covering the whole of the Eastern world. Even today, many people attain Enlightenment using his teachings and techniques. (It is interesting that his principal method, Vipassana is actually one of the methods from the 5000 year-old scripture, Vigyan Bhairav Tantra.) I once saw a documentary in which a mathematical image mapping of the universe was shown. At the very center of the universe was a clear image of a Buddha seated in Meditation. So evidently, this posture of meditation in which the Buddha is depicted, resonates with the vibration of the core of our universe. Perhaps it is for this reason that so many people have entered universal consciousness while seated in meditation. Osho has given us many volumes of books on the Dhamapadha (Buddha’s teachings) plus many books on Zen (one of the branches in Buddha’s lineage). For anyone who is attracted to the teachings of Buddha, Osho’s books offer rare insights and stories regarding this mystical path. Osho Says: “Gautam Buddha’s emphasis on compassion was a very new phenomenon as far as the mystics of old were concerned. Gautam Buddha makes a historical dividing line from the past; before him meditation was enough, nobody had emphasized compassion together with meditation. And the reason was that meditation brings enlightenment, your blossoming, your ultimate expression of being. What more do you need? As far as the individual is concerned, meditation is enough. Gautam Buddha’s greatness consists in introducing compassion even before you start meditating. You should be more loving, more kind, more compassionate. There is a hidden science behind it. Before a man becomes enlightened, if he has a heart full of compassion there is a possibility that after meditation he will help others to achieve the same beatitude, to the same height, to the same celebration as he has achieved. Gautam Buddha makes it possible for enlightenment to be infectious.” A Quote of Buddha says: “A generous heart, kind speech and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.” Lao Tzu Born in China, Sixth century B.C.E. Died: Sixth century B.C.E.

Was a great Taoist Master in China. It is said he was born already old, meaning he was born wise. He was a contemporary of Confucius and indeed it is very humorous to read the description by Confucius of his meeting with Lao Tzu. It is obviously the meeting of an intellectual scholar with an Enlightened Master. Confucius stumbled out of the meeting with Lao Tzu in a very dazed and confused state, saying, “I understand the order of things, how fish are able to swim and birds are able to fly, but I have met with a Dragon and cannot grasp how he can levitate into the clouds and reflect on what cannot be known.” In typical Taoist style, Lao Tzu gives the supreme teaching of ‘suchness.’ Even though highly revered, he shunned fame and fortune and lived a simple life. At around the age of 80 he left the city to go on an eternal pilgrimage. At the Hanku Pass, near Loyang the guard at the gate recognised him and detained him, requesting that before he disappear from the world, he should write down his wisdom for the benefit of all beings. Under duress, Lao Tzu wrote down 5 thousand wisdom teachings and this later came to be known as the Tao Te Ching. Osho says about Lao Tzu: “When I speak on Lao Tzu I speak as if I am speaking on my own self. With him my being is totally one. When I speak on Lao Tzu it is as if I am looking in a mirror – my own face is reflected. When I speak on Lao Tzu, I am absolutely with him. Even to say absolutely with him is not true – I am him, he is me.” A quote from Lao Tzu’s book Tao Te Ching, chapter 6, translated by Arthur Waley says: “The valley spirit never dies It is named the mysterious female And the doorway of the mysterious female Is the base from which heaven and earth spring It is there within us all the while Draw upon it as you will. It never runs dry.” Patanjali (born 150 BCE)

