QUESTION AND ANSWER: Folkish

Bowynn Gods: Nyalla

Nyalla as The Cleanser, The Purifier and The Anointer

Nyalla  (Ny-ah-lah)   Goddess of ritual cleansing, bathhouses, sweat lodges, saunas, and hot springs. Nyalla is the daughter of Tane and Kauldra. Nyalla has also been named “Nyalla Noma” and “Nyalla Lhaunomaea” meaning “Lady of the Bathhouse.” Nyalla is also considered the goddess of meditative baths and meditation places in general. She is thought to not only protect the buildings but help the mortal body relax, cleanse and heal; physically and mentally. Through the steam of such places, Nyalla helps the body and mind lift away what ails it, clearing it of impurities and making it whole again. At the same time, she gives words of wisdom through meditation and the steam.

      Nyalla is said to “be the rising of the steam” and the “hot water, the cooling of the air, the scent of the herbs and oils and the opening of the mind.” Nyalla is also the goddess of smudging and cleansing rituals. Often, she is seen with Abbennaea, the goddess of offerings and gifts.

Myalla is not a three-fold or triple goddess, as there is no such concept in the Bowynn faith. She is however spoken of as having 3 distinct aspects: The Cleanser, The Purifyer and the Anointer. In a rare few times, she has none more title: The fumigator. All of these are distinct processes to cleanse the body and the mind. This Nyalla is also seen as a medicinal/healing goddess.

     There are few sacred tales of Nyalla. One of the few says that she was the one that blesses all of the goddesses of the Akua in sensual baths before they wed. That on the eve she blessed Rhya’s bath and cleansing, Rhya in turn gave he a vial of her own tears of happiness. And it is from this vial that Nyalla blesses all mortals with. It is also said that Nyalla was one of the many of the Gods of the Akua that spent the 7 sacred nights with the first tribes of mortals. During this time, she showed the women folk how to keep their bodies and minds clean. She showed them how to build and tend a Bath House in a scared manner, as well as how to properly use the bathhouse in a spiritual manner for omens and visions.

     Nyalla is seen a sweet young woman in rather simple clothing. She is said to be seen lingering around houses and spaces of meditation, where she is found gathering stones or wood for the fire or drawing water for the steam bath. In her godly form, she is seen as a young woman in simple clothes of reds and saffron colors. Her hair is said to be braided in many long rows, sometimes being tied up, sometimes hanging down. In her totem form, she is seen as a lizard or salamander

     Sacred gifts to Nyalla are incense blends, vats of water, vials of oil and votive images of lizards and salamanders. Sometimes a special offering of a poppet of the goddess is left for her.

Bowynn Gods: Jayleen Jarra

Jayleen Jarra  (Jay-leen Jar-rah)  Goddess of the healing arts and medicinal herbalism. She is one of the daughters of the god Owenn and sometimes her sisters and her are said to be female Kii; referred as The Sisters Jarra. Primarily Jayleen is indeed the goddess that rules or the healing properties of herbs and the making of medicines. She is also a patron of pharmacists and medical scientists.   

      There are no sacred tales of Jayleen or her sisters outside of their constant vigil over mortals. Jayleen is said to be seen at her father’s side or out in the wild, always looking for new medicinal herbs. Jayleen’s own chamber in Alaway is a massive chamber of every herb, flower, root and wood known to mankind, filled with ground herbs, oils, salves and balms.

      Jayleen is described as a young goddess with dark hair and a dress of green. Her Hlad is also green, detailed with images of herbs and medicinal flowers. While some have seen her with a staff in hand, most of the time she has been seen with an herbal basket or medicinal bowl in hand. When not seen in this form, Jayleen will take the form of a bird. Offerings to Jayleen are herbs, flowers and incense.

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.

The 7 Sacred Offerings

Within the faith of the Bowynn tradition it is said that the gods ask for only 7 basic types of offering. These seven became the staple of offerings and are called "Tau Numa Abennes", literally The Seven Offerings. The list is as follows

Flowers, Plants, Flora and Foliage. (cut, potted, wreath, garlands)

Uncooked foods. (Fruits, honey, veggies, nuts, grains, herbs,)

Cooked foods. (Meats, cakes,)

The light of a Candle

Incense

Libations of all sorts (Anything liquid from water to brews)

Votive offerings and objects (clay, wax, cloth, wood figures. Objects)

There is technically and 8th form which is personal self, often meaning cuts of hair, nails and drops of blood. These are only used to bless and bind with a sacred religious tool and even then, very minimally. The gods otherwise abhor the sacrifice of life and the disrespect of the body. "Your body be a gift from us immortals, defile it not but instead keep it clean and pure.)

