#and the fire deities are associated with snakes/serpents

[moeblob]

As I'm still waiting on a doctor and my phone battery is getting lower.... take some pen doodles o7

[khaire-traveler]

Random Greek Deity Facts

- Artemis has been associated with horses in the past.

- Ares has associations with owls.

- There are ancient gravestones with reliefs on them that historians still cannot tell if the art is of Dionysus or Jesus.

- It is common for historians to struggle identifying if a statue is of Artemis or Apollo because they often look so much alike.

- Hephaestus is a god of fire.

- Maia, the Mother of Hermes, was thought to assist in raising both Dionysus and Hephaestus.

- Hypnos is said to live in a massive cave, sleeping with thousands of his sons.

- Rather than blood, Greek gods are said to have something called Ichor running through their veins; no one is quite sure what "Ichor" actually is.

- Both Apollo and Artemis are deities of light; it is not just Apollo. Along with this, it is believed Leto may also be a goddess of light.

- It is commonly believed that the hyacinth flower is not actually the flower Hyacinthus was infamously transformed into; most sources seem to agree that it was likely either an iris or a larkspur.

- At one point in the Dionysiaca, Dionysus wages a war against India. The goddess Rhea is said to have gathered troops for him, and Zeus was said to have been the one to task Dionysus with going to war in order to allow him to join the gods on Mount Olympus.

- Demeter's chariot is pulled by two giant winged serpents; she has literal dragons pulling her around, and no one is talking about it.

- The Python was a child of Gaia, and before Apollo took up the Oracle in Delphi, there was actually an Oracle with Gaia in that location.

- The twins Castor and Pollux, who made up the Gemini constellation, were commonly worshipped throughout ancient Greece under the title of the "Dioscuri" or "Dioskouroi".

- Also regarding the Dioskouroi, the name "Castor" ("Kastor") may translate to "Beaver".

- The famous epithet "Paean" of Apollo was also listed on an ancient Mycenaean tablet that listed the names of separate deities. It is, therefore, possible that Paean was once a separate god who later became associated/merged with both Apollo and his son Ascelpius.

- Besides being an epithet, a Paean was also a type of devotional chant/song that was sung in honor of Apollo. Some ancient sources claim that the event of singing a Paean could actually be quite loud, involving clouds of stomping/banging and movement.

- The masculine version of Hekate's name, "Hekatos", was an epithet for the god Apollo; both names can be translated to "worker from afar".

- The first record of the more "traditional" view of a werewolf comes from the Greek myth about King Lycaon, when Zeus transformed into a wolf for ten years as punishment for tricking the gods into consuming human flesh (yes, you read that right).

- In the myths, Zeus and Hermes have a lovely Father-Son bonding trip of destroying an entire village (except for one home) for not showing either of the disguised gods hospitality as poor travellers.

- Both Apollo and Zeus were seen as gods who purified "blood-guilt" - a condition which was caused by the killing of another person and required immense purification.

- Cerberus is described as a fully sentient being who can communicate as other immensely powerful children of Gaia could, meaning he is akin to the gods in terms of intelligence rather than being like an overgrown dog.

- Hermes is said to be the inventor of offerings, specifically animal sacrifices.

- One origin of the Pegasus was Poseidon and Medusa doing the devil's tango.

- There is a tale that claims Hermes to be the one who granted Aesop his knowledge of fables.

- According to some ancient sources, Cerberus has as many as fifty heads, a mane of snakes, the claws of a lion, and a snake tail.

- Iris was not only the goddess of rainbows but was also the personal messenger of Hera and was prominently featured in The Iliad delivering many messages on behalf of the Olympian gods.

- Eros has been depicted as the child of Aphrodite and Ares, the child of Ouranos and Aphrodite, the child of solely Aphrodite, the child of Poros and Penia, the child of Ouranos and Gaia, the child of Zephyrus and Iris, and a primordial being who simply came into being. So, where did Eros actually come from? Your guess is as good as any.

----

That's all for now! Let me know if y'all enjoyed these and would like more. 🧡

----

|| Sources ||

- Theoi.com (of course)

- The Iliad by Homer

- Theogony by Hesiod

- The Dionysiaca by Nonnus

- Information from various museum trips in Athens and Delphi, Greece (sorry, I don't remember the exact sources 💀)

[telomeke]

THE SIGN – CULTURAL REFERENCES, MYTHOLOGY AND META

‌

This post comes on the heels of the one by @respectthepetty about mythology and meta of The Sign, linked here. 😍👍 If you've not read it yet, I recommend you do before watching any more of this series, because it will help things make more sense (especially if you're not familiar with some of the cultural references thrumming in the background).

Anyway, I'd previously done some research on the legend(s) of the Garuda and the Naga in Southeast Asia, and so I'm writing this post to share what I've found because it does have relevance to at least some of what we're seeing onscreen in The Sign, and elaborates on @respectthepetty's post.

‌

The Garuda and the Naga are mythical beings with origins in Indian mythology that have been transposed into cultures across Southeast Asia.

In Hinduism, Garuda is a single deity, depicted in either full-bird form or part-bird and part-human, and is the king of birds and also a divine sun-bird (with physical attributes similar to an eagle's). His elder brother, Aruna, is the chariot driver for Surya the sun-god, while Garuda himself is the mount of Vishnu.

In Buddhist mythology, the garudas (sometimes also spelt garulas) are a society and race of gigantic predatory birds, sometimes also depicted as part-human in form. The garudas are intelligent, social and blessed with might and magical powers.

Thailand may be predominantly Buddhist, but it has also been strongly influenced by ancient Indian culture and Hinduism, and thus both the concept of a single deity Garuda and the race of garudas co-exist in Thai mythological beliefs.

The nagas on the other hand, are snake-like or dragon-like creatures, whose realm is the water world. (The word naga is derived from Sanskrit and is also etymologically related to the English word snake.)

In mythology nagas and garudas are perpetual enemies, although neither side is actually identified with good or evil – they are simply two groups eternally at war with each other (so occidental-leaning minds should dispel any preconception that the water serpents are necessarily the bad guys in The Sign, even though the narrative seems to be tilting in that direction).

When borrowed into popular culture (as has been done for The Sign) you may sometimes see influences of Chinese dragon and phoenix mythology (as Chinese cultural influence is also present in Thailand, and the dragon/phoenix motif of Sinitic culture nicely parallels the naga/garuda conflict pairing). And because of Garuda's association with the sun in Hinduism, and a parallel with the fiery phoenix of Western mythology, you may sometimes see garudas portrayed as aligned with the sun and/or flame as well.

There are some hints of these in The Sign. The naga that Phaya encounters while struggling underwater during the open sea training challenge in Ep.1 is very Thai in appearance (especially with the curved, forward-pointing crest, making it look much like the nagas that adorn Thai temple architecture). But the array of pronged, backward-pointing horns and trailing antennae appear to be a design nod at Chinese or Japanese dragons (East Asian dragons are also strongly identified with the watery realm, by the way). And in the graphics of the series (e.g., in the poster at the start of this post), the sky (the realm of Garuda) is suffused with sunlight and speckled with what look like drifting sparks, referencing sun and flame.

Because of the wings tattooed on his back and his time in the air force, Phaya is most likely the reincarnation of a garuda in human form (and this is why he struggled with the water challenge, as he was completely out of his element).

This is also possibly why we see him smoking early on in the series (because of the alignment of Garuda with the element of fire), and significantly he does this while Naga Tharn (irked by Yai's teasing at the dining table) seeks refuge in the washroom (which is ห้องน้ำ/hong naam in Thai, literally water room):

‌Billy also describes Phaya's character in the promo video for the series (linked here) as being "like fire, always hot and burning... quite hot-headed." 👍

Elsewhere in the same promo video (linked here), Tharn's good friend Chalothon is explicitly identified as the reincarnation of an important naga, which immediately signals that he and Phaya will be at odds in the series:

‌

The water deity that saves Phaya during the open sea challenge – Wansarat, whom he drew in his sketchbook – is not just Freen Sarocha in a fancy scuba suit. 😂

If you look at her arm and hand when she reaches out to save Phaya (before she turns into Tharn) the green scales meld into the skin of her human wrist – they're part of her natural covering, and she's really a nakhee/nagin/nagini, a female naga, appearing in human form to save Phaya.

The narrative has made it strongly obvious that Phaya is a reincarnated garuda, while Tharn is the reincarnation of Wansarat, from the lineage of the nagas. And the teaser-trailer (linked here) tells us that Phaya and Tharn/Wansarat are lovers bound to each other through time:

‌

However, the special promo video (released 24 November 2023) also tells us (in Heng's interview linked here) that Chalothon and Wansarat were lovers in past lives, even while it is Phaya and Wansarat (reincarnated as Tharn) who are paired by fate in The Sign.