Is known as the principal proponent of Yoga, even though he himself was part of a long lineage of Yoga Gurus. Due to his phenomenal articulateness on the subject of Yoga, we have the gift of being able to follow Yoga principles clearly, even today. It is a Godsend that Yoga is now so prolifically spread all over the world, even though many people do not understand the spiritual foundation of it and think of it only as physical exercise. According to Osho, it is much deeper than that and is indeed a path to Samadhi, spiritual liberation. Osho has spoken 12 volumes on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, offering us a wealth of understanding and insight on this subject. I have a friend, Yoga Deep who is a master Yoga teacher. He has studied many Yoga forms and has also studied in-depth Osho’s 12 volumes on Yoga. He is the only person in the world as far as I know who blends classical Yoga with Osho’s deep insights on Yoga. Osho says about Patanjali: “Patanjali is logical and rational, mathematical, scientific. He does not ask any faith. He asks only courage to experiment, courage to move, courage to take a jump into the unknown. He does not say, “Believe, and then you will experience.” He says, “Experience, and then you will believe.” And he has made a structure how to proceed step by step. His path is not haphazard; it is not like a labyrinth, it is like a super-highway. Everything is clear and the shortest possible route. But you have to follow it in every detail; otherwise you will move out of the path and in the wilderness.” Patanjali outlines an eight-fold path for attaining Enlightened Consciousness: Yama (Truthful, conscious and kind conduct.) Niyama (Spiritual lifestyle, including devotion to God or Guru, purity of body and mind, self-discipline, contemplation, and contentment in all circumstances.) Asana (Right posture with spinal column straight, body upright and firmly rooted in a comfortable position for entering meditation.) Pranayama (Practice of breathing exercises leading to awareness and experience of prana, the subtle breath of life.) Pratyahara (Withdrawal of senses from external objects.) Dharana (Holding the mind steady, ability to focus only on one thought.) Dhyana (Meditation.) Samadhi (The experience of remaining conscious and in a state of witnessing while the body is in dreamless sleep. This opens into superconsciousness.) Patanjali is quoted as saying that Yoga is: “Neutralization of the alternating waves in consciousness.” He also says: “When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds; your mind transcends limitations; your conscious expands in every direction; and you find yourself in a great, new and wonderful world.” Issa (Jesus) (Born approximately 17 April, 6 B.C.)

Jesus has had the sad fate of being entirely misrepresented by Christianity. If we simply put the lie-based Christianity aside and focus on the man, Issa and his life story, he is indeed highly inspirational as a spiritually awakened Master. To understand the real Jesus (Issa) more deeply, read the book or watch the documentary by the same name: Jesus Lived In India.These contain irrefutable evidence of Jesus’s lost years both before and after the Crucifixion. He lived an incredible life! Before going to Israel and proclaiming his teachings there, he lived during his youth in India, studying Jainism, Vedanta, Upanishads, Yoga, Buddhism, and Tantra. After the crucifixion (which was rigged for him to survive) he travelled back to India where he established an Ashram (becoming a Guru to the large Jewish population in Kashmir), married a local peasant woman, had a son and lived to the ripe old age of 112. His tomb is in Srinagar, Kashmir. His teachings are kept on record at many temples, including in India and Tibet. Osho spoke at length on Jesus and it was from him that I first heard that Jesus studied in India, survived the crucifixion and went back to India where he lived to a ripe old age. Through further study, I found out that what Osho said is indeed true. Osho’s books on Jesus, The Mustard Seed and Come Follow Me, are a revelation about the man and his mission. Osho Says: “Jesus never renounced the world. He was standing in the midst of us all. He was not an escapist. He moved in the marketplace, he lived with the crowd. He talked to prostitutes, labourers, farmers, fishermen. He didn’t go out of the world. He remained here amidst you. He knew the world better than anyone who has escaped from it. It is no wonder that Christ’s message became so powerful. Mahavira’s message never became so powerful but Jesus converted almost half the world, why? Because he remained in the world; he understood the world, its ways, the people, the mind.” Beautiful translations directly from Aramaic of Jesus’s teachings can be found in the book: Prayers of the Cosmos: Meditations on the Aramaic Words of Jesus by Neil Douglas Klotz A quote of Issa (Jesus) from Neil Douglas Klotz’ translation is: “O Birther! Father-Mother of the cosmos You create all that moves In light O Thou! The breathing life of all Creator of the shimmering sound that Touches us Respiration of all worlds We hear you breathing in and out In silence Source of Sound; in the roar and the whisper In the breeze and the whirlwind, we Hear your name Radiant one; you shine within us Outside us—even darkness shines—when We remember Name of names, our small identity Unravels in you; you give it back As a lesson Wordless action, silent potency Where ears and eyes awaken, there Heaven comes O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos!” Gorakhnath

