Sirfeth Etsezi
Mythology & Lore
The goddess of the soil is for endings, for closure, for death but she also is a woman who can give birth. She is wise and calm, an unshakable force to pray to for stability and prosperity.
The god of the trees is for new beginnings, for life, for passion and movement but also for the still rooted trees that don't budge an inch. When his seeds fall to the floor, the earth becomes fertile and the goddess can give birth. And his creatures, worms and others, turn dead leaves and animals into soil.
The marriage of the god and goddess is a give and take in perfect balance and harmony. both parties are of the same importance and one couldn't exist without the other.
The god of the trees is for new beginnings, for life, for passion and movement but also for the still rooted trees that don't budge an inch. When his seeds fall to the floor, the earth becomes fertile and the goddess can give birth. And his creatures, worms and others, turn dead leaves and animals into soil.
The marriage of the god and goddess is a give and take in perfect balance and harmony. both parties are of the same importance and one couldn't exist without the other.
Divine Origins
It is believed that the first queen of Estira, Estishya Kutseirth, the founder of the estirian Realm, was also the founder of Nature Dualism. After spending time in deep meditation and trance she could hear the voices of the trees and and the mumbling of the earth who told her about the lord and the lady. She then spread the word through her realm and as more and more people claimed to hear the voices of the trees or the earth or both, the religion gained more and more followers until it became the state religion. There is, however, no further spread of Nature Dualism than the Estirian borders.
There are critics outside of Estira, that say that the alleged whispering comes from spirits or some kind of nature magic running loose and that that's also the reason for the unsettling look in the eyes of the wood elves because they're actually under the spell of the woods or possessed by spirits, but neither could be proven so far.
There are critics outside of Estira, that say that the alleged whispering comes from spirits or some kind of nature magic running loose and that that's also the reason for the unsettling look in the eyes of the wood elves because they're actually under the spell of the woods or possessed by spirits, but neither could be proven so far.
Cosmological Views
Nature Dualism believes that the God and the Goddess were born with the first light and that they found the world when it was a dead rock. They made it habitable. The Lady made the soil fertile and the Lord planted the seeds that made the first trees. So the forests of the world began and nature came into being and with it animals, elves, humans and dwarves.
Tenets of Faith
Nature Dualism teaches that life and nature is a give and take and that there needs to be balance. It teaches to value both living and dead nature and that without death there could be no life and without life there could be no death, it's all a cycle.
They believe in reincarnation with the last stage being to become a tree and then entering the greater consciousness. therefore, there is no paradise and damnation, only a different amount of steps towards becoming one with the goddess after learning the lessons they'd been sent to learn in each live respectively.
They believe in reincarnation with the last stage being to become a tree and then entering the greater consciousness. therefore, there is no paradise and damnation, only a different amount of steps towards becoming one with the goddess after learning the lessons they'd been sent to learn in each live respectively.
Ethics
You cannot take a life without giving something back to nature therefore believers are obliged to give offerings to the god and goddess, which is usually a part of their meal that is burned and then buried.
Some trees are not allowed to be touched because they are sacred.
On certain days climbing trees is forbidden, on others you have to be silent or only speak in whispers.
Some trees are not allowed to be touched because they are sacred.
On certain days climbing trees is forbidden, on others you have to be silent or only speak in whispers.
Worship
Places of Worship:
There are so called temples which are more like a grove of tightly interwoven trees. These temples also involve big slabs of stone at the head of the temple to represent the goddess. there are also temples for only the goddess, made from stone or as small chambers under the earth and there are temples only for the god which are high up in sacred cherry trees.
Services:
There is no official service, people can go to the temples whenever they want. there is always a priest or priestess there but generally the temples are completely silent. The only exceptions are the festival days where there would be singing. There aren't necessarily words in the songs, it's more about frequencies and vibrations and attuning oneself to nature. It can be a very strange sound for someone who's never heard it before.
These are things followers of Nature Dualism do regularly/daily:
Giving food offerings from every meal
Touching trees for connection to the god
Walking barefoot on the earth to connect with the goddess, also dancing
Saying "thank you" for everything that is taken from nature
Carrying around protective talismans made from stone and wood and rubbing them to give protection (or whatever the talisman is for)
On the day of marriage (of the god and the goddess) there is ritual singing. More strict followers, especially priests and priestesses hold ritual singing sessions weekly. The day of marriage however, is a yearly activity everyone parttakes in. It's followed by a great feast too.
Other Traditions include:
Planting a tree in the "garden" and consecrating it to the god,
Laying a stone circle around it for the goddess
Holidays:
There are four Holidays celebrated throughout the year in Nature Dualism:
The Day of Marriage, which is the major Holiday of Nature Dualism is celebrated at the beginning of Spring (add date here). The day not only celebrates the Marriage of the god and goddess but also the beginning of new life. The celebration contains ritual singing and dancing as well as a great feast.
The Day of the Whispers, which is the day the Founder allegedly heard the voices of the trees and the earth, is celebrated at the beginning of autumn. (add date) The celebrations consist of long meditations and periods of absolute silence and inbetween only whispered conversations are allowed.
The Night of the Goddess is celebrated in mid winter when it's coldest and except for the pine trees nature is sleeping. (add date) This night honours the Lady of the Soil and is used to remember that even though the god is in deep slumber, the goddess is still watching over them. This holiday takes place during the night, fires are lit and there is ritual dancing and prostration where the elves lay on the ground completely nude and feel the earth. This is done in a circle around the fire but usually only priests and riestesses take part in this activity.
The Day of the God is celebrated at the beginning of summer when the trees are in full bloom (add date) and celebrates the hight of the god's power. Games are played and mead is made and consumed. People touch the trees to absorb the energy of that day but the climbing of trees is strictly forbidden on that day and therefore the night before everyone moves to the ground and sleeps there.
Alternative Names
Nature Dualism
Permeated Organizations
Deities
Divines
Location
Related Ethnicities
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