Kesari

Symbol, often painted on shaman's chest or bellies, used to described the relationship between Ojoi, Shufeh, Tsitau, Niuru and JisaKesa woodland where the Kesari are most prevalentArtistic Depiction of Kesari people

# Kesari race, history and Culture

## General overview

#### Etymology

The name kesari is not only used for the people but for their culture and religion. The name comes from the root word Kesa, meaning both wood material, and the woodland goddes of which their home home forest is named. The word itself means woodsman, not just as a nod to how the people themselves live within and off of the woods but also because they are biologically more akin to trees compared to humans. This meaning that although they are almost identical to other human races, they have many unmistakable tree like characteristics. Genetically speaking they are the mix of humans, and older group of forest people called Kesa (more directly taking the name of their home) who according to kesari folklore are themselves direct descendants of the goddess Kesa herself or the tsitau(spitit) of individual trees re-manifesting themselves as humanoid beings.

#### General description

As for clothing most kesari tend to wear hemp, tartan or other wool fabric tunics and dresses. Fur is also not uncommon especially in villages of higher elevations and in the colder months. Their skin complexion varies widely but can be rich and deep and resembling tree bark, or a light sunkissed olive. In much older times this was usually dependent on the forest a particular village would live in, so a village in a birch woodland would be paler in comparison to someone from a dark oak woodland. Because of this it is also not unheard of to find Kesari with a more reddish skin tone if they can trace their ancestry to more southern regions, where their tribe may have come from the jungle, acacia or mangrove forests. In recent years however, the variations come more from an intermixing of these different groups, especially as the people move away from their nomadic lifestyle to more urban life, not to mention that variations can heavily rely more on what time of the year it is, as kesari are known to tan easily in the summer months. Less varied however, are their irisis, they are known to being a shade of green, meaning you can find kesari with just about any shade of eyes but the hue will always be green. Kesari often let their hair grow long allowing others to see the bark fibers and leaves growing from their hair, that being a source of pride, as they say it is physical evidence of their spiritual ancestry and affinity to the woodlands.

## Cultural Overview

### Religion

The Kesari practice a form of animism, simply called **Kesari Shamanism**. The Kesari believe that all natural and geological entities, such as individuals, animals, entire forests, and even mountains, are the physical manifestation of what would otherwise be an extra corporeal entity, spirits known natively as **"Tsitau"**. This, is the basis of Kesari religious beliefs, and plays a role in the key virtue of these beliefs, that virtue being **"Jisa"**.

#### Core beliefs

Jisa as described by Kesari shamans is the wisdoms and abilities gained from being able to harmonize (**Niuru**), the self with the rest of nature. This is done through respecting and recognizing the Tsitau, or Life force of others, and its relationship to the universe as well as strengthening ones own core through self reassurance (**Ojoi**), while the act of harmonizing the self with others is known to the shamans as Niuru, the *ability* to do so is known as **Shufeh**.

shamans will often also describe a similar relationship within the universe as its own Ojoi provides life (Tsitau) to the earth through Niuru, often represented as a tree (Shufeh) within a tranquil sea of life (Ojoi).

#### Shamans

Kesari shamans are people, who have mastered Jisa either through being raised to do so, or through sheer life experience and meditation. The role of Shaman within a Kesari community is of vital importance as they are the ones who preform rituals involving the physical realm and the extracorporeal. These rituals come in a variety of different practices, such as the burning of herbs in some way, chants, and dances.

It is easy to recognize a shaman within a particular community of Kesari though their manner of dress. A typical Kesari shaman will wear a tartan kilt, bracelets, and necklaces with wood, clay, bone and stone charms, a head dress made of antlers and on occasion a mask made of bark. They will often paint the symbol of the above described Jisa belief system on their belly as they believe that that is where Ojoi manifests itself. it is also not uncommon for shamans to paint it on their chest instead as they believe that the heart where Tsitau manifests itself.

### Ceremonies

#### Funerals

The Kesari believe that within the concept of the universes' Niuru, a persons body must be returned to the earth in some way in order for their Tsitau to properly and harmoniously flow back into the Ojoi of the universe. part of this ceremony involves placing the body within the woodlands and planting a tree over the deceased, the shaman will then burn some aromatics (the specific blend varies between tribe and local custom), in a decorative pot while preforming a unique chant for the deceased's Tsiteu, after which the family is given a chance to mourn.

#### Births

Births are a major event for a community of Kesari peoples. When a child is born it is customary to bring a charm of sorts, of stone, ceramic, bone or wood, to bring luck in a particular field (such as strength, wisdom or wealth). A large party is then organized by the community leaders for the family after which feast is held. Typically there is dancing and music in a public space with a potluck and a ceremony preformed by a shaman at sundown where usually the shaman will dance with a bundle of smoking lilacs as they are seen as a sign of novelty, beginnings, peace and joy.

#### weddings

On the days between the announcement and actual day of, the wedding, and if the wedding is within the spring season, is customary for a passerby to throw lilacs at the couple's door this is for similar reasons mentioned above. The actual wedding ceremony involves a ritual preformed by the couple, and a shaman where the shaman will tie one foot to their partners foot, as a sign of unity within their Tsitau. The shaman will then place a necklace with a rabbits foot on each of their necks and chant a prayer to the patron tsitau of their village, (ex. shaman will chant to the tsitau of the lake they live in if they rely on fishing for food and trade), the goddess of Fertility, the deity of Fortune and the god of Joy. Wile chanting the shaman will also lightly beat the couple with a bundle of Lilacs and or rosemary. At the end of the ceremony, the shaman will then wish them luck and allow them to untie their feet, allowing them to dance.

## Historical overview

(WIP)

tldr: nomads-> a bunch of wars->castles-> more wars-> today