Element - Blog Posts

Aelles Ky'Tarna

Blessinsgs and Abundance to all on this wonderful Ky'Tarna holiday!

Kytarna (July 31-August 2nd) is the Bowynn version of the Wiccan and Keltic holidays Lammas and Lughnassad. It is the celebration of the middle of the Summer. The name Kytarna means “Mid-Summer”, named after the goddess of the summer Tarna. Besides celebrating the mid-summer mark, the holiday celebrates several other aspects: The first harvest, the grain & corn harvest. Its is also The divine wedding of Tarna to Saphon (South Wind) and revering the goddess Io (Home) and god Hyu (Baking) and the gods Deanna (Harvest) and Amaetheon (Abundance). So there is lots of celebrating to be had for these 3 days. As with all the circular holidays of the year, the first day is devoted to preparing and decorating. The second day devoted to prayers and the divine. The third day is devoted to celebration and revelry.

Lammas is a time to enjoy the last rays of Summer, Take in the golden sunlight, to appreciate the harvest and to be grateful for the abundance we have. Wheat, Grains, Honey and Bread are high symbols of abundance in the Bowynn tradition. It's given as gifts at this time of year along with other baked goods. Garlands and ornaments of grass and husks of foods, adorn homes. And iconic woven images of Tarna and Saphon are carried in procession to the ceremonial altar.

The sacred stories to this holiday start with the first harvest of the Bowynn people in their newfound homeland. After coming to Europe on The Great Migration and settling, the gods Deanna and Amaetheon showed the good people what to forage, plant and harvest. This included honey from bee hives and milk from the wild goats and cattle. At the same time the goddess Io showed them how to build their first hearths and tend to them and Hyu taught them how to bake. So grateful were the first tribes, that they declared this day sacred to the gods. At the same time, it was also the same day when the goddess of Summer, Tarna, wed her beloved god of the south, Saphon. All the people of the first 7 tribes were witnessed to the blessed event.

Traditional Foods for the holiday are Corn, Grains, seeds, wheat, Barley, Breads, Pies, Pasta, Milk, Honey, Butter and Berries.  The most common and well-placed herbs and incenses found at Kytarna celebrations are Cedar, Alder, Cinnamon, Fenugreek, Ginger, Poppies, Cornflowers and Sunflowers. The prominent colors for the holiday are Gold, Yellow and, Copper Orange. Green can also be found here and there but not considered one of the sacred colors of the holiday. Sacred symbols found all about during Kytarna are: Corn Dollies (Representing Tarna and Saphon) Baskets and images of Bees, Hedgehog, Cows and/or Goats. Wicker items of all sorts & other straw-woven items, Wheat bundles, Bread, Cakes, Hearth broom, Corn and Corn stalks. There is also the sacred “Tarna Kaeb,” (Summer Board) which is a sacred and decorated breadboard hung on doors. And there is the ever present “Kytarna Draed” (Mid-Summer Bread) which is a special holy traditional offering and meal. Wheat wreathes, Sunflower garlands and wreaths are the norm for homes and town to be decorated in.

Special Activities during the 3-day holiday include families hanging the Tarna Kaeb on their doors, along with other decorations, Baking and making corn dollies. Commonly there is a lot of making of crafts in the theme of wicker, such as fans, hats, dollies, goats and headdresses. Back in the kitchen this is also a time for making butters of all sorts, creams and cheese. This is a famed time to gather and jar honey.

How ever you celebrate the holiday and what ever you may call it, have a great celebration, and may the gods embrace you and keep you safe and happy.

Bowynn Gods: Oken

Oken  (Oh-khen)  In the days of the older god, Oken was a mamont god of enormous size and strength, towering over all others. Thus he was considered a god of strength. But not just in muscle but also strength in mind status and wisdom. And it was this strength in mind that he was granted a place in Alaway.

     Oken may be one of the older gods but he has the look and stamina of a father figure; A young grandfather in appearance with a short white beard. His red tabard bears the images of 3 mammoths in gold on it and his head is adorned with a fancy circlet. Sacred to Oken is votive images of Mammoths and stones with mammoths painted on them.

Bowynn Gods: Ohenn

Ohenn with Anhur and 2 of his 12 daughters

Ohenn  (Oh-hen)  Ohenn is the Bowynn God of time and journal keeper of the gods of mortal's deeds. Ohenn is one of the early gods of the earth. As such Ohenn is the creation of Bia.  Ohenn’s name literally means “Time.”

     When Anhur won the role as the King of the gods, built Alaway and claimed his throne, he gave great honor to Ohenn as a god of time by making him the great timekeeper of gods and mortals. It was Ohenn that divided the hours of the day equally for his 12 daughters, divided the year into months, days, hours, minutes and seconds. Ohenn discovered that there were 5 days left over after he dived the year into 30 days and 12 months. So, he declared a 13th month that has only 5 days to it. These 5 days he declared most sacred to the 5 gods of creation: Bia, Brea, Phoenix, Sumon and Unther. It is Ohenn that makes sure time flows smoothly and steadily and he records the hours in a great library in Alaway. During his stay with the first tribes, Ohenn taught mortals how time is precious and should not be wasted. Nor should it be taken for granted. And he showed them all how to journal their lives, living a record for others to read and learn from.

