Re: Re: Dream walking?

From: donald_at_...
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2004 20:20:06 GMT


In message <200403220709.06300.geard_at_...> Jennifer Geard writes:

>I'd understood that Heartlings were strictly exogamous, and that
>Ernalda's gift could significantly increase or decrease the chance of
>conceiving, but wasn't completely reliable (for that you have to check
>your fertility at the door as part of Vingan rites, or whatever). I was
>therefore assuming that young people whould be looking hard for
>partners outside the clan.

The Heortling are clan exogamous for marriage, sensible for such small communities. Sexual relations before marriage are a different matter and I'm sure there are occassional babies but that isn't a social problem - all babies are welcome and the variety of marriages under Heortling law mean that women with children from several fathers is not uncommon.

A difficulty with exogamous marriages is distance for courting, it may only be half a mile to the next clan's tula but when it takes a couple of hours each way there are going to be limited opportunities. Sexual experimentation is accepted as normal so inevitably is going to happen with the clan, probably within the stead. After all children can't be kept in ignorance when the whole extended family sleeps in the same room.

-- 
Donald Oddy
http://www.grove.demon.co.uk/

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