Aspectism - The Wood Elven Faith

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

Aspectism

The Faith of the Mali’ame

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Aspectism is the official faith of the Principality of Laureh’lin, and by in large the wood elven people. While worship of the aspects within wood elven society is as old as the race itself, the idea of it being an organized and structured entity is new.

 

Followers of Aspectism are Aspectists.

 

Aspectism is a faith based on the protection and lifestyle of the natural world. Much of this revolves around the reverence of the two chief dieties of nature, Cernunnos and Cerridwen, also known as the aspects.

 

Origins

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Main Thread

Malin himself was Aspectist, although it was not called 'Aspectism' back then.

 

So the old tales go, the Wood Elves were once a far more tribal people, of whom were guided by elven druids. These druids communed with the Aspects and led the way for the Wood Elves of old. These stories trace back millenia, to shortly after Malin had left this earth. Stories of the ruthless Archdruid Garthalon, who united a dozen warring tribes, and the noble rebels, warriors of the forest who fought against his tyranny. All oral histories proclaim that both sides of this war fought in the Aspects name, cementing the earlier claim that reverence of nature and worship of the Aspects is as old as the wood elves themselves.

 

Modern Aspectism was born out of the desire to revive the ancient traditions of the wood elven people, to revitalize their ways and culture and unite them under a new way of life. A way of life which represents the roots of the wood elven people, and properly reveres the beauty of the world they live in.

 

The Aspects

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Aspectists commonly acknowledge the Creator of Canonist lore to be the chief deity of this world. But as elves of nature, align themselves with whom they believe are his greatest servants. The Aspects.

 

The Aspects are a two-way balance of chaos and order, mother and father, life and death. The truth is subjective and complicated, but these two wild spirits of the forest have names and titles that all elves can identify.

 

Cernunnos

Cernunno’s title is the horned man. The patriarchal side of the natural balance. He is often depicted as a strongly built man with the horns of a stag and a longbow in hand. Cernunnos is the Aspect of the hunt, of predators, of chaos, and of death.

 

Wood elves believe that all animals have a deep connection to Cernunnos, and often pray to the horned man for luck when hunting, be it animals or sentient prey.

 

While Cernunnos depicts death, this is not seen as sinister. For all things must die, and it is simply part of the cycle of nature.

 

Cerridwen

Cerridwen is known as the green lady. She is the matriarchal side of the balance, depicted as a woman wreathed in leaves and vines, shimmering surreally in many different shapes of nature. Cerridwen is the Aspect of growth, fertility, life and nurturement.

 

Wood elves believe that all trees, grass and other verdant flora and fauna are born and grow under Cerridwen’s nurturing touch, living until Cernunnos claims them in death.

 

The green lady is prayed to for good harvest and when growing the massive elderwood trees in which the elves make their homes.

 

 

The Tenets

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Aspectism revolves around ten tenets that all adherents to the faith must follow. Four are dedicated to Cerridwen, four to Cernunnos, and two to both.

 

Of the Green Lady

 

The Children of Malin will show their reverence to lady Cerridwen of life.

 

The Children of Malin will respect all beings of nature with the right to live.

 

The Children of Malin  will not be wasteful when reaping the benefits of Cerridwen's bounty

 

The Children of Malin will appeal to Cerridwen for matters of fertility, harvest and growth- through offerings and prayer

 

Of the Horned Man

 

The Children of Malin will show their reverence to Lord Cernunnos of the hunt

 

The Children of Malin will be respectful in the hunt, and grant their prey quick, clean deaths

 

The Children of Malin will always take life with a purpose, never needlessly

 

The Children of Malin will appeal to Cernunnos for matters of hunting, war, and death- through offerings and prayer

 

Of Reverence and Faith

 

The Children of Malin will keep their minds and bodies clean of the corruptions of voidal and dark magic

 

The Children of Malin will maintain the natural order in their homeland

 

Offerings

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Main Thread

To Aspectists, making offerings is a an important and symbolic part of the faith’s lifestyle. It is the wood elves main way of showing the Aspects reverence and respect, as well as a good way to call upon their favour. The offerings one makes is reflective of one's values and desires. A hunter will place down a beast's skull at Cernunnos' shrine, while a mother will offer a blooming flower at Cerridwens' feet. 

