#hogyoku

[distinguishedshoeduckdonut]

I wanted to draw both black and white

[akai-me]

[myrottingbrain]

absolutely no one:

aizen after playing with the hogyoku:

[bleachplease]

I really enjoy reading your posts and would love to hear what do you think of Aizen's monster form having three holes.

Thank you for your support! I put a lot of mental energy into these posts and analysis.

I love your question! It is an extremely interesting topic!

The three hollow holes of the Monster Aizen (AKA The three-holes problem).

This is the question that is bothering me from a while now, and I still don't have a satisfying answer to it.

But let's try to come up with some possible meanings.

We know that a Hollow hole is created when a soul leaves the body and their soul chain is broken and corroded. So the hole replaces the core of the chain. The chain itself might symbolize the attachment to the material realm (anchoring to the body in literal sense, but to all the things in the Human World in the metaphorical sense, like your connections to the family and friends, hobbies, goals, everyday life etc).

So a Hollow, as we know, is created when this attachment is physically broken by death but mentally the Soul is still clinging to it without letting go. This is explained as feeling grief, anger, need for revenge, and so on. But all these feelings comes from the same place - attachment. This attachment generates a sense of loss after death. And boom - we have a Hollow - with one hollow hole. A hole symbolizes the lack of heart, lost humanity, and this immense sense of loss and emptiness after being unable to move on, to let go.

I think in Espada's case their personal emptiness and this negative space, the thing they feel they are missing, and that prevents them to be whole is deeply connected with their aspects of death.

So take Aaroniero, for example - his aspect is Greed. He is missing the opposite of greed. Fulfillment. Satisfaction.

Same goes for Aizen in his Monster form imo. The first hole, the one on his chest, it the one symbolizing his heart (kokoro) which is understood as the connections with the others. The Hogyoku is filling that gap for him (visually). The Hogyoku is his equivalent of being understood. He even phrases it that way: "It looks like the Hogyoku finally began to understood who I am." - this is not what the artifact should be doing for him, this is an artificial equivalent of a human connection.

But then what about the two other holes below?

Perhaps, if the one is the connection with the others, the other one might be a connection with himself? Deeper self-understanding.

And the last hole would then represent the connection to the Three Realms, to the world itself. Because in this form Aizen is disconnected, he is on a totally different plane of existence, and the others can't even sense his reiatsu anymore. He removed himself from this existential plane.

And since they are the holes, they point out of what he misses. They suggest the absence that is not neutral, but a cause of his existential suffering (which might be not even conceptualized by him). Just like Ulquiorra who subconsciously feels there is something missing but can't grasp the concept of the Heart.

The other possible meanings of the three holes is that they could represent the Three Realms: World of the Living, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo.

Aizen in his monster form crossed the boundaries between being a Soul, a Shinigami, and Hollow. He doesn't belong to either of the Three Realms, and three races anymore.

Next, let's look where these holes are placed. Their position is aligned with three spectific chakras:

The top one is the Heart Chakra (Anahata, the green one) representing feelings, emotional openness, and healing. Also love, compassion, harmony, kindness, and forgiveness. I don't have to explain why in Aizen's case this is empty.

The spiritual imbalance of this chakra manifests as: desire, possessiveness, arrogance, egoism, hypocrisy, misery.

Middle one is where the Solar plexus chakra (Manipura, the yellow one) would be. And this is an interesting one. Because this chakra connects the person with their power, lifeforms, will, assertiveness, self-love.

Does the emptiness here means that this form is a Dead Butterfly, an empty shell that didn't come from Aizen's own will, resolve, and conviction, but rather was forced upon him by the Hogyoku and came as a fear response? It suggest that Aizen in his form doesn't even fully believe he could win this fight, he is in denial, it isn't even him in a sense, it is an abomination of what he had strove to be. This is not what he wanted. And perhaps he does feel some self loathing for entering this form of twisted evolution.

The deregulation of the Manipura chakra causes: thirst, jealousy, treachery, shame, fear, disgust, delusion, foolishness and sadness.

The bottom one is correlated with the Sacral chakra (Svadhishthana, the orange one) responsible for the creation of things, and creation of self. Also pleasure, sensuality, sexuality.

The negative aspects for this chakra are: pitilessness, feeling of all-destructiveness, delusion, disdain, and suspicion.

I think the lowest hole in this case represents Aizen's detachment from both self, and the physical world. Or perhaps hints that his desire to create the new hierarchy is empty, and it is not an act of creation, but an act of destruction.

I think there can be also the other interpretations and meanings.

I am very interested in digging deeper into this topic, so if anyone has their own analysis, and want to share, please do!

Thank you for asking this question, Anom!

[thekingwhereitallends]

The Most Brilliant Orihime Inoue Arc That Never Was.

When we study Hogyoku and Hollows, we learn that the mystical gemstone is an artifact forged by Kisuke Urahara to manifest the deepest desires of the person wielding it, a relic of nearly omnipotent power that Sosuke Aizen claimed Orihime Inoue could affect and implied she could seize but it was never explored.

My intuition concluded and guide me into drawing the fetters and pulling the strings so it is finally unveiled why Orihime was of such magnificent importance and never truly realized it, just as Ulquiorra was infatuated with her and still insisted it was but an unusual curiosity in humanity.

