#explaining folklore

[mask131]

There is one thing people should get more accustomed to: when talking about a piece of folklore, of legend, of superstition, of anything - it should become to norm the add a brief explanation about the "why" of the folklore or superstition. The cultural, religious or historical context that explain it. Because there are a lot of people who just repeat some specific facts about myths or legends without explaining why it was so in the context, and as a result people lose a lot of background info needed to understand it.

For example, I'll invent an example: In France, an actor, a theater-performer, a comedian had much higher chances to become a vampire, just like people committing suicides. (I made this up, except for the suicide part, it was indeed believed people who died by suicide had a likely chance to return as vampires).

If people repeat this fact again and again because it was in the legend, in turn other people are going to say "Oh yes, being an actor was what caused the vampirism". When in fact no. Why would actors be more likely to become vampires? Because for centuries and centuries, in France, actors were not considered Christian people, were refused any right to be part of the Church or partake in religious rituals, and as such they were denied a proper grave in Christian soil, or a place into a cemetery. And thus just like suicides, they were buried in un-sacred, non-consecrated earth, outside of any proper funeral ritual - hence the threat of returning as an undead monster. [Note: While I invented the part about actors being vampires, the whole burial thing is actually true. Up until the late 18th century in France, actors were considered mortal sinners by virtue of doing theater, and thus they were refused all Christian rites and rituals, from weddings to funerals, and even the greatest and most beloved actors were thrown into large corpse-pits and unmarked crossroad-graves like vulgar criminals]

This is just an example, but this shows how an important thing when dealing with folklore and legendary beings and other traditions of various cultures is to place it back into the religious, social and historical context that explains it. Today a lot of people consider that blacksmiths should have been "good" people in terms of folkloric beliefs - because media popularized the idea for example of how iron was used to protect from fae, and how legendary blacksmiths forged the weapons of great heroes, and thus there is this tendency in folkloric-fiction to depict blacksmiths as these positive, helping figures. But a lot of people don't know that in some parts of Europe during specific centuries, blacksmiths were rather seen with suspicion, fear and dread if not hate - because due to them being these massive, powerful men wielding dangerous tools, due to them living by heat and fire and soot, due to them knowing a mysterious and hard craft some associated with things such as alchemy, there is a recurring belief that smiths were sorcerers, warlocks, or associated with the devil, or that they would return after their death as vampires.

But if you just say randomly "Oh yes, it was believed blacksmiths could return as vampires", people might read this as "It was the job of being a blacksmith that caused the vampirism", when in fact the real reason behind this belief was the smith's association with devilish/hellish elements like fire and flames and soot, and the equation of his secretive and marvelous craft with other mysterious prodigious arts like "magic". Hence a tradition of blacksmith-warlocks...

I have been using European vampire beliefs here, but the same can be applied to anything. Someone who doesn't know about the concept of "hubris" will misunderstood half of Greek mythology. Someone who doesn't know what is wrong with being "effeminate" in Old Norse society will miss half of the subtext of Norse mythology. Someone who doesn't know about the tradition of "Jack tales" will be quite puzzled upon finding so many folktales involving a "Jack"...

[vela-pulsars]

not enough stonjourner art out there

[ricochetyears]

wolfstar is just that ship. i can’t ship them with anyone else and i genuinely don’t want to, because they are perfect together, and they were made for each other, written in the stars, etc. idk how to explain it but all along there was some invisible string tying you to me, a string that pulled me out of all the wrong arms, something wrapped all of my past mistakes in barbed wire, chains around my demons, wool to brave the seasons, one single thread of gold tied me to you??? okay???

[garvalhaminho]

at the end of the day you sit down and put on taylor swift's music bc it sounds like home.

[cupcakeshakesnake]

Storyboarding assignment: Make a 'beat board' out of a fairytale or folk tale.

We were allowed to modify the stories we chose, so I worked with The sun and the moon (a Korean folktale) except I made it take a more vengeful turn.

[victusinveritas]

[cienie-isengardu]

Cienie’s take on Mandalorian Culture: Hod Ha'ran, the god of visions, prophecies and magic

Kad Ha’rangir and mandalorian traditional weapons part 1 — part 2 — part 3 – part 4 — part 5 ||| Arasuum - stagnation as symbol of death, not sloth, renamed as Arasuum - the God of Death, not Sloth part 1 — part 2 — part 3 — part 4 ||| Original Mandalorians and Gai bal manda ritual

Objectively speaking, there are a lot things we still don’t know about ancient Taung-Mandalorian faith, but as I was arguing previously in “Arasuum, the God of Death not Sloth, p.4”, Kad Ha’rangir, Arasuum and their importance in original religion were closely tied to each other. We may not fully understand the complexity of their relationship, but lore provides enough data to at least assume how they were perceived by original believers. 

