Divinity lams AU?

Alex is some divine, etheral being and John is just a pathetic and lost fallen angel who swears his devotion to this 'otherworldly being' for the privilege of following him around and being with him for eternity because it gives him a purpose. And at first, Alex just sees him as this sad soul whos's lost and doesnt know what to do and genuinely takes pity on him; but eventually it goes from a 'worshiped and worshiper' relationship to a relationship in which Alex see's him as an equal despite being nothing but.

And even before this, John had been searching for guidance through other people because he never fully trusted his instincts and yet this had only led him to be distrusting because the very reason he had 'fallen' was because he had followed anothers lead. In turn, he turned to etheral 'gods' who he knows cant do him wrong because they'll always view themselves as above him, and with pledging his devotion, they cant turn on him because he will forever be their faithful subject.

Unfortunately for John his devotion borders more on obsession. He loves looking up to see someone so majestic staring back down at him with such a soft smile in contrast to piercing eyes and to know Alex would be looking at him makes his heart flutter and insides melt and skin on In fire(figuratively..) and makes him just want to cut off his wings and give them to Alex as a sign of his true adoration he holds for him. And obviously this concerns Alex. I mean, his poor devotee is willing to do anything for him but theres a line, right? Alex still cares for him of course, what kind of being would he be if he allowed someone to sacrifice their own peace for him?

Cue emotional outburst number one! John would be rambling softly about how if he had the strength he would just rip out his wings and alex has to lean down and gently rest his palm on John's cheek to tell him not to ruin his beautiful wings and that being with him is devotion enough for him and that physical pain in his name would only cause harm. And then tears, of course, in natural angst fashion.

Oh, and John has an immense fear of corrupting Alex the entire time due to the fact hes a 'sinner' (by his own standards) and being in the presence of such divinity as a 'corrupted being' puts Alex at risk to fall from his stance of power. But even despite his fear he can't leave not only due to this eternal soul-binding agreement, but because being in his presence makes him feel alive and as though he can feel love again even after he had failed in doing so for so many years. But in the end Alex doesnt see himself as higher or with more power but as an equal.

John would have 'given up' his ability to feel love for another in order to be fully devoted to Alex, and yet he was convinced he didnt have it in the first place so he decided he wouldnt be giving it up if he never had it. But in turn he discovered that he did have the ability to love, but it had to be discovered through giving up the ability to love anyone other than Alex, and in a way hes happier with that.

But even so, John doesnt think hes worthy enough to be so close to someone so much better than he is, and he does view it as a privilege to be there until Alex tells him to stand up in which he physically has to look down at alex(he would stand at other points, of course, but he would never physically look down. If alex would speak to him he would physically attempt to lower his height to keep Alex above him by his own personal will.) But that is the point where he would cup johns face and then tell him that he's wonderful and the most faithful devotee hes had the 'honor' of being with and then tears. so many tears. so many pent up tears form years john has been telling himself that he cant feel love and to even be in the vicinity of Alex is a privilege that he doesnt deserve just to be told to his face that this divine being loves him and appreciates everything hes done and he doesnt want John to be hurt for him.

No Grave Can Hold My Body Down, I’ll Crawl Home to Her

Just over here impatiently waiting for season 5 and imagining all the softness and cuteness between these two when they finally reunite. I do not own Lucifer or any of its characters or plot lines! This is purely for fun and entertainment purposes only. Hope you enjoy!

It had been six months since Lucifer had left. The fallen angel had kissed Chloe, told her he loved her and always would, then he disappeared in a puff of beautiful ethereal feathers. It had been the longest six months of her life. 

At first, Chloe simply couldn't handle it; laying in bed for days at a time, being late to work when she had finally returned after a brief leave of absence to at least try to grieve and get her shit together. Then she had found it a little easier to breathe around it. She went about her day and sometimes felt like she had been punched in the throat, chest, and stomach simultaneously when she would turn to say something to Lucifer, on reflex, about a case. Expecting to hear some witty remark or unimaginably inappropriate comment. It never came. Chloe trained herself to breathe around the gaping loss she felt in her chest. 

She had done a pretty good job. She talked to him in her head a lot. Or prayed to him, she supposed. Amenadiel had told her that Lucifer could hear her. Chloe didn't know if that was true but it didn't stop her from talking anyway. She told him about cases and tried to work them out with him in her head sometimes, trying to imagine a case the way Lucifer would see it. She told him about her days, she cried to him at night, in bed, told him how much she missed him, how much she regretted all the time she had wasted being afraid and in denial. She begged him to come back. Sometimes out loud when the apartment was empty. Sometimes she half expected him to come rushing in, sweeping her off her feet, and telling her it had been a joke. He never came, though. 

Chloe had suggested this Tribe Night, she knew, but now that her living room was full of her friends and copious amounts of snacks and alcohol, Chloe's chest got that familiar ache she felt consumed with when she realized she would never see Lucifer again. She tried really hard to pay attention to her friends' stories but she just kept replaying him leaving her alone on that balcony in her head over and over again. 

"Might I remind you," a stern voice cut through Chloe's broodish cloud of despair, "that you had suggested this Tribe Night." Chloe shook her head and looked up to see Maze's intense brown eyes boring into her. 

"Yeah," Chloe nodded, her voice weak. "Sorry." She tried for a smile but could tell from the look on her friends’ faces, she had failed. 

"Alright, let's play a drinking game!" Maze suggested excitedly, her intense gaze never leaving Chloe. Chloe knew that Maze had some inkling of how she was feeling, what she was going through. After all, chloe wasn't the only one Lucifer had left behind. 

Chloe indulged Maze and participated in the game, even laughing a little and getting a nice buzz. Around 1 am, everyone decided to head out. Chloe walked them all to the door, telling them to be safe. When she locked the door behind them, Maze cleared her throat. 

"I'm going to Eve's," she said, smirking. Then her smile turned almost soft as she said, "get your shit together, Decker." 

Then Maze was gone and Chloe was alone. Her fingertips faintly tingled from the alcohol but she wasn't too drunk, and her chest ached, heavy against her sternum. She decided that her bed was too far away for her weary limbs and trudged over to the couch. She curled up on her couch, on her side, closing her eyes as tears started to fall. 

"God dammit, Lucifer," she choked out, lungs burning. 

"I suppose he did, didn't he?" A deep, silky smooth voice startled Chloe. She immediately jumped up and grabbed her gun from the coffee table. When she looked up and realized who her gun was aiming at, Chloe dropped it, jaw dropping in disbelief. 

Standing before her in her living room, looking a little worse for wear, but beautiful as the first time she had seen him, was Lucifer. His dark hair was messy, showcasing the cute curls she had wanted to run her fingers through for some time now. He had some scratches on his face and hands and there were a few tears in his clothes. There were bags under his eyes making him look exhausted. His deep, chocolate brown eyes stared at her. She felt her heart swell at what she found there, gazing back at her. 

Lucifer was looking at her somewhat tiredly, but with awe and amazement on his face. His eyes were brimming with emotion. An emotion so big it filled the empty space between them, surrounding her. It engulfed her in the kind of holy light that emanated from his wings. It warmed her up from the inside, making her ache. 

"Lucifer." His name came out in a broken breath and she watched his eyes flutter closed at the sound of her voice saying his name. His whole angelic six foot devil form sagged, almost dropping to the floor. Chloe knew how he felt. 

She suddenly found herself launching her body at him. Though it was a spur of the moment decision, Lucifer caught her with ease. Her entire body hummed with electricity as his large arms wrapped around her, lifting her off the ground. Her legs wrapped around his waist and she let out a soft sigh at the feeling of his skin, the sound of his breath coming out in a broken sigh against her neck as he buried his face there. She did the same, practically clinging to him like a koala. 

Chloe breathed him in greedily, a cold glass of water after being in the desert without for so long. She relished the feeling of having no space in between their bodies, almost becoming one being. His arms were wrapped tightly around her back, one large sure hand buried in her hair. She could feel his nose and his lips on her neck, also breathing her in desperately. It made her shiver to know that she affected him like this. She, Chloe Decker, made the devil vulnerable. She felt an immense amount of responsibility and pride and honor at that thought. It made her cling to him harder. She felt so safe here, so protected. Even though she knew he didn't really need protecting, she hoped Lucifer felt the same way. 

"Chloe," he breathed desperately, his hot breath against her hot skin. It felt like her entire body was a raw nerve, aching everywhere he touched her. His lips dragged against her skin at his exhalation and she shivered. 

"I missed you so much, love." 

"I missed you too," she sobbed against him. "So much." 

She never wanted to leave this position. Wanted to stay wrapped around him like this forever, in their own little bubble. Away from the world. Away from Hell. Away from Heaven. She couldn't 

imagine Heaven being any better than this anyway. 

Lucifer's hands rubbed up and down her spine soothingly and she cuddled in closer to him, face buried in his neck. If she tried to get any closer, she would be underneath his skin. Which didn't sound like a bad idea at the moment. To just crawl inside of him and stay safe forever. "I'm never leaving again," he vowed. She could feel that he was walking now but she refused to move her head from her little nook. 

He sat down on the couch with her straddling his lap. Once he was situated on the comfy cushions, Chloe pulled back just slightly, to take in his gorgeous features. She gently ran a hand over the scratches on his face and he sighed at her touch, eyes fluttering closed again. Her heart was so full it felt like it might burst right out of her and land in his lap. 

Chloe slowly leaned in, brushing her lips over the cuts on his forehead, down his nose, each cheek, chin, jaw. Anywhere she had seen a wound, no matter how small, she kissed it softly. Lucifer squeezed his arms around her body. She didn't wanna look away. Didn't want to close her eyes or go to sleep for fear of opening them and he would be gone. A cruel illusion that her tipsy mind and shattered heart were playing on her. 

When she was finished tending to his cuts, his large warm hands travelled up her back and around to cup her face. She leaned into his touch as he looked at her so softly, so reverently she felt like she might disintegrate right there in his hands. She also felt powerful and beautiful at the same time. 

His warm brown eyes drank in her face, studying her as if he was committing her face to memory. He stroked his thumbs over her cheekbones and she sighed, turning to press a kiss to his palm. He looked at her in amazement and slight bewilderment. As if he wasn't quite sure what he had done to deserve her. As if sacrificing himself time and time again, allowing her to see his vulnerable side, allowing her to see the real him ----she wasn't just talking about his devil face either--- wasn’t enough. It was more than enough, it was everything. The way he made her feel powerful and invincible and so loved with just his presence was everything. She would spend the rest of her life proving that to him. 

"Chloe," he rasped again. The sound of her name on his tongue made her weak. "Can I kiss you?" 

Chloe nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving his. His eyes darted down to her lips and his tongue came out to wet his. Then he ran his thumb over her lower lip, her breath coming out shallowly. He leaned in really slowly, reverently, and pressed his lips to hers. It felt like coming home. It felt like truth and divinity and holier than any church she had ever been in. 

The kiss started out soft and adoring, as if he were worshipping her. As if religion was in lips and she was the alter. This was the only religion she had any interest in. The way Lucifer held her body to him the way his hands felt on her heated skin, the way they felt raking through her hair. 

Chloe moaned into the kiss as Lucifer pushed his tongue into her mouth. This made him groan against her lips and kiss her harder, desperate and dirty but also still worshipful. She felt everything in this kiss. How much he had missed her. How long he had wanted this, how badly. She tasted forever on his tongue, tasted the divinity of heaven and the heat of hell on his tongue. She tasted all the promise of the future and the aching longing of the past. She tasted all the sin 

he promised with every stroke of his tongue against hers, all the salvation that she felt pour from his lips. 

