Precepts of Phaerean
A comprehensive treatise on the Customs and Rites of Phaerean, including a variety of prayers, blessings, curses, proverbs, lessons and rituals for any need as well as a retelling of the major myths, legends, and history regarding the Patron of Voyagers and their followers
published 5299
Guide Phaedoras Amroth the Devout
Order of Phaerean, Templesgate, Dern
Phaerean is one of the five principle gods born from the creator Alku, and is the only one without a spouse and is typically consider either genderless or as having all genders, though this is a matter of debate. Phaerean is the gods of the self, of journeys, and of freedom. Phaerean is called the God of Voyagers, the Storm-Bringer, Dawn-Bringer, the Guide of Souls, and the Finder of Paths, among other epithets. Phaerean is the god that guides the dead to the halls of Irdal beyond the mortal plane, and is the god that is responsible for the raising and setting of the sun. They are also associated with the sea and mountains. The wheel, ship, rising or setting sun, and the wave are some symbols that are associated with Phaerean, as are the horse, the cat, the octopus, the hare, reeds, seaweed, ferns, pines, mushrooms, and the color green.
Phaerean is closely associated with Reia, the goddess of magic, as well as Irdal, the god of life and death. Rayna and Aohr are Phaerean’s principle rivals, as Aohr is the god of order and society and is in direct opposition to Phaerean and Rayna plays a supporting role to him. However, Rayna and Phaerean can set aside their differences when it comes to births and marriages.
Guide Phaedoras Amroth the Devout was born in about 5215 to unknown parentage and was raised in the Temple of Phaerean in Dern, becoming a particularly pious member of the order. Later, Phaedoras would go on to found the principal monastery of the order in the Donn Pass, where they spent their retirement writing down their philosophies and teachings for future generations of devotees of Phaerean. They led the order in Dern as Supreme Guide of the Order of Phaerean from 5258 until 5289, when they went to found the monastery. Their magnum opus was completed in 5299, and they passed away at the venerable age of 102, having transformed and championed the worship of Phaerean worldwide.
About the Order of Phaerean in Dern
The Order of Phaerean is dedicated to helping others and aiding them in their journeys, whether metaphysical, spiritual, or physical. This includes duties of healing the ill or injured, offering sustenance to those who are hungry, giving clothes or other necessary items to the least fortunate, and offering shelter to those in need. Temple complexes and monastic enclosures ought to be equipped with some kind of guesthouse, as well as facilities for bathing and rooms where the priests and acolytes can study, pray, and teach in addition to the primary temple. It is preferable that the complex also has gardens and storerooms to provide food through the year. The greats acts of service for the laity is helping others and giving items to the temple to be distributed to those in need, without need for recognition or bragging,
Upon waking, a follower of Phaerean ought to spend a few moments in quiet reflection prior to starting the day. This may be spent studying, meditating, or praying. After this, the follower ought to break their fast, preferably with cold food, those porridge is also acceptable. After breaking their fast, a follower may then spend the day as they see fit.
When eating, a follower ought to be quiet, especially if in a monastic enclosure. Prayers should be said over the food to thank the god for sustenance before consumption and a small prayer of thanks is proper after a meal as well. It is best to share one’s food with others, if possible, especially when traveling. Sharing is the greatest act of service to the gods.
When making or breaking a camp, or entering or leaving a harbor, it is best to make a small offering to Phaerean, either in the form of burning incense, burning or burying a small portion of food, or making a small wheel for Phaerean. On a ship, the tying of ropes while saying prayers may be done instead of burning an offering. Offerings may also be cast into waterways, especially in places with strong tides or flowing water. If one is not camping, an offering should be made every third day at a temple or shrine. Offerings ought to be small.
Upon taking a nights’ rest, a devotee of the Voyager out to say a prayer asking for dreams and wisdom, followed by a little meditation before sleeping.
Ritual purification, which is typically only done prior to a supplicant being raised to an acolyte, and an acolyte being raised to a full priest, begins with a day of fasting and a night spent alone in the wilderness. The next morning, the supplicant is stripped to only a shift by a mentor, then anointed with fragrant oils and then they bathe in the hot and cold baths (this is akin to a Swedish sauna, where to be clean, willow or birch branches are used to gently beat the body to make it clean), before being taken in a new, clean shift to the temple’s altar to swear the oaths of dedication, where they are robed in the raiment of their new station. After this, there is a great celebration to honor the new member of the order.
Ritual purification can also be done as repentance for sins, or before beginning the Sojourn.