     Several sacred stories speak of mortals trying to steal away Ohenn's holy hourglass, which controls all time. Most of the stories say these thefts were tried because the mortal made a serious mistake and wanted to correct it or to save the life of a long one. The god Mano tried to steal Ohenn’s time piece to play a trick on Brand and Kord. But Ohenn sent a crow to steal it back. For his crime Ohenn punished Mano by making him clean up a massive tipped over barrel of sand, one grain at a time. It took mano a full year.

     Ohenn is one of the few gods that has no totem animal associated with him and is also one of the few gods that rarely, if ever, leaves Alaway. He is seen as an older man, much like with white hair, beard and moustache. But he is not ancient looking. He is clad in long robes of green and silver and has in hand a staff or hourglass. This hourglass not only is the controller of all time but is also a way Ohenn sees about the world.

     Sacred to Ohenn is all sorts of time pieces; clocks, watches, hourglasses, sun dials, as well as 4 and 12 spoked wheels. The wheel symbolizes the Bowynn calendar and cycles. The sunflower is a sacred gift as it represents the Bowynn New Year; the end of Summer and the beginning of Autumn. The Calendula flower is also sacred to Ohenn, as it is an “all year blooming” flower. These sacred gifts are often gifted to Ohenn in true form or as votive images.

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: 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:

Nauidd  (Naw-id)  The Nauidd are goddesses of the hours of the day, 12 daughters of Ohenn and a mortal woman. In some cases, they are considered Kii. Each daughter represents one hour. In modern days this may not make sense till one remembers that in ancient times, the Bowynn day was broken down to twelve hours. In modern times one can consider one Nauid as representing a morning and evening hour. The Nauiid’s individual names were never given to mortals, at best they are named such as “Nauidd of the first hour” or likewise.

     The position and gifts of the Nauidd is to remind each mortal that time is precious and should not be wasted. At the same time, to enjoy each hour of each day and that we should be thankful for the time given to us. Young girls and writers will sometimes pray to the Nauidd as protectors of log entries, journals and diaries. Even books that contain family trees are protected by them, as well as their father. Outside of them helping their father Ohenn, no sacred stories have them mentioned, outside of being general mentioning or prayers.

     The Nauidd are depicted as 12 identical daughters, often helping their father Ohenn in keeping the time and archiving history. They are however seen as fun goddesses or Kii, romping and playing in the gardens in the world. They are seen as young girls, no older than teenagers with their short hair and wearing pointed caps. At times they are seen with books in their hands, depicting them as helpers of their father. Sacred to the Nauidd are clocks, sun dials, hour glasses and votive images of girls. When offering the votive images, one should make sure there are 12 in total. The same holds true when it comes to incense, making sure there are 12 cones or sticks.

Bowynn Gods: Naraea

Naerea   (Nay-ree-ah)  Goddess of sleep, dreams and prophetic dreams. She is the daughter of Tora and Daeth and is one of the very few gods of the Akua who have multi arms. She is a spider goddess and spends most of the time spends her days and nights in the great night sky weaving the great sky web in the heavens. It is then web she weaves that filters out bad dreams from coming to earth and plaguing people's minds as they sleep.

On the web Naerea allows moisture to collect, washing away any nightmares that may collect or turning them to good dreams. This moisture falls like droplets to earth, gracing people with sleep and good dreams. Remnants of this can be found as morning dew. Sadly, sometimes a bad dream will get past the web and still bring nightmares.

     Despite her sometimes spider appearance, Naraea is not a foreboding looking goddess. Nor is she a goddess of anything dark nor malicious. Her gifts of good dreams and sleep should be seen as blessings; Graced on mortals after a hard day's work. Naraea is not a goddess to be feared but respected.  Being an endless working divinity, she never took a consort, seeing her work more important. As a weaver, Naraea is sometimes looked at as a goddess of weaving, working alongside of Briathenaea. But primarily she is a nighttime goddess.

     Naraea is a goddess, seen as a motherly figure in here godly form, with long silver hair. Her arms are busy working in the night sky above with shuttles and combs in hand. In her totem form, she appears as either a great crystalline spider in the heavens or as a small spider like what we see on earth. Whatever the form, it is a form of beauty. In godly form, she is seen wearing a white or black dress that sparkles like the stars. Sacred items and gifts of Naraea are dream catchers, dream pots, shuttles, balls of yarn, morning dew and votive images of spiders.

