TEMPLES AND ACOLYTES
>My impression is that Michael has [earth temples] as edifices which to a
>large extent are separated from the local community - in terms of their
>spirituality and their function as a sanctuary and a school.
Actually, no. The temple is never separated from the clan in any way. It is not the temple which is a sanctuary or a school - the priestesses and acolytes shelter those seeking refuge, or act as mentors, but it is never organized, even if it is a cultic/societal obligation. The temple is not an institution (in sociological meaning) - it is just the focal point of the local members of the cult.
>I always saw the Ernaldan temple as an integral part of the community, and
>the priestess not set apart, but a community leader involved with all of
>the women (and men) on a daily basis. The priestess next door. The head
>woman of the clan. The temple itself I don't necessarily see as a building
>of any sort. It could be a sacred oak, standing stone, plough, or a hill.
>It must be a place/thing that can be worshipped at on a regular basis by
>the whole clan.
The Ernaldan Caves are as much a clan centre as is the Orlanth Hill. I agree with you generally. I just want to quibble with the priestess as community leader.
The way i run Daughters leaves the Mother to be the head of the cult with requires quite a lot of time and work, taking care of cult magic and spirits, internal cult ceremonies, teaching the mysteries to the Daughters, using and distributing the tithes wisely - they don't simply have the time to commune with all the people of the clan, which is what Daughters are doing. This is a theoretical analysis.
In practice, the Mother is of course the head woman, who 'advises' the clan leader on the clan ring (usually she can twist his arm pretty hard), with backup from Daughters, and is otherwise a societal giant.
All this about separation comes from my idea that Daughters and Mothers of Ernalda have different societal roles. The Daughters lead the external ceremonies as the clan's spirituals leaders, while the Mothers are the spiritual leaders of the Daughters and take care of the internal workings of the cult.
We don't really disagree. I just have a hard time putting in words what i envision. My speculations on the Earth Cults were pretty theoretical, and thus prone to be obscure.
>I always saw acolytes as apprentice priestesses, aides/ friends/ bosum
>buddies to the priestess, or other important women in the clan. I wouldn't
>expect more than one or two per clan, and I'd expect only one priestess
>per clan.
In a _small_ clan (400 adults) i can agree with your numbers. In a clan with 1 000 adults, there would be a minimum of 8 Ernaldans with high enough rank to have reusable divine magic.
>Now, larger regional temples (which might or might not be centred around a
>tribe), would appear more spiritual and more distant as they would be
>involved in more solitary and "higher" duties. While the temple itself
>might be a holy site or feature, there would have to be living quarters
>etc. - like a typical temple. It is here that specialisation in terms of
>sub-cults would exist.
I know this isn't obvious from what i wrote, but it is more or less exactly what i meant. Some of the Earth subcults exist as more or less independent bodies - i have placed an independent temple to the Earth Witch in the Lizard Woods, but in the major Earth temple in the Longdoe Hills, she is revered as a sister-form of Ernalda.
Activities at a major/ regional temple are more centered around the mysteries and secrets of the cult, and non-members are not allowed to participate. A larger body of myths is remembered. Smaller holidays can be celebrated, as the attendance is greater, and thus a wider array of magic is available, in contrast to shrines, that are usually sanctified to a specific aspect of the deity and thus provide specific magic only - like the shrine to Ernalda Boartamer on Dinacoli lands. In short, if the myth is not celebrated, the magic is not available.
Some Ernaldan magic: Bless Land, Enchant Land; Bless Marriage, Grant Fertility, Bless Pregnancy; Raise Rampart; Tame Boar; Enchant Milk Cow; Earth's Embrace; Create Hearth (Mahome aspect); Grow; Create Road and Raise Wall (Sartar Hero-cult).
If there is a surplus of tithes in a local/ clan temple they are shipped to a major temple were there are resident treasurers (asrelians).
PROGRESSION BY AGE
>>A few maidens are chosen by Ty Kora Tek at early age, and they have an
>>easier time being initiated into this subcult.
>I don't see this at all. The progression to Ty Kora Tek must be natural
>and through all of the female phases of life. Somehow, I don't like the
>idea of young Voria initiates being picked out and told, "You'll make a
>good crone in a few years". How can they, unless they have lived life to
>the full? The only way to get initiated into this sub-cult is to grow old
>and morbid.
The Ghost Crone is not tied to old age, but Death and the Dead. I don't like the idea that people are _required_ to have reached a certain age to be initiated. In practice, elder members are preferred, but younger candidates can be initiated. The _few_ maidens chosen by TKT are _not_ picked out and told they'll "make a good crone." If they _want_ to be initiated they'll pass the tests easier.
>Vorian priestesses? I reckon that your membership of many of the sub-cults
>is dependant on your age and stage in life.
Youth before marriage (Voria), Mother and matron (Ernalda), and
post-menopause crone (Asrelia & Ty Kora Tek). So the Voria priestess would
be the youngest unmarried Earth Priestess.
It's more dependent on inclination and motivation. Usually you shift attitudes with different passages, but you don't have to. A young girl with morbid fascination for ancestor channeling will want to try to become initiated into Ghost Crone even if she is still unmarried. Vorian priestesses _tend_ be the youngest priestesses but the elderly can stay young at heart, retaining a connection with Voria.
The theory does not cause the practice. Try the other way :)
>Spell availability for initiates would be dependant on age as well. An
>old-aged initiate couldn't sacrifice for Voria's spells, or for
>fertility-related spells.
No. I don't agree. A post-menopausal priestess can't Bless her grand-daughter's pregnancy? Silly. A teen-aged initiate can't Summon her ancestor or Bless the ancestor's grave? Equally silly.
Just because the members of specific subcult _tend_ to be of a certain age doesn't mean they _have_to_.
>Other deities and spirits would be sub-cults due to a local need,
>requirement or quirk. If there's a large number of herd beasts in a
>particular region then that regional temple may have a Eiritha sub-cult
>with a priestess and acolytes. Babeester Gor will probably always exist
>where potential violations against the earth occur, though it's doubtful
>if any dedicated worshippers will exist at clan level.
Definitely. I agree completely.
>Does this make sense?
Yes.
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