Issued by Archbishop Seth del Eden’d
Brother: the word confounds us with a myriad of shifting meanings. The strictest definition applies to male children produced by the same set of genetic parents. The term is often broadened to include male children sharing one genetic parent (in some cultures, a more specific designator such as “half-brother” is applied) or two male children sharing parental caretakers even if one or both children is adopted.
For the Cu’enashti Nau’gsh, the term brother has been applied to branches which grew from the same wood. This is generally the result of trauma to the original tree. Once thought unique to the Cu’enashti Ashtara, two other instances of similar trauma have been discovered (although one produced a pair of sisters.) The term half-brother means something entirely different: a cultivated branch consisting of a physio-psychological splice of two pre-existing branches. As far as is known, this phenomenon only exists within the Ashtara Grove.
But the word brother has come to have a rich metaphorical tradition in human society. It is used as a term to indicate friendship, mutual sympathy, a bond which exists through some cultural affinity (such as an ethnic similarity or membership in a social or religious organization). We hear individuals in the same military unit referring to each other as “brothers in arms” even if some of them are female.
In all human cases, however, “brotherly love” is specifically a phenomenon which is platonic. Most human cultures have a clear taboo against incest; the rationale is the promotion of genetic diversity in offspring. Obviously, this cannot be a factor when considering same-sex practices. More likely, the taboo exists to set boundaries in close quarters, keeping elder members of any given family from sexually exploiting the younger ones. Interestingly, many cultures with a clear incest taboo worship gods which practice incestuous relationships (for example, the marriage of Zeus and Hera in Ancient Greece). Some cultures exempted certain classes from the taboo, but these classes were always considered to be sacred and beyond the boundaries of human law (brother-sister marriages in Ancient Egypt.)
The situation with the Cu’enashti is quite different. Since the trees self-pollinate, relationships between branches are a natural part of the reproductive cycle. Technically speaking, if the Cu’enashti Nau’gsh is considered to be a unified being, sexplay between emanations is more properly masturbatory than incestuous. But to the human sensibility, the relationship between the branches seems familial. Internal Cu’enashti sexuality has a quasi-incestuous overtone.
Interestingly, the sexual cycles of same-wood brothers run parallel, such that pollination between them is not normally facilitated. Recently, experimentation has been carried out which demonstrates that conditions can be produced to encourage natural pollen exchange between such brothers. In addition, assisted pollination between brothers (and by extension, sisters) can certainly occur.
What is the church position on such activities, and on brotherhood in general?
The church maintains that insofar as human and Cu’enashti biology are vastly different, the biological ramifications of brotherhood must be equally different. The church maintains that insofar as human and Cu’enashti values are shared, the symbolic meaning of brotherhood is similar.
Practically speaking, this means that any reproductive practices sanctioned or encouraged by the Chosen, both natural and artificially assisted, are legitimate between sibling branches. All Cu’enashti are taught that the production of fruit is a sacred duty and a sacred joy. Must not the means also be considered sacred?
Spiritually speaking, Cu’enashti are encouraged to think of their fellow branches as brothers (or sisters). The relationship between branches on the same tree is close and eternal. Who can be trusted if not the offspring of the same root? The existence of same-wood brotherhood/sisterhood is rare among the Cu’enashti, and is to be considered sacred. These pairings are exemplars of the spiritual concept of brotherhood, and should make every effort to conduct themselves as such.