Austasian traditional faith
Religion Group
The Austasian traditional faith comprises the traditional beliefs and religious practices of the Old Austasian people. Austasian belief holds that the world did not begin, nor will it end. Rather, the world as we see it has always been, as well as the human race that walks upon it. Members will often have tattoos on their hands and fingers with various symbologies. Higher priests will sever one or both of their thumbs to represent their renunciation of the body and the physical plane.
The Person and the Afterlife
There are five aspects that make up a person. These five aspects are held together by the Ka. Death occurs when the Ka is broken and the five aspects separate, symbolized by the five fingers on the hand:
The Body
Represented by the thumb, the physical body is the most useful aspect in the physical realm. As the thumb is the shortest finger, the body is the most finite aspect of the person.
Will
Represented by the index finger, will is a person's impact on the physical world and those who live in it.
The Name
Represented by the middle finger, the name is the most important aspect to a person's being. This aspect lives as long as the name is spoken. Many communities punish certain crimes by cutting off the middle finger from the left hand. Those who have had this done to them are stripped of their name and titles and called "nameless" or "unborn." This punishment is intended to doom the recipient to nonexistence after death.
Desire
Represented by the ring finger, desire is how a person percieves what ought to be.
The Shadow
Represented by the thumb, the shadow is the reflection of the body.
Variations
Austasian Veneration
Austasian households and ancestor shrines are often decorated with portrayals of family ancestors.
Noble households often have books that describe family lineages in extensive detail.
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