#javanese deity

[sword-in-the-sea]

✷ some silly interactions i've had with local gods & spirits ✷

//blue texts in a conversation are their words

lighting incenses for them, or sharing my kretek cigarette when i smoke with them. the scent of burnt spices and herbs feels like home

an javanese god who looks like a 40-yrs-old javanese man with leathery skin and calloused working hands, responding "bapakmu, le." (it's like a your mom joke, but to express disbelief and irritation. literally translates to "your dad, son (derogatory)".) to a dumb rethoric i made

"what are you doing?" "hiding." "in my bathroom??"

in response to seeing an incorporeal lady dressed in all white while going to the bathroom, my first reflex is to grab the bug spray

seeing a pair of child's feet behind my own and having a momentary cardiac arrest before i realised what's happening. looking to the side to the incorporeal children with a frown as i said, "...can you not."

"(in distress) please give my ring back, i'm rather attached to it." (sudden silence before my ring fell out of thin air right beside my feet) "...thank you."

bodyslamming a monkey-like creature who was sent as a santet (curse) to my house at 1 am

"can someone please get that ghostly child away from the stairs, i nearly had a heart attack seeing him crawling up and down."

giving a non-human home intruder bombastic side eye until they left

additionally, staring contest with them until they left

"le (son), it's 3 am which is the time where humans go to sleep. some even call it the demon (witching) hour and would avoid being awake at this hour." "..your point?" "why are you awake cooking instant noodles?"

"le, that tree can't survive here. the sun doesn't hit it well."

the goddess lady whom guarded the forest where i had a summer camp in; who wore a kebaya and apologised to me because her children possessed a camp counselor out of fear and defense response. the strange feeling of acknowledgement as we both nodded to eachother before parting ways

the old gods in kerep, ambarawa who never failed to greet me whenever i made a trip back to ambarawa

the stoic silence of the jogjakartan court of old gods. yet even in their stillness, there's a comfortable acceptance of me amongst them whenever i visited

"you can return whenever you need to. this is your Home, you are Ours. no matter how far you've voyaged, you can always return. this is your Home and no one can take that away from you."

the two tigers who followed me all the way to dublin and back home as i studied abroad

✷✷✷

[grainjew]

Nikaposting Pt 4: Sun God Tropes

This is the fourth of a series of posts about Nika & associated religious practice in the One Piece world. As I write and post the rest of the series, I’ll add links to this header.

Pt 1: Crypto-Religion | Pt 2: Symbology & Syncretism | Pt 3: Joyboy was Shandian

Enormous credit to @oriigami for being my discussion partner through all of this and having a substantial influence on the final product. Check out our ao3 series Joyful for a narrative rather than analytical take on the Nika tradition, and definitely go read her OP blog @kaizokuou-ni-naru for meta and translation fun facts.

-

#JustLittleSunGodThings

So Luffy’s a sun god, or the embodied power of the wishes for one, or whatever. But does he do mythological solar deity things?

Yes actually.

This post is the fourth and last (as of now) in this series, and it’s entirely for fun. I’ll almost certainly miss things as I go down the list here- if you can think of other solar or dawn deity things he gets up to, please add them in the replies!

With no further ado, here is a list of sun god things Luffy has been known to get up to, & which will no doubt inform the mythology developing around him in the One Piece world. (How many people were deifying this guy even before he awakened his devil fruit? Like it was definitely not zero is all I’m saying.)

Getting eaten by snakes

What started this whole list was me turning to @oriigami in the middle of the night after we’d been rewatching Little Garden and trying to make an accurate count of how many times Luffy’s been swallowed whole and going “you know what’s sun god shit? getting eaten by snakes.”

Sun gods are often doing this. Take Apep in Egyptian myth, who tries to devour the sun god Ra every day. Or Rahu, the Hindu shadow planet and serpent, who swallows the sun to cause solar eclipses.

Luffy is also often doing this. The most notable example is of course the Nola Incident in Skypiea arc, but if we expand the definition of snake to include generally snakeish sort of guys, he also gets briefly ate by Kaidou very shortly after awakening, and just now by Mister Sandworm in ch 1110. (And by Kaidou fish-fish fruit equivalency I’d argue we can also count the Little Garden goldfish and the crocodile that ate him as a kid here but obviously that’s more tenuous and mostly just funny.)

Slightly more tenuously as well, there’s Amaterasu of Shinto lore retreating into her cave (a cave is a kind of snake), as well as the Norse wolf that chases the sun Sköll (occasionally merged with Fenrir), the Javanese god (described as an ogre) Batara Kala who eats the sun and moon to cause eclipses, and the alchemical Green Lion that devours the sun.

Storm and sky gods are also often interacting with, killing, and being eaten by snakes, which is less relevant here except that Nami is storm god coded and she also got ate in the Nola Incident. So that’s fun!

Having a chariot that circumnavigates the world

Many sun gods, especially in the Indo-European sphere of traditions, have some sort of chariot or boat that they ride from east to west each day to carry the sun across the sky. Often they have attendants (sometimes dawn and dusk gods; or sometimes these gods have their own chariots or horses as well) to help them with this.

If you want a list of sun vehicles the wikipedia page for solar deities has a whole bunch of them. Have fun.

I think Thousand Sunny speaks for herself on this front: not only is Sunny a ship designed, destined, and dreamed up to herself circumnavigate the world with Luffy as her captain, but she also has the Sun on the front as her figurehead in a manner that does kinda remind me of some depictions I’ve seen of the sun being carried across the sky in such a chariot. Also, she can fly!

Association with royalty

Kings and emperors love to use sun gods to give divine legitimacy to their rule. This is in no way universal (there’s lots of storm gods out there who also do this, just off the top of my head) but take Amaterasu (Shinto), Inti (Incan), Amun-Ra (also Aten) (Egyptian), Sol Invictus (Roman), etc.

Obviously Luffy is going to be King, and is currently an Emperor. But also, he tends to go around and toppling kings and gods and tyrants and vaguely lending legitimacy to whoever is stepping up to the throne in their place. He’s got the Mandate of Heaven (this is a joke mostly but we HAVE all read Loguetown)! And also distributes it to people he likes. Thanks Luffy.

Solar discs, radiate crowns, and beetles

A solar disc is a flat circle, sometimes with rays, that symbolically represents the sun or the sun personified. If you have read pt 2 of this series, you will recognize the Nika symbol in this description.

In the same vein, when applied to a personified depiction of the sun, the solar disc has the habit of becoming a halo or a radiate crown (such as the one worn by the Statue of Liberty - the radiate crown used to be an emperors and sun gods thing and has since become associated with personifications of liberty. So That’s Fun). Obviously Luffy is not in the habit of having either of these representationally, except of course for. The hat that encircles his head in gold.

The final note on symbology I have here is that the Egyptian god of the morning sun, Khepri, is associated with scarabs/dung beetles. A fact that I think known beetle-lover Luffy would appreciate. Get this guy some scarab symbolism stat. Check these bugs out!!!

