Culture: Religion: view article

Nolwynn theology is animistic and monolatrous. They view the planet and every living thing as a conscious entity: while other cultures call the planet Kireles, for the Nolwynn, the planet is a self-aware organism called Kareya ["nature"]. Kareya is seen as an aspect of the ocean goddess Tšees. It is believed that she did not create all life – only the Nolwynn and all other water-dwelling life – and she is not viewed as all-powerful or all-knowing, merely omnibenevolent. They do not believe that she is the only deity, just the only one worthy of being worshiped by Nolwynn. They believe that the goddess created Nolwynn souls out of her own body. Nolwynn souls can be created by the Nolwynn themselves when they adopt children into their clan; this requires a stringent set of rituals and protocols to cleanse the young one of land pollution.

In Nolwynn religion, people are considered to have several souls – 12, to be exact, all drawn from the goddess’s 12 essences. The 12 essences are reflected again and again in Nolwynn ritual and cosmology, from the Avoidance Language to popular culture.

Word	Literal Meaning	Spiritual Value
Atšuo	body	fortitude, resilience
Goro	hair	strength
Tšyim	heart	lovingkindness
Kwey	womb	transformation
Bwolo	leg, foot, toe	righteousness, dignity
Syeerit	hand, finger, arm	justice
Zwole	eye	truth
Atsxoru	nose	insight
Aleyma	ear	faith
Gweyna	belly	creation
Ootsea	face, personality, selfhood	divinity
Uakwuo	blood, soul	family

The Nolwynn religion is characterized by a deep reverence for the ocean and the celestial sphere. Everything in Nolwynn culture is characterized by community bonds and demonstrations of respect – all of which tie back into the belief that the ocean created all Nolwynn. Every aspect of their culture is said to be a gift from the ocean goddess, Tšees. To show their reverence and respect, Nolwynn participate in their culture: everything from cooking food to maintaining friendships with other members of the tribe is said to be a reflection of Tšees and her relationship with the Nolwynn people. Participating in their culture is a worshipful and respectful act for the Nolwynn – to them, their culture is their religion.

Their religion is not concerned so much with “worshipping” Tšees as it is with maintaining a reverential connection to the world [the ocean] which she created. She is not believed to be omnipotent, but she is said to be omnibenevolent towards all Nolwynn. Since she created the Nolwynn people out of love, she is said to deserve respect, if not worship, despite her lack of power.

Shamans are central to Nolwynn culture and religion. Almost always female, shamans traditionally acted as midwives, psychopomps, and doctors. They make magical amulets, medicines, perform ceremonies, memorize and recite stories, offer counsel on personal issues, assist in marriage negotiations, and do many other things necessary for the spiritual and emotional well-being of her clan.

[edit] [top]Differences between Tulwyn and Nolwynn religion

After being enslaved, the Tulwyn lost much of the cultural knowledge that their shamans retained. In the Modern Era, there are new Tulwyn who seek shamanic training from traditional Nolwynn, but it is very rare for a Nolwynn shaman to grant an outsider that privilege. This has resulted in strained relationships between the land-dwelling seekers and the nomadic traditionalists: they believe that magical information should be kept secret from outsiders. So they fear that dispensing such information to the Tulwyn could result in the further degradation of Nolwynn culture.

However, the Tulwyn have not let this stop them from practicing what they call aranko, a Kirnosan-influenced corruption of the Nolwynn word arikey. Aranko is a mixture of Nolwynn and Kirnosan religious traditions. Tulwyn shamans - or arankeyo - are different in many ways from their traditional counterparts. Anyone - male or female - can become an arankeyo, provided their community accepts them as such. In this manner, arankeyos have a very different experience from Nolwynn gólinkas: to become a gólinka requires years and years of rigorous training after being selected at a young age, and they are almost always female.

[edit] [top]Attitude about deities

As a monolatric faith, it is believed that other deities exist – particularly on land – but they are not worthy of respect or worship as they did not create the Nolwynn; some say that the other deities are evil or only wish harm to the Nolwynn people. Land is said to be a cursed realm; the goddess's essence cannot be found there, making life on land extremely hard and dangerous for Nolwynn.

It is considered forbidden to speak the ocean goddess's name in most circumstances - typically only the shaman will use it and then only for specific reasons. Most clans also forbid usage of any pronoun referring to the goddess as well. The reason for both of these ties into ideas about the Avoidance Language in general.

