Karaqo

Druidic Rite of Passage

Each druid must undergo the karaqo, a rite of passage to be accepted into the fold. Even those born into the circle must undergo this karaqo. The karaqo involves ridding oneself of self. The individual must leave their circle's steadings into the wilderness alone. They must strip entirely naked and survive for a month. Because of this, the average age of a karaqo is teenage to young adult. All return with very, very rare cases of death or potential druids never being found. After surviving and returning back home the celebration begins. Drinks, dancing, pontificating, philosophizing, etc. are events that occur. Each circle will have their own specific customs and traditions, but all druids do at least these mentioned.
The purpose of the karaqo is for self-destruction. That does not mean death, but the sincerely unshackling of this mortal body and the freedom of oneness with Nature and all its collectivism. This is achieved through meditation and specific immersion in nature itself. Karasho — their word for one undergoing the karaqo — depart from their homes and friends and head into the deep wilderness. In woods, karasho worm their toes in the grass, lay on moss, and cover themselves in leaves. In arid climates, karasho find shade in hills or dunes and feel their body melt into the sand or dirt. In oceanic circles, they submerge themselves perfectly so only their head is above water. The purpose in all these is complete immersion. Once in the isolating immersion, the karasho undergo a common panic. They are instructed to let the feelings come and then let them go.
After some time in this way, the karasho feel themselves empty as they enter a trance-like state, unable to open their eyes and only breathing from conscious thought. Each breath is necessary for the ritual. Once the self has been exhausted and extinguished — no fear, doubt, envy, hate, love, or hope — is when Nature comes to them. successful karasho describe the feeling as being waterskins being poured into from a warm, benevolent source equally a mother and a father to them, a source that has always cared for them, for it is them. Nature itself is manifest and real, and it is each and everyone who has ever lived, is living, or will live; every animal, every leaf, every fungus is one entity, this entity, the entity that is not just filling them, but creating them again, wholly and without blame or fault or blemish.
The first breaths are electrifying. karasho are seen to leap up from their cocoons are transformed and transfigured. The sense or purpose burns inside, the sense of othernesss and oneness with all around them overpowers them. Many dance, cry, commune, or simply lie in awe of their new life before them. At this point they are distinctly druid, though the circles must approve. They do not know it, but a full month has passed, if done correctly.
Once back with their circle, the heads come and commune with them to feel them fully within The Body of Nature. It is a spiritually intimate encounter where all see each other as parts of Nature, but know they are each other. In this final test the karasho are questioned and confirmed through various methods. Once satisfied, the heads will unanimously agree the change has occurred and Nature has accepted the karasho into the circle, fully.