When they finally broke apart, both gasping for air, they were both kiss swollen and heated. Lucifer looked wrecked and she was sure she looked the same. She definitely felt it. 

"I heard you," he murmured. Chloe cocked her head to the side, curiously. "I heard you praying to me. All of it." 

Her heart swelled and her stomach did a somersault. "I wanted so badly to reach out," he explained, voice gravelly. "I just knew that if I did, I wouldn't be able to go back to Hell." 

Chloe gently carded her fingers through his soft curls, shushing him gently. Their foreheads pressed together and they shared breaths. 

"I knew I needed to come back but there were some things I needed to take care of first," he said, squeezing her to him again. 

"I'm just glad you're here now," Chloe whispered, tears spilling over her eyes again. Lucifer wiped them away and kissed her forehead. 

"For eternity," he swore, voice strong and hard and full of promise. 

Chloe traced her thumbs over the shell of his ears and took her time drinking him in. She couldn't believe that after all this time, he was here. He was here on her couch, she was in his lap, and he was looking at her like she was the only God he had ever known, ever wanted to know. Her blood warmed and thrummed and she felt dizzy with the power they were both handing over so freely right now. 

They sat there a few more minutes, fingertips tracing over skin, eyes trailing over every part of the other person. Finally Chloe spoke softly. 

"Let's get you cleaned up." She brushed her thumb over a cut and down his nose, resting on his lips. He kissed the pad of her thumb and nodded. 

"Lead the way, darling." 

Lucifer allowed himself to be led to the bathroom by his tiny little Chloe. He would follow her to the ends of the earth. Back to hell if she wanted him to. They found themselves in her bathroom and she only let go of him long enough to start the shower. Then she turned to him, asking for permission with her eyes. Lucifer nodded and Chloe slowly started to peel his clothes off. The moment was so soft that even Lucifer couldn't find anything lewd to say. 

He simply looked heatedly down at her until he was fully naked before her. Chloe let her eyes trail over his body in appreciation and then went to peel her own clothes off. Lucifer's hand shot out and stopped her. 

"Let me," he rasped, voice thick with adoration and desire. Chloe nodded raising her arms above her head so he could take her tee shirt off. His eyes never left hers until she was fully naked too. His gaze slowly roamed over every part of her body, trailing flames onto her skin without even touching her. She shivered and reached her hand out to his chest. 

She felt his strong reassuring heart beat underneath her palm and the warmth of his skin. The comfort of being able to touch him was indescribable. 

"Let me take care of you," she murmured. Lucifer blinked at her, cocking his head to the side. She imagined he had probably never heard those words spoken to him before and her heart broke. 

"You can do whatever you want to me," he said, voice full of heat and reverence and bewilderment. For once the words did not carry their same lewd teasing tone. He was offering himself to her. Mind body soul. She would do everything to take care of those things, to take care of him. 

She smiled gently up at him, leading him into the shower. The warm spray of the water hit her back and she sighed contentedly. Then she moved Lucifer so that he was under the spray and she was standing in front of him, watching the water droplets fall off his body. 

Leaning up on her tiptoes she kissed the hollow of his throat and felt him swallow thickly underneath her lips. She trailed her kisses all over his body. Then she grabbed a loofah and poured her body wash over it. Lucifer watched her with heated eyes the whole time. His gaze was somehow also soft. Just like him. Fallen angel, big bad devil, jagged edges, soft for her. And only her. 

Chloe gently brushed the loofah over his face, making sure to clean the blood off, disinfect the cuts. Ya know in case the devil could get infected. She took her time running the soapy loofah all over his body. Then she made him turn so his back was to her. The scars from where he had cut his wings off stared back at her. Even though she had seen them before, she still gasped softly. They were strangely beautiful. Deeply disturbing. But strangely beautiful all the same. It hurt her to think of how much that act must have hurt him. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and protect him from the world. From hell. From his dad. 

She settled for gently tracing her fingers over the scar. Lucifer inhaled sharply then let out a soft groan. Once she had gotten her fill of tracing it with her fingertips and her lips, Chloe trailed the loofah over his back too. 

By the time they were done, the water had turned lukewarm. When Lucifer's eyes met hers she felt like she was being swallowed whole but also being grounded, tethered to him, his gaze, the earth. 

"I love you," he breathed cupping her face again. He had said it before but it still knocked the breath out of her. 

"I love you," she answered, hoping he knew just how much. She felt like it wasn't enough. Love was too small a word. But it would have to do. 

They both exited the shower and got dried off. Lucifer didn't have any clothes to change into 

and Chloe obviously didn't have any to lend him. So they both crawled into her bed, naked. Their bodies were pressed together tightly, front to front. Lucifer's warm hands trailed down her spine slowly, almost absentmindedly. As if they'd been doing this for an eternity. The thought warmed her from the inside out. 

"I imagine you're going to want all the details," he said quietly against her hair. She smiled and pressed a kiss to his throat making him shiver. 

"Maybe tomorrow," she agreed. "Just hold me for now, get some rest." 

"Yes ma'am," he murmured, making her smile. 

Chloe knew that they would have to talk about everything eventually. They would have to tell everyone else. But for now she was content laying at the altar of the devil, her devil, her Lucifer, as he trailed his fingertips over her skin in silent worship. He cradled her against his large warm frames keeping them safe in their little bubble.

Be Not Afraid

So I was inspired by that post I wrote about Aziraphale keeping his true angelic form hidden from as many people as possible, including Crowley (which can be found here), and wrote a fic for it.

It can also be found on AO3  here for those who would prefer to read it there.

Be Not Afraid

“My dear, I don’t understand what you see in television.”

Crowley chuckled and stretched his legs across the couch. He considered being able to lie here with his head and shoulders in the angel’s lap while watching TV a huge point in favor of doing more of these “Movie/ TV show Nights” at his flat. Then again, that wasn’t something that was going to convince Aziraphale. Not when he also found reasons to do this while Aziraphale read.

“It’s not all like this, angel. And I did offer to watch that performance of Richard II with you instead. You’re the one who picked this show to binge just because you thought the title sounded ‘promising’. Besides, I thought you’d have fun seeing angels on a TV show being the good guys for a change. And on a road trip.”

Aziraphale gave him a pointed, but not too serious glare. “Really, Crowley, I do not know where humans get these ideas about angels or the workings of Heaven. “First of all, this Jonathan would have simply been reassigned elsewhere in Heaven or made to Fall depending on the severity of his mistakes. Secondly, there is no way that Gabriel would have allowed an angel on Earth to intervene so blatantly so often.  And finally, not once did he have to go through the Metatron in order to converse with Her which is probably the most unrealistic part of all.”

Crowley laughed even louder and took one of the angel’s hands into his. “Maybe humans just think that angels are extensions of Her love and like to make them heroes.”

Aziraphale looked down at him, tilting his head. “Do you think so?”

“I do. Can’t blame them either. It’s easy to think that whenever I’m around you.”

Aziraphale beamed and leaned forward, a cue for Crowley to arch upward and meet him for a kiss. The angel cupped the back of his head, and Crowley couldn’t decide if the kiss or the gentle way Aziraphale cradled him was better.

Unfortunately, the kiss was short and when Aziraphale pulled back, there was a pensive look on his face.

“Do you think humans believe that we all look like that?”

“Like Michael Landon? I doubt it. Pretty sure there’s also a show that has a woman playing an angel and she….”

“No. No, not that. That’s not what I mean. I….” Aziraphale took his hand out of Crowley’s, fingers twisting. “Do you think that humans always envision angels as such benevolent looking creatures?”

Crowley frowned and rocked himself forward so he could sit up. Then he swiveled around so he could face Aziraphale.

“Probably. Angels are supposed to be good and all. And you know humans. They are always imagining that other beings look something like them. Don’t know why. Me, I think it’s kind of endearing in a weird sort of way. And this shape is a pretty comfortable one to stay in.”

“I wonder what they would think of us if they saw what we really looked like,” Aziraphale said. There was an edge of old despair in that voice which worried Crowley.

“They’d probably be terrified of us,” Crowley said with a shrug. “They’re humans, Aziraphale. They’re not going to understand the reality of occult beings.”

Aziraphale wrinkled his nose, and Crowley sighed. “Ok, occult and ethereal beings. Point is, they’re not supposed to be used to seeing us in our true forms.”

The demon leaned back against the arm of the couch. “Thought you’d be used to that by now anyway. Isn’t the Bible full of encounters between angels and humans where one of the first things your lot say is ‘be not afraid’? I bet at least a couple of those times referred to something you were involved with.”

“Yes, a couple,” Aziraphale said quietly. “But I didn’t usually handle Divine Proclamations. That was considered to be an archangel’s work. I, I was expected to stay out of the limelight, as it were.”

Crowley’s brow crinkled. “Has anyone seen you as an angel? I mean, aside from Adam and Eve. And Adam the Antichrist.”

“No. No, I…I never saw a need for it. I’m supposed to be guiding humanity away from infernal influences. Revealing what I am would only be a distraction.”

Crowley frowned, nodding. He suddenly realized that both he and Aziraphale had made a point of not bringing up that incident in 1835 when another human found out about Aziraphale. Not that that was surprising. It was a traumatizing series of events for both of them, and it still gave Crowley nightmares. Nightmares that were only eased by holding Aziraphale as close to him as possible for the rest of the night.

The demon shuddered, shaking off bad memories so he could focus on the issue at hand.

“I’m sure it’s a different story in Heaven though, right? It certainly is in Hell. You should see what lurks around some of the darker corners.”

“Yes, I did see some rather ghastly beings,” Aziraphale replied, making sure to not look at him while he said it. “And no, not like you might think. We don’t always go traipsing about in our true forms when we interact with each other. Especially if we plan on returning to Earth in the near future. Only beings like thrones or virtues spend most of their time in their true forms because they never leave the celestial plane anyway.”

Crowley tilted his head back and forth. He had had a question in his comment and it didn’t escape his notice that Aziraphale had ignored it.

“Just curious, but what do you look like? I mean, really look like. I know you saw all the versions of my demonic self in the Garden, but I’ve never seen you look, well, more angel-y.”

Aziraphale squirmed, like he wanted to retreat, but was stymied by the finite area of the couch they were sitting on.

“Oh you know, not so different,” the angel said, keeping his eyes fixed on the now mute TV screen across from them. “We principalities look quite similar to humans, a fact I’m sure you remember from your time in Heaven.”

“Sure, yeah, but….seems weird that I’ve never seen your true form. Six thousand years and you’ve never once….”

“As I said, I never saw a need for it,” Aziraphale said. There was a sound of nerves being stretched taunt in his tone, and Crowley knew he was treading into dangerous territory.

“Well, what about now? A sort of ‘I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.’ No humans will see it while we’re in my flat.”

Aziraphale’s lips creased upward, his teeth showing a little, but it wasn’t really a smile.

“Probably better not. You’re still a demon, and angelic light might be painful to you in some way.”

“Only if you try to Smite me, angel. Besides, if you think about it, there never would have had to been an Armageddon if angels and demons couldn’t stand to be in the presence of each other’s true forms.”

“And, and what about your plants? I wouldn’t want to hurt them. And my wings would probably make a terrible mess if they were fully out.”