Bowynn Gods: Naea

Naea  (Nay-ah)  Naea is the Bowynn goddess of springs, wells, lakes, rivers, streams and other small fresh bodies of water. She is the daughter of Tane and Kauldra and is one of the very few multi arm gods. As such she is a spider goddess. Her multi limbs represent the many rivers of the world.      Naea is a free spirited goddess, spending much of her time wandering the sides of wells and ponds and weaving away in her godly or animal form on the side of streams and rivers. Her prime domain is to make sure such bodies of water are protected from pollutants and destruction as much as possible. As such, Naea is one of the very few gods of the Bowynn pantheon to seek revenge on mortals that destroy her realm. One sacred story speaks of the fisherman that was so filled with joy when he caught a fish as soon as his hook hit the water. He became so happy that he kept fishing till the lake was depleted of fish. Naea found out about this and that night as he and his family gorged out on the fish the man caught, there was a knock on the door of a beggar woman. She asked for a fish to get her by. The man and woman gave her the smallest fish in the batch, so small it would not fill a cat. The old woman ended up being Naea and for the couple's lack of moderation and charity, Naea made all the other food in the house disappear till all that was left saw the fish. The couple quickly became sick of eating fish all the time and thus learned their lesson. There are many legends of mortals abusing wells and springs then suffering Naea’s wrath but never death.      Despite this and other such sacred tales Naea is not a vicious goddess. Infact she is a most gentle goddess. She only seeks out those that have done wrong with her gifts. So, she should not be feared. Other times she is most giving, as the sacred stories of her creating a well for a family that had nothing to drink for days. Because of her watery realm, Naea's temples are often nothing more than a well surrounded by a gazebo.      Naea is depicted in her godly immortal form as a delightful young woman with long flowing hair. Her garments are of blues, purples and greens and silver or glass baubles as jewelry. Sometimes she is seen with a pitcher of fresh water and other times with a loom. In her totem form Naea is seen as an elegant spider. Sacred gifts to Naea come in the form of glass pieces, fresh water, river and lake plants and flowers, spoons of white and blue yarn and votive images of a spider.

Bowynn Gods: Nareen

Nareen (Nah-rin) Nareen is one of the three Ano Taya goddesses. She is the eldest of the three Ano Taya and the daughter of Bia. As one of the three Ano Taya, Nareen is the goddess of the Future and is the goddess that checks on the woven threads in the Tapestry of Life, that’s Narna (The Present) has woven, tightening them into place. Nareen is the final judge as to the threads of life that are woven into the Tapestry of Life. And only Nareen can alter a threads course. Even Anhur himself must ask Nareen to remove or cut a thread, which is very rare. Nareen is also a goddess of prophecy; people often praying to her to change the course of their lives for the better.

Nareen is the Goddess of The future. She is called "The Bending One because the future is always altered by our choises. Nareen is the Goddess of What Is To Be, The goddess of the elderly, and the goddess of possible destinies. She is also a patroness to oracles and people that divine. Sadly, many people and gods have accused her of being the goddess of a solid set course of events, but Nareen is nothing of the sort. She represents the 'Ever Altering Future." She has nothing to do with how the future plays out. She only guards the events in the Tapestry of Life. Nareen has always warned people and the gods that she does not control nor altar the future. "You do that yourself. I work in thread and wool, not in stone."

     Nareen is a goddess seen as an old wise woman, a grandmother figure.  She is dressed in purples or sometimes black, with a veil on her head topped with a crown of flowers. In her hand is seen a spool of wool and loom cob. As with her sisters, Nareen has no totem animals.

Woven fillet with the Ano Taya and other goddesses

Bowynn Gods: Narna

Narna (Nar-nah) Goddess of the present, Narna is one of the three Ano Taya goddesses, born by the will of Bia. Her divine attribute is that of the present and is the goddess that weaves the tapestry of Life, helped by her sisters.

Narna presides over everything dealing with The Now, the Present, That what is. Adulthood,

     Narna is a goddess seen as a mother figure, with a veil, colored red, representing a woman’s menstruation period and the blood loss during birth. As like her sisters, Narna has no totem animals.

Bowynn Gods: Nae

Nae (Nay)  Nae is one of the three Ano Taya goddesses. Her attribute is that of the past and she is the goddess that prepares the threads that shall be woven into the tapestry of Life, woven by her sisters. She and her sisters are the daughters of Bia.

Nae represents, Beginnings, Childhood, The past, Memories.

     Nae is a goddess seen as a young girl, still not clad in her hladd yet, as she symbolizes girls before having their first menstruation and still not fully trained in all of life’s lessons and skills Her clothes are also white in color, representing virginity. As with her sisters, Nae has no totem animals.

Bowynn Gods: Naddas

Naddas  (Nahd-das)  God of the 2nd Gate of Daunnat, of kindness and one of the gods of Daunnat, the land of spirits. Of all the Gate Gods, Naddas is the eldest. He, like the other Gate Guardians of Daunnat, is the son of Chumash and Kalma.

     As with all the gods of Daunnat, Naddas is not an evil god, nor a god of judgment.  His role is that of a guardian of Daunnat. He is the bestower of Kindness and welcomeness to spirits, as no spirit can enter Daunnat without this virtue. However, it is common for the living to call to Naddas who are suffering from the lack of Kindness in their lives. As the god of the Gate of Kindness, Naddas is one of the 7 gods of the sacred heptagram. Naddas sustains from visiting Alaway, instead preferring to feast with the spirits in Daunnat.

