Risian
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| Risian | |
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| SOCIO-POLITICAL DATA | |
| BIOLOGICAL NOTES | |
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At a Glance
Anatomy & Physiology
Dietary Requirements
Sleep Requirements
Psychology
Cultural Notes
Risian Spiritual Practices and Cultural Ethos
Most of what we know about Risa is described through the lens of a tourist. Because of this a great deal of the information about significant cultural and spiritual practices come from those outside of the culture who have only a shallow understanding of elements that play a significant role in the daily life of a Risian.
The most well known of these practices is Jamaharon which is regularly regarded as a sort of legal opportunity for wanton and unattached sexual encounters. While this isn't entirely out of sync with the reality of the practice, it barely scratches the surface of the history and underlying philosophies that inform it.
Philosophies and Ethos
To best understand Risian spirituality it is useful to have a general grasp of the philosophies that define the culture of Risa. To an outsider Risians appear to be a highly welcoming, permissive society with hedonism at the center of their everyday lives. While Risians value pleasure, the driver for that value is philosophically distinct from a hedonistic approach to life.
To draw a comparison between the Risian philosophy on how to live a good life it is much more accurate to point to Ancient Earth philosophies such as Epicureanism and Existentialism.
Epicurean Comparison
For illustrative purposes one can draw the following similarities and differences between Risian philosophical approaches to life and Epicurean systems of philosophy:
Similarities
Epicurus defines “pleasure” as an absence of pain and fear through two states:
- Ataraxia (tranquility and freedom from fear)
- Aponia (absence of bodily pain)
Followers of these ideals seek a “simple life” which reduces the likelihood of outside elements disturbing the two states above. Risians approach life from a similar perspective, focusing on experiences, relationships, and careers which provide greater senses of tranquility/safety and lower volumes of physical pain.
Differences
Unlike followers of Epicurus, Risians focus on learning and the process of “discovery” of things as a method for achieving Ataraxia and Aponia-like states. As such they are not as opposed to pain as a true Epicurean would be. From the Risian perspective understanding pain, discovering what causes it and what it leads to, is a key part of a cycle of discovery. Elements of this can be found in the openness Risians have for relationships whether those be one time encounters (common in the touristic version of Jamaharon), or long term engagements. It is understood that when these interactions end there may be a level of sadness, regret, or even anger depending on the circumstance and that is accepted as part of the discovery process. This is most clearly displayed in the “What is Ours is Yours” mantra that tourists so frequently mention in their descriptions of Risa. It is one of the key ways that Risians look to create open and safe spaces to cultivate opportunities to learn and engage with new experiences.
Risians do seek out simple pleasures and aim to share those pleasures with visitors from other worlds, however, it would be a misunderstanding of Risa to assume that their people do not live on a spectrum of complexity with those who partake of careers and life paths that would more quickly lead to frustration or anxiety appearing along that spectrum. (Careers such as politics or militaristic interests fall into this category.)
Existentialism and Risian Philosophy
A key driver for why Risians both resemble and diverge from Epicurean philosophy. At first glance Epicureanism (seeking to avoid pain) and Existentialism (starting from “existential angst”) appear to be incompatible philosophies. However, Existentialists strongly believe that creating meaning, purpose, and value are the sole responsibility of the individual rather than something that is generated from outside of a person. Because of that there is a heavy focus on authenticity, and living life passionately and with sincerity.
Risians place great importance on the act of what they are doing in the moment, whether they are wiping down a bar or leading a new person through Jamaharon. Their view is that the most important thing is that they are living in the moment as it takes place and doing so to the best of their ability.
You will see this play out on Risa as a “living in the moment” mentality. In order to achieve the pleasure of discovery most Risians are paying close attention to the moment and taking care to participate in it fully. This makes them keen observers of people and behavior though what they observe is for their own benefit as opposed for use in how they interact with others.
