Saturday, June 30, 2012
Ritual Classification
Salvation Ritual: religious
– The Meditation on the 5 Values ritual
The Meditation on the 5 Values is a salvation ritual,
intended to help Equalitarians who may have strayed from the socially accepted
religious path throughout the year to realign themselves with their community’s
value norms, in effect “saving” the person from their own perceived failings
throughout the year and allowing them to grow as a spiritual being.
Though Equalitarian society normally denies the importance
of the individual in comparison to the group as a whole, this ritual acknowledges
that having even one member of their society out of sync spiritually can cause
harm to the region’s stability, and focuses on changing each individual
participant’s interior state to one of mental purity and engagement with the
Higher Power’s commands.
Participants often report feeling a strong connection to the
Higher Power during the meditation portion of the ritual. Many enter a brief trance-like
state that allows them access to a mystic plane, after which the Higher Power
reveals the steps necessary to move beyond their spiritual shortcomings and to move
their individual destiny in a positive direction along the chosen path.
Technological Ritual:
economic - The 5 Plates Harvest Ritual
Though it may not seem to be one at first glance, the 5
Plates Harvest Ritual is a technological ritual in that the people of
Equalitiva unite to perform this ritual in part because of their belief that
honoring the Higher Power and the Founders through food offerings will ensure
continued agricultural success.
Their belief that they can perform certain ritual actions in
order to win over the blessings of the Higher Power is an example of the use of
ritual to seek protection (in this case from famine or economic decline) and to
control nature (securing this blessing is said to induce the earth to produce
for the agricultural industry.)
Ideological Ritual: community
– The Star of the Valley Ritual
The Star of the Valley ritual is a clear example of an
ideological ritual, bringing the people of Equalitiva together to perform a
common task through ritual in order to reinforce the communal structure and to
enhance group unity.
This is a rite of intensification because it brings the
people together and reinforces the highly prized value of group cohesion. In
addition, the communal undertaking of a difficult and sometimes dangerous task promotes
the intense group bonding necessary for the survival of the Equalitarian way of
life – ie. communalism.
The end result, the symbolic star or prosperity shining above
the people as a result of their group effort, ceremonially reinforces the idea
that the Equalitarian values produce positive payoff for everyone to enjoy, and
the crowd experiences collective effervescence at the moment they first see the
Star shining above them.
Therapy Ritual:
government – The Council Change Ritual
While the Council Change ritual would seem to be more of an
ideological ritual on first observation, a deeper examination of the intent
behind the ceremony demonstrates that the Council Change also serves as a therapy
ritual for the outgoing delegates, who take part in a symbolic transfer of
responsibility to new delegates (privately handing over the book of knowledge
and publicly lowering the flag) as a way to demonstrate to themselves and the
public that they are no longer in a stressful position of heightened power, and
are representing only themselves as undifferentiated citizens just like
everyone else in their community from this point out.
In this light, the Council Change ritual serves as a way for
outgoing delegates to control their mental health and restore themselves to a
state of mental well-being free from the additional stress of Council duty.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Ritual Process
Ritual 1 – Economic Institution
Each fall, the agricultural portions of the region hold the
Harvest rituals, which is a time to gather with the members of your community
and give thanks for the region’s prosperity, while ritually sacrificing food to
the Founders and the Higher Power in order to request continued abundance.
The most important part of this ceremony is a ritual sacrifice
of specially consecrated food to the Higher Power, and the placement of 5 dinner
plates loaded with the choicest cuts of meat and best produce the community has
to offer. The delegate from each community consecrates the table by offering
words of thanks to each of the Founders for their role in achieving regional
independence and teaching the values necessary to bring the region together in
prosperity. The delegate outlines each of the 5 spots with a 5-pointed star
drawn in salt, and the Higher Power is honored by sprinkling purified mountain
spring water in a circle around the table.
The ritual brings the communities together and reminds them
that prosperity requires continued effort, and the display of the abundance of
harvest demonstrates that the people continue to be blessed by following the guidance
of the Founders and the Higher Power. This ritual reinforces their belief in
the Equalitarian work ethic.
Ritual 2 – Government Institution
The Council Change ritual is held every two years to pass the
guiding wisdom of the region along to newly elected delegates, and perhaps more
importantly, to reintegrate outgoing delegates back into their roles as regular
citizens.
