Learning the Veneration skillset

Kagato

How exactly does one go about learning Veneration?  I know it costs 75 million essence, but I have received conflicting information, with some saying you need to be an Avatar to be able to learn it in the first place, others saying that you need to learn the skillset BEFORE you can become an avatar.  Which is it - plus if it is the latter, how do I go about learning it?  Guessing it is something that pops up under the POWERS list? (Can't find it anywhere, which is why I have been under the impression that one needs to be an avatar before it is made available)

Ayisdra

Being an avatar allows you to select the skillset via POWERS. Then it costs you 10 million essence to 'activate' the skill with a god's permission (this is the first skill of the skillset and is the actual cult forming, this cost is free if you are an ascendant).

Aeldra

As a cult member, you'll not increase this skill yourself, but your avatar will, using the essence present in the cult ( see CULT STATUS ). The only way you can contribute is by offering to your god, which will increase the cult's available essence by a small amount ( I think 5% ? of the offering you make, maybe it's more ) . The avatar that holds the cult can increase the skill ( and the cults essence needed for it through meditation, to my knowlede. I am not sure how that works though, never been in the privilege to have avatar/cult ).

Kagato

Ayisdras answer was more in line with what I was wondering about. I've also received a couple of answers in-game that gave me a course of action.