Cathectic

Practitioner of a purportedly ancient religion whose core practices includes the veneration of automorphs and the belief that humans are self-modifying imagines.

Cathectics are rarely casual observers, though not all members subscribe to the more orthodox tenets of the religion. Cathectics claim that they do not read from a common codex, but instead rely on ancient traditions passed down through other Cathectics. Such clannish, essentially scripture-less rituals makes it nearly impossible for those outside of a Cathectic family to join the religion, though there have been instances where converts have been accepted. Non-devotees are rarely permitted to witness Cathectic rituals, though an extensive pictorial history of the religion exists in the form of Cathectic portraiture. While Cathectics deny that these portraits constitute a kind of Cathectic bible, the images unquestionably command a great deal of attention from all Cathectics, orthodox or not. Also of note is that, despite the secretive habits of Cathectics, Cathectic portraiture is widely — if not excessively — created and reproduced by its members for all to enjoy.

Perhaps the reason for an ever-increasing archive of Cathectic portraiture is its often diagrammatic depiction of dermagardens, a practice that remains a fundamental Cathectic vocation. Cathectic hierarchy appears directly proportionate to the complexities of their dermagardens (Cathectic botanists are known to produce the most elaborate dermagardens), though not all Cathectics design dermagardens for their own use. Regarded as an anathema by Cathectic orthodoxy and purist botanists, some Cathectics fashion dermagardens and elegant botanical armatures for non-Cathectics. The growing popularity of Cathectic handiwork has placed some practitioners into a very public light (see: Laes Orchid), resulting in an obvious schism between the Cathectic orthodoxy and modern extroverts. Despite their foray into the limelight, less reticent Cathectics have not revealed the clandestine traditions of their faith.