The Touch of Life

During the Journey festival held annually in Chawso, the building that houses the Journey's End monument is opened to the public for five days. The statues themselves are kept safely behind a barrier, out of reach of overenthusiastic viewers. Only one person is permitted to touch them--the caretaker designated as Source of Life's proxy.  In a ceremony known as the Touch of Life, parents bring their babies--usually within the first year of life, but sometimes a year or two older--to introduce them to Source of Life and touch her symbol to bring good luck and ward off misfortune.

History

To the Valdians, Source of Life is the ancestor of all people.  She is not worshipped in the sense that the ocean once was, but is honored as a protector of childbirth and infants.  Touching her statue's hand probably happened spontaneously, and it's impossible to say when it became widespread enough to be called a tradition, but it is part of the reason the statues were separated from the public.  The caretakers noticed the stone being worn smooth, and erected a low wall to prevent anyone getting within arm's reach.  After hearing complaints the caretakers devised the Touch of Life as a way to use a living person to pass on Source of Life's protection.

Execution

On the third morning of the festival, the proxy goes to the monument while it is still dark and paints on the palm of her left hand the ancient symbol for "life," the same that is carved on the fifth statue's left hand. Just before sunrise, the east door to the building is opened and the luck-seeking families are admitted. As the first light of day enters, the proxy holds her hand against the raised hand of the fifth figure to symbolically transfer the power of the glyph to herself. She then stands in front of the barrier in the same pose as the stone figure.  In turns, the parents step forward and place their infant's hand against the proxy's marked hand.  They may ask for particular favors, or simply recite the traditional request: "Source of Life, this is my child and your child.  Keep the bad away, and let only the good stay."

Participants

As embodiment of Source of Life, the proxy is always a woman, and always right-handed, to ensure the integrity of the symbol on her left hand.  She does not speak to or answer the parents.  At intervals the ritual is interrupted to allow her to rest and eat; even so, it is an exhausting day for her, and few have ever proxied twice.

Primary Related Location

Chawso

"Can you ask a question too stupid to answer? Apparently so. Not naming names, but when those statue keepers explained that the proxy had to be a woman to represent Source of Life, one of the other outpost staff asked if she also had to be her direct descendant. Well, they laughed until they were out of breath."