In contrast Hod Ha’ran is a deity whose loyalty or role is even less exploited. The source material about this particular god is sparse; so far the deity was mentioned only in Death Watch Manifesto and referred to as trickster and agent of fickle fortune while all the trickstery and tempting with “soft life” is assigned solely to Arasuum[1]. Similarly, as the Manifesto is half historical lesson and half political propaganda riddled with author’s subjective opinions we may - and should - wonder how accurate is the source, as author himself calls Arasuum, Hod Ha’ran and Kad Ha’rangir the “now-extinct gods”.

Of course, our real-life folklore have plenty of trickster figures we could draw inspiration from to potentially explain Hod Ha’ran’s importance in mandalorian mythology, but that alone won’t tell us what kind of familiar ties or working relationship existed between Hod Ha’ran and the rest of the gods. 

Etymology of Hod Ha’ran’s name seems to be our best guess, however it adds to Death Watch Manifesto’s description in two ways.

One one hand, the name fits what we were told about the deity’s role of trickster as deceive, fool, camouflage, cover up and cunning share the same root: “hod”.

The deity’s name alone suggests a mortal should be wary of Hod Ha’ran, as the god may on purpose fool and deceive the warriors. On another note, out of the three established gods, just Hod Ha’ran and Kad Ha’rangir actually have a similar naming style (two-part name) but also share a common part in their naming. Even if the actual etymology of the common here “Ha’ran” word originate from two different meanings - something other fans much more versed in mando’a are better suited to theorize about - at the at least superficially level, it makes easier to group Hod Ha’ran with Kad Ha’rangir than with Arasuum.

Going further, Death Watch Manifesto specifically said that Kad Ha’rangir is the leading god and “the all-seeing creator of tests and trials” but the deity alone has never been called in this or any other source material as the actual Maker of Taung-Mandalorian people. In that sense, we could theorize that above the three named deities (or at least, above Kad Ha’rangir and Hod Ha’ran) stood a much more powerful and older being in the form of the Maker that actually predated the whole Mandalorian culture.

We could go even further with this theory by giving the Maker known from the Dha Werda Verda poem (Taung pre-Republic culture) the role of original Destructor; when volcano erupted, Taung people saw it as a sign their god “come to unmake”. As the word Ha’rangir has connection to destruction and ash, something fitting to describe volcano eruption, we may wonder if the common part in Hod Ha’ran and Kad Ha’rangir may imply a direct connection to the Maker, as in, they are the Maker’s children and/or subordinates.

One way or another, the source material implies division of functions between Kad Ha’rangir and Hod Ha’ran that directly affected the Taung-Mandalorian society. The first tested and judged the worth of warriors and there are plenty of examples of Mandalorians dedicated to prove themselves on battlefront or against great foes to back up the deity’s original importance. The second was described as a trickster and agent of fickle fortune, but I think this is not sufficient nor accurate description, especially as the author of Death Watch Manifesto transferred the "treacherous nature" to Arasuum. The mentioned work did not assign Hod Ha’ran to visions and magic, but it seems to me as the logical assumption to make when taking into account the widely understood lore.

For one, Knights of the Old Republic: War, established a connection between trickstery and magic when Dorjander Kace - a former Jedi turned into Mandalorian Knight - spoke to the warriors:

I know it offends some of you to have former Jedi in your ranks. Mandalorians win with arms, not tricks and magic! [...]

