The Kiva.

Intro

No matter what the religion, there is always a need for some type of accommodations dedicated to what is held sacred and for sacred functions, a temple, a shrine, a structure meant to bridge the chasm between the mortal plain and the realm of the divine drawing the two closer together. Christians have churches. Muslims have mosques. Jews have synagogues. Chipmunks who practice the religion known as Tawanism to outsiders or Divine Destiny to the faithful have Kivas.

Etymology

Kiva is an ancient word dating back to times before animals could walk. It means “Meeting Place” It is the place were chipmunks gather to worship Tawa, deity of the sun, giver of life. Kivas also enshrine Synergy Crystals, mystical objects that link Chipmunks to Tawa, their source of power enabling them to carry out the Divine Destiny. Kivas also enshrine other venerated objects such as relics. The purpose of Kivas are to be spaces consecrated as sacred and holy in which the sacred is enshrined, and the ceremonies take place. Most of all it is a sanctuary where one seeks comfort among the divine.

History

In the Old Kingdom era. There was no separation of religion and state. The Chipmunk Kingdom was governed by the Divine See both in the secular and the spiritual with the Chipmunk Chieftain as the Head and Sovereign. In short the Old Kingdom was a theocracy, with the Kivas serving as the seats of power. When the Doctrine of Order was made the supreme law of the land at the beginning of the current New Kingdom Era, secular governance of the Chipmunk Kingdom was handed over to the newly formed Central, Territorial, and local governments. The Devine See was then dedicated solely to governance of the religion and the Chipmunk Cheiftain as the Spiritual Leader. Kivas then became dedicated solely to religious activities.

Location

Some Kivas are built upon venerated locations. The Great Kiva in Chitimon is built upon the site of the Den in which Hakooji lived when he cast his vote for day. The Kiva of the Sacred Conception in the city of Striatus is built over an old den believed to be where Hakooji was born and raised. The Kiva of the Euphony in the dessert village of Hopi is built upon the site of where Kona taught Hakooji about Tawa and his life giving light. Usually though, Kivas are built upon a prominent place such as a hill to bring them closer to Tawa.

Construction of a new Kiva

The establishment and construction of a new Kiva begins with a proposal, called a Request for Establishment, sent by the Committee planning the new Kiva, before the diocese Elders. This request proposes the establishment of a new Kiva parish and Kiva. When approved by the Elders, the Request is then sent before the Shaman of the diocese who then gives his blessings. After that the approved Request of Establishment is send to the Devine See so they may officially recognize the new Kiva Parish. After recognition by the Divine See, a proposed name of the new Kiva is submitted to the Divine See in the form of a Submission of Nomenclature for their approval. At this point the Divine See can either approve the name, reject it, or in very rare cases counter with a name they feel is more appropriate. If the Submission of Nomenclature is rejected the committee planing the new kiva may send another submission.

Once the Request for Proposal and Submission of Nomenclature are approve the New Parish will begin the land acquisition process. Funds are raised to purchase land for the Kiva. Also if need be the Diocese as well as the Divine See will aid in funding and acquisition. When land is acquired the Shaman will conduct the Sanctification ceremony calling upon Tawa to protect the land from those who thirst for darkness and reserve the land for sacred uses forevermore.

After this the new parish then hires an architect to design the kiva. The design must be approved by the parish as well as the Diocese and Divine See. This approval process insures the Kiva is tastefully designed and conforms to liturgical requirements. After approval the Parish then goes through conventional channels with the local municipality to gain approval from them.

Once approval is given by the local authorities and building permits issued, construction begins on the new Kiva. The Shaman then consecrates the cornerstone which then is ceremoniously laid in place. As construction of the new Kiva proceeds the Shaman either anoints someone from the new Parish as a priest or in most cases a priest is appointed to the new Parish.

Consecration of the New Kiva

When completed the new Kiva is then undergoes the Consecration, an elaborate ceremony that transforms what is still an ordinary building into the sacred space it was meant to be. Thus the Kiva is born. The ceremony is conducted by the Shamon. If it is determined that the new Kiva will have great impact or be of great importance, one of the Keepers in the Divine See or even the Chipmunk Cheiftain himself will consecrate the edifice. The Consecration of the Kiva begins early in the morning with the Shaman joined by the Elders of the new parish in prayer at the footsteps of the building. Later the parish and chipmunks from around the region gather to witness the consecration. After the prayers are complete, shaman walks around the building blessing it with holy water making the building into a sacred space. Two assistance carry with them torches to drive away evil spirits. After circling the building with holy water the shaman returns to the entrance. He then faces the portal and recites the following.

“Oh ye portals be open to the Glory of Tawa, to all chipmunks of the Divine Destiny, and to all good people of Mother Earth who seek peace and comfort within the walls of this new Kiva!”

If the portals are equipped with doors. The Shamon will raise his staff and knock on the doors three times. A moment later the doors are opened permitting entry into the newly born Kiva to much fanfare.

When inside the Kiva the shaman then consecrates the Alter into the Bloodstone. The Kiva is then complete and ready for the installation of a Synergy Crystal.