Bonus: descending into the underworld and eclipse stories

Katabasis, that is, a descent into the underworld, is in no way a sun god exclusive, although solar myths do often involve the sun god, having traveled across the sky by day, needing to find their way through the ocean, the underworld, or some other sort of nether realm to return, overnight, to their morning home in the east. And it’s very fun to look at in the context of Luffy, eclipse myths, and the Marineford saga.

So obviously the Impel Down arc is is a very literal katabasis. It’s Hell, it’s got all the Dante’s Inferno theming, and, like in so many katabases, Luffy descends to the depths in pursuit of some goal, eventually emerging miraculously alive but unsuccessful (see, for a very quick shortlist of katabases of this type, Orpheus & Eurydice, Inanna, and Izanagi & Izanami).

So that’s delightful. But I think it’s even more fun to think about the Marineford saga in general, eventually culminating in the timeskip, as a prototype for an eclipse story.

Solar eclipses, though predictable, are something like a rarer and more frightening form of night, and so their associated myths have a general tendency to involve a more dramatic and/or violent symbolic death of the sun- see, for example, the various devourers of the sun mentioned in the first bullet point of this post.

So, we have the timeskip. The fire goes out. The sun, having descended into the underworld and pushed himself past his own limits, is defeated, disappearing completely from the world for two years. Until- In a way that was, technically, predictable, if you had the correct sphere of knowledge, he returns, miraculously renewed.

I’d incorporate that into my belief system, is all I’m saying.

-

Thank you all for reading! This is all for the series so far, but not, I hope, forever. Many more thoughts to have and webs to weave!

Have a lovely week!

[blue-lotus333]

Arjun’s children.

(+ his kids in the Javanese mhb‼️)

Abhimanyu.

Info: Abhimanyu, the most popular child of Arjun, was a great warrior, portrayed as young, strong and talented. Abhimanyu was one of the people to know the technique to enter the Chakravyuha, a powerful military formation, unfortunately, he died unfairly while in this formation.

Iravan.

Info: Iravan is the second popular son of Arjun, he is the central deity of the cult of Kuttantavar & a village guardian deity. Iravan is revered for his sacrifice & his protection. In one legend, he is married to the enchantress mohini.

(there is much more interpretations/stories of Iravan, so its better to look him up)

Babruvahana.

Info: The harsh son of Arjun & heir of Manipura. Babruvahana was the only child who defeated Arjun, but was about to kill himself after knowing arjun’s identity, but he was given from his stepmother, the Nagi Ulupi, a gem called Nagamani, which revived Arjun.

Shrutakarma.

Info: the youngest of the Upapandavas. Shrutakarma was a capable archer like Arjun and fought very well, he fought many warriors such as Sudakshina, King Chitrasena, Jayatsena, Dushasana and Ashwathama. Unfortunately, he was killed brutally by Ashwathama.

Wisanggeni.

Info: Wisanggeni is a son of Arjun & the lava goddess Dresnala. When he was born, he was already hated by Brahma, in which the creator god threw him into a caldera. However, wisanggeni didn't die but got empowered. In rage by Brahma, he attacked the heavens. No one could defeat him except Antasena (who could only reach him to a draw)

Kumaladewa and Kumalasekti.

Info: Kumaladewa & Kumalasekti are the (male) twin children of Arjun with the demoness Asmarawati. Both siblings are mostly hybrids of a Demi-god and demon, making them possibly powerful. The siblings are seen as hero’s in wayang.

Wilugangga.

Info: born from Arjun & apsara Wilutama, Wilugangga is seen as a hero in Wayang. He helped a king who was facing a hardship, namely a marriage contest, & promised to help him as long as he was told who his father was, the king agreed & after Wilugangga succeeded, he was told who his father was. In the Javanese mhb, he fought Drona but later got killed by him.

Dewi Pregiwa & Dewi Pregiwati.

Info: Pregiwa & Pregiwati are daughters of Arjun & the princess Manuhara and they are only told in wayang.

Pregiwa is said to be loyal, honest, patient, & charming. She had married Ghatotkacha. She is identified with Pragya(?)

Pregiwati is said to be kind, devoted & gentle, and is the twin sister of pregiwa, she once went on a journey to find her father. Pregiwati is identified with Pragati (?)

Sumitra.

Info: son of Arjun and the archer Dewi Larasati, Sumitra is kinda known in wayang. Sumitra is also shown as a charioteer of Abhimanyu, and took part in the Bharatayuda war. he died on the battlefield against Bhishma. (Another version says that he was killed by karna.)

Honorable Mention: Pancala (son of Arjun & Srikandi), but there’s not much info about him I could find.

((Correct me if I got something wrong!!))

[nearestlocations]

Yogyakarta's Cultural Heritage: A Guide to Ancient Temples

Yogyakarta, often fondly referred to as Jogja, is the heart of Javanese culture and history in Indonesia. This region is renowned for its ancient temples, which are not just architectural marvels but also repositories of the area's rich cultural and historical tapestry. These temples, or 'Candi' in Indonesian, range from Hindu to Buddhist, each telling its own story of the past. In this guide, we will explore some of the most significant ancient temples in Yogyakarta, offering insights into their history, architecture, and cultural significance.

Borobudur Temple Arguably the most famous and grandest of all Javanese temples, Borobudur is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple. It is the world's largest Buddhist temple and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple is known for its intricate lattice stupa, unique bell-shaped structures, and over 500 Buddha statues. The walls are adorned with bas-reliefs depicting the life of Buddha and various Jataka tales. Visiting Borobudur at sunrise is a breathtaking experience, offering both spiritual tranquility and a stunning panoramic view.

Prambanan Temple This Hindu temple complex, also a UNESCO World Heritage site, dates back to the 9th century and is dedicated to the Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Prambanan stands out for its tall and pointed architecture and the exquisite stone carvings that adorn its walls. The main temple, dedicated to Shiva, houses a magnificent statue of the deity. The temple complex also hosts the famous Ramayana Ballet, a performance that beautifully blends traditional dance and music with the epic tale of Ramayana.

Ratu Boko Palace Ratu Boko, lokasi terdekat Prambanan, is an archaeological site thought to have been a palace. It offers a different kind of temple experience, with its remnants of ancient pools, pavilions, and gates. The site, perched on a hill, provides a panoramic view of the surrounding area, including Prambanan and Mount Merapi.

Sewu Temple In the same complex as Prambanan, Sewu is the second largest Buddhist temple in Java. Although less ornate than Borobudur, Sewu is impressive in its scale and symmetry. The central temple is surrounded by numerous smaller temples, reflecting the Mahayana Buddhist cosmology.

Plaosan Temple Plaosan, located near Prambanan, is a blend of Hindu and Buddhist architectural elements, reflecting the cultural and religious diversity of ancient Java. The temple complex consists of two main temples adorned with intricate reliefs depicting various deities and scenes of daily life during the 8th century.

