Of Innocence and Experience - an Introduction to Mewism
Jul 27, 2015 9:08:02 GMT -6
Olive, Rabdom, and 1 more like this
Post by Liridon Cedar on Jul 27, 2015 9:08:02 GMT -6
Innocence:
Of the multitude of faiths brought through the Legend Portal, perhaps one of the oldest is that dedicated to Mew, a Legend said to only appear before the pure of heart. This faith, known primarily by the rather uncreative name of Mewism, revolves largely around the Pokemon thought to be the ancestor of all terrestrial Pokemon. For untold generations, there have been stories about this slight pink feline – long before any human called it Mew – and the primary characteristics of these tales have remained constant as time wove on. It is held that, following the creation of the world (later stories including the creation of other worlds from which the likes of Elgyem arose) and the banishment of Giratina, Arceus became unsatisfied with the barren state of the wonders around him/her/them* and let loose into existence Sparks of his/her/their own life force in greater number than before – and with less defined outcomes – to see what would emerge. These Sparks then travelled through the expanses of space, each landing on a world and imbuing it with the beginnings of life.
Most of the stories in this vein revolve solely on the Spark which landed on PokeEarth, the rest of the multitude only alluded to in later stories when tales of Pokemon from beyond the stars began to spread. The PokeEarth Spark, so it is told, bonded with its world with a great flash of light, spreading a shower of tiny shimmering sparklets across the globe to form the first terrestrial organisms – which would become the forerunners of non-Pokemon life. In the place where the Spark first touched the surface, however, there was formed a curious creature – small, pink and felinoid, with a long tail and wide round eyes filled with a blue akin to fathomless skies. This was the First Mew.
Then Arceus looked upon what had been wrought, and was pleased by the cheerful visage of the little one, but saw that the rest of the world she** frolicked in was not yet full of any life that possessed the means to play with the child. At this time, Mew was as an infant, full of innocence, joy and the desire to play, but little else. Struck with pity when Mew slowly came to realise that she was alone in the world, Arceus fashioned a playmate for her. In the fullness of time, the First and Second Mew gave rise to many young, and all were as full of the same innocence, joy and playfulness as the First. As the world changed around them, though, they also became curious, and were the first Seekers of New Things. However, there was no Knowledge, little to require Will, and the only Emotion present on PokeEarth was within the Mew. While they investigated everything around them with cheer and enthusiasm, they rarely remembered. When Arceus saw this, the great one decided to intervene again, sending a different and much more specialised Spark to PokeEarth.
When the new Spark drifted near, the First Mew saw that it was delightful and shining, and small enough to grasp. Treating it in the same manner as any curious young one might, she put it into her mouth. When she did this, a great flaring of light from her slender form signalled the arrival of Knowledge, Willpower, Emotion and Change. From this point on, all Mew were gifted with the power to change themselves as they saw fit, to learn whatever they so pleased and remember it, to feel more deeply than before, and to have the will to stick to whatever course they chose. Those gifts might have been limited to the kin of Mew, had it not been for a simple factor – the First Mew was with egg. The egg she laid after consuming the Gift Spark was far different to any she had laid before, and from it arose triplets with far different visage to any Mew. These were the entities who later became known as Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf, bringers and guardians of Knowledge, Emotion and Willpower.
Across PokeEarth, the life that arose from the sparklets of the first Spark to reach it had been growing according to its own path, and the world was full of plants and creatures by the time the new triplets came to be. Thus it was that, gifted with new capacity to learn and change, many Mew sought to understand the life forms that were not of their kin. However, the first Mew to change themselves were unpractised at the art, and appeared as though magically-imbued versions of what they sought to imitate. Not discouraged, they persisted – many having children with the life they were so fascinated by and giving rise to new lines before they learned how to perfectly imitate the forms of others. Not all Mew were fascinated by life, however – others were drawn to the processes of the world around them, changing themselves to better suit the environments they were immersed in learning of. Gradually, they and their children developed a mastery of their chosen field – some going on to produce other Legends whose tales are told in the present. Those that Changed themselves and remained Changed, and those who were born of those who Changed, did not possess the same timeless innocence and childlike joyful curiosity as Mew when they grew older, and many children of the Changed lived for far shorter spans. Those who remained Mew, however, retained those traits, tempered with the wisdom brought by their multitude of years and discoveries – becoming the Ancient Children-At-Heart so revered by Mewists.
