💋 Friendship Is Pleasure Activism: Why Soul Bonds Are Your Most Underrated Superpower

Ash A Milton
Jul 30
3 min read

Let’s set the record straight: friendship isn’t fluffy. It’s fierce. It’s fundamental. And in the Book Wh0r3™ universe—where women’s agency, delight, and defiant joy are sacred texts—friendship is our spellcraft.

We’ve been sold a story that relationships are only “productive” if they come with a LinkedIn endorsement or a ring. But here’s the truth: good friendships are more than support systems. They’re pleasure rituals, resilience tools, and quietly radical acts of rebellion.

The Science of Soul Bonds (Or: Why Your Group Chat Is Saving Your Life)

Research confirms what every coven already knows: friendships are directly linked to better mental health, longer lifespans, and improved performance—in bed, at work, and in the shadowed corners of our psyches.

Lower anxiety and depression
Higher emotional intelligence
Improved immune function
Greater productivity and creativity
A literal increase in years lived (yes, besties make you immortal-ish)

Whether it’s ugly crying into brunch mimosas or trading memes at midnight, your relationships shape your nervous system. They help you regulate emotions, reclaim identity, and remember who you are when the world gaslights you into forgetfulness.

The Core Ingredients of Unapologetic Connection

You don’t build soul bonds on accident. You choose them, nurture them, and show up for them. And that effort? That devotion? It’s everything.

Here’s your recipe for friendships that heal, thrill, and amplify:

Radical Kindness: Acts of goodwill aren’t just nice—they’re deposits in the emotional bank account. Add interest by mixing in humor and a well-timed GIF.
Genuine Listening: Be the mirror, not the megaphone. Listen to understand, not to fix.
Vulnerability & Trust: Open up, show your underbelly, and prove you're safe enough for others to do the same.
Boundaries (With Glitter): Boundaries aren’t walls. They’re sexy scaffolding. They protect the vibe.
Consistency: Soul bonds aren’t forged in one coffee date. Show up again. And again. Effort is the love language.

Forget “low maintenance” friendships. You deserve people who want to water you—even when your leaves are crispy.

Friendship at Work: From HR Initiatives to High-Vibe Collectives

Work friendships are too often dismissed as distractions. But organizations that cultivate connection see real returns:

Better teamwork
More creative problem solving
Higher engagement and retention
Less burnout, more belonging

Here’s how to build bonds in your workplace (without waiting for a company-wide trust fall exercise):

Leadership Matters: If the people in power make space for humanity, others will follow. Leaders who value relationship set the tone for psychological safety.
Shared Goals & Interests: Highlight common threads. People connect more deeply when they feel aligned.
Social Rituals: Lunch hangouts, birthday shoutouts, Slack emoji parties—these matter.
Diverse & Inclusive Cultures: Safety breeds honesty. Honesty breeds connection. Connection breeds joy.
Conflict Alchemy: Don’t fear disagreements. Use them to deepen understanding. Messy is magical if you know how to clean up with grace.

And in remote spaces? Digital intimacy is real. A well-placed “you okay?” can do more than a spreadsheet ever will.

The Art of Remote Friendship: Zoom Hugs & Emoji Spellcraft

Virtual connection requires creativity. Thankfully, Book Wh0r3s are fluent in magic.

Use tools wisely: Slack, Zoom, Voxer, Discord—don’t just communicate, connect.
Normalize small talk: Ask about pets, playlists, or the last ridiculous thing someone did. Personality is the point.
Create rituals: Start meetings with rose/thorn/bud check-ins. Share memes like they’re mana.
Infuse personality: Yes, your LOL matters. Yes, your emoji curation is sacred.

Loneliness whispers that you’re too much, too late, too far gone. Connection proves it wrong.

The Real Cost of Isolation: Why We Need Each Other (Like, Urgently)

Social isolation isn’t just unpleasant—it’s deadly. The risks of loneliness rival those of smoking and obesity. And toxic relationships? They can erode your self-worth, stunt your creative flow, and hijack your joy.

Friendship isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline.

Investing in authentic bonds is healing.
Letting go of harmful ties is liberation.
Seeking support is sacred.

Whether you’re rekindling old flames or forming fresh friendships, every effort matters. It’s never too late. You’re never too much. You are worthy of relationships that see you, celebrate you, and stand beside you in battle and brunch.

Friendship in the Book Wh0r3™ Universe: Ritual, Rebellion, Radiance

Here, friendship isn’t just connection. It’s resistance. It’s how we reclaim pleasure in a world that tries to rob us of it. Every laugh, every vent sesh, every unexpected compliment is a hex against shame culture.

In this world: