Blessed Solstice

Bowynn Gods: Daeth

Daeth Coddling the Earth (2) Daeth with the defeated Bull of Night (3) Neo Classical Daeth (4) Daeth over-looking the Earth

Daeth (Dayth)  Daeth is the Bowynn God of darkness, shadows and the night. He is not a fearsome god by any means, just the god that attributes darkness to the universe and the night. He is a primordial god, one of the first gods to emerge from the will of Bia, along with his twin sister Tora and other brothers and sisters. He is the god one calls to during the dark of the moon, looking at one’s shadow self and looks at when practicing shadow magic. Again, Daeth is not an evil god by any extent nor has he any ill intentions. Even when there is light, Daeth is the creator and pinner of shadows. He is also a god of balance, where-in there is darkness, light exists as well.

     Daeth, like all gods when they are born, had no attributes or realms to tend to. And Darkness was an element that was guarded by a massive black bull in the heavens. When Daeth was old enough, Daeth had challenged the bull. Such a competition it was across the universe. Their tracks created the streaked sky called the "Milky Way" which in Bowynn is called "Ikarro." Eventually Daeth got on the bulls back and tamed the huge black bull till it was exhausted. Daeth then was able to unleash the darkness into the universe. Not as a feared element but as a separation of light, keeping the law of Bia "Balance" in check. For where there is Light, there must be darkness. As for the bull itself, Daeth kept the creature as his own steed and to give it honor, he arranged a constellation to match him, known as Taurus.

     Eventually Daeth and his twin sister Tora wed and bore and host of other gods. However, being actually created from Bia instead of born, the ill laws of incest never cursed Bia's children. Together Tora and Daeth rule the realm of night on earth. It is Daeth that gave Naraea, the goddess of sleep and dreams, a home high in the celestial heavens among the stars. And also, from Tora and Daeth was born the magnificent Goddess of the moon, Morrighynn. Unlike many of the gods of Alaway, Daeth does not often join the gods in the Great Hall at night for feasting and fun, as his realm needs to be tended to in those hours. Instead, he and Tora feast together and they tend to the night and darkness

     Despite his primordial appearance Daeth is not an old looking god. He is a well-developed young man, said to have curly hair and black as darkness. Some who have had divine contact with him say his eyes are just as black. Other say that his eyes are like a shining star. And his clothing of choice is also as black as his realm. Often, he is seen carrying the bridle of the great black bull or simply wearing a black cloak. Despite his dark attributes, Daeth is said to be rather handsome.

QUESTION & ANSWER: Brooms

QUESTION: Do Bowynn Mysts (I think you called them Mysts, Witches, that is) use brooms like other witches?

ANSWER: No. Mysts do not use brooms unless we spill something.

BOWYNN GODS: TYR

Tyr  (Teer)  God of protection, soldiers and war. He is the son of Anhur and Rhya. Many think of Tyr as a match to the gods Mars, Ares and the German god Tyr. But the Bowynn god is not an instagator of war. Nor is he wild and unruly. Tyr is a god that protects against war, protections soldiers from death and a defender. Tyr is a god that is the patron of soldiers and a god of general protection from harm. There is nothing to fear about Tyr.

     Tyr is one of the gods of the Bowynn faith that has endless sacred tales. Not by the wars he wages by by the lives he saves. His first major tale, speaks of he and his sister Briathenaea protection the first tribes of people as they migrated from the south. With arms raised the two siblings protected the tribes from the burning sun with the shields. In the many tales of wars and battles, Tyr was the god out front to guard his people from death and injury. Tyr is also the god people pray to bring skirmishes to an end fast. At the same time, Tyr is a god that will seek retribution to anyone that wages war. Most of the sacred tales of Tyr coincide with the theme of his guarding Bowynn soldiers in times of war, but Tyr has also been a judge on godly contests and tales of love. The most famed of Tyr’s love stories is for his love of the young female Kii, Quallin. She was a most beautiful Kii but her heart was originally for another male Kii. Tyr fell madly in love with Quallin almost instantly. And she fell for his charm and strength. But when Tyr found her kissing a handsome male Kii named Baul, Tyr went in to such a rage and Tyr blindly slew Baul. The murder was seen by other Kii who quickly delivered to word to Anhur himself. Summoning Tyr to Alaway, the gods cast judgment on Tyr’s act and Anhur sentences his son to 25 years of service to Chumash in Daunnat. In that time Tyr fell into great despair, thinking in that time Quallin would forget him. But when Tyr’s term of servitude was over, he found Quanill waiting for him on the shore’s of Evermore. The two returned to Alaway where they were wed and Quanill was granted immortality.

