Happiest Of Holidays One And All

Blessed Samhain one and all

Due to a very negative incident that happen this past night, I will not be engaging in any information today. Instead I shall leave you with just images. I still wish you all a very blessed and fun-filled holiday. All good. no bad.

Bowynn Gods: Anhur

Anhur (An-her)  Anhur is King-Father of the gods, Son of Brea and Unthar. Anhur is the god of families, men, fatherhood, laws, virtues, courtrooms, justice and men’s rites.  Anhur is the son of Unthar and Brea. He is the ruler of the earth and considered king of the Gods in the Bowynn faith. Being the figure-head of all the Akua, he upholds law, justice and morals, and this made him the spiritual leader of both gods and mortals. His symbols are the scepter, the hawk, wolf and the Maple Tree. Ultimately, Anhur is the God of Councils and councilors. He is a patron to all men and men’s rites, rituals and initiations. He lends wisdom to fathers. He is the god-king of justice, law, order and all virtues. He is a god of protection, liberty and freedom. Anhur is protector and patron of the king and his family. As the supreme deity, Anhur oversees the conduct of civilized life.     

      When born, Anhur and his brothers Chumash and Tane were living in the Second Age. Back then the rulers of the gods were his parents, aunts and uncles. The three boys quarreled often to their parents, who of the three would end up ruling what realm of the earth. The gods sent them into contest with a bow and arrow. The rules were that wherever the arrow that each one of the boys shot would land, that would be the realm they would rule. Tane’s arrow landed in the sea and Chumash’s landed in on another continent where one day mortal spirits would make their home far across the western sea. Anhur’s arrow however landed in a tree. None of the gods could agree what the ruling would be for such a shot. The Great Creator Bia was asked to judge the shot and Bia ruled that the realm Anhur would rule was the earth and the air. And so Anhur’s Kingdom was gained

     Next Anhur set on his first great task; to attain his totem animal. He picked not just the wolf but the king of the wolves, Lankner. But Lankner refused to be treated as a Totem animal. This led to a great chase and battle between Lankner and the young Anhur. Eventually the chases and wrestling were too much for the king of wolves and his mortal body collapsed and died. Grief stricken, Anhur saved the soul of Lankner from entering Daunnat and thus not only obtained his totem but to this day, he is Anhur’s immortal hound. Not as a pet but as a brother.

     Anhur fell in love with the Goddess Rhya. But she refused his advances till he showed her his true love. by Rhya's request, Anhur built the great Hall of the Gods, Alaway. This was not to be a home for them to stay in all the time but a place to where all the gods would meet for evening meal and sleep. It was said that an oath was made with all the gods that no matter what friction was fused during the day between the gods, when they enter Alaway to eat, all differences were left outside. It took Anhur 7 days to complete Alaway alone, but its completed state would make it the grandest of all hallows. (see “Alaway”)

     Anhur in appearance does not come off as a king, as much as he is seen as a father figure. That is to say he seems to present himself as a man in his 40s. Fully bearded, crowned with a circlet, helm or a wreath of maple leaves and with a staff in hand. His hair is said to be golden brown and his eyes green. Often Anhur is seen with Lanker the immortal wolf, or a wolf himself. His clothes are that is a counselor, warrior or a king, but of earthen colors.

Embroidry & Paint of Chumash (left) and Anhur (right) - created by Ksandra Weldess - 2011

Bowynn Gods: Myliea

Myliea  (My-Lee-ah)  (Also spelled Myliea, Melia and Melea) is the Bowynn goddess of winter. She is one of the 4 seasons, daughters of Morrighynn and Herne and is the consort of the God of the North Wind, Arn. Her name literally means "Winter."