Jamaharon
“There is a whole universe inside every person and it takes both a moment and a lifetime to discover.” - Risian Proverb
Perhaps the most famous component of Risian philosophy is the process of Jamaharon--a formalized method to engage in mutual uncovering of experiences with another person.
Jamaharon, itself, is made up of 3 key components:
- At least one willing partner. Jamaharon is typically undertaken between two people, but may involve more depending on the experience and intended revealing of new information.
- Consent. (More about the Risian understanding of consent below.) All parties in this process must be consenting participants. If any member is not consenting either at the outset or at any time during the process, it cannot be considered Jamaharon.
- Focused attention. Jamaharon is something that takes place deliberately and with intent to be thorough and deliberate in learning and experiencing something new.
Jamaharon can take on many forms including exploration of emotional, mental, and physical elements. Most Risians undertake Jamaharon with the intent to combine all three components, although some variants may focus on specific elements depending on the experience itself.
To some Jamaharon can be considered an ethos or an approach to how one lives their life. While this is certainly within a reasonable understanding of Risian spirituality the formal process of Jamaharon is separate from the Risian worldview.
On Risa, married couples take a vow of Jamaharon during their marriage ceremony in which they agree to always seek to discover, and rediscover their partner throughout their life together. Although Risians are typically romantically monogamous their marriage vows do not guarantee sexual monogamy. Should a married Risian wish to partake of Jamaharon with another person outside of the marriage, the married partner is also involved in the consenting process (although they may not be participating in the experience itself.)
Consent
All new things in life require some level of uncertainty and vulnerability. Choosing to enter a new relationship, to bring a child into the world, to learn a new skill or take on a new job--all of these things require a willingness to try something which may not end with a positive outcome.
Because Risians approach life from a position of “discovery” while balancing the desire for a life without pain, they have developed a significant focus on consent within their culture. It is an entirely common thing for a Risian to leave something they are doing because they didn’t agree to it, even if it is something that is expected of them. Expectations, alone, are not enough to ensure that a person consents.
This plays out as an important component of Jamaharon. All parties must be in agreement before participating and any party can end the experience at any time by making their partners aware that they are no longer consenting to the experience.
Although Risa does not have a formal deity-based belief system, the horga’hn has come to play a key role in signaling consenting interest in a Jamaharon experience. The horga’hn statue is a depiction of an early Risian fertility deity. The statue itself does not bear a sex or gender so is considered to be encompassing all identities as a way to signal openness and acceptance of all walks of life.
Because Jamaharon is frequently a highly emotional and vulnerable experience, it is a common occurrence for some element of physical intimacy to enter into the experience. It is likely that this is why the horga’hn came into popular use as it’s focus is on fertility and sex. An individual carrying a horga’hn is considered making others aware of their interest in Jamaharon and willing to participate in a shared experience. On Risa, Risians are particularly careful not to approach visitors who are not carrying a horga’hn out of respect for differing views on sex and vulnerabilty across cultures.
A Note about Risian Concepts of Love and Sex
Risians take a detached view to love and sex in the sense that they do not require one to participate in the other, however, many Risians value the heightened experience of sex with someone with whom they are in love.
As such Risians love deeply and thoroughly, taking declarations of love very seriously as the indicate a stronger commitment to, and interest in, a person. In keeping with this you will rarely hear a Risian utilize the term “I love you,” but instead will use the phrase, “I am yours.” This is a way to demonstrate the importance and depth of the romantic connection and echoes the “All that is ours is yours” mentality that permeates the culture. (A similar phrase, “I belong to you” is used among families to signal familial love.)
Because of the focus on discovery as a key component of life and a highly sought after experience, Risians are consummate sexual partners--a noted driver for many tourists visiting the planet. A Risian partaking in a sexual experience as part of Jamaharon will spend a great deal of time engaging in foreplay, drawing out the experience for maximum impact and discovery of their partners’ interest, likes, and emotional/physical reactions.