Blessed Solstice

Blessed Winter Solstice

Bowynn Gods: Heron

Heron  (He-rhon)  Heron is the god that is the deliverer of the dead to Daunnat, the afterworld. He is also the guardian of tombs and cemeteries. He is the son of Chumash and Kalma.

     As his name bears, Heron is a bird god. He bears little to no sacred stories, as his life is too busy, removing the soul and spirit within, from the dead body of the deceased and escorting them to Daunnat. Heron is the god that allows the soul and spirit 7 days grace to visit those they loved in life before they depart to the next world. From the grave turned into his bird form and guides then to the ship of souls and guides it to the shores of Duannat.

     One rare sacred story tells as how a group of hunters accidentally netted Heron in his bird form. When they realized it was the god, they held him trapped to avoid death themselves. But to their horror, the outcome was that no one ever died and instead continued to suffer with their pains and illnesses. The howls of pain of the people plagued the hunters into madness till they finally let Heron go. During the great 7 days, Heron stayed with the first tribes and taught them how to tend to the dead and care of tombs. At the same time, he also taught that death was not final and to not let grief stop the living from moving on.

     On the headstones and tombs of the death the image of Heron is always depicted, either as immortal form or as the heron bird. In his long legged foot (or sometimes in his mouth, he is seen holding a brighten sphere, a soul. In his immortal form, Heron is depicted as a young tall man with long black hair, donned in long blue, white and grey robes and great majestic wings. Sacred gifts to Heron are foods and libations of all sorts, flowers and bundles of incense sticks. Not to mention votive images of Herons.

BOWYNN GODS: SANNA

Sanna  (Sahn-nu-ah)  This race of Kii is much similar to the ancient Greek and Roman “Ichthyocentaur.” That is to say the fore part is human, the back end is of a dolphin and has the front legs of a horse. The Sanna are the kii that protects boats, ports, harbours, and men that depend on the sea as a livilyhood. Bowynn ports will have a Sanna sculpture facing outward as a protective ward.

BOWYNN GODS: RUNA

Runa  (Rew-nah)  The Runa are the Kii (spirits) of the woodlands, wood working and crafting in other suct articles like horn, antler and bone. They are kii of human size, so it is said and reside in the woodlands, either in trees or in hidden homes in the forest. Being woodland spirits, they are protectors of the trees, making sure that no harm befalls them till they are mature enough to harvest for crafting. Some of the Runa will follow a tree to the home of those that chop them down, to make sure they are treated well. There, they become spirits of wood crafting. A small band of devoted Runa are said to accompany the god Kalen, the god of wood working and architecture. 

My Prayer to Brenda, Goddess of Love

O Radiant Brenda, Daughter of Anhur and Rhya, I stand before you, bathed in the glow of your divine presence, a humble seeker of your grace and light. You, who are the embodiment of passion, love, and beauty, I honor and revere you, as I aspire to embody the beauty that flows from your essence. O Brenda, Goddess of Love’s Fire, kindle within my heart the flames of passion, illuminating the path to love and connection. I beseech you to grace me with the beauty of spirit and heart, for I seek not only the allure seen through mortal eyes but the beauty that resides in kindness and humility. Teach me the delicate art of balance, that I may embrace both vanity and virtue without losing my way. Guide me, O Brenda, in my search for true love. Let your wisdom lead me to the embrace of a heart that resonates with mine, a love that thrives not on superficiality but on the depths of shared spirit. May I be as devoted and nurturing as you were to your beloved Dhonan, finding beauty in simplicity and truth.

As you transformed the arrogant Kii into cardinals, a reminder of the folly of vanity, I too shall remain vigilant against pride. May your mirror reflect not just my physical form but the essence of my character, guiding me to cherish humility over self-indulgence. In your sacred light, let me find strength in my imperfections and grace in my journey towards authenticity. In your honor, I offer you roses and wildflowers, sacred blooms that mirror your beauty and grace. May their sweet fragrance and vibrant colors serve as a testament to your divine artistry. As doves and cardinals soar through the heavens, symbols of love and eternity, may their gentle coos remind me of the power of love’s whispers in my life. O Brenda, as your beauty captivated the gods and inspired mortals, may my heart echo with love that transcends time and space, embodying the devotion you so deeply represent. Let my spirit shine with the brilliance of true love, filling the world with compassion, understanding, and beauty, just as you have done throughout the ages. So shall it be, embraced in the blessings of Brenda, the Goddess of Passion and Beauty.

Syember!

BOWYNN GODS: TSELLET

Tsellet  (T-sel-let)  Goddess of Duannat who purifies the soul of those that have passed away. She is the daughter of Chumash and Kalma and the sister of the keepers of the gates of Duannat.

     She is considered in some way a Handmaiden of Daunnat but her role is so much bigger than that. Her role is to make sure that each and every soul that enters Daunnat is purged of all its worldly sins and ills. No soul can enter Daunnat otherwise. It is done there a series of chants and the four sacred cleansings by earth, air, fire and water.  Once the soul is cleansed of all impurities, only then will Tsellet allow a soul to pass on.

     It is said that Tsellet’s home is not in Daunnat itself by on the far beach of Evermore, just before one reaches the first gate to Daunnat. Sadly Tsellet is a lone body where her home is.

     Tsellet is described and depicted as a young goddess with her hair pulled back and simple clothing in the colors of browns and lavender. It has been said that she is always seen with a basket in hand, which contains all the implements used to purge souls of sin and illness. Other times she is said to just hold a lavender wand in her hand. Sacred to Tsellet is Lavender itself and well as all scents that are used to purge away ills. These scents are often gifted to her in 7 bowls and often during a funeral rite, as Tsellet is rarely prayed to else someone has passed on.    

