There are many ways to accomplish what we desire to make ends meet. Many of us are familiar with runes- they are sold in the cities on anything from trinkets to edging the clothes of hedgwitches, mages, clerics and more. Even my youngest elven son has taken to a fondness for runes. When I am deployed I will find rocks etched with runes for protection, luck, healing. I can feel the magic in them.
Runes can be used for the Light, much like they can for other things. Those among us who have seen the Light’s visible blessings will note the intricate ways the Light manifests.
When I served in Northrend I knew of a Cleric who admired the Naaru and based their work upon them. I drew the above from memory as best as I can but it has been some time and I have never used runes myself. However, I do recall that they served their purpose well- they were used for warding away poison and disease, for healing and so on.
We are limited in the Light only by ourselves. If runes accomplish what fancy handwaving, prayers and chants then they should be welcomed. I have very few examples of such runework in my scrolls and books. I will need to find more examples of such runes to write a series on them.
Prays are sometimes, but not all the time, accompanied by offerings. At many churches, altars in the woods and so on, you’ll find coins, incense, water, liqour and so on. Because it is important, I will begin with sacrifice. Scholars have argued over the years with no resolution on the ‘why’ of sacrifice. I think many scholars have seen sacrifice through the lens of their own ideology, the culture they study the most, or their own culture. A nihlist would find a nihlistic meaning, a mage who studied ancient higborne culture will apply nightborn meaning. But they all view sacrifice as a single thing. it is a single thing one in the sense sacrifice is one thing. But there is no single meaning to sacrifice; there is several.
Sacrifice is giving something to the Divine. Whethe rit is Elune, the Light, the Sunwell, or any other diety. The origin of the word sacrifice means to ‘make sacred’. In everyday speech we use it as giving something up and that is how we use it. (I.E. “He sacrificed himself” or “I sacrificed my time.”)A religious sacrifice however, is not giving up. It is giving to. It is not ‘I’m great for depriving myself’, but ‘I am glad to give my Divine whatever they want’.
Often, however, there are questions on sacrifice and what one can give. The greater value an item has to you, that is yours to give, has value in the eyes of the divine. But once you have given that item up then it will not have value in the eyes of the divine again. Consumed, for lack of a better word. Another sacrifice that can be given is blood. There is a saying of ‘ blood is life’. Be careful not to give to much!
Worldwide, offerings are given to the dead and to those associated with it to show love, appease, and offer something to those we have lost that are no longer with us. For the dead be careful not to offer up things that can be twisted towards harmful ends such as magical items. As good as your intentions might be there is always someone with bad intent.
Some will argue sacrifices are obsolete in this day and age.But should it be considered obsolete? When does a religious practice become obsolete? Many have become distant from religion and find the idea of sacrificing to a Divine distasteful. Who wants to sacrifice their lover’s beloved bow or robes to the fire and to lose that forever? Or to cut themselves and give a dusty altar blood?
Symbolic sacrifice is also something worth considering. Something else named as valuable and treated as one. Bread has always been the most common substitute. Libations are the most common offering you will see. They can be any drink, although alcoholic spirits are the most common. Left in their bottle, or a glass, or poured . Distilled drinks make good offerings since they burn well, however, be careful for sudden flare ups. Oils and Butter are also acceptable.
Don’t pour anything with a low alchohol content or none at all onto a fire. It will dampen or put the fire out- never good for a ritual or ceremony. Instead pour it at the base.
Some offerings can’t be burned or poured. But problem; coins, jewelry, weapons, and armor can be cast into water or buried. Here we find another meaning of sacrifice: to give something over to the Divine.
Every thing thing about your prayer makes a differnece. Prose, poem, emotion, belief, your strength of will, what you’ll sacrifice for it- all of these matter. Different choices will give you different results.
For those among us who have been able to join an order like the Argent Crusade, the Silver Hand, the Church of Holy Light and others we are able to enjoy the experience of others in guiding and enriching our knowledge. We have books, we have people who know spells and rituals like the back of their hand, we have tools the solitary practitioner lacks. What then for those without such tools?
They must be creative. Self Teaching is a great challenge and those listening closely will hear the Light. But most often we have to start with four different tools:
Study
Thought
Prayer
Experimentation
Using the four mentioned above is the best way for the solitary practitioner to increase their own knowledge and understanding of the Light. This fourfold approach will help you strengthen your belief and help answer your questions if you’re willing to place your trust within the Light. If a new practitioner is reading this I encourage them not be caught up worrying if they are doing something incorrectly.
