Bowynn Gods: The Heather

Bowynn Gods: Ohenn

Ohenn with Anhur and 2 of his 12 daughters

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

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

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

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

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

Bowynn Gods: Lyann

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

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

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

BOWYNN GODS: RYAN

Ryan  (Ry-an)  Ryan is the Bowynn God of the west wind and the guardian god of all western lands (not Duannat, Land of the Dead.) Ryan's name means "west" in English.

     Ryan is one of four sons to Morrighynn and Herne. Like all his brothers, Ryan is seen winged with great black raven-like wings. It is Ryan who blows the cold winds of the autumn and western lands. His wind ripens the autumn fruit, turns leaves their autumn colors and changes the hue of grass to tan. He is seen as a young strapping man, with black hair and smooth of face, his eye color is that of cobalt blue, like the cleanest ocean. His garments are black in color. Often, he is seen on the first day of autumn (Tsakora) leading his wife Kora, Goddess of Autumn Season. It is said that of the four wind gods, Ryan is the most beautiful.

     Despite Ryans black clothing, he is not a god that looks fearful or a symbol of death. Point of fact, Ryan is a young and handsome man and one of the few handsome gods that many mortal women and goddesses fight over to be with. He is charming, strong and fun, as he is often said to bare a winning smile. Point of fact, Ryan, being married to Kora, becomes a harvest god; his western winds ripening foods to be harvested.

     Legend tells how it was Ryan that created the first crows and ravens as a gift to Kora on their wedding day to sing their wedding hymn, at the same time whipping up a western wind so that the trees would sing and laden the wedding procession with a shower of gold and other autumn hues. Often Ryan takes the shape of a crow or raven or other black bird. All these birds are sacred to him.

     Other sacred symbols to Ryan are autumn symbols like the leaves and harvested gourds. Shrines to Ryan often have wind chimes hung in them. Common gifts and offerings to Ryan are bowls of milk, fans, votive images of crows and incense.

Bowynn Gods: The Hyndd

Hyndd (Hynd)  These people are in some aspect related to the Greek and Roman Kentaurs. But instead of the lower torso of a horse, it is a deer or elk with dark eyes, antlers and ears. The female Hyndd so not have horns. They are the guardians of deep forests where most men will dare to dwell and they hunt down those the try to destroy the woodlands. The Hyndd are the cousins of the Thurdro.

The Hyndd are not mortal by any stretch but forest Kii (spirits), They can appear and disappear as needed. Stories tell how people will encounter a Hyndd and in a flash the Hyndd with whisk away like a flurry of butterflies.

Bowynn Gods: Myliea

Myliea  (My-Lee-ah)  (Also spelled Myliea, Melia and Melea) is the Bowynn goddess of winter. She is one of the 4 seasons, daughters of Morrighynn and Herne and is the consort of the God of the North Wind, Arn. Her name literally means "Winter."

     Few tales are told of Meliea. She contested with her sisters for which season they would rule over and because Myliea granted conifer and pine trees the gift to survive the winter, she was so given the season of Winter to govern over. Thus, on the first day of winter, Myliea's sister Kora, [Autumn], departs the land, while Myliea appears on Winter's first day on a magnificent white horse, bringing the cold, frost, snow and sleep stage of the year. On the Bowynn holiday known as Kymeliea, (Candlemas and Imbolc for other traditions) it is time to celebrate the sacred and divine wedding of Arn to Myliea. Said to have been staged in a winter wonderland and decorated with all the color and mystical beauty of the season. During the holiday of Tsameliea (Winter Solstice) both god and goddess visits the homes that are decked in winter finery and have a candle lit in the window. If content that the homes is warm, safe, well stocked and filled with cheer, Arn will knock his staff on the doors and shutters, blessing the house while Myliea leaves a small gift at the door, under the door bough or hanging from it. Often these are in the form of bundles of foods; nuts, dried fruit, wine and for kids, candy and sweet cakes is left.

Several processional or Myliea and her 3 sisters

     Myliea is seen as a female figure of motherly-grand-motherly age. A woman refined with red hair laced with white, pulled back. She is clad in blues, silvers and whites. One can assume her hlad is of the same tones but it is not commonly seen because of the blue and white fur robe she wears over it, lined and trimmed in white furs. Sometimes she is said to have a Daddalo or Stola of blue laced with snowflakes over her robe. In her hand is often seen a staff of pine wood, wrapped in garland, ribbons and fillets. Her head is often said to be crowned (but not always) with a wreath of pine, conifer and/or holly. Sometimes she is said to be winged is glorious white feathers. When about mortals Myliea will take the image of a horse or deer, which are her totem animals.

     Sacred gifts to Myliea are Milk, Water, votive images of white horses, chickadees and cardinals. And of course incense.

Bowynn Gods: Dhonan

Dhonan  (Ah-ku-ah)  Dhonan is a mortal blessed god of love and passion. He was born mortal, his parents names unknown. But he was given the rare and blessed gift of immortality and took the role of that of a god of passion and true love.