Simultaneously, presented in mentioned comics (non-Taung) Mandalorians show more or less open disdain for “sorcerers” (a term aimed at Jedi)

“Shut up, Carrick! I saw that lightsaber. I put up with Kace and his Knights because Mand'alor says to – but I won’t have sorcerers in my rank! A warrior fights with blade and blaster!”

or

[...] All the warriors here are stealing shuttles and leaving. They’d rather win without your magic and without involving children. [...]

while (human) Pulsipher from The Secret Journal of Demagol and Knights of the Old Republic: Vector thought the power of Jedi and Sith comes from their possessions. Thus to wield magical power, one must obtain a specific artifact.

and

I was less pleased to see who brought them here: Pulsipher. According to his message, Mand’alor sent Pulsipher here to be my “aide” — but I can hardly imagine anyone less suitable. We agree on only one thing: “The Force” is pseudo-scientific claptrap — a tale spun by the Jedi to keep the people in awe. A secret well of power, from which only the selected few may draw? How offensive. But Pulsipher rejects my conclusions that “Force powers” are inborn genetic traits — natural mutations, that any being can be modified to have. What does he think gives Jedi their powers? Why, magic, of course! Mystic talismans and trinkets, that’s what he believes! I realize that Mand’alor is trying to cover all his options — but really. Perhaps he could send me a Wookiee witch doctor on the next transport.

and

Pulsipher is telling Mand’alor of my failings, I am sure. Often I have seen him skulking about, scribbling notes to send off. That is, when he is not in the lockdown ogling the Jedi’s lightsabers. He acts as if some ancient spirit will rise from them to transform him into a Mandalorian Knight. Sheer fantasy.

All of those examples support the feeling how “magical thinking” was still present in their culture despite great religious reformation that happened before the Sith War and Mandalorian Wars.

However (Taung) Mandalore the Indomitable from The Sith War comics made a clear distinction between Ulic Qel-Droma (once Jedi now Sith Apprentice) and Aleema, the heiress to the Empress Teta star system (in)famous for her powerful Force illusions. Before Mandalore met with those two in person, he heard enough about Ulic and Aleema to see the former Jedi as a worthy champion - warrior -  to face in battle to death, while Aleema was described as “witch”, even though the skills of both humans had the same origin - the Force. 

This distinction, if based on the gender, may be rooted in prehistoric Taung culture, where Priestly Sisterhood must play a vital (sacred) role in their community and whose teaching became one of three ancient philosophical schools whose culmination gave a birth to Sorcerers of Rhand:

The third school is an offshoot of the Warriors of the Shadow - Taung soldiers beaten by the Battalions of Zhell in the prehistory of Coruscant. After surviving the war and a volcanic plume of ash that filled the skies for two years, the priestly sisterhood of the Taungs fled to the Unknown Regions to seek atonement through meditation and insight. (The Unknown Regions Sourcebook)

However, as lore claims that gender has little to none impact on Mandalorian culture, the distinction may lie in Aleema’s specific abilities that could resemble those of Hod Ha’ran, the trickster god, while Ulic’s combat skills were considered a worthy challenge (trial) for Mandalore. 

Visions and prophecies are another important religious element of Mandalorian culture with strong ties to magic and if interpreted wrongly, could be seen as godly deception. As the lore implies, the visions and prophecies were granted in specific, sacred places like planet Shogun or Living Water and were interpreted by a certain group of people.

In the pre-Mandalorian culture, the mentioned priestly sisterhood could be responsible for interpreting the will of god(s), but with passing time the role could be taken over by war chief[2]

Our history begins with the Taung, the Shadow Warriors we honor as our Progenitors.They originally dwelled on Coruscant, but their enemies drove them into the Outer Rim. Their clans traveled from planet to planet on orders from their war chief, who interpreted the will of their now-extinct gods [...] (Death Watch Manifesto)

and finally by Mandalore.

Neo-Crusader logo: Said to be the invention of Cassus Fett, the logo of the Neo-Crusaders pairs the symbol of their Crusader forebears with a stylized Mandalorian skull, symbolizing the authority of the Mandalore to interpret the will of the war gods.

Which could explain why the Mandalore title means the sole ruler, if both religious and secular power was concentrated in the hands of one person. As we were told by source material, both Mandalore the Indomitable and Mandalore the Ultimate visited Shogun, the “then as now the planet of visions” on which each received a different messenger (prophecy):

