Murad,

You made two arguments, and I will attempt to address both in order.
First, you questioned what Nature is, attempted to define it, then
labelled people who manipulate aspects of it as "perversions of Nature".
Your second argument was about Council Duiran itself, and you allegate
that Council Duiran's views on Nature are merely mortal views, and that
we have no "Right". No right to do anthing, it seems.

Question 1: What is Nature?

See the previous post for a definition of nature. Metamorphosis is
indeed a part of Nature. Metamorphosis involves working with animal
spirits, and the ability to do so is gained when you join a mortally run
guild (Sentinels, Druids). When you join one of those classes, a
covenant between you and Nature comes into being. It becomes your duty
to serve, aid, protect and nurture Nature as best you can. This covenant
is -not- a perversion of Nature. It is a part of Nature.

Your example of cohosh is somewhat misleading. Take blueberries. What do
blueberries exist for? Just to exist? Sure... but Nature is not a
collection of individual creations, it is a vast balance, cycle, rhythm
of interactions across at least 5 dimensions. Blueberries don't exist
for a specific purpose, they are ultimately "just" a part of Nature
itself. As is the act of eating that blueberry for personal gain, and
indeed the subsequent act of excreting that blueberry. I too am a part
of Nature, and my eating of cohosh is a part of Nature, as is my desire
for survival.

Are you too a part of Nature, Murad? Yes, you are... though less so than
a person striving to live in tune with the Rhythm of Nature. Haern
teaches us this. People like you and I have the ability to live in tune
with different "Rhythms". I choose to try and work with nature - you
choose not to. As taught by Haern (read previous post to understand His
authority/right to define the matter), the very act of eating cohosh in
a survival attempt, is an act that brings you closer to Nature. So that
cohosh berry may not exist to be eaten - but the act of eating it is
-not- a perversion of Nature.

Incidentally - there is also a lot more to living in tune with Nature,
than just eating cohosh or wishing to survive, those two are merely
parts of it.




Question 2: Duiran's right and purpose

You talk a fair bit about what Duiran is, what it is not, and what it
truly has "right" to do. All of it is wrong.

Duiran was created by Haern and Slyphe, to wield the power of the Great
Oak for the betterment of Nature. Duiran is the divine will of its
Patrons, made flesh. Duiran operates under the guidance of its Patrons.
It is more than a "...sect of people with common goals they think are
aligned with nature..." Do you claim that Duiran's patron's do not
understand Nature?

Your argument about whether we have the right to do anything is merely
academic, and serves no purpose. Varian may well be the only being with
this abstract "right" to do anything. That's true but irrelevant. Varian
granted us free will, and we have the "right" to exercise that. So while
Varian is the only being able to do something without being questioned
or judged, we -all- have the right to do what we will... so long as we
suffer the consequences if our actions are judged and questioned.

Irruel du Vallianse, Benandanti

Penned by my hand on the 22nd of Khepary, in the year 96 MA.