     Naddas has no known totem animal, instead always staying in his godly form; an elderly man dressed in a robe of deep purple trimmed in gold. At times he is seen carrying a heptagram tile or a staff, entwined with ivy.

     Sacred to Naddas is the Heptagram and ivy plant. During funeral services, a bowl of milk is left to him and the other Guardians of the Gates, as customary and a statuette of the departed, so the god will recognize the departed’s soul, which is identical to his body.

Bowynn Gods: Mystara

Mystara  (Mis-tar-ah)  Mystara is the Bowynn goddess of all forms of magickal, mystical and esoteric arts. This includes Divination, Healing, Dream Work and all arts that can be filed in the term of being esoteric. Mystara is also the patroness to Mysts [witches,] diviners and oracles. All those that deals with the arts of mysticism falls in the realm of the goddess Mystara. She is the daughter of Ehrlik and a mortal woman, [supposedly] whose name is unknown.

     Most of Mystara’s life is spent working with witches and other mystics, be it in temples, covens, circles, groves or solely in their homes. It is said that the goddess travels from town to town looking for the "wise ones" in the form of a cat. Accompanying her are sometimes the Hii, fae folk of the mystical and magical arts. Hii are also said to attend her in any workings she may labor over. Mystara has no sacred tales spoken about her or known. But she is spoken more than often in the here and now, attending Mysts [witches]in their own work, granting spells to manifest and making sure the spells cast are justified. Yet despite all this, she is a most important goddess in the Bowynn pantheon. She is revered by women and men equally, not just as a goddess of magick but also a goddess that protects Mysts and blesses new Mysts in rites of initiation and empowerment. For it is Mystara that raises young Myst's minds and bodies, to that of being a learned and powerful. Despite all this, Mystara is NOT a dark goddess. She is not clad in all black, she does not harbor wicked and evilness. There is nothing dark nor mysterious about Mystara. She will however attend to those who use the arts of magic in a malicious manner justly. Casting curses, hexes and binding spells will catch Mystara's attention quickly and she will make sure it is not done recklessly nor unjustly. Calling on Mystara before casting a spell is beyond common practice, so she may witness all goings-on. Mystara will punish those that cast spells wrongfully and vengefully.

     Mystara is seen as a mother figure in appearance, with black hair that is veiled. Her clothing is said to be is purple and autumn-like colors, with gold or copper embroidery and jewelry. Encircling her brow is a crown that bares the runes that make up the Bowynn alphabet, which is also used for divination. When not in her godly form, she is seen as an elegant black cat with glowing blue eyes; the cat being her totem.

     Sacred to Mystara are all the symbols of magic, divination and other such arts, as well as votive images of cats. Though the most gifted offering one can give to her is bundles of incense. Traditionally on certain holidays of the year, Incense sticks in the multiples of 100 are burned to Mystara as offerings. the numbers 100 and 7 are a most sacred number to her, so any offering given in amounts of 100 and 7 appeases Mystara a great deal. And 7 is the most scared number in the Bowynn faith.

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.

Bowynn Gods: Mura

Mura  (Mur-rha)  Daughter of Chumash and Kalma, Mura is a goddess of the 1st Gate of Daunnat, the Gate of courage. She is one of the goddesses of Daunnat, the spirit world. It is her gate that spirits reach first on their walk towards the “Fields of Forever.” Mura is not an evil goddess, nor a goddess of judgement.  Her role is that of a guardian of Daunnat. She is the recognizer and bestower of courage for spirits who are afraid of entering Daunnat. And at times even the living will call to Mura for courage. Especially those that have lost a loved one and do not know how to and scared to move on in life.

Mura (4th in line) leading souls along the path of Daunnat

     As goddess of the Gate of Courage, Mura is one of the 7 gods of the sacred septagram, which is the symbol of the Bowynn Tradition. She also abstains from visiting Alaway, instead she spends time with her folks and the spirts of Daunnat feasting and making merry. Being Daunnat is endlessly vast souls will sometimes get lost and scared. When that is the case Mura is there for them.

Mura (second from the end) with souls and holding two spirit orbs

     Mura has no known totem animal, instead always staying in her true godly form; that of a young lady dressed in green and white with green and white fillet and veil about her brow and head. some times she bears no veil. At times she carries a septagram dish or a shaft of wheat and sword. She is often seen holding spirit orbs that have separated from the soul (which is one of the transitions at death. Sacred to Mura is the septagram, sword and shaft of wheat. During funeral services, a bowl of milk and bread will be left to her and a statuette of the departed.

Bowynn Gods: Muet

Muet  (Mew-et)  The river that flows from Alaway all the way down to Daunnat. Often dubbed the Mother river. This is the river that feeds to all other river and water sources on earth.

     The river source is a natural fountain that shoots up from the earth. Alaway had servant Kii as water bearers bringing water from the fountain that was guarded by a serpent. Only these Kii could fetch waters without being harmed by the great guardian serpent. If anyone else drew near, the serpent would attack and kill them. The young god Hawynn was a playmate of the servant Kii and hated to see them toil, so he took the great spear of his father, Tane, and the scrying bauble of his mother, Kalma, and went to subdue the serpent. Using the bauble Hawynn was able to predict the moves of the serpent as they battled. With the spear, Hawynn was able to finally slay the beast. Then, using one of the ribs of the creature, Hawynn dug a massive trench to the well and released its waters. Thus, the great river was created and set to flow under Alaway. At the same time the servant Kii were released from their strenuous duties.