And as the nagas and garudas are bitter enemies, the love story between Phaya and Tharn/Wansarat that transcends time and reincarnation cycles is also one that must have been (and will continue to be) forbidden by their respective naga and garuda tribes (especially since Tharn/Wansarat also used to be naga Chalothon's lover), and will undoubtedly be a source of conflict in the series. This is way beyond the Montagues and Capulets! 😍

‌

So with this as the base, I took a look at the characters' names, and those belonging to Phaya, Chalothon, Tharn and Wansarat especially also reflect their garuda/naga origins. 🤩

Phaya's name (พญา) means lord, king or leader. While it can be applied to the nagas (พญานาค/phaya naak refers to the King of the Nagas) it is also used for Garuda (the Thai national symbol) – พญาครุฑ/phaya khroot, or Lord Garuda (and is what his name references in The Sign).

(above) Billy Patchanon as Phaya

‌

Chalothon's name (ชโลทร) is rare, but it is derived from Pali/Sanskrit and means river, sea or body of water, reflecting the watery homeland of his naga persona.

(above) Heng Asavarid as Chalothon

‌

Tharn's name (ธาร) also has a connection to his water-dwelling naga roots. Tharn/ธาร is short for ลำธาร/lam thaan and means stream, brook or creek (and he is thus a naga nong to Chalothon's phi).

(above) Babe Tanatat as Tharn/Wansa

However, Tharn is his chue len. His formal name is Wansa, and is the same Wansa in Wansarat (which the narrative lets us know at Ep.1 [3‌/4] 9.35).

(above) Freen Sarocha as Wansarat

Now Wansarat is spelt วรรณษารัตน์ in the subtitles (at Ep.1 [3‌/4] 9.02), and I can't find any translation of it that makes sense in the context of The Sign's world-building.

But Wansarat's name is spelt differently elsewhere on the Internet (on Thai drama websites, and movie databases, etc. like thaimovie.org), and I assume they've all based it on official releases from Idol Factory because the spelling is consistent across these other sources – it's วรรษารัตน์ there.

And Wansa/Wansarat spelt this way also reflects the nagas' dominion over water, because วรรษา/wansa (an archaic word, referenced in an older dictionary but not newer ones) means rain or rainy season (from the Sanskrit varsha) – in Thailand the nagas are also associated with rain control, and prayers are offered to them for timely and abundant rainfall when it is needed. (The -rat part of Wansarat is a feminine ending meaning jewel or gemstone, and may echo with meaning for speakers of Indian and Sri Lankan languages, since it's derived from the Pali/Sanskrit ratna).

‌

Just out of interest (because nobody asked 😂) some of these naga/garuda elements were also present in the early episodes of KinnPorsche – the den of the Theerapanyakuls (nagas, wealthy beings of the underworld) was full of watery elements (e.g., the waterfall, the various pools, and Tankhun's carp – which in Chinese belief are the original, natal form of dragons). The -nak in Kinn's formal first name Anakin (which is not a traditional Thai name) is also a nod at the word naga. Porsche had the tattoo of a fiery phoenix on his back, and was out of his element whenever water was concerned (e.g., his failed pool challenge, the mermaid costume punishment, his misadventure with the sprinkler when he tried to smoke in the store room – water vanquishing the flame). Kinn was unable to make fire when they were trapped in the forest, despite claiming to be friends with the flame, while Porsche could immediately do it.

But I didn't see the KinnPorsche narrative taking the naga/garuda themes much further than these random nods in the earlier episodes. Maybe it did (like Kinn and Porsche could be seen acclimatizing to each other's realms more), but I just couldn't be bothered to look at the show more closely since it didn't really stand up to deeper scrutiny, and after the first few episodes I just went along for the exhilaration of the ride instead. 👍

‌

Anyway, I'm totally bedazzled by the level of world-building going on in The Sign and look forward to more from the series. If the first episode is anything to go by, I think Executive Producer Saint Suppapong may be on to something! 😍

[wanderingsorcerer]

The 72 Demons Of The Ars Goetia

This will be multi parts and in each one we will be going over each branch of them "whoop whoop" let's get cracking

Starting off the 72 demons of the ars goetia are the amalgamation of the Occult Writings from the 15th century. Compiled into one text in the 17th that is where we get what is now known as the Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis or simply The Lesser Key Of Solomon. Due to many translations spelling changes depending on region and personal preference for the author.

Let's start the Journey with the KINGs Of Hell

Baal (Bael): is the first king of hell with estates in the east and commander of 66 legions. This King is distinguished by his three heads, One of Toad , One Of Man, and One Of Cat. He teaches the art of invisibility and the power to Garner The Favor of Others. He also rules over Love and Science.

His Symbol

As with most Spirits in the Goetia they prefer people who are clever and intelligent. Someone who is willing to put in the work instead of relying entirely on the power of the deity

Paimon(Paymon): one of the kings of hell with estates in the NorthWest he is the ruler of 200 legions of demons. Paimon is depicted as a man with an effeminate face, wearing a precious Crown, and riding a Dromedary. He is said to roar upon arrival and speak in a loud voice until asked a question from the caster. Paimon teaches all arts, philosophies, and sciences, and secret things; he can reveal all mysteries of the Earth, wind, and water, what the mind is, and where it is, and everything the conjurer wants to know.

His Symbol

To summon him it is common practice to have a Sacrifice prepared, usually one of personal significance to the caster.

Beleth: one of the Truly Mighty and terrible kings of hell he is the ruler of 85 legions of demons. Beleth is depicted riding a war house and is said to have Loud music blaring as he arrives. He is said to look terrifying upon arrival and will attempt to frighten the caster to see if they are brave.

His symbol

When summoning him it would be best to hold a silver ring on your left hand middle finger to your face, as to show him his respect due to his rank in the infernal realm.

Purson: One of the Great Kings of Hell, being served and obeyed by twenty-two legions of demons. Purson is depicted as a man with the face of a Lion, carrying a Viper in his hand, and riding a bear. He is commonly associated with the AntiChrist. His powers include knowing all hidden things, discovering treasures and divination (telling all things from past, present and future). He can take on a human or astral form.

His Symbol

He represents the sun and the moon and symbolism from both is best when beginning his summoning. I.E Silver and Gold Jewelry and coloring

Asmodeus(Asmoday): One of my personal favorites, he's the one I have the strongest relationship with out of all of the demons in the Ars Goetia. Labeled as The Thirty-second Spirit He is a Great King, Strong, and Powerful. He appeareth with Three Heads, whereof the first is like a Bull, the second like a Man, and the third like a Ram; he hath also the tail of a Serpent, and from his mouth issue Flames of Fire. His Feet are webbed like those of a Goose. He sitteth upon an Infernal Dragon, and beareth in his hand a Lance with a Banner. He is first and choicest under the Power of AMAYMON, he goeth before all other. He teaches the Arts of Arithmetic, Astronomy, Geometry, and all handicrafts.

When summoning him be respectful he has a soft spot for academics and is a true wonder of a friend to have on your spiritual journey, just don't wear hats around him.

Vine: is an Earl and also a King of Hell, commanding 36 legions of demons. This demon is portrayed as a Lion holding a snake in his hand and riding a black horse. He can tell present, past, and future, discover witches and hidden things, create storms and make the water rough by means of them, and also bring down walls and build towers.

His Symbol

Acts as an elemental guide unto those who may seek to attack you. Vine is also a divinatory spirit who will also brings initiatory knowledge to Wizards, Witches and hidden aspects. Summon him if you wish to learn more about the Occult.

Balam:is a great and powerful king of Hell who commands over 40 legions of demons. Balam is depicted as being three-headed. One head is the head of a bull, the second of a man, and the third of a ram. He has flaming eyes and the tail of a serpent. He carries a hawk on his fist and rides a strong bear. At other times, he is represented as a naked man riding a bear. He gives perfect answers on things past, present, and to come, and can also make men invisible and witty.

His Symbol

From the Daemonolatry Goetia by S. Connolly

“Invoke Balam to get over social awkwardness or to find the inner reasons for shyness or discomfort. Leave a piece of gold in offering to Balam (And his sigil) on the altar to keep magickal works secret until they manifest the desired results.”

Zagan: A Great King and President of Hell, commanding over 33 legions of demons. Zagan is depicted as a griffin-winged bull that turns into a man after a while. He makes men witty; he can also turn wine into water, water into wine, and blood into wine as well as blood into oil, oil into blood, and a fool into a wise man. Other of his powers is that of turning metals into coins that are made with that metal (i.e., gold into a gold coin, copper into a copper coin, etc.).

His Symbol

Turns things into their opposites. Invoke to help curb addictions and bad habits or make delusional people (or dabblers) to see the truth. Zagam rites are a Daemonolatry Keeper ritual

Belial:He is a King of Hell with 80 legions of demons and 50 legions of spirits under his command. He was created as the first, after Lucifer. He has the power to distribute senatorships and gives excellent familiars. He takes the form of Two Beautiful Angels sitting in a Chariot of Fire.