[edit] [top]Destiny vs free will

Traditionally, the Nolwynn do not really believe in free will. Even the goddess herself is bound by ties called ezša - roughly translated as “destiny,” this is the concept of something that bonds us to other people. Most believe that ezša is created by the actions people take: after saving someone's life, for example, the two are said to share ezša. The bonds of ezša mean that two people's fates are interlinked and dependent on each other, reflecting how the Nolwynn view each other as interlinked throughout life and death. Essentially, the bonds of ezša prevent anyone from acting with truly free will; any choice has the possibility to impact other people in ways neither can foresee.

Ezša is associated with blood and is sometimes considered the “other side” of the value uakwuo [willpower, life-energy, and destiny]. Another aspect of ezša is ezšakula, or the power of humans to go against what the universe decrees to create their own fate.

Ezša is sometimes thought of as a natural force like gravity. It is impersonal, unknowable, and sometimes incomprehensible. Some speculate that the shadows of the creation myth created or influence ezša, but its origin is ultimately unknowable and subject to debate. According to some, ezša was created at the beginning of time when human souls were formed. Sometimes, a single soul - through accident or design - separated into pieces which then became separate people. It is believed that this separation generated a bond which causes the the pieces to always seek reunification. Technically, the shattered soul is called ezša ; it is shared between people, thus the phrase "sharing ezša ." Through their actions, individuals can succumb to ezša , change it in some way, or fight it, for such bonds are not always good.

This concept is also related to the idea of anwereeytx, which means "to feel a deep bond of love and emotion with someone that transcends everything, even death."

[edit] [top]Realms

According to Nolwynn cosmology, there are three realms. They are physical places that one can go to, but each realm also has a "shadow" side, which is an astral, non-physical component.

Txazareno: Gemland Also called the mortal realm, this is where people dwell.

Its shadow is called Eyriluno or Dreamland: the place people go to when they dream. It is said to be where prophecy comes from, a link between all the other realms and every being who lives in them. Not all humans can enter Dreamland - not even all prophets. Dreamland is sometimes envisioned as a web-like series of bridges that connects every sentient being’s subconscious together.

Sazšintxeatšyxim Heart of the ocean This is the ocean floor, a mystical place in the Nolwynn worldview. The Nolwynn are caretakers of coral reefs and seaweed forests that grow there. They practice sustainable farming in an effort to keep the ocean floor healthy.

It's astral side is Otabaneareno or Dawnland. It is a place of rejuvenation and renewal, and is said to be the place Nolwynn stay before birth and where they return after death. Dawnland may be a peaceful place for most, but it reflects who you were in life. It is said that the hearts of broken women are planted in Dawnland, where they blossom into seaweed forests that give life and sustenance to those who are good, and poison to those who are evil.

Kumintxeareno Caveland A synonym for "graveyard," kumintxeareno refers to any of the caves or grottos where the Nolwynn keep their dead. Care must be taken when entering such a space - young children, heavily pregnant women, or those who are sick are advised to avoid them, since the space between the physical and the astral is believed to be quite thin.

The astral aspect of these sacred spaces is called Orwareno orEclipseland. Sometimes called the occulted realm, this is the home of the Shadowless Ones. It is a mysterious and dangerous place, but not a hellish realm. This is where the Shadowless Ones will take people: those who disobey the commandments of the ocean goddess, regular pious people, shamans, and stillborn infants, are said to be especially at risk, but anyone can be taken there. However, what happens depends on why they took you. Shamans may be taken so they can receive a revelation. When people die abandoned from their clan, or if they are still alive but stay too long on land, they are said to be in danger of wandering into Eclipseland.

One can enter into the astral locations by a myriad of ways: meditation, dreaming, or slipping through a portal. Weather, cosmological conditions, and more all play a part in how possible it is. With the exception of Dreamland, when you enter the astral realm, your body ceases to exist for the duration of your trip. Thus, there is said to be a danger of entering the astral realms and never coming back, or coming back but your body is in very rough shape.

[edit] [top]Creatures and spirits

Kxa’alwyn: These are creatures formed when a pregnant woman dies. These disgusting and foul beasts lurk around in burial places. They are said to come out of hiding during the time of the new moon. Among the Nolwynn, they are associated with the Shadowless Ones. Tales of the kxa’alwyn spread from the Nolwynn and, through the Tulwyn, to land-dwelling societies, such as the Kirnosans.

