Monday, 1 Vendémiaire 185 10:36 LMT
L’nhraei Elementalists Celebrate Avilh and Jaeih
by Toklath tr’Khamrir
CH’RANA, L’NHRAEI (LNN) – At worship sites all over L’nhraei’s southern hemisphere, the sight of worshippers covered in dust was a common one. Today is the autumnal equinox, which, to Elementalists, is the celebration of Avilh, the element of Earth.
During the ceremony, prayers dedicated to Earth are chanted and they cover themselves in dust to signify that they are made of Earth and shall someday return to it.
"Even though part of it is the contemplation of death, it’s not a sad occasion," said one worshipper. The Elements aren’t good or evil. They simply are. Air, Fire, Earth, and Water form a neverending cycle, and make up everything around us, including ourselves."
In the north, today marks the vernal equinox, and Elementalists there celebrate Jaeih, the element of Air.
Celebrants carry light, colourful streamers and release various birds. There is a tradition that if the birds fly away safely, it will be a good year, but if any of them are caught, something bad will happen.
Elementalism is predominately, but not solely, practiced among Rihannsu, having originated on ch'Rihan and ch'Havran around the time of their first landing on the twin worlds. Despite similarity to practices and beliefs on other worlds, Elementalism evolved independently.
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