     Tyr is seen as a strong god with long raven black hair and sporting a slight beard. His clothes vary from a black doublet to being fully armored. Whichever he is seen wearing, he still bears a sword or spear and a shield. In times of need Tyr will appear as a great magnificent dog. Sacred gifts to Tyr come in the form of mostly votive images of weapons, shields, helms, and images of dogs.   

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Clothing/Garb

QUESTION: In the Bowynn tradition, is there any special robes mysts and practitioners wear?

ANSWER: Technically no. That is to say that no one is required to wear any particular clothing. Especially black witch robes. We kind of shun away from wearing the iconically (and non historic) black robes and conical hat. That said. Over the decades of weekly gatherings, we found that we were all gathering in our Fantasy/Ren Faire garb. Which eventually became something of a common occurrence amongst all of us. While no there is no requirement to wear such clothing, it has become what it is. (Side not to this is that; so many times I have remarked "We all look like we stepped away from filming 'Robin of Sherwood'. LOL)

Mysts [witches] in the tradition do not commonly wear black unless its is there desired comfort clothing. I personally like to wear blue jeans and a blue T-shirt. It's up to the person.

Just a note or two for followers and bypassers

The info I post on my page is of the BOWYNN FAITH. It is not the beliefs of Wicca or other Pagan faiths. I got a couple of notes this morning slamming me saying the info I am posting is wrong. Point of fact - No it is not. It is of the beliefs of the Bowynn faith. It is NOT the beliefs of Wiccans, Hellenes, Nordic or Keltic. It is not the teachings of Buddha, Hindu or the Lakota.

So, if you are Wiccan and watching my page for more info for your Wiccan or Pagan faith, you are going to get very confused and find that the information is going to contradict Germanic and Keltic teachings. The meaning and pathways of elements will not be the same.

Also, I just need to stress, that the Bowynn faith is not a Cafeteria faith: You cannot pick and choose what fits your current belief and wedge it into your Saxon-Roman-Hermetic Pagan faith. Either embrace it in its totality or move on path.

I am not posting this in a bloggers rage. I am just stating this following a couple of private message I got because some people thought the Elemental information was wrong. It is not wrong, it just not Wiccan, HIndi or Huna beliefs.

I appreciate the notes and messages just please do not come at me with swords-a-blazing, saying "your information is wrong."

Second, I was asked if my images posted here are AI generated. No they are not AI. Some are photos I created almost a decade ago out in the woods around Seattle. Others are photo manipulated, using images of items I created myself. In the case of the Elements posts, the Numatam, cups and wood chalice are mine which I wood-burned myself. As previously noted, I am totally against AI Art and pretty much AI anything and everything. They are all signed with my name and dated (At least most are) and have hidden signatures as well.

Thankyou.

Bowynn Gods: Brea

Part of an altar cloth depicting Brea - embroidery and paint - Created by Sheree Tsarnek 2021

Brea (Bree-ah)  Goddess of the earth and earth element. Brea is the great earth goddess born/created from Bia.  By the union of her to her "brother" Unthar,  she gave birth to the great household of gods.  Brea ultimately is the earth goddess and element. And she is part of the great creatrix of all things; for she was the one that gave the other gods the idea to create all that resides on the earth. She is the goddess of fertility, life, death, growth and represents the element of earth. She is also the goddess of evolution and creation on the planet.

Brea is often seen and depicted as a grandmother type image, with an aged caring face.