“The final years of the fifth millennium BBY brought a Taung religious reformation. Instead of worshipping Kad Ha’rangir, the Taungs elevated war itself as to the pinnacle of their cosmology - to make a war was effectively to be divine. The reasons for this momentous change are imperfectly understood, but Mandalorian legend holds that the clan leader known as Mandalore the Indomitable had a vision while on the mysterious world Shogun, returning to the clan with word of the revelation he’d received. [source: Excerpted from “Industry. Honor. Savagery: Shaping the Mandalorian Soul” keynote address by Vilnau Teupt, 412th Proceedings of Galactic Anthropology and History, Brentaat Academy, 24 ABY, published in The Essential Guide to Warfare]

and

Mandalore the Ultimate had seen many battles and knew his fellow Mandalorian Crusaders were brave and skilled. But the new Taung clan leader wondered how much that mattered. His people remained a fractious society of restless adventure seekers, with little to show for their efforts but stolen technologies and a slice of space on the outskirts of the Republic. There was a better way and Mandalore the Ultimate was determined to find it. The defeated Crusaders returned to Mandalorian Space to learn their leader had received a new vision on Shogun: From now on, non-Taungs who proved themselves in battle and upheld the Mandalorian warrior code were full members of the clans. Moreover, the Crusaders would no longer simply pillage worlds and move on like some terrible storm. Now they would hold the territory they conquered, creating an industrial society based on warrior codes. Warriors would rule, supported by farmers, artisans, and manufactures who accepted their place in the Mandalorian hierarchy, with slaves and those without honor below them.  [source: Excerpted from “Industry. Honor. Savagery: Shaping the Mandalorian Soul” keynote address by Vilnau Teupt, 412th Proceedings of Galactic Anthropology and History, Brentaat Academy, 24 ABY, published in The Essential Guide to Warfare]

and

Of the ancient Mandalores, we hold none in higher esteem than Mandalore the Ultimate, the Great Shadow Father of our clans. On Shogun, then as now the planet of visions, Mandalore the Ultimate received a staggering prophecy: The age of Taung was ending, but their great work was unfinished. To survive, the Mando’ade must be transformed.  It was a terrible burden, but Mandalore the Ultimate bore it with honor. He opened the clans to all who proved themselves in battle and followed the warrior code. Non-Taung were no longer confined to vassalship, but could be full-fledged Mandalorian warriors. Our forefathers were among these new Mando’ade, and soon proved that they were ready to lead the clans.” [Death Watch Manifesto]

In the case of Mandalore the Indomitable, the lore is not in agreement on the time and causes of the religious reformation and other source material puts this event in times before the Taung earned the title of sole ruler[3]. Thus there is a chance that the in-universe author of the lecture got the "facts" wrong. But whatever the vision truly was about, Mandalore visiting Shogun seems like a tradition the new leader must fulfill. Thus maybe receiving the vision  was seen as a sign the new Mandalore has a definitive plan for new conquests? 

Mandalore is the title given to the sole warlord who rules over all Mandalorians. This title is neither hereditary nor democratically bestowed, but is claimed directly by the one hoping to take up its responsibilities. But the Mandalorians would accept only a truly exceptional warrior and battlefield commander as their leader, so anyone seeking the title must have a proven history of victories and a definitive plan for new conquest to unite the numerous Mandalorian clans [...] [source: The Old Republic Encyclopedia].

Of course, did Mandalores truly receive visions on Shogun or just presented their plan for conquest as a prophecy bestowed by gods is up to debate. We can’t however exclude the idea that Mandalorians truly believed in supernatural powers guiding their action, as even in modern times we have examples of similar “magical thinking” as was seen with Children of the Watch on different occasions. The best example is the exchange between Bo-Katan Kryze and Armorer, when the first reported seeing Mythosaur in Living Water (The Mandalorian Chapter 20: The Foundling [s03e04])

ARMORER: I can replace what's missing, but not with its modern refinements. Shall I inlay the signet of the Nite Owl? BO-KATAN: Would it be acceptable to wear one pauldron of the Nite Owl and another with the Mythosaur? ARMORER: The Mythosaur belongs to all Mandalorians. It is always acceptable to wear. BO-KATAN: I would like that. [...] What would you say if I told you I saw one? ARMORER: That you saw what? BO-KATAN: A Mythosaur. ARMORER: I would say you're very lucky. It is a noble vision. BO-KATAN: No, I… I mean a real one. Beneath the Living Waters on Mand'alor. ARMORER: When you choose to walk the Way of the Mand'alor, you will see many things. BO-KATAN: But it was real. 

Apparently, there was also a prophecy about Mythosaur and new age of Mandalore (The Mandalorian Chapter 18: The Mines of Mandalore [s03e02]):

THE MANDALORIAN: But what if the mines of Mandalore still exist? If I visit the planet and I can bring you proof that I have bathed in the Living Waters, then by Creed, I would be redeemed. ARMORER: The songs of eons past foretold of the Mythosaur rising up to herald a new age of Mandalore.