To hallow an altar or shrine, the surface should be cleaned with holy water, scrubbed with salt and, if available, sand from a body of water, such as a lake, river, or sea. This done, the surface should be dried, and one of the holy symbols of Phaerean should be placed or drawn on the surface. The drawing may be done with water, oil, chalk, sand, or charcoal. Green chalk is preferred if the altar is supposed to be in use for a long time.
The altar or shrine ought to face either east, towards the rising sun, or to the west towards the setting sun.
Major Rites
Births & Naming Ceremonies
When a child is born, it is to be bathed and anointed with oil and holy water, with a prayer of thanks and protection said over it, asking Phaerean to be its guide through life and Rayna to aid and protect the child.
When a child is named, the child should be brought to the altar of Phaerean and introduced to the god, asking the Patron of Voyagers to always know and guide the child.
As the rites and training that hallow an individual in the service of Phaerean and transform them into a true priest are the most sacred, this will be left mostly vague in this text. Suffice to say that the supplicant is ritually purified in a more sacred and intensive fashion and undergoes a multi-day process of rituals, mediations, and oath-swearing to ascend to priesthood.
While things dealing with courtships, betrothals, and weddings are primarily dealt with under the clerics of Rayna, the Queen of the Gods, some may be had under Phaerean, as love is a great journey.
To formally begin a courtship, an individual must give a gift of salt and flowers to the one they wish to court. If the salt is refused, then the advance is refused, and the individual must wait for their intended to begin the courtship instead or give up and ideas of a relationship with that person.
A formal betrothal is made by an exchange of meaningful gifts and ritually anointing each other at an altar, swearing their intentions before the gods, and then announcing the betrothal to family, friends, and others.
Weddings should begin with the couple taking hands, and facing each other in front of an altar, swearing to support and love each other until death. The priest then will say the wedding prayer for them while tying their hands together using a thin length of cloth, blessing them. If there are rings, the couple should then place rings on their partner and let the priest anoint them with salt and oil, with another blessing.
Death, and Funerals
The dead should, if possible, be cleansed and hallowed prior to burial or cremation. A prayer should be said for their souls, to help Phaerean guide them to the afterlife, before they are burned or buried, whether at sea or on land.
Funerals ought to have time for the loved ones of the deceased to share their memories, and they should be allowed to make offerings to the dead and the gods, to speed them on their way to the Halls of Irdal. After the burial or cremation, food and drink should be shared among the attendees.
Grieving should be allowed to remain private, if a person wishes, though public grieving may include veiling the face with black cloth, making offerings and prayers to the gods, and fasting for a period not longer than a week.
It is the duty of the priesthood of Phaerean to aid the grieving and offer comfort to them.
Prayers
Everyday Prayers
O Phaerean, Mountain-Climber and Sea-Delver, accept this offering as proof of my devotion.
Phaerean the Traveler, Patron of Sojourners and Truth-Seekers, I swear myself to thy service and promise to accept your goals as my goals.
Great God of Journeys and Freedom, Phaerean of the Fair Wind and Roaming Road, I thank thee for a warm bed and fair weather.
Phaerean, God of the Self, we offer thanks for the bounty granted to us.
O Phaerean, Ruler of the Sea and Road, I, thy humble student, ask to find some small part of thy wisdom in my journeys and swear to serve thee.
O Phaerean, Pilot of the Great Ship and Climber of Mountains, guide my heart and mind toward the pinnacles of wisdom found by delving into the milieu of chaos.
O Patron of Voyagers and Finder of Paths, Guide to the Unwitting and Witting alike, help me find the best path forward through the darkness of ignorance.
Phaerean, Knower of the Unknown, Decision-maker, Storm-bringer, God of Journeys and Protector of Travelers, aid thy humble servant.
O Guide of Souls, Phaerean of the Fair Wind, give me absolution for my trespasses and guide me towards wisdom.
Great Phaerean, Dawn-bringer and Guide of Souls, we thank thee for helping this child into the world and ask thee to be a guiding star in their journeys to come, to aid the Queen of Gods, great Rayna, in her protection of all children.
Great Phaerean, god of journeys and freedom, these supplicants are come to thee to be joined, to become one and to share in all their journeys and to change together. If it please thee, let them be joined as they have chosen, and let them be bound together come what may, to be a safe haven for each other in the storms of life. Bless them and let them be hallowed in thy name.
O Phaerean, Voyager and Storm-bringer, the Wanderer and the Stranger, I ask thee to guide the souls of the departed to the halls of Irdal, helping them along their final voyage.
O Phaerean, Stranger in the Chaos, grant those left behind the strength to heal the wounds of this loss, and honor the soul thou art even now guiding beyond the bounds of the world to the Halls of Irdal where all finally go.
