AroAce Umbrella

AroAce Umbrella

In this post, I will discus the following terms: AroAce, Angled AroAce, Oriented AroAce, AroAceFlux, and AroAceSpike.

Let's start with AroAce.

A person who identifies as AroAce experiences little to no romantic or sexual attraction. They don't look at someone and go, "Oh, they're cute. I wonder if they're seeing someone. And if not, I wonder if they'd like to go out with me." They don't look at someone and go, "Oh, they're hot. I wonder if they're down for Netflix and chill." They may, on the other hand, get to know someone and go, "Oh, they're such a cool person, and they share many of my interests. I wonder if they'd like to be my best friend for all eternity."

Now, let's move on to Angled AroAce.

An Angled AroAce experiences some romantic and sexual attraction, but this attraction falls solidly within both the aromantic and asexual spectrums. The romantic or sexual attraction they experience may feel nebulous and complicated. "Oh, that person's good looking. Would I want to ask them out on a date? Maybe not." In addition to experiencing some romantic and sexual attraction, they may also experience tertiary attraction, such as platonic, emotional (alterous), physical (sensual), and/or aesthetic.

Next, let's look at Oriented AroAce.

Oriented AroAces experience little to no romantic or sexual attraction, but they do experience a strong tertiary attraction. Many who identify as oriented AroAce will also identify with another orientation label, but they only identify with this label in a nonromantic and nonsexual way. For example, a lesbian oriented AroAce may look at an attractive woman and go, "Oh, that woman's hot. But not in a sexual way. Most definitely in an aesthetic way."

On to AroAceFlux.

Note: I don't know if this is the correct flag.

AroAceFlux individuals experience a flux between their romantic and sexual orientations, but it always stays on the aro and ace spectrum. The flux can occur simultaneously or independently of each other. One day, you could experience no romantic and sexual attraction; and the next day, you could experience some romantic and no sexual attraction; and the day after that, you could experience no romantic and some sexual attraction. As the name implies, attraction is always in constant flux and motion. You may see someone and go, "Damn, I wonder if that person's single." You may see that same person at a different time and go, "They have nice eyes, I guess."

Lastly, let's look at AroAceSpike.

Note: I don't know if this is the correct flag.

AroAceSpike individuals generally don't feel any romantic or sexual attraction, but they will occasionally feel a strong romantic or sexual attraction for a brief moment of time. Some will use only this term to describe their sexual orientation while others will use an additional orientation label. They'll use this additional label to describe the type of romantic or sexual attraction they periodically feel. For example, a biromantic AroAceSpike individual will periodically feel romantic attraction towards the opposite and same gender as themselves; whereas, a homosexual AroAceSpike individual will periodically feel sexual attraction towards the same gender as themselves. They may see someone and go, "Oh, they're so pretty. I could just drown in their eyes." A brief moment later, they look at this same person and go, "Oh, never mind. Whatever I felt for them before has gone."

I would like to close this post by saying that I fall solidly under the AroAce term. Never in my life have I experienced sexual or romantic attraction. I have experienced emotional and aesthetic attraction but not necessarily in regards to people. I react to a beautiful painting the same way that I react to someone who has very beautiful eyes. "Ah, that's pretty." And after that brief thought, I simply get on with the rest of my day. As a result, I may not have given the best descriptions or examples of Angled AroAce, Oriented AroAce, AroAceFlux, or AroAceSpike.

If you are AroAce and disagree with any of my definitions or would like to share your own AroAce experiences, please leave a comment in the notes. I just love connecting with all my fellow AroAces out there in the digital realm.

And if you're not AroAce, I'd still like to hear from you. Especially the other folks on the aro and ace spectrum. ❤️

Well, that's all I have for today. Until next time, take care and stay curious.