His Symbol

He must be presented with offerings, sacrifices, and gifts, or else he will not give true answers to demands.

Always when working with these entities show them great respect and take into considerations that the majority of these are gods from other cultures that have had there meanings shifted over the years to be perceived as demonic. Treat them with kindness and respect and for the most part they will treat you the same. Do your research and learn. Learn more everyday and don't forget to have fun. The occult is a wonderful and beautiful thing and I hope to take you on more journeys with me.

We will continue this next time when we go over the Dukes of Hell.

Thank you for being here with me and having tea with me on the other side of the Great divide :)

☕ Like My Blog? Then consider buying me a Ko-Fi ☕

[yoga-onion]

Legends and myths about trees

World tree - the source of wisdom of the ages

The world tree is a motif present in several religions and myths around the world. It is represented as a colossal tree which supports the heavens, thereby connecting the heavens, the terrestrial world, and, through its roots, the underworld. 

Many Eurasian mythologies share the motif of the "world tree", "cosmic tree", or "Eagle and Serpent Tree". More specifically, it shows up in "Haitian, Finnish, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Norse, Siberian and northern Asian Shamanic folklore".

The World Tree is often identified with the Tree of Life, and also fulfills the role of an axis mundi, that is, a centre or axis of the world. It is also located at the center of the world and represents order and harmony of the cosmos. Each part of the tree corresponds to one of the three spheres of the world (treetops - heavens; trunk - middle world or earth; roots - underworld) and is also associated with a classical element (top part - fire; middle part - earth, soil, ground; bottom part - water).

Its branches are said to reach the skies and its roots to connect the human or earthly world with an underworld or subterranean realm. Because of this, the tree was worshipped as a mediator between Heavens and Earth. On the treetops are located the luminaries (stars) and heavenly bodies, along with an eagle's nest; several species of birds perch among its branches; humans and animals of every kind live under its branches, and near the root is the dwelling place of snakes and every sort of reptiles.

A bird perches atop its foliage, "often .... a winged mythical creature" that represents a heavenly realm. The eagle seems to be the most frequent bird, fulfilling the role of a creator or weather deity. Its antipode is a snake or serpentine creature that crawls between the tree roots, being a "symbol of the underworld".

The imagery of the World Tree is sometimes associated with conferring immortality, either by a fruit that grows on it or by a springsource located nearby. In some descriptions this "water of life" may also flow from the roots of the tree.

The world tree was an important element in shamanistic worldview as well, and it is said that the giant bird ... hatches shamans in the branches of the World Tree.

Some species of birds (eagle, raven, crane, loon, and lark) are revered as mediators between worlds and also connected to the imagery of the world tree. Another line of scholarship points to a "recurring theme" of the owl as the mediator to the upper realm, and its counterpart, the snake, as the mediator to the lower regions of the cosmos.

Northern Eurasian and Central Asian traditions wherein the World Tree is also associated with the horse and with deer antlers which might resemble tree branches.

Some scholars have pointed out that, from the perspective of evolutionary biology, the concept of a world tree may have originated in human thought. This is because our ancestors lived in trees for about 60 million years, and for them the trees were everything in the world. This is why the collective unconscious that the world is made of giant trees has remained with us to the present day.

木にまつわる伝説・神話 

世界樹 〜 時代の叡智の源

世界樹は、世界中の宗教や神話に見られる概念、モチーフである。天を支える巨大な木として表現され、それによって天と地上世界、そしてその根を通して冥界をつないでいる。

多くのユーラシア神話が「世界樹」「宇宙樹」「鷲と蛇の樹」というモチーフを共有している���されている。具体的には、「ハイチ、フィンランド、リトアニア、ハンガリー、インド、中国、日本、北欧、シベリア、北アジアのシャーマン伝承」に見られる。

世界樹はしばしば生命の樹と同一視され、また、世界軸、つまり世界の中心や軸の役割を果たす。また、世界の中心に位置し、宇宙の秩序と調和を表している。樹木の各部分は世界の3つの圏（梢-天、幹-中世界または地、根-地下世界）のいずれかに対応し、古典的な元素（上部-火、中部-地、土、地面、下部-水）にも関連している。

その枝は天空に届き、根は人間界や地上界と地下世界や地底界をつなぐと言われている。そのため、この木は天と地を結ぶ媒介として崇拝された。梢には星や天体があり、鷲の巣がある。枝には数種類の鳥がとまり、枝の下には人間やあらゆる動物が住み、根の近くには蛇やあらゆる爬虫類が住んでいる。

その葉の上にとまる鳥は、「しばしば......翼を持つ神話上の生き物」であり、天界を表す。鷲は最も頻繁に見られる鳥で、創造主や天候の神の役割を果たしているようだ。その対極にあるのは、木の根の間を這う蛇や蛇のような生��物で、「冥界の象徴」である。

世界樹のイメージは、そこに生る果実や近くにある泉によって不老不死をもたらすことと関連付けられることもある。この「生命の水」は木の根からも湧き出るという記述もある。

世界樹はシャーマニズムの世界観においても重要な要素であり、「巨大な鳥は......世界樹の枝でシャーマンを孵化させる」ともいわれている。

いくつかの種の鳥（ワシ、ワタリガラス、ツル、ハシビロコウ、ヒバリ）は、世界をつなぐ媒介者として崇められ、世界樹のイメージとも結びついている。また、別の研究では、フクロウは天上界への媒介者であり、それと対をなすヘビは宇宙の下界への媒介者であるという「繰り返されるテーマ」が指摘されている。北ユーラシアや中央アジアの伝統では、世界樹は馬や、木の枝に似た鹿の角とも関連づけられている。

一部の学者は、進化生物学の観点から、世界樹という概念が人類の思考の中に元から備わっている可能性を指摘している。というのも、人類の祖先は約6000万年にわたり樹上で生活しており、その時代の彼らにとっては木々こそが世界のすべてであったと考えられるからである。そのため、この世界は巨大な木で出来ているのだという集合的無意識が、現在の我々に至るまで残っているのだというものである。

[undeadmagick]

Jörmungandr Guide

I've been posting a bit about the World Serpent and figured I should make a whole guide on him. Jörmungandr was the second deity that I began working with. And as he is a being with little information, despite having a major role in Norse myth, I find it difficult to easily devote myself to him so here's some advice for others! (Note: Most of the offerings and associations are UPG. This is what I have learned from my experience with Jörmungandr.)

Name: Jörmungandr (Yor-Mun-Gan-Dur). "jǫrmun" means "vast" or "immense". "gandr" is a little uncertain in definition but generally understood to mean "magic", "wand", or "beast".

Other Names: "Miðgarðsormr" meaning "World Serpent" or "Midgard Serpent". In Skaldic poetry, he can be seen as being referred to with some variation of "Reistr Jarðar" meaning "earth-twist" or "earth-curl".

Family:

Father: Loki, The Trickster God

Mother: Angrboða, Mother of Monsters

Brother: Fenrir, He Who Dwells in the Marshes

Sister: Hel, Goddess of Death

Main Myths: Thor lifting Jörmungandr disguised as a cat, Thor's fishing trip, Ragnarök

Common Misconception: Jörmungandr is neither evil nor the cause of Ragnarök. Jörmungandr is a neutral being who is the personification of rebirth and change. He is a warning of Ragnarök beginning, not the reason. Ragnarök is a fated event, always meant to happen. It's important to note that Ragnarök is not the END but the end of the world that WE know. In the myths, there are deities, like both Odin and Thor's children, who survive and begin anew in the new world which will be repopulated. Rebirth is core to Jörmungandr and it should be noted in his myths, besides Ragnarök, it is Thor who finds Jörmungandr. Jörmungandr is described to be an ouroboros who remains wrapped around Midgard, minding his own.

Past this will be UPG(Unverified Personal Gnosis) unless marked with an *, in which case, these symbols are mentioned in his myths.

Personality: Personally, in my presence, Jörmungandr is a very intimidating being. Not because he is purposely trying to scare those who interact with him, but because he is very firm and can be distant in his words. Very forward in his wants for you, he provides advice and doesn't demand anything in turn. Jörmungandr is not one who holds your hand to guide you. He is very much a being who wants to see you take charge in life. He cares less for physical offerings and more devotional acts that are beneficial to yourself. He wants your pursuit of change, your ambitions to thrive, your pursuit of life in general. While other deities may provide a familial bond with those who work with them, Jörmungandr is very much a stoic mentor who is waiting for you to show your efforts.