O Phaerean, Patron of Voyagers and Champion of the Weak and Forgotten, with salt and sand and water, I hallow this Shrine (or Altar) to be dedicated to thee and holy in thine name. By the knots of rope and the wheel of the sun, this is thy space, a receptacle of thine power so that supplicants may know thee. Dedicating a Ship, Steed, or Person
O Phaerean, Patron of Voyagers, Mountain-Climber, Sea-Delver, and Wanderer, with salt and sand and water, I ask you to protect this Ship (Horse, Person, etc) from the perils of the road, and to help them in their journeys so that they may go where they are most needed.
Phaerean the Traveler, Patron of Sojourners and Truth-Seekers, Champion of Choice, Dawn-bringer, Deity of Acceptance and Defiance, I swear myself to thy service and promise to accept your goals as my goals, most solemnly and with the utmost faith in thy purposes, with the humility of a beggar and the bravery of a sailor. All of myself will belong to thee, Storm-bringer, body, mind and soul. I swear to aid all those who have need, to observe the ancient rites, to seek always the clarity of the storm of existence, and to always aim to better myself and the world. If ever I break or forsake my oaths to thee, may thou rend my soul asunder as in a tempest and doom me to wander without purpose or wit until the end of all things, never to be given shelter by the faithful, cast aside by all who once knew me.
May your journey be filled with wonder.
May the wind always be at your back
May your journey take you where you are most needed
May your heart guide your feet to enlightenment.
May the tides be in your favor
May your companions on the road be steadfast friends
May Phaerean favor you
May your journey be enlightening
May you meet yourself (upon the road, at sea, in your travels)
May you find joy in the journey
Wander and find yourself
May your (steed, ship, wings, feet) be swift.
May you always find a (port, haven, shelter) in the storm.
May change find in you a willing heart.
May you find freedom within yourself and within society.
May the sun warm your soul.
May the end of your journey be the beginning of a new adventure.
May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.
May you find the road you most need to be on.
May your firewood always be wet.
May you never find what you are looking for
May the rains always find you
May you find maggots in your rations
May your water go stale
May your feet always ache
May your journeys end in disappointment.
May the wind rip your cloak from you.
May you meet with dark fates.
May change always find you unprepared.
May you suffer a hundred potholes.
Go and suffer a rough road to learn humility.
May you travel on rough seas.
May your journey always be filled with delays.
Wander now without purpose forevermore.
May you nevermore find a place of rest.
Phaerean curse you for your trespasses!
Meditation is a sacred process designed to aid one in gaining a deeper, more personal understanding of the universe and one’s one self. As such, it is a must for any follower of Phaerean who desires to truly understand the teachings and meanings of Phaerean. Meditation is a way for a follower to reflect on themselves and their place in the world. Typically, in a monastic setting, followers will dedicate as much as three hours a day to meditation, and at temples, it is typically at least an hour a day. While travelling, it is recommended to meditate at least half an hour in the morning or evening, if possible.
The most basic form of meditation is either standing or sitting in the tailor position with hands in a prayer position, open and outward, with one’s eyes closed. One may then focus on breathing until breathing is the only thing on one’s mind. If desired, one may also chant or pray. This is the first method taught to those who wish to become priests.
The Wheel is a popular way to meditate. Most commonly, the wheel is made with small lights at intervals, with designs painted on the spokes. The wheel is then spun while the person meditating watches the different patterns and lights, trying to gain a deeper awareness of the world and themselves as they do so. Another method is to stack stones, carefully so as that they do not fall or topple. This can teach a person about care, patience, balance, and create a sense of peace within them. This is often used as a key teaching tool for acolytes.
Meditation may also be done by drawing lines and circles in sand in prescribed ways. Some, if they have the means, may also use colored sands to symbolize different things. A few of the images commonly used in meditation is the wheel and the wave. Hexagons, octagons, circles, squares, triangles, and more complex shapes are frequently used, often in a pattern radiating outward from a central image. Repeating geometric designs are a favorite among the Followers in Bavran especially.
If sand is unavailable, the process of drawing designs as above may be done with chalk or charcoal. Many popular designs may be etched into temple floors or walls, allowing them to repeated over and over again.
The tying and untying of different types of knots in rope or cord is also used for meditation and prayer. These knots are done in a slow, methodical way, allowing the meditator to calm their mind and hopefully gain enlightenment.
Yet anther way that Followers meditate is to stare at the reflections in a body of water, letting their mind wander.
1. Friends are the companions on a journey, who render aid to each other to become better in themselves and achieve their goals.
