From gmbst15+@pitt.eduMon Jul 29 09:12:00 1996 Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 21:27:35 -0400 (EDT) From: Gwendolyn Brophy To: DragonLady of Keldarra Cc: catwoman@indy.net Subject: NRPG DL-W Ar Neahm, second version Kat and Susan, Thanks, Susan, for the ideas. I've used most. Any further changes will be made as I develop the character more. :) Gwen AR NEAHM This religion is very old, having its roots in primitive societies of centuries prior to the current era. It has evolved from worshipping the sun as a god to the current theology of worshipping the earth and sun as physical representations of cosmic forces, not as idols in and of themselves. The earth is the female diety, representing birth, life and death. The sun is male, the embodiment of the life spark. The earth is the stronger of the two magics, but conception is not possible without both the life spark and life, working together. For this reason, the followers of Ar Neahm believe in the equality of the sexes in all things. This interconnection is typical of the motif of cycles and circles in the Ar Neahm religion. Above all, the witches of the religion believe that existance is an endless circle, starting with the life spark, growing with life and ending with death. Being buried is a symbolic returning to the womb, and all of the witches undergo highly ritualized burials upon death. The solstice and equinox are the only days of celebration, all four days having been assigned one of the four stages of life: conception and growth in the womb, birth, growth out of the womb, and death. The spring equinox is the celebration of conception, the summer solstice is birth, with the fall equinox and winter solstice representing the other two. The priests of the religion are female, not because males are forbidden, but because the male followers recognize that females have a closer connection to the Mother Goddess and, therefore, have a stronger magic. The spring equinox is the ritual of being Marked, when new witches are tested to find the animal spirit which guids them. The Ar Neahm believe that humans are complex animals tied in closely with the wild animals of nature and the souls of each are interchangeable. A young woman may have been a wolf or a fish in a previous life, and the essence of that existance is stamped on her immortal soul for all time. Therefore, upon the spring equinox, the witches ask the Mother Goddess to reveal the animal spirit of the initiate. Once that has been seen, the initiate is tattooed with the animal so that she might always remember her connection to the earth. Summer solstice is the time of initiation, when hopefuls become full-fledged witches. A drop of blood from the initiate is taken, mixed with the earth's blood (water), and other herbs, then, drunk by all of the convening witches. A unanimous agreement is necessary for initiation as a priestess, but all initiates who complete the ceremony can become a witch, which is the term for a follower of the Ar Neahm. Fall equinox celebrates the witches who will marry or give birth. It is more of a festival than a true ritual, although those who are pregnant are 'blessed' by being annointed with special mixtures and paints, while the to-be married ones are secluded into a private ritual with the head witch (more accurately, priestess) and drink a hallucinagenic solution, which aids the drinker in reaching the Earth Mother, asking for her blessing on the upcoming nuptuals. Winter solstice is the day of the dead, when lost souls are mourned, contact with deceased attempted and the dance to renew the cycle of life expressed. Because of the nature of existance being so interconnected, the witches teach tolerance, forgiveness and patience. The abuse of nature is the most terrible of crimes that can be committed, and under this category falls hunting for sport, mining for 'precious' metals, and murder. All three exploit the reserves of nature with no true values other than pleasure, greed or anger. Above all, the cycle is the most important aspect of Ar Neahm, with sex being the most revered and religious ritual. Recalling one's placement in the scheme of things, not abusing the power given to humans, and respecting the right of all life to thrive are the hallmarks of Ar Neahm. The tradition is passed on from one generation to another, with the secrets of the priestesses being delivered only to those who have been initiated as priestesses. If one's mother is a priestess, it is not assumed that the daughter would be one as well. The earliest age for initiation into the religion is 15; however, younger children do take part in some rituals. Because of the age of this religion, it has spread all over Dragonlands, with each region forming its own specific rituals based upon older ones which are the case for all of the different versions. Although the regions have added their own 'flavor', the beliefs are the same and the tenets are held just as firmly. Occasionally, the religion is outlawed for its radical dictates on the roles of men and women, more specifically for its call to the enpowering of women. It is less accepted in small villages, where tradition can be more powerful and more difficult to change than in large towns. Unfortunately, the general image of an Ar Neahm witch is that of a sorceress who will cast spells, working in the black arts to manipulate nature. This is far from the truth; the only magic used is that of the spirit of life and the 'spells' are nothing more than prayers. |Gwendolyn Brophy http://www.pitt.edu/~gmbst15 gmbst15+@pitt.edu| |------------------------------------------------------------------------| |"No day, no night, no moment can hold me back from trying. One flag, one| | fall, one falter, I'll find my day may be far and away." --Enya |