The Fivefold Pathway of the Soul
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The Fivefold Pathway of the Soul, written by Ordol, is one of the (fictional) primary religious texts for the southern cultures in The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold. This entry outlines and speculates on the contents of that book based on background from Bujold's two books in this fictional realm. The Fivefold Pathway does not exist as an independent book. However, a fanfic existed at one time on the Bujold fansite, http://www.dendarii.com/. That text seems to have disappeared, though.
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Pantheon
The Father
Season: Winter
Primary color: Grey
Theological sign:Groin
The Father represents closure and death, as typically symbolized by the closing of the year.
The Daughter
Season: Spring
Primary color: Blue
Theological sign: Forehead
The Daughter represents birth and life, symbolized by the opening of the new year. Lay brothers of the Order of the Daughter are responsible for the internal security of Chalion, particularly combating banditry on the roads of the Kingdom.
The Mother
Season: Summer
Primary color: Green
Theological sign: Belly
The Mother represents health and healing.
The Son
Season: Fall/Autumn
Primary colors: Red/Gold
Theological sign:Heart
Lay brothers of the Order of the Son are responsible for the external security of Chalion.
The Bastard
Season: None
Primary color: White
Theological sign: Mouth
The Bastard represents balance and all things out of season.
Creation
The story of how the world came to be is outlined in chapter three of Paladin of Souls. Essentially, the World-Soul could not perceive itself, and so split itself in two to be able to see itself. This split created the Father and the Mother. In their love, they created the Daughter and the Son, and split the seasons up among themselves. The Bastard is a demon who was granted a soul by a saint of the Mother, and then took up service in the Mother's name. Other demons ganged up on him, finally killing him. His soul then took its place next to the Mother as the Bastard.
Theological signs
The theological signs are analogous to the Roman Catholic ritual of crossing one's self at theologically significant moments. The signs are usually made with the right hand briefly touching the forehead, mouth, belly, and groin before spreading the opened hand over the heart.