2. Strength of character is a reflection of one’s ability to accept the inherent chaos of life.
3. Too much planning gets in the way of the life in front of us.
4. Happiness lies in the small things.
5. Your true self is not immutable, but is a mirror of the choices that you make.
6. Life cannot exist without change. Resisting change is foolishness that leads to pain.
7. Life is a series of events with little rhyme or reason, and accepting the chaos is the path to true enlightenment.
8. Fear of the unknown is natural, but cowardice is the sign of a weak mind. Confronting one’s fears it the path to divine favor.
9. The truth of nature is that chaos is everywhere.
10. You can choose to change the world by changing yourself.
11. Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
12. You are responsible for the changes you wish to make reality, for good or ill.
13. The changes you want to come to pass are your duty to work towards.
14. All beings are on a journey together and should be treated as equals.
15. The struggle hallows the attempt.
16. We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses.
17. If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
18. Only the weakest of individuals refuse to accept the inevitable..
19. Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.
20. He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind.
21. Change brings opportunity.
22. Nothing endures but change.
23. No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.
24. Much learning does not teach understanding.
25. Life is a work in progress.
26. Tolerance, like any aspect of peace, is forever a work in progress, never completed, and, if we're as intelligent as we like to think we are, never abandoned.
27. Teach thy tongue to say 'I do not know', and thou shalt progress.
28. For society to progress, we should not only move forward but also clean up after ourselves.
29. One makes their own fate by the choices they make. Destinies hinge on the smallest moment.
30. One who blames their fates on others shows a great weakness of mind and soul,
The Sojourn is the greatest spiritual quest that one can undergo. After undergoing ritual purification, the Sojourner is garbed in the simplest of clothes, free of any adornment except a holy symbol, and given only the essential supplies for their journey. They set out before dawn from a holy site of Phaerean, and proceed to wander for ten years alone, going where the road and winds will take them.
Maintaining Shrines, Milestones, and Aiding Those in Need
Shrines and Milestones are equally sacred in the eyes of Phaerean, and should be maintains. If a cleric sees either in disrepair, they ought to clean it as best they can and mend it if possible. Any words on a road marker should be easily readable and as accurate as possible. Roadside shrines should be placed in conspicuous places and should be inscribed with advice for travelers.
Likewise, giving aid and comfort to those in need is a key tenet of serving Phaerean. If a follower of Phaerean should meet some onee in need, they should offer to share what provisions they have or render aid as necessary, although no Follower of the Voyager is obligated to put themselves at mortal risk to render such aid.
1. You are free to make whatever choice you want, but you are not free from the consequences of the choice.
2. Everything can be taken away from a person but one thing: the last of the human freedom - to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
3. One’s philosophy is to best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And, the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.
4. You cannot control the behavior of others, but you can always choose how you respond to it.
5. In the end that was the choice you made, and it doesn't matter how hard it was to make it. It matters that you did.
6. It is not for you to judge another person’s life. you must judge, you must choose, you must spurn, purely for yourself. For yourself, alone.
7. In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.
8. It is false to say that the world matters nothing, or the world's voice, or the voice of society. They do matter, and other deserve respect and freedom as much as you do. But there are moments when one has to choose between living one's own life, fully, entirely, completely—or dragging out some false, shallow, degrading existence that the world in its hypocrisy demands. You have that moment in every breath and must live with the choices you make and take responsibility for the consequences, whether they were intended or not.
9. Freedom to choose is worthless when you refuse to be responsible for the consequences of your choices and your actions.
10. You must weigh each choice against need, desire, and what may come from each choice.
11. Beliefs are choices. First you choose your beliefs. Then your beliefs affect your choices.
12. Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life.
13. Everyone has choices to make; no one has the right to take those choices away from us.
14. If you choose to not deal with an issue, then you give up your right of control over the issue and it will select the path of least resistance.
15. All you can do is make your decisions based on what you know now.
16. But the past cannot be changed, and we carry our choices with us, forward, into the unknown. We can only move on.
17. Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.
18. Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.
19. Better to die fighting for freedom than be a prisoner.
20. Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.
21. The first duty of a person is to think for themself.
22. Better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees.
23. The secret of happiness is freedom, the secret of freedom is courage.
24. One who has overcome their fears will truly be free.
25. Liberty with danger is preferable to peace with slavery.
published 5299
Guide Phaedoras Amroth the Devout
Order of Phaerean, Templesgate, Dern
A brief note on Phaerean
Phaerean is one of the five principle gods born from the creator Alku, and is the only one without a spouse and is typically consider either genderless or as having all genders, though this is a matter of debate. Phaerean is the gods of the self, of journeys, and of freedom. Phaerean is called the God of Voyagers, the Storm-Bringer, Dawn-Bringer, the Guide of Souls, and the Finder of Paths, among other epithets. Phaerean is the god that guides the dead to the halls of Irdal beyond the mortal plane, and is the god that is responsible for the raising and setting of the sun. They are also associated with the sea and mountains. The wheel, ship, rising or setting sun, and the wave are some symbols that are associated with Phaerean, as are the horse, the cat, the octopus, the hare, reeds, seaweed, ferns, pines, mushrooms, and the color green.
