Editing The Islands of Sina Una (section)

==Spirits and Religion==

Animism is the primary way of belief in the Islands, but in this case everything, from the smallest rock to the tallest acacia tree, to the flowing rivers and the smoking volcanoes, has a spirit that animates it.  People are aware of how much of an impact in their lives these spirits have, and seek to live in harmony with them.  It literally costs nothing to regularly praise the spirit of the rice fields to ensure a good harvest, but at the same time it would be foolish ''not'' to regularly entreat the spirits of the sea for a safe journey.

In general, there are two categories of spirits: nature spirits, and ancestral spirits.  Nature spirits are often embodiments of particular flora, fauna, or even major geographic locations like mountains.  Especially powerful or ancient ones may even interact with mortals via taking physical form in order to communicate, though often times what form they choose varies from encounter to encounter.  Locals have formed reciprocal relationships with the spirits of their areas, and will often leave a token or offering in appreciation.  Woe to the town who manages to neglect their local spirit!

Ancestral spirits, on the other hand, are the souls of those who had already passed on, but had not yet elected to continue on to the Black River.  They watch over the households of their descendants, though they could only give advise through intermediaries like the '''babaylan''' or through dreams.  

Rarely though, when they feel the need to intervene directly, ancestor spirits may allow themselves to be reborn.  Those who choose so are reborn as the '''umalagad''', and they use their second lives wisely to fulfill whatever goals they had.