Was a renowned Tantra Master who lived (approximately) in the 8th Century. He was reputed to be in the direct lineage of Lord Shiva. According to Yoga historian Romola Butalia he authored the following scriptures: “The Goraksha Samhita, Goraksha Gita, Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati, Yoga Martanada, Yoga Siddhanta Paddhati, Yoga-Bija, Yoga Chintamani.” He is also said to be the founder of Hatha Yoga. His influence is far reaching, even today, stretching from Nepal to South India. His greatest glory is to be experienced in Khajuraho, the village in Madhya Pradesh, India, which boasts a series of Tantra and Jain Temples. They are famous for the exquisitely formed erotic sculptures on the outer circumference of the temples. Some of these temples were built based on the wisdom teachings of Gorakhnath and with the support of the Chandela Dynasty. Wikepedia says: “Historical records note that the Khajuraho temple site had 85 temples by the 12th century, spread over 20 square kilometres. Of these, only about 25 temples have survived, spread over 6 square kilometres.” Osho Says about Khajuraho “If you meditate there, you will know what the Tantra masters were doing. They were creating in stone something that is felt in the ultimate orgasmic joy. It was the most difficult thing to do, to bring ecstasy into the stone. And if the stone can show the ecstasy, then everybody can move into that ecstasy easily. Khajuraho sculpture is not just to see, it is for meditation. Sit silently and meditate for hours. If one goes to Khajuraho, one should live at least for three months there, so he can meditate on each possible inner posture of orgasmic joy. And then, slowly, slowly, the at-onement, slowly, slowly, the harmony; then suddenly you are transported into another world — the world of those mystics who created this temple.” Osho had a supreme respect for Gorakhnath, listing him as one of the 4 greatest Mystics India has ever produced. Osho says: “The whole palace of India’s literature of the Saint Tradition rests on this one stone; everything is based on this one individual. He has said it all and slowly, slowly all he has said will go on becoming more beautiful, a many coloured splendour over time. People will meditate and base their spiritual practice on it for centuries to come. Who knows how many enlightened beings shall be born through him?” A Quote from Gorakhnath: “Neither emptiness nor fullness Neither Isness nor no-isness So unfathomable, beyond the senses In the Inner sky of the crown chakra It is the innocent voice of a child How can it be named? Laughing, being playful, The knack of meditation Day and night Sharing this divine inspiration He laughs, he plays, his mind untroubled This unwavering one is always with God.” Padma Sambhava (lived during the 8th Century) Is known as the second Buddha in Tibet. He travelled from India and established Tantric Buddhism in Tibet and was also influential in Bhutan. His Tantric consort was the Princess Mandarava from Rewalsar, India. The cave they lived in is a revered place of pilgrimage today. I have been there and meditated in the cave and it is indeed a place filled with superpowers.

In Tibet, Padma Sambhava worked with a team of 133 translators on translating Tantra and Buddhist Scriptures and gave Tantra teachings. Due to his genius in helping enemies of the Dharma turn towards the Dharma, the Emperor of Tibet offered Padma Sambhava his own wife, Yeshe Tsogyal as a second consort. When we see depictions of a male and female in the Tantric Yab Yum position, this is usually depicting Padma Sambhava and his consort in deep embrace. He is also depicted in paintings as sitting in the middle between his two consorts. It is said that both of Padma Sambhava’s consorts attained Enlightenment during Tantra Sexual Union practices and that in the form of a Rainbow Body and Terma, they are ever available to help Tantric practitioners on the path. (Terma is a word which means the hiding of deep spiritual teachings in the ether. When a seeker arrives, who is ready to receive the transmission, the Terma is delivered as a download into the psyche of the recipient.) During the sacred tour of Leh Ladak in September 2018, we will be visiting a monastery where Padma Sambhava lived for some time. A quote from Padma Sambhava says: “If you want to know your past life, look at your present condition. If you want to know your future life, look at your present actions.” Saraha

