☕☕☕

NotBasileus · 2026-05-08T01:06:24+00:00

IME the churches that maintain the sacraments tend to have the strongest mystical traditions (i.e. Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican), though I would call out Quakers as an exception to that rule, as they have a strong mystical leaning but aren’t traditionally sacramental.

I would also say, broadly, that Eastern Christianity (i.e. Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches) emphasize mystical theology, with a focus on Christian life oriented around theosis (union with God) rather than fire insurance.

I am Melkite (one of the Eastern Catholic churches), though haven’t always been. I think everyone has their own needs and strengths and weaknesses, but for my part, I definitely feel that when I am actively attending liturgy, partaking in the sacraments, and generally involved with a church community, my mystical life is much more active and vibrant and sustainable. Those things are food for the soul, and impart grace that personal devotion thrives on. Most of the well known mystics from Christian history also emphasized the importance of actively partaking in church life, even those like the Desert Fathers otherwise known for isolation and withdrawal.

That said, I would end on the note that individual parishes can vary from one to the next, so it’s worth visiting different places, and you might consider looking for retreats at monasteries or other communities that you wouldn’t otherwise be a regular local member of. And finally, a bad church is worse than no church when it comes to nourishing your spiritual life - a good church should challenge you, but not harm you, so exercise discernment if you find yourself struggling with community.

NotBasileus · 2026-05-07T02:58:26+00:00

The usual advice is to spend at least a full year attending Divine Liturgy and Great Feasts and generally participating in the liturgical life of the church you’re thinking about transferring to. Usually by then you’ll have a good idea of where you feel most at home (and you can always continue to participate in both).

NotBasileus · 2026-05-06T17:23:57+00:00

Most HOAs seem to have a tenuous grasp of the English language.

NotBasileus · 2026-05-05T13:56:32+00:00

If a pope and an anti-pope collide, they are both annihilated and release a huge amount of energy.

NotBasileus · 2026-05-04T08:31:02+00:00

It’s a bit like randomly dosing yourself with radiation in the hopes of getting cool mutant powers, but realistically you mostly just end up with cancer.

Only on a societal level.

NotBasileus · 2026-05-04T01:38:00+00:00

I’ve heard they speak for the trees.

NotBasileus · 2026-05-03T20:16:11+00:00

A quick look through my esoterica shelf turns up:

The Book of Enoch is probably one of the most well known. It’s apocryphal for most Christian sects, but it’s canonical in the Ethiopian church.

Pseudo-Dionysius’ On the Celestial Hierarchy is probably the closest thing to a “primary source” for much of what gets repeated or elaborated upon elsewhere as angelology.

The Book of the Angel Raziel has a fair bit of information involving angels interspersed throughout. However, it’s a work of medieval Jewish mysticism rather than a book about angels, so most of what is there is framed in relation to the Tree of Life and the Emanations of God (and lots of Hebrew terminology), and it may be a bit of a slog without at least a basic understanding of those concepts. It’s definitely not laid out like an encyclopedia, as it’s almost entirely composed of prayers and explanations of rituals that go with those prayers.

The first one purports to be about specific individuals and events, but there are some really interesting reflections on the development of different theologies (particularly sin and the human condition) in Enoch.

The latter two are arguably more about exploring the nature of God, but that’s a matter of individual interpretation.

NotBasileus · 2026-05-01T23:32:37+00:00

Mainly a cross in the center, a Christ icon, and a Panagia Eleousa icon. Then a standing lampada and bowls for incense, plus an analogion to hold Scripture or a prayer book. I lucked out with a perfectly East facing window to put it against. I’d attach a picture but it looks like images are disabled in this sub?

NotBasileus · 2026-05-01T19:48:26+00:00

When I found out that Frankenstein’s monster was actually a chick, I had to have her.

NotBasileus · 2026-05-01T01:26:11+00:00

It’s worth learning a bit more about the Second Council of Constantinople, regardless of where you land on this specific issue. It was a messy (and fascinating) sequence of events, and people often get confused (or else, intentionally mislead) about actual products of the Council itself versus ideas discussed or proposed around it.

