Floating

Unc. Nk.--

Grat for checking this one over for me. Hope you don't mind I quoted you!

Elan

Thanks to its location within an ocean gyre, the Eddy is an area where the water is not disturbed by strong currents. That stability is a large part of what attracted Water Seekers there. They wanted to achieve a state of perfect neutrality. A type of meditation known as "floating" helped them do that.

Effect

A Water Seeker in a float experiences enhancement of watersense and dampening of all other senses. The effect is strongest when the Seeker is surrounded by water, but can be achieved on land as well. Like all forms of meditation it is intended to clear one's mind, but for the Seekers it also helped them form a connection to the ocean.
A Seeker can achieve a state of partial float by focusing her other senses on some background stimulus, such as a repetitive motion, a droning sound, or the pressure of another person's hand. Senses are not fully suppressed, but neither is watersense expanded as it is in a full float. In this state the Seeker is aware of her environment and can react to it, while still experiencing a greater effect from the water around her.

Side/Secondary Effects

There is a risk to staying too long in a float. While floating, the Water Seeker's bodily functions are slowed or temporarily stopped, and their internal temperature is reduced. Galtern's medical records include a small number of cases of Water Seekers with permanent damage in their extremities due to prolonged oxygen deficit during an extended float.

Manifestation

To an observer, a floating Water Seeker appears to be resting in a sitting or standing position, usually with her eyes closed. If in water she may float upright or on her back, but never face down--it is possible for even a Water Seeker to drown. While floating she will not respond to mild external stimuli, but a sharp physical touch or loud sound may abruptly end the float.
The Seeker's preferred way to end a float is to slowly draw her aura back, allowing her to gradually return to full sensory awareness. In the case of an interruption, the Seeker snaps back to alertness before her aura can settle into its customary shape, and for an instant she experiences an overwhelming flood of light, sound, scent, taste, and heat before her senses have a chance to equilibrate.

Gestures & Ritual

The Seeker begins by concentrating on taking full five-count breaths. Once the breathing pattern is established, she empties her mind of thoughts and loosens her aura in order to make better contact with the surrounding water. As her aura mingles with the ocean, she enters the float and accepts the sensations the water brings.

"I'd always hated meditating, but Elan-ma insisted I try, so I did. She told me later that she thought I was showing off. When she whapped me on the shoulder, that shocked me out of the float. Dunno which of us hollered louder. But that's what got her thinking I must be a Water Seeker."

— my uncle Nkeba (now the Dancinglight of the New Eddy), to me