What you may learn with Jörmungandr: How to set and enforce boundaries, how to be comfortable with change, how to accept change and move on, self-confidence, self-care, how to take charge of your life, learn shadow work, learn ocean magick, learn runes, healing past traumas

Colors:

Black

Silver

Blue

White

Green

Animals:

Snakes*

Oxen*

Cats*

Fish

Wolves*

Elements:

Water*

Earth*

Fire

Crystals:

Clear Quartz

Black Obsidian

Black Tourmaline

Amazonite

Aquamarine

Moonstone

Tarot:

Wheel of Fortune

Death

The World

Six of Swords

Physical Offerings:

Seashells

Sand or rocks from the Beach

Sea Water

Storm Water

Snake-Related Imagery

World/Earth-Related* Imagery

Eggs

Snake Skin

Runes (Jera, Algiz, Laguz)

Lotus Scents

Water Lily Imagery

Ouroboros* Imagery

Devotional Acts:

Meditate to Ocean sounds

Light Incense

Pursue your goals

Shadow Work

Clean your local beach

Donate to ocean preservation charities

Donate to climate change prevention charities

Build emotional and mental strength

Honor his family (Loki, Hel, Fenrir, Angrboda)

Practicing protection and cleansing magick

Wear snake jewelry

Adopt and care for a snake/reptile

Share your meals with him

[our-lord-satanas]

CERBERUS

WHO IS HE?

Cerberus, often referred to as the hound of Hades, is a mythical three-headed dog. In Greek mythology, Hades was the God of the underworld and the dead, and Cerberus was his faithful servant who guarded the entry to the underworld to prevent the living from entering and the dead from escaping. Cerberus was a powerful guardian and was feared for his ferocity and strength. In Satanism, Cerberus is sometimes seen as a symbol of protection, commitment, and devotion to the deity Hades. Sometimes Cerberus can also represent the underworld itself or the connection between life and death.

BASIC INFO:

Appearance: In Greek mythology, Cerberus is typically described as a three-headed dog-like creature with a serpent-like tail. He is often depicted with a black or dark-coloured body, and he typically has sharp fangs and eyes. Cerberus is often described as being extremely aggressive and fierce.

Personality: Cerberus is often described as being fierce, aggressive, and extremely protective of the gates of Hades. In mythology and folklore, he is often depicted as being loyal and faithful to Hades, but also as being quick to anger. He is said to always be alert and on guard, with a strong sense of duty and protection. He is also said to be a wise and powerful being, with immense strength and ferocity.

Symbols: three-headed dog, Bident of Hades, keys, cauldrons, chains and binding, Gates of Hades, fire, and torches

Guardian of: the Gates of Hades

Culture: Greek

Plants and trees: wolfs-bane, yarrow, mint, cyclamen, nightshade, lilies, mullein flowers, black oak tree, mistletoe, and cedar trees

Crystals: black obsidian, black tourmaline, black onyx, black rose quartz, black labradorite, black kyanite, and black stone

Animals: dogs, wolves, black snakes, and goats

Incense: dragon’s blood, frankincense, black musk, patchouli, myrrh, sandalwood, and vetiver

Colours: black, white, red, green, and purple

Tarot: Death

Planets: Mars, Saturn, and Pluto

Days: Tuesday, Saturday, Monday, Cerberalia, Hades Festival, Halloween, and New Year

Parents: Echidna and Typhon

Siblings: Orthos, Lernaean Hydra, and Chimera

Partner: none known

Companions: Hades and Zagreus

Children: none known

MISC:

• Triple head: Cerberus' most prominent symbol is his three heads, which symbolizes his triad of ferocity, devotion, and intellect. The three heads also represent Cerberus' connection to the trinity and the cycle of life and death.

• Chains: Cerberus is often depicted as being bound by a chain, which represents his role as a guardian and a protecter to the underworld. The chain can also represent his connection to the underworld and darkness.

• Dogs: Cerberus is described as a dog-like creature, representing his loyalty and loyalty.

• Snake: Cerberus is often depicted as having a snake-like form, with three heads and a snake body.

• Fire: Cerberus is often associated with fire and intense, fiery energy, due to his role as a guardian of the underworld.

• Keys: Cerberus is often depicted with a key or a pair of keys, which represents his role as a guardian of the underworld and its gate.

FACTS ABOUT CERBERUS:

• Name: Cerberus is named after the Greek word kerberos, which means "spotted."

• Role: it is said that Cerberus guards the Underworld gates, waiting at the river of Acheron to stop all who try to enter the Underworld.

• Description: a three-headed dog made up of lion, snake, and dog body parts, with flaming breath and sharp claws.

• History: he has been a part of Greek mythology since the earliest times, and has been seen as a symbol of protection, rebirth, and the protection of the soul.

• Lore: in some stories, Cerberus' three heads are said to represent past, present, and future, and his flaming breath represents the cycle of life and death.

• Relationships: Cerberus is believed to be the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, but is also said to be the child of Hades and Persephone.

• Abilities: he is said to have the ability to breathe flames, chew through metal, and see in the dark.

HOW TO WORSHIP CERBERUS:

• Start by addressing Cerberus with a respectful greeting, such as "Great Cerberus, guardian of the underworld, I am here to worship and honor you."

• Make an offering to Cerberus. There are many different types of offerings you can make, such as food, drinks, herbs, crystals, flowers, incense, or other small treasures.

• Sit quietly and meditate on your connection with Cerberus. This could include imagining an image of Cerberus, visualizing yourself in his presence, or engaging in prayer or conversation with him.

• Show your devotion and respect to Cerberus by performing an act of service or helping others in some way in his honor.

• End the worship session by giving a final offering and farewell and expressing gratitude for the experience and any blessings that were received during the session.

HOW TO PRAY TO CERBERUS:

To begin, you can address him by name and say something like:

“Great Cerberus, three-headed guardian of the underworld, I call upon you now to aid me in this time of need. I seek your protection and guidance as I traverse this treacherous journey. Please grant me your strength and wisdom and aid Me in navigating the twists and turns of the dark path I walk. I offer you this prayer as a sign of my devotion and respect. Hear my plea and lend me your power now.”

“Great Cerberus, I give thanks to you, who has granted me your protection and guidance. I am grateful for your strength and wisdom and the guidance you have offered me. I bid you Farewell for now, and look forward to meeting you again, Hail Cerberus!”

WHAT ARE SIGNS THAT CERBERUS WANTS ME TO WORK WITH HIM?

If your request to work with Cerberus has been accepted, here are some signs that you can look for:

• Sudden and intense connection or fascination with him or his symbol.

• A strong feeling of warmth or comfort when you think about him.

• You have recurring dreams about him or his symbol.

• Noticing that you are drawn to research, study, or contemplate his domain.

• You start to see his symbol everywhere you go or in places where you don't normally expect it.

• Vivid or lucid dreams about Cerberus.

• Recurring thoughts and images of Cerberus during your waking hours.

• You feel a deep sense of connection and affinity with Cerberus, even without having had prior contact with him.

• You find yourself drawn to learning more about Cerberus's symbolism and mythology.

• You experience unusual coincidences or synchronicities involving Cerberus.

If your request to work with Cerberus has not been accepted, you may notice the following signs:

• Receiving a negative or overwhelming feeling during meditation or prayer when calling upon Cerberus.

• Feeling a strong sense of rejection or resistance when trying to connect with Cerberus or his symbols.

• Experiencing unusual coincidences or synchronicities that align with a rejection or disconnect from Cerberus.

• Feeling uneasiness, anxiety, or irritation during rituals or spiritual activities involving Cerberus.

Overall you need to be respectful of deities denying your request.

OFFERINGS:

• Herbs and plants.

• Meat.

• Dog treats/food.

• Toys such as balls, frisbees, and plushies

• Water.

• Flowers and incense

• Bones and other relics associated with the Underworld and death.

• Homemade goods.

• Things that are precious to you, such as jewelry, clothing, or other special items.

• Money

• Gold or silver.

• Chocolate or other desserts.

• Honey or nectars

• Beer and other alcoholic beverages

DEVOTIONAL ACTS FOR CERBERUS:

• Caring for animals: as the guardian of the underworld, Cerberus is associated with animal life and protecting innocent creatures from harm. By providing protection and compassion for animals, you are mirroring the energy of Cerberus and honoring his role as a guardian.

• Protecting nature: Cerberus is a guardian of nature and the underworld, so doing acts to protect and preserve natural environments aligns with his divine energy. This could include planting trees, picking up litter, caring for gardens or parks, and exploring ways to reduce pollution and environmental damage.

• Meditation and prayer: taking the time to meditate and pray to Cerberus is always a great way to express devotion and connection. Sit quietly and focus your attention on him, imagine his presence and image, or engage in conversation with him.

• Rituals and ceremonies: creating your own rituals and ceremonies to honor Cerberus and his power is another meaningful way to show devotion and respect. Consider creating an altar to him or performing a spell to petition him for guidance or assistance in your life.

IS IT SAFE TO EAT OR DRINK AN OFFERING I GIVE TO HIM?

Consuming offerings given to Cerberus is not recommended because he is a powerful gate keeper of the Underworld and a guardian of the dead. His energies are also incompatible with human consumption, as he is not aligned with the human energy of life and death but rather the energy of protection and power over the Underworld. Consuming offerings given to Cerberus may disrupt the connection with the deity and cause an imbalance in energy. It is always better to avoid consuming offerings given to Cerberus.

