The Dirt - Religion

“True power lies in the Earth, where all life comes from and all life returns to. How can we serve the Earth, which eternally serves us? How else can we serve but by serving others, who, as we all are blessed to do, join the Earth in death?” - Parson Almas

Practical Practices

The Dirt is a smaller religion, believed by some to be an offshoot of Eos. While followers of Eos show their devotion to the harvest, The Dirt show devotion to the soil itself. Followers of the Dirt practice by covering their hands with dirt. Whether this comes naturally from their work or by staining their hands, wrists, and feet with red clay. Wealthy devotees opt almost exclusively for the latter, and use soil on special occasions. Ironically, peasant followers do almost the exact opposite, allowing their daily toiling to be evidence of their reverence.

The other main daily practice is meditation. Followers usually choose to meditate at noon, when the ground is warmest. They sit, bare-footed, and place their hands on the earth. They listen to the sounds, reflect on what the soil gives to them, and what they can give to the soil. Devout followers often take up hobbies like gardening, pottery and jewelry making with stones and precious gems. Everything the earth gives is a gift to be respected and loved.

Often, followers carve prayers into flat river stones and bury them into the ground to effect blessings. Common prayer runes create heartier, more resilient crops, or abundant harvests, or vibrant flowers. Others protect fields from predators, flooding, fire and other disasters. Before erecting a new building, followers of the dirt place a prayer rune blessing the foundation, thanking it for holding up their house or barn.

Monthly, there are community prayer meetings. These meetings are led by the local parson, who functions more as a community therapist than a religious leader. These parsons solve disputes, listen to complaints, and advise their community, regardless of what Divinity the person follows. The parsons take on a single apprentice at a time.

Specialized Prayer

The prayer meetings take place from an hour before noon to an hour after, on the first of the month. The community of followers gather in a prayer labyrinth, which is a large pattern inscribed into the dirt or sand. In some places these labyrinths are huge, permanent carvings maintained by the apprentice (or several). Other places, the labyrinths are traced into fields and re-carved as each season’s needs arise. In spring the followers trace the path and pray for healthy growth, in fall they trace the flack-strewn earth and praise The Dirt for harvest.

The labyrinths function both as a time for meditation and a prayer for blessing. As always in this religion, the core functions are personal reflection and service to the community. Another core tenant, and one that most people find odd, is their staunch belief that bodies should not be used after death. They believe their bodies are owed to the soil, and should decompose naturally. In fact, most followers of The Dirt believe that if they are reanimated, their souls will never make it to the Well of Souls and be forced to roam forever.

The Dirt is most commonly practiced in Nashriam, although pockets of it can be found in Vas’tek, Curath and southern regions of Caliharah. In recent years, texts have come to light that prove that Eos and The Dirt were once one group following Eosaani. Texts from old parsonages of The Dirt tell of the first followers communing with a strange, near-primordial creature that taught them to revere the soil itself. Where this Divinity went to and is now is the matter of constant speculation and pilgrimages. These newly discovered texts simply say that The Dirt were followers of Eosaani, but believed that the Earth was the ultimate source of the harvest, and so turned away.

Prayer Excerpt:

Let the grass partake of me
Let the insects feast on me
Let my bones become dust
Let the soil consume me

I am but nothing
I consume to be consumed
Great Earth, Great Earth!
Let my purpose be continuation

I will not know true sleep
Until I slumber in the soil
Great Earth, Great Earth!
I long for you

Let the flowers sprout from my fingertips
Let the birds have their fill
Let me come home
Let the soil consume me

(Note: it does not appear that followers of The Dirt are actively suicidal, this prayer is a lament I heard during a time of famine. They believe there is purpose in living, but death is sacred, a true connection.)