In gratitude, Anhur gave Hawynn his blessing and made lord of all rivers and commander of the great river Muet. The Kii that were the water bearer’s before-hand, were each given a river in the world to bless and sanctify, as all rivers branch off of Muet.

     In another story, the evil god Mano tried to divert the river (knowingly to Hawynn) to his own home that was separate from Alaway. But because he did not have the okay and blessing of Hawynn, the river came crashing through his home and destroyed it. This of course angered Mano and thinking Hawynn destroyed his home on purpose, he went to wrestle the god. But Hawynn, being older and stronger, beat the young foolish god into submission

     It is said that Muet is the purest and cleanest of waters. No mortal man may step into the river. Once in Daunnat, souls are cleansed in the waters of Muet, to rid themselves of all mortal earthly filth and labors. The waters flow on through Duannat and created various rivers, springs and other waters sources in Daunnat to quench the thirst of the souls of the departed. It is said that a live man drinking from the waters will forget all he knows and wander the world aimlessly.

Bowynn Gods: Morrqua

Morrqua  (Mor-kwa)  The Morrqua are nocturnal Kii (spirits) that are rarely seen. They only come out where the moon is visible. They will do not emerge on the night of the dark moon nor the two surrounding days this moon phase. The Morrquaa and diminutive spirits that have a natural glow and can be liked to the Will-O-Wisps of other cultures. The difference being that the Morrquaa are helpful spirits, making sure those traveling by night are safe. It is claimed that if one catches a Morrquaa, they will grant their capture a wish. But in turn they cannot be kept. But to date it is very rare that one has ever caught one. And those granted a wish by the Morrqua often regret it. Not that the Morrqua are malicious, but they take what mortals ask for very literally. At the same extent, a Morrqua can only be held till the first rays of the sun or daylight beam over the horizon. After that the pact is broken and the Morrqua disappear.

Bowynn Gods: Morrighynn

Morrighynn   (Mor-re-gin)  Morrighynn is the Bowynn goddess of the moon. In the sacred and divine family, she holds one of the more enriched sacred stories of all the goddesses and gods. Aside from the moon she is a goddess of the night and the stars. While her mother Tora is the prime goddess of the night, Morrighynn is still a goddess presiding over this time of the day. She is also the goddess of meteor showers, the constellations, the night sky (working together with her Mother Tora). As the moon influences the tides, Morrighynn is also seen as a goddess of sea tides. She is the patroness to Astrologers, Astronomers, Astronauts and those working in space sciences.

Morrighynn's name literally means "Star Mistress". Why her main attribute is the Moon [Mor], she is really the goddess of all nightly celestial bodies and happenings. Morrs [Stars] are seen is as mini moons.

     Morrighynn is not to be confused with the Keltic goddesses of the same basic name. She holds no attributes to that of war, fear nor that of a triple goddess. Nor does she bear any hunting aspects like her Mediterranean counterparts. She is a sweet caring goddess who also is the patroness of horses. Particularly white horses.  The sacred stories speak of Morrighynn and her beloved Herne are endless and play a crucial part in the Bowynn calendar. She is introduced to Herne on the first day of spring, they first united on the first of May. Herne and Morrighynn are married on the first of spring and Hern dies on the first of November. By Herne, Morrighynn is the mother of the 4 lords of the winds. One of her sacred tales speaks of her taming the 30 white immortal horses of the moon. And it is with these horses she guides the moon across the night sky. Her horses incidentally are all named for each of the 30 days of the Bowynn month and the moon phases there-in.

     Morrighynn is said to be a most beautiful raven-haired goddess and a smile that can charm humans and animals alike. Her dress and hlad are of white and flaked with silver. She bares a crown or circlet of stars that encircle her head and has deep blue eyes. Sometimes she bears a staff in her hands, sometimes, a globe representing the moon, other times she carries a bridle of white and silver. And even other times she is seen holding a white lily, the flower most sacred to her. The lily being the flower Hern presented to her in their wedding ceremony. Her totem animals are the white horse, owl and wolf. So, at times she will take such forms when around people. Sacred offerings to Morrighynn are of milk (commonly offered on full and dark moons), water, lily's and other white flowers, votive images of horses, wolves, owls and stars and of course, incense.  

Bowynn Gods: The Maukol

Maukol  (Maw-khol)  The Maukol are the diminutive Kii (spirits) of the autumn harvest. Small in size, they will travel with the goddesses Kora and Deanna and bring the fruits of the land to ripen and the leaves to change their color. The Maukoll are said to have autumn-colored wings that are in the shape of tree leaves. These Kii hold a great importance and in the autumn images of them are made and hung from wreaths and garlands and about the home. It is a hope that these images will draw the Maukol to their homes and grant abundance of harvest and a gentle autumn.