[thatboreddrake]

The Tripartite Pantheon of Volcano Manor

Ok, so bear with me here. Was playing Elden Ring earlier, and was hit by a realization that is absolutely, positively an example of one of the following memes:

So buckle up and lets go because Drake is back on his hyperactive conspiracy theory bullcrap!

First off, the snake-worshippers of Mt. Gelmir:

Serpent-God’s Curved Sword: Curved sword fashioned in the image of an ancient serpent deity and tool of a forgotten religion practiced on Mt. Gelmir. Formerly used to offer up sacrifices

Fairly cut and dry. They worshipped Eiglay, Serpent of the First Sin, and used such swords to sacrifice to it (her? Idk).

Next, the assassins that also operated out of Mt. Gelmir:

Serpent Bow: Malformed bow in the shape of a pair of poisonous snakes. Imbues arrows with poison through pagan magic, revealing its true worth when used with poison-infused arrows. Used by assassins known as the Formless Serpents.

Based on the common snake motif and the allusion to “pagan magic”, I think it’s fairly safe to assume that these groups were at least connected, if not one and the same.

But wait, the Serpent Bow uses poison. What other deities that we’ve talked about in the past are associated with poison?

Poison Armament: Those who dwell within poison know rot all too well. The death that begets life, that comes to all equally. That is to say: it is the cycle of rebirth put into practice.

“But wait,” you say, “that’s just a coincidence!”

And I would’ve thought so too, except for one thing. May I present:

Scorpion Talismans: A talisman carried by assassins who strike unseen. Patterned on a scorpion freshly shed of its exoskeleton, its claws seizing a heart that (sparks with lightning/burns with fire/with a blessed glow/shimmers with magic).

Granted, this is a bit of a stretch. However, unless I am sorely mistaken, the only assassin groups we hear of in-game are a) the Black Knives, b) the Sellian sorcerers, c) the Ravenmount assassins, and d) the Formless Serpents.

The Black Knives may strike unseen, but they wouldn’t carry the symbol of the scorpion, a heretic’s relic according to the Scorpion’s Stinger. The Sellian sorcerers use magic to hide their presence, but their connection links them more to the Nox and the Eternal Cities. Ravenmount assassins dress so as to evoke the imagery of the Deathbirds and are in no other way associated with scorpions. Thus, I propose that Scorpion Talismans were carried by none other than the Formless Serpents who struck “unseen” from afar using pagan magic to enhance their archery. After all, one need not fear increased damage (a secondary effect of the scorpion talismans) if one does not plan to be within range of one’s target.

And so, I propose that the Formless Serpents worshipped both the God of Rot, the Divine Scorpion, and Eiglay, the Devouring Serpent. Targets assassinated and sacrificed in the serpent’s name are thus inducted into the rot to which all life must return to be born again.

But wait, that’s only two deities! How then could I call it a Tripartite Pantheon? Friends, may I once more present for your perusal:

Bloodboon: Thrust arm into the body of the Formless Mother, then scatter the bloodflame to set the area ablaze

Granted, this is THE most threadbare of my connections. However, I would propose that draw a portion of their name from the Formless Mother. Not much evidence other than this, but I feel that it helps draw the theory together into a cohesive hole.

In conclusion, I propose that the “forgotten religion” of Mt. Gelmir is as such: the Formless Serpents were an assassin group worshipping a triune pantheon featuring gods of death, life, and rebirth. Their god of death was, if not Eiglay themselves, then at the very least the cultural memory of a devouring serpent. The god of rebirth was none other than the God of Rot, as discussed in my previous lore theory. The god of life was the Formless Mother, desiring wounds and granting new life. Thus did the assassins operate: targets were assassinated, their souls fed to the devouring serpent. From there, poison and rot returns their bodies and souls to that from which they came, and the Formless Mother of blood crafts their soul-matter into a new form and grants them new life.

So yeah, not sure if any of that makes sense, but it feels like I may be onto something here.

Actual footage of my thought process:

[ariesinwitchcraft]

The ancient Greeks also considered the snake as a symbol of the afterlife, and it was generally believed that the dead would appear in the form of a serpent: the spinal cord of the deceased person was said to transform into a snake and come to life. It is within this context that we meet the first aspect of our Serpent Girdled Hekate: the subterranean underworld Goddess who guides the souls of the dead through Tartaros. However, the early functions of chthonian deities were not simply limited to the processes of death; neither did the definition of the word chthonic entirely mean as such. For the earth was also considered as a place of hidden potential and power, and so the chthonic role was also one of regeneration, enlivening potentiality, and growth. The snake also became associated with the powers of fire and the sun, fertility and prosperity, altered states of consciousness, and even the ecstatic journey of the soul; all notions which recall the ancient origins of Hekate.

—Vikki Bramshaw, Swaying with the Serpent: A Study of the Serpent Girdled Hekate

[sixminutestoriesblog]

apples

Autumn is finally in the air in the Northern Hemisphere and for a lot of us, our minds turn to one thing - decadently spiced baked goods! Sure, we could make pumpkin muffins at any time of the year but there's just something about the sharp inhale of crisp, cold air and the bustle of falling leaves outside, hinting at the beginning of an end, that adds a special flavor to fall dishes. Winter and its lean times will soon be upon us and even if, today, we have grocery stores to keep our winter meals diverse, something inside of us still needs to pack in all the cinnamon, nutmeg and last fruits of the season that we can. And what fall season's table would be complete without apples? Apple cider, apple crumble, baked apples, candied apples - the list goes on. Throw some cinnamon or caramel at us and we're good to go. Apples, it turns out, have always been a source of temptation.

We'll start with the low hanging fruit easy ones. Though its never named in the Bible, the apple is the common fruit associated with Adam and Eve's fall. Offered by a snake, picked from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the temptation to reach out and pick a ripe apple off a forbidden tree is probably experienced again by a multitude of school children, and adults, anytime a walk brings them within range of a stranger's orchard. The adam's apple some people have prominently enough to see on their throats is supposedly the left over of the bite of apple that got stuck in Adam's throat for his impertinence against God.

The Greeks also loved their tempting apples. Atalanta lost a footrace to the man that was cunning enough to throw golden apples behind him as he ran, distracting her as she went to retrieve them enough for him to win. The Trojan War was supposedly the result of three goddesses feuding over a golden apple that claimed it would belong 'to the fairest' and a shepherd who didn't know when to keep his mouth shut. And Hera, one of those three feuding goddess, already had a tree that bore golden apples, guarded either by a dragon-serpent or three nymphs, that had the tree's apples stolen, thanks to Hercules.

In Russian, a firebird is caught stealing the ruler's golden apples each night. In Ireland, a silver branch that grows either golden apples or balls of gold belongs to a sea deity. Iounn or Idun is the Norse goddess of eternal youth - and apples. Multiple goddesses across the globe that are associated with love and sexuality claim the apple as their fruit. Germany, Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania all have fairy tales where apples play a pivotal role. The Avalon of Arthurian legend is said to be the Isle of Apples. Heck, even Snow White's final attempted murder is accomplished with the bite of an apple.

Apples aren't just for gods and heroes though and perhaps that's part of their enduring fixation in folklore. If an Appalachian girl is clever enough to skin an apple without once breaking the peel, she should throw it over her left shoulder. It will fall in the shape of a letter, the first initial of her future husband. In Austria, she can cut an apple in half on St. Thomas's night. An even number of seeds mean she'll marry soon but a broken or cut seed she will end up a widow. An alternate on this is that the number of seeds will be the number of children she'll have. An apple stem can be twisted, reciting a letter of the alphabet with each twist. When the stem breaks, the letter will be the start of a future spouse's name. A woman with multiple suitors can drop apple seeds into the fire, reciting a name for each seed. The seed that pops instead of staying silent as it burns is the suitor who is 'bursting' with love for her. In Pennsylvania, licking an apple and then giving it to someone to eat insures they'll fall in love with you.

Incidentally, I'm sure, its considered bad luck not to 'shine' an apple and clean it off before you take a bite of it. Just... pointing that out.

Stories about legendary heroes like apples too. In Switzerland, William Tell was forced by his captors to shoot an apple off his son's head with a crossbow to win their freedom. School children will tell you Isaac Newton figured out gravity thanks to an apple falling on his head. And Johnny Appleseed is an American folkhero that walked across the continent while America was busy spreading west, planting apple trees as he went.

Each year after harvest, some of the apples that have fallen should be left on the ground for the fairy or the dead (or the poor) depending on which tradition you're going by. Boats made of applewood are bad luck. If a woman that's had multiple children eats the first apple of the season, the rest of the harvest will be fruitful. Likewise, eating an apple before the wedding night is supposed to lead to fruitfulness. If an apple tree blossoms while there are still apples on the branches in England someone in the family will die but if the same thing happens in Europe, its the sign of a fruitful year ahead instead. It's unlucky to destroy an apple tree or worse an apple orchard. And, for some reason, giving teachers apples is such a common theme in the US and Europe that its become an entire kick-knack industry.

