Re: nature of mysticism

From: Peter Metcalfe <metcalph_at_...>
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:58:46 +1300


On 2/25/2013 10:19 AM, Nils Weinander wrote:

> > A Vithelan scholar worships Korudel. His personal magic functions in
> > a manner similar to that of other scholarly deities (Lhankor Mhy,
> > Irrippi Ontor, Buserian etc). *But* when he wants to worship Korudel,
> > there are no priests of Korudel. Instead he and other worshippers of
> > Korudel go to a mass that is presided by a priest of Chaquandarath
> > because they alone know the mysteries of reaching the High Gods
> > through worship and sacrifices. I don't know whether the
> > Chaquandarath priests can do it for any god they are asked or whether
> > they require specialized training
> > - both approaches have their attractions.

> That's an interesting approach, a third mode of high gods
> worship.

It is what is said on Revealed Mythologies p54 ("Most people worship their local deity as a way of life, and for special needs go to a temple or priest" and some of the gods listed are High Gods)

> This is exactly how I think many mystic cults work, how
> they use worship and the magic it brings. What I meant
> was that I think Mashunasan himself did not worship
> anything.

Except that whatever Mashunasan did with respect to Oorduren or Durapdur *is* worship. It may not be theistic worship or even veneration/intellectual understanding, but it is still worship.

> >> but Sivoli for
> >> example did not worship any deities IMO.
>
> Me> The Noble Wrongs include sorcerors and animists, not just theistic
> > worshippers. Sivoli's Air Organ will be similar to Kolat's Breath,
> > except that the Easterners will have an interpretation of spirits that
> > I'm not quite clear about yet.
>
> With deities I mean gods, spirits or essences.

I don't think that's correct. Sivoli was a follower of Venforn who worshipped Atrilith - the text describes it as Integration (which is obsolete terminology in light of HQ2). When Sivoli was strengthening his organs, he was doing so to become close to Atrilith.

--Peter Metcalfe            

Powered by hypermail