Hueco Mundo exists as a contrast to The World of The Living, as the residence of isolated souls surrounded by death and despair and dread. Ulquiorra and Orihime, become polar opposites, and the very premise of the forbidden love story in "Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu" romance is implemented so beautifully that it resonates much better than what Kubo intended to grant Ichigo and Orihime.

Ulquiorra being constantly anchored to a realm governed by the crescent moon, and carrying his duty as a phlegmatic, stoic, withdrawn warden whilst Orihime is from a world blessed by the blessing of the dawn, and she herself is a radiant being full of passion and hope and kindness.

When Ulquiorra is mortally wounded by Ichigo, and silently confesses to Orihime with those eyes that long for a life to spend with her, that is what motivates Orihime to remain in Hueco Mundo and engage in her own battle to prevent Ulquiorra from being claimed by the pith of oblivion.

A desire that the vasto lorde and the she-human share, and a wish from Orihime that is heard by the heavens. Hogyoku answers her calling, and escapes from Kisuke to reach for Ulquiorra in order to rest within the void of his very being--as the very evidence of his attainment of heart--as the manifestation of his love that Orihime tabernacles within the pith of her existence.

That brings forth an intriguing:

"Did Aizen foresee this event? Was this a prophecy of his?"

Ulquiorra, henceforth ascends to an entity beyond a existence of vasto lorde and hollows, and the second chapter of his redemption begins.

This purifying transformation releases Orihime of the belief that she is only capable of mocking her beloved ones into beastly forms after having witnessed the terror of Ichigo becoming vasto lorde, and bear witness how she could be present in forging a majestic presence in a being that was certain of his soullessness.

To summarize it all, this is just me putting two minutes so i mold a tragic spectacle into a poetic masterpiece. I merely am not full of vitality to bring this idea to life.

[merpiratebiologist]

Rewatching Bleach's Arrancar Arc just now and I'm screaming, crying, throwing up, etc because of how UPSET I am. I knew it was coming and I would cry EVERYTIME the man came on screen, but I was not prepared to see Ichimaru Gin die again and I was DEFINITELY NOT ready to watch Matsumoto Rangiku's heart shatter like that

I had several(two) realisations in the meantime though:

First: While explaining his bankai's(Kamishini no Yari) release to Aizen while attempting to kill him(very ingeniously, because he's the literal babiest) he says that for the infinitesimally teeny tiny incomprehensible moment his katana extends or contracts? It turns to dust.

Ragiku's haineko turns to ashes. Ashes are part of dust. (Um, yes???? I'm BAWLING)

Second: The reason Rangiku can't become as strong as the potential her shikai shows?? Like, obviously other than her ability to lay waste to creepy men and giving heart attacks to us poor gays??

AIZEN STOLE A PART OF HER SOUL TO CREATE HIS CORRUPT MURDERY HOGYOKU BEFORE MIXING IT WITH KUSUKE'S AWESOME HOGYOKU

SO THEN HE RECITES HIS STUPID HEARTCRUSHING POEM{ONLY MENTALLY, MIND YOU(THE FOOL)} AND DIES IN HER STUPID LOVING ARMS

AND SHE HANGS OUT NEAR HITSUGAYA'S STUPID PRACTICE SNOW CAVE LATER BECAUSE THE SNOW REMINDS HER OF HIM, AND PROCEEDS TO ADMIT THAT SHE ALWAYS LOVED HIM.

Fuck this shit, someone come collect my corpse, I can't do this anymore, I forgot my little emotionally disregulated ass CANNOT think about heart break in the normal range of sadness

Also, to end this roller coaster: SO MAD that we only got this in an intro sequence, of all things. I want to see them in their GOOD TIMES, THEY DESERVE GOOD TIMES HOW DID THEY NEVER HAVE THE GOOD TIMES I'M AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

okay bye

[sad-stucky-shipper-107]

* puts bowl out * Come get your Chaos Theory Omake

Note: Minor spoilers for Ch 4 of Chaos Theory.

------

Ichibei: Hmmm. The vibes..... they are off..... hmmm. what could be causing this. hmmmm...... the soul king..... i need to protect the soul king..... it is my duty. Reio, what has agitated you so? What troubles you...?

Meanwhile the Soul King partying it up because he knows he's finally gonna die after Millenia of suffering:

-----

Rukia confronting Urahara : WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH MY GIGAI YOU SHADY SHOPKEEPER. SPEAK. Urahara: *professional gatekeep, gaslight, girlboss* Are you sure you're not imagining this Kuchiki San? Urahara: * interally * FUCK. FUCK. SHIT. ABORT. ABORT. SHE'S ONTO US-

----

Aizen on his way to HM: Man, I'm getting slightly worried about Ichigo, I wish he'd show some signs of reactivity but I suppose that's one wish even the Hogyoku can't fulfill. Hogyoku: .... Hogyoku: Bet. Aizen: * panicking * NO. NO. NO. NOT LIKE THAT. SAY SIKE. SAY SIKE RIGHT NOW-

-----

(Did I spend too much time making that soul king Gif? yes. yes I did) (There's more Omake in the AITTF tag, don't forget to check it out for more crack!)

[urazen]

Bleach: Mirrors High official trailer

in the new trailer (official) for the bleach game that is being released called mirrors high, ichigo appears to be holding the hogyoku! i'm genuinely so curious as to how he's gotten it. i don't think he ripped it out of aizen, but perhaps kisuke created another one? so many questions!