Wicker Warding: How the Lauma Guide Spirits

A small yelp escaped the child's mouth as he pricked himself with a freshly cut straw, catching the Elder's attention. Tavas grunted in effort as he rose from his seat and meandered up behind his youngest grandson, watching him fumble with the straw. A sniffle escaped the babe as he suckled on his finger, but Tavas knew his tears were not from the pain of the mishap. His large ears drooped and his lips pursed to a line before Elder Lauma let out a little huff as he lowered himself down onto the fur rug, his hooves wobbling a little.
Gently shushing Galeti, he smoothed the child's dark coil-y hair down while his lips opened and closed as he searched for something to say to console the boy. Perhaps this was a time when it was best to say nothing? He thumbed at the boy's budding antlers; they had not even broken skin yet.
"Here..." he pulled his youngest grandson into his lap and put his arms around him, "you must grasp the straws firmly when you tie them or they will slip out. Now try..." He watched as little Galeti wiped away his tears and tried again to form the wicker body of his late mother. Tavas patiently helped the child as he felt tears pricking at his own eyes.
Once Galeti had a grasp on his wicker ward, the Elder gathered his own supplies to begin crafting wicker spirit guides for his daughter's peaceful journey to the next life. A rabbit to speed her journey, an owl to watch over her, a wolf to protect her, the emblem of their clan so the Mother would know her... Despite his advancing decrepitude, his hands moved deftly.
He had made far too many of these wards in his time and he feared with the bad omens of outsiders invading their home, there would be many more to make soon enough.

History

The tradition of lauma creating totems or effigies from wicker or wood dates back centuries to their earliest recorded history. In their beliefs, creating a likeness of something or someone creates a vessel for the spirit to inhabit. Wicker wards are most often used in the passing of a living creature, including game animals. Lauma use these wards and effigies to give the spirit a place to rest before their bodies can be properly buried (in the case of other lauma) or fully used (in the case of game).
Some wards are used to drive off hostile spirits of the earth or sky or soothe upset spirits that have been disrupted by the trespass of other peoples or inconsiderate lauma.
The lauma believe that without these wards the deceased get lost on their way to the afterlife and can become enraged or forlorn, bringing dangerous storms, famine, or bad fortune on their families or clans. In making these wards they make the passage to the next life easier for their loved ones and prevent the spirits from turning sour.

Components and tools

Main components: dried straw, threat, and a needle or scissors
Optional: hair or fur from the one who passed, cloth, dried flowers, etc

Participants

Those closest to the deceased will make their totems. A family member or dearest friend will make the deceased's effigy while others will make spirit guides and wards to protect them while they wait to pass.
In the case of game animals, the hunter who caught or slew the creature will make a totem for it to honor its sacrifice.

Observance

Anyone my make a wicker ward for a deceased lauma outside the family as an expression of mourning and support of the family.
Destroying or desecrating a ward that one did not create is considered one of the highest forms of disrespect in lauma culture.

Primary Related Location

Ealdè, The Land of Ancient Gods