 |
|
|
| ^ GoWithGilli Index Page | ||
| << Back to: Going to the Tekalkoin |
|
|
|
|
|
Explanation of Some Aspects of Cicutan Culture |
|||
The pink disks hanging down from the top are KahtoAnos,
similar to our yo-yos, used in religious ceremonies. They symbolize the
idea that, like the Trees, what goes down must come up. |
|||
 |
|
The pink creature with wings
illustrates the Cicutan belief that when they die, they regain the wings
of their ancestors and fly towards their sun, beyond Akar & Galana. |
|
|
The red creature below is one
of their favorite spirits, KseKhor, the Untangler--very
important in a culture where everyone weaves.
|
||
|
At bottom right is shown the Cicutan GreenFireDance.
This is performed at the beginning of RisingSeason and is supposed to
encourage the growth of the Trees. |
||
|
|||
|
|
|||
Below is an attempt by an exPlan to translate the Thetoriad into Earthan. This is really impossible as there is much more to the poem than just words. There are "meaningless" sound patterns between the words creating complex rhythms appropriate to the meaning. Also there is an accompaniment of smells which heighten the emotions of fear, despair, exhaustion, elation, satisfaction, etc. So use your imagination. Picture Cicutans, young kryses and their elders, huddled around a fire on the dark forest floor in FallTime. They cease their usual chatter waiting expectantly for the Ahfeeg to begin his performance... |
|||
|
|
The Thetoriad |
|
| All dark, all grey, all damp, all smelly Once--bright sun, dry earth, clear water All, asleep, curled against damp, close to Tree Suddenly, awake, look, Tree glows, Hear--Climb, save yourselves, upward-- Mutter--Too far, too high, too big, too small-- Hear again--Climb, must climb, destiny-- All shiver, glow fades, darkness |
The Vision
|
| Faint light filters, rain drips All awake, chatter, wonder, ask, but Thetor whispers--Someone must-- Others question, titter, beg, portend,. but Thetor resigned--I must, climb-- Inside ache, grabs vine, pulls up Soon, others lost in rain mist |
The Start |
| First leaf, tired, rest, sit Flash, beast, many-legged--Back, back-- --No start, no fail, safe, safe-- --Down, down, others forget, safe, safe-- Thetor determined--Up, up, must try, must know-- Beast, many-legged, poof |
The Many-Legged Beast [fear of beginnings]  |
| Again, hand hold, hole Rain drip-drop, eyes, feel, grasp Second leaf, breathes, closes eyes Opens eyes, all mist, all cloud, all blank, all swirl Questions, confusion, up, down, around Yes, no, maybe, why, when, who Thetor deep breath--Remember, must do-- --No think, no feel, do-- Opens eyes, clouds below, sky pieces above |
The Deep Fog [confusion]  |
| Reach, skyward, hand, hand, foot, again, again Third leaf, tired, sleep, quiet Feels cool touch, shivers, opens, eerie light Blue ghosts float--Whooo knows, what awaits-- --For youuuu, slip-slide, into blue-ooo-- Thetor shaking--Awake, awake, here, now, leaf, Tree-- See, see, shaft of morning sun |
The Blue Ghosts [fear of the unknown] 
|
| Up, toward light, climb, climb Fourth leaf, sit, all ache, sit, rest No move, no spark, time, time, fade Looks down, green-blue mold grows Grows on feet, grows on belly, grows ever up Look up, first Moon Moth, glowing, beauty, flutters higher Thetor hopeful--Find more, wonders, higher-- Pull from mold, brush away, seek next hold |
The Grasping Mold [lethargy]  |
| Fifth leaf, sees further, away, down, way down Sees up, leaves, flowers, glimpse of storied Akar Sees tree trunk, worm wrapped, eye stares Worm coos--High climb, soon goal, gold-- --You high, others low, forget, enjoy, exault-- Thetor dreams--Hard work, big risk, deserve, important-- Thetor remembers--Gloom, cold, hungry, people-- Thetor screams--No, no, go, go-- Last seen, worm tail, disappears into hole |
The Worm of Temptation [selfishness] 
|
| Sixth stop, first branch Opposite branch, reflection, another self Thetor mirrored--Almost there, so proud, you, who? --The runt, the useless, the fool, the stupid-- --What to do, at top, alone, the unknown-- --Float back, go down, slip in, forget-- Thetor to mirrored--At top, alone, unknown-- --Who knows, find out, come here, together, one-- Up, through branches, flower ceiling above |
The Mirror Self [self doubt] 
|
| Seventh stop, a little rest, catch breath Now what, when done, then what Visible, vunerable, danger, unknown, questions Change, direction, good, bad, mediocre, questions Thetor done--it Is what is, will see-- |
The Flower Ceiling [fear of success] 
|
| Last push, through flowers, full view Breeze, sweet air, red Akar, Galana shining, Billow clouds, tree tops, mydys shimmer between Stays, rests, eats, drinks, breathes, gazes Tree gives fiber, hands weave, weave rope Full sixty rotations, time, return time |
On Top
|
| Down, down, down, down the rope Past flower ceiling Past mirror self Past temptor worm Past grasping mold Past blue ghosts Past fog-cloud Past many-legged beast To the forest floor Others amazed, ...mourned Thetor dead Whispered fool, shivered cold Now hope story, possibility New world, all change |
[the young kryses join in the chorus] |
|
||||||||||||
