Dreamcrest Weaving

“To weave a Dreamcrest is to witness two souls, in their deepest reverie, become one. Their threads, shaped by love, trust, and the winds of destiny, will forever hold the skies of Oneiria as their witness.”

— Shaman Ayvris, Dreamweaver of the Eagle's Rest

The tradition of Dreamcrest Weaving, like most traditions and rituals of the Eaglors' tribes, remains secretive and unknown to most inhabitants of Kena'an. It is a wedding tradition that unites the couple not merely through vows but through a shared experience of reverie in Oneiria, where the pair weaves their dreams together, shares memories, and charts a shared course for the future. The ritual culminates in the creation of the Dreamcrest, an artifact unique to each couple, which from that moment on adorns and protects their new home.

The Ceremony

The Gathering of Feathers

Before the ceremony, the betrothed embark on a personal journey known as the Gathering of Feathers. Each person collects small tokens and objects that symbolize key aspects of their lives; memories, challenges, and victories. These objects- feathers, beads, rocks or anything else the couple dims important- are then woven together into the frame of the Dreamcrest, a sacred artifact that serves as the key to their shared experience in Oneiria.

The Gathering of Feathers is a moment of profound introspection, where each object becomes a vessel of the betrothed’s inner truth, setting the stage for the reverie they will experience together later. This collection of feathers and sacred relics forms the foundation of their shared dream; a foundation that will carry the couple through their journey in Oneiria.

The Lunar Thread

The ceremony takes place under the full moon- the moment which Eaglors believe the boundary between the waking world and Oneiria is thinnest. The couple gathers with their community, and a local Dreamweaver (usually a high-shaman) performs a blessing over their Dreamcrest.

The couple then share from the same cup a sacred elixir known as Moonbrew, crafted with herbs and essences thought to attune their spirits to the dream realm. The Moonbrew helps them enter a deep but vivid sleep, allowing them to travel to Oneiria both consciously and subconsciously..

As the couple drifts into this state, the Dreamweaver invokes the Lunar Thread, an invocation that entangles the silver cords of the couple- the ethereal lines that connect their psyches to their bodies. This sacred connection enables the couple to travel into Oneiria in a unique combined astral form, where they will experience their shared dreamscape.

While the couple sleeps, the witnesses of the ceremony gather around a fire, telling stories of the couple- personal anecdotes and childhood stories that speak of their lives before their union. This sharing of stories strengthens the communal bond and celebrates the couple’s journey together.

Flight into Oneiria

In Oneiria, the couple’s dream is shaped by their emotions, memories, and hopes for the future. For most Eaglors, this manifests as a vast and ever-changing sky, where they take the form of radiant, dreamlike birds soaring through endless horizons. As they fly, their paths leave behind shimmering trails, which weave together a unique pattern of threads.

Reverie in Flight

 

The shared dream immerses the couple in a state of reverie- a profound experience of attachment as they navigate the skies together. Every glide and dive, every brush of their wings, carries symbolic weight. These moments of connection are said to reveal the depth of their bond.

Challenges in the Dream

 

The shared dream frequently presents symbolic obstacles- storms to weather, labyrinthine winds to navigate, or distant stars to reach. These challenges test the couple’s trust, cooperation, and devotion to one another.

The Final Pattern

 

At the culmination of the dream, the trails they wove together form a unique and iridescent pattern- a representation of their bond. This pattern is said to be blessed by Verana herself, carrying her guidance and favor for their future.

The Mark of Unity

Upon awakening, the couple’s Dreamcrest is transformed, etched with the luminous patterns created during their shared dream. These markings are seen as a physical manifestation of their union and are displayed in their home as a lifelong symbol of their bond. Finally, the community celebrates the married couple's return with songs, dances, and offerings to Verana, thanking her for the blessing of the new union.

Cultural Signficance for the Eaglors

For the Eaglors, flight is sacred- a representation of freedom, connection, and the infinite potential of the skies. The Weaving of the Dreamcrest underscores that while two souls are joined in marriage, their union should strengthen their freedom rather than restrict it. The ceremony emphasizes mutual growth, trust, and the ability to navigate life’s winds together. The shared dream is also seen as a gift of foresight. If omens or unusual symbols appear during the reverie, the Dreamweaver interprets them to guide the couple in their journey together. These moments of insight are treasured as glimpses of their shared destiny.