Pyrolatry
Pyrolatry or fire worship is the common name for one of the three religions that make up most mainstream elven faiths, along with Arctolatry (worship of bears) and Dendrolatry (tree worship). It has a number of denominations and syncretic traditions, much like the other faiths, all of which emphasize the power of fire, both in its mundane form as well as the 'inner fire' that is the source of life, both of which need to be tamed to achieve harmony in a world that is otherwise in the state of constant flux.
Once widespread in southwestern Jælondis, elven pyrolatry is currently most commonly practiced by a number of different ethnic groups in the country of Fjún and to lesser extent Númra, with syncretic traditions found in Erenúm, Jolþ, Onap and Æjala.
The most common religious symbol carried by pyrolatrists today are amulets shaped like a stylized flame, campfire or torch, or gems engraved with these symbols, usually yellow, red or orange ones. Small pouches containing ashes of certain plants or sacrifical animals are sometimes carried as well.
In most denominations of this branch, practicing one's magical abilities is considered integral to this goal, not only to achieve the right mindset, but also to able to pray and meditate in the correct way, which consists of conjuring as small, hovering flame and focusing one's gaze and thought on it for the duration of the ritual. In group prayers, the participants combine their arcane energies to create a larger, brighter fireball.
Sacred, eternal fires, usually lit by casting magic on sanctified oil or fat, are common in dualistic pyrolatry, being symbols of tamed fire within settlements and, by extension, civilization in general. Candles and torches lit by this sacred flame are considered essential for certain rituals.
Those who work in professions traditionally involving the use of carefully controlled flames, such as smiths, potters, firefighters and chefs, are highly regarded in some dualistic pyrolatrist communities.
This tradition originated and spread alongside the introduction of slash-and-burn agriculture.
Once widespread in southwestern Jælondis, elven pyrolatry is currently most commonly practiced by a number of different ethnic groups in the country of Fjún and to lesser extent Númra, with syncretic traditions found in Erenúm, Jolþ, Onap and Æjala.
The most common religious symbol carried by pyrolatrists today are amulets shaped like a stylized flame, campfire or torch, or gems engraved with these symbols, usually yellow, red or orange ones. Small pouches containing ashes of certain plants or sacrifical animals are sometimes carried as well.
Main Traditions
Much like arctolatry, elven pyrolatry can be traced back to prehistoric groups of hunter-gatherers in western Jælondis, initially revolving around the veneration of the fireplace. While elves are capable of keeping warm using fire magic, the use of more mundane fire allowed them to do so without depleting their arcane reserves and be able to focus on other tasks in the meantime.Dualistic Pyrolatry
The most widespread pyrolatrist tradition evolved from this veneration, which distinguishes between the wild, often destructive form of fire on one hand and the tamed form of fire on the other. Adherents to this faith believe that a person's inner fire is initially much like the former aspect, with personal development occurring as a person learns to contain and keep it lit through good deeds.In most denominations of this branch, practicing one's magical abilities is considered integral to this goal, not only to achieve the right mindset, but also to able to pray and meditate in the correct way, which consists of conjuring as small, hovering flame and focusing one's gaze and thought on it for the duration of the ritual. In group prayers, the participants combine their arcane energies to create a larger, brighter fireball.
Sacred, eternal fires, usually lit by casting magic on sanctified oil or fat, are common in dualistic pyrolatry, being symbols of tamed fire within settlements and, by extension, civilization in general. Candles and torches lit by this sacred flame are considered essential for certain rituals.
Those who work in professions traditionally involving the use of carefully controlled flames, such as smiths, potters, firefighters and chefs, are highly regarded in some dualistic pyrolatrist communities.
Cyclical Pyrolatry
The second largest tradition of pyrolatry emphasizes the cycle of creation and destruction that fire creates, often likened to how new life emerges in a region after being scoured by a wildfire. This is applied both to cosmology, with the world being periodically consumed in flames and being reborn from the ashes, as well as to a person's inner fire, using meditation to 'burn' away negative thoughts and urges so that proper behaviour can prosper instead.This tradition originated and spread alongside the introduction of slash-and-burn agriculture.
Comments