Aeosism

The Creation Myth

Before time itself was rolled into motion, there was a dark expanse of emptiness, filled with no thing living neither mortal nor divine. Then, Aeosa became the first spark of among the dark expanse. But Aeosa was unable to move. He floated among the expanse of darkness, a great void of nothing, where nothing was, and nothing is. Therefore Aeosa decided to change Himself into a burning flame. He stretched out His hand and moved the infinite, which began time as we know it. Then, He began to expand His flame over the darkness. From this moment, He moved in all directions and the great empty expanse began to fill and change by Aeosa. Thus the First Truth was revealed: Time pushes against infinity, bringing change. This was deemed the Time Force.

He grew slowly, at first over one-hundred eternities. From that flame, he changed into a great massive thing that shone bright. But this change was not a simple thing, for the darkness was all around Him, in every direction, and the more that Time rolled forward, the more Aeosa felt the darkness upon his light. Therefore, Aeosa burst forth in a great expansion, shining brighter than the brightest things possible. He comprehended the dark expanse, and shed light upon the whole of it. Therefore, He conquered the dark, filling it with His light. No corner of the infinite abyss was left uncovered by Aeosa. He reached to the end of every end, in a direction so far that he touched his own hand from the other infinity. And the entire expanse was filled with Aeosa. Thus, the Second Truth was revealed: Light pushes against darkness, bringing understanding. This was deemed the Light Force.

Still, Aeosa was unsatisfied. The light-filled expanse proved His dominion over the darkness and gave motion to the great expanse. For without darkness, there was no use for light. So Aeosa in His wisdom, allowed for the darkness to recapture the expanse, moving and filling in the spaces he left for it around Him. Then Aeosa, as to not lose total dominion over the darkness, left pieces of Himself scattered all through the expanse. However, the Darkness crept in around each piece, and threatened to swallow them whole. Within those pieces, however, remained His character, His power, and His eternal nature that allowed Him to push against the darkness to maintain each piece. Thus the Third Truth was revealed: Darkness pushes into every space that is not light, bringing separation. This was deemed the Dark Force.

Then, after he had balanced the Light and Dark force, Aeosa breathed in to heat the belly of every piece of Himself. Deep within the pieces of Aeosa, various metals, rocks, and other elements were boiled melted, fused, and mixed all together. When Aeosa breathed out, all the planets and rocks and other cosmic bodies spewed forth from Him, filling the darkness with many new creations. And Aeosa heated up the expanse as He continued to breathe in and out over many eons. Over a time nearly infinite, there developed living creatures, crawling, flying, swimming, and walking, upon the surfaces of one of those cosmic bodies. That cosmic body was our planet. Thus the Fourth Truth was revealed: Heat pushes against the universe, bringing life. This was deemed the Heat Force.

Aeosa then, sought to govern the Four Forces and thus created four beings, divine in power and insight, to direct and subjugate the four forces within the cosmos. Upon Lyrius the was bestowed the force of time. To Ruana was given the force of Light. To Akia was given the force of Dark. And for Iniera, the force of Heat. These four were to govern and safeguard the Four Forces, as well as interface with those mortals who engage them.

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Beliefs

Afterlife

The rituals surrounding death and sickness in Aeosism commonly involve some sort of "burning away" or "cleansing by fire." It is believed that one's spirit can only move on to the afterlife if their physical manifestation is set ablaze.

Morality & Practices

The Primary commandments of Aeosism are as follows:

1. Do not be stagnant and set in your ways. Continue to grow and change yourself and the world around you. Pursue righteous goals with fervor and move toward your destiny with resolve. By this, you fulfill the Time Force.
2. Do not remain ignorant when you could otherwise be educated and do not spread false teachings. Continue to learn about yourself and the world around you. Seek to understand that which is novel or foreign to you. By this, you fulfill the Light Force.
3. Do not flee from your enemies and do not cower at your fears. You must not allow the evils of this world to overcome you nor should you allow the seeping of evil things to corrupt the land under your feet. By this, you prevent the Dark Force.
4. Do not snuff out the life of your brother or sister before it is their time. Rather, use what is yours to create life of all kinds, and multiply throughout the land. Protect those in your community, shield the weak from danger, and help those in need of helping. For a single life reflects what is sacred and holy in Aeosa. By this, you fulfill the Heat Force.

All things burned are seen as offerings to Aeosa. Before meals it is common practice to set aside the first portion of a meal to be burned. Sometimes, the cook simply prays and burns a set aside position in advance of the meal, and Aeosa is thanked before the meal progresses.

The 1st day of Etesaereis is a Holy Day within Aeosism. On that day, no work is done, nor money spent, nor food consumed. Instead, followers rest in the heat and light of Aeosa's greatest gift to mortals: the Life-giving star above.

All forms of light, fire, and flame are holy in the eyes of Aeosa; all temples and churches built to Aeosa maintain an ever-burning flame that represents the Four Truths.

Allowing on of these holy Everfires to extinguish is of the highest offenses to Aeosa. Also, any action taken in direct opposition to any of the Four Forces is seen as sacreligious or an act of rebellion against Aeosa. Some examples of this would be attempts to travel through time, massive destruction of life and/or light, or unholy depictions of fire in a dishonorable manner.