Way of the Warrior Saints/Saint Procyon

Saint Procyon is often depicted as a raccoon rampant, although he often assumes the form of other woodland animals.

Procyon was originally a hermit, living off the forest, accepting, humbly, what the forest had to offer.

This was not enough to keep him alive, unfortunately. Saint Procyon, in his desire to live meekly, dining only on lichen soup, began to starve. Eventually, he had not the strength to leave his hermit-cave, nor find more lichen to feed himself.

As he lay dying, no fat upon his bones to sustain him, Procyon was discovered by a family of raccoons, who licked his face until he awakened. The licking was, in fact, merely the raccoons way of cleaning their food, as they they then began to eat Procyon's face.

Procyon suffered such agony, as he felt this was payment for being brought back to life.

From that day on, scarred about the eyes, Procyon dwelt among the raccoons, the ferrets, stoats, mice, squirrels, and other woodland creatures, learning their wisdom of the earth and forests.

Procyon's followers revere cunning, deception, and well cured furs.

Rituals are simple, consisting of bathing the hands, and food to be eaten, before consumption. (Some scholars have noted that followers of Saint Procyon are, for some reason, not as susceptible to disease. It is a matter of debate as to whether Procyon has some special ability to ward his followers from sickness).

When a follower of Procyon dies, her hands are washed in running water, an eyes smeared with pitch, so she is known as an adherent of Procyon. A burrow is dug in the side of a convenient hill, and the corpse placed within. The burrow is then collapsed, and the deceased is left to meet the Father of Earth and Stone.

Notable Scriptures

"The quiet man speaks loudest." (The Importance of Deep Burrows, ch. 2, verse 8)

"Shall a priest become a saint? Surely not: he is in the devotion of the Sleeping Father. Shall a warrior become a saint? Surely, for verily I say unto thee: he that is quiet is heard, he that does not speak is understood, he that is unrobed is glorious. Yet shall the Sleeping Father be spoken of by these, who are not among his initiates? Surely not: for also is it true that the priests, the Archons, the Templars, all the Holy Ones of the Way, are of unique note, and only they are capable of the Teaching of the Way." (The Importance of Deep Burrows, ch. 5, v.v. 4-7)

"What is true, plant in one's heart as a body in a burrow." (The Importance of Deep Burrows, ch. 13, verse 25)

"Even an ear to the ground is a kind of spirit's burrow." (The Importance of Deep Burrows, ch. 13, verse 32)

"When feasting is commanded, feast with joy, doing so strenuously and with effort: deeply search out the significance of happiness. Yet when feasting is over, remember the winter also comes." (The Importance of Deep Burros, ch. 13, verse 46)

"Be chastened wisely and make apology in the night of the offense, and the day after, and the night after, for you have done evil, and it shall be remembered so long as the soil which heard you remains, and therein the Father." (The Stone and the Stoat, ch. 2, verse 5)

"Wealth is the weakest fur." (The Stone and the Stoat, ch. 19, verse 20)