Sambisari Temple Discovered as recently as 1966, Sambisari is a 9th-century Hindu temple buried about five meters underground. Excavation revealed a well-preserved main temple surrounded by smaller lingam and yoni structures. The temple’s subterranean discovery adds to its mystique and allure.

Candi Ijo Perched on the highest hill in the region, Candi Ijo offers a serene atmosphere and a stunning view of Prambanan and the city. The temple, dating back to the 10th century, is dedicated to Shiva and features unique stone carvings and statues.

Candi Kalasan Dedicated to the goddess Tara, Candi Kalasan is an 8th-century Buddhist temple known for its elaborate and well-preserved ancient reliefs. It is believed to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Central Java, reflecting the architectural and sculptural artistry of its time.

Candi Mendut A stone’s throw away from Borobudur, Candi Mendut is a smaller yet significant Buddhist temple. It houses a large and iconic statue of Buddha sitting in the lotus position. The temple is often included as part of the pilgrimage route during Waisak, the Buddhist festival in Indonesia.

Candi Pawon Located between Borobudur and Mendut, Candi Pawon is often considered part of the Borobudur temple complex. Although smaller in size, it is significant for its detailed carvings and its role in the spiritual journey from Mendut to Borobudur.

Conclusion

Exploring the ancient temples of Yogyakarta is like walking through the pages of history. Each temple offers a unique glimpse into the past, showcasing the architectural, cultural, and spiritual legacy of the region. These temples are not just stone structures; they are the embodiment of Yogyakarta's enduring heritage and are essential for anyone seeking to understand the depth and diversity of Javanese culture. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a spiritual seeker, or simply a curious traveler, Yogyakarta’s temples are a mesmerizing and enlightening experience, promising to leave you with a profound sense of awe and respect for Indonesia's rich past.

[tananansad]

"genuinely curious how this works, can you explain this to me?"

@doublecast-bayoen asked on Twitter but I wasn't gonna bombard him with a thread in replies so I'll answer it here instead!

But first, a quick cultural lesson on the Malayosphere: the non-pidginized Malay languages tend to have subtle registers (they're not as prominent as other languages in the region such as Javanese or Balinese) which shows itself mainly through pronouns. A good amount of pronouns are still common while others are pretty much obsolete beyond certain circumstances (i.e. a royal ceremony). I should also probably add that my HC would mainly resonate with Malayophones from Malaysia and Singapore ^w^

Now that's out of the way; the pronouns are formatted in the manner of their equivalents to I/you (singular) in English. Let's start with Mr. Tiger.

Linhu

In my headcanon (and in my snail-paced one-man translation project of Nekojishi), Linhu invariably uses aku/kau. This set can be used when you're talking to someone of equal (e.g. friends) or inferior (e.g. your employee) status. And since he is is pretty much superior to all of our main cast (cf. Liao his "child", Leopard Cat the yaoguai and Likulau the spirit), there's no reason for him to use anything else around them.

One exception is if he had lines where he explicitly talks to Goddess Mazu, (which he doesn't but) in which case he would use a deferent patik/tuanku common in royal speech, assuming traditional Chinese religion puts an emphasis on higher deities being akin to divine royalty. Next, let's talk about best boy...

Likulau

(do not @ me over this.) Like Linhu, Likulau invariably sticks to one set of first- and second-person singular pronouns, but this time, it's mainly because the way he uses Mandarin in the OG script implies he is an non-native speaker. His use of saya/kamu would remind a native speaker of the language you'd usually find in a beginner's textbook. To me, the use of kamu tries to avoid implying any level of social rank and intimacy (kau implies the speaker's superiority and awak implies intimacy, not really a visual thing for the stoic leopard), perfect for Likulau's way of speech!

Isn't he the cutest?!

We now move on to a slightly more complex case...

The Protag

[Artistic depiction of furry Liao from here!]

Unfortunately for Liao, he's pretty much just a college kid who got entangled in the midst of divine business. As someone who was pretty much a nobody up to the start of the novel, he mainly uses a more respectful but friendly saya/awak with the other cats. However, he has his moments of lamentation where he would use the more casual aku/kau. Oh, and he also refers to himself as aku or more precisely, ku in his monologues, reflecting the pronoun used in first-person POVs in line with the traditions of Malay fictional literature. :3

Last but not least...

Yan Shu-chi

(I have conflicted feelings about this creature.)

Shu-chi's middle position socially within the quartet (being spiritually lower than Guardian Tiger but above Liao academically) and his frank expressions lends to him having to freely choose between aku/kau and saya/awak. While his outgoing nature in the story dictates that he mostly uses the former, I can imagine him teasing Liao with the latter.

What a sly being.

And that's pretty much it!

nekojishi malay pronouns hc

is this fandom even alive anymore

[arjuna-vallabha]

Pura Sapto Argo Sido Langgeng, a modern Shiva temple at Blitar, Java

[danyvhell-writes]

General Kuras headcanons (Touchstarved)

GN reader - no warnings | Literally my second fav character in this game, love him sm ! Had a lot to say about this sweet angel so here we are. I want him to read me a bedtime story, then we can cuddle. Also I might post about Leander next time...

• Divine smell like omg the aromas, the fragrance ! A mix of clean clothes, nutmeg, honeysuckle & jasmine. (my personal fav but it's up to you)

• Radiates warmth, physically and also in terms of energy. Whenever he's near you, you can't help but relax and feel welcome. He makes you feel safe no matter what. He thinks it's cute that you like hugging him so much.

• If you're short don't worry ! Kuras won't mind reaching things you can't, he'll be your personal assistant for high supplies you can't get.

• We know he uses he/him pronouns but being an angel, a being of pure light & love, would technically make him genderless/agender ? Can he shapeshift ? Surely, but who truly knows... Ah what a gorgeous mysterious being.

• He's able to perceive souls and energies. He doesn't need to 'know' people to actually know them if that makes sense.

• He finds you fascinating and so do you ! You love listening to whatever he has to say because it's genuinely so interesting, his thought process is so intriguing. You two always have endless conversations about so many topics ! You'd never have thought he'd be this talkative but oh do you enjoy it.

• Have a calm reading session with him and he's yours ! This is his vision of the perfect date. Can't read because you're tired ? He'll read for you while you relax, charmed by his soothing voice. Of course, he loves your voice too ! Read him your favourite book, he will listen with much attention. He's all ears.

• If you're a very spiritual person, you'll love him even more. Talk to him about spirits, energies, deities etc… there's so much he'll teach and explain to you ! This tall guy is full of knowledge (big brain over here).

• Remember when he said "Do not be afraid." ? He meant it ! I think he's still used to his original form and so doesn't want to scare anyone. His current form is more accessible for mortals and he's trying his best to 'fit in'. (His incarnation is the opposite of scary but I don't think he realizes how attractive he is)

• He's omnilingual. That's it. No but fr, I don't know what his role is/was precisely as an angel (if he was a messenger or a guardian) but he understands any languages ! He tries to hide this ability because how could he explain it without sounding suspicious ? "How do I know javanese & martiniquan creole ? Oh, well it's a long story. I do not think you would find this interesting, really MC."

