Sacred odors then were notably complex. As in the graves of would-be saints, the smell of sanctity often mingled with the stench of decay and death. Ancient cities, Thurkill wrote, were characterized by “the stench of human excrement, refuse and disease, accompanied with soothing floral scents and perfumes.” Sacred smells like frankincense and myrrh were used over the centuries to demarcate sacred space—but also to disinfect and disguise putrid areas. […]

This gave holy smells a fundamentally paradoxical nature. In a world where breathing foul-smelling air was seen as the cause of many diseases, incense was seen as a barrier against illness, and, with its holy associations, against demonic possession. But equally, powerful scents could be used to disguise a deeper decay, or to tempt the pious with worldly delights and bodies. Even bad smells had an ambiguous quality. After all, the rotting stench of a starved ascetic’s mouth was simply more proof of his profound holiness.

It’s this ambiguity about smell, […] that gives scent its power as a theological tool. In addition to its flexible moral significance, the experience of an odor often reflects our understanding of divinity. Like God, smell can surround you from an indeterminate source, filling spaces with its invisible presence. But unlike sound, which might do the same, to experience a smell it must first be taken within, in an act–breathing–that is both life-giving and volitional.

—John Last, The Centuries-Long Quest for the Scent of God, Noema Magazine

A Handful of Dust: Father and son.

Edit: muted this monstrosity but if you're looking for the blank template it's on my blog and I'll tag this and it with "the stupid fucking shorts post" so you don't have to scroll through everything 💀😂 (I did not make the template btw, I don't know who the OP is but if you do please let me know)

You know a characther is fucked up and traumatized when they are wearing one of these

Hey it's that time of the year again :D

HAPPY 413! 🎂

aftercare ❤️‍🩹

The road to forgiveness is paved with miles of bullying

dramatic eyes. dramatic lips. drama on the cheeks.

sketch

Annabeth has been told her entire life she needs to earn love and glory and respect. Her father neglected her and her mother makes her earn her love. She has been raised to believe she has to be the best or nothing at all. She was told love was conditional. And then she meets Percy and in less than a WEEK she is questioning her beliefs, the gods, and learning that other people can and will put her first. Percy jumped for her. Percy got in the chair for her. Percy sees her. There is no limit to how much they will do for each other.

more of @mizushibart ’s au bc im having fun

Soap convinced Ghost to try his skateboard but alas he shakes like a leaf the moment he gets on one

work it out (part 1)

early access + nsfw on patreon

john "hip thrust" price

Last Week Tonight, March 16, 2022

crusty original + a little thing under the cut! :D

[ O

started coloring the 1st page and liked this so here. karkat turned out cool too but not as cool as john here... then i gave up on coloring them all because i was lazy and/or rly wanted to finish another drawing!

lil preview for some retired ghostsoap art !

It was the first time you realized God could not understand you.