(Moved from Tinker DG) A Day In The Way.

[GrandpaG]

When you think about living a life following the "Way of the Leaf", what comes to mind?

 

In other words, besides the hints that RJ gave us in the series, what behavior do you consider proper and necessary for following this belief?

 

In case you are shy or don't understand what I'm getting at, I'll give some examples to get this started.  Please, by all means, jump in and add your own.  Since this is a world of fantasy, I doubt that there could be many "wrong" answers (IMO)?

 

 

 

Non-violent, obviously.

Polite, in most cases, I'd guess.

Easy going?  I think maybe.

Flexible?  Probably.

Good sense of humor?  I don't know.  RJ mentioned Aiel humor.  I don't remember him talking about Tuatha'an humor.  I get the idea that they laugh alot and have fun but I don't know what they laugh at.

Like to dance.

Enjoy music.

Devoted to their quest to find the Song (which is, by the way, viewable inside the glass columns at Rhuidean).  :)

Good vegetarian cooks (especially chili and stew).

Honest as any other human beings are.

Human.

Hardly any darkfriends.  I know, the series says there are darkfriends in all groups, even Ogier, but I would guess the numbers are extremely low among the Travelling People...or I would hope so.

 

Anyway, you get the idea?

Please add your thoughts.

Enjoy.  :)

[William Sedai]

As far as darkfriends... I'm not sure. I mean, on the one hand, if the Dark One wants servants everywhere, there's nothing really preventing someone from pretending to follow the Way. And I guess if a Tuatha'an were really committed to The Way but wanted power or something... I don't know, it does seem like the Tuatha'an mindset would be really at odds with service to the Dark One. That's an interesting question, actually... What would a Tinker Darkfriend look like?

 

Anyways, what comes to mind when I think of the Way (especially as it was followed by the Da'shain Aiel) is Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount." In particular, the whole "Do not resist an evil person" and "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back."

 

Of course, I think that contemporary Tuatha'an are more likely to resist an evil person (in the form of running away), and although it's pretty clear that their reputation for thievery is largely undeserved there may be some truth to it. But at one point it was said in the books that you could strike a Da'shain Aiel all day and he would only ask what he had done to offend. I think the Way, in its pure form, requires more courage than the Tuatha'an bring.

[GrandpaG]

Peace on earth good will to all men (and women).

[mcs0083]

I think you have a great point William.

It would take much more courage to embrace the true Way of the Leaf then to just claim to have it.

[Desiree]

when I think of the Way of the Leaf, I think of these positive characteristics of the tuatha'an:

 

carefree joy and laughter, even small pranks to keep spirits up and lively

fires with cauldrons for food or laundry

song, dance, woodwind and percussion

aromas of cooking meals

children playing with each other and the animals

hair braiding

care and love for each other and everyone else

young beautiful couples

everyone sharing each other's load (be it work or emotions)

everyone learns a trade (woodworking to repair wagons and such, pot mending, cooking, animal caretaker, entertainment, ect.)

herb collecting

the freedom of the open road

the feel of being at one with nature (best to put this rather than me blabber on about the wind's caring embrace or the comforting feeling of the earth beneath your feet and such :P)

 

then again, for every good thing, there is a bad thing. the tuatha'an take life how it is, and unfortunately that comes with negative energies, too. though some of them aren't necessarily bad, I'm putting them in this category anyway. it all depends on p.o.v.

 

fear and paranoia (for the unexpected)

pity for those who willingly harm

survival to the point of theivery and necessary lies

facing a false reputation (never said they stole children, I think. might be getting my series wrong)

young mothers

sickness (there's no telling what they'll come into contact with. things such as plants, diseased animals, spider bites, ect.)