• Want to share jewelry with him ? Of course, go on. Give him your stuff, he'll love wearing whatever you have especially if it's golden. If you have big earrings like his he'll love them, big 10/10, sharing is caring as we say ! You guys would switch earrings a lot and I think it's adorable.

• If you're polyglot, he'd appreciate greatly to talk with you in your native tongue or other. Need some help with your vocabulary or something ? He's here to help ! Don't hesitate to ask him anything. → Would be really fun to have you, Kuras and Ais talking in other languages together ! Imagine the possibilities !!! Such interesting conversations omg

• 100% the type of person to gift you accessories and aesthetic presents. "This brooch reminded me of you ! I thought you would like to add it to your collection. What do you think ?" and you're just standing "???? Thanks omg you're so sweet !" 😭

• I'm sure he has a lot of fun facts about anatomy and medicine in general. He's also the type of person to tell the most gruesome anecdote about one of his patient and go "Oh but they are completely fine now, you do not need to worry MC :)" like okay if you say so doc…

• We know he's not the most expressive but you get him with a simplicity that is surprising ! Whether it's the tone he uses, his choice of words or the way he looks at his interlocutor, you can easily decipher how he feels. People say he's distant and appears a little cold but you know he's the most affectionate person you've ever seen !

• Always buys you food and invites you to eat outside to make up for the fact that he cooks badly ! He's truly sorry for his poor cooking skills but is always willing to feed you the best products in town. Please, teach him some basics. How can you be a good doctor when your food is causing stomach aches ??

• Afraid to be too comfortable around him ? Don't worry, he's a doctor. If you think sneezing or burping in front of him is embarrassing, remember he sees sick people and corpses on a daily basis. ↑ If you happen to sneeze next to him and feel gross because of the snot, no prob ! He'd simply go "Oh, bless you. Do you need a tissue ? I have my handkerchief if you want." with his cute lil smile.

• If texting was a thing in TS, he would 100% overuse the ":)" smiley. You'll find it at the end of every freakin text, you can't run away from it lmaoeuzfh. "Good morning MC, how are you ? :)" "One of my patient has been affected by -insert horrible affliction-, therefore I will see you this afternoon :)" "I'm deeply sorry to hear that your mentor passed away, may they rest in peace :)" "Ais said that I, I quote, 'give off milf energy' ? Would you mind explaining this term to me ? I asked Leander but he seemed uncomfortable. :)"

• Likes going on walks with you. Think you can't keep up with his long legs ? Just wrap your arm around his and he won't lose you. He's very careful to adapt to your pace so you can enjoy the moment. → Would definitely pick flowers for you while you guys are strolling around the city. He knows flower language so he'd tell you what they mean if you want. Also you have to tell him your favourite flower(s), he'll gift you the best bouquets ever (he would make them himself of course) !

• He's a doctor so he might go picking plants and flowers for his medicines. Just imagine him with a little basket, wandering around fields like a little witch :') Go flowerpicking with him please 😩 he'd love to share this activity with you !

• Whenever you get home after spending time with him, you always find white feathers hidden on & in your clothes. Can be on your vest, in your pockets, even in your bag ! At first you wonder if Kuras doesn't own a bird and he's like "Oh ! Do not worry, these are mine." "Yours ? Like your pet's ?" "No dear, mine. I happen to lose my feathers sometimes, it's not convenient and I am sorry if this bothers you." "...Oh hm, okay ?". So then you just collect them cause they're pretty and soft. (He wouldn't mind if you used the small ones to stuff your pillows really.)

• Lets you braid his hair. If you have some pretty accessories that go well with his aesthetic, don't hesitate ! He likes how you touch his hair with softness, always careful.

• This is him. No need for further explanation.

[stumpyjoepete]

#(Nan)YangGang

Learning Chinese, there is a certain kind of word that drives me nuts. There's some Chinese concept or thing. There's a word in English for it, that one might naively assume was borrowed from Chinese. Except, no, it's not, fuck you, it's probably Malay. The actual Chinese word has nothing to do with that word. Two non-English words for the price of one.

Some examples:

"Congee" is 粥 ("zhōu" in Mandarin, "zuk1"/"juk1"/"jook"[1] in Cantonese). "Congee" is via a Tamil word "kañci"[2], presumably due to the Portuguese or something.

The traditional units of weight "catty" and "tael" are 斤 (jīn) and 两 (liǎng) respectively. "Catty" and "tael" are from the Malay "kati" and "tahil". Again, trade in the east indies, so the words in English are randomly selected from Malay, Tamil, and southern Chinese languages.[3]

A "gong" is a 锣 (luó). "Gong"[4] is Javanese.

"Mandarin" in the sense of an official is 官 (guān)[5]. "Mandarin" is from Malay "menteri", which indirectly derives from Sanskrit[6].

"Cheongsam" is 旗袍 (qípáo). This one is really hilarious, because "cheongsam" is the Cantonese for 长衫 (chángshān in Mandarin), except that that's a different kind of garment in China. But I guess in Shanghainese, a 旗袍 is called a 长衫, and then a bunch of Shanghainese tailors went to HK and now the English world knows the Cantonese pronunciation of a Shanghainese word for 旗袍 dresses. Whatever.

"Joss" (as in "joss", "joss stick", or "joss paper") is... nothing at all? Like there are Chinese words for the incense and for the paper you burn at funerals and for images of deities, but they don't share any common components. "Joss" is bizarrely from fucking Portuguese ("deus"), filtered through... Javanese? Chinese pidgin English? Both? I guess it makes sense, since this is not a Chinese concept at all; it's a grouping of stuff that only made sense to Europeans (i.e., weird idolatrous folk-religion shit).

[1] zuk1 is jyutping; juk1 is yale; jook is not from any particular romanization, but it's very common. [2] Romanization of கஞ்சி. [3] Hey, you know what's worse than catty and tael? Picul! Again, from Malay. However, the Chinese is 石 (stone; usually pronounced shí) but it's pronounced and conceptualized like 担 (a load one bears, e.g., with a pole over your shoulder; pronounced dàn). This is fucking stupid! [4] Romanization of ꦒꦺꦴꦁ. [5] In the sense of the language, it could be 官话 (language of the officials), 北方话 (northern speech), 国语 (national language), or 普通话 (common speech). These words all mean something a bit different from each other, but the point is that none of the Chinese words that could somehow correspond to "Mandarin" have anything to do with the word "Mandarin". [6] मन्त्रिन्; related to English "mantra" and "mentor".

[dailycharacteroption]

Roleplaying Races 13: Wayang

 We’ve seen all sorts of playable ancestries throughout our exploration of the system’s options. Few, however, can claim that they were inspired by a real-world art form! I present to you the wayang, those small shadowy creatures that hailed from the Plane of Shadow, and have a curious relationship with light and dark.