The Traits of Mew:
Followers of Mewism, in general, tend to aspire to pattern themselves after the focus of their reverence – at least to a point, so it is helpful to know what tenets they typically follow.
Innocence and Serenity are some of the first things that come to mind when one thinks of Mew, and most Mewists attempt to incorporate some of the same childlike wonder into their lives and actions. They also tend to attempt to view the troubles life brings them with a serene attitude (though this is obviously far from automatic) and endeavour to solve them without losing their temper or wits.
Joy is another primary characteristic, and many Mewists hold that it is important to retain a sense of joy and cheer through life, and to spread it if they can – though obviously it can be hard to hold onto, it is closely linked with hope, which is of high importance in the new world that awaits.
Curiosity is another highly important trait, and one of the most widely embraced Traits of Mew. Because of this, many Mewists become Researchers, seeking to follow in the pawsteps of the first Seekers of New Things and satisfy their drive to learn and understand all that they can about the world around them. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is prevalent.
Adaptability and Creativity are also highly valued by Mewists, and particularly relevant to Mi-aro. Being able to change oneself and/or one's surroundings according to situation (or whim) and flourish is something many adherents strive towards and value in others, as is the ability to create something new – particularly as relevant to new life and new forms of life. That Mi-aro is so full of Changed Pokemon is thrilling to Mewists who hold these Traits dear, and the thought of encountering these creatures equally thrilling – despite the danger.
Freedom is another central Trait associated with Mew by those who revere them – as Mew are seen as being able to go wherever and do whatever they please with far more impunity than others, particularly in light of their ability to Change or become unseen at will. Mewists embracing this Trait are likely to resent restrictions to their ability to come and go as they please, and may have problems with anyone seeking to restrain them.
Experience:
While stories of Mew's younger direct kin are far more recent than those of his*** ancient forebears, tales of Mewtwo are buoyed up by documented eyewitness accounts and extremely rare conversations with the reclusive younger Legend, and have become part of the lore held dear by Mewists. The creation of such a Pokemon ties into the Traits of Curiosity, Adaptability and Creativity, while the Pokemon in question seems to hold dear the Trait of Freedom.
The first stories that spread about this enigmatic figure arose from sightings of an unidentified feline Psychic Pokemon wearing a brown cloak, and sometimes a matching wide-brimmed hat, that appeared in cities and occasionally intervened in cases in which humans and/or Pokemon were in peril. Other stories told of an unclad purple figure of two hues, tall stature, powerful tail and peculiar dual necks dwelling in caves and repelling all comers from his lair. At first, these tales were regarded as little more than urban legends, but gradually became more acknowledged when more sightings – and the occasional photograph – became known.
Inevitably, many tried to capture this new Pokemon for themselves, but he proved able to defend his liberty quite ruthlessly when provoked, and remained wild. Equally inevitably, many sought to know and understand more about this strange figure, and a great number of Researchers and Journalists converged upon those locations in which he had been spotted. These Seekers of New Things (though many were not Mewist) proved quite persistent, and apparently rather irritating, as eventually the exasperated Legend consented to speak with ONE Researcher and ONE Journalist, neither bearing any capture device, on the condition that they would largely leave him in peace and cease broadcasting his every move to all and sundry once he had done so. He warned that dire consequences would arise if the sliver of trust he extended with this agreement was betrayed, and demonstrated his power by calling up a storm and by blasting a rocky outcrop to bits. Both thrilled and intimidated, those who came seeking information conferred and – after some time spent arguing and debating – agreed. The two individuals selected by the group, both respected in their fields, met with Mewtwo at Cerulean Cave, and were transported through the sky with him to an undisclosed remote location. There, he allowed each to ask questions of him, and began to reveal his identity, nature and story.
Any new Pokemon with a direct connection to Mew would have been viewed by Mewists with a kind of reverence – to have one revealed with Mew in their very name could not help but have an impact on Mewism. The synthesised Legend became viewed as a kind of counterpart to Mew, with lessons of his own to be taken to heart. It is, perhaps, a fortunate thing that nobody thought to inform the entity of this development, as it is uncertain how the news would have been received.