Phaerean is closely associated with Reia, the goddess of magic, as well as Irdal, the god of life and death. Rayna and Aohr are Phaerean’s principle rivals, as Aohr is the god of order and society and is in direct opposition to Phaerean and Rayna plays a supporting role to him. However, Rayna and Phaerean can set aside their differences when it comes to births and marriages.
About the Author
Guide Phaedoras Amroth the Devout was born in about 5215 to unknown parentage and was raised in the Temple of Phaerean in Dern, becoming a particularly pious member of the order. Later, Phaedoras would go on to found the principal monastery of the order in the Donn Pass, where they spent their retirement writing down their philosophies and teachings for future generations of devotees of Phaerean. They led the order in Dern as Supreme Guide of the Order of Phaerean from 5258 until 5289, when they went to found the monastery. Their magnum opus was completed in 5299, and they passed away at the venerable age of 102, having transformed and championed the worship of Phaerean worldwide.
About the Order of Phaerean in Dern
The Order of Phaerean is dedicated to helping others and aiding them in their journeys, whether metaphysical, spiritual, or physical. This includes duties of healing the ill or injured, offering sustenance to those who are hungry, giving clothes or other necessary items to the least fortunate, and offering shelter to those in need. Temple complexes and monastic enclosures ought to be equipped with some kind of guesthouse, as well as facilities for bathing and rooms where the priests and acolytes can study, pray, and teach in addition to the primary temple. It is preferable that the complex also has gardens and storerooms to provide food through the year. The greats acts of service for the laity is helping others and giving items to the temple to be distributed to those in need, without need for recognition or bragging,
Rituals
Daily Rituals
Upon waking, a follower of Phaerean ought to spend a few moments in quiet reflection prior to starting the day. This may be spent studying, meditating, or praying. After this, the follower ought to break their fast, preferably with cold food, those porridge is also acceptable. After breaking their fast, a follower may then spend the day as they see fit.
When eating, a follower ought to be quiet, especially if in a monastic enclosure. Prayers should be said over the food to thank the god for sustenance before consumption and a small prayer of thanks is proper after a meal as well. It is best to share one’s food with others, if possible, especially when traveling. Sharing is the greatest act of service to the gods.
When making or breaking a camp, or entering or leaving a harbor, it is best to make a small offering to Phaerean, either in the form of burning incense, burning or burying a small portion of food, or making a small wheel for Phaerean. On a ship, the tying of ropes while saying prayers may be done instead of burning an offering. Offerings may also be cast into waterways, especially in places with strong tides or flowing water. If one is not camping, an offering should be made every third day at a temple or shrine. Offerings ought to be small.
Upon taking a nights’ rest, a devotee of the Voyager out to say a prayer asking for dreams and wisdom, followed by a little meditation before sleeping.
Ritual Purification
Ritual purification, which is typically only done prior to a supplicant being raised to an acolyte, and an acolyte being raised to a full priest, begins with a day of fasting and a night spent alone in the wilderness. The next morning, the supplicant is stripped to only a shift by a mentor, then anointed with fragrant oils and then they bathe in the hot and cold baths (this is akin to a Swedish sauna, where to be clean, willow or birch branches are used to gently beat the body to make it clean), before being taken in a new, clean shift to the temple’s altar to swear the oaths of dedication, where they are robed in the raiment of their new station. After this, there is a great celebration to honor the new member of the order.
Ritual purification can also be done as repentance for sins, or before beginning the Sojourn.
Rituals for Making and Maintaining Altars, Shrines, and Other Holy Sites
To hallow an altar or shrine, the surface should be cleaned with holy water, scrubbed with salt and, if available, sand from a body of water, such as a lake, river, or sea. This done, the surface should be dried, and one of the holy symbols of Phaerean should be placed or drawn on the surface. The drawing may be done with water, oil, chalk, sand, or charcoal. Green chalk is preferred if the altar is supposed to be in use for a long time.
The altar or shrine ought to face either east, towards the rising sun, or to the west towards the setting sun.
