Rite of the Eclipse
History
The Rite of the Eclipse--also known as the meeting of eyes--is a festival dating to the tribal days of Torland, and was once a simple ceremony dedicated to the solar eclipse which happens every five years. But as Torland grew this ceremony became more involved, and elaborate festivals and contests began to be held as well.
Execution
In the original, and simplest form of the Rite, participants gather around a fire to meditate, and evoke the animal associated with their birth month to receive visions, either of the future, or for clarity of mind; those who didn't receive a vision are thought to have not reached maturity, and thus would still be considered children till the next solar eclipse. This version is only held in rural communites, where as in large towns or cities there are games and festivals dedicated to other celestial bodies in addition to the solar eclipse and the zodiacs; the rite itself has been replaced with a contest, where participants dress up as there zodiac animals and compete in games related to that animal--those born under the crow competing in a game of stealth, those under the rabbit in a game of wits. This rite has no special significance however, having lost its tribal context of clarity of mind, and maturity. The reason why this ceremony is held on the eclipse is because the sun and moon are thought to be the eyes of Aldwin the god of truth and righteousness, and Redar, Goddess of forbidden knowledge and wickedness; and since both are connected with the universe, their eyes meeting are thought to give one a deeper connectivity to all things, and achieve a form of enlightenment.
Components and tools
The only object that both versions have is the outfits of the zodiac animals, but in the tribal version there's only a mask, not a full outfit, and participants in the tribal version must ingest a special brew that helps the mind to receive the visions. Another difference between the two is that fact that in the modern version the priest or wise man wears a black cloak studded with diamonds, which are patterned after the constellations of the zodiac animals.
Participants
In both versions a priest or wise man oversees the event, but in the modern version the priests role is just for show, as he prays over the participants of their respective contests, and is more of a judge than anything. The priest overseeing the tribal version is more involved, acting as a guide to help the participants receive, and work through their visions, and has the authority to declare those who've received the visions as adults.
Observance
The Rite of the Eclipse is held every five years on the day of the solar eclipse, which either takes place at the beginning of the year, or sometime in the middle.
Primary Related Location
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