“So just keep them out of the physical plane,” Crowley said, shrugging again. “And don’t worry about the plants. I keep a barrier up to prevent supernatural forces from affecting them…unless I want them to be affected.”

“Oh, oh look, there’s something else on the television. Something to do with baking from the look of it. Perhaps they’ll have some….”

“Angel…why don’t you want me to see what you look like?”

It was such a softly spoken question, but it still drowned out every other sound in the room. Aziraphale froze, his gaze becoming distant.

“I don’t look like other angels.”

Crowley’s breath caught. The sheer weight of the pain in those few whispered words made his heart feel as if it was being crushed by cold, cruel fingers. He could see the Adam’s apple in Aziraphale’s throat bob several times while the angel struggled to find his voice again.

“After the humans left the Garden, She…changed me.”

“You…you were a cherub, weren’t you?” Crowley said, unsure of asking the question even as the words left his lips. “They, well Beelzebub, said something about a cherub when they told me to go make trouble.”

Aziraphale slowly nodded. “I guess you could call it a demotion. But…it didn’t…it didn’t entirely take. I’m not sure why. But it left me…not quite being one or the other.”

Crowley’s brow furrowed. He had never heard of an angel hybrid. Then again, this didn’t seem like something Heaven would want to talk about.

His face fell when he looked over and saw the way that Aziraphale’s hands were clenched together on his lap, his chin trembling slightly. It took every bit of willpower he had to not let the fire of his anger at Heaven stir to life again.

“Look, angel, you don’t have to show me if you don’t want to,” he said, forcing his voice to remain calm. “Now or ever. But I’m sure you’re still beautiful.”

One of Aziraphale’s placating smiles flashed onto his face, dissolving in an instant as something much more ancient and bleak took hold. “I’m afraid you’re very wrong about that, my dear.”

Crowley ground his jaw. He was certain he knew why Aziraphale felt so ashamed of his true form, and even if it was dangerous, he also knew that he needed to start counteracting the damage that had been done.

He placed his hand onto Azirphale’s arm. “You’re still an angel, whatever you look like. And you actually love others and care about what She wants for this world unlike far too many of those bastards in Heaven. That’s the sort of thing that makes an angel beautiful, and you know it.”

Crowley squeezed the angel’s arm and reached for one of Aziraphale’s hands. “You’ll always be fucking gorgeous to me, Aziraphale.”

Aziraphale turned shiny eyes toward him. “I love you,” he whispered, his voice cracking at the end of it.

Crowley shuffled over to him, wrapping his arms around Aziraphale. The angel was warm, as always. A warmth that soothed away the chill of darkness in his heart. How could someone who radiated light and warmth like that be anything other than beautiful?

And even if it took another six thousand years, Crowley was determined to convince Aziraphale of that too.

My WIPs: The Others, Book #1 of The Others Series

I thought I would give an overview of my WIPs, as I would like to post more about their progress in the future. I will make an initial post about each WIP, then post updates accordingly with the proper tag.

The Others (The Others Series, Book #1)

It is mostly complete, but the drafting process is going to be long and vigorous. There is going to be some rough and merciless editing. No matter how much it hurts me to remove certain things, they have to go. (Shoutout to @stolenavalanche for being the only person reading and editing this trainwreck thus far btw.) Fantasy world set inside the human world. Supernatural creatures. Werewolves. Half-humans. A Troll or five. Some Spirits/Ghosts. No unicorns, sorry!

This is going to be really hard for me to explain, I failed every English assignment that included summarizing. But, here goes nothing.

It is a pretty normal good vs. evil fight, but it has so much leading up to that point that I can't even begin to summarize it. This would be 10 feet long. (It already might be.) Basically, there is a fight to save their kind, and possibly human kind, from the world domination of an evil, extremely powerful mofo.

The plot centers around a young woman named Divinity Lea Matthews, or Divinity No Last Name when she finds her own kind. She later becomes Divinity Lea Gray-Richards. Divinity has been a freak since her birth, constantly suffering in the human world, until Chandler Berk finds out who and what she is and brings her to the mansion to be kept safe. It is there that it is discovered she will be the savior of their kind.

Let’s visit the basics.

The World:

This WIP is about two kinds of creatures created by spirits breeding with humans. There are the Darkling's, or the Kindling's. These two species' are called, overall, either Others of Halfling's.

The Darkling's, despite their name, are not inherently evil. Nor are Kindling's inherently good.

The Halfling's, as the main characters prefers compared to Others, are created when a spirit inhabits a human man and breeds with a woman.

The Dark Spirits do this by force, possessing a man who is already cruel and twisted. They proceed to devour the human's memories and soul, until they can pass as the host they inhabit. No one is ever the wiser.

The children of this coupling are powerful half-humans with a slew of superhuman powers. They look like humans, mostly, however a form of transformation can take place when they are angry. They must be taught to control this, and their powers.

Good Spirits, which create Kindling's, make a trade of sorts with their hosts. The human retains full control of their minds, souls, and usually bodies. They get longer, fuller lives without sickness. In return, the spirit gets to experience life again.

Kindling's are also gifted with powers, but they are more defensive. Many are healers. Some can see the future. Some are used as vessels to bring prophesies into the world. Unlike fortune telling, these prophesies are guaranteed to come to pass.

All Halfling's are unnaturally attractive. The children are bordering on ethereal.

The world itself is on earth, and it has all the normal, modern things we see today. There are a couple things maybe a little sci-fi-y, but it's pretty normal overall.

It is centered mostly around a mansion set below a mountain in a fictional part of California. However, the opening chapters are in Nevada. There are a few parts that are in Washington and Oregon, fictionalized, and Russia, also fictionalized.

The Dynamics of this world:

Halfling Powers:

Halfling's powers, or gifts, come in a wide range. The most prominently mentioned among Darkling's are:

Telekinesis.

A few different versions of Telepathy, or The Touch as the main characters choose to call it.

The ability to tweak time, to a reasonable extent. NOT TIME TRAVELING.

“Retrievers” who feel others of their kind.

The ability to make others feel things (physically) that are not there. (Itching, bee stings.)

The ability to imbue objects with feelings, emotions, and sometimes the product of others powers. (Calmness, levelheadedness, bravery, energy, healing.)

Shields, they come in all different strengths. (Pretty self-explanatory otherwise.)

Reading the future or seeing the outcome of certain decisions.

Healing. (Very rare in Darkling's but there are some.)

The ability to converse with animals.

Kindling's can have all these abilities as well, but they are usually less offensive.

Kindling's are most often:

Healers, all different strengths. Some can only heal bruises or scrapes, others can bring their people back from the very brink of death.

Prophesiers. Unlike fortune tellers, what prophesiers say comes to pass. No matter what.

Powerful affinities to plants and animals.

(I freely admit that I don't focus as much on Kindling's. They stay to their own, mostly. They are more secretive by nature. My main character often sarcastically compares them to elves.)

All Halfling’s have the ability to Dream Walk, or enter each others dreams to communicate. They also have extreme control over their memories, so much so that they can either: A: Watch a memory from a third person point of view. Or B: Relive the memory like they were there all over again, from inside their (past) body.

Power Limits:

If Halfling's overuse their gifts, they can become weak or even die. Even my protagonist, dubbed the strongest of her kind, is shown to have some limits. Her Shield is especially draining in battle.

However, their gifts can be exercised and built like muscles. Some are simply weaker than others by nature, but they all have something about them. It is a very diverse power system.

Magic:

While I find magic fun, and it receives quite a few mentions, it is not a focal point of the first book, nor the second. There is no clear magic system, except that some people, human or otherwise, can use it and some can't. Magic is mostly mentioned when speaking of the mansion where Halfling's of North America dwell, as it is heavily enchanted to deter trespassers. (There are some fun loopholes that cause lots of juicy problems, though.)

Werewolves, when they appear, are more frequent users of magic than Halfling's. Which brings me to...

Other supernatural beings:

There are, of course, my original creatures that I created. (Including their reproduction!) But there are also other supernatural creatures.

Werewolves perhaps get the most plot time besides Halfling's, and they're pretty normal for folklore. There are some differences, like the way the Pack is run. It is split into Domestic Affairs (more like a regular government) and then the Pack Alpha and hierarchy that we know and love.

Third most mentioned supernatural creature after werewolves is Spirits and/or Ghosts.

Not your run-of-the-mill pale white, nearly invisible ghosts. When they walk the earth, they are in full color. Their edges are transparent and sometimes flicker, but they can touch others.

Spirits, on the other hand, are usually non-corporal versions of ghosts. They are not generally helpful, and are often the typical we think of with ghosts. Stuck between death and life. They can be the same ones that possess human hosts, but I honestly don't go into the distinctions much. (I probably should.)

There are also mentions of trolls, which the antagonist has in his army of general evilness. Trolls are human beings, twisted by dark magic in a bid to gain superhuman strength. They become stupid killing machines, with no sense of self. Easy to control by anyone with evil intentions.

There are mentions of vampires, but they are NOT what you think when you think vampires. I won't go into it much, but they are evil spirits of a different kind. Only corporal and vaguely human to feed, they are utterly uncontrollable and created from the darkest magic.

And then there's skeletons or dead people, resurrected by necromancy to fight the war that occurs in this book. Again, evil, twisted spirits will be called into dead bodies to reanimate them. Extremely strong, and hard to kill. Unless you've got a match and some lighter fluid on your person.

God(s):

Halfling's do not believe in any gods and have found no proof, however there may be some confusion near the 2/3ish mark of the book on this point.

A character dies and goes to a dark, empty abyss. There, they are met by Death's Mistress, or what is referred to as Reaper. Reaper then gives them a new prophesy, and a life lesson, before breathing life back into the character and sending them back to the living to continue the fight for Halfling kind.

Reaper continues to aid the characters throughout the book, even allowing certain spirits to return to earth for brief moments to speak to their loved ones. At a ceremony, Death himself appears alongside Reaper and loved ones near the end to witness the turning point in Halfling history.

Whether Reaper and Death are gods, that I leave up to personal opinions. (For the first book, at least. I'm toying with revisiting this as a sub-plot.)

Life Span, Health, Boring Physical Stuff:

Halfling's can live anywhere from 100 to 300 years, on average. In some rare cases, they can live up to or over 500 years. They are NOT immortal, although users of dark magic or gifts can twist themselves into becoming fairly close to it.

They are immune to most diseases, and burn off most drugs completely or at least very quickly. Some drugs, specifically created by Halfling's or werewolves, do work on them. They have to drink A LOT to get drunk.

Briefly mentioned somewhere around the 1/3ish part of the book, Darkling's have a distinct mark on their backs. It is personal to each of them. (Honestly I should revisit this too and elaborate because damn I missed some great sub-plot by only mentioning it in passing ANYWAYS MOVING ON.)

They have major reproductive issues, theorized to be due to their origins. Not quite human but not quite spirits, their bodies are different. This causes a drastically different way of continuing their race, with nearly 80% of pregnancies not making it. This causes children, whether their own or others, to be cherished.

And finally,

Characters!:

I won’t go into all my characters and their personalities, that would take days, but here are some of the main characters physical features we see regularly through the book:

Divinity Lea Matthews: Darkling. Hazel eyes. Dark brunette hair, red-gold highlights. Five feet two inches. High cheekbones, full cheeks. Medium breasts. Full hips and thighs. Sarcastic little shit.

Marcus: Evil monster of this series. Will not describe because hate his guts.