Both outgoing and incoming delegates enter the Council chambers through separate doors in silence, in two single file lines. The regional anthem is played, and incoming delegates and outgoing delegates turn to face one another from their respective lines on opposite sides of the room. As the music fades out, the delegates join in the center of the room, and each outgoing delegate passes his/her community owned copy of the governing Handbook to the incoming delegate from his/her community. The outgoing and incoming delegates hold up their temporarily exposed wrists in salute to one another, signaling the end of the exchange, and then retreat back to their single file lines on opposite sides of the room.
Both outgoing and incoming delegates enter the Council chambers through separate doors in silence, in two single file lines. The regional anthem is played, and incoming delegates and outgoing delegates turn to face one another from their respective lines on opposite sides of the room. As the music fades out, the delegates join in the center of the room, and each outgoing delegate passes his/her community owned copy of the governing Handbook to the incoming delegate from his/her community. The outgoing and incoming delegates hold up their temporarily exposed wrists in salute to one another, signaling the end of the exchange, and then retreat back to their single file lines on opposite sides of the room.
The outgoing delegates then file outside the Council building
and form a circle around the flagpole that displays the Equalitarian flag. Two delegates
step forward and lower the flag, then fold it in the proper ceremonial fashion.
The rest of the outgoing delegates file away from the flagpole. At this point,
the incoming delegates file out of the building – two of them step forward to
accept the flag, unfold it, and hoist it back up on the pole while the rest of
the incoming delegates circle them and observe. This action completes the
ritual.
The flagpole portion of the ritual is open to the public, and
serves as a visual notice that the outgoing delegates have been relieved of the
extra responsibilities of public service, while the incoming delegates accept
this responsibility.
Ritual 3 – Communal Life
& Kinship Institution
The Star of the Valley ritual can be witnessed at the
regional socials, and is representative of Equalitiva’s rise to equal power
with neighboring regions, and unites the different communities under the light
of the Equalitarian star of the founders.
Twice a year, Equalitarians travel to the “heart of
Equalitiva,” Founder’s Mountain, for regional socials. While the mass wedding held
at each social is highly anticipated, the most important ritual is actually the
raising of the Star of the Valley. Equalitiva possesses an enormous, lighted 5-pointed
star that is ceremonially hoisted up to the top of a scaffold in front of the
mountain. All able-bodied adults in the region consecrate themselves by making
the sign of the star on their foreheads in mountain spring water, then gather
together to do the hard work of raising the star. The Star of the Valley, once
hoisted to the top of the scaffold, is lit up as dusk falls, and all
participants gather in a half circle at the base of the mountain to sing the
Equalitarian anthem in the light of the massive star.
This ritual is physically demanding, and requires the help of
everyone in the region to coordinate. Because the people must work so
intensively to safely raise the Star of the Valley, the ritual primarily serves
as a way to unite the different communities towards a common goal, emphasizing
their common bond as Equalitarians.
Ritual 4 – Religion &
Folkways Institution
The Meditation on the 5 Values ritual is one of the simplest
in the religious arsenal of the Equalitarians, but has incredibly deep meaning
to the people of the region. The ritual is intended as a time of intensive
soul-searching, and citizens who find discrepancies in their thoughts of
behavior are able to come forward during the ritual to be reconsecrated into
the Equalitarian body of spiritual life.
The ritual takes place in the late evening, on a night with
clear, starry skies. The members of the community sit in a circle, wrists
uncovered and facing upwards, where they meditate on the 5 values of
Equalitarian life and analyze their behaviors in the previous year to determine
whether they are in sync with the intentions of the Higher Power. This
meditation lasts for approximately an hour, and the people sit in total silence
during this time.
After the meditation period is over, anyone who feels that
they are out of sync stands up and walks to the center of the circle – this is
a ritualistic breaking of the circle that unites the community, and until each
person in the center has consecrated themselves by anointing their forehead
with mountain spring water in the shape of the Five-Pointed Star, the community
is incomplete. Once the anointing is finished, the circle is reunited and the
community is considered whole again, which they demonstrate by joining hands
and singing the regional anthem.
The purpose of this ritual is to publicly reaffirm belonging
to the community and belief in the values given to the people by the Higher
Power.
Rite of Passage – The Fifth
Year Blessing:
The
Fifth Year Blessing is an important rite of passage celebrated throughout
Equalitiva. Full participation in the homeschool network and certain religious
ceremonies begins at age 5, when a child has one year of life accrued for each
of the 5 values they will begin to study in earnest at this age.
Every
5 year old child in the region gathers at the base of Founder’s Mountain on a
designated day each year, in order to spend a 5 day period being fully immersed
in the values of Equalitarian life.
