Starlisteners

Starlistening is in its essence just an unscientific observation of the stars, prone to be influenced by personal ideas and experiences. The observations made through starlistening thus always need to be assessed in light of the personality and beliefs of the starlistener that made them.

— J. FARIS, Comparative analysis on starlistening and stargazing, Center Drought Observatory (Eborya), 1664 RC, 91p.

Starlisteners, not to be confused with stargazers, are people who listen to the stars and the stories they tell. Contrary to the more scientific approach of the stargazers, a starlistener’s observation of the sky is a more ritualistic or even religious undertaking. Many starlisteners believe that there is a God behind the stars, that can be contacted through starlistening. Other starlisteners believe that the stars as such tell the stories through visions of other worlds.
Many starlisteners collect themselves into like-minded groups. These groups mostly take the form of loosely connected cults rather than an actual organized religion or conviction. As each group listens to the stars differently, their traditions, habits and beliefs vary strongly. Many, but not all, starlisteners use narcotics and opiates to facilitate the communication with the stars. Other rituals can include dances and songs. This is not strictly necessary however, as some starlisteners simply look up to the stars and listen in silence.
Most groups of starlisteners live somewhat secluded to stay in better contact with the stars. While some groups display violent tendencies towards their surrounding communities, other groups of starlisteners are even cooperative and respected within the societies they inhabit.
Due to their secluded nature, many rumors surround the various cults and groups of stargazers. As they are contacted by beings or forces that do not fall into the categories of the common religions or convictions, many groups are branded as obscure cults worshiping unknown or even forbidden Gods.
Even though some starlisteners do indeed worship the stars as a deity akin to a cult, some starlisteners simply listen to the stars to help their communities or out of mere curiosity. Not every starlistener is part of a larger group of starlisteners and many don’t even associate their talents with the act of starlistening in the first place.
Stargazers speculate that starlisteners are people that are simply more sensitive for the forces associated with the stars and that the visions they see are projections of the starlistener’s mind on what the forces might cause in the real world. Since many starlisteners use narcotics, the visions might also be caused or enhanced by these substances according to the stargazers.