While my fantasy faith "Angelolian" is down in basics, I've not explained the rules or indepth descriptions of my research. This post is mostly for me, it may be boring for fellow Comp Artists that follow me :)
While the dominant kind of faith in my world is inspired by pantheism, wildlife totemization and neopaganism, Angelolian is inspired by most organized religions. It's created as an alternative from worshiping Gaia/the earth. But all religion has rules.
At the core of Angelolian, is the belief of a higher being, in the form of winged beautiful human-like creatures called Angels. As with any organized religion, there is a central focus on a divinity by different names (God, Allah, etc) who is essentially the same being. In Angelology, there is no 'one' divinity, no hierarchy, but all angels are equally Holy. I've scrapped my own hierarchy I created. This is purely to cut my time as my project is not story based.
After a study into the different rules of hair in faith, I've decided this is a tricky one, what with every faiths variations. For instance, in the Christian and Islamic religions, it's frowned upon for men to have hair resembling a women's (length), while most women are discouraged from getting their hair cut, and Monks both male and female shave their hair for renunciation of worldly things (it's seen as vanity to maintain hair), to emulate a sense of slavery and poverty, and to follow in the steps of the Buddha, whom cut off his hair which symbolized royalty. And many faiths, encourage women to cover their hair. For my Angelology, there is NO differentiation between male and female rules (in hair, clothes, prayers, etc). I have drawn some pieces in my sketchbook already, but it is a sign of an Angelolian to shave parts of their hair off, but to leave some hair remaining. It is crucial for an Angelolian to embed feathers into their hair, and it is often this symbolism that will communicate their faith. The hair, and tattoos.
In India, it is often traditional in celebration to ink skin, nails, hair etc with Henna. Drawing inspiration from this, the symbols from angelolian scripts - said to be written by the Angels and left on Gaia for the people - are often written on the faces of Angelolians using Henna inks from plants.
Amulets; Many symbols are worn religiously, such as the Cross by Christians, and Islamic texts in Muska's. The Angelolgians follow something similar. The Nazar boncugu (also known as "the evil eye") is a well known symbol in bead form from Turkey, and is pinned on babies at birth, in businesses and home entrances and many people wear it as jewellery, in hopes of warding off evil or unwanted spirits and luck. Muska Tasimak is to write out a passage from the Qur'ran with personal wishes (I wish for my child to be healthy) and to fold this piece into a triangle, and to carry it in a triangular pendent. It's not uncommon to find Muska's with a Nazar boncuk. In a similar fashion, the Angelolians will be wearing a triangular amulet made from the natural elements of their environment.
Recap rules/beliefs of Angelology:
- Angels are divinity, they created the world and themselves.
- To shave off some hair is a sense of spirituality and affirms their slavery status to Angels.
- To place feathers in your hair will bless your mind with knowledge and wisdom from Angels.
- To write a prayer/Angelic symbols in Henna on skin is a physical sign of devotion.
- Wearing holy amulets in the shape of a triangle (containing prayers?) is a sign of devotion, and wards of evil spirits.
- Angeloligists must always cover their shoulder blades/back. It's seen as the Holiest part of the body. This is due to Angels wings sprout from shoulder blades, and they cover the embarrassment of not having these appendages.
Some references for my religious studies...:
http://www.dinimizislam.com/detay.asp?Aid=4797
http://www.nazarboncugu.com/Evil_Eye_History.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/7874274/Irans-Islamic-hair-catalogue-a-guide-to-religious-hairstyles.html
http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/buddhism-dir/54372-why-monks-bald.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonsure
http://www.rupalpinto.com/mehndi/one.html
No comments:
Post a Comment