Chandler Berk: Darkling. Jade green eyes. Sandy hair. Six feet four inches. High cheekbones, native features. Muscular. Wide shoulders. Also a sarcastic little shit.

Darius Samual: Nasty human that doesn’t deserve recognition.

Detective Marx: Not gonna lie, I never really described Marx. He’s a big guy, weather worn, but gentle. Nice human that deserves more recognition than I give him.

Alvin The Cuddle Moocher: A cat. He deserves all the cat treats.

Elaine: Alvin’s slave. Kindling. Long bright red hair. Vivacious. A bit crass. Very sassy and head strong. Puts Divinity in her place, which takes mad ballsiness.

Nathaniel Gray: Storm cloud gray eyes. Reddish-brunette hair. Six feet. Kinda a wuss but it gets better once his Archilles Heel is out of the way.

Lucy Gray: Light blue eyes. Platinum blonde hair. Four feet eleven inches. Gentle, soft facial features. Full breasts. Tiny, birdlike. Loving. Mothering. Hoarder of knowledge and creepy books. (Surprisingly one of my favorite characters somehow.)

Bane: Darkling. Blue and silver eyes. Dark brunette hair. Six feet. Strong boned, sharp jawline. Muscular. Sexy as fuck. Sometimes sarcastic. Sometimes badass and scary. Usually very sweet and kind. Caleb Richards: .....How to describe very sexy werewolf that I would definitely bang. He hot. That’s all I’m willing to be forthcoming about. You just gotta read him to believe him.

Word Count: Nearly 235k. Might be more or less by the end of editing, who knows.

(Apologies in advance for shitty summary. I tried!)

I've followed you for many years. After all the times I've deleted and remade, I still somehow come back to your blog. I dont like or reblog from you much, or at all, in fact. But your energy is so calming. I'm a medium and sometimes it can be draining, but you have such a calm energy. It's like novacane. A pool of black water I can silently float in. Thank you, for sharing a piece of yourself with us on here.

I’m sorry that you find my energy draining, yet I understand that you are most likely referring to my old identity--as a victim/martyr/sacrifice. I have changed much in the last year alone, yet...it is not evident here because I spent much of this year ”living” as opposed to analyzing or philosophizing. I spent this year meditating, exercising, making art, and being present with children. I taught them how to be who they are without presenting themselves as entitled, self serving, need seeking conduits. I teach children how to express their needs in an open direct way, without shame, where they feel free to explore their conscious and subconscious mind without restriction. They channel their curiosity into self exploration that is fair and impartial to others needs and desires.

Children are just small people, if you treat them with a condescending or patronizing tone, and they will respond with rebellion. Children are innocent, but resilient. They recover quickly and process later. Children are the unadulterated impulse to be oneself, they do not judge, they just are, they just do. When a child judges themselves or others, that is an indication of an unhealthy home environment in which they are demonized for their behavior. They judge to take back power, and feel good about themselves, because their core sense of self is fractured.

         “When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help. That's the message he is sending.”        ―    Thich Nhat Hanh 

This goes back to the idea, that....a person who has dark energy (as I did when you read those posts, and many others struggle with identity, love, purpose etc.) they do not need punishment, shame, rejection...they need help. They need guidance, they need encouragement, inspiration, and above all--love. Love of oneself so you do not doubt everything you say and do, love of others as they are...and not what we wish them to be. Love of animals, children, the elderly, the mentally ill or infirm, to bring in the gentle choice to listen, understand and to love without condition.

My calming energy can be attributed to being an old soul, but more than that, it is my virgo/libra cusp, wanting everything to appear beautiful, ethereal,otherworldly, yet... true, but also poetic and melancholic. My Pisces moon leaves me a dreamer, yet a fatalist at the same time. I both believe in magic, and question its legitimacy. The occult (by definition)--means hidden knowledge. The early alchemists, numerologists, and astronomers, were all searching for universal truth, in a Christian time where intellect was considered “witchcraft”. Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity: Newton's law of universal gravitation states that every mass attracts every other mass in the universe, and the gravitational force between two bodies is proportional to the product of their masses, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. 

So what goes up, must come down. This was contradictory to the Christian ideology of the time, that god conveniently created all that is. The philosopher reaches the same ontological argument, that we expanded from nothingness, by coincidence for no reason, or we have a divine purpose determined by past lives, bad/good deeds, karma that exploded from nothingness and simply IS etc. No one knows.

Psychology taught me that we project what we either “wish to see”, or “wish to avoid” in our perception of others. That person who gets on your last nerve... is your teacher. They have qualities that you either have (hidden) or had, and their appearance is unacceptable. People do not like to see the ugly truth, they prefer illusions. People take refuge in imagination, or the idea that they have reformed. Being faced with a quality from their past, makes it real, and intolerable. My formerly: dark, energy was a choice in the past. a comfortable result of much suffering, It validated my pain but also gave me more...in a different way. It is hard, and painful to face who you rally are...its just like in the Neverending story...the second mirror reveals your true self. “kind men find that they are cruel, brave men discover they are really cowards. Most run from the mirror--screaming.”

Most people cannot face criticism or failure, valuable tools in life, for resilience and strength. “most people have given up their hopes and dreams. Those without hope, are easy to control, and whoever has the control has the power.”

This rant basically means: i am no longer dark in my emotional interior. I healed that broken part of myself, but I do fear the future, and the state of our world--unrelated to myself. Although I know the individual alone cannot change it, i do know enough people believing in something...gives it meaning. I do believe that there is hope for us as human beings, but it will take radical changes. My energy in spite of my world views, is actually very positive. I delight in simple joys and pleasures, and carry no bitterness, or hatred in my heart.. To me, I love all things. I forgive, and I learn. I am peaceful. Though I understand the aversion to darkness....it comes from the fear of that quality in oneself. we condemn what is in us.

D&D Cosmology (Homebrew)

   There are three realities, each of which is sub divided by 3, which in turn is sub divided by 3, because the multiverse loves that number...a lot.  Native of Planes other than the Material Plane are called Outsiders, who are defined by A) Being made of the essence of a plane B) Lacking free will C) being able to be summoned

Objective Morality: The fundamentals of the world

The objective world cannot be altered by circumstance or larger reality, these are absolutes in an otherwise fluid world.  It includes

The Outer Planes: These are the objective afterlives, based upon your morality, 9 major ones in total.  The rulers and desitiens of the realms are called Exemplars and they personify a certain morality.  Demons are always Chaotic and Evil, Archons are always Lawful and Good, Aeons are always True Neutral etc.  The Outer Planes are largely defined by The Blood War, the largest war in history between the Lawful Evil Devils, and the Chaotic Evil Demons.  Evil is far more powerful than good and could wipe out good in an instance if they ever unified...but they don’t. The Outer Planes are further divided but that is too nuanced to get into now.  Archons, Demons, Daemons, Devils, Raksha, Ashura, Asuras, Daevas, Devas, Angels, Celestials, Fiends, and Qlippoth are all examples of Exemplars

The Inner Planes: These are the elemental planes, which make up the fundamentals of reality itself, these elements define magic, alchemy, physics, everything.  The locals here are called Elementals, and they embody their concepts.  The world is divided by into 5 sets of 4 elementals combos, with void at the center making 21.  Earth, Water, Air, and Fire is one system.  Positive (healing), Negative (Decay), Light, Dark is another.  Time, Space, Ooze (Life), Ash (Death) is another system.  Void is the center of all, supposedly there was another system (Quintessence) but it was killed.  Fire Elementals, Void Elementals, Wood Elementals, Ash Elementals are all examples of elementals, not that clever.  Supposedly their is an Oblivion plane here but that doesn’t exist, I swear.  

The Middle Planes, these are rotating planes which move around the Material Plane like planets, they embody various concepts that mortals are obsessed with, like Dreams, Madness, War, Weather etc.  The Natives are known as Others

Subjective reality: Will Power and personality

This realm is define by personality and the inner psyche of mortals themselves.  Weird fellows.  

The Far Sphere , The Hedge, The Fae Realms: The Fae are strange mysterious entities who are tied to unhealthy patterns of human behavior, each type of Fae embodies an unhealthy coping mechanism.  Each of the 9 Courts is subdivided into Seelie and Unseelie versions, unseelie Fae are actively malicious and cruel while Seelie fae are….also actively malicious and cruel but wear a smiley face.  

The Near Sphere, A’lam Al-jinn: The “Hidden Realm” this is the domain of the Jinn, who are generally pretty cool, they act like more extreme versions of mortal intellectual thought.  There are 16 realms each based on a different terrain (Swamp Jinn, City Jinn, Rural Jinn, Tundra Jinn, Ocean Jinn, Mountain Jinn, Cave Jinn etc) none of which are necessarily good or evil.  It depends on the Jinn

The Spirit World: The realm of the spirits keep the multiverse running, but are changing, altering, and shifting creatures.  They are subdivided into 5 types, Transformation Spirits (Dragon Age), Preservation (Chinese Mythology), Evolution (Native American) , Destruction (Central Asian Spirits) and Creation (African).  Spirits are alien but but there is always a method to their madness.  The Wheel of Reincarnation is located here.  

Conceptual Reality

Reality is what we perceive it to be, existence by consensus.  It also seems the most repetitive of the worlds, with the same themes repeating themselves over and over again (Thanks Jung)

The Divine Tree: This massive spiritual tree is the realms of the Gods, and their Servitor...well servants.  Mortals can avoid going to the afterlife if they worship a god, and may dwell with their god or Gods for millennia, but even gods die and the soul will find their way to the next realm eventually.  Some argue that the tree isn’t actually a real tree, but a metaphor for some greater conceptual entity that we can’t understand, oh sweet lord Kabbalistic theology is so esoteric I can’t even.  Supposedly there are two other types of gods that exist, the 13 Elder Gods which embody Taboos and are locked away, and The Old Ones who seem to embody primordial fears and senses, but that isn’t true.  

The Color Wheel: Supposedly the 12 great colors have some sort of raw power that governs the world, but that is just dumb.

The Great Houses: Supposedly there are 4/4 types of entities that embody base assumptions, but really who would be dumb enough to believe that, I mean seriously now.

Relative Reality

Doesn’t exist, that would be fucking stupid, everybody knows relative reality isn’t real, it would ruin the whole 3 theme we have going for us, god why are people so fucking stupid…..but if it did existed

The Realm of the Primordials: Haven’t come up with a name for it yet, the Primordials were the co creators of Gods, but after a great conflict called “The Dawn War” they were overthrown and killed, with their realm neglected and abandoned now

The Realm of the Titans: The Titans used to rule over the Gods, but the gods rebelled and replaced them, the 13 Elder Gods

The Realms of the Dead: Ok, these ones we definitely know exist, but it totally isn’t relative I swear, that would just be stupid.  Reapers, Shinigami, Psychopomps aren’t relative, what are you talking about?