The word “wayang” in the real world refers to the Javanese cultural tradition of shadow puppetry, in which elaborate puppets are maneuvered behind a screen with a light source in a form of theater, complete with musical accompaniment. Oftentimes these shows revolve around Hindu myths and stories, and it’s easy to see how the slender limbs of these puppets, as well as their forward-facing necks, exaggerated features, and style of dress were the inspiration for the fantastical ancestry that shares their name.

For their part, the wayang in Pathfinder were denizens of the Shadow Plane that emigrated to the Material thousands of years ago during the Age of Ashes, which in it’s darkened state due to the ecological disaster of Earthfall, they found quite nice. However, as those dark times ended, light returned to the world, and the wayang found themselves more and more uncomfortable in a plane they could no longer easily leave. So now they live in tight knit settlements in remote islands and in the shadows of cities on the continent of Tian Xia.

Ironically, the wayang have been on the Material Plane so long that the Plane of Shadow seems just as isolating now, due to the lack of many communities of their people left dwelling there.

 In appearance, wayangs are humanoid with exaggerated features (particularly noses, ears, and grins) on spindly necks that lean forward from their shoulders, while their limbs and digits are also long, thin, and gangly. Typically, their skin is some shade of dark grey or black, though some, particularly those practicing the philosophy of Dissolution, often bleach their skin or adorn it with bright tattoos, and their clothing can range from dark cloaks to surprisingly bright ceremonial garb.

 Wayangs are nocturnal, and tend to live in small, close-knit communities for safety, far from the notice of other peoples, which suits them just fine. After all, regardless of whether other beings walk in the light or the darkness, they could potentially be threats to their people, and so wayangs are highly mistrustful of outsiders and non-wayangs in general. However, more and more, young wayangs are finding their curiosity overriding their fear, with more venturing into the bright unknown to explore it and see it’s wonders.

Despite their insular nature, however, the wayang delight in performance and artistry, favoring dramas, shadow puppetry, and soft whisper-songs that must be listened to in absolute silence to fully appreciate.

Also worth noting is the philosophy of Dissolution which many wayang follow. This philosophy explore their natures as beings of shadow, where reality melts away into illusion, and finally into nothing at all. Followers of this philosophy seek to rid themselves of earthly desires so that their souls will one day return to the Plane of Shadow and melt away into nothingness once again.

The rat goddess Lao Shu Po is also considered to be their primary deity, but most wayang agree she is more of a blight thrust upon them by circumstance than being worthy of veneration.

 Agile and quick-witted, wayangs are as fast in body as they are in mind. However, their nature as shadow beings gives them a murky ideal of perception. (this makes them a rarity in that they are a small race without a strength penalty)

Their nature of beings of shadow allow them a unique ability to harness the associations with light and shadow with positive and negative energy, letting them flip their interactions with those forces for about a minute, letting them be healed by negative energies, though this does make them vulnerable to positive healing in that state.

As one might expect, these nocturnal creatures have excellent night vision, as well as perception and ability to hide in the dark.

They also have a bit of natural magic, mostly with regards to creating illusory sounds and hiding their passage, useful for distractions and avoiding notice.

Being creatures of shadow also makes them more resistant and likely to notice instances of shadow magic when they occur, making them harder to overcome by such methods.

 Of course, many wayang may differ from this norm, as is typical of most races. Some may be naturally poisonous due to drow experimentation, while others may have a stronger connection to the shadow, becoming more outsider-like and harder to see in dim light than others. Some who perform special functions in wayang society or other societies might have skill sets specializing away from stealth and perception. Some are able to dissolve their own image into shadow to become nearly invisible, while others have a natural talent for both shadow magic and various other mystic arts related to the shadow. Others still are able to sense and hear half-real whispers from a thousand things long dead or never real to begin with in the Shadow Plane. By listening to these whispers at a critical moment, they can bolster their chances of success in many areas.

 With their intelligence and dexterity being what they are, wayangs make excellent rogues, alchemists, and investigators. That intelligence can also come in handy for skill-heavy bards, as well as intelligence-based casters like wizards, arcanists, and psychics. However, they also make for excellent members of classes that get a lot of shadow magic and shadow powers, particularly with the right alternate racial trait. That being said, that wisdom penalty might make being a shadow-themed cleric or other wisdom-based class seem unappealing, but it can be worked around. Also, don’t forget that wayangs are one of the very few small playable ancestries that doesn’t have a strength penalty, which makes melee combat builds much more appealing. I personally recommend ranger, slayer, or swashbuckler, maybe even paladin, allowing them to make up for the reduced size of their weapon damage dice with bonus damage in various forms.

 Another ancestry down, but we have one more before this week’s special concludes. The final entry is one that some people might be surprised is actually a playable option!

[vintagehomecollection]

In the Master Bedroom, the modern spirit is represented artistically in a Tutundjian collage and a larger Marcelle Cahn painting - both created in 1925. A 9th-century Javanese carved stone deity head rests at bedside, while the bookshelves bear, from left to right, a 17th-century bronze head of Buddha, a 7th-century Chinese marble stele and a pre-Angkor Cambodian deity head.

Contemporary Apartments, 1982

[sword-in-the-sea]

𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖗𝖔 𝖙𝖔 𝖏𝖆𝖛𝖆𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖊 𝖔𝖑𝖉 𝖌𝖔𝖉𝖘 🌕

(title: intro to javanese old gods)

disclaimer : there are little to none documentation of the traditions and religions of java pre-hinduism and buddhism, beyond general mentions of animism. so these will, unfortunately, be heavily based on my personal experiences and knowledge passed orally. i will try to keep everything unbiased and as is. my experience is limited to java–particularly west and middle java–and the several trips i made to bali. therefore i will only focus on javanese based old gods and won't touch anything beyond that. i made this also with the purpose of documenting the unrecorded gods of java. my apologies if you find anything lacking. now, let's get to it.

old gods are forgotten gods that are as old as the lands they reside in. incarnations (? representation works too) of a forest or a mountain or certain areas are included as an old god, but not all old gods are incarnations of the lands they're in. they are not ancestors. they are not historical figures who died, even if they look like one. they are not spirits either. they were (and still technically are) deities. old gods are completely their own being.

they are once worshipped until early majapahit empire era. my estimation is around 1350s - 1400s when it completely stopped; though it probably started dwindling around 400 AD when hindu-buddhism first came in. worshipping then comes in animism form—which is why most old gods are representation/incarnation of lands or inanimate objects. they may also be recognised at that time as venerated "ancestor spirits", though they're not one.

some of them are part of a court (yes, royal court but for old gods). be it ancient forgotten courts or even the still worshipped courts (like the kidul court). some are on their own, or just courtless. there's usually a leader figure for each courts, and these leaders will have another leader that has a hand in all courts. this is less of power/ruling figure, and more of an authority figure to help ease communication between the old gods.