Once a year on New Years {Then Ohenn} a great complete set of all 7 offerings is displayed on Altars and is offered to the gods.

During the Holiday of "Kodex Tor" it is costumery to burn what is called a "Tsa'heka" of incense, which is 'bundle of 100 incense sticks." Sometimes a myst will off a Tsa'heka to the gods when casting a particularly powerful spell that is in dire need.

Unlike Wiccans, the gods of the Bowynn do NOT have any one set of particular offerings they require. That is to say there is no need to attribute only certain scents, colors and food to a particular god or goddess. they will accept any offering if given with all respect and love.

As to why offerings are gifted to the Bowynn gods, it's out of love and respect. For they have given some of the greatest gifts to mankind, its only right to give a gift in return. Brea, the goddess of the earth speaks very clear in this when she replied ...

"For all this that I have given on to you, for the life you live, the air you breath and that land you walk on, the light the lets you see the beauty of the day and the night that lets you sleep, would not you give the same to me? Gift to me a stone, a cutting a grass, a plate of your meal, light, waft of smoke. Kind comes in kind my beloved children and in circle again. Give what you can in love and hurt nothing that I have life to. Give to us, your beloved parents, and in kind we will give to you."

As to the "post offering" or to say what happens after offerings are gifted. the goddess Abbennaea clarifies this in her own words.

"Precious child, fret not because that which you offered is still on the plate. For you see, I take not that which you give to us in the mortal world but instead I take its divine essence, its spirit and love that you have given. And I bring it to those of us who you have offered it to. In turn, we the immortals, turn your gifts into that which is good for all, mortal and immortal alike. Only the scented herbs that you burn for us, we receive directly, as it rises and flies to our presence. Then within the turning of a full day and night, dispose of the mortal husk of your offering into a pit in the earth, into the waves of the sea, the waft of the wind or that is most befitting of such a gracious gift. And take heart knowing your gift has pleased us."

So, in a word, the gods take the divine essence of your gifts to them and after 24 hours you may dispose of the food or plants in a respectable manner, as best one can.

With this, we close with the basic outline of the Bowynn faith. Posts beyond this point will deal with the Holidays that the Bowynn celebrate and the Gods themselves in detail.

Bowynn Gods: Boquinn

Boquinn (Bow-kwin)  (also Soquinn) The Boquinn are the Bowynn are Kii giants of the forests and mountains and the protectors of them. Boquinn are hairy ape-like spirits, they are often solitary wanderers of the unlike other Kii that often work together. They were created by Brand to keep the woodlands safe from Mano’s wrath and pranks and the destructiveness of the Tii. Unlike other Kii, they do not speak like humans but more like animals. Legends say that for a person to see a Boquinn, will bring the person great blessings. The Boquinn are in general, peaceful, unless people get too close. When a Boquinn does present itself as vicious, it is normally a warning that some great change is about to take place that will disrupt their homeland.

Bowynn Gods: Mano

Mano  (Man-oh)  God of hate, jealousy, tricks, evilness, all that is wicked, war and destruction. Mano is the only god in the Bowynn faith that is of negativity and after his confinement and destruction by the gods, he said to be never invoked again. Even in the Hall s of gods, Mano is not spoken of nor his image depicted. Despit this Mano is still listed in the Pantheon of the Bowynn gods, as a sever lesson to be learns and avoided..