Bowynn Gods: The Mammont

Mammont (Mam Mont)  The Mammont are the name for the ancient giant gods, that presided over the world and all, before the reign of Anhur and the other gods. Only the gods Brea, Unthar, Sumon, Phoenix, Paut and Tya were were before them. Mammont literally means “Mammoth” in Bowynn. The Mammont were the creation of Brea and the Mammont siblings, the Vadell (Giants.)

     During the reign of the Mammont, there were many of them, residing in tribes all over the planet. Like the gods they had special places and attributes. The eldest of them all was the long white bearded Mommont, Ehrlich, whose wisdom guided them all. After Anhur took the title as King of the Gods, he and the others disbanded the Mammont for their positions. This did not go well at all and a war ensued between the Gods and the Mammont and Giants. In the end most of the Mammoths were disbarred of their immortality. Only a rare few were given a chance of redemption.   

     Those Mammont still attending the court of Alaway are: Ehrlich (Wisdom), Yormell (Winter) Vae (Seed), Tarm (Invention), Sheli (Bravery), Oken (Strength), Issen (Summer).

Bowynn Gods: Mask

Mask  (Mahsk)  Mask is the Bowynn god of wisdom, gambling and music and he is also the patron of travelers, games, puzzles, and gambling houses. He is the god of various forms of entertainment but not a patron of these arts. Instead, being more of a participant. Games of chance are his favorites. His name is derived from the word “mask,” which in Bowynn and English means the same thing. However, he is not a god of mystery, nor a malicious god, though he does have trickster tendencies at times. But most of these tricks are harmless, unless they are used as a punishment to sinners. Mask is also the god of safe travels and protection, making sure all are safe from harm and divergence, He is the god that keeps one on the right path and staying healthy along the way. In short, when you combine all his attributes, Mask could be considered the god of "road trips." Mask is also the god of discovery, treasure and scavenger hunter and a patron of Archaeologists and Paleontologists. But he is a punisher of those that are out to destroy such treasures.

     Mask is the son of Ahnur and Rhya and is said to have been playing games of chance and riddles since the day of his birth. As a child he would hide divine gifts given to his brothers and sisters and then make wagers if they could find them or not. But despite his nature, he is not a malicious god and has no intent to hurt. His participation in games of chance is often more to teach people about the etiquette of gambling and shun those that abuse it. Aside from his love of games, Mask is a god of literature, writing and collector of knowledge. His love of writing comes to no end, and it was he that formed the Bowynn alphabet and gave it to mankind. He is also the god of inspiration when it comes to writers. As a god patron of travelers Mask is a protector, making sure that travelers get to their destination quickly and safely. As this side of Mask's attribute comes forth, he is often seen on a sled carved from a rock or a wooden board, which he aptly named “Shauld” or [Speed.] In some cases its shaped more like a shield. Sacred stories tell of his "sled's" ability to float off the ground and travel as fast as the fastest bird and animal on earth. One sacred tale speaks of the time Mask challenged the fastest animal known to race him. This was the eagle. The eagle agreed and just as Mask took off he went so fast Mask crashed into a tree, thus leaving the eagle to win and taught Mask the lessons of bragging and “slow and steady.” On his sled, Mask had held many contests with the other gods as well. This included against the West and East wind gods Ryan and Lyan. Here as well, Mask lost the race but learns a variety of lessons.

     Mask is seen by many as a young agile man with long curly hair, a mask of his face and a traveler’s robe of purple with golden trims. In his hand is seen a staff or his sled, tied to his belt is a scroll case, writer’s kit and coin purse. Often seen with him is a dog, particularly a spotted Greyhound which is his totem animal, thus his animal form that he takes when he wants to mingle amongst mortals. Sacred gifts to Mask come in the form of small bundles of coins and grain, votive mice and dogs, strips of gold cloth, books, scrolls, masks, runes and of course incense.

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: Maenna

A Troop of goddesses standing before Maeanna

Maenna  (Main-nah)  Maenna, sometimes spelled and pronounced Maeanna, is the Bowynn goddess of order, law, truth, justice, just victories and balance in the pantheon. Created by Bia itself, she is the godly incarnate of Bia. Considered so blessed, all other gods honor her, including Anhur, King of the gods himself.

     There are no sacred stories of Maenna, as she cannot be persuaded to take a view or hold a view over another. When Ahnur holds court or stands in at a mortal hearing, Maenna is in attendance as well, Even if Ahnur is not present himself. In some way, Maeanna is Anhur's balance in this aspect. She is there to make sure truth is revealed, that justice is done, and balance is restored to those when a crime or injustice has been committed on.  Maenna, like Bia itself, represents the ethical and moral principle that every Bowynn citizen is expected to follow throughout their daily lives. They are expected to act with honor and truth in manners that involve the 7 virtues, family, the community, the nation, the environment, and the gods. Maenna as a principle was created by Bia to meet the complex needs of the emergening Bowynn tribes that embraced diverse peoples with conflicting interests. The development of such rules sought to avert chaos and it became the basis of Bowynn law. It was all this that Maenna taught the first tribes during her 7 days with them. From an early period the 7 tribal chiefs would describe themselves as the "council of Maenna" who decreed with their wisdom came directly from Maenna. Maenna represented the normal and basic values that formed the backdrop for the application of justice that had to be carried out in the spirit of truth and fairness.

