Crossing the Luminous Horizon

January Prompt Badge by CoolG

The Crossing of the Luminous Horizon is the coming-of-age ritual of the Dracanis whose religious practice is Vikkvasa. It involves several components including a demonstration of skill, acknowledgement of devotion to the major vitues of Vikkvasa, and commitment to their future.

Eligibility for the Crossing

Young dracanis are eligible for the Crossing ceremony after their hundredth birthday, though some may wait longer. They must complete the ceremony before leaving their childhood Khyimi. All of the young dracanis in a clutch will almost always undergo the Crossing ceremony at the same time.

The Crossing Ceremony

Collecting Echoes
Leading up to the ceremony, the young dracanis have many things to do. They are in the process of preparing for later steps in the ceremony, but they will also spend some time collecting small items that symbolize their journel and identity. These might be toys, tools of their trade, items gifted by those special to them, things with favorite scents or tastes, etc.

Presentation of Skills
Before the start of the night's vigil, sometime the day of, each youth preparing to undergo their Crossing ceremony presents a demonstration of their chosen skill, trade, or art. This might include crafting, storytelling, music, farming, healing techniques, or whatever area of expertise they have honed over the years. They present this to their mentor(s) for approval of their readiness to be a productive member of the Dracanic society.

Night of Reflection
The night before the ceremony is a vigil sat by the youth who are going to have their Crossing Ceremony. During this vigil, their elders in the Khyimi share stories of their own journeys, offering advice and good luck, often emphasizing the celebrated virtues of selflessness, bravery, temperance, diligence, and moderation. Before dawn, each youth is expected to place one item from their collection on the hearth and explain how it represents one of those virtues with a story or memory of their own. If they cannot do so, the ceremony would end, and they would be expected to try again at a later date.

The Crossing
Just before dawn, the youth undergoing the Ceremony emerge from whatever place they have been holding vigil - whether building or cave, usually - and face the rising sun until it completely over the horizon. If it is a clutch, all of the clutch-mates will hold hands. This represents the Crossing from childhood to adulthood and their willingness to face the future. They believe the luminous rays of the rising sun will burn away what remains of their childhood, leaving them prepared to face the world as adults and members of the society.

Gift of the Khyimi
After the Crossing itself, it is traditional for the new adult to be presented with some sort of gift. If the new adult(s) are leaving the Khyimi, it is traditional for them to be gifted things that will help them on their journey or to settle into a new home. If the new adult(s) are staying in their current Khyimi, they may be gifted something that is a known need for their Khyimi or something slightly frivolous but that is useful for their vocation.

Luminous Feast
As with many things in the Dracanic society, the Crossing of the Luminous Horizon ends in a celebratory feast in honor of whoever has Crossed. Stories, songs, and dances unique to the Khyimi are performed, reinforcing the bonds of kinship and honoring the virtues displayed during the ceremony. One important part of this feast is light - candles, mage-lights, torches, bonfires, whatever is appropriate for the occasion.

Entry for the 12in12 Challenge. January prompt: Transition.

Crossing of the Luminous Horizon

Vikkvasian Coming-of-Age Ceremony

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Practitioners

Dracanis

Type of Ceremony

Coming-of-Age

Associated Deity

Tatokkpani

Primary Related Location

Oskksul

Related Organizations

• Vikkvasa

Header photo by Zetong Li on Pexels.