The Labyrinth of Seasons

The Labyrinth of Seasons - or, more completely, "The Trusty and True Navigation of the Spiritual Labyrinth of the Eternal Solar Epicycle" - is a year-long ritual cycle in Rostran Esotericist practice. 'Traversing' the Labyrinth of Seasons involves in-depth ritual practice on the part of Hierophants and their acolytes which begins and ends at the height of Eurymaxim. The purpose of undertaking this traditional worship practice is to maintain the spiritual structure of reality and keep the Rostran faithful grounded in the current epoch. It is said that, on the year that no Rostran undertakes at least part of the Labyrinth of Seasons, the current world will end and all will be cast back into the spiritual realm as embodied by The Curved Time. It is further believed that a botched or incomplete Labyrinth of Seasons may result in calamities of intensity proportional to the amount of the Labyrinth left incomplete.

History

The Labyrinth of Seasons is among the oldest and most developed ritual practices found in Rostran Esotericism, incorporating the spiritual works of Hierophants dating back to before the Rostran-Ovinex War. Historical figures which have otherwise come to be revered as powerful ancestor spirits, such as Eosept Lengi and Eqai Voiranoi, are not included in the cycle; the 'Principal Anchors' of the Labyrinth are all ancient spirits of primal concepts, like Ixaumaika or Ixovaqitetsu, which are considered more crucial to the fundamental structure of the world than even the honored dead.

Execution

Completing the Labyrinth of Seasons requires at least one hour of prayer involving ritual sigils attuned to the spirits associated with each segment of the Esotericist solar calendar. For example, Ixeunvatio might be bound through ritual work during midsummer to reinforce his primacy as a solar divine. Portions of the Labyrinth of Seasons may be incorporated into public prayer sessions or civic ceremonies as required by a Hierophant or her acolytes' regular clerical duties, but others can only practically be undertaken alone because of the time and preparation requried.

Components and tools

Seal sticks are often carried by Hierophants when otherwise far from the resources normally required for ritual sigil work. As an extension of this utility, they are also important because they allow at least some of the steps in the Labyrinth of Seasons to be carried out in austere conditions. A Hierophant must otherwise have access to all the offerings, implements, and facilities required to execute effective ritual sigils in order to successfully complete each part of the Labyrinth.

Observance

Though only one Hierophant must complete the Labyrinth of Seasons each year to prevent spiritual calamity, in practice, all Hierophants make the attempt in case others of their number fail for some reason (i.e. illness). Members of the laity are also encouraged to undertake parts of the ritual cycle themselves, as, in the Rostrans' cyclical conception of time, all previous successes become retroactively efficacious as the doings of a Hierophant should those who complete the ritual cycle later attain the station of Hierophant themselves.

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