𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝓛𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙉𝙀𝙍.

ㅤ [ 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓 ] … ˖⁺.꒦꒷꒦꒷⛧꒷꒦꒷꒦˖⁺. ㅤ

Death with bow and arrow. The text reads: 'Oh, how many times do you vibrate, Death, your inevitable dart! By which men perish, by which beasts fall.' by Hendrick Hondius II. 1626

by Paul M. Ruty

A deal with the devil by Luca Ponsato

ㅤ ——— collection of journals to properly paint a picture for him, as he had done so for them. not willingly, no but reading private literature was far from their gravest sins. ㅤ

ㅤ ——— at maintaining some semblance of manners. the listener wished to be less of a stranger to the madman, less of the walking iconography that cicero seethed in the silence about, and more of the person that azazel was. they, after all, had no extensive ——— ㅤ

ㅤ the lilted screech of his voice became clear as it rung out over the hard surfaces of the sanctuary, an echo most mad. most opportunities to speak with the keeper insisted on azazel craning their neck down, but there, knelt in prayer, presented their opportunity ——— ㅤ

Parsifal Legend Illustration: Serpent Kundry and the Sacred Heart. Artist: Willy Pogany (1882–1955), 1912. Period: Art Nouveau. Medium: Lithograph (book printing). Source: T.W. Rolleston, Parsifal or the Legend of the Holy Grail, The Ohio State University (Hathi Trust digital copy).⁣ ⁣ The illustration is a visual summary of Parsifal--which Richard Wagner considered his last and most sacred opera--depicting the tension between "sin" and "atonement."⁣ ⁣ The story starts in the mountains of northern Spain, at the legendary Montsalvat Castle, a place no one can find. This is the home of the Knights of the Holy Grail. These knights are tasked with protecting two sacred relics: First, the "Holy Grail," from which Jesus drank wine at the Last Supper and into which His blood was collected at the cross; second, the "Holy Spear," which the Roman soldier Longinus thrust into Jesus' side while He was on the cross. However, by the time the story begins, this order has collapsed. King Amfortas has been wounded by his own holy spear because he broke his vow of "chastity" with a woman. The heart we see on the left side of Pogany's drawing--surrounded by a crown of thorns, radiating light, and with three nails visible inside--actually symbolizes this endless spiritual suffering of King Amfortas and the Grail community.⁣ ⁣ Now let's focus on the figure on the right: Kundry. Pogany directly depicts the character's "dual" curse by drawing her wrapped in a snake. Kundry is one of the most complex female characters in literary history. Although she appears to be a loyal messenger serving the Grail Knights, she's actually under the spell of the evil sorcerer Klingsor. Klingsor uses Kundry to lead the knights astray. She’s the one who seduced King Amfortas and caused him to lose the Holy Spear. The snake in the image represents this dark magic that has seized her will.⁣ ⁣ So why is Kundry in this state? Here, the religious basis of the story comes into play. In some interpretations, Kundry is considered a female reflection of the *Wandering Jew* motif in Christian mythology she was cursed for laughing at Jesus while He suffered on the cross.⁣ ⁣ Because of this laughter, she hasn't been able to die for centuries; she falls into death-like slumbers and wakes up again, her life continuing through rebirths. Her salvation depends on finding someone who’ll approach her with pure compassion, not lust.⁣ ⁣ It’s at this point that "Parsifal" enters the stage. Parsifal is a pure young man who grew up in the forest, unaware of the world, who doesn't even know his name (German: der reine Tor - Pure Fool). He happens to come to the knights' castle and watches the Holy Grail ritual. He sees King Amfortas' bleeding wound but doesn't understand what it is and doesn't ask questions. He’s expelled from the castle for this indifference. After wandering for some time, he arrives at Klingsor's magic garden. Here, Kundry tries to seduce Parsifal under the influence of her curse. The moment she kisses him, instead of feeling sexual pleasure, Parsifal suddenly feels the pain of King Amfortas' wound in his own body. This is his moment of "enlightenment." Parsifal attains the principle of "durch Mitleid wissend" (wise through compassion).⁣ ⁣ By rejecting Kundry's seduction, Parsifal breaks Klingsor's spell on her. The evil sorcerer Klingsor throws the Holy Spear at Parsifal, but the spear hangs suspended in the air. Parsifal takes the spear, returns to the Grail Castle after a journey of years, and heals Amfortas' wound with the tip of the spear.The prophecy "Only the spear that opened the wound can heal it" is fulfilled.⁣ ⁣ Pogany’s illustration captures one of the most important moments of this long journey: the moment when Kundry is ensnared by the snake (sin/magic) and separated from the Sacred Heart (salvation). While Parsifal becomes the new king of the Grail at the end of the story, Kundry is also freed from her curse.She no longer laughs or screams; she collapses to the ground in peace and dies. In fact, this death isn't a punishment, but the salvation she’s been awaiting for centuries.

ㅤ ——— make out the figure that approached, a silent acknowledgement that their acts of devotion were no longer for the night mother’s eyes, alone. it was not long before they surmised their identity as that of the * 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒓. ㅤ

ㅤ ——— do so * 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚. long, ochre ears twitched at the side of their head as the faintest of shufflings were perceived. their head rose and turned to better view the space over azazel’s shoulder. sanguine irises adjusted in the dim light as to better ——— ㅤ

[ @cheerfulklller ] with knees pressed against bleak stone and hands clasped in quiet prayer, the listener bowed their head. draped in the stillness of the midnight hour, * 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓’𝒔 words would be bestowed in wretched, cold whispers, voice a frigid hand ——— ㅤ

— Ingeborg Bachmann

( not my art, but a decent enough recreation via da:v )

( updated; largely an armor reference )

art references.

what’s wrong babe? you’ve hardly contacted your entity from beyond

“Could you tell me your name .ᐣ” / “I am no one .”