To sum it up, we have at least two sacred places - planet Shogun, Living Water on Mandalore - where warriors could receive visions and selected members of the community from whom the warriors sought advice and/or interpretation after the supernatural event they experienced. It is worth to note that in Mandalorian culture the “magical knowledge” is often attributed to leaders. In modern day, we have mentioned above Armorer who led the Children of the Watch and in ancient times Mandalore.

As we know well from Star Wars itself, visions and prophecies are, well, a tricky thing but also a vital part of the universe. Galaxy at War sourcebook outright said that no Taung was Force-sensitive, yet the belief in magic and divine visions seems to be prevalent even when the original faith in gods became forgotten itself.

Thus my conclusion about the divine functions of Kad Ha’rangir and Hod Ha’ran is: the first tested and judged the worth of warriors while the latter was responsible for determining a course of action by sending visions that were interpreted by designated persons. Maybe Hod Ha’ran was a sort of divine messenger leading mortals where they could prove themselves in the eyes of Kad Ha'rangir, maybe a more independent deity responsible for fate[4]. One way or another, as much as the etymology of Hod Ha’ran puts the god in an ambiguous light, the tricky nature of the visions may not lie necessary in god’s ill intention toward mortals but how mortals decided to interpret and act on the will of their god(s). Because receiving a vision of the future does not guarantee it won’t lead warriors to their death and culture to ruin, which could explain why Hod Ha’ran was seen - at least by modern Mandalorians - as trickster and agent of fickle fortune. 

SIDENOTES:

[1] Death Watch Manifesto has an interesting correlation between Arasuum (the "bad god"), Jedi and trickstery and/or lies:

Arasuum the god of sloth, an enemy whispering and seducing with promises of peace […]

and

The Annihilation birthed the evils we now fight against. To rule us, the Republic installed puppets who had sought a foolish peace with the Senators and their Jedi. In the centuries since the Annihilation, this line of Anti-Mandalores - leaders of the self-styled New Mandalorians - have forfeited our honor, buying us soft lives of sloth and dependence.  Weary of war and deluded by lies, many of the Mando’ade accepted the Anti-Mandalores and the illegitimate rule of the Faithless, as we call the New Mandalorians.

and

Meanwhile, centuries of New Mandalorian lies had left the Mando’ade weak and soft. One of my kinswomen, the Duchess Satine Kryze, had been sent offworld as a child by her father, a mighty clan warlord, and she fell prey to the lies of the Jedi. After her father perished in the Great Clan Wars, she betrayed his memory by becoming the leader of the New Mandalorians. Aided by Jedi tricks, she became the newest Anti-Mandalore, whereupon the exhausted Mando’ade flocked to her banner.

while the author totally omitted the role of Hod Ha'ran, the trickster god and agent of fickle fortune, even though - as argued in the main text - Hod Ha'ran is much more connected to Jedi's "magic" than Arasuum.

[2] The title of Mandalore became an important part of Taung culture after settling on Mandalore. Thus I have separated the war chief from Mandalore on purpose, as to include the pre-mandalorian era of their history.

[3] For more details and quotes about the religious reformation from source material, please check Cienie’s take on Mandalorian Culture: Kad Ha’rangir and mandalorian traditional weapons, p. 4

[4] Ancient Mandalorians as presented in The Old Republic: Revan had an interesting opinion about Fate.

