Trill Symbiont Psi Communication;
The Trill also seems to be a Psionic Species, although the powers appear to be restricted to that of the Trill Symbiont. Unjoined Symbionts within the Nutrient Pools of the Caves of Mak’ala, are able to communicate with each other and their Guardians. These communications are even visible appearing as a slight electrical disturbance above the water line of the Nutrient Pools within the cave. By this fashion they are able communicate in great detail with each other and with their Guardians... Such communication seems to be aided within the location, with the Guardians seemingly able to identify a host’s symbiont even upon a first meeting, and the pools are often used in the diagnosis and treatment of the symbionts. However whether this communication is truly telepathic is unknown, although some of the rituals that Joined Trill occasionally undertake seems to imply that some levels of latent psychic ability rest with the symbiont.
The Ritual of the Zhian-Tara is also performed by the Guardians in the Caves, the ritual allows the symbiont to temporarily remove the personalities of its previous hosts, and imprint these hosts personalities upon family, friends and colleagues, enabling the Trill to gain a sense of self-history as each new host has an opportunity to meet with and talk to the previous hosts. The ritual effectively expels the host personality, imprinting it over that of the volunteer that the Trill has chosen would best embody the previous host. Only 1 personality is transferred at a time, and is purely voluntary, it is not unknown for the individual personalities to decide to cut their time short, returning to the symbiont.
While the Zhian-Tara is most often performed on Trill it is possible to conduct the ritual anywhere of the joined Trills choosing, as comfortable surroundings are also important. Although these more distant ceremonies often require an equally skilled guardian, to help guide the path of the Ceremony and ensure all goes well.
However other than the Zhian-Tara ritual, Trill Psionics seems to be rare, and no manifestation seems to occur even amongst the joined. Amongst the host species, only the Guardians seem to display any level of Psionic sensitivity with their ability to commune and understand the Symbionts…
Another ritual, the Rite of Emergence, allows a joined host to gain insight and wisdom from their previous hosts. Unlike the Zhian-Tara, they draw a manifestation of the previous host to consult with. Unlike the Zhian-Tara, this manifestation is a simple vision, non-corporeal and visible only to the Trill Host. It is however intensely aware of its surroundings and able to guide and teach the host. This is a little known and rarely encountered ritual, and many feel it a closer relative of the Trill subconscious, linked with an hallucination, rather than a true psychic power. After all, after multiple joining’s a Trill symbiont bring many lifetimes experience with it, and many personality quirks and subconsciouses …