There is no one method used for everything, whether it is healing, invoking the Light, rituals, or calling down the Light’s fury in battle. The fact that there are numerous people on different sides who have their own methods of invoking the Light, calling to it, hearing it, and wielding it show the unique opportunity that lies in wait for the solitary practitioner: To discover new ways of listening, of using the Light. Thins that others, who have been conditioned to accept certain avenues of the Light’s expression, have missed.
While I am not a member of any order that uses the Light I will say that doing this on my own has made things different. I see things differently, the light whispers differently to me. How the Light manifests through me is different than, say, a human priest of the Church of Holy Light.
That was through centuries of the above however. Study, thought, prayer, experimentation and repeat. Do not feel frustrated if you do not get the results you desire. Be patient, believe, try again. The Light does not ignore you. It simply waits, trying to help you find the path that is best for you.
In all things, paladins must reflect the Light, which supplements our strength. To strive to be divine for one of our kind does not mean we strive for godhood–we strive to be good in all actions.
Although called upon to smite evil in these harsh times, you must always remember that it’s aiding others that will truly set you apart from the other citizens. Compassion, patience, bravery–these things mean as much to a paladin as strength in battle.
Know this well, and never forget it.
Tome of Divinity
“The enemy’s dark resolve will seep away in the light of your righteousness.” – Judgement of the Light
“The enemy’s shadowy cunning is no match for the pure insight of the light.” – Judgment of Wisdom
I have heard stories, rumors, gossip about the Light being stripped from others. Regardless of how it starts it always ends with the unfortunate soul being stripped of the Light. Whether it takes away their magic, their ability to do so, seals it away- however it is taken the end is always the same. The individual is left, unable to call upon the Light for aide. The stories I have heard always follow some tragic ending where the individual dies in a manner appropriate (By whomever spread the story.) to the crime or punishment they caused.
I will admit the stories I heard are outlandish but in every lie and tall tale there is a grain of truth, no matter how small it is within it. That is what makes lies so believable. They carry some of the truth, just enough to make them easier to swallow down. But do I believe that the Light can be taken from an individual?
The simple answer is no.
The Light is ever present within all of us. It is not up to any individual or organization whether or not they can ‘take away’ the Light. Even those that seem unable to use the Light are more than capable of doing so if they believe in the Light.
But you can make the choice to abandon and reject it entirely. Nobody can take the Light from you except you.
I admit I know some who have made the choice. I do not see them any differently than I do another. The choice they made, regardless of why they made them, is their choice. It is not my place as a priest to judge them for that choice. It is not yours either. But if they chose to reverse that choice? The Light will accept them in its mercy and grace. It is salvation we do not deserve but are given anyway.
Let us all pray for happiness To love one another to help each other For us all to receive the Blessing of the Sunwell To give us strength and fortitude To withstand what Fate throws our way. Let none of us hunger. Or suffer
The Sunwell overflows with blessings for us all May the Sunwell bless you. May this blessing keep you safe when danger comes May this blessing steady your hand May this blessing comfort you when you are feeling low May this blessing comfort you when you are weak. May the Sunwell flow through you. You are chosen, you are magic,you are blessed, you are Sin’dorei. May the Sunwell’s sacred waters flow forever in my heart
May Quel’thalas prosper such is my greatest desire. May my heart sing with ecstasy at the sight of my home May my life be an offering for my home
May my heart bleed at the sight Of the wretched, the poor, and the wounded may I never become jaded to their suffering and pain
May I be there to show the path to those seeking one But if they should not hearken to me May I have the patience to wait
The Sunwell surrounds us The Sunwell flows through us The Sunwell enfolds us The Sunwell protects us Wherever we are, so is the Sunwell And all is well
The Light surrounds us The Light Enfolds us The Light Protects us The Light watches over us Wherever we are, the Light is And all goes well.