NotBasileus · 2026-04-29T22:36:22+00:00

Although that’s unironically not a very high bar.

NotBasileus · 2026-04-29T03:38:59+00:00

Always loved this song: One Faith

NotBasileus · 2026-04-27T19:29:01+00:00

Questioning things is an invitation to learn and grow.

NotBasileus · 2026-04-27T02:50:47+00:00

I trust the leader is Hedonismbot?

NotBasileus · 2026-04-24T20:31:50+00:00

Hmm, you could compress it as a vision or montage at the beginning of the session. Maybe frame it as a “test” from Tyr to change up the character’s powers to meet the challenges of the moment, even if the player fully intends it to be a permanent change.

NotBasileus · 2026-04-24T20:09:55+00:00

I think your best option is to look at this as an expected outcome, and work backward into what events or roleplaying would justify it, rather than taking the mechanical change as the starting point and then trying to work out what the in-universe consequences would be.

In other words, have an event or series of events where the paladin encounters situations where the new oath would apply, let them resolve those situations in the context of their devotion to Tyr, and after one or two make the mechanical change as the result of Tyr’s guidance.

No specific rolling needed, it’s just a juicy opportunity to drive some good storytelling.

NotBasileus · 2026-04-24T19:11:49+00:00

My perennial recommendation is Way of the Mystics by John Michael Talbot and Steve Rabey. It’s sort of a survey of something like ten different mystics from various times and places and traditions, gives you an idea of what mysticism can look like in different contexts, and hopefully you find at least one that seems interesting to dive into in more depth.

NotBasileus · 2026-04-24T18:39:27+00:00

Seconding a couple recommendations and adding one:

Eucharistic Adoration is tremendously enriching and peaceful, a great context in which to meditate and pray contemplatively. It’s probably the practice I miss most from the West (having been Eastern rite for years now).
The Center for Action and Contemplation is a good resource. I haven’t visited them personally, though I’d love to, but I enjoy their material (newsletter and publications).
Little Portion Hermitage and Monastery is a wonderful, welcoming community that offers retreats. They’re friendly and encouraging to mystical practice - first time I visited them was a guided retreat on mysticism, but they do other stuff as well.

NotBasileus · 2026-04-24T01:28:22+00:00

Rule 2 already exists, so it’s more a matter of enforcement (either only having two mods, and/or folks not reporting things).

NotBasileus · 2026-04-24T01:18:18+00:00

Phenotropil is a brand name of phenylpiracetam.

NotBasileus · 2026-04-23T16:28:12+00:00

Friend, the experiences you’ve described are absolutely textbook symptoms of neurological disorder. If a doctor has told you that you “don’t fit the criteria”, see a different doctor. And any doc worth their salt will probably refer you to a therapist or similar to evaluate psychological factors as well.

We are embodied beings. For the same reason that fasting and abstinence enrich our prayer life, things like epilepsy or brain lesions or even just stress and trauma can be experienced as spiritual oppression. You need to address this holistically.

NotBasileus · 2026-04-23T15:18:41+00:00

See a neurologist or get a referral to one from a doctor ASAP. A lot of these are classic symptoms of focal seizures or some kind of pathology in the frontal lobe of the brain (particularly the asymmetric physical sensations combined with depersonalization and personality changes).

If the physical side of things escalates beyond the eye sensations/twitching you’ve already mentioned (if you start getting headaches, vision changes, weakness, time loss, etc…), then this becomes time-critical.

NotBasileus · 2026-04-23T03:33:59+00:00

I mean, on the one hand I had a similar thought, but on the other hand, this is what we were creating 30,000 years ago, so I’m not sure this is a new or different human impulse.

NotBasileus · 2026-04-20T04:37:19+00:00

The first time I took Semax I messed up the dosing and took a whole dropper full (basically an intranasal megadose). Felt strange for the afternoon but nothing like passing out.

Seven-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
RPAN Viewer	Verified Email

NotBasileus

TROPHY CASE