Faith and Spirituality

While it can be accurately stated that the θɛʃɾəɾi have no worshipped deities, it would be a great misinterpretation to say that they have no faith. A major part of their culture is the moon, which is associated with K'ip'əmo. K'ip'əmo is less of a deity and more of an aspect of the universe, the essence of all the energy that exists moving through time, without which reality would not exist. However, depictions of K'ip'əmo as a being, seen as projection of the concept of space-time, are common. K'ip'əmo is often shown as a θɛʃɾə whose face has been replaced by the moon. The perceived size of the depiction varies widely, but most frequently occurs as an exceptionally tall θɛʃɾə, looking down from high in the sky - where the moon is - but with paws fully upon the ground (or more commonly, under the water). It is very rare for the end of K'ip'əmo’s tail to be depicted. The phase of the moon which forms the face of K'ip'əmo does have an impact on the tone of the depiction.

For depictions with a full moon, K'ip'əmo is most often shown with eyes open, and staring either at other aspects in the depiction or directly at the viewer. As extended eye contact and body language with the face pointed at the other is considered aggressive, this matches the view of full moons being related to bad luck and impossible challenges. For depictions with a new moon, K'ip'əmo is most often shown with narrow or closed eyes, and facing away from the viewer.

The ocean and the tides are associated with K'ip'əmo, as the tides follow the moon.

Worship is not an accurate term for the relationship between the θɛʃɾəɾi and the three aspects of reality. It could be better described as acknowledgment, respect, and honour directed towards the position that everything has within these three interconnected aspects.

K'ip'əmo is a major part of both ceremonies and daily life. A period of meditation is commonly practiced at certain times, usually the rising, setting, or summit of the moon. Ceremonies that celebrate or acknowledge the passage of time (like Name-days, and other age-related rituals), are a major part of life.

The other two aspects are Takumo and Ðit̪ɪmo.

Takumo is the concept of the ever-flowing cycle of life. This can be understood simply as an acknowledgement of one’s relationship to their environment. Life sustains itself on death, as a predator takes sustenance from the life of its prey, and a grazer takes sustenance from the life of its fodder. A major concept within θɛʃɾə faith is ‘returning to the ash’, where all parts of oneself, including the mind, come from the island itself, which is considered essentially a collective consciousness of infinite size. The body and the mind are not considered separate, as both change through time. The body grows, is injured and healed, and transformed entirely. As the mind does the same thing, allowing people to become different people over time, the mind is considered inseparable from the body, as the body is from the mind. Thus, ‘ɑnok’ describes a person in the physical /and/ metaphysical sense.

Takumo is honoured less in periods of meditation - as is common for K'ip'əmo - and more in the faith-based practices surrounding hunting and gathering.

When Takumo is depicted, it is very rare for the whole of Them to not be fully shown (i.e. their whole ‘body’ is depicted, not just a face or other parts). A regular aspect is for Takumo to be holding Their tail in Their mouth. A common depiction is of Takumo as the island, either literally or as a metaphor with a θɛʃɾə shaped Takumo with kittens clinging to the fur of the back, or held with wings under the belly - common ways to transport a litter, as Takumo-as-the-island carries θɛʃɾəɾi. In these depictions, the ocean is an important aspect as a connection with K'ip'əmo, with Takumo-as-the-island standing, sitting, or curled up in the ocean. As the entirety of Takumo is shown, typically the space underneath Takumo is dry as They stand/sit/lay on the ocean floor.

Takumo takes a role in most ceremonies, especially in transitional ceremonies (changing life-stage, transitional rituals for changing morph-type, etc.) and funerals. The concept of growth and change are integral to these.

Ðit̪ɪmo is a curious concept, encompassing thought, emotion, and curiosity. It is a reinforcement of the inseparability of one’s physical form and consciousness, and of the connection between θɛʃɾəɾi. In a similar manner to Takumo, Ðit̪ɪmo relates to the connection between the θɛʃɾəɾi and other species, and to the connection between θɛʃɾəɾi. Curiosity is considered integral to Ðit̪ɪmo, thus, the pursuit of knowledge and skills is an integral part of θɛʃɾəɾi culture, with teaching and learning, and the application of knowledge, placed in high regard.

While Takumo is honoured though the faith-laws around hunting and gathering, Ðit̪ɪmo is honoured through the faith-laws around interactions between θɛʃɾəɾi. These customs are based on the connection between θɛʃɾəɾi, with some not being required but considered polite to follow, and along a spectrum to some which must be adhered to.

Ðit̪ɪmo takes a major role in most ceremonies, usually in cleansing rituals which are often the first part of ceremonies. These include temporary piercings in sensitive parts of the body. The pain is used to clear one’s thoughts, and to maintain focus on the present. The relief experienced after the pain is considered part of this. Any other piercings and tattoo applications which are part of the rest of a ceremony are also part of Ðit̪ɪmo’s role. Arguably, the pain caused by tattoo applications and non-cleansing-ritual-piercings is minimal, as they are done with very sharp needles, but that does not detract from the meaning.

Ðit̪ɪmo is an understanding that emotions are complex, with extreme joy and extreme sadness not being opposites, but neighbours. It is an understanding that emotion drives reason.

The stars (including the sun), as seen to be projection of Ðit̪ɪmo. As people view their life through their knowledge and emotions, thus the moon is seen through the light of the sun. Ðit̪ɪmo is regularly depicted with kittenesque features (unretracted claws, triangle tail), and in motion. While only the face of K'ip'əmo is the moon, the whole ‘body’ of Ðit̪ɪmo is the sun, running across the sky, round and round the earth, always searching for the next thing to learn. Ðit̪ɪmo as a shooting star is also common, zooming across the night sky to explore every corner.