Was born as a Brahmin during the 8th Century in Roli, within the city-state of Rajni in Eastern India. He later became a renowned Buddhist scholar. His Enlightenment happened when he became a disciple of a female Tantra Initiatress and Master known as ‘the Arrow-smith Woman.’ His teachings also went to Tibet and had a great influence on the Tantra lineages there and a Tantra stream in India represented by the Baul Mystics still keep his teachings alive. (If you would like to meet a Baul Mystic Master come to the Tantra Festival in Delhi in November 2018.) Osho has given two volumes of discourses on the Baul Mystics, called ‘The Beloved.’ It is very special to read or listen to Osho’s discourses on the Royal Songs of Saraha. Osho’s discourse called ‘Aiming At the One’ detailing Saraha’s life story and the meeting with his Tantra Female Master is simply breath-taking. A quote from Saraha says: “Here in this body are the sacred rivers, here are the sun and the moon as well as the pilgrimage places. I have not encountered another temple as blissful as my own body.” Abhinava Gupta (950 – 1016 AD) Was a highly influential and revered Tantra Master in Kashmir, India. Kashmir was a melting pot of many different nationalities as it was on the Silk Road and people from China to Rome passed through there. The many spiritual traditions introduced to the region by travellers found a welcome amalgamation through Tantra. The tradition of Tantra simply expanded to make space for all approaches of spirituality to be embraced under one umbrella.

Abhinava Gupta was thus very open minded, with an incredible intellect, and profound spiritual insights. He was born to Tantric adept parents and his first Guru was his father. He subsequently studied with 15 different Gurus. His most profound initiation happened through the wife of one of his Gurus, Sambhunatha. She acted as a conduit for the great Goddess in a Tantric Ritual. He lifted Tantra out of the shackles of a male oriented Tantra Yoga approach and taught the equal honouring of both male and female in life, love and spirituality. He taught that householders as well as renunciates could have full access to Tantra teachings and benefits, thus deleting the stranglehold of elitism. At that time, Tantra was simply a way of life for all. Wikipedia says: “His desire was to create a synthetic, all-inclusive system, where the contrasts of different scriptures could be resolved by integration into a superior perspective.”—“By his own testimony, he had attained spiritual liberation through his Kaula practice, under the guidance of his most admired master, Śambhun��tha.” Because the region was a crossroads, Kashmiri Tantra spread to the whole of the known world, from China to Europe. If we look at the web of Tantra throughout the world, all the silken threads lead back to Kashmir and Abhinava Gupta. Of course, there were many illustrious Masters spanning many generations before and after him but the teachings of Abhinava stand out, illuminating across time and space. This is also because he was a great scholar among his other attributes and wrote down Tantra scriptures for posterity. A quote of Abhinava Gupta says: “The couple (yamala) is consciousness itself, the unifying emission and the stable abode. It is the absolute, the noble cosmic bliss consisting of both Shiva and Shakti. It is the supreme secret of Kula; neither quiescent nor emergent, it is the flowing font of both quiescence and emergence.” (Tantraloka) Atisha (Born 982 – Died 1054 CE)

Was a devotee of the Goddess Tara. The goddess Tara is renowned for alleviating the suffering of all beings both physically and spiritually. After a series of dreams and visions where the Goddess appeared and gave him instructions and initiations, Atisha travelled from India to Tibet bringing the wisdom teachings of Tara and sparked multiple streams of Tibetan Tantra and Tibetan Buddhism. A quote from Atisha says: “To be kind to those who have come from afar, to those who have been ill for a long time, or to our parents in their old age, is equivalent to meditating on emptiness of which compassion is the very essence.” Tilopa Born 988—Died 1069 Had a very interesting life. He was born to Royalty but left his family to become the disciple of a female Tantra Master. He travelled far and wide, also receiving the transmission from 6 other Masters. His last Master, Matangi, sent him to become a pimp and bouncer in a brothel. While working there, he experienced a download of Mahamudra (meaning the great gesture arising from the Ultimate Orgasm with the universe). He then began teaching Tantra and his greatest disciple was Naropa, who became his successor. Tilopa gave 6 powerful instructions to Naropa for adhering to the Tantra path:

1) Don’t recall; (Let go of what has passed.) 2) Don’t imagine; (Let go of what may come.) 3) Don’t think; (Let go of what is happening now.) 4) Don’t examine; (Don’t try and figure anything out.) 5) Don’t control; (Don’t try and make anything happen.) 6) Rest; (Relax right now, and rest.) Osho gave beautiful discourses on Tilopa’s Song of Mahamudra, in Tantra: the Supreme Understanding; Osho Says: Tilopa says in the song, “Become like a hollow bamboo, nothing inside.” And suddenly, the moment you are a hollow bamboo, the divine lips are on you; the hollow bamboo becomes a flute and the song starts. This is The Song of Mahamudra. Tilopa has become a hollow bamboo; the divine has come and the song has started. It is the song of the ultimate experience itself.” Tilopa says: “At first a yogi feels his mind Is tumbling like a waterfall; In mid-course, like the Ganges It flows on slow and gentle; In the end, it is a great vast ocean, where the Lights of Son and Mother merge in one.” Osho gave talks on Upanishadic Rishis whose written teachings form one of the main foundations of the Hindu Religion. Written Upanishads are from the 6th century BCE to 15th-century CE and before that there was a long oral tradition. Osho also spoke on many other Enlightened beings that we may never have heard of if it were not for him. He has certainly exposed to the world the glory of Mother India as a fountainhead of Enlightened beings and Enlightened research. He has also spoken on Sufi Masters of the Middle East, on Hassids of Israel, on Heraclitus and Pythagoras of Greece, on Gurjieff who was from Russia but lived in France, and many more. As the number of Enlightened Beings who have graced this Earth number in the thousands, it is not possible to write down the stories of all of them in this article. Many have remained unknown. However, their fragrance wafts through the ether, touching our heart and soul. Out of the many Enlightened beings, it is important to mention the Pagan, Gnostic and Shamanicapproaches to life. In many indigenous cultures, an Enlightened lifestyle was simply a way of being. One contemporary culture that functions in this way today are the Kogi of Columbia. See the film Aluna to learn more about them. The Gnostics had a very simple and intelligent way of being in communion with the divine in everyday life. They had mystery cells of 8 men and 8 women who went through initiation with a Master and after experiencing illumination, they too would start their own mystery cell. These mystery cells were spread throughout the middle east and Europe for a thousand years before Christianity and indeed are the true roots of the Western spiritual heritage. Christianity did a massive genocide of Gnostics, burning their scriptures and killing them in the millions till every trace of them was purged from historical memory. One historian John Lamb Lash, has spent 20 years studying any records he could unearth about them and has written a ground-breaking book about the Gnostics called Not in His Image. This book holds an important key for our future as well as vital information about our roots. A Quote on the Gnostics from John Lamb Lash is: “Gnosis is psychosomatic illumination, the full-body rush of cognitive ecstasy and direct sensorial reception of the vital intelligence of the earth.” The Hawaiian Huna Tradition deserves special mention. Their wisdom, carried most probably from the famed continent Lemuria (Mu) is really timeless, being nature based and leading to harmony within and without. An affirmation from the Huna Tradition is: Ike (awareness) Kala (freedom) Makia (attentiveness and concentration) Manawa (Presence in this moment) Aloha (Love) Mana (Confidence) Iroquois Nations In the USA there are innumerable examples of indigenous wisdom, and no more so than the Iroquois People. They were wisdom holders of the highest order and it is actually they, who are the true authors of the American Constitution. When early American statesmen were searching for an appropriate foundation document for the new country, they came to know about the amazing peacekeeping and governance strategies used by the Iroquois Indians. They took their vision statement and used it for the American Constitution. To understand the depth and breadth of the Iroquois’ Nation read the book, The Walking People A native American Oral History by Paula Underwood. A quote from Gloria Steinhem says: “When a Laguna law student from New Mexico complained that her courses didn’t cite the Iroquois Confederacy as the model for the U.S. Constitution—or explain that this still existing Confederacy was the oldest continuing democracy in the world—I thought she was being romantic. But I read about the Constitutional Convention and discovered that Benjamin Franklin had indeed cited the Iroquois Confederacy as a model. He was well aware of its success in unifying vast areas of the United States and Canada by bringing together native nations for mutual decisions but also allowing autonomy in local ones. He hoped the Constitution could do the same for the thirteen states. That’s why he invited two Iroquois men to Philadelphia as advisers. Among their first questions was said to be: Where are the women?” A quote from the Iroquois at the time of Thanksgiving is: “Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People. Now our minds are one.” Some persons reading this newsletter may be wondering how to meet an Enlightened being who is still alive in the body. In my lifetime so far, I have met 5 Enlightened beings. Krishnamurti, Osho, Tamosan Uetzusan Kohrogi Sensei Osho