The
pilgrimage from their home community to the mountain begins the separation phase
of this crucial rite of passage, and the idea of separation is further driven
home when their parents leave, so that the 5 year olds are united under the
care of several elders from across the region.
The
liminal phase begins as the children begin to bond with one another and the
elders over the next four days, studying the symbols and ceremonies of
Equalitarian religious/folk life and learning how the 5 values apply to their
daily lives. In the liminal stage, the children have been stripped of their
status as “infants,” but do not yet know the processes necessary to be
incorporated fully into life as a junior citizen. They come together as future
junior citizens and build a sense of group identity bonding them to one
another.
Reintegration
occurs on the evening of the 5th day, when the children come together
to perform a full ceremony honoring the Founders without assistance from the
elders. Once the ceremony is complete (ending with the children holding hands
in a circle and singing the regional anthem, as is customary), the children are
designated “junior citizens” and are treated as such on their return to their
home communities.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Symbol Theory
The Equalitivist flag
as a condensation symbol:
The flag of Equalitiva is a condensation symbol. It
represents a variety of ideas, actions, and elicits a range of emotions, depending
on the person who is looking at the flag and on the context in which it is
being viewed.
To outsiders, the flag primarily represents the physical
region that comprises Equalitiva, and the government that has adopted the flag
as its official symbol. It evokes a sense of respect for the sovereignty of the
region, because the unquestioned existence of an official flag grants some
semblance of legitimacy to political rule.
To both outsiders and citizens, the flag can serve as a
reminder of the values promoted by the government, especially the concept of social
and economic equality that is considered the backbone of regional values.
The
ten stars depicted within the flag denote the ten valley districts, and their
inclusion in the larger symbol can serve as a reminder that though they are separate
physical entities, they are united under the government – this conjures up
powerful feelings of unity and group cohesion when the flag is displayed at regional
socials.
The five-pointed star
as a unifier of disparate significada:
The five pointed star of Equalitiva unifies significada that
would otherwise seem to be unconnected or only tenuously connected to one
another, but actually have analogous qualities that enable them to be bracketed together into a larger meaning.
The star can represent independence, the blessing of the
Heavens, and the idea of light in a place of darkness. It was seen in the form
of a shooting star on the eve of the protest movement that allowed Equalitivist
leaders to break free from an oppressive past and start a new society.
The star can represent the 5 founders, as it has five points
and was the sign they painted on their wrists to indicate their role in the
protest movement to one another and to followers. Depending on the color of the
star, it can also represent one of the individual values cherished in
Equalitivist society.
The star can represent the different valley districts that
comprise Equalitiva as a whole, and displaying 10 stars together represents
regional unity.
While the star can be used to represent each of these ideas
individually, they are each related to the concept of citizenship. As a whole, the symbol of the star combines ALL of these meanings
into one powerful symbolic reminder of what it means to be an Equalitivist. Above all else, the star represents Equalitivist life and all of the ideas and values that make up Equalitiva.
The wrist as an
example of bipolarity:
The Equalitivist use of the wrist as a symbol can be viewed
as an example of polarization of meaning. There are two distinct poles of
meaning present in the wrist as a symbol – the sensory pole and the ideological
pole.
Covering the wrist demonstrates a commitment to preserving
your life force so you can continue to contribute to your community. Exposing
the wrist to another Equalitivist in a ritual setting is a gesture of solidarity
and shows belief in the notion of regional unity.
The ideological pole in this example casts the wrist as a
representation of regional unity, ie. the idea that all citizens are part of
the lifeblood that flows throughout the region, keeping Equalitist society and
the economy alive.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Basic Tenets of Equalitivist Society
Equalitivists
are a relatively small culture of approximately 25,000 people who live in the valleys
of a major mountain range. The region, known as Equalitiva, experiences moderate, regular rainfall, and
the seasons are varied with mild and rainy spring weather, humid and hot summers,
cool fall weather with moderate rainfall, and cold winters with regular snow. The
area is best known for three major industries – wind farming, agriculture, and
tourism.
The area
was formerly part of a larger state and relied on mining and heavy industry as
the foundations of their society, but following a successful protest movement, the
Equalitivists broke away and established their autonomy as an independent
region with their own unique economic system, political structure, kinship
& community practices, and religion & folkways.
Economy
The
transition from a heavy industrial and mining society was difficult, but the
move to develop the wind farming industry (the first pillar of the Equalitivist
economic system) has bolstered the region’s economic growth. The Equalitivist
wind farming industry is owned by the regional government, and land owners lease
their property to the government in exchange for a set monthly stipend and free
electricity. A small-scale training program run by the government channels former
coal-mining citizens into turbine operations and maintenance, ensuring that the
region is able to meet labor needs to keep the wind farming industry functional.
