agelesseyes | Second Weaving: Bel Tine. [Action/Written]

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Second Weaving: Bel Tine. [Action/Written]

[Moiraine has spent the last month or so settling into her home and practically living out of the library. She's scoured every book she can possibly find on her own world, history, magic, even stories and fables and parables from other worlds. Some of it's been useful, like giving her ideas for new ways to wield the Power, while others have proven to be nothing more than idle time spent with her nose buried in a book.

But today is a bit different. In the Westlands, it would be about the proper time for Bel Tine, and doing anything that even resembled work was all but forbidden on such a day. Besides, it's been a while since she truly had the time for personal enjoyment, and there are few things Moiraine Damodred likes more than riding and with no pressing matters to attend to, she'll stop by the stables to saddle and bridle Aldieb before taking the white mare out for a good long ride through the spring air. She'll be riding down to the southern lake and back at a fairly easy pace, just enjoying a trot through the forest before returning to town. During the afternoon she can be seen around House 27, opening up windows and doing a bit of sweeping outside to keep the place neat and tidy. Siuan...is not the best for such things, and that was one little bit of custom she was willing to break in order to have a clean home.

During the evening, the Aes Sedai can be found at Good Spirits, thinking on things that have occurred since the last Bel Tine. She'll be sitting at a corner table, sipping a drink slowly throughout the night. She's more than happy for company, anyone coming over greeted with a smile.

Sometime during the afternoon, she sends out a Written message as well, more for her own curiosity than anything.]

Good Day Luceti,

I understand that this was a long winter for the land here, but I for one am glad to know that spring has finally arrived. In my world, the first few weeks of spring are when the celebration of Bel Tine occurs. A festival for young love, the end of winter, prayers for a good harvest and new beginnings. Are there any such celebrations in your own worlds for the coming of spring?

Secondly, I am seeking a partner for a little bit of exercise. I fear I have fallen out of practice with my staff and I should like to find someone to train my reflexes back to where they should be.

And finally, I should like to thank whoever manages the stables here. I greatly appreciate your services in tending to Aldieb, as is she. If there is some way I might repay you, I would be more than willing to offer my help however I can.

Regards,

Moiraine.

[Even here, she still pointedly leaves off her House name, for reasons known only to Siuan.]

(ooc: Catch Moiraine anywhere! In town, at the stables, down by the lake, in the woods, at the bar!)

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[It's an interesting enough question, and Derek is just coming back to the apartment from his own jog, so he'll answer while he drinks a cup of coffee and cools down a bit.]

My world has different celebrations for spring depending on the country and who's doing the celebration. The religion I grew up in has a whole month or so where we reflect on our wrongdoings, how to better ourselves for our god, and then at the end, there are religious ceremonies and the like to remember the man who pretty much sacrificed himself to his enemies for everyone elses' sake and their standing with our God, both then and now.

We have a second, kinder in tone celebration for the children; more a celebration of spring than anything, although some say the tradition came from an older religion. They get candy and go hunt for decorated eggs as part of the fun. Not sure what all the symbolism was for originally, though, maybe fertility with the eggs and rabbits.

[A certain celebration came to Ai's mind upon reading Morraine's written message, one that she had forgotten about before the subject was brought up. In fact, the time for that custom was just around the corner back home until the girl was taken to Luceti, and soon met with this particular season's last heavy snow.]

We have a custom in Japan that is related to the arrival of spring called hanami, which translates as "flower viewing". A lot of people usually gather by the cherry blossom trees nearby and have picnics there, enjoying how beautiful it becomes after the flowers begin blossoming. These gatherings can last until the late hours of the night as well. I believe it is a very old practice.

Where I'm from, some people celebrate Bealtaine around this time. It sounds kind of similar. Mayday too, at the start of next month. Walpurgis Nacht is a name for it in some places in Europe.

People light bonfires, dance. Perform large magic workings if they've got any inclination.

My family usually gets invited to one of the Sidhe balls. It's a bigger deal for them than for humans.

It does sound similar, and would be if you removed two 'A's.

Though, magic in celebrations is frowned on. Is that not so in your own world?

And forgive me for all of the questions, but Sidhe balls?

No-one really cares how you celebrate, honestly, as long as no-one gets hurt. And Bealtaine is a time of year when big spells are easiest so it makes sense to take advantage.

It's okay. Uh, the Sidhe? Faeries? My country has an alliance with them. My family helped broker that alliance so we try to kep up good relations.

[Mention of a god once again, something she's encountered over and over in other world's stories. It still strikes her as odd.]

May I ask what these celebrations are called? I am curious, and I admit I'm looking for things to read about. Similar threads in the pattern of worlds, I suppose.