The installation of the Synergy Crystal is done in a stately yet solemn ceremony. The congregation enters the new Kiva. Followed is a grand procession of the clergy. They join the Shaman around the alter. Next a series of prayers are said calling upon Tawa for strength and to deliver unto the parish the strength to carry out the divine Destiny as he did when giving the synergy crystal to Hajooki. A team of six chipmunks carries the Crystal which is laid upon a board with handles. This board is lined with padding made of the finest materials. The carriers proceed with the crystal down the aisle to sacred music. They stop before the shamon and kneel before him.

The Shamon and the congregation together says. “We thank thee oh Tawa, giver of life to this world, for your strength in us. We thank thee for giving us life as you have given our fallen Hakooji his life. You have revived him. Through him you have revived all chipmunks then, now, and all of our descendants till the end of time. We ask thee oh great Sun carry aloft this crystal so it may bask in your Divine Light within the hallowed walls of this Kiva. We pray to thee, we beseech thee, provide we your faithful servants the power, wisdom, and strength to carry on the oaths our Hakooji has said before thee in return for life renewed. Bind us to this crystal, the conduit that links all we chipmunks to the infinite power of your the life giving light.”

The divine magic of Tawa then lefts the crystal from the carriers and carries it aloft to its final possition in the center of the Kiva high above the alter where it will receive the light of the Sun via the oculus. The Crystal then comes to life to much fanfare. It is then the first service and Bloodless sacrifice is made completing the consecration of the new Kiva.

Layout of the Kiva

Kivas come in a wide variety of sizes and complexity, from the size of a small house to massive highly ornate edifices like the Great Kiva in Chitimon. But regardless of size and elaboration kivas all have the same basic shape, parts, and layout. The building is round in shape, symbolizing the round shape of the sun. The entrance is almost always facing east to let the rays of the morning sun pour into the interior. An oculus is located in the roof of the kiva to let the high noon sun in to power the Synergy Crystal within. The oculus can be a simple hole or in many cases a cupola. The roofs themselves can be simple flat roofs most commonly found in the prairies and desserts or domed shaped, or most commonly cone shaped. The entrance of the Kiva can be a simple portal on small structures or large elaborate entrances with bronze doors, porches, and porticoes. However in all instances an entrance is accompanied by a fount either just inside or out which is used by worshipers to clean their hands and feet before entering. The entrance must always allow the morning sun light to flow into the interior with as little hindrances a possible rather via clear story windows above or sidelights beside the portals or the portal simply being an open portal without doors.

Entering into a Kiva finds oneself in a reception space, a narthex. It serves as a transition space from the secular to the sacred. Passing farther in, one enter the sanctuary itself. Along the perimeter are various shrines and meditative spaces. In small Kivas these shrines can be simple niches cut into the perimeter walls. Shrines in larger kivas are more elaborate spaces similar to the radiating chapels in the chevet of a large Gothic cathedral. On the west side of the Sanctuary directly opposite of the narthex is the chair of the priest. Larger kivas may have this chair in an apse. In the Great Kiva in Chitimon, this chair is the Throne of Hakooji in which the Chipmunk Cheiftain, as the incarnate of Hakooji, sits. In larger kivas that hold many people an ambulatory surrounds the sanctuary allowing for easy circulation of the crowds. In the center of the sanctuary on a raised platform is the Alter. Usually made of marble, it is consecrated as the Bloodstone, the rock on which Hakooji was slain by the Bear who cast his vote for night. It is upon the Alter that the bloodless sacrifice takes place.

High above the alter is the Kiva's synergy crystal basking in the sun beams flowing in through the oculus gathering the power of Tawa to be distributed to the worshipers below and to all chipmunks throughout the region. An aisle leading from the entrance or narthex to the alter accomadates entering and exiting crowds and more importantly the procession at the beginning of services and recession at the end.

Around the Alter are four predominate torches who's flames keep evil spirits away and therefore maintains the sanctity and purity of the alter space and alter itself. Surrounding the Alter is the Rood, a rail that represents the chasm between the mortal plain and the realm of the divine.

Two of the Kiva's most important shrines are the north and south shrines. The south shrine, in the direction from which the spring, the light, warmth and therefore life comes, contains the Canvas of the Body and the Crimson Paint. During the offertory stages of the service, worshipers will place their name seals upon the canvas. When the canvas is consecrated by the priest as the body of Hakooji, all the worshipers become part of the body. The north shrine, in the direction from which winter come and therefore darkness and death, is where the Claws of Rage are kepted. The Claws of Rage represent the claws of the Bear who cast his vote for night, the very claws that slashed those fatal wounds down the back of Hakooji. At the moment of the sacrifice, the Claws are dipped into a bowl containing the Crimson Paint. When the claws are dragged down the canvas by the priest, a transubstantiation of the Crimson Paint into the blood of Hakooji bleeding from those wounds takes place. Thus the sacrifice is made. After that summit of the faith, that symbolic gesture of incorporating into the brave sacrifice that Hakooji made to cast his vote for day, a symbolic sacrifice of one's own vein desires for the greater good, the synergy crystal then gives the power of Tawa to the worshipers reviving them giving them the strength to carry on the Divine Destiny of insuring the light is always triumphant over the darkness and thus life everlasting over death.