     Mano was the bastard son of Phoenix and Sumon and hated his cousins Brand, Brenda and Kord. Spending so much time with them as kids, Mano became jealous of his cousins and started to play tricks on them. This led to Mano's enviousness to spread to all the gods, He saw them all as prefect and himself as flawed. Though he tormented other gods as well, he seemed to target his two cousins the most, and later on started to fancy Brenda, who was the goddess of love and beauty. As the years went by, Mano's tricks became more and more malicious and destructive; stealing, harmful and in some cases physically painful. What exactly caused this jealousy is unknown, as Mano had just as much beauty and gifts as his cousins. Whatever the reason, the tricks escalated to a point where Mano was reported to Anhur for kidnapping his cousin Brenda and it took Brand and Kord days to find her. He also started to teach mortals how to behave wickedly to each other. He encouraged theft and destruction,

Needless to say, Anhur punished young Mano. This sat wrong with Mano and the malicious god started to outright battle with Brand and Kord. But his rage blinded him so much that the twins always defeated him, sending Mano running. In turn Mano finally had enough, stole the sword "Nilwynn" from the war god Tirren and used it to slay his cousin Brand as he slept in a field. This was possible only because only an immortal weapon can kill a god. When Kord discovered his twin brother dead, he vowed revenge and a great war started between the two. Kord, being much stronger, caused Mano to even the odds by creating an army, the malicious Tii spirits. However, Kord created the Kii, to battle them. The battle raged for months and in the end, Kord defeated Mano, chained him and brought him before the gods for judgment. Anhur cast the final verdict and decreed Mano be stripped of all godly hood and gifts and changed him for eternity in a cave in the ocean.

At some point Mano had been able to and took on Anhur's son, the demi-god Allon. Their own battle was just as destructive till Allon slew the anti-god, casting his body into the sun, so that it would never soil the earth again.

     Like all gods, Mano has two forms; in his godly form, Mano is a young handsome god, with jet black wavy hair. Divine law dictated his image never to be depicted in any form, so not to manifest him nor his ways back into existence. And he is certainly never invoked. In his godly form Mano used to take the form of a Woodpecker, Lion Shark and Octopus.

Bowynn Gods List (Simplified)

Below is an extremely simplified list of the divine that exist withing the Bowynn faith. Again, I stress this is a VERY simplified listing of their divine attributes.

Abennaea                    Goddess of all sorts of offerings and libation

Abonna                       Gods of music, dance and the arts

Adarro                         God of the sea, fish, dolphins and cleansing

Aetenn                        God of armories, protection and drumming

Alaway                        Home of the Gods. The Great Hall

Aleglea                        Goddess of happiness and joy. Patroness of all Bowynn

Allapae                        The Upper World, Heaven, sky, universe

Amaetheon                  God of wine, abundance, oil and honey

Anhur                          King of the gods, men, kings, council and judgment

Ano Taya                    Goddesses of fate, past, present and future

Arn                              God of the north wind

Bia                               Creation, the force and balance of all things

Brand                          God of music, prophecy, archery, poetry and oracles

Brea                             Goddess of the earth and earth element

Brenda                        Goddess of beauty, love and vanity

Briathenaea                 Goddess of protection, invention and wisdom

Chumash                     God king of the Daunnat and the dead

Dadjall                        God who leads the soul through Daunnat

Dae                              Primordial Darkness & Light combined created by Bia (Not a Deity)

Daekk                          God of wealth, fortune and abundance

Daeth                          God of darkness and night

Daunnat                      The nextworld where souls go at death

Deanna                        Goddess of the harvest and earth fertility

Dhonan                       Immortally bless mortal and god of love, passion, beauty and vanity.

Drautmer                     God of Music, drumming and drummers

Drudenn                      God that is the stable boy of the gods

Ehrlik                          Ancient Giant god of druids, bards, historians and

Enya                            Goddess of the morning and the dew

Gondor                        God of the forge and blacksmithing

Hawynn                      God of the great river Muet and all rivers, dams and fishing.

Hemway                      Goddess patroness of the poor, homeless and compassion

Hern                           God of the wild wood, animals and the sun

Heron                          God that delivers the souls to Daunnat

Hyu                             God of baking, ovens and bread. Baker of the gods

Ikarro                          The Milky Way. The bridge that lead the gods to earth

Innapa                         The Middle World, mortal earth

Io                                 Goddess of the hearth, tame fire, cooking and kitchens

Ion                               God patron of knights and god of virtues

Issen                            Ancient Giant god of the summer season

Istra                             Goddess of the 3 fold law, respect and vengeance

Jarda                            5 Kii Guardian Spirits

Jayleen Jarra                Goddess of the healing arts and medicinal herbalism

Kalen                           God of wood craft and architecture

Kalma                          Queen of the Daunnat, divination and oracles

Kara Jarra                    Goddess of the healing arts of massage, reiki and other healing touches.

