Faekind - The Circle of Growth

[Yruvian]

Faekind - The Circle of Growth



Meaning and purpose
The Circle of Growth celebrates the growing of new life into maturity, physically and mentally. It strives to secure safety for the young, trying to make growing up a wonderful experience. Its members are most often found taking care of young foals, helping them find their own path in life.

Goals and actions
Members of the Circle of Growth travel a lot, looking for the young and lost. They take in any lone youngsters that they encounter, returning the lost ones to their families and finding orphans a new home.

Even though their most well-known task is the caring for lost Fae foals, they do the same for any young creature they meet, whether it be Fae, Faette, familiar or wild animal. Because of this, they are well versed in the basics of animal care and even certain aspects of plants (which plant is good for which animal, which one is poisonous... and which one has healing/calming effects).

Sometimes a herd can request the aid of one of the Circle's members to take care of the herd's foals if the situation demands it. This usually happens with small herds or when disaster has rendered the herd incapable of taking care of all its needs as well as watching over the youngest members.

Common occurances
Strangely enough, members of the Circle of Growth usually stay childless and romantically uninvolved throughout their life span. Some may find love at the very end, but most of them dedicate their entire life to the care of others.

Members are allowed to bond a familiar, even though it's not a wide-spread habit. The most common familiar for a Circle member is the Spint, though the Bragfly and Nix are fairly common too. The reet is harder to come by, but acceptable. Neither Rous nor Vul are accepted as bonded familiars for this Circle. Their predatory nature is too dangerous to allow in the neighbourhood of newborn animals.

All Circle Members meet at the Willow Glade at the time of the Wintersday Journey. They are there to see the newborns for themselves, trying to remember which foal belongs to which herd, just in case. This is also the moment when the current leader will accept new members and appoint another Fae to take over in case something would happen to her.

A travelling pair of Circle Members will almost always be a mentor and his or her apprentice. A new member will get the necessary instruction for one year, usually from Wintersday Journey to Wintersday Journey, after which he or she will be free to follow his or her own path.

Rituals
Circle members perform rituals to honour the unification Growth. Most of these take part during spring, as the entire world is full of new life then. Most of the rituals involve the planting of a seed... which type of seed depends on the actual ritual, as does the exact timing of the day and month.

Unification
This Circle mainly honors the Third Tier Unification Growth, even though most members also pay tribute to Birth.

Symbols of Growth
All members wear the symbol of the still-closed flower bud somewhere, either in the form of bling, as a tattoo, or both. The most common way is as a single ear ring, though anything goes. The leader wears a flower bud crown, which is passed to the heir in a 'crowning ceremony'.

Members
The Circle of Growth mainly consists of those tied to Earth, even though its ranks are open to all. Members can be from any herd, as family ties are not part of this circle. Everyone who is dedicated to the health and safety of young life is welcome.

Officially, this Circle is led by a single mare. She is the one that accepts new members, appoints her heir and delivers justice if necessary. Aside from that all members are equal though. Because of the nature of the Circle, all members have to be capable of making their own decisions. An independent nature and willingness to make (and stick to) decisions is a must.

At this moment, the leader is Erathana, born to the Swamp and most often found in that territory.

Becoming a member
New members are often adults who choose to follow the path of the Circle... most often saved orphans, who want to give others the same chance they have been given.

Someone who wants to become a member needs to address the leader. This is possible at certain places on certain dates. The easiest to remember would be the Willow Glade at the time of the Wintersday Journey, which is the moment most new members are accepted every year.

How to join
Every Fae that wants to join the Circle of Growth may step up to Erathana and tell her why he or she would like to become a part.

Any adult Fae can become part of the Circle, but those alligned to Blood, Metal and Shadow will have a harder time convincing Erathana of their interest. Foals are required to grow up first, as they need to be certain. The choice isn't easy... and dedication is imperative.