nowadays, they tend to reside in trees, mountains, riversides, caves, the sea, or in the woods. most of the time they become the guardian of that certain area they reside in. sometimes they left their main residence to wander—on this occasion, they may temporarily reside in old abandoned buildings. the closer they are to their main residence, the stronger they are. old gods are not fond of crowds—but they enjoy watching from afar.

they're forces of chaos and unpredictable–and neither good nor bad. they can be malevolent, but most of the time only as defense. they're very polite and mostly kept to themselves. the old gods are quiet and ancient; often times they're only looking over from afar or just checking in without wanting anything. often times they have morbid imageries—but they meant no harm. probably. they're too old to care to follow human concepts.

it's not recommended to sought them out or to try and make dealings with them.

quick guide on meeting old gods. don't interact, especially when you're not sure what you're doing. you don't even need to acknowledge them–they don't need supplication and have long gone without being worshipped. they're fine; you won't if you play into their bit.

what you should do when you suspect them near you is to be respectful and polite. more specifically:

don't turn your back against sacred trees/places

don't climb or sit on sacred objects

don't go to toilet outdoors (it's recommended to just find the closest toilet available. otherwise, find a clear secluded place and ask permission aloud before you go. don't go in a sacred place/area or near sacred objects. only do this as a last minute resort. if shit hits the fan, start praying)

don't tempt or tease them

don't invite/invoke them

don't say things like "i can stay here forever!", they'll take it as an invitation

don't interact with them, in general (unless you are clearly familiar with them. which if you're a tourist, you're not. so shut up.)

listen to the locals. be respectful

don't vandalise

don't litter

don't spit on the ground

i can't believe i have to say this, but don't have intercourse in sacred woods or areas

in the rare moments you saw them, say hi. nod your head. then don't acknowledge them anymore than that

don't talk about them in their presence. it's impolite

when unexplainable things start happening (such as smelling a sudden scent of jasmine or frangipani, or gamelan music starts playing without clear source) don't acknowledge it and continue with what you're doing

if you follow these simple steps, i guarantee you i would have less work to do as a local exorcist witch.

[upg disclaimer; based on personal experience as i worked with them] old gods are neither good nor bad. they're neutral chaotic forces, as they resemble the lands they reside in. unfortunately, some immoral dukun—witch doctors/shaman—have been enslaving trapping them in contracts for power reasons.

long story short: these dukun are people who learned magic, who are power hungry and greedy (yes they do exist, this is real and a legit practice in here). to be able to access power (magic) they usually work with questionable sources such as djinns. however, as djinns are too powerful and strong, most of the time these dukun would make dealings with local old gods. local old gods are a weaker power source than djinns, but easier to trap. do you see where this is going now? (note that there are also old gods that genuinely just work with these dukun to fuck them up. either way; not great)

the circumstances made the old gods more volatile and prone to aggression. as they want to avoid being tricked or manipulated into a trap, they're sensitive to any changes. you can easily offend them if you don't know what you're doing—which is why it's not encouraged to interact with them. [upg ends]

interacting with old gods can have the tendency to go from 0 to 100 quickly; on one moment they're calm and gentle, then by the next second a large snake maw is hovering by your head.

you can't worship or make dealings with the old gods when they don't explicitly ask that from you. sudden worshipping won't flatter them—it'll make them suspicious at best and immediately aggressive at worst. don't bother them and they won't bother you.

if you wish to, at least, acknowledge the local old gods or if you have reasons to believe they're trying to reach out to you; what you should do first is to set up protection wards. then you may try to communicate, interact, and give offerings—with no strings attached—to the old gods. be honest with your intentions and don't be pushy. double check everything and always check "mundane before magic".

i don't recommend trying to do this for baby witches or witches who had never dip into local magic. i don't recommend foreigners to attempt to interact with the old gods at all. mind you, i have experience with them and they knew me after years of constant exposure. i will repeat that old gods have long gone without worship—they won't ask for things willynilly. be careful of imposters. interact with caution and strong wards. don't be easily swayed, don't be scared, be respectful, and stand your ground. you have been warned.

offerings that i found they'll accept:

sweet tea

black coffee (instant coffee works, some brands are Kopi ABC and Kapal Api *not spons. sometimes they want sugar in it, sometimes they don't)

gorengan (fried street food, usually are; deep fried bananas, vegetable fritters, or fried tofus)—west javanese old gods are particularly fond of these

pinecones

cinnamon sticks

wedang jahe

jamu

river rocks and driftwood

wooden beads

tea leaves

frangipani flower

jasmine flower

queen of the night flower (wijaya kusuma)

tuberoses (bunga sedap malam)

smooth blue river pebbles

seashells and sea salt if they're from kidul (southern) area/court, or areas near the sea

playing gamelan songs—middle and east javanese old gods are especially fond of gamelan keraton songs

you give the offerings by leaving them at places where an old god might reside (or where you think an old god is residing in). usually under trees, at the open mouth of caves, or by tossing them in rivers or the sea. make sure you're not littering, and that all of the equipments used for the offerings are organic and compostable.

note that sometimes the offerings won't just be taken by the old gods but also other entities. they don't mind this. you don't need to worry about this either, as i reiterate—old gods don't need offerings nor worship. only give them offerings with no strings attached.

on some cases, you may share the offerings with the old gods. if you have their permission, you might be allowed to consume the offerings with them to dispose of it. you can also just leave the offerings around your house, if old gods happen to pass inside your house often (like my case).

tldr; interact with old gods as you may, but please do so with strong caution. be respectful and courageous; be steadfast yet polite. i have no means of fear-mongering (my apologies if i accidentally did so), but warnings are there for a reason. do no harm.

best of luck for your journey 🌾🌜🍃🌞

[the-eastern-witch]

Painting of Ratu Kidul / Nyi Roro Kidul, a deity from origin Javanese, Indonesian myth

[tomasorban]

THE MOTHER GODDESS

The worship of a Mother Goddess in ancient World mostly related to fertility of the soil [and the botanical life circle] with no connection with any kind of religion. It was the practice of personifying the beauty and bounty of earth as a goddess and it was prevalent in all ancient cultures.

A Chinese story says that although rice has always existed, there was a time that the ears of the rice plants were not filled. Observing that humans were near starvation, the Goddess Guan Yin and to help them, secretly descended to the fields of shoots during the night. When she arrived, she squeezed her breasts until they expressed milk, but the last drop was of blood. From that day on, the buds of the plants produced some useless red grains and the white rice, which served to feed all her people.

Houtu, (also spelled Hou Tu) is the the Deity of Earth, is an almighty goddess in the pantheon. People offer her sacrifices and pray to her for harvest, rain, children, health, wealth, safety when boating in the Yellow River, and the tide when a boat is stranded. In local legends, Houtu often is depicted as a kind, wise, and powerful goddess.