Bowynn Gods: Odjett

Odjett  (Ohd-jet)  God of the 4th Gate of Daunnat, of balance and one of the gods of Daunnat. He, like the other Gate guardians of Daunnat, are the children of Chumash and Kalma.

     As with all the gods of Daunnat, Odjett is not an evil god, nor a god of judgment.  His role is that of a guardian of Daunnat. He is the bestower of balance to souls, as no spirit can enter Daunnat without this virtue. However, it is common for the living to call to Odjett who are suffering from the lack of balance in their lives. But sould prayers are more from divinities like Bia and Manaea. This is not to say that Odjett brings ill to souls but to balance out any ill in their lives with goodness and purity. So, if a person was plaque with misfortune in their lives, sickness, bad luck, it is Odjett that balances that out for the soul before reaching the presence of Chumash and Kalma. As god of the Gate of Balance, Odjett is represented as one of the 7 gods of the sacred septagram.

Odjett sustains from visiting Alaway, instead preferring to feast with the souls and other gods in Daunnat.

     Odjett has no known totem animal, instead always staying in his godly form; At times he is seen carrying a septagram tile or a staff, entwined with sage leaves or apple leaves.

     Sacred to Odjett is the Septagram and sage plant. During funeral services, a bowl of milk and sage leaves is left to him, as customary and a statuette of the departed, so the god will recognize the departed’s soul, which is identical to his body.

(Above) The soul of a young man in front of Odjett

Bowynn Gods: The Kii

Kii  (Ky)  Kii are protective spirits of nature, home, work, the arts and various places. There are many types of Kii, large and minuscule and they all preside over different areas of nature. But all Kii are of good persuasion. And their appearance varies greatly. The three common type of Kii often seen and talked about are the small ones, which are described as no bigger than someone’s hands and have bird wings. There is a second type of small Kii that do not have wings. The third type are human size and have no wings.  And then there is the large type, which can be as big as trees and mountains. Some are humanoid in shape, some monstrous. The Bolquinn/Solquinn are big hair forest dwelling beasts.

The Kii were the creation of Brand and his siblings Kord and Brenda. They were created to guard and protect people and places during the destruction and seductive reign of Mano, who was starting to play nasty tricks on the gods. After Mano was destroyed, his minions the Tii were still causing havock, so Kord dictated the Kii were to remain, watching over the earth and its people.

Kii, like the gods, try not to interfere in human lives. Some try to avoid mortals at all cost. While some may protect the home or other such places, they do not get involved in mortal activity. One does not summon a Kii, as it is considered rude and can lead to mishaps. But if asked politely, a Kii may help. The Kii are not immortal but they do have a long lifespan. Some have been said to like about 200-300 years. No sacred story exists that mentions an individual Kii's name.

     Here is a list of some of the different types of Kii, some of which include:  Golderay (lightning, electricity and storms) Morrqua (stars, sleep, dreams and night) Sanna (waters) Chappa (mountain) Suni (wind and clouds) Maukol (harvest, wheat and grain) Gorto (forge) Jakk (domestic fire and flame) Heather (flowers and gardens) Aetin (cemeteries) Hii (magickal arts) Laukel (trees and woodlands) Tayo (houses, hearth, children) Solquinn (Forests)

     The Hii, Abonna and Kobbatti are often considered not Kii but instead as gods, even if they do not have individual names. Some folk do not consider the divisions of the Kii and just speak of them just as “The Kii.”

BOWYNN GODS: PHOENII

Phoenii  (Fee-ny)  the Phoenii are Kii (spirits) of domestic home fires, most of the time being of small fires, such as the flames of candles and lamps. These Kii are said to have the form of a tiny bird-like spirits but some can take the forms more of a larger phoenix bird. They reside in and around the hearth and ovens of the home or close to where candles are left. These diminutive spirits ensure safety and make sure candles burned bright but slowly and do not fall over. Other times they will reside by the hearth and be seen as the sparks that snap and rise up. All homes have a small shelf in the kitchen where small red paper images of the Phoenii or birds and left.

My Personal Prayer to Aleglea

O Aleglea, radiant patroness of the Bowynn, I raise my voice in reverence before your divine essence, the embodiment of happiness that dances upon the breath of life. Your name is a melody that fills the air with light, and in your presence, joy blooms like the flowers of spring, casting away shadows of sorrow. O Aleglea, goddess of beauty and mirth, I honor you, adorned in saffron and ruby, your hair crowned with a bounty of blossoms. Your green eyes gleam with the laughter of the stars, and I bask in the warmth of your glorious light. Let my heart awaken to the pure joy you inspire, showering my spirit with the gifts of song, dance, and festivity. In heartfelt gratitude, I gather fragrant blossoms to weave a garland for your divine presence. Let the sweet aroma of honey offer my love, as I lay before you butterfly images, symbols of transformation, and resilience. The incense of my devotion rises like an invocation, calling forth the benevolence of your sacred spirit.

O dear Aleglea, guide my steps as I walk upon this earth, barefoot like you, feeling the heartbeat of life through the ground. Bestow upon me the lightness of being, a spirit filled with laughter and connection to the beauty that envelops us. I seek your blessing in every festive gathering, every celebration of life, and every shared moment of happiness. As garlands of flowers adorn the paths we tread, I join the chorus of your devoted followers, dancing in rhythmic unison to celebrate the joys of existence. Under your watchful gaze, may we foster community, laughter, and shared delight, reveling in the magnificence of your gifts. O Aleglea, though I am but a humble mortal, let my life reflect the spark of joy you ignite. As I take each step in your honor, may I carry forth the spirit of abundance and cheer, spreading happiness wherever I go. For in the glory of your name and the beauty of your creations, the world becomes a tapestry of pure delight. So shall it be, in the embrace of the goddess of happiness.