And let's not forget:

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

That's comparing apples to oranges.

One bad apple spoils the whole barrel.

They're the apple of their mother's eye.

He's fresh faced and apple cheeked.

It's as American as apple pie.

and, finally,

How about them apples?!

[bastardpacs]

A Theory on Malakai Black V Colors, focusing on Gold

This has been cooking in my head since last years Double or Nothing lol but I started feeling a little silly over my previous theory posts lol But I finally shook it off, and I am sadly and unfortunately back to bug you all with these 💗

I'm always terrible at starting any writing lmaoo so I'm going to try and start with focusing on the heavy use of red recently since the House's return, a color that was once used sparingly as both a beacon and warning. To run back to several allusions made by Malakai of a burning house, now paired with his most recent jacket, which bears either the image of a flame-enshrouded Kali - a deity of violent change - or Manasa Devi - a snake goddess, known for her protection against poisons - and the words written with it:

thehannahhorror: ‘The House had to burn / To be built in ash / Tongue of Black / Free the dark within… / Sweet hands of Death, / Bury this agony, / Suffer his enemies / To these licking flames. / May their lies spill out / Of open wounds, / Like the serpent’s speech hereafter. / The House must endure / This, the raging storm / Create chaos, consume / Their jeering laughter.’ - The Black Tongue, 2022

Fire has traditionally been seen as both an exacting punishment and thing of purification. These new allusions and the imagery of a burning House go hand-in-hand with the presence of Kali, who is commonly depicted dancing in fires, fire which, used in her presence, is meant to represent the idea and concept of change through destruction. A resurrection from ashes.

It's almost as if we see The House itself finding its own change in these fires, presented visually through this burning, red entrance.

But focusing just on gold, this all goes back to Double of Nothing of 2022...

This was the heaviest use of gold we had seen, now seemingly inhabiting the House's entire being, seeping from the eyes, the mouths... The only other use of gold we had seen until that moment was in Malakai's gear, but in that moment, it had become something else entirely.

I am going to try and divide my thoughts into two paths: one of gold, and the other the color yellow.

Gold has always carried the status of stateliness and royalty. Of kinghood, godhood, divinity, and immortality. Of greed and avarice.

We see it's undeniable connection to the color yellow: a metal associated with the sun, and by extension, intrinsically tying gold to the sun itself. And with the gold dripping from their mouths, it brings an interesting visual connection to the imagery of the sun-consuming demon, a concept that has commonly been tied to the apocalypse, from ancient Egypt to the Norse, where the devouring of the sun and moon was the herald of the end times.

Continuing to touch on the idea of gold/yellow as a color in the idea of it's symbolism, especially in tarot, we find a neat connection to the other colors he has used in his gear and entrances. Within tarot imagery, red that of the conscious intellect, the physical, blue was seen as the intellect of the subconscious, and finally yellow, gold, that of the superconscious, and through that, it's connection to the highest planes of our existence. A connection to divinity.

What's interesting now that I'm actually thinking about it and writing it down as I go is that, Malakai used colors as a way to 'count down' to Brody's debut; those colors were, in order, yellow, blue, red. With the idea of tarot symbolism in mind for these colors, it almost feels like it was a herald, a calling, of the descent of something spiritual to something physically manifesting on earth... So yeah, I'll definitely have to think about that...

But the greatest thing I couldn't shake was it's connection to ichor, the very blood itself of the immortal Greek gods.

While the color of ichor is never explicitly described in any sources, aside from the Argonautica that claimed it 'flowed like molten lead' and the Illiad where the gods 'may bleed, nectareous', it is both traditionally and poetically seen as gold in color, unquestionably due to the Greek's association with gold being a divine and immortal color.

But the thing that's really interesting about ichor itself is that while it was lifegiving to the gods, it was poisonous to humans...

malakaiblxck: The dark sun, poisoned by gold blood.

In the Greek concept of 'ichor' we again see the connection between two contrasting elements: immortality and death, life and poison. Poison that was once black spat from Malakai's mouth, now is gold and brings both immortal life to himself and a painful ending to his enemies.

We see that idea now, again, of a poison being the catalyst for change; perhaps this time a change to the House of Black. Continued motifs and ideas of godliness and ascension, both physical and that of the conscious. A completed circle. Or, at the very least, a completed cycle.

Now what I find really neat is the explicit image of a golden blood, a golden poison, that was not harmful to the bearer, but harmful to mortals - harmful to Malakai's enemies. Not a rotting thing within Malakai himself, as the black mist seemed to be. I feel like there are very interesting, warlike connotations to this, especially now considering the red entrance and potential allusions to the Red Horse of war. A figure who, wildly swinging a great sword, could be seen as a violent bringer of change, like Kali, like Malakai...

It was his newest mask though that I fell in love with and made my mind go crazy.

It's definitely difficult for me to see the exact coloring of the inlay in this mask, but to me personally with the current use of gold and vaguely gold-like coloring, it heavily reminded me of the art of kintsugi, a very beautiful Japanese practice of repairing broken pieces with a mixed gold. The philosophy behind it being that it brought a sort of respect and reverence to our past, our hardships that we faced, our flaws, and our experiences that create our being and brought us to where we are now. To not hide them, but to embrace them.

It's interesting that, after the burning, "death", and resurrection of the house, that Malakai would return with a fractured and now healed mask, a respect to the hardships that the House has faced, a reverence to carry those hardships that had faced in his own face.

If this is a reference to kintsugi, then it's fun to explore even further into Japanese imagery in relation to Malakai and what he has been presenting, especially again the idea of horned demons and gods, of things not entirely evil yet not quite good either.

But again, the potential use of kintsugi and ichor as a philosophical image really brings forth the image of a divinity and change... Of praise and beauty in the violence, but this time quiet, from within, within the very walls of the House, as opposed to a blessing on his enemies... And like the fires of the Tower card, burned and buried, dust to dust, and returned from the ashes.

I'm going to cut myself off now before I go off any any more tangents djdj so I'm just going to end this with a film quote that is always in my head; that I now play on loop in relation to Malakai and the House of Black.

I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the night. Although I have taken the form of Gaius Caligula, I am all men as I am no man and therefore I am a God. - Caligula, (1979)

[orsialos]

15 Days of Deity Devotion: ARES

Day 3: Symbols & Attributes

Ares has a few really interesting symbols that speak to the more nuanced parts of his domains, in particular the woodpecker and his shrine Guardians, who feature heavily in the mythologies of Cadmus and Jason. While he has the typical symbols you'd associate with a war deity, I am in particular interested in his associations with snakes as they were often seen as aprotopaic in antiquity.

Estate & Attributes

Chariot with gold reins drawn by four fire breathing horses

Bronze-tipped Spear (his typical weapon)

Golden armor & shield, usually with a serpent design

Shrine Guardians - Drakon at his sacred Grove in Thebes and another in Kolkhis

The Spartoi (fully grown warriors who came from the teeth of the Drakon that was slain by Cadmus and buried in the soil)

Sacred Animals & Guardians

Barn Owl & Eagle Owl (note these are different from the owl sacred to Athena). The owls represented ill omens and were considered a warning sign of war and sedition

Woodpecker - considered a good omen and sign of good fortune, especially when related to a hunt or feast

Vulture - another bird of ill omen as it was often associated with the dead left behind after a battle

"Zeus loathed them [the giants Agrios and Oreios] and sent Hermes to punish them . . . But Ares, since the family of Polyphonte [mother of the giants] descended from him, snatched her sons from this fate. With the help of Hermes he changed them into birds. Polyphonte became a small owl whose voice is heard at night. She does not eat or drink and keeps her head turned down and the tips of her feet turned up. She is a portent of war and sedition for mankind. Oreios became an eagle owl, a bird that presages little good to anyone when it appears. Argios was changed into a vulture, the bird most detested by gods and men. These gods gave him an utter craving for human flesh and blood. Their female servant was changed into a woodpecker. As she was changing her shape she prayed to the gods not to become a bird evil for mankind. Hermes and Ares heard her prayer because she had by necessity done what her masters had ordered. This a bird of good omen for someone going hunting or to feasts."

Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses 21 (trans. Celoria) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.)

Poisonous serpent (he was the father of the Drakon of Thebes that was slain by Cadmus)

and just as a personal side note, I think it's so interesting that the woodpecker is one of the "positive" symbols of Ares. While we know his mythology paints the war god as more than just chaotic and evil and wanting to cause suffering, we don't see that in his attributes and symbols very much. Part of me wonders how much of this is due to his small cult presence, and how much is due to lost knowledge through the ages.

[musingmelsuinesmelancholy]

Polytheist asks 8 16 and 19

Good evening! Hope you’re feeling better friend. Fuck you ask the hard ones lmao!

