Hern - Blog Posts
Bowynn Gods: Hern
Hern (Hurn) Hern is the Bowynn god of the sun and the hunt. He is the protector of woodland, the creatures that live there and Hunters. Despite his name and spelling, the Bowynn god Hern bares little to no semblance to the English ghost spirit Herne. Hern is the son of the earth goddess Brea and the sky god Unthar.
As a god of the hunt, Hern makes sure the hunt is justified, that hunters do not take more than what they need and at the same time protect them from vicious attacks and other woodland dangers. At the same time Hern protects the wildlife. He is also the one that blesses tools and implements used for hunting and initiates professional hunters. Contrary-wise, Hern will punish those that abuse the hunt and who treat animals maliciously.
As a sun god, Herne tamed the great sun mares once belonged to the deities Saul and Shayla, steadying their course across the heavens. Taming them to allow the sun to rise and set just once in a 24 hour period.
Hern is one of the great epic gods that is most prominent in the Bowynn tradition. It is his birth, life and death that is worshipped throughout the year. The great sacred story explains that he was conceived in the dead of winter by the sky and earth on the holiday Kymyliea (Imbolc) and was born on the spring Equinox, Tsaquilla. It was when Hern was a young teen that he met the moon goddess Morrighynn and pledge his love to her on the day of Kyquilla. (Beltane) Their love we sanctified and united on Tsatarna. (Summer Solstice) Their honeymoon lasted all summer long, climaxing on Kytarna (Lammas). By Tsakora (the Autumn Equinox) Hern had noticed that humanity had become so lazy over the summer that they did not harvest enough food and wood to survive the winter. He journeyed to the great western mountains and spoke to Bia, the great creator force and realized what he had to do to help man survive. On the holiday of Kykora (Samhain), Hern proclaimed one finally great hunt to the mortal hunters. During the hunt, Hern turned himself into a mighty stag and gave himself to humanity so they may survive. Morrighynn grieved endlessly for the loss of her love Hern till at last, on Tsameliea (Yule) word came to Morrighynn that Hern will be born again and return to her. In turn Hern is reborn to the earth again each year.
Hern and his loved Morrighynn. With wolf cub and elk fawn at their feet.
As the god of the sun, his gloriousness and strength waxes stronger from Winter to Summer and then wanes weaker after the Summer Solstice into winter. It not shocking to find Bowynn praying to Hern throughout summer in force to ensure a gentle winter.
There are endless other legends of Hern but the Great Circle Saga is the grandest and also marks out the 8 celestial holidays of the year. It is said that when Hern was first born to Brea, there was no cradle to hold the babe, so the Goddess Briathenaea made a swing-like hammock cradle made of elf antler and hide for the Mother Goddess to hold the babe.
Hern is one of the horned gods of the Bowynn Pantheon. His head is crowned with elk/deer antlers, as his very totem is the elk. Some time he is seen also with elk or deer ears, giving him a softened and my friendlier appearance. other depictions have him without antlers. All cervidae animals are sacred to Herne and he often appeared to mortals as a might buck elk. Hern is also the creator of the Sunflower, a divine symbol of his love to Morrighynn on their wedding day, as well as a source of food. Wheat and corn is also a symbol of Hern, as a symbol of his devotion to Morrighynn, turning it from green to gold in color. during summer wheat and corn husks are woven and firmed into sun images to Hern and hung everywhere. Especially on and over doors and windows. The sword and the bow and arrow are also symbols of the god.