The Material Plane

Where all of the realms come together, the Material Plane is mostly made up of mortals, animals, Dragons, Giants, Mormons, Plants, Beasts, Undead, and Sylvans, the latter being personifications of the Material Planes and tend to be guardians of nature.  Most Mortals are either created by gods for a purpose (Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Goblins, Halflings, Gnomes, Bugbears) or were created by the “Seven Creator Races” strange entities who made a lot of animal themed entities.  Humans are a weird exception, they seem to just be animals who evolved to sentience which is why most other races see them as inferior.  Dragons were the very first mortals and the world exists for them, and Giants are the caretakers of the Material Plane (they don’t do a very good job).  There are 25 “ISlands of Time” which are special Material Plane PLanets created to embody a specific theme, but all of them are slowly merging

Sigil: The Single greatest city EVAR, it is the center of the multiverse and it is where the entire world mixes into one.  Governed by the 16 hilariously ineffective factions, this city is the most important and least competent entity in the world

The Transitive Realms

These realms are more places of travel than true realms, you use these to get around

The Astral Plane: A giant silvery ocean of existence, mortals and souls travel around this realm which connects the entire multiverse, but it is so vast that it is very hard to get around

The Ethereal Plane: The first place souls go to before they travel to the Realms of the Dead, this is like an alternative version of the Material Plane, a ghostly creepy realm.  

The Plane of Shadows: Made up of what we can’t quite see, this realm is a strange alternative version of the Material Plane that is shadowy, gloomy, obsessed with card games, and seems to be based on the Road Not Taken

The Plane of Mirrors: This realm is one of twisted altered possibilities, strangely enough  it is NOT an alternative of the Material Plane for some reason.  

Other Realms

For some reasons, not everything fits into this neat happy theme...but there time will come

Mundus: The home of strange entities called the Daedra, Eetra, and Aedra, these simultaneously alien but also deeply human entities claim to belong to an alternative morality that no longer exists

Faerie and the Shadowfell.  These two realms are where Fairies and Hags come from respectively, Fairies live off positive emotions, while Hags live off negative, but don’t mistake that for morality.  

Taterus: Supposedly a race of entities attempted to overthrow the Gods themselves, and were imprisoned, but they could come back at any point

Malfeas: Once Upon a Time, the Material Plane had special entities who guided and controlled it, called Protogenoi.  However due to some sort of accident (Gods did it) most of them were overthrown, with only Gia left.  The remaining Protogenoi were locked away inside the bowls of their leader and have since transformed into creatures known as Yozi, twisted world ending abominations of what they should have been.  Scholars have noticed how repetitive mythology seems to be, and are fairly certain reality itself is taking the piss.  

The Underworld: Some of those Protogenoi were actually killed rather than imprisoned, but because they are tied to the universe itself, they cannot die.  So their corpses created this terrifying realm where souls cannot rest, most Undead come from here

The Wyrld: The very edge of reality itself, this is a land were stories become real and the world itself shifts to accommodate the rules of drama.  Ruled by the Raksha.  

The Lying Darkness: wait...what?

The Far Realm: Seriously WTF, this alien eldritch realm is basically another multiverse entirely, and its very existence breaks ours and visa versa.  The creatures there are totally alien and likely as scared of us as we are of them.  

The Netherworld (Not sure about the name: This is the alternative afterlife of some alien mortals who don’t quite fit in, like Mind Flayers or Beholders.  Thing Purgatory from Supernatural

Eden: Once Fate existed and it was located here , but now lays in ruins.  

Zen-Mu: The realm of the 4 Houses.  Or possible the home of the primordials

Yu-Shan: THe home of the Celestial Bureaucracy, it is the home of the other 4 houses.  

The Dark Tapestry: I don’t know what that is?

The Deep Below: Before there was existence, there was water, and those waters exist outside the multiverse itself

Outsiders

Outsiders are the native creatures of the planse and they might resemble mortals in many way.  They have personalities, they think, they can even form relationships and have FEELINGS.  But they aren’t like mortals in one critical way, they lack Free Will.  Mortals can change their mind, have character arcs, and discover new perspectives, Outsiders cannot, they embody their plane.  So a Devil embodies Lawful Evil, they can’t not be Lawful and Evil personified.  A devil might save a person’s life or give money to charity but they cannot do so for its own sake, and a Devil will never act in a chaotic manner, Devils don’t spontaneously do things, everything they do is according to some lawful system.  Similarly, a Water Elemental is all about water, they can have a personality and goals, but it all comes back to water in the end.  

Summoning outsiders

There are three different ways an outsider can come to the Mortal World.  

Called Creatures: This is what happens with your basic “Summon monster” spell, a spiritual projection of the creature shows up, does some stuff, and then leaves after a set amount of time.  Short of incredibly powerful magics, Called creatures cannot be permanently hurt, they just go back home when killed or when their time runs out

Summoned: This is basically calling a creature but on a permanent basis, a spiritual projection of the being arrives on the plane and walks around doing stuff, it’s basically like they are here in the flesh.  Summon creatures when ‘killed’ don’t actually die, they just go home to their own realm, and are unable to be summoned again for 100 years.  Sounds great, except that summoned creatures are extremely susceptible to certain spells which can instantly banish them.  Against a summoned creature, with the right spells, you can basically instantly send them back to their home domain, no problem.  

Arrived Creature:  They are here, in the flesh, totally here.  This means no weaknesses, and much much more powerful than their reduced Summon form.  This is very rare, normally you need a special ritual to fully bring an outsider to the Material plane or a very powerful being to drag them here.  This makes them more powerful but if they die, they die for good.  Sometimes they can arrive via portals, which can be very scary if a whole lot of them arrive at once.  

Last Notes

Outsiders usually can’t come to the Material Plane without Permission and in large numbers, there are billions of them and they could easily conquer the Material Plane if they had half a chance.  But sometimes portals do open int oa new world, and that leads to a Planar Wars, the worse wars.

Oh wait, no, one last thing, the BLood War.  The Largest War in all time is between the Demons and the Devils.  Lawful Evil, vs. Chaotic Evil, this war is larger than any other conflict in history and threatens to destroy the multiverse some day.  If these two sides unified for even a day, they would take over the entire world.  

