Wanderlust

Obviously a publisher is a business and a business needs to make money, but the idea used to be that you'd have a couple of very successful authors who bring in so much cash that they subsidise the new kid who is building a back catalogue of books that sell okay until they get name recognition and pay for themselves. I was told back then that a couple thousand pounds was very reasonable for a debut novel because you want to get royalties for the sales exceeding your advance and that way the publisher sees you as a profitable investment. The last couple of years I keep hearing about six figure book deals for debut (!) literary fiction (!) novels, what on earth?

prayer is anything you do on your knees

During the Ritual, the Deliverance Healer references the "sons of Aaron". Aaron was the brother of Moses, and he and his sons became the first priests of Israel. They were tasked with managing the sacrifices and rituals for the people, as well as maintaining the fire within the Tabernacle. This fire was considered Holy Flame, and was to be kept burning constantly. No other flame was to be used in rituals.

In Leviticus 10:1-2 we are told of how Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, lit their incense burners with "profane flame" - impure fire not from the altar. Because they brought this "unclean" flame into the sacred space, they defiled it. As punishment, God burnt them to death.

When the Deliverance Healer says "two flames, my lord. One to defile, one to reform," he is referencing the defiling flame Nadab and Abihu brought into the temple, and the reforming flame God used to punish them.

I think this can also be viewed through a slightly different lens however, where the lighter the Healer uses in the ritual is the defiling flame - bringing an impure entity into the lives of the boys - and the lighter Naim uses towards the end is the reforming flame - offering salvation by warding off the demon. Two flames, two meanings

On a slightly different note, the Deliverance Healer has tattoos, despite these being expressly forbidden under Leviticus 19:28. He even has 18:22 tattooed - the verse which allegedly forbids homosexuality (though that is likely a translation error). This shows the hypocrisy of his practice. I wish I was able to go back and re-watch because I would be interested to see if any other laws from Leviticus are broken throughout the movie by the church members - I can't remember what kind of food they were eating at the wake but I would be curious to see if there was any shellfish or the like.

Season 7: The fever dream season