Though
religions have continuously arose in Galen culture, none of these
transient religions has endured as permanent power and influence, what
we see instead is a diverse symbolism partly made up from the passing
religious philosophies, and partly from older connections made by the
mind with the landscape and the universe. On Gadarren at least we see
symbolism forming a predominant basis to the people’s spiritual path,
and not ordered religious institutions.
Symbolism
has affected the development of everything since the age of mysticism,
stories based around certain icons form a set of parables that can
instruct and inform about nearly everything, and this story-making is
not yet dead, as it is still used today by the Galen to construct ideas
and concepts. Symbolism has also crept into every aspect of culture,
buildings are rich in symbolism, as well as nearly every other Galen
artifact, there are even ‘holy’ or sacred grounds where a certain
combination of naturally occurring symbols come together, and are viewed
as sacred, or imbued with mystical powers.
Below
are listed some of the most common concepts in this symbolism, listing
examples and what is meant by them, it has been said that the average
Galen consists of ‘the best parts of a scientist and mystic’, and
this civilization is certainly no less spiritual than its siblings in
the federation.
Notes
on Galen symbolism
Naturally
occurring symbols are thought to influence the surrounding area, and
certain combinations of ‘simple’ natural symbols such as water and
fire, give rise to other ‘higher’ properties such as truth or life.
Building
an embodiment of a symbol also has the effect of changing the
surrounding area, though natural symbols are more potent as they come
from nature itself.
Also
everyday items such as pots of water or fruit in their own way exhibit
properties of symbols and so they to alter the surrounding area, ideas
about balanced diet and arrangement of houses has been strongly affected
by the symbolic properties of ordinary objects.
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