Kauldra                       Queen of the sea and all fresh waters

Kii                               Spirits/faeries/nymphs/elves/gnomes

Kora                            Goddess of the Autumn season

Kord                            God of peace, law, justice, freedom and brotherhood           

Lomaun                       God of hunters, travelers and bears

Luanna                        Goddess of fields, meadows and gardens

Lyan                            God of the east wind and east

Lyanna                        Goddess of the lute, music and musicians in general

Maena                         Goddess of balance, truth, order and victory of all sorts

Mammont                    The race of Ancient Giant Gods that came before the Akua

Mano                           God of hate, jealousy, tricks and destruction

Mask                           God of wisdom, gambling and music. Messenger of the gods

Morrighynn                 Goddess of the moon, night, stars, hunt and wolves

Muet                            The river that flows from Alaway all the way down to Daunnat

Mura                            Goddess of the 1st Gate of Daunnat, of courage

Myliea                         Goddess of the winter season

Mystara                       Goddess of the magical arts

Naddas                        God of the 2nd Gate of Daunnat, of kindness

Nae                              Ano Taya, young goddess of the past

Naea                            Goddess of wells, pools, fountains and springs

Naerea                         Goddess of sleep, dreams and prophetic dreams

Nareen                         Ano Taya, elder goddess of the future

Narna                          Ano Taya, She is the Mother goddess of the Present

Nauidd                        Goddesses of the hours of the day

Nyalla                          Goddess of bathhouses, sweat lodges and hot springs

Odjett                          God of the 4th Gate of Daunnat, of balance

Ohenn                         God of time and journal keeper of the gods of mortals deeds

Oken                           Ancient Giant god of strength

Onaur                          God of love and passion

Ortsal                          God of the 3rd Gate of Daunnat, of love

Owenn                        God of health and healing

Panu                            Goddess of gem crafting

Paut                             God of the element of Soul

Pedjed                         Goddess of the 7th Gate of Daunnat, of peace

Pequiss                        Goddess who is the gatekeeper of Daunnat

Phoenix                       Goddess of fire and the element of fire

Quatt                           God of the 5th gate of Daunnat, of faith

Quilla                          Goddess of the Spring season

Reye                            Goddess of the rain, hunt, protector of animals

Rhya                            Queen of the gods and goddess of women’s rituals and psychics

Rhymar                       God of the 6th Gate of Daunnat, of charity

Ryan                            God of the east and west wind

Saphon                        God of the south and south wind

Saul                             God of the light and day

Saulnat                        God of light in Daunnat

Shane                          God of love, desire and homosexual love

Shayla                         Goddess of the day and light

Sheli                            Ancient Giant Goddess of Expeditions, courage and bravery

Sumon                         God of all waters and the water element

Tane                            God king of the sea, horses, shapeshifting and scrying

Tarma                         Ancient Giant God of invention, wisdom and creativity

Tarna                           Goddess of the summer season

Tennaer                       Home of all the sea and oceanic gods

Tii                                Small malicious spirits that pester humans and gods alike.

Tora                             Goddess of the night and darkness

Traydea                       Goddess of childbirth and childcare

Treya                           Goddess of sunset and dusk

Tsellet                          Goddess of Duannat who purifies the soul

Tya                              Goddess of the element of Spirit

Tymora                        Goddess of fortune, luck and wealth

Tyr                               God of protection, soldiers and war

Unthar                         God of the air, sky and the air element

Uya Jarra                     Goddess of the healing arts and physical therapy

Vadyss                        God of Duannat who separates the Soul, Spirit and Body

Vae                              Anicent Giant goddess of seed and fertility

Vella                            Goddess of jewelry making and gold and silver smithing

Yormell                       Ancient Giant God of the weather

Bowynn Gods: Ehrlik

Ehrlik (Er-lik)  Ehrlik is a Bowynn benign Giant god of bards, historians, librarians,  history, memory, intelligence and music. He is one of the older gods that ruled the world before Anhur, created by Brea and her siblings. Ehrlik's kin roamed the world freely back then.

