Understanding Kut

In Ontolosna, the deities, or Kut, are real. The word ‘kut’ can mean god, demon, ritual, psychological state, or disease. Here it is applied to the powers and deities that have been created or bound and brought to consciousness by human Theagyn (‘goddess birthing’) rituals.

The Kut are variously conceived by Ontolosnans as gods, as patterns of energy, as the emotions of Ontolosna, as external projections of human emotional states, as emotionless imitators of their human creators, or as wilful but powerful animal children.

Though powerful, Kut are part of the world ecology of Gi (‘power’) and Ki-ok (‘memory’), and are creatures created within time by natural forces. Limited and often flawed, evolving as the world evolves, some Kut remain wild and tempestuous, while others have taken on the sensibilities of the human Theagyns who tamed and shaped them. Though sexless, Kut take on gendered roles through the projections and desires of their worshippers and keepers. Nor are Kut primarily ethical or moral forces, though some accrete, symbolise, or promulgate such understandings.

Tikut are the elder or Unborn Kut, foundational forces that had a natural existence before being made conscious by the Theagyns. Takut or Born Kut are important younger forces that were either specially created or heavily modified by Theagyn ritual. Collectively Kut that are worshipped are known as Devi Kut.

The exact role of Kut vary, but in the main they protect communities and focus the power of their human partners to prescribed ends. Kut can be powerful guides, or servants, or sometimes masters. Often they are uneasy partners that might need to be bribed, compelled, bound or punished. Some of the Kut are first in might and wisdom and beauty, keepers of all that is good, while others are duplicitous and demonic. Dealing directly with any Kut is often like dealing with an autistic child—a willful, sullen child of enormous power. In certain areas, Kut may enjoy limited rites in law and property. And the Kut often hate their priesthoods, who direct and seek to control them. Often, a Kut will work through an independent agent to subvert the plans of her own priestesses.

Kut are not creators. If there were any creators, the creators of have ‘gone away’.

Kut are not spirits. They are self-organising currents of Gi and Ki-ok that are anchored in material focii such as temples, mountains or Theagyn altars.

Kut are not immortal. They may die, fade, go mad or senile, retreat into silent Liberation or be absorbed by other Kut. Some are killed to effect State policy or as sacrifices in war: others have been spontaneously killed by humans who succeeded in destroying their material focii. Kut are creatures of nature and human artifice.

Kut have little or no influence over certain realms of human life, including arts and crafts. They reflect, rather than direct, the skills and knowledge of their devotees.