Major Rites
Births & Naming Ceremonies
When a child is born, it is to be bathed and anointed with oil and holy water, with a prayer of thanks and protection said over it, asking Phaerean to be its guide through life and Rayna to aid and protect the child.
When a child is named, the child should be brought to the altar of Phaerean and introduced to the god, asking the Patron of Voyagers to always know and guide the child.
Becoming Ordained as a Priest of Phaerean
As the rites and training that hallow an individual in the service of Phaerean and transform them into a true priest are the most sacred, this will be left mostly vague in this text. Suffice to say that the supplicant is ritually purified in a more sacred and intensive fashion and undergoes a multi-day process of rituals, mediations, and oath-swearing to ascend to priesthood.
Courtship, Betrothals and Weddings
While things dealing with courtships, betrothals, and weddings are primarily dealt with under the clerics of Rayna, the Queen of the Gods, some may be had under Phaerean, as love is a great journey.
To formally begin a courtship, an individual must give a gift of salt and flowers to the one they wish to court. If the salt is refused, then the advance is refused, and the individual must wait for their intended to begin the courtship instead or give up and ideas of a relationship with that person.
A formal betrothal is made by an exchange of meaningful gifts and ritually anointing each other at an altar, swearing their intentions before the gods, and then announcing the betrothal to family, friends, and others.
Weddings should begin with the couple taking hands, and facing each other in front of an altar, swearing to support and love each other until death. The priest then will say the wedding prayer for them while tying their hands together using a thin length of cloth, blessing them. If there are rings, the couple should then place rings on their partner and let the priest anoint them with salt and oil, with another blessing.
Death, and Funerals
The dead should, if possible, be cleansed and hallowed prior to burial or cremation. A prayer should be said for their souls, to help Phaerean guide them to the afterlife, before they are burned or buried, whether at sea or on land.
Funerals ought to have time for the loved ones of the deceased to share their memories, and they should be allowed to make offerings to the dead and the gods, to speed them on their way to the Halls of Irdal. After the burial or cremation, food and drink should be shared among the attendees.
Grieving should be allowed to remain private, if a person wishes, though public grieving may include veiling the face with black cloth, making offerings and prayers to the gods, and fasting for a period not longer than a week.
It is the duty of the priesthood of Phaerean to aid the grieving and offer comfort to them.
Prayers
Everyday Prayers
Prayers of Dedication
O Phaerean, Mountain-Climber and Sea-Delver, accept this offering as proof of my devotion.
Phaerean the Traveler, Patron of Sojourners and Truth-Seekers, I swear myself to thy service and promise to accept your goals as my goals.
Prayers of Thanks
Great God of Journeys and Freedom, Phaerean of the Fair Wind and Roaming Road, I thank thee for a warm bed and fair weather.
Phaerean, God of the Self, we offer thanks for the bounty granted to us.
Prayers of Asking
O Phaerean, Ruler of the Sea and Road, I, thy humble student, ask to find some small part of thy wisdom in my journeys and swear to serve thee.
O Phaerean, Pilot of the Great Ship and Climber of Mountains, guide my heart and mind toward the pinnacles of wisdom found by delving into the milieu of chaos.
O Patron of Voyagers and Finder of Paths, Guide to the Unwitting and Witting alike, help me find the best path forward through the darkness of ignorance.
Phaerean, Knower of the Unknown, Decision-maker, Storm-bringer, God of Journeys and Protector of Travelers, aid thy humble servant.
O Guide of Souls, Phaerean of the Fair Wind, give me absolution for my trespasses and guide me towards wisdom.
Prayers of Rites and Rituals
Births
Great Phaerean, Dawn-bringer and Guide of Souls, we thank thee for helping this child into the world and ask thee to be a guiding star in their journeys to come, to aid the Queen of Gods, great Rayna, in her protection of all children.
Marriages
Great Phaerean, god of journeys and freedom, these supplicants are come to thee to be joined, to become one and to share in all their journeys and to change together. If it please thee, let them be joined as they have chosen, and let them be bound together come what may, to be a safe haven for each other in the storms of life. Bless them and let them be hallowed in thy name.
Deaths
O Phaerean, Voyager and Storm-bringer, the Wanderer and the Stranger, I ask thee to guide the souls of the departed to the halls of Irdal, helping them along their final voyage.
O Phaerean, Stranger in the Chaos, grant those left behind the strength to heal the wounds of this loss, and honor the soul thou art even now guiding beyond the bounds of the world to the Halls of Irdal where all finally go.