     There are little to no known prehistory sacred stories of Ehrlik, other than his wanderings about the world, recording events and sacred tales as they happen. These tales and historic events he put in a sacred book, the first Codex.   But it was not till he met up with a rival giant that stole his written work and swallowed it. Ehrlik slew the giant and opening the giants belly up retrieved the book. However, it was already destroyed. He swore that never again would he write the stories down. Instead, he took a rib of the giant and made it into a harp and from then on, Ehrlik kept all his knowledge to song. It was only after Ahnur built Alaway and gave Ehrlik his own place there, that Ehrlik rewrote new books. And it is in Alalway where they can be found. However, the sacred voice of Ehrlik so notes that it is best to keep the sacred text to mind and not to paper.

     Ehrlik is seen as an old god, of grandfather or even great grandfather status. He is said to be large man in height with long white hair and beard. His eyes are a deep sea. One can look into his eyes and yet never see the end of his age or knowledge. His robes are white and gray, well wore out from all his travels. In his hand he holds a mighty staff. If not a staff, he holds his harp. When not in his humanoid form Ehrlik is seen as a great white mammoth. Sacred offerings to Ehrlik are the traditional incense as well as manuscripts, musical instruments, scrolls, books and ones sacred Codex.

BOWYNN GODS: Saulnat

Saulnat  (Sawl-nat)  God of the light in Daunnat, the next world. He is the son of Shayla and Saul, the god and goddess of Light and Day.

     When first created by the lord Chumash, Duannat was a very dark and foreboding place where the dead would go, much darker than the night. Thus it was a dismal place to be. He asked Saulnat, the son of Saul if he would be willing to bring his inherited light to Daunnat. In turn Chumash promised him the great feasts of Daunnat and his own home. Saulnat agreed to this and took a part of the essence of the sun with him to Daunnat. With the sun light now in Daunnat, light filled the land, crops grew and forests came into being, thus turning Daunnat into a much glorious place.

     Despite Saulnat’s great gift to Chumash, the souls of the dead and Daunnat itself, he is not a widely worshipped god. Only in the hymns chanted at a death is Saulnat spoken of, that his light never be extinguished and act as a beacon. But despite this, he is revered greatly as a bastion of hope for the living and the dead, a symbol of life eternal. Saulnat is seen as a much older man than his father; a man is his elder years with a man of white hair and a long white beard. Saulnatt us said to wear ling white robes and has a most decorative staff in hand that the light of Daunnat is contained in.

     Sacred to Saulnat is a simple white candle. No totem animals are associated with him. 

BOWYNN GODS: TYMORA

Tymora  (Ty-mor-ah)    Goddess of fortune, luck and wealth. She is the daughter of Rhya and Daekk, and the sister of Daekk and Hemway. While her brother is the good of material wealth and prosperity, Tymora is the goddess of life wealth. She is the goddess that conjures chance events to go a person’s way, leading them to a fulfilled path, not always just money. She is prayed to often that life goes the way a person hopes for luck in life’s daily encounters. But of course, many see her as a goddess of monetary wealth. Tymora is often prayed to along with her brother Daekk at the same time. But Tymora is also a goddess of misfortune too. What she gives, she can easily take away if people abuse that which she bestows on them.

     The legends of Tymora are endless. She was indeed one of the gods of Alaway that stayed with the first tribes for seven days and nights, teaching the people all she could about fortune and her gifts to humanity.  One sacred tale speaks of a Guild Master who was so corrupt and filled with greed. But he wanted more and more, so he beseeched Tymora to bless him with her blessings of fortune. She refused to do so and so he had her temple destroyed in his city. Misfortune quickly fell on everyone about him, but the guild master himself. But all his people became so enraged with the man’s wealth that they looted his home till nothing was left. Quickly he learned his lessons and built a new and more glorious temple. His wealth and status was never fully returned but he understood why. Many of the legends of Tymora go the same way.

     Tymora is seen as a motherly figure with raven black hair and eyes as green as the summer forest. She is seen clad in a dress and robe of green with white trim and a white mantle. She does not have a formal crown on her head but is disklet that hangs from behind like a halo, which is said to be of silver. She is always seen along with her brother Daekk in her arms, as Daekk is a baby. Tymora is rarely seen in her totem form, which is said to be that of a mouse. Sacred offerings to Tymore consist of small sachets of grain and corn, coins and votive images of mice.