 

and yeah, I hadmore but I forgot them by the time I got here :-[

[GrandpaG]

The Wise Ones among the Aiel make sure that they do not lose the women among them who will channel.  I assume that they "remember" this (passed down through the generations) from the days when they served the Aes Sedai?  Since the Tinkers have a common connection with the Age of Legends Aes Sedai, maybe they have "Healers" among them like Nynaeve?  Only they wouldn't be "wilders" since they would be taught by the experienced channelers.  So, if a Tinker girl fell out of the tree she was climbing and broke her leg, she'd hop to their healer and...PRESTO...good as new.  Possible?

[Desiree]

I would think that they have Healer's or Wise Women amongst them. I mean, they live off of the land, ofc they'd use it's resources and work with herbs - and some people's remedies might work faster and better than anyone expected ;) ofc, I think they would also take in those that failed their Arches or women who know they are wilders if they used their powers to do good and no harm. Saidar is a versatile tool, it can do as much harm as good. while I think they would be a bit wary, they would still keep channelers

[GrandpaG]

Several passages in the books praise the quality of pot mending that the Tinkers do...hhhmmmmm...maybe they use the One Power to get a little better mend job?  ::)

[Desiree]

haha, probably. though that sounds more of a man's job in the WoT world. i unno, what do you think?

[42Bonzo88]

    I think of the Quakers in early colonization of the America's. It is a religious group from the British Isles that was misunderstood and therefore persecuted until William Penn brought them to the new colony of Pennsylvania. They welcomed any religion even though they were persecuted by the same. They made friends with the Indians, they tried to live a simple life and was friendly to all. Sound Familiar?

[Desiree]

Yep, but the only difference I see right off the bat is that the Indians hunted for food. Tinkers ate edible vegetation around them :) a society of vegetarians!

[GrandpaG]

* suddenly has a craving for vegetarian chili *  ;D

I wonder if they also kept a little "home brew" in a jug for treatment of snake bite and such?  ::)

;D

[mcs0083]

VEGETARIAN?!

WHY?!

[42Bonzo88]

    I didn't mean the Indians were vegetarians, just that the Quakers attempted to befriend them. The Quakers did eat meat, they are just one of the few societies that to me were like the Tinkers. And I'm sure Grandpa G, that there will be a flask or two for *clears throat* Ahem- Medical Purposes. :)

[Desiree]

lol, are you serious mcs? the Tuatha'an were vegetarians because hunting is against the Way of the Leaf. It would require them to hurt and take away life. Instead, they had learned what plants/roots were edible in their travels so they could survive in any region :)

[mcs0083]

Well yeah I knew that......I guess I took Grandpa a lil' to seriously.

[GrandpaG]

I don't remember how I started the vegetarian chili thing.  Maybe on the trip to the Wolfkin org visit?  Just another part of the fun.  Tinkers should be able to enjoy chili too, right?  :)

[mcs0083]

Of course :)

[42Bonzo88]

    Personally I like my chili with beef and beans but I've never turned down one with just beans. Just need to make sure its hot enough to keep me up half the night! :o You have to pay sometimes for what you eat. :D

[Desiree]

lol, i actually can't stand chili with beans in it

[42Bonzo88]

    Actually, I haven't turned down much of anything through my life. Considering I'm a matchstick, alot of people have attempted to put 'meat on my bones'. It took me turning 35 to get to 140lbs.

[Desiree]

wow... i hope it doesn't take me that long to go down to that weight. meh, it's only 10 pounds... it shouldn't take.... 16 years, lol.

[42Bonzo88]

    Trust me it isn't always a good thing being this small. I was the one volunteered to do some real stupid things because I was the only one small enough to fit. Sad thing, I normally suggested the dumb things to begin with. :)

[mcs0083]

I'm 6'3" so I never had to worry about it.

[GrandpaG]

* tries to remember last time he weighed 140 pounds *

* wrestling maybe, 1969ish, freshman year of high school *

* beefed up from there to 162 weight class in a hurry *

* 5'7" and stubborn as a bull *

* built like one, too *

* probably smelled like one, too *  ;D