The Traits of Mewtwo:
As with Mew, this Pokemon is seen as having defining Traits that others consider worthy of emulation, reverence, or simply consideration.
Experience, in contrast to Innocence, seems to be among the perceived associations of this counterpart to Mew – and a reminder that, while optimism is all very well, a healthy dose of cynicism can help to keep one alive and free.
Independence appears to be central to this Legend – an expression of the Trait of Freedom that fiercely defies all those who would bind any holding this Trait dear to the will of another. This is particularly popular among those who are noted for being stubborn or hot-headed, and especially those who find Serenity difficult to embrace.
Confidence and Determination, such as that exhibited by Mewtwo when it seemed that it was the clone against the world, are other prized Traits. While they can be misplaced, they are seen as highly commendable – particularly in context with the wild new world of Mi-aro.
Questing, in this context for a way to belong, is a Trait that seems most favoured by the young, those who feel out of place, or those with something to prove.
Re-evaluation, the ability to look past one's previous assumptions when presented with another perspective, is another important Trait – and one held in particular esteem seeing as it was apparently a Mew**** who introduced this concept to Mewtwo, helping to prevent catastrophe.
Protectiveness, particularly in context to those one sees as family or otherwise one's responsibility (such as one's Pokemon), is the final commonly-agreed Trait of Mewtwo. Just as the Legend in question was willing to risk everything in for the sake of the clones he'd created, Mewists holding to this Trait are likely to be fierce and determined in the defence of those under their care, even if they are unrelated.
While it is true that many of these Traits are commonly observed in people anyway, the degrees to which they are exhibited by the Pokemon Mewists associate them with is often seen as something to aspire towards, however improbable actually mastering these Traits might be. Often, someone might be drawn to a Trait because they feel they need to reinforce it in themselves – or because they already express it, and revel in the idea that a being as exalted as a Legend would share that characteristic with them. One doesn't need to belong to a church or other worship group in order to be a Mewist, but they are often found to know at least one other. In cases in which there are a significant number of Mewists living in one area, a religious leader might appear – these are generally referred to as Clerics - an example of which can be found here, and can usually be distinguished by a Mew-pink scarf or sash bearing two round sky-blue marks. These marks may be sewn-on patches, the result of careful use of dyes, or the result of other blue materials being affixed. Generally, this does not clash too much with the rest of their clothing, but, well, there's always at least one out there who doesn't match things well.
Sometimes, one might see a shrine dedicated to Mewism, or little stone cairns along the side of a road, or perhaps hear them singing – these are all ways in which Mewists have been known to express their faith. The cairns are often simple piles of stones that indicate that a Mewist has passed that way, usually a Seeker of New Things, and those that have not been excessively interfered with often have a thin tail-like extension of stones stuck into the ground to hold them in place, ending in a slightly bulbous tip. These 'tails', which typically curl around the main part of the cairn, are usually the best way of distinguishing a Mewist cairn from those of other faiths.
Mewists have been known to carry little totems of varying make that resemble Mew, or sometimes Mewtwo, usually in their pocket or as part of some jewellery, but it varies widely. Some tokens may simply, for example, consist of two round blue items set in something or strung onto something – this would represent the wide eyes of Mew, and symbolise Curiosity, Innocence and Joy.
The first day of Spring, to Mewists, is considered New Life Day, and generally tends to result in a party if there are enough celebrants present. Traditions associated with this include giving gifts to those with new babies (or Pokemon eggs), kissing those babies, and planting seeds. Another Mewist tradition, though it needn't be related to New Life Day, pertains to the naming of children. Not all Mewists follow this tradition, but those that do are likely to name their child after one or more of the Traits of Mew or Mewtwo that they value – whether directly or by giving the child a name that means the same thing.
*Opinion on the gender of Arceus is divided, but many Mewists hold that no sentient being – far less Legend – should be referred to as 'it'.
**It is widely held by Mewists that the First Mew was female, as this Pokemon is viewed as the first mother of Pokemon to follow, and the mother of specific other Legends.
***While nobody who has gotten close enough has dared check or ask, the timbre of this Pokemon's mental voice has lead to the assumption of masculinity.
****This Mew, due to the role he/she/they played, is commonly nicknamed Pax (meaning peace) by Mewists. This type of nicknaming of Mew known or believed to have been involved in historical events is quite common, and helps to avoid confusion. However, nobody is quite certain that they weren't all one individual.