THE TROUBLE WITH HUMANITY: GOOD NEWS

There are some fundamental Truths that have been hidden from humanity from time immemorial. The paradox of this deception is that it’s out in the open. One must always remember that intelligence and “intellectual pursuit” is simply the collation of information, facts and knowledge. The definition of wisdom is the same as intelligence; but applied within context and to an extent, pragmatic. The general example is the well-known “tomatoes are a fruit (knowledge) but not including them in a fruit salad is “wisdom”. For a long time humanity has pursued knowledge with voracious appetite. This is one of the great defining characteristics of the human race: curiosity . The yearning to learn and know. This attribute has been the impetus for evolution and cultural progress. While most of this progress has been positive, human history has been written in blood, conflict, self-interest and greed . The human has achieved great strides but at a heavy cost. The human race has over time lost certain insights to truth and light and consequently abandoned the path to truth, happiness and complete peace. The basic truth is that we are souls and spirit having a human experience. The lie has been that we are humans who happen to have some sort of soul. One of the main faiths of mankind states that we are created in God’s image. Thus, if we are all different facets of the same God how would we endeavour to harm the other? REINCARNATION: is a fundamental fact of life. Karma is also as much a solid fact as the existence of Mt Everest. Reincarnation: souls come to this realm in order to learn and grow. For them to develop empathy but above all, be the expression of LOVE. Thus death is nothing to be feared but it is just a doorway. Something to even look forward to. The Creator is not so cruel as to give You Life to enjoy, make it entirely short, give you one shot at spiritual evolution and then judge and cast you to the fire for doing the very thing She asks you to do. Then demand worship. No, this is entirely a false premise based on a doctrine of fear meant to manipulate the lost sheep to absolute submission and obedience. There is complete absence of Love and Light in that dogma and thinking. Listen: You are Energy composed of Love and Light. Energy cannot be destroyed but merely changes form. Death is the not the end, but a new beginning and entry point to the spiritual and ether. That is your true actual home. This is fact. You already have everlasting Life. You existed before coming to Earth. “I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb, I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Thus, because Home is a place of complete absolute indescribable Love and Bliss, it does not afford one the full array of options to grow through challenges, such as pain and suffering, physical limitation and fragility. It is a short stay, we are meant to realize and most importantly REMEMBER that it is a grand illusion, a play whose central theme is Love, in whatever shape or form. This play has cast and drama unique and specific to you, with the various characters connected to one another through lifetimes and karma. Remember: It is a matrix, but enjoy being in the matrix. Remember who You are: LOVE experiencing a human existence. LOVE: Love is the meaning of Life. Love never runs out, the more you give, the more you receive. It is the force of the creator and God’s very essence. One cannot be expected to graduate to the 4th grade if they have not learnt the lessons of the 3rd grade . The lessons to learn in this earthly realm are simple: Love unconditionally in-spite and despite imperfections Forgiveness Compassion Forgiveness: Once a person recognises that they are just but a beautiful divine soul full of light and God’s Love (which is inherent in all God’s creation) then they realise that they are already forgiven. No human is perfect but the task is to gradually and joyously work on one’s perceived shortcomings. Thus, there is simply nothing to forgive as You are a facet of the Creator experiencing life with all its challenges. The whole point is imperfection so you can joyously move at your own pace, enjoying the grand adventure towards the perfect Light of the Source. Its not a race. It’s not a requirement, either way, One day you will arrive. Everyone will. More than anything, one must forgive themselves and understand that they are not perfect. And that is perfectly fine. Then one should recognise and accept those perceived short comings, embrace them. Forgive yourself for it (including the past) and forgive others. You do not know why a soul chose to come to Earth and have a particular set of experience, so instead of judging, understand and look in the mirror. You will see the other person’s struggle in your own. It may not be identical, but pay close attention, You will see yourself in every person. Start LOVING yourself unconditionally. However, not in an egocentric way that hurts others. Just quiet radiant Love. We are our harshest judge and jury, and on that day of your life review, It is NEVER the Creator that judges; It is You. So be gentle and patient with yourself. Remind yourself you are like a child trying to learn to walk, you will fall many times, but eventually you will get there. Constantly forgive and Love yourself and get back on that horse. Don’t give up. Above all, Remember: YOU are LOVED ABSOLUTELY and UNCONDITIONALLY Thus when one Loves and forgives themselves, it radiates outwards and your light shines to inspire others. Be sincere to yourself .You are God’s creation, made in his image thus you cannot lie to God, because you will be lying to yourself. It’s not about being “holy”. It’s about acceptance and sincerity as a means to achieve inner peace. Moreover, when this perspective is achieved, one realises that judging others is selfpunishment as one should essentially be working on themselves, pointing a finger to another divine creation while ignoring one’s own flaws is self-judgment. One comes to Love and accept everyone and understand that we are all brothers and sisters having a human experience. And with this embrace of imperfections, comes tremendous peace and tranquillity. The blind prejudice of the ego gradually evaporates. When one gets to this level of Love and acceptance, what follows is Empathy. Because one realises that we all have difficulties in life and no one out of 6 billion souls on the planet is trouble free. We are all beautiful imperfections. When you develop empathy for all Creatures, then you have already started to realize that You are literally part of the Creator. You have extended your hand to touch the face of God. Because You see the Hand of God in everything. You lift another one by compassion, you lift yourself up and the universe. Hence turning the other cheek, for hurting another is hurting yourself. Thus the ultimate goal is LOVE and Empathy. Love and Empathy leads to Compassion. Do unto others as you would like it to be done to you. When one achieves this, they are in the doorstep of heaven (within) . These are the lessons of the Earthly realm, the purpose of Life. This is the true and pure dharma. Suffering: It is a very logical and rational question to ask, “Why should humanity suffer if God Loves us?” We suffer mainly for two reasons: Ego For growth and development. Life is 10% what happens to you but 90% how you react to it. You basically create your own karma. For every action, there is a reaction. The important thing is to remember the lesson learnt from the suffering and the positive that has come out of it. One must strive to rise above their current circumstances and turn it into a positive experience. A humble man with no income and financial security is more likely to be open to life’s lessons and have genuine relationships around him than a rich tycoon surrounded by sycophants . The kingdom of God (LOVE) is for the meek, the down trodden and the voiceless. Those who give with Love and gratitude. The key to the mastery of Life is walking the middle path as Guatama Buddha explained. In this specific context, have a productive life in the physical but continue to grow spiritually. As much as you indulge in the physical; having a career, a family, enjoying sport and music and playing with your child, remember your purpose is spiritual evolution and everything else is temporary, including even your family. Thus do not be attached to temporary situations, assets even relationships. Attachments result in enslavement. Appreciate what you have but do not tie it in with your wellbeing or happiness. True happiness is internal. Look for this. Recognize desire for what it is. Then weigh if it driven by Love or fear. However, You must remember to enjoy Life, for if you were to withdraw from society to focus solely on the spiritual isolated in the caves, You must ask yourself in what way have you contributed to the evolution of the human as a species and in the society. There must be a balance. Enjoyment and Awareness. Everything in the universe operates on a Ying and Yang balance, this understanding is crucial. Ego: The reason why there is so much suffering in the world is that the majority of humanity is driven by ego. Some attributes of the ego: Pride Anger Hate False Love (deluded) Bitterness Jealousy Insincerity Deception Modern society rewards those with ego with the highest accolades. A man with integrity and kindness of heart but little income will be ignored and often humiliated whereas a wealthy and powerful wicked man full of hate and pride with be given love and adoration by society. This has reduced the planet to complete utter rot. When one meditates and quietens the ego, they start to realise that that beautiful quiet inner voice is your Divine Higher Self. It is your divine eternal wisdom driven by Love and not ego. One must be humble and listen and learn like a child. A curious child does not let ego deter them from wanting to know. A child does not care if the teacher is young, old, atheist, religious, black, yellow, red or white. They just joyously receive. Ego blocks us from experiencing the beauty of Life and Love. Instead of seeing commonalities, we see differences. Ego is the separation from God/Love. Ego makes one feel superior to the other and this in turns destroys any chance of sharing, learning, peace and ultimately Love. The Creator seeks companionship, fellowship, unity and Oneness, like a beautiful flower in a garden full of flora and fauna, happy to share and experience the beauty of Creation, without possession or oppression. You will recognize power that is not divine because it will be divisive, it will be power Over instead of power With, instead of sharing, it will be jealously guarded and will never seek companionship outside its own kind. Hence power that comes from ego brings darkness of the soul and to the affected while that which comes from Love will bring Peace, Love and Unity. Man has been driven by ego in this age. Even while professing love for God in their religions, they have been busy fighting, judging, and killing each other over religions that ironically carry the message of LOVE. Thus the very institutions that should be advocates of peace and Love have been taken over by ego (greed, self-interest, bigotry, hypocrisy, guilt and deceit). Man has been enslaved by ego in all directions even when searching for his own redemption. Thus mankind has continued to pursue the elusive peace and happiness through ego. One cannot impose peace through war. Change has to come from within the individuals, then the immediate surroundings, society, nation and eventually the globe and even the universe. “Be the change that you want to see”-Gandhi. reflection and meditation. Reflection: To understand Peace, one must experience conflict. Ying and Yang. Thus when we are busy working on our own imperfections with humility, we become less judgmental and more joyous and accepting of those different from us. We realise that all races, are all different facets of the same: humanity. Ego destroys any chance of Love and racial or cultural harmony. The ego is ultimately “the devil”. From lower dimensions of fear, anger, pride, hate, guilt and deception. Taming the Ego A healthy ego is good for development (self-esteem) as long as it’s not harmful to others. One must embrace the ego within and learn to recognise it. If in an argument for example, and one gets angry (ego-perfectly human) one should try to understand the other person’s point of view. Empathize. Religion: Religion has been one of the ultimate failures of humanity. The central message of LOVE has been discarded and the tool of the message used as a weapon to subjugate, enslave and manipulate the innocent masses. Majority of the adherents of these religions such as Christianity, Islam, Baha’i, Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism etc are innocent people who yearn for peace and love but have been manipulated by those who have fallen far from the Creators grace because they worship their own ego to achieve their own ends, instead of leading the flock to the light. They insist on material wealth, misogyny, oppressive rules and laws and fear to exploit poor innocent Souls. This is why brother has turned against brother, mother against son, father against daughter, Muslim against Muslim, Christian against Christian, Buddhists committing atrocities, Hindus fighting their neighbours and so forth. Indigenous beliefs that revered the Divine Laws of Nature have been deemed as “evil”, “backward” and “uncivilized”. Yet the ancients had profound respect for the land, the sea, the environment and safeguarded it for the future generations. The ancients understood that they were just custodians and overseers of Creation but not the owners nor did they feel entitled to harness the gifts of nature for profit in order to the feed the ego through the greedy acquisition of wealth. On the other hand, organized religion has ignored the fundamental truths: 1- Love of God 2-Love of fellow man: If one Loved God, they would respect His creation .Both nature and fellow human beings. The question to ponder is: If we (as human beings) were created in his image (God) then how can one possibly harm another (God’s image)? Or worse, commit atrocities against nature. For the most reviled crime in society is crime against a child, yet even children have courts to protect them, nature doesn’t except to rely on the morality and ethics of the human being, unfortunately driven by money and obscene greed. It is paedophilia for profit. Simply put. We were created by the divine LOVE so that It (Source of Love, God, Creator) can experience Life through us. We are all simply different facets of the same creator living within us. From the water you drink to the stars at night, living creations having different forms and avenues of existence. Pay close attention. This is why Empathy is essential .Because everyone is on their own unique journey to learn, enjoy, and LOVE. It’s Not That Serious It is a short stay on Earth therefore it is important to be humble and to have fun. Like children out in the playing field at school. Think of this gorgeous animal, the Dolphin that is extremely in tune with nature, very intelligent, highly evolved and put in this planet to remind all and sundry about the joy of playfulness, companionship, appreciating nature, to see the humour of life, to be friendly to those who look different from us. Humans like to think they are the most evolved and intelligent creature, however this is like deciding the criteria for winning a sporting event and then awarding yourself a trophy. Its hilarious arrogance. Have Empathy, show gratitude and revere life, embrace and take care of the beauty of God’s creation: Land, Sea, Air, Animals, Microbes, Moon, Sun, Space and humanity . We are not entitled to any of it, we are just privileged to be guardians. State of The World Humanity has been programmed to think and act in a certain way that those who see the Truth for what it is have been repeatedly ridiculed ,humiliated ,called insane, creepy ,out of touch with reality ,hippy ,flower child, tree hugger and the list goes on . Most have paid with their lives or been derided to the point of withdrawal from human society. Calling someone “crazy” for non-conformity or because of little understanding their point of view demonstrates how little one’s Soul has evolved. It does not matter how well a pancake is cooked, It still has two sides. Do not reject those that dare to be different, appreciate them. This author has often been dismissed and rejected for his unorthodox perspective of the world. The society tries to hammer the nail that stands out, yet experience and history has shown that these rejects often become the corner stones of a great many societies and civilization. Again, judge not but show compassion and understanding. However, humanity condemns itself every time it extinguishes a light that shines to attempt to illuminate the Truth for what it is. Most messengers have been humble people with absolutely nothing to gain except spread peace and LOVE. Many of your sacred texts have foretold many of these messengers, and many messengers are sent to many communities and societies around the world. However, you shun them because they are different in appearance or conduct or lifestyle. You wait for prophesies to be fulfilled, however the time came and went because many were not paying attention. The messages are relayed in music, poetry and tales. The story of the Hobbit mirrors David and goliath. Some have agonized about the plight of Earth, wrote songs and poetry but we chose not to heed the message but judge the messenger. Or the other extreme; erroneously worship them. Open your eyes and discover angels among You. Some quietly healing the world, others more famous. They are there. Whether you believe it or not, it makes no difference. They sky won’t change colour because you deny its existence. Remember that: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”-Marianne Williamson. However the deceit of the world has blinded the masses with a cloak of ego (pride, prejudice, stubbornness) Thus humanity has made the choice to exist but not really live. The planet and humanity is slowly diminishing in its capacity to bring joy to future generations. In the constant struggle between Love and Fear (ego), as individuals, society and a planet, we must endeavour to ALWAYS choose LOVE. It is the path that leads home to Light. Nothing else. Everything comes down to a choice between those two primal frequencies. War There is no more profitable business than the business of war. War is also ego manifest. The same person supplying your enemy, is supplying you. You invite them to your table and break bread with them with your household. You share your laughter and secrets but they later use that as a potent weapon to enslave you in the long run. And they pretend to be your friend and fellow victim all along . The worse aspect of ego apart from fear and pride, is Deceit The deceitful few thrive on bloodshed and fear to create wealth and power. It’s a vicious cycle that the 99% of the world is caught up in, in an endless cycle of karmic violence while the few at the top reap all the benefit Laughter all the way to the bank at the expense of your sweat and blood. It’s not about race or religion. Those few choose to worship the ego. Which is pride, deceit and destruction. The devil. Fear. So what is the right religion? One should concentrate on Love. Be empathetic to fellow man Listen to great wise souls amongst them. Yearn to learn from other cultures Respect the Land .It is green. The colour of righteousness and conscience .It represents God’s creation. It is submission to God. How do I make a Difference? Put a smile on someone’s face. Show empathy to the less fortunate. Do not show off your good works but be stealthy in your fight for LOVE and Light. “Let not your right hand know the charitable works of the left”. Remember that: If You want to Know Why, There’s Life that cannot Lie, Love is strong, It only cares for Joyful Giving If we try we shall see, In this Bliss, we cannot Feel, Fear of dread We stop existing and start Living .-Michael. Racism: In reality, there are two races on earth. The haves (1%) and the have nots (99%). And if it was not for the ego, we would clearly see that we are one human family. Humanity should appreciate that they are different facets of LOVE and species, and embrace our differences as one species. For example: People of African descent (black people) tend to be very expressive musically and spiritually. Caucasians are a very curious and adventurous bunch about the world around them and love to explore Asians know the mysteries of the human body and the mind. Those from the Middle East are great theological scholars. Indians are great mystics of the spiritual. Native Americans and Aboriginals understand the divine spirit of nature and the Oneness of All. The Micronesians, Polynesians comprehend the stars and the seas despite the vastness of it all. And so forth. If Humanity saw this as different strengths of the same team, then humanity will be better off in the end. And what joy would that bring on earth! A blank boring canvass transforms into a gorgeous painting when all the various colours are applied in their various shapes and forms. Such is the Human Family world over. This wisdom can be achieved by regular meditation. Sabbath is time for meditation and reflection. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Martin Luther King, Jr. Atheists: There are divine forces in nature that we cannot conceive or perceive with our simple common senses but we all have an intuition there is a beyond what we know or perceive . For example, we know we need oxygen to survive but no one has actually seen or grasped oxygen physically. Source is not some grandfatherly dude far off and nonchalant in how we relate. Source is Love. The force of Life. God is everywhere and most of all inside you with your every breath. Thus ever single creation one sees is not accidental, it is the very expression of God’s Love. Everyone is God’s beautiful manifestation of Love. There is no such thing as a series of coincidences. Only a pattern of clues. However, Atheist are greatly admired because when they show acts of Love and Compassion, it’s not with the expectation of a reward in an afterlife or out of religious duty but done with heartfelt honesty There cannot be a higher ideal to aspire to. Nobody cares about piety and who has the correct dogma, It’s all trivial compared to caring for Creation and showing Love. Live, Love, Laugh, Play, Experience, Create, Dance, Cry….just Be. That’s all that’s required. The universe has a great sense of humour. It is the nature of the Source. It is inherent in all Creation. Make sure you laugh, Life is enjoyment without restriction as long you are not harming another. Concept of Free Will: We have been accorded free will for simply one reason. We are imperfect. We are human . Change has to come from within but in order to make the change, one has to make the choice to do so. If we conquer that fear and aspire to change, then automatically the world around us starts reflecting the change and our light automatically starts to shine brighter. Fear is ego. It makes us less receptive to what is unfamiliar, even when it’s the Truth and it speaks to our souls. Just the intention to make positive change sets things in motion to create a better world . If it was not for this free will, we would have been condemned for our iniquities Such is the grace of the Source. God is Love. He/She is your divine higher self. The quiet voice that whispers in that comforting voice and knows what’s right. Jihad The meaning of Jihad is NOT physical war. LOVE would not permit harm on another for the sake of Love. It’s redundant. Jihad is the internal struggle between good and evil. Love and Fear. Divine Higher Self and the ego (false sense of separation from the All). Jihad is the decision to do right or wrong. The burden of free will. Social Media Social media have largely been designed to take attention from the journey to self-improvement and reduced it to a constant state of judgmental. Social media when abused literally shifts focus from Love and Self-discovery to on one self (presenting the best of yourself for the sake of adoration) while continuously judging others. It is also detrimental for mental health as it assaults one’s self esteem continuously. However like any tool by man, it can be used to spread Love and positivity or as a potent to tool of hate and egocentric power. Ultimately, the ego of the user will be their eventual downfall depending on how they use it. Karma For every action, there is a reaction. Cause and Effect. You reap what you sow. An example: when you tell a lie. You have to keep the lie and before you know it, you are living the lie to sustain the appearance of it being the truth. When the Truth eventually comes out, the small initial lie has grown out of proportion and has become an untameable monster that starts consuming the liar. Because you can lie to others but NOT yourself and therefore God. Thus the insincerity and guilt consumes you (the liar) on a daily basis. That is what is called Karma. However, the universe and the Source approach to karma, is with very many big carrots for the good deeds and small sticks for the bad karma. You need not suffer bad karma if you have learnt from your bad deed and shown growth and change, much like a child need not be punished for a mistake already learnt from. The GOOD NEWS is, when we do acts of compassion and Love, the ripple effect is many many many many more times greater than the bad karma. Love wants you to grow, not punish. It is a fact.