In Japan, it is said that the first cultivator of rice was the Sun Goddess Amatereshu-Omi-Kami. She grew rice in the fields of heaven, giving the first harvest to Prince Ninigi. He was told to take it to “The Land of Eight Great Islands,” Japan.

Also in Japan, in the classic Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) compiled in AD 712, it is said that rice first came from the eyes of the Food Goddess Ohegetsu-hime.

In southern Philippines, it is said that Agmay, a beautiful slave girl whose mother had died of drudgery and disease, was the first cultivator of rice. One day, as she sat weeping on the bank of the village stream, saddened by thought of her father’s difficult life as a slave and widower, she saw something in the water.

Through tears, Agmay saw a beautiful green grassy tuft, heavy with golden grains, floating on the river. She had never seen such a thing before. She scooped it up and planted the grains in the river mud, praying that they would grow and bring luck. Soon they sprouted and she began mothering her new “green children”, watering them twice daily and protecting them from wild animals. The grain, which was rice, grew quickly. Agmay had such a good harvest that in the next year, her family was freed from slavery.

In Thailand, the Rice Mother Mae Posop is worshiped as rice itself. It is believed that, like a mother who feeds her children, Mae Posop gives her body and soul to sustain human life.

For the Rungo people of Vietnam, the shadows on the moon are created by the Rice Goddess stacking up her freshly harvested rice in the shade of a Bo tree.

Rice is intimately involved in the culture as well as the food ways and economy of many societies. For example, folklore tells us that when the Kachins of northern Myanmar (Burma) were sent forth from the center of the Earth, they were given the seeds of rice and were directed to a wondrous country where everything was perfect and where rice grew well.

Indonesia worships Dewi Sri, the Goddess of Rice, who is believed to have control over birth and life, and controls the rice fields and the growth of rice. Many ancient Javanese and Balinese Kingdoms paid respect and present lavish offerings respect to Devi Sri, ensuring that they continuously have good harvests. Plentiful rice equals to wealth and survival of their kingdoms.

In Malaysia Bambarazon, the Goddess of Mercy, is believed to have created rice, as she secretly slipped down the fields and pressed her breasts until her milk and blood flowed and transformed into rice. To the present day, every Dusun or Kadazan celebrates the “Modsurung“, which is known today as the Harvest Festival, in memory of the great Goddess of Mercy. Traditionally it is  believed that rice, or paddy, is animated by a soul- the rice soul semangat padi.

Mother Goddesses of fertility of the ancient World

The Greeks had Core, the corn-goddess, who was known to Romans as Demeter.

The Egyptians had Isis,

Sumerians had Innana,

Babylonians had Ishtar,

Persians had Anahita and

Vikings had Freia.

In India the mother goddess of fertility has many names and only sometimes is distinguished from the Earth Mother or Divine Female. Unlike the mother goddess, who is a specific source of vitality and shows the circle of life, the Earth Mother is the eternally fruitful source of everything. Mother goddesses are individual, posses distinct characters and are not cosmogonic.

The Universal Earth Mother

The ancient Indus community, perceived the Divine Female as Mother Goddess or Devi. The Rigveda calls the Female power Mahimata, a term which literally means Earth Mother. At places, the Vedic literature alludes to Her as Viraj, the universal mother, as Aditi, the mother of gods, and as Ambhrini, the one born of Primeval Ocean.

The Rigveda takes a mystic line, when it perceives the Divine Female as Vak or Vani, in Vedic mysticism the cosmos and all things pre- exist but are unmanifest. The Vak, or Vani makes them manifest.

The Upanishadas identify her as Prakriti, the manifest nature, which is the material aspect of the Creation, She is the all-pervasive cosmic energy inherent in all existing things. Ushas, the glowing light of early morning. That makes the darkness of night disappear.

The Mahabharata, 3000 years ago, keeping in line with the Vedic mysticism, alludes her as the source of all things, the spiritual as well as material.

Devi‘s cosmic perception is a mix of metaphysics and mythology. In India’s metaphysical perception the Creation has been perceived as comprising of two factors, variedly named as Prakriti and Purusha, Matter and Self, Male and Female and the like. Mythology identifies them as Shiva and Shakti.

As Shakti, she is worshiped by Shaktas, and in this aspect, she denotes the mother of all creation, including the gods. Thus, she represents the divine mother, creator, preserver, the destroyer and the director of all activities in the universe. She is later known as Parvati, the consort of Shiva. In the northern Himalayas, the goddess is believed to be the first to have grown rice.

To Krishna (Vishnu) devotees, she is Mahamaya Radha. The power of female energy has been called variously as Usha, Prithvi, Aditi, Saraswati, Indrani, Rudrani, Sita and Gauri.

[ratna0401]

Karna (Sanskrit: कर्ण, IAST: Karṇa), also known as Vasusena, Anga-Raja, Sutaputra and Radheya, is one of the major characters in the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. He is the son of Surya (the Sun deity) and princess Kunti (later the Pandava queen). He was conceived and born to unmarried teenage Kunti, who hides the pregnancy, then out of shame abandons the new born Karna in a basket on a river. The basket is discovered floating on the Ganges River. He is adopted and raised by foster Suta parents named Radha and Adhiratha Nandana of the charioteer and poet profession working for king Dhritarashtra. Karna grows up to be an accomplished warrior of extraordinary abilities, a gifted speaker and becomes a loyal friend of Duryodhana. He is appointed the king of Anga (Bengal) by Duryodhana. Karna joins the losing Duryodhana side of the Mahabharata war. He is a key antagonist who aims to kill Arjuna but dies in a battle with him during the Kurushetra war.

He is a tragic hero in the Mahabharata, in a manner similar to Aristotle's literary category of "flawed good man". He meets his biological mother late in the epic then discovers that he is the older half-brother of those he is fighting against. Karna is a symbol of someone who is rejected by those who should love him but do not given the circumstances, yet becomes a man of exceptional abilities willing to give his love and life as a loyal friend. His character is developed in the epic to raise and discuss major emotional and dharma (duty, ethics, moral) dilemmas.

The Indonesian Surya myth goes as follows. One night, attracted by Kunti’s mantra, Betara Surya (Sun-God) arrives. The young Kunti is trapped by god Surya and becomes pregnant. His father is very angry. Thus, here Kuntibhoja knows Kunti’s childbirth. Betara Surya admits his responsibility. With Surya’s magical strength, Kunti delivers a son through her ear and remains a virgin. As the son is born through ear, his name is Karna, or Suryaputra or Suryaatmaja. In Javanese traditional teachings, ears are the gate of amorous desire. Karna’s birth through Kunti’s ear has a parallel in the Indian variation of Bheel Mahabharata found among the Dungari Bheels of Gujarat. The Keralian Cherusseri Bharatham too has the same myth of Karna’s birth through Kunti’s ear.