 

The Naelurir

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Main Thread

Naelurir (ones who teach) are the leaders of the faith, presiding as humble guides over all elves who adhere to Aspectism. Naelurir dedicate their lives to keeping alive the ancient traditions of the wood elven people- as such, the ancient faith. These leaders by teaching have a bevy of duties which include:
 

 

Weddings

Death Rites

Education

Conversion

 

 

The Naelurir are a branch of the druidic order. All senior members of the Naelurir are attuned druids, and their acolytes serve as a direct parallel to the Mother Circle's dedicants. As druids, Naelurir hold nothing higher than their duty to the Aspects, and believe that duty involves spreading Aspectism among the elves.

 

The Ritual

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Converting to Aspectism requires a ritual that is simple but poignant. It is most commonly performed on young mali'ame who have just reached physical adulthood at the age of 20. To elves who were raised on Aspectist beliefs since birth, it is seen as a rite of adulthood.

The Fae Ring is a sacred place for Aspectists. Occuring in sporadic pockets of nature, fae rings are natural circles within clearings and in tree-hollows that have been blessed by the Aspects. Those who walk in will be able to hear the voices and thoughts of all natural beings surrounding them.

 

To Convert to Aspectism, a Naelurir takes the aspirant elf into the ring. There the convert must sit for an hour and a minute, adjusting their mind and attuning themselves to the overwhelming sounds of the Aspect’s circle of life.

 

The convert emerges from the circle with a new understanding of the Aspects and their creation. The Naelurir recites the ten tenets of the faith, of which the convert swears to abide by. Then, the conversion is complete and a new elf be an Aspectist.

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[[If you have any questions regarding Aspectism, please shoot me, shadowedoblivion, filavandrel, cave_creature or skylez1 a PM. If you want to join/interact with us, come approach us in RP :)]]

[JEEGK 1367]

Berr Athri Smiles

[Rig 17591]

Andwise wonders why Nemisae isn't listed, it looks like (Krug rest his soul) Veren didn't teach him well enough...

Hmph

Kairn Calithil, as if reading the astounded halfling's mind utters one sentence. "Nemisae is not an Aspect."

[Jygg 330]

Za'Kabar, Shark Druid of the Druidic order, frowns.

[Zindran 590]

Anthron, Acacia Druid of the Druidic Order, frowns.

[Ford 1996]

Archibald, a vagabond mage, frowns. "There's that hatred of Voidal magic again. What a shame, what a shame."

[Your Favorite Impure 736]

 

 

The High Naelurir

Looks like the High Naelurir is using Cerridwen's natural, green gifts ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Aenor gives a curt nod, allowing himself a faint smile.

[Swgrclan 2682]

Far away, amidst sensing a disturbance in the way of religious interpretation, the Shadow Druid frowns.

[Eranikus 348]

Taynuel pauses as he walks, looking over a flier of information about this new religion. "Aspectism, huh?" he muses, rubbing his chin and looking at the hare hopping alongside him on his travels. "I think its lovely. Honestly I don't see why any druids would have a problem with this. By their own mandates they're going to be helping us do our job, which is a big one from the word go. To complain about such seems idiotic." He shrugs, pinning the flier back up where it was and leaning on his staff, admiring it. "...And thank Cernunnos the other one isn't on their list," he mumbles. "She creeps me out..."

[Aelu / Rel (Combustionary) 1540]

"At least it's not Canonism." Ac'Aelu mumbles inaudibly from his room in Nordwen. "A shameful bastardization of my father's order nonetheless."

[MamaBearJade 2090]

Lilliana shakes her head. "And he wonders why I do not want him corrupting the mind of my little sister." she says softly. "To call it Aspectism is to bastardize our faith into being no more than canonism." Her ears lower as she goes back to her own training in Druidism.

[Skylez 870]

Reading the Flier, Elsiln would give a slight nod and smile, before heading off, searching for Mali's to enlighten.

Edited October 10, 2015 by Skylezz1

[Wolf Druid Ouity 1461]

Ouity frowns....

 

Utterly astonished that his brothers and sisters of the Order would be such tremendous ******* about other factions taking up their religion.

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

[[Bump, because this thread has been updated with more content!]]

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.