Celestialism

Celestialism is a monotheistic religion based off the system of the astrology and astronomy of the Universe. Celestialism is based off a single entity named Celestia, Celestea, Celes, or simply the Goddess, Théa in High Mewnian, and Déa in Low Mewnian. It is the largest religion in Mewni. The religion itself has ancient origins.

### Origins

The origins of Celestialism can be traced back to the Ancient Mewnian Empire however the information regarding this is scarce. What is known is that it was the main religion throughout the Empire and most of their society was based on these beliefs. The empire constructed many temples to the Goddess as well as all of their buildings having a statue, some large and some small, of the Goddess. As the empire expanded the religion was not forced on those taken over, possibly to prevent uprisings with a common role, or that those taken over were not worthy to practice the religion. The religion was practiced for the majority of the duration of the empires existence.

As the first settlers of Mewni were sent out to colonize the new continent they carried their religion. When the first settlers started to settle the religion spread throughout Mewni causing different forms. This religion was the staple of the Butterfly Queendom It is now the most practiced religion on Mewni.

### Beliefs

The beliefs of Celestialism is based on one sole deity named Celestia. According to the Compenidum of Cosmos Celestia created everything in the Universe as well as the Universe itself. She focused on the world of Mewni and the mewmans creation. After this, Celestia went to rest but not before creating the Empress Blown From Star, others say her daughter, out of the brightest start to rule over the universe under the Divine Celestial Empire, which according to legend, was the precursor the Ancient Mewnian Empire. Empress-Blown-From-Star reigned for a period of 10,000 years, before she returned to the stars. The empire then went to her daughter, Empress-Woven-From-Dawn, who ruled for 5,000 years then to Empress-Forged-From-Sun and then finally Empress-Carved-From-Moon. Each reign was shorter and more problematic than the last. Empress-Carved-From-Moon became victim to the corruption that fell upon the world. She ruled by terror, darkness, and necromancy. Her daughter, the Empress-Chanted-From-Sky succeeded her. Empress-Chanted-From-Sky tried to rebuild the Celestial Empire but seeing the corruption that plagued the land, she was disgusted by what had became she returned to Celestia, and thus brought peace and prosperity back to the world.

Celestia is seen as the embodiment over everything, life and death, chaos and harmony, war and peace, good and evil. She is portrayed as a naked fairy with six arms in shades of pink to yellow, the colors of Mewni's sky. She is holding the aspects of the universe in each hand, a shooting star, the sun, the moon, the celestial globe, the black hole, and/or the planet.

One final note, there are trees on Mewni called heavenwoods, Sélésdrêa in mewnian, are believed to have been where the goddess touched the surface of the planet, because the have no seeds to reproduce and thus are unique. These are seen as a direct access to the goddess. Butterflies are seen as the eyes of the light side of the goddess and moths are seen as the eyes of her dark side.

### Practice

Celestialism is worshiped mainly in Celestum. Celetums are domed buildings with ceilings painted with planets and stars with a skylight. Capitals and private sanctuaries in castles, are ornately adorned with stone statues of the Goddess, and in smaller Celestums, the statue is made of wood or clay. In the Celestum prayers are directed to 5 or 6 different alters, each representing one aspect of the universe. Depending on what you are praying for, a papyrus scroll is placed on an emberstone.

Absolute evils in Celestialism are prostitution, polygamy, gambling, slavery, incest, and murder, the type of kin-slaying being considered the worst. Most of these evils followed the legal code of the Ancient Mewnian Empire.

When death occurs, the belief is that those who have sinned go into Celestia's black hole to be completely nonexistent, erased from life. Those who have not and been good people go to Celestia's wings to live a peaceful, eternal life.

Celestialism is organized into hierarchical layers of priesthood and jobs. At the bottom are the Cadentines, religious novices who finished their theoretical studies who travel to spread the religion and officiate rites such as weddings and funerals in villages and hamlets too small to have a Celestum. Next are the Astrines, who are staff members of a Celestum, serving the priest who controls the Celestum. Those in charge of a Celestum are called Celestrines, ordained members. When ordained the vow their devotion to Celestialism, leaving aside their family name. Celestirne's dress in garments of pink, yellow, and white. Above these all are the College of Celestrines and the High Celestrine. The High Celestrine is the highest member of the religion outside the Butterfly Queendom. The College of Celestrines are Celestrines who preside over the Celestum of a capitol. High Celestrines are chosen by the College of Celestrines after the death of the former.

### Celestialism in the Butterfly Kingdom

The Butterfly Queendom has a special relationship with Celestialism. It is considered the capitol of the relgion because of the Great Celestum being located their. The Great Celestum of the Butterfly Queendom is a largest Celestum on Mewni, it was construed by Queen Hemera Butterfly. The Queen of the Butterfly Queendom is considered the messenger of the goddess because of their magical abilities and Butterfly Form, which is considered the form of the goddess. The Queen is the head of the religion in the kingdom. The majority of the population of the Butterfly Kingdom practices Celestialism. Every Queen, after he death is given a sainthood.

Empress-Blown-From-Star DepictionEmpress-Woven-From-Dawn DepictionEmpress-Forged-From-Sun DepictionEmpress-Carved-From-Moon DepictionEmpress-Chanted-From-Sky depiction"Breath of Life"A HeavenwoodThe Great Celestum of the Butterfly Kingdom