I met him in 1973 and remained in his community for 26 years. I never saw him do anything which was not in service of awakening consciousness in individuals and for the collective. He worked through powerful discourses, meditation methods and devices aimed at drawing out the fullest potential of each human being. His compassion was simply breath taking in its depth and vastness. His methods were designed to shock us out of our long sleep, to dissolve collective conditioning, to reveal to us our own grandeur. Osho says: “To be an Enlightened Mystic means that the song this person was born to sing has burst forth, the fragrance that was hidden in this flower has been released to the winds. An enlightened consciousness means you have become that which you were destined to be. And naturally, in the fulfilment of this destiny, there is supreme bliss”. Krishnamurti (11th May 1895—17th February 1986)

I met him in Mumbai after having been initiated by Osho. I could recognize his Enlightened quality and felt great appreciation of him and his work. However, I found him too serious for my taste and therefore did not seek him out again, though I greatly enjoyed some of his books. Osho spoke about Krishnamurti many times and offered great respect towards him, teased him and also expressed compassion for what he went through earlier in his life. Krishnamurti says: “It is only those who are in constant revolt that discover what is true, not the man who conforms, who follows some tradition. It is only when you are constantly enquiring, constantly observing, constantly learning that you find truth, God or love.” Tamo san (enlightened Japanese Priestess)

She came to Osho’s community in November, 1989, saying: “I came to give my energy to Osho that his strength would come back. He can make a big change in the world. I want to make sure he can be well.” Osho publicly recognised her as enlightened by showering her with Rose Petals. He gave her a certificate which said: “I Osho, as a Buddha in my own right, recognise and rejoice in your Enlightenment. I know and you must be knowing, that there is one step more, going beyond Enlightenment, and being nothing.” Later, I visited her in Japan. She had an altar with pictures of Buddha and Osho. Her way of working was very interesting. She was a tiny woman but with superhuman strength. She would pick up a huge grown man, give him a powerful blow on the back and put him back down. She did this to me and I was reeling from the lightning bolt of energy that ran through my body for days afterwards! Tamo san left her body on 21st November 2001. Tamo san says: “In the old days, evil things spread rapidly, but now good things spread rapidly. If you understand…everything begins to appear wonderful and beautiful, and it naturally makes people stop wasting or stop desiring unnecessary things. This awakening is contagious and it will be transmitted to everybody soon.” Uetzusan He came into my life for a brief period and we taught together for about a year, and during that time we created a world-wide movement for teaching our combined work of meditation and Tantra. He is a charismatic Healer and offers a simple yet powerful transmission of Expanded Consciousness. In 2008 he gave me a transmission which propelled me into Universal Consciousness.

Uetzusan says: “Live with love and compassion for everybody and everything; this is the practice of truth. The ultimate purpose of the body is to live with this understanding, that everything is love, everything is compassion.” Kohrogi Sensei Is a Japanese Master who has been in my life since 1994. He is a healer using the method Ito Thermie and also teaches a group called Natsukashi, which means ‘coming back home to your original nature.’ He teaches in Japan, Tokyo area, and also comes to Europe about once per year. His teaching is beyond definition, but if I could name a flavour, it would have to be Tao. He is both ordinary and extraordinary. His teaching is both simple and profound. I have participated in his groups and trainings about 18 times and never get tired of it because it is the refined flavour of his teaching which brings me back again and again. Every time I think of him, an inner smile comes to my lips. Kohrogi Sensei says: “You are not just alone. Everything is supporting you. Hold a leaf and have eye contact. Hold a rock and have eye contact. These will help you to remember. Natsukashi means, “Everything is already present.” We have forgotten this. When we ‘remember’ this is Natsukashi.”

The Ocean Of Consciousness Humanity tends to behave like fishes who are in the sea, crying out, “Where is the sea?” when the sea is all around! I hope this blog has awakened your enthusiasm regarding the true history of humanity, the Enlightened history. Let us not celebrate the villains who are raping and pillaging the treasures of our world. Let us place our attention and highest regard towards those beings who are showing us the way to live in harmony, peace, love and wisdom. These Enlightened Beings are our best resources. They each have different ways of helping humanity to awaken. And all of their varied devices lead to the same ocean of consciousness. (Article taken from Sarita's blog: http://www.tantra-essence.com) Read the full article

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