Father John Misty - Pure Comedy by Will

Father John Misty – Pure Comedy

 Hello my name is Will Stubbs and I love music. I feel that music is the best medium for creativity, and the best standard of communication on earth. People can explore new ideas and emotions with the help of music. I am here to talk about music that interests me and maybe start a great conversation. Thanks for reading and remember to love music forever.

 “Without music, life would be a mistake.” -- Friedrich Nietzsche

 Before I start the review I want to apologize for the lack of content. I am trying to figure out how I want this blog to work. As of now I want to post a review every two weeks. I have a lot of things planned for this, but the motivation and time are sort of lacking. I don’t want to make excuses for myself. Another thing I want to mention is that for this review, I want to put my top songs, but I don’t want to put them in order of how much I like them. I don’t know if I will keep that format, but I think I want to change that. Let’s get into this review.

Josh Tillman is an indie rock singer/songwriter. I have been a fan of his other projects, one including Fleet Foxes (one of my favorite bands ever). He has been involved in many projects in the northwest. He has had many high profile credits as of late, with some including Lady Gaga and Kid Cudi. While hesitant, I was a huge fan of Fear Fun and I Love You, Honeybear.

Now I did really enjoy this record, I am having a hard time fully fleshing out the music. This record is a lot of what we expect with Father John Misty. A lot of folksy guitar, or slow piano ballads. Josh’s vocals give a lot of personality as usual. This album seems to be focused on lyrics. This album is social commentary at its finest. I truly enjoy the quiet poeticism of this record. Josh is completely criticizing modern pop culture while being completely self aware. While I think he may come off as pretentious, I think that he used this album as a tool to distract himself of all the stupid and disgusting things that humanity is capable of. The best way to distract yourself is to laugh. That’s where pure comedy comes from.

Now right off the bat the lyrics I am going to share are a bit longer than I normally would but the whole thing is required for the context of the conversation. In the title track to this record, Josh Tillman starts off the song by saying

“The comedy of man starts like this

Our brains are way too big for our mothers' hips

And so Nature, she divines this alternative

We emerged half-formed and hope that whoever greets us on the other end

Is kind enough to fill us in

And, babies, that's pretty much how it's been ever since”

This sets up a depressing narrative. I think it speaks a lot to the problems of our species. We are kind of brought into this world and have to win the lottery of emotionally stable, and intelligent parent(s). The rest of the song follows this cynical approach. We have to laugh at all the cruel and depressing details about our species such as religion, health, languages, and other putrid horrible topics. As far as the sound goes, this song is great. Its grandiose fits the human nature concept. It’s grandstanding and exaggerated just like the lyrics indicate. It almost feels like the setup for a movie about the beginning of man.

The next song “Total Entertainment Forever” seems to take the same cynical approach, but is directed towards pop culture. I take the lyrics to be a criticism at our need for constant simulation. We don’t have any real experiences because we are always looking for the next inevitable thing. He has a great way of contrasting deep and cynical lyrics but with such a happy sound. Maybe that’s where the comedy is extenuated.

As the record continues, I realized that the songs all seem to be thematic. While Josh is always criticizing the ideas within society and humanity, he is very specific. In the following song "Things It Would Have Been Helpful to Know before the Revolution" he takes jabs at government and financial structure of our society. He points out the way we are allowed to use this planet like a resource as opposed to a home. In this song I also realizes that many of the songs sound the same. Now I know that is silly to say so let me explain. The way he sets up the band is perfect in each song. The songs feel like chapters in a book. While they shift the mood, the set each other up so well. The songs all have the same elements of the acoustic guitar and the piano. The subtle drums, and often string instruments are foreshadowed and subtle.

The next song “Ballad of a Dying Man” is a jab and modern culture stereotypes such as hipsters, homophobes, etc. With the dying man, I would say it’s a thought experiment. If I were to die tomorrow, would I think that life was all for nothing. Are we superficial and jaded towards the world? We only care about followers and tweets.

The song “Birdie” seems to be a criticism of politics. And the false assumptions and stereotypes built around the parties. I wonder if the birdie analogy is maybe a backlash of the special snowflake criticism. I may be reaching, but I thought it was an interesting thought. It’s even funny thinking about how soft and sweet the song is to go along with this idea.

While the song “Leaving La” felt nauseatingly long, it had the most to say. I know that is an obvious observation, but I wanted to point my frustration. I love the detail he goes into with criticizing the la mentality. Josh seems frustrated with the idea of how vapid and self-centered La can be. He explains his dissatisfaction with the town. I know I may be reading the title too literally, but I think that it sets up the narrative well. It has so many stupid and shallow ideas that exits in our society. Like followers, gods, celebrities, social justice, and so many others. I think that this song, he seems the most self-aware. The lines “Mara taunts me 'neath the tree

She's like, "Oh great, that's just what we all need

Another white guy in 2017

Who takes himself so goddamn seriously."

She's not far off, the strange thing is” seems to point out the silly hypocrisy within himself.

The next song ”A Bigger Paper Bag” seems to talk about the idea of capitalism and greed. We always want a bigger paper bag. It’s simple and slow, but unique and great in the way it presents the material.

I think the next song "When the God of Love Returns There'll Be Hell to Pay" brings up an interesting thought experiment. The thought that if the Judeo-Christian God returned, what would he think about the state of the world. I enjoy that Josh brings up the hypocrisy that God would ultimately be partially responsible for his failings. The music in this is hilarious given the lyrical context. It’s very spacious, somber, and godly like gospel. It ironic in the best way possible.

The song “Smoochie” feels like a chapter on mental illness. It’s not particularly funny unless you have an alternative sense of humor. It seems to maybe be a turning point in this story. In the context of the full album, this song fits the least. The music is fine, but the content is confusing and misplaced.

The next song "Two Wildly Different Perspectives" on the surface seems to focus on politics. Josh criticizes both sides of the political spectrum as being mostly destructive and hypocritical. I think that he takes these jabs because we are in the internet age, but just as uninformed as ever. Maybe not misinformed necessarily, but equally as stubborn and illogical.

“The Memo” is hilariously absurd. I think it’s another criticism of social media.  He seems to hate how vapid and narcissistic we all are. The first line sets up a horrible thought experiment of taking a blanket from an amputee just to use it to make some pretentious modern art. I think this whole song may subtly take jabs at millennials, or more specifically his fans. He even throws in the computer voice that says stupid vapid things like this guy just gets me, and music is my life. I had to look at myself and laugh at this one.

Yet again, the next song "So I'm Growing Old on Magic Mountain" is absurdly long. The pace is long and slow. But this song seems to be the wind down of this journey. He refers to this magic mountain as if it’s a place. I think it’s a metaphor for either altering your consciousness (drugs, liquor, etc.). He seems to be relishing on his younger years when he could just have fun and party, but now that he is done he realizes how miserable that life is. That’s why he has to laugh. He wants to have fun and be young, but now he is old and miserable. The ending is beautiful and easy to get lost. Maybe it signifies the idea of the magic mountain.

The last song "In Twenty Years or So" Josh says that in twenty years or so the floating rock that we live on will die. The human experiment will die and nothing will matter. So maybe now that he is done with Magic Mountain, he can look at the world and think that nothing matters. We will all die in a violent end anyway so why not enjoy ourselves. Let’s all have a laugh at this funny world we live in. this song is the most complex with the way it’s composed. It almost reminds me of a far more depressing version of Space Oddity by David Bowie. It’s looking at the world as if though you are not there. It’s ethereal and surreal at one point, but then very poignant and precise at another. I love this song completely.

I think that you guys can tell by the length and detail that I enjoy this album. It took me a few listens and reading the lyrics to understand why I liked it. I think I went in biased because I am so fond of Father John Misty’s other projects so at first I didn’t like it. It definitely grew on me and resonated with me in a very tangible way. If you are a fan of introspective music, or indie/folk music, give this a few listens.

Rating: 8/10

 Top Songs:

In Twenty Years or So

The Memo

Ballad of a Dying Man

Pure Comedy

Room to Breathe

Trials of Faith and Devotion Some hit and some miss

But

Some misses among the missing Come together on a cauldron And do vile magic, a sabbath Without inviting Saturn

And doing cruel things to people Confusing their minds Causing defection by casting illusions That may be long history for some,  Who may overgone their limits Having a lot of satellites and a ring  And do chronoscopy by the blink Not needing to listen in to the minds for the most And jump out of universal systems Of aetherical cartography  After some planets and asteroids Surely do check the etherical masses,  All they are faboulous But do beyond… Encompass All Salute and Sing! 

Exceed by the rule!

All the while I was regressing to progress The mishaps and misgivings of  Inquisition traumas and stuff  That arose out of black magic. Well they burned the good ones along with the bad I'm not gonna leave any troopers behind.