     The goddess Maenna was more than just a goddess. She came to represent the concept of balance and order because many Bowynn needed to explain the balance of the world around them. Everything about their culture was centered on order and everything had its place in the world. This included religion, governmental affairs, and seasonal changes. Maenna is also known as the goddess of justice and truth. Her teachings can be compared to the conscience of a person. It’s reasonable to say that Maenna’s teachings aided the people into being good individuals. It was considered a crime against Maenna if a person practiced jealousy, dishonesty, gluttony, laziness, injustice, and ungratefulness.

     Maenna is depicted is a tall woman of motherhood age. Agile and regal in appearance. Sometimes depicted winged, her wings are massive and pure white. It is said when her wings are out right, the light of justice shines. It is Maenna's wings and light that attendants swear by before attending court. Maenna is seen with a crown of apple leaves (most sacred tree of the Bowynn faith) and in turn, when new judges are appointed, they too are crowned with apple leaf wreathes. In godly form she is seen with long flowing white robes and a white hladd over and a staff in her hands. In her totem form she takes the appearance of a white swan. Sacred gifts to the goddess come in the form of incense, flowers, herbs and crowns of apple leaves.

Bowynn Gods: Lyanna

Lyanna  (Ly-an-nah)  Lyanna is the Bowynn goddess of music, song and the patroness of musicians. In some aspect she may be one of the Abonna or a Kii of music. Be that the case, she would be the only Abonna or Kii ever named. If so, then she would be the creation of Brand. We do know from sacred text that she was trained in the arts of music by Brand.

     Lyanna's role in the pantheon is still in a bit of a clouded mystery. What is known is that she is a companion to the goddess Aleglea and in Alaway she sits with the other bard-like gods and strums on a "Kiltaen" or her flutes and sings sweet soft songs as the other gods feast and tuck in for the night.

      Lyanna is depicted as a youthful goddess with long flowing hair and small braids held together with ribbons. It is assumed she is a goddess that has not hit maturity yet, as she is never seen wearing a hladd. In hand she always is seen carrying her Kiltaen, which is a Bowynn lute or guitar. Sometimes on her hip is strapped a flute case and flying about her are Whippoorwills.  The Whippoorwills are her totem and she will sometimes take their form when around mortals, inspiring song. And they are her Totem animal. Sacred gifts to Lyanna are fetish images or real flutes, kiltaens and other such musical instruments, written music, flowers and of course incense.

Bowynn Gods: Lyann

Lyan  (Ly-an)  Lyan is the Bowynn god of the eastern providences and the east wind. He is one of the 4 wind gods, brother to Arn, Summon and Ryan.

Lyan is the god the delivers the moist gentle and scented rains and winds that often come in the spring and Springtime flowers. His winds blow away the last remnants of winter, allowing flower to grow. Appropriately, Lyan fell for the goddess of the springtime season and eventually wed her. Their sacred divine wedding falls on Ky'Quilla. Together, Lyan and Quilla reside in the far eastern lands. And together both appear on the first day of spring with Lyan leading his beloved.      Lyan is seen as a young man, barely out of his teenage years with wavy red flowing hair. He is seen in his divine form with bird wings. His garments are of reds, greens and/or yellow, often a long flowing loosely, that's falling off his shoulder and in his hand a flute and on his side a drinking horn. When not in his godly form, he will appear as a Robin, a bird that is Lyan's totem.

     Sacred gifts and offerings to Arn often consist of milk, fresh water and votives of robins, feathers and spring flowers.

Bowynn Gods: Luanna

Luanna  (Lu-Ahn-Nah)  Luanna is the Bowynn goddess of gardens, flowers, meadows and fields and guardian of flowers. She is also the patron of florists and nursery owners. She is the daughter of Brea and Unthar.

     She is also something of a weather goddess, making sure that destructive storms do not fall and destroy her beautiful gifts. Herbs and flowers are used not only magickally but medically, so in essence she is also considered a healing goddess. The flowers she brings to bloom are used to fragrant clothing washes as well as dye cloth. Little is said or spoke about when it comes to Luanna. Like all deities of the Bowynn faith, she is just accepted as "being there." She is often seen wandering gardens and meadows, bringing forth blooms and flowers. She is a goddess of frivolity, much like the great patron Aleglea. However, Luana's realm is strictly reserved for bringing forth colorful life in the garden. Sometimes she is seen with Aleglea and/or Jayleen Jarra, goddess of herbalism. It is said that Luanna's job in Alaway is to decorate the great halls with her gifts, thus giving the great hall of the gods a wondrous bouquet-like smell. On the Spring Equinox and (which in the Bowynn Tradition is called "Tsaquilla") Luanna is given high praise, as she is the grower of the scared flowers that symbolizes the holiday. Tsaquilla is a 3-day holiday and it is on the 3rd of the holiday, Luanna is given the most praise with great blessings of gardens and her statue or shrine in home gardens is cleansed and tended to. On Tsaquilla, small gardens are arranged just for the goddess.

