Rites of Leaving

The following is the process all Shepherds of Leaving conduct when they arrive at the deceased, given proper time and occasion. They are usually immersed in the Ega from the time they arrive at the body until they leave with the departed's soul.

1. Confirm the death.
2. Calm the Ega if needed.
3. Perform the Rites of Leaving.
4. Carry the soul to the (usually nearest) House of Leavings; the body is sent for and also brought back to the House, but the two are typically kept separated.
5. While the body is prepared, the soul is released to the Ega Root in the House's Basin.
6. The body is given a viewing, and then cremated.

(1) Confirm the death.
This is done by the Shepherd exploring the Ega in and around the body and reading the images and emotions presented. This reading usually creates an accurate picture of the deceased's last moments. In this instance, the Shepherd is acting as Coroner.
(2) Calm the Ega.
If the circumstances of death were violent, sudden, or otherwise discordant, the Shepherd will use their abilities to calm the erratic Ega -- both in the environment and from the soul -- in order to lay a safe foundation for gathering the soul. In this instance, the Shepherd is acting as a grief counselor to the departed themselves. This process usually begins with the following:
[Kneel before the body, hands together palm-up in front of chest with fingers gently interlaced.]
“We the living give honor to our womb and our root." [Bow head.] “I, [Full Name] of the House of Leavings, greet you, beloved departed – the one known in life as [Full Known Name]. I am honored to guide you.”
[Judge temprament of spirit and Ega.]
(3) Perform the Rites of Leaving.
The Shepherd recites the following rites to take the soul into a specifically-created space within their own. This is also known as a Gathering.
“O beloved departed, come unto me, this humble vessel; in me you shall be freed from fear and burden, in me you will find rest and forgiveness. Together we shall walk through hallowed fields and be blessed by sacred waters; all that you were is thanked for its small yet mighty purpose, but it is time for you to return home. Come unto me, that I may guide you there. I welcome you. We will go together to the waiting door that is the Well of my House, so that you may shed what is earthly and be reborn. Rest – you are safe.”
The rites are then concluded with:
“There is no death that is not life, no life that is not death. We are one.”
The Shepherd then draws out of their immersion in the Ega.
(4) Carry the soul to the nearest House.
The attending Shepherd usually does this alone to reflect the exceedingly private nature of the process; bystanders know to give a Shepherd little mind if they are seen riding/walking leisurely (whether or not they knew or detected that the Shepherd was carrying a soul), and interruption is seen as the most disrespectful of behavior. If the situation allows it -- and especially if the soul is agitated -- the Shepherd will allow the soul to guide their journey back within reason to revisit certain locations on the way.
(4.5) Retrieve and prepare the body.
If the body was not sent for before, or already sent on its way after the Shepherd left, the body will be sent for when the Shepherd arrives at the House.
The body is prepared in the Mortuary by two to four preparers; the Shepherd carrying the soul does not typically involve themselves. In this fashion, Shepherds act as morticians and funeral directors. The body is bathed and any injuries addressed in order to make it presentable, before being anointed with the hetul'n'gosh, or three sacred oils; the body is then wrapped -- beginning at the left ankle, traveling up the left side of the body, and then crossed to the right and moving down -- in an ek'suul with the Luk'Eishar script rendering of the mantra “There is no death that is not life, no life that is not death. We are one.” over and over. The preparers also chant this mantra while they work.
The body is finally clothed in a simple white plaincloth, long-sleeved, ankle-length robe and its hands folded over its chest. A simple androgynous mask made of hammered peseta is also laid on the chest for use in the cremation. The lead preparer then holds a hand over the body's face and recites, “On behalf of the shard of life you carried, I thank you. You served well. Return to the earth from which you sprung, and may your waters come to nourish a new life. Rest now.”
(5) Release the soul into the Ega.
While the body is prepared, the soul is taken for release via the Basin in the House's Well. Occasionally the Shepherd may choose / be able to wait for an auspicious time, such as sunset, but a Release does not usually happen a day later where possible. More than one person assisting the Shepherd is atypical; both are usually wearing simple plaincloth robes with no adornment.
Preparations take place in a foyer of sorts before the Well proper. First they remove their shoes; the Shepherd carrying the soul is then anointed with hetul'bii, or waking oil, in a stripe down the middle of their face, dividing it in half -- this oil serves as a medium that 'wakes up' the soul to be released. They then enter the Well itself and the Shepherd immerses themselves in the Ega as they lay in the Basin. The Shepherd then shields their own soul as they open the hollow in which they carry the other, while reciting:
“You have honored us with your time here. Return now to nourish the Source. We will see you again.” [Repeat:] “Return now to nourish the Source.” Once the departed's soul has left the Shepherd, they close off their own soul and conclude the ritual with: “Deepest rest, beloved departed. We will see you again.”
(6) The Viewing.
This takes place either at the House itself or at another agreed-upon location relevant to the departed. If needed, the body is transported via a canopied, gilded ironwood litter from the House to the other location. All attending Shepherds wear their formal robes for this occasion. A Viewing may last an afternoon or, in the case of well-known figures, up to two days. The peseta mask is then placed over their face and the body is burnt -- either at the place of Viewing (but not in a House), or at designated crematory locations outside of the settlement, and the ashes scattered. Though there are no graves, occasionally a small vial of ashes may be kept by loved ones.

Purpose

Funerary rites and processes by the House of Leavings

Type

Manuscript, Religious

Medium

Paper