SNIPPETS: The Nesenth Religion By Stephanie Cramp

Photo © Stephanie Cramp

The origin behind every myth, secret, and religion begins with a story. As Ferm (1970) states, "religions were not concerned with the material welfare of the state, but only with the spiritual welfare of the individual and thus transcended the limits of the tribe, city, and even assumed a universal character." Thus, it is the main purpose of a religion. It is the sense of having hope and believing there is a reason for everything. Religion can bring us a sense of freedom as “everyone holds, consciously or unconsciously a religious belief.” (Carter, 2014) The following is about a never before heard of religion. The Nesenth Religion shows us that we can believe a new origin of beliefs if we recognize believable things and how any religion can affect us by giving us that one thing that all humans crave most... hope.

Lord Merek & Anastas

Photo © Stephanie Cramp

The origin of the Nesenth religion started with the birth of Lord Merek. His father was the greatest King and warrior towards his people. It was during a time controlled by a monarchy society, a society “blessed with prosperous empires, flourishing arts and sciences, and a burgeoning consumer culture.” (Starr, 2012) The great King was cherished by all; he had been the only one to defeat that last dragon of all time. The Nesenth dragon! One thirsty for blood and rage against all unknown beings. Granting him [with a membership of the Order of the Dragon by defending the empire and carrying out Christianity] (Radford, 2012), he was feared by all other kingdoms; no unwanted guest shall past his castles walls in fear of being slaughtered just as the dragon had been. Or worst yet, they feared of being captured and being enslaved. The slaves feared him so much they did anything he commanded no matter what it was even to the extent of eliminating one another. Few captured slaves from war knew about his son though, he would be the greatest weapon against his enemies, craving for the pain of others!

Photo © Stephanie Cramp

He was born under a full moon, under a sky full of stars, surrounded by the three most powerful kings. He was born in a bath of the blood of slaughtered enemies, “that supernatural power of high potency is present in blood, by burying him in the blood slaughtered comrades, hence in burial can restore life.” (Ferm, 1970) It is how his ancestors survived centuries of wars and gaining their wealth. At birth, his fangs had already appeared. As the prophecy fortold:

 “Often potential revenants can be identified at birth, usually by some abnormality, some defect, as when a child is born with teeth…this was regarded throughout much of Europe as presumptive evidence that it is destined to return from the dead. Such minor deformities were looked upon as evil omens, and it is likely that many infants were killed immediately when these signs were discovered.” (Radford, 2012)

Photo © Stephanie Cramp

It was a family curse but that his ancestors used as a privilege. By drinking the blood of his slaves, the king had become the most powerful, the most feared, the most renowned king. Lord Merek portrayed his father well, commanding the slaves in order for more surplus and power, manipulating woman for his own pleasure, and representing his strength throughout the battles in defeating his kingdom's enemies. He had buried his deceased father by drinking the last sip of his blood, burning his body, and spreading the ashes over the land in which the slaves cultivated their wheat. By drinking human blood, the blood-suckers would develop unexplained supernatural power, with greater strength, greater speed and greater intelligence. They brain washed slaves telling them if they come work for them, they will be treated better, work conditions would be less harsh and they would be fed more. Though secretly they were the ones who would being fed on. “Starvation, thirst, and sleep deprivation serves to distract the victim in such way that the relict can only be found in company with the practionner.” (Collins, 2008)

Photo © Stephanie Cramp

They feared the blood suckers, even if their memory was erased, their mind unconsciously knew what was happening to them. Especially towards Lord Merek. The slave population during the time was immense, two millions slaves compared to 3 million free people. Most would end up orphans as parents did not have enough money to care for them, giving them no other choice but to become a slave, working for the blood suckers.  Most of these slaves lost their hope in religions. They had mainly been Christian as it had once been their only feeling of freedom [by having a sense of keeping their identity and a small piece of personal value, even if they were put in such a state bringing them down to nothing]. (Samble-Tosco, 2004) In the 15th century they declared a law telling them that even if you convert to a religion, it did not mean you were, you still maintained your status. Working under harsh conditions, they lost hope. “The same is true for the religious beliefs of some ancient Greeks such as Aristotle and later the Epicureans who thought the gods neither knew about nor cared about humans. They certainly felt no obligation to worship such apathetic beings.” (Carter, 2014) They learnt quickly to blindly obey anything that they were told.

Photo © Stephanie Cramp

Anastas, was different from the slaves, her memory never altered and she recalled every lasting detail of the crimes committed against humanity at the hands of Lord Merek. Equally Lord Merek seemed to treat her differently. He never drank her blood and no other vampires were allowed too either. She was his and no one else’s as he fell deeply in love with her. Inevitably, she was forced to be his Queen! Every January, he would bring her the moon. Every February he would bring her someone’s heart. Every March he would bring her a chicken egg. Every April, a cloud, in May it would be a flower drowned in blood, every June it would be the flag of a country he conquered, every July it would be the sun, every August he would bring water, every September the leaf from a tree, every October a letter, every November a snowball, and every December, twelve gifts for every month. On the 1st of January, she didn’t want the moon, she wanted freedom and to start her life again. He did as she wished. He did so in one condition; that they stay together for eternity. He drank her blood bringing her body to the edge of a cliff. Her blood was posion to his kind, for reasons unknown. He died in the last sip of her blood. The kindness of Anastas would not be forgotten and became reveared amongst the slaves. “Supreme Creator, a chief deity among lesser gods, to whom they prayed and made sacrifices through laws and customs honoring the gods, the ancestors of the one’s  people, and the elderly, West Africans sought a harmonious balance between the natural and spiritual worlds.” (Samble-Tosco, 2004) Laying her body on a tombstone, at the edge of the cliff, with flowers shaped as stars. They would pray to them each night, though after three nights, they’re bodies were no longer there.