     The ancient story speaks that as a child Brea would often come down to one of the dead rocky planets and play on them. Bia warned the child to stay away from the planets but she would not listen. Finally one day Brea found that when it was time to leave one of the dead planets, she could not and was bound to it. Even with the help of all her brothers and sisters, Brea could not remove herself from the land. Bia stated that she was now that planet’s permanent resident and was free to do with the planet as she please. Working her divine will, Brea gave life to the planet with trees, flowers and grass. In time with her siblings helped mold and sculpt the landscape; Brea would create all the animal life and then mortal mankind. Eventually Brea became the very essence of the planet and gave it her name, Brea, “Earth”  

     Brea is the goddess that fashioned out of earth, the mold for all living creatures, including mortal people. But it was not with-out the help of her siblings, that these creations took life and populated the earth. This was done because Brea saw that despite trees, seas and sky, the world was silent and empty. Seeing the world was so lonely and quiet, Brea took dirt into her hand and sculpted the first beings from it. But the sculptures of dirt were nothing more than dirt, with no life and just fell apart. With the help of her brothers and sister, all beings came to be on Earth. Brea is called the ‘mother of the gods.’

     Brea is always depicted as a mother figure, a lot like Mother Nature. She often is seen wearing a crown or circlet to show her majesty and other times seen wearing a wreath of bounty of all sorts. Over these adornments she wears a veil. Her gown is green more than often and her bosoms are large, which represents fertility. Being that she is the supreme lady of life, all beings and things are sacred to her; flora and fauna and mankind. However, the most prominent gift that can be offered to her is incense; a gift she gave to mortal folk during her 7 Sacred Days of visitation.  

(Other like gods comparable to Brea are Gaea, Mama Pacha, Maka Akan, Akka, Papa, Terra, )

Bowynn Gods: Io

Io  (Eye-oh)  Goddess of the hearth, domesticated fire, cooking and kitchens, the home, warmth and family. She is the daughter of Phoenix but her father is unknown.  She is an all-around domestic goddess but mostly dealing with areas around the kitchen. And Io is one of the most revered of the Bowynn Gods. She is the goddess that blesses all food as it’s cooked. She cleanses and cleans cooking supplies and wards pests from the kitchen and home. When she is rarely not in the home, Io often wanders markets to see that picked produce and food is fresh and healthy. Back in the home, when not cooking, Io labors to keep the home clean. Io’s name means “Soot” and she is sometimes called Soot Girl or Soot Woman. As her fire attribute, Io makes sure all home fires (lamps, hearths and candles) burn safe and without mishaps., She also tends to the family needs, to make sure beds are made and clean, tables are clear and floors are swept, laundry is clean and purified.

      There are not too many sacred stories of the goddess Io, as she is often contained to the homes of Bowynn folk. The most important stories tell of her spending the seven sacred days with the first tribes of people and taught the fine arts of cooking. This included baking till the god Hyu took over that attribute. At first Io was apprehensible about handing over such a duty to Hyu, being a man. But Hyu proved himself most worthy. What’s more, Hyu charmed Io and eventually wed her. For their wedding feast Hyu made Io the most tremendous beautiful cake ever.

      The goddess Io is almost seen as a mother figure; your hair pulled back and wrapped in a ribbon. Her clothing is most plain and grey in color. Not too many times is she seen wearing a Bowynn Hlad, instead an apron. Unlike other gods, she has no totem animal, so if Io is seen outside a home, often in the market square, she is wrapped with a grey stola, so not to draw her immortality to others. Instead of a staff, Io bears a broom to clean out hearths. Sacred offerings to Io consist of food, incense and votive candles.

Bowynn Gods: Lomaun

Lomaun  (Lo-maun)  Lomaun is the son of Hern and Morrighynn. But he seems to have been born a mortal for reasons unknown who later became a god after his quests and adventures were over. This assention is not common in Bowynn faithn, as much as it is in Greek, Roman, Nordic and other faiths. As a god, he presides over forests, wildlife, protecting travelers, discovery, and guardianship of bears.

     Lomaun is worshipped as a bear god, a protector of travelers in general. Often prayed to before taking a trip for a safe journey and then again when the journey is complete. He is the guardian of the wild wood and all its creatures. He is the protector of hunters and their prey. Lomaun is also the god that helps those discover lost and new items but more importantly discover we all are deep inside.  

