Ōphīa

by

Finley Vorden

Ōphīa, the Goddess of Death, is known as the gentlest deity, a soft-spoken guide who oversees the transition between life and what comes after. Ōphīa approaches souls with a warm smile and open arms, transforming what could be terrifying into a “return home after a long journey.”

Her followers maintain that death should be respected rather than feared, a philosophy I find more convincing the further I am from personal danger. Their temples serve as both funeral homes and places of genealogical record-keeping. The priesthood dresses primarily in soft gray rather than the expected black, explaining that death is neither light nor darkness but between; much like their meek goddess herself, who stands as the compassionate younger sister among the pantheon.

Ōphīan devotees should:

• Perform remembrance rituals
• Never disturb burial sites
• Keep a memento mori on hand