(2756 words)
Of the multitude of faiths brought through the Legend Portal, perhaps one of the oldest is that dedicated to Mew, a Legend said to only appear before the pure of heart. This faith, known primarily by the rather uncreative name of Mewism, revolves largely around the Pokemon thought to be the ancestor of all terrestrial Pokemon. For untold generations, there have been stories about this slight pink feline – long before any human called it Mew – and the primary characteristics of these tales have remained constant as time wove on. It is held that, following the creation of the world (later stories including the creation of other worlds from which the likes of Elgyem arose) and the banishment of Giratina, Arceus became unsatisfied with the barren state of the wonders around him/her/them* and let loose into existence Sparks of his/her/their own life force in greater number than before – and with less defined outcomes – to see what would emerge. These Sparks then travelled through the expanses of space, each landing on a world and imbuing it with the beginnings of life.
Most of the stories in this vein revolve solely on the Spark which landed on PokeEarth, the rest of the multitude only alluded to in later stories when tales of Pokemon from beyond the stars began to spread. The PokeEarth Spark, so it is told, bonded with its world with a great flash of light, spreading a shower of tiny shimmering sparklets across the globe to form the first terrestrial organisms – which would become the forerunners of non-Pokemon life. In the place where the Spark first touched the surface, however, there was formed a curious creature – small, pink and felinoid, with a long tail and wide round eyes filled with a blue akin to fathomless skies. This was the First Mew.
Then Arceus looked upon what had been wrought, and was pleased by the cheerful visage of the little one, but saw that the rest of the world she** frolicked in was not yet full of any life that possessed the means to play with the child. At this time, Mew was as an infant, full of innocence, joy and the desire to play, but little else. Struck with pity when Mew slowly came to realise that she was alone in the world, Arceus fashioned a playmate for her. In the fullness of time, the First and Second Mew gave rise to many young, and all were as full of the same innocence, joy and playfulness as the First. As the world changed around them, though, they also became curious, and were the first Seekers of New Things. However, there was no Knowledge, little to require Will, and the only Emotion present on PokeEarth was within the Mew. While they investigated everything around them with cheer and enthusiasm, they rarely remembered. When Arceus saw this, the great one decided to intervene again, sending a different and much more specialised Spark to PokeEarth.
When the new Spark drifted near, the First Mew saw that it was delightful and shining, and small enough to grasp. Treating it in the same manner as any curious young one might, she put it into her mouth. When she did this, a great flaring of light from her slender form signalled the arrival of Knowledge, Willpower, Emotion and Change. From this point on, all Mew were gifted with the power to change themselves as they saw fit, to learn whatever they so pleased and remember it, to feel more deeply than before, and to have the will to stick to whatever course they chose. Those gifts might have been limited to the kin of Mew, had it not been for a simple factor – the First Mew was with egg. The egg she laid after consuming the Gift Spark was far different to any she had laid before, and from it arose triplets with far different visage to any Mew. These were the entities who later became known as Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf, bringers and guardians of Knowledge, Emotion and Willpower.
Across PokeEarth, the life that arose from the sparklets of the first Spark to reach it had been growing according to its own path, and the world was full of plants and creatures by the time the new triplets came to be. Thus it was that, gifted with new capacity to learn and change, many Mew sought to understand the life forms that were not of their kin. However, the first Mew to change themselves were unpractised at the art, and appeared as though magically-imbued versions of what they sought to imitate. Not discouraged, they persisted – many having children with the life they were so fascinated by and giving rise to new lines before they learned how to perfectly imitate the forms of others. Not all Mew were fascinated by life, however – others were drawn to the processes of the world around them, changing themselves to better suit the environments they were immersed in learning of. Gradually, they and their children developed a mastery of their chosen field – some going on to produce other Legends whose tales are told in the present. Those that Changed themselves and remained Changed, and those who were born of those who Changed, did not possess the same timeless innocence and childlike joyful curiosity as Mew when they grew older, and many children of the Changed lived for far shorter spans. Those who remained Mew, however, retained those traits, tempered with the wisdom brought by their multitude of years and discoveries – becoming the Ancient Children-At-Heart so revered by Mewists.