Dedicating a Shrine or Altar
O Phaerean, Patron of Voyagers and Champion of the Weak and Forgotten, with salt and sand and water, I hallow this Shrine (or Altar) to be dedicated to thee and holy in thine name. By the knots of rope and the wheel of the sun, this is thy space, a receptacle of thine power so that supplicants may know thee. Dedicating a Ship, Steed, or Person
O Phaerean, Patron of Voyagers, Mountain-Climber, Sea-Delver, and Wanderer, with salt and sand and water, I ask you to protect this Ship (Horse, Person, etc) from the perils of the road, and to help them in their journeys so that they may go where they are most needed.
Swearing Oneself to Phaerean
Phaerean the Traveler, Patron of Sojourners and Truth-Seekers, Champion of Choice, Dawn-bringer, Deity of Acceptance and Defiance, I swear myself to thy service and promise to accept your goals as my goals, most solemnly and with the utmost faith in thy purposes, with the humility of a beggar and the bravery of a sailor. All of myself will belong to thee, Storm-bringer, body, mind and soul. I swear to aid all those who have need, to observe the ancient rites, to seek always the clarity of the storm of existence, and to always aim to better myself and the world. If ever I break or forsake my oaths to thee, may thou rend my soul asunder as in a tempest and doom me to wander without purpose or wit until the end of all things, never to be given shelter by the faithful, cast aside by all who once knew me.
Blessings
May your journey be filled with wonder.
May the wind always be at your back
May your journey take you where you are most needed
May your heart guide your feet to enlightenment.
May the tides be in your favor
May your companions on the road be steadfast friends
May Phaerean favor you
May your journey be enlightening
May you meet yourself (upon the road, at sea, in your travels)
May you find joy in the journey
Wander and find yourself
May your (steed, ship, wings, feet) be swift.
May you always find a (port, haven, shelter) in the storm.
May change find in you a willing heart.
May you find freedom within yourself and within society.
May the sun warm your soul.
May the end of your journey be the beginning of a new adventure.
May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.
May you find the road you most need to be on.
Curses
May your firewood always be wet.
May you never find what you are looking for
May the rains always find you
May you find maggots in your rations
May your water go stale
May your feet always ache
May your journeys end in disappointment.
May the wind rip your cloak from you.
May you meet with dark fates.
May change always find you unprepared.
May you suffer a hundred potholes.
Go and suffer a rough road to learn humility.
May you travel on rough seas.
May your journey always be filled with delays.
Wander now without purpose forevermore.
May you nevermore find a place of rest.
Phaerean curse you for your trespasses!
Meditations
Meditation is a sacred process designed to aid one in gaining a deeper, more personal understanding of the universe and one’s one self. As such, it is a must for any follower of Phaerean who desires to truly understand the teachings and meanings of Phaerean. Meditation is a way for a follower to reflect on themselves and their place in the world. Typically, in a monastic setting, followers will dedicate as much as three hours a day to meditation, and at temples, it is typically at least an hour a day. While travelling, it is recommended to meditate at least half an hour in the morning or evening, if possible.
The most basic form of meditation is either standing or sitting in the tailor position with hands in a prayer position, open and outward, with one’s eyes closed. One may then focus on breathing until breathing is the only thing on one’s mind. If desired, one may also chant or pray. This is the first method taught to those who wish to become priests.
The Wheel is a popular way to meditate. Most commonly, the wheel is made with small lights at intervals, with designs painted on the spokes. The wheel is then spun while the person meditating watches the different patterns and lights, trying to gain a deeper awareness of the world and themselves as they do so. Another method is to stack stones, carefully so as that they do not fall or topple. This can teach a person about care, patience, balance, and create a sense of peace within them. This is often used as a key teaching tool for acolytes.
Meditation may also be done by drawing lines and circles in sand in prescribed ways. Some, if they have the means, may also use colored sands to symbolize different things. A few of the images commonly used in meditation is the wheel and the wave. Hexagons, octagons, circles, squares, triangles, and more complex shapes are frequently used, often in a pattern radiating outward from a central image. Repeating geometric designs are a favorite among the Followers in Bavran especially.
If sand is unavailable, the process of drawing designs as above may be done with chalk or charcoal. Many popular designs may be etched into temple floors or walls, allowing them to repeated over and over again.
The tying and untying of different types of knots in rope or cord is also used for meditation and prayer. These knots are done in a slow, methodical way, allowing the meditator to calm their mind and hopefully gain enlightenment.
Yet anther way that Followers meditate is to stare at the reflections in a body of water, letting their mind wander.
Proverbs
1. Friends are the companions on a journey, who render aid to each other to become better in themselves and achieve their goals.