[adaru32]

**Click or download for a better view** This is something that I've been meaning to do for quite awhile. I got fascinated with the theme of zodiacs/horoscopes for the past couple years or so, and was curious on what my signs were from different nations. So this is supposed to be a hybrid creature of my different horoscopes/zodiacs and some of their symbols or elements put together. And boy, do I have one heck of an explanation for this thing. This is what the hybrid contains: 1. The beard and eyeliner makeup of Osiris which is my regular Egyptian horoscope. Other names for Osiris are Usiris, Ausar, and Auser. 2. The back fins of a fish which represents Pisces, my usual/common horoscope. It is also known as Nya in Tibetan, Esfand in Iranian, and Al Hut in Arabic and Persian. Other names of Pisces include Mina, Lilith, Mulkun.Mes, Mulzib.Me, Zibbātu, Zibbāt Sinūnūtu, and The Tails. It could also represent a bad polarity totem for my Native horoscope which is a salmon. 3. The horns of a ram/sheep/goat which is my Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tibetan zodiac. It could also relate to an associated personality trait and month in Greek/month in pharoah for my regular Egyptian horoscope, which is Aries. 4. The face, ears, teeth, claws, and paws of a wolf which is my Native horoscope. 5. A wing of Isis, which is an alternate Egyptian horoscope of mine in the month in Greek or month in pharoah. Other names for Isis are Aset, Ast, and Auset, and she also associates with the personality traits of my Pisces sign. 6. The elongated neck and belly of a snake/adder which is my Celtic and Ogham horoscope/zodiac. It is also one of the sacred animals for my alternate Egyptian horoscope. 7. The mane, claws, paws, teeth, and whiskers of a lion which is my Burmese and Mahabote horoscope. It could also represent one of the sacred animals of my regular and alternate Egyptian horoscopes, which is a cat. 8. Webbed fingers and tail of a platypus, which is my Australian horoscope. The webbed fingers could also represent one of the sacred animals of my regular Egyptian horoscope which is a goose, and could also represent one of the starting animal totems for my Native horoscope which is a frog. 9. The elongated muzzle and leaf-like feelers of a seadragon (A type of seahorse) which is an animal symbol for my Celtic Tree horoscope. The elongated muzzle could also represent one of the sacred animals for my regular and Egyptian horoscopes, which is a crocodile. 10. The stripes, whiskers, claws, teeth, and paws of a tiger which is my animal symbol for my Indonesian/Balinese/Javanese horoscopes. Like my Burmese/Mahabote horoscopes, it could also represent one of the sacred animals of my regular and alternate Egyptian horoscopes, which is a cat. The stripes could also represent the seadragon symbol from my Celtic Tree horoscope. 11. A wing and talons of a crow which is my bird symbol for my Indonesian/Javanese/Balinese horoscopes. 12. Back legs of a horse, which is an elemental symbol for my Indonesian/Javanese/Balinese horoscopes (It's known as Kuda), and one of the animal symbols for my Roman horoscope. It could also relate with the other season my regular Egyptian horoscope falls under, which is Sagittarius. 13. Front legs and antlers of a deer, which is an associated animal for my Mayan/Tzolkin/Aztec horoscopes. 14. The claws, teeth, and paws could also represent a good polarity totem and one of the starting animal totems for my Native horoscope, which is a brown bear. My other horoscopes that I didn't include in the hybrid: 1. African horoscope = Wealth of silver and amber 2. Mayan, Aztec, and Tzolkin horoscope = Etznab (Meaning flint knife) 3. Flower horoscope = A water lily 4. Druid horoscope = A willow tree 5. Celtic Tree horoscope = An ash tree 6. Numerical horoscope = The number one 7. Balinese, Javanese, and Indonesian horoscope = Selasa (Meaning Tuesday) Pahing (Has an unknown meaning but it's part of the 5 day week known as Pasaran, with lucky colour being red, and cardinal direction going south) 8. Roman horoscope = Neptune Other elements/symbols that associate with the horoscopes I didn't include in the hybrid: 1. Sun sign for the Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tibetan zodiac = Aquarius (Also known as Bhumpa in Tibetan, which means The Water Bearer) 2. Associated sun/star sign for Chinese, Vitenamese, Tibetan, Indonesian, Javanese, and Balinese zodiacs = Cancer (Also known as Yuyu, which means Crab) 3. Other sacred animals for regular Egyptian horoscope = Bull, scarab, and gorilla. 4. Associated horoscope/zodiac for Egyptian horoscope = Taurus 5. Tropical sign for Australian horoscope = Scorpio 6. Year born in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tibetan zodiac for Australian horoscope = The ox 7. Other animal symbol for Roman horoscope = A bull 8. Deity symbol for Indonesian, Javanese, and Balinese horoscope = Brahma 9. Deity associated with Iranian horoscope = Spenta Armaiti 10. Other starting animal totem for Native horoscope = Buffalo. 11. Other sacred animal for alternate Egyptian horoscope = Cow. Colour Use Ideas Descriptions: Blue = Affinity colour for Native, and a lucky colour for Roman and alternate Egyptian. Green = Affinity colour for Native, and a lucky colour for Chinese/Vitenamese/Tibetan, regular Egyptian, Roman, and Pisces. It could also relate with the skin colour of my regular Egyptian horoscope. Gold/Yellow = An unlucky colour for Chinese/Vitenamese/Tibetan, and a lucky colour for both regular and alternate Egyptian. Red = A lucky colour for Chinese/Vietnamese/Tibetan, Balinese/Indonesian/Javanese, alternate Egyptian, and Mayan/Tzolkin/Aztec. Purple = A lucky colour for Chinese/Vitenamese/Tibetan. Brown = An unlucky colour for Chinese/Vitenamese/Tibetan. Black = An unlucky colour for Chinese/Vitenamese/Tibetan, and a lucky colour for both regular and alternate Egyptian. White = A lucky colour for alternate Egyptian. Orange = A lucky colour for alternate Egyptian. Done on Sai with an Intuos Medium Pro tablet.

[graphite-artist]

Nyai Roro Kidul (Queen of the Southern Sea)

The mythical female deity of Javanese legend said to dwell in the waters of the Indian Ocean; Nyai Roro Kidul is generally regarded as an eastern amalgam of Poseidon and various other mythical creatures e.g. sirens and mermaids. She is said to be exceptionally beautiful, whose moods are reflected by the conditions of the sea and is reputed to claim the lives of fishermen as well as any unfortunate visitors along the coasts of southern Java. She is still widely revered by the local population who often give her offerings to appease her, even going so far as to set a room aside for her at one of the resorts along the coast. Nyai Roro Kidul is also considered to be the spiritual consort of the Sultans of Mataram and Yogyakarta in central Java; a tradition that continues to this day with the current generation of the royal line.

This piece is an interpretation of the Javanese myth, showing Nyai Roro Kidul rising out of the waves to make an appearance, although the reasons for her visit to the surface in this scene are unclear here. The turbulent waters and the addition of the threatening cloudscape in the background symbolize her unpredictable nature as well as the awesome powers over the elements that she has at her disposal.