The Traits of Mew:
Followers of Mewism, in general, tend to aspire to pattern themselves after the focus of their reverence – at least to a point, so it is helpful to know what tenets they typically follow.
Innocence and Serenity are some of the first things that come to mind when one thinks of Mew, and most Mewists attempt to incorporate some of the same childlike wonder into their lives and actions. They also tend to attempt to view the troubles life brings them with a serene attitude (though this is obviously far from automatic) and endeavour to solve them without losing their temper or wits.
Joy is another primary characteristic, and many Mewists hold that it is important to retain a sense of joy and cheer through life, and to spread it if they can – though obviously it can be hard to hold onto, it is closely linked with hope, which is of high importance in the new world that awaits.
Curiosity is another highly important trait, and one of the most widely embraced Traits of Mew. Because of this, many Mewists become Researchers, seeking to follow in the pawsteps of the first Seekers of New Things and satisfy their drive to learn and understand all that they can about the world around them. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is prevalent.
Adaptability and Creativity are also highly valued by Mewists, and particularly relevant to Mi-aro. Being able to change oneself and/or one's surroundings according to situation (or whim) and flourish is something many adherents strive towards and value in others, as is the ability to create something new – particularly as relevant to new life and new forms of life. That Mi-aro is so full of Changed Pokemon is thrilling to Mewists who hold these Traits dear, and the thought of encountering these creatures equally thrilling – despite the danger.
Freedom is another central Trait associated with Mew by those who revere them – as Mew are seen as being able to go wherever and do whatever they please with far more impunity than others, particularly in light of their ability to Change or become unseen at will. Mewists embracing this Trait are likely to resent restrictions to their ability to come and go as they please, and may have problems with anyone seeking to restrain them.
Experience:
While stories of Mew's younger direct kin are far more recent than those of his*** ancient forebears, tales of Mewtwo are buoyed up by documented eyewitness accounts and extremely rare conversations with the reclusive younger Legend, and have become part of the lore held dear by Mewists. The creation of such a Pokemon ties into the Traits of Curiosity, Adaptability and Creativity, while the Pokemon in question seems to hold dear the Trait of Freedom.
The first stories that spread about this enigmatic figure arose from sightings of an unidentified feline Psychic Pokemon wearing a brown cloak, and sometimes a matching wide-brimmed hat, that appeared in cities and occasionally intervened in cases in which humans and/or Pokemon were in peril. Other stories told of an unclad purple figure of two hues, tall stature, powerful tail and peculiar dual necks dwelling in caves and repelling all comers from his lair. At first, these tales were regarded as little more than urban legends, but gradually became more acknowledged when more sightings – and the occasional photograph – became known.
Inevitably, many tried to capture this new Pokemon for themselves, but he proved able to defend his liberty quite ruthlessly when provoked, and remained wild. Equally inevitably, many sought to know and understand more about this strange figure, and a great number of Researchers and Journalists converged upon those locations in which he had been spotted. These Seekers of New Things (though many were not Mewist) proved quite persistent, and apparently rather irritating, as eventually the exasperated Legend consented to speak with ONE Researcher and ONE Journalist, neither bearing any capture device, on the condition that they would largely leave him in peace and cease broadcasting his every move to all and sundry once he had done so. He warned that dire consequences would arise if the sliver of trust he extended with this agreement was betrayed, and demonstrated his power by calling up a storm and by blasting a rocky outcrop to bits. Both thrilled and intimidated, those who came seeking information conferred and – after some time spent arguing and debating – agreed. The two individuals selected by the group, both respected in their fields, met with Mewtwo at Cerulean Cave, and were transported through the sky with him to an undisclosed remote location. There, he allowed each to ask questions of him, and began to reveal his identity, nature and story.
Any new Pokemon with a direct connection to Mew would have been viewed by Mewists with a kind of reverence – to have one revealed with Mew in their very name could not help but have an impact on Mewism. The synthesised Legend became viewed as a kind of counterpart to Mew, with lessons of his own to be taken to heart. It is, perhaps, a fortunate thing that nobody thought to inform the entity of this development, as it is uncertain how the news would have been received.
The Traits of Mewtwo:
As with Mew, this Pokemon is seen as having defining Traits that others consider worthy of emulation, reverence, or simply consideration.
