If you go with a Shinto parallel, that would include some form an ancestor worship, which I could easily see the Au Ra doing, particularly if they are wrapped up in the whole divine bloodline thing. Still most of the parallel would be speculation. Relatively well based speculation, but speculation none the less. We do not know the specifics, but it is fun to try and figure stuff out. Yar. 
It is also important to draw a line of distinction between elementals in the Shroud and elementals else where. Largely for the following reasons;
1. The Shroud Elementals took over, they were not always active in the Black Shroud all the time. They gathered up, enforced their will and attempted to push out both the Ixal and the Elezen.
2. The Shroud Elementals required an entire society to agree to a pact in order to live in the Shroud. To live there people are required to submit to their will.
3. Citing that pact they required a race turn on its own and destroy an entire city, igniting a blood feud in the Elezen race that extends to this very day.
4. They wrested control over an entire source of magic that was once commonplace, and dole it out only to their chosen.Â
5. They continuously and callously enforce a harsh set of rules on the people of Gridania, and the Conjureror's that practice there.
The Shroud elementals are restrictive, oppressive, and probably not so much a the grand benevolent force that some NPCs think they are, or would have us believe they are (not that those NPCs are directly lying, they likely just don't know everything).Â
The distinction is somewhat important because the Ninja quests where we find out more about how Doman spirituality and how Ninjutsu work do not reveal that there is any kind of string or stricture placed on the use of Ninjutsu (other than needing to be able to channel aether, and having there required training. They also have not revealed to us that they have been put under any sort of forceful stricture or restriction (save by the Garleans). Thus I think it is slightly important to make the distinction between regular elemental worship and worship and reverence of the elementals in the Shroud. The two groups of nature incarnate things do not seem to act in the same manner at all.
Fun side note: Elementals absolutely can die with in the boundaries of the Hedge. There are 3 murdered "Great Ones" seen when we are introduced to Kan-E-Senna in 1.0. There is a theory that she herself killed them in order to reform the Twin Adders and become its leader, but I do not think this is actually so.
It is also important to draw a line of distinction between elementals in the Shroud and elementals else where. Largely for the following reasons;
1. The Shroud Elementals took over, they were not always active in the Black Shroud all the time. They gathered up, enforced their will and attempted to push out both the Ixal and the Elezen.
2. The Shroud Elementals required an entire society to agree to a pact in order to live in the Shroud. To live there people are required to submit to their will.
3. Citing that pact they required a race turn on its own and destroy an entire city, igniting a blood feud in the Elezen race that extends to this very day.
4. They wrested control over an entire source of magic that was once commonplace, and dole it out only to their chosen.Â
5. They continuously and callously enforce a harsh set of rules on the people of Gridania, and the Conjureror's that practice there.
The Shroud elementals are restrictive, oppressive, and probably not so much a the grand benevolent force that some NPCs think they are, or would have us believe they are (not that those NPCs are directly lying, they likely just don't know everything).Â
The distinction is somewhat important because the Ninja quests where we find out more about how Doman spirituality and how Ninjutsu work do not reveal that there is any kind of string or stricture placed on the use of Ninjutsu (other than needing to be able to channel aether, and having there required training. They also have not revealed to us that they have been put under any sort of forceful stricture or restriction (save by the Garleans). Thus I think it is slightly important to make the distinction between regular elemental worship and worship and reverence of the elementals in the Shroud. The two groups of nature incarnate things do not seem to act in the same manner at all.
Fun side note: Elementals absolutely can die with in the boundaries of the Hedge. There are 3 murdered "Great Ones" seen when we are introduced to Kan-E-Senna in 1.0. There is a theory that she herself killed them in order to reform the Twin Adders and become its leader, but I do not think this is actually so.