     Born a mortal child, Lomaun was raised by a bear till he was found and raised by a loving mortal family. However, he knew he was not the same as them, seeing he could do small feats that others simply could not do. In one instance he took on and defeated a giant boar that was terrifying travelers. The quest to slay the beast, lead Lomaun on a quest to find out who he really was and who his parents were, taking his bear mother with him. Along the way he encountered a series of tests of strength, skill, love, devotion, wisdom, cunning and learning the 7 virtues through trial. In the greatest of these tests, he ran into a tribe that was starving and on the brink of death. With bow in hand Lomaun trudged into the woods and there he spied a great elk. Lomaun was all ready to slay the beast when he was suddenly overcome with divine energy and realized he could not kill the animal. Lomaun realized that the elk in question was his father Herne's great steed. Lomaun slew the immortal elk and for this crime His immortal spirit, souls and body was turned mortal.

His last great feat was to take on a huge mountain of a man that was challenging men to a battle and killing them. In the battle Lomaun's bear companion was mortally wounded. Lomaun slew the warrior and raced to the bear’s side to find her transformed into a mortal. She was so beautiful and her dying breath she revealed that her name was Teega and that she did not love him as a mother would but as a lover. Lomaun wept so much that Herne and Morrighynn took pity and gave Lomaun and Teega immortality and allowed into Alaway to sit with the other gods. Their mortal lesson was etched into the night sky by Unthar, lord of the skies, as the Great Bear and Little Bear constellations.

     Lomuan is seen with wild brown hair and sporting a short beard and moustache. On his hip is a sword, on his back a quiver of arrows and in his hand a staff. He is seen in normal hunting cloths or a traveler’s wayfarer robe but over these he always have a bear skin for a cloak or large mantle. Despite his Heraklian-like mortal tasks, he is not depicted powerfully strong. Most of his mortal deeds being accomplished with brains over brawn. And at his side is either depicted his love in either bear or mortal form. Sometimes he will be seen as a bear himself, as the bear is his totem animal. Sacred offerings best suited to Lomaun are votive fetishes of bears, spear and arrowheads, tree saplings, fish, berry cakes (and berries in general) and of course incense.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Language

QUESTION: I have seen you using various words in your posts that you address as being Bowynn. Is there an actual language?

ANSWER: Yes we have a language we have been using since the formation of the tradition. the Bowynn dictionary is around 25,000 (I stopped counting decades ago) words. It's has come to the point where it is a first language for some of use and a second language for others. Some words in the dictionary have no English counterpart.

My Prayer To Chumash, Lord of the Deceased

O Chumash, King of Daunnat, benevolent Lord of the Passage, I beseech you in the light of love and kindness. You, who have crowned yourself with mercy, watch over the souls that traverse the realm between life and the afterlife. May your presence bring comfort to those who mourn, as you guide the spirits from their mortal husks into the embrace of eternity. O Keeper of the Eternal, with your ebony hair like the night sky and eyes glistening deep as the most sacred earth, I appeal to your loving heart. Grant repose to the restless souls, separating them with gentle hands, ensuring they find solace in the beauty of Daunnat. May your wisdom guide the spirits to the lessons once unlearned, returning them anew to the cycle of life. With devoted heart, I lay before you the sacred gifts of Votive dogs, faithful companions that guard the seven gates of your realm. In honor of your beloved queen, goddess Kalma, I present iris and poppy flowers, symbols of our love and remembrance. May these offerings blossom upon the graves of the departed, signifying our eternal connection to you and the afterlife you cherish.

O Chumash, Lord of great feasts, as you gather the souls within your realm, may no spirit go hungry and no voice go unheard in the joyous revelry of the night. Let laughter and music echo throughout Daunnat, binding together the threads of family and love that stretch across the veil of existence. As you have transformed the kingdom of Daunnat into a sanctuary of light, I vow to honor your efforts by living with love and compassion in my own life. May I cherish the memories of those passed while embracing the lessons of the living. So shall it be, in reverence and devotion to Chumash, the gentle guardian of souls, whose laughter lights the darkened path to eternity.