Mi kuleree: half people: These are beings that exist in two realms at once. Most often they are what remains when humans are taken by Shadowless Ones and never returned.

Orwaree Kuwéliig: The Ones Who Never Cast Shadows: angelic beings in the scariest sense of the word, the Shadowless Ones are envisioned as being gigantic shapeshifting beings who cast blinding, silvery light instead of shadows. The Shadowless Ones are mysterious agents of Tšees and they float down from the sky during the full moon to do her bidding. Learn more about them here.

[edit] [top]Laws and rituals

Laws of avoidance: a set of rules and taboos that are designed to protect Nolwynn from the travails of the outside world.

Death rituals: the Nolwynn practice open burials in a special sea cave. The deceased is left on a mat made of reeds and seaweed. Animals and the elements do their work, and when the bones are clean, the Nolwynn return to take a small bone, which the family will thereafter carry with them always as a sign of respect. For a month after death, the death name is used.

Dreams: dream incubation, prophetic dreams, and other sleep-related magics are commonly practiced among shamans. Laypersons typically do not engage in these activities. In dreams, it is said that ancestors, spirit guides, and even the ocean goddess herself can communicate with the sleeper. Dreams are considered a way for one’s intuition to make itself known. Prophetic dreaming is one of the criteria for becoming a shaman apprentice. Yora means “dream” in a general mundane sense while eyria means “a prophetic dream.”

Ancestors: in Nolwynn religion, ancestors are highly venerated. Everyone has their own personal method of honoring their matrilineal line. This may include small amulets made of an ancestor’s bones, magic on their behalf, prayers and petitions, or telling stories about them and their lives. But ancestors who did great things for the Nolwynn people – for example, warriors or miracle-working gólinkas – are honored as something like demi-gods.

Amulets: Nolwynn love amulets and other small wearable magics. A common type of amulet is made from the two halves of a clam shell. It is filled with things such as powders of pearls and bones and used to hold small valuable magical items, then tied shut and worn around the neck. Amulets fulfill several purposes: they are portable, meaning the wandering Nolwynn never lose them; the powdered bones of ancestors are always safe in a small location; and they amulets are often decorated and highly beautiful. Magically, amulets provide a host of spiritual benefits including:

Maintaining right relationships with ancestors and a continuous tie to the past
Providing a conduit by which ancestral spirits can visit living Nolwynn
They can be used as portable altars, filled with everything a travelling Nolwynn might need to perform a quick healing or luck spell.

[edit] [top]Celebrations

The Nolwynn have many celebrations and festivals throughout the year and marking various lifecycle events. Here is a list of them:

Nonagala: celebration of the full moon. This holiday is characterized by drumming and swimming.

Rezagala: celebration of a baby’s first laugh. This holiday is characterized by lots of soft fruity foods and things made out of coconut milk such as uanolyo, a kind of cheesecake-like treat. People spend the day trying to get the baby to laugh as much as possible. This is said to be a good omen for whoever made the baby laugh.

Uakwuogala: celebration of a girl’s first menstruation. During this holiday, the girl is decorated in flower crowns, seaweed skirt, and lots of body paint. This holiday involves a lot of dancing, drumming, and incense, making it seem similar to purification rituals. It is traditional for her grandmother to give her a gift of a pearl. She goes privately with the shaman and her grandmother - or sometimes her mother, or a woman her mother shares ezša with - to receive advice on life. They may perform some rituals with her, such as a divination rite to see what the future holds for her.

Eymegala: marriage festival, a time when young Nolwynn and Tulwyn go on land to find a marriage partner.

Tšyximagala: a day to celebrate love of all kinds, this holiday is said to have first been celebrated when the goddess first created people, so Tšyximagala is also considered the anniversary of the creation of humanity [specifically the Nolwynn people]. On this holiday, people eat sweet treats and give gifts. The shaman recites the story of humanity’s creation. Kids get to do whatever they want on this day.

[edit] [top]More

Other articles that describe aspects of Nolwynn religion, linguistic taboos, and culture:

mourning and birth rituals

fertility vocabulary

eclipse beliefs

captative verbs

food rituals

parenting culture

names

untranslatable words

responses to sneezing

pronouns

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