“Nobody knows where Revan hid the Mask,” Veela said quietly. “The clans have each staked out their territory, hoping it’s in their destiny to find that which we all seek.”  “Seems like a poor way to choose a leader,” Revan offered.  Veela glared at him, but it was one of the other women who replied.  “Fate will make the choice for us. Whichever clan is destined to find the Mask, will.”  “Is that how all the clans ended up here on Rekkiad?” Revan countered. “Fate? Chance? Blind luck?”  “You show your ignorance when you speak of things you don’t understand,” Veela said. “Fate and destiny are not the same as luck. It was not chance that brought us here. It was persistence. Perseverance. We are here because we are strong.” She paused a moment, then continued a little more calmly. “When Revan hid Mandalore’s Mask, most of our people scattered in disgrace. But some of us refused to give up. We stayed behind to look for what was lost instead of running off to become mercenaries and hired thugs.”  As she spoke, her eyes flicked toward Canderous. Revan followed her gaze to see his friend staring at the floor in shame.  “For years we have kept up our search,” she continued. “We know Revan disappeared for three days after the massacre at Malachor Five. There are only a handful of stable hyperspace lanes in that sector, only a few dozen habitable planets he would have been able to journey to in that time. So we have been searching each world in turn, scouring the surface meter by meter. On the first world there were less than fifty of us; it took us two years to explore the entire planet. But with each world our numbers grew. More clans joined in the search, and each clan’s numbers increased. Our quest gave us purpose; it united us as a people once more.”  She looked back at Canderous. “Slowly those who turned their backs on the Mandalorian ways have come trickling back. Now we number in the thousands. Over a hundred clans have gathered on Rekkiad. If we fail to find the Mask here, we will move on to the next world. And our numbers will continue to grow. Eventually we will find what we seek. And when one of our own finally reclaims Mandalore’s Mask, our numbers will be legion. On that day the new Mandalore will call upon the armies of our people, and we will answer!”  She turned and glared at Revan once more. “That is what we mean when we speak of fate,” she concluded “We will find what we seek. It is inevitable. It is the destiny of our people.” 

If vision could be seen as "purpose to dedicate themselves", then Hod Ha'ran could be seen also as god of fate, pushing warriors to their destiny while Kad Ha'rangir is the one testing and judging Mandalorians.

[kikimorart]

first drawing of the year :> drew a character i had in my brain for some time, based on Mokosh. now i kind of want to make more in this series lol

[dramatic-dolphin]

Hello!! As the official gay Hungarian and a LOTR’s fan, would you be able to help me out with a linguistic question? (if you are happy to answer ofc!)

How does one explain what a manó is in English? I’ve been trying to introduce Hungarian folklore into my dnd campaign and I’ve run into the problem of trying to explain the difference between all of the fairy creatures that exist.

Any help with explaining them would be very helpful and deeply appreciated 😭🙏

HELLO this is a thing i struggled with also when i was trying to tell my international friends about one of my favorite books as a child (which is called sünimanó i love it lots. this is irrelevant.)

so in my opinion as a translation "gnome" works for manó most of the time, i think that's the closest. as an explanation i'd sorta class them as like something between a gnome and a fairy, but the "tiny mischievous people" kind of fairy and not The Fae. usually. brownies are also a kind of manó. so are christmas elves.

manó is kind of a catch-all term? like in folklore a lot of creatures do not have just one definition because it's folklore. a manó is every mischievous tiny human-like creature. they usually like living in the forest and wearing funky hats :)

[lady-lilly-gray]

We’ve reached the point of my shift (halfway through) where I’m working on a theory post by writing on paper towels with a highlighter

[caraecethrae]

Why dandelions grow (abridged)/ As beárnan gidge raired

an Irish Traveller story

The old ones say that during the great flood, the Mincéirí, in fear, had prayed and willed away the clouds, so there came a great drought when the sun shone ceaselessly and no rain fell, when the skies themselves were emptied and the sun stood fixed in place as their ruler.

At first the skies had resisted the banishing of the clouds, understanding the cycle of the weather and how it has its mark on the passing of each day, but so great was the fear of the great flood that nature herself withdrew the clouds and the rain for the sake of the Mincéirí.

In the beginning, the dry days and crisp nights brought only joy, the warm sweet morning air woke people with a softness and the evenings often saw children playing by streams and ponds. The old would rest under the shade of the hazel trees and songs were the common company of the slow-moving winds.

As time went on, however, people grew weary, dreary, dusty and dry. Animals became ill, plants started to shrivel and even the birds refused the winds, preferring to walk on the earth in search of what food remained.

The drought continued until one day a beautiful young lackeen named Brid called to the sun in search of an answer. She knew the land. She knew the plants, the trees, the weary rivers and how the fiery sun was slowly quenching the flames of those she loved. But the sun, the sun did not reply.

. . . .

The young girl, distraught, fell to the ground and cried, So great were her wails of loss that the star and the moon looked upon her and wept. The sun, on hearing their cries, finally turned towards Bríd. The young lackeen, in desperation and tiredness, but with a depth of wit and a strength rare in a child of her age, pleaded with the sun to rest. She spoke of life with its relentless presence, of the cracking lands and withering animals, of the river beds that looked like deep, carved scars upon the soil, of red sun-flamed flesh and world that knew so much disorder. She spoke of the need for rhythm, of the folly of her people who in fear had driven away the natural movement of the sun.