Customs & Beliefs

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To this day, people still pray during the night time, believing that Lord Merek and Anastas can hear them. They believe that when they are going through a moment of struggle Anastas will be looking over you and guiding you through lifes heartaches. “By itself, this fate suggest no source, but, of course it may be influenced by extraneous agents which have power to direct the life of a person. In this way too, two identical passages that have often proved difficult to interpret, must be understood.” (Dietrich, 1965) Anastas had brought peace to others, relieving them from the pain Lord Merek caused them. However, as is the case with all religions, there are rules. In order for her to look over you, there are rules you need to follow. If someone is born with a defect, such as Lord Merek was, cherish this person because they may become just as powerful. Never treat someone as a slave. Never beat, harm, rape or kill. If you do so, you will be put into the kingdom owned by Lord Merek’s father. A kingdom of slaves where "their skin striped all over with livid scourge-scars; their wealed backs were crusted rather than clothes with patchwork rags; some had no more covering than a bit of apron and every shirt was so tattered that the body was visible through the rents. Their brows were branded, their heads were half shaved, iron clanked on their feet, their faces were sallow and ugly." (Harman, 2008)

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Thus, the afterlife "is a special period in life of a person is extended to cover the whole life in the case of Achilles." (Dietrich, 1965) The soul is now free, leaving the body to represent you along its new path as“it is important for the soul to continue its worldly existence when the body is dead even though it is always active outside the body. The soul cannot stay behind in a dead body but had to pursue in the afterlife.” (Bremmer, 1983) They believe that Anastas will be guarding the bodies of the lost loved ones. If the burial is done under a night of stars, regarding the star flowers at the death of the king and queen, the deceased will be reunited with ancestors. Look up into the sky and see the stars gather into the figure of your dearly departed, telling you their final goodbye. It is Anastas that gives this last chance, so your journey into the afterlife is without regret.

Photo © Stephanie Cramp

As centuries went by it became widely believed that Anastas could control both the air and water. “Water is a feminine energy and highly connected with the aspects of the Goddess. Used for healing, cleansing, and purification.” (Wigington, n.d.) Those who went through the purification of water were found to no longer have the defect and sickness they once had. This can be seen as a miracle. In winter, the day where Lord Merek himself was born, there is a day dedicated to him. “According to our idea of perfection, he was not perfect, but he was all that [slaves] could imagine as appropriate to the greatest and most important of all classes of beings.” (Ferm, 1970)

Photo © Stephanie Cramp

Friends and family gather together, giving each a card along with a small gift wrapped with star paper, representing the appreciation and love that Lord Merek has for Anastas. As was the case when Lord Merek lived, there is a gift dedicated to each month. In February you send your love roses, hearts and even if you dare, put blood in the center of a chocolate heart. In April, most decorate their land with red peddled flowers symbolizing the flower drowned in blood. It is told it will purify your home from unwanted guest. "Air is the element of the East, connected to the soul and the breath of life." (Wigington, n.d.) The month of August represents a month where you purify yourself by planting a tree to represent your ancestors. Finally January is the most important month of the year. It is the month where the slaves finally found their freedom and identity. This month symbolizes that we are all equal. "By itself this fate suggests no source, but, of course, it may be influenced by extraneous agents which have no power to direct the life of a person." (Dietrich, 1965)

References

Anderson, Gail-Nina. (2010). The Many Lives of Count of Dracula. Forteantimes.com.

Bremmer, Jan. (1983). The Early Greek Concept of the Soul. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

Carter, Joe. (May, 2014). What is a Religious Belief? TheGospelCoalition.org

Collins, Derek. (2008). Magic in the Ancient Greek World. Carlton, Victoria: Blackwell Publishing.

Dietrich, B.C. (1965). Death, Fate and the Gods; the development of a religious idea in Greek popular belief and in Homer. London: The Athlone Press.

Ferm, Vergilius T.A. (1970).  Forgotten Religions. New York.  Freeport, N.Y: Books for Libraries Press

Grandin, Greg. (February, 2014). How Slavery Made the Modern World. TheNation.com

Harman, Chris. (2008). A People’s History of the World. London, Uk. Bookmarks Publication ltd.

Putnam, W.Henry. (1992). The Secret Religions of the Slaves. ChristianityToday.com

Radford, Benjamin. (2012). Vampires; The Real History. LiveScience.com.

Sambol-Tosco, Kimberly. (2004). The Slave Experience: Religion. PBS.org

Starr, Douglas. (2012). Dracula Was the Original Thug. Slate.com

Wiggington, Patty. (N.A) The Four Classical Elements. PaganWiccanAbout.com.

About The Author

Stephanie Cramp is presently studying at Champlain College Lennoxville located in Quebec, Canada. The Nesenth Religion was written as part of an assignment for Vampires, Witches and Werewolves... Oh My! in the Department of Humanities.

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