The
turbines generate more than enough energy to meet the region’s power needs, and
the cost of operation is spread among the residents of the region through an
energy tax based on estimated annual consumption. A small scale coal mining
industry still exists to meet power needs at peak times, but is not the primary
energy source. In addition, the government sells excess wind energy and coal to
the neighboring regions that are not part of the Equalitivist community. Finally,
a developing industry seeks to transition aging, unused steel mills into
production centers capable of producing turbines.
Agriculture
is a second pillar of the Equalitivist economic system. Private land ownership
is open to all citizens over the age of 25, and a progressive tax system is in
place to discourage any one citizen from monopolizing agricultural resources. Taxes collected support publicly funded free hospitals
and other public-benefit programs. The agricultural economy model is based on
small to medium scale farms and ranches, capable of supplying the region with a
steady supply of food, but is not interested in exports.
Tourism
is the third pillar of the economy, and takes primary form as a number of
bed-and-breakfasts run out of private homes. Tourism is a seasonal industry, and
picks up pace in the spring through fall as outsiders travel to Equalitivist
communities to experience a variety of outdoor pursuits, including farm
activities and guided hikes through the mountains and valleys of the region. The
government promotes the development of the tourism industry as a form of
supplemental income beyond wind farming and agricultural pursuits.
Government
The
Equalitivist government was founded following a mass protest movement led by
formerly disparate mining and industrial communities scattered throughout the
region. The government is headed by the Council of Regional Development, made
up of one male and one female elected member from each of the 10 distinct valley
communities. Elections are held every 2 years, and both office and voting
rights are open to everyone over the age of 25. Junior delegates are elected to
present the youth opinion on matters that directly affect citizens under 25,
with their votes counting as a half-vote in the council. A citizen may only
hold a Council position for two consecutive terms, and cannot be elected to
office again for another six years after their last term.
One
particularly unique feature of the Equalitivist government is the citizens’
option to dissolve the Council by a majority vote, and install new
councilmembers in special elections at any point. This has never occurred in
the region’s history, but serves as a check on the group’s power. Equalitivists
strongly discourage the notion of an all-powerful ruling political elite. The
government’s primary function is to ensure resources are distributed in a
reasonably equitable fashion, and to promote the popular good.
Communal Life & Kinship
Equalitivists
highly value communal life, and engage in the practice of declaring fictive kin
as well as maintaining close ties to blood relatives. Most households are made
up of extended family groups, with multiple generations represented in each
household. Neighbors in each district are commonly viewed as “cousins,” and are
expected to pool their resources to provide for the good of the community. Individual
pursuits of wealth and materialism are frowned on in the Equalitivist culture,
and respect is afforded to those who work to provide for their families and
neighbors above themselves. In addition, each community educates their own
children in a series of “homeschool” alliances that allow experts from various
fields of community life to take turns teaching their subject to the next
generation.
Social equality is important to community life. While some individual households do make more money than others, the strong social emphasis on equitable distribution means that little socioeconomic stratification exists publicly. Thanks to an emphasis on community well-being, the population has a thriving elderly community, high birth rates, and a healthy group of middle-adulthood citizens. Though there are slightly more females than males in the population, this has not made a dramatic difference in birthrates. Unmarried women are assigned special roles in the community, incorporating them into the fabric of the culture. Race existed as a social construct prior to the establishment of regional independence, but has dwindled in importance over time. A variety of skin colors are present in Equalitiva, but are not related to any form of social hierarchy.
Because members of each of the 10 communities view themselves as relatives, most marriages are between individuals from different valley communities. Semi-annual regional socials bring together the communities at the foot of the largest mountain in the region, and this is a common time for young men and women to select a partner. Mass wedding ceremonies are held at the end of each social, and these events are highly celebrated across the region. The regional social is a time for community building, and culminates with the raising of a massive Star of the Valley against the backdrop of the mountain range at sunset, uniting the people of each valley district under the light of one star.
Religion & Folkways
Religious
life focuses on two important features – the celebration of communal life, and reverence
for the founders of the Equalitivist culture. Communal life is reinforced
through weekly participation in individual community socials, in which the
people unite for a shared potluck meal and the singing of the community and
regional anthems each Saturday afternoon. The previously discussed regional
socials bring the 10 valley communities together twice a year to encourage
positive relationships between the various communities.
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Commonly Used Symbols in Equalitivist Culture
Currency:
The Flag:
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