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Fjällbestigare geography plays a vital role in the emergence of its belief systems and culture. Because of the civilization being largely landlocked and surrounded by mountain ranges, people wake to the sight of the great sun peeking through the mountainsides and fall asleep to the gentle radiance of the moon and stars. Occasionally in more northern villages, some report that they can even see the magnificent northern lights, also known as aurora borealis. It is no wonder then, why the people of Fjällbestigare so revere, praise, and ask guidance from the heavenly bodies. Some even believe that the sun and moon could safeguard one from evil and are sometimes prayed to for protection and luck, alongside other spirits.

Because of the scatter-like nature of its villages, each village of Fjällbestigare has adapted its own variation of spiritual beliefs, although they are mostly still deeply-rooted in astronomy.

For example, villages that primarily focus on agriculture widely believe in the celestial powers of the sun and moon, some even personifying the two into variations of gods and goddesses, respectively. Some also believe that the very grass and trees houses living spirits that can dictate whether they will have a bountiful or measly harvest. They also give different significance to plants that thrive and bloom solely in the daylight or moonlight. Such special herbs, flora, and vegetation are believed to be imbued with heavenly powers and are typically traded to be used by Fjällbestigare’s medical practitioners.

Meanwhile, villages that specialize in excavation and mining operations generally believe that through thousands of years of the heavenly bodies passing over their land, the heavenly powers seep through the earth and diffuse into the gemstones and minerals mined. Similar to the special plants, these precious stones are likewise traded and used for medicinal and even divination purposes.

In devotion, the people of Fjällbestigare erected sacrificial altars and temples dedicated to appease the spirits, most prominently for the sun and moon. Due to the citizen’s belief system, some villages and even cities rely heavily on the skill of fortune tellers to guide state affairs.

Source: (Photograph)
Wicca Now. Wicca Aesthetic. Wicca Now.  https://wiccanow.com/.

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The Fjällbestigare civilization is known across the world as “the healer’s city,” the primary professions advocated here are related to divination, medicine, and agriculture, rooted within the civilization’s cultural beliefs and practices from centuries ago. What has been continuously passed down through each generation are their unique healing methods which include various forms of complementary, alternative, and traditional medicine. There are two main types of healing methods used by people. One is song and dance, while the other is traditional plant medicine. Manipulations of the body through touch and gestures with the use of rituals and ceremonies incorporating words, music, and dance that involve the afflicted individual, the healer, and community participation. Divinatory practices help to establish the nature of the affliction in terms of its causes, consequences, or some other classificatory scheme and seek treatment from the elements around the civilization, usually the sun and moon. These methods, while proven to be effective, have also become a shared bond within the community.

Secondary Source (Photo):
Turčin, Ivana. 2018. “The Forgotten Movement – a (Re)Construction of Prehistoric Dances.” EXARC Journal, no. EXARC Journal Issue 2018/1 (February). https://exarc.net/issue-2018-1/int/forgotten-movement-reconstruction-prehistoric-dances.

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Fjällbestigare is composed of multiple village settlements, and those who live in the same village are often related to each other, either as immediate family, extended family, or even distant relatives. Each village has a head, who is elected based on seniority, and he or she is the one who deals with the everyday concerns of the residents. When it comes to matters that involve the whole of Fjällbestigare, the village head will consult the governor, who is elected among the village heads every 5 years based on both his or her seniority and qualifications.

Since the civilization is landlocked and located in high altitudes, the climate is cold all year round, and the people wear garments made of wool and fur. Free trade poses issues within the nation’s location. They are able to export minerals but are unable to import perishable goods, so the people are forced to become innovative and create their products enabling a self-sufficient and interdependent society. They mainly rely on crops that thrive in the cold, such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots, cabbage, turnips, wheat, and barely. Similarly, their livestock mainly comes from animals that are able to withstand cold weather, such as cattle, goats, and deer. Its industries are mainly pharmaceuticals, gems, chemicals, and machinery.

Class divide stems from the different industries, since the villages that produce crops and livestock are considered middle class, while the villages specializing in the pharmaceutical and gem industry are regarded as “the elite.” Even though the Fjällbestigare live in a secluded location, it isn’t exactly a hermit country. The people are friendly to travelers who stumble upon their village to seek shelter from the cold.

Sources:

Mountain village Novara di Sicilia, Sicily, Italy. Photograph. Shutterstock. https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/mountain-village-novara-di-sicilia-sicily-736870174 (accessed September 5, 2022).

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The civilization can be found in Switzerland. Its biggest landmark is the Matterhorn Mountain. The civilization is mainly located around the alps and the landscape is decorated with mountains and shrubbery. Due to this the climate in the area is cold and citizens must adapt to the freezing temperatures. Aside from this, the mountainous nature of the location creates a large separation between the villages as sustainable land is limited. Although the citizens are not particularly spiritual, small shrines, temples, and monasteries dot the landscape, some dedicated to the sun and the moon. Additionally, some believe the sun and moon could safeguard one from evil and are sometimes prayed to for protection and luck alongside other spirits.

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Plenty of stories and fables have been passed down for decades in the civilization of Fjällbestigare. One of which is a tale behind the two famous landmarks: a reindeer statue at the city gates and the summit of the tallest mountain. The tale goes that there was once a group of travelers hiking up the mountains that surrounded the city during a blizzard. When night came, one of the travelers slipped and almost fell off a cliff. Yet somehow, she was able to grab onto something sturdy and this “thing” pulled her up the edge. When she regrouped with her team, no one could seem to identify what pulled her up. After a few seconds, they heard a howl in the distance so they turn their heads and saw a deer on the summit, behind it was the solar eclipse. Because of this folklore, a statue of the deer was built and the people regularly paid their respects to it. Additionally, they would ask the sun and mood gods to watch over them and keep them safe on their journeys.