     Dhonan was a simple ranger and hunter in his mortal life but in mortal terms, he was extremely handsome. Handsome enough that he caught the attention of Brenda, goddess of love. For the longest time she would visit Dhonan while he was out in the forests hunting and trapping, presenting herself in the guise and a simple woodsman's daughter. These daily encounters lasted a good long time because Brenda never revealed to him who she was. Eventually Dhonan found out the truth, talking to a wood Kii but his heart never changed for the goddess. At the same time both Dhonan and Brenda knew that this love they shared could not last because Brenda knew she could not live amongst mortals and Dhonan would never be allowed to live in Alaway. Brenda went to Dhonan one last time while he slept. This was to bid him goodbye. The goddess Kalma was so moved by this devotion that she allowed him to pass quietly in his sleep and then granted him the blessing of immortality, thus making him a god. In this way Brenda and Dhonan would be united forever.

The Wedding of Dhonan and Brenda was said to be oone of the grandest ever. All of that Kykua attended, in a grand forest under a white canopy.

     As a god, Dhonan is a most loving god. He blesses couples of weddings to uphold the vow of love and to hold it unconditionally. He is seen as a handsome young man, dressed more than often in hunting garb with a quiver of arrows on his back and bow in hand. Most of the time Dhonan is seen with his consort, Brenda but at weddings he is seen with the goddess Rhya, blessing and sanctifying the wedding couple. Dhonan sees that vows and oaths of love are kept. This is his main attribute.

     Sacred to Dhonan is the wedding fillet that is used to symbolically bond the couples' hands. Also sacred to him is the bow and arrow and a wreath of ivy, which Dhonan is sometimes said to be seen wearing.

Dhonan and Brenda

The wedding procession of gods to the union of Dhonan and Brenda

Bowynn Gods: The Maukol

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

Bowynn Shrines {Tymons}

In the Bowynn tradition, shrines {Tymons} are often abundant throughout the home. they are mini altars where small tributes and offerings are left, and prayers can be spoken at. Having at least one shrine is common, often to the house patron deity. But having several shrines is the norm: One in the foyer or entry way, one in the kitchen to the hearth gods, one in the bathroom for cleansing and healing and one in the bedroom. Having one outside the house is common and one in the garden. The shrine design is that like a house with for sides. This represents Alaway, the hall of the family of gods. Inside rests the statue icon of a deity. The shrine will usually set in a nook in a wall but if there is no such space in possible, a small shelf is used. And here there is placed a single candle that is lit when praying and a small incense burner. Normally there is space left over to place a flowers, a small offering and/or of a small vessel for libations.

During holidays all these shrines are decorated with garlands or a wreath over them.

My Personal Prayer to Adarro

O Adarro, Spirit of the White Dolphin, I raise my voice in reverence to you, joyous god of the waves and protector of all who dwell by the shores. With hands uplifted, I seek your blessing, for you are the Master of Abundance, the one who dances amongst the tides and whispers to the souls of the sea. Come forth, O Adarro, son of Sumon and Phoenix, twin brother of Madarro, hear me, your humble devotee. In the shimmering light of dawn, as the sun kisses the waters, I call upon your radiant spirit to guide my heart and my hands. I present before you meals of fish and offerings of star-fish, sweet water lilies, and fragrant seaweed, wafting incense toward the heavens. May these gifts reach your ears and fill your heart with joy, as you have filled my life with bounty and abundance from the depths of the sea.

Grant me, Adarro, the wisdom to weave my nets with skill and the strength to cast them upon gentle waters. Teach me the ways to honor the rhythm of the tides and to recognize the moments of peril, that I may navigate the currents with grace. Protect those I hold dear as you safeguard the fishermen of old and bring forth the harvest of the sea in merry abundance. I rejoice in your spirit, O joyful god, as you dance along the sandy shore, celebrating with mortals as you guide their lives with laughter and light. Let my heart mirror your joyful essence, so that I may also bring cheer to those around me, with hands that create and feet that follow your dance. In your presence, I find solace, Adarro, and in your wisdom, I seek understanding. May I honor you as the tides honor the moon, in perpetual rhythm and reverence, for you are the lifeblood of the sea and the joy of the shore. Let my voice carry your name, and my heart forever treasure the blessings you bestow. So shall it be, in the realm of the waters and the sands, marked by your joy.

Syember!

QUESTION & ANSWER: Drugs

QUESTION: How do Bowynn practitioners feel about those that take recreational drugs?

ANSWER: What one does in one's home is not our business. HOWEVER...in general we frown on the use of drugs unless it is something that is prescribed by a doctor. Luckily for us, we are all close friends so we all know that we all abhor the idea of use of drugs, as a means of "escape."

I will say this also applies to the smoking of tobacco products and excessive alcohol drinking. All of these addictive articles are banned from celebratory gatherings, save for wine, which is heavily monitored. We come together is clear and clean body, mind, soul and spirit. We find that we do not need such things in our lives and celebrations. We find there is nothing spiritual nor fun to someone that needs to pollute the air with the smell of narcotics and the abused stench of alcohol.