2. Strength of character is a reflection of one’s ability to accept the inherent chaos of life.
3. Too much planning gets in the way of the life in front of us.
4. Happiness lies in the small things.
5. Your true self is not immutable, but is a mirror of the choices that you make.
6. Life cannot exist without change. Resisting change is foolishness that leads to pain.
7. Life is a series of events with little rhyme or reason, and accepting the chaos is the path to true enlightenment.
8. Fear of the unknown is natural, but cowardice is the sign of a weak mind. Confronting one’s fears it the path to divine favor.
9. The truth of nature is that chaos is everywhere.
10. You can choose to change the world by changing yourself.
11. Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
12. You are responsible for the changes you wish to make reality, for good or ill.
13. The changes you want to come to pass are your duty to work towards.
14. All beings are on a journey together and should be treated as equals.
15. The struggle hallows the attempt.
16. We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses.
17. If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
18. Only the weakest of individuals refuse to accept the inevitable..
19. Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.
20. He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind.
21. Change brings opportunity.
22. Nothing endures but change.
23. No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.
24. Much learning does not teach understanding.
25. Life is a work in progress.
26. Tolerance, like any aspect of peace, is forever a work in progress, never completed, and, if we're as intelligent as we like to think we are, never abandoned.
27. Teach thy tongue to say 'I do not know', and thou shalt progress.
28. For society to progress, we should not only move forward but also clean up after ourselves.
29. One makes their own fate by the choices they make. Destinies hinge on the smallest moment.
30. One who blames their fates on others shows a great weakness of mind and soul,
Lessons
Acts of Service and Faith
The Sojourn
The Sojourn is the greatest spiritual quest that one can undergo. After undergoing ritual purification, the Sojourner is garbed in the simplest of clothes, free of any adornment except a holy symbol, and given only the essential supplies for their journey. They set out before dawn from a holy site of Phaerean, and proceed to wander for ten years alone, going where the road and winds will take them.
Maintaining Shrines, Milestones, and Aiding Those in Need
Shrines and Milestones are equally sacred in the eyes of Phaerean, and should be maintains. If a cleric sees either in disrepair, they ought to clean it as best they can and mend it if possible. Any words on a road marker should be easily readable and as accurate as possible. Roadside shrines should be placed in conspicuous places and should be inscribed with advice for travelers.
Likewise, giving aid and comfort to those in need is a key tenet of serving Phaerean. If a follower of Phaerean should meet some onee in need, they should offer to share what provisions they have or render aid as necessary, although no Follower of the Voyager is obligated to put themselves at mortal risk to render such aid.
Truths for Clerics and Priests
1. You are free to make whatever choice you want, but you are not free from the consequences of the choice.
2. Everything can be taken away from a person but one thing: the last of the human freedom - to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
3. One’s philosophy is to best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And, the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.
4. You cannot control the behavior of others, but you can always choose how you respond to it.
5. In the end that was the choice you made, and it doesn't matter how hard it was to make it. It matters that you did.
6. It is not for you to judge another person’s life. you must judge, you must choose, you must spurn, purely for yourself. For yourself, alone.
7. In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.
8. It is false to say that the world matters nothing, or the world's voice, or the voice of society. They do matter, and other deserve respect and freedom as much as you do. But there are moments when one has to choose between living one's own life, fully, entirely, completely—or dragging out some false, shallow, degrading existence that the world in its hypocrisy demands. You have that moment in every breath and must live with the choices you make and take responsibility for the consequences, whether they were intended or not.
9. Freedom to choose is worthless when you refuse to be responsible for the consequences of your choices and your actions.
10. You must weigh each choice against need, desire, and what may come from each choice.
11. Beliefs are choices. First you choose your beliefs. Then your beliefs affect your choices.
12. Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life.
13. Everyone has choices to make; no one has the right to take those choices away from us.
14. If you choose to not deal with an issue, then you give up your right of control over the issue and it will select the path of least resistance.
15. All you can do is make your decisions based on what you know now.
16. But the past cannot be changed, and we carry our choices with us, forward, into the unknown. We can only move on.
17. Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.
18. Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.
19. Better to die fighting for freedom than be a prisoner.
20. Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.
21. The first duty of a person is to think for themself.
22. Better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees.
23. The secret of happiness is freedom, the secret of freedom is courage.
24. One who has overcome their fears will truly be free.
25. Liberty with danger is preferable to peace with slavery.
Purpose
This document is a guide for the followers of Phaerean, laying out typical prayers, religious services, and acts of faith as well as offering words of wisdom.
Historical Details
Legacy
The Precepts of Phaerean have become the most used rulebook for the followers of Phaerean. It has been basically unaltered for a millenia.
Type
Text, Religious
Medium
Vellum / Skin
Location
Comments