II. Those Who Worship the High Priestess

Many sects who worship the High Priestess view her as the guiding principle of navigable cosmic mystery. They believe that the High Priestess doles out esoteric evidence and divine inspiration to those willing to devote their lives to chasing obscure and occult knowledge. These faithful are divided: some believe that apotheosis is the end result of an accumulation of sacred learning, while others believe that the pursuit of knowledge itself is a form of spiritual rebirth.

In the eyes of another sect, the High Priestess is a holy principle who urges inaction. They view her placidity as an exemplar of proper living; to not act, to never choose, is what is best in life. Although their maxims are regarded largely as excuses for laziness and sloth, these adherents attain a level of calm that is untroubled by the necessity of living for themselves or others. When all is chaos, they remain serene and undecided.

Other, more militant, sects revere the High Priestess as an emblem of feminine superiority. To them, she is the encapsulation of intuition over deliberation and instinct over reasoned action. Some adherents support causes that hope to address inequalities; they seek to uplift those who are downtrodden precisely because of their femininity. More extreme members of the faithful actively work toward fostering inequality and the enthroning of a prejudicial matriarchy.

* * *


An entry in an ongoing series about religion in Scarabae.