This faith is a faith of mother nature, the religon of "A world long lost" the faith centres around revelling in the splendour of beauty that remains in the world and asks it's followers to take care of nature and listen to it's needs. Magi who follow this faith spend their entire lives in helping mother nature grow and further purify the corruption the lies underneath the world.
It is unknown exactly where it started but it's most powerful church used to be located somewhere in Everfree forest but since the fall the faith has been split up into little groups of 'Neo Druids'. These Neo Druids are much different from traditional druids who accept the corruption that has become so natural within the world and spread it as well as devastating all that is 'unnatural' that being animals, plants and otherwise that exist only because of Alicorns like Rosaria who dedicated their life to reviving the planet many, many years ago.
The Neo Druids follow Rosaria's teachings in this and use their magical gifts to heal nature and take care of the wild life. The largest sect of the church can be found in western Equestria near Wessex city, the Wessex branch is studying means in integrating urbanization with nature to reduce the harms of expansionism and Urbanization. While there is a slightly smaller sect located somewhere in Zintamia studying the affects of pollution on nature and the climate in a attempt to learn how to quell it and naturally reduce the harm of large population centres.
The most famous thing the church has ever done was the restoration of Ashina's outskirts that was so devastated by war and famine it'd take a generatio nto mend, but the church when commissioned by Princess Celestia successfully mended the nature around in half a decade using their advanced understanding of nature ot manipulate elements and speed up the regeneration process.
In the later years of the era of Grey, Yorta Incorporated donated to the church and aided in the construction of various new churches as well as the drafting of religious texts and pushing Equestria to fully recognize the religion and integrate it into the Religious study classes so common across many schools. This was done in attempt to try and quell Eco Terrorists who have been theorized to originate from this church. The Church agreed because they'd be allowed to study more closely to the Yorta facilities and learn ways to reduce their impact so long as Yorta keeps up it's end of the deal and learn better ways of Dust farming that don't involve the killing of life.
Religious Texts
The Libram of Life:
This text was the first text with few versions spread across the world, much of it contains instructions on how for Neo Druids to conduct their duties and the spells required. It also involved various philosophical excerpts and sentiments that really encapsulate the underlying meaning and goal of this faith. Some famous experts are as follows.
"May she who granted life upon the hollow world, grant us strength to continue her sacred legacy. May we revive the spirit of Gaia and once again breathe new life into these wilted, sad petals." - High Druid Abernathy Song
"All us are connected in one way or another, every tree, every fern ,every blade of grass and everything living breathing person and animal on this planet are all tied together in ways that can't quite be described. Should you want to find out how, merely close your eyes and listen to the song of life. Empty your weary mind and let the flow of life guide you and you shall see." - Druid Sansa Ethelbree
"Every life taken, is a void that is plunged into existence. This void is hard to fill and often we and mother nature need help to fill that void. We're not so different from the birds and bees, deep down." - Druid Cherry Sweets
The text was fine tuned toward the end of the era of grey, new experts were added as were the new spells to better improve the quality of Neo druids across the world. The book was rebuked by a few as it was a company who helped make it and a not to popular one, creating the beginnings of a schism between Traditionalists and Reformists.
Symbology
Lady Gaia:
There is often a depiction of lady Gaia, pictured as a human or Equine holding up her arms in a wide v shape with a floating fine covered heart in the centre and a dove holding an edge of it with it's beak. The heart symbolizes the breathing heart of all life and the dove depicts the Neo Druids holding it up as a gift to Lady Gaia herself. It's a very important symbol and is often depicted either in picture or stained glass depending on the grandeur of the temple.
Green Butterflies:
Butterflies are fragile creatures and do not live for long, this symbol is picked because it depicts the fragile nature that the environment exists within. Every species is just one large scale cataclysm away from extinction. The Green Butterfly is a way of showing how beautiful and fragile nature is but also is a very simpel and mmeorable symbol of the religion.
Adversaries
Wicker Druids:
These druids are those who accept the corruption of the world and use Demonic nature to ravage wild life and civilization alike considering anything foreign to the corruption to be a affront to 'nature's true face'. They also tend to spread further corruption death and disease.
Celestial Church:
Though the Equestrian sects are not often their enemy, they tend to conflict with most sects because many sects do not understand the difference between Neo Druids and Wicker Druids, and so if a Neo Druid is spotted within Kalindor or Tolvana for instance. They will be prosecuted as Wicker druids and sent to death for attempt harm against the people.
It is often Equestrians whom must interfere to try and save wrongfully accused Neo Druids but even they falter sometimes leaving the church to fend for it's self time to time.
Cult of the Dark:
Those whom practice necromancy, Vampirism and dark Magic often find themselves opposed to Neo Druids as it is the dark arts that twists and warps nature into the monstrous image of the past. Sometimes Guardians find groups of Neo Druids attempting to attack the Cult's followers though it rarely goes well as few have the experience of Guardians to handle these threats adequately.
Comments