8. Oof this is gunna be tricky to answer given that my UPG mainly pertains to a deity thats involved in my witchcraft. I had a dream in which her body was comprised of stars, fire within her abdomen. She was alone in the cosmos, void behind her. Later in Deo Mecurio I read a myth they had written about the deity in question creating herself out of the void and giving birth to the stars. I was thinking of her as a goddess of time and calendars as well and felt that Venus would be a good fit for a sacred “star” of hers as well as the 7 sisters and Draco. Galatîs litauiâs members, after I mentioned this,told me they associated the same with her! Even going so far as use Venus’s 8 year cycle and the 7 sisters as a way to calculate their ritual/seasonal calendar.

After I dreamed of the starry woman I dreamt of a horned serpent emerging from the ground and throwing itself into the sun. This goddess is almost always shown with a snake, her partner is a solar healing deity.

16. Prayer, usually taking the form of spoken poetry. Scrying and dreams are also my go to’s.

19. Without Her I don’t know if I would be practicing magic. She’s shaped, whether I realized it at the time or not, most every aspect of my witchcraft. They’ve allowed me to see the beauty in all things, which, during the winter months can be difficult. Provided connection with the world and reassurance that I’m on the right path. This is a hard one to answer because of how new this faith is to me; I have more to say but the concepts I’m feeling/thinking I’m having trouble putting words to. Perhaps as my devotion deepens and I explore this newfound faith more I’ll be able to express it better.

Due to a ritual my fiancée and I did years ago, during which Their presence was made known through some very tangible, concrete signs, I believe they’d helped our love to grow and remain strong in face of all that we’ve had to endure together. His family being religious zealots, abusive homophobes, mine being abusive and narcissistic. Well one side, my mother and her family are nothing but lovely. I lived with my father at the time.

[that-ineffable-devil]

Azazel. Now hold on, let me finish. Not the yellow-eyed demon from Supernatural. We're talking about another yellow-eyed demon, one with far better hair and a heart of gold.

In certain texts, Azazel is a fallen angel--one of the rebel leaders who lead a group of fallen Watchers. He is also associated with/identified as Samael. I'll cover Samael more in another post, because both Azazel and Samael share quite a few similarities with our snake-eyed devil.

All of which could be merely circumstantial or even just inspiration for some of Crowley's true past.

But let's suspend disbelief a moment as we dig through apocryphal texts, hmm?

The Scapegoat Ritual

To summarize, in the scapegoat ritual, two kid goats are chosen for sacrifice. One (kid) goat is sacrificed to God, while the scapegoat is released into the wilderness/desert to carry with it the sins of the people.

The specifics of how it's released depend on religious tradition, but a lot of them seem to be focused on releasing the scapegoat alive to Azazel.

Whether he was worshipped as a pseudo-deity, given the goat symbolically, or they were actually just talking about the name of the desert is a mystery for people smarter than me.

For the purposes of this, we'll assume they were referring to the fallen angel. We know such a fallen angel with a particular fondness for kids and goats, and a desire to see them live, not be sacrificed.

But that could just be coincidence. Circumstantial evidence at best (I mean, it all is). There's more to Azazel than goats, right?

Why yes, there is.

Relationship with Humanity

In fact, quite a bit of apocryphal deliciousness can be found discussing Azazel and his celestial and infernal relationship with humanity.

For example, in the Books of Enoch, he is credited with (accused of) giving knowledge to humanity. Allegedly, he was responsible for teaching people:

The art of warfare and crafting armor and weapons.

"The art of deception by ornamenting the body, dyeing the hair, and painting the face and eyebrows."

The art of witchcraft.

He's also known to have corrupted their manners.

Now, today's Crowley wouldn't be keen on giving humans knowledge of warfare. He's not a particular fan of humans dying. But we know Crowley has taken credit for human innovations before. There's also a possibility that Enoch falsely accused him--we'll see he's got motive later.

But teaching people the art of deception, witchcraft, and corrupting their manners?? Sounds very much like Crowley. (Also...witchcraft? Crowley? Aleister Crowley?? It's too much.)

Azazel has also been associated with and/or identified as Prometheus, who was cast from Olympus for giving fire (knowledge, technology, civilization, etc.) to humans.

If nothing else, Crowley tempted dear Eve into eating the apple, giving her knowledge of good and evil.

Azazel, the Serpent, and the Bird

In the Apocalypse of Abraham, Azazel is associated with the Serpent in the Garden of Eden--aka our dear Crowley. But that's not the only similarity...

In the text, Azazel appears as an unclean bird and this whole exchange takes place:

And the unclean bird spoke to me and said, "What are you doing, Abraham, on the holy heights, where no one eats or drinks, nor is there upon them food for men? But these all will be consumed by fire and ascend to the height, they will destroy you." And it came to pass when I saw the bird speaking I said this to the angel: "What is this, my lord?" And he said, "This is disgrace – this is Azazel!" And he said to him, "Shame on you, Azazel! For Abraham's portion is in heaven, and yours is on earth, for you have selected here, [and] become enamored of the dwelling place of your blemish. Therefore the Eternal Ruler, the Mighty One, has given you a dwelling on earth. Through you the all-evil spirit [was] a liar, and through you [come] wrath and trials on the generations of men who live impiously." — Abr. 13:4–9

Azazel's lot is not in heaven, it's on Earth, because that is what he chose. That is what he loves. That is where life is. Sound familiar??

Azazel and the Metatron

Now this was the bit that got me REALLY interested. Azazel is one of three angels that opposed Enoch's becoming the Metatron.

Azazel was already a fallen angel by this point, but he was still permitted to be in and have a voice in heaven. It wasn't until the Metatron cast him and the other two dissenters out that he was removed from heaven permanently.

We know based on nothing more than a particularly dirty look that the Metatron does not care for Crowley AT ALL.

Could it be that Angel!Crowley was against his ascension to his current station?

Does the Metatron find him so threatening that he had to wipe (much of) his memory?

Could that be why he has no memory of his interactions with other angels before the Fall?

Could there be two other angels with similar situations?

Was Aziraphale on the fence--or even on Crowley's side before the wipe???

I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.

[legend-collection]

Kulshedra

The kulshedra or kuçedra is a water, storm, fire and chthonic demon in Albanian mythology and folklore, usually described as a huge multi-headed female serpentine dragon. The kulshedra is believed to spit fire, cause drought, storms, flooding, earthquakes and other natural disasters against mankind. In Albanian mythology she is usually fought and defeated by a drangue, a semi-human winged divine hero and protector of mankind. Heavy thunderstorms are thought to be the result of their battles.

Pic by Adrian Veenje

In northern beliefs, the kulshedra can take possession of the sun and moon. In southern beliefs, she is described as an enormous female serpent who surrounds the world. According to this version, if she were ever to touch her tail with her mouth, she could destroy the whole world. It is said that she requires human sacrifices for accepting to postpone the natural disasters and catastrophes.

According to folk beliefs, the kulshedra's earlier stage is the bolla, which has the appearance of a water and chthonic demonic serpent. The bolla's eyes remain shut for the whole year except on Saint George's Day, when it gazes the world and will devour any human on sight. The bolla will eventually morph into kulshedra if it lives many years without being seen by a human. The bollar and errshaja are considered intermediate forms of this serpent as it goes through a series of metamorphoses. These terms also signify serpents; the term bullar merely being a synonym for bolla in Southern Albania. In some regions the kulshedra is depicted like a female eel, turtle, frog, lizard or salamander.

The kulshedra can also appear in the guise of a woman, who keeps her true nature hidden. As a semi-human divine figure she holds also positive qualities that emerge indirectly from Albanian folk tales, beliefs and rituals. It is said that the village where the kulshedra lives has great prosperity in agriculture and livestock. Indeed she absorbs by her breath foodstuffs from everywhere, and her village thrives, while the affected villages become poor and do not prosper. According to folk beliefs people used to practice sacrifices to her so she could bring them good and stop any harmful action.

The term bolla is etymologically related to Greek Φάλη, Φάλαινα 'monster, whale' (although the relationship is not certain).

Kulshedra or kuçedër derives from the Latin chersydrus, roughly meaning an "amphibious snake".

The term bullar is given as a Southern Albanian variant by some sources.

The legendary battle of a heroic deity associated with thunder and weather, like drangue, who fights and slays a huge multi-headed serpent associated with water and storms, like kulshedra, has been preserved from a common motif of Indo-European mythology. Similar characters with different names but same motifs representing the dichotomy of "good and evil" – mainly reflected by the protection of the community from storms – are found also in the folklore of other Balkan peoples.

The bolla is said to remain closed-eyed until Saint George's Day, where it peers into the world, and will devour any human that approaches it. It is explained in folklore that Saint George had cursed the beast to be forever blind except on his feast day.

