The Order of the Divine Light
The Order of the Divine Light are followers of Aoalani, the deity of the sun The Divine Light and the Spark of Creation. These clerics, paladins, priests, and monks believe in the power of the radiant sun.
Upon requesting to enter the order, Individuals retain their given name but cast off their family name. Kinmen is the last name given to all initiates who enter the building. This is to pledge themselves to the deity and the order. Their new family. They then spend years training and learning. Spending countless hours in service of the order and studying in the library. When The Communion of Elders deem the initiate ready, they hold council to discuss the initiate and decide if it is time for them to undertake the calling of the light. The initiate is then brought into The Cathedral of The Aurora to begin the dedication ceremony.
The dedication ceremony begins at midnight on the morning of their transition. The initiates hair and eyebrows are shaved for the first time by one of the elders of the order. A ritual that the initiate will become quite familiar with, as they will be performing the deed and maintaining a shorn head and eyebrows for the remainder of their time within the order. This is done so that nothing remains between themselves and the radiance of the blessed Aoalani. They are then led to The Meditation cliffs to begin the search for their spark of Enlightenment. The initiate waits on their berth on the cliffs for the dawn. The first spark of light. They then spend the day in their berth, bathing in the light of their deity awaiting a vision. An insight into their place in the order and the world. This stage of the ceremony may take hours or days. The initiate is given no food and only a flask of blessed water to consume during their meditation. Upon receiving a vision, they are retrieved by The Elders, bathed, robed and brought back to the Cathedral where they are to take their vows. Upon taking their vows, the initiate becomes a member of The Order of the Divine Light and takes the last name of Zahn.
From that day forward, the member rises before the dawn to ritualistically shave their head and brow and begin prayers. They then await the sunrise, facing west. Meditating and awaiting the arrival of their deity’s radiance. Mid-day prayers and rituals are also a part of the worship. With the sun at its zenith, it is said that Aoalani is at their most powerful and that The Convergence is the closest to her. There are also prayers at dusk leading into sundown. Most members of the order retire to bed at this time. Choosing to not spend time outside the influence of The Divine Spark.
Due to the constant prayers towards the sun and gazing into its rays for enlightenment year after year, many of the elders have gone blind. It does not faze them. In fact, it is considered an honor. One does not need to see to feel the radiant splendor of The Radiant. The goal is to focus on the feel of the radiance, not the sight of it.
Pilgrims will travel to the cliffs from all over the world to partake in the meditation practice at the source. The first piece of land that partakes in the light of the divine.
Below is the religious symbol of the followers of Aoalani. This is the symbol utilized by the majority of the order as well. It features the sun at dawn rising above the horizon line.
There is a symbol used by some of the more…..militant members of the sect. You will find it below. It features the morning star. This is the symbolic weapon of the order.
There is an older symbol that is occasionally found in readings and art. It includes an arrow pointed to the heavens. Aoalani is associated with the hunt. The reason for this is their continued pursuit of their lover, Yesanith- The moon. Over time, the arrow was dropped and removed. It was viewed as a more refined and focused symbol. Focusing on the spark of creation and not the would be relations and pursuit of a misunderstood deity (Yesanith- the moon is associated with death, and therefore viewed with apprehension and fear).
