The Path of Paths

[NomadGaia 930]

The Path of Paths: A Model for the Reformed Process of Dedicancy

The dedicancy of an aspiring druid is a path that varies greatly between circles, and even between kindred druii. All of our brothers and sisters have been birthed from these various dedicancies, and many great druids have been birthed from it. Yet despite these successes, we’ve been failing our students. I’ve seen two extremes of our failure within the Naelurir. Our students become mindless sheep, unable and unwilling to explore the deeper mysteries of our world. They cannot act until they’re ordered to, and are often the victims of sloth. They do not carry out the tasks required by our priesthood.

 

And the other side are the independent minds. The ambitious ones with their own agenda in mind. The ones that seek power before faith. These are the dark ones that come from our order. We are responsible for them, for their actions as an order. We’ve always blamed them, their own passions and shortcomings, but we’ve never pointed a finger to ourselves. There is great fault in our teachings, a lack of tempering for these minds that leads them to search elsewhere for better answers. Thus, I put forth this reform to our teachings, that we may solve some of our shortcomings.

 

Path of an Acolyte

To further prove dedication to the Aspects themselves, and to prove the prowess of the self, dedicants must serve the Naelurir as unattuned persons, assisting their guides in protecting the balance through whatever means are required. Whether that be defending a druid during their travels and in their duty, or witnessing a conversion. Through their time as an acolyte, a dedicant should learn how to act as a priest, and how a priest must carry themselves.

 

Faith Studies

During their path as an acolyte, a strong foundation and understanding of the Aspectist faith is important when fostering a deeper understanding from which they can truly become independent thinkers. To pass through the trials, one must have these foundations prebuilt, that they may fully utilize the tasks they’ve been given. Therefore, before tasks can begin, a student should have in depth instruction on at least the following topics, if not further.

• The Core: Cerridwen, Cernunnos, The Balance, The Mani
• The History of Mali: Taynei’hiylu, Irrin Sirame, Seed Era, Modern History
• Survival: Medicine and Combat
• Religious Studies: The Eternal Forest, Rituals, Prayers, and Offerings

 

The Insight of Creeds

To search for deeper insight. This is the purpose of examining the three creeds of the Aspectist faith. It is one thing to know your duties, to perform them to the best of your ability. It is another to fully understand why you do them, and to find a deeper meaning in them that may echo in all of your actions. A creed is not something to tell you how to live your life, nor to tell you how exactly to do your duties. They are simply ways for finding a deeper understanding of druidism and Aspectism in your life, and connecting the self to the balance in ways unheard of before.

 

Thus, it should be required of all dedicants that they examine each of them, learn from their heralds about each of them. If they find one, they can begin to follow it. If not, it is still important to have learned under a creed. The wisdom found is invaluable.

 

The Trials

After an acolyte has taken the path, and shadowed a priest, the priest overseeing them will announce them to be ready for the trials. The priest must present them either before two archdruii, or two oracles to be judged if they are worthy to become priests. If found wanting, they will be returned to the path of an Acolyte. If they have been judged worthy, they will begin their trials to ascend to priesthood.

 

Which trials to be taken are up to the priest overseeing their acolyte. If one has joined a creed, then they may follow the trials of the creed. If not, a teacher may start them on their own trials. If a teacher has not developed their own tasks, they may follow the ones below.

 

Trial of Knowledge: The acolyte must write a thesis on the lessons of Aspectism to show your understanding and provide a new perspective on either of the three to show critical thinking. If they can find another way to show what they have learned, they may show it that way. It will be left to the judgement of the priest overseeing.

 

Trial of Steel: An acolyte must show great courage and bravery, be it through fighting a great enemy, or facing down against a great evil. Defeating a dark creature, or fighting in a war. Any great feat of bravery must be shown.

 

Trial of Endurance: An acolyte must endure great hardship, struggle, pain, or loss. Be it through battle, or the rending of flesh. Battle scars may suffice. If an acolyte cannot endure loss, or pain, how can they be expected to uphold their own character, and that of the order?

 

Trial of Reflection: Give dedicant peyote or other drug that makes him disoriented. Then, drop him off on a mountain nearby with a dagger and nothing else to learn about Cernunnos. Like, to feel that longing for food and the grit of the hunt. They must come back with a kill. (For this one, make them write a short story about their character’s experience, like a forum post, as making them emote at nothing while they’re on their own in a forest is boring.)

 

Trial of Faith: Perform a public ritual (Wedding/Last Rites/War-painting/Leading a group offering), with an elder Naelurir to oversee. OR an acolyte may bring two other mali into the fold of Aspectism and direct them to a priest for indoctrination. Either will do.

 

GRAND TRIAL: Acolyte comes up with what they want their grand task to be. The overseeing priest must approve.

 

Attunement

“Gifts do not make the priest. The priest maketh the gifts.” - The Hurricane Druid

After their path has been taken, and their trials complete, it has come time for a priest to be attuned. Before this can take place, however, the acolyte must choose their place among their people.

 

Priests of the Mother

Those that excel at the healing arts, and those that seek to devote their time towards uncovering the mysteries of the fae. Scholars, healers, and philosophers.

 

Priests of the Father

Those defined by their martial prowess, their ability to defend the faith, both through the sword and their words and actions.

 

After they have chosen a path, they are to be attuned, finally. After such, they are proclaimed as fully indoctrinated priests of the Naelurir

 

[!] The proposition is sent out to all priests of the Naelurir on the wings of a bird

"I seek your criticisms, and your views on this proposed system."

- Oracle Awaiti Aureon

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

Artimec lights a candle at the shrine of the Bear Mother.

[Gallic 1066]

An old spirit's interest is piqued by another publication from an intriguing mortal.

[LaffenOutLoud 355]

A beautiful mali'aheral with luscious locks of thick curly hair reads over the paper, confused. "Cernanila and Cornonnum.. attatune.. Many Spirits.. I see." she pretended like she knew what she was talking about.

[Banned 347]

Priests of the Spider?

[osumanduas 1442]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or any FM and we'll restore it.