Kulshedra is generally considered to be a female dragon, like a multi-headed serpent form, but it is known to have pendulous drooping breasts touching the ground, thus some German commentators have stated she might be also regarded as a hag. Kulshedra is furthermore said to be covered in wooly red hair, have a long tail, and have seven to twelve heads. It is also said to spit fire. Kulshedra's milk and urine are both considered poisonous. Kulshedra can also appear in the guise of a human female; its appearance in an ordinary woman's guise known locally for example in Dukagjini, Kosovo. It may also appear in the form of a female lizard, turtle, frog, or salamander.

At the same time, kulshedra is widely considered to be a storm demon. Kulshedra is believed to cause drought and other water-related issues for humanity such as torrents, tempests, water shortages, big storms, flooding, or other natural disasters. Often to placate it, a human sacrifice must be made, as witnessed in the tale of the hero Qerosi ("Scurfhead").

In southern beliefs, she is described as an enormous female serpent who surrounds the world. According to this version, if she were ever to touch her tail with her mouth, she could destroy the whole world. In northern beliefs, the kulshedra can take possession of the sun and moon. To frighten the evil demon, the Albanian tribesmen used to shoot in the sky or provoke great noise with metal objects, even by ringing the church bells.

"The male form, called Kulshedër, acts as a devil".

According to folk belief, a snake after living a certain number of years will metamorphosize into a bolla and eventually become the monstrous kulshedra. The belief that an ancient snake becomes a dragon is not unique to Albanian culture, and similar beliefs can be found for example in Hungary and Romania, as pointed out by Robert Elsie.

In the Kosova town of Prishtina, the kulshedra begins life as a being invisible to mankind for the first twelve years of its life, after which it turns into a bolla ("a kind of serpent"), and afterwards it sprouts wings, becomes hairy, and begins to combat the drangue (dragúa). But the folklore of Malësia and the Northern Mountain Range in Albania provides a more complex life cycle: when the serpent manages to live fifty years without being noticed by anyone, it becomes a bullar, a reptile that feeds milk to snakes, from which these snake derive their venom. If it lives another fifty years without being seen, it becomes an ershaj which coils around its human victim's neck, punctures his chest and eats the heart. When an ershaj (er̄šaj) lives for another century unseen, it finally becomes a kulshedra.

In Tirana, kulshedra was said to begin life as a being hiding in a dark hole which became a snake after six months; the snake must grow an additional six months before it exhibited the behavior for which it could be properly called a kulshedra. Among the Albanian Kastrati tribe, it was believed that a snake sighted by a wren lost its ability to transform into a kulshedra.

Dragùa, sometimes called drangue or drangoni, is the male conqueror of the female monster kulshedra, whom he must fight to the death in collective beliefs. Their prime aim in life is to combat and slay Kulshedras. They thus spend much of their youth exercising and running around, so as to learn how to avoid kulshedra's urine and milk. When they sense a Kulshedra approaching, dragùas "go completely berserk and their souls depart from their bodies in preparation for the coming battle". When a human is attacked the dragùa will "fly to their assistance and slay kulshedra by pelting it with cudgels, ploughs, yokes, lances and stones, and even with uprooted trees and houses. Such attacks are seen by humans as lightning". Heavy thunderstorms are thought to be the result of the battle.

The dragùas, even as infants, use the cradle to shield themselves from kulshedra's attacks, which consist of her urine and poisonous milk from her breasts. They also use this cradle as weapons.

In the Northern Albania, the two are envisioned as battling perpetually in the bend of the Drani River in the Northern Mountain Range. But some folklore speaks of the dragùa accomplishing kulshedra's destruction by drowning, and in Central Albania, the hero is said to have drowned her, knocking her unconscious by throwing trees and boulders at her, and afterwards drowning her in Shkumbin, a river in central Albania.

Dragùas are not the only beings said to have defeated Kulshedra. There are multiple folktales in which saints and folktale heroes not identified as dragùa have defeated Kulshedra.

Saint George and Saint Elias (originally the Old Testament prophet Elijah) both have stories in which they fight (and defeat) a Bolla/Kulshedra. Saint Elias, in particular, is identified in some regions with the Dragùa and is also a weather god and provides protection against storms and fire.

[typing-noises]

mythological creatures (part 2)

hi, this is part two of mythological creatures (that you could add to your wip 👀)! this post will focus on greek, chinese, and scottish mythological creatures hehe

greek

centaurs: a creature with a human’s upper body and a horse’s lower body. they followed dionysus, the god of wine, and were known for being boisterous savages.

chimera: a fire-breathing hybrid creature with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent.

harpies: avian creatures with the heads of women and long talons. vicious and violent when provoked.

hydra: a giant nine-headed water serpent creature that dwelled in the lake of lerna, the entrance to the underworld. for each head that is decapitated, two heads grow in its place

manticore: a creature with a human face, a lion’s body, and a scorpions tail. it can shoot poisoned spikes from its tail and mane to paralyse prey.

nymphs: minor nature deities (typically female) who presided over local natural phenomena (e.g. springs, trees, meadows, etc.)

phoenix: an immortal bird that regenerates when it rises from their own ashes. while some myths claim that it dies and decomposes, others claim that it explodes into flames before its death.

satyrs: a creature with the body of a man, the legs of a horse, and horns. they were companions of dionysus, the wine god, and loved wine, music, and dance. they were conflated with the roman fauns, so some depictions of satyrs had goat legs instead.

sirens: a creature that is half bird, half woman, living on an island. they have alluring voices that they used to lure sailors and kill them. in some myths, they were fated to die if anyone survives their singing

chinese

long (dragon): perhaps the most importnat creatures of chinese mythology/folklore, chinese dragons are giant serpentine creatures with four legs and no wings. they are associated with water and the sky, as well as strength, power, and fortune. they could control the water andd the skies. there are many dragons in chinese myths, from yinglong (the rain dragon) to chilong (the sea dragon). the emperor of china is commonly associated with the dragon.

feng huang (phoenix): not to be confused with the greek phoenix, it is a bird born of fire with a rooster’s beak, a swallow’s face, a fowl’s forehead, a snake’s neck, but often depicted as a multicoloured pheasant with long tail feathers like a peacock. they symbolise virtue and grace. it is often associated with the empress in imperial china, paired with the dragon that represents the emperor.

qi lin: one of the luckiest creatures in chinese mythology, it is chimera-like, with the body of an elk the head of a lion, the horns of a deer, the eyes of a tiger, and an ox tail. it appears in areas ruled by wise and benevolent leaders, signifiying the arrival of a good ruler.

hu li jing/jiu wei hu (nine-tailed fox): as the name suggests, they are foxes with nine tails— cunning spirits with magical powers, often disguising themselves as a beautiful woman to seduce men. they eat humans, and some myths depict them as having the power to spit fire. they can be seen as an auspicious omen as eating a hu li jing can protect humans from poison. the hu li jing is similar to the japanese kitsune.

pixiu: winged creatures with a dragon’s head and a lion’s body that represent wealth. males help their master seek wealth, while females guard the wealth at home. stone pixiu statues are common in homes.

xiang liu: a nine-headed snake that is said to bring floods and destruction. it a is a cruel creature that fed on human flesh and can spray polluted water that turn places into swamps.

huo dou: a black dog whose appearance foreshadows a great fire with many deaths. the huo dou can eat, breathe, and excrete fire.

dia jiang: a six-footed bird with four wings and no ears, eyes, or mouth. it lives in a mountain filled with rivers and precious materials like gold and jade. despite their lack of body parts, they enjoy singing and dancing.

scottish

it’s interesting to note how most scottish mythological creatures are aquatic! - audrey

cat fairies (cait sith): cats that are as large as dogs who have an identifying white patch on their chests, able to steal souls of the unburied dead. are said to be able to walk on hind legs when not being seen by humans, they’re also where the myth of cats being witches’ animal forms came from.

kelpie (each-uisge): supernatural aquatic horse that lures people to ride on its back, before drowning them in a lake. could be identified by its constantly dripping mane, but can sometimes take a human form.

loch ness monster (uilebheist loch nis): lake-dwelling monster that is said to inhabit loch ness, described as potentially having a long neck and several humps protruding from its back. not particularly aggressive, just conspiracy-theory-ish :)

selkies: seals who can take attractive human forms by shedding their seal skin, can form relationships with actual humans. can only return to the sea if they have their seal skins.

will-o’-the-wisps (teine biorach): spirits that manifest as ghost flames that appear at night, they can be mischievous and like to lure travellers into the wrong direction with their blue flames

wulver: similar to a werewolf but doesn’t have a human form, it stalks the Shetland forests. isn’t too aggressive unless provoked but will leave fish on people’s windowsills if it notices people are starving.

men of the minch (na fir ghorma): mythical, blue-skinned men who live in the stretch of water between the outer hebrides and mainland scotland. they have the power to control storms, and when coming into contact with humans, will ask ship captains to finish a poem that they begin reciting. if the vessel master doesn’t complete the poem, their ship is capsized.