Lunarized Orlanthi

From: Jeff Richard <richaje_at_wolfenet.com>
Date: Sat, 1 May 1999 11:34:26 -0700


This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

Alex writes:

>Quod non erat demonstrandum.  The question, at least as I understood
>it, is it possible to simultaneously be an initiate of Orlanth, and
>'the Lunar religion'. =20

OK, this is as good an opportunity as any to put in a few comments = regarding Orlanthi initiation. At adulthood, the Orlanthi are initiated = into the Storm pantheon. This means that an adult Orlanthi worships = Asrelia, Barntar, Chalana Arroy, Elmal, Ernalda, Esrola, Hedkoranth and = the Thunder Brothers, Heort, Humakt, Issaries, Kolat, Lhankhor Mhy, = Marangor, Orlanth, Tykoratek, Urox and many others. For lack of a = better term, let's simply call this "pantheon initiate".

Many Orlanthi, perhaps even most Orlanthi, have a devotional = relationship with a god. This requires yet another initiation into the = mysteries of that particular god. Devotional worship requires that an = individual worship one deity on a personal basis. This means that a = given adult Orlanthi might also have a personal sacred relationship with = Orlanth the Thunderer, or Barntar, or Ernalda, or whoever. Let's call = this "devotional initiate."

Finally, many Orlanthi have a sacred relationship with a deified Hero or = worshipped Ancestor. The Varmandi worship Varmand, many Sartarites have = a sacred relationship with Sartar, etc. Let's call this "Hero initate."

Greg and I both believe that a given Orlanthi can have about three of = these relationship - max. So what does this have to do with worshipping = the Red Goddess? Well, I believe that Storm pantheon initiates can = worship the Seven Mothers or even the Red Goddess - even have devotional = relationships with those deities. However, I do not think that someone = can have a devotional relationship with Orlanth AND have a devotional = relationship with the Red Goddess. Furthermore, someone who is truly = dedicated to the mysteries of the Seven Mothers or the Red Goddess will = probably cease to maintain a sacred relationship even with the Orlanthi = pantheon.

So in practice, Orlanthi areas with a strong Lunar presence will = continue to worship the Storm pantheon, often alongside that of the Red = Goddess and the Seven Mothers. Such worship includes Orlanth worship. = However, devotional initiates to those aspects of Orlanth incompatible = with the Red Goddess will be rare. Folk will be much more likely to = have devotional relationships with Barntar, or Orlanth the Bear, or = Elmal, or Hedkoranth and the Thunder Brothers, rather than have a = devotional relationship with Orlanth the Thunderer or Orlanth the = Lightbringer. Does this make sense?

Jeff

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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000><FONT size=3D2>Alex =
writes:</FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D2></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>&gt;Quod non erat demonstrandum.&nbsp; The question, =
at least=20
as I understood<BR>&gt;it, is it possible to simultaneously be an = initiate of=20
Orlanth, and<BR>&gt;'the Lunar religion'.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>OK, this is as =
good an=20
opportunity as any to put in a few comments regarding Orlanthi = initiation.&nbsp;=20
At adulthood, the Orlanthi are initiated into the Storm pantheon.&nbsp; = This=20
means that an adult Orlanthi worships Asrelia, Barntar, Chalana Arroy, = Elmal,=20
Ernalda, Esrola, Hedkoranth and the Thunder Brothers, Heort, Humakt, = Issaries,=20
Kolat, Lhankhor Mhy, Marangor, Orlanth, Tykoratek, Urox and many = others.&nbsp;=20
For lack of a better term, let's simply call this &quot;pantheon=20 initiate&quot;.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Many Orlanthi, perhaps even most Orlanthi, have a =
devotional=20
relationship with a god.&nbsp; This requires yet another initiation into = the=20
mysteries of that particular god.&nbsp; Devotional worship requires that = an=20
individual worship one deity on a personal basis.&nbsp; This means that = a given=20
adult Orlanthi might also have a personal sacred relationship with = Orlanth the=20
Thunderer, or Barntar, or Ernalda, or whoever.&nbsp; Let's call this=20 &quot;devotional initiate.&quot;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Finally, many Orlanthi have a sacred relationship =
with a=20
deified Hero or worshipped Ancestor.&nbsp; The Varmandi worship Varmand, = many=20
Sartarites have a sacred relationship with Sartar, etc.&nbsp; Let's call = this=20
&quot;Hero initate.&quot;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Greg and I both believe that a given Orlanthi can =
have about=20
three of these relationship - max.&nbsp; So what does this have to do = with=20
worshipping the Red Goddess?&nbsp; Well, I believe that Storm pantheon = initiates=20
can worship the Seven Mothers or even the Red Goddess - even have = devotional=20
relationships with those deities.&nbsp; However, I do not think that = someone can=20
have a devotional relationship with Orlanth AND have a devotional = relationship=20
with the Red Goddess.&nbsp; Furthermore, someone who is truly dedicated = to the=20
mysteries of the Seven Mothers or the Red Goddess will probably cease to =

maintain a sacred relationship even with the Orlanthi = pantheon.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>So in practice, Orlanthi areas with a strong Lunar =
presence=20
will continue to worship the Storm pantheon, often alongside that of the = Red=20
Goddess and the Seven Mothers.&nbsp; Such worship includes Orlanth=20 worship.&nbsp; However, devotional initiates to those aspects of Orlanth =

incompatible with the Red Goddess will be rare.&nbsp; Folk will be much = more=20
likely to have devotional relationships with Barntar, or Orlanth the = Bear, or=20
Elmal, or Hedkoranth and the Thunder Brothers, rather than have a = devotional=20
relationship with Orlanth the Thunderer or Orlanth the = Lightbringer.&nbsp; Does=20
this make sense?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Jeff</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

End of The Glorantha Digest V6 #574


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