     Few tales are told of Meliea. She contested with her sisters for which season they would rule over and because Myliea granted conifer and pine trees the gift to survive the winter, she was so given the season of Winter to govern over. Thus, on the first day of winter, Myliea's sister Kora, [Autumn], departs the land, while Myliea appears on Winter's first day on a magnificent white horse, bringing the cold, frost, snow and sleep stage of the year. On the Bowynn holiday known as Kymeliea, (Candlemas and Imbolc for other traditions) it is time to celebrate the sacred and divine wedding of Arn to Myliea. Said to have been staged in a winter wonderland and decorated with all the color and mystical beauty of the season. During the holiday of Tsameliea (Winter Solstice) both god and goddess visits the homes that are decked in winter finery and have a candle lit in the window. If content that the homes is warm, safe, well stocked and filled with cheer, Arn will knock his staff on the doors and shutters, blessing the house while Myliea leaves a small gift at the door, under the door bough or hanging from it. Often these are in the form of bundles of foods; nuts, dried fruit, wine and for kids, candy and sweet cakes is left.

Several processional or Myliea and her 3 sisters

     Myliea is seen as a female figure of motherly-grand-motherly age. A woman refined with red hair laced with white, pulled back. She is clad in blues, silvers and whites. One can assume her hlad is of the same tones but it is not commonly seen because of the blue and white fur robe she wears over it, lined and trimmed in white furs. Sometimes she is said to have a Daddalo or Stola of blue laced with snowflakes over her robe. In her hand is often seen a staff of pine wood, wrapped in garland, ribbons and fillets. Her head is often said to be crowned (but not always) with a wreath of pine, conifer and/or holly. Sometimes she is said to be winged is glorious white feathers. When about mortals Myliea will take the image of a horse or deer, which are her totem animals.

     Sacred gifts to Myliea are Milk, Water, votive images of white horses, chickadees and cardinals. And of course incense.

Happy Halloween

BOWYNN GODS: SHELI

Sheli  (Shel-Lee)  Sheli is the Mammont [Mammoth] goddess of the plains, bravery, long courageous trips and expeditions and she is the patroness of hunters and bravery. Sheli is very much one of the more revered gods during the celebration of the Great Migration.

     Sheli did not play much of a role in the pantheon for a long time. For the most part she was looked at as the matriarch of the wandering tribes of mammoths, protecting them from dangers of hunters and predators. But it came to pass that the 13 great tribes crossed the Bosphorus into Europe utterly starved. While they had the protection and lead of the goddess Briathenaea, the people’s food stock was all but depleted. Brianthenaea asked Sheli for help. The goddess directed random herds of mammoths towards the tribes to be hunted. Thus, the tribes were saved again by divine intervention. It was at that point that the people revered Sheli as a goddess of travel and the guardians of plains and valleys where mammoths dwelt. In turn Sheli devoted herself a goddess of the hunt and protectors of hunters. 

     One of the great scared tales speak of the time when Sheli had issued a great warning to all the hunters of the tribes never to kill more than they needed. Especially when it came to the mammoths, for they were the guardians of the plains. Sadly, there came a point where her warning was forgotten and sure enough the mammoths were all but hunted off by greedy hunters. That’s when the great starvation of the tribes came. Sheli shunned the hunters and set them to survive on their own. It was the god Herne who prevented the starvation of mortals by sacrificing himself. Sheli saw that the people were grateful, and they brought her great gifts to repent. Sheli broke down and forgave the mortals and vowed to continue to guard and guide their hunts.

     Sheli is seen in tow forms. The first being a mammoth and the second in her immortal true form; that is a woman of years, with reddish and grey hair, clad in travelling clothes lined in fur and a fir cap. Scared to Sheli are votive images of mammoths and elephants, hunting weapons and all sorts of foods. Bundles of grain are offered to her in autumn as a special tribute.

Bowynn Gods: Alaway

Alaway  (Al-lah-way)  Alaway is the great house of the gods. To be more precise it is the "nightly" hall of the gods. Alaway was created by lord Anhur on earth, built alone, by his own hands, as asked by his bride-to-be Rhya. This she asked to prove his love to her, demanding the building be completed in 7 days. With godly strength, speed and skill Anhur did in fact complete the great structure.

