The Sacred Faith Pit

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THE SACRED FAITH PIT

A Place of Worship for Elnarnsae’ame

Written in the 224th Year of the Second Age

In honour of the Father, Cernunnos, The Springmother, Cerridwen, and the mighty Demi-Gods that serve in their name, the Faith Pit within Nevaehlen is held for the practice and devotion of the Elnarnsae’ame

The sacred faith pit by the main square in the Vale should never be used for anything but the practice of worshipping for the Aspects and the Mani. Anything but this, is a strong offense against the laws of the Oaken Tome and an unholy blasphemy.

It has come to the attention of the Heial’estel and the Vira’estel, that this place of worship was recently subjected to an insult to the Aspects, and the rituals within the Faith. This behavior is condemned and can not be described by anything but blasphemy. To use the Faith Pit for another faith or for anything but the practice of the Wild Faith is to misunderstand the very essence of reverence and devotion.

Thus, I would like to enlighten you all on the Elnarnsae’ame and how to use the Faith Pit in the way it should be used, to maintain respect for the reverence of the Wild Faith. 

What is the Wild Faith?

On Aspects

The Wild faith, also known as elnarnsae’ame, is the faith and practice of the devolution of the Aenguls; the Aspects, and the Demi-Gods; the Mani.

The Aspects are eternal, holy and considered as the highest Gods of nature. To some, the Aspects are nature.

On the Balance

The followers of Elnarnsae’ame, as well as the druids and the oathed Nevaehli promise to faithfully protect and preserve the natural Balance. But what is the Balance?

In life, there is a natural cycle of course. It begins with the Mother, where a life is born. This child grows up beloved, becoming a strong and kind yet fearsome elf. They experience love and pain, laughter and tears, cold and warmth, and so much more. Until one day, they grow old and tired, weak and frail. It is now time for the Father, through the hunt of a predator, to guide the once-spirited elf closer to the end, ultimately claimed by death.

This natural course of life, that begins with life, confronted by the hunt and claimed by death, creates the natural cycle of life. After a prayer, it is common to find the practitioner of the Faith drawing a circle above their heart, this is done in reference to the cycle of life.

But what if the child lived a long, happy, immortal life? Or if they were never born at all? 

There can not be life without death, nor can there be death without life. The Balance can easily collate with a justice scale. On one plate of the justice scale, there is life. On the other, there is death. The justice scale itself is a bridge between these two parts of life, reflecting the hunt. If you take one of the pivotal parts of the natural cycle from the justice scale, whether it would be death or life, a clear imbalance is illustrated.

Without the Balance, Nature itself would shatter and weep. 

A common question is as to why the practice of Voidal Magick harms or upsets the balance. The Void is a place that lies beyond our world, separated from us by a Veil. It is a realm of nothingness, that does not abide by the rules of Nature, or follow the cycle of life.

On Cernunnos

The Father or the Horned Lord, stands as the God of the Hunt, the brave and instinctively predator of the natural cycle of life.

The spirit of the Horned Lord courses through the veins of every predator who stalks in the shadows. The spirit of the Father is one of bravery and courage, to those who persevere and endure, to those who fight and hunt, until their dying breath.

On Cerridwen

 The Mother or the Green Lady stands as the Goddess of Life, the flourishing and benevolent caretaker of the natural cycle of life.

The caring Lady Of Life is a gentle and merciful mother, who draws forth and nurtures life. The spirit of the Mother is one for the healers and the caretakers, to the mothers and the leaders, to those who love and forgive, until it reaches its end in the natural cycle, for the hunt and the inevitable death.

On Mani

It is said that when the children of Horen walked on land, claiming and tearing forests down, ushering the animals who lived in the ancient glades before them, the Aspects blessed each tribe leader of the animal species gifts to protect their kin and persevere the Balance. They became the mightiest and strongest of their kin, Demi-Gods, and as we call them, Mani.

Each Mani has its own story and stands for different important traits. There is the Prince of Stags, Amaethon, who is the Mani of Compassion, Fatherhood, Justice and Regality, Prince of Bovines, Ceruvil, the Mani of Freedom, or Kwakwani, Prince of Ravens and Mani of Artistry, Beauty and Poetry. These are only three examples of more than dozens of others.

When one prays to a Mani, it is done so with respect and devotion to the Aspects, for the Mani are their attendants and manifestations.

How to Practice the Wild Faith

On the Shrines

Scattered throughout Nevaehlen are shrines dedicated to the Aspects. Both of the shrines can be found above the Grotto where attunements are held, and the Father Tree once grew. It is fitting to give offerings, pray, seek guidance or in other ways honour the Aspects by their respective shrines. 

The shrines of the Mani can be found in each of their natural habitats. For example, the shrine of Hamasta, the Prince of Dolphins and Llan’sae, the Princess of Turtles are near water, while the wise Princess of Owls, Ohowaki is found in the library.

On the Offerings

There are many things one can offer to the Aspects. By using the language of Tiva, one can offer herbs or flowers that represent the Mother or the Father, such as Vervain for the Green Lady or Snapdragon for the Horned Lord. Personal offerings such as items of sentimental value, blood or heirlooms, or offerings from a hunt such as bones and antlers are also fitting to offer. It is important to highlight that the Language of Tiva can also be used for the Mani and is not limited to the Aspects.

Each Mani can be offered a gift that reflects their nature. For example, fresh fish to eat for Bolomormaa, the Princess of Bears, fangs from a wolven battle for the Prince of Wolves, Morea, or riddles to solve for Sonnos, the Mani of Cleverness. 

Those who seek to learn more may find detailed descriptions within tomes in the library, or contact a Priest or Priestess. There is a wall with a listing of all the Priests of the Wild Faith at the Faith Pit.

Rituals to an Aspect or Mani, unless described differently, can be held by their shrines or at the sacred Faith Pit.

Nevaehlen is a home for those of the wilds and who walk the path of the Wild Faith. For those that are devoted to the community and to maintain and uphold the balance.

The Faith Pit is no mere gathering place. It is a holy place of worship for those with unwavering devotion to Elnarnsae’ame. To misuse it is not only an affront to the spirits but a deep wound upon the heart of the faith itself.

Let this serve as not only a reminder of the Faith Pit’s purpose, but also a call to reverence. May the blessings of the Aspects guide us all, and our actions to reflect the true and right way of the Wild Faith.

From the Heial’estel and the Vira’estel,

 Written by The Eltalyina

Ahernal ito,

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Special thanks to @Juno. for the formatting and proof-reading

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Sources:

elnarnsae'ame - The Wild Faith of the Wood Elves - Elven Realms & Culture - The Lord Of The Craft 

THE SACRAMENT OF NATURE: Rituals and Prayers of the Wild Faith - The Glade of Hileia - The Lord Of The Craft