The sun spoke in a booming voice, loud enough to shake the crumpled leaves that remained on the trees and for the cracked soil to give up a thick layer of dust as if the land itself was breathing. The sun explained that it was the people who had banished the clouds, who had implored it to shine without resting, so on it would shine.

Her body exhausted from the trials of her journey and her spirit as brittle as the withered leaves, this last denial was a wound she could not recover from. With a whimper, she fell back against the ground, and there the young lackeen died.

The sun looked down on her broken frame and was stirred in a great sorrow for her, for her journey, for her half-lived life, and for her death. It shed tears that fell and mixed with the tears of the star and the moon, who too did mourn for her. Their tears fell to the earth and sank deep into the thirsty soil.

Knowing their part in what had happened, the sun, star and moon gathered in the sky. Each promised the young lackeen that they would never forget her.

Eventually from those fallen tears grew a plant, blessed in the light of the sun, star and moon, and took unto it their shapes and forms.

Among its many names is dandelion.

Even to this day, the dandelion remains embodied with the fiery force of the sun, moon and star and it grants the easy flow of water to those who drink it in a tea. If you look closely at the dandelion you will see that it resembles the sun when it is in flower, the moon when it is in seed, and the star is in the leaves that grow about its base. If you are lucky and pick it carefully from the ground with a song, you might find that the roots are in the form of the young lackeen.

To read the entirety of this story, and many others, check out Why the moon travels by Oein DeBhairduin

[fairestoffolks]

Okay so! My brother has told me fairies like to steal children, are hurt by iron, are so tiny they can only feel one emotion at once, and steal people's names. Have you ever stolen children?

I might not be able to help you specifically, but.... The Council will still send someone after the vampire! Not me, not right away at least. There's a system, you know?

- @oldest-foxxe

okay most of that is true except for the emotion part. that’s harmful rhetoric. also the size thing gets complicated very quickly and is kind of a matter of perspective and magic. i can be human-sized for a few weeks. i haven’t personally stolen children but it does happen. usually for actual reasons. i wouldn’t go as far as to say we collectively enjoy it though.

the news about the vampire is good :) i was getting worried. he keeps threatening to kill you.

[louiisaa]

i miss the eras tour

[mamaangiwine]

Human societies stretching out their holidays is nothing new and historically apparent. This is because many holidays were, historically, seasonal observances- and there were A LOT more of them.

The preparation for certain events surrounding holidays could take weeks, if not months, and could be a source of communal pride- i.e parade costumes, community theater, flower arrangements, baking and cooking, etc.

What IS new, is late stage capitalism and the fact that many, if not all, of us work during the holiday seasons- and thus all of the preparation that goes into celebrating a holiday feels like a chore that we want to end. This combined with the fact that preparation is no longer a communal effort, but either- 1) something you're supposed to buy with money you don't have, or 2) something you're meant to do individually, in order to wow and impress- makes it feel like we are being ran to death for the culmination of one day that always seems to fall short of expectations.

Personally, I feel the decreasing number of holidays we celebrate, and the expectation that we shift gears directly after doesn't seem particularly empathetic to the very human desire for something more than the mundane.

It is completely normal for human beings to want to linger in the mindset that they have spent weeks cultivating and turning their hearts to, and it is completely normal for humans to want to continue to play and remain in a state of joy.

Like, those are really beautiful and admirable traits of human society.

[lucabyte]

Everytime I see you've posted art it's like I've been hit by 1000 beautiful buses (affectionate) (you have great art and great ideas) (eating your art and your brain to gain ultimate creativity)

thamk you for this message kind anon..... i would be wary about eating my brain through half of it is esoteric pokemon knowledge and the other half is half-remembered philosophy 101.... you can synthesise anything into creativity anon i believe in u 🤍

[transannabeth]

for research purposes (genuinely), i'm looking to make a list of what people consider Required Viewing™ (or reading) in terms of vampire fiction. while specifically this research is for paranormal romance, other iconic vampire fiction that add to the canon would be much appreciated. i would especially be interested in any stories about non western vampiric creatures since they are absolutely out there!

some (but not all!) of my current list includes

dracula by bram stoker

carmilla by sheridan le fanu

interview with the vampire by anne rice

twilight by stephenie meyer (yeah i know)

the awakening by l. j. smith