    While Alaway was originally only meant to be a dining hall of the gods, there are individual chambers for sleeping as well, though there are some gods do not use them, as their positions on are require them to be elsewhere, even Anhur at times. The Ano-Taya, goddesses of fate, reside in Alaway all the time, never leaving their work. They, and a small handful of other gods, reside in Alaway almost all the time.

     Alaway is described as a grand building standing over the river Muet. There are said to be many posts holding up the roof, carved from solid trees. The windows are made of cut crystals, each one depicting the first 7 days of creation and divine weddings. At the double doors that lead inside stands young Drudenn, who is the key-holder to Alaway. The whole of inside of Alaway is said to be painted in a magnificent colors, with white decorative trim. Inside the great hall there is a magnificent hearth, encircled in green marble and lanterns made of amber hang everywhere; the great hearth is tended by the goddess’s Io and Phaenixx and the god Hyu. About the hearth are many mats, cushions and seats for each god. The great kitchen is maintained by a series of Kii, entrusted with cleaning and cleansing, preparing mighty feasts for the gods. In the great hall, the walls are lined with the four tapestries of life woven by the Ano Taya. The palace is said to be lit with alabaster and ivory lamps, decorated in the most highest of fashion. The bed chambers are said to be decorated with great tapestries and the beds covered with woven blankets and furs.

    Though built on earth, Alaway is no longer visible nor reachable by mortal man. Very few mortals have ever found or been invited to Alaway mostly due to disbelief or other reason due to their individual sins. But it's really not a place for mortals.

Bowynn Gods: The Hyndd

Hyndd (Hynd)  These people are in some aspect related to the Greek and Roman Kentaurs. But instead of the lower torso of a horse, it is a deer or elk with dark eyes, antlers and ears. The female Hyndd so not have horns. They are the guardians of deep forests where most men will dare to dwell and they hunt down those the try to destroy the woodlands. The Hyndd are the cousins of the Thurdro.

The Hyndd are not mortal by any stretch but forest Kii (spirits), They can appear and disappear as needed. Stories tell how people will encounter a Hyndd and in a flash the Hyndd with whisk away like a flurry of butterflies.

Blessed Winter Solstice

BOWYNN GODS: VADELL

Vadell  (Vah-del)  Sometimes "Vladell". The “Giants” that Brea made to protect the earth before Anhur and the Akua ruled. These giants were immortal and took on the shapes and forms of the territories they ruled over. Most of them were rather brutish and unruly. After Anhur contested with his brothers for the rule of the gods, the three released the Giants from their duties. Unfortunately, many refused to leave and the gods had to battle the Vadell into submission.  A handful begged for atonement and were allow to work for Anhur, stoking the furnaces, filling baths and vats and filling the hearths with fresh wood in Alaway. Some were destroyed and others just merged into the landscape for eternal sleep. But it is said that some hide and still walk the earth.

BOWYNN GODS: QUATT

Quatt  (Kwhat)  God of the 5th gate of Daunnat, of faith, in the land of Daunnat.  Quatt like the other Gate guardians of Daunnat are the children of Chumash and Kalma.

     As with all the gods of Daunnat, Quatt is not an evil god, nor a god of judgment.  His role is that of a guardian of Daunnat. He is the bestower of faith to souls, as no spirit can enter Daunnat without this virtue. However it is common for the living to call to Quatt who are in need of eternal. As god of the Gate of Faith, Quatt is one of the 7 gods of the sacred septagram. He sustains from visiting Alaway, instead preferring to live and feast with the spirits and other gods in Daunnat.

     Quatt has no known totem animal, instead always staying in his godly form. He is seen as a young god dressed in a long sleeve purple tunic with simple white trimmings. At times she is seen carrying a septagram tile and a horn which is blown when she allows a soul past her gate. Other times he holds a staff of ivory. It is said by the god Brand, Pedjed bears short brown hair and earthly green eyes.

     Sacred to Quatt is the Septagram and riding blow horn. During funeral services, a bowl of milk is left to her, as customary and a statuette of the departed, so the god will recognize the departed’s soul, which is identical to his body.