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Binding Chaos
Life

Anima bloat

Updated August 5, 2026

The overfilling of an animus with life energy.

Expanded explanation

An animus is life energy held within a membrane for one person or group. Anima bloat is what happens when that container takes in more than it should, an overfilling rather than a lack, and the opposite failure from deanimation, the draining of an animus. Much of Marsh's energy model concerns energy being intercepted, extracted or starved. Anima bloat names the disorder at the other end, too much energy concentrated in one place. It belongs to the same mechanics as the anima bank, since a store that keeps drawing in surplus without release is a candidate for bloat.

Examples

A hoarded surplus
An animus that keeps taking in anima through devotion or offerings without releasing any is overfilled rather than nourished.
Concentration without release
Energy pulled inward and held, rather than shared outward, is the condition anima bloat names.

How others use it

The specific term is Marsh's, part of her mapped set of energy states, with no established use outside her work. Its nearest everyday cousin is the general idea that too much of a good thing becomes harmful, but Marsh gives it a precise place in a model where anima can be measured, moved and mismanaged.

Sources

Defined in the Binding Chaos series glossary, alongside the other anima-state terms.

Recommended reading path

Then read in full: Abstracting Divinity.

A suggested order for exploring this corner of the theory.