If I am the present Then you are the future If I am beaten and broken You are strong and ready to stand tall If I grow bitter and jaded May you grow wise and compassionate My dearest child I pray for a future you can thrive in
Grant, oh Sunwell, your protection And in protection strength and in strength, wisdom and in wisdom, justice and in justice, kindness and out of kindness, love And in that love, the love of all The Sunwell and goodness
Fire plays an important role in many religions and the light is no exception. Who among us has not seen a devoted cleric or paladin deliver the fury of the Light through conflagration? Or felt the heat coming from a paladin’s shield? The presence of fire is to be in the presence of the Light. The Light is warmth, burning retribution, protection, and healing. The light is warmth and the warmth is life. In the presence of the Light we feel alive. Fire is also a means of giving offerings to the Light. Our words go through the flames to it, transomfored into spiritual offerings. Sometimes incense will be burned, sometimes the offering is your own pain and suffering. Thus, an offering in fire feeds the fire, the divine whom it is offered to, or both.
Calling or lighting a sacred flame often plays a part in the creation of a sacred space. The flame may rise from where you called it into being, a candle, or an actual nonmagical fire.
Obviously if you lack magical fire any offerings given must be flammable such as vegetables, oil, papers, incense. (Please do not use goblin / gnomish made fuels, alcohol, or petroleum. The Light accepts offerings but it is not anxious to have your charred body as a offering.) Incense, paintings, sketches, and prayers written on paper or wood make excellent offerings.
Harken ye to the words of the White Lady, known among many names- the mother goddess, the mother moon, the night warrior but most frequently known as Elune.
Whenever you seek wisdom during the night, come together in love and trust and learn of Her, the wise moon. You who search for the mysteries of Azeroth.. The secrets of moonlight and sunlight, of healing and moonfire, the silence of the most distant stars, come unto me and Sheshall whisper to you in the depths of the night.
Approach Her in silence, as a sign you are free from fear, hands held out in supplication. If you are not evil you need not fear Her… for evil has no place in Her presence, and if you seek to use my power with dark intent I shall deny you. For I am Elune, the white Lady in the sky. She is the silence before birth and after death. She is the silver light that illuminates your path in the darkness. She is always there with you, between the stars and watching from above. I was with you at the beginning and She shall be with you in the end. She will meet you at the crossroads, lead you through the darkness, grasping you hands to lead you in the passage between the emerald dream and this world. To those that seek Her out She offers Her grace and love. Yet to the true and dedicate She offers gifts beyond mortal comprehension.
Of you She shall tell you the utter truth of what you are, and in return She might be silent when you ask answers She will not give, know that She will always love you. She will take pride in your triumphs and when you suffer She will weep with you and for you.
Elune speaks to us through the world. She is the silvery light that lights your path at night, the gentle breeze against your cheek and the spray of the ocean. Even when the sky goes dark and you do not see her, do not fear. Take Elune’s love and hold it in your heart with you everywhere.
– Copied from the page of a fallen Night Elven priest in Northrend. Elune rest his soul and keep him close. He held the page to his heart as he left this world. T. Silversword
For those among us who have been able to join an order like the Argent Crusade, the Silver Hand, the Church of Holy Light and others we are able to enjoy the experience of others in guiding and enriching our knowledge. We have books, we have people who know spells and rituals like the back of their hand, we have tools the solitary practitioner lacks. What then for those without such tools?
They must be creative. Self Teaching is a great challenge and those listening closely will hear the Light. But most often we have to start with four different tools:
Study
Thought
Prayer
Experimentation
Using the four mentioned above is the best way for the solitary practitioner to increase their own knowledge and understanding of the Light. This fourfold approach will help you strengthen your belief and help answer your questions if you’re willing to place your trust within the Light. If a new practitioner is reading this I encourage them not be caught up worrying if they are doing something incorrectly.
There is no one method used for everything, whether it is healing, invoking the Light, rituals, or calling down the Light’s fury in battle. The fact that there are numerous people on different sides who have their own methods of invoking the Light, calling to it, hearing it, and wielding it show the unique opportunity that lies in wait for the solitary practitioner: To discover new ways of listening, of using the Light. Thins that others, who have been conditioned to accept certain avenues of the Light’s expression, have missed.
While I am not a member of any order that uses the Light I will say that doing this on my own has made things different. I see things differently, the light whispers differently to me. How the Light manifests through me is different than, say, a human priest of the Church of Holy Light.
That was through centuries of the above however. Study, thought, prayer, experimentation and repeat. Do not feel frustrated if you do not get the results you desire. Be patient, believe, try again. The Light does not ignore you. It simply waits, trying to help you find the path that is best for you.
Tyleril Silversword 
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