Water Religion
Aidonism: The religion of water revolves around the ideals of Cleansing,Aesthetics, and Meditation. Followers of this religion are called Aidonites.
Basic ideas: Aidonites stress on the idea of beauty; that is, both: Inner and outerbeauty. It is only through constant physical and spiritual cleansing can someone achieveultimate beauty. That is the main religious quest of any Aidonite. The main Deity ofAidonism is Aidon, the Queen of Water. She is the most beautiful of the gods, the mostpeaceful and the most mysterious as well. She usually works silently, blessing herfollowers with happiness and peacefulness, and cursing her (and their) enemies with themost torturous poisons (Physical, mental and spiritual). Aidonism is strictly matriarchal,and all ceremonies are lead by a female priestess. In Aidonism, men have a say, but women(mothers, as they are all called) are of much importance.
Worship: The Aidonite's life is divided into three stages: "Theteardrop", "the river", and "the ocean". Each is symbolic of thelevels of cleansing and beauty a person has achieved.
1. The Teardrop - Starts as soon as the person is born. The newborn child isbaptized with tears in a moderately long ceremony, performed by a local priestess. It isconsidered as an "initiation" into Aidonism. In the time span between this andthe next period, Aidonites spend their time in learning about outer beauty, aesthetics,and meditation.
2. The River - When an Aidonite reaches a certain level of maturity; he or she willeventually receive an "impulse" during meditation. This tells them that the timehas come to be baptized for the second time. The second baptism is performed in a river(all rivers are considered sacred by Aidonites) by a high priestess during a full moon.Since a High priestess is not present everywhere, nor is a river, the ceremony usuallyincludes a pilgrimage. The ceremony is a rather lengthily one. During this period, theAidonites learn higher techniques of meditation, and start exploring inner beauty, and thebeauty of nature.
3. The Ocean - This final level is not achieved by many. The challenge is knowinghow to perform the third ceremony, since it is more of a personal thing that is performedby the Aidonite and not by anyone else. In other words, it is a solitary ritual that needsdivine inspiration. Those who did achieve this level, usually a few years before theirdeath, claim to have been baptized by Aidon herself, and to have achieved the highestlevels of physical, mental, and spiritual cleansing, and both outer and inner beauty.
General: Each autumn equinox, there is a water festival. In that festival, a veryshort ceremony is conducted where all the participants bathe in a sacred body of water.Then, a major collective meditation is performed, and a lengthily prayer is dedicated toAidon, lead by the Priestess. After that, everyone is free to do whatever he or she wantsas long as they stay in the area of the feast. Jokes, games and plays are done throughout.At the end, a magnificent feast is prepared. Everyone eats, and they all go back homehappily ever after.
Aidonite temples are always built in acircular shape, and they are always single-levelled. In the middle, there is a large waterpool (blue), where Aidon's face is always magically reflected. Around it is an open,roofless space where the monks meditate in a circular fashion. The west entrance (yellow)is for daily, short rituals. The eastern entrance, or rather exit (green) is used forbaptism by Tears. The southern and northern arcs (red) are reserved for special ceremonies(usually magickal) where circumbulation is required. Aidonite prayer is usually done inthe form of meditation.
The sacred scripture of Aidonism is a book known as the "Do'ad", which is alarge collection of poems said to have been written by Aidon herself.