     Luanna is said to be a most beautiful goddess of simple beauty. Her garments as soft and flowing but simple as well; often a simple green gown/dress and over it a brown hladd or shorter tunic. Sometimes she is seen crowned with a simple braiding of flowers but nothing too bold. In her hands she carries a basket and sometimes a garden shear or boline in her hand. Other times she is seen carrying a bowl of seeds. When not seen in this form she will take the form of a bee, which is her totem animal. Naturally sacred gifts to Luanna consist of flowers bulbs and seeds.

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.

Bowynn Gods: Kyrra

Kyrra (Keer-Rah)  Kyrra (sometimes Jyrra) are bird-like Kii and Tii that resemble the Greek Harpies. Unlike Harpies, they can be good as well. Said to have a humanoid head and torso but from the hips down the lower half of a bird. Originally, the Kyrra were all good natured and were messengers of Brand and the other gods but the god Mano corrupted some and turned them to be as malicious as himself. Bad Kyrra are often responsible for missing items and malfunctions in the home and life.  Good or bad, they are seen in small bird size. Someone who is having a bad swing of misfortune us referred to as "Being scratched by a Kyrra." Waking up with a scratch is an ill omen that one has been scratched by a Kyrra and bad times are coming. At the same time finding a random feather in your home is a sign of great fortune. "Kyrra Blessed."

Bowynn Gods: Kord

Brand and Kord: Gods of Brotherhood

Kord  (Khord)  Kord is the Bowynn god of bravery, freedom, justice, law, peace, virtue and brotherhood. He is the patron of heroes and is a guardian of the Bowynn people. He is the witness of brotherhood and adoption ceremonies. Kord’s parentage is Anhur and Rhya. He is the twin brother of the God Brand and brother to Brenda, the goddess of love and beauty. His position is often to the side of his father Anhur, king of the Bowynn pantheon.      In many ways Kord, along with his brother Brand, their union mimics the aspects of the Greek twin heroes Castor and Polydeukes, the gods Thanatos and Hypnos and the heroes Damon and Pythias. It was Kord and Brand that created the Ki'i (good spirits) to ward away any and all Mano and the Tii (evil spirits) from mortals and gods. This he did when his cousin Mano declared war on him and his brother Brand. When Brand was slain, Kord and Brend traveled to Daunnat to retrieve his brother. They did so but in turn had to build a great banquet hall for Chumash and Kalma and Brenda had to fill it with an endless amount of food.      Kord is seen as a most handsome god in armor most of the time, standing tall and strong. His long hair teams down his back onto his cloak and his eyes are said to be of deep forest green. And though Kord is muscular, he is gentle as well. If not seen with his brother Kord is followed by his faithful and immortal hounds. It is said and written that Kord also has a paid of immortal horses, which he and his brother will ride. These immortal steads are named "Hern kae Taulk" [Sun and Shield.]

Amongst Mortals Kord will often take the form of a dog, often being specifically a grey hound, Dane or Irish Wolf Hound. Sacred objects to Kord are primarily eggs. Other common offerings worthy to Kord are votive images of the Kii, horses and dogs, weapons and of course incense. However, it is not out of Kord’s nature to accept gifts such as flowers. Like all the gods, ne never turns down any sort of offering.

The Horses of Kord: Hern and Taulk

Bowynn Gods: Kora

Kora  (Kor-rah)  Kora is the Bowynn goddess of Autumn and in some ways, the Goddess of the Beginning of the year, since her epiphany ushers in the first day of Autumn, which is the Bowynn New Year. She is the daughter of Morrighynn and Herne and her sisters are the other 4 seasons.      Kora is the Goddess that appears in the west on the first day of autumn, astride her magnificent horse. Where she treads, everything starts to turn from its summer colors to the colors of autumn. She is normally accompanied with her beloved consort Ryan, god of the western wind. It is said that when Ryan and Kora wed, the ceremony and feast was one of the grandest the immortals even seen; even outshining the ceremony of Anhur and Rhya, king and queen of the gods. The Kii (spirits) of the autumn, the Jakk and the Maukol, do not even awake till Kora makes her appearance in the west.      A most awe-inspiring goddess to behold, Kora is a deep red headed goddess with lips just as red. Her gown is said to be that of saffron, mixed with other autumn colors and designs as well. And on her head is crowned a magnificent wreathe of autumn leaves and flowers. 

When not astride her horse, she can be seen walking through forests and meadows with either a golden staff in hand or a basket from which autumn leaves blow out. When not in her divine mortal form, Kora often takes form of her totem animal the crow. Divine offerings to the goddess are not normally given till autumn; autumn leaves and earthly scented incenses, gourds, harvested fruits, vegetables and flowers. On the first day of the Bowynn New Year, the first of autumn, a candle is blessed and lit in the goddess’ name and burns all through the season.