Goblin Mode Quotes

Although now long estranged, Man is not wholly lost nor wholly changed. Dis-graced he may be, yet is not de-throned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned: Man, Sub-creator, the refracted Light through whom is splintered from a single White to many hues, and endlessly combined in living shapes that move from mind to mind. Though all the crannies of the world we filled with Elves and Goblins, though we dared to build Gods and their houses out of dark and light, and sowed the seed of dragons- 'twas our right (used or misused). That right has not decayed: we make still by the law in which we're made. Fantasy remains a human right: we make in our measure and in our derivative mode, because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and likeness of a Maker.

Unfortunately, we live in a capitalist society.

Goblincore is an aesthetic for those of us who are a bit too disorganized for minimalism, a bit too grungy for hygge, and probably a bit too sticky for anything else.

But goblins know that every pile of clutter has a warm, dark, cozy center. There’s nowhere more comfortable than directly in the middle of all the things you love most.

Honoring our goblin selves means celebrating our passions, asserting our right to green spaces, listening to our bodies, watching the world with curiosity, and prioritizing comfort.

Instead of morally weighted ideas about cleanliness, goblins can embrace a more person-centered approach. Does your space feel livable? Does it suit your needs? Does the level of clutter feel homey and familiar to you, or does it stress you out? Is there actual dirt, in a way that might threaten your health or the health of your guests, or is there simply mess?

Doing nothing can sometimes feel stressful, since we’re so trained to be productive with every minute of our days. But almost anything you think you need to do, whether it’s responding to emails or texting people back or doing the dishes, can wait a few days.

Living things are gross. People are gross. We’re made of oozing, gooey fibers and membranes. We’re filled with pus and phlegm. We fester and scab and puke and seep. What could be grosser than that? What could possibly be more foul and disgusting than the human body? And yet, this nastiness is what allows us to live.

If you have an opportunity to make someone feel special and cared for, why not take it?

Self-care means much more than washing your face or taking a bath every now and then. It’s about making sure that you’re prioritizing your mental health, tending to your body’s needs, and seeking out happiness regularly.

If you’re tired of thinking of your body as a product to be consumed or a goal to be attained, the principles of goblinhood can help. Being a goblin is all about escaping the claws of capitalism (to the extent that anyone can), and that includes pushing back on the beauty/wellness industrial complex and rethinking what self-care means to you.

Maybe someday you’ll realize that the parts of you that don’t perfectly conform to beauty standards—the weird, uncomfortable, “ugly” parts—are valuable in their own right.

The goblin life stresses the importance of finding beauty all around you, so you can probably decorate your whole space in goblin style without even going to a store.

If you pick up a rock when you’re out and about and you bring that rock home and put it on your bookshelf without polishing, painting, or otherwise decorating it, you’ve created a manuport. If you find a piece of quartz, or a clamshell, or a small fossil in your backyard and you send it to a friend as a gift, you’ve created a manuport

Isn’t it remarkable to think that by picking up a cool rock and bringing it to a friend, you’re engaging in the most ancient form of art? Isn’t it remarkable to think that making art can be as simple as recognizing beauty and choosing to share that beauty with others?

Knowing skills like sewing and mending will allow you to have a more sustainable wardrobe.

We live in a single-use society, but most of the things we own can actually be reused. Fight the capitalist mindset and reimagine what it means to recycle.

Rather than prioritizing how other people feel about your clothes, think about how your clothes are serving you, what different pieces can offer you, and how to best showcase your wonderful, unique style every day.

cut the thread at a slight angle to give yourself a point to thread with.

There are lots of ways to celebrate animals without keeping them as pets, and goblins are big fans of celebrating the weird and wild without needing to tame or domesticate.

You don’t have to own an animal to feel close to that animal—in fact, that’s a pretty capitalist idea when you think about it. Appreciating the animal from a distance, in its natural habitat, can make you feel just as connected to that animal as keeping one in your room would.

There’s never been a hermit crab exactly like the one you found in that tide pool last week, and there never will be again.

The goblin lifestyle pushes back against the idea that we must be clean and smooth and poreless in order to exist in the world. Dirty, sticky weirdos are just as deserving of love as anyone else.

Our worth isn’t dictated by how easy we are to advertise to.

What’s cozier than always being surrounded by little gifts you made for yourself?

Did you know that there are many types of plants that have historically been used as abortifacients? In the past, pregnant people used all kinds of plants to help induce abortion. It’s almost as though abortion is as natural as the plants themselves.

It’s all about really considering and celebrating the things you own, rather than thoughtlessly consuming. Surround yourself with items you love and you’ll always be reminded of the little things that make you special and distinct.

You might be tired of the constant performance associated with taste and style and looking for something that feels cozier and more representative of who you are.

Your tastes are so much bigger than a single trend—no one can find their entire self in a style of interior design. People are way too complicated for that.

So, what do we do if nature is so great but also inaccessible? Well, obviously we steal it back.

We think “wild animal” only when we’re looking at grizzly bears and Dall sheep, not squirrels and rats. We think “the great outdoors” only when we’re on top of a mountain, instead of every time we step outside.

There are very few places that we can go and not be expected, or forced, to spend money. But going on a walk, going to a park, and even just standing outside are all free. Spending time outside is a radical act of anti-capitalism

Wealthy people have greenery right outside their front doors, but they can also afford to travel and see even more nature. Nature must be good for us if the wealthy are hoarding it for themselves.

In general, we all need to give ourselves a break. There’s a lot of moral weight put on keeping your space clean, but clean isn’t an objective term.

A lair is a sacred space, after all. It’s a representation of you, and you weren’t built in a day either.

You want your habitat to be perfect for the real you, not an idea of you