Experience, in contrast to Innocence, seems to be among the perceived associations of this counterpart to Mew – and a reminder that, while optimism is all very well, a healthy dose of cynicism can help to keep one alive and free.
Independence appears to be central to this Legend – an expression of the Trait of Freedom that fiercely defies all those who would bind any holding this Trait dear to the will of another. This is particularly popular among those who are noted for being stubborn or hot-headed, and especially those who find Serenity difficult to embrace.
Confidence and Determination, such as that exhibited by Mewtwo when it seemed that it was the clone against the world, are other prized Traits. While they can be misplaced, they are seen as highly commendable – particularly in context with the wild new world of Mi-aro.
Questing, in this context for a way to belong, is a Trait that seems most favoured by the young, those who feel out of place, or those with something to prove.
Re-evaluation, the ability to look past one's previous assumptions when presented with another perspective, is another important Trait – and one held in particular esteem seeing as it was apparently a Mew**** who introduced this concept to Mewtwo, helping to prevent catastrophe.
Protectiveness, particularly in context to those one sees as family or otherwise one's responsibility (such as one's Pokemon), is the final commonly-agreed Trait of Mewtwo. Just as the Legend in question was willing to risk everything in for the sake of the clones he'd created, Mewists holding to this Trait are likely to be fierce and determined in the defence of those under their care, even if they are unrelated.
While it is true that many of these Traits are commonly observed in people anyway, the degrees to which they are exhibited by the Pokemon Mewists associate them with is often seen as something to aspire towards, however improbable actually mastering these Traits might be. Often, someone might be drawn to a Trait because they feel they need to reinforce it in themselves – or because they already express it, and revel in the idea that a being as exalted as a Legend would share that characteristic with them. One doesn't need to belong to a church or other worship group in order to be a Mewist, but they are often found to know at least one other. In cases in which there are a significant number of Mewists living in one area, a religious leader might appear – these are generally referred to as Clerics - an example of which can be found here, and can usually be distinguished by a Mew-pink scarf or sash bearing two round sky-blue marks. These marks may be sewn-on patches, the result of careful use of dyes, or the result of other blue materials being affixed. Generally, this does not clash too much with the rest of their clothing, but, well, there's always at least one out there who doesn't match things well.
Sometimes, one might see a shrine dedicated to Mewism, or little stone cairns along the side of a road, or perhaps hear them singing – these are all ways in which Mewists have been known to express their faith. The cairns are often simple piles of stones that indicate that a Mewist has passed that way, usually a Seeker of New Things, and those that have not been excessively interfered with often have a thin tail-like extension of stones stuck into the ground to hold them in place, ending in a slightly bulbous tip. These 'tails', which typically curl around the main part of the cairn, are usually the best way of distinguishing a Mewist cairn from those of other faiths.
Mewists have been known to carry little totems of varying make that resemble Mew, or sometimes Mewtwo, usually in their pocket or as part of some jewellery, but it varies widely. Some tokens may simply, for example, consist of two round blue items set in something or strung onto something – this would represent the wide eyes of Mew, and symbolise Curiosity, Innocence and Joy.
The first day of Spring, to Mewists, is considered New Life Day, and generally tends to result in a party if there are enough celebrants present. Traditions associated with this include giving gifts to those with new babies (or Pokemon eggs), kissing those babies, and planting seeds. Another Mewist tradition, though it needn't be related to New Life Day, pertains to the naming of children. Not all Mewists follow this tradition, but those that do are likely to name their child after one or more of the Traits of Mew or Mewtwo that they value – whether directly or by giving the child a name that means the same thing.
*Opinion on the gender of Arceus is divided, but many Mewists hold that no sentient being – far less Legend – should be referred to as 'it'.
**It is widely held by Mewists that the First Mew was female, as this Pokemon is viewed as the first mother of Pokemon to follow, and the mother of specific other Legends.
***While nobody who has gotten close enough has dared check or ask, the timbre of this Pokemon's mental voice has lead to the assumption of masculinity.
****This Mew, due to the role he/she/they played, is commonly nicknamed Pax (meaning peace) by Mewists. This type of nicknaming of Mew known or believed to have been involved in historical events is quite common, and helps to avoid confusion. However, nobody is quite certain that they weren't all one individual.
(2756 words)
