Much like the sin-eaters of our world, a vision guide comes to the bedside of a dying or recently departed loved one. Vision guides are able to commune with the spirit of the loved one and can “see” their crimes. The vision guide speaks with them and helps them to come to terms with what they have done.
Special crackers called 'absolution wafers' are placed upon the chest of the deceased. They are said to ‘absorb’ the negativity from the body and soul while the vision guide cleanses the spirit. These crackers are eaten by the vision guide to absolve the wrongdoings of the departed. These crackers are made according to specific rites and instructions. Failure to make them according to tradition is to invite failure and problems for the loved one.
The vision guide speaks to the departed or dying one’s deity to negotiate on behalf of the loved one. They will find out what penance must be paid for the departed to gain admittance to the hereafter, or to welcome them with open arms. Sometimes the family can pay the penance. On rare occasions, the vision guide will intercede and take the penance for the departed, but this is very rare.
Ironically, vision guides themselves seldom follow any particular religion or theology. Having bargained for souls with deities’ avatars seems to have made them somewhat sour on choosing one religion over another. It is rumored that when a vision guide eventually passes away, they become an avatar themselves, continuing their work in the afterlife. However, very few vision guides have died as they seem to be blessed with extraordinary long lives. Those who have died are never heard from again.
Career
Vision guides are often selected from birth to enter the vocation. They quite often come from long lines of vision guides where parents, grandparents and even great grandparents proceeded them as vision guides. Rarely, will someone find out they have the ability to become a vision guide later in life. The discovery of the ability is generally preceded by a special or traumatic event. Families of vision guides are not out of the ordinary and there are times families will sometimes form small communes that take on a life of their own. Members of the family not blessed with "the sight" often take on administrative or security roles.
There is no leadership amongst vision guides. The only time there is any hierarchy is in family communes where the elder vision guides generally dictate rites and processes within the commune. Vision guides seem to owe no allegiance to a 'leader' and some even consider themselves above the law. Not that they actively break the law, but see themselves as doing the work of higher beings, thus not restrained as others are.
The services of a vision guide vary in fee from free to a hefty price tag. These fees are largely dependent on how much work the vision guide has to put into the ritual, whether it is simply therapy for the departed or a full-on negotiation with the deity’s avatar. The penance can also affect the price of the vision guide’s service. Some traveling vision guides are content to get a place to stay and fed while they perform their service, not wanting to collect any pay to weigh them down, physically and morally. On the plus side, the vision guide generally throws in the absolution wafers for free.
Perception
Vision guides seem to be outside the status of social structures. Vision guides are often loners, either living alone on the outskirts of a town, or travelers, going town to town. They are both feared and revered for what they do. Many people do not completely understand how they do what they do, but they are appreciated in a family's time of need.
A wholistic view article with solid, all-round information. I’m curious about ‘the gift’ primarily, and about rural areas that just don’t have a vision guide in their locality, and what they actually directly ‘see’ during their more serious rituals. Well laid out article overall.
Hi Byrnkastol! Thanks for asking about the vision Guides. Often, they are loners who travel place to place, following an internal 'impulse' that leads them. On rare occasion, they follow certain trails that cover large swatches of land and stop by towns or villages on a regular basis. Some just roam, doing their duty when they need a meal. Rarest of all are the ones who get sent by an unseen force to specific locations. During a communion, they can see varied things. They can see the departed and talk to them. Other ceremonies will give access to a deity's avatar. The vision guide will speak on behalf of the departed to the avatar to see if restitution is due. Usually, the wafers are enough to absorb as long as the vision guides eats them. No one knows why someone gets the gift. it is not always passed through family lines. Thanks again for reading and asking!