New info re: the Changedance

[Irennan]

As perhaps you will remember, the Changedance was a ritual that aspiring male priests of Eilistraee had to undergo in order to complete their training. Due to Eilistraee's nature being tied to motherhood, the difficulty to make male priests, and for male priests to fully cleave to Eilistraee, was overcome through this process. It was a first step to open her clergy to all genders, and it ended with male priests being able to feel their goddess in full, without having to dance the Changedance.

Honestly, I've never like this. It felt forced and rather unfit for Eilistraee. And yes, even though she's a mother to the drow, parenthood is experienced by everyone, so it shouldn't pose an obstacle to making male priests. However, Ed Greenwood has recently made the Changedance no longer a prerequisite, but a tool of self-expression. First, the he explained that it goes both ways, so you can transition from male to female as well as from female to male, with small differences in the ritual. Second, with it no longer being required, now it's granted to people who *want* it. So, essentially, Eilistraee's faith now embraces even more the liberation from gender rules, and provides trans people who want to transition an easily accessible way to do so. It's only fitting, given Eilistraees' focus on empowering the drow to find their own path to happiness, and given the role of freedom of expression in her teachings.

Basically, this was the most obvious way to make lemonade out of lemons, and I'm glad Ed chose to do so.

[Bhaern Quel]

Well it is indeed an improvement.

[Shir'le E. Illios]

I very much like that, yes. I'm very much in favour of Eilistraee being an LGBTQIA+ goddess.


Love -x-x-x-

Shir'le

[Irennan]

I agree entirely. Eilistraee canonically has a soft spot for outcasts, after all. She's a goddess that welcomes marginalized people and makes them feel at home.

[Leema Har'gachi]

As perhaps you will remember, the Changedance was a ritual that aspiring male priests of Eilistraee had to undergo in order to complete their training. Due to Eilistraee's nature being tied to motherhood, the difficulty to make male priests, and for male priests to fully cleave to Eilistraee, was overcome through this process. It was a first step to open her clergy to all genders, and it ended with male priests being able to feel their goddess in full, without having to dance the Changedance.

Honestly, I've never like this. It felt forced and rather unfit for Eilistraee. And yes, even though she's a mother to the drow, parenthood is experienced by everyone, so it shouldn't pose an obstacle to making male priests. However, Ed Greenwood has recently made the Changedance no longer a prerequisite, but a tool of self-expression. First, the he explained that it goes both ways, so you can transition from male to female as well as from female to male, with small differences in the ritual. Second, with it no longer being required, now it's granted to people who *want* it. So, essentially, Eilistraee's faith now embraces even more the liberation from gender rules, and provides trans people who want to transition an easily accessible way to do so. It's only fitting, given Eilistraees' focus on empowering the drow to find their own path to happiness, and given the role of freedom of expression in her teachings.

Basically, this was the most obvious way to make lemonade out of lemons, and I'm glad Ed chose to do so.

Glad to here this, so little Eilistraee news seems to be around these day. Also.... is it weird that I like the idea of Gender bending whenever I want? or is that just a me thing?

[Leema Har'gachi]

As perhaps you will remember, the Changedance was a ritual that aspiring male priests of Eilistraee had to undergo in order to complete their training. Due to Eilistraee's nature being tied to motherhood, the difficulty to make male priests, and for male priests to fully cleave to Eilistraee, was overcome through this process. It was a first step to open her clergy to all genders, and it ended with male priests being able to feel their goddess in full, without having to dance the Changedance.

Honestly, I've never like this. It felt forced and rather unfit for Eilistraee. And yes, even though she's a mother to the drow, parenthood is experienced by everyone, so it shouldn't pose an obstacle to making male priests. However, Ed Greenwood has recently made the Changedance no longer a prerequisite, but a tool of self-expression. First, the he explained that it goes both ways, so you can transition from male to female as well as from female to male, with small differences in the ritual. Second, with it no longer being required, now it's granted to people who *want* it. So, essentially, Eilistraee's faith now embraces even more the liberation from gender rules, and provides trans people who want to transition an easily accessible way to do so. It's only fitting, given Eilistraees' focus on empowering the drow to find their own path to happiness, and given the role of freedom of expression in her teachings.

Basically, this was the most obvious way to make lemonade out of lemons, and I'm glad Ed chose to do so.

Glad to hear this, so little Eilistraee news seems to be around these day. Also.... is it weird that I like the idea of Gender bending whenever I want? or is that just a me thing?

[Irennan]

It isn't weird. Gender-fluidity is a thing, so wanting to be able to transition at will surely isn't incomprehensible. I also think that being able to spend time transitioned can help men empathize more with women, and vice-versa.

But for me, if I was offered a changedance, I think I'd take it and never look back.

[Mags]

But for me, if I was offered a changedance, I think I'd take it and never look back.

Yeah, same for me. I wonder if there's a version of the changedance that turns you into your true self.

In any case, I do like the new inclusivity.

[Irennan]

But for me, if I was offered a changedance, I think I'd take it and never look back.

Yeah, same for me. I wonder if there's a version of the changedance that turns you into your true self.

In any case, I do like the new inclusivity.

It depends on what you mean by "your true self". I dunno how the ritual works tbh. Like, I dunno whether you can choose your looks, or the ritual reconstructs the appearance you would have if you had one of your chromosomes swapped out. In either case, as a transwoman, it'd be one of the best tings to ever happen to me.

[Mags]

Yeah, I understand, I'm trans as well.

As for one's true self, I used that term to include non-binary people. I don't have that experience myself, so I'm not sure how to be do that, but maybe the change dance would just give you the body you're most comfortable with? In that case, it would be useful for some cis people, as well.

Maybe it could also allow you to experience other body types somehow, too, since that was the original purpose. Not that I think cis people would last long in a differently-sexed body before requesting a change back.

[jentastic]

Yeah, I understand, I'm trans as well.

As for one's true self, I used that term to include non-binary people. I don't have that experience myself, so I'm not sure how to be do that, but maybe the change dance would just give you the body you're most comfortable with? In that case, it would be useful for some cis people, as well.

Maybe it could also allow you to experience other body types somehow, too, since that was the original purpose. Not that I think cis people would last long in a differently-sexed body before requesting a change back.

Long time reader. This comment made me actually register to reply (and I know it's late, but such is the internet).

I have thought a lot about the Changedance, and I feel like it, like all things gets to grow and change over time. Sure, when the practice started, it was exclusively for the clergy to change sexes to promote equity, and then after a long time, they didn't need it for that any more, and it became personal expression. And then they offered it to the laypeople for expression, and according to Ed Greenwood, eventually anyone who came asking for one in good faith.

So eventually realizing that self expression extends to non-binary individuals, the dance would continue to change. And you could work with the clergy performing the ceremony to make sure your dance worked exactly as you wanted. Genderfluid people would likely have a series of dances they knew so they could seek out a change when their heart wanted it.

[Mags]

So eventually realizing that self expression extends to non-binary individuals, the dance would continue to change. And you could work with the clergy performing the ceremony to make sure your dance worked exactly as you wanted. Genderfluid people would likely have a series of dances they knew so they could seek out a change when their heart wanted it.

That's a really nice line of thought. I love the idea of customizable dances!