Xirakè (Religion)

## Xirakè

[pronunciation: ZI-rah-KEE]

[meaning: "tying of souls]

## Beliefs

Xirakè is not simply a religion, nor just a magical craft (see Art of Xirakè for the magic connected to this religion), but rather, an experience that ties both body and soul together. The concept of tying is a tradition of kanga (the practice of tying one's soul to something tangible). This "tying of soul" is evident in many Xirakè practices. The "Centrais Aquelarre" (central Covenant) is what is believed to tie all souls together as it is where the four Oracles gather. An Oracle is a leader of a Covenant which has within it a trio of covens. The Oracle chooses all new coven members within their own Covenants. In Rivain there are 12 covens, or so it is believed, and there are 4 Covenants over which the 4 Oracles preside.

* Xirakè's moral code focuses on the vices of dishonor and greed.

* Coolness (cool spirits) overall is valued, and so is the ability and inclination to protect oneself and one's own if necessary.

* Love and support within the family of the Xirakè society are the most important considerations.

* Generosity in giving to the community and to the poor is also an important value. One's blessings come through the community, and one should be willing to give back. There are no "solitaries" in Xirakè—only people separated geographically from their elders and house.

* The world is governed by divine forces which are controlled by the "lesser spirits" of the Fade. It is the harnessing of these powers that gives rise to the magical craft

* The non magical priestesses of Xirakè are as revered as the mages of the craft.

* This religion is matriarchal and only women can be priestesses.

* Adherents also emphasise ancestor worship and hold that the spirits of the dead live side by side with the world of the living, each family of spirits having its own female priesthood, sometimes hereditary when is from mother to blood daughter. Each priestess therefore is in direct contact with several of the L'wha.

### Soul

According to Xirakè, the soul consists of two aspects, in a type of soul dualism:

* grande guardião (big guardian)
	+ The big guardian is the part of the soul that's essentially responsible for the basic biological functions, such as the flow of blood through the body and breathing.
* pequena guardião (little guardian).
	+ The little guardian is the source of personality, character and willpower.

As the big guardian provides each person with the power to act, it is the little guardian that moulds the individual sentiment within each act. While the latter is an essential element for the survival of one's individual identity, it's not necessary to keep the body functioning properly in biological terms, and therefore a person can continue to exist without it.

### Talismans

All creation is considered divine and therefore contains the power of the divine. This is how medicines such as herbal remedies are understood, and explains the ubiquitous use of mundane objects in religious ritual. Xirakè talismans, called "fetishes", are objects such as statues or dried animal parts that are sold for their healing and spiritually rejuvenating properties.

## The Spirits

The worship of these spirits is a key practice of the religion. Because the Void is unreachable, Xirakè practitioners aim their prayers to lesser entities, the spirits known as L'wha, or mysteè. There are numerous “families” of spirits and named individual spirits, which practitioners interact with, which vary depending on tribe and location. Basically the names of these numerous spirits could be called something different by each member of the religion. They name them when they interact with them.

### L'wha

The most notable L'wha include;

* Pbá (guardian of the crossroads)
* Erzuliè (the spirit of love)
* Símbí (the spirit of rain and mages)
* Záka (the spirit of agriculture)
* The Máárasa, divine twins considered to be the first children.

Divided into the Belí and the Mallí, who contrast most with one another because the Belí are hot or aggressive and restless, whereas the Mallí are cool or calm and peaceful.

## Hierarchy of Practitioners

### Alta Sacerdotisa

* The Alta Sacerdotisa (High Priestess) is a woman chosen by the oracle to care for a coven.

### Priestesses

* These women also receive a calling from an Oracle, which may come at any moment during their lives. They will then join their clan's coven and covenant to pursue spiritual instruction. It is also an Oracle that will designate the future high priestess among the initiates, establishing an order of succession within the coven.

### Os Iniciados

* The Os Iniciados (Initiates) are the young girls who are chosen by the Oracle to enter the Covenant and train as priestesses.

### The Bokor

* The Bokor are the Xirakè priestesses who can be hired to perform various sorcery. The Bokor practice both light and dark forms of magic. In some Xirakè communities, Xirakè priestesses play a special role as intermediaries who summon spirits and perform acts of sorcery.

## Common Practices

* The "tying" rituals - living souls to living souls and dead to living, dead to dead.
* Soul Stripping
* Daily worship of the L'wah
* Warding rituals
* Speaking to the dead and the spirits using fire, water and singing
* Daily rituals for the dead
	+ Rumoured - cannibalism

## Death and the afterlife

The practitioners of Xirakè revere death, and believe it to be a great transition from one life to another, or to the afterlife. In some Xirakè families, it is believed that a person’s spirit leaves the body, but is trapped in water, over mountains, in grottoes, or anywhere else a voice may call out and echo for a span of one full year and one day. After this period, there is a ceremonial celebration to commemorate the deceased for being released into the world to "live again". After the soul of the deceased leaves its resting place, it can occupy trees, and even become a hushed voice on the wind.

In the Swamps of Rivain many priestesses travel to sing and release the spirits trapped there. Many Rivaini believe the swamps to be haunted - a belief that probably arises from the Xirakè belief regarding the dead.