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Rite of Passing | Wild Faith Ritual


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                                               Art by Fujiawei

 


 

Those Elves who have lived a life of servitude and devotion to the Aspects, and passed on to the peaceful creations beyond, are granted a rite of passing. A Green Priest, Marked Priest, or High Priest may proctor and guide those to send off their loved ones in a ritual. There are three traditions, and separate ways of helping a loved one pass on. 

 

Followers of the Wild Faith understand that with life, comes inevitable death. Preparations are made to the body, in one of the three following ways. 

 

 

 

 

Land

Wood Elves have a strong, natural connection to the land and nature around them. It is a core belief amongst the Green Priesthood and Drui, that the body is to return to nature through natural means. That is, for this preparation and ritual, the Priest will guide the body, wrapped in the person's pelts and garbs, either against the trunk of a tree, or in the ground. 

 

As the body is positioned or lowered, the Priest will welcome those to share memories of their loved one, as well as present a Gift of Passing - something for the individual to take on with them and their spirit. 

 

The Priest proceeds with a prayer, 'Last Rites', where all are welcomed to join in and chant it together. The ritual comes to an end, and with time,  animals and flora will feed and decompose the body, allowing for the natural cycle to continue.

 

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River & Sea

While Wood Elves notoriously bond with the trees and fauna on land, many spend their days on the sea worshiping Cerridwen’s aquatic life and creatures. Be it a death out at sea, or an individual with this bond to the waters, some may choose to send their loved ones off with a ritual of the river & sea. 

 

The body is prepared and settled upon a raft that Seed members and friends craft. Atop this raft and the body lay various Gifts of Passing, items that the individual takes on with them and their spirit. 

 

A Priest may then proceed with the prayer, 'Last Rites', where all are welcomed to chant whilst pushing the raft off into sea, or down a river. The ritual comes to an end, and with time, avian creatures or the waves of the ocean take to the body and allow for it to slowly return to nature.

 

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Hearth

Some Elves are more in tune with the elemental side of nature, and that of the hearth. Fire, being an equally symbolic representation of life and death, is one means of allowing those who passed on to return to the lands around them. For this ritual, Seed members and friends may create a bed of twigs, logs, and sticks of which the body is rested upon. 

 

As the Priest guides those into prayer, 'Last Rites', a torch bearer, usually one of the Seed from the Wood Elf who has passed, will set the bed aflame, allowing for the fires to blanket over the deceased individual. It is then believed that these ashes will provide nutrients for new life to grow, and thus aiding in the natural cycle.

 

 


 

 

Last Rites

Spoken over a dying Elf, or shortly after their passing, to bring peace to the departing Spirit and guide them on.

 

“O' Mother, look upon me now.

See here that your gift of life has ended,

That his/her heart is still and his/her Spirit weary.

May you bring him/her to peace and slumber eternal.

 

O' Father, look upon me now.

See here that your gift of the hunt has ended,

That his/her voice is silent and his/her blood grows cold.

May you bring him/her to honour and strength undying.

 

You have held this Spirit until the end,

And he/she now passes into the Balance.

Flesh to soil, blood to water, bone to dust.

Blessed be.

 

To all that lay their eyes upon them”

 

Spoiler

Last Rite Prayer credits to @nivndil

 

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