It was not just a political move, some people do detest the people to the extent that everyone should detest them, but, erghh! 

Adjust those little buggers to Justice to pave the path to my kin It's Professional Business  and Professorial Masterminding

Compiling and Debugging  The curious concerns of spirit

Soul Groups, Families, Education, Alchemical Marriage as an Artform that Coagulates and Consumes Religion and Science Together and if you coming along with Divine you may end up with a Philosophers Stone and Elixirs, Orgies, Drugs, Clans, Cults, Sticky Notes, Stickers, Covens, the Ark of Covenant, Time Travel, Inspiration, Understanding, Gnosis, All things Divine and Secret of the Secrets.

Epicurious way to term Samadhi in English…

Illumination is an important Science and Art, We don't do humbug.  I'm a strictly no-nonsense official in this, And I don't do nonsense and won't cause criminal causalties Either thorough active or passive carelessness… 

Like by not being good enough in my secret life?

In alchemy you got to do things good and with care, All with love,

So along the watchtowers you won't mess With people with brilliant solutions,

We share the stuff at laboratories, the door to dimensions, a club is a cafe and can also be a museum, gallery, studio, hilarity, subway station, brothel, campus, harem or a madhouse. All along the course of changing subjects, we shift with our mood and mind, releasing from time and space, we do not peculiarly travel, rather time propells our heads when we're wide awake. But with a flip, we can also pass the test of time. Finding that button in the dark.

So if someone do hides a lot of truth of one's self because the one caused a lot of mischief, truth about that one to all may be revealed. Strictly no-nonsense with our Divine Equipment! We do orgies with our minds, no need for shame here, I just want to turn the lights on for all! The Universal Medicine is grounded within my being and being alight and ablaze for all according to the book of truth. I share it all with the Earth!

Why you little mischievous little so called devi-but add hai-LS-atan- have you ever attended to

Gymnasium?

If there were enough Lightarian Medics doing the right job around, we wouldn't be bogged deep in problems that we need to discuss and solve. 

Among All! How Moses split Red Sea? You gotta try it! We upgraded that furthermore.

Along the millenia… Laws of Time…  Even the timeless mana do improve with time It's like wine of the Hackers then Crackers. A split to solve a coagulation to conquer... We always won! Even there were causalties of time. We roll the wheel and roll with it!

Like those nasty little poopers,  Couldn't watch them back, Divine sent them messages With POP songs along To carry out the orders

Seriously if the thing is to be revealed, It wouldn't be concealed... Anyway we become any way we go!

Oh don't hesitate.  If you catch your back.

And carry along the important stuff with you

Like if the things they done  Could be undone in research centers That has access to books of deeds and paths And books of time and secret knowledge Attending to the halls of understanding

We should do that kinds of things…  As Kings do tend their Kingdom Kindly would be Rewarding!

As if the place is a psychic mess right now! I guess we all can know-how to clean it up...

Disinfect and consecrate with all things Divine Subtle Mental capacities

What was a Talisman anyway…  All universe is a living breathing being

But the degradation of the air is time and energy consuming, If you don't know your means?

Some already got all us into trouble all the while By playing it Dirty,

But this time someone is capable to fend off Academical swords with a whip that can be also a dagger, sword, flail, scourge, chain, pistol, crossbow… 

I mean light bending? 

And a tickety out of the blues, tickle them minds with roses! Bringing satisfaction to all along the Morties and Rickety Sins.

Increasing the quality of the research and applied wisdom, Along with care and health, all the whatevery goodies

Have you ever ponder with a Gyroscope? You might consider thinking to regret about the time you spent Along the cauldrons? It's no strictly for boy's stuff, we all have Gyros.

They're unisex and add dimension with the depth!

It's no surprise to accumulate debt if you don't consider coming back on the ground and now. That's when I have to smoke chains, these cruel people think they can kill me, I'll transmute their poison, by smoking… That's non-toxic for me. I distill things with that, precious matter. We don't need to import Guru's and their Teks without Valid Stones, that's imprudent.

Like those who confuse anyone with everyone It's connection issue upon wonder and care Save contradiction and comparison towards understanding Like the Basic Mental Bodywork 101

Scanning, observing, bringing together, collecting, merging, keeping, reflecting, balancing, scaling, grading, weighing, measuring, associating, relating, communicating and interpreting...

But comms and interpreting is mostly intermediate stuff. You can do access memories but may not project a better future for all towards common good, if you don't do the Karmic Work on yourself before others, 

Like purification,  Finding the cause of problems and getting rid of that Reading your own chart for weaknesses and strenghts,  Destroying redundant habits and giving up of negative karma creating abilities and getting better that will suit the needs of all...

Like not sending groupies or fake-patients  on people minding everyones ordeals,  Keeping the problems left out with people,  Not facing things and people as they are,  Self-righteous bragging all the while nagging behind fake smiles…  Creating garbage out of contradictionary statements,  On self image upon self-pity and self-indulgence Blasphemous mouthwork along with Divine subjects,  Irrelevant curses and being a curse just by the actions that is done behind closed doors, 

Manipulating and intimidating students and ongoers,  Not behaving accordingly, but binding too much Projecting mental chaos and corrupted belief that does not operate in universe that creates even more chaos, 

Marginal polarization that won't do any good to the area,  If male too piercing to cause holes  If female too magnetic to drain life out of people…  Cannot processing complex subjects…  

Thinking ethics out of question, and not thinking at all!?

Confusing people's good intentions with what one expects as a dire consequence of anything one may feel or be guilty out of nothing… 

Will not prove to be an alchemystically cured person. 

But a sick astral body that ejects consciousness out of body to alternative realities, everytime because of the hate of life on Earth being too complex and strict with the ordeal of popularity and critical acclaim, but trample on the tramboline everytime forgetting the missing part of the ordeal hitting the head to the corner or the edge. 

Undo the mess and process the ores before you project…  That's a rule in this magickal dance with fire.  

Else!

Have you ever wondered the source of the upgrades That have done on the Grounding Cords 

Along with a Planetary Alignment, Grid Work and Core Chakra Developments, Healing Mists and Ground Clearing.

We make room for all to breathe.

Many Witch Hats for Many Seasons

By: Heron Michelle

As a modern priestess, I am pledged to serve as the hands, feet and voice of the God/dess. As a part of Divine incarnation, I have many jobs that require many hats. Some hats flatter me more than others, but each one has its season, and each season comes with its lessons.

Heron’s “You shall not pass” serious face.

Many Hats, Many Seasons

One of my favorite hats is pointy and wide-brimmed, and when I wear it there is a glamour of mystique and magick.  Shiftings, craftings, seeings then proceed with fierce, provocative power as the crack, flash and blazing witchery forges the Will into being. Both boundary and crossroad quiver in anticipation when this hat leaves it’s peg. I feel very sexy when this is the chapeau du jour.

Alas, this was not the week for my pointy hat.

Priestess Crown

A different hat altogether is my Moon Crown. Only donned on sacred ground, delicate and romantic, the jeweled crescent drapes across my third-eye and I am Her priestess–the vessel of Spirit enfleshed. Temple raised, time slips, ethers part like the mists to find our Avalon of dreams, and we dance, feast and make love all as praise.

This was not the week for my crown, either…<sadface>

Accountant’s Visor

The hat I should be wearing is the accountants visor, some bowler of business, or whatever you call the hat that helps one to enjoy the counting of coin and credit, ciphers in columns, expenses payable and receivable wrestled into meaning, arriving at the bottom line in black or red. I really should tally the taxes and render unto Caesar what he’s due.

Alas, that cruel task-master’s hat fits too tightly for this piscean delusionist, and so it still hangs upon its dusty peg. <sigh>

Thinking Cap

Too often this month, I’ve been a bad, bad girl. Despite the demands of business, and no matter how treacherously high the game of recycling-bin-jenga is stacked, instead I sneak off to wear my thinking cap. This occultist’s hat is my favorite–the mental mortar board, flat and tasseled, fire-proof just in case smoke wafts from my ears as the heat of these ideas ignite.

I keep my nose buried, nib scratching, ink stains on my fingers… I am sometimes the teacher, always the student, most happy when lost in arcane language, with the whirr of new thoughts flaring into light. A gasping A-HA escapes my lips as new data and old knowings connect. Eureka! That is Heron in her natural habitat.

  Heron in her Ostara Bonnet

Hats for the Imbolc-Ostara Transition

After the Imbolc dedications, I was supposed to be working on the deep, esoteric lessons of the Priestesshood, as I am preparing for an upcoming initiation rite. I’d rather pull my cloak-hood over my eyes, slip between the worlds and journey the inner gates by candlelight. But I keep getting interrupted by these competing duties here in the middle world: Hunger, housework, car-pool duty.

Are they distractions? Or are these the real, witching lessons that I’m meant to learn at these inner gates of initiation? As Imbolc’s freeze yields to Ostara’s thaw and the windows are flung wide, I’ve worn an array of less-glamorous hats. Its all a matter of perspective, but I think they are just as necessary, just as sexy, and just as Goddess-y.

High Priestess between the pillars of Mercy and Severity. Photo by Heron

Cowgirl’s Hat

There is the Cowgirl’s hat–best worn to wrangle the wild beasts of chaos and need; for the channeling of SHE who is the Chauffer from School, Game and Rehearsal, SHE who is the Procurer of Toilet Paper, Light Bulbs and Air Filters, Great Deliverer of Groceries, Scrubbers and Soap.

Shepherdess Bonnet

There is the Shepherdess Bonnet–best worn for guiding the lost sheep of possessions; for channeling SHE who Tends the Portals of Wash, Dry and Fold, Renderer of That Which Stinks into That Which is Lavender Fresh and Helps Us Keep Our Friends. This bonnet is also stylish while guiding into the correct little hands the errant lunch boxes, sports equipment, homework and instruments; for channeling for SHE who Keeps the Whole Family’s Shit Together.

  CC0-Public Domain ~ Pixabay

War Helmet

All the witches are wearing their War Helmets this Imbolc season, as it is very versatile! You can pair it with the protest sign of your choice and wear it to the weekly rallies held just outside every town hall in America. This trendy ensemble is best worn as you channel SHE who Smashes the Patriarchy and SHE Who is Protectress of Uteri from the Evil Forces of Fascism. 

You can pair your helmet with steam-punk safety goggles–best worn when performing the duties of Maintenance Engineer; for channeling SHE Who is a Climber of Ladders, Wielder of Power-Tools, Plungers and Vacuums.

Just add a pair of yellow rubber gloves and you have everything you need to channel the awesome powers of SHE who is Vanquisher of Grime, Garbage, and Clutter.  I banish thee, oh mildew, litter box and shower drain clogs!

Domestic Goddess Kerchief

Other times, my Domestic Goddess hats look more like a Chef’s hat, or a housekeeper’s Kerchief. Each is appropriate when it’s time to put up my hair, and get down to the root business of survival. They fit me well-enough, and are the most well-worn. In them, I wield the Fixed powers of Motherhood and become the channel of SHE who Scrubs the Clean Hearth, and SHE who Nurtures Her Family with Tuna-Noodle Casserole.

The lesson I am learning is that the High Priestess melds the magickal with the mundane, because it is all GOD/DESS.  I’ve learned that the most important of Her aspects that a witch must learn to channel is: SHE Who Does the Yucky Work Because That is Divine Love.  

Blessèd be Her many Divine names. Blessèd be Her earthly vessels. Blessèd be Her Domestic Lessons. ~Heron

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