That sounds not at all unlike some celebrations from my own world. Particularly in the West. I'm not familiar, as I've never seen a cherry tree before, but from some of the paintings I've seen they sound rather lovely.

Is this a tradition you practice as well?

Your ~~weaves~~ spells come in seasonal varieties? [She's still getting used to the idea of magic not of the Power.]

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with faeries. I assume they are some manner of being in your world?

The one my religion celebrated is called 'Easter'. The religion itself is Catholicism, which is a sub group of Christianity.

The supposed religion celebration it was taken from is known as 'Ostara' these days by reconstuctionists. It's was pretty much the celebration for the spring equinox. Return of life and the sun.

I've read about Christianity. Or heard mention in books at least.

As for Ostara, it sounds quite like Bel Tine. Do you celebrate either?

It's a relatively young religion, but it's been spread pretty far in my world.

As for celebrating Ostara, no, not really. Then again, I rarely celebrate my own religion, either. I've been in places during their celebrations, though. It's been interesting to watch. Folks really get into it sometimes.

Is Bel Tine more religious or a marking of the seasons for your people?

It marks the seasons. Religion is...much different in my world than most, I've come to realize. The existence of cosmic forces and guiding hands and patterns is not something of belief, it's a known fact. As surely as our own existence.

I know a lot of priests that would argue with you that their belief is fact, despite most of it being found in a book written by other men over the ages. But I get what you're saying. Things have happened that at least support some of what our religious leaders say, but sometimes I have to question if how they're taking it really matches up with what's actually going on.

Have you seen these forces, then? Must be something if you have. I'm wondering too, if maybe it's similar to what we call science back home.

I've found those sorts to be blinded by faith rather than truly aware.

As for myself? Yes. I can feel the tugging of the Pattern, I know from history of the turning of the great Wheel, I've touched the source of the Creator's power every day since my twelfth name-day, and I've seen the influence that the Dark One has on the world at large.

Not the same thing as what people from my home would recognize as 'science', then.

And what would the difference be?

people being able to recreate the same effect over and over again using natural interactions with no outer agency. Nothing they feel inside themselves to prove that there's anything other than nature interacting with itself, and no need to call on any outer power.

Like, say, gravity. If you have it, and you drop something from a height, it will always be drawn down--it will fall towards the source of gravity--without any further action on your part other than letting the object go. And it will do it every single time, without fail. No god, no 'power' or hands of fate involved. Just the result of a natural phenomenom caused by the rotating of the planet you're on.

Not exactly. Bealtaine is a time when barriers between worlds are thin. New beginnings. There's just more power around to draw on, more belief to make it work, especially if you're appealing to a god or spirit.

Yeah, the Sidhe are... they're called the Fair Folk by some people. A lot of them are very powerful. Especially with magic.

Interesting. It's not something that occurs in my own world, but I suppose I should be getting used to how things like that go.

As for these Sidhe, your family is on good terms with them, and they are all skilled in spellcraft, yes? Which...might lead me to the conclusion that magic is well regarded in your world? Or that you yourself know of it?

Forgive me, if I am being too nosy.

Edited 2013-04-19 09:32 (UTC)

[Even Bel Tine itself sounded somewhat similar to Ai, for she had described it as a festival of young love that also celebrated the end of the winter, which hanami shared, as well as the concept of new beginnings.]

They are very beautiful. Apparently, there is a cherry blossom tree hill to the north of our village, though I have yet to visit it myself. They would have probably begun blooming by now if you were interested in seeing them with your own eyes. [Ai was planning on going there soon, however, as she expected that it'd be another place which would made her feel right at home, one that brought about fond memories.]

Sometimes I practice the tradition too. I usually go with my family to a nearby park in the city I live in which has several large cherry blossom trees. My little brother loves it.

Well, I suppose that would change from reality to reality, now wouldn't it? In mine, some of us are born with a spark to wield the One Power, and some are not. I presume that it is not the same in your own.

In mine, the One Power is just as natural a phenomenon as gravity or the sun rising.

I will be certain to ride north then, I would be glad to see something like that. It could be quite a sight, if what I have been told is true. Tarabon and Arad Doman are both famous for such trees and fruits, though I've only had cherries once, and they were quite withered.

So, are there any special traditions I should observe around such trees?

We have an understanding. And some blood in common. They're very skilled at spellcraft. It's like breathing to them, an inherent thing.

Magic is mostly either accepted or ignored these days. Practitioners are free to do what they want, within the bounds of mortal law. And yeah, I'm a mage. Most of my family are.

The closest thing we have are the religious folks who have enough 'faith' to make things happen by sheer force of belief in whatever they follow, and they're fewer and farther between these days. I doubt it's the same thing as your One Power, though.

No, it is probably not. The One Power is what I believe most would think of as magic. But it's very much something quantifiable. If you like I can give you a demonstration.

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